Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

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Notes to Pastors

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Disability Awareness
Paul Leichty, Executive Director of Anabaptist Disability Network will be in the larger Philadelphia area and is open to speaking to churches on Sunday, June 6 and Sunday, June 13. Paul is a pastor and father of a son with developmental disabilities. He is an advocate for persons with disabilities and mental health issues. Possible sermon topic: “Messiah’s Missional Ministry” Matthew 11:1-6; “Treasure in Clay Jars” 2 Corinthians 4; “Gifts Honored By All” 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; “Mental Health, Abilities, and Disabilities” 1 Kings 19:1-18; “Made in the Image of God” Genesis 1:24 – 2:4a & Psalm 8; “All Things New for Persons with Disabilities” Revelation 21:1-6. To make arrangements to have Paul speak at your church, please contact ADNet at 877-214-9838 or adnet@adnetonline.org. Paul may be contacted directly at pdleichty@cresoures.org

Notes To Pastors

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Ordination Services

Jim Laverty, Associate Pastor of Equipping and Discipling at Souderton Mennonite will be ordained into the Christian ministry by the Franconia Mennonite Conference on Sunday, May 2. The service is at 2:00 p.m. at the Souderton Mennonite Church. You are invited to be present to celebrate and encourage Jim on this solemn and joyful occasion.

Beny Krisbianto, Lead Pastor of Nations Worship Center will be ordained to the Christian ministry by the Franconia Mennonite Conference on Saturday, May 8. The service of ordination will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Nations Worship Center, 1715 McKean Street, Philadelphia. Come and join in celebrating and encouraging Beny on this significant event in his life and the life of the congregation.

Notes To Pastors

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All parents and youth leaders are invited to “Healthy Balance – Hope, Dreams & Wings” on Wednesday, April 7, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church. This free seminar will feature a keynote address by Marlene Frankenfield, Campus Pastor at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School & Conference Youth Minister, and Mary Benner, Pastor of Children & Youth at Souderton Mennonite Church. This will be followed by Breakout Seminars led by local youth pastors on current issues facing parents of and youth leaders working with jr/sr high students. For more information and details on the breakout seminars, contact Blooming Glen Mennonite Church at 215-257-3431 or visit www.bgmc.net. The conference is sponsored by Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Deep Run East Mennonite Church, Franconia Mennonite Church, Rockhill Mennonite Church, Salford Mennonite Church, Souderton Mennonite Church, Zion Mennonite Church & Franconia Mennonite Conference.

Pastors, please share this unique opportunity with your congregation and consider joining others in prayer for the conference and the church in this region. All are invited to set aside time for prayer and fasting for the work of Franconia Conference on Friday, April 9, 7p.m. – 12 a.m. at the Franconia Mennonite Conference Center, 569 Yoder Road, Harleysville. “What is the work God has for us and what does God want?” Our prayers will focus on seeking God on behalf of the assessment process and the greater work God is doing among us. Come and go as you are able. There will be times of worship, guided prayer led by pastors, corporate and personal prayer, as well as opportunities to seek God in silence and listening prayer. For more information, contact Sandy Landes, Prayer coordinator.

Pastors, lay ministers and chaplains are invited to the “Pastoral Care to Seniors Seminar” at Dock Woods Community on Tuesday April 27, 8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. in the Fisher Auditorium. Dr. Marcus Smucker will speak on, “Spirituality and Aging: Finding Hope and Meaning in the Later Years”. Dr. Smucker is Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and is currently adjunct professor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. He has taught Christian spirituality, spiritual direction, pastoral care and counseling. The seminar is FREE to those who pre-register by April 21. For more information or to RSVP, contact Chaplain Merlin Hedrick at Dock Woods Community. E-mail: mhedrick@dockwoods.com or call 215.368.4438. Directions and additional seminar information are available by visiting www.dockwoods.com

The Conference Board has named a review steering team to guide the work of consultant LaVern Yutzy as the Conference moves toward a hopeful future in the midst of struggle and turbulence. The task force invites your feedback directly by email to the below questions to feedback@franconiaconferenc.org
• How have recent events within Franconia Conference affected you?
• What questions should be asked as we assess the current situation and the future of the Conference?
• What changes should be considered for the Conference?
• What should the review committee know?
• What gives you hope about Franconia Conference as we move toward fulfilling the vision of equipping leaders to empower others to embrace God’s mission?
Postcards will be sent to congregations with the same questions. The committee asks that pastors encourage delegates and members to respond by email or by mailing the postcard back by April 24, 2010. The task force covets your prayers as we find our way together, trusting that God intends a hopeful future for us together. Task force members include
• Donella Clemans, Perkasie Mennonite Church
• Gerry Clemmer, senior pastor, Souderton Mennonite Church
• Randy Heacock, pastor, Doylestown Mennonite Church
• Jim Laverty, pastor of equipping and discipling, Souderton Mennonite Church
• Karen Moyer, Rocky Ridge Mennonite Church
The steering committee is seeking a sixth member. To suggest a sixth member, email your nominations to feedback@mosaicmennonites.org by April 6 for consideration.

