Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Whitehall

Remembering Bob Walters, Founder of Whitehall (PA) Mennonite 

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Robert G. Walters
December 14, 1927 -June 2, 2025

As a young husband and father, Bob Walters purchased a farm near Kintnersville, PA but after several years was asked to become the pastor of Steel City Mennonite Church (Bethlehem, PA) and later served as interim of Line Lexington (PA) Mennonite (both were Franconia Conference congregations at the time). Walters felt called to plant a new church and founded Whitehall (PA) Mennonite in 1988. A Celebration of Life was held on June 11, 2025, at Steel City Mennonite. Read more from Walters’ obituary.   

Bob Walters, who was raised in the Methodist tradition and became Mennonite through relationships, saying “if there was any reason that we became Mennonites, it’s because we felt loved.” He served as Conference Moderator beginning in 1982 (drawn from Franconia Conference News article by Luke Martin, Jan. 1982, courtesy of the Mennonite Heritage Center). The article stated, “I believe Bob is God’s gift to us for the 1980s.”  

Whitehall Mennonite began because of the vision God gave to Bob Walters. When he was out sailing, he felt called to plant a Mennonite church in the Lehigh Valley. Walters’ unrelenting passion and endless love helped create a place for those who were weary from life, giving them a place to belong and to hear the good news of the gospel. Despite support from other Franconia Conference churches, forming this new fellowship was a challenge and several times they almost gave up. They met in a variety of locations until they finally found their home at 4138 Wilson Street in Whitehall (from the Whitehall Mennonite church website) 

Sharing more about the challenges of those early years, Joel Horst Nofziger, Director of the Mennonite Heritage Center (Harleysville, PA) shared the following during a sermon at Whitehall Mennonite in October 2024:  

When Whitehall Mennonite was to be opened, a poster was distributed in the community that proclaimed the congregation “a place of new beginnings.” I want to take a moment here to reflect on one of the beginnings of this congregation. In 1989, church planter and pastor Bob Walters had a vision for Lehigh County while on his sailboat in the Bahamas. There, outside of Nassau, Bob was dreaming of Whitehall. This grew into the desire to start a church, urged on by the story of the lepers found in II Kings 7.  

Jerusalem was under siege by the armies of Samaria. But the Lord delivers the people and scatters the army. Salvation was discovered by four lepers who sat at the entrance to the gate. They entered the camps and discovered the attackers had fled. It was these people on the margins who brought news of salvation to the people. Bob and his wife Emily felt that now was the time to move and, like the lepers, begin a new testimony to God’s salvation.  

In conversation with friends, a vision began to emerge: “Whitehall: a member of the master’s family,” reads the early vision. The road was not easy. Early minutes of the church planting committee are somber and often downcast.  

In the notes of June 12, 1991, two days before the conference recommended closing the congregation, the situation is clearly stated: “Options do not abound.” Nevertheless, the minutes continue, with the next month reporting forty-five attendees, twenty-three more than average. 

Here we stand, thirty-five years later. Options may not abound, but the grace and power of the Lord surely does. Truly, it is a community that transcends boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender, and language. Taking the opportunity to look back to those beginnings, how is Whitehall Mennonite Church called to serve the master today? 

We honor the legacy of Walters and his life of faithfulness which has shaped who Mosaic Conference has become today. 

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.       

The Many Gifts of Diversity at Whitehall

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by Carolyn Egli

Whitehall [PA] Mennonite Church (WMC) is blessed with diversity. Among us are Karen refugees from Burma (Myanmar), a few Latinos, a pastor and his wife from Indonesia, members who openly share their mental health struggles, some who have experienced homelessness, those who have been or are imprisoned, and many who live at a low socioeconomic level while others live in the middle class. Many of us are consciously aware what a unique blessing it is to gather in a community like this.

One person in our fellowship shared that when he stands at the top of the fellowship hall stairs, looking down over those gathered to share our meal after Sunday worship, the diversity he sees fills him with joy. He calls it a glimpse into the coming kingdom of God, where we will one day sit together at the feet of God on his throne. Another person described the diversity at WMC as the “richness of God’s creation.”

Men provide the meal on Mothers’ Day 2024. Photo by Pastor Melkysedek Tirtasaputra.
Fellowship time following worship, from left: Jamie Paung, Marla Sell, Mark Whitermore, and Vina Krisnadi. Photo by Pastor Melkysedek Tirtasaputra.

