Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Articles

Sharing Joys and Challenges with PPMI in India 

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by Danilo Sanchez

At the end of January, I was privileged to join a trip to India with Peace Proclamation Ministries (PPMI), a Conference-Related Ministry. The Conference was grateful to receive the invitation to join Paulus, the founder of PPMI, on this trip and invest program funds for staff to participate. Since 2011, PPMI has sent teams to India to offer eye clinics, borewells for drinking water, and especially to host pastors’ conferences and women’s conferences that teach biblical knowledge and encourage a witness to people of other religious faiths. 

Pastors and their spouses gather for a day of Bible learning with PPMI for the first time in the town of Mancherial. 
Danilo Sanchez, left, hands out a pair of prescription eyeglasses to someone who needs them. 

On this trip, we traveled to three regions in south-central India to encourage pastors and their spouses in their ministry. Our focus was leadership, discipleship and looking at Jesus through the scriptures. For the first time, PPMI was able to host a gathering for pastors and spouses in the rural town of Mancherial. About 10 pastors and spouses joined for the day to hear sermons about faith during persecution and how to build up God’s church. We passed out prescription eyeglasses and got to hear about what God is doing in that region. A church building had recently been rebuilt after heavy floods had washed it away, and we were able to talk with the pastor and pray for the building. 

In the town of Khammam, we celebrated with a church that had received help for electrical work from PPMI. We sang worship songs in the Telugu language and raised our voices in thanksgiving. The sounds of praise from voices, drums, and tambourines echoed off the walls. The faith and joy of the people was refreshing to my spirit.  

Danilo Sanchez, center, offers teaching from the scriptures at a church in the town of Khammam. PPMI supported the electrical work for this church building.
Pastors and their spouses who were present for a teaching gathering with PPMI in the town of Khammam.

The next day, we met with 35 pastors and their spouses for a day of teaching. The pastors were deeply encouraged and challenged. One pastor shared that he was struggling with God’s call for him, but this gathering confirmed God’s presence in his life. Another pastor shared that he was ridiculed by unbelievers because he had been struggling financially for many years. But the pastor did not become discouraged; as he remained faithful, so did God. Now his ministry is growing, and he is giving God all the praise.  

The final town we visited was Kondapalli. There we celebrated with a church that was dedicating an addition to their building which would allow the pastor to live there and save his family money. There was also a room for bible study or teaching children. These additions were possible because of PPMI’s support. We enjoyed a delicious meal with the church community.  

Danilo Sanchez, center, cuts the ribbon for the dedication of an addition to the church building for a community in the town of Kondapalli.
The church community in the town of Kondapalli gathers for a meal to celebrate the dedication of their church building’s addition.

The next day we gathered with 10 pastors and spouses for our final teaching gathering in Guntur. Once a month the pastors of this area gather to pray for each other, share updates, build relationships, and grow in faith. The PPMI pastor network is strong and growing.  

As a member of the Conference staff, I was grateful to preach to and teach these pastors and their spouses. Many of them were about my age and we shared similar joys and challenges. My own faith was challenged and renewed. The trip broadened my intercultural capacity, and I gathered new insights for the intercultural work of the Conference.  

Pastors and their spouses who were present for a teaching gathering with PPMI in the town of Guntur.

The relationship with PPMI as a Conference-Related Ministry helps expand our Conference’s global mindset. I invite you to continue to pray for our brothers and sisters who are trying to live as faithful witnesses in India, because we need them, and they need us. 

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. Danilo also works part-time with the housing program of Ripple Community Inc as the Community Life Director.

Caring for Others: The call of José Andrés Mendoza (Encuentro de Renovación, Miami, FL) 

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Transcribed and translated by Andrés Castillo

José Andrés Mendoza and his family.

I came from Honduras to the U.S. with the dream of returning to my country to start a business after two years, but my stay was prolonged. 

I was introduced to the Mennonite church through my wife, Mirtza, who was a part of Encuentro de Renovación congregation in Miami, Florida. At that time, the church had existed for about five years. 

