August 27th, 2024Introducing MC Canada GYS representatives
Transformational Opportunities at Global Youth Summit 2025
Guided by the theme “Empowered by love” (1 John 4:11), Anabaptist young adults from around the world will gather to worship together, reflect on faith across cultures, learn about the local culture, and grow in understanding through relevant workshops at the fifth Global Youth Summit (GYS) in Germany from May 30-June 1, 2025. The GYS is organized by Mennonite World Conference (MWC) to engage young adults ages 18-25. GYS 2025 will coincide with Anabaptism’s 500th-anniversary celebrations on May 29, 2025, in Zurich, Switzerland as an extra GYS event between the 2022 (Indonesia) and 2028 (Ethiopia) Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Assemblies. Young adults across the world are encouraged to register to attend GYS. MWC has invited each member country to send one Young Anabaptist (YABs) delegate to attend special sessions before the GYS.
Doug Klassen, Executive Minister of Mennonite Church Canada, emphasizes that “as Mennonite Church Canada is being transformed into an intercultural church, it is so valuable to have our young leaders experience firsthand how God is at work in the global church. The Global Youth Summit (GYS) experience is powerfully transformative for young leaders and for the congregations they return to.” To encourage participation, Mennonite Church Canada Regional Churches invited young adults active in local churches to be part of a 5-member team (one from each region) to represent Mennonite Church Canada at the GYS. Mennonite Church Canada is providing $1000 for each of the five representatives. The remaining support will come from regional fundraising.
Mennonite Church Canada is pleased to introduce the five regional young adults who were selected from 20 applicants to work together and represent the nationwide church at GYS 2025:
Caleb Yang, (Mennonite Church BC). Caleb is a member of Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship in Vancouver, BC where he volunteers as an archivist. He has lived in South Korea and the United States. He is now a permanent resident of Canada
Caleb will bring to the GYS another perspective on Anabaptism as someone who found his home in the Mennonite Church and has chosen to live in an intentional community as a counter to capitalistic consumerism and individualism. By getting to know and interact with other Anabaptist young people, hearing about their faith experiences, and visiting the place of Anabaptism’s historical roots, Caleb hopes to gain a better understanding and appreciation for Anabaptism. From his experience, being Anabaptist “means finding home after a long journey of wandering.”
Liam Kachkar, (Mennonite Church Alberta) attends First Mennonite Edmonton. Liam’s selection fulfills a dream dating back to the 2015 MWC Assembly in Pennsylvania. He notes that he met a young adult GYS attendee, and throughout the Assembly kept hearing comments about how rich, meaningful, and inspiring that space was for many young adults. He thought to himself, “One day, I see myself being at that Global Youth Summit”.
Liam states, “To be an Anabaptist for me means to be connected to a global church that is seeking to continue Christ’s work. Sometimes I forget that I’m not just a church attendee in Alberta but instead part of a larger story.” Attending GYS represents another step for Liam in a long history of involvement in the broader Mennonite Church.
Shenyce Buhler (Mennonite Church Saskatchewan) is a member of Nutana Park Mennonite Church in Saskatoon where she volunteers as a worship leader. She recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree in English literature and a peace studies certificate.
“For me,” Shenyce comments, “being part of the Anabaptist community is looking at every person and saying that they belong to a larger family that will be warm and welcoming, no matter who they are.” She hopes her participation in the GYS will be a great learning experience and a wonderful opportunity to meet other young adults from around the world.
Danika Warkentin (Mennonite Church Manitoba) is a member of Home Street Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. Danika and her family lived in Burkina Faso for six years when she was a child, where her parents were MC Canada International Witness workers. From there they moved to Pincher Creek, Alberta, participating in Springridge Mennonite Church. After high school, Danika moved to Winnipeg to attend Canadian Mennonite University, where she is in her final year of a degree in peace and conflict transformation.
Danika says, “I am proud, honoured, and unbelievably excited to be representing MC Canada at the Global Youth Summit. To be able to participate in meaningful conversations with other young adults who are passionate about the future of the church is what intrigues me most about this opportunity.”
Laura Rodriguez Reyes (Mennonite Church Eastern Canada) is a member of First Mennonite Church in Kitchener, Ontario. She has also been appointed as Mennonite Church Canada’s official MWC Young Anabaptists (YABs) delegate. As such, she will complete a research project with input from the other MC Canada GYS representatives and attend delegate-only special sessions to be held prior to the GYS.
Laura is a recent master’s graduate and is hoping to leverage her skills and experiences to work for organizations like Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and Tear Fund. As Laura states, “Being born in the global south myself and having the privilege to live in Canada, I feel a strong sense of duty to utilize my privilege and education to support those who lack access to necessities and opportunities for advancement.”
Laura believes her commitment to faith-based service, cross-cultural experience, and passion for youth empowerment make her a positive representative and delegate for Mennonite Church Canada. She plans to do so with integrity, passion, and dedication. “Overall,” Laura comments, “attending the summit offers a unique platform to connect with like-minded individuals, deepen my understanding of Anabaptist faith and values, and discern how I can contribute to positive change in my community and the world.”
Transformative opportunities for these young leaders are amplified with the support of local congregations in prayer, engagement in conversations, fundraising through the regional church and encouragement for broader attendance. Registration for GYS on the MWC YABs webpage is open on Sept 1, 2024, and any interested young adults are encouraged to register, attend, and connect with their regional representative on the MC Canada Team.