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MWC Commissions strengthen bonds of communion
From 25–27 June 2019, leaders and members of the four Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Commissions met together for a time of face-to-face discussion, reflection, worship and strategic planning to advance the mission of MWC. Approximately 40 women and men from around the globe gathered for the meetings convened at the Mennonite Conference Centre Dopersduin, one…
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Pilgrims on a journey that transcends borders
Like the chambers of a heart, the four MWC commissions serve the global community of Anabaptist-related churches, in the areas of deacons, faith and life, peace, mission. Commissions prepare materials for consideration by the General Council, give guidance and propose resources to member churches, and facilitate MWC-related networks or fellowships working together on matters of…
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Ministry partner update: ICOMB – August 2019
The International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) is made up of 21 national churches in 19 countries with approximately 450,000 members. ICOMB exists to facilitate relationships and ministries to enhance the witness and discipleship of its member national churches – connecting, strengthening and expanding. Church planting in the Philippines Pray for the many initiatives by…
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“On the Road” together
“Normally when I am away from home, I only want to go home again. Now, I just want to stay here,” said one participant in the first European Menno’s Global Youth Assembly. From 30 May to 2 June 2019, 45 young Mennonites from The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine met in Dopersduin, Schoorl, to…
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Teaching children
In this issue, we have examples of how members of the Anabaptist Mennonite family are making a place for children in their local churches around the world. “Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get…
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Preserve church documents, say church historians
“The global church works best when all her parts are engaged in sharing their stories,” said Patrick Obonde, director of missions at the Anabaptist Leadership Education Centre in Kenya. On 17–19 June 2019, historians, pastors and archivists did just that at “Power and Preservation: Enabling Access to the Sources Behind Our Stories,” at Goshen College,…
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Little guests
As I was getting ready to move to another country, I found this letter that my youngest daughter wrote to me when she was seven years old. Now, she is 23. What wonderful memories of her childhood! This letter brought back other memorable moments, like when she was four and said to me, “Jesus is…
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Lessons from the crossfire: Remaining faithful to God’s peace
Colombia is in the early stages of a peace process signed in late 2016 between the largest guerilla group and the national government. Even though many of us had high hopes that the peace agreements would bring a turnaround in the country’s history of violence, many armed actors remain and proliferate cases of political corruption…
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“God greatly sustained me”
In the structure of the Brethren in Christ Church of Zimbabwe, most leadership positions are filled by men. However, there are many women who have great leadership skills and have been pastors and effective leaders in the church.
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A Jerusalem church in Indonesia
Renewal 2027 testimony: historical profile Renewal 2027 is a 10-year series of events organized by Mennonite World Conference’s Faith and Life Commission to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement. This series highlights leaders in the movement from history to the present. Everyone in the Mennonite Christian group that started in…
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Indigenizing the church in Lamper Mijen
Renewal 2027 testimony: Anabaptists today Renewal 2027 is a 10-year series of events organized by Mennonite World Conference’s Faith and Life Commission to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement. This series highlights leaders in the movement from history to the present. See also installment #1: A Jerusalem church in Indonesia.…
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Prophetic voices at MWC Assemblies
“Never has the world needed our message more…. Now is the time to risk everything for our belief that Jesus is the way to peace;… now is the time to live what we have spoken.” Ron Sider’s words to the Mennonite World Conference Assembly 11 gathered in Strasbourg France in 1984 famously launched Christian Peacemaker…