I started studying through Instituto Bíblico Anabautista (Anabaptist Biblical Institute) because I wanted to know more about God. A brother from the church named Nicho motivated me to grow in my spiritual life. 

After a year of attending Encuentro, I married Mirtza. Soon after, I was invited to be a leader in the church. I didn’t know what gifts the church leaders saw in me. 

Suddenly, theological differences arose in the church. The pastor at the time preached the prosperity gospel, which some of us didn’t agree with. This caused the church to split. The pastor left, took most of the people with him, and we were left with five or six members. 

Seeing the need, God pushed me into pastorship. If God had given me the option, I would not have chosen to be a pastor, but for one reason or another, nobody else was able to take on the responsibility. I had a desire to care for others—I did home visitation with my wife—but I had never thought about doing it with the title of “pastor.”  

Encuentro restarted with the members that remained. Some leaders from the Southeast Mennonite Conference and Homestead Mennonite Church helped us with ideas for how to continue as a church. We continued evangelizing and inviting people, and the church started to be filled again. 

Although I have been actively pastoring, sometimes I have doubts if God has called me to ministry. I wonder, “Why didn’t God call someone more prepared?” 

In my initial role as an interim pastor, I suffered from a partial facial paralysis. The doctor asked me, “Do you worry? Are you stressed? Something caused this.” I realized that I was trying to solve other people’s problems, ones that were out of my control. 

In 2020, the pandemic came, bringing another new beginning to the church. A couple of years later, we received another blow: a new Florida law that forced many of our congregants to flee the state.  

Today we have a congregation of about 20 members. Some are long-time members, and some are new. Past events have helped us understand that the church belongs to God, not to us. When we realize this, we can rest and know that there is hope, that someday, God will multiply our church. 

At Encuentro de Renovación we believe in mutual transformation carried out through companionship and communion. It is a multicultural church that faces difficulties, but we share in meals and other activities. We also provide an opportunity to give feedback after the sermons, which are not given only by me. 

My wife Mirtza and I have three daughters: Jocelyn (29), Johanna (27) and Marlyn (26). We like to read, watch movies and go for walks in the park. 

Remembering Anthonia Chibuzo Onye

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Mosaic Conference celebrates the life of Anthonia Chibuzo Onye (May 18, 1971 to Jan. 12, 2024), who had previously served as assistant pastor, deaconess, and member of LA (CA) Faith Chapel.  

More recently Onye had served as a regional minister for Southern California for Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference (PSMC), on the Mennonite Mission Network board of directors, and the founder of “In the Loving Arms Ministries.” (learn more in the article from Mennonite Church USA celebrating Onye’s life) 

LA Faith Chapel hosted her homecoming service on Saturday, Feb. 24. Pastor Ertell Whigham was in attendance, and reflected, “It was an honor to represent Mosaic Conference during the Celebration of Life of LA Faith’s Pastor Sister Anthonia Onye. LA Faith Chapel’s celebration of the life and ministry of Pastor Onye was a spectacular witness to the transformative impact of a faithful servant of God.  

From the tribute shared by her son Chibike, to the commendations from others, her life and call to ministry in the church, community, and secular profession garnered words of appreciation such as “loving, wise, honorable, faithful, and committed”. 

Whigham continued, “The intercultural representation of those present was striking, as was the expressed appreciation for Pastor Onye and LA Faith’s relationship with our Anabaptist community. LA Faith Chapel is a resource for leadership development and community ministry and is a special gift to Mosaic Conference.” 

During the service, Whigham offered a resolution which read, in part, “We, the Executive Team of Mosaic Mennonite Conference…express our condolences and respect in memory of our sister in Christ, Anthonia Chibuzo Onye. 

We express our love and sympathy to sister Anthonia’s family, Pastor Chuwang Pam and his wife, Pastor Grace Pam, the pastors of LA Faith Chapel, and the brothers and sisters of LA Faith Chapel. We mourn with those who mourn, and we celebrate the life of our sister, whose testimony of a life lived in Christ’s footsteps, impacts the lives of those in this congregation, this community, Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Church USA, and beyond. 

