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

this small group of believers, a mere splinter from the larger Anabaptist movement. Despite being isolated agrarian people of European stock, their message was carried to a multiplicity of countries and races simply because they could not contain the good news of redemption. like Peter and John, they could not but speak of the things which they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20). The words of the Apostle Paul recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 may also apply to the history of Mennonite Brethren missions: "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound 266 MISSIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF CHANGE the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." The cultural and racial character of this worldwide church may well come under the description of Revelation 5:9, "For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," The outcastes of India; the vendors from the streets of south- ern China; tribal people of the African jungle and along the San Juan River in Colombia; the urban dwellers of Cali, Bogo- ta, Curitiba and Sao Paulo; the migrant Indian tribes of the Paraguayan Chaco; the fellowship groups of Mexico, Spain, Germany, Austria and Japan; all these, along with the original groups in Russia and North America constitute together a worldwide Mennonite Brethren Church. Indeed, "this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Matt, 21:42). MENNONITE BRETHREN MISSIONS IN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE Numbers and scope aside, those involved in missions must not only do mission, but must also measure what they are doing by what God has said should be done.1* Because mission is a sacred assignment there is often a tendency to leave the evaluation to God and the Holy Spirit. Jesus1 para- ble in Mark 4:26-27-*So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how"-affirms the hidden secret of the gospel. The outcome is with God. To the above parable, however, must be added the parable of the talents (Matt* 25:15-30) in which the master calls his servants to accountability for their stewardship. Mennonite Brethren mission is based on a defined theo- logical understanding: "The building of Christlike self-propa- gating churches."19 Sowing the seed of the gospel is indeed necessary; it is the means of planting indigenous churches. 267 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH How does the mission measure up