May/June 2025

THE MAGAZINE OF U.S. MENNONITE BRETHREN

MAY / JUNE 2025

Ou ty i r gl o n bal commu

Agents of reconciliation 10

Christ or cause 18

Bridging the gap 24

■ from the editor

Come to the table All are welcome at God’s feast

D

uring Jesus’ ministry on earth, tables—and the meals shared around them— were an important part of his school of discipleship. Professor and author Robert Karris writes, “In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal or coming from a meal.”

New Testament scholar N. T. Wright says, “When Jesus himself wanted to explain to his disciples what his forthcoming death was all about, he didn’t give them a theory, he gave them a meal.”

When Jesus invites his followers to the table, the meal is open to all—men and women, slave and free, Jew and Greek. Jesus’ table is diverse; his table is uniting.

Coming to the table requires taking risks and leaving places where we are comfortable. Our differences have led to many wars, hostilities and animosities. Yet, Coming to the the Bible speaks of the diversity of God’s people as a blessing to enjoy for eternity table requires (Revelation 5).

We denominational magazine editors often talk about our publications as tataking risks and bles, inviting readers to pull up a chair and to enjoy the dinnertime conversation, leaving places sharing stories and thinking together about issues of the day. Previous Christian Leader editor Wally Kroeker compares this magazine at its best to a zesty stew, where we are with “different shapes and colors of vegetables, assorted chunks of meat, plenty of comfortable. herbs and spices and maybe even a chili pepper or two.”

It has been my privilege to be one of the chefs in the Christian Leader kitchen for the past 30 years. With this issue, I am hanging up my cook’s apron and passing the soup ladle on to the next head chef. Serving the USMB family alongside the assistant and associate editors and graphic designers who worked with me in the kitchen has been a blessing. Thank you to the men and women who contributed their writing talents to this enterprise, to the proof readers and to the USMB staff, Board of Communications, Editorial Committee and Review Committee members who worked behind the scenes to bring this publication to our readers.

My goal has been to offer a dinner table spread with food that fuses the familiar with something new. I hope the magazine has encouraged us as a community of U.S. Mennonite Brethren to pursue an evangelical Anabaptist perspective rooted in our Confession of Faith while at the same time recognizing and respecting the diversity of perspectives and opinions among us.

Our diversity is the focus of this issue. These essays encourage us in the hard task of living out the vision of every tribe, language, people and nation transformed by Jesus and glorifying God. The essays invite us to learn from each other. To hear others’ stories of faith and enjoy others’ hospitality. To be curious about different backgrounds and experiences. To appreciate the multifaceted kingdom Christ Connie Faber, is building. Bon appetit.

Vol. 88, No. 3 — May/June 2025

Editor

Publisher: United States Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches/ISSN 0009-5149 Editorial Committee: Matt Ehresman, Michele Fiester, Aaron Garza, Ryan Loewen, Shelly Spencer, Tony Petersen.

Review Committee: Aaron Box, Jordan Ringhofer, Brent Warkentin, Daniel Rodriguez Disclaimer: The content and viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs and/or viewpoints of USMB as a whole.

Copyright: Articles are owned by the Christian Leader or the author and may not be reprinted without permission.

Unless noted, Scripture quotations are from the New International Version.

Subscriptions: $10 for six issues and $20 for 12 issues ($15, $30 in Canada, all other countries $25 for six issues); $2 per copy.

Correspondence: Christian Leader, Box 155, 107 N. Main, Hillsboro, KS 67063-0155. Phone: 620.947.5543.

Email: editor@usmb.org Membership: Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse Postmaster: Send address changes to Christian Leader, Box 155, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, KS

2 christian leader | may / june 2025

■ Connie Faber, EDITOR ■ Janae Rempel Shafer, ASSOCIATE EDITOR ■ Shelley Kallsen, GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Table of Contents We are not perfect, but what matters most is not a success story but how we continue to live a love story.

FEATURES

COLUMNS

10 Agents of reconciliation

2 Editorial

What do Babel and Pentecost teach us about our differences?

By Aaron Box and David Reed

Connie Faber

4 From the National Director

12 Why our lenses matter

Aaron Box

Each of us sees the world through a unique cultural lens

By Joanna Chapa

5 Radical reformers Peter Riedemann

By Hannah Keeney

9 Around the world

14 When change comes

Uruguay CCHMU

to church How do we respond when God answers our prayers for successful outreach?

By Marjorie Ekk

17 Testimony

6 News in Brief 8 5 Minutes With...

Nzash Lumeya

20 BodyLife • Following God’s call • Better together • Building blocks of faith • Bridging the gap • Inspired to invest • LeadGen grants fund ministry training

28 Church Life

Our forever family

By Jason Sannes-Venhuizen

18 Frontlines Christ or cause

By Cody Meyer

Online • Won’t you be my neighbor

By Terry Hunt

DEPARTMENTS

19 Got Questions

• Embracing God’s multi-cultural family

By Nasser al’Qahtan

Worship that speaks

By Caitlin Friesen

christianleadermag.com 3

■ from the national director

The least of these Who do I see as somehow less?

