“My heart hasn’t stopped beating fast since hearing the testimonies last night,” said mission committee member Joanne Lang at Arnold Community Church, B.C., Canada. Her local congregation was one of 29 that hosted Mennonite World Conference guest(s) for Sunday worship. The previous night was the 2023 local iteration of Renewal 2028, a series of events begun in 2017 to commemorate the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement.
At South Abbotsford Church, 25 March 2023, five international guests and one local speaker shared testimonies of Jesus Christ, our hope.
“Dear Mennonite World Conference, you are the angels sent by God to Myanmar,” said Amos Chin. “When we are down, you comfort us; you fed us when we are hungry; you help when we are refugees, you bring us a ray of hope when we are hopeless; the world forgets our condition, but you remember us,” he said. Event organizer John Roth delivered Amos Chin’s speech about the difficult conditions in Myanmar because he did not receive permission to enter Canada. “Ultimately, Jesus Christ is still our hope.”
“Living in a county where problems are like the air you breathe, it is not easy… but we are living,” said Tigist Tesfaye of Ethiopia. She delivered her speech via video because her visa to Canada had been denied. She is tired of asking for prayer over again, she said, “but we have a Saviour who is our hope.
“Hope was never lost,” said José Arrais of Portugal. The Mennonite churches in Europe drew together to respond to needs created by the war in Ukraine.
“To talk about hope, I have to start with despair,” said Kkot-Ip Bae of South Korea where military conscription is mandatory. The MWC statement on conscientious objection signifies hope to Mennonites, she said.
“I can’t say what the secret is to finding hope, but I think the Apostle Paul was on to something when he encouraged us to not give up,” says Cynthia Dück of Paraguay.
“I’m very thankful to have quite aa long list to choose from of where I see it [hope],” said Ashley Rempel from Chilliwack, B.C., Canada; a member of Eden Mennonite Church. She talked about how the youth she mentors show her hope in following Jesus.
Due to slow visa processing or denials, the event was missing not only two of the speakers, but an additional four representatives from Africa and one from Latin America. They had been invited for the church visits and the next week’s Executive Committee meetings at Camp Squeah.
“We are one in our hope that it is Christ who reaches out to us and says ‘follow me,’” said MWC president Henk Stenvers of the Netherlands. “MWC is the living witness of that hope, bringing people together in one communion over borders of nationality, colour, language, economic circumstances and culture.”
Over decades of violence between state, paramilitary and guerillas, the Mennonite church in Colombia has been working in the affected regions, accompanying victims, denouncing violence and calling for peace. Now a Mennonite has been appointed to represent the World Council of Churches (WCC) in government peace talks.
The peace process signed in 2016 continues to advance. New president Gustavo Petro drafted a “Total Peace” policy to end armed conflict, improve public security in the countryside and increase rural development. His reforms include several Roundtables of Dialogue between the government and Ejército de Liberación Nacional (national liberation army).
The World Council of Churches has been invited into that process (as an observer). WCC appointed Mennonite theologian Fernando Enns from Brazil and Germany as one of their representatives.
Fernando Enns
“Although Mennonites from Germany and the Netherlands are among the smallest member churches in terms of numbers, the international fellowship of churches honours our strong ‘peace with justice’ witness through the decades,” says Fernando Enns. “Mennonites represent an unbiased commitment to a Christian discipleship of non-violent peacebuilding and reconciliation. We bear a great responsibility here.”
“The appointment of Mennonite peace scholar Fernando Enns as the WCC representative is an acknowledgement of the theological and practical gifts of peacemaking that Anabaptist-Mennonites bring to the worldwide church and a recognition of the enormous impact that Fernando’s ministry has had in the WCC for several years,” says MWC general secretary César García.
“My prayer is that the nominated international observers of the WCC (and the UN) will be able to strengthen and support the commitment to “peace for all” in Colombia. May we be able to critically monitor the path of justice towards a sustainable peace, so that the process does not degenerate to a cheap reconciliation. May we stay focussed on the most vulnerable; the poor, the marginalized, the disadvantaged,” says Fernando Enns.
As the war in Ukraine continues into a second year, Anabaptists along with other Christians continue to pray and work for peace. During the season of Lent, churches around the world gathered online together for a second ecumenical prayer service to lament the war in Ukraine and other locations of conflict. Church leaders including MWC general secretary César García offered prayers and reflections.
In the Swiss Mennonite news bulletin, editor Simon Rindlisbacher asked MWC general secretary César García about pacifism. Reprinted with permission from Konferenz der Mennoniten Der Schweiz/Conference Mennonite Suisse.
How strong of a concern is the war in Europe for churches in other countries that are part of MWC?
