On Saturday, October 11 Zion Mennonite Church will hold its 7th annual Fall Festival, beginning at 8 a.m. with a community flea market. Tables of treasures will be for sale from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fun family activities from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. will include a pumpkin patch, a moon bounce, face painting, fast pitching, wagon rides and more. A variety of food and treats will be available all day. Weather permitting, there will be a car show. The community is invited to join in the festivities with free parking, food and fun. Located at the corner of Front Street and Cherry Lane in Souderton, Zion Mennonite Church welcomes all to its Fall Festival. Donations and proceeds for the Festival will be used to benefit local organizations including the Indian Valley Opportunity Center.
Germantown: Gateway to North American Mennonite History is the topic of a conference to be held October 17 - 18 at the historic Mennonite meetinghouse at Germantown, PA. The conference, organized by the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust (GMHT), commemorates the 300th anniversary of the formal organization of the Germantown church (1708 - 2008). Co-sponsors are the Mennonite Historical Society, the Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania, and the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Keynote speakers are John Ruth and James Juhnke. Ruth will speak on “William Rittenhouse of Germantown” and Juhnke’s topic is “Germantown Mennonites and the American Revolution: New Interpretations.” For more information and registration contact Christopher Friesen, program director at the GMHT, at programs@meetinghouse.info or 215-843-0943.
Everyone is welcome to attend Christopher Dock’s Homecoming Weekend on Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19. Friday night’s 7:30 p.m. Fall Concert will also feature the Alumni of the Year Awards. Saturday includes campus tours, an art show, a moon bounce and a live animal show by Animal Junction for the kids, the All-Alumni dinner and a soccer game. Sunday’s community hymn sing begins at 4 p.m. For more information visit www.dockhs.org.
Karen’s Place, the coffee shop ministry of Doylestown Mennonite Church, will celebrate their 11th anniversary on Saturday, October 18 from 7:00 – 10 :30 p.m. featuring acoustic singer songwriter Rachanee. Donations collected will go to Mennonite Disaster Service to benefit hurricane victims in the Gulf area. For more information, please call the church office at 215-345-6377 or visit www.karensplace.org.
Mitchell’s Cajun Aces and opening act Bent Harpoon will perform folk music at the Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse in the Perkasie Mennonite Church hall on Saturday, October 18. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with performances at 7:30. Admission is as follows: Adults - $9, Over 65 - $7, Students 13 and up - $4, 12 & under - free. Ten percent of the night’s admission will be donated to Mennonite Disaster Service for rebuilding homes in the New Orleans area. Tasty refreshments will be for sale. Visit www.perkmenno.org or call 215-723-2010 for directions or more information.
Come celebrate Philadelphia Mennonite High School’s 10th Anniversary as they move ‘Forward with Faith & Gratitude.’ You are invited to celebrate at a banquet on Saturday, October 25 at 4 p.m. Please RSVP by Monday, October 6. Lawrence Chiles will be the keynote speaker. Cost is $50/ticket. Make checks payable to PMHS or pay online at www.pmhsonline.org. The banquet will be held at First District Plaza, 3801 Market St., Philadelphia, PA.
You are invited to the October prayer gathering of Franconia Mennonite Conference at Rockhill Mennonite Community’s Activity Center on Saturday, October 25, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The focus will be the role of forgiveness in prayer and prayer ministry. Speaking will be Ray Yoder, who has a heart for seeing the healing power of God released through the church today—healing of mind, body and spirit. Come and be blessed through worshiping, learning, praying and fellowshipping together.
The most recent issue of Peace & Justice News from the Peace & Justice committee of Eastern District and Franconia Mennonite Conference is now posted on the web at www.easterndistrict.org/pjn0809.pdf. This issue highlights a few of the issues that underlie the continuing rapid growth of America’s prisons and jails.
My Toddler and Me is an opportunity for parents and other caregivers of two and three year olds to get out of the house and meet others. Each Wednesday morning from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., enjoy stories, crafts and a fun time together at Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA. For more information call the church at 215-723-3592 or visit www.zionmennonite.org
Dictionary.com defines the words “partner” and “mission” as follows:
Partner [pahrt-ner] noun: a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; sharer; associate; a player on the same side or team as another.
