Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

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Dr. Joseph Manickam to Support Mosaic Conference in Partnership Development

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Dr. Joseph Manickam, Executive Director of Arelti, has begun a six-month contract (February-August 2025) to support Mosaic Mennonite Conference with partnership development. 

In early February, Manickam accompanied a delegation to visit Conference-Related Ministry Peace Proclamation Ministries International in India. He has been asked to also meet with other global and U.S. community-center based Conference-Related Ministries. He will also support the Mosaic Conference Board in conversations about partnership with other Mennonite organizations, as well as provide accompaniment to Mosaic Executive Ministers and priority team leaders. 

“We are asking Dr. Manickam to help us continue to deepen intercultural awareness and think about partnerships in ways that aren’t colonial or paternalistic,” shared Executive Conference Minister Stephen Kriss. 

“His experience as the son of mission workers from India to Thailand; with Pacific Southwest Conference in California; and in leading Mennonite organizations are all valuable as the Conference tries to understand the possibilities that exist in partnerships outside the U.S. in ways that are healthy, mutual, and strengths-based.” 

Kriss continued, “Joe’s work with Mosaic Conference comes at a critical time as we discern and navigate our relationship with Mennonite Church USA and work to define what a robust partnership could look like.” 

Mosaic Mennonite Conference occasionally works with outside consultants to navigate critical issues and changing contexts, as it did with Grovider to develop the current strategic plan. 

When asked why Dr. Manickam agreed to this work, he responded, “I continue to believe in the church’s ability, as broken as it may be, to transform our communities toward a greater alignment with God’s Reign on this earth.”  

“I look forward to networking and connecting with Mosaic’s missional energy. Mosaic is in a space of missional curiosity right now, and I sense this curiosity is aligned with the movement of the Holy Spirit around the world,” he continued.  

Manickam will also serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Oasis gathering for Mosaic Pastors of Color in May, on the topic “Living as Diaspora People.” 
 
Dr. Joseph A. Manickam was born in Chiang Mai, Thailand to Paul and Mano Manickam, missionaries sent by the Church of South India to Thailand in 1958. The youngest of six children, Joseph grew up in a family deeply committed to seeing God’s Love translated into the local context crossing social barriers of many forms as he and his family continually swung between a South Indian home, a western school system, and living among the Thai people. Joseph married Wanda Wyse in 1994 in Yoder, Kansas and they have two children. Manickam is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arelti, a nonprofit organization focused on walking with the oppressed to foster hope through the transformation of communities on the margins. 

He served as the ninth president of Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, and as Director of the Institute of Religion, Culture, and Peace and faculty member for Peace Studies at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously he served in Thailand for three years with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada as Director of the Central-Southern and Northeast Asia Program, and earlier in his career, he was Director of the MCC Asia Program and Associate Director of the Center for Anabaptist Leadership in California. 

Dr. Manickam earned a B.A. in Communications from Goshen College (Goshen, Ind.) and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, Calif.). He has also previously served on the boards of The Mennonite and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, Ind.), and his academic interests include Race/Ethnic Studies and Interreligious Engagement. Manickam’s relational abilities and his strong intercultural competency have been common threads in his work. His doctoral dissertation at Fuller focused on “A Study of Race, Culture and Ethnicity in Mennonite Church USA.”

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To interact with this article, please email communication@mosaicmennonites.org.

March 2025 Mosaic Conference Board Report

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Mosaic Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter and Assistant Moderator Roy Williams report on the March 26, 2025 board meeting, including updates on the strategic plan, Spring Assembly gatherings throughout April, continued conversation with MC USA on ministry partnership, the dates for the Fall Assembly, and announcing the next Conference Assistant Moderator.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To interact with this article, please email communication@mosaicmennonites.org.

Two Congregations Leave Mosaic Conference

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In 2025, there have been two congregations that have left Mosaic Conference.  

