June 2009
I was recently introduced to an adult education class of retirees for a presentation on mission strategy. The class leader introduced me as the leader of MBMSI. I could tell he felt relieved to have remembered the five letters in correct order. He then began to spell out the acrostic as Mennonite Brethren Missions…..before his voice trailed off and he looked to me for assistance. I laughed (as I always do in this situation) and finished the introduction with “and Service International”.
I can count on one hand the number of times I have heard our organizational name pronounced correctly in a speaking introduction over the past 10 years. The four consonants and one vowel do not easily morph into another word for easy memorization. However, they do have a rich history with our mission.
In the many places around the world where our teams are planting churches, MBMS International or “MBMSI” as it is often referred to has been translated and modified in many creative ways. While the words mean very little to these new Believers, their relationship to a global family is important.
The retirees I was with would remember our former name, “Board of Missions and Services”. This acrostic at least had a combination of vowels and consonants which made for easier pronunciation. However, what the word “BOMAS” gained in ease of communication it lacked in vision.
How important is our brand to communicating vision and direction for this ministry? Is there resonance with our current name and logo amongst our constituency? Does our current brand capture who we are and where we are going as a mission?
Our board has initiated a study of these questions with our constituency over the coming months. Thank you for contributing to that process!
I was meditating this morning on 1 Kings 10:1 where the Queen of Sheba visits Solomon because she had heard of his fame and “his relation to the name of the Lord.” I’m convinced that it is our relationship with the Lord Jesus and His name which are the most important questions we should be asking. As we represent Him, we desire to be as effective as possible in carrying His good news to the nations.
Ministry Highlights
-John and Evelyn Wiens have found that in their community in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, they and the TREK team have surprised, encouraged and motivated their neighbors by doing yard work and other service projects to clean up their apartment building and local parks. John and Ev have had many opportunities to share their faith as they served and worked alongside their neighbors.
-At the Bon Berger Clinic in Kinshasa, DR Congo, many people receive quality health care in the name of Christ that they could not normally afford. Staff have seen lives transformed as people, including one security guard at the clinic, decide to follow Jesus as a result of this ministry. Children are also receiving Bible training at the clinic in hopes that they will one day become leaders in their community.
Items for Prayer
-Six young adults from the Darien forest in Panama recently decided to be baptized! Pray for Einer & Girlesa Zuluaga as they continue to work in this dangerous area where foreigners are normally not allowed due to the presence of guerillas. Pray that God will give them boldness to declare the name of the Lord in this risky, but spiritually fruitful place.
-TREK participants will be returning this month from assignments in Germany, Ukraine, Lithuania, Thailand and Brazil. Pray that these young adults will be inspired to continue serving God with passion as they reenter their home communities. Pray that the relationships they started will continue to bear fruit in the months and years to come.
Until all have heard,
Randy Friesen
Vision for Mission