Prayers of gratitude and intercession

  • How do our member churches express the MWC Shared Convictions in beautiful, local variety throughout our global body?

    The October 2016 issue of Courier/Correo/Courrier seeks to discern the variety of reasons why Anabaptist communities from around the world come together to form MWC. In the articles that follow, writers reflect on the question: How does Christ’s love for us motivate and guide our response to strangers in our local context?

    Songs of the Trinity and shalom

    We share the beliefs and practices of the global Anabaptist family as Brethren in Christ Church Zimbabwe. The songs we sing display our belief, thoughts and our kind of theology. Most services, be they in rural or urban congregations, will sing number 75 in our Zulu hymnal Amagama okuhlabelela: “Sinomhlobo onguJesu unothando” (Jesus is a loving friend).
     
    A snap survey during the months of May and June 2016 showed that it was the song that was not only selected at district council meetings, but most congregants mentioned it as the song that featured in congregational music in many services that period.This song is sung even at funeral vigils. This song expresses our belief in Jesus. Attributes of Jesus featured in this song link directly to God.
     
    He is not like other friends; he does not harbour disappointment; he is truly helpful. He is coming again to choose his own. Jesus never disappoints. He is coming again to take his own because of his unfailing love. Those who are seeking are called upon to come to Jesus as he will separate them from their sins.
     
    The last stanza calls upon the believers to walk in Jesus’ love with the promise of victory. Hymn number 4 in the Zulu hymnal (right) is commonly used in Brethren in Christ Churches. This is another song we sing that, says what we believe about God.

    We believe in shalom

    Our belief in shalom is one continued aspect of our identity with the worldwide Anabaptist family. Belief in shalom is expressed at different levels. The first level that comes to one’s mind is the absence of war and conflict at community and national level. Zimbabwe has seen such times. 
     
    The late Bishop Steven Ndlovu was head of denominations during the disturbances in Matabeleland in the 1980s. He mobilised the national heads of denominations to meet Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe in a move that led to the cessation of the bloody conflict between the Nkomo sympathetic dissidents and the Fifth Brigade of the Zimbabwe defence forces. (The story is recorded in The Gender of Piety by Wendy Urban-Mead.) The church leadership did not take sides in the conflict, but spoke out in favour of the Lord’s shalom. 
     
    Mrs. Madlela expressed shalom at an individual level. She miraculously escaped a fire in her house. When she saw the arsonist in the hands of the police, she said, “My son, why do you attempt to kill me when I did not do you any wrong. I hold no grudge against you. All I pray is that the Lord touches your heart and you come to his saving power.”
     
    Our hymns in the Brethren in Christ Church affirm belief in the Trinitarian God.These are sung with a fervency of affirmation. When we sing, we affirm what we believe together as Anabaptists so we can follow Jesus to express shalom. 
     
    Bekithemba Dube is a lecturer at Ekuphileni Bible Institute at Mtshabezi Mission, one of the largest Brethren in Christ mission stations in Zimbabwe. He has worked as a teacher; lecturer in a Government Teachers’ College; coordinator of HIV/AIDS programme for BICC in Zimbabwe; and for many years he was an interpreter of conference sermons in English or Ndebele. He and his wife have one adult son who teaches in one of the mission schools.
     
     
    Zulu
     
    Woza Thixo Wethu
    Woza Thixo wethu
    Onga mandla ethu usisize;
    Baba obusayo
    Wena onqobayo,
    Wena osizayo,
    Usibheke.
    JesuMbusu wethu
    Nqobizithazethu,
    Uzahlule;
    Vez’ amandla akho
    Ukuhleng’ abakho
    Inhliziyo yabo
    Ime kuwe.
    Moya oyingcwele
    Woza usihole,
    Sibusise;
    Uzihlanzisise
    ’Zinhliziyo zethu;
    Ube phezu kwethu
    Silungise.
    Nkulunkulu wedwa,
    Abathathu ’Munye,
    Mananjalo!
    Ubukhosi bonke
    Naw’ amandla onke,
    Nal’ udumolonke,
    Kungo kwakho.
    English
     
    Come to us
    Come to us our God who art our strength,
    Come help us now.
    Father who art our ruler,
    You who art conqueror,
    You who art our helper,
    Cast your eyes upon us.
    Jesus our ruler, defeat our enemies;
    Conquer them all, display your power,
    The redemption of all thine own,
    Their heart stand firm in you.
    Holy Spirit, come and lead us through,
    Come bless us all,
    Cleanse our heart,
    Descend upon us.
    Make us righteous.
    God the three in one.
    Stand firm for ever.
    Thine is the kingdom,
    The power and the glory.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

  • 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 common interest and focus. In the following, one of the commissions shares a message from their ministry focus.

