News & Stories
Taxpayers can benefit themselves, charities with income tax refunds
KIDRON, Ohio– Retailers offer special promotions this time of year, encouraging people to buy new mattresses or TVs with their income tax refunds. Everence® would like to offer a different idea. Taxpayers may use their refunds to help charities advance their missions – and the donors can lower their own taxable income for their 2016 tax returns in the process.…
Going Organic
Organic is in! Everywhere we look new organic approaches to life are being touted as the healthy, the natural, the most environmentally friendly ways to be and live. So, I began pondering … Did Jesus espouse an organic approach to spirituality and discipleship? And, if so, just what exactly might that mean? On the last day, the great day of…
West Clinton congregation sees value in being blessed by a dress
By Pam Graber Outreach ideas come in many ways, but by far the most successful come when God does the nudging. West Clinton’s “Prom Trend: Beauty Comes from the Heart” event is the result of one such nudge. “If someone had told me five years ago that I would be coordinating a prom dress event, I would have told…
The power of congregational support in a long, difficult journey
By Howard Nikkel My particular journey began seven and a half years ago when I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. The journey has included many visits to the cardiologists, medications to help the heart function better, a procedure called ultrafiltration done in a Venezuelan hospital, an implant that contained a pacemaker, defibrillator and a resynchronizer, and ending up with…
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…
Cliff Brubaker joins Ohio Conference as regional pastor
Cliff Brubaker has accepted a call from the Ohio Conference Leadership Team to serve as a regional pastor for the western part of the conference, beginning April 1. This half-time assignment is for a one-year interim period. A resident of Hillsdale, Mich., Brubaker has a long history of ministry in the Ohio Conference. He was pastor of Salem Mennonite Church…
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…
Inspiration
By Pastor George O’Reilly Transitional Conference Leader Inspiration. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I really need some. You see, most of the time I’m a pretty much a “keep on keeping on” kind of person. And that can be good, since that often seems like what I need to do, just keep moving. If I name it “persistence,”…
Working together as a body
By George O’Reilly Transitional Conference Leader As I write this, many of us have just returned from several days of working together as Ohio Conference on our mission and trajectory for the next year certainly, and on into the foreseeable future. We began with a special Missional presentation from Forge Network titled “Becoming Missional: Re-Learning How to Be Sent.” This…
Workshop to focus on faith and values in business
KIDRON, Ohio — Everence® and Mennonite Foundation are presenting a workshop titled Faith and values in the marketplace at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, in the Kidron Park Community Building, 4434 Kidron Road. Christians are called to be good stewards of their gifts from God — including their time and talents in addition to their money. How does that standard…
Congregations invited to sign Year of Covenant document
At the 2016 Annual Conference Assembly, delegates discussed the Leadership Team’s proposal to enter into a Year of Covenant, and congregations have been invited to sign the covenant. The document can be downloaded here: One Year of Covenant sign up for Congregations Some excerpts from the covenant document are included here: We will attempt to participate fully, converse respectfully, and to…
Winter 2016 Delegate News #4
We look forward to seeing you next week! In one week delegates will be gathering at Central Mennonite Church in Archbold for Annual Conference Assembly (ACA). Assembly planners are busy finalizing details for our time together. The Gifts Discernment Ministry Team has been hard at work, developing the slate of nominees which delegates will vote upon at ACA. A copy…
Conference has new Resource Advocate
Lois Bontrager is the new Ohio Conference Resource Advocate. The role of the Resource Advocate is to be aware of the latest resources from the various Mennonite Church USA groups and to find creative ways to make these resources useful to area conferences, pastors and lay leaders in congregations. Resource Advocates from conferences across Mennonite Church USA held their annual…
Conference’s deficit continues in January
Ohio Conference’s deficit increased during January, according to figures provided by Ohio Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Congregational giving during January totaled $24,864, and total income for the month was $26,302. Expenses for January were $34,803, resulting in an operating balance of -$8,501 for the month. That shortfall brought the operating balance for the first 10 months of the fiscal…
Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship offers student grants
Graduate Students in Healthcare Professions: Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF) offers educational grants for Anabaptist students to learn and serve in cross-cultural mission/service settings in developing countries. The application deadline for the 2016-17 academic year is May 15, 2016. For details and application form, see http://mennohealth.org/SET, email info@mennohealth.org, or call 1-888-406-3643.
