Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

missional

Mission Possible: Neighbors, small seeds, and a refrigerator

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by Randy Martin & Jacob Curtis

In the summer of 2024, Ambler (PA) Mennonite provided a three-month sabbatical for our pastors. We decided that while they were away, we wanted to get more curious about Jesus’ mandate to love our neighbors. Backed by a Missional Operations Grant from Mosaic Mennonite Conference, we brought in a series of speakers from community organizations. We asked them, “What are you seeing and hearing around Ambler? Who are our neighbors? What gifts are they bringing and what challenges are they facing? And how can we be present with them?”

As we listened to these speakers, we began to make connections. Mark Boorse, the Director of Program Development at Access Services, talked to us about his work with people who are unhoused. He shared a photo of an ice-fishing tent he’d set up for a couple sheltering by the river in Norristown. We recognized them because we had helped them find housing during the winter of 2021! We started to see how our church could be one small part of a whole web of care.

Tom Albright and church members on the prayer walk around Ambler. Photo by Randy Martin.

This connecting phenomenon happened again when our speakers from WeCare Ambler asked if we could partner with them, another church, and a local food cupboard to pay back rent for a mother facing eviction. Together, we paid two-thirds of it. When the woman’s employer heard what we were doing, they agreed to pay the final third. When everything was settled with the landlord, the mother texted us, “Oh wow. Thank you so-o-o much…It was a struggle trying to figure things out. I am so grateful. Thank you.”

State Senator Maria Collett (second from right) was one of the elected representatives who celebrated the launch of the new community fridge at Ambler Mennonite on March 29. Pastor Michelle Curtis in the center. Photo from Maria Collett’s Facebook page.

To process everything we were learning, we turned to Tom Albright, a former pastor of Ripple Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Tom met with us six times, planned question-and-answer sessions with the speakers, and led “circle church” services to discern where we were seeing the kingdom of God in action. He also took us on a prayer walk through Ambler, stopping to pray outside some of the organizations we had learned about earlier as well as important sites from our church’s history.

Retired pastor Tom Albright leading a “circle church” session to reflect on local mission. Photo by Randy Martin.

We see these seeds growing. Several of us are volunteering at a monthly food distribution event led by Chosen 300 Ministries. We recently hosted a free Saturday lunch at the church to celebrate the launch of our new community fridge. The refrigerator is a way to supplement the dry goods that most food pantries offer with fresh foods that require refrigeration. The fridge is located outside our front doors, so people can stop by anytime to take what they need or give what they can. Getting this project off the ground has been a real cooperative effort, with help from local individuals, businesses, and nonprofits.  

Brian Jenkins runs the monthly Chosen 300 food-distribution event in Ambler. Pastor Michelle Curtis is pictured center left. Photo shared by Brian Jenkins.

Ambler Mennonite is also a part of the first cohort of congregations in the new Vibrant Mosaic initiative. We’ll be learning more about local mission and doing more local mission experiments with grant funding. We’re excited to see what God will do next! 

Randy Martin

Randy Martin chairs Ambler’s Ministry Team. 

Jacob Curtis

Jacob Curtis copastors Ambler Mennonite with his wife Michelle. 

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.   

Hybrid Church Plant Blooms in Pembroke Pines, FL 

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by Andrés Castillo

Many of us remember when the COVID-19 pandemic forced churches online. While most have returned to in-person worship, some congregations have found online church to be the new way to worship. Such is the case for a new church in Pembroke Pines, FL, Resplandece Mennonite Church, which will have an entirely virtual pastor. 

Josué Gonzalez of Encuentro de Renovación in Miami, FL dreamt of planting a church in Pembroke Pines, so much so that he offered up his house to host the new church. However, it wasn’t possible to find an Anabaptist pastor in Pembroke Pines, so Leadership Minister Marco Güete suggested starting a virtual and in-person church, using Gonzalez’s house as the base.  

