Articles

Humility as a Way of Life

October 10, 2024 by Cindy Angela

BOOK REVIEW

by Danilo Sanchez

Editor’s Note: Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards will be the 2024 Mosaic Conference Assembly worship preacher and will spend time with Mosaic leaders throughout the weekend. The following is a review of his most recent book.

I was intrigued when the theme of humility was announced as the focal point for Mosaic’s 2024 Conference Assembly. In this difficult time of division and polarization, where healthy dialogue is rare, humility is greatly needed.

At the Mennonite Church USA Convention in 2023, Moderator Jon Carlson named our tendencies toward certainty and what happens when we talk with someone who we believe is fundamentally wrong. We get stuck and we draw lines. Humility invites us to consider that we could be wrong and invites us into curiosity about the person with whom we disagree.

In Rev. Dr. Edwards’ book Humility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character, he describes humility as a way of life. We must embody it and make it part of our character. Biblical humility has a trajectory that begins with submission to God and moves toward embodiment in all areas of life.

As I read the first chapter of the book, the word ‘yieldedness’ or gelassenheit, from our Anabaptist tradition, came to my mind. It is an open surrendering that is both spiritual and physically embodied. We yield to Christ and to the community of faith. It includes admitting that we don’t have all the answers, and it may include surrendering our voice or will to the larger faith community as the way of Christ is discerned together.

This posture and way of life takes practice, perhaps a lifetime. Dr. Edwards names repentance and fear of the Lord as part of humility and yielding to God; a reminder that we serve an awe-some and holy God.

In Chapter 5, Dr. Edwards describes leadership as shepherding. Drawing from the life of Jesus, he makes many biblical connections between humility and all that shepherding entails. Jesus is the good shepherd who leads, guides, and cares for us when we are weak. 1 Peter 5 reminds us that leaders do not lord their power over others but humbly demonstrate love. In a culture that can be focused on power and fame, this scripture is an important reminder of how we are called to wield our power and influence.

Dr. Edwards describes how leaders are called to foster mutuality and a sense of unity. As leaders we can become self-reliant or self-assured in our knowledge and experience. Humble leadership invites us to be vulnerable, admit to our church members that we struggle, and allow ourselves to be prayed rather than only praying for others.

There is much for us to learn about humility from Dr. Edwards in his latest book. I look forward to the ways that Dr. Edwards will enrich and bless our community during the November 2, 2024, Mosaic Conference Assembly.

Danilo Sanchez

Danilo Sanchez is the Leadership Minister for Intercultural Transformation for Mosaic Conference. Danilo Sanchez lives in Allentown with his wife Mary and two daughters. He is a pastor at Ripple and leads in the areas of leadership development, discipleship, and teaching.

Conference-Related Ministry Profile: The Worm Project

October 10, 2024 by Cindy Angela

by Jennifer Svetlik

Editor’s note: The Worm Project was approved by Mosaic’s board as a Conference-Related Ministry and will be welcomed at Mosaic’s Assembly on November 2, 2024.

They invite all to attend their Free Benefit Banquet on Saturday, October 26, at 6 pm at the Franconia Heritage Restaurant. Hear inspiring stories from keynote speaker, Howard Schiffer, founder and President of Vitamin Angels. The meal is free; reservations are required by Oct. 20. Leave your name and number of attendees by email to info@wormproject.org or by phone at 267-932-6050 x201.

The Worm Project is a global initiative that strives to relieve the suffering of millions of children throughout the world through raising money to purchase and distribute deworming medicine to those who need it most. The medicine is purchased in large quantities at discounted prices, and The Worm Project works closely with partner organizations to distribute the medicine. Deworming medicine is the most cost-effective way to impact the health of children.

For 25 years, this all-volunteer ministry, of which Mosaic Conference has been a fiscal sponsor, has helped prevent malnutrition in children caused by parasitic worms. The ministry was founded by Franconia Conference missionary Claude Good, who worked with the indigenous Triqui peoples of Mexico. The book How to Change the World One Penny at a Time: The Story of Claude Good and the Worm Project tells this story in greater detail (and all proceeds from the book sale go to purchase deworming medicine).

