by Carlyn Desiani
Attending the Vibrant Relationships and Vibrant Identity classes was a meaningful experience for me. Not only did I learn more about Mennonite beliefs and values, but I also found myself reflecting on my own faith journey, cultural background, and the relationships God has used to shape my life.
My faith journey began in an unusual way. I was born into a Buddhist family and spent the first eleven years of my life in that tradition. When I was eleven years old, I chose to be baptized and became a follower of Jesus. Before taking these classes, I knew very little about Anabaptist history and beliefs. As I learned about the Anabaptist emphasis on a personal decision to follow Christ and believer’s baptism, I found myself relating to those values. Although I did not know much about Anabaptism before, I realized that my own faith journey reflected some of the same principles because my decision to follow Jesus was a personal choice rather than something I simply inherited from my family.
The intercultural portion of the classes was especially meaningful to me. As an immigrant from Indonesia, I have experienced what it is like to live between cultures and learn from people whose backgrounds are different from my own. The classes challenged me to think about how culture influences the way we see the world and how God calls us to build relationships across cultural differences.
Growing up, my parents placed a strong value on Chinese culture and traditions. They often viewed Chinese culture as the ideal standard and were not very open to other cultural backgrounds. This became very personal when I began dating my husband, Edmond. At first, my parents did not approve of our relationship because he is not of full Chinese descent. It was a difficult time for us, but over time they were won over by his kindness, character, and sincere commitment to our relationship. As they got to know him better, their hearts softened, and they came to see that a person’s character matters far more than their ethnic background.
Looking back, I can see that my relationship with Edmond was preparing me for an intercultural life in America long before I realized it. Through him and his family, I was exposed to a much more multicultural environment. I learned to appreciate different traditions, perspectives, and ways of life. Even something as simple as food became part of that journey. Since moving to the United States, I have enjoyed and appreciated foods from many different cultures, far more than I ever did growing up. What once felt unfamiliar gradually became something I could celebrate and enjoy.
Because of these experiences, the discussions about intercultural relationships resonated deeply with me. They reminded me that God’s family is much bigger than any one culture, ethnicity, or nationality. The church is a place where people from different backgrounds can come together, learn from one another, and reflect the beauty of God’s diverse creation. I was encouraged by the Mennonite emphasis on community, relationships, and learning to listen to people whose experiences may be different from our own.
Another blessing from these classes was the opportunity to meet and learn alongside members from other congregations within the Mennonite community. Before attending these classes, I had little exposure to churches outside of my own congregation. It was encouraging to hear the stories, experiences, and perspectives of fellow believers from different churches who share the same faith and values. Seeing the diversity within the Mennonite community reminded me that the body of Christ is much larger than a single congregation. It was especially meaningful to see people from different backgrounds worshipping, learning, and growing together. I left feeling more connected to the broader Mennonite family and grateful for the relationships and conversations that took place throughout the classes.
Overall, these classes helped me gain a deeper understanding of Mennonite history, values, and identity while also helping me reflect on my own story. They reminded me that God has been using relationships, challenges, and cultural experiences throughout my life to shape me and prepare me for living in a diverse community. I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in these classes, for the lessons I learned about faith, relationships, and intercultural understanding, and for the chance to connect with fellow believers from other Mennonite congregations. I look forward to continuing to grow in faith, building meaningful relationships across cultures, and participating in the broader Mennonite community as part of the body of Christ.
Carlyn Desiani
Carlyn Desiani is a member of Indonesian Light Church in Philadelphia and a participant in the second Vibrant Mosaic cohort. Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, she enjoys serving in her church community, building intercultural friendships and learning how faith can bring people from diverse backgrounds together.
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The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.