Deacons Commission Stories

  • Collaborative Anabaptist response to DRC crisis

    “We are deprived of the Bibles, water, soaps and even food,” writes a representative of the youth organization of a Mennonite Brethren church in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “We are soliciting the accompaniment of your prayers and materials.” Mennonite World Conference has convened an inter-Anabaptist task force to respond to the…

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  • A pastoral letter regarding legal action for the protection of religious liberties

    Beloved sisters and brothers We call you to prayer for our siblings in the USA who are taking legal action that seeks to restore the rights of people of faith to gather, worship and serve without government interference. Mennonite Church USA joins more than 20 Christian and Jewish communities in this action. The current presidential…

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  • A pastoral letter for Anabaptists in DR Congo

    Beloved sisters and brothers **Jump to 22 February update ** “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”—Romans 12:15 We received a request for prayer from our leaders in DR Congo. Pastor Jean-Pierre Muya, president of MWC member church Communauté Mennonite de Congo (CMCo), writes: “This is a difficult time in our country.…

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  • A pastoral letter for those affected by wildfires in Los Angeles

    Beloved sisters and brothers:  The raging fires in Los Angeles in southern California, USA, have impacted many communities. At publication time, the fires have destroyed more than 160 km2, claimed the lives of at least 24 with dozens missing or unaccounted for, and destroyed more than 10,000 structures, including homes and churches. MWC member churches…

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  • Yesterday’s martyrs inspire those who suffer today 

    “Their commitment to passing down the message of peace and the gospel inspires me to live a sacrificial life for peace.” Stories of the early Anabaptist martyrs have shaped and inspired Mennonites around the world for 500 years. They continue to do so for suffering pastors in Myanmar, like the one quoted above.   From 25-29…

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  • Grieving a year of increasing violence in the Middle East

    A pastoral letter on October 7, 2024  Beloved brothers and sisters of the global Anabaptist/Mennonite communion:  With heavy hearts, we mark the one-year anniversary of terrible events that signalled the beginning of a new cycle of violence in the Middle East. We are heartbroken at the number of lives taken a year ago and since.…

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  • Angola church supports women

    “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). Igreja Evangelica Menonita Em Angola (IEMA) has taken this to heart with a lending project to promote small business for widows and abandoned women in their community. During a meeting of IEMA’s…

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  • Life-extending gifts to Myanmar

    Even civil war doesn’t stop the global family from supporting one another. For the Indonesia 2022 Assembly, Amos Chin from Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite (BMC), came to participate in the MWC General Council. A military coup followed by civil war had broken out in his country a year earlier, destroying the livelihoods of people there. …

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  • Pastoral arm listens, prays and encourages

    “We are called to be shalom-makers wherever we go. It takes courage, discipline, commitment and, of course, the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” says Andi Santoso, chair of the Deacons Commission.  What is the Deacons Commission?  The Deacons Commission* is the pastoral arm of Mennonite World Conference, focusing on the welfare of member churches, particularly…

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  • World Mennonites pray for courage and love

    “What a good way to end our day praying together as a global church,” says Sushant Nand, a leader in Mennonite Church India. He led a breakout room for Online Prayer Hour, a bimonthly event at 14:00 UTC that gathers Anabaptist-Mennonites from around the world.   After a short prayer focus on Mennonite Action (a movement…

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  • We will continue to pray

    “Praise God we had a meaningful prayer time for unity of Spirit to pray for suffering and bleeding humanity. May God have mercy over this world. We will continue pray for shared points,” says participant Rechal Bagh.

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  • What can I do to address world hunger?

    Mennonite World Conference is one of 14 Christian organizations joining hands with World Vision International in prayer and action against world hunger. The third annual Weekend of Prayer and Action Against Hunger (#WoPA2023) is observed 14-16 October 2023, coinciding with World Food Day which falls on Monday, 16 October 2023.  “We believe famine has no…

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