Mission [mish-uhn] noun: a group of persons sent by a church to carry on religious work, esp. evangelization in foreign lands, and often to establish schools, hospitals, etc.; an establishment of missionaries in a foreign land; a missionary church or station.
Historically the model of mission featured EuroAmericans going, often internationally, and serving people in need in some way. As the definition above suggests, missions often implied establishing schools, hospitals or other institutions in the name of Christ.
In the last decade the whole concept of missions has been changing. Many countries where we used to “go” and “do” are now sending missionaries, sometimes to the United States.
More recently the word “missional” has crept into our vocabulary. While it comes from the same root, the idea is about realizing that our mission field is here all around us, not an ocean away. We’ve begun to wrestle with what it means to get on board with what God is already doing and reach out to our neighbors who need the hope and Good News of the gospel.
When combined with the word, “partners,” you get a very different connotation. Partners do things together, not for or to one another.
So how did this Partner in Mission (PIM) relationship become part of Franconia Conference?
The concept originally emerged from conversations between the Conference Board Executive Committee and staff as they considered the implications of being a missional conference. With a core value that God’s Spirit “blows where it will,” and wanting to flow with the Spirit wherever and however it happens, the idea was that developing relationships with partners who were different, yet shared some core similarities with us, would enhance our conference life in mission. We were looking for partners where God’s Spirit and movement was clearly evident. It was a “holy experiment,” recognizing that if we truly wanted to be a missional conference, we needed to shape our conference life and activities around what would make us more dynamic and ready to reach beyond our comfort zone.
It was envisioned that Partner in Mission relationships might open new vistas of mission for Franconia Conference, expand our connections and increase our opportunities for ministry in new areas. We may be enriched by discovering the gift of Christian unity that exceeds the usual boundaries that divide God’s people. Conversely, it was suggested that our partners might increase missional vitality from Franconia Mennonite Conference’s rich Anabaptist history and faith, including our holistic view of mission that combines evangelism, service and peacemaking. They might also benefit from certain resources we have to offer, and the relationship may provide the stimulus to further clarify their own congregation’s identity.
Early in 2001, Franconia Conference leaders first shared the concept of developing Partner in Mission relationships with conference congregations, and it was the subject of conferring at the year’s Conference Assembly. While there were lots of questions about whether we would lose our Mennonite distinctives by engaging in these relationships, and whether there would be appropriate accountability for the partners, delegates acted in the spring of 2002 “to affirm Partners in Mission as a positive expression of the missional character of Franconia Mennonite Conference and to ask conference leaders to bring a proposal for formal action to the November 2002 Assembly.” Delegates then took action to approve implementation of the plan for three years, after which an evaluation and a report was to be given to the delegates.
The following value and learnings from these developing relationships were reported in the three-year review of 2005:
Value: We have helped make God’s love in Christ for all people visible as Franconia Conference has worked together with other ministries toward a common project or purpose. These relationships have more adequately revealed the reality of Christ’s Body and witnessed to the gospel of peace. These PIM relationships have enhanced Franconia Conference’s Anabaptist theology by giving us opportunities to share our image of the world and of God. God has been more fully revealed especially through Franconia Conference’s demonstrated partnerships within the Northeast corridor region.
Learnings: Some of the challenges we have experienced include relational challenges like cultural differences, differences in expectations and priorities, difficulties in communication, inadequate time to develop trust and disparities in wealth. Through the publicized moral failure of a Partner In Mission leader we have become acutely aware that our mutual trust in one another’s organizational and personal integrity is vulnerable to human weaknesses.
Delegates affirmed “the continuing ministry between Franconia Mennonite Conference and Partners in Mission into the future, based on our experience over the last three years.”
Partners in Mission are increasingly becoming a vibrant part of our conference and congregational life. If you want to taste and see for yourself the good fruit of these relationships, come and meet many of our partners at this year’s Conference Assembly!
Establishing Partners In Mission: Finding ourselves transformed by God as well
“…that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, NASV
This text shapes a critical piece of the heart of the work we as God’s people are called to – joining Christ in reconciling the world to God!
Franconia Conference is called to participate in making disciples of all nations so that one day, as described in Revelation 7:9-10, “a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, will be standing before the throne crying: ‘Salvation belongs to our God…’” There are many ways and practices that we as a people have used and continue to use in fulfilling this work.
Presently this work is shaped around the mission of “equipping leaders to empower others to embrace God’s mission” in the world. A critical piece of this work are the Partner in Mission relationships, church-to-church relationships that span counties as well as countries and creative missional initiatives.
The intention of Partners in Mission has been to link hands with congregations, related ministries, agencies and networks of churches near and far with whom we have a spiritual and missional affinity and with whom we will experience a synergy that will mutually benefit us in carrying out God’s mission. The Partner in Mission initiative, as a valuable expression of our conference mission, was affirmed by Franconia Conference delegates in 2005 after an initial trial period.
What has been the transformational impact of these relationships so far?
“These relationships,” notes Nelson Shenk, Pastor of Boyertown Mennonite Church and Conference Board Ministerial Committee Chair, “have:
• Helped us to think more globally;
• Done a lot to help us realize how much churches in the global south have to offer us in the U.S.;
• Humbled us to understand how limiting it is that most of us speak only one language;
• Been invigorating to expand our friendships into more multi-cultural avenues.”
As you can read about in recent issues of Intersections as well as in the 2008 Vision and Financial Plan Recommendations Progress Update, available on our website, numerous Partners in Mission and congregational missional initiatives have led to significant engagement and relationships around the world and right here at home. A sample list of these partnerships and initiatives include:
• Tabernacle of Christ Church in Viña del Mar, Chile, partnered with Whitehall, Boyertown and Perkiomenville congregations
• La Paz Church and RIMA Network in Mexico partnered with Blooming Glen and Good Shepherd congregations
• The Grace Assembly Network in Haiti partnered with Souderton, Rockhill and Hopewell (Telford) congregations
• The Anabaptist Network in the United Kingdom partnered with Perkasie and half a dozen other congregations
• Maranatha in Puebla, Mexico, partnered with Franconia and Good Shepherd congregations
• Ripple Effects in Lehigh Valley, Pa. – Whitehall Mennonite Church
• Alpha Program, Souderton, Pa. – Souderton Mennonite Church
• Rock Community Church partnered with Franconia Conference Prayer Ministries
• A new church plant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, partnered through Bob and Bonnie Stevenson at Monte Maria, Mexico
While it is clear that many are already working at “reconciling the world to Christ” in ways that move beyond a Partner in Mission relationship – whether through service in a conference related ministry or a local community organization, volunteering in outreach events, providing services to hurting people, and many other ways that teach and model a lifestyle that reflects Kingdom values – these relationships are indeed leading us to become even more open to Christ in others and call us to embrace God in the other.
The invitation to Partner in Mission relationships provides an opporunity to cultivate relationships with others in such a way that enables embracing the other. In the midst of that we are transformed and find ourselves embraced and transformed by God as well.
Ask Danilo Sanchez from Boyertown Mennonite Church to tell you about Franconia Conference’s Partners in Mission (PIM), and he’ll likely begin with a story. Sanchez has been up close and personal with a variety of PIMs, some as part of a summer ministry internship and some as part of congregational life at Boyertown.
In March of this year, Sanchez traveled with a group from his church to Viña del Mar, Chile where the group continued to strengthen relationships through service and worship with a network of Anabaptist/Pentecostal congregations. In June, Danilo traveled with a group of emerging leaders to continue to cultivate relationships in Spain and Morocco, visiting with Anabaptists in Madrid.
The remainder of the summer Danilo interned with PIM congregation, Good Shepherd Community Church near Ephrata, Pa. In his work with the youth there, Danilo traveled to Mexico where he worked alongside persons from the Red de Iglesias Misionaras Anabautistas, also a conference PIM that is rooted in Mexico City’s, Iglesia Cristiana de La Paz.
“I got a chance to prove to myself that I was a part of God’s plans,” stated Danilo, reflecting on his summer experiences. “I developed my faith and personality/identity while learning about the church as a global community. God is in the world and working through His church.”
