Courier 2026 / 41.3

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Living out the truth we believe

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
—Philippians 4:8

In this age of disinformation, psychologists are warning us that the more we hear a claim, even an outlandish or exaggerated one, the more we begin to view it as plausible.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians gives us an antidote to this tendency: spend our attention on that which is good: true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy.

This issue attempts to do that in the telling of stories.

It’s a taste of the Renewal event which took place in the Philippines in March 2026. The program there was focused around the Filipino concept of bayanihan, carrying each other’s burdens (see pages 3-6).Amid the troubles of the world – and even the conflicts within the church – it’s easy to think that nonviolent means can’t possibly solve intractable violent conflicts; that under pressure we all revert to our baser natures; that differences between people must cause fear and hostility.

But we have better stories to tell! We know the community can come together to rebuild the neighbour’s house!

We have seen strangers come from far and wide give needed supplies after a fire (see page 7).

We have witnessed God’s love break cycles of addiction and trauma, putting people on a pathway to wholeness and flourishing (page 8).

We have carried burdens of heartbreak and rupture, yet found – often through the same community that inflicted the wounds – that God’s grace is sufficient to bind up our hearts and give us hope to persevere and keep on loving (page 9).

We have brought tangible care to those in need outside our church, and in so doing, removed distance between neighbours and shared the light of the gospel without words (page 10).

We have seen our faithful efforts to share what we have produce effects multiple times the original input (page 11).

We are training ourselves to invest in people and their transformation through encountering difference (page 12).So let us repeat the stories of God’s goodness. Let us make outlandish claims believable through repeating that good can overcome evil, that peace is stronger than violence, that unity is possible amid significant difference, and that love transforms even hatred into soul beauty.

And as we live in our different corners of the world, “grant us the courage to be your hands and feet” (page 5) who not only tell the stories that are true but create them with our lives.

Karla Braun is editor of Courier and writer for Mennonite World Conference. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada.