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Upcoming Webinars
Previous Webinars
2025 Webinars
Fidelis – 20 Years Contributing to the Formation of Leaders in Brazil
Global Anabaptist Higher Education Network
Speaker: Hartmut August Faculdade Fidelis
24 February 2025
Serving with the love of Christ
Global Anabaptist Service Network webinar
Featured presenter: AMAS (Associaçãno Menonita de Assisténcia Social)
21 February 2025
History of Conscientious objection in Colombia
Global Anabaptist Peace Network webinar
Speaker: Andrés Aponte López, Justapaz
30 January 2025
2024 Webinars
Towards an Asian Decolonization of the Biblical Hermeneutics on Peace
Global Anabaptist Peace Network webinar
Speaker: Daniel K. Listijabudi, PhD
24 October 2024
Languages: English, Español
Succession in Service: Preparing the Next Wave of Mission Leaders
Global Mission Fellowship webinar
Speaker: Ebenezer M, Tigist G, C. Daniel S, Galen B.
23 October 2024
Languages: English, Español, Français
The Hope of Christian Witness/Mission in a Polarized World
Global Mission Fellowship webinar
Speaker: Nelson Kraybill, Sibonokuhle Ncube, Eladio Mondez
27 June 2024
Languages: English, Español, Français
Decolonizing Peacebuilding in Palestine and Israel: A Palestinian Christian Perspective
Global Anabaptist Peace Network webinar
Speaker: Anthony Khair
13 March 2024
Languages: English, Español
The values of God’s Kingdom are communicated and applied to the socio-political and cultural realities of the Palestinian people
Global Anabaptist Educators Network webinar
Speaker: Rev Dr Jack Sara
11 March 2024
Languages: English, Español
Sharing best practices of self-help groups in the Child and Youth Development Project
Global Anabaptist Service Network webinar
Speakers: Mr Abdi Dubale, Mr Dejene Gurmessa
27 February 2024
Languages: English, Español, Français
Overcoming Racism in the Church: Reflections on Theology and Practice in Europe
Global Anabaptist Peace Network webinar
Speaker: Lydia Funck
11 January 2024
Languages: English, Español, Français
2024 Climate Pollinators Webinars
Climate Pollinators webinar series – North America focus
Creation Care Task Force webinar
Moderator: Anna Vogt, Jennifer Halteman Schrock
13 February 2024
Languages: English, Español
Climate Pollinators webinar series – Latin America focus
Creation Care Task Force webinar
Moderator: Juliana Morillo
16 January 2024
Languages: English, Español
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Our member churches are like the many pieces of a mosaic. Each piece is different, but together we form one beautiful mosaic. Thank you to everyone in our churches supporting MWC.
#mwcmm #followingJesus #livingoutunity #buildingpeace -
Inspiration and reflection
Perspectives
- Following Jesus in a very big house
- Following Jesus from Bengal to Bhutan and beyond
- Living out unity in Spain
- Building peace with holistic services
- Living out unity with boots and shovels
Resources
General Secretary
A foretaste of the kingdom
“Let’s think as citizens of a new nation in which there is not a gap between rich and poor, but where economic equality exists between all people.
“Let’s think as citizens of a new nation in which there is not racial discrimination, but where cultural diversity is affirmed and celebrated.
“Let’s continue experiencing the reality of this new kingdom among us today.
“Let’s continue sending micro-communities that live out this kind of mission. Our church is called to be a foretaste of the kingdom! That is our mission!”
César García, Mennonite World Conference’s general secretary, lays out this vision and calling in God’s People in Mission: An Anabaptist Perspective.
This issue of Courier shares stories of how MWC’s Network members equip the church to live out this foretaste of the kingdom:
In Benin, the doors of Casa Grande are open wide to welcome orphans into a home of love, offer an education and equip with vocational skills for both economic and environmental sustainability.
In India, graduates from Little Flock Discipleship School are transforming remote village with education and a message of hope from Jesus.
In Spain, a diverse collection of Anabaptist-related churches minister to the needs in their local contexts, and come together for fellowship and inspiration despite their different origins.
In Paraguay, ASCIM is reaching into Indigenous communities with trained care workers who show the love of Jesus through medical treatment and vocational training.
In North America, Mennonite Disaster Service crosses international boundaries and draws together volunteers from every Anabaptist stripe as they rebuild homes after disasters.
These testimonies provide a taste of how Anabaptist churches around the world are living out mission. Members of the Mission Commission and the steering committees of the Global Anabaptist Service Network and Global Mission Fellowship also reflect on the purpose of their Networks. They not only encourage each other and learn together, they also attempt to live out this new nation under Christ where diversity is celebrated and equality is practiced.
— Karla Braun is editor of Courier and editor, writer and website coordinator for Mennonite World Conference. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada.