*Participants in the May 2024 Worm Walk fundraiser learn more about the powerful impact of deworming medicine. Photo provided by The Worm Project.*

The Worm Project is now becoming independent as a Conference-Related Ministry (CRM) of Mosaic Conference. The CRM seeks to “be God’s hands and feet, helping nourish the minds, bodies, and souls of His children all over the world,” and is guided by Matthew 25:40, among other scripture texts.

Roughly one-quarter of the world’s children are at risk of being infected by parasitic worms, which can rob children of up to a third of their daily nutritional intake and cause cognitive and physical impairment. The treatment is an effective, safe pill that costs less than three cents and eliminates all worms in a child. Recommended treatment is every six months to one year.

Board President Gary Delp (left) and Janice Hebbert, Medical Director of ORPHANetwork, hold deworming pills at medical clinic held in the local church in Cristo Rey, Nicaragua. Photo provided by The Worm Project.

With the generous support of many donors, last year The Worm Project was able to donate medicine to treat nearly 11 million children in Honduras, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond. Using World Health Organization data from 2022, we calculate our medicine donations would treat roughly 9% of children under age five who were treated that year for parasitic worms.

“As the home conference of our founder, Claude Good, Franconia Mennonite Conference and now Mosaic, has supported The Worm Project in many ways since our beginning back in the 1990s, shares Gary Delp, Board President. “We hope to continue Claude’s vision to help all children be free of parasitic worms.”

The Worm Project asks congregations in Mosaic Conference to pray that God will open the hearts of people to donate freely so they can help more children needing treatment. Less than 50% of children under age 5 who were at risk for parasitic worm infections were treated last year.

Watch this video to learn more, support, and pray for the vital work of this CRM.

*The May 2024 Worm Walk fundraiser and awareness event took place in Franconia (PA) Community Park. Photo provided by The Worm Project.*

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Editor & Development Associate for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family.

Encouraging Others with Joy and Authenticity

October 10, 2024 by Cindy Angela

JAYE LINDO’S STAFF PROFILE

by Jennifer Svetlik

Jaye Lindo

“Mosaic always loved me first and is a place that allows me to be me without judgement,” shares Jaye Lindo, who serves as Hospitality Coordinator for Mosaic Mennonite Conference.

“I love all the people, the work, and the events I get to be included in with Mosaic. I love being able to touch one person at a time, encourage them, and show them the caring posture of Jesus,” she adds. Her attentive listening, joyful humor, and passion shine through as she does so.

Lindo began this role in August 2024. She supports the Vibrant Mosaic program, Mosaic Institute, and Assembly planning by coordinating logistics for events and classes, including travel and lodging. She loves that she gets to support the formational, intercultural, and missional priorities of the Conference.

“I love all of what God is doing with Mosaic and that we are leaning in to listen and respond,” she adds.

This isn’t Lindo’s first time on the Mosaic staff. She was first part of the team in 2021 for a six-month internship as Leadership Development Associate. “I’m a boomerang staff member,” she says.

Sharing about the many things that drew her back to the staff, she adds, “I love intercultural work. How we thrive together amongst differences and change is so important. It builds character like nothing else.”

Lindo grew up in an Army family and moved around a lot as a child. She was born in California, though her heart is in Florida. Currently, she lives in Maryland.

For the past five years, Lindo has served as pastor of 7 Ways Home Fellowship, a Mosaic partner-in-ministry that meets for worship on Zoom on Friday nights. “We are a small community of diverse, authentic leaders,” Lindo describes the group.

“We bring all our gifts together to uplift each and encourage each other to do greater things for God outside of our own church community.”

In addition to her work and pastoring, Lindo enjoys laughing, relaxing, reading, listening to music, and being on a ship or on the ocean. “If there is water, I want to be there. On the beach, fishing, sunning, and at baptisms,” she says.

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is the Editor & Development Associate for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family.

Strengthening Meaningful Connections with Conference-Related Ministries

October 3, 2024 by Cindy Angela

by J. Eric Bishop, Souderton Mennonite Church 

To live more fully into the congregation’s mission statement, “Strengthening Meaningful Connections with Christ, Church, and Community,” Souderton (PA) Mennonite invited a Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry (CRM) to present each week during their Summer 2024 Sunday School elective series, Gifted to Serve.   

Sarah Bergren and Maggie Herrity from the Care and Share MCC Thrift Shoppes.

