Faith
Explore a call to ministry with Journey
When God calls someone to ministry, a journey begins. Perhaps you are on that journey. Perhaps you are looking for mentors and companions along the way. Ohio Conference invites you to join Journey: A Missional Leadership Development Program. This program is for pastors and other congregational leaders who are called without specific training for ministry or who are exploring a…
Four fall regional gatherings scheduled
As part of our Gathered & Sent initiative Ohio Conference will be holding four regional gatherings this fall. These gatherings are in place of our traditional fall cluster meetings and are intended not just for pastors and delegates but for all persons from our congregations who want to learn about the exciting things that are going on in the congregations around…
World Communion Sunday to be celebrated at Central
Join in celebrating World Communion Sunday on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at Central Christian School in Kidron. This worship service is a partnership of several local Mennonite churches and the Swahili Community Church of Akron, a Congolese Mennonite congregation. The event will include prayer, scripture, communion, and worship offerings from the Salem Mennonite dance group, Congolese Swahili choirs, and…
Credentialed leaders meet in Upper Sandusky
Forty of Ohio Conference’s credentialed ministers gathered Sept. 12 at the Upper Sandusky Public Library as part of the Conference’s continued Gathered and Sent initiative. It was a day of dwelling in God’s Word (Ephesians 5:1-21), reflecting on the Conference’s Identity Statement released by the Leadership Team in April, fellowship and looking forward to what lies ahead for the Conference.…
Why faith-based education? A conversation with Susan Schultz Huxman of EMU
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, host Thomas Dunn talks about Mennonite colleges and faith-based education with Susan Schultz Huxman, president of Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Also joining the conversation are guest co-hosts Doug and Miriam Zehr, pastors at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/19_09_14_Susan-Schultz-Huxman_-Submitted.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Everence event to focus on faith and values
Everence is sponsoring a “Faith and Values in the Marketplace” workshop on Monday, Oct. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Gardens at Homestead, 8233 S.R. 241, Mt. Hope. Co-sponsors for this no-fee event are Mennonite Economic Development Associates and the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. The workshop will feature three presentations: “Learning to identify and grow business opportunities”…
A biblical people?
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. — Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) Each year I try to read through the entire Bible, both the New Testament and the Old Testament, following different Bible reading plans. I must confess that I have not always been successful. I also often find myself struggling with parts of…
Senior designs her own social work internship through Bluffton’s Summer Discovery Program
BLUFFTON, Ohio — Rowena Zuercher, a member of Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron, is making the most of her college experience. The social work and Spanish double major from Apple Creek, Ohio, is a student ambassador, active on campus and spent a semester in Guatemala. This summer, she created her own internship through the Summer Discovery Program, which provides a…
You are invited to make disciples
In Matthew 28, Jesus called for his disciples to make disciples of others. But the call to make disciples continues today. You are invited to join others in the Ohio Conference who are participating in the Missional Discipleship Initiative (https://www.mennonitemission.net/MDI). What is the Missional Discipleship Initiative (MDI)? MDI is an initiative launched by Marvin Lorenzana and Mennonite Mission Network to…
Webinar to focus on dealing with politics
Make plans to attend the fall webinar series from Mennonite Church USA for pastors and congregational leaders, “Putting Jesus on the Ballot: Anabaptism and American Politics,” led by Scott Peterson, leadership pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Arizona. This series will include three webinars, with the first on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Learn more and register at thegatheringplace.us.
Immigration event to include care kit assembly
You’re invited to share God’s love and give your support to immigrant detainees on our southern border. Open Arms Hispanic Ministries invites you to come Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. for an immigration information update and MCC Immigration Detainee Care Kit assembly at Orrville Mennonite Church, 1305 W. Market St., Orrville. A representative from Mennonite Central Committee will provide…
Developing leaders is a ‘Journey’
Ohio Conference is partnering with Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, to provide a part-time long-distance leadership development program. Journey: A Missional Leadership Development Program is a three-year certificate program designed for people exploring a call to ministry. The program is also for pastors and other congregational leaders who have already been called to serve but who lack…
When disciples make disciples
By Laurie Oswald Robinson KANSAS CITY (Mennonite Mission Network) — Several years into her role as pastor at the 178-year-old Salem Mennonite Church in rural Elida, Ohio, Paula Snyder Belousek felt a growing dissatisfaction. Something was missing. Even though the congregation had faithfully followed Jesus for the long haul, older generations — rooted in traditional understandings of the Anabaptist faith…
Immigration Resource Team seeks information
From the Immigration Resource Team: It’s been about four months since Annual Conference Assembly 2019, when delegates passed a resolution on immigration. Time for a checkup! We’re wondering what’s happening in Ohio Conference congregations. Did delegates do a good job informing their churches about the various components of the resolution? Are churches praying regularly for the needs of immigrants and…
MCC Central States is collecting immigration detainee care kits
