“Stand back,” the guide told me. “Just a little bit further.” I was carefully examining a rich blue shard of stained glass as the midday sun lit up the walls of the magnificent 18th-century manor. We had spent that morning in the workshop of a local artist who explained the nuances of colouring which went into the creation of each piece of glass. I was now looking closely to appreciate the unique tones of this particular piece.

Bernardo is a very helpful boy. His teacher asks the students if they can find out how many sick people there are in the neighborhood. Bernardo volunteers and learns there are five. The teacher urges the students to act by setting aside some of their own lunch money to buy fruit or something else for them. Bernardo and his friends do so and are very happy. The student's action serves as an example, and soon the adults also begin to help the sick in their neighborhood.

This is the summary of one of 106 stories written by Nelson Aguilera in the context and the heart language of the Paraguayan people: Guarani Jopara.

Our vision at Mount Salem Community Church (MSCC) is to “inspire people to follow Jesus.” Our hope is to live and love in such a way that it compels people to consider faith. By serving the community that God has planted us in, we have the unique opportunity to build a mission centre called The Family Central, and we are working toward establishing a community centre called the Malahide Athletic Centre (MAC).

The first thing they said was “Can you help us help?” recalls Sarah Funkhouser, who, together with her husband, Seth Malone, is Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) representative for Jordan, Palestine and Israel.

The most unforgettable Christmas for me and my family was Christmas of 1972. Just two and a half months earlier, Hilda and I with our two young sons had made the 5,000-mile trip from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, to the fascinating Republic of Nicaragua, our new home and mission field. We had just settled into a unique house in Jinotepe and were trying hard to befriend our neighbours and learn to communicate in Spanish.

When Phineas witnessed an Israelite blatantly transgressing God’s law for holiness, he acted with righteous passion. God said, “He was as zealous for my honor among [the Israelites] as I am” (Numbers 25:11). And God promised, “He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God” (v. 13).

It feels good to be back in the classroom at Wellspring Academy! I have a lovely bunch of grade 4/5 students who enjoy each other and engage well with the varied learning activities. They are fun, full of energy, and well-behaved. What more could a teacher want?!

Latest news from Kola EMC.
Child dedications and SEAN graduates.

Despite the amount of resources mobilized for local development, progress remains insignificant and unsustainable in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in general and in Mennonite churches in particular. Concerned about this situation, with funding from Project Builders and AIMM donors, AIMM organized a training seminar on the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach.

Intellectuals have unique challenges when it comes to raising their children for Jesus. Why is this? I write this from hard-earned experience, both in my own childhood and in my parenting.

After serving with Operation Mobilization (OM) for six months in 2021–22, God directed us back, and we committed to another nine months in El Salvador. Another nine months of enjoying a different culture, learning more Spanish and of course, eating more pupusas.

Latest news from Taber EMC.
New deacon couples appointed.