Prayers of gratitude and intercession

Zimbabwe

Climate change has posed many risks to human beings and nature in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is highly affected by extreme high temperatures and high rainfall leading to droughts, veld fires (wildfires) and floods. The church in Zimbabwe is now beginning to play an active role in environment protection and is taking management steps to restore the environment and sustain economic and social actors in areas affected by climate change.   

In Zimbabwe, most of the people are subsistence farmers. They survive by growing crops and keeping livestock (e.g., cattle, goats) to sell and tend for their families. Therefore, droughts are a major concern. 

In the Midlands and Matabeleland South where there are Brethren in Christ congregations, there are areas which are affected by prolonged high temperatures and by little or no rainfall at all. Farmers lose their livestock and crops. The resulting loss of income results in poverty. 

In the Matebeleland North and Bulawayo province, there are areas that experience 38-43ÀöC. Heat waves pose dangers like people collapsing and even death.  

Wildfires have also become a major problem because of the heat waves. In 2022, in Esigodini, Matabeleland South,10 farm workers were reportedly to have died due to wildfires. And wildfires cause loss of life of the flora and fauna.  

In regions such as the Eastern highlands and areas along the ZimbabweMozambique border floods are a major threat. Floods destroy the environment by causing soil erosion, landslides and loss of plants, crops and animals. They play a pivotal role in the destruction of infrastructure (e.g., bridges, roads and buildings) that results in deaths of people and animals due to drowning and not getting help on time.  

The winter season has also been affected by climate change now beginning in midApril ending mid-September – which is not the normal range. 

However, the churches in Zimbabwe have seen to it that they rise and not only preach the gospel of Jesus to the world but to assist in many ways in adjusting to the negative impacts that come with climate change.  

Some churches now engage awareness campaigns that educate the community about climate change, its effects and how best to help in reducing its causing factors. The people in the church are educated on how best to adjust to the climate change effects and also what to do during the climatic change events like floods, heat waves, droughts, veld fires (wildfires), etc.  

Knowing that burning of fossil fuels like coal emits gases that pose danger to the environment and climate, the church and people are adopting new ways reducing CO2-emitting fuels and substances. People are now advised to use more eco-friendly fuels. Instead of burning plastics that give off harmful gases, they now have clean up campaigns that engage the church and the community to pick up plastic containers and papers and take all the collected containers for recycling.  

There is a saying that “cleanliness is next to Godliness”, therefore collecting all plastic containers not only is the church keeping its environment clean but also reducing global warming and climate change, hence achieving two goals with one effort.  

The people in the church have started on agricultural projects such as irrigation schemes to areas affected by drought and also growing drought resistant crops like millet, sorghum.  

The book of Proverbs talks about the woman of valour who stretches out her to the needy (Proverbs 31:20). Following her example, we see women in churches who keep chickens and rear pigs for resale. They donate the money to the people in affected areas especially for buying food, school stationery and clothes for vulnerable children.  

These church women have also come up with a reach out campaign with the theme: “every tree a forest, every city a tree.” On the first Saturday of December, Zimbabweans plant a tree as a way to reduce deforestation.  

Conclusively, it is believed that God has entrusted the earth and its resources to our care as church and world to our care, and we must act responsibly with them. It is everyone’s duty as an individual to be a good steward in reducing climatic factors and educating others about climate change.

— Nontokozo S Moyo was the GYS (Global Youth Summit) delegate for Ibandla Labazalwane kuKristu eZimbabwe (Brethren in Christ Church).  

The walls were the trees of the forest, the lights and sound from solar-powered batteries and the waters for baptism were the river itself. The spirit of worship through singing, the fervent prayers and the calls to follow Jesus, our hope, in the way of peace are familiar across cultures. Mennonite young people in Myanmar gathered 13-17 April 2023 for a peace conference in Akaw, Bogale Township in the Delta region. 

The conference focused on Ephesians 2:17: the gospel of peace.  

The subject is very relevant for young people living through the trauma of civil war in Myanmar. 

After democratic national elections, the military in Myanmar seized power and installed their own leaders in February 2021. They responded with violence to pro-democracy protests which soon developed their own militias. 