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Theme
The Courage to Love
Why this theme was chosen
The first baptisms in the Anabaptist tradition took place in secret in Zurich, Switzerland, on 21 January 1525. A small group of Jesus-followers acted together with courage on their shared understanding of Scripture and the church, different from their political and religious context. Today there are churches all over the world in the Anabaptist tradition, acting together with courage to love each other, different from our political and religious contexts that too often pull us apart.
Biblical text options
- Old Testament: Genesis 50:15-21
- Psalm: Psalm 133
- Gospel: Luke 7:36-50
- New Testament: 1 John 4:7-21
In This Package
- Liturgies and symbols for gathering and benediction
- Sermon
- Commemorating 500 years of Anabaptism with history, liturgy and reconciliation
- Children’s activity
- Tithes and offering suggestions
- Celebration ideas
Additional Resource
Multimedia resources online
Written resources online in English, Español, Français, Deutsch, हिंदी and Português
- Video readings of Scripture texts
- Video sermons in English, Español, Français and Deutsch
- Video testimonies in English, Español, Français, 中文 and Swahili
- Song videos
- Photos
- Year in Review video
- Celebration map
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Invite the global church into your congregation!
MWC member congregations are welcome to invite one MWC speaker per year to bring a message from the global Anabaptist-Mennonite family. This may be for Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday, Peace Sunday or any day you wish to give special attention to the global family.
Please consider giving an honorarium appropriate for your region. Contact contributions@mwc-cmm.org for assistance with money transfer if needed.
Any MWC speaker may be asked to present via live video link (subject to internet connectivity) or a pre-recorded video. If travel is required from outside the region, the host congregation should cover travel costs.
Officers
César García
Topics, specific expertise: Unity in the church, restorative justice, church and state, Anabaptism; biblical texts
Location: Canada (Eastern Time UTC -4)
Languages: English, Spanish
Henk Stenvers
Topics, specific expertise: Global faith community, Body of Christ, Sermon on the Mount
Location: Netherlands (Central European Time UTC +2)
Languages: English, (Spanish or French if pre-recorded)
Lisa Carr-Pries
Topic, specific expertise: Global faith community
Location: Canada (Eastern Time UTC -4)
Language: English
Sunoko Lin
Topics, specific expertise: 7 churches in Revelation; biblical texts
Location: California (Pacific Time UTC -7)
Languages: English, Indonesian
Regional representatives
Agus Mayanto
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Indonesia (Western Indonesian Time UTC +7)
Languages: English, Indonesian
Janet Plenert
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Canada (Eastern Time UTC -5)
Languages: English
Cynthia Dück
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts, Integration of faith and healthcare through education, advocacy, and service, Aging in the community of faith.
Location: Paraguay (Paraguay Time UTC/GMT -4)
Languages: English, Spanish, German
Cynthia Peacock
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories) Preaching on biblical texts
Location: India (Indian Standard Time UTC +5:30)
Languages: English, Bengali
Danisa Ndlovu
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Zimbabwe (Central Africa Time UTC +2)
Languages: English, Ndebele
Freddy Barrón
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Bolivia (Bolivia Time UTC -4)
Language: Spanish
Gerald Hildebrand
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Canada (Central Time UTC -6)
Language: English
Jeremiah Choi
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Hong Kong (Hong Kong Time UTC +8)
Languages: English, Cantonese
José Arrais
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Portugal (Western Europe Time UTC +1)
Languages: English, Portuguese, can deliver greetings in Spanish and French
Jumanne Magiri Mafwiri
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Tanzania (East Africa Time UTC +3)
Languages: English, Swahili
Paul Stucky
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Colombia (Colombia Standard Time UTC -5)
Languages: English, Spanish
Siaka Traoré
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Burkina Faso (Burkina Faso Time UTC)
Language: French
Willi Hugo Pérez
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: Guatemala (Central Standard Time UTC -6)
Languages: English, Spanish
Commissions
Andi Santoso (Deacons)
Topics, specific expertise: Discipleship, family, the Gospel of Peace, Holistic Mission, Leadership
Location: USA (Eastern Time UTC -4)
Languages: English, Indonesian
Vikal Rao (Deacons)
Topics, specific expertise: Sharing about MWC (AWFS, Q&A, stories), Preaching on biblical texts
Location: India (Indian Standard Time UTC +5:30)
Languages: English, Hindi
Neal Blough (Peace)
Topics, specific expertise: Anabaptist history and theology, church unity and ecumenical dialogue, the Francophone network, and multicultural congregations.
Location: France (Central European Summer Time UTC +2)
Languages: English, French
*pre-recorded; please give one-two months for preparation
Consult the staff page to book a speaker directly or contact MWC.
Learn more
speaker list
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A teaching resource from the Faith and Life Commission
What does it mean for member churches of Mennonite World Conference to share an
Anabaptist identity? What is the value of Anabaptist “tradition” – and what does that word
mean in a global context? What are our Anabaptist understandings of mission and
fellowship?In 2009, the newly appointed Faith and Life Commission was asked to produce three papers that could be used in helping MWC communities reflect on such questions:
- “A Holistic Understanding of Fellowship, Worship, Service, and Witness from an Anabaptist
Perspective” by Alfred Neufeld Friesen of Paraguay; - “The ‘Anabaptist Tradition’ – Reclaiming its Gifts, Heeding its Weaknesses” by Hanspeter Jecker of Switzerland; and
- “Koinonia – The Gift We Hold Together” by Tom Yoder Neufeld of Canada.