May the testimony of her love for Jesus, commitment to peace, justice, reconciliation and service in the name of Christ continue to ripple out to those who need salvation and bring repentance and transformation in the name of Jesus. May the legacy of love she showed to her family, the church and the larger community continue to challenge us to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, our souls, and our strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

May the community of faith today be encouraged by the words of 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  

Responding to God’s Call: Donella Clemens

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by Eileen Kinch

When Donella Clemens was nominated to be the Mennonite Church’s moderator-elect in 1990, she took time to pray and think. She was the first woman to be nominated for this position, and she knew some people might not appreciate it. But, as she pointed out in Franconia Conference News at the time, “The call came from the church; therefore, it must be the church’s issue to deal with, not mine.” 

Clemens grew up in Belleville, Pa., in what had been the Conservative Mennonite Conference, now Rosedale Network. Her uncles were in leadership positions, and two of them were bishops. They strongly believed that if the church calls someone to do something, one must say yes; the voice of the church is as the voice of God. So Clemens said yes to the invitation to be the Mennonite Church’s moderator. 

She also said yes to other invitations. She became Franconia Conference’s first woman moderator in 1997. She was also the first woman board chair of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School (now Dock Academy).  

“Countless times I was the only woman on a committee,” she said. Sometimes she suggested ideas and the men did not listen. Then a man on the committee would make the same suggestions, and the rest of the committee implemented them. At times Clemens felt resistance from men but chose to interpret the resistance in a productive way. Her background in social work helped her navigate that resistance on many occasions. 

Donella Clemens, left, with her granddaughter, Katherine. Photo provided by Donna Clemens.

Clemens never sought leadership roles; they came to her. “I … feel so strongly that it’s out of God’s call on my life, that these calls came…. It’s what God put in front of me.” 

During her time as Franconia Conference moderator, Clemens felt it was God’s direction that Eastern District and Franconia Conference work together. 

“Jesus so clearly talks about having us come together…to work together and to be a light that loves each other,” Clemens said in a recent interview. She enjoyed the many committees that formed between members of Franconia Conference and Eastern District Conference around common interests and activities. One committee involved passionate librarians from each conference. 

Donella Clemens, bottom right, with her husband Wayne, bottom left, and grandchildren, at Christmas 2023. Photo by Donella Clemens.

A challenge for Clemens during her time as Franconia Conference moderator was discussion around homosexuality that resulted in Germantown being removed fromout Franconia Conference. The way people were treating each other at the time “was much worse than any decision that we would make” as a conference, she said.  

Clemens hopes that energy that goes into division can instead be put toward the love of Jesus. When the body of Christ comes together and learns to know each other through the love of Jesus, Clemens said, “everyone benefits.” 

Clemens served briefly as Franconia’s delegate to the General Board of the Mennonite Church. In 2000, she joined the Franconia Conference Ministry Team for six years and worked with Pennsylvania congregations Blooming Glen, Plains, Perkasie, and Deep Run East, as well as the congregations in Vermont. 

Since then, she served on the board of what is now called Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. She has helped congregations with pastoral searches. She has also served on numerous committees and the ministry team at Perkasie (PA) Mennonite, her home congregation.  

We are grateful for Donella Clemens’ work to help lay the foundation of what would become Mosaic Conference, as well as to encourage others to respond to the call of God and the church. 

Eileen Kinch

Eileen Kinch holds a Master of Divinity degree, with an emphasis in the Ministry of Writing, from Earlham School of Religion. She and her husband, Joel Nofziger, who serves as director of the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, live near Tylersport, PA. They attend Methacton Mennonite Church. Eileen is also a member of Keystone Fellowship Friends Meeting in Lancaster County.

Supporting Mosaic Leaders in Holistic Wellness

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by Jennifer Svetlik

“Pastors are a gift to the church. Our role as a broader church community is to steward those gifts,” reflects Franco Salvatori, Stewardship Consultant at Everence. “For us at Everence, that means helping pastors find a healthy work-life balance and financial freedom in the context of their calling in God’s kingdom.”  

