News

Franconia Mennonite Conference has added two new part-time staff, Tim Moyer of Perkasie, Pa. and Lora Steiner of Madison, N.J. Both will work with the communication team.

Tim Moyer continues on staff after serving as an intern during the summer and early fall through a grant from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Tim, who is a student at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, is responsible for keeping the web site up-to-date, and also serves as a photographer.

Tim is a member of Blooming Glen Mennonite Church originally from Perkasie, Pa., although he’s come to appreciate the diversity and surprise of living in the city. He would like to encourage people from suburban churches connect more with churches in the city. “People view the city as a whole other world,” he says. “It’s really not.”

For Tim, the favorite part of his job is the people with whom he works. “I get excited to work with people who are so skilled and excited about life and enjoy exploring questions and not getting upset when they don’t have an answer for things, but enjoy the process.”

Lora Steiner began working with the conference in August. She is a student at Drew University Theological School, in the Masters of Divinity program. Lora will be responsible for writing news articles and editing press releases. She previously worked with Mennonite Central Committee’s Washington Office.

Lora was raised in the vicinity of Kidron, Ohio, but counts the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia as her second home. She is looking forward to learning about the work of churches that make up Franconia Mennonite Conference, and is excited about having a job that helps her stay meaningfully connected to the Mennonite church while studying in a United Methodist school.

“I’ve come to appreciate many things about the Mennonite church,” says Lora, who is a member of Community Mennonite Church of Harrisonburg, Va. “And I look forward to being involved in a way that will help to challenge me as well as allow me to continue challenging others in the church.”

“I continue to be amazed at God’s faithfulness in bringing to us young, creative and passionate leaders,” says Noel Santiago, Executive Minister of Franconia Mennonite Conference (FMC). “Tim brings a creative, artistic expression that reflects God’s creating nature. Lora brings a passionate gift to craft words that communicate with power. Franconia Conference will continue to grow as these young adults serve and lead in our midst.”

Top photo by: David Landis
Bottom Photo by: Timoyer

The annual Youth Leadership Retreat, held jointly with Franconia Conference, Atlantic Coast Mennonite Conference and Eastern District Mennonite Conference is set for November 16-18, at Spruce Lake Retreat, Canadensis, Pa. Early registrations are due by Friday, November 2.

This year’s theme is Jesus: Heart, Mind and Soul, facilitated by Curt Weaver with worship leading by Nate Stucky. Curt is a former conference youth minister with Lancaster Mennonite Conference, most recently worked with Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary’s !Explore initiative and RAD and now works as a leader for Mennonite Mission Network’s Service Adventure program in Oregon. Nate, originally from Kansas, was a youth pastor at Atlantic Coast Conference’s Holly Grove Mennonite Church in Westover, MD, and is currently a student at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Over 100 high school youth and youth leaders are expected to attend this annual event intended to equip and empower toward embracing God’s mission. Saturday workshop leaders include Sheldon Good (Goshen College), Neil Richer (Mennonite Mission Network), Wayne Speigle (West Swamp Mennonite Church), Elizabeth Clemmer (Souderton Mennonite Church), Yvonne Platts (Philadelphia Urban Ministry Partnership) and Steve Kriss (Franconia Conference).

KATHMANDU, Nepal (Mennonite Mission Network) – Few people connect Nepali cuisine to frozen pizzas and tater tots. Yet when Reena Thapa goes to work, she stands at a counter, smoothing bright red sauce over eight circles of pale pizza dough. Her long dark hair is swept neatly under a hair net and streaks of dusty, white flour smudge her apron.

Thapa works at Top of the World, a small business named in honor of Nepal, whose borders encompass eight of the world’s ten tallest peaks. Her experience has taught her more than how to assemble frozen pizzas or fry aalu chop, a spicy local version of tater tots. Thapa and her fellow employees learn to take responsibility and practice integrity in the workplace.

They also have a chance to discover and explore faith in a safe, non-threatening setting.

