News

Today was indeed a day of rest and adventure. After a crazy Saturday, I woke up to a fly buzzing in my ear, and numerous other flies landing all over me. Our whole group was being bombarded by annoying house flies in fact, at 5:00 in the morning. Instead of taking a sheet and mummifying myself as a form of protection from the flies in order to catch a few more hours of sleep, I decided to get up and watch the sun rise over the mountains of Seria, the Sea of Galilee, and the banks of Tiberias. It was quite a beautiful sunrise and I was taken back 2,000 years to the morning when Jesus called to his disciples on the shore of that very sea. I pictured him sitting on the beach by a small fire waiting for his friends, and the excitment that his Disciples must have felt at the miracle he performed and to see him again after his death.

It’s something special to be able to actually picture the stories I’ve heard so often happening right where I am standing. I’ve been a little disappointed with many of the stops we’ve made, however. There is a church on every sight that is believe to be Holy. It’s hard for me to get past the “monument” and to figure out what it must have been like for Jesus and his disciples. The seas, so far, have definitely been my favorite because they are the least tainted by the modern world.

We left relatively early from the Galilee because it was getting hot and muggy very fast. Arriving back at the hostel, many of us simply crashed for 3 hours in a well deserved nap.

We then traveled to Caesarea, to the ruins of the Roman empire. This part of the country is most well known as being the place that Paul began his final journey to Rome. There are stunning architectural ruins from the reign of Herod such as an amphitheater, a man made harbor, a palace base, and a beautiful aqueduct. All of these looking over the vast, blue Mediterranean Sea.

After a long, sweaty day, we finally got a chance to cool off in the sea. I couldn’t have asked for more in a day at the beach; REALLY warm weather, soft white sand, few people, clear blue and refreshing water, and some of the best snorkeling in the world. (too bad we aren’t equipped for that…) It was a tropical paradise.

I’d say it’s a good day when you can watch the sun rise over the Galilee, and set over the Mediterranean.

Karah Davies

So far this trip has been a really stretching experience for me. Being here has shown me that I will not always be comfortable if I am doing the things that God has called me to do. Service often means sacrificing your comfort for others’.

When the letter came that told me that I had been accepted to come on this trip, I was so excited I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. As the day drew nearer, however, I became more and more anxious. I didn’t know anyone in the group and I knew hardly anything about what we would actually be doing there. I would have seized any opportunity I could to get out of going. I’m definately glad none of those opportunities ever showed up.

When I woke up this morning I was not really looking forward to a day of hiking around site seeing in hundred degree weather. I’ve been feeling pretty sick the last few days, as well. My outlook, however, became more positive with every site we visited. We went to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the sermon on the mount. We saw the ruins of Peter’s house, climbed the cliffs of Arbel, and swam in the Sea of Galilee. It was amazing to go to these places because Jesus was actually there, he actually walked where I was walking! It brought all the stories I’ve heard a thousand times to life. It made them exciting and relevant again. Being here has has completely changed the way I think about the Bible. Those stories are real, they’re not just pieces of fiction. Despite its rough start, the day turned out to be pretty amazing.

Khalicia Leichty

The experiences of a group of young adults who rode bicycles across the United States last year are a part of history but their movement continues on. “BikeMovement the Documentary – A young adult perspective on church” has been released and is now available on DVD. The documentary follows BikeMovement, the group of young adults who rode across the USA from July 10 to August 25, 2006 as an initiative to engage in open conversation regarding their perspectives on and visions for the church.

Franconia Mennonite Conference Associate for Communication and Leadership Cultivation, David Landis, served as the trip’s general coordinator. Landis established BikeMovement as an extension of the ideas he heard from various young adults across the country who voiced a longing for a way to more openly converse about their faith.

The documentary summarizes conversations that took place both within the BikeMovement group and with over twenty church communities they visited along the way. A common question asked in many of these church conversations was “Why are many young adults who grew up in the church not returning?” The BikeMovement group discovered in their own conversations and in conversations with other young adults that there is no single answer to this question; everyone has their own unique experience. The documentary, however, attempts to identify common threads and offer suggestions to create safe places where generations can come together and better understand each other.

Topics covered in the BikeMovement documentary include: examining what it means to live in a tight-knit community while inviting people in; asking tough questions; exploring ways to create intergenerational dialogue despite language and other generational differences; and responding to the other unique challenges young adults face in connecting with a traditional church setting. The documentary also includes a study guide with activities and questions to initiate discussion and aid groups in working through the various issues together.