Partners in Mission provide diverse learning and ministry contexts. For Sanchez, the connections open new doors of possibilities and questions. And behind open doors for young leaders lay possibilities for the Good News to live, breathe and move into the world anew whether it’s locally, on the shores of the Mediterranean or in the heart of the world’s largest city (Mexico City), praise be to God.
Partners In Mission featured at Conference Assembly
This year’s Conference Assembly, Come to the Table: Embrace God in Us, will invite participants to get to know our Partners in Mission through a special Friday evening worship and interactive workshops on Saturday.
Workshops include a Bible study led by Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, Peace Fellowship, on the text inspiring Conference Assembly, Luke 24:13-25; reflections from a recent trip to visit CIEAMM (Mexico Mennonite Conference) and Oaxaca led by Lora Steiner and Carolyn Albright; and workshops led by members of both Conference congregations and Partners in Mission highlighting the connections and work of a variety of PIMs including, Oxford Circle, New Hope Fellowship, Rock Community, Chile and Haiti.
All are invited to attend the fellowship and celebration of what God is doing among us!
My colleague Noah Kolb said that when Kaleem Kheshgi stood up to preach at Plains Mennonite Church on his last Sunday of the Ministry Inquiry Program that the church was quickly wooed and warmed by a youthful and irresistible smile. Kaleem, a native of Chicago, was one of over a dozen interns serving this summer with Franconia Conference congregations and partners. He’s part of a legacy of interns who have served with the Plains congregation over the past years. This summer Kaleem worked chiefly with the congregation’s park outreach, particularly with skateboarding junior high kids.
At Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia, Emily Derstine, from the Plains congregation, served as one of two interns this summer. On the same Sunday that Kaleem was preaching at her home congregation 20 miles north in Hatfield, Emily was preaching in the city and leading an intergenerational interactive creative endeavor as part of the worship experience. During the week Emily worked with Eastern University student Celmali Jaime originally from the Bronx in the summer educational outreach programs.
On the same day, Danilo Sanchez (Boyertown congregation) and Eveyln Kurniadi were helping with worship at Good Shepherd Community Church and Philadelphia Praise Center, respectively. Meanwhile Tyler Yoder from Goshen, Ind. and Emily Graber were also preaching, respectively, at Ambler Mennonite and Methacton. Eastern Mennonite University student Greg Blosser had preached his farewell sermon at Deep Run East the week before. And Brian Waidelich enjoyed his experience with New Hope Fellowship in Alexandria, Va., so much that he decided to stay on for the school year. During the weeks, Goshen College students Sheldon Good and Andrea Kraybill were serving alongside persons from the Nueva Vida Norristown New Life congregation at Assets Montco and Crossroad Gift & Thrift.
These are just a few of the summer activities in what seems an overactive summer of service, leading and exploration. While serving alongside experienced leaders in congregations, ministries and the Conference itself, summer interns get a glimpse of congregational life while providing space for congregations to explore the questions and gifts of emerging leaders. Franconia Conference congregations are popular for service among college students in Mennonite colleges and universities because of proximity to Northeast corridor cities, openness to the pastoral leadership gifts of women and racial/ethnic diversity in Conference congregations.
This summer our interns came from diverse backgrounds—speaking Spanish, Italian and Indonesian; ethnically Indian, Chinese and Pennsylvania Dutch. Both genders are well-represented. Some interns are studying toward pastoral and congregational ministry. Many of them are not. Some are new to Anabaptism. Others are steeped in the tradition through biological roots.
Their service this summer was as diverse as they are. They served for a week in Pittsburgh’s North Side and worked diligently for the whole summer with immigrants in South Philly. They learned in Israel, Oaxaca and Morocco. They traveled by foot on historic trails, by plane, bike and Olds-
mobile. They used SEPTA, the DC Metro, the Mexico City subways and Chinatown buses. They visited with mature members and wondered how to attract new members through evangelistic outreaches. They went to committee meetings and planned neighborhood block parties. They led Sunday school discussions and planned youth outreach events with Pentecostals.
When I consider the fullness of experiences that I’ve seen this summer, the fullness of gifts, the fullness of question, the willingness to both contribute and to learn, I can only smile. I am wooed wondrously not only by the youthful activity and the preaching of this array of young leaders, but by the hopeful willingness of these emerging leaders to delve into communities (whether familiar or new) and to find themselves transformed anew by questions and affirmations, sensing the surprising love that waits in the midst of hearing, responding to and exploring God’s sense of call.
