Shaquez Dickens, Author at Ohio Mennonite Conference

Delegates approve new mission statement, Conference to review affiliation with MC USA

For photos from ACA and a summary video, please see https://bit.ly/ACAPhotos. Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA gathered in person for its Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) on March 4-5, 2022, at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio. The theme for the assembly was Befriending the Neighborhood: Am I a Good Neighbor? The focus was on the story of the Good…

Winter Read starts discussion process

Conversations about race can be uncomfortable for some of us. How do we begin to grapple with issues of racial reconciliation? More than 60 people from around the Ohio Conference committed to discussing racial reconciliation this winter while participating in a new initiative called the Ohio Conference Winter Read. Led by Pastors Vikki Pruitte-Sorrells of Lee Heights Community Church in…

The centrality of Jesus Christ

By Dick Barrett Conference Minister For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ─ 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NRSV) On March 4 and 5, Ohio Conference hosted our Annual Conference Assembly at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold. During the assembly delegates unanimously affirmed our new mission statement – The mission of Ohio Conference of Mennonite…

Barnacles and brownies

By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Editor On March 3 and 4, Howard and Cathy Wagler of Hutchinson, Kansas, were presenters for a missional conference at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, focusing on the theme “Befriending the Neighborhood: Am I a Good Neighbor?” Sixty people from around the Ohio Conference participated in this conference. I was one of those 60 people.…

Volunteers accept Conference positions

Members of Ohio Conference congregations who volunteer their time play a vital role in Conference life. Without the help of numerous volunteers, many of the programs and functions of the Ohio Conference could not take place. Much of the work of Ohio Conference is done by the Leadership Team, the Ministry Development Team, the Credentialing Ministry, the Stewardship Ministry and…

Try these resources during Lent

By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate Looking for Lenten resources which you can use at home? The Soil and the Seed Project has released a new free collection of resources for this season. The Soil and the Seed Project: Vol. 2 ─ Lent–Easter–Pentecost is a collection of music, artwork, and “little liturgies” following the liturgical calendar. These resources offer…

Women leading, empowered by the Holy Spirit

By Alysa Short Coordinator of Volunteers Ohio Conference held a retreat for women in leadership Feb. 18-19 at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. Twenty-three women from around Conference participated in this overnight retreat led by Rebecca Slough, academic dean and professor of worship and the arts emerita at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Focusing on…

ACA video summary and photos are online

Thanks to all of you who were able to participate in the 2022 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) March 4 and 5 at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold! A brief summary video about ACA is now available for viewing. To see photos from ACA, go to https://bit.ly/ACAPhotos or view them on the Ohio Conference Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OhioConferenceMCUSA.

Missional conference recordings are available

Wondering what you missed at the 2022 missional conference? Sixty people from all around the Ohio Conference took part in this event, which was held March 3-4 at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold. Even if you missed this gathering, you can still learn from our missional conference presenters, Howard and Cathy Wagler. Video recordings of the conference are available at…

OC coordinator of volunteers reflects on hope and growth in the wilderness

How do times of difficulty shape us? Ohio Conference Coordinator of Volunteers Alysa Short considers this question in a blog post for Mennonite Church USA titled “Hope and Growth in the Wilderness.” You can read her reflections at https://bit.ly/HopeandGrowth.

Giving to Conference drops during February

After two months of higher receipts, giving to Ohio Conference dropped during the month of February, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for February totaled $16,796, including $15,049 from congregations. That amount was considerably lower than the $54,650 received during January and the $54,889 received during December. Expenses for February totaled $20,558, resulting in a deficit…

MDS offers service opportunities for families

Did you know Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has service opportunities for families? The MDS Family Program (https://mds.org/family-program) offers a weeklong summertime experience for the whole family to put hands and feet to the gospel. This year, MDS is planning to offer a family project in both the U.S. (Camp Amigo, Michigan) and Canada (British Columbia). To learn more, call 800-241-8111…

First youth worker seminar is March 22

Coming soon: Ohio Conference is offering a series of free online seminars for youth workers during March, April and May. “Jesus as Model: Youth Ministry Reimagined” is the theme of this series, which will feature a variety of presenters. The first of these seminars will be this coming Tuesday, March 22. Seminars will be offered from 7 to 8:15 p.m.…

Location set for Enneagram workshop

Ohio Conference will host a one-day workshop for pastors on May 3. “Exploring the Enneagram as a Ministry Tool” is the theme of the workshop, which will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the main branch of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, 43 W. Third St., Mansfield, Ohio. This workshop will explore how Enneagram types affect compatibility,…

