Author: Shaquez Dickens
New wineskins
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put…
Resources offer responses to pandemic challenges
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate This month I would like to highlight two resources, one primarily for pastors and one for families. What Now? MennoMedia is offering the “What Now?” series designed specifically for pastors as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that have emerged as a result of the global pandemic. In August, September, and October subscribers are…
Central Christian remains focused on its mission
Following a challenging 2020-21 school year, Central Christian School in Kidron is focusing on fulfilling its mission of developing Christian leaders. “Central Christian is on task with the mission of growing Christian leaders who know Christ and make Christ known,” said Interim Head Administrator Terry Shue. The staff is committed to that mission and to doing it through an Anabaptist…
Songs & Salsa to benefit Open Arms
Save the date: Open Arms Hispanic Ministries will hold its annual Songs & Salsa fundraising event on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. at Salem Mennonite Church, 3363 Zuercher Road, Dalton. Tortilla chips will be served with a variety of salsas and dips. The group Renacer from Goshen, Indiana, will provide music. A freewill offering will be taken to benefit…
Immigration Resource Team shares resources
The Ohio Conference Immigration Resource Team is continuing its work of raising awareness and sharing resources related to immigration. Scripture resource This summer, the Immigration Resource Team released a resource titled “A Biblical Guide to Immigration.” This guide, which includes a compilation of scriptures related to immigration, is suitable for both personal and congregational use. “A Biblical Guide to Immigration”…
Mennonite Church USA seeks communications staffers
Mennonite Church USA is seeking a full-time multimedia news editor and a full-time marketing, communications and engagement associate. See the announcements below for more information: Mennonite Church USA is seeking a full-time marketing communications and engagement associate to assist in all levels of project execution, including research, coordination of online and in-person events, handling constituent inquiries, writing, production, newsletter/collateral distribution and analytics/reporting. This…
Over The Edge to raise funds for Lighthouse Ministries
Lighthouse Ministries in Canton will hold its Over The Edge fundraiser Sept. 14 and 15. During this fundraiser, people from all over northeast Ohio will be rappelling 150 feet down the Onesto and Bliss Lofts in downtown Canton. Participants have to raise $1,000 for the right to rappel. All funds raised benefit Lighthouse Ministries programs which provide academic support, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for the children…
Prepare/Enrich training offered this fall
This fall Ohio Conference is offering training in a program called Prepare/Enrich. This training will be offered twice, on Sept. 30 at Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron and Oct. 19 at West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon. This training equips pastors to use the Prepare/Enrich assessment with engaged and married couples. With almost 40 years of research validation, Prepare/Enrich has…
MDT awards two Ministry Grants
The Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT) has awarded two grants totaling $2,750. The MDT approved these grants at its Aug. 24 meeting. Grants will provide funds toward the following projects: Youth Events — Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland is receiving funding for two youth programs intended to promote personal development, career exploration and faith formation, a Youth Exposure Trip…
Register now for Youth Worker Retreat
Sept. 24 is the deadline to register for the Ohio Conference Youth Worker Retreat. This event will take place Oct. 15-17 at Camp Luz in Kidron. Retreat speaker Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, will focus on the theme “Equipped for the Journey: The who, what and how for youth workers.” We strongly encourage your congregation to GIFT this…
Five fall cluster meetings are scheduled
Please mark your calendar: Five fall cluster meetings have been scheduled for delegates to the Ohio Conference Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. Locations are as follows: Oct. 19 — Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville Oct. 21 — Bethel Mennonite Church, West Liberty Oct. 28 — Lockport Mennonite Church, Stryker Nov. 2…
Being the church — challenge and calling
This episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast features an interview with Conference Minister Dick Barrett. Hosts Corben Weaver Boshart and Ramon Lianez talk with Dick about challenges facing the church today. Dick notes that he has been encouraged to view challenges as opportunities. “God has called us in this time for a specific reason,” he says. Listen to this…
Conference plans Women in Leadership Retreat
Ohio Conference will hold a Women in Leadership Retreat Feb. 18-19, 2022, at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. The resource speaker will be Rebecca Slough, academic dean emerita and professor emerita of worship and the arts at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Please see the event flier for details. Registration information will be announced in…
MennoMedia offers new resources for pastors
MennoMedia is offering the “What Now?” series designed specifically for pastors as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that have emerged as a result of the global pandemic. In August, September, and October subscribers will receive an email every other week with links to practical resources, worship helps, downloadable PDFs, shareable images, a mini-series of -ing podcasts, and more. There will be…
Online registration is open for Ohio Conference events
Online registration is open for five different events sponsored by the Ohio Conference: 30 — Prepare/Enrich Training, Salem Mennonite, Kidron 15-17 — Youth Worker Retreat, Camp Luz 19 — Prepare/Enrich Training, West Clinton Mennonite, Wauseon 6 — Believe and Be Baptized Workshop, Columbus Mennonite 12-14 — Pastor-Spouse Retreat, Mills Park Hotel, Yellow Springs To register for any of these events,…
Oak Grove seeks youth pastor
Oak Grove Mennonite Church in West Liberty is seeking a youth pastor. This individual would focus on working with people from junior high through college age. The position could be full time or half time. Both men and women are invited to apply. For more details, please see the job description. To apply, send your resume to Alex Dye at…
Rooted and Grounded to return to AMBS
Registration is open for the fifth Rooted and Grounded Conference on Land and Christian Discipleship, which will be held Oct. 14–16 at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. The theme of this conference will be “Land: Loss, Connection and Imagination.” The event will be offered in a hybrid format; some elements will be available only to in-person participants, and…
Sonnenberg Mennonite plans anniversary celebration
Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron is celebrating its 200th anniversary Sept. 24-26 with a variety of events which are free and open to the public. Please see the Sonnenberg Anniversary Flier for details.
