Illinois farmland gets a new mission

Mar 12, 2018 by and

Hungry World Farm volunteers mulch strawberries in the fall to prepare for the next growing season. — Hungry World Farm

A revitalized farm property is bringing new life to rural north-central Illinois. Members of Willow Springs Mennonite Church in Tiskilwa began a project called Hungry World Farm toward the end of 2017. The...

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Yoder-Short: A decluttered church

Aug 14, 2017 by

Jane Yoder-Short

A freeing feeling results when we donate unneeded clutter to the local rummage sale. Old books go, making room for new ones. Useless kitchen gadgets leave, creating room for useful basics. Uncomfortable shoes...

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Evana convention attendance nearly doubles

Jul 17, 2017 by and

Theresa Wolf, youth leader at Kaufman Mennonite Church in Davids­ville, Pa., gives thanks to God after the baptism of Hailey Beisel, 12, and Brooke Yoder, 13. At left, Anya Schlabach, 14, awaits baptism with her father, Randall Schlabach, pastor of Thomas Mennonite Church in Holsopple, Pa. Four young people were baptized during the Evana Network convention. — Rachel Stella/MWR

UPLAND, Ind. — Hailey Beisel and Brooke Yoder weren’t signed up to attend Evana Network’s ReGen 2017 convention. But when two others from the Kaufman Mennonite Church youth group in Davidsville, Pa.,...

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Kingdom Fellowship Weekend seeks ‘pilgrim church’

Jun 19, 2017 by and

About 1,000 people attended the Kingdom Fellowship Weekend Aug. 26-28, 2016, at Roxbury Holiness Camp near Orrstown, Pa. — Kingdom Fellowship Weekend

A gathering of 20 young adults for Bible study, prayer and fellowship 13 years ago has grown into an annual event that draws about 1,000 people from conservative Anabaptist congregations and others interested...

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Anabaptism in bloom

May 22, 2017 by

Five hundred years after the first, a second Reformation is transforming the face of Christianity. This time the revolution is happening in the Global South. As historic centers of power decline in Europe and...

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Patience, prayer, power

May 22, 2017 by

The weeks following Jesus’ resurrection must have been an exciting time of transition for his followers. “After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them...

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Showalter: Want renewal? Pray

Apr 10, 2017 by

Richard Showalter

In the 1640s, a few English nonconformists and Puritans who had migrated to the New World began to share the gospel with Native Americans around them. In 1646, Pastor John Eliot began to lead his Indian...

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South Central Conference offers short-term home

Jul 4, 2016 by and

Delegates get to know each other around tables at South Central Conference’s June 12-14, 2015, annual assembly at Bethel Mennonite Church in Inman, Kan. During last year’s assembly, delegates accepted into membership New Hope Fellowship in Perryton, Texas, transferring from Mountain States Mennonite Conference; and Pleasant View Mennonite Church in Goshen, Ind., transferring from Indiana-Michigan Conference. — South Central Conference

South Central Mennonite Conference has more than 30 congregations or church plants in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and even Mexico. So why would a congregation from northern Indiana want to be...

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Tomato theology

Jun 4, 2015 by

Vegetables gathered from the garden.

Over the last few weeks I have planted 30 tomato plants in the garden — another important rite of spring, and an increasingly important part of the rhythm of my life. Here in Seattle, we rarely have...

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Renewal from within

Feb 16, 2015 by

I am disappointed to hear of groups leaving Mennonite Church USA. Every individual, congregation, conference, denomination and renewal group falls short in some way. If not now, they will in the future. In...

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