Onward,
Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
Executive Director, ASJ-US
Welcome Statement/Justicia Winter 2025
February 25, 2025
From the Executive Director
Dear Friend,
Who doesn’t love to celebrate? Birthdays, promotions, good news, reunions–our lives are full of reasons to rejoice and be glad. And at ASJ-US, we are celebrating all year long as we mark our 25th anniversary! Since 2000, ASJ-US has been seeking to be a community of brave Christians dedicated to doing justice in Honduras and to inspiring others around the world to seek justice in their own contexts.
It’s been 25 years of exhilarating highs, of crushing lows, of deep partnership with ASJ-Honduras, and through it all, an abiding trust in our justice doing God. I hope that in what follows, you will see evidence of 25 years of God’s faithfulness. If you have been with ASJ-US through some (or all) of those 25 years, I hope you feel proud of the justice and peace that we’ve been able to secure together. And I hope that you feel inspired to work together toward ever more justice for Honduras.
Because at 25 years, we certainly have a lot to celebrate. And we have a lot more left on our to-do list. I’m looking forward to more meaningful justice work alongside you in 2025 and beyond.
In this edition of Justicia, we are highlighting:
ASJ-US 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Keep ReadingTwenty-five years ago, on a beautiful summer evening in Grand Rapids, ASJ-US held its very first Celebration in my sister Shar’s backyard. I don’t remember a lot about that day, but I do know that what we lacked in experience, we more than made up for with confidence and boundless enthusiasm.
HONDURAN ELECTIONS 2025
Keep ReadingIn previous electoral processes, ASJ has encouraged youth participation beyond voting. Observation, communications and advocacy strategies have been promoted during the three stages that make up the electoral process: the pre electoral stage when preparatory activities are carried out; on election day when citizens go to the polls and vote; and finally, the post-electoral stage which includes the counting of votes, the review of possible irregularities and the declaration of the new authorities.
HOW MIGRATION AFFECTS A COMUNITY ( My Empty Village)
Keep ReadingAs I sit in my parent’s empty living room, I remember when there used to be
three families living together in this small house. Now it feels empty, just like the rest of the village. All my best friends left. My favorite cousin left. Displacement has pierced through my community.
WELCOME, NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
With great joy, we welcome these new members to our Board of Directors. Our board is made up of volunteers who are committed to our mission of being brave Christians dedicated to seeking justice in Honduras and to inspiring others around the world to seek justice in their own contexts.
Michael Pinda
Laura Watrous
Thomas Turner
Get Involved
If you are interested in volunteering with us in your city, email : info@asj-us.org
Sign up to receive email updates about how you can help us advocate for those who are most vulnerable in Honduras:
Thank You for Moving Forward With Us this Summer!
When Policies Shift, Families Pay the Price * by Jo Ann Van Engen
Inspiring civil society in the US with a vision of a more just society
Dear Friend, On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Hondurans flooded their streets with prayer and peaceful demonstration. Reports from our team members who attended said it was like an inspirational sea of people all wanting the same thing for their country: peace. One of our ASJ-US colleagues said he walked past Pentecostals dancing and playing music, a woman praying the rosary, nuns walking, and priests and altar boys in full robes–all walking in the same space together for peace.
Love, Labor, and the Price of Leaving By Jo Ann Van Engen
Prayer Update (JUL 16- Election Process Turmoil)
Meet the Artist Behind Our New Sticker Illustrations
How U.S. Policy Shapes Honduran Families’ Futures by Jo Ann Van Engen
Honduran civil society works together for fair elections in 2025
J ustice seekers from Canada, the US, and Honduras commit to working together
