Prayers of gratitude and intercession

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. 

That year and also in 2023, BMC received a Global Church Sharing Fund (GCSF) grant from Mennonite World Conference. “We used the fund for food, medicine and basic necessities for the Mennonite refugees in the Chin state,” said Amos Chin. 

“Many of us, especially young men in the families, have to live in hiding to prevent being conscripted in the military. During a civil war like this, there’s no question that conscription would mean killing our neighbours and friends. We do not want to take part in this,” said Amos Chin. 

However, these young men may be financial providers for their families. “Under such pressure, these gifts have allowed us to help our church members and war refugees obtain basic needs,” said Amos Chin. 

The MWC family has also responded on a member-church basis. 

In 2022, Assembly host conferences GKMI (Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia)* and JKI (Jemaat Kristen Indonesia)* sent aid to refugees, both to displaced peoples and those who want to return to their hometowns. 

During the 2024 Executive Committee meetings in Curitiba, Brazil, Andean region regional representative Pablo Stucky passed a special offering from his home church in Colombia to Myanmar. “Members of my church follow the situation of Myanmar keenly because they too have endured years of mandatory military service, internal armed conflict and forced displacement,” said Pablo Stucky.

“These connections were made possible because all our churches were connected to Mennonite World Conference and because MWC raised the issue of Myanmar. For this, I thank you,” said Amos Chin. 

Bruce Campbell-Janz, MWC Chief Development Officer, said, “Everyone in MWC is called together to follow Jesus, and in this there are many opportunities to practise generosity as MWC amplifies the voices of churches around the world facing challenges. This mutual sharing in suffering and joy is core to MWC’s vision.” 

Since the civil war broke in 2021, about half of the country is controlled by rebel forces, causing military bombing and raids on a daily basis. Death tolls continue to rise, now numbering 50 000 according to The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). This makes Myanmar the most violent among the 50 wars ACLED tracks globally. 

About 30 percent of Myanmar’s population is facing food insecurity, according to the 2023 World Food Programme report. 

Since the civil war broke in 2021, BMC had to close three refugee camps due to food scarcity and lack of medicine. One Mennonite church has been destroyed. The Mennonite church in Myanmar has 47 congregations, 21 of which exist in locations severely impacted by the war. 

“Myanmar is facing many problems, from war, food scarcity, high inflation to high unemployment. But, on the other hand, God is opening a great door for us to continue spreading the gospel. In fact, church attendance is growing, and many of our youth made a pledge not to partake in the civil war because they understood the Anabaptist teaching of peace. Some have even chosen to go to prison rather than taking up arms,” said Amos Chin. 

“Please continue to pray for us, the more than 200 Mennonite families whose livelihoods have been totally destroyed by war. Pray for peace in Myanmar,” said Amos Chin. 

About MWC national member church Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite 

Established in 1997, Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite, in Myanmar has 47 congregations with around 2 000 baptized members and 3 500 regular attenders. The church has been following Jesus in the context of state violence for decades, with escalation into civil war after a 2021 coup. 

*Today, there are three Anabaptist-Mennonite groups in Indonesia: 

• Gereja Injili di Tanah Jawa (GITJ –Evangelical Church in the Land of Java) 
• Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia (GKMI –Muria Christian Church of Indonesia) 
• Jemaat Kristen Indonesia (JKI –Indonesian Christian Congregation) 

“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 in times of distress. The Commission offers listening, prayer, encouragement and support to churches by “walking with them” in their particular need. 

The Commission promotes the attitude and practice of service among member churches by means of visits, teaching and materials. 

What does the Deacons Commission do? 

Global Church Sharing Fund 

The Deacons Commission manages the Global Church Sharing Fund (GCSF), to which MWC member and associate member churches in Africa, Asia and Latin America/Caribbean may apply for a grant of up to US$10 000 for ministries that advance the life and mission of their churches. In 2023, GCSF disbursed more than USD$100 000 to churches in nine countries, on initiatives ranging from church building, translation of Anabaptist documents into local languages, disaster responses, ministry support for disadvantaged groups, to capacity building. 

“It is important for us to continue to support each other so that ‘Those who gathered more did not have too much, and those who gathered less did not have too little’” (2 Corinthians 8:13–15),” Andi continued, “Yet it is equally important that those who receive the gift have the power to determine how it will further God’s mission in their circumstances.” 