Another member shared how the diversity at WMC has led to a greater sense of belonging for him. At churches he had attended before WMC, he was never sure he belonged or was worthy of participating. From his perspective, at WMC everyone is unique and cherished, which allows him to feel assured that he is accepted for who he is and belongs there.

One of our youth, of Karen ethnicity, shared that as she grew up at WMC she learned to be comfortable with others outside her culture, and this has helped her especially in school where there are very few Asians. Fellowshipping with people from other cultures and backgrounds has given her courage and confidence to be able to talk with anyone be accepting of all people despite differences.

On Ebenezer Stone Sunday, participants write on a stone how God has led them the previous year, then bring the stone in the landscape to bear witness to God’s faithfulness. Photo by Pastor Melkysedek Tirtasaputra

Another member reflected that relating to unhoused people at WMC helped him be open to and unafraid of working with a homeless ministry in his community, and that the diversity he experiences at WMC helps him relate more authentically with customers at work.

Another member stated she was sure that she would not be friends with some in the fellowship at WMC if she had met them outside of the church. Raised in a comfortable, white, middle-class family, she appreciates that she has become comfortable with those from other backgrounds and can now just sit with people and not feel that she needs to swoop in and solve every problem.

A group from Whitehall serves at the Care & Share Thrift Shoppes (Souderton, PA).
Naw Willion churns ice cream during Whitehall’s annual church picnic. Photo by Patti Connolly.

Several members expressed that our differences increase their desire to know each other better. They reflected that understanding each other’s differences increased their compassion and desire to support each other. One young mother shared that she grew up attending a mostly white, middle-class church, and could easily avoid many of the world’s issues and complexities. She is thankful her young children are growing up at WMC in relationship with people who have faced mental illness, homelessness, and fleeing violence.

Through the years, diversity has impacted our worship at WMC. We have learned to be more comfortable with noise and the unexpected in worship. Due to different cultural expectations, we have increased the frequency of communion, served communion in different ways, and collected offerings in different ways. We have incorporated languages other than English into our singing, scripture reading, and occasionally in sermons.

Diversity has also played a part in our tradition of sharing a meal after worship. We are mindful that many cultures show hospitality by sharing food (with an intensity not regularly experienced in white U.S. American culture!). A traditional Sunday in Karen culture includes sharing food in family homes and eating together is highly valued. We also recognize that some in our congregation experience food insecurity and at least on Sundays can eat freely. Eating together provides us with more opportunities to get to know each other. 

As one member said of the diversity at WMC, it is “good trouble”.  As we feel ourselves being stretched, we are also being blessed. 

Carolyn Egli

Carolyn Egli has worked as a social worker in refugee resettlement in Allentown, PA for the past 14 years. She is a member of Whitehall Mennonite where she serves on the Servant Leader Team and can often be found preparing food in the church kitchen.

Nurturing Resilience, Together

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by Rose Bender Cook

Resilience is a popular buzzword these days. In the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program, resilience is defined as “the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt, survive, and bounce back in the midst of or after hardship and adversity.”   

All of us need resilience. Healthy leadership requires us to deal with our own wounds, as well as caring for others when they go through a hard season. The Bible contains examples of resilient people who overcame difficult circumstances and thrived:  Job, Esther, Paul, and Jesus himself, to name a few. Many scriptures encourage us to persevere in the face of trials. Proverbs 24:16, NIV reminds us that “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” 

There are times in my life when I feel like I am in the deep end of a swimming pool, with my nose peaking above the water. Whether it’s my own fault or due to circumstances beyond my control, the experience is the same. The smallest splash of water will send me spluttering and splashing to catch my breath.   

This holiday season, as the weather got icy cold, I thought about friends who have spent far too much time in the deep end of the pool. A blown tire, a lost check, or a bad test result sends them under water. They do not have any margin—financial or otherwise. That’s a hard way to live day after day.  

And yet, I see them smiling and playing games at Ripple Community, Inc. (a Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry in Allentown, PA). They will serve others in the kitchen at Whitehall (PA), where I am a pastor. When the check comes in, they buy their pastor a thank-you present. Like the widow who gave her last mite, they keep on giving. I can learn a lot about resilience from these friends. I also need to learn what my role is as I desire to help them.  

Neighbors gather at Ripple Community, Inc. for food and times of reflection. Photos provided by Ripple Community, Inc.  
Neighbors gather at Ripple Community, Inc. for food and times of reflection. Photos provided by Ripple Community, Inc.  

