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Agents of hope: Andean Anabaptist solidarity
For the first time in more than a decade, Anabaptist church leaders from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela gathered together, 9–12 November 2018, in La Cumbre, Valle, Colombia. They studied the Bible, sang in community, and listened to each other around the theme “The Church as an Agent of Hope in the Socio-Political Context of…
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Ministry partner update – IBICA February 2019
The International Brethren in Christ Association (IBICA) is the common network for all national conferences of the Brethren in Christ church with the aim to facilitate communication, build trust and cooperation within our global community, and to establish common and mutual understanding through our set of core values. An associate member of MWC, IBICA has…
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A transformed spirit of courage
At Renewal 2027 – The Holy Spirit Transforming Us in Kisumu, Kenya, 21 April 2018, several people shared a testimony of experiencing the Spirit’s work changing people in the church. The columns in this section have been adapted from their presentations. I remember the moment when my family arrived at the Mennonite church in Ibagué…
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Messengers of hope
Mennonite pastor Jürg Bräker stopped at Messenger Fountain [Läuferbrunnen] in his home city of Bern, Switzerland. He wet his hands in the flowing spout, and declared, “This water turned blood-red on the day Hans Haslibacher was beheaded in 1571.” Today, Amish still sing from the Ausbund [hymnal] about Haslibacher, the last Anabaptist executed in Bern.…
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Aid to displaced people makes a difference
Strengthened by emergency food, 700 families displaced by violence in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) are preparing to plant crops and to raise pigs to support themselves. In partnership with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and other partners, three Mennonite World Conference member churches in DR Congo (Communauté des…
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On climate: the global church needs to CHANGE
“The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers” (Psalm 24:1–2). “Climate change”: these two words often generate anxiety concerning the future of not only humanity, but the entire planet. The…
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Si le quarantenaire de l’Église mennonite du Burkina m’était conté…
L’Église Évangélique Mennonite du Burkina Faso (EEMBF) a soufflé ses 40 bougies les 23, 24 et 25 novembre 2018 à Orodara, dans la province du Kénédougou. Récit haut en couleur ! Cette célébration est intervenue dans un contexte sécuritaire difficile pour le Burkina Faso. Un appel à la prière avait été lancé à toutes les églises.…
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Oración antifonal
Text: Lukas 4:18-21 (Neue Zürcher) L: Der Geist des Herrn ruht auf mir, weil ermich gesalbt hat, Armen Gute Nachricht zu verkündigen. Alle: Vergib uns, Herr, wenn unsere Taten nicht dem entsprachen, was Gute Nachricht für die Verletzlichsten ist. L: Er hat mich gesandt, Gefangenen Freiheit Alle: Vergib uns, Herr, wenn wir uns nicht um…
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MWC’s Top 10
As we looked back at 2018, we gathered Mennonite World Conference’s most popular news stories based on website views. In case you missed them the first time, here are the most visited stories from the global Anabaptist family in 2018. 1. Benni & Rianna: a GYS love story Christian parents have long encouraged their sons…
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Migrant solidarity in the Honduran church
Migration is shifting populations around the globe. Motives are diverse, from meeting basic needs, to fleeing violence and seeking opportunities. People balance the hope of a better life for their children against the challenges of dangerous passage, cultural adjustment, and government regulations. Churches are affected as they lose members to migration and gain opportunities to…
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Responsive Prayer
Text: Luke 4:18-21 (NRSV) Leader: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; All: Forgive us, Lord, for the times our actions have not been consistent with the message of Good News to the most vulnerable. Leader: He has sent me to proclaim…
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Holy Spirit Breakthrough in East Africa
“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). Bishop Kisare was sitting by the great tree where the first Mennonite…