O As we consider how to view those around us, we must be most concerned about what Jesus has to say rather than the loud voices.

ne of Jesus’ most haunting messages is found in Matthew 25:31-46. His disciples ask in chapter 24 to know the signs and timing for his return at the end of the age.

The answers Jesus gives focus not on signs or timing but on how to live in light of his return. And the crescendo is found in his telling of how the gathered nations will be divided into two groups, referred to as sheep and goats, and judged for their actions.

Shockingly, it appears that many people who refer to Jesus as Lord in the story are caught completely unaware that their lives totally missed the mark.

What divides these two groups is how they respond to the hungry, thirsty, unclothed, sick and imprisoned. Worth noting is the final category of people, often translated as “strangers.” This Greek term literally means alien or foreigner (see Matt. 27:7; Acts 17:18,21; Eph. 2:12,19; Heb. 11:13). And what is true of everyone standing before Jesus is they don’t realize the gravity of their actions or inaction.

Perhaps, in this cultural moment, the words we need to be reminded of are “the least of these.” Jesus tells the multitude what they did or didn't do for the various groups in need, specifically “the least of these brothers and sisters,” they also did or didn’t do for Jesus himself.

We are in a time in which it is so easy to be caught up in what my friend calls “Cable News Theology,” a worldview defined by the loud voices around us rather than by Jesus. One extreme of the political spectrum seems to have hijacked concerns like social justice for their own means and the other extreme seems to have demonized justice and caring for the most vulnerable. As we consider how to view those around us, we must be most concerned about what Jesus has to say rather than the loud voices.

As a group of around 220 churches, different from one another in our regional cultures and diverse to the point that we hold Sunday services in 12 languages, we are never going to see all things the same. We will always have unique viewpoints, opinions and cultural values. And that can be a strength.

However, we are also prone to view one another as “more” or “less” far more than we might want to admit. And that is where “the least of these” becomes a powerful phrase.

Who do I see as less? Is it the undocumented immigrant? A person of a particular social or economic status? Do I see people who think differently, act differently, vote differently or who have different needs as not worth my attention, effort and love?

It is worth the effort of answering the question, “Who do I see as somehow less?” Jesus clearly states that when we care for, feed, clothe and welcome those who we might overlook and be inclined to see as less, we do it for Jesus. And when we do overlook those we value less, Jesus says we overlook him as well.

Aaron Box aaron@usmb.org

4 christian leader | may / june 2025

Radical reformers ■ 500 years of Anabaptism

Traveling writer Peter Riedemann: Prolific writer and Hutterite bishop

P

eter Riedemann was a shoemaker by trade, a prolific and articulate writer and a Hutterite leader sometimes considered the second founder of the Hutterite brotherhood. Riedemann, known as “tall Peter” and “Peter of Gmunden” was born in Hirschberg, Silsea, Germany, in 1506. Little else is known about him until he joined the Anabaptist movement and was arrested for his faith as a young man.

While imprisoned in Gmunden, he wrote his first comprehensive work, his confession of faith, penned at the age of 23. This confession, published in English as Love is like Fire: The Confession of an Anabaptist Prisoner, is impressively comprehensive in biblical reference and spirituality as characteristic of early Anabaptist writing. Though he was not Hutterite at the time, this account has been faithfully preserved by the Hutterite Church in various manuscript forms.

After three years, Riedemann escaped prison and left Austria for Moravia. While traveling, he continued to write not only well-crafted doctrine, but also an abundance of correspondence and many hymns.

Along the way he married, and his letters from this time include a handful that might be considered love letters to his Anabaptist “marital sister,” Katharina.

In Moravia he met and joined the new and growing Hutterite church. Hutterites are one branch of Anabaptism. Today Hutterites live communally in rural colonies in the U.S. and Canada. Their community settlements are called “Bruderhofs.”

Riedemann spent the next several years writing as he traveled across Moravia and Austria, serving as a missionary of the Anabaptist message and bishop of the Hutterite Church. Riedemann dedicated letters, writings and pastoral care to believers of existing and newly formed communities of faith in their daily living and persecution.

These efforts are interrupted by a second imprisonment lasting around four years. Upon his release, with a promise not to teach in Nürnberg, Riedemann continued writing and returned to pastoral travel and work. In 1540 he was caught and imprisoned a third time by authorities of Philip Hesse. Notably, Hesse did not send Anabaptists to their deaths, and at least one jailor-administrator was even sympathetic to Anabaptist ideals.

During the next two years Riedemann found himself first chained in darkness, and with some luck, later moved to the castle of Wolkersdorf where he made

Gmunden Castle where Riedemann was imprisoned.

shoes with the cobbler, wrote and even received visitors. In addition to his numerous letters and compositions, he drafted a larger work, a second confession of faith.

Intended as a lengthy explanation of the Anabaptist beliefs to Hesse and composed in leisure, Rechenschaft became a carefully detailed and well-crafted statement. In testament to Riedemann’s way with words and leadership, both of his confessions remain influential and important Anabaptist-Hutterite texts.

In 1542, a time of trouble within the brotherhood community prompted Riedemann to return to Moravia and leadership. He became co-bishop with Leonhard Lanzenstiel. The duo worked well, balancing each other in spiritual and practical leadership to hold their community together. They provided courage and hope even as the Hutterite community was severely persecuted and forced out of their homeland.

