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Congregational Profile: San Francisco Chinese Mennonite Church

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My wife, Anita and I came from Hong Kong and our church speaks Cantonese. Cantonese is one of the dialects in China and one of the official languages in Hong Kong.

In the early 1980s, Pastor Stephen, Sai-fung Lee travelled from Vancouver, Canada to San Francisco to share with me a vision from the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference which was to build a Chinese church in San Francisco area.  With two months of fervent prayers and dug deep into the fundamental faith of the Mennonites, I was happy to accept Pastor Lee’s invitation and started the San Francisco Chinese Mennonite Church at the same location until now. 

Looking for new church location, printing out flyers and many days of heavily sweat and tiredness preparation but we saw the hands of God through many prayers.  November 9, 1980, came as our first Sunday worship and we worshipped with a thankful heart.   On November 16, 1980 as the Conference planned to come to present our church with a certificate, I got an emergency call from my father in Hong Kong.  It was heartbreaking to hear that my beloved grandma was seriously ill.  My family earnestly urged me to go back.  I should go back but how about the new church?  It was tough!  I called every day to check on grandma’s progress only to find out that she was not getting better.  I cried out to God in my prayers, brothers and sisters also walked with me in prayers.  Until one day, I picked up the phone and told my father that I planned to stay because the church needed me, then my father responded with relief that grandma was no longer in life threatening condition.  Praise the Lord! He let me make the decision and he took care of my worries.

With God’s many blessings, we celebrated our 39th anniversary this November with Pastor Jeff Wright among us and also grateful to be part of the Franconia Mennonite Conference (now the Mosaic Mennonite Conference).  Our church has many ongoing programs like Sunday Worship with Sunday School & Prayer Meeting, Bible Studies, Small Group Fellowship, Special Outreach Events, Festival & Holiday Celebration, Churchwide Retreat, Nursing Home & Hospital Ministry and Intergenerational Church Members Care Ministry to equip and nurture our congregation.  More than a dozen of brothers and sisters joining hands in hands to serve the hospital ministry with joy.

Lately, our church had a new vision, it was to be the salt and light for Jesus to a group of Chinese restaurant workers in San Francisco area.  The Chinese Restaurant Workers Fellowship was born.  This ministry first meeting was on December 10 and followed by the Christmas celebration on December 24.   Unfortunately, there is no other church in San Francisco area also serving this group of workers and that also reflected the significance and importance of this ministry.  Restaurant workers absolutely need the gospel due to their emptiness mind, boring and long hours working condition and many of them are addicted to bad habits.  Even though we acknowledge how hard it was to reach out for this group of people, we assured ourselves that their heart need Jesus the most.  We believed God loves to save their souls and this ministry is consensus with the vision and mission statement of the Mennonite belief.

Chinese Restaurant Workers Ministry

Please pray with me for our financial need and more willingness heart to share our vision down the road for this new workers’ ministry.  We appreciate all your support, cares and prayers for the future of our church.

Nursing Home Visitation

*Updated in June 2022

Congregational Profile: Salford Mennonite Church

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by Maria Hosler Byler, Associate Pastor for Youth and Family Faith Formation

In 2017 Salford Mennonite Church celebrated its 300 year anniversary, with the theme “Hope Meets History.” That phrase embodies the spirit of Salford: firmly grounded in our place and our story, with a willingness to embrace what’s to come. We are a joyful learning community eager to live and share the peaceable way of Jesus. Here are some of the ways we do this.

All-church retreat Dutch Blitz game

The first thing we hope you notice when you come into our congregation is our welcome and supportive presence. Salford has welcomed many who have had painful experiences in church and need a place to rest and heal. You will see and hear children in worship, both in the pews and leading the congregation. A few years ago, we adopted a welcoming statement that says: “We celebrate that all individuals are created in God’s image, in beauty and grace, no matter their age, gender, race, disability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, and are welcome as members in our congregation.”

The garden

We also are a congregation that gives in many ways. We readily respond with gifts of support to needs around the world. Our sewing circle is one example of this; each month, 20-30 people, men and women of all ages, come together to quilt and knot comforters for Mennonite Central Committee. We partner with Advent Lutheran Church to tend a garden on our property, which provides produce for local food pantries and community centers. Salford members feel each other’s care and support in behind-the-scenes ways too – in providing meals, childcare, and accompaniment in hard times.

Doing art at Peace Camp

Salford is truly a learning community. Members of Salford have led and attended workshops through Better Angels, seeking to bridge the political divide. We have recently held trainings around racial conciliation and criminal justice, to help us discern how we follow Jesus in our specific place in the world. Workshops on the Enneagram have sparked lively conversations about our different motivations and ways of relating. Also, each summer we host Peace Camp, where kids explore Peace with Me, Peace with the Earth, and Peace with Others. Peace Camp participants include kids from within our congregation and even more from the local community.

