In honor of Women's History Month, we're excited to present a bonus MissionWary? mini-episode!

In her interview for episode six, Anicka Fast told the story of Edna Kensinger and Kazadi Matthieu. Together, they forged a complicated friendship, and joined in the imagination of the church beyond the missionary framework of 1920s Congo. It's a story we knew couldn't stay on the editing room floor!

To learn more about Anicka Fast's ministry, click here.

Take a deep dive into the complexity of mission in the South African context with Mziwandile Nkutha and Andrew Suderman on a LIVE episode of MissionWary?

Nkutha is the Coordinator of the Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA) - an organization that seeks ways to collaborate with different churches and community organizations in fostering the work of justice and peace in South Africa. Suderman, director of global partnerships with Mennonite Mission Network, brings a deep knowledge of the historical context of Christian mission, as well as a passion for what the future of mission can look like. 

Also featured in this episode are interviews with Yalile Caballero Vargas, president of Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Colombia (IMCOL—Colombian Mennonite Church), Willi Hugo Pérez, president of Seminario Anabautista Latinoamericano (SEMILLA—Latin American Anabaptist Seminary), and Diana Cruz, MCC worker in Bolivia, and international Mission Network worker alum with La Casa Grande in Benin.

Originally broadcast on Zoom and Facebook Live, May 16, 2022. To view the video version of this episode, click here.

How do the stories of mission become the history of mission? Anicka Fast shares why some stories get preserved and remembered, while others become forgotten. Plus, Rod Hollinger-Janzen gives insight into how AIMM (Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission) worked with Fast to unearth forgotten narratives from a century ago.

To learn more about Anicka Fast's ministry, go to https://www.mennonitemission.net/workers/Africa/Burkina%20Faso/Anicka%20Fast

For more information on AIMM, go to https://www.aimmint.org/

Does Christianity change a culture, or is it the other way around? A conversation with James Krabill on the Biblical impetus for mission, and what North American churches can learn from mission practiced around the world. Krabill is co-author of the new book, Unless A Grain of Wheat: A Story of Friendship between African Independent Churches and North American Mennonites.

For more information, go to: https://langhamliterature.org/books/unless-a-grain-of-wheat

Read the book review from Mission Network here: https://www.mennonitemission.net/blog/4635/Unless-a-Grain-of-Wheat-chronicles-relationship-building-in-Africa

When does service become mission? Marisa Smucker and Andrea Sawyer-Kirksey weigh in on how their experiences leading MVS (Mennonite Voluntary Service) and DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) have informed the way they see the connection between service and mission.

For more information on MVS, go to https://www.mennonitemission.net/mvs

For more information about DOOR, go to https://www.doornetwork.org/

To learn more about the basics of anti-racism, go to https://www.mennoniteusa.org/resource-portal/resource/anti-racism-basics/

Download Mennonite Mission Network's guidelines for anti-racist and anti-sexist communication booklet Shared Voices here: https://www.mennonitemission.net/resources/publications/books/343/Shared%20Voices

Coming to terms with pain caused though mission: Katerina Friesen speaks on harm done to indigenous peoples by the Doctrine of Discovery, and its connection to mission.

Resources and additional material mentioned in this episode:

• Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition: https://dofdmenno.org/
• Land Acknowledgement: https://dofdmenno.org/land-acknowledgement/
• Paths for Peacemaking with Host Peoples: https://www.commonword.ca/ResourceView/82/16613

Guests Lynda Hollinger-Janzen and Joe Sawatzky set the ground rules of why people might be wary or excited about the word, "mission."