Danilo Sanchez is a Youth Ministry major at Eastern University from Birdsboro, Pa. This summer he interned at Good Shepherd Community Church, Reamstown, Pa., through Franconia Conference’s Via Verano program.
Brian Waidelich is an English major at Goshen College from Pettisville, Ohio. This summer he interned at New Hope Fellowship, Alexandria, Va., through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Andrea Kraybill is an Art major at Goshen College from Elkhart, In. This summer she interned at Nueva Vida Norristown (Pa.) New Life Church through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Frank Carr is a student at The Pennsylvania College of Technology from Davidsville, Pa. This summer he interned at his home congregation, Carpenter Park Mennonite Church, Davidsville, Pa.
John Tyson is a Bible and Religion major at Eastern Mennonite University from Souderton, Pa. This summer he interned at Franconia Conference in Leadership Cultivation.
Celmali Jaime is a graduate student in Urban Studies at Eastern University from Bronx, NY. The summer she interned at Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association through Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service Program.
Evelyn Kurniadi is a graduate student at Philadelphia Biblical from New Egypt, NJ. This summer she interned at her home congregation, Philadelphia Praise Center, through Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service Program.
Bryan Cunningham is a Biblical Studies major at Eastern Mennonite University from Souderton, Pa. He interned at his home congregation, Souderton Mennonite Church, through EMU’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Sheldon Good is a Communications major at Goshen College from Telford, Pa. This summer he interned with Assets Montco in Norristown, Pa., through Franconia Conference’s Via Verano program.
Tyler Yoder is a Bible, Religion and Philosophy major at Goshen College from Goshen, In. This summer he interned at Ambler (Pa.) Mennonite Church through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Emily Derstine is a Justice, Peace and Conflict Studies major at Eastern Mennonite University from Souderton, Pa. This summer she interned at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church, Philadelphia, Pa., through Franconia Conference’s Via Verano program.
Esmeralda Sanchez is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. This summer she interned at her home congregation, New Hope Fellowship, Alexandria, Va., through Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service Program.
Kaleem Kheshgi is a Music major at Goshen college from Evanston, Ill. This summer he interned at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield Pa., through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Nathaniel Herr, a graduate of Goshen College, is attending medical school at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, NY. This summer he interned in Nazareth, Israel, working on the Jesus Trail.
Emily Graber is an English major at Goshen College from Red Hill, Pa., This summer she interned at Methacton Mennonite Church, Norristown, Pa., and Franconia Conference through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Greg Yoder is a Music major at Goshen College from Perkasie, Pa. This summer he interned at Bethany Birches Camp through Goshen’s Camping Inquiry Program.
Greg Blosser is a Biology major at Eastern Mennonite University from Harrisonburg, Va. This summer he interned at Deep Run East Mennonite Church, Perkasie, Pa., through EMU’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Vania Purnomo is an Accounting major at Bluffton University from Indonesia. This summer she interned with Philadelphia Praise Center through the Freeman ASSIST Program.
*Interns listed in order of picture starting on the left from top to bottom then right, top to bottom. Photos provided by Mennonite Central Committee, Goshen College, Franconia Conference staff and the interns.
I get my excitement and zest for life from studying and sharing God’s word that brings life, from my husband, our children and grandchildren and friends.
I will always remember the first time the Lord showed me that he had a special calling for me to fulfill. At the age of 24, soon after I gave my life to the Lord, I was sitting on the side benches up front in our old sanctuary. As I sat there I became annoyed at the disinterest I saw in the audience. Sunday after Sunday I felt like I wanted to get up on the pulpit and to tell the people about the God that I knew. I wanted to say that he is alive and gives me excitement in knowing him. It was so strong that one time I put my hands on the side of my chair to hold me down.
As we were raising our family of eight children (seven still living) and now 27 grandchildren, the Lord gave me Romans 11:29, “For God’s gift and His call are irrevocable.” For years I did not know what he was trying to tell me. It did not make sense with my understanding of the scriptures. Every time I felt like I lost my way and life was not working out the way it was supposed to be, he would have someone read that verse and I would just sit there and cry, knowing it was just for me and he didn’t forget his promise to me. I needed to somehow trust him to bring it to pass.