On the run and homeless in exile, the few surviving members of the Hutterite brethren found safety in the mountains of what is now Slovakia.

Riedemann died on the Bruderhof of Protzko, Slovakia, in December 1556, at the age of 50. He left a considerable body of written work that included doctrine, correspondence and numerous hymns, and a legacy of leadership for 27 years in ministry and nine years in prison.

Hannah Keeney has been an archivist at Fresno Pacific University’s Mennonite Library & Archives since 2014.

christianleadermag.com 5

News in Brief Compiled by Janae Rempel Shafer

USMB announces Gathering 2026 destination USMB Gathering 2026, the biennial national pastors’ conference and convention, is coming to Salt Lake City, Utah, as announced by USMB via Facebook Live in late March.

According to a March 25 email, Salt Lake City features easy travel with the hotel a 10-minute light rail ride from the airport, a downtown location a short walk from Temple Square and other attractions, breathtaking mountain views and a vibrant city to explore.

More information will be given as the date approaches, but for now, save the date and plan to attend USMB Gathering 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 21-25, 2026.— USMB

USMB NextGen hires new administrative assistant USMB NextGen has hired Hannah Thrift, Newton, Kan., as administrative assistant. Thrift began work March 1 and replaces Desirae Rolen. Thrift is married to Matthew, pastor of Koerner Heights Church in Newton. The couple has three children.—USMB

6 christian leader | may / june 2025

FaithFront concludes at Tabor College FaithFront, a leadership development program aimed at high school students and hosted by Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., is no longer operating as the Lilly Endowment grant that funded the program has concluded. Lilly Endowment is a private philanthropic foundation.

FaithFront ran from 2016 to 2024, but Mennonite Brethren have long had a program aimed at calling out high school students and young adults for ministry.

Ministry Quest, also funded by a Lilly grant, preceded FaithFront. MQ originated at MB Biblical Seminary in 2002 and was transferred to Tabor College in 2011.

Tabor launched FaithFront in place of Ministry Quest in August 2016 after receiving new Lilly funding. Funded by the grant and a subsidy from USMB, FaithFront improved resources for congregations and students while still calling and equipping young leaders for ministry.

In eight years, 2,893 students and 72 leaders participated in FaithFront. Of those, 34 students enrolled at Tabor College, 22 majored in religion, theology or ministry and four entered seminary or full-time Christian ministry.

“It was one way to address the leadership gap,” says Wendell Loewen, professor of youth, church and culture. “The hope is that we made progress, and we will look forward to hearing the stories (of transformation).”—CL

MB Foundation announces new initiative MB Foundation has launched the 1904 Legacy Circle, a new initiative designed to celebrate and recognize God’s provision for ministry through planned gifts. Members of the 1904 Legacy Circle include those who have partnered with MB Foundation to include a charitable gift to be made upon their passing, ensuring their legacy continues beyond their lifetime.

More than 700 households are part of the 1904 Legacy Circle, having established legacy gifts through a bequest in a will or trust, a charitable gift annuity or another gift arrangement. Their generosity will continue to impact the ministries of their choosing, as outlined in their instructions with MB Foundation.

“We are honored to partner with those who have established a legacy gift,” says Jon C. Wiebe, MB Foundation president and CEO. “It’s exciting to celebrate them and how the Lord will use their generosity. We invite others to follow the example of these stewards.”

To learn more about the 1904 Legacy Circle, visit www.mbfoundation.com/1904legacycircle.—MBF

news in brief ■

ASCENT registration deadline is May 31 Register by May 31 for ASCENT, USMB’s annual summer camp for high school youth scheduled for June 7-11 at Camp W.O.W. in Stuart, Okla. A $50 per person travel subsidy is available for any church more than a seven-hour drive from Camp W.O.W. All churches that are part of the Youth Worker Network get one free ticket.

Aaron Box, USMB national director, and Amy Ratzlaff, associate professor at Tabor College, will serve as speakers addressing the theme, “Anchored,” inviting students to explore the depths of their faith and find strength in Jesus during challenging times.

Generation Worship from Portland, Tenn., will lead students in singing.

Dinner themes include school spirit, Hawaiian luau, thrift shop formal and wild safari.

ASCENT is an annual five-day gathering including worship sessions, activities and interactive tracks.— USMB NextGen

Multiply hires U.S. missions advocate

SOAR California slated for July

Multiply, the mission agency of the Mennonite Brethren churches of North America, has announced the appointment of Christopher Lane as U.S. missions advocate.

In this newly created role, Lane will be a voice for Multiply’s global missionaries, communicating what God is doing in the world. He will also engage partners in the U.S., assisting them in discovering opportunities to join God in his mission to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lane brings decades of experience writing and advocating for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. He has served with a number of Christian organizations and most recently was the communications manager for a multinational corporation.

“Christopher’s heart for missions and his passion to reach the unreached in our world make him a great addition to the Multiply team,” says Bruce Enns, Multiply general director. “His unique skills and enthusiasm for facilitating God’s work will support our sending of disciples who make disciples. He will also function as a communication liaison to USMB, helping to ensure that we are aligned and moving forward together, that the world may know Jesus.”

