The Bible often mentions the poor. The word occurs more than 200 times in the NRSV. And it’s clear from these verses that God wants justice for the poor. Yet for many of us, poor people remain hidden, both to our and their detriment. We need each other …
I have degrees in Bible/theology, taken a seminary course on Mennonite faith and polity and followed it up with studying Mennonite history, but none of this education has been able to teach me what I have yet to learn about Mennonite church life …
I was first. I took off my shoes and socks and sat down on a chair. Jen was next in line. She knelt down, took my bare foot in her hand and held it over the basin. She picked up the pitcher, poured some water and washed my feet. In turn I washed Dirk’s feet …
“I want to wash your feet,” he said to me as he gazed intently into my eyes, “and I will tell you why.” I was attending a foot washing service at the Fraternidad Cristiana Mennonite Church in Mexico City. The man who wanted to wash my feet was the pastor and a long-time leader in the Mennonite church in Mexico. I hadn’t seen him for more than 20 years …