In January 2000 I saw a church bulletin insert asking for volunteers to train for prison ministry. It was an icy winter night and I made it over to where it was held; when I arrived, there was no one there. I didn’t know if I had a wrong location or time. One thing I did know was that if I didn’t get this training I felt like my Spirit would die. The next day I called and discovered the meeting was re-scheduled because of icy conditions.
I know that the prison is my pulpit. The sheep in my flock are behind bars. God’s presence is strong in prison and I love to see people’s lives changing as we study the scriptures together and learn from each other. As they share their broken, wounded lives with me, I see how the Word of God empowers, heals and leads them into seeking life instead of death. The Lord has done so much for me I want to pass it on to others.
The vision that propels me to do what I am called to do is Ezekiel 34:16 & 31:
“I will search for the lost, and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,” says the Sovereign Lord…“You my sheep…are my people, and I am your God.”
Recently my husband, Curtis, and I starting ministering in Graterford prison. It is a wonderful opportunity and an answer to prayer to minister together with Curtis. As we share our lives and the word of God with our sisters and brothers behind the prison doors the Lord amazes us each time with how he is moving and working with those that come out to the studies. It gives us great joy and we are thankful to be his vessels. One young man told us he was planning to take his life, but he just wanted to let us know that we gave him hope and he gave his heart to Jesus instead. What a wonderful God we serve!
I am grateful for this opportunity to have the backing of my conference and my congregation in the ministry the Lord has called me for. I covet your prayer support and wisdom guidance as I go in the power of the Holy Spirit from our almighty heavenly Father. I know he is guiding my life into doing things I never would have dreamed of doing years ago. He is my praise!
It’s been a long and winding journey that has brought me to Franconia Conference, one marked with many God sightings along the way providing direction.
God started working in my life through my parents, who made it a priority to pass on the faith to their two sons and daughter. My parents were a marriage of two traditions, my father’s family being Roman Catholic and my mother’s United Methodist. We eventually found a home in a United Church of Christ (UCC) congregation, where I became a follower of Jesus, was confirmed and joined the church.
While a part of the youth group at this church I was mentored by my youth pastor, who felt I might have gifts for pastoral ministry. With the support of my family, I was encouraged to explore if God might be calling me to move in this direction.
This exploration led me to Eastern College in St. Davids, Pa., where I studied History and Youth Ministry, and played lots of baseball (my third “major”). Our coach named me Team Captain during my junior year and the added leadership responsibilities during those years were, surprisingly, good preparation for some of the future pastoral work I would encounter. I also had the opportunity to work with a number of youth ministries in the Philadelphia area, meeting many wonderful students and passionate youth workers, learning new things from them all.
My four years at Eastern were foundational for me: my assumptions about faith and life were challenged, I learned to love the scriptures and discovered a passion to serve Jesus here and now. In a sense, God became “real” to me during these years. The school’s mission statement centered on the idea of “The Whole Gospel for the Whole World” and I felt passionate about learning to communicate this “good news” effectively to youth, in the church and within our culture. Looking back, I can now see that seeds of Anabaptist theology and practice were being planted within me, even though many of my professors and friends were from other branches of the Christian Church. The idea which Brian McLaren has termed “a generous orthodoxy,” was something I was able to discover firsthand during these four years, and I am extremely thankful for that experience.
For six years following graduation, I served as an associate pastor in a UCC congregation in Kulpsville, Pa. Upon much prayer, conversation and further study I sensed that the place I was looking for – and where my theological convictions lined up the most – was actually the Mennonite Church. Sensing a strong connection to Anabaptist/Mennonite theology and practice, I became a Mennonite in 2003 and have served in pastoral ministry at two churches, Grace Mennonite in Lansdale, Pa., and West Swamp Mennonite in Quakertown, Pa., (where I was ordained).
In my journey these last five years I have come across many individuals who have helped me learn about our heritage and teachings and who have challenged me to think of what these elements could speak to our culture in the 21st century.
