wfn.org | New issue of Mission's Now released

[Beth Hawn]

Microsoft Mail v3.0 (MAPI 1.0 Transport) IPM.Microsoft Mail.Note
To:  'Worldwide Faith News'
Date: 1998-09-02 15:08
Priority: 3
Message ID: D7F85ED65442D211AAB0006008075ABF
Conversation ID: New issue of Missions Now released

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 2, 1998

Missions NOW highlights MBM's 'declaration for independents'

ELKHART, Ind. (MBM) - Mennonite Board of Missions workers have helped
develop Mennonite churches in 16 countries since 1899.  But in some
international locations, MBM has made a revolutionary choice to support
existing Christian communities rather than bring people into the   
Mennonite
fold.

This "declaration for independents" is highlighted in the fall 1998 issue   
of
Missions NOW, MBM's quarterly magazine.  In a cover story by writer Tom   
Price,
the magazine describes MBM's work in:
* The Chaco region of Argentina in 1954, where members of the indigenous   
Toba
 people had begun to embrace Christianity, but were reluctant to join the   

 ongoing Mennonite mission.
* West Africa in 1959, where MBM responded to a call from African   
Independent Churches - denominations begun indigenously by Africans   
rather than by
 Western Christian groups.
* Israel, where MBM responded to the specific request to support Israeli   
Jews
 who believe in the Messiah in an officially Jewish state that frowns   
upon an
 increased number of Christian groups.
* The United Kingdom, where Alan and Eleanor Kreider in 1974 saw that the   

Anabaptist vision provided a vital model for renewing a church facing a
post-modern society.

"This 'declaration for independents' is a conscious strategy to create
radical disciples and build communities of faith in the name of Jesus,"   
the
article said.  "As a result of this declaration, MBM often serves as   
catalyst
for new church movements as MBM workers walk alongside existing Christian   

communities to strengthen, nurture and equip believers for ministry.  By
working with many Christian groups, MBM has an expanding influence on the   

broader church and society, and widens the sphere of Anabaptist influence   
on
the broad Christian community."

This stance represents:
* A commitment to broad Christian unity and the Great Commission.
* Support for independent churches who have no Western denominational
 counterpart or for whom it would be culturally inappropriate to suggest   
that
 they become Mennonite.
* A bias for local control, leadership and management of churches to the   
local
 Christian community.
* The promotion of an Anabaptist understanding of the Christian faith.

"The very presence of North American Christians at the heart of the   
church-
planting enterprise in Africa [or elsewhere] skews the relationship   
powerfully
toward control by the dominant culture," said MBM worker Rodney Hollinger   

Janzen in Cotonou, Benin.  "The task of missionary work among locally   
founded
and led churches is to walk alongside these churches, responding to their   

requests for assistance while respecting their already established   
identity.
Being removed from direct control of such churches frees missionaries to
more effectively play their role."

For a copy of the summer 1998 issue of Missions NOW or a free   
subscription,
call Cindy Hartman at 219-294-7523 or e-mail <CindyAH@MBM.org>

* * *

MBM staff       SAMPLE AVAILABLE