Mosaic Mennonites

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Accompanying in Fear: A Reflection on Love and Action in a Time of Uncertainty

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by Sandra Montes-Martinez, Western District Associate Conference Minister

Editor’s Note: This reflection was first published on sister Conference Western District’s website and has been reprinted with permission.  

The day I accompanied a friend to an ICE check-in appointment, fear was thick in the air. There was silence where there is usually conversation. Tension replaced the joy that often fills gatherings. The family moved slowly, every step toward the building weighed down by questions no one could answer. What would happen today? Would they walk out together? 

I went to support my friend, but I carried my own fears too. Even with legal status, I did not feel safe. The unfamiliarity of the process, the guarded government building, and the sense that anything could change in an instant left me anxious. I knew I was there to offer strength, but I also knew that my presence was not immune to the heaviness of the moment. 

We stood together because that’s what love does. That’s what community means. We pray together, we wait together, and when fear tries to isolate us, we choose solidarity. There was no guarantee of the outcome—only the assurance that no one would walk alone. 

As we waited, I found myself returning to the teachings of Jesus, especially his words in Matthew 25: 

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me… I was in prison and you visited me.” 

Jesus does not call his disciples to comfort or convenience. He calls us to proximity, to courage, and to compassion that moves us beyond the boundaries of our safety and into the reality of others’ suffering. This moment at ICE was not a distant political issue—it was a lived, human experience of fear, dignity, and faith. 

Our faith has long emphasized radical discipleship. At its core is the belief that following Jesus is not merely about believing in him—it’s about embodying his love in the world. Those before us understood this as they resisted the establishment, rejected violence, and stood with the persecuted even when it cost them everything. 

In today’s world, we are again called to witness—especially in the face of immigration systems and the war that dehumanizes and traumatizes. We cannot be neutral in systems that oppress. Accompaniment is not only an act of friendship; it is an act of faith. It is how we say: You are not invisible. You are not alone. God sees you, and so do we. 

As Anabaptist churches and leaders, this is the moment to embody the Gospel in concrete ways. Not with grand gestures, but with presence. With hospitality. With advocacy. With courage. 

What Can the Church Do? 

  • Show Up: Accompany people to immigration appointments or court hearings. Your presence is powerful. 
  • Educate the Congregation: Offer forums or workshops on immigrant rights and how to support families navigating the system. 
  • Preach the Gospel of Hospitality: Remind your church regularly that Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger—not just in words, but in action. 
  • Support Local Immigrant Ministries: Collaborate with organizations and ministries that serve immigrant communities. Share resources and listen to what they need. 
  • Pray—and Act: Prayer is vital, but it must move us to action. Let your church’s prayers be the fuel that leads to tangible support and sustained presence.  

The story of Jesus is the story of God drawing near to humanity in our fear and vulnerability. To follow him is to do the same. When we accompany others in their most uncertain moments, we are not just helping them—we are being transformed ourselves. 

In a world that tries to separate, detain, and deport, we bear witness to a greater truth: that perfect love casts out fear. And that love, when lived faithfully, may just be the most powerful form of resistance. 

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.         

The Spiritual Nature of Financial Decisions

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by Josh Meyer, Financial Representative for Everence

Note: a version of this post first appeared on Josh’s “Faithful Finance” website. To read the original column and for free access to additional articles, visit FaithfulFinance.substack.com. 

Money touches nearly every part of our lives—how we live, what we prioritize, what we worry about, and what we hope for. But too often, we treat finances like a separate category—over here on the “practical” side of life—while keeping faith on the “spiritual” side. 

That divide is artificial. And unhelpful. Because every financial decision we make is also a spiritual one. Jesus said it best: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21 

He wasn’t saying, “Don’t have treasure.” He was saying, “Pay attention to what your treasure reveals about your heart.” 

The Spiritual Nature of Financial Decisions 

Let’s start with a basic but bold claim: Money is spiritual. Not because it’s holy in itself—but because it shapes what we love, how we trust, and what we fear. That means how we handle money isn’t just a practical matter—it’s a discipleship issue. 