Vincent Mennonite (Spring City, PA) voted on December 8, 2024, to leave the Conference. The vote passed by 77% and disaffiliation was pending a vote to amend the congregation’s constitution in January. A constitution amendment passed on January 26, 2025, to reflect the December vote to disaffiliate from Mosaic Conference.  

Mosaic Conference continues to hold the credentials of Pastor Dave Mansfield.  

Salem Mennonite (Quakertown, PA) voted on February 23, 2025, by a 92% majority to withdraw from Mosaic Conference. In a letter dated March 9, their leadership team wrote, “This decision stems from theological differences, which we initially outlined in a letter sent to the Conference Board in July 2022.”  

As Salem seeks affiliation with another conference, their leadership said they would remain in touch with their Leadership Minister Noel Santiago. Mosaic will maintain the credentials of Bruce Eglinton-Woods and Bob Helverson for up to a year.  

“I deeply appreciate the leaders and members at Salem and their dedication to God’s kingdom work in Quakertown and beyond,” reflected Santiago. “I’m also grateful for how they’ve kept Mosaic Conference leadership involved and allowed this process to unfold to this point. I sincerely desire God’s best for them as they follow their calling and ministry.”  

Swamp Mennonite (Quakertown, PA), which voted last fall to end its affiliation with Mosaic Conference, has not determined a departure date as it discerns its affiliation with a different conference.  

Executive Minister Stephen Kriss shared, “We lament these decisions of changed relationships with sibling communities. We celebrate what God has done through our shared ministry together and we release them to pursue the Spirit’s call for their communities. And we continue to trust the reconciling love of Jesus.” 

Creating Spaces for Ministry: Glenn Nemath Joins Mosaic as Director of Real Estate

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by Brendan Sagastume

“I believe real estate is more than just managing properties, it’s about creating spaces that allow ministries to flourish and communities to grow,” shares Glenn Nemath (Blooming Glen [PA]), who serves as the Director of Real Estate for the FMC Properties Board of Mosaic Mennonite Conference (the property-holding company of the Conference). 

In this role, Nemath helps steward Mosaic’s properties, ensuring they serve the needs of congregations both now and for future generations. “This position allows me to use my gifts in real estate and business while supporting my calling to walk with Jesus Christ,” he reflects. “It also feeds my conviction to serve others.” 

Nemath has been engaged with Mosaic Conference for more than two decades, offering his expertise in various capacities since 2001. Over the years, he has supported congregations, served on the Properties Board, and participated in search committees, always seeking ways to help faith communities thrive.  

Recently, Nemath was chair of the FMC Properties Board, and Conrad Martin served as Director of Finance and Director of FMC’s Properties Board. Martin retired from his roles with Mosaic Conference in October 2024. After Nemath moved into the role of Director of Real Estate, Bryan Hunsberger (Souderton [PA] Mennonite) became the chair of the FMC Properties Board. 

A natural problem solver, Nemath thrives on finding creative solutions—whether in real estate, business, or everyday challenges. “I think outside the box and look at challenges as opportunities to create something better,” he shares. 

In this role, Nemath looks forward to collaborating with others to ensure Mosaic’s properties are well-managed and continue to bless the communities they serve. “I want to help create spaces that support ministry and bring people together in meaningful ways,” he says. 

Originally from Horsham, PA, Nemath now resides in Doylestown, PA. Outside of his work with Mosaic, he enjoys real estate investing, boating, biking, and exploring great food. He also makes time for live performances, whether concerts, theater, or other events. 

Brendan Sagastume

Brendan Sagastume is an Intercultural Communication Associate for Mosaic Conference.

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

Mosaic Congregations Come Together for Accompaniment in Worship

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by Jennifer Svetlik

As a community of congregations and nonprofit ministries committed to living like Jesus together, we have an opportunity during this time of increased targeting of our communities to come together to love each other, and bear witness that God’s perfect love casts out all fear.   
 
