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Lisa Stenger

2024 Mosaic Women’s Event: Unity

May 2, 2024 by Cindy Angela

By Lisa Stenger, Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA)  

Cheering and laughter erupted as Pastor Leticia Cortes (Centro de Alabanza, Philadelphia, PA) sprints into the room, wearing a big smile. Cortes opened this year’s Mosaic women’s event with a powerful message from Ephesians 1: All praise of God’s glorious forgiveness, grace, and love for us through our Lord Jesus Christ, who blesses us with hope and peace, guaranteeing our inheritance because we have been chosen.  

Participants sing together in worship. Photo by Marta Castillo. 

Over 53 women of different ages and geographical areas (including Colombia, California, and Florida) and 18 Mosaic congregations, gathered on Saturday, April 27, for an unforgettable time of fellowship, spiritual growth, and worship. Ripple (Allentown, PA) hosted the event, which was also offered by Zoom and hosted by members of the Mosaic Sistering Committee, Sandra Güete (Sarasota, FL) and Michelle Curtis (Ambler, PA). Marina Stevan (Indonesian Light, Philadelphia, PA) led worship, which was celebrated in English, Spanish, and Indonesian. Translators were also key to building unity in communicating. 

Guest speaker Sue Park-Hur, Director of Racial/Ethnic Engagement for Mennonite Church USA, shared how, as women, when we struggle, we often try to hold our lives together by ourselves. We opened in prayer with Matthew 11:28-30 MSG, expressing how we are not alone, and God intends for us to live as one body.  

In John 17:20-23, Jesus had an intimate powerful conversation in prayer, demonstrating oneness with God. The disciples were sent in complete unity, and Jesus sends us to experience this same oneness and deep love together. The entire gospel of John invites us to practice this oneness. 

How do we do this? 

#1 Hospitality: Receiving a person with a heart of hospitality. Showing love for friends and strangers by washing their feet and providing them with food and shelter. What does this look like in your culture? 

#2 Invitation: Help others see Christ in our lives. Jesus invites us to risk rejection to invite strangers to experience oneness. The journey of discipleship and self-giving love is to serve, and you will also be served.  

Unity is found in radical hospitality rooted in Christ’s love. Jesus offers us sacrificial love, forgiveness, and restoration. The women gathered enjoyed small group table discussions in response to the message, to dig deeper and share ways they practiced love to others. 

Fellowship during lunch. Photo by Marta Castillo.

Charlene Smalls, Ripple pastor and member of the Faith and Life Commission, planned and served a delicious homemade meal made by volunteers. Each table was set with a stunning bouquet centerpiece of multi-colored flowers wrapped around pens. The sisters of Centro de Alabanza crafted these for us to take notes during session time. We enjoyed some brief time with the children before they returned to the childcare volunteers to continue their fun.  

In the afternoon session, women were invited to partner to express this oneness in love by drawing a cross onto each other’s hands and saying to their sister in Christ, “The Christ who lives in me, lives in you.” We held hands and worshiped with praise in song and prayer.  

Jenny Bishop-Kempf (Deep Run East), led a craft of glass bead magnets that magnified the words from John 17. These beautiful pieces will be a blessed reminder of Jesus’ love that lives in us and that we share with others.  

Curtis concluded the event with remarks focusing on our Lord’s sacrificial love, partaking in communion, and reminding us that the Christ living in us unites us.  

In the afternoon, women made a magnet craft using words from John 17. Photo by Marta Castillo. 

Lisa Stenger

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 Nominating 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.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Lisa Stenger, Sistering committee, Women's Gathering

What One Question Can Lead To

July 7, 2022 by Conference Office

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.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Deep Run East, Deep Run West, Line Lexington, Lisa Stenger, Souderton

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