“We don’t want our youth to get involved in armed revolution,” says Amos Chin, Mennonite church leader and conference presenter.  

“As these young people are living in the civil war and threatening by the extremists, they are strongly inspired and empowered by the message [of peace during the conference],” says John Stanley Puia, church leader and conference organizer.  

“All youth are convinced [about] the peace movement and made a declaration for peace not to get in armed revolution and political confliction,” says Amos Chin. He was one of four evangelists who spoke to the youth. 

“We need more peace conferences and more peaceful programs for the unpeaceful generation,” says John Stanley Puia.  

168 youth between ages 16 and 35 registered for the weekend conference that included baptism of seven people.  

Running the race 

ICOMB 2023 Summit report 

This year’s summit of the International Community of Mennonite Brethren Churches (ICOMB), hosted in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada, provided delegates a unique opportunity to experience the rich Mennonite Brethren heritage in that region of Canada. With churches dating back to 1929, a Bible college founded in 1943 and a Mennonite Heritage Museum with exhibits spanning 500 years of Anabaptist history, there was a palpable sense of being surrounded by “a great cloud of witnesses” encouraging believers to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” (Hebrews 12:1). 

Running has not been easy this last year. 

As global MB pastors and leaders are aging out, they are looking to pass the baton to the next generation without slackening their pace. However, with fewer and fewer young leaders stepping up, that pace can be exhausting. In some cases, a lack of prospective leaders is exacerbated by the loss of existing church pastors who – emotionally depleted by three years of social unrest, political instability, financial hardship, culture wars, gender issues and COVID-19 devastation–simply quit. 

“The pastor is expected to be everything, fix everything,” one delegate said. “Then, when something goes wrong, we are blamed for everything!” 

“I am old, ready to retire,” another said. “But if one of our churches loses its pastor, what else can I do but step in?”  

This was a common sentiment spoken by many, including delegates from Japan, Lithuania, Germany, Portugal, the USA and Canada. This race is no sprint; it is a marathon, and some have grown weary. 

USMB national director Don Morris said: “This summit is a mixture of joy and sadness, abundant fruit and scarcity, praise and petition. But, we cannot afford to get too focused on our own little part of God’s kingdom work and forget that there are movements happening in many, many places.”  

Raw self-examination and assessment must lead, not to despair, but to a rolling up of metaphorical sleeves. And so, despite the gravity of the concerns expressed, faces were far from grim. Rather, they grew animated and eager. 

There was work to be done. 

With a spiritual resolve that did credit to the ancestral brethren that had once plowed the very ground upon which they now stood, delegates dismissed from the plenary sessions headed to their workshops ready to explore new ideas, ruthlessly self-evaluate, strategize together and pray outrageous prayers. Each workshop was targeted, provoking spirited conversations on topics such as leadership development, pastoral health, and collaboration. Ideas came thick and fast as various models for church growth and health were discussed. 

“In Saskatchewan, rural churches are dying,” said a provincial conference representative, “but instead of shutting them down, we are finding ways to re-plant them.” He went on to describe an SKMB church revitalization initiative that connects struggling churches with healthy partner churches, working together to discern the spiritual vitality and cultural issues that need to be addressed to thrive again. “It takes time,” he said, “…but we are seeing some significant results in remote rural communities.”  

Could this strategy work in other global contexts?  

Would such a partnership be too costly?  

There was much debate about the risks involved. Pondering the Parable of the Talents, there was a realization that risk taken for God would always bear fruit, but it might not be the fruit that benefits us personally.  

“One of our churches was not doing well,” an Austrian delegate said. “They had a large cargo van. It was no longer being used, since there were no people to fill it anymore! But rather than sell it to help with debt, they decided to fill it with supplies and drive it to Ukraine. Now, that van is being used daily by our brothers there, transporting refugees and bringing emergency relief.” Out of the ashes, beauty. 

Other groups focused on the issue of pastors facing burn-out. How could a conference stem the tide of leaders leaving the ministry?  

In Brazil, small, intentional support groups have helped more than 400 pastors regain emotional and spiritual health, while training them to do the same for their own congregants. “New leaders are now stepping up,” said Paul Dück, “when they see how we care for one another.” No one should have to run this race alone. 

