Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Articles

Welcoming Faith Chapel: A congregation of worship and action

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Faith Chapel is a multi-site congregation seeking to join Mosaic Conference in 2021, in a transfer of membership from Pacific Southwest Conference. The congregation is made up predominantly of immigrants from Nigeria but also includes immigrants from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other West African nations, as well as African Americans.

Pastor Grace Pam (left) and Senior Pastor Chuwang Pam. a married couple, serve as co-pastors for LA Faith Chapel. Photo provided by LA Faith Chapel.

The congregation was founded in 1996 by Pastor Chuwang Pam with the active ministry support of his wife Grace. Together they have led the congregation through several locations, most recently meeting in the Westmont neighborhood of Los Angeles. Over the years, the congregation has established satellite gatherings in several Los Angeles neighborhoods, as well as a satellite congregation in Las Vegas. Other sites are under active consideration. Locally, this parent congregation is most often referred to as “Los Angeles Faith Chapel,” with satellite congregations being referred to by their city or neighborhood: “Las Vegas Faith Chapel” and “Riverside Faith Chapel”.

Pastors Chuwang and Grace Pam are not new to MC USA. Chuwang Pam served on the staff of the Center for Anabaptist Leadership and was one of the preachers at the denomination’s 2007 convention in San Jose. Grace Pam has served on both the West Coast MCC and Pacific Southwest Conference Boards. They are a talented team of leaders with strategic vision and significant grit and resilience.

One of Faith Chapel’s strengths is their commitment to raise up and equip leaders. Using a strategy of “Recruit, Equip, Deploy, and Support,” Faith Chapel is frequently sending off leaders to launch new ministries in both Africa and the US. In 2022 and beyond, one point of engagement between Mosaic Conference and Faith Chapel will be to adequately equip and credential an extensive leadership pool of men and women who serve in a variety of ministries.

Christmas Day worship at LA Faith Chapel in 2018. Photo provided by LA Faith Chapel.

A second feature of the congregation is its Pentecostal, revivalistic expression of worship. Worship services, especially pre-COVID, were held several times a week, and were a vigorous, joyful, and lengthy gathering, full of high energy singing, powerful prayers for deliverance, and proclamation of a grace-filled gospel of forgiveness and resilience. These services were frequently followed by a fellowship meal, which is prepared and served by the women of the church.

A third dynamic of the church is a commitment to ending homelessness. Intuitively grasping the power of a “Housing First” strategy, Faith Chapel operates a network of transitional homes while also providing other services – addiction counseling, mental health services, and workforce development – led by volunteers and by those who have recently found their way into new life. It is a grassroots effort.

Sunday lunch in the fellowship hall includes sharing a meal with the homeless from skid row in downtown Los Angeles. Photo provided by LA Faith Chapel.

A fourth component of the church’s witness is its commitment to direct missional engagement in Africa. Pastor Chuwang Pam spends more than 6 months a year in Nigeria, especially in and around Plateau State, where Christian-Muslim relations have frequently turned violent. Pastor Pam utilizes his family connections to the Nigerian military for peacemaking work that maintains nonviolent zones, develops grassroots workplace development programs, and empowers women through education. This work has led to a noticed reduction in violence in Plateau State.

Graduation from leadership training class at LA Faith Chapel. Photo provided by LA Faith Chapel.

Faith Chapel continues to have challenges. One major and constant challenge is the continuous turnover – of leaders moving on to new ministries and of youth who are enculturating into the American experience and looking for fresh expression of the church that are more Americanized. Mosaic Conference does have some skills in cultural adaptation that could serve Faith Chapel well in the years to come.

Mosaic Conference and Faith Chapel will find mutual blessing in this realignment. Faith Chapel will bring to Mosaic Conference a passionate commitment to a global gospel of deliverance and hope. Mosaic Conference will bring missional strategies that are solid and time-tested. It should be a joyful collaboration.

Introducing Midian Leadership Project

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“A young person can find a great mentor in a work training or football program, but youth need people who stick with them throughout the transitions in their lives,” says Rev. Dr. Jeff Biddle, Jr, founding director of the Midian Leadership Project. Midian Leadership Project is unique in the Charlestown, WV area, because the program walks with young people from middle school until they are stable and on their feet in terms of education, employment, and housing.

