Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Assembly 2026

Casa de Oración (House of Prayer) Mennonite Church – Congregational Profile

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by Javier Márquez

Editor’s Note: Iglesia Menonita Casa de Oración was approved by Mosaic’s board as a member congregation and will be welcomed at the 2026 Fall Delegate Assembly

The birth of Iglesia Menonita Casa de Oración (House of Prayer Mennonite Church) is rooted in family, faith, and finding comfort during a time of loss. Following the passing of Pastor Irma Solís’ brother, the family began gathering around faith and God’s Word.

Pastor Irma and her congregation during the celebration of baptisms.

“The ministry began within our family after losing a brother who was already walking in the way of the Lord,” shares Pastor Irma Solís. “We started gathering, and Pastor Alejo Solís shared the plan of salvation with us. That is how the ministry began.”

The congregation was planted through the guidance and outreach of Iglesia Menonita Fuente de Agua Viva in Los Fresnos, Texas, receiving ongoing pastoral mentorship from Pastor José Alejo Solís.

Despite limited financial resources, members demonstrated extraordinary faith and perseverance by constructing their own church building through sacrificial giving and volunteer labor. Today, this facility serves as a place of Sunday worship and a beacon of hope for the surrounding community of García, Nuevo León, México—an area significantly impacted by violence, economic hardship, and social vulnerability.

Casa de Oración stands out for its deep commitment to serving as a light in an environment of high need, extending pastoral care, community outreach, practical assistance, and hope to families in crisis.

“Our mission is to keep preaching the Gospel, and what makes us unique is our love for our Lord Jesus Christ,” reflects Pastor Irma.

Community baptisms.

“Casa de Oración is a Christ-centered faith community committed to love, prayer, discipleship, and service to others, living out and sharing the values of the Anabaptist faith,” shared Leadership Minister Marco Güete, welcoming them to Conference membership.

The congregation continues to grow in its Anabaptist theology, discipleship, peacebuilding, community life, and servant leadership, moving ministry beyond the church walls into the daily life of the neighborhood.

Following a season of prayer, discernment, and congregational dialogue, the members of Casa de Oración unanimously voted to request membership in Mosaic Mennonite Conference. This decision comes from a desire to be aligned with a conference that honors Anabaptist procedures and values.

A time of gathered worship.

“The reason we wish to join Mosaic is because we really appreciate Mosaic’s ways of working and procedures,” Pastor Irma shares.

Through this partnership, the church seeks to strengthen its Christian discipleship, evangelistic mission, and local leadership development to serve its neighbors in Mexico.

The congregation in García remains focused on the saving mission of Jesus Christ and invites the entire Mosaic Conference community to stand with them in prayer, asking the Lord to bring more souls to salvation.

Javier Márquez

Javier Márquez is Associate for Community Cultivation and Leadership Development. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Javier Márquez, please email jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org.

Destiny’s Daughters, Inc. Cultivates Leadership, Holistic Healing, and Radical Hope

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Conference-Related Ministry Profile

by Javier Márquez

Editor’s Note: Destiny’s Daughters was approved by Mosaic’s board as a Conference-Related Ministry and will be welcomed at the 2026 Fall Delegate Assembly

Destiny’s Daughters Inc., is a therapeutic and spiritual mentoring organization based in Harrisonburg, Virginia.Under the passionate direction of its founder and CEO, Dr. Melody M. Pannell, this ministry combines Anabaptist theology with social work and restorative justice to offer holistic healing to young Black women and their communities. In a world marked by deep social disparities and health inequities, this ministry seeks to transform the lives of young women and girls through faith, justice, and community love.

The roots of Destiny’s Daughters date back to September 1990. After serving as a summer camp counselor for 10- and 11-year-old girls, Dr. Pannell felt a clear calling from God to start something new at her local congregation, Seventh Avenue Mennonite Church in Harlem, New York.

“I felt called to start a ministry to address the social disparities and spiritual formation of young girls in my Harlem community,” shares Dr. Pannell. “We addressed racial discrimination, poverty, and health inequities that were impacting the community, teaching the Gospel from a social justice theological perspective.”

Dr. Pannell, who is a scholar, healthcare administrator, and mental health clinician, has grown this work into other areas, including at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) beginning in 2004, at Virginia Union University (VUU) in 2010, created branches in Harlem, Washington D.C., and upstate New York in 2013-2018, and more recently has incorporated as a non-profit organization.