Here’s what I’ve learned, both as a pastor and now as a financial advisor: 

  • People don’t just want strategies. They want peace. 
  • They don’t just want to be “better with money.” They want to feel like their money means something. 
  • They want freedom—from fear, from pressure, from shame—and to feel like they’re living with purpose. 

Sound familiar? 

These are spiritual longings. And we bring them into every budget, every investment, every giving decision—whether we know it or not. 

Reframing the Way We See Money 

So, what if we stopped asking: 

  • “Am I making enough?” 
  • “Am I spending too much?” 
  • “Am I saving the right way?” 

…and started asking: 

  • “Does the way I use money reflect what I truly value?” 
  • “Am I trusting God in how I earn, save, give, and spend?” 
  • “Does my financial life support the kind of person I believe I’m called to be?” 

When we shift the questions, we shift the outcomes. 

A Simple Starting Point 

This week, I invite you to reflect on one question:  

Where do my financial decisions and my faith most clearly align—and where do they feel disconnected? 

Be honest. This isn’t about guilt; this is about awareness.  You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start paying attention to what your financial life is saying—and whether that story matches the one you want to live. 

What’s Next 

Over the next few weeks, we’ll keep digging into this theme: 

  • How faith convictions shape economic life 
  • What Jesus teaches about money and the Kingdom of God 
  • How to move from separation to integration, with real-world examples 

Then throughout the year, we’ll explore a range of topics related to faith and finance.  Each monthly theme will unfold in 4 weekly posts that offer biblical insights, real-world stories, practical tools, and actionable steps.   

Here’s an overview of where we’re headed. 

Jul –  Why Faith and Finances Belong Together 
Aug – Stewardship Over Ownership 
Sep – Simplicity in a Culture of Excess 
Oct – Investing as Discipleship 
Nov –  Earning with Integrity 
Dec –  Giving as Resistance and Renewal 
Jan – Debt, Freedom, and Trust 
Feb – Mutual Aid in Modern Times 
Mar – Creation Care and the Economy 
Apr – Justice and Global Economics 
May – Faith & Finances in Family Life 
June – A Vision for the Long Haul 

Want to Join the Journey? 

You don’t have to read every post. But if you want to think more clearly, live more freely, and give more generously,  

I’d love to walk with you. 

Let’s build a financial life that reflects the Kingdom. Not just one that works. One that witnesses. 

Josh Meyer

Joshua Meyer is a Financial Representative in the Souderton, Pennsylvania office and combines his deep faith background with helping churches and individuals combine their faith with financial decisions. 

Josh was most recently Pastor of Preaching and Discipleship at Franconia Mennonite Church for 11 years. He serves as Leadership Minister with Mosaic Mennonite Conference, helping provide oversight to six congregations. Josh is also an adjunct professor at Eastern University in the Communication Department. He serves on the Board of Directors for Living Branches. 

Summer Board and Delegate Conversations Shape Mosaic’s Future with MC USA

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Amid tension and trust, around 100 delegates and leaders from across Mosaic Mennonite Conference gathered in June and July for board and delegate conversations. With Mosaic’s relationship to Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) at a crossroads, these meetings served as a space for prayerful dialogue, two-way communication, and opportunities to give and receive counsel about next steps.  

A snapshot from one of the Zoom gatherings

The sessions focused on providing a historical overview of the communication between Mosaic Conference and MC USA and an invitation for feedback. The meetings opened with prayer and a devotional on Ephesians 4:1-6. Board members then provided, in most meetings, a summary chronology of communications over the last three years, including the letter to the MC USA Executive Board that Mosaic Conference moderators sent in 2022, expressing concerns that had arisen since the reconciliation of the Franconia and Eastern District conferences in 2019 as well as more recent concerns about the MC USA special delegate session in 2022. The letter announced the start of the two-year Pathway Process, affirmed at the November 2022 Mosaic Delegate Assembly.  

For two nearly two years, the Pathway Steering Team listened to the depth and breadth of Conference members and partners, discerned, and worked to develop a five-year strategic plan for Mosaic Conference. In August 2024, the Pathway Steering Team made their recommendation of “a pathway forward of partnership (rather than membership) and collaboration” with MC USA, which received 71% affirmation by the delegates at the 2024 Mosaic Delegate Assembly.  

