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2009-05-05 issue:

Mennonite mission work is changing

by Mennonite Mission Network

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ELKHART, Ind.—Mennonite Mission Network ministries and priorities are being driven by changing world trends. This was the conclusion of a March 22-25 meeting in Chicago that brought together Mission Network staff, board members, international workers and partners from around the world.

Increasingly, the vital center of gravity in the church is shifting from the West and North to congregations in the East and South. This trend in the church mimics similar geographical changes around the world. Ministries are also shaped by the awareness that the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, and wealth is becoming increasingly concentrated in the hands of few.

“We want to be engaged in places where we can develop leaders who have a missional vision for the church,” said Peter Graber, Mission Network’s director of development. “We want to keep our whole gospel theology, working with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, being clear that peace and reconciliation are an integral part of the gospel and seeking to learn from and serve those on the margins as well as the mainstream.”

In some cases, mission workers must remain completely behind the scenes, supporting local and indigenous efforts, building relationships and being present without being noticed. Emmanuel Minj of India’s Bihar Mennonite Mandli affirmed this idea and complimented Mennonite workers and agencies for being virtually invisible supporters of the Mennonite churches in India.

While Mennonite Mission Network continues decades of moving from models of dependence to models of mutuality, participants also said mission must be used to awaken deeper levels of faith within Mennonite Church USA and the world.