Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Mosaic News en Español

Walking with Mosaic: A Historic Encounter

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by Javier Márquez

Between February 5 and 12, 2025, Medellín was the scene of a historic meeting that marked a new chapter in this process of transformation and movement that we are experiencing in the Mosaic Conference. A team of seven people from different countries—the United States, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia—traveled to the Colombian city to meet with pastors and leaders of Christian communities in Colombia, especially from the Anabaptist Community of Medellín, Resplandece Mennonite Church (Pembroke Pines, FL, Barranquilla, Colombia, and hybrid)—ministries that are part of the Conference—and the Shalom Anabaptist Christian Church of Cartagena. The purpose of the meeting was twofold: to strengthen ties between the communities and to witness the pastoral licensing of Manuel García and Carlos Sánchez as new pastors within Mosaic Conference. 

The visiting Mosaic board and staff members at the home of a sister of the Anabaptist Community of Medellín. Photo by Javier Márquez.

“The Colombian churches and leaders have been involved in God’s mission for a long time, Mosaic Conference noticed it, called them, and is walking with them,” reflected Leadership Minister Marco Güete. “The meeting in Medellín was an awakening guided by the Spirit of God.” From the beginning, the atmosphere was marked by fellowship, reflection, and the desire to share. 

“I discovered that God has a plan for each of these leaders and that they are ready to walk with Mosaic,” reflected Sandra Guëte. This feeling of walking together with mutual support was reflected throughout the visit. 

Pastors Carlos Sánchez (left) and Manuel García after receiving their credentials and mugs from Mosaic Conference. Photo by Javier Márquez.

The culminating moment was the pastoral licensing ceremony. Manuel García, pastor of Resplandece Mennonite, shared his emotion upon receiving his acceptance into Mosaic Conference: “The day I received the message that I was accepted to be licensed was unforgettable. I hugged my wife and cried with happiness. My mind traveled through the memories, the processes and the experiences that God allowed me to live until that moment.”

Likewise, Carlos Sánchez, pastor of the Anabaptist Community of Medellín, expressed, “Being part of Mosaico as a credentialed pastor and baptizing a small group of new brothers and sisters in the faith is an achievement for my life. It is one more step that God has affirmed in his mercy.”

In addition to these moments of joy and emotion, there was a space for community reflection led first by Ismael Conchacala Gil, a Wiwa indigenous Christian leader from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and then by Nidia Montoya, leader of the Anabaptist Community of Medellín. First, Conchacala shared a message about Luke 18 and, later, Montoya guided us in an exercise of expressing our feelings about these relationships that were emerging. In this context, the group “Walking with Mosaico” was born, which brings together Colombian pastors and leaders.

Working meeting with all the attendees. Photo by Jennifer Svetlik.

The cultural exchange was one of the most significant riches of this meeting. “The trip gave us the opportunity to connect and learn from each other while we traveled to different places in Colombia. We enjoyed delicious meals, drank good coffee, and had meaningful conversations and moments of communion. We got to know each other better,” said Mosaic Conference Leadership Minister for Mission Noel Santiago. The visits to the homes of the members of the Medellín community, the touristic activities, and the fellowship further enriched the meeting.

Sister Keila Barrero, who was accompanied by her husband Santiago Góngora, also shared about the experience lived during this meeting: “The opportunity to share with the pastors and leaders of Mosaico in various settings made this a valuable and enriching time. In addition, the welcome and attention provided made this experience a significant memory for us as a family.” These words reflect the sense of community and human warmth that characterized this historic meeting.

Santiago Góngotra and Keila Barrero. Photo by Javier Márquez.

For many, this trip was unforgettable, not only for the cultural and spiritual context, but for the human connection that was established. “I will never forget these two and a half days together,” shared Malka Blanco.

(from left) Marco Güete, Eliécer Virola, Malka Blanco, and Haroldo Nunes. Photo by Javier Márquez.

Pastor Eliécer Virola also expressed with enthusiasm: “My experience of this meeting with Mosaic was spectacular. What God is preparing in the spiritual sphere, what God is going to do in the church, is great.” His testimony reflects the vision and hope that the group shared during their meeting in Medellin.

Thus, in this historic meeting, Walking with Mosaic was born, both as a group of leaders united by faith, and as a tangible expression of the work that God is doing in Colombia and throughout the region. As Mosaic Conference continues to grow, “Let us be attentive to the voice of the Lord, wherever He calls us to get up and go,” encouraged Noel Santiago.

Javier Márquez

Javier Márquez is Writer & Communication Coordinator for Mosaico Colombia. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.

