At Alto Refugio, the first visit is much more than a formality; it is the moment when masks are allowed to fall. When a young man named Angel stepped through our door for the first time, he looked like someone carrying the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. Our coworker Cinthia—petite and delicately built but blessed with an inner strength that leaves no room for doubt—welcomed him.

“What an exciting day! This morning I picked up 210 copies of the Gospel of Luke!!!!” That is the first sentence of a recent newsletter that we received from Paul Thiessen after more than 30 years of translation work in West Africa.

SBC’s Leadership Conference topic this year was The Transformative Presence of Jesus in Baptism and Communion. Patrick Franklin, associate professor of theology at Tyndale University, was the main speaker for this weekend. He assumed the task of walking through perspectives on baptism and communion not familiar in our churches.

Dennis Rader said, “I was a good man, who just did bad things.” Who is Dennis Rader? True crime fans will recognize his name, because Dennis Rader is a serial killer better known as BTK—an acronym for his modus operandi. He bound, tortured and killed his ten victims.

For the past few years, I have asked what it means to be the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. What are the elements that make us who we are? What combination of flavours gives us a distinct style and approach to ministry that identifies us as being EMC? What values do we commonly hold that shape our ministry mindset? Because they exist.

The Regional Leadership Forum emphasizes the vibrant life of our local churches and encourages open dialogue about their successes and challenges. As the EMC continues to grow, these meetings are essential touchpoints that ensure the efforts and energies of our directors stay connected to grassroots experiences.

As I write this note, I’m ending my third week working as the EMC’s new communications director. Starting a new job, in many ways, is the beginning of new stress. Moses, the Old Testament leader in Exodus to Deuteronomy, comes to mind in these times. Moses had a rocky start to his job as shepherd of Israel.

As the EMC director of next generation, I understand that one of the greatest gifts to younger generations is a legacy of authentic faith passed down from older adults. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Len to learn more about the work that Legacy Coalition Canada is doing and the resources available to grandparents and churches.

Imagine a pianist who could say “I love you” to his lover by playing a song at the piano. The better the pianist and the better he knew his lover, the more compelling this love song would be. In some ways it might be even better than talking or writing a letter.

My grandparents lived on a beautiful acreage when I was a child. They had a large garden, a cute playhouse, and a big hammock slung between two old apple trees. The main feature during the winter months was the large, gently-sloping hill at the back of the property. One day in particular stands out in my childhood memory of that private snow hill.

Evangelical Fellowship Church (EFC) in Steinbach experienced an active and meaningful fall season. In late November, we were pleased to celebrate the ordination of Trevor Fleming. Pastor Trevor, along with his wife Jamie and their family, joined EFC as our associate pastor in January 2024.

From greenhouses to trucking, our town is changing fast, and God is doing something new. At Leamington Evangelical Mennonite Church (LEMC), we are seeing young people, families, and new members coming together to worship, serve, and grow in faith. In a community full of opportunities and challenges, we are discovering that God’s work in our church reflects his work in our town.