Stories

Congolese visitors seek resources for their fast-growing church

Elkhart, Indiana – A quest to learn how Mennonite Church USA congregations and agencies find resources for their ministries brought Macaire Kilambo Kabanga and Roussel Kimakamba, lay leaders in Communauté Mennonite au Congo (Mennonite Church of... more/más/suite

Theological training scholarships awarded to 21 women

Goshen Indiana, USA – In 2013, Mennonite Women USA’s International Women’s Fund (IWF) awarded scholarships totaling $10,500 to 21 women in India, Africa and Latin America. Scholarships are used by recipients in pursuit of theological training for... more/más/suite

Kick-off celebrations held a year before 2015 MWC Assembly

Harrisburg and Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, USA – Mennonites and Brethren in Christ in eastern Pennsylvania enthusiastically welcomed Mennonite World Conference leaders on Sunday, 20 July at two kick-off celebrations, exactly one year in advance of the... more/más/suite

‘Peacemakers’ screened at the Night of Faith in Basel

Basel, Switzerland – More than 1,000 people saw the movie “Peacemakers” at the Theodorskirch during the first Festival of the Night of Faith that took place in Basel on 17 May 2013. During seven screenings between 5:00 pm and 12:30 am, the 25 minute... more/más/suite

Cloth market supports Congolese women’s theological studies

Tshikapa, DR Congo – “We who were hidden in the shadows have just come out into the light!” exclaimed a young woman preparing for the ministry in the Communauté Mennonite au Congo (CMCo – Congo Mennonite Church) in a recent interview. “May this... more/más/suite

Latin American Church Leaders Seek Hope, Shared Identity

Guatemala City, Guatemala – In a context of widespread poverty, violence, and competing religious currents, where do Anabaptist-Mennonite churches in Latin America find hope? On 10-14 February, 137 Mennonite church leaders from 19 different... more/más/suite

Exploring the Anabaptist vision in South Korea

Chuncheon, South Korea – U.K. Anabaptist leader Stuart Murray explored the basics of Anabaptist theology, history and ministry with Mennonites in South Korea during a country-wide speaking tour 20 April-3 May. During his visit Murray – author of the... more/más/suite

Training Anabaptist leaders in Latin America

Bogotá, Colombia – This year, 210 leaders will complete Anabaptist education courses at seminaries in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Although the seminaries teach by “the book,” their students are far from traditional. Most are church members with... more/más/suite

Island chain gets Anabaptist link

La Laguna, Canary Islands – The green garage doors are unmarked, and there are no windows. The only hints of a church on the other side are the Sunday sounds of charismatic prayers and songs of praise. Well, that, and also the lives changed by the... more/más/suite

Young adults learn to love God and others through cross-cultural service

Uganda — Among the many memories that Shammah Nakawesi of Uganda brings home from her one-year service assignment in Indonesia is her new understanding of loving God and others. “Even in the uncertainties of life, loving God and loving others is all... more/más/suite

Ecuador ministry partners reunite

Quito, Ecuador and Bogota, Colombia – A reunion of the “Ecuador Partnership” brought together Mennonites from Ecuador, Colombia and the United States for March 2013 visits in both Ecuador and Colombia. The partnership includes from Iglesia... more/más/suite

Andean Anabaptist women pastor each other

Cachipay, Colombia – Forty-nine women pastors and leaders met here 7-10 August 2013 to receive training on the theme of “Caring for ourselves and each other among women” – also known as “Sister Care.” The event was part of the Anabaptist Women... more/más/suite

Brethren in Christ summits build unity amid regional diversity

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – “What can you do for your part of the world?” That’s the question the International Brethren in Christ Association (IBICA) has been asking Brethren in Christ church leaders across the globe, during a series of national... more/más/suite

New Anabaptist conference emerges in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea – A new conference of Anabaptist congregations has emerged in South Korea. The Korea Anabaptist Fellowship (KAF), formed in 2010, became an official conference of eight congregations and an associate member church of Mennonite... more/más/suite

Burkina Faso church experiences ‘explosion of baptisms’

Elkhart, Indiana, USA / Burkina Faso – Recent baptisms have swelled the membership of Eglise Evangélique Mennonite du Burkina Faso (Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso) by 34 percent, according to recent reports by Mennonite Mission Network... more/más/suite

Global North mission agency learns from Global South partners

Changi Cove, Singapore -- President Nelson Okanya and others from Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) found themselves celebrating the growth of and learning from Global South mission partners at the annual meeting of the International Missions... more/más/suite

Typhoon Haiyan remains ‘front page’ for survivors

The Philippines – Like the news, the winds and rain that came with Super Typhoon Haiyan have let up. But the damage from the storm that slammed regions of the Philippines on 8 November 2013 remains on the mental and emotional front page for... more/más/suite

Connections with Colombian church and excitement about 2015 Assembly mark meetings

Soacha, Colombia – Tears flowed freely as a Mennonite World Conference delegation of international visitors exchanged stories and blessings with members of Iglesia Menonita de la resurrección (Mennonite Church of the Resurrection) in Soacha,... more/más/suite

Mennonites, Catholics and Lutherans hold second round of dialogue on baptism

“I continue to be inspired by the mutuality of our work,” commented John Rempel of Toronto, Ontario, one of the Mennonite participants in the 26-31 January 2014 second meeting of the Trilateral (Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite) Dialogue Commission on... more/más/suite

Congo Mennonites celebrate women’s ordinations

Kinshasa, DR Congo – In July 2012, Sidonie Swana Falanga heard news that she thought was too good to be true. The 100-year-old Communauté Mennonite au Congo (Mennonite Church of Congo, or CMCo) had approved the ordination of women. “I asked myself,... more/más/suite