Bring the world to your congregation this July

Posted: May 24, 2022

“Do I participate alone at my computer, or will groups emerge to share what is typically a communal event?” Ray Brubacher, former event planner for Mennonite World Conference, didn’t wait until July to decide. Unable to attend the event in person, he is organizing watch parties for Anabaptist-Mennonites in his region to attend the hybrid Assembly together.

Mennonite World Conference’s Assembly will take place in Indonesia 5–10 July 2022 both on-site and online. The event features 10 worship services across six days with inspiring speakers from the global Anabaptist-Mennonite family.

On-site attendance is limited due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the hybrid event enables everyone to participate from wherever they are. Plenary sessions, workshops and Global Church Village stage will be livestreamed and recorded.

Online registrants enter the Assembly Hub to join conversation spaces with other participants from around the world, attend workshops and view photos and videos from the live event.

“We encourage local congregations to register for the Assembly,” says Jardely Martinez, Assembly communications coordinator. “You can view the livestream in real time with Indonesia or host a watch party at a time of your convenience.”

The Anabaptist-Mennonite pastors and leaders group in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, is planning two viewing sessions from Wednesday to Saturday.

“I learned in Zimbabwe to keep it simple,” says Ray Brubacher.

Likely hosted at a Mennonite Church Canada congregation, these watch parties will be open to all Anabaptist-Mennonites from the region. Ray Brubacher is especially keen to see newer Anabaptist-Mennonite congregations attend, especially those on the margins of dominant culture in Canada.

Assembly videos will be available for one month after the event.

“You can relieve your pastor of sermon duties this summer by screening one or several of the Assembly plenary speakers,” says Jardely Martínez. “Your worship band can learn new songs from the international ensemble or take a break by airing the Assembly worship singing video.

Experts from the global Anabaptist-Mennonite family will share their knowledge in workshops. Some will be livestreamed from onsite while others will be held in a webinar format. “Workshops may be used in Sunday school classes or provide material for discussion in week-day studies or youth groups,” says Rianna Isaak-Krauß, Assembly assistant.