Ep 10: Giving gifts/receiving gifts

Peacebuilding can feel out of reach, even for people who care deeply about it. In this episode, host Ken Ogasawara shares about four African diaspora communities in Ontario (Eritrean, Ethiopian, South Sudanese and Congolese) that are doing practical peacebuilding through the Working Together for Peace project with MCC Ontario. Their work follows a three-step process: say yes, get equipped, and multiply. Whether you are a newcomer to Canada or not, the stories here offer inspiration and practical learning. Resources: Peace Conference: Saturday, November 7, MCC Ontario. Learn more about the Working Together for Peace project at mcc.org/undercurrents. 🎙️ Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union. Learn more at kindredcu.com. 🔔 Subscribe to Undercurrents and leave a review wherever you listen. It helps more people find the show. Credits: Produced with help from Christen Kong. Artwork by Jesse Bergen. Theme music by Brian MacMillan. Executive produced by Sandra Reimer. Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Canada is re-arming at a pace not seen since World War II — and most of us have no idea what that actually means. In this episode, Ken talks with Kelsey Gallagher, senior researcher at Project Ploughshares, to cut through the political spin and understand what Canada's historic increase in military spending really looks like on the ground: where the money comes from, where the weapons go, and who ends up paying the price. Then, MCC Canada's Director of Advocacy Anna Vogt makes the case that this moment is actually a powerful invitation — for Mennonites, Anabaptists, and anyone who cares about peace — to offer a different vision of security. One built on relationships, not rifles. In this episode: Why Canada's defense budget is set before anyone knows how to spend it — and why that's a problem How Canadian weapons components end up in the hands of human rights violators — even when exports are "stopped" The F-35, Gaza, and the loophole the Liberal government called "by design" MCC's peacebuilding work in Cambodia as a concrete alternative to military security How to contact your MP and make your voice heard

Welcome to Season 7 of Undercurrents! Well, once again, if you only look at headlines, the world is a raging dumpster fire. We’ve got trade wars, we’ve got genocide, we’ve got catostrophic flooding and wildfires, billionaires and unhoused people, the list goes on. At times like this, a prayer made famous by Alcoholics Anonymous comes to mind: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. This season, we are going to lean into that second part: the "courage to change the things I can" - to reclaim our power as people of God’s peace. We’ll dive deeper into the theme of peace - what are the ways that we can take action to build peace in the many facets of our own lives - in our lifestyles, our money, our neighbourhood, and even our federal government. The first episode of Season 7 drops on October 1 with a new episode coming out every other week this fall, so please subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can find Undercurrents on Apple podcasts, Youtube, spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening - have a great rest of your day!

Changing your mind is hard. Changing your relationships is awkward. And changing systems can take generations. In this Season 6 finale of Undercurrents, we revisit the most powerful moments from the season — some heard for the first time — to ask: what does it actually look like when perspectives shift, relationships transform, and systems begin to crack open? This episode is a reminder that slow, faithful, relational work is not wasted work. Seeds planted today feed the people who come after us. Season 7 arrives in the fall. Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts! Transcription here. Discussion guide here. Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union. 🔔 Subscribe to Undercurrents and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more people find the show. Produced with help from Christen Kong. Artwork by Jesse Bergen. Theme music by Brian MacMillan. Executive produced by Sandra Reimer.

What does it look like to open a door that changes everything? In this episode of Undercurrents, we trace the remarkable story of how Canada became a world leader in refugee welcome — and why that legacy matters more now than ever. Host Ken Ogasawara sits down with Mike Molloy, retired Foreign Service officer and one of the architects of the world's first private refugee sponsorship program, to hear how a small clause buried in a 1976 immigration act became a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the Indo-China wars. And how MCC became a foundational partner in making it all work. We also hear from Kaylee Perez, MCC's Global Migration and Resettlement Strategic Initiatives Lead, who brings both professional expertise and deeply personal roots to this work. Her insight: the antidote to fear is proximity. Together, their stories remind us that welcoming the stranger isn't a radical idea, it's foundational to our faith expression. In this episode: Why Bill Janzen's "drop the rope" approach to government negotiation built something extraordinary What Hearts of Freedom — 170+ interviews with former refugees — reveals about gratitude, belonging, and Canadian identity Why 66% of Canadians still support refugee welcome, even if you'd never know it from the comments section How the We're Better Together campaign is equipping everyday people to shift the conversation in their own communities The data is clear. Refugees strengthen Canada's workforce, arrive ready to contribute, see their incomes grow, and become citizens at remarkable rates. But as Kaylee reminds us — this was never just about economics. It's about who we want to be. Ready to act? Learn about refugee sponsorship at mcc.org Join the We're Better Together campaign at the Canadian Council for Refugees: https://mcc.org/better-together Explore the Hearts of Freedom project: heartsoffreedom.org Use the discussion guide on our website to bring this conversation to your church or community group Send us a note at [email protected] — we'd love to hear from you Transcription is here. Discussion guide here. Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union. Credits: Production support from Christen Kong Logo artwork by Jesse Bergen Theme song by Brian MacMillan Executive produced by Sandra Reimer.