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Anabaptist Ministry in Multi-Culture to Be Explored by Evangelism Council ELKHART, Ind. — Anabaptist ministry in a multi-cultural context will be examined here when more than 50 representatives from six Anabaptist denominations will gather at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries (AMBS) Feb. 19-20 for the third annual Anabaptist Evangelism Council. The council, sponsored by New Life Ministries, has again enlisted a mix of scholars and practitioners to discuss the role of Anabaptist churches in an increasingly multi-cultural North American society around the theme: "A New Humanity: Anabaptist Ministry Amidst Many Peoples." Nelson Kraybill, president of AMBS, is among the scholars leading a worship service Sunday morning on "A New Testament Vision of the New Humanity." Robert Kettering, senior pastor of the Lititz (PA) Church of the Brethren, is worship leader. Stephen B. Reid, professor of Old Testament Studies at Austin (TX) Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a Church of the Brethren minister, opens the two-day meeting with a plenary address on "The People of God: Old Testament Inspiration." Art McPhee, assistant professor in mission and evangelism at AMBS, will discuss "A Gospel Invitation in a World of Many Peoples" in a second plenary session on Sunday afternoon. Rocky Kidd, a writer/researcher and church planter from East Chicago, IN, will present case studies on "The Diversity Project: Practical Learnings about Planting Multi-cultural Urban Churches." A Saturday night African-American worship will be led by John Powell of Buffalo, NY, a consultant for the Mennonite Board of Missions and Rita Dooley, of the Church without Walls in Elkhart. As in previous years, a listening committee, chaired by Dick Benner, will give feedback and interpretation of the sessions. Robert J. (Jack) Suderman, executive secretary for the Ministries Commission of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, and one of the visionaries for the Evangelism Council, will wrap up the sessions and attempt to "apply the dream." Paul Mundey of Frederick, MD, chairman of the trustees for New Life Ministries, will lead in a closing worship. The Evangelism Council is designed as an Anabaptist "think tank" and a practitioner’s rendezvous. Its desire, according to one of this year’s planners, Tym Elias, a missions executive from Winnipeg, is to "empower integral theological reflection, coherent strategy and consistent practice geared toward transformation of society through Anabaptist Christian witness in North America." Registration for the two-day event is $25. Meals, provided by the seminary, are at the attendee’s expense, as is overnight lodging. To register or for more information call Joan Hershey toll-free at New Life Ministries, Mt. Joy, PA, 1-800-774-3360. by Dick Benner |
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