Prayers of gratitude and intercession

  • “Prayers like a huge ring on the earth” is what Yamanota Fukuin Church, a Brethren in Christ congregation in Japan envisions by asking churches around the world to join in prayer on March 11, 2012 for victims and survivors and all affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred a year ago.

    On March 11, 2011, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0, now named Tohoku, struck the northeast coast of Japan, causing tsunamis of more than 10 metres. Some 20,000 people either perished or have not been found, and more than 23,000 people are still living in rescue camps, reported the letter from the Yamanota Fukuin Church.

    The congregation invites others to pray with them for five minutes beginning 11:45 am on Sunday, March 11. “There is a time difference between each country,” noted the letter. “Thus our prayers from 11:45 will turn around the earth in 24 hours in the morning in each country, connecting our prayers like a huge ring on the earth.”

    The congregation is a member of Nihon Kirisuto Keiteidan (Brethren in Christ Church of Japan), a Mennonite World Conference member church, and a partner in the East Japan Great Disaster Relief Assistance Committee formed in May 2011 by the Japan Mennonite Fellowship. The prayer request was conveyed to MWC by Takanori Sasaki, chair of the Japan Mennonite Fellowship.

    MWC release

  • La Angostura, Chile – The fifth gathering of Latin American Mennonite Women Theologians took place within the framework of the 15th Southern Cone Anabaptist Mennonite Congress held here January 23-27, 2013, attended by sisters and brothers from the six countries of the region (plus some visitors from Canada, the United States, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico).

    Some 45 women theologians from different countries participated in the gathering. After introductions, Monica Parada, of the Anabaptist Mennonite Church ‘Puerta del Rebaño’ (Concepcion, Chile) led the first of three workshops recounting “Realidades de las mujeres desde el caminar de Jesús” (or Realities women face – realities that Jesus challenged). The dynamic that followed included symbols such as earth, seeds, a pigeon, candle and water. Each woman was invited to plant the seeds of dreams she wanted to see come true.

    In small groups the great scourges confronted today by women were examined: ethnic, civilian, domestic and genre violence – physical and symbolic. The latter occurs when it becomes natural, sustained and almost invisible. It seeks subjugation and is present in all relationships. Symbolic violence is coercive, intimidating, imposing the will of one over the other although seeming to be well intentioned. It is the expansive use of physical space, money control, lack of appreciation, disavowal maneuvers, terrorism and paternalism, etc.

    The celebration of our first 10 years of existence as a Movement of Latin American Women Theologians (MTAL) came on the next day with the second workshop and participation of the entire assembly. Led by Gladys Siemens we evoked the origins of our movement. Goals and description of activities were shared, such as the World Day of Prayer for women in Latin America, the publication of a book about the liberating message of Jesus to women today, the blog http://teologasanabautistas.blogspot.com and recently our Facebook page.

    The support, encouragement and advice offered by Sandra Campos (Costa Rica) and by Linda Shelly (USA) during the past 10 years were recognized.

    Two women whose work in their communities is very uplifting and encourages us to keep going shared their experiences. Valeria Alvarenga Taumaturgo (Brazil) pastor of a Mennonite Church in Recife, carries out a strong ministry among women in a favela (a poor area) whose husbands are serving sentences in prison. Aurora Rinaldi, of the Mennonite Church in Trenque Lauquen (Argentina) was appointed one year ago by her community to be their pastor, after being active in the edification of a community of equals.

    To bring closure to this fruitful celebration, a ball of yarn was passed along with a blessing to the next woman, thus forming a wide network. We want to grow and continue to build this network of women of peace created by MTAL, and for that purpose the support of each and everyone is needed in unity in Christ to paraphrase our motto, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal.3:28).”

    The celebration was closed singing We are one in the Lord, and inviting participants to sign and write good wishes on a large poster that will travel to different meetings to be held in Guatemala, Mexico and Colombia.

