After attending the MWC sessions, Mennonite leaders from Honduras, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania attended the delegate sessions of LMC’s Celebration of Church life on March 18, led seminars on the state of the church in their respective countries, and brought greetings to the closing assembly, March 19.

	International guests attended the delegate session of Lancaster Mennonite Conference’s (LMC) Celebration of Church Life (CCL), March 18.

In addition, LMC and its mission agency, Eastern Mennonite Missions, planned a series of receptions, dinners, and times of interaction in which they strengthened relational ties and invited observations and counsel from one another. The international guests also enjoyed interaction with old missionary friends and shared in mission prayer groups.

During an interchange with church and mission leaders Bishop Joseph Nyakyema expressed appreciation for the bridge between LMC and Kanisa la Mennonite Tanzania (KMT). “We are one body,” he said. “This is the outcome of the good news. We are shaped by what we hear and experience here. We have enjoyed your good teaching, but you see that you need to practice what you’re preaching. There is much need for evangelism in your country.”

Nyakyema also challenged LMC and EMM to be more intentional about reaching out to youth. He observed, “We did not see many young people in your meetings.” He urged international Mennonite leaders to come and minister alongside them in Africa. “An international church is perceived to be solid, prestigious. Joint ministry teams are more powerful.”

Bishop Steven Mang’ana, deputy chairman of the bishop’s council of KMT said, “We need to push the wheel of holistic evangelism together. People are crying for the good news of God, and we are unable to reach them alone. Let’s put more effort together. With only $1,000, we can train three young people.”

Matiku Nyitambe, general secretary of KMT, reported that in Tanzania, the bishops are leading out in evangelism and church planting among new tribes and regions that have been unreached. The church supports 17 missionaries who work full time in these more remote regions.

Mulugeta Zewdie, general secretary of Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) in Ethiopia, said, “The more we know you, the more we want to add you to our prayers. We’re grateful to be part of the global Mennonite family. Something new is moving among us for missions and evangelism. Let’s strengthen the East African Mennonite family. EMM will be strong when the East African family is strong.”

Tewodros Beyene, secretary of the MKC executive, expressed gratitude to the group for sending missionaries who led his father to faith in Christ. He is now serving in the same role his father had earlier carried. The Ethiopian leaders also invited prayer for ongoing political and economic challenges in their country.

In conversations with top EMM staff, the leaders expressed deep appreciation for the “mission tithe” EMM had shared with them last year from a large estate gift. This was a special boost and encouragement for the development of their own cross-cultural mission programs.

Zewdie shared about the growing international missions movement beginning in MKC. They had vigorous outreach within Ethiopia and a ten percent growth rate last year; they have also sent two workers internationally to Djibouti, four to Sudan, and three to Somalia.

Bishop Joshua Okello, a Kenya Mennonite Church leader, reported that while most of their growth has been among the Luo tribe, they are beginning to reach out more broadly and now have three churches in Uganda. He also reported on the changing role of women in the church. “Our culture says, ‘leave women behind,' but the church is bringing them forward.” He challenged LMC to look at the whole counsel of scripture and include women in all levels of ministry.

Designated support from several LMC churches helped to subsidize international travel for some of the guests to California, and EMM funded tickets for their jaunt to the East to make this interaction possible.

Frazer Mennonite Church, which sponsored the trip of Juan José Chinchilla, president of the Honduras Mennonite Church, to California, was especially excited to have this interchange, because Dora Taylor, an early EMM worker in Honduras, had come from their congregation.

In addition to those from East Africa and Latin America which have special links to LMC, Danisa Ndlovu, a Brethren in Christ bishop from Zimbabwe who is the president-elect of Mennonite World Conference, also participated in the weekend events and brought special updates and greetings from MWC.

After saying farewell, Clair Good, EMM’s representative to Africa, commented, “The African guests said this was their best visit ever. The level of interaction we had in which we gave and received council on sensitive leadership issues in the church and mission was new and refreshing. They said it felt good to be treated as peers in ministry, and not only honored guests.”

-Jewel Showalter