MMA, a national faith-based financial services organization, recently awarded Arlin D. Lapp its President’s Award at its national conference in South Bend, Ind. Lapp earned MMA’s highest honor in his role as Mennonite Foundation Eastern Regional Representative.
Based in Telford, Pa., Lapp has served MMA for 20 years, the majority of it with Mennonite Foundation.
The President’s Award was given by MMA President Larry Miller to recognize an individual who provides excellent and responsive service and gives members a unique and valuable experience with MMA. The award honors someone who represents “the face” of MMA and advances the vision of helping people integrate their finances with their faith.
“This was not something I was expecting and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way,” Lapp said.
“Arlin has shown an outstanding ability to be the face of MMA,” Miller said. “His professional work and his everyday practice of using his talents to serve others is an inspiration to his colleagues, his community, and MMA as a whole.”
Along with his service to MMA, Lapp has helped raise millions of dollars for several local organizations, as well as a project at Line Lexington Mennonite Church; has volunteered his time to give financial counseling to couples about to get married; and has served as song leader and Sunday school teacher for his church congregation. Lapp has been active in the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Mennonite Church Historical Committee as well as Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania. He has also served on the boards of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and Penn View Christian School.
A graduate of Ursinus College, Lapp is married to Janet, a retired middle school guidance counselor. The couple has 4 children and 9 grandchildren.
MMA helps people integrate faith and finances through its expertise in insurance and financial services. Rooted in the Anabaptist faith tradition, MMA offers practical stewardship education and tools to individuals, congregations, and organizations. To learn more, visit www.MMA-online.org or call (800) 348-7468.
The intercultural and bilingual congregation is moving into a new season of ministry and outreach. Under its “Acts 2 Ministry,” the congregation is developing a discipleship and housing ministry for single women; is hoping to become a site for The Benefit Bank; serves as a host of ASSETS Montco, a small business training program; is strengthening its global mission connections; and developing “Kingdom entrepreneurship” to support future ministries. Plans for “Enlarging Our Place in God’s World” also include renovations of five properties owned by the congregation. The three-year capital campaign is earmarked for $670,000, with a long-term goal of $2 million.
Miriam, who was born in Lancaster County, Pa., came to Salford in 2000 as an associate pastor. Mim was ordained in 1992 at Belmont Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Ind., and serves on the boards for 
Regular attendees and guests filled the sanctuary for the special installation service. Family of Mim and Jim provided the offertory music; Donella Clemens, Franconia Conference Minister, led the pastoral commitments; and Salford members as well as visiting friends of Mim and Jim offered words of blessing. Richard and Ruth Weaver, spiritual directors from Ephrata, Pa., administered the anointing of oil; and Salford’s adult and children’s choirs provided additional music.
TABGHA, Israel (CNS) — As the two hikers reach the parking lot of the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, a group of tourists scrambles into their waiting air-conditioned bus.
Landis mapped out the trail using Global Positioning System navigation and Google Earth, which offers searchable satellite imagery and maps.
The Israeli Ministry of Tourism has been considering a similar idea for almost eight years, but the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly, said Amir Moran, who is working on the planning of the Gospel Trail for the Ministry of Tourism and the Galilee Development Authority. The Ministry of Tourism path, which will in many places follow the Jesus Trail, will include marked paths, parking lots, shaded areas, rest areas and other facilities, Moran said. The project, which is expected to be completed in about two years, will cost between $2 million and $3 million, he said.