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Congolese Mennonites celebrate 100 years of God’s faithfulness and partnership
In 100 years, the Communauté Mennonite au Congo has thrived, growing to include 110,000 members, 798 congregations, 95 schools and seven hospitals. Tshikapa, Democratic Republic of Congo—Fifty-some young musicians walked nearly 160 kilometerscarrying their drums, luggage and a few babies to attend the centennial celebration of Communauté Mennonite au Congo – CMCO (Mennonite Community in…
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Global Anabaptism: an X-ray of the body
In collaboration with Mennonite World Conference, the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism at Goshen (Indiana, USA) College is launching a two-part research initiative. Combining data and personal stories, organizers hope to develop a more accurate understanding of the MWC constituency specifically and global Anabaptism generally. “We’re trying to provide a sort of X-ray…
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European Mennonites inspired to reach across borders at ninth Regional Conference
Sumiswald, Switzerland – Every six years, Mennonites in Europe gather for their regional assembly known as the Mennonite European Regional Conference (MERK). This year’s meeting, held from May 17 to 20, preceded the meetings of the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) General Council at the Chrischona Centre near Basel. MERK drew a total of 855 people…
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200,000 newly displaced by conflict in eastern Congo
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Rukimba Furaha fled her home and fields in the village of Kabuya in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), out of fear for the safety of her eight children. Her husband had left home several days earlier to avoid being forcibly recruited into…
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Congolese Football and Song
Nyanga, Democratic Republic of Congo – When a Belgian school inspector needed to recruit singers for the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels, he entrusted the task to two missionary women, one of whom was Lodema Short. Short served from 1947–1981with Congo Inland Mission, now Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission – a partner agency with Mennonite Mission Network.…
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Growth of women’s theological networks celebrated
“Like an infectious laugh that spreads throughout a room full of people, one after another, theological networks have been formed by Anabaptist women in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe,” reports Ruth Guengerich, co-director of Mennonite Women USA (MW USA). Guengerich, who attended the Mennonite World Conference General Council gathering near Basel, Switzerland, 20-25 May,…
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Advisory council prepares for privilege of hosting world assembly; approves $850,000 fundraising goal for 2015 event
Lancaster, PA—Both the welcome anticipation and the challenges of hosting the next Mennonite World Conference Assembly were evident in the meeting of the National Advisory Council held here March 22-23. Council members, who represent the four inviting denominations, spoke of the “honour” and “privilege” of hosting members of the MWC global communion for the 16th…
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MWC General Council sets stage to deepen global relations and strengthen Anabaptist identity
Bettingen, Switzerland—Swiss Mennonite historian Hanspeter Jecker stood on the bank of the Limmat River in Zurich, Switzerland, near the site where Anabaptist martyr Felix Manz was drowned. He was speaking passionately to a group of international church leaders about the 16th century drowning. Suddenly from the group came an outburst from Joly Birakara Ilowa from…
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Regional workshops lay foundation for MWC Africa Caucus
Kinshasa, DR Congo—Two separate meetings of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Africa representatives occurred on successive weekends at the end of October and early November 2011 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Together they marked the “end of the beginning” of a five year long process to put into place a new structure for fellowship and…
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Honduran pastor murdered; church asks for prayer
On Sunday, January 22, Rafael Erasmo Arevalo, a Mennonite pastor in Honduras, was attacked and killed after leading an evening worship service. Arevalo, from Santa Rosa de Copán, drove about 20 kilometres north to Veracruz, where he had led worship services for the past 10 years. According to a report in a Honduran newspaper, La…
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Nelson Kraybill chosen as President-elect of Mennonite World Conference
After the General Council selected J. Nelson Kraybill (second from left) as MWC President-elect, the MWC officers—President Danisa Ndlovu (left) and Vice-president Janet Plenert (right), along with representatives from North American MWC churches such as Ervin Stutzman (second from right), offered prayers of blessing. – Photo by Merle Good Bettingen, Switzerland—On May 25, delegates to…
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Straddling Lao PDR and Zimbabwe
Vientiane, Lao PDR — Godswill Muzarabani grew up straddling two cultures in Zimbabwe. His father was from the majority ethnic group, Shona, and his mother was Ndebele, the minority ethnic group – classifications that have led to violence between the groups at worst and a recognized distinction at best. “I became a person who can…