The pastoral candidate they identified was Manuel García, a resident of Barranquilla, Colombia and a former student in the Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispana (SeBAH) who was then studying at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). García had been forming a church body online prior to meeting Güete through AMBS. As new migration policies in Florida were causing people to leave their homes, and it occurred to García to invite them to form a church. “It was a natural process. We just started talking, accompanying people,” García says. “These people formed the church that became Resplandece, but now there is more intentionality.” 

Pastor Manuel García of Resplandece Mennonite Church, his sons Adrian and Esteban, and his wife, Vivi. Photo by Manuel Garcia.

Through Güete, García met Gonzalez, who had the space and desire to plant a new church in Pembroke Pines. “Josué [Gonzalez] video-called me and was very excited. He was showing me the house and where everything would happen,” García remembers. “So in that way, God united many intentions.” 

A team was created to represent Mosaic and support the newly-born Resplandece, including Marco Güete, Noel Santiago, Josué Gonzalez, and Naún Cerrato. This board has been meeting with García monthly, and will eventually be replaced by a church leadership board. For now, García works on Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook Live, and other social media platforms. His first official day as their pastor was December 1, 2023. 

“This is a way that God is using to create new models of church,” Güete says. “The pandemic forced the change quickly and people resisted it. Now we are realizing there is another way to do church.”  

Noel Santiago, Mosaic’s Leadership Minister for Missional Transformation, says that the online aspect helps Mosaic in its global ministry. “These are ongoing steps that come from a long history of face-to-face relationships.” 

García describes his experience with Mosaic as a big house of refuge. “There is a sincerity and tenderness when people from Mosaic talk to you,” he says. “I already felt like a part of Mosaic.” García is currently studying with Mosaic Institute. 

The tech setup for Resplandece’s hybrid services at Josué Gonzales’ house. Photo by Josué Gonzales.

The first service for Resplandece took place on December 24, 2023. Their weekly activities include a Tuesday morning prayer time and Thursday family devotional time. They invite prayer for those leading the new church as well as those who will know Jesus through its ministry. 

Pastor Manuel García loves spending his free time with his sons Esteban (8) and Adrian (6), and his wife Viviana. He also enjoys fishing with his father.

Andrés Castillo

Andrés Castillo is the Intercultural Communication Associate for the Conference. Andrés lives in Philadelphia, PA, and currently attends Methacton Mennonite Church. He loves trying new food, learning languages, playing music, and exploring new places.

Eglise Solidarité et Harmonie Helps Immigrants

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“Hope is a Success Story”

by Eileen Kinch

Eglise Solidarité et Harmonie (Solidarity and Harmony Church), a Mosaic congregation in Philadelphia, PA, has a special missional outreach: the congregation holds clinics to help Haitian immigrants complete immigration-related paperwork. These sessions provide assistance in how to apply for a permit to work in the US.  

Providing legal aid clinics was initially an outgrowth of Pastor Benjamin Toussaint’s work with Parents as Teachers (PAT), an organization that provides in-home visits to help parents understand early childhood development. In this setting, Pastor Benjamin noticed some families experienced a lot of stress when it came to filling out their immigration paperwork. He decided to do something to help. 

Pastor Benjamin spoke with ChiChi Oguekwe of Mennonite Central Committee, who recommended some attorneys who were willing to work pro bono or for low fees.  These attorneys help families to apply for work permits and green cards, as well as to begin the process of filing for political asylum. 

Eventually this legal aid ministry became an outreach of the Eglise Solidarité et Harmonie. Now families request appointments, and legal clinics take place on Monday evenings at the church building. Attorneys and people from the church assist with paperwork throughout the evening. Pastor Benjamin coordinates the program, and the church disperses the funds to attorneys and interpreters. 

Eventually Pastor Benjamin saw that, in addition to legal aid, recent immigrants needed assistance with furniture and clothing, so he brought families to the Care and Share Thrift Shoppes in Souderton, PA, a Conference Related Ministry. The Care and Share Thrift Shoppes have extensive experience with refugee resettlement, and staff give several hours of individualized attention to each family. 

