Part 1. Aboriginal Angst A story by John W. Gehring The power of one person to effect change should not be underestimated. Exceptional leaders often transcend humble and challenging circumstances to arrive at a destination otherwise thought to be unreachable. Michael Jarrett, an Aboriginal man from Nambucca Heights, Australia was a person who coupled his […]
Part 1 of Walking the Path of a Peacemaker shows how David’s sincere heart of service helped move the hearts of the villagers in Karukutty, India. In Part 2, we follow how the inspiration David found in India served as a springboard for organizing RYS in his hometown of Birmingham and his eventual return to […]
Part 1 of a 2 part RYS story by John Gerhing Tall, lean, blue-eyed and English, David was not afraid of hard work or creative approaches to dealing with problems. He invested himself to earn his Ph.D. but never let that achievement put a distance between himself and those he met. David possessed a gift […]
An RYS story by John W. Gehring A Time of Political and Social Transition During the closing years of General Marcos’s rule in the Philippines, in an act based on political calculation, many families living on squatted land in Manila were forcibly relocated in an effort to avoid civil strife. Das Marinas, a small coastal […]
During December 1992, at the height of religious conflict in India, I was there representing the Religious Youth Service (RYS) and preparing a series of events in multiple cities aimed at promoting interreligious harmony. Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of nonviolence helped stimulate the gigantic nations’ march forward on its path to political independence from […]
“The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.” ~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin ~ When Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union went through their period of transition, the glue that held Yugoslavia together came apart. Formed by a treaty after World War I, the nation of Yugoslavia had been glued together […]
And Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to the Father who is in heaven.” Mt. 5:16 The Transformative Power of Service One way to measure the true value of a service initiative is by weighing how much has positively changed after the […]
“Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.” William James A Life Worth Living From thirty-six nations a vibrant group of 120 RYS volunteers poured into Manila to prepare for an experience in service and cross-cultural cooperation. After an initial five-day stay in the busy municipality, we were anxious […]
The Value of Digging Story by John W. Gehring “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Gen. Colin Powell Have you ever done serious labor with a shovel or pick? Tackled a day with sweat on your brow earned by digging shovel by shovel towards a measurable goal. […]
Some Memories Stick for a Lifetime Excerpt from Tales of Love and Service: Stories from the Heart, by John W. Gehring. The following story took place on a Religious Youth Service (RYS) project in the Philippines. I have been carrying with me for decades certain recurring memories; some are rich in emotional warmth while others carry with […]