Next MEA executive director chosen
The Board of Directors of Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) has named Rev. Dr. Michael Danner as executive director of MEA. The appointment is part of a collaborative staffing agreement with the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Executive Board. Danner currently serves as associate executive director of Church Vitality for MC USA. Beginning Sept. 1, 2021, Danner will split his time between the MC USA…
Giving to Conference drops in July
Giving to Ohio Conference dropped during July, according to figures supplied by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month of July totaled just $21,768, compared to the $25,467 given during June. Expenses for July totaled $28,896, resulting in a deficit of $7,128 for the month. As of the end of July, the Conference’s operating balance stood at -$3,124 for…
New Pastor Orientation held Aug. 15-16
Ohio Conference held a New Pastor Orientation Aug. 15-16 in Holmes County and Wayne County. Thirteen people participated, including Ohio Conference pastoral staff members. The orientation helped pastors new to the Ohio Conference learn to know each other and learn about resources available to them. In addition to visiting the Ohio Conference office in Kidron, participants spent time at MCC…
All-Ohio Conference Pastor Meeting features fellowship, worship and dialogue
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister On Aug. 5 congregational pastors from across Ohio Conference gathered at the Upper Sandusky Community Library for a time of fellowship, worship and discernment together. It was the first time they were able to gather in person in a year and a half. While fellowship was the highlight for the 28 ministers present, time was…
Equipping youth workers — an interview with Glen Guyton
How do we disciple young people in the church? How can we help them discover their calling in a cluttered world? In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast, Glen Guyton, the executive director of Mennonite Church USA, considers these questions and reflects on his years in youth ministry. He notes that we often don’t realize the long-term effects…
Camp Luz seeks program director
Camp Luz is accepting applications for the position of program director. This full-time position is a key member of the year-round team and carries primary responsibility for planning and carrying out all retreat and summer camp programs at Camp Luz. The full job description is available at www.campluz.com. Resumes should be sent to Andrew Michaels, Camp Director, at andrew@campluz.com or mailed…
Workshop to feature conversations about baptism
Ohio Conference and Central District Conference are hosting a free workshop featuring ecumenical conversation about baptism on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Columbus Mennonite Church. “Believe and Be Baptized: Conversations on a 500-year Tradition” will be led by John D. Roth, a history professor at Goshen College. This workshop is open to all in the…
Prepare/Enrich training offered this fall
Recognizing that pastors are often called upon to counsel engaged and married couples, Ohio Conference is offering training in a program called Prepare/Enrich. Ohio Conference will offer this training twice, on Sept. 30 at Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron and Oct. 19 at West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon. This training equips pastors to use the Prepare/Enrich assessment with engaged…
New Missional Discipleship Group training available this fall
Over the past five years approximately 13 congregations across Ohio Conference have participated in the Missional Discipleship Group initiative which was started by Mennonite Mission Network (MMN). Over that time many of our pastors and other congregational leaders have been trained as coaches. The training has also been reduced from three eight-month-long training cohorts to one. While MMN is pausing…
Golf scramble to benefit Adriel
Adriel will hold a benefit golf scramble Monday, Sept. 13, at 12:30 p.m. at the Eagle Rock Golf Club in Defiance. Proceeds benefit children in Northwest Ohio and throughout the state through Adriel’s foster care and adoption, clinical services, training, and family preservation programs. For more information, see https://www.adriel.org/adriel-golf-outings.
Camp Luz to host youth worker retreat
Ohio Conference will hold a retreat for youth workers Oct. 15-17 at Camp Luz in Kidron. “Equipped for the Journey: The who, what and how for youth workers” is the theme of this retreat, which will be led by Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA. The cost of this retreat is $125 per person for members of Ohio…
Peace center offers mediation workshop
Registration is open for Lombard Mennonite Peace Center’s Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders, to be held Oct. 11-15 and Nov. 15-19, 2021. The two identical sessions will be held remotely via Zoom. This workshop is designed to help church leaders deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. For details, please consult the MSTI…