Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Ambassador Program

Ambassadors We’re Learning from This Summer (Part 3)

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by Brendan Sagastume

Editor’s Note: This summer, nine young adult Ambassadors served in congregations and ministries across Mosaic Conference. This article highlights three of these Ambassadors. See the prior articles here and here. 

Ivonne Hartono, 20, is a member of Jemaat Kristen Indonesian Anugerah (Grace International Christian Fellowship) in Sierra Madre, California. This summer she has been reorganizing and filing a lot of the congregation’s music, leading and organizing youth events, and assisting in other areas needed.  

One takeaway from this summer is that organizing events with youth is both challenging and rewarding. She shared about the difficulties with various processes and decision-making which helped her to realize that there is often no perfect solution. Hartono says, “we have to be willing to take a risk in each decision made.”

Throughout her time in the Ambassador program, she has been happy to create a space for the youth at her church. She also appreciated time with other Ambassadors to learn and share thoughts and ideas. After the conclusion of the program, Hartono will continue to help at JKI Anugerah with the creation of a new website. 

Heydi Casas Perez, 17, is a member of Iglesia Menonita Shalom (Tampa, FL). Throughout the summer, she has prepared lessons to be presented in front of the congregation and assisted with organizing Sunday worship along with other teenagers in her church.  

One of her takeaways from this summer is that God doesn’t give obstacles that can’t be faced. She sometimes experienced challenges in her work but knew she could put everything in the Lord’s hands. Casas Perez says that it is always important to “have faith in what God has for you because he does everything with a purpose.” 

She has been grateful for the opportunity to learn more about being a leader. As she continues to get more young adults more involved in her congregation, she knows she can put everything that she has learned this summer into practice. 

Aaron Walojo, 21, is a member of International Worship Church (San Gabriel, CA) This summer he assisted with coordinating English services for teens in the community, as well as outings for the youth.  
 

One of his takeaways from this summer is that it is okay to make mistakes; they allow learning and growth. Another thing he learned is that communication is key to becoming a good leader. 

After Walojo felt a call to serve the church and help others grow in their faith, he was happy to join the Ambassadors program to work towards his goals. One goal was to “have better connections with the younger church members, provide guidance, and help create an environment where they can encounter God meaningfully.”  

He is grateful for the chance to achieve these goals and will continue to work with his congregation while returning to college.  

Brendan Sagastume

Brendan is a member of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. Through the Ambassador Program this summer, he is working with both Mosaic Conference and Perkiomenville.

Ambassadors We’re Learning from This Summer (Part 2)

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by Brendan Sagastume

Editor’s Note: This summer, nine young adult Ambassadors are serving in congregations and ministries across Mosaic Conference. This article highlights three of these Ambassadors, and in the coming weeks, you will be introduced to the other Ambassadors. 

Calvin Wilder, 25, has been working in the Ambassador program with Midian Leadership Project. This summer some of his work included, coaching basketball, training and mentoring both kids and adults, assisting with Bible studies, and more.  

Wilder says that one takeaway from this summer is to “stay locked in.” Especially when working with others, it is easy to lose sight on what your goals are, and the reason why are you doing that work. To complete the work to the best of your ability and to continue to be accountable, you must stay focused. 

He was eager to join this program as it helped him continue his journey of giving back and leading people to the right paths, all while surrounding himself around others who are on the same mission as him. He is very grateful for the opportunity to meet people from many different places with many different backgrounds, but all share a common goal to spread the Word of God. 

Isaac Ramirez, 23, is a member of Luz y Vida Mennonite Church. Throughout his time in the Ambassador program, he has gained an understanding of what it means to be a true leader in addition to starting his ministry in worship.  

Something that he has felt God putting on his heart is that He requires us to not only give our all but be our best that we possibly can be when serving Him. Especially when serving in front of others, he has felt the importance of working his hardest, “to remain as pure as possible for His glory.” 

