Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

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A Californian Comes East…and Learns a Thing (or 2 or 3)

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God has a sense of humor. After 35 years of cross-cultural and urban ministry in southern California, my wife, Debbie, and I recently loaded up our SUV and drove across the country for me to invest this year as the intentional interim Lead Pastor at Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite Church. As an urban missiologist, this year will be a deep dive into a new sort of cross-cultural ministry.

The SUV is loaded for the cross-country trip. Photo by Debbie Wright.

In the 2 ½ weeks we have been in Bucks County, PA, I have learned some important lessons:

1. Everyone seems to be related to everyone else in the church. Now, this is not a bad thing. Family is an important dimension of the kingdom of God. People at Blooming Glen have formed a resilient community of faithful disciples by being family together.

Being family, however, has some inherent challenges, such as being transparent in communication. It’s hard to be transparent with family members. But it is also sometimes difficult to be transparent in communication among cultural groups where one should not lose face. I’m learning that being bluntly transparent doesn’t work at Blooming Glen any more than it works among the new immigrant congregations in California.

2. In the church, food can be a powerful tool to unite us. COVID has wreaked havoc on our capacity to sit at the table and fellowship with each other. And it shows. The frayed edges of community require time invested around coffee and funny cake at Blooming Glen…or puff balls and tea at Los Angeles Faith Chapel.

After 2 ½ weeks, I’m even more convinced than ever that the church that eats together will begin to pray together and then will heal together. Food, of course can challenge us…vegan or vegetarian? Gluten-free or not? At the end of the day, what matters is that we sit together and digest our relationships.

3. People in the church “are not afraid of change, they are afraid of loss.” Dr Tod Bolsinger, in his book, Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory (IVP Books, 2015) suggests that change is not what makes us fearful. Rather it is our sense of loss. Loss of control. Loss of the familiar.

For much of the past 35 years, I’ve worked with congregations and pastors who have lost their sense of home and their privilege in their cultures. Most times, these pastors find a new resiliency by collaborating with a conference of churches, like Mosaic Conference. In times of instability and loss (like the last two years), it is our life together as a Conference that brings together diversity and helps us all see change, not as loss, but as opportunity.

Jeff Wright packs up files for his new pastoral role in PA. Photo by Debbie Wright.

God has a sense of humor. As I continue to minister with my friends and colleagues in California, I am learning how to better minister by spending some time looking out over the rural landscape of Upper Bucks County, PA, and walking with good, honest, holy, and faithful Christians here.

Yep. I’m grateful. For family histories grounded generationally to the land. For tables of fellowship rich with coffee and laughter. For change in the midst of these days reframed as opportunity rather than loss. It’s good to be out east…

For awhile.

Feeling “Seen” as a (Sometimes Frazzled) Mom

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When was the last time you felt seen in church, not in an exposed, vulnerable way, but in a way that brought comfort and care?  Recently, during a sermon on sabbath, I felt seen. There was a deliberate pause in the sermon flow, and I was seen.  

Me. A parent of young children. 

Pastor Dave Greiser of Salford Mennonite Church (Harleysville, PA), preached these words (44:10-47:49): 

 “There is a whole group of people who have experienced little-to-no rest, in two years. First, there is full time work. Second, there is full time child rearing.  Very often both of those things are going on simultaneously. So that basically there’s two conditions in life: sleeping and work. Seven days a week, and that’s it. For those of us who have been in that experience, there is a sense in which sabbath is largely a dream, or a theory, and I cannot tell you this morning when you are going to get and feel a real sabbath…” 

Pastor Dave did not try to hand me a well-packaged solution, sweep my experience aside, nor over-estimate our similarities. Instead, I was seen and held in support, and that is what I needed. 

As the pandemic continues to impact social structures, child-rearing can be exhausting. Many options for young children to engage outside the home have ended or are less accessible or consistent. I am now mom AND playmate, educator, and energizer bunny.  