All of these point to our continued desire for deeper relationship with God. As we are welcomed and welcome others, we can more deeply experience God’s presence with us. Our worship is rooted in Anabaptist tradition, but it’s also attuned to our modern context; when you worship with us, you will experience rich four-part harmony and also earnest reflection about current events. That’s the tone that we seek to live out when we’re together and when we’re apart.

Some prayer requests:

  • For guidance for our search committee as we look for a new lead pastor. Pastor Joe Hackman’s role ended in early December, while pastors Beth Yoder and Maria Hosler Byler continue.
  • For wise and energetic discernment of our vision for the next phase of our life. We hope to grow in our pursuit of peace, justice, and reconciliation; our connection to our local community; and our prophetic witness.

Congregational Profile: Towamencin Mennonite Church

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by Bob Keeler

Towamencin Mennonite Church was started more than 300 years ago by Jacob Godshalk, the first Mennonite bishop in America. It is on Sumneytown Pike in Kulpsville, with the slip ramp to the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Lansdale interchange right across the street. Commuters park in our lot before carpooling on the turnpike.

Birch Grove Mennonite Church is about 285 miles away in Port Allegany, PA, but the two congregations share in the support of Grove Food Pantry. Towamencin’s connection with Birch Grove began with one of the adult Sunday School classes and has spread to include the entire congregation. Birch Grove, which has an average Sunday attendance of 25 people, started and maintains Grove Food Pantry, which provides once a month food distributions to around 60 families.

As we have done in recent years, our year-end collections will again this year go to missions. All the December offerings will go to missions, which include both local organizations and ministries in other parts of the world.

An outdoor in-creek baptismal service is held each year, with Centro De Alabanza de Filadelfia having joined us the past two years for the service followed by a fellowship meal.
Each year, we also have a joint service the night before Thanksgiving with Covenant Community Fellowship.

We have had several births in recent years, along with adoptions. The youngest Sunday School classes are now the largest of the children’s classes.  Our Vacation Bible School brings in children from the community.  We just started a Middle School Youth Group to which VBS students were invited. The Middle School Group took part in this year’s Keystone Opportunity Center Sleep Out for Homelessness and helped with sorting out food brought to Keystone’s food pantry from the Boy Scout collection. Our Harvest Home food collections help provide food for the Shepherd’s Shelf Food Cupboard.

Associate Pastor Bill Martin and Bridge Pastor Charlie Ness are the pastors. “Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called to extend God’s healing, hope and forgiveness to all” is our mission statement.

Prayer requests:
–That we can continue to recognize the opportunities God has placed before us in the community
— God’s continued guidance as we search for a new lead pastor

Congregational Profile: Upper Milford Mennonite Church

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by Marjorie Geissinger

The Upper Milford Mennonite congregation dates back to 1735 and now meets in its third building on the same site.  Over the years, the church has been in three counties without moving—Bucks, Northampton, and now Lehigh.  Located on Kings Highway just a mile south of Routes 29 and 100 and 5 miles north of Route 663, we enjoy being a part of the greater Lehigh Valley with its proximity to New York City (90 miles) and easy access to I-78, Route 22, and Route 222.

Although Upper Milford had been a part of the Franconia Conference since 1773, the congregation chose to join the new Eastern District Conference in 1847.  The Mennonite Brethren in Christ (now Bible Fellowship Church) saw its roots in this congregation after differences of opinion regarding prayer meetings and more enthusiastic worship practices in 1857.

In 1799, Upper Milford partnered with the local Lutheran and Reformed (United Church of Christ) Churches to run a community school at Dillingersville which operated until 1844 when the Pennsylvania public school system was initiated.  The building was then rented to the public system.  The three churches still own the school building conducting a yearly outdoor joint worship service on site at this beautiful location.  The original three congregations are joined by an additional three in conducting a community Food Pantry, which services over 100 families monthly, and share responsibilities for joint Thanksgiving and Lenten services.

Although small in number, our congregation of active participants is enthusiastic in support of MCC projects such as school kits, Ten Thousand Villages in our annual Craft Festival, Ripple, Crossroads with Thanksgiving turkeys, Bibles for prisoners, and our local Food Pantry. 

Our Light in the Night Safe Zone Block Party held the last Sunday in October is the highlight of community outreach for our congregation.  For over five years, we have been hosting the event in the community municipal building providing activities and games for the children in the Zionsville area.  Treats, food, and fellowship provide a welcoming time for neighbors to experience good-natured fun while meeting our members in a friendly non-threatening location. 

