Stephanie Schaudel with Iraqi girl.

Stephanie Schaudel grew up in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Church of the Brethren. Fluent in English, German and Spanish, she now works in Chicago with Voices in the Wilderness, a campaign to end US-led economic sanctions against Iraq. She traveled to Iraq in December 2001 with the Brethren delegation and has since spoken in dozens of churches, schools and community gatherings throughout the US. In August 2002, Stephanie rode her bicycle 1235 miles from Washington, DC to the Mississippi River to protest US oil dependence and the wars fought to maintain that dependence. She raised funds for projects of Voices in the Wilderness. Stephanie previously served in Brethren Volunteer Service in the Su Casa Catholic Worker Community, a community providing transitional housing for homeless families on Chicago's South Side.

David Radcliff interviewed by Reuters reporters in Baghdad.

David Radcliff has been director of Brethren Witness for the Church of the Brethren General Board since 1989. In December 2001, he led the first Church of the Brethren delegation to Iraq in conjunction with partners at the National Council of Churches, Middle East Council of Churches and Voices in the Wilderness. His overall work at Brethren Witness encourages church members and congregations to express their faith and Brethren values in their communities and world, especially in relation to issues of peace and justice. The office provides a variety of print and web materials, sponsors Faith Expeditions domestically and overseas, develops care for creation resources, and manages the Global Food Crisis Fund. David is a frequent speaker and retreat leader in local, regional and national settings. A graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary, with MDiv and DMin (Peace Studies) degrees, David is originally from Blue Ridge, VA and now lives in Elgin, IL. Among his interests are gardening, athletics, environmental advocacy, photography and travel.

Donald Parker points to Babylon, the place where he stands on a map of ancient Iraq.

Donald Parker is retired pediatrics physician and former chair of the Church of the Brethren General Board. Given the critical state of the Iraqi health care system, his medical expertise was a valuable part of the December 2001 Church of the Brethren delegation to Iraq. Don hails from West Salem, Ohio. Read his letter to the Ashland Times Gazette reprinted in Messenger.

Nathan Musselman takes a break on the road out of Baghdad.

Nathan Musselman was raised in Roanoke, Virginia where he is a member at the Oak Grove Church of the Brethren. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in 2000 with a major in Justice, Peace and Conflict Studies. During and since his undergraduate studies, he traveled extensively in the Middle East including Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Iraq. He lived in the West Bank for a year and a half before being detained and finally deported by Israeli authorities for his participation in nonviolent opposition to the Israeli occupation in conjunction with the International Solidarity Movement. He also participated in a Brethren delegation to Iraq in December of 2001 and intends to return to that country with Voices in the Wilderness Iraq Peace Team program in November 2002. Nathan has basic fluency in Arabic.

Chris Fitz smiles with three lovable Iraqi children in Baghdad on Christmas Day 2001

Chris Fitz lives in Washington, DC, working at the Education for Peace in Iraq Center as the Iraq Speakers Bureau coordinator. He traveled to Iraq in 2001 with the Brethren delegation and now spends much of his time developing the informal advocacy campaign for the people of Iraq within the Church of the Brethren. Originally from the York First Church of the Brethren (Pennsylvania), Chris' prior work experiences include the program director at Camp Eder (Southern PA) and the program assistant at the Colgate University Peace Studies program. He periodically conducts training workshops in communication, conflict resolution, privilege-awareness and related social change skills. Chris received an MA in Peace & Development Studies from the Universitat Jaume I (Castellon, Spain) and received a BA from Hampshire College (Amherst, MA). He enjoys cycling, writing, social dancing, singing and playing folk music.

To request any of these resource people to visit your area, please call the Brethren Witness/Washington Office 800-323-8039 or e-mail: Chris Fitz.