The Mission Committee’s task is to plan and develop in consultation with the Ministry Team a vigorous program of evangelism, witness and visitation.

Remember the wonderful song the Chin Christian Church composed just for us at WNMC, in appreciation for the contribution we gave from the Anniversary Fund? A next step in our relationship is a work and fun evening at the MCC Generations Thrift Store in Waterloo, Thursday, March 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm. The group needs to be limited to 30 persons. Pastor Jehu will invite 15 persons from his congregation. Let us match that number from WNMC. If we have more volunteers than the maximum, we will just plan an additional evening. You can sign up on Mission and Service section of the foyer bulletin board or contact Ray Brubacher of the Mission and Service Committee.

The Mission and Service Committee decided to last Tuesday to commit $2,000 from the Anniversary Fund to a humanitarian crisis in western Kenya, in an area where several Mennonite congregations thrive. These funds will be forwarded to a program called Kenya Economic Development and Human Advancement Program (KEDHAP) which was initiated several years ago by WNMC member Robert Kruse (Ron Mathies is on the board) and now administered by MCC, working closely with the Mennonite churches in that area. Last week ethnic hostilities with deep roots, inflamed by political animosities, erupted. Houses were burned, several people killed and cattle stolen. The general mayhem forced thousands of people to flee to a camp with nothing but the clothes on their back, including some church leaders. These leaders and KEDHAP staff request prayer as they provide life-giving supplies and work for peace... This disbursement depletes the 25th Anniversary Fund although some pledges are yet outstanding. 

Note from Isaac Friesen and Wanda Wall-Bergen in Beni Suef, Egypt: We met with Abuna Youssef today and passed on the WNMC donation to him. He was very appreciative. The Abuna is a man whom we deeply respect and who can be trusted to manage the money in the best way possible so that it is used to build peace in Beni Suef. He mentioned sending a letter of appreciation, which we will plan to send back with my (Isaac) parents who are visiting in March. Until then, take care, and pass on our greetings to all. You can follow Isaac's and Wanda's life in Egypt by going to their blog at http://isaacandwanda.blogspot.com/

You are invited to a dinner and program celebrating 25 years of service by the Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support (MCRS) which has helped over 2,000 individuals and families who have fled their homelands to seek a new life in Canada. MCRS provides support with the legal process of making a refugee claim, connects refugee claimants to social services and settlement support in the community.The keynote speaker is WLU Professor Ginette Lafrenière whose current research focuses on gaps in services for survivors of war and torture and on the economic integration of immigrants and refugees.  She will speak on: "What we claim to be true: reflections on vulnerability and resiliency." This celebration will take place at Knox Presbyterian Church on Saturday April 21, 6:00 pm. Tickets are $35.00 (before April 2, $40 thereafter) and are available at www.mcrs.ca/25years or call (519) 571-1912.

Mission and Service Committee: Ray Brubacher (chair), Dave Neufeld, Kathy Hochstetler, Rob Kroeger, Ron Mathies, Peter Paetkau