Features

Anabaptism across borders

Listening to students at SEMILLA — a multisite seminary affiliated with 10 Anabaptist conferences in Central America and Mexico — Leonor and Jerry Kennell heard story after story of personal transformation and enthusiasm for Christian faith from an Anabaptist perspective.

The Kennells, of Albuquer­que, N.M., are North American ambassadors for SEMILLA, a role they took on this year. They returned Nov. 30 from a three-week trip through five countries, where they met with eight groups of students.

They asked students about their experience with SEMILLA — good and bad — as well as their hopes and dreams for the school.

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December 29, 2014

At MDS, every tool’s now in its place

Just organizing your own tool bench can be a big project. Now imagine organizing tools for hundreds of volunteers to be used at multiple locations — and the tool bench must travel well.

This was the undertaking at Mennonite Disaster Service over the last two years. The bulk of the work took place at MDS’s warehouse locations in Columbus, Miss., and Lititz, Pa. Longtime MDS volunteers Lloyd and Irene Letkeman . . .

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December 29, 2014

Banners help Central Plains churches talk peace

The Freeman (S.D.) Network for Justice and Peace is using art to help churches across Central Plains Conference of Mennonite Church USA talk about peace.

The group enlisted Michelle Hofer, artist in residence at Hutterthal Mennonite Church in Freeman, to design two three-dimensional banners to travel between churches, organizations schools or camps.

Todd Jones, pastor of Hutterthal Mennonite and a member of the network, said the project began for use in area . . .

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December 22, 2014

Christmas has nothing to hide

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?

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December 8, 2014
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