{"id":6618,"date":"2017-01-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/canadian-renovation-builds-church-in-latin-america\/"},"modified":"2024-12-10T18:39:44","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T18:39:44","slug":"canadian-renovation-builds-church-latin-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/canadian-renovation-builds-church-latin-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian renovation builds church in Latin America"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada \u2013 When Toronto United Mennonite Church (TUMC) decided it was time to renovate and expand their building, the congregation wanted the project to reach beyond their usual sphere of influence. Located in Canada\u2019s largest, multicultural city, TUMC has some 200 people from five continents speaking 10 mother tongues, with a particularly strong connection to Central America.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spoke with Arli Klassen about how to share our donation with Mennonite World Conference,\u201d says building committee chair Richard Ratzlaff, and she directed them to the Global Church Sharing Fund Jubilee account. TUMC had done a similar \u201ctithe\u201d on expansion fundraising for a building project 20 years earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe GCSF is the MWC account to which member churches can apply for financial assistance on a building project,\u201d says Klassen. Grant requests must be approved by the national church office and the recipient group must contribute to the cost of the project.<\/p>\n

The Global Church Sharing Fund\u2019s aim is to put into action the apostle Paul\u2019s words on equality: \u201cyour surplus meets their need, but one day your need may be met from their surplus\u201d (2 Corinthians 8:13\u201315).<\/p>\n

Two-thirds of the 1.8 million Anabaptist believers reside in Africa, Asia and Latin America, but 95 percent of Anabaptist wealth resides in North America and Europe. The GCSF provides a means \u201cto redistribute wealth in the biblical spirit of jubilee.\u201d<\/p>\n

TUMC designated 2 percent ($20,000) of their fundraising ($900,000) to MWC\u2019s GCSF. Their project involved creative transformation of their existing building to make more space \u201cto greet, meet and learn; offer hospitality and play,\u201d and the addition of wheelchair accessible features and more office space for ministry partners.<\/p>\n

\n

There was no hesitation to share the funds with MWC, says Ratzlaff. \u201cWe\u2019re a very wealthy church, and we know it. If anything, there was a perception we were spending too much on ourselves and not enough on our brothers and sisters elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ironically, the percentage TUMC is donating to MWC may be capable of funding a larger portion of a building project elsewhere than the full amount does in Canada.<\/p>\n

When TUMC dedicated their expanded and refreshed building Nov. 13, 2016, the celebration service invoked 2 Corinthians 8:15: \u201cThe one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
FIEMN (Fraternidad de Iglesias Evang\u00e9licas Menonitas Nicaragua) <\/span><\/div>\n
Office and Retreat Centre, in Nicaragua, applied for funds to assist their<\/span><\/div>\n
comprehensive plan for land plot acquisition for 2 congregations,<\/span><\/div>\n
national office renovations and retreat campground improvements.<\/span><\/div>\n
Photos: FIEMN<\/span><\/div>\n
(Fraternidad de Iglesias Evang\u00e9licas Menonitas Nicaragua).<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u201cThe actual GCSF target each year is $100,000, although the Deacon\u2019s Commission can only spend based on what is actually received,\u201d says Klassen. About half the monies are for building projects, the rest cover Deacon\u2019s visits to member churches under duress.<\/p>\n

In 2016, there were five requests of approximately $10,000 each for construction of church buildings, schools and office remodelling from Africa, Asia and \u2013 of particular interest to TUMC \u2013 Colombia and Nicaragua.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral families in the congregation have roots in Colombia,\u201d says Ratzlaff, and the two partner congregations in the building are composed of and active in helping immigrants and refugees from Central America.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very happy to know that we can contribute to others in our global church,\u201d says Ratzlaff.<\/p>\n

\u2014Mennonite World Conference release by Karla Braun<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada \u2013 When Toronto United Mennonite Church (TUMC) decided it was time to renovate and expand their building, the congregation wanted the project to reach beyond their usual sphere of influence. 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