Anabaptist Witness Blog

Welcome to our blog, a forum to foster discussion and share ideas from different corners of the Anabaptist world. It is regularly updated with short reflection pieces, reactions to articles, comments on current events relating to mission, and more. If you are interested in contributing, please review our guidelines and contact information.

How I Learned to Love the Government

I grew up in a Mennonite church, attended a Mennonite college, and graduated from a Mennonite seminary. Along the way I was indoctrinated with the classic Anabaptist perspective that governments—with their use of coercive power and violence—are for the unredeemed, but that true Christians dedicate their lives to the service of the church: a counter-government […]

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Global Partnerships and Shared Gifts

The following is an excerpt from a piece by César García (Mennonite World Conference) and David Wiebe (International Community of Mennonite Brethren), originally published in The Church in Mission, edited by Victor Wiens (MB Mission). Thanks to Vic we are able to present the full article online. In addition to this excerpt on sharing gifts, the authors […]

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Intersectional Transgressions

Below is an excerpt from a longer reflection by Mennonite pastor and Anabaptist Witness book reviews co-editor Isaac Villegas on the open letter he and other participants in the 2018 Hope for the Future conference sent to members of Mennonite Church USA. As the letter states, “Hope for the Future gatherings bring together leaders of color from across […]

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Dilemmes pédagogiques dans l’Église mondiale : Poursuite de la réflexion sur le pouvoir et le privilège en rapport avec la scolarisation des enfants de missionnaires et les subsidies coloniaux au Congo belge

To read this post in English, click here. Ce numéro du journal Anabaptist Witness contient mon article « Enfants sacrés et subsides coloniaux chez les missionnaires des Frères mennonites : La manifestation de la séparation raciale au Congo belge, 1946-1959 ». Une version anglaise de cet article a été publiée dans le journal Missiology : An International Review[1]. La traduction […]

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Pedagogical Dilemmas in the Global Church: Reflecting on Power and Privilege in Relation to Colonial Subsidies and the Education of Missionaries’ Children in the Belgian Congo

Pour la version française de cet article, veuillez cliquez ici. This issue of Anabaptist Witness includes the publication of my article “Enfants sacrés et subsides coloniaux chez les missionnaires des Frères mennonites : La manifestation de la séparation raciale au Congo belge, 1946-1959.” An English version of this article previously appeared in the journal Missiology: An International […]

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Being Embraced

What does it mean to live as a family in mission? For many families who engage in cross-cultural mission, this question is thrown into sharp relief by the contrast between lifestyles, expectations, and values. But for families in mission in a North American context, this question is no less pressing. What have these families learned about proclaiming the Gospel? And how can God’s family — the church — be […]

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Pledging Allegiance

What does it mean to live as a family in mission? For many families who engage in cross-cultural mission, this question is thrown into sharp relief by the contrast between lifestyles, expectations, and values. But for families in mission in a North American context, this question is no less pressing. What have these families learned about proclaiming the Gospel? And how can God’s family — the church — be […]

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Morning

spring morning begins with the conspicuous perfume of flowers in the air, a few stars still yawning, the light covers used last night thrown aside, a warming sun gently rising in each heart, dingy faced bums living on the streets showing wide smiles, mothers imagining fairy tales to the sound of the wind in trees, […]

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Another

A poem by h. j. Recinos in response to the school shooting in Florida on Ash Wednesday after another school shooting horror again swells sorrowing hearts faster than any can say the Lord’s name, more innocent blood ran the halls in Florida on Ash Wednesday to make the nation fall into unearthed darkness, the speechless […]

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The Season | Miracle ©

For the Advent season, two poems from h.j. Recinos. The Season I often wonder about how many tears are shed when trying to make sense of the expensive politics planting crosses on the side of the road to keep company some day with the towered wall planned with deaf selling walks. little is ever said […]

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