| Dear Phil & Kelly, "It is easy to lose hope in the church when I look at specific conflicts in my church or compare us with a version of the church in the past or somewhere else." Rianna's experience is shared by too many people in our churches and in our families, whether they are 25 or 60 years old. | | In contrast, it is encouraging to hear over and over again how the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in July helped us all to experience a church that is thriving. I hear from adults all around the world that the Assembly renewed their hope in the church. I am asking you to continue to support Mennonite World Conference as we empower member churches to be an effective witness for Christ in today's world. | | Rianna Isaak was a Global Youth Summit delegate from the Mennonite Brethren church in Canada. At GYS, "my faith was transformed because my perspective of the church shifted," she says. Rianna learned to celebrate Anabaptist theology over and above any cultural or ethnic specifics that could exclude others. She treasured worship with others who are passionate about faith in Jesus. Her experience shattered her stereotypes of what it means to be Mennonite, and reminded her that we are the Body of Christ not despite but through our different gifts. She left with rekindled hope in the church today. I am writing to ask you to continue to support this global Anabaptist church community as we continue to bear witness to the hope of the gospel in between Assemblies. Please consider a year-end gift, or commit to a monthly gift in 2016. You can make a donation or a monthly commitment on our website at www.mwc-cmm.org/donate, or by mailing a check/cheque to one of the addresses below. Between Assemblies, MWC nurtures the spaces for church relationships across the barriers of language, conference, and culture that too often divide us. Worshipping together in person provides hope, but it is in these ongoing relationships that hope is strengthened and sustained. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we share our hope in the Kingdom of God.  | With hope in Christ, 
César Garcia, MWC General Secretary |
| www.mwc-cmm.org | General Secretariat: Calle 28A No. 16-41 Piso 2 Bogotá, Colombia | Canadian Address: 50 Kent Avenue, Suite 206 Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1 T: (519) 571-0060 | U.S. Address: PO Box 5364 Lancaster, PA 17606-5364 | |
