Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Summer Service Worker Program

Young People to Learn From This Summer, Part II

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Editor’s Note: This summer, five young adult interns from Mosaic Conference are participating in the Summer Service Program, a ten-week program for young adults of color sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). This article highlights two of those interns. Read last week’s article to learn about two other interns.   

Syerafina Himawan (center in yellow shirt), summer intern at Philadelphia Praise Center, assists with Peace Camp. Photo by Philadelphia Praise Center.

Syerafina Himawan, 18, was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and raised in south Philadelphia, PA. She attended Folk Arts – Cultural Treasures (FACT) Charter School in Chinatown, where she could connect with Asian-American peers. She later graduated from Central High school in north Philadelphia, where she began a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club.

Himawan’s work this summer is at Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC), her home congregation. Earlier this summer, she worked at PPC’s Peace Camp for three weeks, a day camp for children. Peace Camp participants interacted with kids from the community, heard Bible stories, and listened to guest speakers. A highlight for Himawan was seeing how the kids grew spiritually within three weeks.

Since Himawan grew up at PPC and attended camps as a child, she knows the impact camp can have on a child’s life. PPC did not have Peace Camp last year, due to the pandemic, and she wanted to be part of bringing it back.

Planning the camp was a challenge, Himawan says, because she struggles with organization and doesn’t always find it easy to ask for help. This year’s number of participants was low, due to COVID-19. For Himawan, this made her realize that spreading the message of Christ’s peace was even more important than ever.

She knows that Mosaic Conference stands for diversity, and her interactions with the Conference have been meaningful. She hopes more awareness about Mosaic will spread to young people and church members. In early July, Himawan attended MennoCon 2021 in Cincinnati, OH, describing it as “more intimate” than past years due to attendance restrictions.

Himawan enjoys sports, especially field hockey. and reading young adult fiction. She will begin studying political science at Drexel University in Philadelphia in the fall.

Marciella Shallomita (far left) teaches at Nations Worship’s VBS. Photo by Andrés Castillo.

Marciella Shallomita, 18, is a member of Nations Worship Center in Philadelphia, PA. She was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and moved to Philadelphia when she was eight. This summer, she is working with her church’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) program, which runs Tuesday through Friday. The children experience Bible stories, lessons, and worship led by Pastor Beny Krisbianto.

In 2019, Shallomita experienced the success of her church’s VBS the first year it was held and was looking forward to its second year before the pandemic prevented it. As Nations Worship planned its VBS for this year, Shallomita was eager to return. During the pandemic, she learned how to play the guitar and cajon, in order to assist with worship.

Although VBS can be tiring, Shallomita feels a responsibility to help, as a member of Nations Worship Center. Serving at church is a part of living for her. It’s something Shallomita has grown up with, and she has learned that she’s not just serving her church, but also her community.

On Saturdays, Shallomita participates in a kids’ zoom meeting and youth service. She assists Pastor Beny and Pastor Angelia with worship for Azusa St. Prayer Tower, a 24/7 broadcast that connects churches from Indonesia, the US, and Canada. On Sundays, she plays on the worship team and interprets sermons for non-Indonesian speakers.

Although she spends a lot of time during worship on stage, playing the keyboard and other instruments, Shallomita values behind-the-scenes work. “You don’t have to be seen in order to do it,” she emphasizes.

Shallomita enjoys music, volleyball, tennis, and badminton. She recently graduated from Dock Mennonite Academy in Lansdale, PA and will attend Eastern Mennonite University In Harrisonburg, VA to study biology and neuroscience.

Young People to Learn From This Summer

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Editor’s Note: This summer, five young adult interns from Mosaic Conference are participating in the Summer Service Program, serving in various places and ministries. Summer Service Program is a ten-week program for young adults of color by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). This article highlights two interns, and in the coming week, you will be introduced to the remaining three.

Dmarcos Ramos (center with mask), a Mosaic summer intern, among community members in Homestead, FL. Photo provided by Dmarcos Ramos.

Dmarcos Ramos, 23, came to the US from Guatemala at the age of eight. He is currently a student at Florida International University. He is the son of Samuel Ramos, pastor at Ministerio Cristiano Monte Sion (MCMS), in Miami, FL.

