Mosaic Mennonites

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Mosaic Conference Attendees Reflect on the 2025 MC USA Convention

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2025 Delegate Assembly was held on Friday, July 11

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

Remembering Bob Walters, Founder of Whitehall (PA) Mennonite 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anabaptism at 500: What Anabaptism Means to Me – July 2025

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As Mosaic Mennonite Conference commemorates the 500th Anniversary of Anabaptism in 2025, each month we will share a variety of Mosaic voices reflecting on the question, “What does Anabaptism mean to me?”  

Submission from

Melkysedek (Melky) Tirtasaputra, Whitehall (PA) Mennonite

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”- Romans 8:9  

This verse is painfully clear—something I cannot soften: without the Spirit of Christ, I do not belong to Him. 

That truth should sober me and also free me. It removes all illusion that the Christian life can be lived in my own strength or through cultural identity. It forces me to face this question: 

“Is the Spirit of Christ truly dwelling in me?” 

This was the burning center of the Anabaptist soul. 

They lived in a time of lifeless Christianity—religion without transformation, sacraments without surrender, baptisms without the Spirit. And they said no. Not with rebellion, but with holy hunger. 

They believed Romans 8:9 was not poetry. It was a “dividing line.” 

To be “Christian” meant more than confession. It meant possession: “being wholly possessed by the Spirit of Christ”. 

They didn’t die for theological debates. They died because they refused to pretend. 

They couldn’t walk in the flesh and claim to be alive in the Spirit. 

They longed for a church filled with those who had truly died to self— who had risen again, not just into new ideas, but into a new nature. 

Today, I am invited into that same radical simplicity: 

No Spirit, no Christ. No surrender, no life. No cross, no resurrection. 

This reflection cuts deeply:  

Where am I still living in the flesh—making choices rooted in fear, pride, or self-preservation? 

Where have I mistaken busyness for obedience, and religious memory for present surrender? 

Do I bear the fragrance of Christ—or only the vocabulary? 

The Anabaptists remind me that baptism in water means nothing without baptism in fire. 

And that to belong to Christ means to be shaped daily by His Spirit, until even my silence speaks of Him. 

May I not just carry the name of Jesus, but be carried by His Spirit, moment by moment. 

And when the world looks for Christ, may they not need to search far— 

because He lives and walks and speaks through me. 

Submission from

Javier Márquez, Associate for Communication and Community Engagement for Colombia 

Esta reflexión es un extracto de una más extensa, que puedes leer aquí. 
This reflection is excerpted from a longer one, which you can read here.

No soy anabautista desde mi nacimiento, más bien, me encontré con esta extraña manera de comprender la fe en el Señor y de vivir la iglesia, en el lugar menos pensado. Fue en una pequeña iglesia que se sostenía en la esquina de una de las cuadras más humildes del barrio donde crecí, y sin saberlo, en este lugar cotidiano y físicamente poco destacable, se anidaba una pequeña comunidad en donde realizaban servicios durante los viernes en horas de la tarde y no en los domingos -extraño-, sin embargo, a diario cumplían un servicio comunitario a través de un comedor donde llegaban a comer los niños más pobres de la comunidad.  

Puede que suene irónico, pero esa sencillez tan contundente fue la que me convenció, porque allí no me encontré con un gran discurso ni mucho menos con una doctrina reveladora, aunque eso sucedería después, únicamente me encontré con la transparencia que tanto venía buscando. 

Pienso -en ocasiones, deseo sobre todo- que el anabautismo significa poder encontrarnos con nosotros mismos a la par de que Dios viene a nuestro encuentro. Básicamente, la historia fundacional de nuestra fe se basa en que Dios vino a nuestro encuentro hace 2000 años y esto tiene mucho que decirnos y que significar. Y al dar la bienvenida a este encuentro, es claro que nuestra fe se convierte en un diálogo entre todo lo que nos hace lo que somos: nuestra familia, nuestra educación, el lugar del mundo donde nacimos, el momento de la historia en que vivimos, la sociedad en la que hacemos parte… y el Reino de Dios. 

English Translation:

I was not born into the Anabaptist tradition. Rather, I encountered this strange way of understanding faith in the Lord and living out church life in the most unexpected place. It happened in a small church located on the corner of one of the most humble blocks in the neighborhood where I grew up. In this ordinary and physically unremarkable place, there was a small community holding services on Friday afternoons instead of Sundays—strange indeed. However, every day they ran a community kitchen where the poorest children from the area came to eat. 

