Actions taken by delegates at our biennial conventions have a direct effect on individual workers, their families and their communities. For example, former General Conference Mennonite Church members experienced this first hand over the last decade as staff and programs in the Newton, Kan., office have diminished …

Many writers, not only Christians, are calling for compassion for less-fortunate people, often especially immigrants. They are right on this. Limiting the call, in effect, however, to any single group in any one era has the seeds of massive disasters. Others who are affected right now include low-wage workers, border residents and all of us facing more crowded roads, hospitals, schools, as well as more depleted sources of water, farm land, living space, mines, waste dumps and so on …

The Apostle Peter wrote to people who were enduring hard times. He encouraged them to take their suffering in stride, looking to Jesus for hope. Peter knew that people who lived with hope in the face of trouble would inevitably be queried about the reason for their positive outlook. He encouraged them to be ready to give an answer to those who asked …