Practising hope
People who arrived on the Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) campus last fall were greeted by singing, soaring not through the windows of the music wing, but from outside. In order to create a safe environment during COVID-19 but still continue voice lessons, CMU scheduled them outside. This is just one of the many ways faculty…
Rockway raises $25,000 for food drive
The annual Christmas Food Drive at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate is a big deal. It starts in November with a kick-off chapel and fun incentives. Normally, students collect non-perishable food for the House of Friendship, a local organization that provides Christmas food hampers for people living on low income. This year, the need was greater, but…
Humbled by grace and generosity
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Back in March 2020, when we first shut down for the pandemic, our student body spent some time reflecting on this verse: God as our refuge and strength. It was an opportunity to pause and think beyond what was directly…
Sarah Johnson honoured as distinguished alumna
Sarah Johnson Theology scholar Sarah Kathleen Johnson has always been interested in religion and Christian worship. In her pursuit of education, her many different involvements at Conrad Grebel University College deepened, clarified and expanded those interests through courses, innovative chapel experiences and late-night conversations. Because of her inspiring creativity, thoughtful dedication and unique contributions to…
Bursary connects students to their faith
“Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to attend a Mennonite post-secondary institution,” says Danika Warkentin, one of seven recipients of this year’s Mennonite Church Alberta student bursary. As Mennonite families pray and consider how they can pass on their faith to the next generation, going to Mennonite schools is one…
CBC navigates fall class restart
Life at Columbia Bible College (CBC) looks quite different than it did back in mid-March, when classes suddenly ended and students were sent home due to COVID-19. After six months of inactivity, CBC has reopened for in-person classes. Staff were busy over the summer preparing the campus for a safe return, balancing residence life, instructional…
MWC and AMBS partnership opens access to Anabaptist education
Mennonites around the globe yearn for Anabaptist theological education, identity formation and leadership development, but attending an Anabaptist-related college, university or seminary has not been possible for Mennonites in many countries. A new partnership has been designed to respond to this need. Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), Elkhart, Ind., have…
RJC: Becoming a missional school
Rosthern Junior College has been a steadfast presence in Mennonite education for almost 115 years. However, decreasing enrolment has prompted the school’s administration and board to rethink what the school is all about. With a current enrolment of 64 students—compared to 150 or more from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, according to the…
Strangers become friends at college
My older sister met her best friend at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ont., in 2013. They were paired together as roommates for their first year, and lived together in their second and fourth years as well. I remember my sister coming home from school on the weekends and telling amazing stories about the…
Their stories showed me how to be brave
In the last few months with Mennonite Central Committee’s Serving and Learning Together program, I have thought often about how we all use stories to communicate. And how sometimes I have found myself wishing I could politely use a bookmark to pause someone’s story when I wasn’t that interested in it. I’ve agonized over accidentally…