It might sound ironic, but it was that very simplicity—so striking in its honesty—that convinced me. There were no grand sermons or revelatory doctrines—though those would come later. What I found instead was the transparency I had been seeking for so long. 

I believe—and often hope most of all—that Anabaptism means the chance to encounter ourselves just as God comes to meet us. At its core, the foundational story of our faith is that God came to meet us 2,000 years ago—and that still speaks to us and holds deep meaning. 

And in welcoming that encounter, it becomes clear that our faith turns into a dialogue between everything that makes us who we are—our families, our education, where in the world we were born, the moment in history we live in, the society we are part of… and the Kingdom of God. 

Submission from

Pastor Eszter Bjorkman, Neffsville (PA) Mennonite 

I didn’t grow up in a Mennonite church, but I was raised as a missionary kid by Anabaptist parents. They raised me with the values of this tradition, and I thought those were what every Christian believed. It wasn’t until I learned about Anabaptism later that I realized this is the faith tradition to which I belong. Its values have shaped what I understand Christianity to be, and who I am today as a pastor and as a Child of God.

I love that I don’t need anything but the Bible and the Holy Spirit to be a Christian. This simplicity in both my spiritual and material life has stayed with me. I’ve also always been a pacifist. This value of another’s life before my own informs how I treat those around me and has taught me the duty to spread God’s love through authentic relationships. Lastly, I remain committed to the body of Christ, made up of those who have willingly chosen to give their lives to Jesus. To me, being a Christian means believing and living into these things. With God’s help, I will keep Christ and these values at the center of my life. 

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

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

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by Javier Márquez

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Javier Márquez

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

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

A Prayer for Unity

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by Maati Yvonne

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

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

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

Heavenly Father, 

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

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

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

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

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

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

Maati Yvonne

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

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

Leading Through an Impasse (Or in the Wilderness)

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by Stephen Kriss

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

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

Creative Commons (Wikipedia)

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

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

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

Creative Commons (Wikipedia)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss is the Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference.

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

Serving with a Heart for God’s Kingdom: Ambassadors We’re Learning from the Summer Part I

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by Javier Márquez

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

This summer, George Chile, 19 years old, a participant in the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Ambassadors, is dedicating time to serve God and his congregation, LA (CA) Faith Chapel with a heart full of purpose and passion.

“I want to make an impact guiding youth and leading a movement for Jesus,” he shares. 

As an Ambassador, Chile is serving in various ministries within his congregation, including working in the congregation’s labor department with church equipment, and assisting at Samaritan home—a housing project for unhoused individuals. He is also stepping in wherever else he is needed, demonstrating flexibility and willingness to serve. 

One of the most meaningful lessons he’s learned this summer is the value of offering himself fully to God. “Time and energy are nothing compared to the love God has for you, and it is worth giving to God,” he reflects.

Through his dedication and heartfelt service, Chile is growing in faith but helping to bring the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven into every act of service. 

This summer, Marciella Shallomita, a 22-year-old recent college graduate, is serving God by walking alongside the youth of her congregation, Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA). As an Ambassador, Shallomita is combining her organizational gifts and heart for ministry to make a lasting impact. 

“Being an Ambassador is a good way to help my church in behind-the-scenes ministry, along with the regular ministry that I’ve previously and will continue to help with,” she shared. 

As an Ambassador she will coordinate youth service projects and organize a youth retreat. She hopes to strengthen the spiritual and communal life of the church’s younger generation. 

Shallomita’s approach to leadership reflects the values of servant leadership and fellowship. “I will serve together with the youth to help the congregation and broader community. The youth will be able to understand the true meaning of a church as fellowship with others, as Jesus intended.” 

“So far, I’ve learned administrative work and communications—planning and coordinating with the youth, retreat center, and other leaders in the church,” she said. 

Shallomita asks the Mosaic community to join her in prayer for the youth she is walking with this summer: “Please pray that God will help them understand and build a personal relationship with Jesus. Through the service and fellowship they’ll participate in this summer, pray that they can be more on fire for God.” 

Hensley Ducasse, a 24-year-old participant in the Ambassador Program, is serving his congregation, Homestead (FL) Mennonite and community with compassion, leadership, and vision. 

“My passion for Jesus Christ motivated me to become an Ambassador,” Ducasse shared. 

One of his bold goals for the summer is to open a food bank in the local community, to provide nourishment to those in need and serve as an invitation to connect with the church and experience God’s love. Ducasse is also planning to host sporting and gaming events for children and young adults—creating spaces of fun, community, and spiritual growth. 