Lane began his new role in mid-February. He and his wife, Fran, live in Colorado Springs, Colo.—Multiply

SOAR California, a short-term mission opportunity with Multiply, is coming to California July 20-24.

SOAR helps churches connect with Jesus and ministry opportunities. SOAR California will bring together churches from across the Central Valley for a brief but focused time of community, worship, teaching and ministry.

SOAR is designed to be experienced as a team of at least three people comprised of any combination of youth, young adults, families, singles and seniors. Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Cost is $300. Register by June 1 by having a team leader contact Silvia Lopez, mission training program coordinator, by email at silvial@multiply.net. For more information, visit www.multiply.net/soar/soar-california.—Multiply

| Read longer versions of these and other articles at christianleadermag.com | christianleadermag.com 7

■ news in brief

FPU receives $3 million gift A $3 million gift will empower Fresno Pacific University to enhance student learning and sustainability by providing laptops, upgrading classrooms and facilities and installing solar panels. Thanks to the support of longtime donors, FPU will also elevate its chapel experience.

The funds will support five key areas, including classroom enhancements, special events center upgrades, solar panels for the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center, a laptop library and budget relief to support operational needs.

“This gift is a powerful endorsement of Fresno Pacific University’s mission and future,” says President André Stephens. “We are deeply grateful to these valued partners for recognizing the impact of the changes we have made and continue to make in support of our students.”—FPU

Tabor College announces Next Century Campaign Tabor College has launched a $90 million fundraising initiative to raise key funds across campus. Having already raised $30 million since 2021, Tabor seeks to complete the campaign by 2030, strengthening the college’s foundation, renovating existing buildings and building new facilities, increasing funds for student scholarships and growing the college’s endowment.

The campaign includes transforming the former Mary J. Regier Building into a state-of the-art Business and Entrepreneurship Center. The H.W. Lohrenz Administration Building will be enhanced and restored to maintain its history and add key features. The college plans to build two new residence halls in the coming years. East Hall, a part of the women’s quad housing, will be renovated.—TC

Tabor reports spring enrollment Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., reports a Spring 2025 enrollment of 635, including 465 undergraduate students on campus, 61 in dual-credit classes and 109 in the college’s graduate programs. Spring retention is 93 percent, which is second-best on record.

With the addition of the healthcare leadership concentration to its M.B.A., the college’s diverse graduate portfolio had a second-straight spring of record enrollment.

“These outstanding retention and graduate numbers confirm that students are thriving at Tabor College,” says President David Janzen.—TC

5 minutes with...

NZASH LUMEYA When the African-American Historical and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley presented its 2025 Trailblazers Awards, Dr. Nzash Lumeya was singled out for the Community Service Award. Lumeya, from Butler Church in Fresno, Calif., founded the Fresno School of Mission. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and with roots in the Congo Mennonite Brethren Church, he was recognized by the museum for his work globally as well as in the local Fresno community.

Why do you think the Museum chose you for this honor?

I am told the community gave our name as someone who is feeding, clothing, meeting needs. But I am just the face, the spokesperson representing many people who are putting in this good effort. When we practice what we believe, it brings glory to God. We take advantage of this opportunity to tell them that this is from God. All this is boiling down to pointing people to the risen Christ.

What does the work look like?

We are in the business of mending relationships. We are reaching across ethnic, social, linguistic, national and spiritual barriers to make disciples. My students and colleagues and I give our cell numbers to people in the community, and they call us with all kinds of questions and needs. They ask us to pray, and we pray with them and God may use us to help out. We call each other when we hear about a need in the community.

Someone gave me a truck that we fill with pallets of all kind of food to give when there is a need.

Who are your partners in this work?

Some of our partners are churches like Butler which pro-

vided the hamburgers and hot dogs to feed about 350 people at an Easter event in Cedar Courts Apartments. When the barbecue comes to the people, people who were fighting can sit down to eat and talk to their neighbors. We work with churches, schools and apartment complexes. And we’re always looking for the “peace people” in the community.

They’re not necessarily Christians, but they love their neighbors and tell us about the needs of people around them. We show them in the Bible how God tells us we can love him by loving others.

In 2000 you came from Kinshasa, DRC, to Fresno to teach Hebrew at the MB seminary. How does your academic background connect with serving the Fresno community?

During my graduate studies and PhD, I was always longing to see how my academic work can make a dent in the world.

The need for mission work I discovered in Congo was also here in Fresno. In the Fresno School of Mission, I’m teaching Greek, Hebrew and the biblical context, but my students and I really can’t understand what it means until we see the implications of those well-thought ideas in the life of our neighbors.

Interview by Kathy Heinrichs Wiest

8 christian leader | may / june 2025

around the world ■ Introducing ICOMB

Consejo de las Congregaciones de los Hermanos Menonitas en Uruguay (CCHMU) The MB Conference in Uruguay began more than 70 years ago with German immigrants who established congregations in the interior and capital. In the 1960s, the conference opened its doors to native-born Uruguayans. The work among Uruguayans began in Peñarol, Montevideo, with a Bible school for children in a working-class area made up of traditional families. From there, it spread to nearby neighborhoods such as Piedras Blancas, Colón and Sayago.

