Stories

  • A pastoral letter regarding war in the Middle East 

    Beloved sisters and brothers:  The escalation of war in the Middle East today is a source of fear and grief for our Anabaptist family around the world. For some, this is a new reality, for others it adds to the burden of violence carried for years or decades from local conflict. We see all of…

    A pastoral letter regarding war in the Middle East 

  • Living “inefficiently” as the children of the Lord 

    Recently, the number of young people in churches across Asia has significantly declined. This is likely a global phenomenon. Why has believing in God become a foolish act? Because in this harsh world, what young people need most is money, and to earn money, one must become an “efficient” being.  The younger generation lives with…

    Living “inefficiently” as the children of the Lord 

  • More blessed to give than to receive 

    “The hand that gives is always uppermost; the hand that receives is always lower.” —African proverb  A Congolese pastor reshaped my understanding of giving and receiving.   The last time I saw her was at the Global Assembly of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) in Paraguay in 2009, where she expressed gratitude to my wife and me for…

    More blessed to give than to receive 

  • The beating heart of MWC 

    Deacons  The responsibilities of the Deacons Commission include overseeing the Global Church Sharing Fund (GCSF), fostering prayer within the Anabaptist communion (sending the Prayer Network email, hosting Online Prayer Hour and collaborating with the president on pastoral letters), and deacon visits.  From 2022 to the end of 2024, the Deacons Commission approved 20 GCSF proposals…

    The beating heart of MWC 

  • Rosedale Network of Churches in the USA 

    Courier: Perspectives North America: USA Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot  On a cold, Thanksgiving Day in November 1910, a group of five ordained ministers gathered with other guests at the Pigeon River Conservative Amish Mennonite meetinghouse in Huron County, Michigan, USA, for the purpose of working together to further the mission of the church. Out…

    Rosedale Network of Churches in the USA 

  • Convención Evangélica Hermanos Menonitas Nivaclé in Paraguay 

    Courier: Perspectives Latin America: Paraguay Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot  At no time did we hear the word leaders, but instead we spoke of the missionaries. The first leaders of the church were Mennonite Brethren: Jakob Franz in the 1930s and later Gerhard Hein.   The people left, but they sowed the Word in the community. First…

    Convención Evangélica Hermanos Menonitas Nivaclé in Paraguay 

  • A movement that has been diverse and international 

    The bells rang out across the city that full of Anabaptists. An estimated 3 500 or more people filled the streets of old Zurich on Ascension Day 29 May 2025 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism.   “Today, as Mennonites in Switzerland we are a small community,” said Gladys Geiser & Lukas Amstutz, co-presidents, Konferenz der…

    A movement that has been diverse and international 

  • MWC at 100: “We come together and share” 

    “He has done marvellous things!” An international ensemble with members from the USA, Germany, Colombia and Indonesia led the congregation in singing these words to open the fundraising celebration of 100 years of Mennonite World Conference.   One of those marvellous things is 110 national churches* agreeing to walk together through MWC. César García preached from…

    MWC at 100: “We come together and share” 

  • A role model for others 

    Glory Michael Sunday is from Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria where she attends Ikot Ekang Itam Assembly, a congregation of MWC member church Mennonite Church Nigeria. She’s currently nearing the end of her term with YAMEN (Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network) serving as a teacher at P4T Nursery and Primary School in Kyangwali Refugee Camp…

    A role model for others 

  • From celebration to commemoration 

    Mennonite World Conference (MWC) concludes its triennial General Council (GC) meeting 26-28 May 2025 in Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Germany, with a clear framework for the future.  

    From celebration to commemoration 

  • Igreja dos Irmãos Menonitas de Portugal  

    Courier: Perspectives Europe: Portugal Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot  A series of North American missionary couples came and went from the MB mission agency through the 1980s and 1990s but the seeds planted in a house church in the Lourés suburb of Lisbon have persisted in the form of a Mennonite Brethren church.   The first…

    Igreja dos Irmãos Menonitas de Portugal  

  • Hmong District 20th of the Church of Christ in Thailand 

    Courier: Perspectives Asia: Thailand Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot  The Hmong District 20th of the Church of Christ in Thailand began with three congregations: Khek Noi church, Khun Klang Church and Pa Kluai Church.  Later, the gospel was announced and spread to the Hmong hill tribe people during the years starting in 1987. There was…

    Hmong District 20th of the Church of Christ in Thailand 

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