Akron, Pennsylvania, USA – At meetings held here 23-28 May, the Mennonite World Conference Executive Committee confirmed the appointment of a Program Oversight Committee for the 2015 Assembly to be held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 21-26 July.

Chairing the committee is Liesa Unger of Germany, Chief International Events Officer. Unger serves part time with MWC and also co-pastors the Mennonite church in Regensburg along with her husband Wilhelm. Committee members have been selected for their gifts in the following areas of planning:

Music and Worship – Don McNiven of Canada, Executive Director of the International Brethren in Christ Association. “It is a privilege to help create a setting where the global church can experience worshipping God together,” he said.

Global Church Village – Vikal P. Rao of India, from the Mennonite Church in India. He helped coordinate the global village at the 1997 MWC Assembly in Calcutta and the youth involvement in the 2013 Assembly in Zimbabwe. “A very positive aspect of MWC is the opportunity to learn, recognize and value other cultures,” he said.

Workshops – Marius van Hoogstraten, from the Algemene Doopsgezinde Sociëteit of the Netherlands and the Arbeitsgemeinchaft Mennonitischer Gemeinden of Germany, working with the German Mennonite Peace Committee. “The workshop program,” he commented, “is a great place…to create spaces for encounters and together move towards deeper understanding and appreciation of the one source and foundation that we share, which is Jesus Christ.”

Morning theme and small group discussions – Thobekile Ncube, Zimbabwe, from Ibandla Labazalwane kuKristu eZimbabwe (Brethren in Christ Church). “Having been involved in pastoral ministry and participating in management of meetings,” she indicated, “I will be able to contribute in planning for the morning themes and discussions.”

Children and Youth Program – Egon Sawatsky, Vereinigung der Mennoniten Brüder Gemeinden Paraguays (Mennonite Brethren Church of Paraguay). He has worked for 10 years in youth programs, leading Bible studies, organizing programs and mentoring young baptismal candidates. “Some of my passions,” he said, “are to connect with other people, make connections for other people, meet different cultures and have communion with them.”

Left to Right: Don McNiven; Egon Sawatsky; Marius van Hoogstraten; Thobekile Ncube; Vikal P Rao