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PA 2015 attendees seize opportunity to build MDS houses

Volunteers helped build two prefabricated houses for Mennonite Disaster Service at PA 2015. MDS staff were on hand every afternoon to guide volunteers in constructing the floors and walls for houses destined for families who lost their homes in natural disasters. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Pounding nails may be the last activity one might expect at an international church convention, but for many at the Mennonite World Conference’s PA 2015, it was a perfect fit.

Assembly location a good choice

The Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., hosted the events of PA 2015, the 16th Mennonite World Conference assembly. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Dining areas at PA 2015 had collection areas and volunteers to encourage diners to compost as much as possible. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Would the attendees of Pennsylvania 2015 accept “an occasional farm smell” in their meeting space? That’s just one of the many questions Howard Good, national coordinator of PA 2015, asked as he and his team evaluated the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., as a potential location for the next Mennonite World Conference assembly.

Love means taking initiative to do good, Cavey tells MWC assembly

Bruxy Cavey, the keynote speaker at the Saturday evening service, challenged listeners to go beyond the “ethics of a rock” in their love for other people. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

Outgoing MWC president Danisa Ndlovu prays for the new president Nelson Kraybill and his wife Ellen, while members of the MWC executive committee surround them. The new vice-president, Rebecca Osiro, stands beside Ellen. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

Nelson Kraybill addressed the assembly as the new president of Mennonite World Conference. “My prayer is that before the watching world we will get on with the work of reconciliation in this world,” he said. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

The Mennonite Children’s Choir brought enthusiastic music to the Saturday evening worship service of Mennonite World Conference Assembly. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

Love for neighbour is absolutely central to the gospel, speaker Bruxy Cavey said in the final mass worship service of Pennsylvania 2015, July 25, 2015. This service saw the passing of a symbolic shepherd’s staff from Mennonite World Conference president Danisa Ndlovu to incoming president Nelson Kraybill.

Calls for action in mission and evangelism

Hippolyto Tshimanga reminded listeners at Mennonite World Conference Assembly: “There is no such thing as a church without mission; mission is the DNA of the church.” And yet, he wondered if some Mennonites are “allergic” to evangelism. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)  

Young Anabaptists Rodrigo Pedroza (left) and Marc Pasques (centre), with the help of translator Andres Prins, challenged listeners to match beliefs with concrete actions. “As we wait for our Lord to fulfill his kingdom, it is our task to continue healing, reconciling and transforming,” said Pedroza. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

During the Saturday morning worship, the 18-member international music ensemble led the assembly in music from North America. The previous days featured music from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Energy was still high in the penultimate mass session of PA 2015, July 25, 2015, and speakers issued sharp challenges to Anabaptists, calling for a more active and evangelistic discipleship.

Assembly called to wrestle with independence and community

The July 24 evening service concluded with a communion service led by Janet Plenert, MWC vice president, J. Nelson Kraybill, MWC president elect, and Danisa Ndlovu, MWC president. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

Wieteke van der Molen, a pastor from the Netherlands, told the story of Jacob and his struggle between his own desires and the life of the community. “To keep some sense of autonomy within community is like constantly wrestling with man and God and, most of all, yourself,” she said. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

Volunteer usher Gay Kauffman serves communion during the Friday evening service at Mennonite World Conference assembly. She and her husband Ed came to PA 2015 from Calgary, Alberta, where Ed is pastor of First Mennonite Church.  (Photo by Dale D. Gehman, for Meetinghouse)

Each person is never alone. They must live in community. Yet each also craves independence and autonomy.

Citing Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32, Wieteke van der Molen told Mennonite World Conference assembly attendees July 24 that since the interests of the group will always collide with those of the individual, each person must wrestle with friction and frustration.

Confession and forgiveness part of loving your neighbour

Young Anabaptist Kevin Ressler asked how the Anabaptist church can regain its confidence and become boldly prophetic again. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Shantikumar S. Kunjam, a member of the Mennonite World Conference Deacons Commission, reminded the gathered assembly that we need each other’s loving service and a willingness to share with one another. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Members of the music ensemble play music by Bach in the Friday morning mass session of Mennonite World Conference Assembly. Each day the ensemble led music from a specific continent. Friday’s focus was Europe. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman) 

“We are here today, celebrating our common Anabaptist faith and our position in the Lord Jesus Christ,” was the greeting from Shantkumar S. Kunjam of India, who took the platform Friday morning representing the MWC Deacon Commission.

Mukawa calls for reconciliation with God, others

Nzuzi Mukawa, a Congolese Mennonite Brethren pastor and educator, preached on walking with conflict and reconciliation. He highlighted the biblical character Abigail as an example of faithful peacemaking. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Only five singers represented Eastleigh Fellowship Choir from Kenya; the other 25 were denied visas. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

The music ensemble led attendees in spirited singing, with a focus on songs from Africa. (Photo by Dale D. Gehman)

Nzuzi Mukawa, a Congolese Mennonite Brethren pastor and educator and the MB Mission team leader for Sub Sahara Africa, challenged his audience Thursday evening to leave Mennonite World Conference Assembly as men and women who are reconciled with God and with others.

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