Staff

Rose Bender Cook

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Marta Castillo

Marta (Beidler) Castillo is the Associate Executive Minister for Mosaic Conference. As the daughter of Franconia Conference-rooted mission workers, Marta has been shaped by four of the linguistic cultures in the Conference, growing up in both Vietnam and Indonesia. Marta currently attends Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life where she has attended for over 25 years and served on the pastoral team from 2007-2017. Marta served five years on the Franconia Conference Board, two of those as Assistant Moderator, and has been employed by the Conference since 2016 beginning as a Lead Minister. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a major in Elementary Education and has a Certificate of Christian Ministry from Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a Master of Arts from Kairos University. Marta lives in Norristown, PA, with her husband, Julio, and has three adult sons and one granddaughter.

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Sue Conrad Howes

Sue Conrad Howes is working as part of the communication team for Mosaic Conference during this time of transition. Sue grew up attending Blooming Glen (PA) congregation. She is an ordained pastor in Mennonite Church USA and currently works as a hospital trauma chaplain. Sue recently moved from Lancaster to Quakertown, PA with her husband, Michael, who serves as pastor at West Swamp congregation, where they are both members. Read Sue's profile here

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Marco Güete

Marco Güete grew up in Colombia before emigrating to the United States in 1970. In 1978, he received his first pastorate at a small church and then spent time as an international salesperson and eventually opened two small stores in Queens, NY. In 1981, Marco enrolled in the Pastoral Ministry Program at Goshen College, and then Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Theology with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Since then, he has pastored at Community of Faith Mennonite Church, Chicago, IL, served as Hispanic Ministries Program Director of General Conference Mennonite Church. In 1996 served as Director of the Colombia Mennonite Seminary, Colombia, South America until he was called in 2000 as Associate Conference Minister of Western District Conference and South Central, then as Conference Minister for South East Mennonite Conference. Currently serves as Director of the Hispanic Ministries of Mennonite Eduction Agency and Leadership Minister of Mosaic Conference. Marco is married to Sandra, and they reside in Sarasota, FL. Read Marco's profile here

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Eileen Kinch

Eileen Kinch is a writer and editor for the Mosaic communication team. She holds a Master of Divinity degree, with an emphasis in the Ministry of Writing, from Earlham School of Religion. She and her husband, Joel Nofziger, who serves as director of the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, live near Tylersport, PA. They attend Methacton Mennonite Church. Eileen is also a member of Keystone Fellowship Friends Meeting in Lancaster County.

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Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss began working with Franconia Conference in 2005 when he focused on young leaders and new initiatives. Previously, he served as a pastor at Mennonite congregations in Somerset County, PA and Staten Island, NY. Steve's also worked in areas of communication, editing and public relations. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA, Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and from seminary at Drew University in Madison, NJ. Steve lives in Northwest Philadelphia and is part of Philadelphia Praise Center. He began serving as executive minister for Franconia Conference in 2018 and into the formation of Mosaic. He's also a leadership minister with a diverse array of congregations from South Philly to Vermont. Steve has taught at numerous colleges, universities and seminaries across Pennsylvania. He continues to work in areas of communication serving as a reviewer for the Pennsylvania Communication Association's journal and the Journal of Communication and Religion.

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Brooke Martin

Raised in the Midwest, Brooke Martin moved to Pennsylvania after graduating from Hesston College in 2010 with a Biblical Studies degree focused in Youth Ministry. She served at Franconia Church as Interim Youth Ministry Leader for four years prior to joining the conference staff. She enjoys bringing people together to support, network, and equip one another. Brooke lives in Telford with her husband, Nathaniel, and their two children. She can most often be found digging in the sandbox, reading books to, or playing legos with her kids. Read Brooke's profile here.

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Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual was born and grew up in the city of Bandung, Indonesia and graduated from Parahyangan Catholic University with a bachelor’s degree in Law. He worked in the music entertainment industry and a law office before being called to full-time ministry. He served as a pastor in Elshaddai Creative Community in Bandung before coming to the States. Hendy received a Master of Arts degree in Christian Leadership from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2019. He serves with the Conference through his role as Associate Pastor at Philadelphia Praise Center. He believes with the power of the Holy Spirit; we can be Jesus witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Hendy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Marina and their three boys, Judah, Levi and Asher. He enjoys singing, playing guitar, and doing music collaboration in a band. He likes soccer, basketball, and watching movies.  Read Hendy's profile here.

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Josh Meyer

Josh Meyer is a Conference Leadership Minister and the pastor of Discipling and Preaching at Franconia Mennonite Church. He's also served on the conference's Faith and Life Commission, Ministerial Committee, and EDC/FMC Structure and Identity Task Force. In addition to these roles, Josh is an Adjunct Professor at Eastern University. He is particularly interested in helping congregations connect the good news of God's great love with younger generations and those without a faith background. He recently completed doctoral work at Missio Seminary focused on millennials & ministry. Having not grown up in the Mennonite Church, he is grateful for the way he's been grafted into the Conference and considers it an honor to listen, learn, and lead in this setting. Josh's wife, Kim, is a licensed Social Worker and together they have three children - Selah, Eve, and Paxton. Read Josh's profile here.