Bible study series explores diversity

Mennonite Church USA has produced “Diversity: God’s Design,” a new four-week Bible study aimed at young adults (but appropriate for intergenerational audiences) that celebrates diversity and intercultural competence. “Diversity: God’s Design” features voices from across the Mennonite church who share biblical narratives and personal experiences that invite participants to explore how and why they should join the journey of celebrating…

Mennonite Creation Care Network offers grants

Mennonite churches and Anabaptist-related nonprofits are invited to apply by April 1, 2022, for one of several $1,000 grants from Mennonite Creation Care Network’s Green Mustard Seed Fund. Past grants have funded a variety of creation care projects, from upgrading insulation to funding a church day camp featuring endangered species. Priority is given to congregations with limited means and those…

MCC Comforter Bash is coming to Kidron

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is holding an Ohio MCC Comforter Bash Friday and Saturday, April 22-23, in Kidron. This event will take place at the Kidron Community Park from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. All are invited to come and knot comforters. Volunteers can come and go as they are…

New resources for Lent now available

Looking for Lenten resources which you can use at home? The Soil and the Seed Project has released a new free collection of resources for this season. The Soil and the Seed Project: Vol. 2 ─ Lent–Easter–Pentecost is a collection of music, artwork, and “little liturgies” following the liturgical calendar. These resources offer new ways to establish daily and weekly…

MCC developing response to crisis in Ukraine

On Feb. 24, Russian military forces began an invasion of Ukraine by land, sea and air. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is accepting donations for a response in Ukraine. MCC is assessing the changing situation with local partners to determine the appropriate response. To learn more or to donate, please see https://mcc.org/stories/crisis-ukraine.

Men’s Retreat set for April 1-3

Camp Luz in Kidron will host a Men’s Retreat April 1-3. Wayne Morgret will be the retreat speaker, focusing on the theme of restoration. Get more info and register at https://www.campluz.com/mens-retreat.html.

Hesston’s Bel Canto Singers to perform in Ohio

Hesston College’s Bel Canto Singers will be performing in several locations in Ohio during the group’s spring break tour in March. For more information, please see www.hesston.edu/2022/02/2022-spring-break-bel-tour.

Open Arms to hold Taco Tuesday fundraiser

Open Arms Hispanic Ministry will hold a Taco Tuesday fundraising dinner on March 15 at 6 p.m. at the Kidron Park Community Center, 4434 Kidron Road, Kidron. The event will feature a catered taco bar, information about the work of Open Arms, and live music by the Salem Worship Team. A free-will offering will be taken. If you plan to…

Relief sale kickoff meeting set for March 7

Planners of the annual Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale will hold a kickoff planning meeting on Monday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Salem Mennonite Church, 3363 Zuercher Road, Dalton, Ohio. You are invited to attend this meeting and learn about upcoming plans for the 2022 year. Please bring a toy or game to donate to the Children’s Auction. In preparation…

Join the conversation about immigration

The Ohio Conference Immigration Resource Team has begun a series of posts about immigration on the Ohio Conference Facebook page. The most recent post, dated Feb. 9, explores the concept of compassion as it relates to immigrants. You are invited to join the conversation about immigration. See the team’s posts on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OhioConferenceMCUSA.

Strong January giving erases deficit

After running a deficit for much of the current fiscal year, Ohio Conference ended January with a positive operating balance, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month totaled $54,650. Notably, giving from congregations totaled $53,083 in January, which was more than twice the amount given by congregations in any previous month during this fiscal…

Workshop to focus on Enneagram as a ministry tool

Register online for youth worker seminars

Update: The number of youth worker seminars has changed. The series of seminars will begin on March 22 instead of March 8. Please see the updated schedule below. Ohio Conference is offering a series of free online seminars for youth workers during March, April and May. “Jesus as Model: Youth Ministry Reimagined” is the theme of this series, which will…

ACA service project to benefit local ministries

As a service project at Annual Conference Assembly (ACA), Ohio Conference will be collecting items for Friendship House and Shepherd’s Circle, two organizations in the Archbold area that are working at sheltering people in crisis. Requested items include laundry detergent and four-packs of toilet tissue. ACA will take place March 4-5 at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold. Have you registered…

MC USA webinars offer preparation for delegates

Mennonite Church USA is hosting a series of educational webinars to prepare delegates and their conferences/congregations for the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly, May 27-30, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri. All webinars will be recorded and available on the delegate resource page: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/special-delegate-session-22. Please see the delegate resource page for more information.

Webinar to explore disabilities and estate planning

Caring for someone who is dependent due to a significant disability is a major responsibility. Making provisions for that person’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being after the death of the caregiver can be complex and confusing. Anabaptist Disabilities Network will host a webinar in cooperation with Everence to help with estate planning for families with a dependent disabled family member. “After We’re Gone: Disabilities and…