Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Deep Run East

Partnerships Share Hope in Honduras: Healthy Niños Honduras, Deep Run East, and Honduran Leaders

by

by Barbara Rice

Deep Run Mennonite East (Perkasie, PA) has been blessed to send 43 teams to Honduras since 2001, most under the leadership of Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry, Healthy Niños Honduras (HNH) (formerly MAMA Project).   

In January 2024, our team from Deep Run East arrived at the beautiful mission house in San Franscisco de Yoja, about 90 minutes from the airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. We were greeted by the first set of partners, the amazing HNH staff. They had been preparing for us with rooms ready, food purchased, and coordination with rural communities to receive our medical brigade and select families to receive new cement floors in their homes. Without the HNH staff and volunteers (about 24 people) ranging from the key directors, nurses, doctors, dentists, translators, and of course, the cooks, our service would not be effective or successful. These partners are dedicated Christians who desire to improve life for their fellow Hondurans. They care for our team and allow us to partner with the rural communities.  

The delegation from Deep Run East prays with the HNH staff before traveling to a local community. Photo by Barbara Rice.  

When our vans arrive at the rural community, usually a 90-minute ride on rough mountain roads with breathtaking views, we meet the second set of partners, the community leaders.  The HNH staff work with them to organize our visit. The leader is usually a pastor, teacher, or someone respected in the community. They have selected where we set up the clinic (most often a school building) and which families are in most need of a cement floor. They organize those who have arrived to visit the clinic with a numbering system. They assist the HNH staff with registering people and taking pictures for the medical record system. Often local people help with weighing and measuring during the medical clinics, because they know the families and can help them navigate through the stations in the clinics. These are people who care about their communities and without them our service would not be as effective or successful.   

Children of the community welcome the volunteers excitedly, anticipating that there may be toys shared! Photo by Barbara Rice. 
After a successful day with community leaders, the HNH staff and the delegation from Deep Run East celebrate. Photo by Barbara Rice. 
One of the community leaders’ tasks is selecting who will receive the water filtration systems. Photo by Barbara Rice. 

We have experienced much joy in serving with HNH and have come to love the Honduran people for their hospitality and desire to work together to bring healing and hope to the most vulnerable in their country. With these partnerships we can show God’s love. 

And thank you to one more set of partners—all of those who pray for our teams. 

Would you like to be a partner? As we visit communities, we find that over 50% of the children with have some level of malnourished children. The most severe cases are invited to the Nutritional Rehabilitation Center where children can be brought to health and mothers can learn more about nutrition and childcare. We are happy that more families are willing to come to the nutrition center, but as a result, HNH is experiencing a gap in funding. If you want to help, please visit the Healthy Niños website.  

Barbara Rice

Barb Rice lives in Quakertown PA. She is a member of Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA) and serves on the Healthy Niños Board. She has organized many Deep Run East teams to Honduras.

What One Question Can Lead To

by

by Lisa Stenger

At the 2018 Fall Assembly, Scott Roth, Mosaic Conference Leadership Minister, asked, “What would it look like to become part of a Rooted Networking Church?” Roth encouraged us to think of the opportunities and possibilities if we connected and shared resources with other churches within our Conference.

You don’t have to ask me twice. The branches of networking began to take form in my head before I returned home from that Assembly. There is value in communing as believers in Christ, encouraging one another, and praying together for our volunteer work and workplace.

Roth’s words stuck in my head while I processed, “The key to connecting starts with conversations and creating relationships.” I thought about each place I served: church member, Conference delegate, church librarian, Elder, women’s ministry, youth sponsor, and Office Administrator. I asked myself, “How could I connect with people in these areas to “Be” and “Seek” support, so that we can grow and prosper in God’s purpose together?”

Soon after, I scheduled a time with an Elder from another Conference church for some coffee. Our relationship continues today, four years later, even though we both are no longer serving in the ministry of Elder. We continue to support one another in new areas that God has orchestrated in our lives.

I also was inspired to connect with other Office Administrators and Secretaries from some Mosaic churches located near me. Since February 2019, the Office Administrators and Secretaries from five Mosaic churches (Blooming Glen, Deep Run East, Deep Run West, Line Lexington, and Souderton) have been gathering twice a year. We eat and pray together. We also share about our professional life, share resources, and encourage and support one another. We each take turns hosting and during the pandemic we met through Zoom. It is a delightful building of relationships and valuable resource to encounter. We continue to share and inquire throughout the year even when we are not meeting.