“A longitudinal approach to mentorship takes a lot of investment, and there will be bumps in the road when supporting a young person in resisting and overcoming the systemic forces that are against them,” shares Biddle. “Mosaic Mennonite Conference has wisdom about how we can do that better.”

Based in the West Side of Charleston, WV, Midian Leadership Project seeks to develop community leaders through educational, family, and faith support, anchored in sports-related programming, for young people ages 10 to 25. The nonprofit organization will be welcomed as a conference-related ministry (CRM) during the Conference Assembly on November 6, 2021.

Midian Co-founder Turan De’Angelo Rush speaks at a community non-violence event following the shooting of a local high schooler. Photo provided by Midian Project.

Midian Leadership Project grew out of a church youth fellowship. Isaiah Mason grew up within the youth group that birthed Midian Leadership Project, and now is a leader there, preaching and working in maintenance. “We wanted to make it something the rest of our community could be a part of,” reflects Mason. “It’s a place that fills any gap in a kid’s life, where they can have a safe place to get something to eat and have someone truly listen to them.”


Isaiah Mason preaches a sermon at New Hope Community Church. Photo provided by Midian Project.

Mason was an intern with the Summer Service Program in 2021, through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Mosaic Conference, and is studying to become a youth pastor. “It was great to meet other interns that were also serving in church ministries,” recalled Mason. “We were able to share our experiences and viewpoints, and stay connected for the future.”

Midian Leadership Project’s name is drawn from the story of Moses, who found hospitality and space to grow at Midian, before embarking on his God-given mission. For young people who struggle to navigate broken and hostile environments, sports are an essential “Midian”—an oasis to rest, mature, develop leadership, and listen for God. “There is science behind the power of athletics for trauma healing,” says Biddle. “Young people want to participate in sports, and it takes only some intentionality to engage in the healing power that is within athletics that our community really needs.”

For young people who struggle to navigate broken and hostile environments, sports are an essential “Midian”—an oasis to rest, mature, develop leadership, and listen for God.

Prior to this year, Midian Project’s outreach took place in homes, basketball courts, and a rented space. But the core leaders had a dream to purchase a building across from the local middle school. They were able to do so in February 2021, and have been in the process of renovating what the youth call “Safe Haven.” They are still raising funds to complete the renovations.

“God is doing wonderful things here, particularly through the young people who have committed themselves and have stepped up miraculously,” shares Biddle. They have spent the past eight months raising money, going in front of the county commissioners, and learning everything that goes into opening a community center.”

“As the Midian Leadership Project has grown, our vision has gotten wider and wiser,” shares Turan Rush, founding deputy director, and currently captain of the football team at Eastern Michigan University. “This will be a tremendous place for the community, so that youth can have the resources to better themselves, learn to be leaders, prepare for college, and better the community. We have so many ideas for growth.”

It was members of the Midian Leadership Project’s interest in restorative justice that first drew them to connect with Anabaptists. They met with Dr. Drew Hart who pointed them toward Mosaic Conference. “So much of what our leaders want to accomplish, from the reduction of interpersonal violence in their neighborhoods, to criminal justice reform, to ending the school-to-prison pipeline – there are Anabaptist leaders with skills and experience in these areas,” shares Biddle. “Mosaic Conference speaks that language, and they are good people to have walking alongside us as we do this work.”

Midian Leadership Projects asks for the prayers of Mosaic Conference, particularly for their new building project, which is “a game changer for their neighborhood,” as well as leadership and perseverance of the young people as they take this next step God is calling them to.

Learning to Love Fall

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I love the changing seasons in Pennsylvania, but I especially love fall. Though Vermont has a beautiful display of rolling mountains, and Colorado’s views are majestic with their Aspen tree colors … but I digress.

Fall makes me pause … and think of life as seasons. Fall has implications, needed transitions to be done in order to be ready for winter, and, not wanting to think about winter, I digress, I procrastinate, I ramble.

Things I planted in spring with such high expectations are now wild in their efforts to show off quickly. So, I give them another day or week, before I cut, prune, and dig out. I have a tendency to hang onto things: things I might finish, things I might wear, things I may need someday … things that hurt, and especially things that didn’t go well.

