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Prayers of gratitude and intercession

  • Prepared by the YABs Committee for 1-4 July 2022

    *This year’s Fellowship Week activities will take place during the Global Youth Summit and Assembly 17 in Indonesia

    Theme

    “Sealed in the Spirit”

    Why this theme was chosen

    This theme ties in with the 2022 Global Youth Summit (GYS) theme: “Life in the Spirit.” This topic represents a diversity of experiences within the global body. It gives us the opportunity to learn from each other and to seek the unity of the Spirit together through the bond of peace.

    Biblical text

    Ephesians 1:13-14

    And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory. (NRSV)

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  • “I can see one family with a lot of members, worshipping the same Father,” says Natacha Kyendrebeogo from Burkina Faso. 

    She is one of four young people serving through YAMEN on the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Assembly team in Indonesia. YAMEN (Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network) is a program that places emphasis on expanding the fellowship between churches in the Anabaptist tradition and developing young leaders around the globe.   

    All four members of the Assembly team are working on MWC’s five-day global gathering. Assembly happens once every six years, and the YAMEN members of the planning team are looking forward to being part of the community meeting of world-wide Anabaptist-Mennonites in Indonesia.  

    “The Global Church Village, the programs, the workshops: I have this whole picture of a crowd that is so joyful, doing things together,” says Loyce Twongirwe from Uganda. A filmmaker, she serves on the communications team for Assembly. 

    “I am looking forward to creating lasting friendships: getting to know each country, how people live, how they are as a congregation,” says Sunil Kadmaset from India. 

    While waiting for visas for Indonesia, Sunil Kadmaset and Ananda Mohan Murmu began to get to know the wider Anabaptist family as they served with Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India (MCSFI).  

    Sunil Kadmaset (from the Brethren in Christ in Cuttack, Odisha) and Ananda Mohan Murmu (from a Bharatiya Jukta Christa Prachar Mandali (BJCPM) congregation in Balarampur, West Bengal) lived among Mennonite Church India members in Chhattisgarh. They collaborated with Anabaptist-Mennonite organizations from eight national churches in India and Nepal. 

    Ananda Mohan Murmu was drawn to YAMEN after hearing from his friends who participated in MCC’s International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP) and how the program had an impact on their perspective. Alongside MCSFI director Benjamin Nand, he called on gardening and peace projects and he visited churches with MWC regional representative Cynthia Peacock. “People’s joy gives me my greatest joy,” he says. 

    “We are different states, different castes, [yet] we are still as brothers and sisters,” says Sunil Kadmaset. With MCSFI, he met people who suffered from COVID-19, yet, with help from the Mennonite family and encouragement from the Spirit, they persevered. “To know each other from eight conferences – I am content with that.” 

    Natacha Kyendrebeogo also tasted the fellowship of the global family before she even left home. After a military coup in Burkina Faso, “I received a lot of mail encouragement from those who don’t know me. They pray for my country; they pray for this situation. I couldn’t image the fellowship. I enjoy the love, the encouragement,” she says. 

    As they tend their tasks, the YAMENers are spurred on by their hopes for Assembly.  

    Loyce Twongirwe, started her work from an office in Uganda, and now is with the team in Indonesia, “We are advancing videos: how to register, how to book hotels. So, when they reach event, they don’t feel lost, confused, left out,” she says. “It’s a great responsibly to us to make sure it goes perfect as we picture.” 

    “When I close my eyes, I see lots of people around me,…with people from Africa, USA, Canada, we are together, we are praising God. Between them I am in that moment, in that place, that gives me very big joy,” says Ananda Mohan Murmu. 

    YAMEN participants 

    Assembly team 

    Name

    Country of origin
    Natacha Kyendrebeogo Burkina Faso
    Sunil Kadmaset India
    Ananda Mohan Murmu India
    Loyce Twongirwe Uganda

    Other YAMENers

    Name

    Country of origin

    Country of placement

    membership church* 

    *indicates MWC member church 
    (Yolanda) Abigail Arevalo Tabora Honduras Santa Cruz, Bolivia Iglesia Evangélica Menonita* 
    Ananda Murmu India Semarang, Central Java,Indonesia United Missionary Church Balarampur (Bharatiya Jukta Christa Prachar Mandali)*
    Anupama Mandi India Olepolos, Kenya United Missionary Church Balarampur (Bharatiya Jukta Christa Prachar Mandali)*
    Beatriz Guaza Sandoval Colombia San Pedro Sula, Honduras Iglesia Cristiana Filipos (Asociación de Iglesias Hermanos Menonitas de Colombia)* 
    Charity Dralega Uganda Beit Sahour, Palestine and Israel  St Joseph’s Church of Uganda
    Disha Masih India Prey Veng, Cambodia Nazareth Mennonite Church
    Elda Antonio Garcia Mexico San Pedro Sula, Honduras

