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Première consécration pastorale chez les Samoghos
L’Eglise de Samoghohiri au Burkina Faso a vécu la joie de la consécration de Fabé Traoré et de Kari Traoré au ministère pastoral. Le 1er mai 2016, deux pasteurs ont été consacrés à Samoghohiri, dans la province du Kénédougou dont le chef-lieu est Orodara. Cela fait plus d’un quart de siècle que des missionnaires mennonites…
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A growing church: a look at reported church members in 2018
“Uganda is ripe for evangelism and the church is growing,” says bishop Simon Okoth, national coordinator of Uganda Mennonite Church. The new Mennonite World Conference (MWC) member church (accepted by the Executive Committee in 2017) grew from 310 members in 7 congregations reported in 2015 to 553 members in 18 congregations in 2018. Every three…
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Hope in suffering
Like the chambers of a heart, the four MWC commissions serve the global community of Anabaptist-related churches, in the areas of deacons, faith and life, peace, mission. Commissions prepare materials for consideration by the General Council, give guidance and propose resources to member churches, and facilitate MWC-related networks or fellowships working together on matters of…
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Ministry partner update: ICOMB – November 2018
The International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) is made up of 21 national churches in 19 countries with approximately 450,000 members. ICOMB exists to facilitate relationships and ministries to enhance the witness and discipleship of its member national churches – connecting, strengthening and expanding. Victor Wiens, ICOMB Equipping Coordinator, travelled to Asia in October. Here…
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A rush of violent wind
Three reasons the Holy Spirit is relevant to the church today Fifty days after Passover, the Jewish community gathered in Jerusalem for the Festival of Weeks. At the same time, the followers of Jesus gathered in a room awaiting the promise of the Holy Spirit. As they were waiting, “suddenly from heaven there came a…
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The gift of the Holy Spirit in the 16th century and today
Many written testimonies of the early Anabaptist movement point toward the work of the Holy Spirit as the central driving force. The Holy Spirit goes to people who are awaiting. It was the case in Pentecost (Acts 2) while the disciples were praying; it was the case in Reformation times; and it is the case…
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YABs in MWC’s General Council
Decision making in a large group can feel like a game of misunderstood messages, says Matthias Claassen, General Council delegate for Konferenz der Mennonitengemeinden in Uruguay. It’s important to have leaders in the room representing a variety of ages and experience in addition to the various national churches that make up MWC. Claassen was one…
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“Djagalah Anak Kambing Koe” (“Tend My Lambs”)
On his deathbed, Tee Siem Tat called his sons, Tee Yan Poen and Tee Yan Siang, and his son-in-law, Tan King Ien. To them, Tee Siem Tat spoke his last words: “Djagalah anak kambing koe” (“Tend my lambs,” John 21:15 in Old Bahasa). His grandson, Rev. Herman Tan, believes his last words were to ask…
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Standing in solidarity with Indigenous people in Canada
“Our global value of peacemaking is expressed in the Declaration of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples,” says Mennonite World Conference general secretary César García. “How a church in South Korea or Colombia lives that out is not something we can legislate. It’s an issue we need to discern as churches in our specific contexts.” For Steve…
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Peace, history, mission and care: new developments in MWC
Mennonite World Conference weaves a web of connections within the Anabaptist Mennonite family around the world through website, emails, social media, publishing and relations with other organizations. Here are some new connecting points. The Mission Commission appointed José Arrais of Portugal to a newly created part-time role as coordinator of networks. He is the contact…
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Dal se Dil tak: to the heart through soup
As an Indian living in Canada on MCC’s International Volunteer Exchange Program, I have made dal (lentil soup) a number of times. When I made it for the first time, I was little nervous, but it was requested again for different groups of people and every time quantity increased. First, I cooked dal for my…
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A day peace and justice kissed
A local church in Colombia lives out peace Why won’t a country forgive? Why are there people who seem to prefer war? These are questions that disturb the soul and invite us to look for answers, not in the cold streets of the city, but the forgotten countryside, in the small towns of Colombia directly…
