Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for peace garden

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This article was published 10/10/2020 (1716 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Mennonite Heritage Village is hoping a Kickstarter campaign will raise funds for the Dirk Willems Peace Garden.

Located on the southwest corner of their property, the area currently features a bronze sculpture of Dirk Willems, saving his captor from the icy waters of a pond.

A well-known example of early Anabaptists and their focus on non-violence and peace, the heroic act ultimately cost Willems his life.

Imprisoned in the Netherlands for his Anabaptist beliefs, Willems escaped with a guard in pursuit. After the guard fell through the ice, Willems returned to save him. Willems was recaptured and ultimately burned at the stake for his beliefs in 1529.

The sculpture, created by Peter Sawatzky, was unveiled close to two years ago.

But that’s only the first stage of the project.

MHV Executive Director Gary Dyck said they plan to have a pergola, interpretive panels and seating for visitors.

The site is near their pond and near a piece of the Berlin Wall.

While the Mennonite Heritage Village focusses on the pioneer experience, Dyck said it’s important to share the early Anabaptist movement as well.

“The stories that are there are quite amazing, it’s what started a movement,” he said. “Let’s keep telling that and being challenged by that.”

The Kickstarter campaign runs until Nov. 6, with a goal of $20,000.

The actual amount needed is closer to double that, but Dyck said because Kickstarter only releases the funds if the goal is met, they aimed low. “If you don’t make that goal, then you don’t get that money at all,” he said.

Dyck said they also intentionally wanted to seek funds from people across the world, and not just their regular donors.

“We felt that with this topic, peace in a violent world, and how to learn from Dirk Willems and others who have preceded us, how to be compassionate in a tumultuous world, it was good to go to the international community,” he said. “There’s Mennonites around the world. There’s lovers of peace around the world, let’s work together on this project.”

To support the project simply search for The Dirk Willems Peace Garden or Mennonite on Kickstarter.com.

At press time, $362 had been raised.

The site also includes more information about the proposed project as well as an endorsement by Dr. Karl Koop, professor of history and theology at CMU.

“There are many injustices in our world and it’s easy to respond with violence,” the website states. “We’re concerned about the nature of peace understanding in our churches and society. We all need help to remember there’s another way.”