    Centro Internacional Monte de Sión (Iglesia Cristiana de Paz en México) * 
    Finna Kristanto Indonesia Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India GKMI Kudus, Mennonite* 
    Jacksha Jackson Malawi Phnom Penh, Cambodia Malovu MB Church in Malawi* 
    Jenny Keang Cambodia Barrackpore, West Bengal, India New Life Fellowship 
    Jinah Yu South Korea Prey Veng, Cambodia Jusarang Holiness Church 
    Josue Damaio Mozambique Champa, Chhattisgarh, India Union Baptist Church of Mozambique 
    Juyeong Lee South Korea Bethlehem, Palestine and Israel  Peace and Grace Mennonite Church 
    Loyce Twongirwe Uganda Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia Victory City Church Ntinda 
    Mario Hernandez Honduras Montero, Santa Cruz, Bolivia Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Central* 
    Mudimka Kassam Nigeria La Mesa, Colombia Church of Christ in Nations
    Natacha Kyendrebeogo Burkina Faso Semarang, Central Java,  Indonesia Eglise Apostolique 
    Neema Atieno Kenya Phnom Penh, Cambodia Eastleigh Mennonite Church, Obwolo Mennonite Church* 
    Sunil Kadsamet  India  Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia  Bethel Brethren in Christ* 
    Tiara Asrilita Indonesia Juju, Kiambu, Kenya Kingdom of Glory JKI Immanuel* 

    ‚ÄîA Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Central Committee joint release by Karla Braun, a writer for Mennonite World Conference who lives in Winnipeg.‚ÄØ‚ÄØ 

    The Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network (YAMEN) program is a joint program between Mennonite World Conference and‚ÄØMennonite Central Committee. It places emphasis on expanding the fellowship between churches in the Anabaptist tradition and developing young leaders around the globe. Participants spend one year in a‚ÄØcross-cultural assignment‚ÄØstarting in August and ending the following July.‚ÄØ 

  • During times of uncertainty, it is normal to be filled with doubt, fear and panic.

    Remember when Jesus called Peter out onto the water: Peter took a few steps, but as soon as he looked at his circumstances, he was filled with doubt, fear and panic. (Matthew 14:22-33).

    In this global pandemic, our routines have been disrupted and our future is uncertain.

    In the midst of COVID-19, we have hope: knowing that our eternal home is heaven, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2); and preach the gospel with urgency.

    Secondly, our hope lies in God our protector. God will cover us with his feathers, and under his wings we will find refuge (Psalm 91).

    There are many lessons to be drawn from this pandemic. Here are five I have taken to heart:

    Cherish your loved ones and always tell them how much they mean to you.

    We never know what tomorrow brings, yet we live each day with hope for the next. Remember that one day, each of us will breathe their last. Cherish those around you and make the most of the moments you share with them. This gift we call life should be valued.

    Trust in the Lord

    This is not easy to do. Trusting God with all your heart means surrendering to his will and believing that he has the best plans for your life (Proverbs 3:5-6). It means trusting God even in the fire, knowing that he will rescue you (Daniel 3:7). It means trusting God even when your plans don’t succeed, knowing that he has greater ones (Jeremiah 29:11).

    Accept God’s divine will

    During these times, we may be filled with questions as to why bad things are happening. Instead, I encourage you to shift your perspective from asking ‘why’ to trusting God to sustain you through challenges. Allow God to uphold you with his righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10), and comfort you as you grieve.

    Self-sufficiency is a myth

    Many of us felt financially secure; but some lost jobs and sources of income through the pandemic. We need to come before the altar of repentance for the times we believed in the lie of self-reliance. Reflecting on God’s divine provision, ask how we have believed that we could do it all on our own. Remind yourself that God will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

    Human connection and interaction are of utmost importance.

    It is easy to feel isolated during this time. Most of us have not been able to see our families or friends for a very long time. Reflect on the importance of human connection and interaction. Think of ways in which you can nurture these relationships despite the distance.

    YABs Fellowship Week is a time for young people to connect and interact, despite barriers of distance and time zones. It is a time for us to testify of God’s love for us and celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ.

    I encourage young people from all Anabaptist-related churches to participate. Get together in your churches – this could be virtually or in a socially distanced setting – and join other young people in different parts of the world as we celebrate YABs Fellowship Week.

    May the peace of Christ be with you.

    —Makadunyiswe Doublejoy Ngulube is the Africa representative on the YABs Committee. A member of Mount Pleasant Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe, she is currently in Canada, studying environmental science.

    Click here to download the YABs FW materials

    If your youth or young adult group celebrates YABs Fellowship Week, we invite you to share your stories and photos with MWC at photos@mwc-cmm.org.

