Articles

A Steady Yes for Ministry Now Includes Board Service

March 5, 2026 by Cindy Angela

Editor’s Note: This profile is part of a series of articles introducing the three board members joining the Mosaic Conference board in 2026.

Michael Howes joins the Mosaic Mennonite Conference board as the chair of the Ministerial Committee. Howes approaches leadership with a simple but faithful guiding principle: say yes to ministry when it can be done with care and integrity.

“Throughout my ministry, I’ve had a practice of saying yes to ministry opportunities,” Howes shares, “unless saying yes would cause other work I’m already engaged in to suffer.” That spirit of thoughtful openness has shaped his journey and now leads him into this new role of Conference leadership.

As he begins his service on the board, Howes looks forward to the opportunities for collaboration and shared discernment.

“I’m looking forward to working with other board members and our wonderful conference staff to advance Mosaic’s mission,” he says. He is especially energized by the Conference’s evolving vision: “I’m particularly interested in seeing how we live into our new Centering Document.”

Howes has been a credentialed pastor in Mosaic since 2019. His previous Conference leadership includes serving as both a member and later chair of the Credentials Committee, where he helped support and guide leaders through important seasons of vocational discernment and accountability. That experience brings valuable insight to his new role in leadership with the Ministerial Committee, where he will continue walking alongside pastors and ministers across the Conference.

Originally from New Orleans, Howes grew up in the bayou country of south Louisiana before living in Texas and the Washington, DC metro area. Since 2011, he has called southeast Pennsylvania home.

Howes serves as pastor of West Swamp Mennonite (Quakertown, PA). “My favorite things about West Swamp are the genuine love my congregants have for one another and their neighbors,” he says, “and the enthusiasm they bring to collaborating to be a blessing to our community and the larger world.” That spirit of shared ministry reflects the kind of church life Howes is passionate about nurturing across Mosaic.

Outside of church and Conference responsibilities, Howes enjoys walking in his neighborhood, reading widely, and he is a good cook. He especially enjoys cooking the Cajun dishes that he grew up with.

Howes also shares, “the part of my brain not devoted to Scripture and ministry is filled with trivia.” He’s pretty sure he’d do well on Jeopardy!.

We are grateful for Howes’s steady leadership, pastoral heart, and commitment to collaborative ministry, and we look forward to the ways he will help lead Mosaic Mennonite Conference.

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.

Bringing the Pieces Together

March 5, 2026 by Cindy Angela

Calenthia Dowdy Staff Profile

On March 9, Rev. Dr. Calenthia Dowdy will begin serving with Mosaic Mennonite Conference as Director of Collaborative Ministries. In this two-days-a-week role, she will will serve as the team leader for accompaniment relationships with Mosaic’s 25 Conference-Related Ministries.

Drinking tea in Portugal.

“I really enjoy outreach and collaboration,” Dowdy shared. “Too many of us do ministry in silos, and I think it’s important to connect, support, and pray for one another in intentional ways.” She is especially looking forward to the diversity of relationships she will cultivate across the Conference.

Dowdy brings decades of ministry experience shaped by both church and academy. She has served in youth, camp, and college ministries. She briefly taught kindergarten and eighth grade before spending more than 20 years teaching college students, including as a professor of youth ministry and cultural anthropology at Eastern University. She also served as Philadelphia campus chaplain for Messiah University.

Her leadership extends beyond traditional church settings. Dowdy has been executive director of Roots of Justice and director of faith-based initiatives in a Philadelphia nonprofit organization with advocacy and services for persons living with HIV/AIDS. She has devoted many years to antiracism education within faith-based organizations.

At an interfaith prayer breakfast.

Credentialed as an American Baptist minister and holding a PhD in anthropology, Dowdy brings theological depth and cultural insight to her work. She grew up in Philadelphia and has long been committed to Anabaptism.

She spent about 10 years at Germantown Mennonite, where she appreciated “the intellectual edges of faith,” and for the past two years has been a member of Ambler Mennonite, where she values “the earnest simplicity of faith expression.” She is currently participating in Ambler’s Vibrant Mosaic cohort.

When not working, Dowdy enjoys good podcasts, books and movies, walking her dog, and international travel.

Executive Minister Stephen Kriss expressed enthusiasm about her arrival. “Calenthia brings gifts in networking, experience in anti-oppression training, wisdom and a textured outlook in engaging urban and global mission,” he shared.

“I continue to feel grateful for the gifted persons who are willing to consider working together to embody the reconciling love of Jesus through our shared witness at Mosaic.”

