by Javier Márquez
With great concern, we share the difficult situation our brother Hensley Ducasse is currently facing. Hensley, 24 years old, was a Mosaic Conference Ambassador at Homestead (FL) Mennonite. Approximately four weeks ago, he was detained by ICE and is currently being held in an immigration detention center.
During the summer, as an Ambassador, Hensley stood out for his passionate faith and dedication to serving the community. “What motivated me to become an Ambassador was my passion for Jesus Christ,” he once shared. That passion was evident in every step he took, with a genuine commitment to sowing hope and transformation in Homestead.
One of his most notable goals was opening of a food bank to bless families in the community. His vision was that this ministry would provide physical nourishment and allow many to experience the love of God. He also organized sports and recreational events for children and youth, creating spaces of joy, community, and spiritual growth.
In all of this, Hensley sought to embody the values of the Kingdom of God: the love, grace, empathy, and compassion of Christ. “I’ve learned to lead by listening and to lead by example,” he reflected, following the model of Jesus as a humble and loving guide.
His service has been interrupted by this situation that affects both him and the Homestead congregation. Marta Castillo, Mosaic Associate Executive Minister, along with church members, are working to visit him and advocate for him.
We wholeheartedly invite you to join in fervent prayer for Hensley: that the Lord would grant him strength, peace, and hope in the midst of this difficult time; that paths of justice and mercy would open, allowing him to return home; and that the Homestead community would continue to be a living testimony of Christ’s love in action.
We trust that God, who hears the prayers of God’s people, will sustain us and work in our brother’s life. We ask that every Mosaic congregation lift up their voices in intercession for Hensley and his family, believing in the promise that the Lord never abandons His children.
“Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.”
– James 5:16, CEB
Javier Márquez
Javier Márquez is Associate for Communication and Community Engagement for Colombia. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.
Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Javier Márquez, please email jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org.
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.
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)