Church visitor here to promote world peace

A church official from Spain
is visiting here to accent “fraternity, solidarity and understanding.”

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR

THE REASON BEHIND THE VISIT of the Rev. Alfredo Abad Heras, an international church official based in Madrid, Spain, is both simple and staggering.

Describing himself as a peacemaker, the minister is the general secretary of the Iglesia Evangélica Española (Spanish Evangelical Church). He was invited by Eastminster Presbytery, whose membership is 55 churches, to visit the Youngstown area. He arrived late last week and his visit here concludes Friday.

Then he’s off to Louisville, Ky.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. He’ll be in the United States about three weeks.

“I’m here to establish partnerships,” said the Rev. Mr. Abad. (It’s Spanish custom to use both parents’ surnames. The minister’s father’s last name is Abad, and his mother’s, Heras.)

“I’m here to promote the culture of peace and be a living example of it,” he said. “It’s about fraternity, solidarity and understanding.”

Of course, attaining world peace is a monumental challenge. But Mr. Abad is undeterred because he said it comes down to an individual level and spreads. “It’s learning about people’s differences to break away from prejudices and stereotypes. It’s sharing things about life.”

Mr. Abad said he’s “living his convictions about peace” by connecting with people in other cultures and sharing ideas.

The Rev. Tom Niccolls, who was escorting Mr. Abad in his visit in the Valley, added, “It’s deeds complementing one’s creed.”

Much in common

Mr. Abad, who has done extensive traveling, said he has found a similarity among people that overshadows the cultural differences. A common denominator, he said, are the “big questions about life.”

People in all communities are working to promote peace, he said. But, Mr. Abad said, you can have 100 people working in harmony toward a goal and attracting little notice. But who gets attention? The one out of sync or making trouble.

Mr. Abad, who helped serve a spaghetti dinner by Protestant Family Services on Sunday, said the agency could be used as an example. “It’s helping families and working to make their lives better,” he said, noting it’s probably doing so without getting a lot of attention.

Mr. Abad said refugees leaving Iraq and Sudan because of turmoil there end up in neighboring countries. These “asylum seekers,” as he called them, were forced to leave their homelands because of political or religious problems.

“They are integrated but not assimilated into the society,” he said, noting they work and contribute to their new environment. But much of this process goes unnoticed even though it is important.

Human rights issues

Mr. Abad said the peace process is intertwined with the issue of human rights. Peace won’t be achieved if people are being subjected to severe political, legal and social abuses, he added.

“There is a growing poverty,” he said, noting that people in the United States and Europe are being affected. “They may have a house, car and credit cards, but they’re not able to manage and keep up.”

But, he noted, “church is often an important part in the daily life of people.” Churches and faith-based agencies are working with governments across the globe to fight poverty, he said. “Poverty is a challenge to our society.”

Among Mr. Abad’s stops were serving dinner at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley on Monday night. His other activities are preaching at Wickliffe Presbyterian Church in Austintown, addressing classes at Youngstown State University and Hiram College, and speaking at vespers at Copeland Oaks Retirement Community in Sebring.

The Rev. Mr. Niccolls, professor and chaplain emeritus at Hiram; the Rev. Elmarie Parker of Wickliffe Presbyterian; and the Rev. David Joachim of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Boardman, assisted with Mr. Abad’s visit.

Eastminster Presbytery’s office is in Mineral Ridge. The Rev. Dan K. Schomer is general presbyter of the presbytery that ranges west to Akron, southeast to Lisbon and northeast to Kinsman.

linonis@vindy.com