DownloadArticles : Feb. 23, 2009
Congregations
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Every nation and language
Two other congregations meet in the Peace Mennonite building: Eden Korean Church and Ministerios de Cristo Lluvias de Gloria (Rain of Glory Ministries of Christ). We held a joint Christmas Eve service, with prayers, hymns and Scripture readings in three languages, giving us a taste of joining with God’s people “from every nation … and language, standing before the throne” (Rev. 7:9).
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From seniors to babies
Our church library has been a source of good reading during the cold winter weather. Among several enjoyed books were Carol of Christmas by Marcia Kauffman Clark and Sunset by Karen Kingsbury.
Editorial
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Service that points to God
Even someone who doesn’t know a Mennonite from a Midianite might end up praising God for Mennonite Disaster Service. The important thing is that God gets the glory.
Feature
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MWC to unite indigenous people of North and South America
ELKHART, Ind. — Nearly 30 Mennonites living and ministering in indigenous contexts in the United States and Canada are preparing for a “glimpse of heaven.”
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War’s horrors haunt Congolese refugee family
SASKATOON, Sask. — It is not unusual for Leonie Mandeba Lwamba to wake up from a recurring and distressing nightmare.
Letters
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A literal hell
It is not encouraging for me when human rationalizations take the place of clear doctrine in disputations about whether there is a place called hell (Viewpoint, Jan. 26). We live in the Laodicean age when men want to deny the existence of a literal hell as Jesus himself taught. Seminaries, colleges and pastors who gainsay that hell is literal likely also have a diluted view of the place called heaven. Jesus stated that there is a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth, where the worm dieth not.” No amount of rationalization will eliminate this fact.
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Two abortion issues
The Feb. 9 editorial, “Abortion and Openness,” calls for open discussion of abortion. Part of that discussion might include dividing the matter into two issues: 1) When and if the killing of other humans is justified; and 2) When human life begins. The second is much more difficult for most of us.
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Why people leave
I’ve spent my entire adult life working for inclusion and diversity in the Mennonite church, but I cannot understand why no one is appalled at the retention rate of the Mennonite church. In 2007, I attended the 40-year reunion of the Iowa Mennonite School class of 1967. More than half of our class is no longer affiliated with the Mennonite church. When I asked why, these almost-60-year-olds said, most very sadly, “It’s not the church it used to be. It doesn’t stand for anything anymore.” One person said, “We’re no different from mainline Protestants. We might as well be Methodists!” Across the board, I heard folks opine that the Mennonite church had lost its way.
News
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Celebrating labors of love
MOBILE, Ala. — In Mennonite Disaster Service’s busiest winter, Charles Duplessis’ three-year wait is almost over. The Baptist pastor is about to move into what he calls “a house built on love.”
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The CPT idea, 25 years later
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — A little over 25 years after giving a speech that sowed the seed for Christian Peacemaker Teams, Ronald J. Sider came to Bethel College Feb. 15-16 to revisit the topic.
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Mennonite groups and other Anabaptists.