Pastor Benjamin Toussaint (front row, third from the left, next to young man in the green shirt) and families from Haiti finish shopping for clothes and supplies at the Care and Share Thrift Shoppes. Donations to Care and Share have a local and global impact. Photo courtesy of Sarah Bergin and Care & Share.

“Care and Share embraces us and receives us,” said Pastor Benjamin. “They show the love of Christ, and people can see it.” After staff spent three or four hours helping one family furnish an apartment, Pastor Benjamin asked if he could pray a prayer of blessing with the staff, including Sarah Bergin, Executive Director of Care and Share, in gratitude for their ministry.  

The immigrant family and Care & Share staff held hands, prayed, and sang a song. “It was a nice way for us to connect at the end,” remarked Bergin. “We’re in this together.” 

Pastor Benjamin estimates that about 40 people have received help through the church’s legal aid program in the past year.  Many of these people now worship at Eglise Solidarité et Harmonie, and the building is full and overflowing with 100 attenders.  The congregation needs a larger space, and Pastor Benjamin is actively seeking one that will meet the congregation’s needs. 

Along with finding a larger meeting space, Pastor Benjamin has many other hopes and dreams. He would like to start a program in which immigrant families would volunteer at Care and Share, and he also plans to organize an entry-level English class in the fall.  

Working with the immigrant population has its challenges and stresses. Thirty people are currently waiting for legal help, and more people will be emigrating. But Pastor Benjamin points out successes, too. More people are now working and supporting themselves.  

Most important, though, is that Haitian immigrants have hope.  “Hope is a success story,” Pastor Benjamin said. Christ is present and helping in so many ways. 

Eileen Kinch

Eileen Kinch is a writer and editor for the Mosaic communication team. She holds a Master of Divinity degree, with an emphasis in the Ministry of Writing, from Earlham School of Religion. She and her husband, Joel Nofziger, who serves as director of the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, live near Tylersport, PA. They attend Methacton Mennonite Church. Eileen is also a member of Keystone Fellowship Friends Meeting in Lancaster County.

New Wine Mennonite Church: A Mosaic Church Plant in Florida

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By Javier Márquez

Members of Iglesia Seguidores de Cristo, a Mosaic church in Sarasota, FL, are embarking on the challenge of starting a new ministry in Bradenton, FL.

Pastor Jimmy Henriquez, a 62-year-old Honduran, arrived with his wife and two children in the US a little over two years ago. Pastor Juan José Rivera, and the followers of Iglesia Seguidores de Cristo have supported the Henriquez family during this time of transition.  

Pastor Jimmy is now leading this new ministry initiative in Bradenton, FL, which begins like almost every new work: with very few things in hand, an empty trunk filled mostly with hopes and dreams, and the image of a large expansive area waiting to be seeded. 

The motivation for Pastor Jimmy to leave his home country, where he had many years of ministerial experience, was, “To take on new ministerial challenges.” And without fail, that is what he is doing. There is no better word to describe the project of a new church than challenging. Since Pastor Jimmy and his family arrived, they have had a mix of challenges, but have continued to be faithful to their call.  

Pastor Jimmy Henriquez and his family.

Although not yet officially birthed, though breathing and crawling, the new ministry already has a name: New Wine Mennonite Church.  Why New Wine? Because, Pastor Jimmy said, “God will do new things.” For now, the church is already seeking a meeting space and have set times of prayer and Bible study to be held on Wednesday nights, which they call Growth Groups. 

“Bradenton is a town of workers and there is a significant Hispanic population,” explained Pastor Jimmy. “It’s where the cars start from in the morning and where they return to in the evening when they come from Sarasota.”  

The mission is to bring the Kingdom of God closer to those who are working with their hands to build a future. Our prayers and best wishes for this immense project that is already in the heart of Jesus. 

Pastor Jimmy Henriquez and his wife.

Creative Missional Engagement Q&A

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What Churches Do & How They Get the Grant Money

by Eileen Kinch

Q. What is a Missional Operations Grant (MOG)?

A.  Mosaic’s MOGs fund creative ways for Mosaic congregations to do missional activities, both in the immediate community and beyond.  