On March 3-4, 2024, 80 people, including more than 40 credentialed leaders, their spouses, and other Mosaic leaders from California, Florida, and Pennsylvania participated in a “Mosaic Leadership Day Away” in scenic Lambertville, NJ along the Delaware River.  

The Day Away was aimed at supporting pastors and their spouses in prioritizing holistic wellness, and was sponsored by Everence’s Pastoral Financial Wellness Program, funded, in part, by the Lilly Endowment Inc. 

The time of fellowship and retreat opened with a dinner and multi-instrumental, inspiring entertainment by Makinto (LA [CA] Faith Chapel) and Friends. Participants were drawn into the story as they laughed, reflected, and danced with gusto.  

The following day offered times of energetic, multilingual worship led by Dr. Rashard Allen (Neffsville [Lancaster, PA]), Laura Leatherman Alderfer (Salford [Harleysville, PA] and Methacton [Norristown, PA]), and Cindy Angela, Director of Communication (Philadelphia [PA] Praise Center). A prayer team from Zion (Souderton, PA) was onsite to pray for leaders, their families, and their ministries, and a time of anointing was offered.  

Associate Executive Minister Marta Castillo and Leadership Minster for Missional Transformation Noel Santiago led sessions focused on Sabbath Rest. The sessions included small and large group reflection on sabbath practices in times of unrest and stress, Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, and how the Spirit moves us to receive the gift of rest.  

Rest was also part of the Day Away, with massage sessions available, and an extended break that allowed participants to walk and explore the town.  

“Being a new pastor, I was glad to meet other pastors within Mosaic and share what we have in common as the Body of Christ,” shared Joe Brooks, pastor of College Hill Mennonite (Tampa, FL). “I received a very warm welcome, and I really enjoyed the music! I am grateful to further my leadership training and to think about how our church life and financial lives are connected.”  

Two sessions were offered on financial and holistic wellness, and one-on-one sessions with Everence Financial Advisors were also made available to participants. 

“Pastors face unique challenges when it comes to financial wellness, in their own lives, and the dynamics of their conversations,” shared Everence Managing Director Randy Nyce during a presentation on Developing Financial Wellness. “Pastors are not trained as nonprofit leaders, yet they often find themselves needing to function that way, knowing how to read balance sheets and raise funds.”  

“I found the financial sessions most interesting,” shared Dania Maritza Hernández, pastor of Peña de Horeb (Philadelphia, PA). “It is very important for pastors to understand how to do business; it allows us to have a stronger vision for our congregations’ future and the work God has called us to.”  

The final session was led by Leonard Dow, Everence Vice President of Community and Church Development, on Developing Holistic Wellness. Drawing from Zec 4:10, Dow invited leaders to pay attention to the “small beginnings” that God is birthing in our communities, that will bring God honor.  

As pastors and leaders left to return to their congregations and ministries, they felt refreshed, more connected to others in ministry, and more resourced for their work.  

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Communication Associate/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 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. 

Three Things Shaping Mosaic Four Years Later 

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by Stephen Kriss, Executive Minister

It’s been four years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic; ¿Qué onda? (Spanish for “what’s the wave?” or “what’s up?”). 

Last Sunday, I sat in the living room of Josué and Nohemi Gonzalez’s home in Pembroke Pines, Florida for the worship gathering of Resplandece Mennonite Church. Resplandece is one of the half-dozen new congregations that have emerged with connections to Mosaic in the last year. And it is one of three Mosaic communities that meet mainly through Zoom This Sunday, the worship was moderated from Florida by Josué and the sermon and music-leading from Barranquilla, Colombia by church-planting pastor Manuel García Noriega and his family. 

Admittedly, I was skeptical of this model. I have been skeptical about Zoom worship since the first time I preached with Wellspring Church of Skippack (PA) from my front porch at the beginning of the pandemic. I was frustrated with the seemingly disembodied reality of Zoom worship and technological glitches. However, even that Sunday, while I focused on what was lacking, the worship moderator, Eloise Meneses, made sure that everyone was seen, heard, and acknowledged. In the isolation of the pandemic, that was the most important thing. The good news was less about my sermon and more about the community, gathered in the way that we could, in a time of confusion and disconnection. 

