Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Jaye Lindo

Listening with Purpose

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Jaye’s profile photo.

Jaye Lindo has a passion for people, listening, and Mosaic Conference, so it was no surprise when she volunteered to work as an intern for the Conference as a Leadership Development Associate for a six-month period.

Lindo is participating in this internship, not for any required degree program, but for her own personal journey of growth.  “I love Mosaic Conference. I want to help by any means necessary,” says Lindo. “God is just saying to me, ‘Feel it out; let them feel you out. Let them experience who God is in you, and you experience who God is through them.’”

Lindo’s internship will primarily be the role of listener. Although Lindo brings many other skills and experiences, such as convention coordinator, church administrator, and youth pastor, her primary gift that she wants to share with the Conference is that of listening. “I’m to listen to what people are saying and to what God is saying, and then help people execute their plans in whatever way they can,” describes Lindo. “I’m an intern so I’m not here to lead or guide, but to listen and help get the ball rolling and what needs to happen to do that.”

Jaye Lindo (right) and her husband, Robert. 
Photo provided by Jaye Lindo.

Another gift that Lindo enjoys sharing with others is her interest in intercession and prayer. “The Spirit of God is what I am attracted to,” explains Lindo. “I find the Holy Spirit to be the Helper/ Friend and that is what I like to embody. There are plenty of scholarly pastors,” Lindo continues, “but I want to hear you and I want to listen like God will listen to you.”

Lindo is working with a variety of committees and groups in the Conference. She is serving as one of the guides for the discussion groups on Drew Hart’s book, Who Will Be a Witness. Lindo is also helping the youth formation team create opportunities for youth and youth leaders to talk about racial issues and other “deep things that matter,” says Lindo.

Lindo lights up when she is asked about youth ministry. Lindo’s interest for youth is rooted in her belief that everyone matters. “I love kids, and they love me, but being a youth is hard,” Lindo shares. She hopes to be a compassionate, caring person in their lives so that they can share that with others.

Although Lindo’s internship will have her involved in a variety of aspects of Conference life, she has many other roles. She is the pastor of 7 Ways Home Fellowship, a Mosaic Conference church plant in Bowie, Maryland. She also is currently enrolled in three courses on spiritual direction, church leadership, and biblical interpretation, not for any specific degree, but to keep growing in knowledge.

When she isn’t busy with church life or her studies, Lindo loves to spend time with her husband, Robert, and their three adult daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren. Her favorite place to be is any place with water: the beach, a lake, or fishing on a dock.

Jaye Lindo (center) is surrounded by her family.
Photo provided by Jaye Lindo.

Lindo exudes energy and joy in her interactions. Even though she knows there are moments in life that are serious, she also values humor. “I can find the funny in almost any situation,” admits Lindo. “It’s almost painful sometimes. People want you to be serious all the time, but I can find humor in most anything.”  

Shalom Fund Shatters Initial Goal

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by Sue Conrad Howes, Communication Associate

 In April, Mosaic Conference leaders recognized the financial toll that COVID-19 would take on many people in the conference and beyond. The Shalom Fund was quickly organized as an effort to raise funds to share with our most vulnerable communities. 

The initial goal of the Shalom fund was $100,000. To date, the Shalom Fund has raised $151,080.07, smashing past the original goal.  Of the funds raised, $100,000 has been distributed to a wide variety of people and organizations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, California, and Florida, as well as Honduras, Mexico, and India. Four Conference Related Ministries and 17 congregations have received funds. Some funds assisted ministry expenses while other funds were distributed to assist congregations in their outreach to persons in need.

Beny Krisbianto, pastor of Nations Worship (Philadelphia, PA), noticed needs early on in South Philly. He rallied his congregation and, by early April, their congregation was distributing grocery bags containing basic supplies to their neighbors. They distributed about 40 bags each week.

Food is collected and distributed by members of Nations Worship (Philadelphia, PA) for their neighbors during COVID-19. Shalom Fund donations enabled the congregation to expand its weekly distribution from 40 households to 100. Photo credit: Beny Krisbianto

Eventually, Mosaic Conference offered to financially supplement the work of Nations Worship. Krisbianto was easily able to find more households in need in their neighborhood and, using Shalom Funds, the grocery bag project expanded. Soon, Nations Worship was distributing 100 grocery bags one or two times per week.  

Many of the recipients were not familiar with the congregation at first, but the church saw their needs and helped.  As a result, “Some of them ended up joining our virtual worship or coming to our church services,” reported Krisbianto. “We are able to connect and build good relationships with new people in a way that we could express the love of Jesus during this time.”

When the Shalom Fund was first introduced in April, donors responded immediately. “When the reality hit of what stay-at-home orders meant, I desperately wanted to help,” shared Dawn Moore, Souderton (PA) congregation. “I have the utmost trust in Mosaic to shepherd resources carefully to areas with the greatest need.”

Jaye Lindo, church planter for Mosaic conference in Bowie, MD, was the first donor to the conference’s Shalom Fund, which has now raised over $150,000 to help those in need due to the pandemic.

Jaye Lindo, a church planter with Mosaic Conference in Bowie, MD, did not hesitate to give when she learned of the Shalom Fund. “As a leader, Mosaic Conference had blessed me with love when I needed it the most,” reported Lindo. “When the opportunity was presented to give, I had to be one of the first.”

The donation to the Shalom Fund from Lindo and her congregation, 7 Ways Home Fellowship, was an opportunity to be a part of the conference work. “It was a heartfelt blessing for us to be able to say to our entire Mosaic Community, who may not know much about our little home fellowship, that we are here, and we care.”

The needs for food, hand sanitizer, gloves, utilities, assistance with rent, and pastoral and member support continue in our communities, so the funds will continue to be used as needed most.

“I’m really grateful for the ways that the Shalom Fund has given opportunities to share across our conference,” said Steve Kriss, Executive Minister. “I’ve been overwhelmed by people’s generosity to each other and to their communities. People have gone above and beyond.”

While the success of the Shalom Fund has surpassed all expectations, Lindo offers a further challenge. “Could we do more and are the needs being met?” Lindo said when she heard that the fund had far surpassed its initial goal. “My heart does not want anyone to lack. So I say, can we make it $250,000? God is still speaking. Are we listening and obeying?”