Over 40% of Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s member congregations are made up primarily of first and second-generation immigrants, from Latin America, Indonesia, and Haiti, among other countries. Beginning in late 2024, a number of these majority-immigrant congregations began to request that Mosaic Conference share information and resources and offer support to help reduce a sense of fear among their members about the possibility of increased arrests and deportations.  
 
The elimination of the “sensitive locations” policy by the Department of Homeland Security for churches as protected spaces in January 2025 further increased a sense of fear around gathering for communal worship by some pastors and their congregants.  
 
Mosaic has been responding to these needs by increasing staff accompaniment with vulnerable congregations, creating and disseminating relevant resources through partnerships with Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee, offering Know your Rights trainings, and empowering congregations and ministries to host their own trainings in their communities. 
 
In addition to these efforts, some immigrant-majority congregations began to request accompaniment by U.S. citizens in dominant-culture Mosaic Conference congregations during times of worship.  
 
“More than ninety percent of our congregants come from outside the U.S.,” shared a Mosaic congregation pastor, who requested anonymity to protect his congregation. “A lot of our members currently do not feel safe or comfortable during worship services, because of the changes in immigration policy that make them feel safe unsafe and unwelcome.” 
 
“The reason that we asked for accompaniment is that we need the support from our brothers and sisters from the dominant culture to comfort us and walk with us during this time,” this pastor shared. “Some of our members feel safer seeing Americans sitting in the back of the church. We recognize their presence, we share fellowship together, and we feel less alone.” 

The goal of the accompaniment partnerships is to strengthen relational connections between dominant-culture and immigrant-majority congregations in a geographic area, train both congregations with Know Your Rights and Be an Ally information, and for dominant-culture guests to offer a sense of calm and interface with enforcement agents should the need ever arise.  

One of the partnerships involves six congregations, including several that are not Mosaic Conference congregations. So far around 30 people in that partnership have visited a local immigrant-majority congregation over the past six weeks. 

One of the fruits of this accompaniment work has been a greater sense of fellowship and the creation of new relationships between various congregations. Some of these partnerships were based on prior relationships that congregations have had. 

“Our congregation has had a relationship for several years with an immigrant-majority congregation. When they asked for accompaniment, even though we are a small church, it was easy to say yes,” shares Jacob Curtis, Co-Pastor of Ambler (PA) Mennonite.  

“We have relationships with other Mennonite churches nearby, so we drew on those relationships and asked them this effort,” Curtis continues. “Everyone who has visited has been impressed by the warmth and energy of the congregation. And they’ve appreciated the chance to get to know each other too. Seeds are being planted. New relationships are being formed. We’re excited to see what God grows from all this goodness!” 

At least seven Mosaic Conference congregations are currently involved in congregational pairings, with other dominant-culture congregations still organizing teams for accompaniment. There are Mosaic Conference immigrant-majority congregations still seeking accompaniment relationships with dominant-culture congregations in their area. If your congregation is interested in learning more, email immigration@mosaicmennonites.org.  

There are a few other ways Mosaic Conference has been working at supporting our immigrant-majority congregations during this time.  

A Mosaic Conference congregation is part of the lawsuit Mennonite Church USA et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al. which asserts that DHS’s reversal of policy violates the first amendment freedom of religion protections. The Preliminary Injunction Hearing for this case has been set for April 4, 2025. 

Mosaic is also responding to identified needs for more bilingual communications and community engagement through seeking to hire several more staff members.  

The Shalom Fund, the Conference’s mutual aid fund, continues to accept contributions to support immigrant congregations with unexpected needs.  

We are grateful for the shows of support across the Conference for those who are most vulnerable among us. 

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Director of Community Engagement & Editor for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA).