When she began working at Top of the World, Thapa, frequently fasted and offered penance as a devout Hindu. Born and raised in the village by an alcoholic father and an indifferent mother, she was treated as a second-class citizen because of her gender and low caste. As a result of her social status, she never received treatment for a correctable hearing problem.

Slicing potatoes alongside Bethsaba Nafziger gave Thapa an opportunity to dissect her faith as well. Nafziger, who serves in Nepal through Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Central Committee, shared openly of her convictions, but did not push her faith. She did, however, use her knowledge as a part-time nurse to arrange the minor operation needed to improve Thapa’s hearing.

As ingredients of faith simmer alongside the sauces, Top of the World’s kitchen provides jobs for local women in a safe, clean environment. In a country where unemployment in the formal sector hovers close to 50 percent, many young Nepali women are lured to neighboring countries by the promise of a job. When they arrive, they discover that the promised job is working in a brothel against their will. In some regions, Nepali women are prized for their lighter skin that brings higher prices from clients.

“It is a national tragedy – that is played out every day, in front of our very eyes,” said Dale Nafziger, Bethsaba’s husband.

Bethsaba Nafziger began running the business out of her home four years ago. Inspired by a United Mission to Nepal frozen French fries project, Nafziger worked with tater tots, which use up the waste portion of the potato not large enough to cut into fries. About one year ago, they began pizza production.

Basic training at Top of the World begins with the rules of personal hygiene for food preparation. Then the employees learn about taking responsibility and how to measure ingredients fairly. Leaders and participants also discuss business concepts, such as how to make a profit ethically.

“By now, the three [current] workers are completely competent and able to carry on in my absence,” Nafziger said with pride.

In June, Top of the World produced 90 frozen pizzas, 150 pounds of frozen French fries and 20 pounds of tater tots and aalu chop. By September, these numbers should double, said Dale Nafziger, citing the summer monsoon season as the reason for slower business.

Since an abundance of vendors already sell traditional treats that many locals enjoy, Top of the World’s products aim at a specific niche market – upper class Nepalis and resident expatriates.

While working at Top of the World, Thapa began probing deeper into questions about God and salvation. About two years ago, she accepted Christ, and soon thereafter married Prakash Thapa, another believer in the community. Today, the Thapas have a 1-year-old daughter and are actively involved in the local church – a newly established congregation of 40 that dedicated their recently-completed building on July 29. Thapa has invited many others to join, including her formerly unsympathetic mother.

“The greatest reward is seeing these women both grow in their own faith and also draw others to faith through the changed lives that these others see,” Bethsaba Nafziger said.

The Nafzigers serve as partners in Nepal with a number of Franconia Mennonite Conference congregations–Doylestown, Vincent, Rockhill and Providence Mennonite churches.

Photographer: Dale Nafziger

Original Article written by Mimi Hollinger Janzen

Quakertown, Pa. Ivan H. Moyer was recently honored for 32 years of service to Quakertown Christian School (QCS). Current QCS board chairman Andrew Brunner presented Moyer with an engraved plaque in recognition of promotion of excellence, faithful leadership and selfless service as an alumnus, parent and board member.

Moyer is co-owner of Moyer’s Chicks, a 15,000 square foot facility located in Richland Township, Bucks County, PA. The company, founded in 1946 by Moyer’s father, Ernest Moyer, is one of the few independent chicken hatcheries remaining within the United States. Moyer, along with his siblings Leon and Eileen and brother-in-law Jerry Knechel, continue a commitment to the local community with an agricultural-based business that ships chicks across the United States and Canada.

Moyer has also carried on another family commitment: Moyer’s father helped to establish Rocky Ridge Mennonite School (now Quakertown Christian School) in 1951. Moyer’s passion for Christian education has led him to serve as chair of the school board as well as a member of various committees. He was instrumental in the construction of the school’s new campus, located on Paletown Road. Moyer strongly supports preserving the history and beginnings of the school so that future generations will be able to know and appreciate its foundation of faith.

Moyer has served in as the chair for the finance committee of Franconia Mennonite Conference and currently serves as a board member for Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. Moyer and his wife, Evelyn, have three children and seven grandchildren. He and his family are members of Rocky Ridge Mennonite Church.