They call me Abd al-Haqq
♪ In my neighbourhood they call me Abd al-Haqq. It started because some of my friends couldn’t remember my name; others couldn’t pronounce it. One guy was calling me “Android” and another was calling me “Mustafa.” It was finally settled one morning when the guard from my son’s preschool definitively stated that I should be called “Abd al-Haqq.”
Sensory room provides welcoming space for neurodivergent children
♪ My daughter, Noelle, is a wonderful seven-year-old who loves Pokemon, drawing, and hockey. Noelle is also autistic, and like many people who are autistic, church when done “as regular” can seem overwhelming or even at times unwelcoming.
Editorial: New year, still me
♪ While the start of the new year is now a couple of weeks in the rearview mirror, statistics say that most people will have already “failed” at their New Year’s resolutions. That’s why, this year, I decided to focus on small changes that I’m more likely to stick with.
EFC Fort Frances seniors' monthly connection
Here’s a picture of our monthly Senior’s meal
Shared accountability in missions
♪ To whom is the church accountable in terms of evangelism, outreach, social justice, discipleship, and leadership development? Clearly, it is primarily accountable to God in obedience to the instructions of Scripture. Do conference boards and leadership have a right to speak into this area of the life of the church?
When helping is actually hurting
♪ Gordon and Sharon Skopnik have been serving South Sudanese refugees for 21 years and have seen for themselves that helping can end up hurting.
Steinbach Bible College goes on—at a new location
For 88 years, Steinbach Bible College has been empowering servant leaders to follow Jesus, serve the church, and engage the world. We send students back to their churches and into the world to serve there.
December is a busy month for Straffordville EMC
We started the month with a baptism/membership reception on the 1st. What a blessing to hear the testimonies of how God has worked and continues to work in all the candidates.
Fair’s Fehr…or is it?
In every church family, there are a variety of surnames. Some of them at ACF are Fehr, Fair, Steele, Pitta, Unger, Friesen, Corder, Enns, Hughes, Plett, Carpenter, Young, Leal, Cameron, Cure and of course many more which can be referred to in humorous ways.
Believe in the Trinity and you shall be saved
♪ Do I have to believe in the Trinity to be saved, really? Listen to the thunder of the Athanasian Creed from the early church: “Whoever desires to be saved should above all hold to the catholic [historic Christian] faith. Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken will doubtless perish eternally.
Rediscovering gentle persuasion
♪ A recent article by James Wood recounts his evolution from a fanboy of Tim Keller to a critic (www.firstthings.com, May 6, 2022). His argument sparked a flurry of responses, both positive and negative (from David French at frenchpress.thedispatch.com and Rod Dreher at www.theamericanconservative.com, for example).
How are we connecting
♪ Each Conference Council is an opportunity for delegates to speak—on behalf of their churches about the items on the agenda, and especially after lunch during roundtable discussions. This year the discussion focus was on connecting.
MCC Peace and Justice office celebrates advocacy wins in 2024
This year we saw a few concrete examples of the success of the government responding to you and the issues you care about.
What are we inspiring
♪ The conversation surrounding passing on our Christian faith to the next generations can become quite heated these days. On the one hand, some feel that parents, family members and especially church leaders should sit back and let the next generation choose their beliefs without any interference or coercion. On another side, there are Christian parents who expect their children to accept their beliefs without dialogue, questions or opportunity to explore their faith.
Art and the kingdom
♪ Who created art?
I always begin my lectures with this question. Perhaps you already have an answer in mind. However, the truth is that the question is not so simple to address.
Celebrating 150 years of Mennonites in Kleefeld
On October 6, 2024, Kleefeld EMC (KEMC) celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Mennonite immigrants in 1874 to Kleefeld—the same year the Kleine Gemeinde started in Canada.
Connecting with the Word through words
Writers with connections to the Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC), and Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC) and Steinbach Bible College (SBC) students gathered—both in person at Steinbach Bible College (SBC) SBC and online—on November 2, 2024, to learn how to better practice their craft.
MennoMedia and Mennonite World Conference to launch Global Bible Read-a-Thon for 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement
HARRISONBURG, VA—In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, MennoMedia is partnering with Mennonite World Conference to host a unique Global Anabaptist Bible Read-a-Thon, featuring 500 (or more) voices reading the entire Bible in multiple languages.
Youth are challenged and entertained at SBC’s Expedition Now
It was a cool, brisk morning on October 19, 2024, when over 100 youth descended on the Steinbach Bible College campus to test their skills against fellow youth groups, while learning how to “Go All In” for Jesus.