Mosaic Annual Gathering in Santa Marta

February 26, 2026 by Cindy Angela

by Javier Márquez

From February 6-9, pastors and leaders met in Santa Marta to strengthen relationships, deepen friendships, and continue discerning the Conference’s path in Colombia.

Participants included pastors from Anabaptist Community in Medellin, Shalom Mennonite, leaders from the Wiwa community in the Sierra Nevada, among others, along with Mosaic Conference staff members and spouses. This annual gathering has a clear purpose: to grow in mutual understanding, pray for one another, encourage ministries, and deepen our Mosaic Anabaptist identity in Colombia.

A central focus was studying the Mosaic Conference Priority Guide. Through participatory methods, the group engaged in honest conversation, active listening, and deep biblical reflection.

The Conference’s vision and mission were explored through three key lenses: formational, missional, and intercultural. The discussions moved beyond theory. Participants connected the priorities to real ministry experiences and the concrete challenges of living out the gospel across Colombia’s diverse regions.

One of the most memorable moments was an invitation from Ismael Conchacala to visit his community in the Sierra Nevada. Surrounded by towering mountains and flowering trees in a tropical dry forest ecosystem, the group hiked, listened to Indigenous stories, and entered a traditional home where the community gathers around the fire to make important decisions.

Being welcomed into that sacred space was a gesture of deep trust. There, Conchacala led a biblical reflection on the Good Samaritan, inviting the group to consider the “mosaic” within the church and the world, and the radical call to love those who are different. The mosaic image—diverse pieces forming a greater design—took on renewed meaning in that intercultural setting.

Hospitality enriched the day: Ismael’s family prepared a traditional sancocho stew, shared with laughter, stories, and gratitude.

Another significant moment came during a session led by Carol Ramírez. Leaders shared openly about personal and ministry challenges and prayed for one another. The gathering became a space of mutual care and spiritual strengthening.

The farmhouse where participants stayed, perched on a small hill and cooled by mountain breezes, offered a fitting reminder that growth has seasons. Even in dry ecosystems, God brings fruit in time.

Children experienced their own time of connection. They enjoyed games, drawing, and swimming. Community life extended into recreation, with group games and a lively dance.

Amid conversation and discernment, leaders made a meaningful decision: the ministry formerly known as “Walking with Mosaic” will now be called Mosaic Colombia (Mosaicolombia). The change reflects a clearer identity rooted in Colombia and committed to the path God is shaping there.

The gathering in Santa Marta reaffirmed a shared call to walk together in diversity, deepen Anabaptist identity, and build the mosaic God is forming.

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 contact Javier Márquez, please email jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org.

Now We Get to See What Fear Can Do!

February 26, 2026 by Cindy Angela

There is a reason that God did not give us the spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7).

Fear allows us to believe that someone is doing something or taking something from us. Fear allows us to believe that we are superior or inferior. Fear can cause us to make poor choices. Fear can keep us silent or make us behave like a clanging cymbal. Fear makes us want to build walls and create new territories. Fear destroys humanity and chases away love.

The God I love, and the Jesus I serve say that love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18-19). Fear robs us of love and light, and we are called to love.

Our God also says to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39). All the people of the world are our neighbors.

The word of God also says to love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44). This is hard to do, but when we put on the Full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) and when we have faith, we can do nothing less than love. The harder part is to pray for those who persecute us, but let’s do it anyway.

True love includes standing up for our neighbors and embracing those that are different than ourselves. It includes calling out injustice even when it may cost us something. Yet God will supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19); we just need to work together in UNITY.

God created us in God’s abundance to share and support all God’s children, whether they look like us or know Jesus like us. This world is so much bigger than our ego, pride, and economic status.  We must resist the trick of the enemy, who tells us that this land, money, or church is “mine.”

Everything belongs to God, who sent Jesus to save the world and call the world to himself (John 3:16).  So, when you begin to think that someone is taking something from you, think again, because it’s not yours in the first place.

I’m thankful for being saved. I will not live in fear. I will trust my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and I will see His kingdom come. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Lord, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24) May we all say together, “Lord, have mercy on us all” (Psalms 31:9). Amen and amen.

In the words of the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

Happy Black History Month!

Jaye Lindo

Jaye Lindo is the Hospitality Coordinator for Mosaic Conference and serves as Pastor of 7 Ways Home Fellowship in Bowie, MD.