Office Administrators and Secretaries from 5 Mosaic Churches recently gathered. Back row (L-R) Phil Detweiler (Souderton), Gretchen Cook (Blooming Glen), Robyn Hamm (Souderton); Front row (L-R) Lisa Stenger (Deep Run East), Michelle Ahn-Doettger (Blooming Glen), Heidi Murphy (Deep Run West). Not pictured, Carla Ferrier (Line Lexington). Photo provided by Lisa Stenger.

A local community need came to the Deep Run East staff and we were discerning how to respond. It prompted me with a new opportunity to reach out beyond the Conference. I wrote to a number of churches in a group email, introduced myself as the Office Administrator, and shared concern for this community need. I was able to ask for them to share their experiences and suggestions.

From my original email, this resource network has grown to include 56 contacts such as non-profits, law enforcement, and many community churches of different denominations. We share rental forms, internal office resources, names and how we assist, and so much more. Recently several different denominational churches came together to help a family in need due to this networking group. This is what I find to be a global job for Jesus, “To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:12, NIV)

There are many other wonderful relationships that have blossomed through one person’s words of encouragement. Let’s disciple through our own experiences that inspire questions and conversations to connect the greater church for God’s purpose. Become a Rooted Networking member of God’s church.

For eleven years, Lisa Stenger has been the Office Administrator for Deep Run East Mennonite Church (Perkasie, PA). In addition to her primary job, she serves on the Mosaic Nomination Committee. She is a member of neighboring Deep Run West Mennonite Church. She and her husband, Howard, live in Bedminster, PA. They have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter.

Deep Run East Celebrates 275th Anniversary

by

Photos by Ruth & Wes Cosand

Deep Run East Mennonite Church (Perkasie, PA) celebrated their 275th anniversary on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Over 250 people were in attendance and enjoyed memories, photos, and stories, including those on display from past mission trips, local mission work, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, youth activities, and more. A timeline shared what was happening in the life of Deep Run East, the local community, and world history during the last 275 years. The historical displays are on display for public viewing until October 10.

Photos by Ruth & Wes Cosand

John L. Ruth preached at the Sunday worship service for the 275th anniversary celebration of Deep Run East congregation. His sermon was titled, “Looking Backward and Forward with Love,” based on Deuteronomy 7:6-9 and 1 John 4:7-19.

Crops for Hunger

by

In 2018 Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA) Mennonite Church started an initiative to encourage new ideas and vision for the use of our abundant resources. We were challenged to find new and innovative ways to serve God with our resources,  including our church buildings and grounds. I remembered an article I saved from the Mennonite Weekly Review, dated June 10, 2002.

A field of soybeans planted by Deep Run East congregation this past summer. (Photo provided by Kermit Yoder)

The article told how farmers in Minnesota donated the proceeds from their crops to the Food Resource Bank (now Growing Hope Globally.) Growing Hope Globally helps subsistence farmers grow their own food, earn an income, feed their families, and improve their livelihoods. Farmers in North America help farmers in need around the world in an effort to end world hunger. 

Our church is blessed with 40 tillable acres of land, so I suggested we consider a “Growing Project” with this resource of land.  In December 2019, the congregation affirmed the idea and responded by allocating existing funds and making contributions. Team leaders for the project,  Phil Nyce, Henry Rice, Mark Schmidt, and Kermit Yoder, began planning for the 2020 planting season. It was determined that soybeans would be our crop. Our fields were planted on May 27, 2020. 

Farmland owned by Deep Run East congregation (with the church in the background) grew crops to assist in fighting world hunger this year.

In April, just before we planted the soybeans, Joe Dise and his uncle, Dean Overholt, approached our team about wanting to help out families in need locally and through Crops for Hunger due to the pandemic. Their idea was to plant extra sweet corn to harvest and sell or give to local people in need. 

As a team we were all in. But with COVID-19, some of the initial ideas for distributing sweet corn were not feasible. A roadside stand seemed to be a safe way to distribute the sweet corn. We offered the corn without cost, free if you needed or for a donation to Crops for Hunger.  The sweet corn produced $1,333 for our Crops for Hunger project.

