News & Stories
Goshen College to offer new Study-Service Theology Term for high schoolers
GOSHEN, Ind. — Goshen College’s new Study-Service Theology Term (SSTT) is currently seeking 20 high school applicants for a two-week study tour in Guatemala in June 2017. Students will be provided with the opportunity to explore their understandings of Jesus’ life and mission in light of contemporary challenges and their own sense of calling. “Faith perspectives are often developed in…
Donation to support church planting
Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship has closed its doors, but one of the last actions of the congregation will further church planting. Members of the congregation, which was located in Plain City, decided to close the church as of Dec. 31, 2015. A closing worship service was held Jan. 10, 2016. Following the church’s closing, the church’s board decided to make a…
Overplayed focuses on youth sports
By Lois Bontrager Ohio Conference Resource Advocate Now available from MennoMedia: Overplayed: A Parent’s Guide to Sanity in the World of Youth Sports by David King And Margot Starbuck. This book equips parents with concrete tips such as the following: Encouraging kids to play a different sport for a season Grabbing coffee with a friend during soccer practice (instead of…
Resource Teams can meet shared needs
Do you see a need that Ohio Conference should address? One way to work at these needs is by forming a Resource Team. A Resource Team is a temporary group that carries out specific tasks identified by the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT). Resource Teams exist to respond quickly to the needs of congregations within the Ohio Conference. As…
Task force wants to hear from you
At Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) 2016 the delegate body affirmed an Ohio Conference “Statement on Remaining with MC USA.” One key element of this statement was that Ohio Conference would “remain a part of MC USA in order to articulate to the denomination our perceptions of differences in doctrine and practice.” The Ohio Conference Leadership Team…
Birthday blessing crosses cultures at Salem
By Raul Tadeo The Hispanic members of the Salem Mennonite Church of Wooster love LuLu Miller, the oldest member of the bilingual congregation. LuLu has learned to accept the “besos”(kisses on the forehead and cheeks) and “abrazos” (hugs) that the Hispanics use to greet her with every Sunday morning when she arrives at church. On Sunday, May 22, she reached…
Giving increases in June
Giving to the Ohio Conference was slightly greater than expenses during June, according to figures supplied by Finance Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for June totaled $24,751, while expenses for the month totaled $24,349. The resulting surplus of $402 for the month helped to improve the operating balance for the first three months of the Conference fiscal year. As of June…
Group to continue Year of Covenant process
George O’Reilly, who has served the Ohio Conference as transitional conference leader and more recently as the Year of Covenant facilitator, has taken a full-time position as one of the pastors at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. He will continue his work on the Year of Covenant on a one-quarter-time salary through September. He is working on composing a group…
New Fears
As my wife and I were driving to church last Sunday, she received a chat text from our daughter who lives in Northern Ireland. Our son-in-law is a technical climber, an instructor of mountaineering instructors actually, and their two daughters are quite the outdoor enthusiasts normally. In fact, at just about 4 years old the older girl had her own…
Kelly Troyer joins Everence church relations/charitable services team
KIDRON, Ohio – Everence Financial recently announced the hiring of Kelly J. Troyer as church relations and charitable services representative. Troyer is part of the Everence team based in Kidron and will be helping individuals, organizations and congregations in Northeast Ohio plan for philanthropic goals that integrate their faith and values. She also will provide stewardship education resources and help…
Scholarships available for Women’s Retreat
Ohio Mennonite Women has scholarships available for women who want to attend Women’s Retreat at Camp Luz Sept. 16-18, 2016, and need financial assistance. Roxanne Kauffman is the contact person for obtaining applications for this scholarship. Please contact her at roxykauff@gmail.com or (937) 465-1204, or write to…
OMW to give toward Girls’ Jamboree registration fees
Do you know a girl who would enjoy attending the Girls’ Jamboree at Camp Luz this summer? This is a great opportunity for girls in grades 3 through 8 to have fun and grow closer to God. Jamboree dates are Aug. 12-14, 2016. In support of this event, Ohio Mennonite Women will contribute $10 towards each girl’s registration fee, reducing…
Gathering Place is for youth leaders
The Gathering Place is an interactive website for Anabaptist youth leaders to find connection, resourcing, networking, mentoring, and spiritual formation. Check out the website at www.thegatheringplace.us. You can subscribe to receive the latest information from the Gathering Place.