The greatest gift we can give someone is to offer support without taking away their sense of control or dignity. So, we walk alongside people; we offer comfort but allow them freedom of choice. This is how Immanuel, God-with-us, works with humanity.  

We ask them what they need. This is what Jesus did with people that he healed. We find ways they can contribute or serve. Let them know they belong and that their gifts are needed in the body of Christ. We listen to their stories of falling and getting back up again. The hope that undergirds these stories is inspiring.  

We create spaces where they can have some respite from the grind of life. Psalm 23 depicts God’s table of abundance, likely in a tent of safety, while enemies prowl outside. At Ripple Community, Inc., there is a quiet room designated for community members to sleep in a safe and warm place.  They can rest from having to guard their meager belongings. Someone else is keeping watch. Rest can provide the opportunity to dream and imagine a new way forward.  

Studies show that one marker of resilience is having a strong community network. It’s easier when we are all in the shallow end of the swimming pool together. When we get splashed, we can breathe without snorting water. When a crisis comes, we have lots of margin and our hands are free to support others when they slip.  

In this new year, instead of making a list of resolutions, consider what practices will help you be more resilient. Prayerfully reflect on how you can accompany others who are struggling. And be open to learning from them. Because together we will increase the capacity of our community to adapt and thrive in the face of hard times.   

Rose Bender Cook

Rose Bender Cook is the Leadership Minister for Formation and the Mosaic Institute Director. She is also a pastor at Whitehall (PA) Mennonite Church.

Peace Nights Connect Mosaic Youth

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by Rachel Mateti

 

The fall 2024 Peace Nights were funded in part by a Mosaic Conference Missional Operations Grant (MOG) requested by Salford (PA) Mennonite. The grant helped to cover expenses for food, supplies, and transportation for the Mosaic youth groups who participated. 

 

This fall, youth from around the southeastern PA congregations of Mosaic Conference have the unique opportunity to come together to learn about the peaceable way of Jesus through fellowship, formation, worship, and games.  

The original idea for the Fall 2024 series of four Peace Nights was a collaboration between Ambler (PA), Salford (PA), Zion (Souderton, PA), Whitehall (Allentown, PA) and Plains (Hatfield, PA), with the support of Mosaic’s youth formation team.  

A slide from the teaching portion of the “Peace with God” session on Sept. 14. Photo by Rose Bender Cook.  

 

The first Peace Night of the series took place in September at Zion, on the theme of Peace with God. Around 70 persons were in attendance, including youth and leaders from the above-named congregations and Souderton (PA), Ebenezer (Souderton, PA), Indonesian Light Church (Philadelphia, PA), and Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA). The second meeting took place on October 6 at Plains with the theme “Peace with Self.” 

“The idea for Peace Nights started as a way for churches in southeastern PA in Mosaic Conference to share resources and provide programming for youth faith formation,” shares Andrew Zetts, Associate Pastor of Youth and Outreach at Salford.  

Youth and leaders from Whitehall (PA) Mennonite. Photo provided by Rose Bender Cook. 

 

“As I ran the idea by other Conference youth leaders, a few goals emerged. In addition to sharing resources and gathering a critical mass of youth in one place, we wanted to live into Mosaic’s intercultural priority and bring youth from various geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds together to develop meaningful relationships; and to teach peace theology as a foundational part of living out the ways of Jesus.”

At Plains, the youth group is small but growing, with grades 6-12 together. It can be hard to provide spiritually invigorating activities for a large age range. Peace Nights are one of the few places they can interact with other Mennonite peers in a church setting. 

Youth from eight congregations work together during the games portion of the first Peace Night. Photo by Rose Bender Cook.  

 

Instead of one shared culture, multiple cultures are represented at Peace Nights. Instead of most kids knowing each other, the majority are meeting for the first time. Awkwardness abounds, but a willingness to participate has prevailed. Through games like 9 squares (provided by Bloomin Glen [PA] Mennonite), and “Get -to-Know-You” Bingo (crafted by Andrew Zetts) youth have opportunities to make connections while having fun. Good food energizes everyone to talk and fellowship around tables deepens relationships. 

Loud voices singing together in worship has been a blessing. Youth seeing other youth singing boldly invigorates the whole group and creates a spirit of readiness for our teaching time. Teaching is followed by discussion groups that give youth a chance to come together and internalize the message they have heard. It is beautiful to observe. 

Participants from Deep Run East led worship. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual.  