Due to polarization and the worn-down stamina of society, it feels risky to have conversation with other parents, as each interaction allows the possibility of unsolicited judgement. When such conversation is initiated, will it be a healthy connecting point or a space of judgement because of my family’s choices (work/life balance choices, masking, vaccine status, activity participation, etc.)? Even if the conversation is positive, I still need to navigate the constantly shifting dynamics of households and our community’s continually shifting guidelines.  

As a result, I need to do intentional work on my self-care and balance, because an imbalanced mom directly impacts the lives of her children. They are the ones who suffer from a worn out, frazzled mom … mom with a short fuse … mom who just wants quiet to sort my thoughts … mom who can’t play or read a story because I am joining another Zoom call. When I am weary and unbalanced from it all, I am unable to be the mom that I thrive being, the mom I really am and deeply want to be.

Pastor Dave’s sermon continued, “Perhaps the best thing I can do for you this morning is to offer you words that I think, possibly, Jesus might say to you: Whatever it is that you are giving to your job, whatever it is that you are giving to your family, whatever it is that you are giving to your children, it is enough…” 

I am thankful for the spaces of healthy conversation, community, and comradery that I have. I give thanks for places where my family is supported, not weighed on a balancing scale. I am grateful for friends with whom I can share frustration and the many joys of this stage of our kids’ lives and our parenting journey.  

The pandemic will continue to change, but our kids (and we) will not get this stage of life back, and we all are being shaped by this season. 

To other caregivers, may healthy conversation be present for you, and please know: I see you, I hold space for you. May you be well.  

Here I am, Lord

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Josué González, of Mosaic Conference, Elected as Moderator-Elect for Hispanic Mennonite Church 

In a national assembly on January 29, 2022, Iglesia Menonita Hispana (IMH – Hispanic Mennonite Church) elected Josué González of Miami, FL, as moderator-elect.

Gonzalez is a founding member and elder of Iglesia Menonita Encuentro de Renovación (Encounter for Renewal Mennonite Church) in Miami, FL which is part of Mosaic Conference. He is a cargo flight dispatcher and is married to Noemi. González is also a student of the Instituto Bíblico Anabautista, (IBA – Hispanic Anabaptist Bible Institute) which is operated by Mennonite Education Agency (MEA). He is completing his final trimester and is set to graduate this Spring.

Iglesia Menonita Hispana is a Racial/Ethnic constituency group of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) and reaches multicultural Hispanic and Latino/a Mennonites across the country.

González’ four-year term begins immediately. He will serve two years as moderator-elect and two years as moderator. He will also serve on the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) of MC USA.

Marco Güete, Leadership Minister for Mosaic Conference and the director of MEA’s Hispanic Ministries Education programs, affirmed González’ readiness for this role.

“Josué has shown maturity, Christian spirituality, and intelligence serving on the local church board, and he will do well nationally with Iglesia Menonita Hispana,” Güete said.

María Teresa Pérez-Soto agrees. She is a leader of Encuentro de Renovación church and a tutor for IBA. “It is a blessing that Brother Josué González has been appointed moderator-elect of the Hispanic Mennonite Church board,” she said. “His dedication and commitment to the Lord’s work has been manifested in his Bible study with IBA and the help he has given to the local church as Treasurer. Through his passion for public speaking, Brother Josué will be a great asset for the board of IMH; additionally, he will ensure he moderates all meetings and assemblies fairly.”

González shared his thoughts about being called to a ministry position in the Hispanic Mennonite church. “When I started my studies at the Anabaptist Bible Institute, (IBA), my life changed and I started to think that God is training me not only to know more about him, but to serve him as a true disciple,” he said.

“I understood that I should work with the Mennonite Church and be able to help in the ministry where the Lord will use me. I just said, ‘Here I am Lord. I am willing to work for you.’ And this was how the Lord opened the doors to work with the intercultural committee of Mosaic [Mennonite Conference], and now with the Hispanic Mennonite Church USA,” reflected Gonzalez.

Ulises Arenas, the Executive Director of Iglesia Menonita Hispana, welcomed Josué, saying, “We appreciate Josué González becoming IMH’s new moderator-elect and we are blessed for his willingness to serve on the new IMH executive board. It is a pleasure for us to welcome Josue and work with him.”