Signs of Health in a Recovering Body
A recurring pesky condition cropped up again recently in my physical person. While not generally overwhelming, this condition is difficult to ignore and disrupts focus on “regular” life. Not that illness, irritations, “dis-ease,” etc are not a regular part of life. They are for the vast majority of us, and quite common for many. In fact, to an immunologist, a…
Love is a Verb: Spiritual practices resource explores MC USA convention theme
Mennonite Church USA —The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board staff has released a year-long spiritual practices resource that explores the 2017 convention theme Love is a Verb through the lens of Richard Foster’s six spiritual streams. The resource is intended for use by delegates, youth groups, presenters, planners and other convention attendees from July 2016 through June 2017. Leo Hartshorn…
MDS responds to flooding in West Virginia
Lititz, PA — A Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) investigation team is currently in West Virginia assessing needs after devastating floods on Thursday, June 24. The team arrived on Sunday, June 26, in White Sulphur Springs. MDS is currently welcoming donations to assist with its response to the flooding. MDS has been working in the southwestern part of West Virginia for nearly…
Time remains to apply for ministry grants
Is your congregation looking for ways to fund a local ministry? Consider applying for a grant from the Ohio Conference. July 18 is the deadline to submit a grant proposal to the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT). For the fifth year in a row, the MDT is accepting proposals from Ohio Conference congregations and related organizations for projects and…
Conference’s deficit continues in May
Ohio Conference expenses were higher than giving during May, according to figures provided by Ohio Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Expenses for the month were $27,408, while receipts totaled just $20,406, resulting in an operating balance of -$7,002 for the month. That shortfall, combined with the deficit from April, resulted in…
Constancy and Change
As people of faith we have the great privilege of relying on the Constancy of God. In Hebrews 13, the writer quotes a promise found in Deuteronomy — “I will never leave you or forsake you” —as a way to remind readers about how our God is so faithful. And I too can join in and declare this is true.…
Four local organizations receive donations from Everence
KIDRON, Ohio – Using income generated from its Visa card transactions, Everence® Federal Credit Union is supporting local organizations through its Rebate for Missions program. Salem Youth Fellowship, Camp Buckeye, New Grounds Café and Walnut Hills Employee Assistance Program each received $500 from Everence Federal Credit Union’s Northeast Ohio branches. The four Christian-based organizations were chosen to receive the donations…
Salem breaks ground for new facility
By Bob Sauder Editor’s note: How does a congregation decide when to build a new facility? The journey to new construction is often a long one, and the path is not always a straight line. Bob Sauder, the new moderator of the Ohio Conference, is a member of Salem Mennonite Church in Waldron, Mich. He reflects on the years-long process…
Women’s retreat to focus on sharing stories
“Sharing Your Story” will be the theme of the annual Women’s Retreat Sept. 16-18 at Camp Luz in Kidron. Guest speakers for the weekend will be Vickie Esh and Kim Leichty. Women’s Retreat is designed for women of all ages to come and spend time with others worshipping, laughing, and relaxing. The cost of the retreat is $90 for those…
Spiritual competence
By George O’Reilly Year of Covenant Facilitator The Church of today is in a crisis of credibility. Not just with those who never entertained the possibility of Christian faith, but especially with many who tried the Church and found it “wanting.” If the Church just had problems with intellectuals and materialists, the Church would have much higher standing with our…
Conference receipts drop during April
Lower than hoped-for giving to Ohio Conference in April led to a deficit for the first month of the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Total receipts for the month were just $10,834, including $10,764 of congregational giving. That amount of congregational giving is the lowest monthly total…
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…
Sharon Mennonite hosts Year of Covenant Meeting
Fifty people participated in the first Ohio Conference Year of Covenant Meeting, which took place May 11 at Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City. Credentialed leaders from around the Conference attended. The special resource speaker for the day was David Boshart of Iowa, who serves as executive conference director of Central Plains Mennonite Conference. In addition to input from David…
Conference to focus on faith formation
A conference for individuals concerned about faith formation is coming to Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Ind., this fall. Deep Faith: Anabaptist Faith Formation for All Ages will be held Oct. 6-8 at the seminary. Conference planners describe Deep Faith: Anabaptist Faith Formation for All Ages as a practical conference designed to empower Anabaptist pastors, teachers and lay leaders in…
Lilly grants to provide financial assistance, financial education programs for pastors
Financial assistance is available for pastors of congregations in Mennonite Church USA. At Annual Conference Assembly in March, Jim Frado of Everence and Terry Shue, director of leadership development for Mennonite Church USA, talked to delegates about a program designed to address the financial challenges facing pastors. This program, which is a three-year initiative, is made possible by a grant…
Salem Mennonite in Elida plans celebrations
Salem Mennonite Church in Elida is celebrating 175 years as a congregation during 2016. The church has planned a series of events to celebrate not only the congregation’s history but also the history of the surrounding area and Anabaptist Christian traditions. On May 22 John Roth, professor of history at Goshen College, will be the guest speaker at Salem. He…
Awesomely and Wonderfully Made
In a passage often echoed in our own experience, a psalmist declares in considering his physical being: “I praise You, for I am awesomely, wonderfully made ….” — Psalm 139: 14 (TNK) We can readily identify even in our age of advancement in science and medicine at the almost unbelievable complexity and the mysterious functioning of the human body. Even…