Since 2020, the organization has expanded to Bridgewater (VA) College, Immanuel Mennonite (Harrisonburg, PA), Far Rockaway (NY), and internationally in Kenya. It is currently reactivating and establishing branches at Hampton University, the University of Virginia (UVA), Philadelphia, and Maryland.

Destiny’s Daughters Inc. envisions its members flourishing as servant leaders equipped to overcome social gaps, build resilient communities, and foster spiritual formation. Its mission is to cultivate courageous women leaders by educating, equipping, and empowering young women and girls to recognize their purpose through liberating love and holistic healing.

Dr. Melody Pannell

“Our mission is unique because it is deeply intergenerational. Our oldest member is 49 years old and our youngest is 15; we even have daughters of the original girls from Harlem who are now part of Destiny’s Daughters,” explains Dr. Pannell.

The ministry operates under a discipleship model where past participants are the leaders of new branches. The work is grounded in Scripture passages such as Jeremiah 29:11-13 (“For I know the plans I have for you…”) and Isaiah 61:1-3 (“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes…”).

With 56 years as a Mennonite, Dr. Pannell has dedicated over two decades to racial healing, reconciliation, and cultural awareness in the church and academia. The decision to join Mosaic reflects a deep alignment of values:

“I am drawn to join Mosaic because its priorities of being missional, intercultural, and formational strongly align with my own,” affirms Dr. Pannell. “I see Mosaic Conference’s commitment to embrace the uniqueness of our cultures and empower every person to be their authentic self. It is my desire to be in fellowship with the body of Christ and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.”

As an evangelical, interdisciplinary ministry present in schools, universities, churches, and community centers, Dr. Pannell asks for the prayerful support of the community:

“We ask Mosaic to pray for our leaders, our members, and the environments where we hold our activities,” requests Dr. Pannell.

“We ask for protection for every participant, provision for the resources to implement our programs, and the passion to effectively carry out our mission. We ask you to pray that God brings a sense of healing and hope to the social inequities troubling the communities we serve, and that God be glorified in every step of Destiny’s Daughters, Inc.”

Javier Márquez

Javier Márquez is Associate for Community Cultivation and Leadership Development. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to Javier, contact him at jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org.

Make a Friend at Delegate Assembly

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by Javier Márquez

The Fall Delegate Assembly is the time of year when much of Mosaic Conference comes together in the same place. Delegates, pastors, ministry leaders, and friends from different congregations and communities gather for worship, conversation, discernment, and fellowship.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen outside the scheduled program.

This year, we want to encourage everyone attending Assembly to make room for those moments. Take time on Friday or Saturday to meet someone you do not know well. Sit with someone new during a meal. Invite a friend—or someone who is becoming a friend—to go out for dinner after Assembly concludes on Saturday.

As new communities continue to join Mosaic, we have an opportunity to learn from one another’s experiences, cultures, and contexts. Assembly gives us a chance to do that because so many of us are in the same place at the same time.

Jaye Lindo, Mosaic’s Hospitality Coordinator, sees hospitality as an important part of what makes Assembly special.

“Once a year Mosaic gives Delegates chosen by their congregations an opportunity to embrace and feel the love of our entire eclectic community,” Lindo says. “The only way we will truly be able to grow together is when barriers are broken down, allowing Jesus to be the connector.”

She continues, “What a better way to connect than over a meal? We all have to eat!”

“Time, distance, and language challenges all go away over a meal,” she says. “We get to hear a voice, see a smile, hear a prayer, and are able to recognize that we are not as different as it seems.”

A meal gives us time to slow down. Conversations that might not happen during a busy Assembly schedule can begin naturally around a table. We hear someone’s story, discover something we have in common, or simply enjoy being together.

Pastor Chidi Ihezuoh offers another simple encouragement for the weekend: “Listen to each other intentionally.”

That may be one of the most important invitations we can offer. Assembly is not only a place to hear presentations or participate in decisions. It is also a place to listen: to the person sitting beside us, to a congregation with a different story, to a pastor we have not seen in a while, or to someone who is attending for the first time.

Some of us may have met others through Mosaic Institute, at the Oasis retreat, or another conference gathering. Assembly can be a chance to reconnect and continue conversations. For those who are new, Assembly can be a chance to see one’s place within the larger Mosaic community.

To make things a little easier, Southeastern Pennsylvania Leadership Ministers have shared some of their favorite local restaurants. Their recommendations have been gathered into a list available here. Use it as an excuse to invite someone to dinner after Assembly on Saturday.

