Editorial
March 26, 2012
by Loren Horst
The Spirit blows at will we are told. We do not fully know its direction nor can we ever adequately predict its affect. We can, however, see some of the results. About 100 years ago, the Spirit blew Virginia Mennonite Conference westward into the highlands of Virginia and West Virginia. Later this same Spirit moved among the colony of Denbigh prompting witness in the neighboring cities. North Carolina, Kentucky, Washington DC, Florida, Ohio, and Maryland would all become locations, at one time or another, where the Spirit moved Virginia Conference. …
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February 22, 2012
by Gloria Lehman
Connections Editor
Mennonite Women USA invited responses to this question for the November/ December issue of Timbrel: How do our global sisters enrich our own lives as well as enrich the life of the church? I immediately knew that this is a question I can answer. I have the unusual privilege to visit church sisters in the Caribbean region several times a year. Talking with the women in their settings is heart-warming, and sometimes heart-rending. Sis. Babes in Trinidad explains how to cook local foods, patiently demonstrating making roti or pelau. While …
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December 6, 2011
by Aaron Kauffman
VMM Global Ministries Director
One of the paradoxes of the Bible is God’s call to remember but not dwell on the past. “Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there,” declares Deuteronomy 24:18 (NRSV). That memory forms the basis of Israel’s identity. When remembrance turns to nostalgia, however, God has a different message. To the exiles in Babylon, Isaiah 43:18-19 proclaims: “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing.” Both forgetfulness and wistfulness …
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December 6, 2011
by Loren Horst
Christmas reminds us that God is on a mission. Our future and the future of the church rest entirely on our embrace of that mission. We start by discerning God’s activity in the world. Then we enthusiastically align our priorities with God’s. At VMMissions, God’s work takes many different forms. • Church planting efforts in our conference find fresh ideas and counsel through the coaching of Skip Tobin. • Thirty-one high school students learn from a biblical worldview at Lezha Academic Center in Albania. • Ministries are taking root among …
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March 10, 2011
by Loren Horst
As I stepped off the platform at Winter Delegate Session a couple weeks ago, I whispered to Conference Minister Owen Burkholder, “This is good!” We had just received two more congregations into Virginia Mennonite Conference, Eastside Church and Iglesia Discipular Anabautista. This is becoming a regular and healthy occurrence in our conference. In the history of Virginia Mennonite Conference we have seen about 225 congregations emerge globally and here at home. A few have not survived. Some now find their primary home in other conferences. Today there are 69 congregations …
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February 28, 2011
by Willard Eberly
VMM Mediterranean Regional Director
On behalf of VMM, I wish to recognize the significant service rendered by Paul and June Kropf, long-term pioneer missionaries to Albania with Eastern Mennonite Missions. Paul died unexpectedly on Christmas morning. With great sadness and sense of loss, we remember Paul and his contribution to the Albanian church. Upon their arrival in Lezhe, Albania, in 1993, Eva and I were privileged to welcome Paul and June and help them settle in their new home. Since then they’ve faithfully and humbly shared the Gospel with the Albanian people. Paul’s diligent, …
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February 10, 2011
by Loren Horst
God is on a mission to change the world. Everyone knows the world needs it. Humanity has a propensity of messing things up and we all have done our share. Sin, we call it, and it ripples out into all of our relationships, human institutions, and even affects creation. God’s mission to change the world focuses on changing people. Transformation, we call it, and it too ripples out into human lives and relationships. God is doing this transformation by giving his son Jesus into the lives of people and then …
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January 20, 2011
by Owen Burkholder
Virginia Mennonite Conference Minister
On December 12, the Early Church (in downtown Harrisonburg) gathered to ordain Ron Copeland to the ministry. It was my first visit to their worship service and remarkable in many ways. The youthful diversity of the gathering—students from EMU and JMU—meet with the group on a regular basis. Persons with various racial/ethnic characteristics came together on this third Sunday of Advent to hear portions of Mary’s ancient song. Ron Copeland’s message was autobiographical. He had received a call to ministry in his early youth that caught up to him after …
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December 23, 2010
by Loren Horst
Core values are those values we hold dear. They represent the orienting center of our lives, the priorities by which we live. They are usually expressed by how we live our lives and what occupies our attention in terms of time and money. Sometimes core values are also expressed by our words. When our core values as expressed by our words and values expressed by our actions are congruent, we call that integrity. When they are not, we call that hypocrisy. One way to promote integrity and reduce hypocrisy is …
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December 8, 2010
by Loren Horst
I attended a baptismal service again recently. Four members of the Daniel family went “under the water” as the pastor put it. Father, mother, and two sons all gave verbal witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and accepted the sacrament and sign of baptism in the presence of God and a company of people. Some of this company had followed this path earlier. Others, not yet. The pastor reminded us all of the significance of this bold step of faith. Steve, Saffia, Levi and Joshua are now united with …
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