The Resilience and Faith of Hispanic Church Pastors During Hurricane Milton

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By Javier Márquez  

Hurricane Milton’s passage through Florida left a trail of destruction, but it also became a moment of strength and hope for the Hispanic churches of the Mosaic Conference. The pastors of these communities experienced uncertainty, yet their stories reveal unwavering faith and a supportive network that kept them steadfast through the storm.

Preparations and Protection

Pastors Secundino Casas and Haroldo Núñez, along with other conference leaders, shared their experiences of preparing for Hurricane Milton. Pastor Casas recounted how, despite having time to prepare, they focused on gathering essential supplies like water, canned food, and gas. They also boarded up windows to protect their homes from strong winds.

“The first thing we did was entrust ourselves to God in prayer, and then we took shelter in a place we considered safe,” he said. This initial act of prayer was a shared response among pastors, who saw faith as an additional layer of protection.

Pastor Núñez added that their preparation included practical measures such as securing windows and doors and having a generator ready for days without electricity. They closely monitored weather reports to stay informed about the storm’s progression and evacuation needs.

“Staying calm was key. We knew what was coming but didn’t let ourselves panic,” Pastor Núñez emphasized.

The Storm: Faith and Resilience Amid the Crisis

As Hurricane Milton hit, the pastors faced uncertainty with trust in God. Despite calls from concerned family and friends, the community remained united in faith.

“We trusted that God would take care of us,” said Pastor Núñez. This calmness was vital during moments of difficulty, especially when communication and electricity were lost.

However, emotions were mixed. While their faith remained steadfast, conflicting feelings arose. Pastor Casas expressed that, on one hand, he fully trusted in God’s protection, yet on the other, he felt some guilt for not leaving Florida before the storm, particularly as he saw fear in his daughters’ eyes.

“Although my faith stayed strong, I felt helpless and guilty seeing the fear in my daughters,” he shared.

Community as a Pillar: Mutual Support During the Storm

The church and local community played a crucial role during and after the storm. Pastor Núñez highlighted the support from church leaders who sent encouraging messages and the active involvement of neighbors in Ellenton.

“The greatest support came from our neighbors. Everyone was helping each other,” he noted.

Despite material damages, including fallen trees, destroyed fences, and damaged roofs, the unity and faith within the community stood out. Pastor Casas described the strength of the faith community:

“Shalom is a very close-knit community, and in situations like this—good or bad—we always come together.”

This unity was evident in the mutual support shared throughout the emergency.

Aftermath: Damage, Challenges, and Hope for Recovery

After the hurricane passed, the damages were significant, but thankfully, there were no fatalities.

“The hurricane struck around 9 p.m., and although the 100 mph winds caused some damage, there were no fatalities,” Pastor Núñez reported. Fallen trees and twisted fences were the most visible damages, but the community quickly began repairs.

Pastor Casas faced flooding on his property and the loss of several trees.

“It was devastating to see the destruction, but at the same time, we knew God had spared our lives,” he expressed with gratitude.

Despite the material losses, the community remained resilient, driven by faith.

An Unyielding Inspiration: Trust in God’s Promises

Throughout the hurricane, both pastors found inspiration and comfort in Scripture. Pastor Núñez recalled Psalm 27:1, which gave them peace and hope:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”

Pastor Casas leaned on the promise of Matthew 28:20, reminding them that God is always with them, even in the most challenging circumstances.

A Testament of Faith, Unity, and Strength

The pastors’ and their communities’ response to Hurricane Milton stands as a testament to faith, unity, and resilience. Despite the damages and fears, their hope in God and mutual support were the pillars that sustained them through the storm.

This experience not only strengthened the local church but also highlighted the power of community during times of crisis.

The Spirit of Habit, the Habit of Spirit 

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by Marco Güete

I have a friend who I admire for his routines and habits; I confess that I would like to imitate him. Every day he gets up and goes to bed at the same time. He says he sleeps eight hours without taking medications to help him sleep, he goes to the gym the same days each week, he eats his meals every day at the same times. Those are my friend’s good habits.  

The truth is that as human beings we have a lot of good and bad habits. This conversation with my friend prompted me to research habits by reading books and listening to lectures on the subject. Now I understand more clearly Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” 

We have the privilege of living in a volatile era, where everything is fleeting and transitory. Those of us who make up the church are not spared from the feelings of sudden and radical changes. What was is no longer, and what is, will not be. In our digital world, full of devices, new things emerge constantly and so quickly that it is difficult to adjust to the changes.  

These challenges make it complex to improve our habits and routines. I say complex, but not impossible. How long does it take to form a new habit that makes us happy? James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits (p. 75) answers, “Habit formation is the process by which a behavior becomes progressively more automatic through repetition. The more you repeat an activity, the more the structure of your brain changes to become efficient at that activity…Repeating a habit leads to clear physical changes in the brain.”  

