Multiply

A new Multiply board was installed at the end of 2020, led by chair David MacLean. After 5 months of prayer and research, the board has announced a General Director search, with an application deadline of 28 May 2021. For more information, go to multiply.net/GD.

With a goal of transitioning to a new leadership, the board and director Randy Friesen have agreed to end his time of service as of 15 April 2021. Victor Wiens, ICOMB’s Emerging Conference Coach and liaison to Multiply, will step in to cover the Director’s tasks in the interim. Pray for Victor and for the board and staff of Multiply during this transition and hiring process.

Randy, reflecting on his years of service says: “It has been an incredible privilege to serve the MB family and Multiply in global mission over the past 31 years, including the past 17 years as General Director of Multiply. Together, we have mobilized thousands into discipleship training programs, resourced new church planting locations, and equipped local churches to partner in mission. I want to thank the incredible team of Multiply staff, board, missionaries and national partners for their support, dedication and example to me of what it means to “live on mission”. I also want to thank our MB church family in North America and ICOMB for your ongoing investment in mission through sending, receiving, praying and giving!”

ICOMB and Multiply: Working together to strengthen and expand the global Mennonite Brethren family

We are thankful for the joint work of ICOMB and Multiply since ICOMB’s formation. Both of our organizations are continuing to develop, and we continue to define what it means to work together and how best to do so.

Currently we work together in a number of ways. 

• Ministries managed by ICOMB and supported by Multiply: most notably a portion of Victor Wiens’ time has been seconded to ICOMB to serve in the areas of liaising between ICOMB and Multiply and leading as coach and trainer for emerging conferences on the pathway to becoming ICOMB members. Missional Leader Training is one of the key tools developed by Victor and Douglas Heidebrecht and other Multiply staff to develop and teach leaders in emerging and established conferences. Other important projects include the Global Scholarship Fund.
• Overlapping ministries: these are initiated or managed by Multiply but fall withing ICOMB’s area of responsibility. Examples include church groups planted or initiated by Multiply that are transitioning to full independence and ICOMB membership, and established conferences where Multiply has global workers in place and projects running. ICOMB takes the lead where conflict resolution within a conference is needed.

Ministries initiated or managed by Multiply that contribute to ICOMB conference health or expansion. Examples include the Matthew Training Center and Mission Capacity Builders and global workers that specifically serve the needs of ICOMB conferences.

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.