If you’d like to speak with LaVern personally call Melissa or Carla at the Conference Center to schedule a time. He’ll be scheduling further one on one conversations on April 8 and a second date later in the month.

4/1/10

Notes To Pastors

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Henry Paul Yoder died Monday, March 22 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 81 years old. On Sunday, March 14, he had suffered a stroke. His children are Allan, Anita, Tina, and David. He is the brother of Harold Yoder, Ray Yoder, Roy Yoder, Richard Yoder, and June Shenk wife of Nelson Shenk. His wife Mildred died in 2007.

Henry was ordained by lot at the Boyertown Mennonite Church. He served as a Missionary in Cuba and then worked at the re-settlement of Cuban immigrants in Florida. Henry was called as pastor at Plains Mennonite in the late 60’s. In the 70’s and 80’s he served 14 years as Mission Secretary for Franconia Mennonite Conference. Henry Paul and Mildred served for a time in Guatemala with MCC. In the mid 90’s he moved to Tucson, AR to pastor the Tucson Mennonite Church. Henry Paul retired in Phoenix, AR. He will be remembered for his passion for missions and the church. He was energetic and expressed his beliefs and concerns very openly. He grew wise with years. He has left many memories with the years he served among us. May the family find strength and peace in their times of remembering and grieving.

The Doves Nest Collaborative, a new group dedicated to empowering and equipping Mennonites to keep children safe in their homes, churches, and communities, invites you to raise awareness of child abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month this April. Resources for keeping children safe can be found on www.dovesnest.net.

Intersections Winter 2010

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After the earthquake: Working to bring healing and hope to Haiti

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Jessica Walter, Ambler

In the weeks and months following the massive earthquake sustained by Haiti in January, Franconia Conference continues to collect funds to assist the Grace Assembly Network congregations in the rebuilding and reconstruction following the Haiti earthquake.

In the days following the earthquake, communication with key Grace Assembly Network leader, Pastor Lesly Bertrand, was limited, but phone calls and a visit form Mennonite Central Committee staff assured the conference of his and his family’s well-being.

Many also waited anxiously for word from the 27 member team from Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church who traveled to Haiti for a week long service trip with the Water for Life program located in Passe bois d’orme and the Tree of Life program in La Baleine, Haiti. The team was escorted to safety after the intial earthquake and, in the days that followed, was able to provide some medical relief in a small makeshift refugee village in Cote de Fer. The team returned to Pennsylvania safely on January 18, after an only a few days extension.

“I will never forget arriving in Port-au-Prince before the earthquake and going through the city,” reflected Christopher Dock Mennonite High School senior, Jordan Miller, during a sharing time at Souderton Mennonite. “When the earthquake struck on Tuesday, we had no idea of the magnitude of the situation. It never really hit me until we went back through Port-au-Prince and saw the same places. The destruction was terrible and it was hard to see the fairness of the earthquake happening to an already poor nation. Many of the Haitians in Passe bois d’orme were still praising God with the same vigor after the earthquake, which was really impacting. Their relationship with God was amazing and it gave me a new sense of how to worship. I like to think I have faith in God, but you never really know until it is put to the test, like it was for the Haitians who had lost family and friends, and had little reason to keep on praising God. They did anyway.”

Pastors Aaron Durso and Curt Malizzi from the Hopewell Network of Churches set out to Port-au-Prince on January 22 to learn more about the earthquake’s effects on Grace Assembly Network’s congregations and ministries. Franconia Conference sent a satellite phone with the pastors, to be delivered to Pastor Lesly to help establish more regular contact. The phone was intended to empower Pastor Lesly in his work and ministry by opening doors for conversation that would allow movement of goods and lifting of spirits as the recovery continues in Port-au-Prince.

From Curt Malizzi . . . “On Saturday, January 23, we toured the site of the Grace Assembly Network orphanage and found the building to be perfectly preserved, but the perimeter security walls had two large sections fallen down and some additional walls leaning.”

To our surprise, as we arrived at the orphanage, a truck of donated food supplies arrived from the Mennonite congregations of the Dominican Republic coordinated through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). There was much joy in the area and a first food distribution was held for the area people.”