In 2025, the board has been tasked with carrying out this recommendation with MC USA. In February, the Mosaic board proposed that Mosaic Conference become a program entity of MC USA (a designation already in MC USA’s bylaws) to facilitate ministry partnership. At MC USA’s request, the Mosaic board responded to four questions in writing in April, which directly name the challenges that Mosaic Conference has faced with MC USA. 

In May, MC USA’s executive board unanimously voted to deny Mosaic’s proposal to become a program entity of MC USA, and later that month, the Mosaic board declined the board-to-board mediation process offered by MC USA at this time.  

Following this update, most meetings included a time of silence, prayer, and agreement to respectful communication guidelines. Participants were invited to ask questions, and then to share counsel with the board. 

“In our delegate listening sessions, I deeply valued the time to grieve and be frustrated together around difficulties with MC USA while simultaneously being grateful for the meaningful relationships within Mosaic and excitement for our witness together in the future,” shared Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter. “We are listening more deeply to one another, seeking understanding rather than uniformity, and trusting God to direct our path.” 

Amongst the four June/July board and delegate conversations offered in three languages, the questions and the counsel were varied. Here are some examples, which include both direct quotes and summaries of questions and themes that emerged from the counsel:  

  • Affirmation for Mosaic’s leadership, and sorrow for the pain caused by this process. 
  • A call to ensure that Mosaic’s vision, mission, and priorities remain central and are not diminished by devoting extensive energy to this process. One participant cautioned: “Don’t allow “Mosaic’s wings to get clipped.”
  • Recognition that the unanimous vote to reject Mosaic’s proposal feels significant.  
  • A question of whether “there is any space with MC USA for mutual, respectful conversation about the ‘rules of engagement’?”
  • Noted parallels between some Mosaic congregations seeking structural change for the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons, and Mosaic’s desire for structural change within MC USA. 
  • Acknowledgment that theological differences—particularly around the welcome of LGBTQ persons—must be addressed in environments of high trust, empathy, and care. 
  • Expressions of deep frustration and alienation from MC USA among some participants, along with a desire to disengage. 
  • Immigrant congregations noting that we do not have the same privileges as other congregations that have already left Mosaic due to frustrations with MC USA. 
  • A belief that outside of MC USA, Mosaic will attract more congregations and be better positioned as a partner. 
  • A suggestion to slow the process with a “holy pause” to allow for additional discernment. 
  • A request for the Delegate Assembly to offer more time for discernment earlier in the day. 
  • Questions about how Mosaic leaders can be better supported in advocating for structural change within MC USA. 
  • A desire for clearer communication of the process’s complexity, with an emphasis on increasing understanding and capacity for ambiguity among congregants. 
  • Curiosity about what would be required to pursue mediation as a future option. 

The meetings closed with a request of prayer for the board as they discern the next faithful steps for Mosaic Mennonite Conference. The next Mosaic board meeting will take place on August 2, and the Fall Delegate Assembly will take place on November 1.  

“We appreciate the investment by our delegates in Mosaic and concerns, though varied, about our relationship with Mennonite Church USA,” shared Executive Minister Stephen Kriss. “The board will need to continue to work diligently to discern what recommendations and postures the delegates will discuss in November.”  

Kriss continued, “What is increasingly important to me within Mosaic is that we hear the variety of concerns, and that we maintain our clarity of focus on our own vision and mission while responding empathetically to one another. I am drawn back to the idea of extending Chesed, which we considered in 2022 at our first in-person gathering.  While the Spirit holds our diversity together with the tensions that emerge from within and beyond us, we remain people committed to extending God’s grace, justice and peace.” 

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.         

Mosaic Conference Attendees Reflect on the 2025 MC USA Convention

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Around 100 delegates, youth, and attendees from around a dozen Mosaic Mennonite Conference congregations participated in the biennial convention Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), Follow Jesus ‘25, held July 8-12 in Greensboro, North Carolina.  

