Don’t silence the hurting
Sexual-abuse survivor and victims’ advocate Trudy Harder Metzger preaches an important word when she says we should not expect survivors simply to forgive and move on after abuse has stopped. Survivors need...
[read more]Mysterious initials
There’s nothing sacred about the word “Mennonite.” Nor is it anything to be ashamed of. Somewhere between those extremes is a venerable religious identity with a rich history, many positive connotations...
[read more]Peace network overdue
For five centuries, Anabaptists have faced the challenge of pursuing peace. On every continent, in every culture, a defining trait that sets them apart is a commitment to nonviolence. Many conferences and...
[read more]Press on the upward way
Because church life has its ups and downs, we can be sure that some who study Mennonite Church USA’s new Pathways curriculum are looking for traction to higher ground. Whether they’ve felt moderate stress...
[read more]Moderate justice
The Supreme Court occupies the U.S. political spotlight after the retirement of Anthony Kennedy and President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. With the remaining eight justices evenly split on many...
[read more]Immortal works
Far from the tourist crowds, the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome is a haven of solitude. In a tree-shaded corner we found the grave of the poet John Keats, who died in 1821 at the age of 25. As he desired, no...
[read more]Twisted Scripture
To the horror of Christians and resigned shrugs of fatigued non-Christians, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions turned to the Bible. He quoted Scripture to justify ripping families apart by separating...
[read more]Beyond our fears
Anxiety affects nearly one-third of the U.S. population, making it the most common mental-health disorder. Youth particularly feel its crushing weight. Record numbers of college students are seeking treatment...
[read more]Understanding ‘seekers’
An interesting group of people who can be found at conservative Anabaptist events are those who have no Mennonite (or Brethren or Hutterite or Amish) background but want to join a plain church group. They’re...
[read more]An honest broker?
Peacemakers believe it is possible to earn the trust of both sides in a conflict. They are careful not to divide the parties into friends and enemies. It’s a narrow path to walk, but Mennonites are trying to...
[read more]Members only
Christ as revealed in Scripture possessed miraculous powers. But at least one thing escaped his abilities. He couldn’t baptize himself. Being a Christian isn’t a solo mission. A church of one is not a...
[read more]Devotion in action
“I participated . . . and it made me think,” says Minyoung Jung of South Korea, writing of her work with a food-distribution program in Kenya by a Mennonite Central Committee partner. Her article on page 6...
[read more]Evangelical Anabaptism
What is “evangelical Anabaptist”? It’s a designation claimed in some form by Mennonite Brethren, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Evangelical Mennonite Conference and Evana Network — which takes its...
[read more]Precious in God’s sight
Heard any good prophecy lately? Not the kind that predicts the future. The kind that awakens the moral conscience, rebukes sin and energizes hope. Mennonite Church USA has received just such a prophecy this...
[read more]Criminally Christian
Christianity was an illegal movement in its infancy. The first adult baptisms were punished by death in 1527. Christians, especially Anabaptists, have often faced the choice to obey God or the state. Defying...
[read more]Ancient obedience
In The Great Emergence, Phyllis Tickle writes that about every 500 years the church undergoes a massive transformation. It “cleans out its attic and has a giant rummage sale.” If that’s true, it could...
[read more]Publishers’ proposal
Almost 100 years ago, the founders of Mennonite World Review took a bold step into the future. Three years after starting the German-language Der Herold, editor H.P. Krehbiel recognized the need for an English...
[read more]Small but inspiring
Though tiny, a multicultural Mennonite Brethren conference on the tip of one corner of Europe might be the continent’s clearest embodiment of the global Anabaptist church. The relatively short but diverse...
[read more]Never again
Never again. These words have a specific connection to the Holocaust. But their power is not limited to remembrance of Nazi genocide against Jews. In the United States in 2018, they are the cry of youth who...
[read more]Awake, O sleeper
When a congregation has a lot of funerals in a short time, the shadow of death looms large. At the same time, the light of the Resurrection shines. Darkness and light, sorrow and hope, compete for power over...
[read more]Resurrection reality
As we enter the Easter season, we’re celebrating not merely a feel-good story but an actual event in history. In the person of Jesus, God entered our space and time as one of us. He lived, died and returned...
[read more]Ecumenical evangelist
Gospel “crusades” have passed into history, but the era of mass evangelism still inspires. The death of Billy Graham on Feb. 21 at the age of 99 caused Christians to look back on the legacy of itinerant...
[read more]A name worth keeping
What’s in a name? For Tim Unruh of Hillsboro, Kan., it’s more than a hill of beans. His decision to name his Menno Beans coffee roasting venture after Menno Simons is an ode to his faith heritage and an...
[read more]Prince of Peace’s troops
President Trump wanted a military parade. Were the troops and the brass eager to strike up a band? “I used to watch them in Bulgaria,” tweeted retired Gen. Michael Hayden, implying a dim view of such...
[read more]Join the resistance
Since President Trump took office a year ago, U.S. Christians have been bitterly divided over whether his actions and words are good, bad or even worth being concerned about. Some peace-minded Christians...
[read more]About Me