The well at the orphanage keeps running every day to supply water to around 2,000 people. The orphanage is in the Bellanton area which is about 18km northeast of Port au Prince. In the Bellanton area I estimate that about 25% (1 of every 4) of the houses have been demolished or seriously damaged by the earthquake. The Bellanton church building and school suffered much damage, but the Christian believers showed they are staying strong in the Lord with a wonderful celebration of praise on Sunday morning attended by us and the MCC delegation. Thanks to Franconia Conference, a satellite phone was temporarily provided for Pastor Lesly to maintain outside the nation contacts until the cell phone towers began working again.”

The immediate needs are to help reconstruct the security walls and reoccupy the orphanage, then to reconstruct some of the church buildings and pastors’ houses. We appreciate and thoughts and prayers for the people of Haiti and especially the 1,500 people of the Grace Assemblies churches in Haiti.”

Mennonite Central Committee continues to partner with Grace Assembly to bring healing and hope to Haiti. Another shipment of canned meat was distributed by Grace Assembly Network through MCC in early February.

Congregations and individuals from across Franconia Conference continue to be involved in providing relief and support to Haiti.

Franconia Conference gathered funding to support Dr. James Conrad, of Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, in joining a medical team to Haiti coordinated by Virginia Mennonite Missions and MCC. The Souderton congregation has raised support for Haiti through collecting offerings, four person (or larger) tents, relief kits and bedding for MCC and holding a benefit concert on March 20th.

The earthquake halted the distribution of 3.1 million deworming pills delivered to Haiti by the Worm Project but the pills are now being administered again. During this time of limited clean water and food resources parasite removal is crucial. The Worm Project is now preparing to ship three million more pills to Haiti.

MCC continues to post regular updates on their relief efforts in Haiti, including their work with Grace Assembly Network. To get the most updated information visit www.mcc.org.

Franconia Conference continues to actively solicit contributions toward the ministry of Grace Assembly Network in this critical time for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

To everything there is a season: Long-term director retires and microenterprise program ends

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Lora Steiner

ASSETS Montco, based in Norristown, Pa., began in the fall of 1996 as a project of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) after a recognition that MEDA’s global work in developing small businesses could have a domestic impact. A pilot project began in Lancaster, Pa. in 1993. Currently, there are 19 ASSETS organizations in North America.

ASSETS is a “13-week business training for anyone who wants to start or expand their own business,” explains Jim Williams, founding executive director. The course meets two nights per week and covers everything from legal aspects and accounting to marketing and hiring employees.

Volunteer instructors help students ask questions about logistics—“Should I rent space or buy?” for example—and look at the core skills they need. Fees are based on a sliding scale, allowing everyone from home child care providers to doctors opening a practice to be a part. Persons with low to moderate income receive scholarships.

Ultimately, the goal is that each student will leave with a viable business plan.

Through 42 class cycles offered in English and Spanish, ASSETS Montco has helped start or expand more than 200 businesses, many of which are home-based. Most of the businesses —ranging from furniture restoration to lawn care to a resume writing service—are located in Norristown and across Montgomery County.

Williams sees a marked growth and transformation in students as they go through the course. ASSETS’ mission is economic development—giving skills and assistance to small business owners—but at the same time, ASSETS is very involved in community and personal development.

Tom Bishop, who served for several years on the board, says it was the ministry aspect that drew him to ASSETS. He saw it strengthening not only the entrepreneurs who participated but also the local community. Bishop also noticed that sometimes the program helped in a different way: some of those who’d planned to start a business would learn enough to realize they didn’t want to start a business, after all, and it stopped them before they started.

Bishop says the course was empowering, especially for those who hadn’t finished high school or accomplished major achievements in their lives.

“One thing I seemed to observe in everybody who went through that class,” he says, “was a really profound impact on their self-esteem.”

“Rather than just being another charity that gave away stuff, it was trying to build a skill in people so they could be more self-sufficient, not dependent, says Bishop. “ Jim [Williams] always referred to it as ‘a hand-up, not a hand-out.’”

Former board member Chad Lacher of the Souderton congregation says that in addition to being a big help to the students, “on a personal level it has helped crystallize the confidence that they can be successful.”

Peter Giesbrecht, a graduate of ASSETS, began his own remodeling business after the class and now has two employees. He says though he knew several business owners in his home congregation, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, one of the most valuable parts of the program was the opportunity to network and build connections.

“You think about starting a business but you really don’t understand what all goes into it. It’s not easy. You need people who help you along the way.”

Williams says that seeing how individuals grow and transform has been one of the most rewarding parts of his work.

