I didn’t expect that!

I’m writing this editorial during the lead-up to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Like many of us, I’ve been around quite a while and never known another monarch. And, like many of us, I’ve paid little attention to the British monarchy. But one of my childhood memories is asking my mother if the Queen was a Christian. I recall being very relieved when Mom said she was.

I’ve only watched the first two and a half seasons of the Netflix show The Crown, but I’m fascinated by their portrayal of the Queen’s faith, her prayers, and her conversation about faith with Billy Graham. I’m ashamed to admit it but even after decades of being stretched, I’m often caught off guard when I find out there are Christians in this or that place, or that a form of Christianity I assumed to be an empty shell of religion is filled with believers who have a deep and vibrant faith in Christ Jesus and are living it out among their neighbours.

We didn’t set out in this Messenger to focus on a theme, but a theme has emerged. That’s not something you’d expect looking through the table of contents.

It’s very encouraging to know that God continues to be worshipped and obeyed in many places. And we need encouragement! It’s been disheartening to see the church in North America finding even more things to get angry about, rather than “grow[ing] in grace and knowledge” (2 Peter 3:18). After two thousand years of following Christ with a single shared text and one Holy Spirit to lead us, how could that be? It’s discouraging to see so many respected leaders fail and far too many people of every age walk away from the church bored, hurt or disgusted. 

We appropriately pay attention to those things, both mourning them and working hard to correct them. But it’s also appropriate to rest from that for a while and focus on the ways the church shines—which we’re doing with this issue. 

We didn’t set out in this Messenger to focus on a theme, but a theme has emerged. That’s not something you’d expect looking through the table of contents. What on earth would topics as diverse as a Mennonite World Conference assembly report, a feature defending crisis pregnancy centres, a story about God’s protection, a column about subscriptions and another about deconstruction share that would be enough alike to be considered a theme?

Almost every writer in this issue talks about how they choose to relate to “neighbours.” Some could appropriately be called enemies, some are unexpected friends, some need help, and some correction.

Speakers from different geographical regions talk about great relationships with Muslim neighbours in one setting and the impact of the war in Ukraine on a long-held peace position in another, Paul Schrag reports in “World assembly small but full of joy.”

Layton Friesen challenges neighbours who are deconstructing, while Karla Hein is subscribing hers to her prayer list.

Juergen Severloh’s feature is about the neighbours who’d like them shut down and the ones who need them to stay open. The “Responsible To vs Responsible For” counselling model their Crisis Pregnancy Centre uses is worth consideration for us as well as we walk alongside our neighbours, “mak[ing] disciples of every nation.” (Matthew 28:19)

Of course, there’s much more than what I’ve mentioned! I hope you are as encouraged as I am to see the church in action on these pages.