Ramos has been attending MCMS since he first came to the US. He believes that churches are not only called to congregate, but also to help others. This summer, Ramos is offering support for immigrant families who are secluded from the city of Homestead, FL. Food, hygiene products, and the Word of God are provided to the immigrant families. Often, the children (and Ramos) play soccer together. As an eight-year-old who felt lost and confused in a new country, Ramos is grateful for the opportunity to serve other immigrants who are experience similar things. For him, this ministry is personal.

Scripture inspires Ramos to make the world better and spread Christ’s peace. In serving, he prefers hands-on work to preaching. “You show that there is something different about you,” Ramos explains. “Then, they’ll be interested to know what you’re about, and you share the Word.”

The DREAM Act allowed Ramos to work and study in the US, and he thanks God for his academic success. He considers challenges a natural part of ministry and enjoys solving problems creatively. One of his challenges is looking for consistent commitments from others, as he holds himself to a high standard of excellence when he serves. During the pandemic, ensuring safety has also been a challenge Ramos has had to face.

When he isn’t assisting with needs for immigrants, Ramos is helping with renovations at his church in Miami. He will soon complete his college degree in architecture. Ramos hopes to continue his education to achieve a position that allows him to minister on a larger scale. He is grateful that organizations, like Mosaic Conference, exist to offer peace and justice and spread the Good News.

Ramos plays drums at his church, is a cycling enthusiast, and enjoys being outdoors, fishing, drawing, and collecting world currency. After college, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in Construction Management.

Isaiah Mason, Mosaic summer intern, in Charleston, WV. Photo by Midian Leadership Project Facebook Page.

Isaiah Mason, 21, has lived in Charleston, WV his whole life. Serving and bettering his home community is important to him.

This summer, he is working as the head of maintenance at a community center informally called “Safe Haven.” Safe Haven is run by Midian Leadership Project, a nonprofit that funds New Hope Community Church’s (NHCC) events. NHCC is a new church, and holds its services in the gymnasium of one of Safe Haven’s two buildings.

Along with keeping things in order on the premises, Mason preaches periodically at NHCC and plays basketball with the boys who come to Safe Haven. Mason learns by doing and seeing—his ministry this summer has helped him learn what works and doesn’t work in youth ministry. It is sometimes a challenge to understand others and the motives for actions and reactions.

Mason has lived through what many people at the community center have also experienced. He can relate to them, which is important when violence and difficult domestic issues are part of the community’s atmosphere.

Mason values the work that Mosaic Conference does in communities, attacking problems in ways that work. He also appreciates the genuineness of Mosaic members. He hopes to see more outreach to young people in the future through social media and involvement for children who are middle school-age and younger.

Mason loves playing football, and is a student at Palmer University, earning a degree in Youth Ministry.

Young Adults Take Lead in Times of Trouble

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by Cindy Angela, Digital Communication Associate

Over the summer months, four young adults worked as summer service workers in four Mosaic Conference congregations.  Graciella Odelia (Nations Worship Center, Philadelphia PA), Christopher Jong (Philadelphia Praise Center, Philadelphia PA), Ser Luther (Whitehall congregation, Allentown, PA), and Alex Padilla (International Worship Church, San Gabriel, CA) participated in a ten-week program through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) that helps young adults of color in the U.S. cultivate their leadership skills within their community.

Graciella Odelia distributed groceries in South Philadelphia with the help of Mosaic Shalom Fund.
Photo provided by Graciella Odelia

As the needs in the community shifted due to the pandemic, the summer workers and their supervisor had to quickly adapt their plans to better serve their community.  “My job for this summer was supposed to be coordinating a vacation Bible school for the children in my church. But because of COVID-19, that didn’t work out,” Graciella Odelia explained.

Instead, Odelia produced videos for Nations Worship Center virtual church service, organized Zoom meetings, and helped pack groceries and deliver them to families in need.  “God called me to serve the church and to help my community during this difficult time,” Odelia reflected.

Christopher Jong distributed free clothes in South Philadelphia this summer.
Photo provided by Christopher Jong

Christopher Jong echoed the same sentiment. Jong was born in Philadelphia but was raised in Indonesia. He moved back to the US when he was 17 years old. Being a summer worker helped him reconnect to his South Philadelphia roots. “PPC [Philadelphia Praise Center] was the first church I was introduced to when I reached the US and I felt connected to the people ever since,” Jong recounted.

Initially, Jong was to organize a summer camp that got cancelled. So Jong and his supervisor, Pastor Aldo Siahaan of Philadelphia Praise, had to adapt and make new projects for Jong to work on. “We created projects such as grocery shopping service, free care package distribution, translation services and many more,” Jong explained.

