Paths of love through diversity

As was his habit, Francisco scrolled through e-mails before calling it a day. Almost ready to go to sleep, he saw the invitation to serve from Mennonite Mission Network. "When I read the word ‘Spain,’ my heart started beating faster," he said. It had only been a few months prior that he had begun to […]

Pasadizos de amor en medio de la adversidad

De acuerdo a su rutina, Francisco le echó un vistazo a su correo electrónico antes de finalizar la jornada laboral. Estaba a punto de irse a dormir cuando vio la invitación a servir de la Red Menonita de Misión.   "Cuando leí la palabra ‘España’, mi corazón comenzó a latir más fuerte," el dijo. No […]

Now is the time

I think it’s safe to say 2018 will be another year full of challenges and opportunities for peacemakers. The turmoil in our nation is only increased by a dysfunctional political system. The animosity, entrenched racism, increased poverty, and despair will not stop anytime soon. That’s not to mention our massive, destructive military engagements around the […]

Growing the church in the rural neighborhood

If you are inclined to use words like “depressed,” “declining,” or “disappearing” to describe the state of rural churches today, you will find hope in reading this booklet. Brad Roth, himself a pastor in small-town Moundridge, Kansas, believes it is time to take a new look at the rural church reality. “In a lot of […]

God’s word finds fertile soil in Burkina Faso

​In 1982, Anne Garber (Kompaoré) and Gail Wiebe (Toevs) arrived in the village of Kotoura, Burkina Faso, believing that their work would only entail translation and linguistics. They had carefully laid out plans about how to present the good news of Jesus gradually and in culturally appropriate ways. According to their plan, they thought it […]

La palabra de Dios encuentra tierra fértil en Burkina Faso

En 1982, Anne Garber (Kompaoré) y Gail Wiebe (Toevs) llegaron al poblado de Kotoura, Burkina Faso, creyendo que su trabajo solo consistiría en traducción y lingüística. Habían planificado meticulosamente cómo presentar las Buenas Nuevas de Jesús de una manera gradual y culturalmente apropiada. De acuerdo a sus planes, ellas pensaron que pasarían unos 20 años […]

Surprise—God revealed in unexpected moments

Miraculous today By Dani Klotz The last chapter in Hebrews is full of nuggets of wisdom for the daily lives of Christians. This letter, originally written to Jewish believers, describes Jesus as the key to a new and better covenant. Faithfulness to the new covenant, which addresses a changed reality, is emphasized throughout the book. […]

Mission and suffering

​The contributors to this issue of Anabaptist Witness have strained to see God amid experiences of suffering in mission, and in doing so they point to the hope of resurrection life. Articles, poems, and artwork address missionary suffering, mission that responds to suffering, and mission that causes suffering. Specific topics treated include Ausbund hymns, Sufi […]

God’s Country

​With the poetic force of Kathleen Norris and the pastoral warmth of Eugene Peterson, Kansas pastor Roth sets forth a vision for vibrant rural churches, for ministry in congregations that bear a profound sense of both loss and possibility, and for harvesting fruits of transformation and renewal. Rooted in stories from Scripture, his own ministry, […]

Make me an instrument of your peace

​Munny’s* head hurt. The yelling. The screaming. In his small home, he couldn’t get away from it. Munny loved his parents, but hated when they argued. He wanted them to find better ways of resolving conflict.  As in many cultures, “domestic violence is a real issue [in these communities],” said Samuel*, whose work in Southeast […]

Hazme un instrumento de tu paz

Munny* tiene dolor de cabeza. Los gritos. Los chillidos. En su pequeña casita, él no podía dejar de oírlos. Munny amaba a sus padres, pero odiaba escucharlos discutir. Quería que encontraran mejores maneras de entenderse.  Así como en muchas culturas, “la violencia doméstica es algo muy común [en estas comunidades],” dijo Samuel* cuyo trabajo en […]