Articles

Holy Saturday Reflection: Dandelion

April 5, 2023 by Conference Office

by Eileen Kinch

You jagged leafed weed growing free
in the sidewalk cracks, the first growth after winter

You green plant we harvest during Easter week,
vinegar salad, like the gall Jesus tasted

You hide in broad daylight, so common we don’t notice,
white milk crushed stem trodden underfoot

You stubborn one wilting near the grave
the one the gardener tries to uproot

You beauty, you bitter herb
standing guard by that sealed tomb

Eileen Kinch

Eileen Kinch is a writer and editor for the Mosaic communication team. She 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.

Reframing the To-Do List

March 30, 2023 by Conference Office

by Mary Nitzsche

I am a list maker. Having a weekly plan for how to use my time brings order and structure to my life. I maintain two lists: one for household and one for work-related tasks. Since semi-retiring a year ago, my work list has shortened while my household list has increased to include items for which I did not have or take time while working more hours. To remain sane, I learned the practice of dividing household tasks and errands among weekdays, rather than relegating everything to the weekend. Crossing off an item on my list brings me great satisfaction. What happens if I don’t get everything on my list done because I lack energy, motivation, or time? What if an unexpected and higher priority situation emerges? Do I beat up on myself? I have learned the importance of offering myself grace to save unfinished tasks for another day without belittling or judging my self-worth or value.

I recently listened to a podcast that reframed the “to-do list” differently. Rather than focusing on what could be accomplished to feel good about oneself, the focus was on one’s values. When making a list for the day, the question becomes: “What do I need to do today that reflects my values?”

I share some of my values and ways they might create my “to-do list”:

Living in the present moment prompts me to ask: What are one or two things that might bring me joy and delight today?
Connecting with others prompts me to ask: How do I want to connect with family, friends, neighbors, church family, or people I meet today?
Caring for myself prompts me to ask: What will promote my well-being today?
Respecting creation by how I live and act prompts me to ask: How might my living today honor and sustain creation?
Expressing gratitude prompts me to ask: What am I thankful for, and how will I express gratitude today?
Taking time to reflect on my life prompts me to ask: What can I learn and change in the experiences I had today or this week? How will I enact what I learn from my mistakes?
Living simply prompts me to ask: What is my fair share today and how will my actions and decisions reflect this balance?
Serving others prompts me to ask: Lord, who are you nudging me to serve today and how can I serve them for their well-being?

While I admit my list seems lofty and rather ideal, it frames list-making in a way that prioritizes my values. The laundry, meal preparation, cleaning, and grocery shopping needs to be done each week, but my values will guide how I carry out these actions.

Jesus told Martha, who had a long to-do list, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing” (Luke 10:41-42a, NRSV). Jesus seemed to be encouraging Martha to focus on what she valued. I believe Jesus also invites us to give priority each day to what we value rather than on accomplishing all we can.

What would your “to-do list” look like if it was created with your primary values in mind?

Mary Nitzsche

Mary Nitzsche is a Leadership Minister for Mosaic Conference. She and her husband, Wayne, are Midwest natives. They have two adult daughters, Alison and Megan, son-in-laws, Michael and David, and one delightful grandson, William.

Pastor Marcos Acosta’s Curiosity Keeps Him on the Move

March 30, 2023 by Cindy Angela

by Adriana Celis

*Photo provided by Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS)*

Curiosity is one of Marcos Acosta’s defining characteristics. It has driven him to have an open mind, to ask questions, and to investigate new areas of study and new cultures. This innate inclination to discover the unknown has led him to explore and study different fields of knowledge, from telecommunications engineering to theology. Perhaps in the mind of a rational academic these studies have no relation to each other, but in the restless and always proactive mind of Marcos, looking for other explanations to the questions that life brings is above the general rule. For this reason, Marcos has taken the opportunity to go to many places in the world to understand new cultures, to show respect for other forms of thought and professions, and to establish new friendships with people of different races, ethnicities, nationalities, genders, and diverse beliefs.

Life and works

Perhaps because he does not think like most people, today Marcos lives outside of his home country, Argentina. He is currently based in the United States and is married to Alexia, who is from the U.S. Marcos serves as the full-time pastor of Homestead Mennonite Church, a Mosaic Conference congregation located half an hour south of Miami, Florida; he is also an editor and writer in Spanish for Anabaptist World.

With an enthusiastic, committed, and very competitive spirit, Marcos completed the five-year academic training program as a telecommunications engineer at the Aeronautical University Institute, located in Córdoba, Argentina. However, over the years, his desire to explore other careers grew. In 2018, he applied for the Master of Divinity program at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS).