In March, Ohio Conference delegates passed an immigration resolution. In part, the resolution states, “As delegates to Ohio Mennonite Conference, we commit ourselves to become better informed on the issues surrounding immigration, with a willingness to consider a variety of perspectives. Regardless of our own national origin, we will seek to reach out and build relationships with our neighbors, rooted…
Laughter, tears and truth-telling at SENT 2019
By Travis Duerksen Mennonite Mission Network ENGLEWOOD, Colorado — More than 80 church leaders from across the country came together for SENT 2019 at Beloved Community Mennonite Church on April 26-28 in Englewood, Colorado. The SENT conference, now in its fourth year, is a peace church conference hosted by Mennonite Mission Network that helps connect, inspire, and equip church leaders…
Men’s Retreat features Dick Barrett
More than 50 men from about 10 different congregations gathered for the annual Camp Luz Men’s Retreat on April 5-7. While some of the men have been attending this retreat for years, there were a good number of younger men also in attendance, which was very encouraging to see. Dick Barrett, Conference minister for the Ohio Conference, provided the input…
Explore spiritual direction
Spiritual direction can be a rich resource for your spiritual journey. Ohio Conference has compiled a list of spiritual directors to serve as a resource for Ohio Conference members and pastors. All the individuals listed have completed a certification program and have Anabaptist affiliation. To download this list, go to http://bit.ly/OhioSpiritualDirectors. Have you heard the term “spiritual direction” but aren’t…
MennoHealth Cast features personal stories
The MennoHealth Cast podcast, which launched in March, is a production of The Mennonite, Inc., and Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship. MennoHealth Cast seeks to highlight the personal stories of people involved in various fields related to the care of human beings. The first episode features an interview with Karen Vundla, who recently completed a 46-year career in nursing. To listen, go…
Delegate News — Winter 2019 #6
ACA summary video is now ready Thanks to all delegates who attended the 2019 Annual Conference Assembly last week! A new summary video about the 2019 ACA is now ready. You can find it at https://youtu.be/UUin9aM0oTs. Please share it with members of your congregation. Photos of ACA and missional conference are on website Photos of ACA and the missional…
The Mennonite seeks submissions for May
The Mennonite Inc. invites your original submissions for the May 2019 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on the theme “God So Loved the Whole World.” Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than April 4. For more details, please see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteMay2019.
Bluffton peace lecture to tell story of MJ Sharp
BLUFFTON, Ohio — John E. Sharp will present “Changing the World One Life at a Time: The MJ Sharp Story” at 11 a.m. on March 26 in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University. Sharp will reflect on the life of his son MJ Sharp who died in his prime as a peacebuilder in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On March…
Register now for Healthy Congregations Workshop
Berlin Mennonite Church will host a Healthy Congregations Workshop April 4-5. Workshop participants will learn how they can influence the health of their congregations, and how to detect and avoid unhealthy patterns of living together in community. Time is running out to receive the best registration price for this workshop. The registration fee includes a course manual and lunch. The…
Goshen College offers Lenten devotions
Goshen College is providing daily online devotions during Lent focusing on the theme “Blessed Hunger, Holy Feast.” You can sign up to receive these devotions via email: https://www.goshen.edu/devotions.
The Gathering Place offers webinars
The Gathering Place, a virtual space where Anabaptist faith formation leaders can gather, learn, share and grow, is getting a new start with new resources and several upcoming webinars for Mennonite Church USA faith formation leaders. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2019GatheringPlace.
‘Love Crosses Borders’ planned for summer
Love is the greatest of all virtues. But what does love look like in times of cynicism and polarization? Mennonite Men is organizing “Love Crosses Borders,” an immersion experience with immigrants which will take place this summer. From July 28 to August 3 Mennonite Men will journey to Georgia and connect with Casa Alterna, a hospitality house devoted to faithful…
Berlin to host Healthy Congregations Workshop
Berlin Mennonite Church will host a Healthy Congregations Workshop April 5-6. Bill Blank, associate director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, will lead the workshop. This workshop is designed for pastors, church staff, lay leaders and congregation members. Participants will learn how they can influence the health of their congregations, and how to detect and avoid unhealthy patterns of living…
MC USA offers Lent At Home guide
(Mennonite Church USA) — Get ready for a holy feast. The Lent At Home resource based on the theme “Blessed Hunger…Holy Feast” is available now with materials for exploring God’s abundance and the season’s themes. The materials begin with Shrove Tuesday on March 5 and continue through Easter Sunday on April 21. The theme and Scriptures in the Lent At Home materials…
MC USA video series looks at leadership, structure
Mennonite Church USA has recently posted three presentations on YouTube addressing the denomination’s leadership, structure and polity. These presentations are from the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) meeting which took place on Oct. 11-13, 2018, in Chicago. The three presenters are Michael Danner, associate executive director for church vitality and engagement; David Boshart, moderator; and Joy Sutter, moderator-elect. Use the links below…
Journey transforms learners and leaders
By Ben Parker Sutter and Annette Brill Bergstresser ELKHART, Indiana (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) — Dennis Miller of Goshen, Indiana, was in his late 50s when he realized it was time for him to explore other vocational possibilities. “I’ve been in construction my entire working life,” he said. “Working in the church is something I always thought about but at the same…