Official Notice of May 2022 Special Delegate Assembly

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From: Linda Dibble, moderator, Mennonite Church USA

The MC USA bylaws (Article V, Delegate Assembly, 4. Meetings, state that: “d. In the case of a special meeting, written notice of the special meeting (which will include the time, date, and place), and the purpose for the meeting, along with the proposed action to be taken, shall be submitted to area conferences and to member congregations at least ninety (90) days in advance of the date of the meeting. Area conferences shall keep the Executive Board notified of congregational members and any changes thereof.”

A special session of the Delegate Assembly is scheduled for May 27 (starting at 7:00 p.m. CDT) through May 30 (ending at 12:00 p.m. CDT), 2022, at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri.

The purpose of this special meeting is to complete the 2019-2021 biennium resolution process. Delegates will discuss and vote on resolutions that were delayed due to the global pandemic.

These two resolutions are scheduled for a vote:

This resolution is designated as a study resolution:

MC USA delegates will determine if this resolution will be discussed and voted on at this special assembly:

The bylaws of MC USA state:

a. Each congregation of the Mennonite Church USA is eligible to send one (1) delegate for each one hundred (100) congregational members, or fraction thereof. Also, congregations may send an additional youth delegate (ages 16-21).
b. Each area conference of the Mennonite Church USA is eligible to send one (1) delegate for each one thousand (1,000) area conference members, or fraction thereof. Also, conferences may send an additional two youth delegates (ages 16-21).
c. Each Racial/Ethnic group which has been officially recognized by the Executive Board may send three (3) delegates plus one (1) delegate for each one thousand (1,000) members of such recognized Racial/Ethnic group. Also, Racial/Ethnic groups may send an additional two youth delegates (ages 16-21).
d. Each member of the Executive Board is automatically a delegate.

For more information about this special delegate assembly, visit https://www.mennoniteusa.org/special-delegate-session-22/

Beautiful Feet Upon the Mountain

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Nelson Shenk Retirement Celebration

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who brings good news. 

Isaiah 52:7a, NIV

The prophet Isaiah speaks of those who bring the message of good news, using the image of beautiful feet on a mountain. Pastor Nelson Shenk of Boyertown (PA) Mennonite Church has been one such person. This sentiment, and many more, were expressed at the retirement celebration for Pastor Nelson and June, his spouse, on January 30, 2022.

After 26 years of ministry at the church, the time had come for the next phase of Pastor Nelson’s life journey. This phase began by saying goodbye to what had been familiar for more than a quarter of a century at Boyertown Mennonite Church. Yet, underlying the farewell, was a strong affirmation that Jesus will continue on the journey with the congregation.

June and Pastor Nelson Shenk at the retirement celebration at Boyertown (PA) Mennonite Church after 26 years of ministry. Photo by Noel Santiago.

The congregation and others gathered on a beautiful, sunny, cold winter morning and were welcomed into a warm, friendly, welcoming sanctuary by God’s people gathered for worship and celebration. There was an air of excitement, anticipation, and gladness, mixed with sadness and grief, as the realization set in more deeply that this would be Pastor Nelson’s last Sunday as pastor.

The singing rang out with glorious praise; the sharing was heartfelt and genuine. The message brought a culmination to a sermon series, using the word BLESS as an acronym for the message of good news. Each letter represented an aspect of the good news and was preached by each of the leadership team members, demonstrating that the congregation has capable leaders to continue the work of ministry into the future … just as Nelson planned.

There was an air of excitement, anticipation, and gladness, mixed with sadness and grief, as the realization set in more deeply that this would be Pastor Nelson’s last Sunday as pastor.

With precautions for COVID, the church gathered for a meal and time of personal sharing following worship. There were many stories, many lives touched, and many wonderful memories and words of appreciation shared. Truly, Nelson was a beloved pastor, leader, mentor, and friend to many people, not just in the congregation but in the community as well.