The war is a topic of concern in many places. After all, it also has global implications. People worry about the threat of nuclear war and are affected by the inflation the war has caused.
In countries in Africa or South America, this has become an additional burden along with the pandemic.
I also talked to people who said: the war is terrible, of course, but it is not the only one in the world. Other, similarly terrible conflicts are not getting the same attention in Europe at the moment.
I’m thinking, for example, of the situation in Myanmar, Congo or Eritrea. But also Colombia or South America in general. Some of these countries have been involved in conflicts for years. The people and the churches there are suffering. I think it is important that we do not forget them because of the war in Ukraine.
Mennonites are sometimes accused of irresponsibility, even by other churches. In the face of a war, is it appropriate to continue to adhere to pacifism and nonviolence?
This question arises in any violent conflict, and it is easier to think about it when one is not directly involved. I think with pacifism, it’s important that we stay completely with ourselves. We cannot demand a pacifist attitude from others, but only from ourselves.
We can always ask ourselves: what do I do when I am under violent attack? Of course, the answer is difficult if I have never been in such a situation, and maybe I would react with violence. That is all too human. Nevertheless, I can hold on to the idea that for me, basically, the nonviolent way is the right way.
And this is what we should do?
As Christians, pacifism and a pacifist attitude is our vocation. From my point of view, something like a Christian war supporter is a contradiction in terms. But even if we are called to pacifism, ultimately, we cannot make a pacifist response on our own. If we want to make peace, as Jesus did, we depend on the support of an ecclesial community and the power of the Holy Spirit.
When peace occurs, it is always a miracle. We can allow God to work through us and help us respond like Jesus did nonviolently.
From your perspective, how should we as Mennonites and peace churches in Europe respond to the war in Ukraine?
There is no universal answer to this. Every conflict is different and takes place in a different context each time. But one thing churches can always do when confronted with violence is to develop creative ways to confront it in a collaborative process.
Pacifism does not mean being a bystander. Being a pacifist means resisting and doing something about violence. There are many examples in history that nonviolent resistance works.
Which ones do you think of?
Remember Martin Luther King Jr., or the priest André Trocmé who with his congregation hid Jews from Nazi persecution. These people found nonviolent, creative and effective ways to resist violence.
Sometimes I wonder: what would have happened if the people in Ukraine had decided not to resist with force of arms? If they had said, “Here, take our land without bloodshed,” but then stood up to the occupying power with civil disobedience? Would that have been worse than what the people of Ukraine are going through now? All the deaths, the destruction? I don’t know.
Force of arms and war is always an easy answer. Nonviolence is much more complicated and requires a lot of creativity. But it is possible.
You come from Colombia, a country where armed conflict is sadly an everyday reality. What can we learn from the Mennonites in Colombia?
César García
First of all, it is important to understand that peace work is the work of generations. You can get involved as a single person, but you may not experience the fruits of your efforts.
Colombia has experienced a lot of violence in the last 250 years. Mennonite churches started peace work 70 years ago and it is still going on today. Our attitude is: we are not pacifists because of what our commitment brings about, but because it is our calling as Christians; because of what God is doing in us and through us and driven by the Christian hope that a world of peace is possible.
What does your peace work look like in concrete terms?
It is very multifaceted. Basically, the goal is to promote a culture of peace in Colombia and to establish a pacifist lifestyle. To this end, some Mennonite churches work with schools, for example, showing them how to teach children to resolve conflicts in a peaceful and healthy way.
Other churches train leaders in businesses. They show them how to deal with conflict in the workplace.
In Colombia, violence within families is also a big problem. Therefore, other Mennonite churches work with families and show them how to resolve conflicts without violence. In this way we bring ideas of how to make peace into people’s daily lives.
Are you involved at the political level?
Yes. For example, we are campaigning for people not to have to do military service. We have made proposals to the government about what a civilian alternative service could look like.
We have also participated in demonstrations against the use of force, proposals and laws that stand in the way of peace.
And there are also churches that have refused to pay taxes that would finance violent measures by the government.
Do you also directly approach the armed factions, such as the illegal armies or the drug gangs?
We have done that, even though it is very risky. Several times, leaders of Mennonite congregations have tried to talk to the armed parties about their differences. The goal in each case has been to show them ways to resolve their conflicts peacefully.
Peace activists have already lost their lives in the process. Because as soon as you talk to one party to a conflict, you may be seen as an enemy by the other. But we have also had very good experiences and have guided the conflicting parties to a more peaceful way of life.
By the way, it’s also important that we don’t just focus on preventing violence, but also take care of the victims of violence.
What do you do for the victims?