As someone who has been called to be a pastor, he felt that his program would give valuable insight and experience as to what goes on behind the scenes at his church. He is excited to use everything learned this summer to continue serving at Luz y Vida while studying to get his associate’s degree. 

Josh on the right.

Josh De La Rosa, 17, is a member of Luz y Vida Mennonite Church. Some of his bigger projects through the Ambassador program have included leading the youth through youth camp and other events. In addition to that, he has served on the worship team and assisted with the sound system.  

A lesson he learned throughout his experiences this summer was that things will not always go the way you intend them to and not be discouraged by that. De La Rosa says, “it’s easy to give up when you feel like nothing you do is working, but if it’s for God’s glory there’s always value in your actions” 

When he first saw this program, he immediately saw the value that it can provide as he can connect and learn from others about what leadership means to them. This experience has provided a positive impact that he can continue to show in all areas as he finishes this program and moves onto his next plans, which involve possibly releasing music with his band. 

Brendan Sagastume

Brendan is a member of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. Through the Ambassador Program this summer, he is working with both Mosaic Conference and Perkiomenville.

Ambassadors We’re Learning from This Summer

by

by Brendan Sagastume

Editor’s Note: This summer, nine young adult Ambassadors are serving in congregations and ministries across Mosaic Conference. This article highlights three of these Ambassadors, and in the coming weeks, you will be introduced to the other six Ambassadors. 

Brendan Sagastume, 19, is a member of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. Through the Ambassador Program this summer, he is working with both Mosaic Conference and Perkiomenville. At Mosaic, he works with the communication team, especially on the website and social media. He has had the opportunity to visit and interview some of the other Ambassadors and travel to their worksites. At Perkiomenville, he works with the worship team, youth group, and on other administrative tasks.  

Sagastume has led worship on a few Sunday mornings at Perkiomenville and created the announcement and countdown loop to play at the beginning of services. The experience this summer as an Ambassador has helped him with public speaking, administrative skills, and confidence, all while worshiping the Lord.  

“Learning what happens behind the scenes administratively in different organizations has been one of my takeaways,” Sagastume reflects. “I’ve been invited to think more critically about different experiences in my life and engage in discussion.” 

The largest impact that the Ambassadors program has had in Sagastume’s life has been his willingness to try new things and be more outgoing. He is grateful for this opportunity to work and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at Mosaic and at his congregation. 

Nicholas Wiyono, 19, is a member of Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC). Through the Ambassadors program he is serving with PPC’s summer peace camp, where he assisted with about 20 children.  

Wiyono built on his skills and experiences as a Sunday School leader and helper at PPC. Throughout the summer, he has grown in his leadership ability, public speaking, and ability to be outgoing.  

Growing up at PPC, he had previously seen some of the work that Mosaic does, but now is able to see it more firsthand. He has really enjoyed seeing how both PPC’s summer peace camp and the Ambassador program can help people to grow individually and as a group in all areas of life. He is grateful for all the support he has received and for the opportunity to grow. 

(Ei Ya, pictured on the left)

Ei Ya, 18, is a member of Whitehall (PA) Mennonite. During his time in the Ambassador program this summer, he has created the slides for Sunday worship, helped to rebuild and maintain the church website, and provided upkeep with the church gardens at a community park. He also spends time at Ripple Community, Inc., a Conference-Related Ministry in nearby Allentown. 

One of the biggest impacts the Ambassadors program has had on Ya is an increase in his ability to be outgoing. He initially had fears about having to interact with many different people in this program, but he found that, “people are easy to connect with. Attempting to be inviting with a smile sure goes a long way.”  

Ya was invited to the Ambassadors program by his pastor and has been so thankful for the experience. He says that this summer has been filled with great people and fun. It has taught him many new skills that will serve him well as he starts college this fall. 

Brendan Sagastume

Brendan is a member of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. Through the Ambassador Program this summer, he is working with both Mosaic Conference and Perkiomenville.