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Through Sister-Link, Mennonite Women USA provides networking to build relationships locally and globally.
These relationships emphasize mutual giving and receiving, and validate our wide variety of gifts.
See Sister-Link description. |
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Sister-Link connects hands and hearts through prayer, letter writing, sharing resources, and face-to-face visits.
Groups and individual women interested in participating in Sister-Link are invited to contact MW USA executive director Rhoda Keener.
See current Sister-Links. |
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Sister-Link relationships reach globally
A Sister-Link with the committee of African Anabaptist Women Theologians (AAWT), and Mennonite Women USA began in 2004 with the guidance of Mennonite World Conference.
One of the goals of the Sister-Link was to help the African women to realize their vision of 20 additional Mennonite and Brethren in Christ women across Africa to be trained in theology by 2009. |
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African Anabaptist Women Theologians with Rhoda Keener in Kinshasa, Congo, November 2007. Front left-right: Esther Kalambo (Zambia), Sibusisiwe Ndlovu (Zimbabwe), Rebecca Osirro (Kenya), Rhoda Keener (MW USA), Kelemua Tefera (Ethiopia); Back left-right: Sidonie Swana (Congo), Nellie Mlotschwa (Zimbabwe), Helen Bradburn (Tanzania), Beatrice Kadi (Congo).
See also: "Doors open for women theologians" Mennonite
Weekly Review, Dec. 24, 2007. ( For these PDF articles you will need Adobe Acrobat) |
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The Sister-Link also helped to organize pen pal relationships between North American and African women theologians.
See: "Pen Pals Connect the Continents" tmbrel, May-June 2006. Pictured top middle, Mary Schertz and Rebecca Osiro; above, Mama Sidonie Swana and Sylvia Shirk Charles. |
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Les, Amies (friends), a giving circle of North American women church leaders, was formed to assist MW USA in providing scholarships for the AAWT Sister-Link. |
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Meet the graduates
Left to right: Tatiana Ndjoko (Congo), Rebecca Osiro (Kenya), Leya Muloba (Congo). |
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You can help women theologians gather in Paraguay
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Women theologians from Africa and Latin America hope to meet at Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Paraguay in July 2009. Travel funds are needed. To see a powerpoint about this need go to:
http://www.mwc-cmm.org/en/files/Networks/WomenTheologians2008June25.pps
Send gifts designated for women theologian travel (Africa or Latin America) to: Mennonite World Conference, 2529 Willow Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612 USA. All donors will be invited to a Sister-Link Tea Party in Paraguay. |
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Sister-Link relationships reach around the U.S.
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Marie Byler (left) gives a wall hanging to homeowner Ms. P following Hurricane Katrina. Quilt maker: MIchelle Byler |
Mennonite Women USA's Housewarming Sister-Link brings quilted wall hangings to persons whose homes have been destroyed by disaster, and have received a new or rebuilt home through Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). When a home is dedicated and the home owners receive MDS's book The Hammer Rings Hope, they also receive a quilted wall hanging - a tangible connection with a Mennonite sister. Since its beginning in 2004, quiltmakers from across the United States have sent 92 quilts thus far to MDS sites.
See: "Quilting Needles powerful as hammers" The Mennonite, June 3, 2008.
You can be part of this Sister-Link. See guidelines for wall hangings. Read more at the Mennonite Disaster Service web site. |
Coordinator Eloise Yoder |
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Sister-Link connects women's groups globally.
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Sharing Gifts from Gambia to Pa.
A congregation in Pennsylvania, Cedar Street Mennonite connects with women in Gambia through Eastern Mennonite Missions and MEDA workers, Denise and Gary Williamson. See: "Gift Exchange forges transatlantic friendship" MWR June 4, 2007. |
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Sister-Link connects women's groups locally.
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A rural church in central Indiana is linked with a city church about 20 miles away. The local newspaper states, "[These groups] are developing friendships and supporting each other’s mission efforts. 'Although we live close,’ says [one woman], ‘we are in a different culture.' The Sister-Link structure has enabled the Anglo and African-American women to combine their gifts to do mission." |
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Threads of Hope Weavers: a former Sister-Link
Don't miss the beautiful handwoven gifts available for purchase by Threads of Hope, a Guatemalan weavers' cooperative previously paired in a Sister-Link with Franklin Conference women.
Your purchases provide an income for women in this cooperative. |
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Since its beginning in 2003, close to two dozen Sister-Links have begun; many have "concluded," but continue in friendship and prayer for one another.
See Arusha-Weavers Sister-Link.
Contact us to learn about additional past Sister-Links.