A good portion of my years in ministry were spent in youth ministry, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend that time. The students I have had the privilege of meeting have reminded me of how important it is to be creative, to use your imagination, to keep asking questions and of course to have fun! They so often reminded me of the elements of child-like faith and I hope to never forget that. These are also some of the things I hope to carry over as I transition to the position of lead pastor. God made us to be creative and imaginative and doesn’t shy away from our questions (Jesus asked a few himself). So we hope to do these things, as well as serve and study scripture, and see how it all helps us connect with the mission of God and what God is doing today.
My wife, Sarah, and I look forward with much excitement to joining the Spring Mount church this fall and discovering what God has in store in the coming years.
Gay Brunt Miller, Steve Kriss and I were going to the Baker’s for dinner. It was that simple, I thought. For Gay it was a reunion of recently made friendships…for Steve and I, the Bakers were merely a name, a picture and a promise by Gay that we would love them.
Joe Baker came by with his car at five in the evening to fetch us. Gay did formal introductions in the parking lot and I sensed a quality in Joe that drew me. He focused his eyes with deep interest until otherwise diverted. I liked that his eyes paid attention.
I think houses have “feels” and “focal points.” When we arrived at the Baker’s house I sensed that it felt “lived in” with walls filled with the artwork of four girls and musical instruments, a piano and violin case obvious in the room where we dropped our coats. By then it was time for “tea” which meant cups of Earl Grey for the adults and a light meal for the Baker’s daughters, Mo, Stella and Sophie, before they were bathed and put down in bed for the night.
Joe and Sarah are easy hosts. Our conversations ran easily between cleaning up table after the girls’ tea and the scents of a delicate French Onion soup simmering on the stove. They asked frequent questions about us, about Mennonites and what exactly is a conference. We wanted to know why they decided to leave their large church in Birmingham and begin Peace Church…a house church that meets in their very own kitchen.
Our chatter continued as two candles were lit. Joe and Sarah invited us to seats around their long, family-sized table. Joe dimmed the lights. Sarah brought out fresh herbed bread, red wine and juice and set a liturgy on each napkin. Phoebe, the oldest, was being allowed to stay up past her bedtime and eat with us.
The mood at the table shifted when the liturgy welcomed each of us by first name in the name of Christ…“Steve, we welcome you to this table in the name of Christ”…each of us taking our turn to greet the person next to us. For the first time I began to realize the potency in Jesus’ own words as He and his disciples sat down to the carefully prepared meal Peter and John had set out and Jesus announced to them all, “I have eagerly desired to eat with you…” As Joe poured wine and Sarah broke the bread and passed it to each of us our liturgy picked up, “Thank you God, for food and love.”
Our meal of French onion soup progressed to dappled plates of Ratatouille that Joe had carefully prepared. The pace of our unhurried talk wove from Joe’s understanding of shalom and its influence on his choice to go vegetarian, back to Sarah’s music lessons, then to how Peace Church invites a variety of interested souls to their table. Curiosity and marmalade bread coming together in one sentence over dinner.
I have gotten quite used to prayers before meals. I have even waited for a meal to be complete and then offered my thanks. But this meal liturgy connected food and God in ways that were a surprise to me. With satisfied stomachs and a plum tart heating in the oven we prayed, “thank you, Lord, for this meal, but we cannot live by bread alone.” With tea light candles we offered prayers for people and places that still need the love of God. One by one we lit candles expressing our need for each other and dreamed dreams of a world more peaceful and just…with a hush that seemed holy lingering over our emptied plates.
Our meal ended with warm plum tart and a prayer, “O God, we ask you for one thing more; send us your Holy Spirit, endue us with your power, renew our hearts…Amen.”
Joe and Sarah Baker’s house has a “focal point.” It is their table. Their kitchen table bears the stains of food and paints that only creativity can boast. So much of their lives as family and Peace Church revolve around this nicked centerpiece. Children learn to sing and to pray there. It is a place where the pace is not rushed but genuine. Their table is a place for talking face to face with friends and a place where strangers from Pennsylvania are honored with prayers.
“Do all this in remembrance of me,” is what Jesus said. To me, it was communion.
