As a Y-Serve experience, Jubilee Partners proved both spiritually and physically fulfilling to all involved. While there, students entered into the pre-established community and worked as one who lived there full time, often doing child care; digging swales, long ditches in fields to stop erosion; or cooking lunch. Though there was a large portion of time dedicated to work, the real emphasis from both Jubilee and the EMU group was community.
Jubilee Partners, located in Comer, Ga, is an intentional community that does extensive work with refugees and prisoners on death row — though primarily the former — and many volunteers and college groups find their way there every year.
During one of the reflection sessions while at Jubilee, first-year James Dunmore remarked that he never felt like a stranger while staying and working within the community, and this comment seemed to sum up a majority of the opinions from the group.
“Everyone [at Jubilee] wanted to be there, and that made an interesting dynamic,” first-year Anisa Leonard said. Leonard also found meaning in Jubilee’s way of life and what the members there gave up to live it. “I was really impressed on how they actually lived out authentically their mission statement… and the integrity of their lifestyle. It is something they feel really passionate about and you can see that.”
First-year Kayley Scottlind agreed. “Jubilee was different than anything I had seen before, and that saddens me. I feel like there should be more communities focused on actually exemplifying ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jubilee makes it a priority that the refugees who go through the organization are welcomed by the community, and many keep in contact even after they have left and begun living more on their own. Much of the surrounding community is made up of families who had previously spent time at Jubilee. However, due to new political policies, there are not as many refugees coming through Jubilee. Where the welcome center on Jubilee campus would once house up to forty individuals, there are less than ten living there currently. With less refugees coming through, and with no known end in sight for changing this, Jubilee is being forced to re-examine how they conduct their work to aid the community.
This lack of refugees coming through allows for unique opportunities for the ones who do make it to Jubilee. Whereas prior years would have seen families leaving after a few months, some of the refugees living there now have been there for almost over a year. First-year Reuben Peachey-Stoner said, “Because they had the time and resources to focus on a few people, those people were basically living as members. I was happy that we were able to be welcomed into that way of living.”
Jubilee is also heavily involved with working with prisoners who are on death row. Scottlind found this particularly thought-provoking. “The way they [at Jubilee] gave so much respect to prisoners on death row was something that I had never seen… or experienced before.”
All of this is defined by Jubilee Partners’ mission statement. Jubilee wishes to live out the “jubilee” of the Bible, where the year of Jubilee was marked with “justice and mercy.” Their mission statement calls for them to welcome all and follow God’s word to love their neighbors as themselves. Their work — being with refugees or prisoners — and community show that they are finding love in everything they do.
