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 […]
Bonus mini-episode: Weaving together the body of Christ
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re excited to present a bonus MissionWary? mini-episode! In her interview for episode six, Anicka Fast told the story of Edna Kensinger and Kazadi Matthieu. Together, they forged a complicated friendship, and joined in the imagination of the church beyond the missionary framework of 1920s Congo. It’s a story we knew […]
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, […]
Peace is not just the absence of violence
Bekah serves in Bogotá, Colombia, with the Colombia Mennonite Church (IMCOL). She supports the work of the Seminario Biblico Menonita de Colombia (Mennonite Biblical Seminary of Colombia, SBMC). Additionally, she works with Justapaz (Colombian Mennonite peacebuilding organization), to accompany the Mujer y Paz (Women and Peace) project, which looks at the role of women in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Mennonites and Muslims create sacred space by responding to suffering
November is mission month! How is your church celebrating? Join in what God is doing around the world by highlighting a ministry during a Sunday service in November. Mennonite Mission Network is excited to provide stories, moment-in-mission videos and worship materials to help your congregation celebrate and learn more about meeting Jesus in sacred spaces. […]
Witness as With-ness
November is mission month. What does mission mean today? In episode #3 of Mission Network’s podcast, "MissionWary?," Mennonite Mission Network executive director — and a global missional and educational leader — Mike Sherrill shares his understanding of missions today as "with-ness," the accompaniment of people in their cultural context, being the presence of Christ, as one lives and walks […]