    2021 YABs Fellowship Week

  • Worship Resources

    Prepared by the MWC YABs Committee for 20–26 June 2021

    Theme

    Perseverance

    Biblical text

    Romans 5:3,4

    Additional resources in this package

    • Discussion questions
    • Testimonies
    • Prayer requests
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  • Theme

    Purpose: God’s and ours

    Biblical text

    2 Timothy 1:6-14
    14-21 June 2020

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  • “The Gospel of John says that our purpose is to know God and experience eternal life with God,” says young Anabaptist Lilia Aranguren from Bogota, Colombia. “As we walk with Jesus in relationship, his peace flows out of us into our relationships with others. It must be based in love.”

    Young people are trying to discern “God’s purpose and ours” as they set upon career paths. The Young AnaBaptists (YABs) Committee choose this theme to explore in their fifth annual fellowship week (14-21 June 2020).

    This year, the event included an online gathering attended by more than a dozen young adults from North America, Latin America and Asia.

    Participants introduced each other, sang along (muted) in their homes as a musician played on screen, then shared reflections on the fellowship week passage (2 Timothy 1:6-14) and theme.

    “God’s purpose is to share the good news of his love to everyone as we are gifted with a spirit of power and love,” says Akansha Milap from Chattisgarh, India. “We can preach the gospel anywhere…. Ministry is not bounded within the church, but everywhere we go and work.”

    Donadim Vasquez from Guatemala overcame obstacles of poverty to become a doctor. “Now I am in a position to serve in difficult times. Sometimes, I feel like Timothy – I don’t have enough wisdom or equipment. But from this verse, I take confidence in Christ: I serve without fear.”

    Each year, YABs produce a worship package of songs, prayers, testimonies and discussion questions for young adult groups to use individually or together during YABs Fellowship Week (3rd week in June) or at any time that is convenient.

    Click here to read and use the YABs Fellowship Week materials.

    If you participated in YABs Fellowship Week with your church, please send us pictures, testimonies, videos or artwork describing or inspired by your celebration.

    Click here to email your story.

    2020 YABs Fellowship Week resource

  • A number of years have passed since the last GYS encounter in 2015. Without question it was a unique experience that radically affected how I see the world.

    GYS provides one with the opportunity to really open our eyes to the fact that behind all those countries that appear on the map there are brothers and sisters in faith living in diverse social, economic and political contexts. These contexts are the backdrop for specific challenges in each region to which God is responding in unique ways.

    GYS has challenged me as a leader in my country to transmit what it really means to be an Anabaptist youth, and how to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities by identifying the needs around us rather than looking the other way. We are challenged to be part of the transformation by carrying out projects that contribute to a solution.

    Church volunteers offer to pray for people
    waiting at traffic lights. If desired, they leave an
    informational booklet about
    church and take contact information.

    My prayer life has also been affected by the urgency of the cries of our brothers and sisters around the world. With more fervour than ever, we create spaces in our local churches where we pray for the nations. God has set my heart alight with a passion for the people who have not yet been reached and also for mission in general.

    At the moment, I am actively involved in my local church as a leader to the youth and adolescents. I also serve in outreach to native peoples in my country, and I have a desire to enter the international mission field.

    GYS has been a bridge that has connected me to other people who have been a great blessing in my life. It has also connected me to projects and experiences that have enriched my life and my faith community.

    Thanks to what I learned from being a GYS delegate, I want to motivate churches to encourage and support youth that wish to participate in YABs activities. They really are one of a kind spaces that can mark our lives, enabling us to connect with the richness and diversity present in our global family.

    In this way, we complement one another and become the body of Christ. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

    A ministry team working with JAHA,
    led by Dahiana Cornet, participates in a church service
    with people from the Aché Indigenous group

    I also want to leave the youth with a special message: do not grow weary.

    Let us remain united and strong in the midst of this pandemic that we are forced to live through.

    Let’s get involved and work with our communities to respond to today’s challenges to “be the church” now, and also think anew about how we will do this in the future.

    The Young AnaBaptists (YABs) Committee connects with young Anabaptists (ages 18–30) through Bible discussion, worship, prayer and the sharing of stories – and once every six years through the Global Youth Summit (GYS).

    Click here to learn more about GYS.

    The 5th annual YABs Fellowship Week is 14–21 June 2020. During this week, youth and young adult groups from all over the world encourage each other and celebrate as one young adult Anabaptist community. We do this together by sharing prayer requests and praise with each other, as well as discussing Scripture based on our theme: “Purpose: God’s and ours” (2 Timothy 1:6–14).

    Click here to download the worship resource package.

    How did you celebrate YABs Fellowship Week? Click here to submit your story and photos.

    —Karina Bogarin is a member of Iglesia Maranata de los Hermanos Menonitas. She was a delegate for Convencion Evangelica de Iglesias Paraguayas Hermanos Menonitas at the Global Youth Summit in Pennsylvania in 2015.

  • Purpose: God’s and ours