Why OneEarth Jubilee Leads Groups to Mexico
25th Anniversary Mexico Trip, October 19-26
We go to learn by seeing and hearing how the talented people in the Jubilee Circles create activities that are to scale with what people need—especially the many people for whom the economy other systems do not serve. The Circles accompany the people who together decide how to improve their lives. OneEarth Jubilee works with them to create alternatives that work justly and give life. The Mexico Circles teach our U.S. delegations so much about how people can be lifted from despair to abundant living that isn’t measured by wealth.
We also go because our colleagues in Mexico tell us how much it means to be able to share their creative work—their successes, stumbles, doubts, and faith. So we go with deep interest. Who they are and what they do challenges us to reflect on who we are and how we do life in our contexts. Together we seek to live within the abundant limits of one planet, a rich, evolving home.
UPCOMING TRIP: There is still room for you.
October 19-26, 2025: This is our 25th Anniversary Year Trip.
Cost: No more than $1500 for the 8 days. Maybe less. This price includes all airfares from San Diego, all land travel, all lodging, and nearly all meals.
Theme: Releasing Us All from Our Captivities (Luke 4:16).
25th Anniversary: Our Future Grows from Our Past
In 2000, as a new millennium began, so did Jubilee Economics Ministries (JEM). A Core Group met monthly in Chicago and planned a couple of trips to Chiapas, Mexico, in support of Indigenous people and Fair Trade growers. At that time, the Indigenous Zapatista Movement came to international attention as they protested NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and other strategies of globalization that oppressed them. One elder told us, “NAFTA and globalization are the latest forms of genocide.”
In 2002, the Core Group scattered and the survival of JEM was unclear. Co-founder Dan Swanson went to Mexico to continue his missionary work there. He fell in love with a Mexican physician. In time they married, spent 2 years in San Cristobal, Chiapas, initiating and strengthening ministries, then settled in San Mateo, Puebla.
By 2015, the Mexican and U.S. Jubilee ministries joined together. It brought a surge of energy and a new vision for JEM emerged to work bi-nationally. It has proven to be the most important step in our 25 years of Jubilee.
Jubilee’s future is organically joined with Mexico like branches are to the trunk of our tree.
Pedro Robledo,Yobel School Director Published in RIBLA
Well-Regarded Magazine in Latin American Theology
Pedro writes, “I’m letting you know that last Friday I received the edited and formatted document for the Latin American Biblical Interpretation Magazine (RIBLA) 95. I’m truly happy to be able to contribute to the new issue of the magazine, which will soon be published in print and digital formats. However, I’m enclosing the PDF of the magazine. As you’ll notice, I cite two of your books in my article.
“I submitted my work for the RIBLA issue on the Gospel of John last year. The same editing and layout process will be followed for the entire content over the next few months.
“The next RIBLA meeting in July will be held in Quito. The new issues of the journal for the next two years will be planned at that meeting. The last meeting I attended was held in San Salvador in July 2023.” Yobel, begun 15 years ago, has become another important Jubilee ministry in Chiapas.
2024 Immigration Surprise in Huixtla/Tapachula
Edman and Rosy write from the Tapachula Jubilee Circle, “As a pastoral family ministry here in Huixtla (almost the border with Guatemala). we continue with the challenges typical of all Christian pastoral care.
“Recently, in the city of Tapachula we had received three brothers from Venezuela, recommended by a pastor from Brazil (Marcelo Leites); they were his father-in-law and nephew, also his brother-in-law. They told us that they already had permission from the immigration authorities to be able to travel to Tuxtla Gutiérrez (the capital of Chiapas), so we took them in our car to our home in Huixtla.
“Everything was going well until we reached the last checkpoint, which is very close to Huixtla (in the previous two they didn’t even stop us). Here, they asked us to get out of the car. They inspected both the car and all of us, including our whole family. We were about to be brought to Mexican justice. They explained to us that the migrants cannot be transported in a private car. They took the case to the local chief who, to the astonishment of the lower-ranking guards, told us that we could continue forward. Time and time again we have seen the hand of our God in our pastoral work. The migrants were with us for a weekend and then went on their way.
“This year, added to the violence against migrants was the forced migration of
evangelical brothers because of drug traffickers. The traffickers displaced whole families who then went to other parts of Chiapas and the Mexican Republic. The pastoral work has continued with the churches of the Sierra Madre of Chiapas. Also with training young people and leaders of seminars and the local church.
“Our growing children are training in music—Idelette with the ukulele and starting with the violin, and Edman Yefté with the piano.
“Thank God very much for JEM’s life and we pray that our God continues pouring out his blessings in all our ministries. Don’t forget to continue praying for our family. Hugs to all.”
Updates on Jubilee’s Financial Picture
Recently YES! Magazine announced that it will cease publication. This wonderful magazine told many stories of people doing innovative work without being in the headlines. But their donations are no longer adequate to continue. This is the story of many non-profits in this unstable economy. Not so for Jubilee—at least not yet. With your donations of $25 to thousands, we will continue as the Spirit wills.
We are grateful for a couple of sizable donations received this month. These came from a retirement investment and a Donor Advised Fund.
We were saddened to learn recently that Jack Swanson had passed. He was Dan Swanson’s father, Angelica Juarez’s father-in-law. He has donated monthly to Jubilee for over 15 years.
Jubilee is seeking new donors, small and large, congregations and individuals. Please tell people you know of the opportunity to give to these multiple ministries that are part of Jubilee. Tell them why you donate.
