“The love for Jesus Christ inspires us and motivates us to overcome all kinds of fear,” said Sushant Nand. The International Exchange Program coordinator and project officer with Mennonite Central Committee, India, spoke on Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday at Mennonite Church Korba, a unit church of Bhartiya General Conference Mennonite Church, India.
“The early Anabaptists were people who were filled with the love of God and were deeply in love with Jesus because they had experienced his love and grace deep down in their heart,” Sushant Nand said to the 110-year-old congregation. “The Courage to Love” is the theme of the annual global worship celebration, and also the 500th anniversary event in Zurich in May.
The Korba church has been extended three times to accommodate the growing congregation. Kabra and his wife Manmati were the first fruit of Mennonite mission in Korba. They were baptized on 8 October 1915, followed by another 15 people on 9 December 1915. Today, Korba has 400 families and more than 8 000 members.
“The people who love Jesus with all their heart, all their mind and all their soul, no more worry about the internal and external consequences…. Jesus’ love provides us with courage to love people who are different from us, who are against us or who persecute us,” Sushant Nand says.
“Let’s grow deeper in the love of Christ so that we will be free from all kinds of fear to share God’s love to everyone.”
Doopsgezind (Mennonite) congregations in Friesland and Groningen held a large worship service to celebrate Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday. The national church board (ADS) plans to visit as many congregations as possible in the year 2025 to learn of their developments and align future directions.
BIC Community Church, Zimbabwe, celebrated Holy Communion together on Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday. Bishop Danisa Ndlovu, MWC Regional Representative for Southern Africa, shared the sermon, followed by a Sunday School lesson from Bishop Sindah Ngulube, MWC Executive Committee Africa representative.
Mennonite congregations of IMC North Luzon District, Philippines, gathered to celebrate Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday 2025 together: Binuangan Mennonite Christian Church, Teggep Mennonite Christian Church, Tamuyan Mennonite Christian Church and Carolotan Mennonite Christian Church.
Camino de Santidad Mennonite Church, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, noted the 500th anniversary at the Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday celebration.
Women danced in worship on Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday at Église Évangélique Mennonite de Orodara, Burkina Faso.
Children at San Juan Anabaptist Mennonite Church, Philippines, displayed their hearts from the Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday Courage to Love activity.
Youths from Basna Mennonite Church, India, presented a skit based on the theme “The Courage to Love” as part of their Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday 2025 celebration.
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