Peacebuilding efforts continue in Ecuador
Versión en español Injustice in Ecuador, especially for Indigenous Peoples, has ignited protests, national uprisings and strikes over the past four decades, which are increasing in frequency. Although Ecuador’s constitution and international law recognize Indigenous Peoples’ rights, United Nations experts found "persistent gaps" in the enforcement of these rights, especially regarding mineral extraction and development […]
Peacemaking agency director challenges U.S. churches to uphold democracy by creating space for dialog
Oscar Siwali sees a lot of similarities between the United States and South Africa. "More than you know," he said with a smile at the Thursday afternoon MennoCon23 seminar, ‘Toward the May/June 2024 South African Election.’ Some of the similarities are good. Both countries are symbols of democracy, and the peaceful transfer of power. Yet […]
Seminar calls church to serve people experiencing migration and disappearance
The seminar crowd went silent as two people began to move toward the front of the room. Their eyes were shut tight against the white florescent lights, their arms outstretched as they blindly searched for a seat. People in the crowd spoke up with polite directions, and some guided the pair to empty seats. Only […]
First night of MennoCon provides a space for church planting roundtable
On Monday evening, after the first worship session of MennoCon23 had let out, attendees spilled from the Grand Hall in many directions. Some picked up ice cream bars and sandwiches, compliments of Mennonite Church USA. Others headed for the exhibit booths, seeking first pick of the stickers, games and raffles. Groups in the convention center foyer […]
Medical mission worker in Taiwan leaves legacy of teaching and compassionate care
Carl Epp, who served as a doctor with Mennonite Christian Hospital (MCH) in Hualien, Taiwan, passed away March 6. Carl, along with his late first wife, Hilda, and their four children served in Taiwan from 1972-1991, through the Commission on Overseas Mission (COM), a predecessor agency of Mennonite Mission Network. After two years of internal […]
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), […]
Rough handball hands bring healing and hope when joined in prayer
This article first appeared in the summer 2013 issue of Timbrel, the magazine of Mennonite Women USA. Timbrel has been replaced by an online e-newsletter, Grapevine. Though Rebekka Stutzman no longer plays handball with a club team, she plays with her 11-year-old son, "teaching him that not just the ball, but also prayer, can be […]
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 […]