Stories

“They didn’t want to leave”

Virtual education series explores peace theology At the end of the first evening of the virtual educational series, “From Chaos to Shalom: Exploring Peace Theology Together,” Andios Santoso and Joe Sawatzky struggled to wrap up the Zoom session. The... more/más/suite

How should Mennonite World Conference engage the church with creation care?

This series of stories on the creation care survey has illuminated the importance of issues like climate change in the lives of Anabaptists around the world. We now come to the last question: what should Mennonite World Conference do in response?... more/más/suite

After Zoom, prayers carry on

Online Prayer Hour doesn’t end when the hour does. Not only do participants in Mennonite World Conference’s bimonthly prayer meeting continue for another 15 minutes – greeting each in other in a pandemonium of languages – they also carry prayers... more/más/suite

How Assembly food waste will end up as fertilizer

In Indonesia, a country where sorting and proper treatment of trash is rare, how do we run the Assembly sustainably? In 2019, Bangun P. Nugroho, a member of Jemaat Kristen Indonesia (JKI church) Holy Stadium in Semarang, Central Java, realized that... more/más/suite

A golden opportunity to strengthen health systems

“Not on my watch!” The math wasn’t good enough for Sara Hildebrand. The COVAX plan to bring 1 billion doses of vaccine to people in the developing world would reach less than 20 percent of world’s poorest people in 2021. “The world needs people of... more/más/suite

An occasion for confession and transformation

A focus on history can easily shade into hero worship – a focus on earthly figures rather than on Jesus, “the founder and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Preserving historical memories can become a form of nostalgia, or a defense of the dead... more/más/suite

Anabaptists around the world care for creation

Stories from around the world teach how we respond as faith communities to the challenges of climate change. The 353 responses to the Creation Care Task Force survey contained many stories of churches caring for creation. This month, we highlight... more/más/suite

Ministry partner update: ICOMB – March 2022

God’s Spirit gives us hope (Romans 15:13)! The presence of God’s Spirit in our hearts bears witness that we are adopted as children of God and heirs to his promises (Ephesians 1:5-6; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:4-7). The Spirit is described as a... more/más/suite

Prayers beat swords into plowshares

"Hope that results from faith in Jesus may be defined as ability to see a new reality. To long for a different world and behave as if we were already in it. Waiting on Christ is never passive, never simply a feeling." Mennonite World Conference... more/más/suite

Indonesia 2022: less on-site, more creative options

How will we gather for Assembly 17? The Executive Committee has opted for limited on-site attendees and many options for online attendees at the hybrid Assembly 17. MWC Assembly is hosted by the three Indonesian Anabaptist-Mennonite synods in... more/más/suite

An Open Letter to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus

As Russia unleashes weapons upon Ukraine, we call on you as a Christian leader in Russia to speak and act boldly for the gospel of peace. Regardless of any rationale given for the attack upon Ukraine, this is an immoral action that Christians... more/más/suite

A pastoral letter regarding Ukraine

We call on Anabaptist-Mennonites around the world, and all who confess Christ as Lord, to join in praying for the peace of Ukraine. We grieve violence and we reject efforts by any nation to dominate another. We pray for leaders of Ukraine, Russia... more/más/suite

Indonesia Assembly surmounts barriers

Will there be Assembly this summer? Absolutely! Who will attend in Indonesia? Watch for upcoming news. In their February online meeting, the Executive Committee are deciding on the attendance model for Assembly, based on the most current public... more/más/suite

For all people to live with enough

“Dad, as an extrovert, was also gentle and compassionate, and took on the role of caregiver to many people throughout his life… He gave generously and regularly with his finances, and had an interest in and desire for all people to live with enough... more/más/suite

Together across oceans

“Sometimes our faith community seems small and insular; [celebrating Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday] helped open eyes to the global family,” says Chani Wiens. The math teacher and chapel coordinator at UMEI Christian High School in Leamington,... more/más/suite

MWC update – February 2022

“MWC brings the global church together as a sign of God’s desire for the world and that’s a vision I want to be a part of,” says J Ron Byler. The roster of servants who foster relationships in the global church expands with new faces in these months... more/más/suite

Place yourself as witness for peace

“How do we amplify voices? How do we nourish acts of resistance already in place?” These questions were raised during “Ubíquese,” a webinar from the Global Anabaptist Peace Network (GAPN). The webinar had two focal points: past and present... more/más/suite

Crossing climate barriers to Assembly

“This idea of the people of God being in all places is very real,” says Benjamin Isaak-Krauß, pastor of Frankfurt Mennonite Church. The half-decade Assemblies of Mennonite World Conference are an opportunity to experience this reality. But, as... more/más/suite

Ministry partner update: ICOMB – February 2022

The Mexican conference has nine congregations and 479 baptized members, led by pastor Carlos Ortega. Two churches are from the city of Tijuana, one from the State of Mexico, one from Colima, and five from the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the... more/más/suite

What would help churches engage more with creation care?

Last month we looked at what activities churches actually do with creation care. This week we look at what they would like to learn more about. In other words, what do churches wish they could do more? 1. Respondents are interested in learning about... more/más/suite