by Javier Márquez
Pastors and leaders from Mosaic Mennonite Conference congregations in Florida gathered on June 13 for a men’s leadership empowerment event hosted by College Hill Mennonite (Tampa, FL) in partnership with pastors from across Florida. The gathering provided opportunities for worship, teaching, fellowship, and reflection on biblical leadership for men.
For Pastor Secundino Casas of Iglesia Menonita Shalom (Tampa, FL), one of the most meaningful aspects of the event was reconnecting with fellow ministers after several months apart. Spending time with other leaders strengthened friendships and served as a reminder of the importance of serving God together.
“It was a real blessing to greet one another and share this time together,” Casas said.
Pastor Secundino also expressed appreciation for the event’s organization, thanking Pastor Joseph Brooks and the College Hill Mennonite host team for their work. He had the opportunity to open the gathering with a prayer based on Joshua 1:5, a passage that set the spiritual tone for the day.
What stood out most to Casas was that, without any prior coordination, Pastor Tomás Ramírez of Iglesia Menonita Luz y Vida (Orlando, FL) centered his teaching on the same book of Joshua. For Secundino, this was a confirmation of the Holy Spirit’s leading and a reminder of God’s call to strengthen those who serve in Christ’s name.
One of the teachings that resonated most deeply with participants focused on the role of men as fathers and spiritual leaders. Secundino shared that one statement, in particular, stayed with him: the observation that many fathers have begun to live in fear of their own children.
“That reflection made me think about my own family and also about our role as spiritual fathers within the church. We need the strength God gives us to counsel, correct, and serve with love—not out of fear, but with confidence that God equips us to do what is good.”
The gathering also featured testimonies from two Christian authors who shared how God transformed their lives after difficult experiences. Their stories reminded those in attendance of God’s restoring power and the hope available to those who place their trust in God.
Beyond the teaching sessions, the event created a rare space where men could worship together, have honest conversations, and openly share their struggles, challenges, and lessons learned in an atmosphere of mutual support.
“I left feeling strengthened and reminded that God gives us the power to do good. I came away encouraged to continue serving with greater confidence, both in my family and in the church,” Casas shared.
The gathering reaffirmed the commitment of Mosaic’s Hispanic churches to continue equipping men to lead with humility, spiritual strength, and faithfulness to Christ’s calling.
Javier Márquez
Javier Márquez is Associate for Community Cultivation and Leadership Development. 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 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)