    On Saturday, the third and final women’s meeting was started with very significant songs, and Noemí Dulci of the Mennonite Church in Salto (Argentina) offered a special reflection.

    Monica Parada guided us through a succession of lines of thought in the course of history regarding women, which reveal through culture, politics, family life, religion, etc., impositions about which we have not been critical, and behaviors that became natural for us. On a blanket she placed several objects: three candles symbolizing Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the picture of a family, a root as a symbol of culture, the Bible as religious teachings, and a dish with pebbles). Each woman was invited to place some stones on the symbol that most affected her full potential as an independent woman, thus stripping off impositions and bonds that keep her and us from freely walking with Jesus.

    Summing up, this was what we experienced and learned in our meetings, which for many of us may have been revealing, to others liberating, and perhaps for some even surprising or scaring. We trust that the seed was sown. May the Holy Spirit help it to germinate.

    Finally we prayed for our Chilean sisters who so lovingly greeted and tended to our needs, and we thanked them with little tokens of appreciation.

    Article by Ester Bornes of Argentina, coordinator of the blog and of MTAL Cono Sur (http://teologasanabautistas.blogspot.com). Translated into English by Milka Rindzinski

  • This directory, compiled by Mennonite World Conference, includes churches that are rooted in the 16th century Radical Reformation in Europe, particularly in the Anabaptist movement. This faith family includes more than 1.7 million baptized believers in 243 national conferences of churches in 83 countries.

    The totals by continental region are: Africa 38.3%, Asia and Pacific 17.8%, Europe 3.6%, Latin America and the Caribbean 10.5%, North America 29.8%. About two-thirds of the baptized believers are African, Asian or Latin American.

    In this directory, 101 of the national conferences of churches in 57 countries are identified as members or associate members of Mennonite World Conference. These Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches include 1.28 million baptized believers, which represent 72.5% of the total in the global faith family. The percentage of Mennonite World Conference membership on each continental region is noted on the maps at the beginning of each section.

    Click here to access the directory.

    A print copy of the directory can be ordered from: kitchener@mwc-cmm.org

     

  • Angostura de Paine, Chile – After a two-year delay caused by the massive earthquake of 2010, the traditional biannual gathering of the Mennonites of the Southern Cone took place in Chile for the first time, where about twenty congregations state their support to Anabaptism. The gathering was celebrated 23-27 January in the Salvation Army Campground, located in Angostura de Paine, 55 kilometres south of Santiago de Chile.

    A hundred Anabaptists from Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil arrived there, plus dozens of members of other churches from several regions of Chile. They were joined by visitors from Central and North America and by the Officers of Mennonite World Conference (MWC).

    The Iglesia Evangélica Menonita de Chile (IEMCH), which became the 100th MWC member church in 2011, organized the event. With a dozen congregations throughout the country, the IEMCH reflects the missionary vocation of the Latin American Anabaptist churches. In a presentation during the gathering, Titus Guenther, Canadian professor of Paraguayan origin, drew attention to this missionary vocation that has allowed Latin American Anabaptist churches to quadruplicate their membership in the last 30 years. The Chilean Jorge Vallejos, a prolific church planter who lives in Canada and who in the 1980s initiated the connection between Canadian and Chilean churches that led to the establishment of the IEMCH, also attended this gathering.

    Robert J. Suderman was invited for the main presentations dedicated to the topic “Encarnando ahora vistazos del futuro: Fundamentos bíblicos del Shalom” (Incarnating now glimpses of the future: Biblical foundations of Shalom). Former General Secretary of Mennonite Church Canada, Suderman worked with Mennonite churches in Latin America for a decade. Citing Ephesians 6:12, he noted that a Shalom church must understand the nature of the evil it faces: it is not a struggle against “flesh and blood”, but against “principalities and powers,” understanding the latter ones as oppressive ideologies that perpetuate injustice in our world. In this scenario, noted Suderman, “the fundamental vocation of a Shalom community is pedagogical.” This vocation becomes real through the practice of loving the enemies, which transforms each congregation in “the demonstrative argument of the Shalom Kingdom.”

