Mennonite Weekly Review

It’s a dream come true — the thrill of seeing our brothers and sisters from around the globe singing each other’s songs. — Paul Dueck of Leamington, Ont., song leader at the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Paraguay

The unity of the church is not something we manufacture by being unusually nice to one another. It is something that already exists, brought into being by the Spirit of God.
— Chris Marshall of New Zealand, addressing the MWC assembly

No one told us we had to be Mennonites, so it’s only in the last generation that we realized we are part of the Mennonite faith. — Victor Perez of Paraguay, on indigenous Paraguayans’ Mennonite identity

Our prayer and wish to be fully involved in the work of the kingdom was also theirs.
— Nellie Mlotshwa of Zimbabwe, on the desire among African and Latin American women for gender equality in church leadership

Pacifists should take the lead in developing CPT-type activity and encouraging just-war Christians to join them. — Ron Sider, evangelical leader, urging the growth of Christian Peacemaker Teams 25 years after he proposed the idea

When they told me I would never do it, that just fueled me. — Tim Berta, Bluffton University graduate, on walking again after being injured in a 2007 baseball team bus crash

God is waiting for us as Mennonites to rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit. — Juanita Nuñez, Apopka, Fla., pastor, addressing the Mennonite Church USA convention

From Jesus we learn the gospel spreads not through force but through fascination.
— Shane Claiborne, Philadelphia faith community leader, addressing the MC USA convention

Too often our commitment to mutual aid is inversely proportional to the cost. — Glen Hostetler, MC USA delegate, urging support for a health care access plan for pastors

Speaking as a young adult, it’s what we do and not what’s said that matters to us.
— Jennifer Speight, MC USA delegate, on how to build a young generation’s faith