Then there were stories of those who were running together, and are running well.  

In Malawi, conference leader Safari Mutabeshi passed his role to Shadreck Kwendanyama and team, leaving Safari free to focus more on DR Congo, his place of origin. “Despite drought, famine, hurricanes, cholera and poverty,” Safari said, “the churches are growing, with over 20,000 attending in Malawi!”  

The Brazilian conference agreed to come alongside the conference in Angola, supporting Daniel Canganguela in discerning next steps. And in the US, 12 churches of Congolese immigrants were welcomed into the MB family, with more being discerned. Collaboration was crucial. 

A collaborative approach to church growth involves, for some, “revitalization” through a strong partner church. For others, it is a “coalition partnership” between a global church, a national leader and a North American church.  

For still others, church growth may require several groups of partner churches, called “sponsors.” Victor Wiens, Equipping Coordinator for ICOMB, told of the encouraging but daunting number of emerging church networks expressing interest in joining the global MB family, including groups from Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Mozambique, North Africa, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Myanmar. 

“These are new groups that have come into our orbit in one way or another,” Vic Wens said. Vic Wiens proposed that smaller groupings of churches (regional conferences, ethnic associations, etc.) be authorized and blessed to serve as sponsors for these fledgling groups that are seeking to join the MB family. 

“Pace is critically important,” Rudi Plett said. “In some places we are stuck, but in others we are changing much too quickly. Mission needs to move at a pace which churches and conferences can sustain, or they will burn out.” Change is both disruptive and inevitable; it must also be intentional and measured. 

Change also took place during the summit at the executive level, as a new board was put forward for the next term. Executive Director Rudi Plett, having completed six years of service from his base in Paraguay, also formally proposed Canadian executive director Elton DaSilva as his successor. This was met with overwhelming approval, and Elton has since agreed to accept this role. 

Due to difficulties in obtaining Canadian entry visas, various global delegates were unable to attend the summit in person, but made their presence felt via video conferencing. These were poignant moments, where their physical absence was keenly felt by all.  

Expressions of brotherly affection – both in person and virtual – increased throughout the week, as new commonalities of blessing and challenge were discovered almost daily. There were times when these discoveries left attendees raw and vulnerable, as faults were acknowledged, and apologies received, but this is what it means to be family. 

The ICOMB 2023 summit was a gathering of siblings. In humility they gathered to turn their gazes inward in honest self-examination, outward in grace and good will, and upward in faith-filled prayer, with fresh vision and resolve for the year to come. 

One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3: 13b, 14.

During the General Assembly, elections were held for the ICOMB Board, and the following individuals were elected and confirmed:  

• Board Chair: Paul Dück (3 years) – South America (Brazil) 
• Vice President: Andreas Isaak (2 years) – Europe (Germany)
• Secretary: Victor Wiens (2 years) – North America (Canada) 
• Treasurer: Bob Davis (2 years) – North America (USA) 
• Member-At-Large: Marques Mente (2 years) – Europe (Portugal) 
• Member-At-Large: Elton DaSilva (2 years) – North America (Canada) 

Our Global (executive) Director Rudi Plett has decided not to pursue another term. To ensure a smooth transition, a well-planned transition phase has been established. Elton will continue with CCMBC until October 2023 to transition his responsibilities to a new leader. Following this, he will have two months of personal retreat. Elton will assume the role of ICOMB Global Director by January 2024. There will be a two to three-month overlapping phase with Rudi to facilitate the transition of activities and responsibilities. 

Starting January 2024, when Elton assumes his new role as Global Director, his position on the ICOMB Board will be filled by a representative from another conference, preferably from Africa or Asia. 

‚ÄîPaul Dück (ICOMB board chair) 

The International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) is made up of 22 national churches in 19 countries. ICOMB also has associate members in more than 20 countries, all at different points along the pathway to full membership. ICOMB exists to facilitate relationships and ministries to enhance the witness and discipleship of its member national churches – connecting, strengthening and expanding.

The Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford won’t soon forget that Mennonite World Conference guests were there in March 2023. A tree was left behind in remembrance.  

Mennonite World Conference has a tradition to plant tree on the grounds of a Mennonite institution when the Executive Committee meets: “in honour of God’s creation and the church universal.” 