The delegate assembly was held on July 11, where delegates discussed and voted on resolutions including an updated Churchwide Statement on Immigration, a Prevention and Accountability Resolution; bylaw changes that move the Mennonite Education Agency into the structure of MC USA under the executive board, and give the MC USA Executive Board the authority to recommend the termination of executive directors of churchwide agencies; and a slate of nominees for the Executive Board. All of these proposals were approved by the delegates. MC USA also announced the start of a process of “reimagining the church”, with outcomes to be brought to the 2027 delegate assembly.  

Beyond the business decisions, Mosaic participants emphasized how the week offered spiritual nourishment and connection, as well as lament and absence.  

A group of 42 youth and adults from Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA), Salford (PA) Mennonite, Whitehall (PA) Mennonite, and Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) traveled together, stopping for fun and a tour of Eastern Mennonite University on the way. Photos by Andrew Zetts and Missy Camilleri.  

“For the first time, it felt somewhat like a family reunion,” shared Calenthia Dowdy, Interim Executive Director and Trainer for Roots of Justice and member at Ambler (PA) Mennonite, who attended representing ROJ among other anti-oppression groups. “The Women in Leadership Beholding It Together summit was a holy time of sharing space with women from many backgrounds, and throughout the week ROJ was affirmed by many attendees for our early resistor work.” 

Brenda Shelly of Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite found rest and rejuvenation: “This was my sixth convention, and more than any other year, I appreciated the spirit of togetherness. Toddlers and senior saints worshipped side by side, tackling difficult topics and singing as one body.” 

Cindy Angela, Director of Communication for Mosaic and a pastoral team member at Philadelphia (PA) Praise Center, spoke of the value of connecting with other area conferences. “Mutual transformation happens when we listen to each other,” she said. “Hearing from different perspectives and connecting with Mosaic members in a new context was impactful.” 

“My experience at the Mennonite Church USA Convention was deeply refreshing—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally,” shared Mosaic Leadership Minister Marco Güete. “But I also noticed the absence of many racially and culturally diverse participants. Compared to previous conventions, the gathering felt less representative of the diversity and richness of our church.”  

The 2025 Delegate Assembly was held on Friday, July 11

That absence was palpable for other leaders, too. Mosaic Executive Minister Stephen Kriss shared, “While I always enjoy renewing relationships with colleagues from across the Mennonite world, I was aware of who was missing from Mosaic in this gathering and felt the awkwardness of being in the space in a difficult time in our relatedness with Mennonite Church USA.”  

He continued, “The vibrant BIPOC presence from Mosaic communities was noticeably absent along with representation from some of our largest congregations. There were no delegates from our Florida or California communities.”  

Mosaic Conference sent only half of its normal conference-level delegation. 

“I felt God’s Spirit with me as I listened to people share their truths with me and responded with compassion and understanding to their stories of pain and mistrust over denominational decisions,” shared Mosaic Executive Committee member Maati Yvonne. “In terms of the seminars, the ones on peacemaking felt particularly insightful to bring back to my home congregation.” 

Others also returned home with new ideas and energy for their communities. Brent Camilleri, Associate Pastor at Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA) Mennonite, shared how their youth are now energized to form a Creation Care group. “Pastor Leslie McLendon’s message in the final worship–‘the scroll is still open’–challenged us to continue proclaiming the good news.”  


With over 120 seminars offered throughout the event, attendees engage in 60-minute sessions covering a wide range of topics and interests.

For Josh Landis of Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA), the worship services, seminars, shared meals, and fellowship offered a persistent theme: “We’re at a pivotal time. The church can no longer be ‘the quiet in the land’ or comfortably lukewarm. We are called to clarity—to align not with the powerful, but with the gospel of Jesus in Luke 4.” 

“One highlight was the dinner hosted by Mosaic Conference for its participants. It was very well received and provided a wonderful space for fellowship and relaxation. Many appreciated the opportunity to share stories, laugh together, and strengthen relationships in an informal, welcoming setting.” – Marco Güete 

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.         

