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Jack Suderman |
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Dear Friends:
The General Board, the three councils (Christian Witness, Christian Formation,
& Support Services) as well as staff have been setting out priorities
that will help us more effectively strive toward our Vision: Healing and Hope.
Mennonite Church Canada understands that God’s foundational activity
is to reconcile all creation through Jesus Christ, to God’s intended
purposes (2 Cor. 5:17ff, Romans 8:18-25). One of the main priorities set out
by Christian Witness Council is that we are to become ambassadors of further
reconciliation and transformation in a broken world, as we respond to God’s
reconciling activity, always seeking to be Holy Spirit-filled and led communities
of faith.
With this in mind, Mennonite Church Canada Witness sees its role as leading,
mobilizing and resourcing the church to participate in holistic witness to
Jesus Christ in a broken world. As communities of faith we work at this priority
by engaging in God’s mission of reconciliation and transformation. How?
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Through Congregational Partnerships and through area conference staff,
we are seeking to be a resource to congregations, encouraging missional
education opportunities, and identifying and linking potential and emerging
partnerships in co-operation with International, National and Peace and
Justice Ministries. Contact Marilyn Houser Hamm at the Winnipeg office or
your area conference rep to discuss possibilities.
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Through International Ministries, 40 plus workers are spreading the
Good News, inviting others to participate in God’s vision of bringing
all peoples together, united in our worship. As they reach out, those they
touch also reach out within their communities, affecting more lives, making
changes in our broken world. Janet Plenert (Executive Director of International
Ministries) recently returned from a visit to Colombia. She was inspired
by the Colombian Mennonite Church’s work in the northern area where
strong leadership development is taking place.
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Through Outreach and Church Planting. In early October the mission leaders
from the different area conferences met and looked at centres for new church
plants and how we can “reach across the street” to plant new
self-producing missional congregations. Also under discussion was how to
demonstrate the value of combining service and a peace witness. Church planting
is a powerful tool for outreach. Applications for financial support for
new churches are available through your area conference representative or
Jean-Jacques Goulet, director of Outreach and Church Planting.
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Through Multi-Cultural Ministry. Bringing unity and reconciliation to
various peoples plays a large role in this area of work. Samson Lo, director,
is connecting with the many churches newer to Mennonite Church Canada. Such
bridge-building is crucial as we seek to be a holistic community, where
everyone has an equal voice. Samson is developing a newsletter that will
enhance these voices among us and assist in connecting existing and new
congregations. May we all be open to the many peoples who are all a part
of God’s vision for a unified world.
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Through Christian Service Ministry. Churches are invited to consider
hosting a Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) unit which is then an integral
part of their (your) congregation’s outreach program(s). If your congregation
would like to consider this resource to assist you in your ministries, contact
Shirley Redekop (director) or Brad Reimer (associate director). Raul Bogoya
works with short term mission opportunities.
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Through Native Ministry. As a faith community, as ambassadors for Christ’s
reconciliation, we encourage and nurture cross-cultural bridges of friendship,
understanding and respect, so we may all live together as brothers and sisters,
serving the same God. Walter Franz, director, and Donovan Jacobs, constituency
educator, are available to challenge traditional thinking and encourage
congregations to become holistic communities, bringing about justice and
unity.
Through Peace & Justice Ministry. At present, we are seeking a staff
person who can give attention to this important aspect of living in a broken
world. We encourage you to do some shoulder tapping, and contact Mennonite
Church Canada about possibilities. This is also an area in which we work cooperatively,
doing together what we cannot do alone.
As a congregation of Mennonite Church Canada, we encourage you as you work
through your own priorities and establish Holy-Spirit filled communities of
faith in Jesus Christ. We know that many of you are working towards this vision
in your own local contexts. May God bless you and make you a blessing.
We also wish you a good Christmas season, where we are mindful of the sending
of God’s son who came to give us this message of reconciliation, and
who encourages us daily to be communities of grace, joy and peace.
May God’s hope continue to live and spread through all God’s
people.
Robert J. Suderman,
Executive Secretary,
Mennonite Church Canada Witness
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