Hope for the Future

Celebrating 30 Years of Damascus Road and Its Legacy 

Enlightened By God’s Hope: A Hope for the Future Event 

Feb. 28 – March 2, 2025  |   Goshen College

Register Today!

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…
– Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

Join us for a transformative celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Damascus Road anti-racism process and its pivotal role in the Anabaptist commitment to justice and reconciliation!

Co-hosted by Hope for the Future, this special event will gather BIPOC leaders and white allies who are actively engaged in the ongoing work of confronting and dismantling racism in the church. Together, we will honor the legacy of the Damascus Road while deepening our connections and renewing our dedication to equality and love in action.

Be part of this Spirit-filled gathering as we strive to embody Christ’s values of peace and justice in our communities.

Schedule

The conference officially kicks off at 9 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Feb. 28 and wraps up with a closing worship and book signing event on the evening of March 2.

To enhance your experience, we recommend arriving in Goshen on Feb. 27. If you’re in town that day, join us for an informal mixer in the evening, where you can connect with fellow attendees before the conference begins.

Watch for more information to come!

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Lerone A.  Martin, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Centennial Chair and Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University

Dr. Regina Shands Stoltzfus, Professor of Peace Justice & Conflict Studies, Director of PJCS, Goshen College

More info coming soon!

Conference Co-hosts

This conference is co-hosted by Hope for the Future and Damascus Road, both dedicated to cultivating Anabaptist values of justice, reconciliation, and anti-racism within our faith communities and beyond.

Hope for the Future
Started in 2011, Hope for the Future brings together Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latino and other People of Color leaders who are connected to Mennonite Church USA. The annual event offers attendees the opportunity to gather as a worshipping community of faith for spiritual renewal, resourcing and mutual support. It fosters a safe environment to assess the current realities and experiences of BIPOC leaders within Mennonite Church USA, emphasizing ways to build solidarity across cultural, racial, and intergenerational boundaries for systemic transformation.

Damascus Road
Founded in 1995 by Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Damascus Road stands as one of the pioneering anti-racism training programs for Mennonite and Anabaptist communities – equipping participants with essential theological, educational, and organizational skills to initiate institutional transformation. In November 2010, Damascus Road became an independent program and, by September 2012, was integrated into Roots of Justice Inc., continuing its crucial work in advancing anti-racism efforts within faith communities.