People & Events

Elkhart, Ind.-The Mennonite Church USA executive board has decided to move forward with a capital campaign to raise funds for a new building adjacent to the campus of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. The building will house MC USA executive leadership and Mennonite Mission Network offices, along with other MC USA organizations that choose to locate there. The executive board authorized the Mission Network to lead the $9.8 million (all figures in US funds) capital campaign for the new facility. Of that $9.8 million, $6 million will be for capital costs, including land, construction and furnishings; $2.8 million will create an endowment to pay for building operation and maintenance; and $500,000 will cover fundraising costs. The Mission Network will hold the title for the building on behalf of all partners. Donors will be asked to pledge ongoing annual support for the Mission Network and executive leadership to assure the campaign does not divert money from current ministries. The executive board agreed from the beginning that the current Elkhart facilities were inadequate and a change was needed. Associate executive director for MC USA Ron Byler described the deteriorating situation, including persistent water damage, that may make it difficult to remain in the current location until the new building is scheduled to be completed. Deliberations on whether the proposed building project was the best direction to move were wide-ranging and intense, balancing questions of economics, flexibility, location, constituent perceptions and the future in general. At the completion of the campaign and building project, MC USA will own churchwide offices in Newton, Kan.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Goshen, Ind.; Scottdale, Pa.; and Elkhart.

-MC USA release

Macha, Zambia-A century ago, two courageous Brethren in Christ missionaries, H. Frances Davidson and Adda Engle, set off to plant a church in Zambia. Today, what began as a mission in the bush of south-central Africa, has grown into a mature and significant part of the body of Christ. In August, the Zambia BIC Church, along with Brethren in Christ World Missions (BICWM), held a centennial celebration at Macha Mission. More than 2,000 people from 150 congregations across Zambia, along with guests from Malawi, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands and North America, including church leaders and former missionaries, travelled to Macha for the celebration. An address by Lupando Mwape, Zambia's vice-president, challenged the church to use its gifts and, above all, to show love.

-MWC release, from a report in the Fall 2006 issue of seek