MWR : Articles : Sept. 15, 2008

Last updated September 08.

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Articles : Sept. 15, 2008

Mission when power is equal

Outcasts join the church first, as in Jesus’ times. In his novels Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God, Nigerian author Chinua Achebe — whose parents converted to Christianity — portrays missionaries to his own Igbo people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as succeeding only after the tragic ruin of leaders once revered in the culture.

The power to transform

PHILADELPHIA — Everything about Ron Muse is intense: conversation, basketball, problem solving on the streets and, especially, Bible study.
Youth thrive in ‘post-Christian’ Spain

BURGOS, Spain — A vibrant youth group such as that of Comunidad Evangélica Menonita de Burgos (Burgos Evangelical Mennonite Community) is rare in post-Christian Europe.

EMU says goodbye to old residence hall

HARRISONBURG, Va. — A wreath placed on the entrance door read “R.I.P.,” but few tears were shed at the funeral for a nearly 40-year-old Eastern Mennonite University icon, Oakwood residence hall.
MB Seminary president resigns

FRESNO, Calif. — Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary announced Sept. 8 the resignation of President Jim Holm, effective Aug. 29.
MCC, MDS begin aiding hurricane, storm victims

AKRON , Pa. — Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service are working together and accepting donations for emergency response to the recent hurricanes and tropical storms in the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast area.
Medical groups consider merger

Fraser, Colo. — At the joint annual convention of Mennonite Medical Association and Mennonite Nurses Association June 19-22 at Snow Mountain Ranch, participants decided to consider becoming one new association for Anabaptist health-care professionals.
Outreach to neighbors features gas giveaway

South Hutchinson, Kan. — South Hutchinson Mennonite Church hosted nearly 300 people at a neighborhood party Aug. 3 and gave away $1,200 worth of gas vouchers.

Who is greatest?

Jesus is on his final trip to Jerusalem. He’s been teaching about God’s upside-down kingdom and repeatedly calling people to reimagine their lives within it. More recently, he’s been teaching that this kingdom belongs to those like little children (Matt. 19:13-15); it’s harder to enter if you’re rich (19:16-30); the Father’s way of rewarding isn’t what we’d expect (20:1-16); and in it “the last will be first and first last” (19:30, 20:16).

Rites mark holy moments

Mennonites have never identified in a systematic way the special rites we observe as a church. Informally, we sometimes speak of the ordinances of baptism and communion. In fact, we practice other rites, but we have never put these all together.

A plea to change the world

On my desk is Seven Steps to End War and Save the Planet by Steve Ratzlaff, published by Xlibris, 2008, 204 pages, $19.99.