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Saying good-bye ... and hello
AT&T and Cingular aren’t the only organizations that are merging this year. As 2007 winds to a close, two of the Mission Network’s Christian Service programs also are joining forces. RAD has sent its final two teams to Colombia and Northern Ireland. DEO (Discipleship, Encounter, Outreach) closed its doors this summer after the final team completed its term. Next fall, the merged program, initially named The Journey, will open to young adults interested in serving either domestically or internationally. The Journey will provide many of the same opportunities the two former programs did — a focus on integrating faith into daily life, service with ongoing Mennonite ministries, and the chance to give back to their home congregation or community. According to Del Hershberger, Christian Service director, the philosophy of the two programs has become similar in recent years. Hershberger said the merger will make a single program more financially viable, especially if those who are already invested in RAD and DEO will “see this as accomplishing the vision of what they were originally committed to” and will transfer support to the new program. DEO board member Peg Burkey of Bellwood Mennonite Church in Milford, Neb., is hopeful that young adults will take advantage of the opportunity the new program provides to grow in their personal spiritual lives and that congregations will see participants as an extension of the home community. To find out how you or a young person in your congregation can become involved in the new Mission Network discipleship program, contact Jeremy Kempf, Neil Richer or Immanuel Sila at Service@MennoniteMission.net or toll-free at (866) 866-2872. In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