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

Weaving Ministry Connection Across the Conference

February 26, 2026 by Cindy Angela

When Mosaic Mennonite Conference was birthed in 2020, it carried forward a rich network of 25 Conference-Related Ministries (CRMs), faith-based nonprofit organizations born out of Franconia Conference and Eastern District. For Margaret Zook (Salford [PA] Mennonite), ensuring those ministries remained part of the heart of the Conference became both a calling and a joy.

Now, as Zook retires from her role as Director of Collaborative Ministries, Mosaic gives thanks for six years of steady, relational leadership that has strengthened the bonds between CRMs, congregations, and Conference leadership.

Zook’s passion for Conference-Related Ministries long predates her staff role. Having worked extensively within faith-based nonprofits, including many years at Conference-Related Ministry Living Branches, she carried a deep yearning to see those organizations fully included in the life of the conference.

When Mosaic was newly formed, Zook served on the CRM inquiry committee, interviewing leaders and listening to their hopes. “Some 90% of respondents were saying, ‘We’re part of your history and we want to be part of your future,’” Zook recalled.

“When the Director of Collaborative Ministries position was created, I was overjoyed. With it, CRMs would be visible, valued pieces of Mosaic’s ministry,” Zook shared. When she accepted the role in 2020, her vision for it has been clear: to see these ministries flourish, to strengthen their connections with one another, and to deepen their relationships with congregations and Conference leadership.

Zook’s leadership has been marked by presence. She organized road trips so CRM leaders could visit one another’s ministries. She hosted fellowship lunches and equipping events. She checked in with CEOs to ask not only about programs, but about their own well-being. “It was very meaningful when CRM leaders would call and share prayer requests. It reflected their trust in our partnership and in the power of prayer,” Zook affirmed.

One experience that remains especially meaningful to Zook is witnessing the growth of Ripple Community Inc (RCI). She recalls arriving early one morning with other CRM leaders and seeing guests out on the porch before the doors opened. Inside, basic needs were met with compassion, showers offered with dignity, and friendships formed with warmth. When RCI recently sought to expand and faced neighborhood resistance, Mosaic walked with them. For Zook, it became a living example of what it means to listen to community needs, engage neighbors to seek the peace of the city, and embody Christ’s love in practical ways.

Zook speaks with similar joy about Amahoro International becoming a CRM and strengthening relationships with Amahoro’s directors, the Makintos. “The Makintos’ vibrant faith and their ministry in Uganda have been affirming and life-giving for Mosaic,” Zook shares.

Not every season was easy. At times there were difficult conversations and hard decisions as a couple of CRMs left Mosaic. Zook emphasized that seeking to maintain trust and relationship, even in tension, was part of her ministry.

When asked how Mosaic has changed during her six years on staff, Zook replied, “I have relished in seeing Mosaic lean into what God has called Mosaic to be in the world today. Mosaic is showing up in marginalized spaces, listening deeply and prayerfully. Mosaic is creating new ways of being together, with great integrity.”

She also reflected on how being on staff has shaped her. “Practices like mutual invitation create space for every voice, allowing all present to be together amid difference and respecting individuality,” she shared. Staff meetings were another meaningful space. “We begin not with agenda items, but with ample time for scripture and prayer, with profound openness to what the Spirit is saying.”

Executive Minister Stephen Kriss expressed gratitude for the steady leadership Zook brought to Mosaic’s Conference-Related Ministries, “Margaret has brought a depth of knowledge and commitment to her role in leading and serving alongside CRMs,” he said. “She has established trust around the possibilities for CRM accompaniment and has navigated growth and change with wisdom and boldness. We are grateful for her and will miss her presence as part of our Mosaic staff.”

As Zook steps into retirement, she carries a particular prayer that Conference-Related Ministries will remain rooted in their faith foundations, integrating God’s love into every dimension of their work. The connectedness and collaborative partnerships she championed remains woven into Mosaic’s fabric.

Ministering on the Shore with Jesus

February 19, 2026 by Cindy Angela

by Sharon K. Williams

Shores of Hope, a Mosaic Partner in Ministry in West Palm Beach, Florida, ministers with Slavic refugees by supporting their immigration journey in the United States. Pavel and Marina Gailans are finding ways to introduce their new friends to Jesus.

“Most new immigrants will not come to a church service but will come to an informal, informational, family-oriented event at our house,” Pavel says. “As people get to know us and become our friends, they open their hearts and minds to good news and love of God, which will hopefully encourage them receive God’s salvation.”

This ministry, supported in part by a Missions Operational Grant, is reminiscent of Jesus’ lakeshore ministry with Gentiles in the region of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21–38). Most of Jesus’ teachings did not happen in a synagogue. His strategy involved going to the people. With just seven loaves of bread, a few fish, and prayer, Jesus brought healing, teaching, and nourishment to over 4,000 people in the region.