The CRM representatives presented a brief history of their organization and its purposes and goals. In an interview style format, they shared how their ministry nurtures discipleship, helps people grow in their gifts, and encourages service.  Many stories were included to illustrate an organization’s effectiveness. A congregation member connected to the organization served as host and interviewer. Some CRM representatives used media presentations and display tables. Each session began with a short teaching on spiritual gifts, led by a congregation member, which was the unifying theme among the nine Sundays.  

This elective series was designed by the Spiritual Formation Team, and the stated goals were that attendees would: learn about the work of Mosaic CRMs; think about how they are using their own time, energy, resources, and spiritual gifts, and if they are called to use them in different ways; and identify and celebrate the variety of gifts and ways people serve in order to glorify God.    

Tim Weaver Interviewing Marlene Derstine from the MCC Material Resources Center.

The primary challenge, the Spiritual Formation Team discovered, was drawing people to hear about organizations about which they believed they were already sufficiently familiar. Congregants involved with the CRM being represented (e.g., those who serve at the MCC Thrift Shoppe Care and Share), eagerly attended those sessions. But the turnout for the session about Quakertown Christian School was low, as no Souderton families have students attending there, and the adults who did attend no longer have children in the K-12 age range.   

However, the elective averaged 45 people each Sunday, and those who attended learned much and appreciated the candid leadership of those who shared. One Souderton Mennonite participant said, “I really enjoyed the summer elective. It was enlightening to hear about the good Kingdom-work being done through our CRMs. I didn’t realize there were so many, and it was encouraging to see how the message of Jesus is being proclaimed and lived out through Mosaic Conference by these ministries.”    

Representatives from the following CRMs participated in the elective series: 

Dock Mennonite Academy 
Mennonite Economic Development Association  
Peaceful Living 
Quakertown Christian School 
Living Branches 
Care and Share 
Spruce Lake Retreat 
Mennonite Central Committee Material Resource Center

Pastor Ken Burkholder interviewing Ed Brubaker from Living Branches.

J. Eric Bishop

J. Eric Bishop, PhD, taught both English and German at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School (now Dock Mennonite Academy) for 37 years. He currently serves two days a week as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Quakertown Christian School. He also produces legacy books about local businesses. Eric is married to Linda Hostetler. Eric and Linda are active members of Souderton Mennonite Church.

Associate Executive Minister Marta Castillo Receives Reflective Leadership Grant

October 3, 2024 by Cindy Angela

Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s Associate Executive Minister Marta (Beidler) Castillo has received a $15,000 Reflective Leadership Grant from Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School. The grant will support a time of reflecting on how to grow relational capacity and adapt leadership accountability amid conference-wide growth of geographical locations, intercultural diversity, and congregational transitions.

In 2024, 50 Christian leaders from a variety of faith-based organizations across the U.S. were selected for these grants, which support an opportunity for structured reflection for leaders of Christian organizations that are advancing their mission amid today’s rapidly changing context. The leadership education initiative is based in Durham, NC and funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

“The Reflective Leadership Grant at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity recognizes and supports the faithful, innovative work of lay and ordained Christian leaders who find themselves at a pivotal moment in their ministry,” says Mycal Brickhouse, a director of program and grants at Leadership Education.

“Using Harvard professor Ron Heifetz’s language, we want to help leaders experience “balcony time,” which allows them to move from the dance floor to the balcony to gain a broader picture of the work, organization, community and trends. We want to encourage grantees to continue to develop their leadership capacities in ways specific to their context and we look forward to learning alongside them and their communities.”

As the daughter of Franconia Conference-rooted mission workers, Castillo has been shaped by four of the linguistic cultures in the Conference, growing up in both Vietnam and Indonesia. Marta has attended Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life for over 30 years and served on the pastoral team from 2007-2017. Marta served five years on the Franconia Conference Board, two of those as Assistant Moderator, and has been employed by the Conference since 2016, beginning as a Leadership Minister. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a major in Elementary Education and has a Certificate of Christian Ministry from Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a Master of Arts from Kairos University.

In December, Castillo and her husband Julio will move from their home in Norristown, PA to Miami, FL to provide care for Julio’s mother. She will continue to work with Mosaic as a Leadership Minister and as Associate Executive Minister, expanding Mosaic Conference’s staff presence in Florida.

In January through March, Castillo will have two days per week of “balcony time” for active reflection, coaching, personal retreat, and opportunities to listen for God’s calling within her role at Mosaic Conference and for God’s Spirit leading the Conference in this current stage of development and growth.