In March 2023, after an informative tour with executive director Richard Thiessen, MWC Executive Committee members and other staff guests gathered on the grounds of the museum to plant a maple tree.  

“May creation find ways to resurrect and may we take our responsibilities to care for God’s creation,” prayed Henk Stenvers, MWC president, in the dedication of the tree.  

During 1997 Executive Committee meetings, then-general secretary Larry Miller suggested that a tree be planted wherever these meetings took place.  

Since then, trees have been planted in the following places:  

• 1999: a yellow bamboo at GKMI synod office, Semarang, Indonesia. Unfortunately, this tree had to be removed during the campus renovations in 2022.  
• 2001: Thomashof Mennonite retreat centre in Karlsruhe, Germany. 
• 2002: Mpopoma BIC Church, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, at a ceremony attended by hundreds.  
• 2004: Eglise Mennonite Bourg-Bruche / Le Hang, Molsheim, France. This is close to the “Mennonite tree” at Le Salm, France, planted in 1793 in recognition of Jakob Kupferschmitt’s efforts to secure exemption from military service for Anabaptists during the French Revolution. 
• 2005: On the campus of Conrad Grebel College in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The red maple was later discovered to be in poor health, so several former MWC staff funded its replacement with a Japanese maple in 2021. A white pine, a symbol of peace to Indigenous peoples in Ontario, was planted at the Mennonite Central committee Kitchener property where MWC also has offices.  
• 2007: On the grounds of Iglesia Principe de Paz, a General Conference church and Mennoniten Brüder Gemeinde Concordia / Iglesia Hermanos Menonitas Concordia (Concordia Mennonite Brethren Church). in Asuncion, Paraguay. A fourth tree was later planted in the Chaco.  
• 2010: 38 trees at Misrak Meserete Kristos Church, Ethiopia.  
• 2013: Mennonite Central Committee Welcoming Place, Akron, Pennsylvania, USA. 

“Trees are a rich source of symbolism: the remind us of the many branches of the global Anabaptist-Mennonite family; they leave behind an organic memento of a visit from MWC; they speak to our commitment to creation care,” says César García, MWC general secretary.

“Your textbook worked!” Darnell Barkman told his former professor Lisa Schirch after floodwaters overcame his region in November 2021. The pastor at Yarrow United Mennonite Church in B.C., Canada, implemented all his peacebuilding training to coordinate disaster response. 

For the last several decades, the poorest parts of the global church have been impacted by climate change directly, her students learn. “Now, climate change is coming to our front door in North America. Our money and resources are clearly not enough to protect us from disaster,” Darnell Barkman says.  

But when the storm affected his neighbours, Darnell Barkman’s training in peacebuilding planning and conflict assessment equipped him to coordinate an inter-church community response.  

Disaster response follows similar steps to armed conflict, Darnell Barkman explains. First, you need a ceasefire, then you do an assessment, clean up the mess, and rebuild.  

In November 2021, the region surrounding Yarrow was covered by floodwaters from excess rainfall. Then, the dike breached, cutting off the town from transportation routes in and out.  

For a time, the Yarrow churches were disaster response centres. The pastors had connections to people and the churches had space. Partners like Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Services had expertise to share.  

In times like these, the church can have a role like no one else, says Darnell Barkman. “We exist in the midst of diversity and differences. We’re together because of God’s love and we’re open to serve because it’s part of who we are.” 

“Different gifts within the congregation came into play,” says Josh Kraubner, Connections pastor at Yarrow Mennonite Brethren (MB) Church. Some cook, some do heavy labour, some make phone calls, some have tools and equipment, some have organizational ability to see the bigger picture.  

Darnell Barkman’s guiding principle in the midst of the crisis was “minimum viable structure.” When people needed sandbags, the Mennonite church lot was a place to fill them. Later, when people needed a place to dump ruined goods in the clean up efforts, the MB church parking lot became a transfer station. With a plywood sign marked “dump here” and a bit of supervision, the community saved dozens of trips to a far away landfill.  

City officials trusted the team of pastors to do the necessary organizing in the community. 