For years, Deep Run East has been providing support to programs in Honduras. Growing Hope Globally has a program in Honduras implemented by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). One of our members, Joel Kempt, is on staff with MCC in Honduras and was directly involved in formulating the program. We decided to support this program with the proceeds of our sweet corn.

Mark Schmidt, of Deep Run East, working in the fields.

November 7 was finally the day that our soybeans were harvested. God blessed Bucks County, PA with a wonderful growing season, timely rain, and warm temperatures this year. The crop exceeded our goal. With a 62 bushel per acre average, we harvested 2,496 bushels of soybeans. We arranged for our crop to be purchased by Weaver’s Toasted Grains in New Holland PA. Church member, Dale Overholt, and his employer, PV Transport, generously hauled the crop to market. 

Nate Wilson, of Deep Run East, works with the soybean crops.

When we received the payment from Weaver’s Toasted Grains, the check was written for more than the agreed upon price.  The owners wanted to help out and generously contributed to the project as well. 

The total proceeds from the sale of the sweet corn and soybean crops totaled $33,499.79.  We are grateful for the many people who helped out with this project, through prayer, labor, materials, and money. We were blessed to have used our resources to help others utilize their land to feed their families and communities throughout the world. 

Congregational Profile: Deep Run East Mennonite Church

by

by Sharon Rice, Deep Run East congregation

As one of the oldest congregations in Franconia Conference (founded in the mid-1700s), Deep Run East in Perkasie, PA seeks to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, with prayer as our foundation.  We at Deep Run East envision a community of faith that will glorify God in worship, open our lives to our community, and share our gifts and resources in faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Sorting socks at Hands in Service (photo by Barb Rice)

For the past 7 years, we have been participating in something we call “Salt and Light.”  The idea originated from an ​article our mission commission read that was about an alternative to traditional Sunday morning worship, in which we would go outside the church building to worship by serving the community. 

Building upon this idea, we began a Salt and Light Sunday in 2012.  People signed up for various service projects, from doing yard work for neighbors to picking up trash along the roads, to visiting the elderly and shut-ins, to volunteering in a food pantry, and more.  After our morning activities we gathered back at the church to share about our experiences.  Many of us found this practice invaluable and rewarding. 

Pricing items at Worthwhile Thrift (photo by Barb Rice)

It was decided that we would continue this as an annual event.  ​Starting in 2013, we did “Saturday Salt & Light Day.” Then in 2015 we went back to Sunday and in 2017 did “Salt & Light Weekend,” with projects available on both days. After each Salt and Light day or weekend, we met back at the church to discuss our experiences in serving.

This year, the mission commission defined the vision of Salt and Light as the following: “Salt and Light seeks to cultivate a lifestyle of service in members of Deep Run East by engaging in the regular practice of serving others as we are called to do by Jesus.”  We further decided to extend Salt and Light to be a ​season​ of serving during Lent.  Doing this provided opportunities for individuals to participate in more than one project if desired.  Projects included counting pills for a Healthy Ninos trip, serving at Hands in Service (Warrington), helping at Pennridge FISH, sorting clothing and other merchandise at the new Plumsteadville Worthwhile Thrift Store, and much more.  The Sunday after Lent, people again had the opportunity to share regarding their experiences.

The group who volunteered at Worthwhile Thrift (photo by Terri Nyce)

We had a positive response to turning Salt and Light into a season. Doing so provided more flexibility for people with busy schedules to participate. Our goal as followers of Jesus is to incorporate this type of service as a ​lifestyle​ rather than simply as a once-and-done event to check off our “to-do” list, and we are believing that we have a good start! 

 

Prayer requests for Deep Run East:
*  for our Summer Bible School Leaders, our many volunteer crew leaders/teachers and the approximately 170 children and youth that will attend our programs from June 24-28. Our prayer is that God’s Spirit will be at work in the lives of the children and their families, and that many seeds of Christ’s Kingdom will be planted.

* for our “Building on the Past, Envisioning the Future” process as we intentionally dream together and seek out ways to use our resources at DRE to bless and fulfill needs in our local community.
 
* prayer as we seek to build relationships in our community, that as we meet new people these may turn into growing friendships.