In fall, I know the things I planted in spring and watered in summer will come to an end in winter. Some have exploded with color; others went in directions I didn’t plan, like the sweet potato vines that grew up the pergola, and also into the fish pond. They will freeze in a few weeks. But I hold on. Fall is tough.

The wildly growing sweet potato vine (light green) in Margaret Zook’s backyard. Photo by Margaret Zook.

In the fall season of life, I think of things that need changing: stuff I must let go and learn from and things that didn’t end so well. I really do need to clear the closet and clean out the gardens. They were fun, but they hurt my feet, and I know I’ll never wear heels again … into the thrift store bin. The sweet potato vines will freeze any day now. Next spring, I won’t plant them next to the pond and I’ll trim them to keep them in check. I’ll never finish the baby blanket – that kid is now 10. The yarn is now in the Care and Share box. In a former job, working as a transition coordinator, I helped facilitate downsizing and moves into retirement living. You’d think I would be good at this. Guess again. It’s easier to talk it than do it.

Pam Morrison calls this season of life that I am in the “Warring Season.” It’s a time of turbulence, setbacks, and resistance to changes. But the Morris Arboretum reminds me fall is for fruits. My optimism, combined with the help of a good friend, has decided that my current self-work focus is to experience this fall as a season of grace.

I need grace for myself to embrace my season of life, to reflect, to give meaning to what has been, and move into what can be now. I need grace to forgive myself, to forget, and to clear the closets of my mind. I need grace to look for the potentials of each day and to walk each day in that self-grace.

I also need grace for others so that I remove expectations, listen more, and reflect the positive. I need grace to forgive, as I have been forgiven. I need grace to be at peace with differences and silence. I need to remember that grace is multiplied through me.

I want to love this spiritual season of fall. I want to reread Bible stories that challenge me to reach for new learnings, to give mediation time for God’s presence, to be grateful for the present, and to reflect on what might be next in this wild and wonderful life.

Deep Run East Celebrates 275th Anniversary

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Photos by Ruth & Wes Cosand

Deep Run East Mennonite Church (Perkasie, PA) celebrated their 275th anniversary on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Over 250 people were in attendance and enjoyed memories, photos, and stories, including those on display from past mission trips, local mission work, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, youth activities, and more. A timeline shared what was happening in the life of Deep Run East, the local community, and world history during the last 275 years. The historical displays are on display for public viewing until October 10.

Photos by Ruth & Wes Cosand

John L. Ruth preached at the Sunday worship service for the 275th anniversary celebration of Deep Run East congregation. His sermon was titled, “Looking Backward and Forward with Love,” based on Deuteronomy 7:6-9 and 1 John 4:7-19.

Leviticus … in 2021?

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Is there anything in Leviticus that applies today?  I often view Leviticus as just a lot of rigid rules and religious activities that are not relevant for us today. Recently, I was surprised. While there are a lot of rituals that can be confusing, there is also a lot about stewardship and generosity, integrity and justice, and respect that we can still apply to our daily lives in 2021.  There is a lot about God’s desire that we be in right relationships with others.   

Stewardship and generosity

Our gifts to God, whether financial, time, or talents, should be from our first fruits and the best we have.  Do we give God our best?  A theme repeated often in Leviticus is that when we give our best, it is an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 

Another theme repeated throughout Leviticus is that generosity is for everyone.  Often repeated are the words, “If anyone cannot afford…” This phrase is followed by a less valuable commodity which can be given, but just as acceptable to God. Therefore, everyone can participate in being generous, no matter what their economic status is. 

Integrity and Justice

Chapter 19 says to treat others fairly. We shouldn’t show favoritism to anyone, great or small. We also shouldn’t seek revenge or carry a grudge, which is really the definition of forgiveness. There is even something in Leviticus for business persons: we should pay our employees fairly and promptly (19:13b), and use honest business standards (19:36), all of which affects our customers, vendors, and employees. 

Chapter 19 also says a lot on how to treat our neighbor: don’t lie to them, steal from them, slander them, or do anything that would endanger their lives. Instead, we are to love them as we love ourselves.  Chapter 6 says how we treat our neighbor is a comparison to how faithful we are to the Lord.  When we deceive or cheat a neighbor, we are being unfaithful to the Lord. 