Prayer Request:

  • Please join us in praying for a settled pastor.  We have been well served by a bridge pastor and supplied with guest speakers; however, we would welcome a settled pastor into our community.  

 

Congregational Profile: West Swamp Mennonite Church

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Photo credit: Lynne Rush

West Swamp has a rich and long history, celebrating 300 years as a congregation in 2017. Now we strive for a vibrant present and fruitful future as we “reflect God in our living, loving and serving” in Upper Bucks County.

This year we went through a leadership transition as our pastor of almost 10 years retired. While we were looking for the next pastor God had in store for us, we heard from many guest preachers and also had people from our congregation fill the pulpit for half of those Sundays. This reinforced for us the Anabaptist idea of “the priesthood of believers.” Our new pastor, Michael Howes, began on October 1 and we look forward to partnering with him in God’s mission for West Swamp.

Our worship services include scripture and song, prayer and preaching. Music is important to us—we were the first Mennonite church in America to install an organ! Our services use a blend of traditional, contemporary and culturally diverse songs for a rich worship experience, further enhanced by our adult and children’s choirs and Chimin’ In, a tone chime ensemble.

All ages took part in our Comforter Blitz. Photo credit: Madison Mood

We take seriously our call to be the hands and feet of Jesus, supporting local ministries like Code Blue Emergency Shelter for the homeless and the Salvation Army Christmas Carnival. We have people who volunteer weekly at the Care & Share Shoppes of Souderton, quarterly at the Ten Thousand Villages warehouse in Brownstown, and every other year with SWAP (Sharing With Appalachian People). We have vibrant knotting and quilting groups that meet regularly, making comforters for MCC and quilting to raise money for missions. We just recently had a 2-day Comforter Blitz for MCC’s Great Winter Warm-Up.

Interactive worship service at Camp Men-O-Lan with Solidarity & Harmony Church. Photo credit: Marsha High

We work to build strong relationships within our church family and with all who come through our doors, as we seek to draw more people into God’s kingdom by his love and grace. One outcome of our transition time is our Fellowship Prayer Breakfast on the first Sunday of each month. We have been blessed through the years to build strong ties with Crossroads Community Center of Philadelphia and more recently, Solidarity & Harmony Church, a Haitian congregation of Philadelphia.

Prayer requests:

  • Pray that we can be bolder and more intentional in going out into the community to be witnesses of God’s love and grace.
  • Pray that we can grow our Sunday School so that more people are gaining a deeper knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Pray that God will make available the right house in the right place for our new pastor, Michael Howes, and his wife, Sue—in good proximity to the church and in a good area for community ministry.

Congregational Profile: Bethany Mennonite Church

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by Brandon Bergey, Bethany Mennonite Church

Photo by Gwen Groff

Bethany Mennonite Church was planted in Bridgewater Corners, Vermont  in 1952 as an initiative by the Franconia Conference. Conference representatives wanted to find a secular location to plant a Mennonite church. Fast forward to 2019 when Vermont is the most secular state in the nation.

We recently finished a sermon series on Anabaptist history and theology. That kind of exploration is so useful in our congregation because we are made up of former Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Mennonites, and “Nones.” Some of us are strongly drawn to Eastern religions, including Christianity’s Eastern Orthodox stream. Having this sort of diversity among 50 or 60 people can be very interesting! It feels necessary to be inclusive. How else would we do ministry in a secular, post-Christian environment? In our adult Christian Education class, we are currently discussing Richard Rohr’s Universal Christ. Many of us are finding that Christ’s presence permeates the whole world.

Bethany members and friends help their neighbors by stacking wood. Photo by Tom Smith.

In our Membership Covenant, which we renew annually, we commit ourselves to welcoming “everyone, without exception.” We affirm that “we embrace our differences as well as our similarities, and we respect and learn from other faith traditions and values.” These commitments have become increasingly important for many of us. On the days I find myself in deep disagreement with a fellow member, I am invited to love my neighbor as myself. A diverse church is one of the hardest places to practice the love Jesus taught!

Bethany has a strong emphasis on lay leadership. We have only one paid staff position and have never had a full-time pastor. Congregants are deeply involved in planning and leading worship, doing pastoral care, working on committees, and connecting with the community.

At times, this was constrained by size and financial limitations, but at times when we could have afforded more professional staff time, we chose not to, in order to retain our lay-led culture and structure.

At the annual outdoor service, members walk the labyrinth together in silence. Photo by Tom Smith.