    Renewal 2027 is a 10-year series of events launched by Mennonite World Conference (MWC) to mark the 500th anniversary of the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement.

    “Transformed by the Word: Reading Scripture in Anabaptist Perspectives” (the inaugural event in Augsburg, Germany, 12 February 2017) fits well within the mandate of the MWC Faith and Life Commission to help member churches “understand and describe Anabaptist-Mennonite faith and practice.”

    In the midst of the many Reformation commemoration celebrations, especially in Europe, it’s important to remember that the Anabaptists also emerged within the context of the Reformation and were decisively shaped by its rediscovery of the Bible as an authority for Christian faith and life.

    Shortly before the first adult baptisms in January 1525, a member of the Bible study group that formed the core of the emerging Anabaptist movement illustrated this clearly:

    “However, after we too had taken up the Bible and studied all the possible points, we have been better informed.”

    The letter went on to describe how they came to a deeper understanding of Scripture.

    Five central themes – visible in the quote above – distinguished their shift from walking alongside the Reformers to a posture of opposition:

    • Scripture is the key point of departure for the renewal brought about by the Reformation.
    • It is crucial to learn not only second-hand, but to read Scripture for yourself.
    • The Bible study group read with an expectant attitude. They “studied all the possible points,” posed questions about the text and received answers.
    • They reoriented themselves around these new insights. In this way, they were “better informed” in regard to the teachings of the Catholic church, but also in regards to Zwingli and the other Reformers.

    To be “better informed.” At first glance, that statement sounds very positive. But it also carries some pain. It suggests that one has indeed been mistaken; it includes a readiness to let go of older, cherished understandings. This is often not easy.

    The key question at stake here is: do we allow the biblical word (and the God who desires to speak to us) to scrutinize our convictions so that we allow ourselves “to be better informed”? Or does the admonition to “test all things and hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) only apply to other people?

    Up to this point, all the themes could be regarded as Protestant principles. But the fifth point is the most distinct Anabaptist principle:    

    • The “we” in the quote is crucial: not only does Bible study happen in community; but new understandings of Scripture are also reached collectively.

    No one is forced to be part of an Anabaptist congregation – faith and membership are always voluntary. No single person has all the understanding or all of the gifts; but everyone has something. Therefore, it is crucial that we create frameworks for Bible study in which everyone can contribute to a better understanding of the biblical text: old and young, men and women, academics and labourers. Precisely for this reason the “we” in our text is so important!

    But several dangers are already evident in this same quote.

    To allow ourselves to be “better informed” sounds nice, but who can protect us from endless efforts to prove the superiority of one understanding or from the notorious church divisions that have occurred so frequently in Anabaptist history? How can we ensure that space remains for the recognition that all of our knowledge is partial and in need of additional insights? And how do we ensure that the “struggle for the truth” does not come at the cost of a “struggle for unity”?

    If “renewal of faith and life” and “transformation through the Word” are going to happen within the context of Mennonite World Conference, then it will be essential for it to happen in the form of members from north and south, east and west, walking together alongside each other as “we.”

    Hanspeter Jecker is a member of the MWC Faith & Life Commission and a professor of historical theology and ethics at Theological Seminary Bienenberg in Switzerland.

     

  • 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.

    More than 200 Mennonite Brethren church leaders from 35 countries gathered 7–11 March 2017 with a call to renewing mission and inspiring a movement of prayer. The global MB family sought God’s direction for greater mission calling. ICOMB was a result of a 1988 mission consultation in Curitiba, Brazil. Now, it was the one to call the global MB church to this historic meeting from which each ICOMB member left with a renewed sense of God’s calling, with three or four specific mission initiatives (global and local) and with a commitment to build a prayer movement in their national church.

    —David Wiebe, executive director, ICOMB

     

     

  • 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.

    More than 200 Mennonite Brethren church leaders from 35 countries gathered 7–11 March 2017 with a call to renewing mission and inspiring a movement of prayer. The global MB family sought God’s direction for greater mission calling. ICOMB was a result of a 1988 mission consultation in Curitiba, Brazil. Now, it was the one to call the global MB church to this historic meeting from which each ICOMB member left with a renewed sense of God’s calling, with three or four specific mission initiatives (global and local) and with a commitment to build a prayer movement in their national church.

