The experience of being a regional representative for MWC has given me the opportunity to build a genuine community of fellowship – one in which we encourage, strengthen, sharpen and complement one another in love.
It has not always been easy. Cultural differences, language barriers, and communication challenges are real. Yet, precisely in these challenges, I have experienced how the Holy Spirit works beyond human boundaries and enables us to discover deeper unity in Christ.
One of the most inspiring aspects of being a regional representative has been meeting brothers and sisters in Christ from different parts of the world. Through them I have discovered the richness of the body of Christ as the gospel is lived out in diverse cultural and contextual settings.
These encounters have opened my eyes to the beauty and richness of our global Anabaptist-Mennonite family. In these moments, koinonia becomes more than a theological concept – it becomes something tangible and real through our encounters, conversations, fellowship and mutual learning.
I have experienced that our diversity does not have to divide us. Instead, when we are rooted in Christ, our differences can become gifts through which we learn from one another. In these encounters, I have also experienced the witness of Christ’s peace in a very tangible way.
As this global communion connects churches, my prayer is that the MWC community truly listens to one another, supports one another, learns from one another and walks together in the way of Jesus.
I pray that MWC will increasingly become a koinonia – a communion where our diversity of cultures, languages, histories and contexts is not seen as a limitation, but as a gift through which the body of Christ becomes richer and more complete.
I also pray that MWC will continue to nurture and strengthen the Anabaptist identity and vocation of its member churches, while helping them faithfully embody the gospel within their own contexts.
Above all, I dream of an MWC that becomes an increasingly credible witness to the peace of Christ in a wounded and divided world – not merely by speaking about peace, but by embodying it in the ways we relate to one another, accompany one another and serve together.
May MWC be a communion where people from different nations and cultures can truly say: we belong to one another because we belong to Christ.
And may this communion, through the work and guidance of the Holy Spirit, become an ever-stronger witness of Christ’s love, reconciliation and peace to the world.
Agus Mayanto is the MWC regional representative for Southeast Asia. He is chairperson of GKMI (Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia), one of MWC’s three member churches in Indonesia, and pastor of GKMI Cempaka Putih, Jakarta, Indonesia.