Maybe it will be someone you already know. Perhaps someone whose name you’ve only seen in an email, or maybe it will be someone you’ve never met.

Make room for the conversation.
Make room for the laughter.
Make room at the table.
Make a friend at Delegate Assembly 2026.

Javier Márquez

Javier Márquez is Associate for Community Cultivation and Leadership Development. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Javier, please email jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org.

Get Ready for Mosaic Mennonite Conference Fall Delegate Assembly

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Mosaic Conference’s Fall Delegate Assembly

Saturday, November 7, 2026: 9 AM-4:30 PM
Registration for delegates will take place from 8:30-9 AM
Souderton Mennonite Church (map)
105 W Chestnut St., Souderton, PA 18964 

Delegate Registration

All delegates named by their congregations should have received an email on September 3, 2026, explaining the day-of registration process for delegates and a link to confirm their participation as a delegate.

If you are coming to Assembly as an attendee (all non-delegates), you are most welcome. To help us plan and prepare, please let us know by signing up here starting September 3.

If you are coming from a distance, plan your travel and arrange for your lodging. For more information about lodging and transportation, please click here.

Friday Night Pre-Assembly Gathering

Everyone (delegates and non-delegates) is invited to join us on Friday, November 6 from 4-8pm at Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) for a gathering titled “Celebrating the God Who Listens to Us!” The featured worship speaker is Karen González. The event will include small group story sharing, dinner, worship, and an ice cream social.

Delegates should RSVP using the same delegate form they completed to confirm their participation for Assembly. All others (non-delegates) should RSVP using the attendee form, which can be used to register for this event, Assembly, or both.

Delegate Preparation Meetings

What are Assembly Delegate Preparation Meetings?

Mosaic Conference holds a series of delegate preparation meetings in the weeks leading up to our gathered Assembly. This year, Delegate Preparation Meetings will be held in late September and early October. Each gathering will include a light meal and time for conversation with other delegates and conference leaders. Delegates received a link via email to register for these meetings. 

Please pray for Assembly, Mosaic’s Board, delegates, the Mosaic staff planning it, those attending, and God’s leading in the process.

The staff team for planning Fall Assembly is Stacey Mansfield (Credentialing and Assembly Coordinator, Jaye Lindo (Hospitality Coordinator), Cindy Angela (Director of Communication), and Brendan Sagastume (Registrar).

Other Supplemental Documents:

The 2026 Docket will be released in early October and emailed to delegates. Visit MosaicMennonites.org/Assembly for more information.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.   

Who Will Represent Your Congregation? Discernment Begins for Mosaic’s 2026 Delegate Assembly

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As Mosaic Mennonite Conference prepares for its Annual Delegate Assembly on Saturday, November 7, congregations are beginning the important process of discerning who will represent them as delegates.

The ways congregations choose delegates vary widely, including discernment by the pastor, board, elders, or congregational invitations. Mosaic congregations differ greatly in size, language, culture, governance, and history, and all share the responsibility of naming people who will listen well, prepare thoughtfully, and represent their congregation within the life of Mosaic Conference.

This year, Assembly will be held at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church, with a gathering on the evening of Friday, November 6 at Zion Mennonite in Souderton. Congregations are asked to submit the names of their delegates by August 15.

For some congregations, delegate discernment is rooted primarily in pastoral leadership.

At Centro de Alabanza de Filadelfia, Pastors Letty Cortes and Fernando Loyola select delegates from among the congregation’s leaders. Within their immigrant congregation, members trust the pastors to identify people whose Christian character and commitment enable them to represent the church well. Prior to Assembly, delegates are held during the congregation’s times of intercessory prayer.

Pastor Cortes notes that delegates often balance demanding work schedules while also participating through interpretation because English is not their primary language.

A similar emphasis on leadership discernment exists at Nations Worship Center (NWC) in Philadelphia. Pastor Beny Krisbianto says the pastoral team and elders choose delegates from among faithful ministry leaders, including elders and worship leaders, who understand the congregation’s life and can represent the church rather than primarily their own perspectives.

Before the annual Assembly, NWC gathers its delegates to discuss agenda items together and discern how the congregation hopes to engage the conversations. Pastor Krisbianto also emphasizes the importance of language access, noting that Indonesian interpretation helps delegates fully participate in Assembly discussions.

Other congregations incorporate boards or elders into the discernment process.