    —David Wiebe, executive director, ICOMB

  • Elkhart, Indiana, USA – Nora Marleni Martínez of Metapan, El Salvador, is in the first group of students in a regional Peace and Justice Institute program of the Seminario Anabautista Latinoamericano (SEMILLA).

    Now, some SEMILLA courses are online, making it possible for Martínez to only travel a long-distance half as often.

    “I can make my own study schedule,” said Martínez, “and find a place [at home] where I can concentrate best.” She is also thankful not to have the extra expense of travelling for seminary courses.

    Online education means more time with her family and more time to care for women in her church community and to meet with other women theologians.

    Her studies are teaching more than facts. Martínez is learning that peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather a way to live in the midst of conflict, she said.

    Educators recently set plans in motion for more seminary programs to be available online in Spanish. The goal? To make Anabaptist biblical and theological education more accessible for the roughly 417 million people who speak Spanish.

    Spanish Anabaptist educators from Latin America and the United States gathered Nov. 11–14, 2016, in Guatemala. The following organizations were represented:

    • SEMILLA, an Anabaptist seminary serving Central America and Mexico, based in Guatemala City.
    • Centro de Estudios Anbautistas–SEMILLA, a program of Mexican churches.
    • Seminario Biblico Menonita de Colombia, a seminary of Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Colombia.
    • Centro Bíblico Teológico, a program of Iglesias Hermanos Menonitas de Colombia.
    • Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispano, Hispanic pastoral and leadership education program of Mennonite Education Agency of Mennonite Church USA.
    • Mennonite Mission Network.

    Each of the programs has either started online courses, had students studying online elsewhere, or were requesting funds to set up online theological education programs.

    At the January 2016 meeting of the Council of International Anabaptist Ministries (CIM), the Latin America Committee designated resources to help initiate Anabaptist online theological education.

    Mission Network’s Latin America Director Linda Shelly saw the benefits of an integrated approach: “The spirit of collaboration was strong as representatives shared about their programs, saw the similarities and differences and anticipated new opportunities for students.”

    The group noted also that there are Spanish-speaking students around the world in places without an Anabaptist leadership development program who will be able to enroll online, plus other programs that can join or connect in some way with this new initiative.

    The current programs are initially calling themselves the Comunidad de Instituciones Educativas Anabautistas (CITA). Their vision is to be “an Anabaptist people formed biblically, theologically and pastorally for Christian mission in the world.” The stated mission is: “We contribute to continual biblical theological training in Spanish for the people of God in our contexts.” SEMILLA was asked to give initial coordination to CITA because of its experience in working with multiple conferences.

    — Kelsey Hochstetler, Mennonite Mission Network

    Note: Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism (Goshen College) set up an Anabaptist Biblical Library: Biblioteca Digital Anabautista, www.biblioana.org.

  • A plebiscite was held in Colombia on 2 October 2016, for the citizens to approve or reject the agreements reached between the government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejercito del Pueblo (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army, FARC) after four years of negotiations. A variety of groups participated in this process: citizens’ groups, international advisers and, most notably, victims of the armed conflict. The agreements cover six areas:
    (1) Holistic rural reform – promoting agricultural development, access to land and poverty reduction;
    (2) political participation, including non-violent conflict management, setting aside the use of weapons as a political strategy, and promoting reconciliation;
    (3) an end to the armed conflict: disarmament by the FARC and reintegration into civilian life;
    (4) guaranteeing the human rights of victims, including truth-telling, transitional justice that fosters coexistence, reconciliation and guarantees of non-repetition;
    (5) solving the problem of illicit drugs; and (6) mechanisms for oversight and ensuring citizen-endorsement and implementation of the agreements.

    The transformative power of the process was evident in the bilateral ceasefire and the FARC’s commitment to meet their objectives through dialogue as opposed to arms. It was also seen in scenes such as the one in the photo. In it, Ivan Márquez, chief negotiator for the FARC, apologizes to victims and then is hugged by one of them in an emotional act of reconciliation.1 When asked to describe Márquez in one word, the government´s High Commissioner for Peace said simply “transformed.”

    Even so, when the accord was put to a vote in the plebiscite, 62% of the population abstained, and of those who voted, 50.23% voted “no” and 49.76% voted “yes.” It did not pass. In those regions of the country that have been most affected, the majority voted “yes.” In the regions less affected by the war, the tendency was to vote “no.”