    A shocking example of this transforming practice was the one shared by pastor Alfred Klassen (Paraguay), who was assaulted and stabbed in his home in 2009. When one of his assailants turned himself in to justice, Klassen forgave him and was with him throughout the whole judicial process, which turned into a bond of friendship and trust between them.

    MWC Officers Danisa Ndlovu (Zimbabwe) and Janet Plenert (Canada) shared experiences from a service of repentance and forgiveness that took place in Stuttgart, Germany in 2010 which marked the reconciliation of Lutherans and Mennonites. Another reconciliation story was shared by Titus Guenther: the story of Christ of the Andes, a statue made of bronze cannons cast and placed on top of the Andes in 1904 to commemorate a peaceful solution to a border dispute between Chile and Argentina.

    Other theological reflections were provided by pastors Mónica Parada and Carlos Gallardo, from Iglesia Anabautista-Menonita “Puerta del Rebaño” from the city of Concepción (Chile). Both called attention to making the commitment to a Mennonite peace start inside their own faith communities and their families. According to Gallardo, “the true following of Christ is found on equity, in building up a community in which we can look at each other face to face as equals”.

    Especially invited by the network of Teólogas Anabautistas de Latinoamérica (Anabaptist Women Theologians of Latin America), was Mónica Parada who provided keys to unmask the symbolic violence that is exercised in the most subtle and everyday life, especially against women. She also traced an historical account through different views about women: although Jesus’ practice revealed in the Gospels makes clear the intrinsic dignity of women, many male theologians – from patristic to modern days – strove to keep women in a lower status. They constructed an image of a woman as an incomplete and defective being, a “social and religious construct” that the church must begin to overcome for both men and women to achieve full life in God. “We should remove the stones from the rivers of living waters”, noted the pastor.

    During the five days of this gathering, several moving testimonies were shared. In a session led by the Anabaptist Women Theologians of Latin America, Aurora Rinaldi (Argentina) and Valeria Alvarenga (Brazil) talked about the long road that led to the pastorate. Meanwhile, Freddy Barrón (Bolivia) narrated the ups and down he faced as a pastor’s child, as a way of calling attention to the risks and deprivations the pastoral family can go through if it does not receive proper care.

    César García, General Secretary of MWC, and Rodrigo Pedroza, representative of the Young Anabaptists (YABs) network, presented the work of their organizations to strengthen the ties of the global Anabaptist family of faith.

    The Southern Cone gathering was also an opportunity to share through praise and art. With typical costumes and instruments of the farmers of Central Chile, the group “Los del Huerto” sang and danced lively traditional music such as cuecas and guarachas. Also, the IEMCH youth presented a tour through images and typical dances of the different regions of continental Chile and Easter Island, and representatives from Argentina offered an evening of praise songs with Latin American rhythms and lyrics that exalted the commitment to peace and justice, and young Salomao Taumaturgo did the same with Brazilian music.

    On the last day, filled with emotions, the attendees thanked the hospitality of IEMCH. “They took care of every single detail to make us feel well”, said Rubén Darino (Argentina). After sharing the Lord’s Supper and officially ending the gathering, IEMCH went to a swimming pool nearby to baptize three of its members, accompanied by Anabaptists of ten different countries: a visible demonstration of what was said by host pastor, Daniel Delgado: “Now we know that we are not alone, that we are part of an universal family”.

    -Felipe Elgueta, with collaboration of Violeta Fonceca

    Additional photo: Signing a banner of the Latin American Women Theologians Network. The banner will be taken to women’s meetings in other countries this year. Photo by Janet Plenert.

  • In early April 2012, members of Iglesia Evangélica Unida Hermanos Menonitas de Panamá (United Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church of Panama), requested prayer for the peaceful settlement of land claims, following a confrontation between members of the Wounaan community and loggers. The recent incident involved members of the Wounaan community from Platanares confronting persons who were cutting down valuable and endangered hardwood cocobolo trees even though such logging had been officially suspended by the national environmental authority. The clash resulted in the death of Aquilo Opúa, from the Wounaan community, and Ezequiel Batista, a tractor operator with the loggers.