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

The Fuentes de Agua Viva House of Prayer: A Beacon of Hope in Monterrey

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by Javier Márquez

Editor’s Note: In the summer of 2024, two congregations in South Texas and one church plant in Monterrey, Mexico asked to become partners in ministry with Mosaic Conference. Partners in Ministry are congregations that are not members but share our values and a vision for Anabaptist witness in their communities. Some use the time as a partner in ministry to explore membership. Others are emerging communities that value the relational accompaniment with Mosaic. Iglesia Menonita del Cordero (Brownsville, TX), Iglesia Menonita Fuente de Agua Viva (Los Fresnos, TX) and Casa de Oración Fuentes de Agua Viva (Monterrey, Mexico) are exploring membership. Learn more about Casa de Oración Fuentes de Agua Viva below.  

In the vibrant neighborhood called Colonia Emiliano Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico, the Fuentes de Agua Viva (Fountain of Living Water) House of Prayer stands as a beacon of hope and faith. Founded by Pastor Irma Solís and her husband, José Medrano Solís, this church has been a moving testimony of perseverance and devotion since its humble beginnings. 

Irma, 71, and José, 75, found their spiritual calling on October 29, 2020. Just three weeks later, driven by a fervent desire to share their faith, they began meeting with other families and turned their backyard into a sanctuary of worship.  

Pastor Irma and her congregation during the celebration of baptisms.

With the support of their children, they built a small house that has served as the center of their community; this gesture of faith and generosity has allowed the church to host about 25 people during services, revealing the growth they have experienced. 

Community baptisms.

Pastor Irma, with deep emotion, shares: “We are growing in the word, both spiritually and physically.”

“At first everything was beautiful and full of blessings; of course, then we faced challenges and obstacles, but each one has been an opportunity to strengthen our faith and move towards our goals.” 

The Fuentes de Agua Viva House of Prayer offers its services, with an open heart to the community, on Sundays at 10:30 am, Wednesdays at 3 pm, and Fridays, with women’s prayer, at 3 pm. At each meeting, members praise, pray, and share the word, creating an atmosphere of deep spiritual connection. A significant milestone in their journey was on June 23, 2024, when they celebrated their first baptism ceremony. 

The support of Pastor Alejo Solís, from the Fuente de Agua Viva Mennonite Church in Los Fresnos, Texas, has been fundamental in her journey. This support has not only provided spiritual guidance, but has also fostered inter-church cooperation. Pastor Irma received with enthusiasm and gratitude an invitation from Mosaic Leadership Minister Marco Güete to study at the Anabaptist Bible Institute.  

The church sees the Partner in Ministry relationship with Mosaic conference as an opportunity to receive new blessings and further enrich their lives and those of their community. Each step in their journey has been a manifestation of an unwavering faith and genuine love that continues to inspire all those who cross their path. 

All photos provided by La Casa de Oración Fuentes de Agua Viva.

In the heart of Monterrey, Fuentes de Agua Viva House of Prayer continues to be a place of hope and renewal. Its story is a reminder that even in times of difficulty, faith and dedication can transform lives and communities. The church not only serves as a place of worship, but also as a refuge for those seeking a deeper connection with their spirituality and with others. The work of Irma and José Medrano Solís is a living testimony that true spiritual strength and genuine love can flourish in the most unexpected places, lighting the way for all who seek hope and community in their lives. 

Javier Márquez

Javier Márquez is Associate for Communications and Community Engagement for Colombia. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Courage and Joy: Reflecting on Hope for the Future

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by Cami Dager

In a time when federal directives are challenging diversity and immigration efforts, I expected to sense fear at the recent Hope for the Future conference in Goshen, Indiana. That fear was present—but it was far outshone by courage. 

Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World.

I was deeply moved by the bravery of leaders like Regina Shands Stoltzfus and Tobin Miller Shearer, who, in 1995, developed and led the Damascus Road Anti-Racism Process. Their work came at great personal cost, as they faced resistance from the very Mennonite institutions that had initially encouraged them. Yet they persisted. Their courage was echoed in calls to continue this essential work despite today’s challenges. As one speaker reminded us, courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear. It compels us to speak up in spite of it. 

