Editor’s Note: Haroldo Nunes (Seguidores de Cristo [Sarasota, FL]) joined the Mosaic Conference board in January 2025 as the Conference-Related Ministry Committee Chair. Read his call story below and get to know our newest board member!
I am an ordained Mennonite minister with Mosaic Conference. My undergraduate degree is from a Brazilian university, I have taken seminary classes through Mennonite Education Agency, and I am currently studying toward a degree at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
Nearly 20 years ago, I moved to Wayne County, Ohio, to serve as pastor at Salem Mennonite Church in Wooster, Ohio and as the executive director of Open Arms Hispanic Ministries.
I helped to transform Salem Mennonite into a multicultural community of faith where Anglos, Hispanics, and African Americans worship the Lord together, loving and helping each other.
Open Arms is an organization that accompanies Latino immigrants in building a safe and sustainable life. In 2018, moved by the dire and increasing needs of immigrants in the community, I resigned from Salem’s pastoral team and became the full-time executive director and pastor of Open Arms.
The experiences of suffering, fear, and the separation of families moved me deeply into this next stage of my calling, where in a full-time role I welcomed immigrants in the community and walked with them, assisting them with material and spiritual needs.
I also represented Iglesia Menonita Hispana, a racial/ethnic constituency group of Mennonite Church USA, on the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Great Lakes Board for almost 12 years.
Two years ago, after leading Open Arms to its respected and valued role in the community, I resigned from my position to move closer to family in Ellenton, Florida.
I am currently looking for the next assignment to serve in the Kingdom of God, and I am glad to be a part of Mosaic Conference.
I am married to Esmirna, who is originally from Bolivia. Together we have three young adult children. La familia Nunes Maldonado se siente bendecida por sus ministerios y su nuevo ministerio en la conferencia Mosaico (The Nunes Maldonado family feels blessed by our new ministry in the Mosaic Conference). The Nunes family can really feel God’s hand over their lives and past ministries.
