The rise of communism a century ago in Ukraine greatly diminished the Mennonite presence there. On Feb. 19, the city council of Zaporozhye took a step to reverse what previous governments erased by changing five street names to honor Mennonites.
NEUWIED, Germany — The leader of MB Mission’s Oasis team had never seen anything like it before: a large crowd of Arabic speakers responding to the gospel in Germany. “I saw the Holy Spirit like an athlete running around among the people, and he was very excited,” he said.
The next chapter for the German Mennonite Historical Society is chronicling steps to modernize the group’s research center while digging deeper into the past. In October, University of Regensburg history professor Astrid von Schlachta began as director of the Mennonite Research Center in Weierhof. She is sharing the position in a one-year transition period with Gary Waltner, who will step aside in October after decades of work that literally built the research center from the ground up.
Koroush and his mother, Maryam — refugees from Iran now living in Spain — lost everything but believe they have what they need with Jesus. “I saw the Jesus miracles with my own eyes,” Koroush said.
HALLE, Germany — Eastern Mennonite Missions workers here say refugees need Jesus more than clean bedsheets, but they want to give them both. As Germany deals with Europe’s worst refugee crisis since World War II, EMM workers in Halle have joined in the emergency relief efforts.
Representatives of every stream of global Christianity met Nov. 1-5 in Tirana, Albania, for a consultation on “Discrimination, Persecution, Martyrdom: Following Christ Together.” The event was convened by the Global Christian Forum.
None of Mennonite Mission Network’s five international personnel in or near Paris was hurt in the Nov. 13 terrorist bombings, although each has been affected by them. “It took a little while to confirm that our five workers in Paris were all safe, and I found them to be sad, concerned and prayerful,” said Tim Foley, MMN director for international ministries.