Remembering Bob Walters, Founder of Whitehall (PA) Mennonite 

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Robert G. Walters
December 14, 1927 -June 2, 2025

As a young husband and father, Bob Walters purchased a farm near Kintnersville, PA but after several years was asked to become the pastor of Steel City Mennonite Church (Bethlehem, PA) and later served as interim of Line Lexington (PA) Mennonite (both were Franconia Conference congregations at the time). Walters felt called to plant a new church and founded Whitehall (PA) Mennonite in 1988. A Celebration of Life was held on June 11, 2025, at Steel City Mennonite. Read more from Walters’ obituary.   

Bob Walters, who was raised in the Methodist tradition and became Mennonite through relationships, saying “if there was any reason that we became Mennonites, it’s because we felt loved.” He served as Conference Moderator beginning in 1982 (drawn from Franconia Conference News article by Luke Martin, Jan. 1982, courtesy of the Mennonite Heritage Center). The article stated, “I believe Bob is God’s gift to us for the 1980s.”  

Whitehall Mennonite began because of the vision God gave to Bob Walters. When he was out sailing, he felt called to plant a Mennonite church in the Lehigh Valley. Walters’ unrelenting passion and endless love helped create a place for those who were weary from life, giving them a place to belong and to hear the good news of the gospel. Despite support from other Franconia Conference churches, forming this new fellowship was a challenge and several times they almost gave up. They met in a variety of locations until they finally found their home at 4138 Wilson Street in Whitehall (from the Whitehall Mennonite church website) 

Sharing more about the challenges of those early years, Joel Horst Nofziger, Director of the Mennonite Heritage Center (Harleysville, PA) shared the following during a sermon at Whitehall Mennonite in October 2024:  

When Whitehall Mennonite was to be opened, a poster was distributed in the community that proclaimed the congregation “a place of new beginnings.” I want to take a moment here to reflect on one of the beginnings of this congregation. In 1989, church planter and pastor Bob Walters had a vision for Lehigh County while on his sailboat in the Bahamas. There, outside of Nassau, Bob was dreaming of Whitehall. This grew into the desire to start a church, urged on by the story of the lepers found in II Kings 7.  

Jerusalem was under siege by the armies of Samaria. But the Lord delivers the people and scatters the army. Salvation was discovered by four lepers who sat at the entrance to the gate. They entered the camps and discovered the attackers had fled. It was these people on the margins who brought news of salvation to the people. Bob and his wife Emily felt that now was the time to move and, like the lepers, begin a new testimony to God’s salvation.  

In conversation with friends, a vision began to emerge: “Whitehall: a member of the master’s family,” reads the early vision. The road was not easy. Early minutes of the church planting committee are somber and often downcast.  

In the notes of June 12, 1991, two days before the conference recommended closing the congregation, the situation is clearly stated: “Options do not abound.” Nevertheless, the minutes continue, with the next month reporting forty-five attendees, twenty-three more than average. 

Here we stand, thirty-five years later. Options may not abound, but the grace and power of the Lord surely does. Truly, it is a community that transcends boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender, and language. Taking the opportunity to look back to those beginnings, how is Whitehall Mennonite Church called to serve the master today? 

We honor the legacy of Walters and his life of faithfulness which has shaped who Mosaic Conference has become today. 

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.       

Serving with Purpose and Voice: Ambassadors We’re Learning from the Summer Part II

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by Javier Márquez

Editor’s Note: This summer, 14 young adult Ambassadors are serving in congregations and ministries across Mosaic Conference. This article highlights three of these Ambassadors, and in the coming weeks, you will be introduced to the other Ambassadors. Read the first article here. 

Brendan Sagastume, a 20-year-old Mosaic Conference Ambassador, views this summer as an opportunity to deepen his calling and continue growing as a leader in service to others. After a meaningful experience last year as an Ambassador for his congregation and the Mosaic Conference staff, Sagastume was inspired to become an Ambassador again, this time with Healthy Niños Honduras. 

His responsibilities include coordinating service teams coming from the U.S. to Honduras, processing donations, and helping with communications.  

“I hope to represent the Kingdom values of compassion and service,” Sagastume says. “Through this work, I hope to reflect Christ’s love in practical and relational ways.” 

