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A pastoral letter regarding war in the Middle East
Beloved sisters and brothers: The escalation of war in the Middle East today is a source of fear and grief for our Anabaptist family around the world. For some, this is a new reality, for others it adds to the burden of violence carried for years or decades from local conflict. We see all of…
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Young Anabaptists eager to encounter the global family
During the Global Youth Summit (GYS) in 2015 in Pennsylvania, USA, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) general secretary César García said, “If you want a revolution, ask someone young to lead.” This year’s GYS was the latest step in MWC’s journey of walking with young leaders in following Jesus together. From the creation of the GYS…
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Assembly 18 theme revealed: Christ unites us
“If you come to the next Assembly, you can also have a shirt like mine!” said Kelbessa Demana, General Council delegate for Meserete Kristos Church (MKC). Dressed in a traditional, crisp white shirt with intricate embroidery, he was part of a delegation that invited the General Council to the upcoming Assembly 18 in Ethiopia. Held…
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Terms renewed and specialists appointed
As Mennonite World Conference’s Executive Committee and General Council delegates gather for worship, fellowship and discernment, there are farewells and hellos. Members of the Executive Committee and the Commission serve six-year terms. The terms are staggered to ensure continuity. Executive Committee The Executive Committee is elected from the General Council (GC) and meets annually. Two…
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Living in a new era
César García (right) interviewed church leaders from other traditions who were present throughout General Council meetings in May 2025. (l-r) Paul Tché, Tim Gee, Neil Vigers, Hanns Lessing (with microphone), Samuel van der Maas, Anne-Cathy Graber (MWC secretary for ecumenical relations). “Reconciliation is central to our faith as Anabaptists,” said César García, Mennonite World Conference…
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Living “inefficiently” as the children of the Lord
Recently, the number of young people in churches across Asia has significantly declined. This is likely a global phenomenon. Why has believing in God become a foolish act? Because in this harsh world, what young people need most is money, and to earn money, one must become an “efficient” being. The younger generation lives with…
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More blessed to give than to receive
“The hand that gives is always uppermost; the hand that receives is always lower.” —African proverb A Congolese pastor reshaped my understanding of giving and receiving. The last time I saw her was at the Global Assembly of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) in Paraguay in 2009, where she expressed gratitude to my wife and me for…
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The beating heart of MWC
Deacons The responsibilities of the Deacons Commission include overseeing the Global Church Sharing Fund (GCSF), fostering prayer within the Anabaptist communion (sending the Prayer Network email, hosting Online Prayer Hour and collaborating with the president on pastoral letters), and deacon visits. From 2022 to the end of 2024, the Deacons Commission approved 20 GCSF proposals…
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Rosedale Network of Churches in the USA
Courier: Perspectives North America: USA Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot On a cold, Thanksgiving Day in November 1910, a group of five ordained ministers gathered with other guests at the Pigeon River Conservative Amish Mennonite meetinghouse in Huron County, Michigan, USA, for the purpose of working together to further the mission of the church. Out…
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Convención Evangélica Hermanos Menonitas Nivaclé in Paraguay
Courier: Perspectives Latin America: Paraguay Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot At no time did we hear the word leaders, but instead we spoke of the missionaries. The first leaders of the church were Mennonite Brethren: Jakob Franz in the 1930s and later Gerhard Hein. The people left, but they sowed the Word in the community. First…
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A movement that has been diverse and international
The bells rang out across the city that full of Anabaptists. An estimated 3 500 or more people filled the streets of old Zurich on Ascension Day 29 May 2025 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism. “Today, as Mennonites in Switzerland we are a small community,” said Gladys Geiser & Lukas Amstutz, co-presidents, Konferenz der…
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MWC at 100: “We come together and share”
“He has done marvellous things!” An international ensemble with members from the USA, Germany, Colombia and Indonesia led the congregation in singing these words to open the fundraising celebration of 100 years of Mennonite World Conference. One of those marvellous things is 110 national churches* agreeing to walk together through MWC. César García preached from…
Stories
100 500 Anabaptism anniversary Asamblea Assembly AWFS Catholic Celebrar, equipar, adorar: 500 años de anabautismo Concilio General Courier creation care Creation Care Task Force César García Deacons Commission disaster response DR Congo ecumenism Executive Committee Faith & Life Commission Faith & Life Commission General Council giving GYS Henk Stenvers history identity Indonesia 2022 inter-Anabaptist response Latin America mission Mission Commission Myanmar Online Prayer Hour pastoral letter peace Peace Commission prayer prière The Courage to Love theology The Trilateral Conversations unity YABs Zurich