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Ministry partner update: ICOMB – August 2016
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. Meeting with César García After the Panama Summit, I met Cesar…
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CAMCA 2016: Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean Anabaptist Consultation
The annual Central America, Mexico and Caribbean Anabaptist Consultation (CAMCA) took place 5–9 July 2016 in the Escuela de Capacitación Adventista Salvadoreña, San Juan Opico, La Libertad, El Salvador. Fifty-nine participants came from México, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Argentina. It was organized by Sandra Campos, member of…
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A life with no sin
What comes to your mind when you hear the word hospitality? It usually reminds me of the experience I had when I visited a country in another continent. I thought Colombians were good hosts until a family from a different culture hosted me. It was just amazing: the amount and quality of food they offered,…
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Ministry partner update: ICOMB – July 2016
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. Fraternal visit to Platanares, Panama: 6–8 June 2016 After a somewhat rough,…
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Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference considers Peace Network
Bogotá, Colombia – Conrad Grebel University College hosted academics, practitioners, artists and church workers at the inaugural Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival, 9–12 June 2016. In Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 203 people from 20 countries (from Canada to Colombia to DR Congo) attended 30 concurrent sessions. Three plenary speakers (including Fernando Enns of Germany and…
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Regional Representatives connect with churches
Bogotá, Colombia – Smiles and a warm reception greeted Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Executive Committee member Steven Mang’ana and Regional Representative (Central/West Africa) Francisca Ibanda as they visited Église Mennonite du Burundi (EMB). In May 2016, Mang’ana and Ibanda visited two Mennonite national churches who are not MWC members, to encourage further connection. They brought…
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Reconciling the radical reformation
Report on Bearing Fruit, the Lutheran World Federation Task Force to follow up the “Mennonite Action” at the LWF Eleventh Assembly in 2010. Bogotá, Colombia – The reconciliation process between the Lutheran World Federation and Mennonite World Conference has created fertile ground for collaboration. A report summarizing the LWF-MWC action of reconciling with Mennonites over…
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Brief historic journey, profile, tendencies and challenges of Mennonites in Latin America
These reflections are a brief summary linking the historical development, profile and tendencies of the multiethnic Anabaptist communities and Mennonite churches in Latin America that belong to MWC, and present the challenges faced by Mennonites in their mission work, ministry and witness for peace and justice as they follow Jesus in a multiethnic continent. 1.…
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Newcomers to natives: Diversity and challenges for Mennonites in Brazil
The first Mennonites arrived in Brazil during the year 1930, coming as refugees from Russia/Ukraine, where their property, churches and schools were taken over by the state during the Stalin years. Thousands of Mennonites (15,000–25,000) and other groups took their few belongings and travelled to Moscow in 1929 to get a visa. Only 5,000 received…
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A ministry of inclusive hospitality
Hospitality: Exploring what it means to offer hospitality as followers of Christ Shocking photographs published in the news media awoke the Western world to the refugee crisis on September 2015. With a heightened awareness of the issue, the Anabaptist communion worldwide considers what it means to welcome the stranger as those from different religious backgrounds enter…
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Love opens hearts to learn more
Courier: Perspectives Hospitality: Exploring what it means to offer hospitality as followers of Christ Shocking photographs published in the news media awoke the Western world to the refugee crisis on September 2015. With a heightened awareness of the issue, the Anabaptist communion worldwide considers what it means to welcome the stranger as those from different religious…
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The heart of a stranger
Hospitality: Exploring what it means to offer hospitality as followers of Christ Shocking photographs published in the news media awoke the Western world to the refugee crisis on September 2015. With a heightened awareness of the issue, the Anabaptist communion worldwide considers what it means to welcome the stranger as those from different religious backgrounds enter…