Sagastume is learning about the importance of flexibility and openness. “Serving often means being ready to help in ways I didn’t expect,” he explains. “I’ve seen how ministry happens not just through programs, but through everyday conversations and acts of kindness.” These insights have drawn him closer to God, teaching him to rely on God’s strength and not his own strength. 

He invites Mosaic Conference to pray for strength, wisdom, deepened faith, and blessings for all with whom he is working.  

Caitlyn Weber, a 23-year-old Mosaic Conference Ambassador, is embracing the legacy of her spiritual ancestors by serving at the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.  

“I was motivated by a desire to be involved in my local community and local congregations,” Weber shared. “Working at the Heritage Center expands my understanding of what it means to be part of a church community and how we carry the legacy of our spiritual ancestors when navigating our beliefs and the world today.” 

Weber’s role includes generating content for social media to extend the reach of the Heritage Center. She draws from artifacts, photographs, individual narratives, and congregational histories to develop stories she hopes will help today’s generations grow in understanding and faith. 

“My work this summer will reflect peace and truth,” she says. “Studying the lives of those who came before us in the faith creates opportunities for understanding and living peace through their examples.” 

She is already recognizing ways being an Ambassador has helped her to grow. “I’ve learned how to navigate museum and archival collections, and I’m learning how to reflect the experiences of others through writing, while collaborating closely with those around me.” 

For Matthias Brockington, a 20-year-old Ambassador with Mosaic Conference, ministry is a calling deeply rooted in his growing relationship with Jesus. This summer, he’s stepping faithfully into that calling as a pastoral intern at Experience Christian Church (Exton, PA), partnering with Mosaic to grow in leadership, ministry, and community outreach. 

“As my relationship with the Lord has grown, I’ve realized God has given me a gift of speaking.” Brockington shares. As an Ambassador, he is exploring the craft of sermon writing, working with the youth, and developing skills to build and lead community.  

“I believe the Lord has spoken a shepherd spirit over my life,” Brockington says with conviction. He sees his ability to connect with people as a gift to reach people that may not know Jesus’ love. 

One of the most important lessons he’s learned as an Ambassador is that young people are not walking this faith journey alone. 

Brockington invites the Mosaic community to join him in prayer for the youth he’ll be leading this summer: “Pray that the Spirit of God moves in ways that are tangible for the children.” 

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 share your thoughts or send a message to the author, contact Javier at jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org. 

A Prayer for Unity

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by Maati Yvonne

Mosaic Mennonite Conference Executive Board Member Maati Yvonne wrote and offered the following prayer to close the June 23 in-person board and delegate conversation.  

Four conversations (in English, Spanish, and Indonesian) in June and July will offer conversation and two-way communication for the future trajectory of partnership conversations with MC USA. Mosaic Conference Assembly delegates, credentialed leaders, and Mosaic committee members were invited to join.

Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all. – Ephesians 4:1-6, CEB 

Heavenly Father, 

We come before you with humble hearts, acknowledging you as the One who calls us into your service. As our congregations’ Mosaic Conference delegates prepare to make decisions that affect their individual congregations and the wider Body of Christ, we ask for your presence to go before them, to surround them, and to dwell within them. 

Lord, as Paul urged in his letter to the Ephesians, may we walk worthy of the calling we have received—with all humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Bind us together in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. Remind us that there is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. 

Equip us, O God, with wisdom beyond our own understanding. Let Your truth guide every conversation, your grace cover every disagreement, and your Spirit lead every vote and decision. May we seek not personal agendas, but the good of the whole Body and the glory of your name. 

As we go forth representing our congregations, give us courage to speak truth in love. Strengthen us to stand firm in faith, and grow our compassion to listen with open hearts. May we serve our Conference and return home with peace in our spirits, confident that we have walked faithfully in our assignment. 

As we go forth, O Lord, we pray for all those headed to the MC USA Convention in July in Greensboro, NC, that they may be ambassadors of reconciliation, peacemakers, and truth-bearers. May we reflect the unity and love of Christ in all we do. Cover us, fill us, and use us mightily for your purposes in Mosaic Conference, in Mennonite Church USA and all over your Kingdom. 

