December 8, 2014 | Anabaptist World

Adviento, Lucas 1:26-38: Un desafío a nuestras predicciones y suposiciones

“¿Qué hay en tu barriga?” le pregunté a mi mamá embarazada cuando tenía tres años de edad. “Oh, aquí está tu hermana. Tendrás la oportunidad

Isaac Villegas

December 8, 2014

The world doesn’t need the early church

If only we could return to the early church, then we’d have it made. This statement, in one form or another, is one that I

Justin Hiebert

December 8, 2014

Christmas with drug users

JOS, Nigeria — Margaret Ahmed’s house in Jos was a few hundred yards from a former cotton-ginning warehouse where as many as 100 Christian and

David Klassen | Mennonite Central Committee

December 8, 2014

Seminary announces service to acknowledge harm from John Howard Yoder actions

ELKHART, Ind. — Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary is taking steps to acknowledge responsibility for the harm inflicted by theologian John Howard Yoder’s sexual exploitation of

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary

December 8, 2014

MVS to close almost half its units

Due to a declining number of participants, Mennonite Voluntary Service is closing about half of its units.

Starting in August, MVS will offer 11 community service options. To provide more meaningful service experiences in larger households, 10 units will close.

Kelsey Hochstetler

December 8, 2014

Goshen gives thanks for nearly $2 million gift

GOSHEN, Ind. — Milo Albrecht, 93, only attended Goshen College for three semesters, but his nearly $2 million gift will give many students the opportunity to stay longer.

A regular donor to Goshen College, last month Albrecht donated $1.98 million worth of stocks to the college. It is one of the largest one-time donations . . .

Goshen College

December 8, 2014

I love the music and colors and hope of Christmas. But I’m trying to be honest about how messy and disturbing it is, too. The messiest part is embedded in the heart of the story. Let’s name it for what it is: scandal. God sullies Mary’s reputation — and, some would say, God’s own reputation — by making her pregnant. What kind of salvation strategy is that? Where is the universe’s police force? God needs to be reined in.

After the birth, the mess only multiplies. Think smelly barns and shepherds. Think Roman oppressors. Think pagan gurus whose visit leads to mass infanticide at the hands of the paranoid Kind Herod. This is good news? This is peace on earth?

Byron Rempel-Burkholder | For Mennonite World Review

December 8, 2014

Love and judgment

Perhaps we should ask “how to be?” rather than “what to do?” Chester Wenger has demonstrated judgment-free grace. While some speculate about Christ’s position on

Rachel Stella

December 8, 2014

Rebooting a war

The United States doesn’t declare wars, it escalates them, sinking deeper into tragic and costly ventures where each step justifies the next. In Iraq and

Paul Schrag

December 8, 2014

Faith shines amid Central America’s violence, poverty

Churches in Honduras and Guatemala are growing and thriving even in challenging contexts of violence and poverty, Eastern Mennonite Missions leaders observed Sept. 20-27.

At Project MAMA, a community development and education program in Honduras, one of the workers had been attacked by several gang members.

Yet as the worker interacted with EMM leaders, she began crying and lamenting that these gang members are now suffering in prison.

Chris Fretz | Eastern Mennonite Missions

December 8, 2014