Likewise, joy is not the absence of hardship. Though we heard painful stories of resistance and exclusion, the conference was also filled with celebration—expressed through vibrant music, dancing and shared hope. The gathering honored the pioneers of anti-racism in MC USA and their lasting impact. As keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Lerone Martin urged us, let’s keep moving forward because, as Miller Shearer pointed out, transformation is not just possible—it is already happening. 

Participants (including Mosaic Leadership Minister Marco Güete, center) enjoy dancing at the evening gala.

Cami Dager

Cami Dager is the chief communication officer for MC USA and is a member of Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton, Pa. 

Hope for the Future: Celebrating 30 Years of Damascus Road

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by Hendy Matahelemual

The chill of winter’s last stroll through the Midwest did not dim the hope sparked by leaders of color and others invited to participate in Mennonite Church USA’s Hope for the Future Conference at Goshen College in Indiana on Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2025.  

This year, the theme was Celebrating 30 Years of Damascus Road Antiracism Process, now known as Roots of Justice. Around 130 people (including six Mosaic leaders) gathered for the event, which began with an evening reception at a local inn. The following day included worship and various sessions. I was honored and grateful to be part of a panel featuring trainers from Damascus Road/Roots of Justice. 

Hendy Matahelemual on a panel with other current and former Roots of Justice trainers. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World.

Antiracism is a key element of Mosaic Conference’s intercultural priority. Before we can truly gather as equals in the eyes of the Lord—as described in Revelation 7:9—we must address the elephant in the room: the sin of racism. This sin has divided humanity into two groups—the oppressed and the oppressor, the inferior and the superior, the dominant and the submissive—based on ethnicity, skin color, and race. 

Dr. Regina Shands Stoltzfus, the first keynote speaker of the day, reminded us to acknowledge antiracism work in the past and present as we prepare for the future. She is the co-author of Been in the Struggle with Dr. Tobin Miller Shearer. As part of an intercultural book study in 2023, Mosaic Conference invited both authors to lead a webinar discussion on it.  

Hendy Matahelemual (left) and Mosaic Conference Board Member Maati Yvonne (fourth from left) with the other past and current Roots of Justice trainers present at the Conference. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World.

I joined a breakout session on multiracial, cross-ethnic, and transracial identities in the church. This is where I realized that most of us, including myself, carry a mix of identities. Simply acknowledging it—and being acknowledged—was a liberating experience and a spiritual practice.  

The second day ended with a gala dinner where, for the first time, I heard the folk song Arirang performed by Korean brothers and sisters. The song symbolizes the sorrow and hope of the Korean people, longing for a unified Korea. The gala was a space for honoring our elders and celebrating, and yes, there was all sorts of dancing involved. 

Rev. Suzette Shreffler shared her story on the last day of the conference. As a Native American descendant, she grew up as a product of the Indian boarding school system, which forced her family to assimilate into Euro-American culture with the goal of erasing Indigenous languages, traditions, and identities. 

She experienced generational trauma but, thankfully, found peace in Jesus through her ministry at the local Mennonite Church. She became the first Northern Cheyenne woman credentialed by Central Plains Mennonite Conference. Her story of resilience is a beacon of hope for the future, and I believe there are many more stories yet to be told. 

Mosaic Mennonite Conference Executive Committee Board Member Maati Yvonne was one of seven elders honored at the 12th annual Hope for the Future celebration. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World.

The event concluded on Sunday with Dr. Rev. Lerone Martin, who shared one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermons, and I was amazed at how the sermon remains profoundly relevant today. 

Dr. King spoke about the three triplets of evil: racism, poverty, and violence. My hope for the future is that we can confront all of these in the way of Jesus. Our conference priorities are set to tackle these forces of evil as we become more intercultural, formational, and missional in the way of Jesus, in a world that is both broken and beautiful. 

Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual is the Associate Minister for Community Engagement for Mosaic Conference. Hendy Matahelemual was born and grew up in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. Hendy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Marina and their three boys, Judah, Levi and Asher.