From Mission-wary to Missionary: The Complexity of a South African Christianity
NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) — What can the complexities of Christianity in South Africa teach us about the future of mission? That’s the question at the heart of a special live episode of MissionWary?. Originally broadcast over Zoom, the episode centers around a conversation with Mziwandile Nkutha, coordinator of Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA), […]
From Mission-wary to Missionary: You Must Remember This
NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) — How do stories about mission become cemented as the history of mission? That question is at the center of the sixth episode of MissionWary?, a podcast from Mennonite Mission Network. Anicka Fast serves as a specialist in church history and missiology for Francophone Africa and is supported jointly by Mission […]
Mission-wary to Missionary: Where’s This Mission From, Anyway?
NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) — When James Krabill preaches a sermon on mission, he’s often asked by the hosting church which scripture he’ll use as a basis for his preaching. Will it be the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20), where Jesus instructs his disciples to "make disciples of all nations" after his resurrection? Or perhaps […]
Mission-wary to Missionary: Parts and Service
NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) — When does service become mission? Sometimes the words are used interchangeably, like when a church youth group goes on a mission trip and engages in acts of service in a community. Yet, often, service and mission are considered separate acts. A person may be drawn to Christ-centered voluntary service, […]
Mission-wary to Missionary: Mistakes were made
NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) — Do you remember the first time you heard about the Doctrine of Discovery? Lynda Hollinger-Janzen, co-host of ‘MissionWary?,’ a podcast series from Mennonite Mission Network, learned about the term through participating in the Trail of Death pilgrimage in 2019. Her co-host, Travis Duerksen, first heard the term during his […]
Mission-wary to Missionary: Where do we start?
NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) — In the Christian vernacular, there are few words as charged as "mission." If you ask people what comes to mind when they think about "mission," some might say, "Mother Teresa" — the kindly, unassuming type of missionary that runs soup kitchens and builds hospitals, all while wearing worn out […]
Young volunteers bring exhilarating stories of service to area youth
Newton, Kan. — For most participants, a gap year in Service Adventure is a series of firsts. The first time living away from home after high school. The first real-world professional experience with a local non-profit. The first time prepping a meal for an entire household. Soon, participants will embrace another first: sharing how their […]
Storytelling bridges gap between science and spirit
Michaela Esau is a Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) participant with the Tucson, Arizona, unit. This article was adapted from a blog entry on her website. MVS is a program of Mennonite Mission Network. Apply now for the 2023-24 MVS term, and join the neighborhood!When I was a kid, I loved astronomy. I used to sit […]
Service Adventure: Grow into community!
What’s a classic Service Adventure experience? ☑Cross-country skiing? ☑Cozy conversations over chai? ☑Sharing a meal you made from scratch? All of the above! Ginny Miller and Lexie Coburn, 2020-21 Service Adventure participants, share some highlights. Service Adventure is an opportunity to grow in community with peers and a unit leader. Discover what a gap year after high […]
Who will be my valentine?
Valentine’s Day: A time when people celebrate their love for each other by exchanging cards, flowers and candy. Some even have a special dinner. It is a time to reflect on who you love and who loves you. Valentine’s Day has always been tricky for me. I am a single woman in my 50s. I’ve […]
Service Adventure: A space to grow!
Service Adventure is a space to grow! 🌼 Through her gap year with Service Adventure, Lexie Coburn plugged into a community where she could grow in her faith and forge new friendships, all while being supported by a close-knit unit house! Discover what a gap year after high school can do! Go to ServiceAdventure webpage to learn more.
Webinar continues legacy of discerning why baptism matters
NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) — For nearly 500 years, Anabaptists have met together to study, debate and dream about the role of baptism in their lives. Discourse that was once held only through hushed tones in a deep forest, or in the dim backroom of a village tavern, has expanded into every medium imaginable. […]