A Four Denomination Childhood By Doris Unruh My faith story begins in a small town in extreme southern Iowa where there were four different churches. These four churches held many community events together, and I was as comfortable...
Read moreGod in My Passenger Seat
God in My Passenger Seat By Kristin Kaufman Growing up, I would say I was a “routine Christian.” I grew up in a Christian home and we did all of the routine things that Christians do. We attended church very regularly on Sunday...
Read moreHolding Scripture
HOLDING SCRIPTURE By Mitch Stutzman “Was Jesus fully man?” That was the opening question from the professor of the first course I ever took in seminary. The eyes of my peers darted around the room, questioning each other, silently...
Read moreI’ve Barely Scratched the Surface with God
I’ve Barely Scratched the Surface with God By Beth Lichty Our house was void of any resemblance of church. No Bibles. No crosses. No Jesus. No God. The verbal, emotional, and physical abuse from my father after attending church was...
Read moreFaith Journey in a Parka
Faith Journey in a Parka By Dorothy Nickel Friesen I grew up in Minnesota where summer never began before July! After school was officially over at Memorial Day, the casual time at home on the farm began. The ground was still cold; the grass...
Read moreMy journey with Scripture
My journey with Scripture By Gordon Houser I grew up in a fairly nonreligious family in Emporia, Kan. While my mother attended the local Methodist church semiregularly and we kids went to Sunday school through catechism (junior...
Read moreGrowing in my faith through hosting MCC IVEPers
Growing in my faith through hosting MCC IVEPers by Lois Thieszen Preheim On our family farm we hosted thirty-seven Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP) visitors from eleven different countries. The...
Read moreThe pandemic meets the church
The Pandemic meets the church By Dorothy Nickel Friesen My last public worship was in March 2020. It was a funeral for my cousin. The country church was full, the service filled with hearty singing, and of course, we ate a satisfying meal of...
Read moreWe need darkness and light
We need darkness and light By Dorothy Nickel Friesen Sometimes a light surprises the child of God who sings. It is the Lord who rises with healing in God’s wings. When comforts are declining, God grants the soul again a season of clear...
Read moreNew Software
New Software By Carol Duerksen What happens when you hold a book called God Calling by “two listeners” in 1932 in one hand, and in the other hand you hold one by Franciscan priest Richard Rohr in 2016? What happens when you read the two together...
Read moreMore Than I Did at First
More Than I Did at First By Beth Lichty Running was an elusive sport to me for many years. I watched many people I knew lace up their special running shoes for a daily run of a predetermined length. Sometimes these runners would join...
Read moreA Praying Mantis, a Poem, a Prayer
A Praying Mantis, a Poem, a Prayer By Carol Duerksen It was our first indoor church worship service since the pandemic lockdown in March. Like many congregations, we experienced our share of controversy over when to re-open. Our church...
Read more