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Mary Nitzsche

Mary serves as Leadership Minister for three Mosaic congregations. Prior to serving in this role, Mary was the Associate Executive Minister for Mosaic Conference. She also has nine years of congregational pastoral ministry experience at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church and 12 years of conference ministry experience in Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA. In both congregational and conference ministry roles, Mary is inspired accompanying people in the ordinary experiences of life and observing the Spirit's transforming power in their lives. Mary is a graduate of Hesston College and Goshen College and taught elementary school for three years. She received her Masters of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. She and her husband, Wayne, are Midwest natives. They have two adult daughters, Alison and Megan, son-in-laws, Michael and David, and one delightful grandson, William. For relaxation, Mary enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking, hiking, knitting, and sewing. Read Mary's profile here.

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Michelle Ramirez

A daughter of two pastors and raised in the church, Michelle has always been an active part of the church community. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, her family didn’t stay in one state too long, as her parents were church planters throughout the east coast. After finally settling in Orlando, Florida, Michelle graduated from Valencia College with a degree in computer science, specializing in cyber security. When choosing a career she felt led to work in the education field and became a certified autism teacher. She is currently working at a private school for children with autism. Michelle also serves as a youth leader in her church, Luz y Vida. In November 2020, when eight Florida congregations joined Mosaic Conference, Michelle became a conference staff member. She serves the Florida congregations as Youth and Community Formation Coordinator. Michelle is excited to be a part of the Mosaic team as working with youth has always been a passion of hers. In her free time she loves to learn about new cultures and languages, currently knowing five (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Sign Language, and Japanese) and learning a sixth (Korean). She also enjoys playing her ukulele and playing video games with her mom. She currently lives in Orlando, Florida. Read Michelle's profile here.

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Scott Roth

Scott has dedicated his pastoral calling to creating communities that are centered around Jesus. He has spent his most recent years pastoring in congregations, conference, and his community. His passion is for all to have vibrant lives with Christ. He is married and has a son and daughter. Also his family has two basset hounds. In his down time, Scott can be seen playing games, fishing, biking, and relaxing with a hot drink and good conversation or a good book. He currently spends a great deal of his volunteer life managing Bike & Sol and he is a staff associate for Young Life in Montgomery County. Read Scott's profile here.

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Danilo Sanchez

Danilo Sanchez lives in Allentown with his wife Mary and two daughters. He is Mosaic's Leadership Minister for Intercultural Transformation. He also is one of the pastors at Ripple (Allentown, PA) and leads in the areas of leadership development, discipleship, and teaching. Danilo also works part-time for Ripple Community Inc at the community center as the Interfaith Chaplain. He graduated from Eastern University in 2010 and received his Master of Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2013. He enjoys playing guitar, playing futbol, and spending time with his family.

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Noel Santiago

Noel Santiago works with pastors and leadership teams to help them align what they do with what they say in their vision and mission. He also works with leaders and networks seeking to bring a transformational impact to their neighboring communities, through prayer. Noel and his wife, Juanita, were both born in Puerto Rico, but he was raised in Pennsylvania. They lived together a year in Costa Rica as co-leaders of the SST program of Goshen College. To relax, Noel barbeques and hangs out with family and friends. The promise of God’s guidance and strength in Isaiah 58:11 is particularly meaningful to him. “I have experienced this time and time again as a reality in my life,” he said. Noel loves when the vision “clicks” for congregational leaders. He remembers one significant meeting with a pastor and elder team that “led to an ‘aha’ moment,” he said. “They recognized a way they could better align some of their activities with their vision.” Read Noel's profile here.

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Ertell Whigham

Ertell Whigham is the out-going executive minister of Franconia Mennonite Conference, a position he has held since 2011. Ertell is also a LEADership minister for several congregations, and represents Franconia Mennonite Conference at the Mennonite Church USA Constituency Leaders Council, and is the director of the Mennonite Health Services board. Previously, he was a conference minister for more than a decade, and pastored congregations in Reading, Philadelphia and Norristown. He remained a part of the pastoral team when his congregation in Norristown, Bethel Mennonite Church, joined with First Mennonite and Fuente de Salvación to form Nueva Vida Norristown New Life Mennonite Church, an intercultural, multilingual congregation. Ertell grew up in Philadelphia, served with the Marines in the Vietnam War, and connected with Mennonites when he relocated to Reading as a Marine recruiter. It was here that he became a pacifist while having a devotion one morning. “I remember walking away from that and the Lord speaking to me and saying, “How can you tell someone about Jesus and want to take their life?” Ertell and his wife, Patricia, have been married for 44 years. They have three adult children and five grandchildren. Ertell is passionate about music—particularly playing jazz saxophone—and his Rottweiler dog, Ramses.

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Jeff Wright

Residing in Riverside, CA, Jeff is an urban missiologist who has served as pastor of Madison Street Church, a Brethren-in- Christ congregation in Riverside, and as president of viaShalom, a small, not-for-profit missional resource agency. viaShalom operates a local, asset-based community development effort; social purpose, fair trade enterprises and, a consultancy specializing in creating and sustaining urban incarnational experiments. He earned his B.A. from Tabor College, M.Div. from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, an MBA in church management from the Graduate Theological Foundation, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Applied Theology from Spurgeon's College in London. Married to Debbie, Jeff has two grown children, five grandsons, and a dog, and enjoys riding bicycles, omnivorous reading, and cheering for the LA Dodgers. Read Jeff's profile here.

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