 As Andrew Zetts shared, Peace Nights have a many purposes (sharing of resources, teaching peace theology, making connections outside our own congregations) but I also see Peace Nights as a place for youth to belong. Even those who might have held back in the beginning of our gathering seem to find their place throughout the night.  

Being Mennonite in our modern world can sometimes make a person stick out or feel different. Being a Christian youth can also feel alienating at times. Finding a place of belonging is, therefore, vital in keeping our youth engaged, connected, and inspired to follow Jesus. 

Peace Night worship. Photo by Mike Ford. 

The third Peace Night took place at Zion on Saturday, Nov. 9, 5-7:30pm; the theme was Peace with Creation. Our last gathering will be on Sunday, December 8 at Plains where we will look at Peace with Others; all Mosaic youth in 6th-12th grade and their youth leaders are invited to join us.

Plans for future gatherings in 2025 are underway and will be shared with congregations soon. As a leader, I am encouraged to see this vision come to fruition and to hear other leaders express their sense of energy and hope for the future of these gatherings. 

Participants gather outside for games. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual. 

Rachel Mateti

Rachel Mateti is the Children and Youth Minister at Plains Mennonite (Hatfield, PA). She is married with three kids and lives in Telford, PA. She enjoys reading when she finds the time and recently picked up running as a hobby.

Ambassadors We’re Learning from This Summer

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by Brendan Sagastume

Editor’s Note: This summer, nine young adult Ambassadors are serving in congregations and ministries across Mosaic Conference. This article highlights three of these Ambassadors, and in the coming weeks, you will be introduced to the other six Ambassadors. 

Brendan Sagastume, 19, is a member of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. Through the Ambassador Program this summer, he is working with both Mosaic Conference and Perkiomenville. At Mosaic, he works with the communication team, especially on the website and social media. He has had the opportunity to visit and interview some of the other Ambassadors and travel to their worksites. At Perkiomenville, he works with the worship team, youth group, and on other administrative tasks.  

Sagastume has led worship on a few Sunday mornings at Perkiomenville and created the announcement and countdown loop to play at the beginning of services. The experience this summer as an Ambassador has helped him with public speaking, administrative skills, and confidence, all while worshiping the Lord.  

“Learning what happens behind the scenes administratively in different organizations has been one of my takeaways,” Sagastume reflects. “I’ve been invited to think more critically about different experiences in my life and engage in discussion.” 

The largest impact that the Ambassadors program has had in Sagastume’s life has been his willingness to try new things and be more outgoing. He is grateful for this opportunity to work and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at Mosaic and at his congregation. 

Nicholas Wiyono, 19, is a member of Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC). Through the Ambassadors program he is serving with PPC’s summer peace camp, where he assisted with about 20 children.  

Wiyono built on his skills and experiences as a Sunday School leader and helper at PPC. Throughout the summer, he has grown in his leadership ability, public speaking, and ability to be outgoing.  

Growing up at PPC, he had previously seen some of the work that Mosaic does, but now is able to see it more firsthand. He has really enjoyed seeing how both PPC’s summer peace camp and the Ambassador program can help people to grow individually and as a group in all areas of life. He is grateful for all the support he has received and for the opportunity to grow. 

(Ei Ya, pictured on the left)

Ei Ya, 18, is a member of Whitehall (PA) Mennonite. During his time in the Ambassador program this summer, he has created the slides for Sunday worship, helped to rebuild and maintain the church website, and provided upkeep with the church gardens at a community park. He also spends time at Ripple Community, Inc., a Conference-Related Ministry in nearby Allentown. 

One of the biggest impacts the Ambassadors program has had on Ya is an increase in his ability to be outgoing. He initially had fears about having to interact with many different people in this program, but he found that, “people are easy to connect with. Attempting to be inviting with a smile sure goes a long way.”  

Ya was invited to the Ambassadors program by his pastor and has been so thankful for the experience. He says that this summer has been filled with great people and fun. It has taught him many new skills that will serve him well as he starts college this fall. 

Brendan Sagastume

Brendan is a member of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. Through the Ambassador Program this summer, he is working with both Mosaic Conference and Perkiomenville.

Congregational Profile: Whitehall Mennonite Church

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by Rose Bender, pastor

Whitehall Mennonite Church began in the early 1990s when retired pastor, Bob Walter, was out sailing and felt the call to plant a new church in the Lehigh Valley.  He had a dream to create a place for those who were weary from life, giving them a place to belong and to share the good news of the gospel. Despite support from other Franconia Conference churches, forming this new fellowship was a challenge. There were many times that they almost gave up.  But the community people who came found a welcoming home and received lots of practical support. 

