The annual summer gathering of progressive Baptist pastors, activists, peacemakers, students, teachers, and organizers from Canada, the US, Mexico, and Puerto Rico provided a great opportunity for a screening of “Return to El Salvador.” United through the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, this faith community is dedicated to the BPFNA mission of “gathering, equipping, and mobilizing to build a culture of peace rooted in justice.” (See www.bpfna.org) This year's summer conference was held July 12 to 17 on the campus of Keuka College in the Finger Lakes region of New York with a theme of “Light to Live In.”

In the discussion following the film, many who had come to see “Return to El Salvador” shared personal stories of their own commitments to accompanying the struggles of the Salvadoran people. Some reflected on their participation in the repatriations of villages from refugee camps during the war in El Salvador. Others have been outspoken critics of oppressive economic policies like CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) and longtime advocates in the call to shut down the School of the Americas.

Many of the participants have personal relationships with the Salvadoran Baptist pastors featured in the documentary – Ruth and Alex Orantes. A number of friends talked about the importance of sustaining the work of these two talented, visionary leaders whose transforming work in their communities has been a cherished model and inspiration for many North American communities of faith. (*** Check out http://thesimpleway.org/friends/cielo-azul/ and the blog at www.cieloazulfund.blogspot.com for information about the “Cielo Azul Fund” created by a network of individuals, congregations, and groups inspired by Ruth and Alex's commitment to faith-based community development, justice, peacemaking, and healing.)

All who attended greatly appreciated director Jamie Moffett's work to share the complex story of El Salvador's history and to highlight some of the rays of hope for a new future! A number of people left the BPFNA conference with copies of the Return to El Salvador DVD in hand, planning to spread that story in their own communities back home.