The time together closed by acknowledging Acts 13:36, in which Luke states that David served the purpose God had for him. Nelson Shenk has served the purpose of God at Boyertown. Together, participants extended their hands to Nelson and June as the group prayed, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you” … as you continue to serve the purpose God has for you next. Blessings!

Pastor Nelson Shenk. Photo by Noel Santiago.

Preparing for a Bigger Tent 

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My family and I love to go camping. Over the years, as our children grew, we needed a bigger tent. There were times when friends were invited along, and we needed more tents to accommodate extra people. Both required extra space, longer, more numerous cords, and stronger stakes and hammers to secure the tents. Although we had to adjust for the increases and for the growth, we were most happy to do just that.

This past week, I started in my new role as Associate Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference. When I said “yes” to this new role, I knew that I would have to step up my game. I recalled Cindy Angela’s staff blog a few weeks ago, when she wrote about being stretched out and the discomfort that stretching may bring, based on Isaiah 54.

Recently I returned to the familiar verses of Isaiah 54 to pray and prepare: Enlarge the site of your tent and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes (Isa. 54: 2, NRSV).

The “site of my tent” is going to be enlarged by my new role. I have to adjust to being stretched out and fully engage with my new responsibilities and a number of new relationships. If I did not believe that God had called me to serve in this capacity, I would not have accepted this position. I would have held back and stayed, content with where I was.

Photo by Julio Castillo.

“Lengthening cords” and “strengthening stakes” sounds like challenging work. However, I strongly believe that God will always give us what we need to fulfill what God is calling us to do. In addition, most of the new spaces God calls us into are exciting and seemingly beyond our capacities. If they were exciting, safe, and perfectly reasonable, we would not look to God for strength or seek the power of the Holy Spirit to move forward into them.

Photo by Marta Castillo

Lengthening the cords is to go further in effort and reach, to extend ourselves as Jesus did through cycles of ministry, times with friends, prayer, and rest. It means serving in ways that stretch us and help us to grow. It also increases our capacity to work with greater precision under the guidance of the Spirit.

Strengthening your stakes involves the development of a deeper capacity to seek and know the presence of God. Our depth of relationship in Christ enables us to deal with the circumstances and conflicts that will come and mistakes that we will make. It also allows us to feel the rock beneath our feet through the storms and to draw strength from the living waters in our roots during the heat of the day or times of drought.

Enlarging the site of our tents is what God does. It is the way that God’s Kingdom grows. Allow the curtains of your habitations to be stretched out, do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. Pray for me, and I will pray for you.

Called into Ministry

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February 2, 2022

by Hilarion Chidi Ihezuoh

The call of God is a human’s long-term commitment to his divine plan and purpose. A person dwelling in his/her calling is the most blessed place to be on earth. No wonder Paul wrote of our calling as “a high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).

Pastor Chidi Ihezuoh (2nd from left) and his family.

My call into ministry began when I was working as a bank auditor in Nigeria. As an auditor, I travelled throughout Nigeria with the gospel of Christ in mind. I met people of different cultures and values, as Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages. During this time, I was involved in the Pentecostal church, Winners chapel, which is spread throughout Nigeria. I was actively involved as a cell minister and part of the church financial board. I began to see the movement of God as I prayed for people, with healing following, shared the gospel of Christ, and most importantly, experienced winning souls for Christ. I followed up with these people to continue the nurture, and I experienced great joy as they were still standing strong in the Lord.

As my 40th birthday approached, I desired to leave my career in banking and start my own business in producing palm kernel oil. I usually inquire of God before I undertake any task, and this time my spiritual mentor was involved. We both prayed separately. Not long into the prayer time, my spiritual mentor said that Lord wants me to relocate to the US for mission work and not pursue the business I want to do. This came as a shock to me.

I then went on a retreat of fasting and prayer. On retreat, I heard the Lord clearly tell me, “I am sending you to the US, but you must ensure you work in ‘righteousness’ and do everything right.” Acts 1:8 was the matching order, paraphrased, “God will release his power; you will witness in the US and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Pastor Chidi Ihezuoh (right) and his wife, Stella Adigo Ihezuoh.

