Editorial: I fear I would have been in the ‘crucify him’ crowd
♪We sat in an unfamiliar church, in the last row. I could see the stony backs of our young adult children a few rows forward and as I watched them, I knew that this wouldn’t be the day things would change.
Three young people join Kleefeld EMC
November 24, 2024 marked the day when two young men from our church family chose to publicly declare their desire for baptism and membership in the Kleefeld EMC.
Mennonites in France: beacons of hope in a secular land
The country of France is known for its secular culture, its magnificent cathedrals that attract more tourists than worshipers, and a catholic religion that has diminished in importance and influence in the past 50 years. Many people are unaware of the love for God, the power of the Holy Spirit and the faith in Jesus Christ that are shining lights in communities across the country.
Memories of spring and summer 2024
Spring sprang into action at Westpointe Community Church (WCC) in Grande Prairie with 18 of our youth, along with five leaders, heading to Merida, Mexico for a short-term mission experience.
Sculpting a journey: art, life and faith
♪Hello there, my name is Andreas Huebert. I am a contemporary artist—a sculptor. I was born in Central Asia, in Kyrgyzstan 51 years ago. I started to sculpt at a very young age, but unfortunately, stopped doing it when I became a teenager.
MCC settles litigation through Quebec Labour Board conciliation process
In August 2023, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) ended the employment of John Clarke and Anicka Fast, who had been serving as MCC country representatives for Burkina Faso.
Anchored in Courage: KidMin Conference motivates bold faith
With the theme Anchored in Courage, the opening session of the Awesome KidMin Conference kicked off with game participants “testing their courage” by taste testing jellybeans. Some contestants were treated to flavours such as popcorn or cappuccino, while others’ faces soured as they chomped down on beans with flavours such as barf or booger.
SBC Pursuit students grow in faith through experiential learning
Steinbach Bible College’s Pursuit is a discipleship program for young adults who desire to follow Jesus. Through the program, they have opportunities to grow in faith, develop as leaders, and discover their gifts. They “seek first” God’s kingdom, using experiential learning, practical application, and missional experience.
YA retreat helps young people remember their identity together
It is good to be together! This is something that the church through its existence has recognized and that we had the opportunity to celebrate again with 96 young adults from 11 EMC churches.
EMC church leaders from Regions 7 and 8 gather for encouragement and discussion
Our Conference staff created a valuable opportunity for pastors and leaders from Regions 7 (Winnipeg area) and 8 (Steinbach area) to connect and engage in discussions about relevant ministry challenges that EMC churches may be facing. The events took place at Heartland Community Church in Landmark on Friday (Jan. 31) and Saturday (Feb. 1).
Inspiring prayer
♪Maybe this has happened to you. You receive a group text that says, “I just received a bad diagnosis.” Immediately, the 🙏 begin to flood the group. In a world that’s focused on social media thumbs ups, hearts and lol’s, these prayer emojis remind us that our concern has been heard by others and brought to the Father on our behalf.
Tough love or true love?
♪We often hear about how angry and cruel public discussion has become today. But we often hear excuses for our bad manners. One excuse is to claim that, far from being rude, we are only showing “tough love.” Much cruelty is justified by those two words.
Road trip naps
♪I’ve slept through some of the best scenery in North America. Or, at least, that’s what my husband says. We’ve traveled along Oregon’s coastline, through the Rocky Mountains, in the Sonoran Desert, and along the Mississippi River.
The pagan blanket
Many know Venus Cote. Whether it's from watching Tribal Trails, hearing her speak at churches, prisons, and schools, or being welcomed into her home, Venus is known for her outpouring of love and testimony of God's power.
Embracing opportunities in Spain
I tried to stay objective but within minutes of landing in Málaga, Spain, to go and visit our EMC workers, I was captivated. Four of us from Canada spent almost two weeks there, and one of our main focuses was to discern the future ministry of our new work in Algeciras.
Trusting God in loneliness
♪Loneliness can be a time of being depressed and feeling sorry for oneself or it can be regarded as a gift from the Lord to get closer to him. So much of life is in the attitude we have.
Heavenly citizenship: living as Christ’s ambassadors in a divided world
♪“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Ministerial meeting aims to take 'tribal knowledge' beyond assumptions
♪ “There’s a level of tribal knowledge that we assume people have about being a minister.” Conference Pastor Andy Woodworth began the first session of the Ministerial Day, on November 22, 2024, explaining the Board of Leadership and Outreach (BLO) choice to devote the day to the final sessions of the Minister Credentialing Program.
On not getting things done: a new measure of time
♪ Every Christmas Eve my children look forward to my purple plum torte. Along with roasted turkey and Walter C. Scott’s A Christmas Carol, the simple yellow cake crowned with plums and sprinkled in cinnamon sugar is tradition. Every year the challenge remains the same—in December plums are not grown in northern climes.