During the year, the Gailans host several gatherings in their home for up to 40 adults and children. The international group is predominantly Slavic, and they speak several languages. Everyone shares food of their national flavors, which is an incredible way of bonding new friendships. They gather in the living room to share updates on things that have happened since their last meeting. They welcome new people who have recently entered the United States. Many Ukrainian and Russian refugees are facing uncertainties. So every gathering is a great source of encouragement and inspiration.

Special occasions like birthdays are celebrated with gifts. The children also receive presents on special occasions. These community-building times of sharing are incredible moments to express appreciation for each person. Every gathering is a unique opportunity to share about the love of God.

The Gailans worship the Lord with other believers too. Pavel preaches at two churches every Sunday. Marina also meets with Slavic women and some children approximately three Sundays a month.

Meeting people where they are and addressing their needs with God’s love creates bonding and trust.

Sharon K. Williams

Sharon K. Williams serves as the minister of worship with the Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life Mennonite congregation.

Let’s talk about the diversity of Mosaic!

February 19, 2026 by Cindy Angela

by Marta Castillo

As I return from a trip to visit Mosaic-aligned churches in Colombia who spent time together learning from the Mosaic Priorities Guides and experiencing the diversity within their own group, I am amazed at who we are—and who we are becoming together. For Mosaic Conference, those questions are never simple. We are a gathering of congregations shaped by different histories, cultures, convictions, and practices, yet held together by a shared commitment to follow Jesus at the center of our life together.

The group of Colombian leaders gathered in February for relationship building and equipping.

Diversity is not new to Mosaic, but it is something we must continually name, tend, and learn how to hold. When we come together as a conference—whether in worship, equipping spaces, or shared decision-making—we are reminded that unity does not mean sameness. It means choosing to remain in relationship even when our assumptions, comfort zones, and convictions differ.

“Just as a tile mosaic is comprised of many pieces that are different shapes, colors, and textures, so Mosaic Conference includes people from a variety of races, ethnicities, cultures, identities, language-groups, educational and economic backgrounds, geographies, political perspectives, faith journeys, and life experiences. We acknowledge the presence of these differences and the discomfort we often feel when we look around and see unfamiliar faces, perceptions, and experiences looking back at us.”
A Mosaic Identity: Clarifying our Center

These differences are not merely theoretical. They show up in everyday congregational life—in the choices we make, the practices we hold dear, and the convictions we carry. Often, they surface in small, ordinary moments that reveal just how wide the mosaic truly is.

For example, even something as familiar as community engagement can look very different from one congregation to another. What one church understands as a missional opportunity, another may approach with caution or concern.

Differences emerge around dancing. Some of us in Mosaic are comfortable dancing at weddings, for exercise, or as an expression of worship. Others of us believe dancing is inappropriate because it could lead to sexual sins.

Then there’s drinking alcohol. Some believe that all alcohol consumption is wrong, while others enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with dinner or at social gatherings.

Baptism also presents differences. Should it be through sprinkling, pouring, or immersion? Do candidates need a preparation class, and if so, what should it include?

And communion. Is the table for members only? For all who follow Jesus as Lord? For anyone seeking Christ? Should children receive grapes and crackers? Should communion be solemn with confession or joyful in anticipation of Christ’s return?

Membership raises questions, too. Can only members lead worship or anyone who is committed and involved? Do we keep a meticulous membership list? Can regular attenders consider themselves members? What about those who seldom attend but claim belonging?

Worship styles vary widely. Do we worship in more than one language? What instruments do we use? Do we value jubilation or meditation in song? Are musicians live or recorded? Is worship charismatic, with tongues and altar calls, or quiet and contemplative? Some of our congregations regularly anoint for healing. Others never include an altar call because it may feel like pressure.

We also differ in how we talk about creation care, peace, and justice. How do we address Israel and Gaza? Do we preach about the last days and Christ’s return? Is politics openly discussed or intentionally avoided?

Evangelism also takes different forms. Some give out tracts or hold outdoor services. Others focus on small groups, deep friendships, and long-term presence. Some distribute food or care for the unsheltered as an expression of witness. In the Colombian indigenous community, Mosaic leaders are prohibited from openly sharing the gospel in a community that has no words in their language for love.

Pastoral roles vary, too. Are pastors fully supported or bi-vocational? Does authority lie with the pastor, elders, or church council? Do pastors drive nice cars or junkers? How strongly do we embrace the priesthood of all believers?