My journey to California was contrary to the initial plan of settling in New York. This, in my opinion, was orchestrated by God. We joined Los Angeles Faith Chapel, and on the first Sunday of worshipping at the church, a woman walked up to me, laid hands on me, and started to pray for me. The woman started making declarations saying, “I see the call of God upon your life, the land will hear of your name, and you will do great things for the kingdom of God in the land.”

After church service, I realized the woman, Pastor Grace Pam, was the co-founder of the church. This was a confirmation of God’s call in my life.

The Los Angeles Faith Chapel became home for my family and me. Pastor Chuwang Pam graciously allowed me to lead prayer meetings and offer pastoral care, and God showed up and healed people.

Eventually, Pastor Chuwang Pam encouraged me to enroll in the Journey Program, a missional leadership development program through Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). I am happy to say I completed the program in September 2021. I was installed and licensed as a Pastor with Mennonite Church USA on February 10, 2019. In December 2021, I was ordained and credentialed as a Pastor within Mosaic Conference.

For me, we can never run away from his calling, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29, AMP). You may decide to go do your own business and not pay attention to his divine purpose, but God will always find you, for His calling is final.

Practices to Flourish in Ministry 

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Nearly two years into a stressful pandemic, it’s worth reflecting on our spiritual health. As part of my dissertation, I recently conducted a study on pastoral identity which revealed four key areas for pastoral flourishing. The study centered on Mennonite pastors and identified honesty, intimacy, community, and eternity as core elements of healthy faith leaders.

Pages from Josh Meyer’s journal which shows his daily scripture written out. Photo by Josh Meyer.

If you’re a pastor or ministry leader, take some time to evaluate how you’re fairing in each of these areas:

HONESTY. Pastors and leaders need places to share honestly about the joys, challenges, and frustrations of leading faith communities. The most content, fulfilled, healthy pastors in the study had such spaces. Do you? If so, it is more important than ever to lean into these connections. If not, it is more important than ever to find and cultivate them.

Personally, I’ve benefited from a formal Learning Community as well as informal gatherings with fellow pastors in backyards and around bonfires. These opportunities to connect and share have been invaluable.

INTIMACY. Pastors and leaders need regular rhythms that connect them with God. In a season where so many of our regular rhythms are disrupted, we may need to be extra intentional to cultivate our relationship with Christ.

Can you identify the rhythms that help you connect with the Divine? It may be helpful to articulate them out loud or on paper. For me, the practice of “scribing Scripture” has been a new and meaningful practice. Each day, I’ll hand-copy a passage of Scripture. This has slowed me down and helped me notice things in the text I’ve missed before.

COMMUNITY. Pastors and leaders need relationships outside of the church. While it is good and important to be deeply connected to our congregations, the healthiest faith leaders in the study were those who had a network of relationships beyond their ministry setting.

Do you have people around whom you can truly take off the “pastor mantle”? Doing so will increase your ministry effectiveness when you put it back on. Over the years, I’ve participated in indoor soccer leagues, played fantasy football, and gone on hiking trips with guys who aren’t part of my (or any) church setting. These external relationships help me more effectively connect with those in my immediate ministry context.

ETERNITY. Pastors and leaders need reminders that their calling serves a purpose beyond this life. If we evaluate ourselves solely on what we see in front of us, the task of ministry can feel heavy and at times even depressing. However, the pastors in the study who maintained an eternal perspective were far healthier and stayed in ministry much longer.

I need to regularly be reminded to step back and take the long view. Pastoral colleagues have been helpful for me in maintaining this broader mindset.

Josh Meyer practices “scribing scripture” each day with his Bible and journal. Photo by Josh Meyer.

There’s no clear blueprint that guarantees pastoral flourishing in any and every situation. But the research seems to suggest that developing our capacity for honesty, intimacy, community, and eternity will allow us to lead from the healthiest place possible. May it be so in your life – to the praise of God’s glory!