“For everything there is a season…” The writer of Ecclesiastes anticipated what awaited us in this century without knowing it. When we attempt to do many things at the same time, we make mistakes and become stressed, and in turn that stress causes us innumerable physical and mental problems.  

I invite you to acquire the good habit that this text advises you: Do one thing at a time, well, with passion and dedication. Let us remember that “There is an appointed time for everything.” Work which cannot be done on the day for mission or ministry must wait its turn, because we are simply humans who love God and ourselves. 

Marco Güete

Marco Güete is the Leadership Minister for Florida for Mosaic Conference.

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.

Fernando Pérez and his Wife Rebeca Torres Building a Mennonite Community in the State of Morelos, Mexico

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In the State of Morelos, Mexico, is the eternal springtime. Throughout the year the sun falls on the heads of all its inhabitants but crossing the meadows and coming down from the mountains comes a breeze that makes living in Morelos a much more bearable activity.

In this place live our friends Fernando Pérez and Rebeca Torres, pastors of many years and who served not long ago in Denver, Colorado, together with the Mennonite Church helping immigrants.

Today they have a mission there and the Mosaic Conference is strengthening ties with them while looking at ways to help and cooperate with this ministry.

For Fernando and Rebeca, it is very important to introduce themselves to the community first as neighbors and create bonds of friendship and trust before going “door to door, street to street” preaching. They say that the most important thing is to be a community, long before CREATING an Anabaptist community. That is why they have also connected with different spheres of neighborhood help.

But in parallel, two meetings for prayer and biblical reflection have also begun, one virtual and the other face-to-face. The virtual community that started in 2020 already brings together 11 people, it is called LOS ANABAPTISTAS DEL CAMINO, and it brings together, above all, brothers, and sisters with a professional profile.

The other community, the face-to-face, is with the residents of the community of Morelos. They meet on Thursdays to pray and read the Bible. It still does not have any official Anabaptist character because for Fernando and Rebeca the most important thing is the exercise of theology more than the discourse… that story is explained in due time.

But the mission does not end there, our brothers are also connected with a center to help Central American migrants in the town of Cuautla and with a group of families who are looking for those who have disappeared due to violence.

“We would like the Mosaic Conference to have in the future an accompaniment represented by volunteers who come to learn about the mission and to help, also from a cultural exchange perspective. It is also important to promote the projects, with the help of some financial resources. What we do with immigrants, for example, is often very limited by the limited capacity for action that we have” explains Fernando Pérez.

Reborn and Learning to Dance in the Rain

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Translated into English by Andrés Castillo

Editor’s Note: This is the conclusion to Pastor Dania Hernández’s Call to Ministry story (Part one and Part two are available). Hernández is Pastor of Peña de Horeb, a Mosaic congregation in Philadelphia, PA.  

In the book, The Artisan Soul, Erwin McManus wrote, “Beyond despair, there must always be hope, beyond betrayal, there must always be a story of forgiveness; beyond failure there must always be a story of resistance. If the story of Jesus ended on the cross it could be a story worth telling, but that story could never give life. Only the resurrection can generate life again.”

Forgiveness from any perspective is beneficial. Forgiveness made it possible for Pastor Dania Hernández to be reborn. Dania did not want to spend her life upset and depressed. She longed to meet herself again. To live. To dream. To be restored. Not to be afraid to love and be loved.

Her story appeared to be a failure, a social disqualification. Contrary to what she perhaps thought, this story became the material from which God worked. There was no tear that God did not wipe away, no prayer that God did not hear, no fear from which God did not deliver her. Only when Dania learned to dance in the rain, only when she understood that the one who decides to forgive is the one who makes the greatest act of self-respect, the chains that had tied her no longer controlled her, and she was finally free.

She found rest that goes beyond all human reasoning, offered by the Holy Spirit who, with a tender and gentle whisper, sang in her ear, “Do not be afraid, I am here with you, do not lose heart. No situation, however hard it may be, will last forever. You can count on me, my love for you is forever.”

I Fell in Love and Got Married Again

Pastor Dania concludes her story with these words:

“I never thought I could be restored, much less love again. I thought that my life ended in the long and painful process of divorce. I was left with nothing, in financial ruin. I longed to love again, wished to study in a Bible seminary, but saw no opportunity.

When everything seemed lost, I envisioned hope in Jesus. His love allowed me to dance in the rain. I understood so many things. God restored me. I recovered financially. I fell in love again and got married again. I approached the heart of God like never before and started studying at the Anabaptist Bible Institute (IBA) where I thank Marco Güete and Violeta Ajquejay Suastegui for all the support they gave me.”