    At the time of the vote, everyone stated that they wanted peace; however, those who opposed the agreements would say, “Peace, but not on those terms.” The accord was intensely debated in all quarters, including the churches, and certainly among the Anabaptist churches belonging to Mennonite World Conference (MWC). Given the strong campaign to reject the accord put forward by some leaders of the largest evangelical churches, and given the close outcome of the vote, it is difficult to ignore the crucial impact of the evangelical churches on the result of the plebiscite.

    Those who voted “yes” saw the agreements as a means to achieve disarmament in favor of nonviolent political action, peacebuilding efforts that are free from stigma or threat, restorative justice, priority to the victims, and proposals that address structural socioeconomic realities in a way that can bring about wellbeing for the country and the most vulnerable parts of its population.

    Amongst those who voted “no,” the concerns were that transitional justice is equivalent to impunity, the participation of insurgent leaders in politics is unacceptable, the demobilized guerillas will receive too many benefits, rural reform will negatively affect the economy, and that the preferential treatment for women and for those who identify as LGBTQ (both of whom were seen as having been particularly victimized) introduces a gender ideology and constitutes an attack on the family. This last issue was of great concern for many in the churches.

    It is also important to note that distortions were allegedly used as campaign propaganda, such as admitted by the chairperson of the ‘no’ campaign of one of the opposition movements.

    As churches, we are faced with the question of how it is possible that we could have come to such different conclusions (yes or no) based on the same Bible and professing the same lordship of Christ? It is also an opportunity to grow in our capacity to approach critical topics in such a way as to strengthen unity – rather than polarization – in light of 1 Corinthians 12:7 which affirms, “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

    As Anabaptist churches in Colombia, and members of MWC, God has given us the grace to grow in our capacity to worship God and work together without denying our differences. This includes joint worship services and working together on peace education, on conscientious objection, with victims, with children and with vulnerable populations. In this collaboration of our churches and institutions, it is important to recognize the significant support of the Mennonite Central Committee and MWC in opening spaces to come together. Certainly, we will all continue to pray for peace and join our efforts, each contributing according to the light that has been given them. And in the juncture of the current peace process, we seek to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit.

    Now that the plebiscite is over, the government has created working groups and is meeting with political parties and groups opposed to the agreements to consider revisions that can lead to a national consensus. Citizen movements are mobilizing to insist that the war must not resume and are asking to be included in the process. The FARC has reiterated its commitment to using words as a political tool instead of arms. All this will mean returning to the negotiating table to address substantive issues. Achieving consensus will not be easy. If successful, it could mean an agreement which is more inclusive of the whole population. To this, we add our prayer and work for the start of negotiations with yet another armed group, the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (National Liberation Army).

    We will remain firm in our work for peace in Colombia, for salvation, trusting in the promise of Mark 4:26–29 that the seed grows and we will reap the kingdom of God.

    -Pablo Stucky, Latin America – Andean Region regional representative, Mennonite World Conference

  • Bogotá, Colombia – In June 2016, the dream of worshipping together as the global family became a reality, when local young people from three denominations celebrated the inaugural YABs Fellowship Week with a joint worship service in Bogotá.

    “It was another space to feel the connection between us, as young Anabaptists in the world, that we are not alone, and even more that we are not small,” said Lilia Paola Arangueren Caballero, a planning committee member for the YABs (young Anabaptists) activity in Bogotá.

    YABs Fellowship Week is an annual event in which the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) YABs committee creates worship resources for young Anabaptists from around the world to celebrate around a common theme during the same week in June. Young leaders in Bogotá responded by forming a working group of representatives from each Anabaptist denomination, Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Colombia, Iglesia Hermandad en Cristo, Iglesias Hermanos Menonitas de Colombia, to plan an event.

    Participants posted their prayer requests
    as they prayed for local and international
    needs at the YABs Fellowship Week
    joint service in Bogotá, Colombia.

    This was the first time that a joint worship service including all three denominations was planned by and for young people. Though two members of the planning committee had attended the Global Youth Summit (GYS) in 2015, the majority of the local youth had never participated in a previous MWC Assembly.

    The GYS theme, ‘Called to share: my gifts, our gifts,’ gave inspiration to this event. “After the experience we had at GYS, a time of building relationships, growing, learning and sharing our gifts in community; we thought this was an excellent opportunity and excuse to bring this to Bogotá, to be able to connect with each other and work together for unity between [our three denominations],” said Jardely Martínez, a member of the planning committee.

    To connect with other YABs around the world, the organizers asked young people from other countries to send video greetings. A compilation video was shown in the worship service.

    For many, the main highlight of the service was the time of prayer for the requests from the YABs Fellowship Week worship resources. For Esteban Sánchez, it was very important to “remember the problems that exist in other parts of the world, affecting our brothers and sisters, and together we can support them in prayer.”

