Mission Resources at Mennonite Mission Network (USA)

Your gift helps equip the church to engage the world, starting right across the street and reaching around the world.

Although best known for ministry around the world, Mennonite Mission Network works in partnership with you to imagine, initiate and innovate ministry by providing a variety of mission resources. Through consultation, training, assessment, national initiatives and logistical support, the Mission Network works toward a vision of every congregation being fully engaged in the mission of God.

Activities in this area include:

Mennonite Media -- Working on behalf of Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite Media creates a Mennonite presence in the secular media as it brings an Anabaptist Christian perspective into society's marketplace of ideas. When combined with local congregational initiative, these efforts invite individuals to faith and help congregations reach new believers within local communities. Initiatives include documentaries, public-service radio spots, music, books, syndicated columns and web sites, such as Third Way Cafe (www.thirdway.com).

Your gift of $250 will enable Mennonite Media staff to send DVDs and materials of a documentary like Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness to an expanded group of television stations in the United States.

Multicultural church development -- Racial-ethnic congregations represent more than one-fifth of Mennonite Church USA as well as the denomination's fastest-growing segment. Mission Network personnel build bridges with multicultural organizations for mission initiatives on behalf of the denomination. Among Asian congregations, for example, Kuaying Teng provides coaching for church planting, consultation to support ministry efforts and interpretation of different cultures among increasingly diverse groups. Other initiatives include Instituto Biblico Anabautista (Anabaptist Biblical Institute). This collaborative effort with Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership provides theological training in Spanish for pastors and lay leaders. (In 2005, the first English-language program was offered among Native American congregations in partnership with Gulf States Mennonite Conference.) Also in 2005, the Hispanic Church Planting Academy began in partnership with Iglesia Menonita Hispana to provide training and coaching toward church planting by Hispanic Mennonites.

Your gift of $100 will cover registration for one Asian member of Mennonite Church USA for a congregational leadership-training event.

New ministry formation -- As a leader in the formation of ministry partnerships, the Mission Network helps congregations and groups develop new ministries across the street and around the world. The Mission Network provides experience staff that help connect partners, assess ministry plans, develop funding strategies, organize partner efforts and evaluate potential workers. Nearly 25 percent of all Mennonite Church USA congregations are involved in a ministry partnership.

Peace & Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA -- Sponsored by Mission Network and Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership, the Peace & Justice Support Network strengthens the denomination's commitment to these issues by equipping the church to embody and communicate Christ's reconciling way of peace.

Prayer ministry -- Mission is sustained by more than people, time and financial resources. Because prayer undergirds ministry efforts, more than 300 prayer partners raise concerns to God on a daily basis.

Urban ministry -- By 2050, almost 80 percent of the world will live in urban areas. Since 1893 in Chicago, the Mission Network and its prdecessors have focused on major cities as a key venue for ministry. In addition to consultation and coaching, the Mission Network brings urban practitioners together through annual Urban Leaders Network meetings and through Urban Connections, an e-mail newsletter.