This month MCC Canada appointed a new Executive Director – Kenneth H. Kim – and recently MCC published a Q&A article with him so we could get to know him better. The full article is worth reading but I was particularly struck by his response to the final question.

Q: What’s excited you about coming to lead an Anabaptist organization like MCC?
A: I have been involved with the work of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, I’ve been on the board for nearly two decades. Having understood the history of the Foodgrains Bank, what we’ve been able to achieve over its history and the fact that it started originally as the Mennonite Foodgrains Bank has meant that I have always respected the work and ethos of MCC. 

For me it was a very revealing character of Anabaptists, particularly those at MCC, to share a ministry that was so good, that could have been very successful — meaning as an MCC ministry — to give it away. I think that is what the whole point of our faith is, to give generously; grace is meant to be given away. Over my career I saw the leadership characteristic of every Anabaptist person that I had the blessing to work with, they shared generously, and for me it left a very strong impression

Everywhere I have worked or visited, I’ve met MCC workers and staff, and for me, they embody the best of what it is to live our faith in Christ, in community with all of God’s people and creation and to walk humbly doing so.

I had never thought about it in this way before but…it is true. Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Damascus Road. Ten Thousand Villages. Victim-Offender Ministries. Mennonite Mental Health Services. All of these – plus many more including local organizations like ODOV – were ministries of Mennonite Central Committee that were released and went on to do good beyond MCC.

To me this is a powerful reminder that we are not and never have been the owners of these ministries. We are just the workers of the day. Worth of our wages but entitled to no more. The owner, the Lord, will see these ministries through long after we have finished our part of the work.