Click here to learn about the Global Church Sharing Fund

Prayer 

The Deacons Commission publishes a monthly prayer network newsletter, which raises prayer requests from MWC member churches globally. Along with the regional representatives, the Deacons Commission also hosts the bimonthly Online Prayer Hour, a one-hour virtual meeting for members from around the world to pray for and with each other. 

Sign up for the prayer network email here

Register for the next Online Prayer Hour here 

Delegation Visits 

During their in-person meetings, the Deacons Commission agreed to expand the definition of delegation visits to churches facing a prolonged or extremely challenging situation. 

• a. Virtual meetings with church leaders and other MWC Networks. In 2023, the Deacons Commission met virtually with the Young AnaBaptists (YABs) Committee to learn their priorities and see where the two teams can collaborate. Future plans may include training sessions. 
• b. Unofficial visits. When Deacons Commission members are invited to speak in a different church or country, they can visit local Anabaptist-Mennonite churches, host a workshop, or be in dialog about the role of MWC in empowering local churches.
  For example, in 2023, Deacons Commission secretary Tigist Tesfaye was invited to India as speaker at the annual All-India Mennonite Women’s conference. She also visited 15 local Anabaptist-Mennonite churches while there, and discussed how women were involved in the work of the church. 
• c. Official visits: a team of continental delegates, subject matter experts and Deacons Commission members make a formal visit to encourage a member church experiencing distress, challenges or conflict. The last official visit was in 2020 to Burkina Faso.

Plans for 2024 

After a moratorium on travel during the COVID years, the new members of the Deacons Commission held face-to-face meetings alongside the Global Peacebuilding Festival in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, in June 2023. They reviewed the tasks of the Deacons Commission (Global Church Sharing Fund, Prayer Network, delegations) and made plans for the future. 

“We want to relaunch the Deacons’ delegation visit to the least-supported congregations or those suffering from natural disasters or horizontal conflicts,” says Andi Santoso. 

Plans are also underway to train Deacons Commission’s members on trauma-informed ministry and how to be in solidarity with churches dealing with collective trauma. 

Who are the members of the Deacons Commission? Click here to learn more 

Like the chambers of a heart, the four MWC commissions serve the global community of Anabaptist-related churches, in the areas of Deacons, Faith and Life, Peace, Mission. Commissions prepare materials for consideration by the General Council, give guidance and propose resources to member churches, and facilitate MWC-related networks or fellowships working together on matters of common interest and focus. In the following, one of the commissions shares a message from their ministry focus. 

“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 calling Canadians and Americans to ask their elected representatives to support a ceasefire in Gaza), the more than 50 participants in Online Prayer Hour divide into small groups on Zoom to pray.  

Heavy storms in India and a cable outage in West Africa Burkina Faso made it challenging for participants from those regions to stay connected.  

The Hindi-language breakout rooms speak about being a living witness for peace among persecution in India. In several regions, Christians have been beaten, their churches demolished; other times the persecution is more subtle: “noncooperation of the government regarding Christian faith.”  

Participants from DR Congo say fear drives conflict, creating cycles of violence and displacement. “Praying for peace in the world is very real, in DR Congo,” says Bruce Campbell-Janz, MWC chief development officer and breakout room leader in French.  

Many call for prayer for fair elections and for churches to live out loving their neighbours. Political rhetoric of intolerance and division is increasing in popularity. 2024 will see national elections in more than 60 countries, including India in April and May.  

Participants pray for Haiti where thousands of people are trying to leave as violence and political instability grows.  

Prayers are also raised for growth: new leaders, young people involved and new church plants in Anabaptist-Mennonite national churches around the world.  

“As we prepare to mark the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism, we pray that our time together is not just a time to look back but a time to look forward,” says J. Ron Byler, coordinator of commissions secretaries. MWC’s Faith & Life Commission is also in dialogue with members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. For the Ascension Day memorial event in Switzerland, he calls for prayer that General Council members from Africa and Asia would successfully receive visas to participate, so the event could truly be a global gathering. Prayers are also raised for the upcoming Executive Committee meetings and Renewal 2024 event in Brazil.  

“May we find a voice to speak with courage and love,” says Cynthia Peacock, MWC regional representative for South Asia. 

