Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 38, No. 1 Home Page
Kern Road Mennonite Church in South Bend, Ind. voted in 1996 to construct a $1.3 million US building addition, including a 400-seat sanctuary. They also decided to set aside 2% of the total construction cost, or $26,000 US, to share with other congregations in need in developing countries.
As a result, it has become the first and only congregation to date to participate in the Global Church Sharing Fund, established by Mennonite World Conference to allow sharing with Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in developing countries.
"As we try to be faithful here [in South Bend], we remember our global context," said Andre Gingerich Stoner, a member of Kern Road Mennonite Church pastoral team, who first suggested the option of setting aside resources for the global church.
While serving in Germany in the late 1980s with Mennonite Central Committee, Stoner became aware of a proposal by Nancy Heisey and Paul Longacre. They challenged North American churches to share 2% of building funds with churches in developing countries. As Stoner years later recalled his 1987 meeting with the couple and their proposal, the congregation received by mail some information from the Mennonite World Conference about the Global Church Sharing Fund.
Kern Road Mennonite Church always has given strong support to international and local missions. As recently as 1995, nearly 40% of its budget supported outreach efforts. When the new facility was completed in 1997, the congregation sponsored the opening of a new Service Adventure unit, where young adults could serve others and grow spiritually in inner-city South Bend. Throughout the building process, the congregation pledged to increase its giving to church agencies by 2% annually.
Although some initial concern was expressed by some people about the project, the congregation overwhelmingly supported the idea of contributing to the sharing fund.
Today, the new facility is complete. As many as 50 new faces began regularly attending worship services, bringing attendance near 300 people. The congregation has begun to forward annual $500 contributions to the sharing fund. "At $500 a year, we'll be doing this for a long time," said Stoner.—Tom Price, Kern Road Mennonite Church, Mennonite World Conference
Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 38, No. 1 Home Page