For the victims of violence, we offer counselling and programs for healing from trauma. For example, if they have lost loved ones or lost their possessions. We support people who are fleeing violence. We are talking about several thousand. We help them to leave the country if that is the best solution. And if they can stay, we support them with money, housing, jobs and much more.
This work also contributes to a culture of peace in the long run.
Of all these examples, what do you think is most likely to be implemented in Europe?
In daily life, too, we need the ability to deal with conflicts in a healthy and peaceful way.
In my opinion, it is one of the tasks of the churches to practice this and thus train nonviolence as a lifestyle. If you succeed in this, you are more likely to know how to react creatively and nonviolently to war. If you only think about possibilities for peaceful conflict resolution when wars break out, it is much more difficult to see such possibilities.
—This article reprinted with permission from Swiss Mennonite news bulletin
What do cooking and graphic design have in common? For Adi Nugroho, it’s never been about mastering either of these skills. Technical skills are simply the backdrop for developing emotional tools and creating a space for connection, even across cultures.
When Adi’s host mom, Angela Opimi, was asked if she’d like to open her home up to a participant of the YAMEN (Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network) program, she was reluctant at first. Angela has been connected to the Mennonite church for years, and she now acts as vice president of Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Boliviana (IEMB) and is a member of Mennonite World Conference’s Deacons Commission. But despite those strong church ties, having someone live in her home felt like a big step. Her biggest fear in hosting? Preparing food.
She remembers telling Adi Nugroho about her fears around cooking when he first arrived. He assured her that, “as long as there’s rice to cook, I’ll be fine.”
To Angela Opimi’s surprise, the kitchen has become a place where they’ve built a friendship, shared jokes, and for Adi Nugruho, learned a new language. In the beginning, he didn’t know any Spanish, so the words they had to communicate were limited. But in the kitchen, his relationship with his host mom and his comfort in Spanish grew.
When Adi Nugroho heard about YAMEN, a one-year service term for young adults outside of Canada and the U.S. that provides the chance to learn, serve and grow in another country, he knew that going to Bolivia would be different than his home country in Indonesia.
YAMEN is a joint program of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Mennonite World Conference (MWC).
Adi Nugroho arrived in Bolivia with an openness to see how his experience in graphic design could be used at Talita Cumi, a home for orphaned and at-risk children and youth. Talita Cumi is supported by two churches Restoration Church and Trinity Church, which help provide spiritual support and activities for children.
For traumatized youth, qualities like time management, patience and teamwork have often taken a back seat to other family priorities. After a few months of building relationships with the children, Adi realized that while teaching a hard skill like graphic design would be fun, it could also be an opportunity to teach emotional development in an indirect way.
Adi Nugroho uses the example of developing confidence; he explains that many children don’t have much confidence in their abilities. Children might draw something in his class but would quickly scribble on top of it if anyone looked at it. But once they see their own posters hung in the halls of Talita Cumi they think, “wow this is my project!” It builds confidence. They might think “oh, maybe I can do more.” They can picture a future for themselves that they couldn’t imagine before.
His experience with YAMEN has pushed Adi Nugroho to practice the emotional skills he’s teaching.
“When I first came here everything was hard, the culture was difficult to adapt to, and the language made everything harder.” Rice, a staple food in Indonesia, was prepared differently in Bolivia. But after a long day, Adi Nugroho and Angela Opimi would meet in the kitchen to cook a simple meal. He shared some of his favorite recipes from Indonesia and she shared easy Bolivian dishes.
While he’s building skills while cooking with Angela Opimi, Adi Nugroho is also expanding his ideas about how food can be prepared and building a relationship along the way.
Angela Opimi says, “I enjoy spending time with him in the kitchen because he doesn’t just wait for food to appear. He says, ‘let’s make it together and we can make it faster’. I’ve remained an independent person, but he’s not a stranger in my home, he’s more like a nephew.”
Maybe Adi Nugroho and Angela Opimi won’t become master chefs. Maybe the children at Talita Cumi won’t want to continue in a career with graphic design. But the emotional tools that they carry with them as they interact with other people and cultures, will last a lifetime.
—A Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Central Committee joint release by Rachel Watson, communications and program support facilitator for Mennonite Central Committee in Bolivia.
