Alumni prepare for 2009 global assembly.

Three Bethany alumni living in three different countries have major roles with Menno­nite World Conference (MWC), which is preparing for its next global assembly, July 14-19, 2009, in Paraguay: Larry Miller ('67), Strasbourg, France; Karen Martin Schiedel ('96), Kitchener, Ont., Canada; and Sarah Thompson ('02), Elkhart, Ind., U.S

Miller notes that this global assembly (Assembly Gathered) is like the Sunday morning of a local congregation-a time for the global church to gather for worship, teaching, fellowship, networking, inspiration, renewal, and personal transformation. Additionally, Assembly Scattered, before and after Assembly Gathered, will provide multiple opportunities for visits to churches in Paraguay and across Latin America.

However, MWC today is much more than these occasional global gatherings. The vision of MWC is to be a "communion (Koinonia) of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness." More specifically, its mission is to "(1) to be a global community of faith in the Anabaptist tradition, (2) to facilitate relationships between Anabaptist churches worldwide, and (3) to relate to other Christian world communions and organizations."

Registration materials and information for both Assembly Gathered and Assembly Scattered are available at www.mwc-cmm.org. Whether or not you are able to attend, Miller, Martin Schiedel, and Thompson urge all to consider helping fund an adult or young adult delegate. Many up-and-coming Mennonite leaders from around the world are simply a visa and a plane ticket away from a life-changing experience. Mennonites in North America and Europe can create a financial bridge for Mennonite-Anabaptist leaders from Africa, Asia/Pacific, and Latin America.

Larry Miller ('67), general secretary since 1990, provides leadership in nurturing and implementing the vision and mission of the global communion of Anabaptist-related churches (1.5 million people in 75 countries) while overseeing those who serve in and through MWC. "Living in and with the global Church is a privilege, a source of life and hope for me personally," he says.

"Mennonites have often acted like the local church (congregation) is the Church. The New Testament shows, in my opinion, that the Church is both local and global or it is only a fragment of the Church of Jesus Christ. MWC provides the opportunity to live as Anabaptist-Mennonite church globally while relating to other expressions of the Christian Church worldwide. Throughout history, there has always been some part of this global Church that is full of energy and growing (and other parts that are aging and shrinking). Today, that part is found primarily in the global South.

"Since 1994 the majority of Anabaptist-Mennonites have lived in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Today more than 65 per cent do so. Like all churches, these churches are far from perfect.  Living with them reminds me of a ride in a Calcutta taxicab. Often the cab is in poor material condition, covered with bumps, scratches and dust. The streets are full of traffic jams and people. Crashes and injury seem inevitable and sometimes occur. The driver is friendly but seems not to know where you want to go. Yet you always reach your destination after an exhilarating ride!"

A graduate of Goshen College ('71) and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary ('75), Larry then served with Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Mission Network in Europe prior to his current role. He also completed his Ph.D. in theology at the University of Strasbourg during that time. Larry's wife Eleanor, who was born and grew up as a missionary kid in India, also serves MWC as a communication assistant. They have three adult children, two who were able to attend Bethany for one year: Anne-Marie ('88-89), Elisabeth, and Alex ('97-98).

Karen Martin Schiedel ('96), director of finance and administration, oversees all financial aspects of MWC as well as some tasks in human resources and information technology. After graduating from Goshen College with a B.A. in business administration and a minor in Spanish she married Andrew Schiedel and moved to Ontario, where she initially worked for Mennonite Savings and Credit Union. She and her husband are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first child in September.

Karen says, "My position at MWC allows me to use my God-given gifts in the accounting field in ways that help bring the global church together. I greatly enjoy meeting and working with wonderful people from around the world. Experiencing the church across diverse cultures is an amazing experience. We have much to share with sisters and brothers around the world and much to learn from each other. I enjoy the challenges of working with different cultures, languages, currencies, and expectations. There is rarely a dull moment."

Sarah Thompson ('02) is the North American representative to MWC's Youth and Young Adult Executive Committee (AMIGOS), whose dream is to create a global community of young Anabaptists. Their work involves planning for the July 10-12 Global Youth Summit as well as emailing, fundraising, writing articles, and making presentations at churches and with youth/young adult groups.

Sarah, a 2006 Spelman College grad, says, "Bethany gave me a great foundation on which to build connections with brothers and sisters of faith around the world. Hearing their stories inspired me to continue witnessing for peace and justice, working for women's rights, and organizing to improve my community. At MWC in 2003, I was able to go to Zimbabwe for Assembly Gathered and the first Global Youth Summit and meet Mennonites who dance. That was refreshing! In order to understand our faith in the 21st century, we North Americans need to have room in our hearts and minds for global realities and recognize the impact our choices make on the rest of the world. MWC helps me understand those realities.

"I volunteer with MWC because I am intrigued by the deep communion that happens when people from different backgrounds and cultures come together to worship, to support one another, and to share stories of the in-breaking of the kingdom of God! I've been challenged, and even hurt, by members of our global Anabaptist family, but the difficulties have provided opportunities to experience God's abundant grace and reconciliation."