Through the Reflective Leadership program, she will have opportunities to connect in person and virtually with other grant recipients and share reflections and ideas.

Mosaic Board Paves the Way for Annual Assembly and Beyond

October 3, 2024 by Cindy Angela

by Jennifer Svetlik

On September 30, 2024, the Mosaic Board’s agenda focused on actions for the November 2 Annual Assembly and Mosaic’s future. The Board opened with the week’s praying scripture, Heb 13:1-3, and reflected on what it means to keep on loving each other as siblings in this moment.

The Board unanimously approved the membership of Bethel Worship & Teaching Center (Levittown, PA), Ark of Christ (Orange County, CA), Resplandece Mennonite (Miami, FL and Barranquilla, Colombia) as congregations of Mosaic, and The Worm Project as a Conference-Related Ministry. Profiles of these four communities will be released in October in Mosaic News so that they can be introduced prior to being welcomed at Assembly.

“These four ministries represent the diverse languages, cultures, and contexts of Mosaic with both local and global impact,” shared Executive Minister Stephen Kriss. “We are grateful for the opportunity to embrace and recognize each as a new member with their unique gifts and possibilities.”

The Board also reviewed feedback from the seven delegate preparation sessions that took place throughout September. These sessions were an opportunity to learn more about Mosaic’s strategic plan, the Vibrant Mosaic program, and the Pathway Steering Team (PST)’s recommendation on affiliation with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), and to respond and ask questions. Delegates were highly engaged in these meetings. Many delegates indicated trust in the PST’s discernment process over the past two years, and desired more understanding of how a partnership, rather than membership, with MC USA might work.

“There was a lot of gratitude for the work of the PST, the work that God is doing amongst us, and the abundant opportunities that lay before us,” shared Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter. “Many delegates also need time to digest and reflect on what the PST had two years to work with.”

In response to delegate feedback, the Board shaped a resolution that gives space and a timeline for a more fully developed plan for partnership with MC USA.

It reads, “To affirm, with gratitude, the work and recommendation of the Pathway Steering Team to establish a robust partnership with Mennonite Church USA, and to bring recommended bylaw amendments for delegate discernment at the 2025 Mosaic Conference Assembly.”

On Oct. 2 delegates received the Assembly docket, which includes this resolution and a supplemental document that offers more information about the rationale and implications of the board’s resolution. The resolution does not include a bylaw change at this year’s Assembly.

“The Board discerned that this resolution is the best next step for Mosaic Conference to move forward together and live into our Conference vision and priorities. Partnership allows us to do that best; it does not mean withdrawal from MC USA, nor does it mean the status quo,” explained Kiron Mateti, Board member and PST member (Plains [Hatfield, PA]).

“So much changed in the last month in terms of public communications that shaped what kind of partnership could be available. This resolution provides more space for clear, healthy discussions between Mosaic staff and MC USA and opportunities to provide more understanding to all about the hard work partnership would entail,” Mateti continued.

“Sometimes it feels like the opportunities that Mosaic has in our new strategic plan to live more deeply into our mission and vision have been overshadowed by the question of affiliation with MC USA, a question that affects some communities more than others,” Moyer Walter added. “There are congregations that have long-standing relationships within MC USA, and others who have much less relationship with MC USA.”

Responding to the text of the resolution, MC USA Executive Director Glen Guyton shared, “Mosaic Mennonite Conference is a beloved part of MC USA. We value the relationship that we share and will continue to share with the people who comprise Mosaic. The Executive Board and Staff welcome continued dialogue and collaboration with Mosaic leadership as we discern together.”

Mosaic Conference’s Annual Assembly, the third-ever in-person gathering of the delegate body, will feature Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards sharing with groups of leaders on Friday, and preaching on biblical humility during Assembly worship.

“God has brought us this far and will continue to be with us. I am very excited about the opportunities ahead of us, and what the Spirit will do among us,” Moyer Walter encouraged.

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer Svetlik is the Editor/Development Coordinator for Mosaic.

A Delegate Reflects on the September Preparation Meetings

September 26, 2024 by Cindy Angela

by Greg Law

Editors’ Note: Greg Law, a delegate from Frederick (PA) Mennonite, attended the first two September delegate preparation meetings, at the Mosaic office in Lansdale and at Philadelphia Praise Center. The following are some of his reflections and observations.