Life Together Gets More Interesting

by

Since 2011, Franconia and Eastern District Conferences have come together for an annual fall Assembly holding separate business sessions, yet enjoying joint times of worship on Friday evening and Saturday morning, sharing in the recognition of newly credentialed leaders, and lunch. This year on November 3 and 4, 2017 they gathered at Dock Mennonite Academy in Souderton, Pennsylvania to do the same. However, new this year, a time of joint meeting was held on Saturday afternoon that focused on reviewing recommendations from the Exploring Reconciliation Reference Team that the two Conferences voted to commission at the 2016 Assembly.

The Assembly was centered on Psalm 133:1,3b, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” The theme was Life Together, as the focus of the Assembly was that while these two conference may have split 170 years ago, they continue to do life together.  A large part of the Assembly business this year was to look at whether these conferences would take the next step in their relationship, to look even more intentionally at reconciliation and what it would look like if they were to merge into one conference.

The weekend began with Friday night worship led by Tami Good of Swamp Mennonite Church, which included a worship team of folks whose first languages were Indonesian, Spanish and English and who came from congregations in South Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Upper Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The opening prayer was given in Indonesian, Spanish, English and even Pennsylvania Dutch. Videos were shown that highlighted  Souderton Mennonite Church’s Vocation as Mission internship program, “for young adults actively pursuing God’s kingdom in local communities.” Highlighted were the fact that the interns come from congregations across both conferences — most not even realizing there were two conferences — and the relationships built between the interns through Bible study, leadership and social issues trainings, as they worked side by side with local non-profits, businesses and ministries. The other video shown was about the ministries of Deep Run East and Deep Run West — one Franconia Conference church and one Eastern District church that happen to be across the street from one another. Their pastors, Ken Burkholder of Deep Run East and Rodger Schmell of Deep Run West, shared about how their congregations do ministry in such close proximity and how their relationship has changed over the years since their initial split. The worship time was followed by the annual ice cream social provided by Longacres Dairy.

Saturday morning, delegates began their day in separate Eastern District and Franconia Conference business sessions. This was a historic day for Franconia Conference as they became bi-coastal and accepted four new congregations as members, one from Flushing, New York and three from the Los Angeles, California area. Bethany Elshaddai Creative Community in New York is pastored by Hendy Stevans and has been connecting with Franconia Conference for about two years. Hendy is currently a student at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, attending classes at the Lancaster, Pennsylvania campus. The congregations in the Los Angeles area consist of Jemaat Kristen Indonesia Anugerah (JKIA) pastored by Virgo Handoyo, Indonesian Community Christian Fellowship pastored by Makmur Halim, and International Worship Church pastored by Buddy Hannarto. All three have had relationships with Franconia Conference for over a decade. The four congregations’ members are largely from Indonesia and joined with Franconia Conference pastors Aldo Siahaan of Philadelphia Praise Center and Beny Krisbianto of Nations Worship Center to share in a song. To learn more about these congregations check out their congregational profiles here. Following the 98% vote of affirmation to welcome these congregations, the delegates joined in singing songs in both English and Indonesian as a welcome.

The joint Franconia and Eastern District Conference Saturday worship was a time of song, remembering those who have passed on in the last year, and anointing 15 newly credentialed leaders. Following the anointing of the newly credentialed leaders, the leaders were dispersed throughout the auditorium and those in attendance were invited to be prayed over by them. It was truly a time of commissioning and sending forth. There was also a time of recognition of the Centennial of Mennonite Women USA and a video celebrating Eastern District and Franconia Conference’s shared Sistering Committee, a local chapter of Mennonite Women USA.

Following lunch by Landis’ Market, the delegates from Eastern District and Franconia Conferences joined one another around tables to hear from the Exploring Reconciliation Reference Team. The team reviewed their report that had been previously sent to the delegates, which can be accessed here. They also highlighted their recommendations. At their tables, the delegates were then invited to discuss any affirmations, concerns or questions they had regarding the report or the recommendations put forth. These were recorded on sheets of paper and submitted to be compiled and shared with those tasked at carrying out the recommendations, should the delegates vote to move forward with them.