Q. What does missional mean? (Does this only mean evangelism?)

A. Evangelism is one example of a missional activity. Missional refers to the way congregations participate in the reconciling love of God through Christ. Any activity of the church can be missional.

Q. What is an example of creative missional engagement?

A. Plains Mennonite Church (Hatfield, PA) has a park on its property that is open to the community. Along a path in the park are panels that tell stories about peacemakers and give information about what it means to be a Mennonite. In 2022, Plains Mennonite Church used a MOG to pave its “peace path” so that families with strollers can more easily use it. The paved path also improves mobility for those with physical challenges. 

Plains Mennonite Church used MOG funds to pave their peace park’s path. 
The newly paved path has increased community use. 

Q. What happened after Plains paved the peace path?

A. More people now use the path since it has been paved. Some have expressed gratitude for easier navigation. Families are leaving pedal car toys along the path for other children to use. Families even get together to watch their children race their cars. The paved path allows more people to read about peace, and the path is also building community.

Q. My congregation doesn’t have a peace path. What else can a MOG be used for?

A. Salford Mennonite Church (Harleysville, PA) used the grant to host a “Gardening For Peace” conference in 2022. Over 200 people attended throughout the weekend. John Thomas, a Lenape elder, representatives from Ursinus College, and John Ruth talked about the need for ongoing dialogue with the Lenape community. There were also workshops about various aspects of peace, including one on prison ministry. In the evening, Shane Claiborne and Mike Martin converted a gun into a gardening tool. A video of the event can be found here. 

Q. How did “Gardening For Peace” impact others?

A. In one workshop, ex-inmates shared about their experience of returning to society after serving a prison sentence. These individuals stayed for the evening meal during the conference and later remarked that they really enjoyed the food and fellowship. Ex-inmates do not always experience this.  The Gardening for Peace conference also opened the way for future opportunities for dialogue with the Lenape, as well as for continued commitment to Salford’s peace education and programming. 

Q. My congregation has an idea for a project. How do I find out if the project qualifies for a MOG?

A. Criteria for a grant can be found on Mosaic’s website. Examples of other congregations’ projects can also be found there. 

Q. How does my congregation apply for a MOG?

A. Talk to your leadership minister, who will give you an application. If your application is accepted, your congregation will need to submit a report after the funds are used. This report should inspire other congregations to explore creative ways to live into God’s reconciling love.

Eileen Kinch

Eileen Kinch is part of the Mosaic communication team and works with editing and writing. She holds a Master of Divinity degree, with an emphasis in the Ministry of Writing, from Earlham School of Religion.

Art Goes Where Words Cannot

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By Bonnie Stevenson

Photo by Bonnie Stevenson.

Human trafficking, prison ministry, mental health challenges, and difficult family relationships fill our world. We live in an overstimulated society, and mental illness often goes untreated. As churches and as church leaders, we may not always know how to respond.

But art goes where words cannot. Art therapy helps to express our thoughts and feelings, even when ideas are difficult or impossible to put into words. Being raised in the church by a single mom with five half-brothers and sisters, the need to express myself was ever so real. But when my words didn’t come, Jesus and art stepped into my life, and the healing process began.  

Art therapy is about the process and not the picture content. When I met Gabriel, he was an awesome five-year-old who loved playing with hot wheels and painting with his fingers. He came into my office at church because his mother was very upset that he had strangled his new puppy. She had no idea the rage inside of Gabriel until it surfaced in a time of sensory motor art and listening to soft worship music about Jesus.

I have learned, and am still learning, that art as therapy is only a tool. Creating an atmosphere with songs of adoración (worship), reading the Bible, and using all the colors of the rainbow bring the true healing. 

Photo by Bonnie Stevenson.

I believe God has so many colors in the beautiful rainbow because they express his promises to us as a heavenly father.  

Be thou our vision, oh Lord! We shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace! 