There is also advocacy and care for the poor and the foreigner in the book. We must treat and love the foreigner as we do ourselves.  Sounds a lot like we should treat them as if they were our neighbors. We also are advised to allow them to glean our fields after the harvest.  What are some “gleaning” options that we can leave behind by those of us in non-agrarian settings?   

Respect

Chapter 19 also goes on to advocate for the elderly and our parents, giving them proper respect, just as you would respect or revere God. 

Leviticus does have something to say to us in 2021.  How we live in community and relate to others is reflective of our faith in God. 

Women of Remarkable Faith Gather

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We arrived in all the ways a diverse group of women gather:  lovely dresses, jeans, sweaters, jackets, short sleeves, long hair, short hair with colors of white, gray, black, brown and shades in between. Masks of all kinds, from the delicately embroidered one from Mexico to the multitude of light blue disposable ones, worn to keep each other safe. Each mask stretched a bit to contain the smiles and the voices that spoke forth in greeting. We came with energy, some moving fast and some slow, some with canes, one pushing a walker.  

We were excited and grateful to meet in person for this first gathering of Mosaic Mennonite Women.  We looked forward to our time together as sisters in Christ and Women of Faith.  We prayed that the Holy Spirit would prepare the way for God’s God’s work through Jesus Christ in our lives.  We believe that each of us is beloved of God and that God will meet us where we are.  We also believe that we need each other, our sisters in Christ, to thrive and to survive. 

On Saturday, September 25, Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church was the location.  We met from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm around tables, singing, praying, talking with each other, doing a craft, sharing a meal, and listening to an inspiring message by Pastor Charlene Smalls of Ripple (Allentown, PA) congregation.  Pastor Charlene spoke on the Conference’s theme, “Women of Remarkable Faith and the Issues they Face.”  A Zoom option was offered from 10:oo am to 12:00 pm, with Indonesian and Spanish interpretations available.   

Pastor Charlene shared a smorgasbord of insights, affirmations, and challenges. She read Proverbs 31 and highlighted the stories of Ruth and Deborah who were not perfect, but faithful followers and leaders. We laid a burden at the cross and took a diamond with us, multifaceted and beautiful to represent our God-given beauty and value. Relationship with God and each other is what powers our inner batteries as we were invited to check the status of our cell phones batteries. Pastor Charlene looked over the true mosaic of women present and affirmed our oneness and our uniqueness. What do we all have in common? We are all created in the image of God and fundamentally connected with God and each other. It’s about relationship.

The worship time was an invitation to grow closer and go deeper into love for Jesus.  Prayer flags swirled and danced in colorful praise as we sang in English and Spanish. Later it was fun to decorate a prayer box, choosing scripture promises and adding prayers of our own. 

As we gathered to say goodbye, women responded with highlights of this day for them.  Many commented on the joy of being together, “juntos,” as one sister said, “Together in one room, in one language of love.  I have joy in my heart.  I’m very happy, muy contento.  I want to come back next week!”   

Others described a time of refuge, the joy of making new friends, deepening faith, an incredible experience, and many expressions of gratitude for all who made this day possible. 

Pastor Letty led us in the closing and benediction as we found a partner and prayed for each other, anointing each other with oil for blessing and sending.  She invited us into this exercise of grace by telling us that we may not understand all the words, but we should relax, feel welcomed, and deeply connected as Mosaic sisters.  We lingered in the hum of prayers in different languages.  These were shared moments of bonding, of tenderness and love and blessing.  This is the living experience of mosaic. 

Conference Board Update: September 2021

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The Mosaic Conference Board met September 20, 2021 to prepare for the annual Assembly and to review a process for conversation with Dock Mennonite Academy in response to allegations of misconduct in March 2021. The Conference board meets bimonthly. Most meetings are a hybrid combination of virtual and in-person attendance, so that members can attend across the Conference’s wide geography.

Process with Dock Academy

The Board reviewed a process prepared by the Ministerial Committee and the Conference Related Ministries (CRM) Committee for further conversation with the leadership of Dock Mennonite Academy. The Board affirmed the proposed process to move forward, rooted in the Conference’s agreement with CRMs (of Community and Accountability) and the Giving and Receiving Counsel document for credentialed leaders.