CCHMU has experienced ups and downs. However, God's faithfulness has enabled the work to continue. Today, the conference is focused on forming a new generation of leaders and on children.

After three years of supporting a process of preparing, forming and deepening discipleship of a new generation of leaders, they are now entering a second phase: introducing and integrating new leaders into ministry spaces, particularly pastoral ministry.

The vision of reaching children with the gospel in a holistic way has not waned throughout the years. Workers emerge from all congregations for this service, which is carried out locally and nationally.

“We understand that winning a child means winning an entire life,” says Gabriela Piña, CCHMU representative. “To strengthen this space, we promote national meetings of Bible school teachers and leaders; children's meetings for fellowship, teaching and recreational activities; pedagogical training and refresher courses; and camps.

The MB conference in Uruguay emphasizes discipling children and held a children's camp at Villa Maranatha, Canelones, in February 2025. Photo by CCHMU

“We are very aware of the risk our children face,” she says. “Secular state education is designed to permanently rob them of their faith in a single class. Thirty percent of our children are medicalized from the earliest grades. The collapse of society, the fracture of families as the foundation of society, unlimited internet access and the repeated removal of parental rights over children through laws and decrees have become an enormous challenge for the church in Uruguay.”

Even so, CCHMU continues forward with faith and hope in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit to reach all the lost with salvation, that Uruguay may definitively cease to be known in the Christian world as "the missionary cemetery.”

PRAYER REQUESTS: • For a supernatural move of God that turns the hearts of Uruguayans toward God and the heart of the church toward the lost.

• For new leaders who are taking on the challenges of ministry as older leaders pass on responsibilities.

• For networks of deep discipleship.

• For children and youth and the focus of state ideologies and policies, whether secular, progressive or humanist.

Did You Know?

• Uruguay has the lowest birth rate in South America and an aging population.

• Uruguay hosted the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.

• You can't visit Uruguay without eating a delicious asado (barbecue), tortas fritas (fried cakes) and dulce de leche (sweet milk).

christianleadermag.com 9

Babel and Pentecost teach us about our differences.

“The nations spread abroad on the earth.”

In Genesis 10:5 we find the first mention of nations. Here humanity divides into different tribes, living in different places and speaking different languages. Three times in this chapter the idea of people divided by their clans, languages, places and nations is repeated. Suddenly, humanity has language and ethnic barriers to overcome.

Fast forward to the end of the Book of Revelation. More than 20 times people of every tongue, tribe and nation are highlighted. In the final chapter, a beautiful picture is presented with the leaves of the tree of life, kept from fallen humanity in Genesis 3, healing all the nations.

In between Genesis 10 and the coming fulfillment of Revelation, humanity’s history is one of conflict and separation based on tongue, tribe and nation. But after humankind’s unsuccessful attempt to preserve their unity in Genesis 11, we find striking similarity to how God addresses our differences in Acts 2.

“Let us make a name for ourselves.”

The ancient peoples in Shinar (later called Babylon) embark upon the most infamous building project in history. Using cutting edge technology for their day— bricks—they set out to build the first wonder of the world: an incomparable city and tower to be a jewel of humanity.

Their goal? To avoid being “dispersed over the face of the whole earth” (Gen. 11:4). They want to leave a legacy and make a name for themselves with a city and temple that will be the envy of the world. They want to ensure their national unity, identity and strength.

10 christian leader | may / june 2025

Genesis 11:6-8 says, “‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do.

And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.’ So, the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.”

In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the word “confuse” (sugkeo) means, “to mix together,” to stir up, to trouble, to confuse or confound. With the languages mixed up and the people confused, they have no choice but to give up their building project.

Their only legacy is an abandoned city now mockingly called “Babel,” meaning “confusion.”

The people are scattered across the face of the earth. The Babelites, in their quest to avoid being dispersed, allow their pride to condemn them to the very thing they are hell-bent on avoiding.

In their stubbornness, they do not obey the “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” of Genesis 1:28. The dispersion of Babel serves a purpose beyond confounding their pride; it creates nations around the earth.

This dispersion is not unique. Throughout history, dispersion is a fate faced by many peoples. The Israelites themselves, because of the conquest and exile by Assyria and Babylon, also are dispersed among the surrounding nations.

But unlike the Babelites, the Israelites do not lose their name. Rather than flounder in exile, they prosper, assimilating into the local cultures and languages and yet, remarkably, retaining

By Aaron Box and David Reed

their unique Israelite faith and devotion. The epistles of James and 1 Peter are explicitly addressed to the “dispersion” of the Jews.

The term “disperse” (diaspeiro) comes from the verb “to sow.” The imagery is of a farmer scattering seeds.

The conquering armies, through their malicious conquest, inadvertently “seeded” the surrounding lands with God’s people.

Then, one Pentecost around 33 A.D., the seeds come home to roost.

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

There in Jerusalem, the historian Luke tells us, “Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians” (Acts 2:9–11) were gathered to celebrate the annual feast.

You can hardly find a more diverse, multicultural scene in the entire Bible than at this Pentecost. One cannot help but imagine that the dispersion is reversed.