At Church of the Good Samaritans in Holland, Pennsylvania, the congregation’s elders typically serve as delegates. When additional delegates are needed, the elders prayerfully identify other members who can serve, as they did last year when they invited a younger adult from the congregation to participate.

At Souderton Mennonite, delegates often serve for multiple years if they remain available. When openings arise, the board discerns potential delegates and extends personal invitations. Pastor Jen Erickson-Morales says one ongoing challenge is helping delegates see their role as more than attending Assembly and voting.

Souderton prepares delegates by discussing upcoming Assembly conversations, gathering congregational perspectives, and praying publicly for delegates before Assembly.

While every delegate brings their own experiences and convictions, delegates are called to represent the discernment of their congregation rather than simply their individual opinions. That often requires preparation before Assembly by reading reports, attending pre-Assembly meetings, discussing agenda items together, and listening carefully to fellow congregants.

The process also invites congregational support. Some delegates take vacation time from work, arrange child or elder care, travel significant distances, or step away from family and ministry responsibilities to participate. Congregations can support delegates by praying for them, offering tangible support, expressing appreciation for their service, and inviting them to share what they learned after Assembly.

As your congregation discerns delegates for the 2026 Assembly, consider discussing:

  • Who in our congregation demonstrates the spiritual maturity, humility, relational gifts, and wisdom needed to represent us well?
  • How can our delegates reflect the diversity of gifts, generations, cultures, and experiences within our congregation?
  • What opportunities do potential delegates have to listen to the hopes, questions, and concerns of the congregation before Assembly?
  • How can we prepare delegates to engage thoughtfully with Assembly materials and conversations?
  • In what ways can our congregation pray for, encourage, and practically support delegates before, during, and after Assembly?
  • How might delegates help strengthen the relationship between our congregation and the wider Mosaic Conference throughout the year?

2026 Delegate Assembly

  • Friday Evening Event: November 6, 2026, 4-8pm at Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) – Celebrating the God who listens to us! Dinner and worship, featuring Karen González
  • Annual Delegate Assembly: Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Souderton (PA) Mennonite. Theme: We Love the Lord (Psalm 116:1-2)
  • Delegate naming deadline: August 15, 2026

Each congregation is eligible to name lay delegates according to Mosaic’s bylaws and congregational size. In addition, all Mosaic-credentialed pastors currently serving in pastoral roles are delegates and should also be included when congregations submit their delegate information.

This year, Assembly Travel Grants are available to help offset a congregation or Conference-Related Ministry’s expenses for transportation and lodging expenses for delegates participating in the Fall Assembly. The deadline to apply for these grants is August 15. Learn more.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.   

Introducing the Assembly Travel Grant for Delegate Travel and Lodging

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by Javier Márquez

Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s annual delegate Assembly is a space where pastors, delegates, and leaders from congregations, Conference-Related Ministries (CRMs), and partners come together to worship, learn, discern, and strengthen the bonds that unite us as a community. Each year, this gathering represents a collective effort of hospitality, participation, and mutual commitment by congregations who are sending delegates.

With the hope of reducing barriers for congregations and ministries to participate, Mosaic
Conference has announced the availability of Assembly Travel Grants to help offset transportation and lodging expenses for delegates participating in the Fall Assembly.

The grants are intended to support newer congregations or communities currently facing financial challenges. While all congregations and CRMs are encouraged to participate actively in the Assembly, travel costs do not affect everyone equally. Some congregations must travel long distances or incur significant expenses to send their representatives. This financial assistance is intended to help ensure the participation and representation of the full diversity of the Mosaic community.

The application process will be simple. Each congregation or CRM should first estimate the travel expenses for its delegates. If a financial gap remains, they may apply for a grant using the official forms available on the Assembly Travel page. The deadline for submitting applications is August 15 and congregations and CRMs may apply after naming their delegates. Award notifications will be sent on September 1, and funds will be distributed to congregations and ministries before September 15.

Travelers may book accommodations where they prefer. However, Mosaic has established a courtesy block of rooms at a discounted rate if reserved prior to October 1st. Local congregations are also encouraged to extend hospitality to visiting delegates, whether by sharing transportation or to host and gathering to share a meal.

The annual Assembly is a reminder that we do not walk alone. Every congregation, regardless of its size or context, has an important voice within the Mosaic family. The Assembly Travel Grant represents an invitation to continue building community, hosting one another, sharing resources, and participating together in the mission God has placed before us.

Javier Márquez

Javier Márquez is Associate for Community Cultivation and Leadership Development. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Javier Márquez, please email jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org.