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 place in the 21st century and is entirely preventable,” says Tigist Tesfaye, secretary of MWC Deacons Commission. “Yet the world faces an unprecedented hunger crisis today. Wars and violence, rising costs, weather extremes and uneven recovery from the pandemic’s economic impact are putting 258 million people at risk. The United Nations’ World Food Program says 58 countries are in acute food insecurity as of end of 2022.” 

Action-oriented resources for Sunday service liturgy, biblical reflection on food and sharing of resources, videos and photos and children’s resources are available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Download action against hunger resources here. 

“We call all Anabaptist-Mennonite churches to teach their congregations about the 10 Commandments of Food. This includes giving thanks for food and the people that grow and prepare it, eating in moderation, not wasting food, eating locally and sharing the gift of food with those who don’t have enough nutrition,” says Tigist Tesfaye. 

“We also call churches to take the week starting 16 October 2023 to support the MWC Global Church Sharing Fund, which supports local churches in addressing immediate needs in their church community, including food security,” says Tigist Tesfaye. 

Mennonite World Conference would love to hear how you and your church are taking action against world hunger! Post on social media with the hashtags #WoPA2023 and #mwcmm 

How can you take action against hunger 

At the individual level 

• Commit to eating locally 
• Do not waste food 
• Eat in moderation 
• Build relationships with farmers, farm workers and food workers – learn the triumphs and challenges in growing and delivering food to your table 
• Support a local food bank or free meal programs 

At the congregation level 

• Teach the 10 Commandments of Food 
• Start or support initiatives that address food inequality in your community 
• Promote sustainable farming practices 
• Share the gift of food to others who don’t have enough nutrition 

“I believe in the unlimited power of prayer,” writes the leader of a Mennonite World Conference member church in Myanmar. He was announced as a special guest for Online Prayer Hour in January 2023. However, he was unable to share about the situation of his church due to a countrywide internet outage. His name is withheld for security reasons.  

The church leader asks for prayer for Myanmar.  

“People are suffering hunger and even death due to the war. Youth are embittered; they become avid to take up arms. 

“Yet, thanks to God’s grace, our church is living out the gospel. The Body of Christ is growing.” 

Online Prayer Hour is a bimonthly, one-hour prayer meeting on Zoom open to all Anabaptist-Mennonites to intercede together. After a brief focus on Scripture and prayer points, participants join small groups by language (English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian). At the end, group leaders share items raised in their rooms.  

At January’s meeting, group leaders called for prayer…

• That the church would walk with those who are marginalized and seek justice; for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada and the USA, and for churches in Mexico who are asked to provide refuge for migrants; 
• For de-escalation of political polarization, income inequality, homelessness and food security;  
• For de-escalation of political violence in Bolivia, Peru, Brazil and Colombia; for those affected by war, particularly in Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia; for churches to act wisely in the spirit of peace in violent times;
• For Indonesia’s general election in 2024; 
• For Indian Christians: those attacked by mobs in Chhattisgarh, India, those at Emmanuel Hospital Association in Fatehpur which was vandalized, and for organizations struggling to operate without FCRA documentation; 
• For the loved ones and students of Christian leaders killed in a Nepali plane crash; 
• For sanitation measures and health care in Malawi where a cholera epidemic is rising; 
• For resources to show God’s love; and for the missionary efforts of Kenya Mennonite Church in Somalia; 
• For unity amid diversity, especially for those who are a minority. 

The prayer hour ends with joyful pandemonium as friends from around the world call out greetings from screen to screen in many languages.  

“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 prayer hour to attendees from three dozen countries.  

“My country [Burkina Faso] underwent two coups d’etat in the year 2022,” she said.  

At press time, close to 2 million people were reported displaced and hundreds of thousands of students had schooling disrupted. 

“Like the other churches in Burkina Faso, the Mennonite church is not forgotten because they have helped other people with many kinds of help and with prayer for the country,” said Kyendrébéogo Wendyam Natacha. “Aways we thank God for his marvellous work and for his protection.” 

After her report, attendees divided into groups in English, Spanish, French, Hindi and Indonesian to pray.  

Leaders led their groups through the points provided in the Prayer Network email and reported on additional concerns raised in their rooms.  

People prayed…. 

