Help Grow the Global Church

Currently, Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers Dan Nighswander and Yvonne Snider-Nighswander are establishing church networks in South Africa and investigating the viability of expanding Mennonite ministries there in the future.

Charles Mahlangu is a graduate of Canadian Mennonite Bible College (now Canadian Mennonite University). Today, he holds a PhD and is the principal at the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA). In a recent interview, he told Mennonite Church Canada, “Mennonites have a contribution to make to the church of Jesus Christ worldwide. They do not have to be apologetic. In my continent, they have the edge over many other faiths and many other backgrounds, because they don’t have to apologize. They have been brought up in what we are and have been desperately seeking and praying for – peace.”

Charles makes a compelling plea for Mennonites to ‘go global’ with their faith. And we have been. Take for example the London Mennonite Centre (1953), the Paris Mennonite Center (late 1980s), the Korea Anabaptist Center (2001), and several others. But the demand far exceeds our ability to respond. For the last two years, Mennonite Church Canada, in partnership with Area Churches, has sponsored IMPaCT – International Mennonite Pastors Coming Together – an event that brings together Canadian and international pastors so they can learn from one another. In 2009, IMPaCT will he hosted in Mennonite Church Saskatchewan.

Currently, Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers Dan Nighswander and Yvonne Snider-Nighswander are establishing church networks in South Africa and investigating the viability of expanding Mennonite ministries there in the future.

Your gift will Help Grow a Global Church:

1. The Korea Anabaptist Center needs:
   • $500 for the editing and preparation of a Korean language teaching resource.
   • $150/month to support local volunteers at the Center.
2. “Coffee for Peace”
   A gift of $2500 helps 10 families in their struggle with poverty. Each family will receive training on growing and roasting coffee for the fair trade coffee market. Support this Philippine peace ministry that reaches out to coffee farmers by developing the infrastructure for a fair trade coffee network in Bagobo. Their product – Coffee for Peace – will be coming to Canada. The profits from this enterprise will continue to support peace efforts in the violently conflicted region of Mindanao, Philippines.
3. IMPaCT: Become a sponsor of this year’s IMPaCT (International Mennonite Pastors Coming Together) Program:
   • $2000 for one international congregational leader to travel to Canada.
   • $500 for the meeting and travel expenses in Canada.

Learn more:

• Explore the World of Witness page for South Korea
• Explore the Peacebuilders Community in Mindanao
• News about IMPaCT 2007

Giving is easy

• Click on the “Donate Now” button (specify the gift code in the box, “Would you like to send a message to Mennonite Church Canada?”)
• Call 1-866-888-6785 and tell us your preference.

Contributions over and above this need will go to support Growing a Global Church.