Some of my observations during the two recent delegate preparation meetings I participated in, included:

There are some within our Conference are just beginning to realize the continued growth of Mosaic since 2020, including outside of the United States.
There is some confusion on what the proposal affirmed by the Board about partnership with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) means for Mosaic Conference congregations in terms of the daily impact, since MC USA seems to be changing their view on the possibility of collaboration and partnership. For the more established white congregations there doesn’t appear to be much impact, but for some of the newer and immigrant congregations, there may be a loss in some grant money.
A realization that if we are no longer part of MC USA, we can freely partner and collaborate with any group we choose.

Some of my takeaways from these two sessions included:

It was good to hear from representatives of the Pathways Steering Team, their honesty about the struggles in their discussions, and how seriously they took their tasks. They did an incredible amount of work in a very short time and represented many viewpoints from across the conference well.
It’s easy to forget how diverse Mosaic conference is when you live in the historical footprint of the former Franconia and Eastern District Conferences. And it is surprising how quickly conferences went from being geographical to being theological/ideological.
In attending the session at Philadelphia Praise Center, I realized that people connecting via Zoom from California had to participate beginning at 4 p.m. Working across time zones can be challenging.

My lingering questions and reflections after these sessions include:

What is the importance of Mennonite World Conference to Mosaic conference? I want to understand that more.
We will still have some of the same issues to deal with even if we leave MC USA. This will just remove one layer of administration. Separating from MC USA does not remove the tension around other topics being debated within conference congregations and leadership.
A lot of the delegate participants see this as a chance for a clean start, without having to fit into a mold that increasingly appears to not work for us. It would be uncharted. But with God’s guidance and dedication from the member congregations and Conference-Related Ministries, we could forge something truly wonderful to spread the Good News of Jesus’ saving grace to our broken and beautiful world.

Greg Law

Greg grew up in the Franconia, PA area and currently lives in Western Montgomery County near Schwenksville. He has been part of the Frederick (PA) Mennonite church since 1993 and serves as a songleader and elder.

A Ministry of Water, Concrete, Corn and Gratitude: Get to Know Healthy Niños Honduras (Part III)

September 26, 2024 by Cindy Angela

by Javier Márquez

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of four feature articles on HNH, originally published in Spanish in 2024. All photos by Javier Márquez.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

In bottom left, a man from the community receiving medical assistance. In the top right, a family that has known the program for many years. In the bottom right, the construction of a concrete floor in a home.

Three of the Conference-Related Ministry Healthy Niños Honduras (HNH)’s key services are represented by water, concrete, and corn.

The deep level of poverty in the mountains of Honduras creates conditions where people must live in precarious houses, with dirt floors and without clean water. When babies crawl and take their first steps on dirt floors, the bacteria and insects present start a cycle of gastrointestinal illnesses, which make children vulnerable to diseases that threaten their development.

Without a potable water system, families build rainwater storage wells, which are holes in the ground filled with water that they use for bathing, drinking, and washing boots and dishes. Honduras faces diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, which are transmitted by mosquitoes that breed and dwell in these water wells.

To address these problems, HNH offers to build cement floors, which are donated to families and built by the brigades. Over the years, hundreds of these floors have blessed families and provided safer places for children to grow.

HNH also donates small, simple water filtration systems that protect everyone, especially children, from diseases that can come from consuming contaminated water.

At the Nutrition Center

HNH maintains a digital record of everyone it has served and offers professional follow-ups on each case. The families of children who are below the healthy nutrition line are invited to go to the Nutrition Center.

The Nutrition Center is a beautiful place that resembles a small village with colorful houses, a small school, a park, and a kitchen. Surrounded by bean, cassava, soybean, papaya, and plenty of corn fields, families who accept the invitation come here to help their children recover over several months.

The Nutrition Center becomes a small community where mothers work together to cook tortillas and coffee each morning, clean the center daily, and take care of their babies in a place where there is enough food to eat.

Hundreds of children have been rescued at this center. It is a place where families receive nourishment for their stomachs and their hearts. Parents who have saved their children by admitting them to this center have become community leaders who invite other families to come. Some, like Don Félix, have even ended up working on staff with Healthy Niños.

Articles

Danilo Sanchez

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer Svetlik

J. Eric Bishop

Jennifer Svetlik

Greg Law

At the Nutrition Center

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