YAMEN 2022-2023 Participants
Name
Country of origin
Country of placement
Member church *indicates MWC member church
Emilia Macono Guzman
Bolivia
México
Sinai Evangelical Mennonite Church (IEMB) *
Uziel Zambrana Hurtado
Bolivia
Colombia
Smyrna Evangelical Mennonite Church*
Sina Dy
Cambodia
Kenya
Community of Changed Hearts Church
Sokvoleak Chum
Cambodia
Uganda
Tumnup Tek Khmer Evangelical Church
Sovanich Chhoun
Cambodia
Nicaragua
Nation Church Phnom Penh
Lilibeth Guzman Macea
Colombia
Honduras
Communidad Menonita Nueva Vida en Cristo Jesus
Nidia Marleny Linares Martinez
El Salvador
México
Mennonite Evangelical Church of El Salvador*
Esther Abigail Aguilar Velasquez
Honduras
Bolivia
Iglesia Evangélica Menonita de Santa Rosa de Copan
Eve Franklin
India
Kenya
Mennonite Church Durg (MCI, Dhamtari)*
Mahima Tandi
India
Uganda
Bethlehem Mennonite Church Memra Pithora (BGCMC)*
Shepher Sona
India
Cambodia
Hebron Mennonite Church (BGCMC)*
Cahya Putri Wulansari
Indonesia
Rwanda
GITJ Kelet*
Johana Christianti
Indonesia
Burkina Faso
GKMI Bogor*
Setyawan “Adi” Nugroho
Indonesia
Bolivia
GKMI Kudus*
Rael Kiptoo
Kenya
Uganda
Shalom Mennonite Church
Sarah Pariken
Kenya
Cambodia
Dominion Chapel International Ministries
Febe Daniella Madirgal Salgado
Nicaragua
Guatemala
Fuente de Vida (Convención de Iglesias Menonitas)*
Melania Elizabeth Chaparro
Paraguay
Honduras
Dulce Refugio
Monika Warkentin
Germany/Paraguay
Palestine and Israel
Iglesia Hermanos Menonitas Concordia (AHM)*
Denise Dushime
Rwanda
India
Gatenga Evangelical Friends Church
Yejin Kim
South Korea
Bolivia
Jesus Heart Church
Sondobi “Daniel” Chacha Sondobi
Tanzania
Cambodia
KMT Bukiroba*‚ÄØ
Ladia Zulu
Zambia
Cambodia
Baptist Community Church
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
One encouraging piece of news about creation care is that there are an increasing number of good organizations and websites with excellent resources.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17,18)
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer!
On 30 March 2023, military aerial bombardment of a village in Chin State in Myanmar killed a dozen villagers including the pastor’s daughter and several members of MWC member church Bible Missionary Church. Many villagers were severely injured, including the local pastor. Please pray for solace for all those affected. Pray for an end to violence.
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
“Happy are those whom you choose, whom you bring to live in your sanctuary…” (Psalm 65:4, Good News Translation).
The “pause for prayer” at the Mennonite church of ChâtenayMalabry (Paris, France) was created in March 2021as part of the journey towards Easter in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initiated by our former pastor, Silvie Hege, it took the form of a weekly one-hour meeting by Zoom during the lunch break, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The online gathering was to be held every Friday of the Lenten period and to end once Easter arrived.
Time for a break
This time was an opportunity to take a break in our day and in our week, to come and be refreshed/filled by the Spirit, a time to walk with Jesus. It was a time of fasting for those who wished to do so, a time set apart for ourselves, a time of sharing, a prayer break that really allowed us to feel close to Jesus in this moment and close to each other, united by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Once Easter 2021 was over, it was impossible for us to end this divine rendez-vous, this weekly meeting with the Father who does us so much good.
It is at this point that I took on the responsibility of leading this time of prayer that has continued to this day – even during vacations – with participants taking turns leading if necessary.
Although the day has been changed from Friday to Wednesday for reasons of convenience, we have kept the original principle: to spend a lunch break together (that lasts on the average an hour and 15 minutes) to be with our Lord, to rest in God’s holy presence and to stand in the breach1 .
Praise, adoration and rendering thanks
During our meetings, the reading of at least one Bible passage allows us to contemplate our God and to pray on the basis of God’s Word. We then praise and adore God, giving thanks and interceding for the world, for the subjects of prayer shared in our church at Châtenay-Malabry and in this prayer cell.
Every member of the church is welcome. The connection link is shared every week through the different communication channels of the church. The number of participants is not large, but the blessings of God are overwhelming. We have seen a great many prayers answered.
There is a small number of people who are faithful to the meetings, making it a privileged place where trust is built up/ established, allowing us to speak about prayer subjects that cannot always be shared with the entire congregation on Sunday.
Occasionally, we have had the joy of the unexpected presence of a person whom the Holy Spirit has led to connect, and this, at times, sometimes in a very unique way.
This “pause” has allowed us to see so many answers and so many signs from God that it has reinforced the idea that he is present with us during this time.
Each meeting has been a genuine moment of renewal. Be it 2, 4 or 6 people connected, we feel privileged to be able to participate in this time of prayer as it is written in Psalm 65:4.