Four years later, we are using this technology differently, and it is changing us. Several of our worshipping communities offer hybrid worship and many more stream their services online. Bible studies and meetings are on Zoom. The work of the church continues with technology, and we are navigating how to be church differently.  

Resplandece highlights something else for us: Human migration is also transforming Mosaic. Those who gather online are scattered from Colombia to New York City, and most are from Colombia or Venezuela. We have added Spanish-speaking staff to keep up with the rapid growth of the Spanish-speaking community in our midst. New Russian-speaking and Haitian communities have also emerged.  

In Philadelphia, which is also a center for our growth, some immigrant communities have almost doubled in size since 2020. We have three Spanish-speaking communities in Philadelphia led by pastors from the Dominican Republic, Central America, and Mexico. Migration will continue to shape Mosaic as it has since our beginning as a Conference 300 years ago when the first families arrived in Pennsylvania from Europe. 

The third thing shaping Mosaic is the political landscape. We are in an election year, like we were in the onset of the pandemic. However, it is not only U.S. political realities that challenge us. The elections in Indonesia last week deeply affect the 10% of Mosaic with roots there. The sociopolitical collapses in Venezuela and Haiti also shape us as persons flee those countries under new U.S. visa policies. The war in Ukraine and the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexander Navalny impact our communities too. We have always been shaped by political climates, and we must remain focused on our Jesus-centered faith despite political differences.  

Changes in technology, human migration, and global and local politics are not new. Our Anabaptist movement was spurred on by the printing press that made Bibles accessible, by migration in Europe and into the Western Hemisphere, and by the politics of the time. Though they may appear as threats, they are “waves” we have navigated in the past and will continue to experience. Ignoring them is not an option.  

We don’t always need to agree on the best responses to these challenges to live faithfully and vibrantly into the future. We have a history of learning to ride the waves. And Jesus, who demonstrated how it is possible to even walk on water, and who can calm the storms around us and within us, is always still with us. 

Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss is the Executive Minister of Mosaic Mennonite Conference.

Visioning for the Hard Work of Leadership 

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by Rose Bender Cook

Being an effective leader is hard work. Healthy leaders with integrity, humility, courage, and vision seem rare. In our current political arena, power conflicts and personal agendas prevent collaboration and creative problem-solving. In our congregations, conferences, and denomination, we have similar challenges. It’s a difficult time to lead. Leaders need our prayers.   

This year, I started the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) in Leadership program at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). Initially, I spent time assessing my strengths and weaknesses and realized I have blind spots I don’t even recognize yet. As I look back over 13 years as a pastor at Whitehall (PA) and reflect on my new position at Mosaic, I am humbled. This is sacred work. I want to be effective, but even more, I want to be faithful. 

Scripture teaches us much about leadership. I am convicted when I read about Moses’ workaholism, over-functioning, and lack of time with family which had to be corrected by his father-in-law (Exodus 18). I identify with Elijah’s repeated narrative that he was the only one left to do God’s work (1 Kings 19). I am challenged by Esther’s courage to be a voice for her people at great personal risk (Esther 8). I am inspired by Peter’s willingness to adapt when he witnessed the outpouring of the Spirit at Cornelius’ home (Acts 10).

Then, there is Jesus. His times of prayer grounded him so that he wasn’t swayed by the pressure of the crowd (Mark 1: 35-39). He was focused on the plan of the Father, and yet flexible, stopping to raise the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7) and healing the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7).    

As a part of the D.Min program, I was asked to develop a vision statement for my leadership growth.  After prayer, discernment, and some fear and trembling, I submitted this: 

To be grounded, gracious, and Spirit-led–opening space for everyone to take their place at God’s table.   

Each part of that vision invites me to growth and into spaces that are uncomfortable. I wonder if I can live up to this call. Will I apply the discipline it takes to stay grounded? Will I grow in joyful patience and generous love so I can be truly gracious? Will I surrender my ego and agenda to follow the Spirit’s prompting?  

