| Pastor wears out his shoes walking for peace BY JOY FORREST
UMCONNECTION CORRESPONDENT Love or Perish is the statement on the banner that adorns the well-manicured lawn of Simpson-Hamline UMC in northwest Washington, D.C. The statement is more than a motto. Its a mission statement for the congregation and its pastor, the Rev. Douglas B. Sands. Sands has been active in the nonviolence movement from as far back as the peacefully-organized Southern Christian Leadership Conference protests. He has spent the past 19 years pastoring various churches in some of the most violent neighborhoods in Baltimore and now in Washington, D.C. As the years passed, Sands said he became more in tune with the growing need for love and peace in our nation. He has made it his mission to raise public awareness about the urgency in addressing violence in our communities and worldwide. Last spring, Sands ventured on a peace walk, covering 542 miles and visiting 103 United Methodist churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. During his peace walk he discussed the work of the conference Nonviolence Coalition, and invited members and clergy to join in the walk, make monetary donations toward its efforts and pray for the ceasing of violence everywhere. Now, one year later, Sands, who will turn 68 this year, has an even greater quest. He intends to start peace camps everywhere he stops along his walk. He wants to recruit those he meets to be witnesses for peace in our city and throughout the world. A peace camp, he said, is a gathering of any number of people who will consecrate the area they occupy as a place where peace will prevail among all who assemble there. The presence and power of Gods Holy Spirit should be invited to direct every gathering, Sands said. Prayers for peace should be offered at every gathering and the cross of Jesus Christ should stand as the peace monument at each site. Each peace camp may elect to participate in various activities, including making banners and giving instruction on non-violence, he added. Sands is not sure if hell exceed last years 542 miles. For now, hes just walking every day. But, he laughs, I have already worn out one pair of shoes. For more information about the peace camps or Sands walk, contact Simpson-Hamline UMC at (202) 882-2122 or visit their Web site at www.shumcdc.org. | 
Login/Register to leave comment