What One Day Was, But is No Longer

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Translated into English by Andrés Castillo

Editor’s note: This is part two of Dania Hernández’s call story. Part one is available here. Hernández is Pastor of Peña de Horeb, a Mosaic congregation in Philadelphia, PA.

Life for Hernández in the US began in a less conventional way. Confident that this was what she wanted, she did not look back for a single moment and moved forward. Her relationship with her boyfriend strengthened and soon she became his wife and the mother of his three children. They put down roots and decided to fight for life in the country of opportunity.

That’s how the first twenty years passed, years in which Hernández experienced great joys, along with deep sorrows. Among the moments she counts as blessings is having been reunited with God and overcoming the many challenges she encountered along the way.

Hernández felt a deep desire to serve God and was called to be a pastor. Doors opened for an opportunity in a Mennonite faith community called Peña de Horeb in Philadelphia, PA. Everything seemed perfect. She had what she had always dreamed of: a cozy home and economic stability.

What happens when all this begins to fall apart? How do you deal with fear? How do you face the moments of darkness that enclose your life? How do you coexist between what once was, but is no longer?

Divorce and a Dead End

Love is defined in many ways: a feeling of affection towards another human being or one thing; the free decision to feel affinity for others or others; the greatest force that moves the human being. Love never comes without wounds.

Life had begun to become difficult for the married couple. The constant psychological abuse and humiliation that Pastor Dania experienced from her husband made her lose herself in a dead-end. Her self-love waned to such an extent that this was reflected in her gaze, her body, her skin, and the constant anxiety she experienced. Pastor Dania was followed by pain generated by the separation from her husband.

“A part of one always knows that it can all end,” Hernández said sadly. “She perceives it, discerns it, but doesn’t understand it. The signs or red flags that appear on the road are as obvious as the coldness of a conversation, the loneliness in each other’s company, the silence generated by the distance, the uncomfortable looks. One becomes blind out of fear of letting go, when in reality letting go is the most beautiful act of freedom.”

Pastor Dania would have loved for the story with her ex-husband to have been different. Unfortunately, her story, her wounds, and her scars cannot be erased. They remain there to remind her that if she had not traveled this path, she might not have become the woman she is today: a tolerant, compassionate woman, full of love and courage, who, in the midst of the deepest dark waters, was able to come to the surface and raise her head high.

Pastor Dania’s call story will conclude next week with part III.

Goodbye, Beloved Nicaragua

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Translated into English by Andrés Castillo

Editor’s Note: Dania Hernández is Pastor of Peña de Horeb, a Mosaic congregation in Philadelphia, PA. This is part one of Pastor Dania’s call to ministry story.

Dania Hernández finds her story in the many places she has traveled. At 20 years old, still living with her family in Nicaragua, she decided to embark on a journey of no return to the United States, accompanied by her boyfriend. Every place she traveled, every meal she tasted, every scent she smelled, every person she met, every decision she made, led her to the experiences that make up her existence.

From her resilient and moving story, she shares with us the difficult and dangerous passage across the border between Mexico and the United States. Was she aware of the danger to which she was exposed? What happened after she arrived in the United States? How would she overcome the harshest circumstances? Can forgiveness make rebirth possible?

Leaving Nicaragua, the Gallo Pinto, and Half of Her Life

Hernández left Nicaragua, and with it, half of her life. The comforting Gallo Pinto dish on Sundays, the parties with friends, the warm Christmases, the naps after lunch, the refuge of her home. The road to the US is long and strange, but at the same time exciting and wonderful; it is a mixture of sweet and sour sensations “that stir inside you,” said Hernández.

“I felt like I was in a movie,” said Pastor Dania. “For me, it was more of an adventure of youth. I was not aware of the dangers I faced, and without realizing it, I was the protagonist of the film of my life, where God took care of every step I took.”

No matter how difficult and dangerous it was to move forward on the road that would lead to her American dream, she did not hesitate for a second. In a firm and safe step together with her boyfriend at the time, she crossed the long and dangerous road along the border—a path full of thick and dense vegetation. They slept and ate in makeshift places. That didn’t matter, because she was getting closer and closer to reaching the goal they had visualized.

Sometimes during the day, she and the other group of people she was traveling with in a cargo truck were transported, while at night they were dropped off somewhere else where they had to travel long distances to get near the desert. On other occasions it was the opposite, where they walked during the day in high temperatures, fearing heat stroke. They had not yet reached the border, but Dania felt so alive, so full of faith and hope for the new life she would start.

She was finally able to reach the border. Her passage was not traumatic, but along the way she had to say goodbye to other people who could not reach that goal because death met them.

“Against all odds,” said Hernández, “we were able to reach Philadelphia, where a church brother became our support.”

Part two of Pastor Dania’s story continues next week.