Gathering footprints of faith at Mennonite World Conference assembly

September 9, 2015 | Viewpoints | Volume 19 Issue 18
Liz Koop |
<p>The Mennonite Women Canada quilt gathered 160 footprints at MWC assembly. (Photo by Liz Koop)</p>

I can hardly find words to describe the experience of worshipping, singing, eating and fellowshipping with about 7,500 others at Mennonite World Conference (MWC) assembly, held in Harrisburg, Pa., this summer. We came from so many different countries, speaking so many different languages, yet connected to each other by a common confession of faith. What an amazing and inspiring week it was!

As president of Mennonite Women Canada (MW Canada) I was excited to have a display table at conference, highlighting our work and featuring a partially completed pieced quilt top made of batik fabrics. As women stopped by, I encouraged them to write their name and country of origin onto a “footprint” to pin onto the fabric, with the hope that the completed quilt might become part of the parade of banners at the opening worship service at the next MWC assembly in Indonesia in 2021.

The footprints we  gathered totalled about 160, representing many countries including the U.S.A., Canada, Zimbabwe, India, Japan, Honduras, Bolivia, Switzerland, France, Uganda, Germany, Botswana, the Netherlands, Zambia, Mozambique, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Brazil. By the last afternoon I had run out of footprints as well as pins.

One of the first women to stop by the display was Antje van Dijk of the Netherlands, who coordinates the Landelijke Federatie van Doopsgezinde Zusterkringen (Anabaptist sister groups), which began in 1952, the same year as MW Canada. Van Dijk helps organize Bible study groups and assisted in fundraising for women from other countries to attend the assembly. Several women from the Netherlands wanted to learn about quilting, so I directed them to the area where Mennonite Central Committee was offering quilting/sewing workshops, which were hives of activity.

Several men also wanted to add their footprint to the banner. I had an interesting conversation (partly in English, partly in French) with Ekien-E-Kiag Baudouin. He is from Durban and involved in starting a Mennonite church in South Africa. He was interested to hear how women are organized in Canada and wants to connect women from his church with Mennonite women in Canada. It’ll be interesting to see what develops from our exchange of email addresses!

Three women from the Zimbabwe Brethren in Christ Church were eager to add their footprints and even helped cut them out and pin them on.

Another woman, J.V. Vidya Ranjanihad from South India, helped to host the 1997 MWC in Calcutta. She’s a pastor’s wife and works with groups of women leading weekly Bible studies and offering counselling services.

Conversations were sometimes challenging despite the fact that most could speak some English. One gentleman from India, Christopher Meesaalu, was very hard to understand but we ended up playing “the Mennonite game” when I finally figured out that he had been a student under the guidance of missionary Anne Ediger (now deceased), my husband’s grandmother’s cousin! His joy at finding her kinfolk and his expressions of deep appreciation and love for her were overwhelming. Meesaalu is the director of LEADS Ministries (Logos Educational and Developmental Services) in Telangana State, India, involved in evangelism, church planting, adult education and social activities in rural communities.

What a joy it was to meet these Anabaptist Christians and to share stories of “walking together in faith.” My hope is that the all the footprints on the completed banner will symbolize our commitment to overcoming our differences in language, styles of worship and culture as we bring praise, honour and glory to God in all we do.
Since the conference, while sewing the footprints onto the banner, I’ve been thinking and praying about the individual women who helped to make my MWC experience an unforgettable one!

 

Liz Koop, a member of Vineland (Ont.) United Mennonite Church, is president of Mennonite Women Canada.

The Mennonite Women Canada quilt gathered 160 footprints at MWC assembly. (Photo by Liz Koop)

Antje van Dijk stopped by the Mennonite Women Canada display to chat with Liz Koop. Van Dijk coordinates women’s groups in the Netherlands. (Photo by Liz Koop)

Liz Koop met Ekien-E-Kiag Baudouin, who is planting a Mennonite Church in Durban, South Africa. He wants to connect women from South Africa with women from Canada. (Photo by Liz Koop)

Share this page: Twitter Instagram

Add new comment

Canadian Mennonite invites comments and encourages constructive discussion about our content. Actual full names (first and last) are required. Comments are moderated and may be edited. They will not appear online until approved and will be posted during business hours. Some comments may be reproduced in print.