• about climate change and for year-end fundraising efforts.  
• about the stresses of anti-conversion laws in India. 
• for the struggles of young people to find employment and form their identities, and for the three Anabaptist-Mennonite synods in Indonesia who are opening up conversations about sexuality.  
• for the new government in Brazil and for unity among churches and passion to preach the gospel. They also prayed about corruption and violence in Latin America, especially in Bolivia and Venezuela. They prayed for new churches taking root and for suffering people around the world who remain faithful in witnessing to the gospel of peace. They prayed for Justice and Peace, a Latin American movement advocating for disappeared people and more peaceful political systems. 
• with gratitude for 35 young people baptized and seven pastors ordained (including one woman) recently in India. They prayed for a gathering of leaders in Uganda, for the upcoming weekend’s elections in Nepal and about the political situation in Hong Kong. They lifted up people experiencing food insecurity. 

“And gratitude for what God is doing,” adds Spanish breakout room leader Pablo Stucky.  

“It is such a blessing to be able to come together in prayer across all our languages, miles and everything in between,” says Arli Klassen, regional representatives coordinator. “I hope the participants take the prayer requests home to their churches to continue to remember them and lift up urgent needs from around the world.”  

In January, Amos Chin, pastor and church leader of Bible Missionary Church in Myanmar, will share about the difficult situation in his country, followed by prayer in breakout rooms. 

“The Mennonite family is a wonderful family of God and I thank God that I met you, to know this family that – crossing barriers – is a united family; a family that prays for each other,” says Kyendrébéogo Wendyam Natacha. 

View Natacha’s video (in French with English subtitles) here. 

Submit your thanksgiving or intercession about and for the church to prayers@mwc-cmm.org or comment below. 

Resource highlight: Shared Convictions 

“The Spirit of Jesus empowers us to trust God in all areas of life so we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies, seek justice, and share our possessions with those in need.”
—Shared Conviction #5 

As Christ’s followers who are called to embody his life, death, and resurrection in our daily lives, we must understand why we do what we do and what our calling is to practice what Christ taught and did during his earthly ministry. MWC’s Shared Convictions express some of our values and identity as Anabaptist-Mennonite followers of Christ.  

What does this imply for our current situation? 

As I pondered this question, my thoughts returned to the recent trips. It was an honour for me to travel to Australia and South Korea to visit partners and friends.  

On my visit with the Anabaptist Association in Australia and New Zealand (AAANZ), I was amazed by the story of our brothers and sisters in Sydney who welcomed a family of refugees from Ukraine into their home.  

On this trip, I also attended a Public Theology Conference hosted by the Cooperative Hub Brisbane. Many presentations were about decolonizing theology, mission, and practices as Christians who bear the legacy of colonizing Aboriginal people in Australia.  

How do we live as Christian in our modern society when we carry such baggage?  

They also shared challenges and concerns about the church in a post-Christian era.  

• How can Christian values be embodied in all areas of life when people are less interested in religious activity than they were previously?  
• How do we be peacemakers who seek justice, especially when dealing with past trauma and colonization of Indigenous peoples? 

After Australia, I visited peacebuilders in South Korea: Northeast Asian Regional Peacebuilding Institute (NARPI), Korean Peacebuilding Institute (KOPI), Mennonite Central Committee Northeast Asia, Korean Anabaptist Center (KAC), Mennonite Church in South Korea (MCSK).  

From the top of the mountain in Chuncheon, one can see the valley that became the battlefield during the Korean war in 1950-1953. As I reflected on the history of the conflict between North Korea and South Korea, my heart was deeply sad.  

• How can we become peacemakers in this situation?  
• How can we follow Christ while bearing the wounds of war, separation from family?  
• How do we talk about peace, justice, reconciliation or even forgiving our enemies? 
• Who is our enemy? 

My encounters with Anabaptist-Mennonite brothers and sisters in South Korea shaped me. They demonstrate what it means to be a Christ follower. These believers transform their own trauma into a Christ-like life. They bear passion, peace, love and a heart to welcome strangers in their home. Alongside delicious Korean food, they share the stories of their difficult past without showing any anger, revenge or hatred. Kamsahamnida!  

I am truly grateful to have met true peacemakers who embody Christ’s love and compassion, living out the way of peace. I am encouraged by a family who opens their home for a refugee family refugee; they have shown what Christ love is.  

As a Deacons Commission chair, I can see the hope of the global community of Anabaptist-Mennonite continuing to walk together in this way of life – as expressed in our Shared Convictions – here and now! 