Screen capture of a video interview with Ser Luther

Summer worker, Ser Luther, worked with the Whitehall congregation in Allentown, PA. During the week, Luther helped out at Ripple Community Inc’s (RCI) Community Building Center. On the weekends, he helped the Whitehall congregation with various tasks for their Sunday service. He prepared PowerPoint presentations, managed Zoom meetings, and even led worship services.

Luther’s supervisor, Danilo Sanchez (of RCI) observed, “Halfway through the summer I noticed a change in him. He became much more comfortable talking with new people at the center and public speaking.”

Alex Padilla led children’s Zoom Sunday School for International Worship Church in California.
Photo provided by Alex Padilla

Meanwhile in California, Alex Padilla balanced online classes at the University of Colorado while also being a summer worker for International Worship Church (San Gabriel, CA). Padilla has been attending International Worship Church for a few years, where Pastor Buddy Hananto saw his potential and asked him to be a summer worker.

One of Padilla’s favorite tasks this summer was creating a virtual Sunday school class. “It was an incredibly valuable experience to be a teacher of faith to the next generation,” he shared.

This summer, these young adults may have taken on different roles and responsibilities, but all of them learned to lead, to adapt, and to keep trusting God in times of trouble.

Calling and Shaping Next Generation Leaders

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by Stephen Kriss, Executive Minister

Over 25 years ago, I interned through Mennonite Church USA’s Ministry Inquiry Program at my home church in Somerset County, PA.  I loved the experience of working alongside a congregation that had shaped my own decision to follow Jesus and working creatively with a pastor who gave me space to learn, to experiment and to honestly engage life in the church.  At the end of the summer, I declared that I loved the experience, but that I didn’t want to be a pastor because I realized the vastness of the task at hand.   My home church then, four years later, called me as an associate pastor.  It still surprises me that they invited and that I said yes.

This summer, through Souderton Mennonite Church’s Vocation as Mission Program, Mennonite Central Committee’s Summer Service Worker Program, the ongoing Ministry Inquiry Program and a variety of independent initiatives, about a dozen young adults (all under age 30) are finishing up a summer of serving and learning alongside our congregations.  These initiatives are likely some of the best investments of our time and resources into the life and future of the church. 

Not all of them will be called as pastors, but through the mutual time together, the opportunity for shaping and learning  continues to prepare leaders who will engage the church and the world wholeheartedly through the Good News of Christ’s peace.  I am grateful for pastors who make space for those who are learning alongside.  Walking alongside learning leaders takes time, intention and openness.  It’s also being confident and humble enough in your own leadership to realize that other leaders will lead differently, fail differently and that working with next generation leaders can be a constant invitation to learn, for those of us who are more established leaders as well.

Back in my intern days, my pastor – Marvin Kaufman – gave me space to explore cultivating a sister church relationship with an African American congregation in our area.  That exploratory space culminated in Sunday night worship experiences at each of our meetinghouses.  This experience and our congregation’s willingness to participate and follow me into this relationship-building likely shaped forever the kind of ministering and leading person that I have become and am becoming, on working with the Spirit to cross cultural and ethnic boundaries to express the heart of the Gospel of reconciliation and transformation.

Abigail Shelly with Pastor Aldo Siahaan, leading Summer Peace Camp.

I’m so grateful for each of our next generation leaders who said yes this summer, and for the communities that hosted them and walked alongside them.  Working with Jerrell , who is serving alongside our Conference and The Mennonite this summer, has reminded me of the worthy investment of time and fruitfulness of relational possibilities.  Abigail and Tiffany serving together at Philadelphia Praise has made me smile, as they helped host our Interfaith leaders gathering last month with gracious hospitality.  My interactions with the Vocation as Mission interns, as we talked about intercultural challenges and possibilities, inspired me by their sincerity and questions when we met at Bike and Sol.  I loved hearing how much Rebecca and Ezther are valued at their places of service in Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley.

2018 Vocation as Mission Interns

These experiences are some of the best investments that we make together with our Conference resources.  I’m grateful that we continue to share in this process of calling and shaping next generation leaders together for the sake of the church and the world.   This is our work together, a recognition that calling and shaping next generation leaders is the work of “our village.”   And for me, and hopefully for all of us, this is the kind of work that brings us great joy and hope, a recognition that the Good News goes on, continues to transform and will continue to transform us.