All three papers were approved as a teaching resource by the MWC General Council in May 2012.
Throughout Scripture God repeatedly confronts his people with this insight: if you want to reach the Promised Land, then remember the path in which God has led you until now (Deuteronomy 8:1-2)…
- “A Holistic Understanding of Fellowship, Worship, Service, and Witness from an Anabaptist
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The World Council of Churches called for a “pilgrimage” of justice and peace. Applying a transformative spirituality, local communities have been visited in every region, to celebrate the gifts of life, to touch the wounds, and to transform the injustices. Key-themes have emerged on the way: Truth and Trauma, Land and Displacement, Gender Justice, and Racism.
Presenters: Fernando Enns, Mennonite (born in Brazil, living in Europe), representative of the Association of Mennonite Congregations in Germany at the World Council of Churches; Professor for Peace-Theology and Ethics at the Free University Amsterdam/The Netherlands and University of Hamburg/Germany. Andrs Pacheco Lozano, Mennonite (born in Colombia, living in the Netherlands), Secretary of the Global Mennonite Peace Network (MWC); Lecturer and Researcher at Free University Amsterdam/The Netherlands, secretary.
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Transmission is the title given to a series of 5 films of 10 minutes which present Anabaptist thought to people around the world to encourage a life of faith created by Affox AG, a multimedia production company. We would like to do this by providing a glimpse at the journeys we experience as disciples of Jesus in different parts of the world. It is our hope however, to strengthen our sense of shared identity and community in the midst of all the diversity present throughout the Anabaptist body. Young people represent one of the important target audiences.
Find also a study guide for sharing questions about the film in small group or youth groups.
Transmission 2024 Peace & Justice
“We live in a complicated world. Erosion of trust and breakdown in relationships are all too common. The good news is that as abundant as conflict may be, so is the commitment within Anabaptist Mennonite communities around the world to follow Jesus’ call to work for justice and to make peace,” says Max Wiedmer, producer of Transmission.
“We as producers came face-to-face with the complexities of making peace,” says Max Wiedmer. The film explores “what it means to be faithful to Jesus’ call to love our neighbours and to love our enemies.”
Transmission 2023 Migration
Transmission 2023 – English “How worldwide migration an displaced persons are being supported by loving and caring people.” This global phenomenon is the subject of 2023’s Transmission video.
In this video, young Mennonites in Greece, Lebanon, Colombia, USA and DR Congo share about their work of welcoming displaced persons.
Transmission 2022 Latin America
Transmission 2022 – English The third production in the Transmission series focusing on creation care is ready for viewing. Ophelia, a Swiss woman, after living and working in Costa Rica, wondered what she could learn from her contemporaries in Latin America on the subject. The production includes stories from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Honduras. This production ends with challenge triggered by an enterprise in the Netherlands as a way of inspiring all viewers, young and old to think and act boldly and with vision when it comes to creation care.
Transmission 2021 Indonesia
Transmission 2021 – English In Transmission, Hani and Adi share amazing faith journeys while they relate as Mennonites (a small minority) and Muslims (a large majority) in Indonesia. Hani reflects on how she sees the face of God in the people (both Muslim and Christian) she encounters in the remote village of Tempur, high in the mountains of Jepara. Adi introduces us to the power of interfaith dialogue and the resulting transformation of Solo from a city of violence to a city of peace.
From Indonesia we jump to the Netherlands where the relationship between Anabaptists and Muslims is impacted by a Muslim minority.
Canadians, Europeans, and Indonesians worked together to bring this unique production to life.
Transmission Ethiopia 2020
Transmission 2020 – English Transmission Ethiopia 2020 introduces its audiences to the Meserete Kristos Church through their experience with persecution (and freedom of religion), spiritual maturity, the place of youth in the church, the importance of music and prayer life. In this case, Salom, a French young adult reflects (after her return to France from her visit to Ethiopia), on what she learned from her peers and elders in the church.
We hope to gain a young generation of people who will be involved in making the next in the series and the final 90-minute documentary which we hope to expand to a secular audience in 2025. For the moment, we are targeting the Christian world.
Video in English, Spanish, French, German, Amharic subtitles
–release by Affox AG
Transmission 2020 – Amharic -
Assembly 17 – Indonesia 2022 – Songs
True evangelical faith,
Menno Simons/Larry Nickel
© 2013 Cypress Choral Music
Reprinted / Streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-740570 -
Il existe de nombreuses ressources en langue française sur l’histoire et la théologie anabaptistes.
Cliquez ici pour une bibliographie mise à jour par Claude Baecher
Cliquez ici pour la Bibliothèque numérique anabaptiste