Then, one of the most remarkable things in human history takes place. The prophecy of Joel 2:28 is fulfilled: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” A thunder of rushing wind is heard as tongues of fire come to rest on the small band of Jesus-followers, and they are each granted the divine ability to speak to the crowds in their respective languages.

How do the people respond? “They were confused” (Acts 2:6). Luke knowingly uses the same verb, sugkeo, as in Genesis 11 in the Septuagint (the Bible Luke would have read). At Babel, God confuses mankind’s languages; at Pentecost, the people are confused when God reverses the deed. No matter what God does, we humans seem to get confused about it.

But God’s deed is unmistakable. Just two months after the curtain of the temple is torn in two, symbolizing the reconciliation between God and humanity, God reverses the curse of the confusion of Babel, symbolizing the reconciliation of mankind with one another that is possible only through Jesus.

The apostle Paul says of this miracle, “And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are

fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:17–19).

Differing languages and cultural ideas persist and still stand as barriers to understanding one another.

But the mandate from God is clear. In the Spirit, there is nothing that divides us from another. God’s spirit within us can transcend our differences.

“Dispersed as agents of reconciliation” One more dispersion awaits God’s faithful. In Acts 8, the early church faces a great persecution. And so, the believers are dispersed (diaspeiro), and along the way, “those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). God ensured that his word would be preached.

This directive remains on the worldwide church. “Go and make disciples of all nations,” Jesus says (Matt.

28:19). God intends for his church to reflect the diversity of the world.

Humankind cannot overcome our racial, national and cultural divisions by our own wisdom or power.

Many of our efforts to do so have held no better fate than that tower in the desert. God desires for humanity to be reconciled with one another through Christ, but like the Babelites, we seem determined to do it on our own.

God has long purposed to restore all branches of mankind together under one banner—Christ. This reunification is no small matter. Paul refers to it as one of the deep mysteries of God’s purpose for the ages (Eph. 1:9–10). This mystery comes to fruition in the gospel message, that in Christ the diverse peoples of the world will at last be united.

Revelation 5:9 says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’”

Today, Christ’s church stands dispersed among the nations around the world. God has placed us, his people, among the nations for a reason: to bring reconciliation through Christ, removing the division and confusion. Although we are dispersed, there is nothing to divide us—except of our own making.

Aaron Box is the USMB national director and lives in Eugene, Ore. David Reed is associate pastor at North Park Community Church in Eugene. Box, who previously was the North Park senior pastor, and Reed served together on the North Park church staff for 10 years.

christianleadermag.com 11

By Joanna Chapa

E

very human sees the world through their own unique and distinct cultural lens.

But what does that mean? What is a cultural lens and how does that affect how we interact with our neighbors and our brothers and sisters in the faith? How do I know what my own cultural lens is and how it differs from others? How can we as a USMB family seek to understand each other better when our cultural lenses are very different?

There is a significant cue in what John encounters in Revelation 7 and the implications that come out of it.

After John sees the 144,000 from every tribe of the Israelites, he then views a “vast/great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language,” and there were so many, they were “too great to count.”

One major observation we can make is that there is an obvious distinction in the great multitude. There is not “one color,” nor are they all the same. There is a clear difference between each nation, tribe, people and language. Our Creator’s heart is the pursuit of all people groups coming before the throne and before the Lamb. This is a celebration of his diverse and beautiful creation of humanity fully restored and reconciled back to himself and each other.

As we seek to align our hearts to the Lord’s heart, how can we, on this side of the grand love story, for the sake of seeing his kingdom come in and through us as it is in heaven, honor and understand the distinctions of his creation in each nation, tribe, people and language.

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Acknowledge beauty and brokenness First, we must acknowledge that each culture is “different, beautiful, broken and destined.” No one is better than the other; each culture is simply different. One very helpful article is “Reveling in the Cultural Kaleidoscope: The Different, Beautiful, Broken Destiny of Every Culture” by Shane Bennett. I highly recommend this solid and quick online read.

In this article, Bennett fleshes out how all cultures are different, beautiful, broken and destined. “Let us delight, with great hope, in the diversity around us,” Bennett writes. “Let us advocate for the beauty and inherent value of all peoples. And let us sow broadly this good news for which we have been made ambassadors.”

Our natural inclination is to say: The way I view the world, the way I judge the world, the way I function in the world, the way I look, the way I eat, the way I worship, the race or ethnicity I come from, the way I function in the family system I’m in—that’s the way, the “right way.”

Unless we understand that each human has this inclination, we can’t consciously realize that others are simply different, not weird or wrong. Disclaimer: Remember how each culture is not just different and beautiful, but also broken? I am not saying that everything in every culture is what is on God’s heart for and

through his children. There are broken pieces and realities in each culture. But no one culture is above the other in that regard.

website (theculturetest.com) for a quick insight. It’s also available in Spanish.

Discover my lens Second, we must do the deep work of discovering our own cultural lens. Have you ever cut into an onion and had tears slowly start streaming down your face as if you’re watching the most emotionally jarring movie of all time, until the tears are uncontrollable?

Realizing that the most potent part of the onion is at the center, the same is true with culture.