Franconia Conference has been an ongoing funding partner with bikemovement, including production of the documentary.”

—

For more information, contact David Landis at dplandis@gmail.com

Published with permission from BikeMovement

The second I woke up this morning I realized that it was going to be a scorcher. The air was dry and the sun was beating down in my room and I already started to feel hot and gross. Today was our first day working at Nazareth Village and since it was so hot I knew that we would all hate being outside. I was worried that the costumes would be uncomfortable and itchy. I also worried that the work would be tiring and hard. However, today was a great day. We all loved being in the Village and getting to know the people there. In fact, the costumes were extremely comfortable and quite light. The work was fun and easy. Yes, it was hot however, we eventually got use to it and forgot about it.

The first century costumes were interesting to put on. Eventually, we all got use to them and were quite fond of them. Tim, Dave, and Ben were assigned to build a roof on one of the homes in the village. Khalicia and Karah got what we thought would be the easy job, however, it was the job of helping out in the kitchen. Ashley, Dana, and I had the privilege of helping in the vineyard. We mostly ate the grapes however, we made sure that the grapes were off the ground and away from the bugs and dirt. It was a fun job because we got to work and talk at the same time. Ashley, Dana, and I all got to know each other better. It was a great time to share stories and reflect. We also met this amazing lady named Evon. She has been working with Nazareth Village before it even opened. She is a fun and energetic lady. Fun to talk to and laugh with. She showed us girls how to weave. It was an experience I will never forget.

Today taught me a lot. It taught me not to worry and complain about the little things. Life is more important! In Matthew 6:25 Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more imortant than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Worrying about the weather or the clothes I am wearing is very pointless and a waste of my time. Today was amazing and I hope that tomorrow will bring new memories and laughter. I can’t wait!

Kate Bender

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Much of Ertell Whigham’s ministry revolves around bringing people together in Christ to form new things. His work toward collaboration among diverse urban constituents earned him the 2007 George and Pearl Kauffman Urban Leader Award.

Whigham, Franconia Mennonite Conference’s Director of Congregational Resourcing and Equipping, received the award at the 2007 Urban Leaders Network meeting. The honor includes $500 for rest, renewal and revitalization for urban leaders, a passion of the Kauffmans for whom the award is named.

“I thank God for the collaboration I’ve been able to experience with other leaders,” Whigham said. Whigham oversees the area of congregational ministry for Franconia Conference and is a part of the leadership formation team. He added that hishis responsibilities with Franconia Conference and (Philadelphia Urban Ministry Partnership) PUMP have fed his ministry and the group’s calling to be John 17 people – united for Christ.

As he introduced this year’s recipient, John Powell, co-director of Mennonite Mission Network’s U.S. Ministries, called Whigham a kindred spirit that has been able to stir up waters of change to seep into places that are hard to see or reach. His influence, Powell said, was evident in that three nominators suggested him for this year’s award – the most recommendations among the 15 urban leaders nominated.

One group of nominators called Whigham a high-energy person who has inspired and trained others for ministry while ministering himself. “Ertell uses his comfort level at the intersection of business, church and community to involve people in the relevant work of being followers of Jesus wherever people find themselves,” the group wrote.

As a teen, Whigham enlisted in the United States Marines, serving in Vietnam and later as a recruiter. He continued recruiting even while attending a Mennonite church, until he had a change of heart after a prayer session. Today, Whigham is a committed pacifist and actively works in counter-recruitment.

George and Pearl Kauffman were church planters with a deep concern for and commitment to urban ministry and leadership preparation. Following their death, their daughter and son-in-law, Jeanie and Lyn Hershey, set up a fund to help people involved in urban ministry find respite.

According to Powell, the Hersheys realized that many ministers were too busy to take advantage of the opportunity for rest, so they replaced the fund with the Kauffman award, which honors an urban leader and includes a cash gift to be used for respite or leadership development. Previous winners include B. Elaine Bryant of Englewood Mennonite Church, Chicago, and James Wenger of North Baltimore Mennonite Church.

Honorees must be actively engaged in a United States urban setting for a minimum of five years, working to combine evangelism with peace and justice.

Nominations for the 2009 Kauffman award may be made online.

Article and photo by Ryan Miller
Published with permission from Mennonite Mission Network.