    “Truly this worship service helped us to feel that we are part of a big Anabaptist family around the world,” wrote Alexander Gutierrez, a planning committee member.

    Youth and young adult groups also organized activities around the YABs Fellowship Week theme in India, Paraguay, Zimbabwe and Indonesia. In Botswana, in addition to discussing the resource material, youth picked up litter, weeded and cleaned outside of their church building. In

    Chihuahua, Mexico, young Anabaptists from MWC member Conferencia Menonita de Mexico, also came together for a joint worship service where they sang and discussed questions from the resources in small groups. They prayed for local requests and for each continent, and finished by sharing a meal together.

    -Mennonite World Conference release by Kristina Toews

    Photos: Jardely Martínez

    *If your youth or young adult group celebrated YABs Fellowship Week, we invite you to share your stories and photos with MWC at photos@mwc-cmm.org.

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    A group shot of all participants at the
    YABs Fellowship Week joint service
    in Bogotá, Colombia.

  • 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.

    Rudi Plett began working for ICOMB (half time) on January 10. His first assignment: joining David Wiebe in India on a national church visit. We taught workshops – “pastor as shepherd” and “pastor as transformation agent” – to pastors in 3 regions. We visited many local church sites who are building new facilities – so much growth! In the Gadwal area, there is an unusually high number of disabled people. Shyam Rao, Academic Dean of the MBC Bible College, has organized a ministry. We distributed outfits to men and women on Sunday in the village of Nagardoddi.

    —David Wiebe, executive director, ICOMB

  •  

    Testimony of the first woman to be ordained to full time-ministry in Brethren in Christ churches in Southern Africa

    My name is Jessie Francis Kamoto. I was born on 20 November 1975 in a Christian family, members of Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP). I got married in 1993 to Reverend Francis Kamoto. God has blessed us with three children: Memory (22), Vincent (18) and Nancy (8).

    I devoted myself to love and work for the Lord. Because of the performance I was showing, the head of Sunday school teachers recommended that I go for training. I became a full teacher of Sunday school.

    However, my life was not surrendered to the Lord completely until 1995. My husband and I had gone to fellowship with our brothers and sisters of the Brethren in Christ church in Ndirande Township, where the preacher preached from Romans 12:9–21. The message, “Love must be sincere,” touched my heart. I questioned: Did I practice hospitality? Did I live in harmony with everybody? Did I have a forgiving heart? I surrendered my life fully to the Lord that day and was baptized that same year.

    My passion for serving the Lord increased. This was recognized by some church leaders. One day, I was asked to share the Word of God in the church. I had never preached before, but I thank God for giving me the courage to share. I realized the importance of knowing the Bible well in order to deliver good messages.

    By God’s grace, I was privileged to join the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi as a student from 2001–2003.

    In 2003, the church leaders realized that women are dormant and they need some knowledge. The board came up with my name to lead the women’s ministry. During my tenure (2003–2015), my husband and my children supported and encouraged me, especially when ministry challenges arose.

    The leadership of Brethren in Christ Church (BICC) ordained me as a licensed minister in 2010. The church assigned me to be an associate pastor alongside my husband at Ndirande BICC in Blantyre.

    I feel sad when I see many people who need Christ. This is my driving force in ministry: to see more people get to know Christ as Lord and Saviour of their lives.

    There are many areas in which I enjoy serving the Lord, among which are preaching and counselling. It is not always easy, but with God’s help, I do those tasks and people appreciate the counsel.

    I thank God that I am the first woman to be ordained in the history of Malawi BICC. It is an honour to my family, the church and indeed to me. With this new position, I will be able to serve the Lord to the maximum. It is my prayer that God will help me to serve him according to his will.

    I hope this will encourage women to work hard, to learn and attend Bible school. It is my plea to the church leadership to create more opportunities for women to learn the Word of God.

    Also, as the new bishop’s wife, I have opportunity to travel with him, meeting people and attending to needs. In our service for the Lord, we shall aspire to know God’s Word better, pray together and discuss issues together.

    I want to reach out to elderly people and to orphans. This group of people needs to experience the love of God as we meet both their physical and spiritual requirements. My prayer is that one day, God will provide me with resources that enable me to reach them.

    Finally, I want to thank God for his mercies and possibilities as I serve him. I need your prayers to achieve well in this task.

    —Jessie F. Kamoto is ordained to serve the Brethren in Christ Churches in Malawi. She serves alongside her husband who is a bishop.

     

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