A burden that became a benefit
The idea of this prayer time, meeting via Zoom, would probably not have seen the light of day without COVID-19. A structure that could have initially been considered a burden or a limitation has turned out to be a real asset because we can participate from wherever we are: from home, from the office, from vacation spots, with the only condition being access to an internet connection. God truly does make all things work together for the good of those who love him.
Other than the worship service, this prayer break is the only weekly meeting in our church. We truly give glory to God for this additional opportunity for fellowship and for all that we have been able to experience through these blessed times since the very beginning.
The challenges are great but we want to keep standing in the breach so that the Lord may act among the nations, in our lives, in all the situations that come upon us, so that we may see the manifestation of God’s glory.
—Nicole Djuissi is a member of the pastoral team, the leader of the online prayer meeting and also head of a house group. She is employed as a digital project manager, and the mother of two children ages 13 and 17.
1Psalm 106 :23; Ezekiel 22:30, Isaiah 11-12
Canada
Then we read Scripture out under the open sky, it comes alive in new ways.
Phrases like, “The heavens are telling the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), “all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12) and “let justice roll down like water” (Amos 5,24) all take on deeper significance as we reflect on creation as participants in praise or harbingers of God’s wisdom.
Similarly, Jesus taught outdoors. He often drew on the natural world (water, vines, rocks, birds, flowers, etc.) to offer insights into his ministry and the kingdom of God.
God’s Spirit is continually active in the world around us. God is hiding in plain sight, and at Burning Bush we are honing our senses to be become more fully aware of God’s living presence and inspiration in our midst.
Gathered and grounded
Burning Bush Forest Church found its beginnings in an unexpected epiphany in late 2014. A seed of inspiration was received, planted, allowed to sit dormant for a while, then germinated and took root at our first official worship gathering in March 2016. The basic idea that grounds who we are and what we do is that we worship outdoors, all year ‘round, not merely in creation, but with creation! We engage with God’s good earth as our place of worship, as an extension of our worshipping community, and as one of our worship leaders.
This form of worship – inviting people outdoors to connect with Creator and creation – seems to resonate with many people in this era of multiple environmental crises.
Our gatherings are generally small and intimate (usually between 10 and 30 people).
They engage our whole bodies as we ground ourselves through our senses in the particular place where we are gathered.
Our gatherings include Scripture and prayer, but not a traditional sermon. Participants are given time to “wander and wonder” (usually 30 minutes) to pay attention to how they are noticing God’s presence that “speaks” in a variety of ways.
There is time for sharing with one another around the circle.
Children are free to explore and follow their curiosity, and to participate along with their parents and the whole community. Their insights are welcome and often profound.
Ultimately, worshipping outdoors helps us to feel a deeper sense of belonging to God’s “community of creation.” Over the years, we have met in different public parks in our city, settling in at one with a creek and naturalized forest area as our primary location. By returning to the same spot, we have learned to know the names and characteristics of the trees, plants, birds, animals and insects around us. We have been immersed in the rhythms of the seasons as they play out. We have witnessed lessons of letting go, abundance, interdependence, death, renewal and resurrection, all written into creation for us to see.
Practical pattern
As we already had a well-established pattern of intentionally gathering outdoors for several years before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we did not feel the restrictions as dramatically as other congregations who needed to close the doors of their buildings for a time.
We were able to continue our worship with only a few minor adjustments such as using an on-line registration tool (Eventbrite) to ask participants to pre-register. This allowed us to stay within gathering limits and have information for contact tracing should that be necessary. We also enhanced our email newsletter, adding in more resources for personal engagement and spiritual growth at home. At Burning Bush, we did not decide to experiment with worship simply to offer something new and different, or to figure out how to pivot in a new context. We are following God’s leading to return to a way of connecting heart, mind and soul with the beloved community of creation. This is both ancient and new. It has been a journey of renewal and transformation, rooting ourselves in God’s great vision of shalom for all creation.
—Wendy Janzen is pastor of Burning Bush Forest Church and an ecominister with Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. She lives in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Democratic Republic of the Congo
May glory be given to the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his good deeds. By the grace of God, in Congo the pandemic was not as cruel as it was under other skies. Aside from the hygiene lessons given regularly and generally by the political/ administrative and health authorities to the population, there was no direct long-term link between the pandemic and worship.
Given the severity of health measures, no gatherings were possible. Nevertheless, Christians were invited to gather in their respective homes and some leaders visited the faithful and prayed with them.
During the pandemic we were asked to shorten worship times in order to avoid contamination and this practice continues to the present.
We were in the habit of embracing visitors during the time of welcome, but this practice was eliminated with the arrival of the pandemic. We no longer embrace visitors. At the end of every worship service, we had the custom of shaking hands between brothers and sisters, but this no longer happens. These are not improvements per se, but simply things that are different.
