PERSPECTIVE —
To the members and leaders of Mennonite
and
Brethren in Christ churches in the USA
Dear sisters and brothers,
We greet each of you in the name of Jesus Christ and on behalf of the worldwide family of faith. Before leaving for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where we are now on a pastoral visit to MWC member churches, we received
messages of condolence and concern for your welfare from various parts of the world. In every place we visit, the first questions asked are about you and your faithfulness to Jesus Christ.
The letter to the Hebrews speaks of “a great cloud of witnesses.” As we write this letter, we are surrounded by members and leaders of the Mennonite churches of the Congo. Together with them, we bear witness to you that you,
too, are surrounded by a great cloud of sisters and brothers.
From the moment of the first news of the tragic events of September 11 and during the difficult weeks since then, the worldwide family of faith has been holding you up in heartfelt prayer. And as we traveled through the restricted areas in
the interior of the Congo, where Mennonites and their compatriots have been suffering under the effects of war, economic collapse, political crisis and more than two million deaths, expressions of grief and solidarity with Americans and with you in particular are
prominent in nearly every meeting and worship service. Those we meet ask us to assure you of their fraternal love and fervent prayers.
These same sisters and brothers also ask if you are keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. From their own life situations, they know that you now face heavy pressure and high obstacles as you seek to follow and bear witness to the Savior who loves enemies. They believe that a warlike response to the September 11 violence will harm many people and impede Christian witness around the world, directly or indirectly, including here in Africa. They encourage you to seek a message from God amidst the present events and to seize this opportunity to reinforce your proclamation of the Gospel of Peace as they have tried to do during the war years in the Congo. We have reported that you are focusing on the Prince of Peace and that you are searching for ways to promote His ways. They will continue to follow your decisions and actions, surrounding you continually with prayer.
At the same time, all Christians and political leaders whom we have visited in this country solicit your prayers that the Inter-Congolese Peace Dialogue, scheduled for mid-October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be an ongoing witness and
encouragement. The years of suffering have taken a great toll on all people here, including the Mennonite communities. Please form a great cloud of witnesses in prayer for this country, these churches, these sisters and brothers.
May God give you the strength to run with perseverance the race marked out for you.
Keep the Faith!
Mesach Krisetya
President,
Mennonite World Conference
Larry Miller
Executive Secretary,
Mennonite World Conference