Today, WMC carries that same spirit of hospitality and care for the community.  In 2009, the congregation supported a refugee family from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). This experience has changed the face and enlarged the heart of the congregation. Half of the congregation is now Karen-speaking. Karen songs, scripture, and greetings are a part of our common life. Each Sunday we gather after worship to eat together. The variety in food reflects the variety in our congregational culture.  We often say that this eclectic group of people would not be together if it were not for Jesus.  

Pastor Melky wanted those gathered on the last Sunday of 2019 to take a silly picture! (Photo credit: Melky Tirtasaputra)

Born out of a missional experiment, our congregation has always been willing to experiment with new ways of being church together. We have frequently invited young leaders like Samantha Lioi, Danilo Sanchez, and many summer interns to join our work.

Most recently we called Melky Tirtasaputra, a newly-credentialled leader from Nation’s Worship Center (Philadelphia), to be our associate pastor.  This is the first time that an Indonesian pastor will be leading a non-Indonesian congregation in our conference. Melky and his wife, Vina, bring spiritual maturity, hospitality, stability, and an entrepreneurial vision that the congregation needs.  The congregation will provide an opportunity for them to test out their gifts as they prepare to do church planting in the future.  

Pastor Rose Bender gives a congregational gift thanking Pastor Danilo Sanchez for his ministry at WMC. (Photo credit: Melky Tirtasaputra)

The congregational focus for 2020 is “Leadership as Discipleship.”  We have restructured our leadership team to create more opportunities for growth. We also continue to work at increasing our intercultural capacity.  Ah Paung, one of our servant leaders, said, “We practice here for what is already happening around the throne room: many nations, many languages, many tribes praising the living God.”  

Prayer Requests:  

  • Discipleship training and maturity
  • Creativity and stability
  • Openness to the leading of the Spirit 

“Where in the world?”: a glimpse into the work of a conference minister

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by Sharon Williams

In the early 90s, a popular children’s television game show called “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?” was broadcast on PBS. The show was based on a series of computer games designed to help viewers sharpen their geography skills.

In Franconia Conference, you could ask a similar question—“Where in the world is Steve Kriss?”—and in the process, learn many wonderful things about people and congregations of Franconia Conference. You’ll need a map of the east coast of the United States to trace Steve’s travels; geographical stretch, in Steve’s case, is an understatement.

Steve preaches often with the congregations the he serves alongside as LEADership minister. On February 22, Steve preached twice in South Philly with Adrian Suryajaya who interpreted into Indonesian, first at Philadelphia Praise Center then at Indonesian Light Church. The congregations are about a half mile apart but reach different communities due to worship style and cultural backgrounds. Photo by Bam Tribuwono.
Steve preaches often with the congregations the he serves alongside as LEADership minister. On February 22, Steve preached twice in South Philly with Adrian Suryajaya who interpreted into Indonesian, first at Philadelphia Praise Center then at Indonesian Light Church. The congregations are about a half mile apart but reach different communities due to worship style and cultural backgrounds. Photo by Bam Tribuwono.

Steve carries LEADership minister responsibilities for 12 congregations, located as far north as Vermont and as far south as Georgia. Currently, four of the congregations are in pastoral search processes, and another is working on a pastoral review. Steve’s goal is to nurture healthy relationships with all the congregations he walks alongside.

Next, watch for the locations of new congregations. Steve is often involved with helping them to launch their ministries and build connections in the conference and denomination.

“It’s a privilege to walk with them. I enjoy the energy and enthusiasm they bring to God’s work,” Steve says. Right now, Steve works with three new congregations emerging in South Philly.

Some of the congregations Steve works with are in the same area, such as the Lehigh Valley trio of Whitehall Mennonite Church, Ripple and Vietnamese Gospel Mennonite Church.

“Networking, creativity, and thinking outside the box are some of Steve’s greatest gifts,” says Rose Bender, pastor of the Whitehall congregation. “He’s always asking, ‘What might God be doing here? ‘How can we dream God’s vision?’ He sees the big picture and helps us make vital connections. Each conference staff person has a niche and expertise to offer us. These are the things our congregation appreciates about our relationship with Steve.”

At the new conference center on the campus of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, Steve serves with the conference board’s ministerial committee as its staff person. This group guides the licensing and ordaining processes for new ministers and cares for credential transfers when ministers move in and out of the conference. The committee also provides continuing education for credentialed leaders. In this role, Steve also provides coordination among the LEADership ministers.