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

Maati Yvonne

Maati Yvonne Platts is a lifelong member of Nueva Vida Norristown New Life (PA). Maati is committed to anti-racism and is a facilitator with the Roots of Justice Anti Racism Organization. Committed to peacebuilding education, Maati has co-created a Restorative Justice Movement, called Restorative Norristown, which trains, equips and empowers youth and community residents in learning and implementing Restorative Circles.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.     

Leading Through an Impasse (Or in the Wilderness)

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by Stephen Kriss

For my 40th birthday, I traveled with a group of students to hike Mount Sinai. At the time, Sinai was experiencing a series of kidnappings and a significant decrease in the number of tourists. It was the best time and a precarious time to go. 

Though our guides had assured us our safety, at one stop along the way they ushered us quickly back into the bus due to a suspicious looking approaching vehicle. Our small tourist bus was accompanied by armed guards in a separate vehicle. This was the only time I’ve traveled abroad with a group and second guessed my decision to go. 

Creative Commons (Wikipedia)

Our hotel, seemingly empty except for our group, was foreboding and it felt like something could go awry at any moment. We were among the first wave of returning tourists and may have been the only U.S. American group there. 

The hike to Mt. Sinai is often done to catch the sunrise. It’s a trek up the mountain alongside other pilgrims–most walking, and some on camels or horses. Even in these riskier circumstances, there was a rush of people. I managed to find a few meaningful moments there and the group enjoyed the memorable experience. Afterward, we spent a lovely few days at a seaside resort near the Israeli border that provided opportunity to swim in the Gulf of Elat. 

My experience of Sinai was better in retrospect. While the sunrise hike and the resort were highpoints, what I remember most is the doubt I felt about bringing a group there at that precarious time. 

Creative Commons (Wikipedia)

There are parallels here with the Biblical story. The children of Israel asked, “Has God taken us to this wilderness to die?” Wandering in the Sinai for 40 years before entering the promised land sounds excruciating.  

The liminal space of “not yet” is hard to endure, especially in a culture with instant gratification and same-day delivery. In times of stress, change, and turmoil, we often long for quick answers when we actually need time: time to process and to be formed together. 

Leading with Mosaic Mennonite Conference in this season has involved, for me, some second-guessing and a lot of questions. How did we get here? What is God’s intention for us?   

How did we get here? What is God’s intention for us?   

I declared a few weeks ago that I was done trying to understand systems, whether our government, our church systems, or the Steelers’ decision to hire Aaron Rodgers. Sometimes these processes don’t factor in our perspectives or experiences, especially those of us who don’t regularly have access to points of power and decision-making. 

The reality is that we are almost always living in liminal space. That dash on a tombstone that marks the span of our life is full of experiences of here, but not yet.  

So here we are, many of us leading and wandering in a kind of wilderness. It’s a space and time that doesn’t always make sense to us. We face systems and powers that often seem misaligned with what we need for full individual and communal flourishing. And yet, it is in this space that we are formed. We become more fully ourselves, more fully the people God intends for us to be. It is here we can learn to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, which requires patience, pruning, and care to grow.  

We lead in the midst of this process, though the fruit hasn’t fully arrived in us either. We watch for the kind of leaders this moment requires – voices and postures that may be different than those needed in other seasons. We pay attention to the ways that God provides.   

We recognize what is enough for our daily bread. We resist the urge to hoard. We might complain, but we strive not to turn toward building idols—those easy, familiar, most likely ungodly answers that would make it all make sense.  

There are hard questions in front of us. There are not easy answers. There will be menacing encounters and beautiful sunrises along the way.  

The process of becoming God’s people and representing the reconciling love of Jesus in this time will be full of paradox–requiring strength, power, and humility.  

The way will emerge. The Way, The Truth and the Life is always in front of us, behind us, beside us and even within us. So, in these in-between times, how are we preparing to embody that Way—in our flesh, blood, heart, mind, soul, and strength—both individually and together? 

Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss is the Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Stephen Kriss, please email skriss@mosaicmennonites.org