Will I be able to imagine the big table of God (Luke 13: 29-30; 14:21-23) which looks different from the table I would set? How will I clear space for those who have no power to share their voice? How do I welcome others as Christ has welcomed me? (Romans 15:7) How do I love the stranger, the enemy, as well as the brother or sister who comes from a different theological perspective than I do?   

There are plenty of times where it seems easier to throw in the towel on this leadership journey.  According to the scriptures, I am in good company. But I serve a God who is faithful, who always provides what is needed to live into the call we’ve been given.  

I pray for discernment as I listen to the Spirit and for the courage to obey. As I relate to other leaders and those in my care, I want to be loving, tender-hearted, and humble (1 Peter 3:8). This is God’s church, God’s table, God’s mission, and I have been invited to join. Instead of relying on my own leadership abilities, I will trust fully in the One who began this good work and will bring it to completion (Phil 1:6).   

Rose Bender Cook

Rose Bender Cook is the Leadership Minister for Formation and the Mosaic Institute Director. She is also a pastor at Whitehall (PA) Mennonite Church.

Naked Ash Wednesday 

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by Gary Alloway

Over the past two years, Redemption (our church) has hosted a book club at the local brewery. We have discussed everything from Flannery O’Conner to Walter Wink, trying to engage with books that give people wider perspectives on faith. And since our local brewery is called Naked Brewery, book club is affectionately known as Naked Book Club (*clothes required*).   

Part of the reason the book club has worked is because we have been hosted by Crystal the Bartender. Crystal loves us. Crystal is for us. Crystal has become a personal friend. Crystal is our best evangelist for the book club. Crystal wouldn’t call herself a Christian, but she is our person of peace, that weird person Jesus speaks about in Luke 10, who will apparently receive you indefinitely when you go out on mission.  

So when Ash Wednesday came around this year and we had a scheduling conflict at our church building, we asked Crystal if we could have the service at the brewery. She got excited about it and said “Sure!” And thus was born the first ever Naked Ash Wednesday.   

Crystal, a bartender at Naked Brewery, and a “person of peace” for Redemption Church of Bristol. Photos provided by Gary Alloway.

It should be said, Naked Brewery is in a 19th-century building in Bristol and like many old Bristol buildings, the basement is about as spooky as can be. Ceilings are low, river stones protrude from the walls, weird nooks lead you into darkened corners. It is a perfect place for an Ash Wednesday service. It is a perfect place to remember your mortality. We invited people to come early for a last beer before Lent. And then we remembered that we have come from dust and to dust we shall return. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

Participants in the Naked Ash Wednesday service led by Redemption Church of Bristol, at the Naked Brewery.
Participants in the Naked Ash Wednesday service led by Redemption Church of Bristol, at the Naked Brewery.
Participants in the Naked Ash Wednesday service led by Redemption Church of Bristol, at the Naked Brewery.

As we emerged from the basement, Crystal asked, “Do you have any ashes left? You might need to get everyone up here?” We gave ashes to a few people and probably could have given them to more. Honestly, our sheepishness was more the limitation than any sort of hostility to our presence there. It seems that the longstanding symbols of the church still have meaning and resonance in an age of secularism.

As we packed up, Crystal was anxious to know how the service went and excited to hear of its success. And then she gave us another indefinite invitation: “What about next year? You guys want to do it again? Should we book this as an annual tradition?” 

Jesus tells us that when we find the person of peace, don’t move around. Stay put and be present to the work of God in that place. So it sounds like we are on the hook for next year.  It sounds like this was the first of many Naked Ash Wednesdays.   

Gary Alloway

Gary Alloway is a pastor and church planter of Redemption Church of Bristol (PA), which is a Mosaic Partner in Ministry and was founded in 2009.  Gary serves with his wife, Susan, and his children, Augie (9) and Rosey (7), who deeply love pretzel dogs from the Bristol Amish Market.  Gary has a passion for Philadelphia sports, crossword puzzles, and for seeing broken people connect to the amazing love of God.