Year of Mission
Delegates affirm direction statement
Delegates overwhelmingly affirmed a direction statement presented by the Ohio Conference Leadership Team at the 2017 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) of the Ohio Conference. Those gathered at Central Christian School in Kidron on March 24-25 numbered 217, including delegates from 46 congregations. Ninety-three percent of delegates affirmed the Leadership Team’s direction statement for Ohio Conference. Vote totals were as follows:…
Talking with Alan and Debra Hirsch
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Alan and Debra Hirsch, the presenters at Ohio Conference’s missional conference. They discuss broadening our understanding of ministry roles, bi-vocational ministry, the future of the church and the Hirsches’ impression of the people they have met in the Ohio Conference. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/12_03_24_Alan_Debra_Hirsh_Submitted-1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window…
Missional Conference Musings from Joel Shenk, Hannah Troyer, and Karla Minter
Ohio Conference Cast hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with three participants of the Ohio Conference’s missional conference featuring Alan and Debra Hirsch. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tom-and-Bill-hear-from-Hannah-and-Karla-and-Joel-final.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
A good neighbor
The Ohio Conference Cast is continuing to highlight stories of congregations engaged in mission in their local settings. In this podcast episode, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Craig Strasbaugh and Kris Nussbaum of Kidron Mennonite Church about the blessings and challenges of ministry in a local trailer park. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Kidron_Nussbaum_Final_01-1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Dollars, Donuts, and Milk – Missional Stories from the Northwest
In this episode, Ohio Conference Cast hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour travel to a regional meeting in Northwest Ohio at Tedrow Mennonite Church. They hear stories of mission from members of three congregations — Salem Mennonite in Elida, Lockport Mennonite in Stryker and Central Mennonite in Archbold. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/NW-Regional-Gathering-Podcast-Final.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Who are Alan and Debra Hirsch?
By Jacob Dodson Pastor Wooster Mennonite Church One of the highlights of the Year of Mission is the pre-ACA missional training event with Alan and Debra Hirsch. You may have seen their names in missional books or Ohio Conference publications, but here is some biographical information about them. Alan was born in South Africa and grew up in Cape Town.…
Missional conference to precede ACA
During the Ohio Conference Year of Mission (2016-17), the Conference has been encouraging people to think about how they and their congregations can participate in God’s mission right in their own communities. This March, as part of this mission emphasis, Ohio Conference is sponsoring a Missional Conference with Alan and Debra Hirsch. The conference will take place at Kidron Mennonite…
How Alan and Debra Hirsch influenced me
By Jason Rissler Church Planter Cross Connections Having Alan and Debra Hirsch with us in Ohio Conference for two days is a true gift. My life and ministry have been tremendously enriched by their ministry. One of my first interactions with Alan Hirsch was in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as Alan spoke with Lancaster Conference leaders and Mennonite church planters. He put…
Delegate News – Winter 2017
Three regional meetings scheduled Ohio Conference has scheduled three regional meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. The meetings will take place at these locations: Feb. 21 — Tedrow Mennonite Church in Wauseon Feb. 23 — Crown Hill Mennonite Church in Rittman March 7 — Oak Grove Mennonite Church in West Liberty All three meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.…
Planners encourage young adult attendance at missional conference
Have you registered for the Missional Conference with Alan and Debra Hirsch? The conference will take place at Kidron Mennonite Church March 23-24, just prior to Annual Conference Assembly. Planners of this event would like to encourage all congregations to cover the cost of registration for their young adults interested in attending. Young adults up to age 30 already receive…
Stories shared at Fall Mission Events
People from all across the Ohio Conference came to three regional gatherings to talk about how God is working in their congregations and communities. Jubilee Mennonite Church in Bellefontaine, Central Mennonite Church in Archbold and Berlin Mennonite Church hosted the three Fall Mission Events in October and November. These events are part of the Ohio Conference Year of Mission, which…
Registration is open for missional conference
“Who is my Neighbor?” is the theme for the upcoming Ohio Conference Missional Conference with Alan and Debra Hirsch. This two-day event will take place March 23-24, 2017, at Kidron Mennonite Church immediately prior to Annual Conference Assembly. This missional conference will focus on a variety of topics: Inviting all people in so they feel that they have a place…
What are the Missional Gatherings?
In this episode of Ohio Conference Cast, Jacob Dodson, pastor of Wooster Mennonite Church, talks with hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour about the Fall Mission Events taking place and about the Ohio Conference Year of Mission. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Jacob-Dodson-Interview.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Fall meetings to focus on mission
How have you seen God at work in your congregation during the Ohio Conference Year of Mission? This fall, members of all Ohio Conference congregations are invited to gather together at Fall Mission Events to share stories of how their churches are engaging in God’s mission in their local communities. Everyone in Ohio Conference is invited to attend the Fall…
Delegate News – Fall 2016
Fall meeting schedule is altered In most years, delegates to Annual Conference As sembly (ACA) are asked to attend cluster meetings in both the fall and the winter in preparation for ACA. This fall instead of holding smaller cluster meetings in seven or eight locations, the Confer ence will hold Fall Mission Event gatherings in three sepa rate locations throughout the state. All…
MDT to accept proposals for grants
For the fifth year in a row, the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT) is accepting proposals from Conference congregations and related organizations for projects and mission initiatives. This year, the MDT has $21,614 available for grants. In light of the current Year of Mission focus within Ohio Conference, the MDT will give preference to proposals that are particularly mission…
Funding available for Sentralized Conference
Are you interested in learning how to engage in God’s mission in life-changing ways? Ohio Conference is offering financial assistance for up to four people from Ohio Conference to attend Sentralized, a missional conference which will be held in Little Rock, Ark., May 5-6. Sentralized is organized by Forge America and sponsored by a variety of Christian organizations. Among the…
Conference to begin Year of Mission
By Jacob Dodson Pastor, Wooster Mennonite Church Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA exists to nurture healthy congregations in worship, faith and witness. One of the best ways for the Conference to fulfill this purpose is by engaging in a Year of Mission in 2016-17. During this year the Conference will encourage members of local congregations to do mission in…