Alumni feature – Janna Hunter-Bowman ‘00
After Janna Hunter-Bowman graduated from Goshen College in 2000 with a degree in anthropology and sociology she knew she wanted to do something different and meaningful.
“I first learned of Colombian Mennonites through a letter sent to U.S. churches in 2000. It warned that, if passed, the bill before the U.S. Congress for ‘Plan Colombia’ (a military aid package) would make the work of Colombian peace builders more difficult and dangerous,” Hunter-Bowman said. “At the time I was longing for more radical peace action from the North American Mennonite church. Upon learning of this politically astute and action-oriented Mennonite community, I wanted to participate.”
In 2001, Hunter-Bowman moved to Bogotá, Colombia to work with Justapaz, a Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action. She was active in developing a program that advocates public policy changes to promote peace in Colombia based in primary source documentation of human rights violations against churches. Along with this, she also documents stories of faith-based peace initiatives throughout Colombia.
“The goal of the documentation program is to contribute to truth, justice and a nonviolent solution to the armed conflict,” Hunter-Bowman said. “The real-life stories are our foundation for the recommendations we make to governments – both here in Colombia and internationally.”
Since she began working with Justapaz in 2001, she started a sister peace church program and has worked as the international education and advocacy program coordinator, in which she investigates the effects of U.S. policy on churches and civil society in general.
“Janna’s documentation work with Justapaz is of the utmost significance in what remains one of the world’s most difficult conflicts,” said Goshen College Professor of Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Joe Liechty ’78, who learned to know her during a visit to Columbia. “Janna does all her work with contagious joy, conviction and warmth. That she should be engaged at so deep a level in another society at so young an age is very impressive. She exudes GC’s core values.”
After spending six years in Colombia, she has fallen in love with the country and its people. “Colombia offers the world more than coffee and cocaine,” Hunter-Bowman said. “The enduring faithful who creatively confront the death-dealing powers to transform conflict and seek peace have much to teach us. They both invite and indict. They invite radical discipleship that gives hope; they indict the narratives of imperial power, lies and tepid Christianity.”
Hunter-Bowman lives in Colombia with her husband Jess and her 7-month-old daughter Amara, and attends Teusaquillo Mennonite Church. Hunter-Bowman is originally from Bally, Pa.
