​Reflections on World Conference

Written by Kat Goheen
Canada West Mission Centre Co-President

Sandra Hunter serving Communion at World Conference

​This past Sunday our Vancouver zoom service centred on a recap of our delegates’ experiences. Each person who spoke evoked memories of people and meaningful moments for me!

One important thing that I want to share with you is the truly international feeling of this Conference. Shannon and I had roommates from Germany and Norway who shared with us daily about their church experience growing up in Europe and continuing today. We had apostles and delegates speaking in their native tongues as we English speakers waited for translations. All kinds of sessions were translated into French and Spanish as well as American Sign Language, and legislation and worship sessions were also translated into German and Tahitian (perhaps more!). It was such a reminder to me that faithful followers of Jesus in our Christian expression of Community of Christ eat, pray, worship, and sing in their own unique and beloved ways.

During the week, we roomies realized that we have all studied different languages on the same learning platform, so we became language friends on the app and continue to do friend challenges together. I was studying French just for fun before, but after using it ‘for keeps’ during Conference, I have a renewed interest! I would encourage you to consider learning or brushing up on another language as a spiritual practice in solidarity with our spiritual siblings around the world. We sometimes forget that we are part of something bigger that is vibrant and beautiful: we truly have unity in diversity and it makes us stronger.
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PS – Email me if you want to be language buddies!