— Andi Santoso is the chair of the Deacons Commission (2022-2028). An ordained pastor with GKMI (Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia, an MWC member church), he currently serves with Mennonite Mission Network as regional administrator for Asia and the Middle East.  

Like the chambers of a heart, the four commissions of Mennonite World Conference serve the global community of Anabaptist-related churches, in the areas of deacons, faith and life, peace, mission. Commissions prepare materials for consideration by the General Council, give guidance and propose resources to member churches, and facilitate MWC-related networks or fellowships working together on matters of common interest and focus. In the following, one of the commissions shares a message from their ministry focus. 

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, lack of vaccination is a problem. Even before COVID-19, a measles outbreak took more than 40 children in 2019 in Kikwit, a city of some 500,000 people, and host to a growing number of internally displaced persons. But the church is not silent. 

Last August, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) called on members to Love neighbours: share vaccines. Although the equitable rollout of COVID-19 vaccination is still a global concern, the focus has shifted to strengthening vulnerable health care systems. 

MWC invites members to love neighbours through four Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) projects. These health care efforts are supported by MWC member churches in Kenya and DR Congo. One supports health care centres owned by Communauté des Eglises de Frères Mennonites au Congo (CEFMC), the Mennonite Brethren church. 

CEFMC proclaims the gospel beyond the church walls through medical care. Although the government pays the medical staff salaries, CEFMC runs the operations at four hospitals and 10 health centres in the central African country.  

Through these church-run health facilities, an MCC-funded project aims to inform households – of displaced people and church members – of the hygiene measures enacted by the World Health Organization to combat COVID-19 through door-to-door distribution of hygiene kits.  

The project provides free quality medical consultations and care to internally displaced persons. After fleeing violence in Kasai, they are particularly vulnerable to health problems. MCC’s project also provides capacity building training in peace, trauma and humanitarian principles for hospital staff. 

CEFMC has a local relief committee that serves as an intermediary between CEFMC and the Kanzombi hospital. This committee has received training from MCC on humanitarian assistance. The committee is made up of the hospital’s physician, Dr. Jacques Tangudiki, members of the host community, and internally displaced persons. 

“The extraordinary threat wealthy countries experienced from COVID-19 is an every-day realty for many people in regions with weak health care systems and lacking basic vaccination programs. The pandemic’s focus public health provides opportunity to strengthen general health care and vaccination programs in poorer regions of the world,” says Henk Stenvers, MWC Deacons Commission secretary.  

Click here for more on Love Neighbours: Share Vaccines 

Click here to donate to MCC’s four MWC member church projects 

Millicent conceived in March 2020, just when Kenya reported the first case of COVID-19. The resident of Mathare, a poor district, was very fearful. Her neighbour Sophie, a care group volunteer with Centre for Peace and Nationhood (CPN), reached out when she realized Millicent was worried. With the support of Sophie and other CPN-trained mentors, Millicent was able to deliver her baby safely and receive post-natal support.  

Last August, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) called on members to Love neighbours: share vaccines. Although the equitable rollout of COVID-19 vaccination is still a global concern, the focus has shifted to strengthening vulnerable health care systems. 

MWC invites members to love neighbours through four Mennonite Central Committee projects. These health care efforts are supported by MWC member churches in Kenya and DR Congo. One is the Centre for Peace and Nationhood maternal and childcare initiative, a work of Kenya Mennonite Church.  

Centre for Peace and Nationhood began this project when the COVID-19 pandemic had just reached Kenya.  

Life in the informal settlements changed significantly for many project participants, and the project’s scope also shifted. Despite all these challenges, women in the care group reported significant improvement in the care for their pregnancies and children.  

As women in the Mathare community build rapport with health care workers, they become champions within their neighbourhoods of the hygiene skills they have learned. The trust built with health care provides is also a step on a pathway to vaccination for COVID-19. The clinics also teach on COVID-19 prevention and promote vaccination. 

Millicent can’t help but compare this child’s birth with her previous. In her first pregnancy, she was all alone. This time, despite the threats of pandemic and more, she was comforted by the support of neighbourhood women, giving care and teaching healthy practices.  

“When mothers and babies are healthy, families and communities are healthy,” says Paul Shetler Fast, MCC global health coordinator.   

Click here for more on Love Neighbours: Share Vaccines 

Click here to donate to MCC’s four MWC member church projects