A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

needs of the churches. However, these pro- grams should be designed to operate on the local level, and with an emphasis on investing in people rather than in property. For the most part, these programs are seen as expendable and should be phased out as soon as the needs are met by other means.13 The 1975 North American conference described an inter- national Mennonite Brethren Church with emphases on up- holding the faith and promoting the fellowship and partner- ship in preaching, teaching and healing. The "Vision for the Future" called for a worldwide partnership in the assignment of mission.14 A century of Mennonite Brethren missions has resulted in an international fellowship. The 43,000 Mennonite Brethren in North America (26,000 Canada, 17,000 U.S.) constitute only one-third of the total number of Mennonite Brethren believers around the world. India, for example, numbers 50,000; Zaire 47,000. Mission literature reports Mennonite Brethren church- es in fourteen countries of the world.15 Missionary Vision for the Future The continued commitment of Mennonite Brethren to mis- sions found expression in the projections of the 1987 and 1990 conferences. The mandate for the 1990s was given in 265 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH five affirmations: (1) We strongly affirm the Generality and ur- gency of Christian mission. (2) We must increase our efforts to reach the lost, (3) We must redeem the extending opportu- nities created through a new openness in the world, (4) A Mennonite Brethren worldwide partnership will provide more resources for our mission work. (5) Three priorities are to govern our ministry: evangelism and church planting; leader- ship training and nurture; social ministries to meet the human needs as part of the gospel.16 The missions budget for the 1990-1993 triermium project- ed an annual income of $5,320,000. Contributions from the churches in 1969 was $104 per member.17 No other cause at any conference level reflects such broad and active participa- tion. Throughout Mennonite Brethren history, missions has proven to be the strongest unifying factor. The nurture of this commitment is essential for the vitality of the Mennonite Brethren movement in years to come* AN INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP North American Mennonite Brethren speak with satisfac- tion of a worldwide church that significantly outnumbers the church at home. In the promotion of missions frequent refer- ence is made to the 99,000 Mennonite Brethren abroad in contrast to only 43,000 in North America. A good deal of this satisfaction is justified. God has done great things through