Form a People of God

Reaching Up to God our Creator grows out of the conviction that the wisdom of Jesus Christ, who is revealed as the wisdom of God in the New Testament, has been present in aboriginal sacred teachings for a long time… –Tom Yoder Neufeld

Bridging the non-Aboriginal/Aboriginal church and cultural divide in Canada has been a decades-long challenge. But today there is one more tool in the toolbox that leaders hope will serve to inform the whole church and encourage our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.

Reaching Up To God is an innovative, new resource box that tells the story of Maskipiton – an Aboriginal warrior who was transformed by the peace of Christ and paid for it with his life. The story will resonate with anyone familiar with the story of Mennonite martyrs. Our hope is that it will inspire Canada’s Aboriginal peoples to new heights of faithful living.

Tom Yoder Neufeld, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, in Waterloo, Ontario, writes in his review of Reaching Up To God:

“The very existence of this resource box is evidence of the peace that is Christ (Ephesians 2:14), who through his own self-offering again and again brings together those who were once enemies, together to hear the healing and saving voice of the Creator and the One he sent… Reaching Up to God our Creator grows out of the conviction that the wisdom of Jesus Christ, who is revealed as the wisdom of God in the New Testament, has been present in aboriginal sacred teachings for a long time… that we can learn to know Christ anew and more fully by listening for Wisdom’s voice together as aboriginal and non aboriginal sisters and brothers.”

A gift to one of the following will Help Form a People of God:

1. Sponsor a Reaching Up To God Resource Box for one congregation or group. Each box costs $200 to produce.
2. Train and encourage local leaders in Thailand and help Pat and Rad Houmphan’s flourishing church planting ministry.
3. Engage people in an Anabaptist vision of Christian faith in London, England. Vic Thiessen, at the London Anabaptist Centre, draws people to faith by sharing his Anabaptist analysis of art house and popular Hollywood movies.

Learn more:

1. Information about Reaching Up to God Our Creator
2. Explore the World of Witness page for Thailand
3. Explore the World of Witness page for England

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 other Formation ministries.