There are many variations of this cultural onion analogy but David W. Shenk, author, professor, missiologist and above all, ambassador of Christ’s peace, explained this well. I encourage you to watch a quick 15-minute teaching he does on this on YouTube by searching for “A504 Eng. 10 The World of Religions. Onion Model of Culture” or scan the QR code.

In this video, Shenk explains how religious systems as well as cultural systems are organized like an onion. The center is the “worldview” or the culture core (how we interpret and answer questions such as what is the meaning of the universe and what is my place in the universe), the most potent part of a culture.

Around the worldview, we find the “power” system (who has ultimate power). Around the power layer, we find the “values” of a culture (what is true, good and important). Around the values, we find the “practices” or emotions of a culture (what is felt and practiced). At the outer layer, we find the “things/artifacts” made within or from the culture (what is done or made).

Shenk, like many missiologists, suggests that if we really want a people group to experience generational transformation, how we present the good news to them must reach their worldview, their culture core.

And if every culture is different, then how a culture views, communicates, accepts and lives into the good news is also different. This is where books like The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame and Fear Cultures by Jayson Georges come in handy. This video on YouTube, “3D Gospel: Guilt-Innocence, Honor-Shame, and Fear-Power Worldviews,” is also one that gives great insight. Are you wondering what your cultural lens is? Visit The Culture Test

Seek to understand Third, before we jump to the hierarchy of who is right or who is wrong, we should instead lean into our differences out of love and curiosity and ask, “Would you help me understand?” As followers of Jesus, we get to model another way of living in the face of cultural lenses that are different from our own. We can choose to either function out of suspicion, fear and prejudice or openness, acceptance and trust.

Let’s be honest. Cultural differences will arise as we walk with each other. These differences will inevitably cause frustration, confusion, tension and even embarrassment. But in the face of cross-cultural encounters and differences, we can choose to observe, listen and inquire to build rapport and understanding among each other. Or we can criticize, rationalize and withdraw, which causes alienation and isolation among each other.

Over the years, I’ve heard many say, “We’re all the same,” “There is no color” and “We need to be color blind.” But I bring us back to Revelation 7—and honestly, the entire storyline of Scripture—in which we see a clear distinction of all nations, tribes, people and language, all bowing before the throne and the Lamb.

All are valuable and yet all are distinct.

As the USMB family of churches, we have choices to make on whether we do the hard work and lean in with our differing cultural lenses or lean back and isolate ourselves because this takes too much work. I call us to intentionally lean in toward each other because Revelation 7 is coming.

Joanna Chapa serves U.S. Mennonite Brethren churches and ministries as a mission mobilizer for Multiply’s East of the Rockies U.S. region. She lives in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and is part of GracePoint@Grulla.

...We see a clear distinction of all nations, tribes, people and language, all bowing before the throne and the Lamb.

All are valuable and yet all are distinct.

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How do we respond when God answers our prayers for successful outreach?

By Marjorie Ekk

C

hange comes into our lives whether we like it or not. Life is all about change. Look at our lives and the lives of our children. As children grow, parents must adapt to each new stage of their children’s lives. As we get older, we encounter challenges that are not always pleasant.

Life is changing from the moment we are born to the day we die.

The same is true of churches. We call the church a living organism, a body. Our congregations face challenges with the culture and community around them.

The church is challenged to adapt to the surrounding environment. And the environment around us and the church is ever changing. Yet, we must remain firm and faithful to the message of Jesus Christ.

I grew up in Dinuba (Calif.) MB Church. My family has a long history with this congregation, dating back to the founding of the church on May 10, 1921. My husband and I were sent to the mission field when the church was thriving, with an attendance of 500-plus.

When we returned 33 years later, the church was struggling. Attendance was around 100 and church leadership was pushing to reach our community that had also transformed in the last 50 years.

Coming back to Dinuba in 2022, I felt strange in my own church. Is this my church? Do I belong? The building was the same and some people were the same, but there were so many people I didn’t know.

Going back in time We left the United States in 1980, to serve with Good News Corp, a short-term mission program with MB Missions/Services, now Multiply. When we ar-

14 christian leader | may / june 2025

rived in a German-speaking colony in southern Brazil, I felt like I had stepped back in history 50 years. A few women were still baking bread outdoors in brick ovens. At church, men sat on one side of the church and women on the other, with a few brave families sitting in the middle.

The church was losing the next generation, and our assignment was to work with the youth. The leadership of the church had come to us and was willing to listen to ideas and approaches that may help them. The church was willing to adapt to the realities around them. When we left two and a half years later, there was a thriving youth program with many changed lives.

Seven years later in 1989, the MB mission agency sent our young family to Lisbon, Portugal, to do pioneer church planting. Again, we adapted to a new culture and learned another new language.

Over the next three decades, Portugal experienced major migrations from Africa, Brazil and Slavic countries. This brought more new cultures and languages into our churches and even onto our missionary team.

Thirty-three years later, churches are growing.

Change and adapting to these different cultures was not easy for me. The Lord and I had many sad, crying sessions in both Brazil and Portugal. But as I yielded my will to his and accepted the challenge of learning about another culture and learning to love others for who they were, God grew in me a bigger love and appreciation for others. I give glory to God for his ability to work in the lives of my husband and me, two normal, willing people.

