Global Church Sharing Fund grants show tangible solidarity
“The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”—2 Corinthians 8:15
“The vision of sharing equally we read in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 is at the heart of the Deacon’s Commission work,” says Tigist Tesfaye, secretary of Mennonite World Conference’s Deacons Commission.
The Deacons Commission lives out solidarity through the Global Church Sharing Fund (Jubilee Account). These grants to MWC member churches are for projects that advance the life and mission of their churches.
In 2025, Global Church Sharing Fund (Jubilee Account) grants have been awarded for the following purposes:
- Food relief for people displaced by violent conflict in DR Congo
- Food relief and funds for infrastructure repairs related to flooding in Vietnam
- An inter-Mennonite gathering to commemorate the birth of Anabaptism in Peru
- A gathering of Anabaptist young adults in Indonesia
- Translation of Anabaptist resources into local language in Brazil
- Construction of a church guesthouse in Ghana
Member church initiatives eligible for the grants must follow the four pillars of MWC church life: fellowship, worship, service and witness.
Except in case of emergency response, at least 30% of the total project cost is borne by the recipient ministry.
The Global Church Sharing Fund started in 1997 and has become one of the most recognizable ways to show solidarity in the global Anabaptist family.
“We take seriously the call from 2 Corinthians 8 ‘your present abundance’ in one area would meet ‘their need,’ while their abundance will meet ours,” says Henk Stenvers, MWC president (2022-2031) and past Deacon Commission secretary. “Gift sharing is a core component of God’s kingdom and a way to seek equality in the 2 Corinthians 8 paradigm.”
“The clear biblical message [is] that all of God’s creation is gifted, that all persons have a role to play and gifts to give to the whole body, the global church. . .every part of the body – of the church, of creation – needs every other part, ” Pakisa Tshimika and Tim Lind wrote in their 2003 book Sharing Gifts in the Global Family of Faith: One Church’s Experiment.
Another tangible way the Deacons Commission invites solidarity is through prayer. Every two months, the Deacons Commission sends a prayer letter highlighting joys and challenges of our global family. This is followed by Online Prayer Hour, a video call open to all registrations from our member churches who wish to share together in prayer.
In this way, leaders and church members can join the Deacons Commission in listening, praying, encouraging and supporting brothers and sisters.
“The Deacons Commission is to be the warm hand on the shoulder of the member churches,” says Danisa Ndlovu, manager of communion building – in both duress and celebration.
“As it says in Romans 12:4-8: ‘we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.’ The Deacons Commission lives out that solidarity as we work together hand-in-hand to share our gifts to the rest of the body of Christ, through MWC,” says Andi Santoso, Deacons Commission chair (2022-2028). “We have gifts of prophecy, ministering, teaching, encouraging, leading and showing compassion which we use ‘according to the grace given us.’”
—Bruce Campbell-Janz is director of communications and engagement for MWC.
Learn more today about how you can accompany sisters-and-brothers around the world through your involvement in the Global Church Sharing Fund.