WDC-Stories Archives - Western District Conference

Esperanza para la misión

*En la imagen: Participantes de Esperanza para el Futuro uniéndose al servicio dominical en español de la Iglesia Menonita Universitaria. BIPOC Líderes menonitas y aliados se reunieron en la College […]

Together

*Photo by Nicole Baster on Unsplash One of the ways that I recognize the Holy Spirit at work is when I begin to hear the same message repeated again and […]

Hope for the future, encouragement for the journey

Recently I traveled with several other WDC members to attend the Hope for the Future conference in Goshen, IN. Hope for the Future started in 2011, as a gathering of […]

Do You Have A Vision To Share?

Over the past few months, I have enjoyed meeting with friends of Western District Conference to hear how the conference has impacted their lives and to share updates about WDC […]

Who Needs to Know?

I received an email this week from someone in the central Kansas area who wanted to have their worship committee meeting at the WDC offices. (Of course! We’re happy to […]

CPC Guatemala Learning Tour: A Journey of Church Growth, Cultural Immersion, and Mutual Support

*Pictured: Our recent Church Planting Learning Trip to Guatemala was a deeply enriching experience. We focused on strengthening our relationships with our churches there, listening to their hopes and challenges, […]

Kids Meet Christ Initiative Press Release

In October, Western District Conference (WDC) of Mennonite Church USA received a $677,730 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support its new Kids Meet Christ program, encouraging congregations to reimagine […]

Kids Meet Christ: Creative Worship with Kids at the Center of Our Innovation

It’s a new year. There are new possibilities of “reimagining and revitalizing worship with children at the center of our innovation.” (Lilly Endowment Grant, p. 1) Jesus is the center […]

Words for Our Time

Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong. Everything should be done in love.” – (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) These brief but powerful verses were featured recently in […]

Nonprofit Transparency – Things to Consider Before You Give

In today’s world there are a tremendous number of nonprofit charities who are all doing good work for important causes. According to the IRS, in 2022 there were 1,970,000 nonprofits […]

Vivir en el Shalom: Paz Justa

A medida que se desarrolla el nuevo año, trae consigo nuevas posibilidades para reflexionar, renovar y volver a comprometernos con nuestro llamado como personas de fe. Para las comunidades de […]

Anabaptism at 500: 2025 Has Arrived!

How exciting it is, looking forward to special events and projects in 2025 commemorating the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Anabaptist movement! Among the gifts under our Christmas […]

The Golden Oldies (Christmas Edition)

I’ve often wondered why as we age we are often still drawn to the “golden oldies” of our youth–there’s great music being produced every day, why continue to play the […]

Longest Night Worship Service: For Those Who Grieve and Remember

My sister moved from Kansas to Alaska 25 years ago. Today she and her husband live in Fairbanks. Since she moved so far North, I’ve become more aware of the seasons […]

Revitalizando la Identidad Anabautista: Reflexiones desde el Retiro de Pastores Hispanos

En un mundo cada vez más polarizado y desafiante, las iglesias anabautistas enfrentan el reto de renovar su compromiso con los valores fundamentales de su fe. Este llamado a revitalizar […]

Leaning Into Anabaptism More than Ever

In 2017, author Palmer Becker made it easier for us to talk about what makes Anabaptist followers of Jesus different. Becker’s Anabaptist Essentials reminds us that “Jesus is the center of […]

WDC Dismantling Racism Action Team – Reflections from Workshop at Annual Assembly

I was just at a meeting with some others in our conference who are passionate about indigenous justice and was reminded once again that long ago I promised a short […]

Fortified for Faithful Living

For over 75 years in the community where I live, the local Lions Club has sponsored an all-day pancake feed on election day, as a fundraiser for charitable projects in […]

Changes You Can Get Excited About

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is popularly quoted as saying “There is nothing permanent except change.” Too often we resist change, we wish for the good old days and long for the […]

Investing in Transition

*Pictured: Sandra Montes-Martinez, Texas-based Associate Conference Minister leads a small group study session with Hispanic pastors and church planters. This past spring, we were excited to learn that the Schowalter […]