"...nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matthew 9:16-17)
Submitted by Earl Zimmerman (not verified) on June 10, 2009 - 6:45pm.
I really like the new statement! It hits all the right notes on defining who we are, what our ministry is, our commitment to cross humanly boundaries constructed boundaries, and the recognition that transformation begins with us.
Submitted by Brent Peters (not verified) on June 12, 2009 - 12:02am.
I'm not sure why - and maybe I haven't been paying much attention (which is nothing new to me) - but I sense a shift in the documenting of the relationship between our faith and our practice (cf. "Shared Convictions, Mennonite World Conference").
Twice I went through the process of "orientation" with MCC - once, to serve as an assistant printer in the Akron, PA head offices, and again, as an ESL teacher going to teach in China - and, both times, I don't remember there being such a strong DECLARATION of the link between our faith and our goals as an organization.
And I applaud this change.
Being people of the cross who follow the One who hung there, we need to remind ourselves why we are asking people to donate their old jeans for a rug, or why we are giving to MCC's general fund, or why we do what we do, plain and simple. We need underpinnings as much as any non-church outfit does, as a form of inspiration, but also of foundation!
It's a warm night, and my fan is on as I write this - and the fan and humidity remind me of those times in Akron and China, and how integral my core beliefs were to how I functioned within my community of believers.
We didn't always see "eye to eye" on things, but having some common ground kept everything in balance and allowed us to continue to serve others in our world and, even, each other, as servants in a world that has no respect for them.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on June 25, 2009 - 5:40pm.
A group of our Seniors just got back from Wichita's UNION GOSPEL MISSION, which some of you are acquainted with. We were HIGHLY IMPRESSED with the mission's total services to needy MEN only. There was NO reluctance to tie the Gospel, lodging, food, vocational guidance, and some other services, together to round out the WHOLE person. Some of these men will not make much of a change when they leave, but ALL of them are presented with the Gospel and many become Believers, in spite of their broken lives.
Now, MCC is PRIMARILY providing food, clothing, and other assistance in the name of Christ, but seem to 'Pass' on being proactive in the evangelism of these souls. It may almost sound cruel, but if people aren't proactively presented with the Gospel at a traumatic and most opportune time, live longer, propagate, and have even more lives go to a Christ-less eternity, what good has ALL this humanitarian help done?
I note that, in THE NEW WINE priorities no mention is made of MAKING BELIEVERS. We can do all the great and wonderful humanitarian good and work for Justice and Peace, but without the PRINCE OF PEACE there can't REALLY be peace.
We understand that, initially, MCC was helping our BELIEVING BROTHERS & SISTERS, and much emotion continued on such loving help. The scriptures direct us to care for others, ESPECIALLY those of the 'Household of Faith'. Could MCC do that which other humanitarian agencies DON'T do? Make Believers of them and provide ETERNAL LIFE for them. Other agencies don't do this.
So, let's be about our FATHER'S MAIN BUSINESS.
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Comments
I really like the new statement! It hits all the right notes on defining who we are, what our ministry is, our commitment to cross humanly boundaries constructed boundaries, and the recognition that transformation begins with us.
I'm not sure why - and maybe I haven't been paying much attention (which is nothing new to me) - but I sense a shift in the documenting of the relationship between our faith and our practice (cf. "Shared Convictions, Mennonite World Conference").
Twice I went through the process of "orientation" with MCC - once, to serve as an assistant printer in the Akron, PA head offices, and again, as an ESL teacher going to teach in China - and, both times, I don't remember there being such a strong DECLARATION of the link between our faith and our goals as an organization.
And I applaud this change.
Being people of the cross who follow the One who hung there, we need to remind ourselves why we are asking people to donate their old jeans for a rug, or why we are giving to MCC's general fund, or why we do what we do, plain and simple. We need underpinnings as much as any non-church outfit does, as a form of inspiration, but also of foundation!
It's a warm night, and my fan is on as I write this - and the fan and humidity remind me of those times in Akron and China, and how integral my core beliefs were to how I functioned within my community of believers.
We didn't always see "eye to eye" on things, but having some common ground kept everything in balance and allowed us to continue to serve others in our world and, even, each other, as servants in a world that has no respect for them.
A group of our Seniors just got back from Wichita's UNION GOSPEL MISSION, which some of you are acquainted with. We were HIGHLY IMPRESSED with the mission's total services to needy MEN only. There was NO reluctance to tie the Gospel, lodging, food, vocational guidance, and some other services, together to round out the WHOLE person. Some of these men will not make much of a change when they leave, but ALL of them are presented with the Gospel and many become Believers, in spite of their broken lives.
Now, MCC is PRIMARILY providing food, clothing, and other assistance in the name of Christ, but seem to 'Pass' on being proactive in the evangelism of these souls. It may almost sound cruel, but if people aren't proactively presented with the Gospel at a traumatic and most opportune time, live longer, propagate, and have even more lives go to a Christ-less eternity, what good has ALL this humanitarian help done?
I note that, in THE NEW WINE priorities no mention is made of MAKING BELIEVERS. We can do all the great and wonderful humanitarian good and work for Justice and Peace, but without the PRINCE OF PEACE there can't REALLY be peace.
We understand that, initially, MCC was helping our BELIEVING BROTHERS & SISTERS, and much emotion continued on such loving help. The scriptures direct us to care for others, ESPECIALLY those of the 'Household of Faith'. Could MCC do that which other humanitarian agencies DON'T do? Make Believers of them and provide ETERNAL LIFE for them. Other agencies don't do this.
So, let's be about our FATHER'S MAIN BUSINESS.