As a result of the health measures enacted by the government, notably the closing of churches and the prohibition against gathering, contact among children was nonexistent. This greatly impacted relationships among the faithful and significantly blunted fellowship. (It is good to clarify that this situation only lasted some five to six months.)
It was this aspect of no gatherings of the children of God with its corollaries such as the absence of spiritual and material sharing as well as the impossibility of giving offerings to God that we missed the most during the pandemic.
The CEM celebrates Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday with pomp and circumstance during a large Sunday service that brought together 13 parishes in the Mbujimayi district. Photo: Jean Felix Cimbalanga
All of the activities of members having been turned upside down, the only thing that was possible for the faithful was intercession. Indeed, the children of God who got into the habit of praying in their families prayed for others and for an end to the pandemic. When the restrictive measures were lifted, all of the activities of the church resumed normally.
It is important to note that even though the pandemic was dangerous and severe, our church conference was not affected or shaken to the point of negatively impacting the organization of worship. We thank MWC for having given our church conferences, through AIMM, the means to inform the members concerning COVID-19 and attitudes to adopt in order to avoid it.
During our times of praise, the pandemic helped us better understand our vulnerability as humans and always trust in God. And even though we prayed for others before the pandemic, we became more conscious of the need to pray for the healing of others with the arrival of the pandemic.
The grace and peace of the Lord be with you.
— Pasteur Jean Félix Cimbalanga, president of the Communauté Evangélique Mennonite (CEM). Felo Gracia, General Council member (GC) representing Communauté des Eglises Frères Mennonite du Congo (the Mennonite Brethren church of Congo). Both leaders contributed insights to this article.
South Korea
South Korea was very successful in its response to the pandemic, especially during the early stages. The virus was contained and death rates were low although the government refrained from issuing drastic measures such as lockdowns or business closures.
However, the Protestant community was highly criticised within Korea for its behaviour during the early days of the pandemic. Traditionally, a South Korean church on average has about 10 worship services a week. Korean churches put a lot of weight on face-to-face public worship: this made the COVID-19 pandemic particularly hard. Many continued faceto-face meetings overtly or in secret. Videos of Christians violating public health codes and ignoring scientific facts in the name of “faith” went viral. The South Korean church had been already deemed selfish and ultraconservative by the public in the past decade; this led people to think of it as detrimental to society.
Megachurches were able to prepare well for online services. With abundant resources, they produced forms of online worship that were even more systematic than offline formats, and are reaching even more people than before. But for small to mid-sized churches who rely on faceto-face meetings, large portions of their congregations did not return to the pews.
Peace and Joy Mennonite Church
Peace and Joy Mennonite Church is located in the countryside of a small city called Nonsan in central South Korea. The location is somewhat isolated, and most of the congregation either live on the church premises or in the nearby villages.
Our Sunday worship had to go online for a few months in the beginning of the pandemic, and then turned offline with limitations – no eating together; masks on; seating arrangements, etc. – adhering to government regulations. Brothers and sisters living on the same premises had to work and eat together even during the weekdays, so they still gathered, but took measures to limit as much contact with the outside world as much as possible.
Entering the “new normal” after the pandemic, most Korean churches are calling for the “revival of the face-to-face worship.” For Peace and Joy Mennonite Church, all of us have a sense of belonging and solidarity no matter where we are. The question of whether face-to-face worship service is the “true” form of worship wasn’t such a big issue for us. When we had to be online because of circumstances, we simply discussed how we could serve those in need.
For example, when we had confirmed cases in our midst or our village, we put necessary supplies and food on the doorsteps of quarantined people. We also began recording church services and uploading them on the church SNS group. We wanted to provide the sharing of the Word and the ongoing congregational context to brothers and sisters unable to attend the service. The weekly meeting of all members where all church matters are discussed and decided upon take place online during the week.
True worship
Even when you are completely cut off from the entire world, you can still worship God alone. Abraham and Jacob’s most significant encounters with God took place when they were both alone.
The Mennonite church reveals its faith in God through the relationships it fosters with brothers and sisters and neighbours; therefore the church community is of utmost importance. However, COVID-19 is not an one-time phenomenon. Human greed is getting bigger and the whole creation will suffer.
But even then, there is no reason to fear or despair. We shall not try to run away from worship, or tear ourselves away from the cord of three strands that Jesus tied us with, no matter the circumstances. If Sundays are no longer available for worship, we will simply worship on some other day. We do not look for excuses to not worship, but we look for different ways to worship.
