Stories

The taste of generosity

As frequently as once a week, a welcome visitor shows up at the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) office in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, bearing gifts. “Pie man” Tim Sauer’s gifts involve strawberries, grapes, rhubarb, apples, sour cherries – and... Weiterlesen

Pacifism and nonviolence should be a way of life

In daily life, too, we need the ability to deal with conflicts in a healthy and peaceful way. In my opinion, it is one of the tasks of the churches to practice this and thus train nonviolence as a lifestyle. If you succeed in this, you are more... Weiterlesen

Graphic design and cooking pave the way to emotional resiliency

What do cooking and graphic design have in common? For Adi Nugroho, it’s never been about mastering either of these skills. Technical skills are simply the backdrop for developing emotional tools and creating a space for connection, even across... Weiterlesen

A lunch break in the presence of God

The “pause for prayer” at the Mennonite church of ChâtenayMalabry (Paris, France) was created in March 2021as part of the journey towards Easter in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initiated by our former pastor, Silvie Hege, it took the form of... Weiterlesen

Journeying into the unknown, tasting goodness now

South Korea was very successful in its response to the pandemic, especially during the early stages. The virus was contained and death rates were low although the government refrained from issuing drastic measures such as lockdowns or business... Weiterlesen

A treasure of unity in the pearl of Africa

“MWC brings people from different cultural backgrounds together into one basket,” says Bishop Simon Okoth of Mennonite Church Uganda. A chance airport encounter allowed Simon Okoth to bring that cultural mixing to Mennonite congregations in his... Weiterlesen

Life and faith within God’s community

We never imagined that the pandemic and its scars would affect our lives and the lives of our institutions to the extent it has. The church could not divorce itself from the difficult realities we lived through, and that still affects the “new... Weiterlesen

“Deliver us from evil”

Gebet anlässlich des 1. Jahrestages des Angriffskrieges der russischen Regierung gegen die Menschen in Ukraine 24. Februar 2023 Krieg verursacht unendliches Leid. Lokal, wo Menschen Waffengewalt, Vergewaltigungen, Tod und Vertreibung erfahren;... Weiterlesen

It was as though they were celebrating with us

“We know that we are part of a larger community, but sharing this Sunday leads us to live it concretely,” says Sylvain Lavoué, church board vice president at Église Protestante Mennonite, Villeneuve le Comte, France. The church celebrated Anabaptist... Weiterlesen

Ministry partner update: ICOMB – January 2023

We ended the year with gratitude to God by preparing the children, youth, and ladies camp activities to be held in January-February 2023 in Villa Maranatha.Weiterlesen

How can I celebrate?

I am tired of war, conflict, hunger, poverty, division, hatred, gun violence, black and white class difference, the oppression of women, slaughter of children and women, fake news, liars and unjust authorities and leaders and so many, many issues... Weiterlesen

A gospel light in the USA

Christmas around the world Every year on 24 December, my family goes to the Christmas Eve service at Park View Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, Virginia). It’s a traditional ‘lessons and carols’ service, where we read the Christmas Story from Luke... Weiterlesen

Jesus brings us together in our differences

How to represent Jesus in a live painting? White with a beard as he is often represented in churches? Not really! We had it in our hearts to paint a colorful Jesus, a Jesus in green, yellow, blue, white, red and orange. We are the camp “ Juntos in... Weiterlesen

A family that prays for each other

“You have been with us even though you were far from us. You helped us with your messages and calls,” says Kyendrébéogo Wendyam Natacha. The young woman who recently completed a YAMEN assignment with MWC presented an update in the November online... Weiterlesen

Joy and love: night vigil in Kenya

This tradition always reminds me of the joy and the love we have for each other as a community. Getting together to share meals and storytelling is usually the best part, but the most amazing and wonderful time is during the night vigil when one... Weiterlesen

A new move of God

In remote corners of Tamil Nadu, India, gospel workers trained by Gilgal Mission Trust (GMT) are shining the light of the gospel hand-in-hand with education and vocational training. Along the Amravati River in Coimbatore District, many people in the... Weiterlesen

Unexpected placement equips for future service

Stephanie Setiawan from Sidoarjo, Indonesia, had no plan to go to Latin America. She applied for Mennonite Central Committee’s International Volunteer Exchange Program in 2013/2014, but the slot for her synod was already taken. The coordinators... Weiterlesen

Young people lead barrier crossing

GKMI Petra-Depok, Indonesia, celebrated being a new creation on Peace Sunday , 18 September 2022, with a special guest. Sadanand Hembrom joined the service from India by video. For the last few years, GKMI Petra-Depok in greater Jakarta has been... Weiterlesen

Jesus’ message of resilience and liberation

Reading: Matthew 5:3-20 In June 1981, our family moved to Cochabamba, Bolivia, where my parents were to teach in a Baptist seminary that wanted more Anabaptist input. We arrived at a particularly raucous point in Bolivian history. In July 1980, Luis... Weiterlesen

Finding new ways to respond

Resilience in the face of the pandemic When we look back at what happened in the last two years all throughout the world, one could just offer a sigh. We were never prepared for this. Being locked down for several months in the Philippines forced us... Weiterlesen