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MCC supplies arrive for displaced Ukrainians
Before the fighting escalated in Ukraine this year, Nadiya O.* and her husband lived near the city of Uman, Ukraine. Together, they grew a vegetable garden and kept bees, selling their honey to make some extra cash. But shortly after the conflict worsened, her husband died from a heart attack. Then Russian military…
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Shortened meetings study unity, affirm new members
As the Muslim call to prayer wafted on the air through open doors, the General Council worshipped, prayed and considered the global fellowship of churches in Mennonite World Conference (MWC). The in-person triennial meetings of leaders of MWC national member churches in Indonesia in early July were cut short as COVID-19 positives put leaders into…
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Watch: “Mennonites Put the Oba in Manitoba”
While there are Mennonites aulawäajen (everywhere) in Manitoba, Jeremy Giesbrecht and Darren Kehler of the Quonset Brothers have found that such is true internationally now that thousands of people have watched the video for their song, “Mennonites Put the Oba in Manitoba.” Written by Kehler to the tune of a classic country song, the lyrics…
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Watch: A 2022 take on Jesus calling his first disciples
Arlyn Friesen Epp just made scripture a little fishier. One year ago, Mennonite Church Canada executive minister Doug Klassen asked Friesen Epp to produce a short film for Gathering 2022 in Edmonton, Alta., based on the story of Jesus calling his first disciples in Luke 5:1-11. The film, entitled “About those Fish…,” debuted at Gathering…
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Kentucky flood survivors need help: MDS
Flood survivors in hard-hit eastern Kentucky need volunteers—and Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is trying to help. “The need is overwhelming,” said Larry Stoner, MDS regional operations coordinator, describing the aftermath of the historic deluge in late July that killed 38 people in a rural corner of the state. Only one percent of properties in the…
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Bluegrass band enjoying ‘a real music summer’
After more than two years of putting a pause on performing, Manitoba bluegrass quintet the Stanley County Cut-ups is finally playing again. “I would say that the cogs are back in motion for musicians,” says Jess Reimer, the band’s bassist. For the Cut-ups, this is a busy summer. The group has already played at multiple…
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Watch: Highlights from Indonesia
Last month, people from around the world gathered in Indonesia for the Mennonite World Conference’s 17th assembly. In an outdoor venue at a Mennonite seminary on a mountaintop in the city of Salatiga, on the island of Java, Anabaptists from 44 countries gathered for the global church reunion that’s held every six years—or seven, in…
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Indonesia 2022 roundup
Mennonite World Conference held its 17th global assembly on July 5 to 10, in various locations in Indonesia. Before this conference, Mennonite-Anabaptist youth and young adults gathered for Global Youth Assembly. Following are reports and reflections about these two events. World assembly small but full of joy MWC assembly crosses barriers to gather in Indonesia Ukraine…
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Watch: Rockway sparks community with new music video
What better way to bring a community together than 350 red umbrellas? Starting at the beginning of COVID-19, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener, Ont ., has been working on creating a music video for “Someone to You” by the Banners. The result was uploaded to the school’s YouTube channel last month. “I’m kinda the crazy one…
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Ukraine war shakes peace convictions, MWC assembly told
Saying the war in Ukraine has shaken western European Mennonites’ commitment to nonviolence, a French pastor urged Mennonites from around the world to get off the sidelines and work for peace. Hundreds of worshippers heard her message on July 6, the second day of the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) assembly in Salatiga, Indonesia. “We affirmed…