Peace and Joy Mennonite Church tries to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard in our church service. Instead of a sermon, the facilitator (whose role rotates amongst the members) invites everyone to share their insights into the Word of God. Bible verses, questions and commentaries relating to the text are shared during the week so that the brothers and sisters taking part in the worship service can prepare their reflection and interpretation. Worship is teeming with life and more people are undertaking the necessary steps to become a full member of the church. It could be that each person is offering a hand to the congregation’s effort to put Jesus at the centre of peace and reconciliation, in a less authoritative and more communal manner.
We do not wait for church service because that is when and where we meet God: we wait for it because we can listen to the stories of how our brothers and sisters have met God in their lives. How precious is the time when we can see each other’s face light up as we share our stories of thanksgiving? How precious is the time when we can sing in one voice the same songs of praise? How precious is the time when all or any of us offer the common prayer that reflects our communal faith? Thanks be to God that we have our brothers and sisters in faith!
Pandemics are rooted in human greed and therefore may return any time and in any form. We do not know what destruction humanity’s uncontrolled desires may bring, but Peace and Joy Mennonite Church will take the road to a community of peace, where we love our brothers and sisters and put Jesus at the centre.
The same questions people brought in John 4:20-23 are heard in the church today: “Our fathers worshipped here, but you say…” The place and the format are not important. Jesus’ answers are the same, back then and even now: “the true woshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”
— Yongha Bae is general secretary of Mennonite Church South Korea. This article was translated from Korean into English by Hakjoon (Joe) Ko.
Urgent prayer
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Pray for Anabaptist-Mennonite church members in Malawi and Mozambique who are affected by Cyclone Freddy, an exceptionally long-lived tropical storm that battered the region for more than five weeks with heavy rains and high winds.
In Malawi, the water washed away houses, roads, electricity poles and bridges. Brethren in Christ church members from Blantyre, Phalombe and Mulanje districts are displaced: crowded conditions, lack of food and lack of sanitary facilities threaten to worsen the cholera outbreak.
In Mozambique, collapsed houses force people in Milange, Tete and Mocuba to shelter in Brethren in Christ church buildings or local schools.
Church buildings have collapsed in Tete and Alto Mulocoe and the district pastor’s house collapsed in Sena District.
“We ask that you continue to pray for us. God in charge of our lives,” says Mubecane Filipe Manharage, national bishop of Igreja Irmãos em Cristo em Moçambique.
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
Ecuador
Today, there are three national Mennonite churches in Ecuador, one of which is a member church of Mennonite World Conference. They form a small but interconnected group of churches living out Anabaptist faith in a largely Catholic country.
Passion for sharing the good news
In the 1980s, CMC, also known as Rosedale (then called Conservative Mennonite Church), sent workers to share the gospel in Ecuador.
It began in Ecuador’s second largest city, Guayaquil. As Elam and Doris Stauffer invited neighbours into their home, relationships developed and a Sunday service started. The first Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Ecuatoriana (IEME) congregation was established in Guayaquil around 1983. This congregation called Jesús el Buen Pastor (Jesus, the Good Shepherd) is a significant evangelical presence in the country.
Around the same time, a landslide that washed away several communities near the coastal city Manta brought Canadian and American Mennonites to offer disaster assistance. Robert and Mirella Miller oversaw reconstruction of some 150-200 homes for relocated families. This example of “good Anabaptists helping neighbours” made a significant impression on local people. New churches formed in Manta, Guayaquil and Portoviejo.
Fruit of an evangelist
“Our church is the fruit of Henry Klassen,” says Manuel Aguagallo of Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Ecuador (ICME). Henry Klassen of Gospel Missionary Union (now called Avant), ministered among Quechua (indigenous peoples) in RioBamba and Guayaquil in the 1990s. Walking, driving or even riding on horseback, he went from community to community, preaching and mentoring. He was known to carry a film projector to show evangelistic movies.
Today, Monte Horeb (Mount Horeb) and El Pilar de la Verdad (pillar of truth) in Riobamba, Estrella del Sol (star of the sun) in Guayaquil and Camino de Salvación (way of salvation) in Quito form a small association. From 2010-2017 was a period of consolidation and continued relating with Mennonite partners. In 2017, they adopted a Mennonite confession of faith. A period of growth followed.
A church of refuge
In the 1980s, Federation of Indigenous Evangelical Churches of Ecuador-FEINE began to look for theological training for their pastors. As a result, what is now Mennonite Mission Network sent workers to form relationships and support theological training. First, Mauricio and Sara Chenlo, ABMS-trained Argentinians, and later Colombian Mennonites Cesar Moya and Patricia Ureña fostered Anabaptist teaching. What is now Iglesia Cristiana Anabautista Menonita de Ecuador (ICAME) began as home bible studies in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city.
