Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Articles

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!

Backpacks for Kids – 7 Ways Home Fellowship

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7 Ways Home Fellowship (Bowie, MD) is praising the Lord for the opportunity to serve their community by supporting the Blue Ribbon Project in Prince George County, Maryland. 7 Ways is committed to finding ways to answer the passionate call on our hearts to help the foster care community.

January’s opportunity included 24 backpacks for foster children, so that they know they are valued and have the physical things they need during transition to new homes. We look forward to more opportunities, as Jesus leads us to what’s next. This is only the beginning!

Ramona Pickett (7 Ways Home Fellowship) hand-sewed masks for each backpacks. Photo provided by Jaye Lindo.
Backpacks were donated to the Blue Ribbon Project from 7 Ways Home Fellowship. Photo provided by Jaye Lindo.

Out of the Clear Blue

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Mary Nitzsche, Associate Executive Minister for Mosaic Conference, will retire from her executive role on January 31; she will remain working as a Leadership Minister for three Mosaic churches.

Nitzsche’s journey to Mosaic Conference leadership has been full of unexpected calls, adjustments, joy, and fulfillment. She graduated from Goshen (IN) College with a degree in Elementary Education and taught for three years, including two years in a one room schoolhouse in Nebraska before moving to Elkhart, IN so her husband, Wayne, could study at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS).

While at AMBS, Mary worked part-time in the seminary library and enjoyed taking a few classes through a spousal discount. It was then that Mary felt her first sense of call to ministry, but instead, prioritized starting a family.

Although Mary enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom while Wayne pastored a church in Wooster, OH, she continued to feel drawn to ministry. Fortunately, Ashland Seminary was very close by. Three years later, she obtained her M.A. in pastoral counseling.

Just as Nitzsche earned her degree, she and Wayne were asked to serve as regional pastors (similar to Mosaic’s Leadership Ministers) for Ohio Conference. Mary had no pastoral experience at this time and felt “woefully inadequate.” But, “the Conference pastor firmly believed in me,” Mary recalled. As time went on, she found herself “being drawn into the conference work more than the counseling, which surprised me, since I went to seminary for counseling,” Mary reflected.

Mary Nitzsche (left) was ordained as Regional Pastor of Ohio Conference at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, OH on November 16, 1997. Photo provided by Mary Nitzsche.

Mary had served as Regional Minister for Ohio Conference for over 12 years when Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite Church called with an invitation to consider a pastoral role. Again, Mary felt inadequate, since she had never served as a congregational pastor. While Mary was intrigued, moving to a different state, without a job for Wayne, felt very risky. But together, they stepped out in faith. During Mary’s candidacy weekend at Blooming Glen, Wayne interviewed for, and eventually became, pastor of Perkasie (PA) Mennonite Church.

While a pastor at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Mary Nitzsche baptized Frank Odongo as Pastor Michael Bishop assisted. Photo provided by Mary Nitzsche.

For ten years, Mary pastored at Blooming Glen, assuming she would retire there. But Steve Kriss, Executive Minister of Franconia Conference, called with an invitation to Mary to consider the role of Associate Executive Minister, starting in July 2017. “Mary’s pastoral gifts, deep wisdom, attention both to healthy relationships and to process are gifts that have strengthened our Conference communities in these last five years,” Kriss reflected on that call.

“I felt very fulfilled at Blooming Glen, thinking I would just gradually decrease my hours until retirement, until Steve approached,” Mary shared. “I’ve always been surprised with the calls that come to me out of the clear blue. It seemed like others noticed my gifts and had confidence in my skills before I did.”

During her years as Associate Executive Minister, Nitzsche has worked often with Conference policies. “Policies are really important, but they have to be flexible and backed up with relationship,” Nitzsche noted. As her relationships grew, she realized the importance of understanding other cultures. What is normative and appropriate for one group of people may not translate to another. As a result, Nitzsche invested a lot of energy into being more culturally sensitive. “I’ve learned to pay attention to those things and depend on people from other cultures to help shape those processes and policies. It is very rewarding and has enriched my life.”

As Associate Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference, Mary Nitzsche preached at Methacton Mennonite Church in February 2019. Photo provided by Mary Nitzsche.

Nitzsche will perhaps miss this interaction across cultures the most with her retirement. “I’m going to have to be more intentional to include cultural diversity as an ongoing part of my life,” Nitzsche said. “That has been a gift from the Conference.” She also will miss being a part of credentialing interviews—walking with pastors and hearing their stories.

Nitzsche is delighted that Marta Castillo will be stepping into the Associate Executive Minister role on February 1. “She has a great awareness of cultural diversity and speaks three Mosaic languages,” Nitzsche explained. “She’ll be wonderful in this role.”

Disc Golf and Comforters

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Doylestown (PA) Mennonite Church (DMC) started an experiment some years ago by looking “out there.” We assembled a team to explore, ask questions, and identify God’s work that DMC could support. The team began to see fertile soil within us, that God was doing work here within our own souls. We began to see that being missional was our own calling and not something to be hired out.

A major shift happened for me in how I viewed my faith journey. I realized that my faith is to be an integral piece that is a common thread in all the boxes of my life: home, work, church, and play. Jesus is present in all my boxes, encouraging, convicting, and transforming. I began to look for ways to bring these boxes together.

I began inviting people from my different boxes to gather for coffee, football games on TV, and meals. Risk & vulnerability are present when you have your work friends and neighbors meet your church friends. Risk & vulnerability are present when you begin to share your thoughts, dreams, failures, and struggles. I John 1:5-10 invites us to walk in the light, to live an authentic life, to experience forgiveness, and to have fellowship with one another.

Two examples of fellowship that intentionally cross the boundaries of our boxes at DMC are disc golf and knotting comforters.

