Diversifying the face of mission still a challenge

Mar 13, 2017 by and

In Burkina Faso, Ann Jacobs, right, from Mennonite Mission Network, speaks with Pastor Siaka Traore, in green, Pastor Joseph, in black, and Samuel, a pastor-in-training, in blue. — Jeanette Krabill/MMN

Ann Jacobs expected to be deeply moved during her first visit to West Africa with Mennonite Mission Network. What Jacobs did not expect was how a conversation in Accra, Ghana, would affirm the importance of...

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Mennonite Mission Network donation supports racial justice education work

Aug 29, 2016 by and

Donna and Leroy​​​​ Barber cofounded The Voices Project,​ which trains black leaders. — Peter Graber/MMN

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Joining other Christian denominations that support the anti­racism goals of the Black Lives Matter movement, Mennonite Mission Network will give $10,000 to partner with The Voices Project...

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Hmong in Thailand make an Anabaptist relationship official

Apr 25, 2016 by and

Church of Christ Thailand executive secretary Surapong Mitrakul and chair Thawesak Mahachavaroj present a set of teacups and saucers to Mennonite Mission Network executive director Stanley W. Green and Asia and Middle East director John Lapp. Green and Lapp in return offered two copies of the book Fully Engaged: Missional Church in an Anabaptist Voice. This exchange of gifts commemorated the signing of a ministry and support agreement for the Hmong ethnic group in Thailand. — Mennonite Mission Network

The Mennonite family can now add Hmong to the growing number of ethnic groups embracing Anabaptism in Asia. A group of Hmong churches in Thailand and Mennonite Church USA have agreed to make official a...

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African-American pastors, leaders make connections

May 11, 2015 by and

Al Motley and his son, Alvin Motley II, receive communion from John Powell at the African American Mennonite Pastors Gathering. The father and son are bishop and youth pastor, respectively, at The Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship in Townsend, Del. — Mennonite Mission Network

ELKHART, Ind. — About 30 African-American Mennonite pastors and lay leaders expressed optimism, hope and surprise during a gathering April 24-25 at Mennonite Mission Network and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical...

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Race, power and diversity

Feb 16, 2015 by , , and

Michelle Armster, interim executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Central States, prays over Sue Park-Hur, who preached the closing sermon at “Hope for the Future.” — Andrew Bodden/MMN

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Understanding how power works in Mennonite institutions was the theme of “Hope for the Future IV” Jan. 23-24 at Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvación. The event gathers people of color...

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South Korean events showcase student peace movies

Feb 2, 2015 by and

The opening ceremony of the Bucheon Youth Peace Film Festival on Jan. 5 in South Korea. — Jae Young Lee/MMN

Lessons of peace were highlighted through short films and workshops at two parallel events co-hosted by the Korea Peacebuilding Institute. KOPI, which is supported by Mennonite Mission Network, partnered with...

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Anabaptists: peaceful force for racial justice?

Oct 27, 2014 by and

Ewuare Osayande, anti-oppression coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, visits congregations with presentations about the negative impact of racism, gender and class discrimination. He encourages congregations to understand that race is a social construct developed in colonial America to privilege white people over others. — MMN

HAMPTON, Va. — Participants in “Hope for the Future” gatherings are inspiring congregations to address diversity in their communities. “Hope for the Future” began in 2011 in response to the rapid...

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Teaching English leads to deeper discussions in China

Sep 29, 2014 by and

Kelly McPhail teaches English to adults in China. She and her husband, Brian, serve with Mennonite Mission Network as professors and administrators through Mennonite Partners in China. — MMN

Tao’s sheepish demeanor as he approached teacher Kelly McPhail revealed why he and his classmates were nervous about their English grades: They hadn’t been speaking much in class. To confront an...

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Initiative develops culture of discipleship

Jun 23, 2014 by , and

Ducois Forestal, lead pastor of Unity Pentecostal Church of God Mennonite in Miami, meets with two discipleship initiative participants, who didn’t want to be named for privacy reasons. — Isaac Fast/MMN

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Mennonite Mission Network leaders are considering the next steps to promote disciple-making within racial-ethnic congregations of Mennonite Church USA. After a year of working in a pilot...

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Project weaves peacemaking into language learning

Jun 9, 2014 by and

Words are powerful, which is why the Language for Peace project aims to explore how Anabaptist and other philosophies of peacemaking are incorporated into various language courses — Spanish, German, Korean,...

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Japanese Confession adopted

Sep 16, 2013 by and

mmn-japan-confession

A conference of Japanese Mennonites recently adopted a formal document defining what they believe collectively. Japan Mennonite Christian Church Conference (Hokkaido) adopted a Confession of Faith during its...

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