The core recommendation from the team is that Eastern District and Franconia Conference “enter a formal engagement process for the purposes of healing and reconciliation and with the intention of becoming a single, unified conference by November 2019.” In order to do this, the team recommended the forming of two teams: one to work intentionally at addressing the “spiritual and emotional components of reconciliation,” known as the “Healing and Reconciliation Team”, and the other being the “Identity Development and Structural Implementation Team,” tasked with managing “the process of forming a single unified conference, with particular attention to the structure, staffing, financial, and cultural realities of creating a single conference from the two existing conferences.”

Nancy Kauffman, Mennonite Church USA Denominational Minister for the two Conferences, closed the joint time in prayer.

After a short break, the conferences gathered in separate rooms where their delegates recorded on flip chart paper their largest affirmations and concerns regarding moving forward with the recommendations. Present were David Brubaker and Roxy Allen Kioko, consultants from Eastern Mennonite University who had been hired in 2016 and were working with the Exploring Reconciliation Reference Team. Following this and some open microphone time for questions and answers, the delegates voted. With a 90% affirmation from Franconia Conference and a 99% affirmation from Eastern District Conference, both agreed to move forward with working at reconciliation and exploring more formally what a merged conference will look like.

This means that over the next few weeks, both Conference Boards will be looking for nominations for the two teams presented in the recommendations. The goal will be to have these teams appointed no later than the end of the calendar year. According to the recommendations, there is a goal for the Healing and Reconciliation Team to hold a Reconciliation service at a Spring 2018 Assembly, and planning will therefore need to begin quickly. The Identity and Structural Development Team will, over the next two years, work to develop a shared mission and vision, a new organization chart and budget to be presented to the delegates in 2019. Therefore, a decision on whether or not these two conferences will merge will not come until 2019. Over the next few weeks, leaders of both conferences will work to address questions raised about the process. Keep your eye out for more information on that.  Nominations are due by Friday, December 1 at midnight.

To close this historic day, the two conferences joined together in song as they continue to look forward to Life Together.

 

 

 

Junior High Youth Have Late Night Blast

by

by John Stoltzfus, Franconia Conference Youth Minister

Whose job description includes this clause: Must be willing to have face covered in shaving cream and decorated with cheese curls? If you answered, “Junior high youth sponsor,” you are correct! Junior high youth sponsors are some of the bravest people in ministry.

At junior high youth events, helmets are sometimes necessary...
At junior high youth events, helmets are sometimes necessary…

If you were at the Late Night Blast on March 13, you would have witnessed such a scene and a lot more crazy fun. Close to 150 junior high youth and adult sponsors representing 18 churches gathered for this annual event sponsored by Franconia Conference and Eastern District Conference. It was hosted by Christopher Dock Mennonite High School.

Last year, the event was an all-night lock-in; this year it morphed into a “Late Night Blast,” ending at 11:15 p.m. While some youth lamented the loss of staying up all night, most responses to the evening were still very enthusiastic.

Part of the purpose of this annual event is to give our youth a positive and memorable experience of worshipping together, playing hard, and catching a glimpse of the larger body of Christ that makes up our conference churches. This event also gives a wonderful opportunity for our youth workers to partner together in ministry.

... As are Cheetos.
… As are Cheetos.

The evening started off with some mixer gamers led by staff from Spruce Lake and by Brent Camilleri from Deep Run East Mennonite Church. Justin Hange and a band from Calvary Church in Souderton then turned up the noise for the evening and led in a spirited time of singing and worship.

“That was awesome!” remarked one youth following the singing.

Scott Roth, pastor at Perkiomenville Mennonite Church, kept the energy flowing as he shared stories of how he sees God at work in his life and his community bringing hope and healing. He challenged the youth to bring together a knowledge of God’s Word with an active obedience to God’s Word in everyday life.

The rest of the night was full of fun activities to choose from: soccer, basketball, dodge ball, human Dutch Blitz, Wally ball, Gaga Pit ball, Nerf blasters, and more. One of the popular new games introduced this year was Human Hungry Hippos. It’s the classic board game with a much needed upgrade. One of the perks of being a junior high youth sponsor is the freedom to experiment with wild and crazy games. Of course, the policy is always safety first, and helmets were required.

The evening ended with a shower of giveaways from Mennonite colleges and camps. Thank you to everyone that helped to plan and carry out all the activities and a special thank you to all the youth leaders that commit themselves to serving with their youth. Their commitment was exemplified by one sponsor giving up her shoes to a youth who needed more appropriate athletic shoes to participate in the games.