Marcos received his master’s degree from AMBS in 2021. Under the tutelage of Professor Daniel Schipani, he was drawn to pastoring and teaching, particularly in the areas of wisdom and pastoral ministry. “Being wise means being someone who can reflect on the experience, and also, it means being someone who can observe the world, the biblical story, and allows learning to continue reflecting,” says Marcos.

Teaching at SeBAH

While pastoring, writing, and editing keep Marcos plenty busy, he will soon add yet another role to his plate. The Hispanic Anabaptist Bible Seminary, known as SeBAH (Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispano), has invited Marcos to a professorship. His education, pastoral experience, and passion for theology have prepared him well to teach his first course, Pastoral Theology. Marcos is honored to be able to share his knowledge and experience with the Hispanic community and with ministers from many parts of the world.

Thanks to his varied personal, pastoral, and academic experiences, and his continuous movement in life, Marcos is well-suited to make a wide variety of contributions wherever he serves. As the Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler says in his song Movimiento: “We are alive because we are on the move. We are never still. I’m not from here, but neither are you. Nowhere at all. Everywhere a little bit.”

In the same sense, says Marcos, “I think that many pastors and leaders who study in SeBAH have more experience than I do in pastoral ministry. That is very good because I believe that together we can reflect on those experiences and incorporate other resources and ideas to come out a little wiser and be able to serve better in this ministry to which we have been called by God.”

A version of this article originally appeared on MennoniteEducation.org on 2/21/2023.

Crazy for Jesus: Virgo Handojo’s Call Story

March 29, 2023 by Conference Office

by Virgo Handojo

My childhood was filled with the traditions and rites of Chinese culture, which are still deeply rooted in my heart. Unfortunately, those beautiful memories did not last long. Changes in political policy in Indonesia at that time prohibited the development of Chinese traditions. Even so, Chinese teachings and traditions still leave an imprint on my mind.

Junior high is the second place where I learned of God. I was educated in a Catholic school. Here I learned that attending mass at church is more important than knowing God or learning from the Bible. When I was in junior high school, I attended catechism for one year to be baptized as a Catholic.

Monday afternoon, March 5, 1979, was an extraordinary day in my life. God touched my life. Tiong Gie, my hometown friend and childhood friend, invited me to a prayer meeting where I experienced a new birth. It is difficult to describe in words, but I have felt the touch of the Divine hand. Since then, I have started to learn to hear and obey God’s voice and live with Him.

Virgo Handojo speaking at JKI Anugerah. Photo provided by Virgo Handojo.

Meanwhile God began to expand my ministry and relationships with other Christians. Through the Sangkakala family led by Mr. Adi Sutanto with a prayer meeting in Semarang, God began to train my life, together with young people my age. We took turns preaching, becoming traveling evangelists to other villages and cities. Through a network of families, jobs, schools, and the services of the Sangakakala foundation, this spiritual movement and its prayer groups have spread to other cities.

Through these services I grew both spiritually and in ministry experience. At that time, we also started to plant churches, both in villages and cities, at home and abroad. Through this youth movement, many mission foundations, synods, and new churches have sprung up, both at home and abroad.

I was involved in the pioneering of the Indonesian Christian Congregation Synod (JKI Synod), which is theologically affiliated with the Charismatic Anabaptist movement. In 1986 I was ordained and served at the Maranatha Indonesian Christian Congregation church, Ungaran. Together with the JKI synod, we started the Maranatha Bible School, which became the seed of Sangkakala High School, Salatiga.

In 1987, with just $65, I landed in Los Angeles to study at Fuller Theological Seminary. By God’s grace, I managed to complete three master’s degrees in the fields of Intercultural Studies, Theology, and Leadership, and in 2000 a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Studies from the School of Psychology. In 1989 God brought me and my wife to Mrs. Dina Boon from the city of Sierra Madre, CA. We were asked to clean Mrs. Dina Boon’s house from dark powers.

Through this ministry, the International House Fellowship was born in Dina Boon’s house. At the end of 1990 this family association grew to 30-50 people from 10-13 different nationalities. Through this partnership, the Anugerah Indonesian Christian Congregation (JKIA) was born on September 19, 1992, at the Free Methodist Church, Pasadena. The first services began on Sunday, September 20, 1992. A few months later the church moved to Sierra Madre Congregational Church in Sierra Madre, CA.

At the San Jose Mennonite General Assembly (July 4, 2007), JKIA, along with two Indonesian Mennonite churches in Los Angeles and the Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC), established the Indonesian Mennonite Association (IMA). Today IMA is a member of the Racial Ethnic Council of the Mennonite Church USA. Truly, God exists, is miraculous, and really loves us all. Amen.