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Establishing Partners In Mission: Finding ourselves transformed by God as well
Their service this summer was as diverse as they are. They served for a week in Pittsburgh’s North Side and worked diligently for the whole summer with immigrants in South Philly. They learned in Israel, Oaxaca and Morocco. They traveled by foot on historic trails, by plane, bike and Olds-
Danilo Sanchez is a Youth Ministry major at Eastern University from Birdsboro, Pa. This summer he interned at Good Shepherd Community Church, Reamstown, Pa., through Franconia Conference’s Via Verano program.
Brian Waidelich is an English major at Goshen College from Pettisville, Ohio. This summer he interned at New Hope Fellowship, Alexandria, Va., through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Andrea Kraybill is an Art major at Goshen College from Elkhart, In. This summer she interned at Nueva Vida Norristown (Pa.) New Life Church through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Frank Carr is a student at The Pennsylvania College of Technology from Davidsville, Pa. This summer he interned at his home congregation, Carpenter Park Mennonite Church, Davidsville, Pa.
John Tyson is a Bible and Religion major at Eastern Mennonite University from Souderton, Pa. This summer he interned at Franconia Conference in Leadership Cultivation.
Celmali Jaime is a graduate student in Urban Studies at Eastern University from Bronx, NY. The summer she interned at Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association through Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service Program.
Evelyn Kurniadi is a graduate student at Philadelphia Biblical from New Egypt, NJ. This summer she interned at her home congregation, Philadelphia Praise Center, through Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service Program.
Bryan Cunningham is a Biblical Studies major at Eastern Mennonite University from Souderton, Pa. He interned at his home congregation, Souderton Mennonite Church, through EMU’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Sheldon Good is a Communications major at Goshen College from Telford, Pa. This summer he interned with Assets Montco in Norristown, Pa., through Franconia Conference’s Via Verano program.
Tyler Yoder is a Bible, Religion and Philosophy major at Goshen College from Goshen, In. This summer he interned at Ambler (Pa.) Mennonite Church through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Emily Derstine is a Justice, Peace and Conflict Studies major at Eastern Mennonite University from Souderton, Pa. This summer she interned at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church, Philadelphia, Pa., through Franconia Conference’s Via Verano program.
Esmeralda Sanchez is a student at Northern Virginia Community College. This summer she interned at her home congregation, New Hope Fellowship, Alexandria, Va., through Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service Program.
Kaleem Kheshgi is a Music major at Goshen college from Evanston, Ill. This summer he interned at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield Pa., through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Nathaniel Herr, a graduate of Goshen College, is attending medical school at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, NY. This summer he interned in Nazareth, Israel, working on the Jesus Trail.
Emily Graber is an English major at Goshen College from Red Hill, Pa., This summer she interned at Methacton Mennonite Church, Norristown, Pa., and Franconia Conference through Goshen’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Greg Yoder is a Music major at Goshen College from Perkasie, Pa. This summer he interned at Bethany Birches Camp through Goshen’s Camping Inquiry Program.
Greg Blosser is a Biology major at Eastern Mennonite University from Harrisonburg, Va. This summer he interned at Deep Run East Mennonite Church, Perkasie, Pa., through EMU’s Ministry Inquiry Program.
Vania Purnomo is an Accounting major at Bluffton University from Indonesia. This summer she interned with Philadelphia Praise Center through the Freeman ASSIST Program.
I get my excitement and zest for life from studying and sharing God’s word that brings life, from my husband, our children and grandchildren and friends.
Recently my husband, Curtis, and I starting ministering in Graterford prison. It is a wonderful opportunity and an answer to prayer to minister together with Curtis. As we share our lives and the word of God with our sisters and brothers behind the prison doors the Lord amazes us each time with how he is moving and working with those that come out to the studies. It gives us great joy and we are thankful to be his vessels. One young man told us he was planning to take his life, but he just wanted to let us know that we gave him hope and he gave his heart to Jesus instead. What a wonderful God we serve!
It’s been a long and winding journey that has brought me to Franconia Conference, one marked with many God sightings along the way providing direction.
Gay Brunt Miller, Steve Kriss and I were going to the Baker’s for dinner. It was that simple, I thought. For Gay it was a reunion of recently made friendships…for Steve and I, the Bakers were merely a name, a picture and a promise by Gay that we would love them.