“You see people grow personally and you see them strengthen the local communities by the contributions that they’re able to make, providing needed goods and services in underserved communities.”

One ASSETS graduate, for example, started a mini-market within walking distance of many homes in an area of Norristown where convenience or grocery stores do not exist.

Another graduate, who had already been in business for many years, says he wished the program had been around before he ever opened his doors.

Lacher joined the board because of his own experience in the business world, and the desire to invite others on that journey. He says that many people don’t always understand what nonprofit organizations like ASSETS do and how they relate to the community. ASSETS, he says, is about sustainability, and generating long-term jobs that don’t rely on outside money.

Lacher affirmed the time and energy that Williams and his wife, Sharon, have given to ASSETS, as well as the ministry and Christian witness they’ve brought to ASSETS and the broader community.

“[Jim] was willing to step out and begin the organization on a shoestring financially but also without knowing exactly where the resources were coming from,” said Lacher. “He and Sharon, his wife, were willing to take that step of faith. And he’s had to continue to live in faith with this organization over its life.”

Lacher says that as the state funding that helped run the program has dwindled, many people have worked diligently on and off the board to keep ASSETS alive, and he hopes that the work will someday continue in one form or another.

“There’s still a sense that the mission and ministry of ASSETS are not done . . . It’s not at the moment, it doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future.”

“The irony is not lost on us. While solutions to the economic downturn have focused on job creation and business loans, microenterprise/small business training is not valued as an essential part of the solution. Who will create new jobs, if not new businesses?” said Williams. “Microenterprises and small businesses provide self-employment and jobs; they are the backbone of the local economy. Why is it that when times are hard, programs that empower the poor are hit the hardest?”

Williams, who will retire after the last class graduates on June 17, says he’ll find plenty to keep him busy after he leaves ASSETS Montco, with “ten thousand things to do, and not nearly enough time to do everything.”

Financial support is needed to support ASSETS’ last class, which starts March 25. Registration is also open. For more information, contact the ASSETS office at 610-275-3520; assetsmontco@bee.net.

Reflections from Mexico City: CIEAMM celebrates fifty years

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J. Mark and Emma Frederick

From Emma . . .On a November Sunday morning, J. Mark and I sat in an auditorium in the center of Mexico City surrounded by brothers and sisters, many of whom we hadn’t seen for a long time. It is seven years since we left Mexico. We’ve been back a few times and have been in contact with many of them now and then. But in this setting whole families gathered together and it felt like a family reunion. The children I taught in Sunday School are teenagers and I had to concentrate on their faces to recognize them. The teenagers are now adults and leaders in the church. Young couples have reached middle age, and some gray hairs have snuck in among the black ones. A few more wrinkles tell me that years have passed.

Mexicans are very relational people and I saw the same warmth I always remembered as we greeted one another and rejoiced in God’s goodness to us. The worship of God together was energetic to say the least. Booming voices now and then behind us shouted out ”Gloria a Dios!” or “Aleluya!” There was no doubting that these people were there to celebrate. As they called out the names of churches and their people stood up, everyone cheered. We felt at home!

The day before, we joined pastors and lay leaders as we spent a day reflecting on the struggles of the past, identifying where they are now and looking toward the future. Many questions were asked about what it means in their present reality to be Anabaptist Mennonites in Mexico. Young pastors and leaders, who had been teenagers when we left, now led out with vision and energy with a new wave of enthusiasm demonstrating their hope for the future.

We rejoiced as they glorified Jesus and spoke of new initiatives to reach out to youth and families. There is no doubt that they have encountered Jesus in new ways and God’s Spirit has been working among them. The seeds that had been planted 50 years ago in such an imperfect way were bearing fruit, and God is building the church. All along the way and throughout the years God’s Spirit has been there and Jesus has walked with them to create a new sense of community in that huge metropolitan reality. Much diversity among them and the many difficult realities of the city, such as the distances between the churches, all add to the challenges that face them. We were impressed, however, with the maturity of leadership that is in place to face these challenges and experience the growth of the Kingdom of God in the metropolitan area of Mexico City and Puebla.

From J. Mark . . .We want to thank Swamp Mennonite Church and Franconia Conference for making it possible to attend the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Conferencia de Iglesias Evangélicas Anabautistas Menonitas de México (CIEAMM). We were also pleased to represent both Franconia Conference as well as Mennonite Mission Network in gatherings that took place.

We come back with the certainty that God’s kingdom purposes are being worked out in the Mennonite congreagtions of CIEAMM because of the faithfulness of our brothers and sisters. To God be the glory!