The Kingdom Work of Committees

March 23, 2023 by Conference Office

By Marta Castillo

We’ve all heard the phrase, “The church is not a building; it is the people.” In a similar fashion, Mosaic Mennonite Conference is not simply the executive minister, the board, or the staff, but rather the people of the conference working together to further the Kingdom of God. One way this is manifest is in the working committees, which are composed of faithful, discerning, creative, and collaborative volunteers from all parts of the conference. We are grateful for those who have said yes to serving on the following four committees. They are always hard at work, meeting together to process information, write reports, and make decisions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and existing guidelines and policies.

The Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee is where it all begins, since they vet and discern new members for the Conference Board and other committees, based on nominations from others within the conference. Nominations are made via an online form or at assembly with written forms.

The Nominating Committee seeks to ensure that the board and various committees reflect the diversity that is Mosaic. Members should be balanced in terms of the gender, racial, cultural, geographic, and historic diversity of the Conference, reflect the diverse gifts represented in the Conference, are persons of good standing in their congregations, and exhibit a high level of intercultural capacity.

This year we welcome Roy Williams (North Tampa, FL) as the chair of the Nominating Committee in his role as Moderator Elect. We also welcome Wendy Kwong (Souderton) to the Nominating Committee.

The Credentials Committee

The Credentials Committee interviews and recommends individuals for credentialing. This committee has the privilege of hearing the stories, beliefs, and callings of the pastors coming into the Conference with requests for licensing and transfers, in addition to those who are being ordained. They write reports and recommendations from interviews and other paperwork that are sent to the Ministerial Committee for approval.

This year we welcome Lisa Quinones (Garden Chapel), Sonya Stauffer Kurtz (Zion), Drane Reynolds (Homestead), and Kathy Tuttle (Lakeview) to the Credentials Committee.

The Ministerial Committee

The Ministerial Committee makes decisions on ministry credentials and policies that promote the support, health, and training of credentialed leaders and promote safe church practices for congregations.

This year we welcome Mike Spinelli (Perkiomenville), Tomas Ramirez (Luz y Vida) and Rose Bender Cook (Whitehall) to the Ministerial Committee.

Rose Bender Cook (Whitehall)

The Finance Committee

The Finance Committee provides leadership on fiscal matters and develops the budget based on the vision of the Conference.

This year we welcome Ryan Ferguson (Philadelphia Praise Center) and Jessica Clopton-Robinson (College Hill) to the Finance Committee.

*No photo on file for Jessica Clopton-Robinson

We are thankful for these and other Mosaic committees and all the faithful, hard-working volunteers who serve. To see a full list of committees and members, visit the Boards and Committees page.

Please pray for wisdom, grace, and strength for the members of these committees as they faithfully serve where God has called and equipped them to be.

Marta Castillo

Marta Castillo is the Associate Executive Minister for Mosaic Conference. Marta lives in Norristown, PA, with her husband, Julio, and has three sons, Christian, Andres and Daniel and one granddaughter, Isabel.

Nations Worship Center Responds to Immigrant Needs in South Philadelphia

March 23, 2023 by Conference Office

Indonesian immigrants in south Philadelphia receive a warm welcome from Nations Worship Center. As recent immigrants settle in, the church distributes much-needed bags of food essentials. Each bag contains basic necessities, such as rice, noodles, eggs, spam, and sausage. Community members in need come to the church to pick up the bags, explained Pastor Beny Krisbianto, although sometimes the congregation will make deliveries. Nations Worship Center distributes about 50 to 70 bags each month.

Many immigrants find temporary employment in factories and restaurants, but when the economy slows down, they are often the first to lose their jobs. This happened previously in 2008-2009 and again during the pandemic in 2020. At the height of the pandemic, Nations Worship Center’s regular monthly distribution reached 200 to 300 bags.

Nations Worship Center supports the local economy by purchasing groceries from local, church-connected store owners; volunteers then pack the bags. During the pandemic, Mosaic Conference’s Shalom Fund helped to cover the cost. If churches or individuals would like to donate food or help with this ministry, contact Pastor Beny Krisbianto or Associate Executive Minister Marta Castillo. Donations can also be brought to 1506 West Ritner St., Philadelphia, PA 19145.

Watch the video below!

Prayer as Surrender

March 22, 2023 by Conference Office

by Josh Meyer

Franconia Mennonite Church recently engaged in a month-long series on prayer. We spent four weeks considering the purpose, posture, power, and practice of prayer. It was a rich and meaningful time, marked by biblical teaching and practical application. I was reminded once again that prayer is much more than bringing to God my list of wants, desires, and needs. It is a radical act of worship that reminds me who I am, who God is, and what life is all about.