Winter 2016 Delegate News #3
Delegate News for ACA 2016 – Somes questions and answers In preparation for Annual Conference Assembly on March 11-12, the Ohio Conference Leadership Team is responding to delegate questions about several items. Please see these questions and answers below. (These questions and answers are also available in a downloadable PDF document.) Statement on Remaining with MC USA 1. …
A Most Neglected Commandment
By George O’Reilly Transitional Conference Leader Having come into Mennonite circles from an evangelical background and seminary, despite attempts at understanding this new approach to life and discipleship, I was not always able to quickly “track” the peculiarities of typical “Mennonite theology.” During my first pastorate at a Mennonite congregation in Illinois, I found myself personally taking issue with an…
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…
Embracing the Hope we really don’t want
By George O’Reilly Transitional Conference Leader I have come to value more and more Paul’s emphasis on Hope in the midst of personal and corporate anguish. There are simply times when despite the effectiveness of Christ’s work for His body that we simply will not receive what we know is rightfully ours in this life. Galatians 5 is an intense…
Winter 2016 Delegate News #2
Delegates to discuss documents at cluster meetings The Ohio Conference Leadership Team has developed several documents which delegates will discuss at winter cluster meetings. The documents are included below: Statement on Remaining with MC USA Proposed Membership Resolution with Cover Letter One-Year Covenant for Ohio Conference Congregations, Pastors, Conference Leaders and Staff Please download these documents and take some time…
Winter 2016 Delegate News
Winter cluster meetings scheduled Seven winter cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly have been scheduled: Wayne County — Feb. 2 at Sonnenberg Mennonite in Kidron, 7 p.m. Northwest Ohio — Feb. 4 at Zion Mennonite in Archbold, 7 p.m. Holmes/Tuscarawas — Feb. 11 at Berlin Mennonite, 7 p.m. Columbiana/Pennsylvania — Feb. 16 at Leetonia Mennonite, 7 p.m. West…
Winter cluster meeting schedule set
Ohio Conference has scheduled seven winter cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly: Wayne County — Feb. 2 at Sonnenberg Mennonite in Kidron, 7 p.m. Northwest Ohio — Feb. 4 at Zion Mennonite in Archbold, 7 p.m. Holmes/Tuscarawas — Feb. 11 at Berlin Mennonite, 7 p.m. Columbiana/Pennsylvania — Feb. 16 at Leetonia Mennonite, 7 p.m. West Central/SW Ohio —…
To act — or — to react
We live in an age of “reactivity.” Certainly this is obvious in Facebook posts and the mutually disdainful and corrosive responses of our political candidates to one another. And who can blame those who respond with anger or disdain to others who have so treated them? Many consider this quite natural in human interactions, and find no need to apologize…
Conference prayer session set for Jan. 28
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team is committed to focusing on prayer for the Conference. As part of this emphasis on prayer, the Leadership Team has planned a “GoToMeeting Prayer Session” for Thursday, Jan. 28, from noon to 12:45 p.m. EST. Everyone is invited to join the Leadership Team in prayer at that time. If you would like to join the…
‘Invitation to Rest’ is Day of Inspiration Theme
Ohio Mennonite Women’s Spring Day of Inspiration will take place Saturday, April 9, at Crown Hill Mennonite Church in Rittman. Featured speaker Janice Hershberger will focus on the theme “Invitation to Rest,” based on Matthew 11:28-30. Several workshops will be offered. Janice Hershberger has an M.A. in pastoral counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary. She has been a clinical counselor…
Shepherding sheep
By George O’Reilly Transitional Conference Leader Having never been to present-day Israel or Palestine, the historical setting of much of the biblical stories and events of our Christian heritage, I have never observed “shepherding” in that regional and cultural context. I have seen sheep freely pasturing on the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland and in the lush green fields of…
‘Becoming Missional’ training session to precede Annual Conference Assembly
Coming in March: This year before Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) you have the opportunity to grow in your knowledge and passion for God’s mission right in your own neighborhood. On Thursday and Friday, March 10-11, immediately prior to the start of ACA, Brad Brisco and Lance Ford of Forge Network will lead a training workshop focusing on how we can…
Central Mennonite to host ACA
Central Mennonite Church in Archbold will host the 2016 Ohio Conference Annual Conference Assembly (ACA), which will take place March 11-12. “Holy Ground: Founded on Christ, Flourishing in Faith,” based on I Corinthians 3:6-11, will be the theme of this year’s Assembly. This year ACA will be preceded by a special training session led by Brad Brisco and Lance Ford…
ACA lodging list has been updated
Ohio Conference has arranged special room rates with several area hotels for Friday, March 11, in conjunction with Annual Conference Assembly (ACA). A lodging list for ACA was included with in the packet of registration materials sent to congregations and delegates. Please note the following update to the lodging list: The Holiday Inn Express in Napoleon is becoming a Comfort…
MWC general secretary coming to Ohio
Mennonite World Conference invites you to an evening with General Secretary César García. When: Sunday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. Where: Kidron Mennonite Church, 3987 Kidron Road, Kidron, Ohio César García will present on the theme “MWC Beyond Assemblies.” Sing international songs from the Assembly. Hear stories of Mennonite World Conference and the global Church. César García also will be…