Bonnie Stevenson

Bonnie Stevenson is married to Bob, and they have two adult children. Bob and Bonnie pastor Monte Maria Tierra Prometida Church in Atizapan, Mexico, a Partner in Ministry with Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Bonnie recently completed a certificate in art therapy with the College for Education and Clinical Art Therapy. 

The Bean Bag Project – Zion Mennonite

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Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) Church was recently highlighted as a “Hometown Hero” on Philadelphia’s 6ABC evening news for the work they are doing to help prevent hunger in their community.  To learn more about The Bean Bag Project and to watch the video, click here. 

Our Mosaic Stretches Around the World 

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Last month I had the privilege of traveling with board members of Healthy Niños Honduras (HNH) to bear witness to the work and outreach of this Conference Related Ministry (CRM). For the HNH board, of whom the majority is from Mosaic congregations, this was an opportunity to re-engage after two years of limited travel and engagement due to COVID.  

Healthy Niños Honduras is one of three CRMs whose work extends beyond the US borders.  (The other two are Peace Proclamation Ministries International in India and Taproot in Indonesia.) With these ministries, our Mosaic stretches around the world.   

(L-R) Herman Sagastume, Steve Kriss, & Randy Nyce with donations of water filtration systems. Photo by Marlene Frankenfield.

Healthy Niños Honduras builds on the legacy of the Mama Project founded by Priscilla Benner of the Methacton congregation. HNH Executive Director Herman Sagastume, is part of our Mosaic Conference Board as Chair of the Conference Related Ministries Committee. Herman is a Honduran-born physician who relinquished his medical practice to lead the growing ministry from Pennsylvania. On this trip, I was reminded of the passions of those who lead our CRMs, like Dr. Sagastume, and of the commitment of board members, from across our Conference, who care deeply and serve generously to ensure the health and witness of these diverse ministries. 

Children at the HNH Nutritional Center. Photo by Rick Kratz.

Honduras is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere (after Haiti) with significant needs for nutrition, housing, and education. Honduras is also violent, with its two largest cities — San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa — often appearing in lists of the most dangerous cities in the world. Though we saw evidence of challenging poverty and were careful with our own security, I also saw Honduras as beautiful, friendly, resilient, and full of possibility.   

I realize that others often think of Philadelphia, where I live, as poor and violent as well.  As I stared at the cityscape of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, I was reminded of how the stories we learn about a place are often narrow.  People and places are complex and are often many different things all at once. (See Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s The Danger of a Single Story.) 

In Honduras, we met with leaders of the Mennonite Church there. They shared about their own expanding network of Church-related ministries. We visited the burgeoning bilingual White Dove Mennonite School. We heard of the new community centers for mature adults. We listened to initiatives of youth and young adults who are pushing into mountainous, rural regions with the message of the good news and discovering the depth of human need in these remote communities. 

Community members receive education about safe water. Photo by Rick Kratz.

Coming back from Honduras, I’m grateful for the work of HNH, along with the work of all our Conference Related Ministries, from schools to camps to community centers and retirement communities, large and small, local and international, well-established and just beginning. Last year we welcomed Midian Leadership Project as our newest CRM.  This year we recognize the 125-year legacy of Frederick Living (our oldest CRM and the first Mennonite-related retirement community).  Our mosaic of Conference Related Ministries extends our peaceable witness of Christ in the broken and beautiful world in creative, dynamic, and hopeful ways. I’m grateful that we have prioritized this work and witness anew within our Mosaic structure.  

As Director of Collaborative Ministries, Margaret Zook leads our Mosaic staff team, working with Randy Heacock to connect with CRMs.  Our CRM Committee is made up of persons with diverse experiences and ministry and nonprofit leadership.   

While there are many challenges to our ministry and witness these days, there is still great opportunity as we learn to continue to bear witness together. By sharing our gifts, our passions, and our questions, together we can respond to real needs in our communities and beyond. 

HNH board members pour a concrete floor in Honduras. Photo by Rick Kratz.