Nigerian pastor executed
On Jan. 20, Lawan Andimi, a pastoral leader in the Nigerian Church of the Brethren, was executed by Boko Haram, an extremist Jihadi group. He had been reported missing on Jan. 3, the day after a Boko Haram attack in his area. Reports indicate that Boko Haram initially demanded a ransom payment, but in the…
Watch: A one-minute history of Valentine’s Day
Whether you scoff at the billion-dollar industry that Feb. 14 has become or use the day to show your affection for the people you love—or something in between—there’s no denying that Valentine’s Day has a fascinating backstory. This video, from the One Minute History channel on YouTube, gives a 60-second overview of the day’s origins.…
MWC adds members to its global team
A composer, health manager and auto mechanic—all church leaders—have joined the Mennonite World Conference team. These newly appointed volunteer regional representatives complete the team that helps MWC and its member churches maintain close connections to encourage one another in following Jesus. They represent MWC to these churches by sharing information about resources and news from…
Great Winter Warm-up produces 9,400 comforters
On Jan. 18, the forecast in more than 100 locations across three continents was identical: flurries of comforters. Despite heavy snowstorms in some areas, thousands of people gathered to sew comforters during The Great Winter Warm-up, a comforter making event organized by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Groups met across Canada, the U.S. and Europe with…
Music leaders sing hymnal preview
In the 1980s, Ken Nafziger drew inspiration from publisher and camp association president Levi Miller, and began leading a music retreat at Laurelville. It was initially designed to develop church song leaders. Several years later, Marlene Kropf and Marilyn Houser Hamm joined Nafziger in giving leadership to what is now called Laurelville’s Music and Worship…
Coronavirus: MC Canada requests prayer
Mennonite Church Canada is inviting prayers for its ministry partners during the coronavirus outbreak, and for all of those in China and across the world who have been affected by the virus. The coronavirus is disrupting the lives of many in China, including the 10 North American English teachers currently serving with Mennonite Partners in…
Watch: Dispatches from a SALTer in Colombia
Our recent Focus on Education issue featured a reflection by Hannah Larson, a young woman serving in northeastern India with Mennonite Central Committee’s Serving and Learning Together program. If Larson’s piece didn’t give you enough of an idea of what SALT is like, watch the video below. The three-minute piece features Victoria Callow, who entered…
MWC delegation visits churches in Hong Kong
A joint delegation from the Peace and Deacons commissions of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) visited three Mennonite churches in Hong Kong, other denominations and some educational institutions, to offer solidarity and to respond to the request for further perspectives on Anabaptist peacemaking. The delegation members included Joji Pantoja, the Peace Commission chair and Mennonite Church…
Watch: Katie Sowers is making Super Bowl history
Katie Sowers will make history next weekend as the first woman and first openly gay person to coach during the Super Bowl. The 33-year-old is an offensive assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers, who will face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Feb. 2 in Super Bowl LIV. She’s also an alumna of two…
Ten Thousand Villages Canada shuts down corporate operations
Mennonite Central Committee Canada has announced the closure of the corporate operations of Ten Thousand Villages Canada, its fair-trade social enterprise. The closure includes the head office and distribution centre in New Hamburg, Ont., as well as Ten Thousand Villages Canada’s web store, wholesale operations and 10 remaining company stores, with the wind down of…