    The following email, sent to Mennonite World Conference on June 5, 2012, provides an update, with a note of celebration and thanks. “Today is an historical day in Panama. For the first time, the Wounaan received an official certificate for their collective lands in two territories (Puerto Lara and Caña Blanca). All this is the result of years of hard work, sacrifice, patience, frustration and even death…. Thanks to God, the right they were claiming for years is a reality today. The government, represented by its local minister, directors and authorities, witnessed this celebration of legitimately granting land to the Wounaan.”

    MWC release

    Photo:

    From left: Tiliano Tovar, a leader of the community in Puerto Lara; Elibardo Membache, leader of the Collective Land in Embera; Cardenio Membora, Cacique del Pueblo, leader of the Wounaan people; Aladino Bipuru, a leader of the community in Puerto Lara.

  • Bogota, Colombia – At its May 2012 meetings in Switzerland, the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) General Council approved a global communication strategy calling for changes in the reach, frequency, form and content of MWC communications.

    Undergirding the new plan is the goal of seeking to connect as many people as possible across cultures within the global Anabaptist family. The guiding conviction is that the global connections facilitated through MWC help individuals and churches gain a fuller understanding of God and equip them for joining God’s redemptive work in the world.

    Central to the strategy is a new website (www.mwc-cmm.org) which was launched in early November. Users can switch between English, Spanish and French and most content is available in all three languages. The site includes stories and photos about churches and people from the global Anabaptist community of faith and can be viewed on mobile devices.

    The site also highlights the work of MWC’s four Commissions – Deacons, Faith and Life, Mission, Peace – and its related networks, such as the Young Anabaptists. A new position called MWC Web Communications Worker has been created to ensure that the website is up to date and user friendly.

    A second part of the strategy is an increased use of electronic communication. Beginning in 2013, the plan calls for a monthly e-alert that will provide links to the most recent news stories, prayer requests and other new information on the MWC website. The Web Communications Worker will manage this new vehicle.

    The third part of the strategy builds on the long history of MWC communication through its quarterly magazine, Courier/Correo/Courrier. For over 20 years, the magazine has carried a mix of longer feature and inspirational articles as well as a digest of news. The plan calls for a change in the frequency and timeliness of publication.

    Beginning in 2013, Courier/Correo/Courrier will be published every other month as a four-page newsletter. With the subtitle “News/Noticias/Nouvelles,” the newsletter will include short profiles of people and churches, prayer requests, most recent news and other timely updates. Twice a year, the newsletter will become one section in a 16 to 24 page magazine.

    The magazine will also carry the name Courier/Correo/Courier and will include inspirational articles, study and teaching documents, and longer features that are not time sensitive.

    Both the newsletter and the magazine will be published in English, Spanish and French and will be available electronically or in print form.

    MWC release

  • First meeting of the Catholic, Lutheran and Mennonite Trilateral Dialogue Commission on baptism

    Rome, Italy/Bogota, Colombia – An international trilateral dialogue between Mennonites, Catholics and Lutherans began in Rome, 9-13 December 2012.

    According to a joint release issued after the Rome meeting, the overall theme of the five-year process is “Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church.” The release further stated: “This innovative trilateral forum will allow the dialogue to take up questions surrounding the theology and practice of baptism in the respective communions.”

    The three international communions came to the inaugural meeting with a history of bilateral dialogues with each other. They mutually agreed to hold three-way talks on baptism, a topic that had surfaced in earlier exchanges.

    Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and the Catholic Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) held conversations from 1998 to 2003. This resulted in a report entitled “Called Together to be Peacemakers.” Understandings and practices of baptism were among the divergences identified for further study. Mennonites practice adult baptism and Catholics infant baptism, as do Lutherans.

