Ohio Conference to offer free online workshops
As winter turns to spring, Ohio Conference invites you to join with others across the Conference in the exploration of new ideas.
During March and April, Ohio Conference is offering a series of free one-hour workshops on the Zoom videoconferencing platform. All workshops will take place on Thursdays, beginning at 7 p.m.
These workshops, led by individuals from Ohio Conference congregations, will cover a variety of topics, from crossing barriers in relating to others to caring for God’s creation.
In most years, the Conference offers workshops in person during the Annual Conference Assembly. However, this year, workshops are open to anyone in the Ohio Conference at no charge.
More detailed information about the workshops follows:
March 11
Being Andrew: Sharing the Savior and Redeemer of the World
Presenter: Ramon Lianez
This workshop will focus on recovering simple and yet powerful evangelism for a post-Christian society.
Participants will rediscover what biblical evangelism is, what it is not, and how they can share the Gospel message to those around them in a simple manner.
March 18
Following Jesus aCROSS Barriers
Presenter: Keith Lyndaker Schlabach
Using Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan Woman as a reference, participants will CROSS (acrostic for Christ, Reach Out, Sit down, and Stick with it) barriers in the footsteps of Jesus. Workshop participants will gain insight into how to relate and communicate with people with diverse views.
March 25
Transforming Conflict: Tools for the Toolbox
Presenters: Lydell Steiner, Craig Mast
Conflict abounds in our society, our communities, our churches, and our families. But how do you respond to it? Do you immediately see conflict as negative?
This workshop seeks to provide practical and proven methods for approaching conflict as an opportunity for growth, improvement, and restoration of right relationships. Through stories and familiar scenarios, Lydell Steiner and Craig Mast of Connexus, a nonprofit focused on alternative conflict resolution promotion, will present tools for de-escalation, discernment, and positive relational development.
Participants will leave the workshop with practical tools for thinking about, approaching, and resolving conflict in ways that lead to restored relationships and restored communities.
April 8
Creating a Culture of Ordinary Goodness: What rural Mennonite pastors and congregations today can learn from the rescue efforts of the village of Le Chambon and Pastor André Trocmé during WWII
Presenter: Matthew Peterson
During World War II, the French town of Le Chambon, a small, conservative, agricultural town in rural France, played a central role in the rescue operation of as many as 5,000 refugees, including 3,500 Jews. André Trocmé, who was a pacifist and the pastor at the French Reformed Church in Le Chambon during this time, played a critical role in inspiring these rescue efforts. This workshop will examine what Mennonite pastors and congregations, particularly in rural areas, can learn from Trocmé and the villagers of Le Chambon including:
- The use of the pastorate as a form of resistance
- The role of Scripture and Bible study groups in nonviolent resistance
- How Anabaptist history can encourage rural congregations to assist outsiders, immigrants and refugees today
Pastors and congregations will gain ideas on how to help create a culture of ordinary goodness in their own congregations from the work and efforts of Trocmé and the villagers of Le Chambon.
April 15
Rooted and Grounded: Faith, Land, and Creation
Presenter: Alan Kauffman
Come and see examples of what gives us roots and be reminded of the awesomeness of God’s Creation with examples from scripture, life and science.
Participants will have a renewed appreciation of the awesomeness of God and the importance of stewarding what He has put in our care.
To register for any of these workshops, click on the links above or go to https://bit.ly/OhioConferenceEvents. Please register by the Monday before the workshop. (For example, register by Monday, March 8, for the March 11 workshop.) If you miss the registration deadline but would still like to participate, contact Alysa Short (alysashort@gmail.com) or Judy King (ohmc@zoominternet.net) to receive the login link for the workshop.