My Testimony at the MPD Oversight Hearing Once again the DC Council is considering a budget that favors police control over community investment. Here is a perspective that is missing

As the oversight hearing for DC Police is coming up here is a perspective that should be reflected on by the DC Council
festivalcenter.org/2026/04/20/m...

📅 April 28, 2026 — D.C. Mayoral Candidate Forum
UDC Student Center, 4200 Connecticut Ave NW

📅 April 30, 2026 — Congressional Delegate Candidate Forum
THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave SE

RSVP at bit.ly/CandidateForumsDC to reserve your seat and be a part of this important event!

The Gospel According to American Evangelical Jesus Paula White compared donald trump to Jesus, which offended many. But a closer look at American evangelical scriptures shows some strong support for this comparison.

Finally, a gospel Christian supremacists can get believe in.
festivalcenter.org/2026/04/12/t...

Outside the Church Could our liberation be found beyond doctrinal statements or denominational positions and instead be found in our solidarity with the poor?

Could our liberation lie beyond doctrinal statements and denominational positions and lie instead in being in solidarity with the poor? Some thoughts.
festivalcenter.org/2026/04/06/o...

Living Lives of Protest Saturday's No Kings protest was powerful, but how can we live lives of protest, registering our unwillingness to be complicit with injustice?

How do we live a life of unwavering commitment to justice away from mass protests and rallies? Here some thoughts.
festivalcenter.org/2026/03/30/l...

Reflections on Stupidity Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned us of the danger of stupidity and now we are seeing this live. Here are some reflections.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned us about the dangers of stupidity and his writings are starkly relevant today. Here are some thoughts.
festivalcenter.org/2026/03/16/r...

AOC: The Pentagon has not passed an audit, and they are out here trying to kick people with disabilities off of Medicaid. It is corruption that is stealing from the public coffers — and that is the actual waste, fraud, and abuse.

Glimpses of Liberation Even in the midst of the chaos of this administration we can find glimpses of liberation through community and celebration.

Even in the midst of chaos we find glimpses of liberation through community and celebration. Here is what we found just this week.
festivalcenter.org/2026/03/09/g...

Rest in power Bernard Lafayette. Freedom fighter, civil rights leader, husband, father, hero. Thank you for your life of service and love.

We stand wholeheartedly with @fairbudgetdc.bsky.social in urging the DC Council to pass a budget that ensures genuine public safety and that means stopping entirely the collaboration between ICE and MPD

An Unholy Collaboration This testimony was offered at the DC Council Committee on Public Safety regarding the unholy collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Department and ICE. Thank you Chair Pinto for hosting this […...

This is testimony given by @billmefford.bsky.social to the DC Council Committee on Public Safety on their complete lack of accountability of MPD
festivalcenter.org/2026/03/02/a...

We're closed today due to the snow. Stay safe friends.

So, the Supreme Court strikes down trump's tariffs, but they are totally cool if he is never held accountable for committing war crimes and mass corruption on a scale never seen before. SCOTUS is just as corrupt and morally vacuous as POTUS is.

Ordination Ordination is not a career. It's a calling. It is a recognition of local believers who acknowledge the gifts for leadership of a particular person in a particular context.

Some thoughts on ordination as a calling more than a career
festivalcenter.org/2026/02/16/o...

We are hiring! festivalcenter.org/employment/

All-American Racists Racism is endemic to U.S. culture and politics, but donald trump is committed to plumbing the depths of hatred and bigotry.

Racism is endemic in the United States, but trump is reaching to new depths of hatred and bigotry.
festivalcenter.org/2026/02/09/a...

We Are Hiring! festivalcenter.org/employment/

Help our beloved Festival Center raise $1700 for a much needed SNOW BLOWER!

festivalcenter.networkforgood.com/projects/295...

Dreams of Liberation Almost two years ago I had a dream that helped bring healing and reminded me of my calling. It was a dream that brought liberation.

Our liberation is both a calling and a choice, the result of divine initiative and human free will.
festivalcenter.org/2026/02/02/d...

Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) | Thriving through the Arts Join the creative community where veterans and their families thrive through the arts. Classes are free and available nationwide.

The Festival Center is proud to host ASAP. Each year 100+ teaching artists from across the country gather for a teaching artist training that provides classes in a variety of topics, including Mental Health First Aid, Military Culture, Trauma-Informed Teaching, and Suicide Prevention.
asapasap.org

Light and Darkness It is time to call out the individualist, nationalist, narcissist, evangelical Christianity that undergirds state-sponsored terror.

Have you signed up for the Called Activist? Get the podcast and the blog posts sent straight to you inbox. Don't miss out!

festivalcenter.org/2026/01/25/9...

Because of the wild weather, we will not be open today. We will let you know about tomorrow as we work to remove the snow.

-Team Festival Center

What enables you to keep moving forward each day? Bill Mefford shares his vision and hope for the year.

preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webvi...

Check out what's happening here! Plus, we'd love to have your opinion for our new mural project. Got any ideas? See you Saturday!

Our community loves to come together. Don't miss out on ways to stay connected. Check out the Happenings page every Monday to see where you could plug in next.

festivalcenter.org/happenings-2/

Whether it is ICE or local police departments, law enforcement in this country has long been a source of control and oppression. The murder of Renee Good is only the latest example.
festivalcenter.org/2026/01/12/k...

It is long past time for the DC Council and the Mayor of DC to come out and demand ICE leave.

VIDEO of ICE shooting in Minneapolis [WARNING GRAPHIC] YouTube video by LiveNOW from FOX

ICE is a terrorist organization. #AbolishICE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1rl...

The Way of Peace This administration continually chooses violence and death, but the way of peace is challenging but so much more prosperous for all.

While this administration continually chooses violence and death, we are reminded that the way of peace is challenging but also prosperous for all.
festivalcenter.org/2026/01/05/9...

- The Festival Center Military bases are promised to bring peace, but they bring anything but peace. This Christmas we are reminded that peace comes through unexpected means.

We are promised peace through the presence of our military, but Advent reminds us peace is not found through force, but rather, linking ourselves with the most vulnerable in actions of solidarity.
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