    MWC and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) participated in a joint study commission from 2005 through 2008, which resulted in a final report entitled “Healing of Memories: Reconciling in Christ.” (To see both of the above reports, go to http://mwc-cmm.org/interchurch-dialogue.) During these talks, Mennonites and Lutherans agreed that two areas of difference that existed in the 16th century still exist today, namely the relation of Christians to the socio-political order and baptism.

    Further, the PCPCU and the LWF have held 11 rounds of dialogue, with the current round focusing on “Baptism and Growth in Communion.”

    The trilateral meeting in Rome, with five representatives from each communion, included summary presentations on past dialogues on baptism. Fernando Enns of Germany presented for MWC. The meeting also included principal papers on the introduction to the Understanding and Practice of Baptism. Alfred Neufeld of Paraguay and John Rempel of Canada presented for MWC.

    Other members of the MWC team included Rebecca Osiro of Kenya and Larry Miller of France. MWC General Secretary César García of Colombia was an observer. Alfred Neufeld chaired the MWC team. Miller served as co-secretary along with Gregory J. Fairbanks of the Catholic and Kaisamari Hintikka of the Lutheran team.

    According to the joint release, the group will convene for its second round of conversations in January 2014 to study “Baptism: God’s Grace in Christ and Human Sin.” Future topics in following years will include “Baptism: Communicating Grace and Faith” and “Living Out Baptism.”

    MWC release

    Reflections from Mennonite participants in the dialogue

    Almost 500 years have passed since that memorable day in Zurich January 1525 when a group of young radical Bible readers and potential reformers broke with the common baptismal tradition of their time and initiated believers or adult rebaptism. They also stopped applying the baptism ritual to their infants. Split and conflict became inevitable and caused much hurt on all sides. At that time both actions – rebaptism and avoiding infant baptism – were serious offences to European imperial law. Changing the mode of baptism had far reaching consequences not only in the political sense, but also with new approaches to salvation, the nature of the church, Christian ethics, and missions. Today much has changed. In most countries state churches don’t exist anymore. The importance and possibility of personal choices as well as religious liberty is generally assumed. And all three church communions face the question today how to re-evangelize society, and be a prophetic and pastoral presence in the world.

    By Alfred Neufeld, chair of the MWC team for the trilateral dialogue

    “It has been very encouraging to see the diversity within each denominational team. We usually assume that there is one single interpretation of baptism in the other traditions. That does not seem to be the case. If we are able to create a mood of trust, we will also be able to share the questions and challenges within our own communities on this key difference of baptism. That is my hope.” 

    By Fernando Enns

  • Bogota, Colombia – Kristina Toews of Abbotsford, B.C. has been appointed to serve as Web Communications Worker with Mennonite World Conference. The MWC position will be the main part of her three-year assignment as a Mennonite Central Committee volunteer in Bogota, Colombia, where both MWC and MCC have offices in the same building.

    As Web Communications Worker, Toews will be part of the MWC communication team headed by Ron Rempel of Waterloo, Ontario. She will manage web content, write and repurpose content for the web, serve as editor of a monthly e-alert, and provide leadership for social media initiatives. She will also be involved in writing and overall communication planning.

    “I’m delighted to have Kristina join the MWC communication team,” commented Rempel. “Her keen interest in nurturing global connections and her experience with MWC will serve her well as she moves into this assignment.”

    Since 2009, Toews has been the North American representative on the MWC Young Anabaptists (YABs) Committee and also chairs the committee. Made up of representatives from five continents, the YABs Committee is responsible for planning a Global Youth Summit in 2015. In the coming months, MWC will work toward a good transition to a new North American representative and chair for the YABs Committee.

    Toews has served as a youth worker on the pastoral staff of Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church in Abbotsford since 2007. Part of her responsibilities include updating the congregational website and also connecting with youth via Facebook. Earlier she served for a year in the MCC SALT program in Bolivia where she assisted in the production of a monthly newsletter. While in Bolivia she also learned Spanish.

