Mennonite World Conference (MWC) represents the majority of the global family of Christian churches rooted in the 16th century Radical Reformation in Europe, particularly in the Anabaptist movement.
MWC membership in 2018 included one international association and 107 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national churches from 58 countries, with around 1.47 million baptized believers in close to 10,000 congregations. About 81% of baptized believers in MWC member churches are African, Asian or Latin American, and 19% are located in Europe and North America.
Churches are asked to plan an Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday worship service close to Jan. 21 that will help them enter more fully into fellowship, intercession and thanksgiving with and for the global faith family. On that date in 1525, the first Anabaptist baptism took place in Zurich, Switzerland. Materials are available to help remember our common roots and celebrate our worldwide koinonia. Churches are invited to take a “one lunch” offering to support the networks and resources of our global Anabaptist church family.
Renewal 2027 is a 10-year series of events commemorating the 500th anniversary of the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement. Each year, local churches host the event in a different region of the world. One such event is Renewal 2027: Jesus Christ: Our Hope, March 28, 2020, Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C. A series of annual regional events will culminate at MWC Assembly 18 in 2027.
There are two major events ahead: Assembly Gathered, July 6-11, 2021, Semarang, Indonesia. The theme is Following Jesus together across barriers. Seguir a Jesús juntos, superando las barreras. Suivre Jésus ensemble à travers les frontiers. The Global Youth Summit is on July 2-5, 2021, Salatiga, Indonesia. The theme is Life in the Spirit: Learn. Serve. Worship.
The Star that shone one glorious night
Held a message of a king’s pure Light.
Where far away this child was born;
His royal line of Heavenly throne. Continue reading The Cross and Christmas→
POPLAR HILL, ONTARIO —Poplar Hill was our first camp of the summer, and it was the eighth time we were in this community. Team members were Chris Lerm, Muriel LeClerc, Katherine Enns, Don Wiebe, Albert Martens, Taylor Bergen and Jordyn Bergen. Joel Jolly joined us for the last two days of the camp. Continue reading Athletes in Action Camp 2019→
Though we just might think that the righteous win, if we keep the rules and we do not sin, the plain truth is that the best man died even though he prayed, he pleaded, and cried, “Father let this pass help me end this pain.” But the silence stayed and the curse remained. In the garden bound, by the high priest tried, he was kissed, betrayed, left alone, denied. Continue reading In the Stillness→
Canada/El Salvador —“Obey My voice and I will be your God and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.”
These are the words of God the prophet Jeremiah brought to the people of Israel (Jer. 7). Yet we know they did not obey or incline their ears to Him. Instead they walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts. In fact, they were moving backwards and not forwards, doing more evil than their parents. Continue reading Stepping Out of the Boat→
God is at work in human history even if his ways are confusing—this is one lesson of Advent.
The prophet Isaiah said that God, who had made a covenant with Israel, was at work even though the nation had sinned and would enter exile. He who had created the heavens and earth, and gave breath to people, would bring forth his Servant: “My servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1-5). Continue reading Advent: A Promise of Light and Freedom →