“This is so good!” Josh Kraubner recalls thinking as he walked past the MB church kitchen full of people serving shoulder to shoulder: ladies from the Mennonite church, the Reformed church, the Alliance church and volunteers from host congregation. “We can put aside our little differences so we can serve our neighbours.” 

At one point, the ad hoc inter-church collaborative response was so inundated with volunteers, they had to turn people away – or direct them to assist the other organizers who were not connected into the church networks.  

After the flood, some community members see the church differently.  

“When church is engaged with other non-church organizations in community development, the community has the opportunity to see a group of neighbours working to make the community a better place with church as participant in it,” says Darnell Barkman. “This removed some of power dynamics… We were shoulder to shoulder with everyone else.” 

“If we maintain [relationships built during the flood response], we’re going to see where God is creating opportunities – that are not based around emergency – for the church to work alongside the city for the blessing of the region,” says Darnell Barkman.  

It has shown Josh Kraubner a taste of what disaster looks like behind the news stories. “It made it very real,” he says. Now when he hears about a disaster in another part of the world, he think, “I know a little bit about what’s that’s like… This is traumatic and hard.” 

Another long-term impact of the flooding has been the reinvigoration of the ministerial group. Pastors from different denominations meet regularly again.  

More than a year after the waters receded, for some, recovery appears to be over. But alongside the lingering trauma of the moment, the relationship stresses and financial stresses remain. For others, the rebuilding is nowhere near complete. 

After Mennonite World Conference sent out a prayer call (see “A pastoral letter for Anabaptist-Mennonites in British Columbia”), Darnell Barkman received encouragement from around the world. He was amazed that “with children working in mines and generations of armed conflict, here’s a pastor from DR Congo sending me a prayer through Google Translate saying ‘we’re praying for you’!” 

It struck him as an image out of John’s Revelation. “We are living in a time when MWC can call a global prayer meeting and we have tribes and tongues of every nation (Revelation 7:9) on the screen,” Darnell Barkman said. 

And was an example of the need to shift perception of power in the global church. “There’s a perception of us having the money, and we send to help. But, spiritually we don’t have all the resources. We control those things that we can control… but there is so much more power and spiritual authority in global church that we need to learn to receive better.” 

“The pandemic has challenged churches to look for new ways of being the church – especially as we exist in a multi-religious society as a minority,” says Cynthia Peacock, regional representative for Southern Asia.  

As an MWC regional representative, she relates to 350 local congregations, mainly through the nine national member churches in India and Nepal. “I meet with the leadership, lay leaders, members of congregations, read newsletters, and listen,” she says.  

Now that pandemic restrictions are lifted, the regional representatives are able to meet with churches in person again, strengthening relationships. 

“Economic crises, natural disasters and wars are serious threats,” says Agus Mayanto, regional representative for Southeast Asia. Congregations in Myanmar are displaced from their homes and suffering violent attacks in the civil war. Indonesia and the Philippines are frequently struck with natural disasters like flooding and typhoons.  

“But at the same time, this can also be an opportunity for the church to be a good witness in the midst of a crisis: a light and blessing to those who need help.”  

Siaka Traore, regional representative for Western and Central Africa, sees churches struggle when new leaders come into their roles, sometimes as a result of conflict, without training or experience. “Our wish is to see peaceful leadership transition with continuity,” he says.  

In Southern Africa, represented by Danisa Ndlovu, climate change is a present concern. The recent super tropical cyclone caused devastation in Malawi and Mozambique on top of the cholera epidemic in Malawi. Zimbabwe has water rationing amid persistent water shortages.  

“What is exciting to me is that amid all the challenges, the church has remained faithful and true to its calling,” he says.  

Latin American churches rejoiced to resume some regional in-person gatherings.  

“The sense of identification and belonging to the global family is growing amid churches of the region,” says Willi Hugo Perez, regional representative for Central America and Mexico. There are serious political and socioeconomic conflicts in the region including gang violence, poverty and migration. “With the wisdom of the Spirit, some are beginning to rethink their missional and pastoral tasks in the context of current realities.” 

Some Anabaptist-Mennonite churches in Latin America are reticent about ecumenism. Nevertheless, they are passionate about bringing the message of salvation in Christ to those who are hungry to hear about hope in Jesus.