    As an MCC worker in Colombia, Toews will be involved about one day per week in communication-related responsibilities with MCC Colombia and in accompanying several learning tour groups each year. She will also participate in retreats and activities with other MCC volunteers in the country.

    “I’m very excited to serve with MWC and MCC in this position,” commented Toews who will begin her assignment in early February 2013. “I have been blessed and learned so much from the global Anabaptist family and I’m eager to develop more relationships in the global church. I’m also looking forward to improving my Spanish and being a part of the local church in Bogota.”

    According to Terrence Jantzi and Elizabeth Phelps, MCC Colombia representatives, “We are looking forward to welcoming Kristina to the MCC Colombia team in partnership with MWC, strengthening the relationship and collaboration between MWC and MCC Colombia as she responds to this calling to service.”

    MWC release

  • Waterloo, Ontario – Devin Manzullo-Thomas of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has been appointed as Editor and Writer for Mennonite World Conference beginning January 2013.

    In this half-time position, he will serve as part of the MWC communication team, helping to generate stories of churches and people from the global faith family. He will also serve as editor of MWC publications.

    “In a world increasingly plagued by intolerance, intransigence, and lack of understanding, MWC plays a crucial role in nurturing international Anabaptist solidarity,” says Manzullo-Thomas. “I am honoured to join in this important work as MWC Editor and Writer, and I look forward to sharing stories of God’s work in and through the church.”

    Manzullo-Thomas has an undergraduate degree in English from Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania and graduated recently with an MA in History from Temple University.

    During both his undergraduate and graduate studies, he gained experience in writing, editing, planning and production in various communication roles. Since 2009, he has served the Brethren in Christ Church U.S. as an Associate for Communication and Congregational Relations. Prior to that he served the denomination as a communications intern, and also worked at Messiah College as a student writer. He has also been involved with both the Brethren in Christ and Lancaster Mennonite Historical Societies.

    According to Ron Rempel, Chief Communications Officer, Manzullo-Thomas is well suited for his work with MWC. He has experience in cross-cultural communication and also in going after compelling people and church stories, in addition to reporting on organizational actions and decisions.

    In his role as Editor, Manzullo-Thomas will succeed Byron Rempel-Burkholder, who served part-time as Editor of Courier/Correo/Courrier for its 2011 and 2012 issues. Rempel-Burkholder, an editor with MennoMedia, also served for a year as MWC news editor after joining the MWC staff in June 2010. He completed his service with MWC at the end of 2012.

    MWC release

  • Babiya, Nepal – Believers from the Behelwa Brethren in Christ (BIC) Church were eagerly waiting for the day to worship the Lord in a newly constructed concrete church building. Hundreds, including leaders from neighbouring churches and the BIC Executive Board, gathered 30 November, 2012 for a dedication service.

    Cynthia Peacock of India, chair of the Mennonite World Conference Deacons Commission, was the chief guest. After a reading from Psalm 100:1-5 and a dedication prayer, she unveiled the stone plate fixed on a wall outside of the church and then opened the door for everyone to enter into the building.

    Ramesh Soren, the pastor, welcomed all the participants and gave a special welcome to Cynthia Peacock and her sister Georgiana. He also expressed his gratitude to God and to the Deacons Commission for prayer and financial assistance to construct the church building through the Global Church Sharing Fund.

    The dedication service began by singing, praising and worshipping the Lord, led by the youth group of Salakhpur BIC Church. Cynthia Peacock conveyed greetings from César García, MWC General Secretary and the Deacons Commission. She then shared the Word of God from scripture portions such as 1Peter 2:4-5; Ephesians 2:19-22 and Ephesians 2:1-5. She encouraged the congregation to continue to bring glory to God through worship, witness, fellowship and service. As a church community and living stone built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, she emphasized, we need to build up the kingdom of God by sharing and caring for each other’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs and also becoming a relationship building community inside and outside of the church.

