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December 2023
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 We hope the December edition of Info brings you a glimpse of joy as you read about what MWC is doing around the world: from supporting the phasing out of fossil fuels, educating churches on climate issues, to launching Forming Leaders Together to give Anabaptist-rooted theological training to church leaders. It has been a challenging year, but as one global family of faith, let us stay united in prayer, fellowship, action and solidarity for each other – and not lose sight of the hope we have in our sovereign Lord.
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Celebrating God’s presence this Christmas
From wars to climate disasters and slower-than-expected economic recovery post-pandemic, 2023 has been a challenging year. As we navigate through these world events and ponder their impact on our lives, Christmas approaches. How do we embrace the impending festivities when the world around us seems to be crumbling? How do we express gratitude for salvation when death and destruction constantly play out on our screens?
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Ambassadors of God’s Kingdom
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). These words of the apostle Paul are part of a letter that addresses a church audience that likely included both Gentiles and Jews. Some were Roman citizens, and others were not. However, Paul identifies all of these Christians, regardless of their political nationality, as citizens of another kingdom – God’s kingdom.
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Gathering of world communions focuses on God’s work
The Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions met at the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches at Bossey, Switzerland, from 30 October-3 November 2023. To foster mutual understanding and familiarize participants...
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On a map of Green Churches in the Netherlands, there is a green dot for the Mennonite congregation in Aalsmeer. Another dot represents Arboretumkerk, located...
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MWC calls for global energy transition
Earth in all its diversity, vitality and abundance is a gift that has been overshadowed by neglect, exploitation and unsustainable consumption. Anabaptist values, by contrast, call for stewardship (thoughtful care-taking), simplicity and the dignity of all persons created in the image of God.
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Meet Vikal Rao, Rajnandgaon, India. Member of the Deacons Commission . How do you serve MWC? I am serving officially as a member of the Deacons Commission (2018-2025). My journey with MWC started in 1997: I was a youth steward in the Global Church Village (GCV) during the Assembly in India.
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Transmission 2023 Migration
“How worldwide migration an displaced persons are being supported by loving and caring people.” This global phenomenon is the subject of 2023’s Transmission video. Transmission is a series of five, 10-minute video productions leading up to 2025...
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In Memoriam: John A. Lapp (1933-2023)
Mennonite World Conference mourns the loss of John A. Lapp, who died on Tuesday, 7 December 2023, at 90 years of age. John A. Lapp was coordinator and co-editor of MWC’s Global Mennonite History Series.
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Pray for parts of East Africa affected by heavy rains and mudslides. Earlier in December, some 80 people were reported to have died in Tanzania after mudslides carried large rocks and uprooted trees, reaching depths of up to 8 metres. In the village of Hanang, Tanzania, the church remains standing but nearly all the houses were destroyed. Mennonite churches in Kisumu and Migori, Kenya, suffered excess rains. Flooding in Kenya continued to worsen throughout December with many deaths reported in northern Kenya.
Lord, have mercy on the Volta region of Ghana where river flooding has affected people in the Eastern region. Several farms, fish cages, properties were condemned and many people become homeless in Sogakope, Mepe, Akuse, Agave, Ziweonu, Galo, Sota, Gborgblenukpo, Hawui, Tademe, Sokpoe and many other areas, reports Francis Dzivor, Ghana Mennonite Church president and MWC General Council delegate. Mennointe congregations in Tademe and Dalive were affected.
Pray for the churches in Northeast Asia: congregations in Japan and Hong Kong especially are aging. Pastors are retiring. Pray for a living spark to renew churches and to draw younger people to choose to follow Jesus in the fellowship of others.
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The Bible includes lots of books that were written before, during and after the coming of Jesus, but his story does not end there; God is still working and continues to impact people’s lives.
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In recent years, the Mennonite theological school Bienenberg Training Centre has offered a “Hot Topics” course, which gives voice to opposing perspectives on current hot topics in the churches. As they hear points they agree or disagree with...
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Join us for Climate Pollinators, a webinar series on creation care . This webinar is jointly organized by the Creation Care Task Force and Anabaptist Climate Collaborative . In these webinars...
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