Conference leaders will be meeting with leaders from Dock Academy in October to review the process. More information will be available in the coming weeks as this process continues.

New member congregations and ministries

In preparation for Assembly, the Board affirmed Iglesia Menonita Pena de Horeb (Philadelphia, PA) and Faith Chapel (Los Angeles, CA) as new member congregations and The Midian Project (Charleston, WV) as a new Conference Related Ministry (CRM). These memberships will be officially affirmed and blessed in the annual delegate session in November. Information to introduce these congregations and ministries to the Conference will soon be available through the Mosaic Newsletter and website.

Annual Assembly pivot to online

The Board approved a change from in-person to virtual Assembly participation with localized watch parties due to the current COVID conditions, our geographic spread, and our diverse constituency. The delegate sessions will be held on Zoom from 1-3pm Eastern/10am-12pm Pacific on Saturday, November 6. The annual worship will be broadcast from a central location with watch parties for delegates across the Conference community at 7pm Eastern/4pm Pacific. More information regarding opportunities to gather as small groups for Conference worship will be coming in the next few weeks.

Completing a Leg of the Journey

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Merlin Hartman, of Franconia (PA) Mennonite Church, recently completed six years of Conference board service. 

As I have served on the Mosaic Board with Merlin Hartman, I’ve learned how much Merlin enjoys bicycling. I often ask Merlin about his biking, something he does almost daily. In response, Merlin would share, very humbly, of the various places he has been riding, as well as the vast number of miles he has logged (over 25,000 miles, to date).

Recently, Merlin Hartman, of Franconia (PA) Mennonite Church completed another “leg of the journey,” as he concluded six years of service on the Mosaic Conference Board.

At the July 19 meeting, the Board honored and celebrated Merlin’s years of service among us with a delicious meal, sharing of memories and reflections, and presenting Merlin with a gift of appreciation. Our gathering was in the newly renovated Conference offices. While there, we were able to see the three beautiful, wooden Mosaic tables, hand-crafted and donated by Merlin to the Mosaic office.

Two of the three wooden Mosaic tables hand-crafted by Merlin in use at the Mosaic office.

Recently, I asked Merlin a few questions about himself and his service on the Mosaic Board.  

Q: What did you enjoy most about your time of service on the Board? 

Hartman: Getting to know different people from different churches and cultures.  It reminded me of working at Hatfield (PA) Quality Meats, in that I worked with people from 13 countries, speaking six different languages at different times. 

Q: What is a highlight that stands out to you from your six years on the Board? 

Hartman: We had two very good chair people in charge while I was on the Board.  After much discussion, they would sum up the discussion and ask for a vote. 

Q: What advice would you offer to Mosaic Conference moving forward? 

Hartman: After some discussion, I would suggest, before voting, to check out the Bible when disagreements are floating around the Conference. 

Q: What’s a Scripture verse or passage that is particularly meaningful to you and why? 

Hartman: This is hard to narrow down, but I will pick Hebrews 12:1-3.  We are to run with perseverance (don’t give up), run together, get rid of the extra weight, and look to our leader of the race, Jesus. 

Q: What do you like to do for fun (besides biking)? 

Hartman: I have many hobbies.  They are playing many games with family and friends, fishing, woodworking, reading books, and traveling. 

Q: What are adjectives people who know you well would use to describe you? 

Hartman: I am quiet and involved.  I have been on four Boards – Calvary Hour, Franconia Mennonite Church, Penn View Christian School, and Conference. 

Q: What’s something that people would be surprised to know about you? 

Hartman: I would have never made it as a Sunday School teacher if not for my partners the first two years, filling in the times of silence.  They filled in the gap times. 

Merlin Hartman (left) with Conference Moderator (and author), Ken Burkholder (right). Photo by Kristine McClain.

I’ve appreciated Merlin’s contributions to the Board, particularly his genuine Christian faith, calm presence, and the way he is “quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19).  Thank you, Merlin, for your commitment and dedication to the Board.  And, thank you, Mary (Merlin’s spouse), for your support and encouragement.