Academia Menonita Betania in Puerto Rico welcomes volunteers and celebrates 70 years
AIBONITO, Puerto Rico (Mennonite Education Agency/Mennonite Mission Network) — Students, families, friends and visitors from Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) and Mennonite Mission Network lined the basketball courts at Academia Menonita Betania on Saturday, Oct. 27, for music and dance performances to celebrate the school’s 70th anniversary. The festivities included a bounce house and swimming, and ended […]
Following Jesus’ example at the table
Believers from three countries gathered around the communion table in Yaracuy, Venezuela. Erwin Mirabal, president of the Venezuelan Iglesia Evangélica Menonita de Oriente (Evangelical Mennonite Church of the East), reflected with the group on how many of Jesus’ experiences revolved around a table and sharing food. He emphasized how reading the Bible from an Anabaptist […]
La Casa Grande – Large enough to embrace four continents
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Mission Network) – Mennonites from four continents worshiped and worked together in Benin in July. They came through different Mennonite Mission Network programs – some having served for more than 12 years; others participating in a 12-day experience. They joined their gifts and energies to provide personnel for the annual camp at […]
Adding insult to injury
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Mission Network) – On Aug. 22, 2018, President Trump gave voice to false information being circulated in other media when he sent a tweet that said, "I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. […]
What can I do?
We are hearing the question "What can I do?" a lot these days as immigration rules change often and make life very difficult for those directly affected by the changing landscape. Once again, here in LaGrange, Georgia, we are incarnated into the lives of people directly affected, through the households on our street as well […]
A strong commitment to education in Colombia
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Mission Network) – After 94 years of a life dedicated to education and advocacy, Vernelle H. Yoder of Berne, Indiana, passed away Sept. 26. She was born July 26, 1924, in Adams County, Indiana, to Ida (Habegger) and Raymond Yoder. Yoder graduated from Fort Wayne Bible Institute with a bachelor’s degree in […]
Out-Spokin’ staff reunion creates space for celebration and reflection
Former Out-Spokin’ staff spent Labor Day weekend reminiscing at Laurelville Retreat Center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thirty-five of us celebrated, laughed, cried, and shared memories of how lives unfolded over the 50 years since Terry Burkhalter founded Out-Spokin’ – Christian community formed on 10 speed bicycles. The mission of Out-Spokin’ was to engage youth on 10-speed bicycles, […]
Steven Covey, staples, and shalom
Is there anything more soothing than walking the aisles of an office supplies store? I think not. The voice of God is clearer to me among the clipboards and calendars and pretty file folders and desk organizers and festively colored paper clips than anywhere else. It makes me happy just thinking about it. I’m convinced […]
Rosedale communion and airport reunions
Six weeks ago, my dad dropped me off at the beautiful Mennonite Voluntary Service home in the neighborhood of Rosedale in Kansas City. Within five minutes, the entire staff of Rainbow Mennonite Church, my down-the-street host congregation, had arrived to say hello, help me carry my bags up the stairs, and assure me that friendly […]
Paul Nelson’s legacy: a peaceful presence
BERLIN, Ohio (Mennonite Mission Network) – Paul Nelson, former mission innovator in Ireland, died Sept. 13, 2018, at Souderton (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Home. He was 67 years old. Nelson was born Apr. 23, 1951, in Wayland, Iowa, to Boyd H. and Welma B. (Graber) Nelson. The family moved to Elkhart, Indiana, where he graduated from Bethany […]
Creating community through rookie mistakes
Soon after we arrived in Colombia, our Spanish teacher and friend, Diana, and her husband, Felipe, invited us to Felipe’s hometown to meet their family and friends. Diana did a wonderful job of helping us engage with the culture. She arranged for us to spend the day with their friends and cook a Colombian dish […]
The one where she talks about anti-Millennial sentiment
Entitled (adj) believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment With so many problems created by past generations that need tending, it seems ironic to me that there is a huge, cultural preoccupation with complaining about those of you born between 1980 and 2000. I have seen with my own eyes the […]