Missional videos are now available

Ohio Conference now has a series of mission-focused videos on the Conference website. These videos, originally designed for a missional workshop, are available for your use. The following videos are included: Matt Pritchard — Considerations for Emerging Faith Communities Wild Church — Innovation/Creative Church Planting Piedra Viva Mennonite — Partnership Homestead Mennonite Church Experience — Revitalization For more information and…

MMN offers prayer slides for congregations

Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) now has prayer slides available, in PowerPoint and PDF formats, to aid your congregation in praying for Mennonite Mission Network’s international mission workers. You can find these resources on the “Prayer Resources” page of the MMN website: https://bit.ly/MMNPrayer. Scroll past the Prayer Vine and Presentation Slides to view the Mission Worker Slides.

‘MissionWary?’ examines mission in a Mennonite context

“MissionWary?” takes a deep dive into examining mission in a Mennonite context. This new podcast from Mennonite Mission Network is now available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

21st Century Discipleship and the Parable of the Sower: A Contemporary Rendition

By Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg A farmer knew that he was supposed to go out and sow some seeds. The seed was to bear much fruit and nourish and give life to the nations, abundant life. But the farmer didn’t want to get his shoes dirty. So he gathered little packets of seed samples with a set of instructions and hung them…

A Vibrant, Disciple-making, Good News Conference

How do we translate the Gospel to our context? Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, who is volunteering as Ohio Conference’s missional consultant, is working to help Ohio Conference consider this question. She has a vision for the Conference to become a vibrant, disciple-making good news conference. In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, Bill Seymour and his guest co-host, Jamie Rye, the pastor…

What does it take to make mission missional?

By Joel Shenk Not everything the church does in the name of mission or outreach is missional. A group of friends and I recently brainstormed a top-ten list of things churches think are missional but actually aren’t: 10. Outdoor worship services 9. Ecumenical worship services 8. Prayer walks 7. Serving a meal to the homeless 6. MCC school kits and…

A mission trip without the travel

For many congregations, a summer service trip for the youth group is a time-honored tradition. Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City is following that tradition, but with a difference. The service, spiritual growth and group bonding which often occur during a summer service trip are still present, but the travel part is not. This summer for the second year in…

What does it mean for Ohio Conference to be Gathered and Sent?

In this episode of Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk with Regional Pastor Cliff Brubaker about Gathered and Sent, a new focus which brings together the work of two previous initiatives, the Year of Mission and the Year of Covenant. Cliff describes what planners are envisioning for both the “Gathered” and “Sent” parts of this process. Hint:…

Grant program to benefit local ministries

Is your congregation looking for ways to fund a ministry that impacts your community? Consider applying for a grant from the Ohio Conference. For the sixth year in a row, the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT) is accepting grant proposals from Ohio Conference congregations and related organizations for projects and mission initiatives. This year the MDT has $24,992 available…

Gathered and Sent initiative begins

Ohio Conference will merge the focus of the two initiatives of the past year (Year of Covenant and Year of Mission) into one. The combined initiative will be called “Gathered and Sent.” A longer version could be, “Gathered in Covenant, Sent in Mission.” The “Sent” part of “Gathered and Sent” will provide us with resources, tools, training and support to…

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://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://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://ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Kidron_Nussbaum_Final_01-1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

Where are we going next?

In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour discuss the Leadership Team’s proposed direction for Ohio Conference, which includes a strong focus on mission. Delegates will be learning about this statement at regional meetings. Joining Thomas and Bill for this discussion are members of the Ohio Conference Leadership Team and Stewardship Ministry. https://ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-02-15-13.34-Stewardship-Ministry-Team-meeting_01.mp3Podcast: Play…

Jessica breaks things

Back in a November podcast, Ohio Conference Cast hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn learned that one Ohio Conference pastor, Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, had addressed the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) of Mennonite Church USA.* Jessica spoke to the CLC as one of four co-authors of a paper titled “An Appeal for Healing and Hope for the Future of Mennonite Church USA…