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 Global friendships give us strength for the journey
It started with a chance conversation at the Atlanta 2003 churchwide convention.
Kevin Farmwald, one of my pastors at Eighth Street Mennonite Church (Goshen, Ind.) found himself talking to Duane Maust, Gulf States Conference moderator and one of the pastors of Jubilee Mennonite Church in Meridian, Miss.
When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, it seemed natural for Eighth Street to reach out to the Jubilee congregation. Though members of the church had their homes damaged, Jubilee quickly turned its focus outward and became a hub for cleanup and social services in their community.
For three years now, Eighth Street has loaded its small church bus and sent members to Jubilee for a week of cleanup and reconstruction work. Not unexpectedly, the friendship between our congregations has grown. We are finding we have gifts to share with the other.
Last January I was part of a group that went to Meridian. It felt good to spend a week helping others, getting to know a sister congregation and deepening friendships with members of my own church.
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At San José 2007, delegates passed a resolution about national identity. We want to learn more about what it means to faithfully follow Jesus as citizens of the most powerful nation in the world. We’re learning we can’t make this journey alone. We need other members of our congregation, and we need other congregations to help show us the way.
Some congregations have mission partnerships with congregations in other parts of the world through Mennonite Mission Network. Still others are linking with congregations in Colombia or parts of Africa.
Soon, Mennonite World Conference will offer an opportunity for congregations to form global relationships across the north-south divide.
In all these relationships, we learn about giving and receiving gifts. Walking alongside another congregation gives us new eyes to see our own congregation and how we relate to the powers of the world. Learning to know Mennonites in other parts of our nation and world can give us strength for the journey, reminding us that our primary allegiance is to Jesus Christ.
J. Ron Byler, Associate Executive Director, Mennonite Church USA
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