For Discussion
Categories: Feature Articles1. What experiences have you or your congregation had in sponsoring refugees? What have been the most challenging and rewarding parts? What motivates a congregation to sponsor a refugee family?…
From tension to cooperation
Categories: Feature ArticlesThis year the Mennonite Brethren Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a week-long celebration in B.C. in July. What have the MBs contributed to the wider Mennonite community during…
Jacob D. Reimer’s tombstone discovered in Ukraine
Categories: Feature ArticlesOn a tour in Ukraine in October 2006, Gert and Katherine Martens experienced an emotional moment when a farmer in Oktaybreskoe removed a few planks from his wall and uncovered…
Bert Loewen named to Order of Manitoba
Categories: Feature ArticlesAmong the 2010 recipients of the Order of Manitoba, the province’s highest honour, is Bert Loewen, a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church. The announcement was made on May 12…
For discussion
Categories: Feature Articles1. What is the relationship between the Mennonite Brethren and Mennonite Church Canada congregations in your community? Do you agree that the relationship between the MBs and other Mennonites has…
How green is my MCC?
Categories: Feature ArticlesWhile Will Braun applauds Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) for its commitment to shrink its carbon footprint by 20 percent over the next 10 years, he wonders whether it is just…
Exposing the ‘bare essentials’ of Anabaptism
Categories: Feature ArticlesAnabaptism has been around for almost 500 years. For much of that time, it has been clothed in Mennonite and Amish traditions and culture. But what does it look like…
Anabaptism provides a map in the post-Christendom wilderness
Categories: Feature ArticlesIt is becoming undeniably clear that western civilization has entered a post-Christian age. Whereas Christians once believed the world would eventually be brought within the expanding empire of Christendom, it…
Join ‘Naked Anabaptists’ on Facebook
Categories: Feature ArticlesNo, it’s not what you might be thinking—nobody is nude. At least, not literally, although more than 300 people have joined the Naked Anabaptist group on the Facebook social media…
Chances are . . . you worship with a gambler
Categories: Feature ArticlesThey’re advertised on billboards, on radio and television. The kiosk in your local grocery store or shopping mall sells them. Your local charity wants you to buy one to help…
What do Mennonites do with gambling donations?
Categories: Feature ArticlesMennonite organizations tend to agree that gambling is wrong, but few policies are in place to respond to donations of gambling revenue. Perhaps this is because of a prevailing sense…
Caught between dice and a hard place
Categories: Feature ArticlesI’ve never resisted selling chocolates or magazines for my children’s school, but this time was different. “Would you volunteer a few hours of your time at our casino fundraiser?” the…
Making the Word in worship come alive
Categories: Feature ArticlesHow much of your worship service is spent reading and hearing Scripture? 10 percent? 15 percent? More? Less? In 2004, my doctoral thesis advisor, Constance Cherry, who teaches worship and…
For discussion
Categories: Feature Articles1. What have been some of the more effective and less effective ways that you have heard Scripture read during worship? What are the advantages and disadvantages of reading longer…
On the road to Emmaus
Categories: Feature ArticlesOn that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about 11 kilometres from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.…
Victory through Christ
Categories: Feature Articles“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Paul, in I Corinthians 15:57). Easter is the most joyous holiday on our calendar. Nature decorates…
For discussion
Categories: Feature Articles1. How does your congregation commemorate the pain of the cross and celebrate the joy of Easter? What do you find most meaningful? Peter J. Dyck describes a papier-maché drama…
Pastoring the flock out along the fenceline
Categories: Feature ArticlesThere I was, the country-bumpkin pastor amidst all the really important people at the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa. Such an event is quite the shindig for someone from the…
For discussion
Categories: Feature Articles1. How are country churches different from city churches? Do you agree with Phil Wagler that country churches are more traditional? What are the advantages of living in the city…