On the road again, Steve preaches usually twice a month around the conference, and handles all manner of inquiries about congregational leadership.

If you watch closely, you might find young adults and new pastors “on location” with Steve. Mentoring is an important part of cultivating leaders for the church. You will find him teaching in a classroom for Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s satellite classrooms in Philadelphia, Norristown, or Souderton. Sometimes his many travels double as field trips.

Look behind the scenes, too. As director of the conference’s communication team, Steve’s travels around the conference inform the planning and writing for Intersectings (the conference e-zine), Intersections (the newsletter), the conference’s website and other communication tools. The goal is to help make connections in the conference, and raise awareness of what is happening conference-wide.

In any given week, Steve may be found in enough places to highlight in a half-hour game show from Blooming Glen, Pennsylvania to Bridgewater Corners, Vermont or Sky Cafe in South Philly. But these travels mean more than that; they’re part of cultivating God’s dream in all of the places the people of Franconia conference live, work and worship.

Sharon K. Williams is a musician, editor and congregational/non-profit consultant. She serves the Lord with the Nueva Vida Norristown New Life congregation as minister of worship.

On the road with LEADership ministers

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by Sharon Williams

Aldo_CA2014What comes to mind when you imagine Franconia Conference LEADership ministers and the work they do? You may be surprised to know that the new conference office at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School is probably not the place to find them, although a phone call there will certainly get you connected.

Steve Kriss, Jenifer Eriksen Morales, Aldo Siahaan, John Bender, Noel Santiago, and Ertell Whigham are always on the go. Each one connects with anywhere from three to 12 congregations in Vermont, northern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley, southeastern Pennsylvania, and Georgia. They give much time and energy to congregations in transition and emerging congregations. An estimated 50 percent of conference congregations are in the midst of transition and/or growth.

Pastoral leadership is a common transition. Some congregations choose to work with an intentional interim pastor who stands in the gap and prepares the congregation to receive a new pastor. The LEAD ministers provide guidance for both search processes, and support elders and lay leaders in managing the congregation’s current and future priorities.

Jenifer Eriksen Morales, minister of transitional ministries, also works with other Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA) conferences on the east coast to train intentional interim pastors, and serves on the MCUSA task force for interim pastoral ministries.

Emerging and growing congregations are another focus. These congregations are high maintenance, but in a very good way. LEAD ministers help to address staffing needs, work with pastors who are new to the Anabaptist faith, and build relationships—in essence, anything that propels the missional vision forward.

The work of the LEAD ministers sometimes crisscrosses when their congregations work together. The Lehigh Valley youth ministry partnership is shared by the Whitehall, Ripple and Vietnamese Gospel congregations and led by Danilo Sanchez. Vietnamese Gospel Church in Allentown and Philadelphia Praise Center are partnering in a joint worship and outreach ministry with the Vietnamese community in south Philly. The LEAD ministers must also nurture their relationships with each other so their collaborations are fluid and fruitful.

Last summer, Aldo Siahaan and Steve Kriss received a “Macedonia call” (Acts 16:9-10). Could they meet with a Mara (Burmese) church during their visit with Georgia Praise Center leaders? This congregation in Atlanta is part of a network of Mara churches in Indianapolis, Indiana, Baltimore, Maryland, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The network is reaching out to Mennonite conferences on the east coast for assistance in establishing pastoral leadership. The exploratory relationship has many possibilities.

“As an immigrant pastor myself, it’s exciting to walk with the Mara Christians, to see them reach their destiny as a people, a church in this country,” says Aldo. “If they choose to join Mennonite Church USA, how will we receive each other and grow in ministry together?”

Each LEAD minister offers her or his unique gifts to their congregations. Noel enjoys helping pastors, elders and lay leaders experience the values and practices of intercessory prayer. Jenifer weaves in a missional focus with unchurched neighbors, adapted from the Kairos in Chaos ministry she’s involved with in Souderton. Aldo enjoys a natural affinity with the Mara church through their similar languages of Indonesian and Malay. Steve and Ertell always bring best practices of intercultural competencies to the mix.

Looking for your congregation’s LEAD minister? She or he may be in a meeting, consulting with pastors or elders in a coffee shop, or in a car on the way to your church.

Sharon K. Williams is a musician, editor and congregational/non-profit consultant. She serves the Lord with the Nueva Vida Norristown New Life congregation as the minister of worship.