Stories

Sharing a new and unified language

“We come together throughout the world to sing and to make music together,” says Benjamin Bergey, Assembly 17 music coordinator. With attendees from the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia, “What we have [at Assembly] is an opportunity to reframe what... more/más/suite

Learning together and apart

Nobody anticipated the pandemic barrier that would challenge Assembly plans when they chose the theme “Following Jesus together across barriers”. One year later than the original date, the 17th Assembly of Mennonite World Conference takes place 5-10... more/más/suite

Morning coffee – or evening tea

Assembly plenaries set YABs and Commissions in conversation “It’s remarkable that I can share,” says Ebenezer Mondez, YABs (Young AnaBaptist) committee representative for Asia. “I come from a very small church with no more than 1 000 members... more/más/suite

Connect with local congregations during Assembly online

How is the gospel being shared in Indonesia, a country with the largest Muslim population in the world? Find out as you worship together with four local congregations that will host the evening worship sessions during MWC’s Assembly 17: in Jepara,... more/más/suite

Join the MWC Assembly – together – online!

“The Mennonite World Conference Assembly is a space to learn more about our brothers and sisters from different parts of the world. Everyone, regardless of budget or vacation time, will have the opportunity to gather online to worship, fellowship... more/más/suite

Why have an Assembly?

Former MWC president Danisa Ndlovu (2003-2015) spoke with MWC about hosting the 2003 Assembly in Zimbabwe, his home country. This interview has been edited. “Circumstances tend not to favour expectations. You don’t choose what is happening at any... more/más/suite

How Assembly food waste will end up as fertilizer

In Indonesia, a country where sorting and proper treatment of trash is rare, how do we run the Assembly sustainably? In 2019, Bangun P. Nugroho, a member of Jemaat Kristen Indonesia (JKI church) Holy Stadium in Semarang, Central Java, realized that... more/más/suite

Indonesia 2022: less on-site, more creative options

How will we gather for Assembly 17? The Executive Committee has opted for limited on-site attendees and many options for online attendees at the hybrid Assembly 17. MWC Assembly is hosted by the three Indonesian Anabaptist-Mennonite synods in... more/más/suite

Indonesia Assembly surmounts barriers

Will there be Assembly this summer? Absolutely! Who will attend in Indonesia? Watch for upcoming news. In their February online meeting, the Executive Committee are deciding on the attendance model for Assembly, based on the most current public... more/más/suite

Assembly tours in Indonesia 2022

How lifelong relationships become real Assembly tours have something for everyone! an adventurous bicycle ride across a rural rice field a deep dive into Indonesia's Mennonite church history as told in John D. Roth’s new book A Cloud of Witnesses... more/más/suite

Registration for MWC Assembly opens for online participation

Starting 24 December 2021, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is accepting registration for online participants for Indonesia 2022 through its registration site: indonesia2022.mwc-cmm.org “Assembly will focus on accepting online registration first,... more/más/suite

Assembly music: “A mountaintop experience”

Mark Wenger, singer, bass Franconia Mennonite Church, Telford, Pennsylvania, USA Assembly 16: PA 2015 “I was the old guy in the worship team. My favorite memory is the exuberance and joy of making music together with songs from all around the world... more/más/suite

Life-changing indeed!

Assembly team reflects on why they keep coming back for more Many people serving the Mennonite World Conference today started as participants or delegates to its six-yearly Assembly. Here, Assembly staff members share how Assembly transformed their... more/más/suite

Mustard-seed faith that moves mountains

“For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) In July 2009, leaders from the three Indonesian... more/más/suite

6 reasons to attend the MWC Global Assembly in Semarang, Indonesia

Before visiting Indonesia to meet the Anabaptist-Mennonite family in person, meet them through history. A Cloud of Witnesses by historian and MWC leader John D. Roth offers a brief, readable account of the three Anabaptist-Mennonite synods in... more/más/suite

More than greeters

Training begins for Indonesia 2022 volunteers With only ten more months to prepare and gathering limitations still in place, Assembly’s national planning committee presses on training volunteers virtually. In May 2021, the committee coached 60... more/más/suite

MWC launches “Ambassador Kit” for churches to promote Indonesia 2022

NEW materials 2022-03 As the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we travel, Mennonite World Conference representatives and Assembly team seek new ways to bring awareness and excitement for Indonesia 2022, which will be MWC’s first hybrid global... more/más/suite

Assembly team drawing lessons from the Olympics

Despite grave concerns, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics took place in 2021 and gave the world memorable stories of togetherness. From high jumpers Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar) and Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy) agreeing to end the jump-off and share the gold medal... more/más/suite

Worship that transcends physical boundaries

The auditorium, filled with thouands of worshippers, tuned in intently as Debora Prabu broke the silence with an a cappella solo of Oh, Prince of Peace , a pentatonic hymn in the Javanese language written by Saptojoadi of Gereja Injili di Tanah Jawa... more/más/suite

Feeding the multitude

From banquet to disaster relief In 2008, Jemaat Kristen Indonesia (JKI)’s senior pastor’s vision for feeding the multitude came into reality with the establishment of Rojo Pawon. Today, it is a thriving venture that serves a wide range of clientele... more/más/suite