Stories and resources

June 2013

Return to the earth This three part series looks at the current and past work of Mennonite Central Committee with indigenous groups in the United States. Learn how MCC Central States' Indigenous Vision Center is now focusing on anti-racism and sovereignty issues that affect all indigenous people.

May 2013

MCC raises Syria crisis response goal to $1.5 million MCC asks for cash donations to support a $1.5-million response to the increasing humanitarian crisis among Syrians.
Papuan storyteller builds relationships in her HIV work A participant in MCC’s storytelling workshop in Papua, Indonesia, writes about her experience of trying to help a woman who just learned she had HIV protect her newborn from the disease and tell her husband about her diagnosis.
Helping hands at work in Syria As the conflict escalates, MCC continues to deliver humanitarian assistance to people fleeing from violence and destruction of their homes in Syria. MCC accomplishes this through its partnership with agencies such as Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC).
Loss moves mother to serve those with HIV and AIDS Elsie Sithebe’s work with families in South Africa who have HIV and AIDS is strengthened by MCC’s behind-the-scenes support.
MCC encourages Egyptian youth with disabilities to counter stigma MCC’s Global Family education program supports Egyptian children and teens living with disabilities as they counter stigma and get an education and employment. Bola Melad Ragheb, who benefitted from the program, now pays for his sister’s education.
SWAP: Safe, warm and dry MCC Great Lakes' Sharing With Appalachian People (SWAP) program is a home repair ministry for families in need. Visit groups as they spend a week working with home owners in Harlan, Kentucky to make their homes safe, warm and dry.
Former MCC U.S. leader’s service spanned seven decades J. Wilmer Heisey, a former leader of Mennonite Central Committee U.S., died May 5 in Harrisonburg.
MCC funds help keep Zambian clean water pumps in good repair With some MCC-sponsored training on how to fix pumps, the Zambian Brethren in Christ Church is able to keep clean water flowing in south central Zambia.

April 2013

MCC friend wins UN peace prize Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban of South Sudan recently won a United Nations 2013 peacebuilding award. Mennonite Central Committee worked with him in peacebuilding work in South Sudan during the early 1990s.
A bigger harvest in Tanzania See how MCC helps farmers in northern Tanzania deal with drought and soil erosion through conservation agriculture.
Voices of Syria Voices of Syrian refugees and MCC partners who are helping provide support in this crisis.
Prepare to be surprised West Coast Mennonite Central Committee’s Global Anabaptist Institute, to be held June 13-21 in Fresno, Calif., is now accepting applications from young adults who want to be challenged by the diverse opinions and backgrounds of other participants, spiritual concepts and study of peace and justice.
Seed: Serving in community "Serving in community" is a three-part series about Mennonite Central Committee's Seed program in Colombia. Each part takes a look at Seed's three main focuses; service, advocacy and reflection.
In Afghanistan, MCC brings opportunities to Hazara youth In Kabul, Afghanistan, MCC’s partner Le Pelican gives boys and girls who are Hazara, a marginalized ethnic group, the opportunity to learn vocational skills and supplement the education most get in school.
Fire from heaven: musings on peace from an armed pickup truck Opinion writer Titus Peachey compares his ethical discomfort of riding on an armed pickup truck with military guards he neither requested nor wanted with living in a country that relies on military might for its cultural and national superiority. Peachey wonders what would happen if Christians challenged their reliance on might by an intentional following of Christ’s way of peace.

March 2013

Essay contest winner explores root causes of immigration conflict High school senior earns grand prize for her essay on immigration issues in the U.S.
Congregations invited to stand with Colombians for peace and justice Annual Days of Prayer and Action event calls on U.S. congregations to stand in solidarity with brothers and sisters in Colombia, including by calling on the U.S. government to turn military aid into initiatives for peace and development.
Looking back: MCC’s early years in Bangladesh See images from the history of MCC’s work in Bangladesh, from relief efforts to partnering alongside farmers to introduce new crops.
MCC U.S. board acts for peace through its investments The MCC U.S. board took unanimous action to respond to a call from partners, including churches, by not knowingly supporting through its investments and purchases violence against Palestinians, Israelis and other people groups.
From gang member to fervent apostle The Rev. Eugene van Kramberg, of Eldorado Park, South Africa, works with other pastors and community members to address criminal activity through restorative justice mediation. MCC supports this initiative.
When news of the Middle East becomes hum-drum Linda Espenshade, news coordinator for MCC U.S., explains why she can look behind the constant drone of terrible news from the Middle East and find the people -- mothers, children, and families -- that help her to care.
Syrian crisis: Dramatic impact of refugees on Jordan J. Daryl Byler, MCC representatives for Iran, Iraq and Jordan, speaks to national and international media at an InterAction news briefing.
Bound by hospitality During the past two years, violent conflict in Syria has forced more than 400,000 refugees across the border into Jordan. Daryl Byler, MCC representative who lives in Amman, Jordan, explains why Jordan keeps its borders open even as the country struggles to meet basic needs of its Syrian “guests” and assimilate them into its schools, communities and economy. Nongovernmental organizations, including MCC, assist Jordan with meeting Biblical and cultural mandates to show hospitality to strangers.