In short, prayer is surrender.

Prayer is a radical act of worship that reminds me who I am, who God is, and what life is all about.

[1] Prayer is surrender to the reality that there is someone more ultimate than you.

It’s natural for each of us to shrink our field of hopes, dreams, and daily concerns down to the small turf of our personal wants, needs, and feelings. Prayer is surrender to the worldview of the first four words of the Bible, “In the beginning, God…,” and as such, it reminds us of our rightful place.

[2] Prayer is surrender to the reality that you need help.

Prayer means humbly confessing that we are not autonomous, self-sufficient beings. We were not designed to live independent, detached lives. Prayer reminds us that we cannot be what we were made to be or do what we have been called to do without the personal, gracious, and continuous intervention of the One who made us.

[3] Prayer is surrender to the reality that there is wisdom greater than yours.

Prayer confronts us with the fact that we are not as smart as we tend to think we are. There is so much we don’t know or understand. Prayer reminds us that life is not found in our limited understanding, but in surrendering our lives to the care of the One whose understanding spans from before origin to beyond destiny and includes everything in between.

[4] Prayer is surrender of your right to live as you choose.

Prayer is bowing our knee to the reality that there is a limit to our personal freedom. This chafes against the rugged individualism of our culture. Yet Scripture reminds us that while “it is for freedom that Christ has set [us] free,” we are not to use our freedom primarily to indulge our own desires; instead, we’re called to use our freedom to serve others in love (Gal 5:1, 13-14). Prayer reminds us to consider not only our own interests, but also the interests of others (Phil 2:4).

[5] Prayer is surrender of your hopes to God’s grace.

Prayer is remembering that there is no hope in life and death that does not result from the grace of God. In prayer, we give up our hope in the self and place our hope in Christ.

May you experience the Presence of Christ in a particularly deep and meaningful way as you surrender yourself in prayer.

Josh Meyer

Josh Meyer is a Conference Leadership Minister and the pastor of Discipling and Preaching at Franconia Mennonite Church.

Changes

March 16, 2023 by Conference Office

by Hendy Matahelemual

Throughout life, I am learning that the only constant thing in life is change. Growing up in a middle-class family in Bandung, Indonesia, we needed to move eight times until our family could afford to buy our own property. Moving from a slum to a small house on the edge of the city was my experience growing up.

Maybe that is why, now that I’ve reached adulthood, I’m hesitant to move. After many of my friends graduated, they moved to Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city, to find better pay. But not me. I was ready to settle.

But God had a different plan for me. I married my wife, and we were still newlyweds. We had just started renovating our own house. God spoke to my heart through a verse from the book of Acts: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (1:8, CSB).

At first, I thought, Really, God? But then after careful reflection, it became clear that I needed to be ready to leave my hometown if needed. At the time I didn’t know where exactly God wanted me to go, but wherever it was, I would follow.

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”
acts 1:8, CSB

My limited brain could only think of a few cities in Indonesia. It turned out that the city that God wanted me to go was nowhere close to my hometown. It was literally the end of the earth from Indonesia. “Marina, Hendy, I want you to go to New York City, to get connected to one of the Indonesian churches there,” said my pastor to us. I will never forget that conversation.

We knew that it would require a lot of changes in our lives, but I also believe when God calls us, he will also sustain us. Seven years have passed by since that conversation. Today, my wife and I serve at Indonesian Light Church in South Philadelphia and Mosaic Conference.

We have three little boys, ages 9, 6, and 2 years old. I love football more than soccer, drive on the other side of the road, speak and write in English, minister not only to Indonesians but across cultures, tribes, and languages. I still remember an occasion where I preached in English, and the sermon was translated in Cantonese. I believe the Holy Spirit works within us to allow us to minister across cultures.

Not all changes are easy; some of them are hard, depressing, painful, and even traumatic. But this is also a part of ministry in Jesus. If change were easy, then Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross. Change requires sacrifice. One thing that God keeps reminding me is that I’m not here to change people’s lives; we are not called to fix people. We are called to witness God, to journey together with people, and to be ready to be changed, as well.

Our pain, suffering, and trauma will heal over time as we open ourselves to God’s love and to other people. Our misery will eventually become a ministry to other people. I believe there is something about shared brokenness that allows the Spirit to bring healing to the community where Jesus is at the center.

God calls us individually and collectively. As a follower of Jesus, our calling is to be changed from the inside out. Some need to travel thousands of miles just to meet the right people to journey together, and some just need to go to their neighbor across the street, but the calling remains the same.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT). Don’t settle for less than what God has promised you. Keep seeking, keep discovering the new you and the new us together. Keep answering the call from God. Jesus, be with us all.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (GWT)

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.