“I’ve learned how to lead by listening and how to lead by example,” he reflects.  

Ducasse extends an open invitation to the Mosaic community: “I am taking prayer requests from anyone in need.” 

Ambassadors Gather for First Meeting

Many of the Ambassadors who gathered on Zoom for the first formation meeting of the summer.

On June 5, the 2025 cohort of Mosaic Conference’s Ambassadors gathered for the first time to officially launch their summer journey of service and leadership. This program offers young adults (ages 18–24) practical ministry experience in their local communities, helping them grow in their calling and commitment to God’s Kingdom. 

Led by Javier Márquez and Danilo Sánchez, the meeting began with greetings and team introductions, followed by a time of prayer and mutual encouragement. The devotional, based on 1 Timothy 4:12, reminded participants that youth is not a limitation but a calling to be an example in word, love, faith, and action. The reflection encouraged Ambassadors to live out their service with integrity, sensitivity, and courage—trusting that even small acts can reveal God’s Kingdom. 

One of the most enriching parts of the gathering was a group dialogue, where the young adults shared their motivations, hopes, fears, and dreams for the summer. Hearing one another helped build connection, empathy, and the assurance that they are not alone on this journey. It was a meaningful time of vulnerability, hope, and shared vision. 

The meeting closed with a sending prayer, commissioning the group into a season of growth, service, and transformation. We encourage each Ambassador to give their best, trusting that God will guide and use them powerfully to impact their communities! 

Javier Márquez

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

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

Ministerial Committee Update – June 2025

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The Ministerial Committee makes decisions on ministry credentials and policies that promote the support, health, and training of credentialed leaders and safe church practices for congregations. They meet quarterly to act on recommendations from the credentialing committee, review and revise current policies around credentialed leaders, and provide leadership in cases of misconduct.    

Report from the June 4, 2025, Ministerial Committee Meeting 

Committee Actions  
Credentialing

Licensed toward Ordination (LTO) – grants the person all the privileges and responsibilities accorded to an ordained person, except to ordain someone else. This license is issued for a three-year period with the purpose of testing the inner and outer call to ministry, further discerning of ministerial gifts, abilities and aptitude and may or may not lead to ordination.    

  • Dave Moyer – Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) 
  • Michael Marpaung – Ark of Christ (Westminster, CA) 

Ordination – grants the person the full range of ministerial privileges and responsibilities. This is a long-term, leadership ministry credential appropriate for all pastors, area conference ministry staff, chaplains, missionaries, evangelists, and those determined by the church to have a continuing ministerial-leadership role in, and on behalf of, the church.  

  • Kevin Opett – Church of the Good Samaritans (Holland, PA) 
  • Jaye Lindo – 7 Ways (Bowie, MD) 
  • George Makinto – Los Angeles Faith Chapel 
  • Mukarabe Makinto – Los Angeles Faith Chapel

Transfers

  • Karl McKinney – Nueva Vida Norristown New Life (PA), from Illinois Conference/LMC to Mosaic Conference 

License Extension – An extension of the 3-year license towards ordination for credentialed leaders who need additional time for the process. 

  • Gary Alloway  
  • Dania Hernandez  

Retired – held by those who have retired from active ministry. The credentialed leader must be over the age of 55 to hold this status. This credential is valid for performing ministerial functions and is to be exercised in consultation with Mosaic Conference. Mosaic Conference is not responsible for the actions of a person holding this status. 

  • Samuel Claudio Sr. 

Inactive – held by those who have been without a ministerial assignment for more than three consecutive years. 

  • Mary Beth Benner  

Withdrawn – is given when a ministry credential is ended for non-disciplinary reasons 

  • Michael Clemmer is currently serving with LMC (Lancaster) and they hold his credentials. 
Pastoral Transitions 
  • Jordan Luther, Methacton (PA) Mennonite, joins the pastoral team. 
  • Carl Walcott, North Tampa (FL) Mennonite will go on sabbatical for his health 
  • Roy Williams will pastor at North Tampa Mennonite. 
  • Lydia de Jesus, Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, FL) is on a two-year sabbatical for her health. 
  • Artemio de Jesus, Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, FL) is in a pastoral position during Pastor Lydia’s sabbatical. 
  • Wayne Nitzsche, Salford (PA) Mennonite, bridge pastor 
  • Dave Greiser, Salford (PA), moves to Active without Charge  
  • Haroldo Nunes will move from ministry at Seguidores de Cristo (Sarasota, FL) to Resplandece Mennonite (Pembroke Pines, FL/Colombia/hybrid) 

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