Lois and Freida Myers have for some time gathered folks from various boxes in their lives to create some interesting mixes of people to knot comforters. We know that when you put people together, fellowship and connection will develop.

Steve Landes plays disc golf any chance he gets and turned it into a missional activity. 

My own story with disc golf began by doing something that I enjoy and inviting others to join me. The fun begins by expanding the group to include random strangers, friends from church and work, and friends of friends. I am a self-proclaimed disc golf evangelist, trying to convert those who don’t play to become those who do play. The Missional Experiment that DMC took on challenged me to invite anyone who would listen to join me in playing disc golf.

Some members of “The Chain Gang” at a recent disc golf outing. 

I created by own vision of this mission in my life. “Build community among a diverse group of people, to create space for trusting relationships to grow and where ministry to one another happens.” My vision became a “fresh expression.”

Fresh Expression is what happens when we move from a missional outlook to a more intentional gathering of listening, loving, and caring. A Fresh Expression is where we experience God and have connection or fellowship with one another: a church, but not one that looks like the traditional church. Fresh Expressions come about by following a passion, building trusting relationships, sharing ourselves authentically, and sharing our faith journey.

Fresh Expression is a movement; it is a thing. It is in dog parks, restaurants, Tattoo parlors, yoga studios, disc golf courses, and living rooms. Fresh Expressions are birthed out of the traditional church, are supported and encouraged by the traditional church, and not surprisingly, are revitalizing the traditional church. Fresh Expressions become a new distinct entity and are not intended to be a new church growth scheme building the church’s roster. The Fresh Expression is church.

Stretched Out

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Every other month I join the Mosaic Women’s Gathering to talk about our annual gathering, share stories, and empower each other. At our last meeting, as we were brainstorming ideas for this year’s gathering, Marta Castillo shared from Isaiah 54, about enlarging our tent, or dreaming big.

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, 
    and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; 
do not hold back; lengthen your cords 
    and strengthen your stakes. 
3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, 
    and your offspring will possess the nations 
    and will people the desolate cities. 

Isaiah 54:2-3, ESV

After the meeting, I found myself reflecting upon this passage for the rest of the week. As little children, we were often told to dream big. Every Sunday at Philadelphia (PA) Praise Center, the benediction includes, “May God enlarge your territory to the left and to the right…” in Indonesian.

However, Isaiah 54 reminded me that before we can enlarge our tent, we first must let ourselves be stretched out. And as we all know, being stretched out is uncomfortable.

We’re still in the middle of a global pandemic. Throughout this time, I’m sure that all of us had to pivot and adapt to the current situation. Personally speaking, I have felt stretched thin because I feel trapped in a season of waiting yet having too little time to do everything. I can feel overwhelmed, like God is stretching me too hard.

Close-Up Shot of a Person Holding a Pink Slime

However, God has always found a way to gently remind me whenever I feel like I’m at the lowest point in my life. I find strength by being reminded of this passage, that was addressed to the desolate as an eternal covenant of peace.

I am taking away three things from the Isaiah passage: 

1. Do not hold back 

When God is stretching me, I must constantly tell myself to not speed up or put a speed bump on God’s process. I should try to enjoy the uncomfortable. I need to enjoy the stretch!

2. Lengthen your cords 

Sometimes when I feel I don’t have enough to give, I keep telling myself that it’s okay to say no. It’s also okay to ask for help. A tent cord is used to secure a tent to the ground. Our limitations are what ground us and keep us human. In the areas where I feel like I lack, I find peace in knowing that God will be able to fill the empty spaces.

Photo Of People Reaching Each Other's Hands

3. Strengthen your stakes 

A house without a strong foundation won’t last long in the middle of a storm. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in doing things that I forget to recenter myself in God. I can find myself lost. I need to humbly be reminded of how little control I have, and how much I need God to help me through.

Black Ceiling Wall

As I reflected on times when I felt stretched to my limit, I found comfort when I felt God’s helping hands during those times. In my little, God is big. In my weak, God is strong.  

May you find strength and peace in this closing verse, as it did to me: 

“For the mountains may depart 
and the hills be removed, 
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, 
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” 
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you. 

Isaiah 54:10, ESV

Preparing for MC USA’s Special Delegate Session

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On May 27-30, 2022, Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA) will hold a Special Session of the Delegate Assembly in Kansas City, MO. Each Mosaic congregation is eligible to send delegates to this important meeting in the life of our community and witness together.   

Mennonite Church USA is providing background resources and hosting a series of educational webinars (see below) to prepare delegates and their conferences / congregations for the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly in May.

Mosaic Conference will also be offering preparation work to help resources delegates and pastors in the months ahead.  The resources are intended to help prepare delegates for the upcoming discernment and voting that is planned for this special session.   

Upcoming January webinars:

Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 07:00 PM (EST): The development of resolutions, especially church statements, must seek to follow our ecclesiology. We believe the church exists at the congregational, area conference and national conference levels. While each person is responsible for developing and maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our understandings of the revelation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are refined and tested by the community of believers on the three levels of our church. This seminar will explore the current role resolutions play in MC USA and hope we might shape the resolution process in the future. 

Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 07:00 PM (EST): Join MC USA’s Iris de Leon Hartshorn (facilitator) and panelists Jamie Pitts of AMBS, Pastor Isaac Villegas of Chapel Hill (North Carolina) Mennonite Fellowship and Shana Peachey Boshart of Mennonite Education Agency for an engaging discussion on biblical discernment. In this one-hour webinar, the panel will address three key topics:

  • Biblical and historical understanding of discernment
  • Congregational experiences with discernment
  • Best practices for discernment 

All webinars will be recorded and available on the MC USA delegate resource page. Please visit the delegate resource page for the full schedule and additional information.