Sound the trumpet!

As Mennonite Brethren, we rarely toot our own horn. Our attitude is one of humility and even self-effacement, as we carefully try to avoid the sin of pride. We don’t really like denominational superstars.

But let me tell you a story.

One Sunday morning when I was studying at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, my classmates and I visited an African American church in south central Los Angeles. Upon arrival, our eyes immediately fell upon the huge, colourful mural behind the pulpit. The painting celebrated the history of the congregation from its roots in Africa, to the painful days of slavery, to its current ministry in the neighbourhood.

We quietly sat in the back of the sanctuary, as all good Mennonites would do. But the pastor was aware of our visit and we remained anonymous for only a moment.

The charismatic leader stood and announced our presence, loudly welcoming us to the service. He explained who we were and told our story – our whole story! His voice was filled with pride and honour as he explained how the Mennonites were the first people to oppose slavery and stand up for the rights of African Americans. In fact, the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online notes, “the first written protest against slavery in America, though often credited to the Friends, was actually signed mostly by German Mennonites” (gameo.org).

The congregation immediately rose to its feet, clapping, cheering and embracing us. I have never felt more proud to be Mennonite Brethren than at that moment, in the midst of hundreds of brothers and sisters from the African Methodist Episcopal church. The congregation celebrated and recognized who we were, not because it was something to lord over others, but because it was a reflection of God’s incredible grace and mercy upon us.

Did you know that our MB family includes:

• one of the top Olympians heading for Torino this winter, already a bronze-medal winner in 2002?
• a professor who worked with a team of scholars to complete the New Living Translation of the Bible, making Scripture accessible for a new generation?
• missionaries who served on the front lines following the devastating Asian tsunami, bringing the hope of Jesus into broken lives?
• a doctor who became the first chair of Genome Canada, whose research has restored the hope of thousands of women and men with reproductive disorders?
• a CEO whose company is Canada’s leading home furniture manufacturer, and whose Christian faith impacts how he operates his business in terms of values, justice and philanthropy?
• a politician who served seven years as Secretary of State (Asia–Pacific) and is currently working as Minister of State (Multiculturalism), strongly advocating for human rights around the world?
• artists who made headlines in public media and received national awards for their books, musical compositions and visual art, all reflecting the beauty of our Creator?

We have cause to celebrate. The Mennonite Brethren denomination is diverse and talented, and God is using us to impact generations for Christ. On the threshold of this new year, let’s not forget who we are. And let’s not be afraid to (once in a while) sound the trumpet of celebration and joy in the midst of the congregation!

Change is afoot

At the Herald, we look forward to completing some much-anticipated redesign work on the magazine in 2006. Our purpose is to make it more readable and inviting, without losing heart or character. We listened to your comments from the 2004 national survey, and we’re ready to make a few changes. Look for something fresh in the spring!

In this issue, we introduce a new column called “Question of faith,” a place to explore deeper questions of life and spirituality, with a bit of an edge. It’s for those who struggle with Christianity or feel like they’re on the fringes of church life, but not quite ready to throw in the towel. The column will appear in every other issue of the Herald this year.

We want to be a vehicle for celebration and storytelling, and also a forum where stickier issues can be discussed, and even debated, with graciousness and love. This is the mark of the true church and our witness to the world.

In the end, with every issue of the magazine, we want to recommit ourselves to one another, and to the God “to whom we belong and whom we serve” (Acts 27:23).