Every organization has a purpose; an answer to the deceptively simple question, “Why?” At Mennonite Mission Network, that “why?” is to lead, mobilize and equip the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ — across the street, all through the marketplaces and around the world.
In this Q&A series, Mission Network asks staff members to think about the role they play in the agency, and how they see their daily work joining into what God is doing around the world.
Ben Regier reflects on his role as Software Specialist.
What brought you to your role with Mennonite Mission Network?
I was looking for a new job in a new field and was trying to identify what was most important to me for this new role. My top two priorities were that the work would have meaning and that the work environment would be positive and supportive.
I knew about Mission Network because I had participated in their service programs (Service Adventure, Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) and DOOR). I had also heard from several people that it was a good place to work.
So, in 2008, I quite literally walked into the office off the street and asked if they had any open positions. I was lucky that they were hiring an MVS assistant, which was a good fit for me since I had recently served with MVS in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Years later, I switched from working with MVS to working in the Information Technology (IT) department.
How has your perspective on Mission Network changed over your time with the agency?
I’ll admit that I came into this role believing that leadership was overrated. I believed that it was the people on the ground who really decided what to do and how to do it, and you could replace leadership without really affecting anything.
I still believe the people on the ground are critical, but I’ve also come to see how much leadership matters and how direction set at the top filters down through all layers of an organization.
How do you view your role with Mission Network fitting into God’s mission for the church?
In a lot of ways, my work is to support the people doing the actual work, and I like that I get to participate in that way. I might not be the best at public speaking, or at forming connections in a new community, or knowing how to organize a movement, but I know how to support the people who are good at those things.
What is something that has surprised you about your role with Mission Network?
Just a few months after I started with Mission Network, we were having an All Staff Gathering and had met at a retreat center in Michigan. It was my first time meeting many of my co-workers.
The first night we had a time of worship after supper. There was a small group of musicians (all Mission Network staff) leading us, and we closed our eyes and started the first song.
I remember being shocked by the feeling in the room — so shocked that I opened my eyes and looked around. I realized that I was in a room filled with people of strong, tested faith who had committed their lives to following God’s lead. These were people from different backgrounds and traditions who worshipped in different ways, and who (as I would learn in the next few days) often disagreed strongly with each other. But at that moment it was like all their individual expressions of worship were braiding together into a single cord, and you could feel it in the room itself. It was a powerful experience that has stayed with me.