We differ, too, in our views on gender and giftedness. Do we affirm the gifts of all genders or primarily men? How do we express love and welcome? Through inclusivity and affirmation, through clear and kind limits, or through calling people to holy living?

Our approaches to children also vary. Do we have strict child protection policies or a more relaxed system? Are children embraced in worship or do they leave for children’s church? Are we attentive to sensory needs and food allergies, or is that a non-issue?

There are many more differences across Mosaic congregations. Many of us might not choose to attend a church that practices differently than our own. And yet, the question before us is not whether we are comfortable with all these differences, but whether we are willing to remain connected through them.

What holds us together is not uniformity, but a shared center, Jesus. When we gather across languages, cultures, and convictions, we are practicing the difficult and holy work of staying at the table with one another. As we move into a new year, may we continue to trust that Christ is present at the center of our mosaic, shaping us not into identical pieces, but into a faithful and beautiful whole.

“We believe that discerning God’s presence in our differences will lead to mutual transformation, forming us together into the image of Jesus. This vibrant Mosaic is God-breathed, a witness to the reconciling love of Jesus in our broken and beautiful world.”
A Mosaic Identity: Clarifying our Center

Marta Castillo

Marta Castillo is the Associate Executive Minister for Mosaic Conference.

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

A Board Member’s Call Shaped by Listening and Storytelling

February 19, 2026 by Cindy Angela

Editor’s Note: This profile is part of a series of articles introducing the three board members joining the Mosaic Conference board in 2026.

Jenny Fujita comes to the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Board as an at-large member with a deep love for the Mosaic community and a commitment shaped by years of listening, discernment, and collaborative leadership.

Her journey toward board service began through serving as a co-facilitator of Mosaic’s Listening Task Force in 2022, where she worked alongside pastors and leaders from across the Conference to co-lead a listening process and review of Mosaic’s relationship with Mennonite Church USA. Over four weeks, the task force listened to voices representing more than 8,500 Mosaic members, 150 credentialed leaders, over six language groups, from 64 congregations, 27 Conference-Related Ministries, and Mosaic staff members across six states.

“It was a gift to hear the voices of so many of our siblings in Christ,” Fujita reflects. “We truly are a mosaic.”

That experience led to her role on the Pathway Steering Team, where Fujita spent two years helping envision how Mosaic would build our future together. As those efforts begin to bear fruit now, Fujita sees this season of Mosaic’s life as pivotal, challenging, and hopeful.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to discern the Holy Spirit’s will for Mosaic and to collaborate with the growing Mosaic family in the years ahead,” Fujita says.

Fujita is a member of Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite and previously served for several years as pastor of Upper Milford (PA) Mennonite. She describes that season as one of the most meaningful experiences of her life.

“Upper Milford is a small but very active church,” she says. “They taught me that the size of a congregation has no bearing on its faithfulness or mission. Small can indeed be mighty when a church is congregationally led and everyone plays a role in God’s kingdom work.”

Preaching has long been central to Fujita’s ministry. While Blooming Glen offered her the first opportunities to preach, Upper Milford provided the space to deepen and refine that call.

“Preaching is storytelling that helps both listeners and the storyteller fall more deeply in love with our God of love,” Fujita reflects. “Writing and delivering sermons is a form of worship and a sacred collaboration with the Holy Spirit. I now see preaching as my primary ministry”

Fujita serves as an itinerant preacher, offering sermons at Mosaic congregations and beyond, when she is asked. This includes churches of other denominations and multidenominational gatherings, both in person and online.

“Preaching itinerantly helps ensure that I’m sharing God’s good news to and with all people, not just those I know or who share our Anabaptist values,” explains Fujita. “Our Anabaptist essentials are for everyone.”

Outside of itinerant preaching and work with Mosaic, Fujita has led a community relations business on the island of Kaua‘i for more than 25 years, established during the years she lived there (1994-2010). The hard work and dedication of her Kauai business partner and colleagues keep the business thriving and give Fujita space to focus on ministry in Pennsylvania.

Fujita grew up in Puerto Rico, where her family owned an Italian restaurant. She later moved to Bucks County, PA and graduated from Pennridge High School. As a teenager, she once dreamed of becoming a forensic pathologist, and while she was supposed to be volunteering at Grand View hospital, she interned in the morgue.

We are grateful for Fujita’s gifts, perspective, and faithful presence, and we look forward to her leadership on the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Board.

Articles

Javier Márquez

Jaye Lindo

Sharon K. Williams

Marta Castillo

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