With their eyes and hearts open to their neighbourhood, the church members helping people seeking refuge after migrating from other countries. Outreach to children is a big part of the church’s work. The church has a radical leadership style with a pastoral team comprised of four women.
“To demonstrate our beliefs, we live out those beliefs in Christ daily,” say Vietnamese Mennonite pastors. “Christian faith is a ‘lived-out’ faith, not just a system of beliefs.”
Relating to other Anabaptist bodies
ICAME’s Refugee and Migrant Peoples Project at Iglesia Menonita de Quito supports displaced people. Photo courtesy of Iglesia Menonita de Quito
Connections to the wider Anabaptist family are tangible through material aid from Mennonite Central Committee, financial aid and mission workers from Mennonite Mission Network and Central Plains Mennonite Conference, and mentorship from IMCOL in Colombia.
During the pandemic, “We were able to share what we received from MCC (canned turkey, quilts, school kits),” says Doris Espinoza (ICAME).
ICAME leaders reached out to ask other churches about their needs were and gave generously from the aid they had received. “That’s one way we were able to come together to share and to be a community as an example of the kingdom of God on earth,” says Doris Espinoza.
ICME prepared small kits to share with people who have gone through hard times. The church distributed 700 kits for people who didn’t have a pound of rice or potatoes.
In May 2022, the three Anabaptist church groups held a retreat.
“It was an opportunity to know there are many more Mennonites in our country,” says Fabian Buenaventura (IEME).
“We know there are differences,” says Doris Espinoza, but focusing on what they have in common allows the three churches to learn from each other. In so doing, they are better equipped to bring the message of the kingdom of God to others.
They look forward to future opportunities to build bonds between AnabaptistMennonite brothers and sisters.
“That has been a great blessing,” says Fabian Buenaventura.
Living out Anabaptist identity
In a Catholic country, the Mennonites are different because baptism comes after declaration of belief in Jesus.
As followers of Jesus, the Mennonites are “not just someone who goes to church to worship. We are obedient to the Word of the Lord,” says Vilma Cuji (ICME).
“We follow Jesus in our practice, not as a written declaration but as a way of life,” says Fabian Buenaventura (IEME). “This identifies us in our communities. We need to incarnate the mission. If we don’t live it out we’re just one more denomination.”
“We are peacemakers,” says Vilma Cuji. “We believe it is better to resolve problems. Our belief in Jesus takes precedence over our external identities.”
The Mennonite churches have worked to respond in a holistic way. Not only with the words of the gospel, but also through soup kitchens and child care centres, schools, and a foundation for girls who have been raised on the street. “We reflect Jesus in our lives, in our actions. We are the hands and feet of Jesus for a world that needs urgently to hear a message of hope,” says Ángel Castro León (IEME).
One way ICME lived out peace convictions was by giving refreshments and sharing meals during a national strike to those who were arriving in Quito from provinces.
Anabaptism touches on structures and helps to transform society to be more empathetic, less unequal.
“We are a peace church but it is impossible to speak of peace when there is no justice; when there is violence, poverty, inequality. Jesus taught a kingdom where all humans could have a more full life,” says Alexandra Meneses Andrade (ICAME).
“We are focussed on being in the community, not being a closed church,” says Doris Espinoza (ICAME).
The churches live out the gospel as a holistic message: not just about saving the soul but the well being of the whole person.
“One can’t speak about following Jesus if we’re up in the clouds, if we’re not inserted in the reality of society,” says Doris Espinoza.
Challenges and opportunities
The church leaders lament that Ecuadorian society has become violent and corrupt. Many people feel hopeless.
Having a peace identity may led the church to be silent, to tend to its own spaces. But the church’s challenge is to be present in society, to speak to violence with a message of reconciliation and unity among the churches, says Alexandra Meneses Andrade (ICAME).
“Let’s put all we have learned at the service of society so that we can make a contribution to holistic peace in Ecuador,” she says.
“Everywhere there is a church, we can announce that Jesus Christ is Lord – not as a religion, but as a God of hope, a God who transforms lives, a God who gives new opportunities, a God who tells us that nothing is impossible for God,” says Fabian Buenaventura (IEME).
Jesus the Good Shepherd Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Photo: Henk Stenvers
Article contributors: Ángel Castro León, pastor of Dios Viviente (Living God church) in Guayaquil; Fabian Buenaventura Garcia, president of Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Ecuatoriana (IEME); Manuel Aguagallo, pastor and representative of Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Ecuador (ICME); Vilma Cuji, from Caminos de Salvación (ICME); Doris Espinoza, legal representative of Iglesia Cristiana Anabautista Menonita de Ecuador (ICAME); Alexandra Meneses Andrade is the general secretary of Iglesia Cristiana Anabautista Menonita de Ecuador (ICAME).
