A summer student reflects
Through a project focused on Mennonite Brethren and Indigenous peoples, I discovered that Mennonites played a significant role in creating the issues facing Indigenous communities to this day. I also came to appreciate the complexity of coming alongside Indigenous communities because of this history. As the project took form, I was introduced to several churches who have built strong relationships with Indigenous communities. Their friendships are a beautiful model for what reconciliation can look like when God leads people in patient and discerning action.
The beautiful, timely, and thoughtful productions put forth by CCMBC come from a small team of tight-knit, highly talented people. They help each other, ask difficult questions, brainstorm together and pray for one another. I learned that within a well-functioning team each member needs to have a voice, as each member has something to contribute regardless of rank or station.
Summer students farewelled with food.
I really appreciated the amount of time we were able to spend in prayer. At the beginning of each day, we were encouraged to take 30 minutes to read a passage of Scripture and pray. We prayed to open and close meetings, we prayed for one another and we also had a collective prayer time once a week. As a community invested in doing God’s work, regular prayer seems like an appropriate rhythm to take up. In the career path I am currently pursuing, that communal focus on prayer is unlikely to be a part of my daily work experience. However, working at CCMBC has modelled to me how the children of God in a workplace should behave.
—Conrad Mann, communications summer student 2016
Discover Conrad’s research project on Mennonite Brethren and Indigenous people:
[contentcards url=”http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/resource/stories-of-friendship/” target=”_blank”]