Deep Run East joins MAMA Project in Honduras

by

Deep Run & MAMA Project
The dedication service at Iglesia Evangelica del Principe de Paz.

by Barb Rice, Deep Run East

Ken Burkholder, pastor of Deep Run East congregation (Perkasie, Pa.), joined the 27th MAMA Project Team that Deep Run East has sent to Honduras since 2001.  Over the years, Pastor Ken had heard from teams reporting on their experiences and had met some of the MAMA Project partners on their visits to the US, but on March 15-22, he joined the team in Honduras.

On March 16, one day after arrival in San Pedro Sula, the team arrived at Iglesia Central Menonita (the largest Mennonite Church in the city) for an inspired and holy time of worship.  Wow… talk about a worship team and praise music!  Pastor Ken was invited to preach and his sermon followed worship, focusing on II Cor. 5: 17-21, “In Christ—New Creation.”  In the context of violence and poverty in Honduras, the call to reconciliation and being ambassadors and coworkers with Christ was powerful to all who were listening.

After the worship service it was good to play a little “Mennonite game,” meeting Honduran young persons who had been part of the Mennonite Central Committee IVEP program and also discovering that the worship band leader had attended Eastern Mennonite University’s Peace Institute.  What a blessing to fellowship with other believers around the world; Pastor Ken and another team member were visiting so long that the rest of the group left them behind!

Pastor Adalid Romero, president of the Honduran Mennonite Church, met with our team and explained how life in Honduras was lived in the midst of organized crime and corruption, with much illegal immigration to the US, Mexico, and Spain.  He shared that “the situation here would be that much worse than it already is, if it wasn’t for the presence of the churches in Honduras!”  The Honduran Mennonite Church works to teach peacemaking in schools where guns and knives show up routinely, introducing students to a different way of problem solving without violence.

That Sunday evening, the team headed to Iglesia Evangelica del Principe de Paz, a church in a poor community at the edge of the city.  The church is located in the middle of drug traffic and gang tensions, but the community loves our teams and helps to ensure we are protected.  Deep Run East and Swamp congregation (Quakertown, Pa.) have partnered with the pastor of this church, Juan Angel Ramirez, to work in this community.  A new church has been built over the last two years and, as we arrived, everyone was waiting outside for the “big reveal.”  The dedication service included ribbon cutting, with eight children dressed in rented wedding clothes holding the ribbons.  Pastor Ken, as the honored guest, was given the scissors.  The new building is an amazing testament of God’s desire for the church to be a beacon of hope, sitting up on the hill for all in the community to see.

Deep Run & MAMA Project
The worship space at Maranatha Menonita church.

That week we traveled to a remote community each day, setting up a clinic to give parasite medicine and vitamins and do medical consults.    In addition, a work project was planned in each community.  Our team organizer, Irma Dinora Molina, an involved member in the Honduran Mennonite Church, suggested working in some of the poor struggling Mennonite communities around San Pedro Sula.  This plan was a perfect fit for a team with a Mennonite pastor.  It was a highlight to see Ken connect, pray, and worship with the pastors in these communities.  These are some of Ken’s comments after our trip:

  • The Church is the Hope of the World – In the midst of the poverty, suffering, and brokenness that we encountered in Honduras, we witnessed how the church is a beacon of light and hope. I greatly enjoyed interacting with the pastors. They love the Lord, they love their communities, they believe in the power of prayer, and some of them are literally risking their lives to be pastors!
  • Power of Prayer – The people of Honduras pray often and fervently! We prayed together before beginning our work for the day, we laid hands on and prayed for a vehicle that wasn’t running well, and we experienced answered prayers from our Deep Run East and Honduran friends in various ways throughout the week.
  • Spontaneous Worship/Prayer Experience – Words simply cannot capture the one experience I had of spontaneous worship and prayer among a group of Hondurans as we were finishing a painting job. I clearly witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit and I would describe this as a “modern-day Pentecost experience.”

If worship experiences like these seem intriguing, think about joining even more powerful worship services at Mennonite World Conference in Harrisburg, PA, July 2015.  Our friends in Honduras are anxious to come too…please pray for the visa process.