Global Mission Dinner hears from EYN president Daniel Mbaya

By Frank Ramirez

Sharon Brugger Norton was uncertain, as she opened the Global Mission Dinner, how she should introduce Don Fitzkee. He had just passed the moderator’s gavel only moments before he was to lead the dinner in prayer. Fitzkee chuckled and said, “If I’m not an ex-moderator, I’m close.”

Norton as executive director of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren introduced the international guests who were present. She then introduced the evening’s speaker and guest of honor Daniel Mbaya, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), “the largest Anabaptist communion in the world.”

“The Church of the Brethren has so many good things,” Mbaya told the crowd. “You help everyone. Don’t let go of that.”

He recalled from memory the Acts 2 scripture, when the Holy Spirit arrived in the midst of the disciples with a mighty rushing wind, descending with tongues of fire on their heads. “The challenge confronting us as a people is we are truly in a difficult world,” he continued. “Some in our nation seem to have hostility to the gospel.” The response, he said, was not violence, but to baptize more people.

Mbaya expressed gratitude for the help of Bethany Theological Seminary in training new ministers. “Great is the academy!” he said. He then hearkened back to the day when the Brethren, more than a century ago, “sent missionaries to other country bringing the good news of Christ.”