In 2013, Mennonite Mission Network printed a special edition of Missio Dei, Walking together in mission. This publication highlights who we are, our Anabaptist convictions and how we engage in mission. When I began my work with Mission Network in 2015, this became a central guide for me when visiting pastors, congregations and conference leaders — sharing first that the mission and glory belong to God, with the church being the primary model and messenger of God’s love, and secondly that reconciliation and transformation are possible (pp 12-14).
Walking together in mission and other Missio Dei resources, have documented what has been foundational for our work in mission. Over the past several years, we have added the theme “Here with Purpose” — our continued commitment to responding to the call of joining God’s work in the world and working alongside partners around the globe. We are engaged, at all levels, with the denomination, educational institutions and agencies, conferences, congregations, and individuals. We cherish the long-term relationships we have been built over the decades, as well as newer connections that have budded in recent years.
While the world has grown more technological, and we have had to adjust to changing times, people remain our central focus, because relationships matter. Through faith formation, we learn about God and our humanity, as we grow in our understanding of our relationship with God. Through mission, we have the opportunity to see God at work and participate fully, as individuals and as the body of Christ. Today, our staff, service workers and participants, as well as collaborations with partners, reflect the ways in which God continues to invite the church into this reconciling activity. We, and all of creation, were carefully and wonderfully made by God, and this is our opportunity to share the message of God’s love through word and deed.
Marisa Smucker
Executive Director