    The Babiya BIC Church is one of the village churches among the Santal community close to the city of Biratnagar in eastern Nepal. The church was started in a house of Mongal Soren two decades ago during the monarchy when preaching the Gospel and conversion was illegal. Mongal Soren was a well-known witchdoctor in the area before he became a believer in Jesus Christ.

    After a few months, 15 people from his village accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and were baptized. In spite of persecution and restriction from the government, the number of believers continued to increase. Now there are over hundred participants, including children, in the church worship service. Later, after two years of theological training later, Mongal’s nephew, Ramesh Soren, became the pastor of the church.

    Initially, the congregation met in the open in the yard of the pastor’s house. Later they built a mud house but it collapsed in a strong storm. They repaired the church and again after one year it collapsed. It was very difficult for them to meet especially during rainy season. So they decided to purchase the land and construct a concrete church building.

    They collected some of the money and also received some funds from the BIC Church Nepal Conference. Even then it was not enough to purchase the land and construct the church building. When they received funds from the MWC Global Church Sharing Fund through the BIC Nepal Conference, they were excited to begin the work. They purchased the land beside the village and started the construction work.

    Unfortunately before the work was completed, Mongal Soren and two other elderly people of the church who were so zealous to have the concrete building went to be with the Lord in everlasting home. Howewver, under the leadership of Ramesh and other local church committee members, the construction work was successfully completed. Please continue to uphold the congregation to carry out God’s mission through various activities of the church.

    From a report by Shemlal Hembrom, chair of the Nepal Brethren in Christ Church and a member of the Mennonite World Conference Deacons Commission

  • Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico – Josefina (Chepina) Rempening Diaz, her sister and two nieces were found dead on December 14 as victims of violence. They were on their way to the funeral of a relative in Guauchochi, a village in the mountains southern of Chihuahua.

    She pastored Ebenezer Mennonite Church with her husband, Walter Rempening, president of the Evangelical Missionary Conference of Mexico (CEMM) of Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua. Chepina was also a music teacher in the Mennonite elementary school Alvaro Obregon.

    On Sunday December 16 a memorial service was held in Blumenau Mennonite Church, honouring the four women, although only Chepina was from the Mennonite church. Despite the large size of the church building, space was insufficient for the number of people present. The brother who led in prayer asked God to remove all feelings of anger from the hearts of those present.

    Walter shared a memorial tribute of Chepina’s life, emphasizing her strong commitment to God, her efforts against the sin in her own life, and her ability to forgive and ask for forgiveness. He said: “She put herself in service; her joy was serving others, serving God, and being a blessing to others. This is how she overcame sin and took it out of her life.”

    He talked a lot of about his wife’s love, noting, “Her love didn’t stay at home, she loved God above all else. I was always aware that I was in second place, and I loved it, because only the love of God flowing through Chepina was what enabled her to love so much.”

    Walter’s tribute ended with a message for men, encouraging them to love their wives deeply, saying, “we are wrong when we stop striving to love them, when do not honor them, when we do not serve them.”

    Colleagues and friends, Victor Pedroza and Ofelia García commented, “She was a woman who served, a committed, strong Christian, her love for the Lord and his work was undeniable.

    “Now we ask that love, faith and hope deepen within us and towards those who have no hope. From pain and deep indignation at such an atrocious and violent event, as Anabaptist Mennonites we declare ourselves for peace and nonviolence in the way Jesus taught us. We hope that in addition to expressing our condolences to the bereaved, we peacemakers reflect and are challenged to continue to build networks of support and action in this regard.”

    Representatives of CEMM participated in the assembly of IAMUM (United Anabaptist Mennonite Church of Mexico) in August with the theme, “Being and doing as churches working for justice and peace.” For more information: http://mwc-cmm.org/content/mexican-churches-commit-confronting-violence-and-injustice and http://www.amlac.org.ar/noticias/2012/010912IglesiasJusticia.html

    From reports by Ofelia García of Mexico, a member of the Mission Commission of Mennonite World Conference.