Missio Dei No. 15 now available

Digging for treasure in your own backyard. Reflections on missional experiments in the Netherlands

“Many Europeans,” writes Jackie Wyse, “view the church as a largely historical institution that is no longer relevant to daily life.” Nearly all of the traditional churches in the Netherlands, where Wyse has lived and worked for the past five years, have seen an erosion of church attendance, corresponding to society’s increased secularization. In cities like Almere and Amsterdam, reports Wyse, only 2 to 4 percent of the residents are active in churches.

Free Missio Dei subscriptions from Mennonite Mission Network. Missio Dei (Latin for God’s mission) is a quarterly booklet published by Mennonite Mission Network. Each issue invites reflection and dialogue about God’s mission in today’s world. Some issues focus primarily on the biblical and theological foundations of the mission task; others present ministry case studies or personal stories of attempts to be faithful to Christ’s call. Perspectives represented reflect the passion and commitment of the agency: Together, sharing all of Christ with all of creation.

Missio Dei booklets are great for Sunday school class discussions, small groups, and personal reading and studying. A free subscription is available upon request. Selected editions are available in Spanish. To subscribe by e-mail, send a request to MissioDei@MennoniteMission.net.

Free single copies may also be downloaded and printed from the Mission Network Web site: MennoniteMission.net/Resources/ Publications/MissioDei.

Here is the complete list to date of the Missio Dei series:

1. Understanding Islam, Calvin E. Shenk
2. Does Your Church “Smell” Like Mission?, James R.Krabill
3. From Kansas to Kenedougou … And Back Again, Donna Kampen Entz
4. Peace Church, Mission Church: Friends or Foes?, Alan Kreider, with preface by Leo Hartshorn
5. Money and Mission, Peter Graber
6. Purpose Driven Mennonites, Craig Pelkey-Landes
7. Students Talk About Service, James R. Krabill and Stuart Showalter, editors
8. Conversations with Irene Weaver: Wisdom from a Teacher-Learner, James R. Krabill and Lynda Hollinger-Janzen
9. *The Patagonia Story: Congregations in Argentina and Illinois Link “Arm-in-Arm” for Mission, Delbert Erb and Linda Shelly
10. *Together in Mission. Core Beliefs, Values and Commitments of Mennonite Mission Network
11. *What I Learned from the African Church. Twenty-Two Students Reflect, James R. Krabill, editor
12. *Together, Sharing All of Christ with All of Creation, Ryan Miller and Ann Graham Price, editors
13. *On Becoming A Missional Church in Japan, Michael J. Sherrill
14. *BikeMovement: A Mennonite Young Adult Perspective on Church, Alicia Horst and Tim Showalter, editors
15. *Digging for Treasure in Your Own Backyard, Jackie Wyse

*Also available in Spanish

New MCC Program

You could be one of the first participants in a new MCC program for young adults. MCC has developed a two-year program called the Young Adult Initiative. This program is being piloted in Colombia in January 2009. The program will bring together in Colombia a group of eight to 10 people, ages 20 to 30, from Canada, the U.S., Colombia and other Latin American countries. Participants will spend time together studying important aspects of the Colombian context, such as the country’s long standing conflict and its complicated political and church situation, as well as explore the U.S. and Canadian presence and influence in the country. Participants in the program will serve in local congregations in a variety of locations throughout the country. While on assignment the MCC workers will strive to become advocates and workers for peace and justice alongside of the Colombian church and MCC volunteers.

If you are interested in learning more about the Young Adult Initiative you can view a more complete Assignment Description for “Church Community and Advocacy Workers in Colombia” on the MCC Web site (mcc.org/serve).

This program has been developed in strong consultation with the vision for peace and justice coming from the Colombian church. We are excited about this new opportunity to respond to the needs of the Colombian church, to recognize how we are connected in both good and bad ways and to walk alongside each other in the struggle for long lasting peace and justice. If you are interested in applying to this program you can fill out the general MCC application. Please be sure to indicate on the first page your interest in the Young Adult Initiative in Colombia. If you have any questions or are interested in applying please email Daniel Leonard (drl@mcc.org).