We have a fairly laid-back worship service. People wear flannel shirts and snow boots. A 2-year-old wanders among the pews, hoping for an unblocked route to the piano or a guitar. An infant quietly nurses. The congregation sings familiar and new songs. The relaxed attitude is especially obvious in the sharing time that follows the sermon. The person bringing the message is understood to be giving only the first half of the message. Our congregational response time is the second half. Our small size and commitment to vulnerability means we are able to weave a shared narrative. Each Sunday that sharing time elicits additional wisdom, truth, and insight that reflects our diverse community.

I am so thankful for that group who studied church planting in the middle of the last century. I am so thankful to be a part of this resulting diverse group, age 2 months to 85 years old. I am so thankful my young family is warmly welcomed in the worship service and Sunday School, even though we currently make the most noise.

Pray with me that we will see Jesus in our relationships, even when, especially when, our honesty about our differences causes tensions. Pray with me that we will embody God’s Spirit in a way that touches all of our neighbors. Pray with me for a family who attends church with us who are attempting a seemingly impossible project to which they feel called. Join me in giving thanks for our pastor who has been a deep source of wisdom for many of us and many beyond our walls in the community.

Congregational Profile: Jemaat Kristen Indonesia Anugerah

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(Baca dalam bahasa Indonesia)

Affiliations: Franconia Mennonite Conference and Indonesian Mennonite Association
Address: 191 West Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Pastor: Virgo Handojo, Ph.D., CFLE

In 1989, Rev. Virgo and Jeanne Handojo, through Ms. Ruth Heck, met with Ms. Dina Boon. They were asked to clean the house of Ibu Dina Boon from dark powers. The International House Fellowship was born in the home of Dina Boon’s mother.

At the end of 1990, this family alliance developed into 30-50 people from 10-13 different nationalities. Through this alliance, the Indonesian Christian Congregation of Grace was born on September 19, 1992 at the Free Methodist Church, Pasadena. The first service was held Sunday, September 20, 1992. A few months later the church moved to the Sierra Madre Congregational Church. 

Vision, Mission, Priority and Strategy of JKIA Church
Every member is a minister. JKIA exists as a means and tool to bring God’s government (God’s Kingdom) and God’s glory by carrying out the Great Commandment (Matthew 22: 36-40, Deut 6: 5) and the Great Commission (the Great Commission, Matthew 28: 18-20).

JKIA Priority are Evangelism, Fellowship, Discipleship, Worship and Healing (Acts 2: 41-47)

Church Strategy
Organization: simple, adaptable, and flexible. The church is a community of believers, not a business organization. Focus on serving one another. (Acts 2:42)

The Church is the Body of Christ – not an organization (Matthew 26, Luke 12, John 10; 1 Peter 5: 1-2; Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1: 5-7,1 Cor 12:27)

Emphasizes love and unity not profit. Focus on relationships and mission rather than organization (Ephesians 4: 3)

Function through spiritual gifts, talents, and skills, not through elections.

The formula for congregational relations: the better the relationship, the better the level of trust and the fewer rules to govern (the greater the relationship, the greater the trust level). Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Timothy 5: 1-2

JKIA Church Structure
Service is done by lay people, and shepherds complete it so that lay people are able to serve well. The people are the ministers; the pastors and elders are the administers. (Ephesians 4: 11-12) Lay people must be given the freedom and power to determine and create services.

Pastors or elders must be given the opportunity to educate and lead (Hebrews 13:17). Each member is encouraged to create a new service. The person who creates the service is the person who has authority and control over the service, not a priest or other member.

JKIA Values:  We appreciate relationship with God and with others, we respect each person and we value holistic services. We respect the values ​​of God’s Kingdom.

Congregational Profile: Centro de Alabanza

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(Leer en español)

by Pastor Lety Cortés and Pastor Fernando Loyola, Centro de Alabanza

Centro de Alabanza is a community of faith in South Philadelphia, made up of migrant families from different countries in Central America, South America, Mexico and the USA.

It began 12 years ago in the living room of our house as a growth group; later we started doing services in public with the Philadelphia Praise Center community.

Centro has been developing an environment of community and brotherhood. From the beginning of the ministry, every Sunday after service we have shared food that families prepare and provide.

God has been so generous and we feel very grateful, because every Sunday new people arrive to hear the word of God. We are located in a strategic place that allows us to develop several ministries with the community, such as collecting clothes and giving it to the most needy people.

We also focus on discipling our members.  We encourage them at all times to be self-taught in scrutinizing the word of God; we also have more advanced study circles to train leaders to continue with God’s vision for Centro de Alabanza. With God’s blessing and support we want to continue being people of peace, as well as bridges to reach more people for the Kingdom of God.