We have now been back on U.S. soil for three years. We have returned to Dinuba and our home church, now called New Life Community. Our

Delilah Isaak and Sonia Morgan enjoy New Life Community's "Connecting Points" coffee time before Sunday morning worship April 13. On this Sunday, the congregation resumed gathering in the main sanctuary after meeting in the gym for five years. The church's youth program is growing and will benefit from returning to the gym. Photo by Marjorie Ekk

church and community have a very different look and feel than when we left in 1989.

Those feelings I had of not belonging are gone now, but it took time.

It took me making a conscience effort to introduce myself to someone I did not know and asking their name. Then the following week asking the same person again if I had forgotten their name. With some people it became comical when I would ask for the fourth time. But now we know each other’s names; we talk and laugh together.

Meals at church gave a good opportunity to sit with someone I did not know and ask what their story was or what brought them to the church.

Feeling at home in my “home” church for me meant making a conscience effort week after week to walk up to someone I did not know, ask for their name and give them my name. In time, I could ask questions that took the budding friendship a little deeper. It also helped to get involved in the women’s Bible study and to help in other areas of the church.

Our church has worked hard at reaching into the community. NLC began this process some years before we returned from Portugal. We

see by the people not here, that it has been a difficult transition.

But it is a transition that church leaders felt God was asking them to make.

Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31). He commands us to go into our neighborhoods and bring the gospel, heal and help (Luke 10:9). Jesus promises that he will go with us and give us everything we need to accomplish this task.

I had a conversation with a person from NLC who said, “I know we have for years prayed for change, for getting into our community. But when it happened, I never thought it would feel this way. I thought community people would come and fit right into the church I have always known. I feel lost in my own church.”

I answered with a question: “Take away the faces of all the people in the church, even the pastor, and ask yourself if the church is doing what Jesus has asked the church to do. Ask if our church is being true to the Bible? If the answer is yes, then get your eyes off people and onto Jesus.”

The bottom line is: Are we willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our churches and communities? This takes a conscious and deliberate act on our part.

Jesus just wants willing hearts.

It is hard to say if this or that program works in attracting people to the church. Every culture is different, every community is different, every church is different. I will say from working on three different continents and with many different cultures that people notice when we are doing something “for them” to attract them to our church.

People want to see authenticity in our friendships and our programs. They want to see that

christianleadermag.com 15

People want to see authenticity in our friendships and our programs.

They want to see that they are truly welcome with the questions and issues that come with them.

they are truly welcome with the questions and issues that come with them.

At a recent women’s retreat I shared a room with eight women from our church. Over half of the women were new to our church and from a different cultural background. When asked what brought them to NLC, they answered that initially it was the friendliness of the people in the church and then the teaching.

Our church has struggled and experienced hard times, but growth and change are happening. We see it in the baptisms and new members. We hear it in their testimonies of broken lives being transformed by the love of Jesus and the love they have felt through the lives of the people in the church.

Our church has used programs. For example, we mapped out our town and members walked through town praying for each home. Our Home Resource Center accepts donations of furniture and household items. We then work with local organizations to supply furniture and other items for families that have nothing for the homes they are given.

NLC volunteers deliver the items, set up the house-

hold for the family and pray for the family in their new home. We see this as our church’s first contact with the love of Jesus for these people.

Our children and youth programs are growing through leaders who focus on churched and unchurched children. NLC offers Celebrate Recovery, GriefShare, men’s and women’s Bible studies, faith and finance classes and Healing Room Ministries, a place where a person can receive one-onone prayer for an issue they feel needs healing, and other programs open to all persons from church and the community.

Programs help to disciple and grow new people, but the biggest asset in the church are its members.

Members who have a heart and mindset open to learn, love and accept another person, their background and their culture. John 15:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Marjorie Ekk and her husband, Otto, have served for 36 years as missionaries in both Brazil and Portugal. They attend New Life Community in Dinuba, Calif

Read more: Global community The picture in Revelation 7:9 of God’s throne surrounded by every nation, tribe, people and language is one we readily celebrate. But embracing the diversity of God’s children is also messy and not always comfortable, even as it is marvelous. John Stott says it this way: “We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.” That U.S. Mennonite Brethren worship in a dozen languages is one indication that we reflect in a small way the mosaic of the worldwide church. Our prayer is that the collection of articles in this issue will encourage and equip us to be a community of faith that works at understanding and appreciating our diversity.

Read online at www.christianleadermag.com Won’t you be my neighbor by Terry Hunt The parable of the good Samaritan reminds us that people—and churches—should do more than see a need. We need to help others in need. Our USMB neighbors include 10 Congolese churches, and we have the unique opportunity to form strong bonds that will foster mutual respect and a more robust community of believers.

Embracing God’s multi-cultural family by Nasser al’Qahtani The picture of God’s multi-cultural family in Revelation 7 offers a profound challenge to live in unity and celebrate our diversity here on earth. To attain this glorious image of God’s heart for his church we must intentionally, and with curiosity, engage with and learn from other cultures within our church groups and communities.

16 christian leader | may / june 2025

testimony ■

Our forever family An earthly picture of heavenly love

M

y wife, Talitha, and I met in college. We married at 21 and 20, confidently believing we could serve God better together.

One summer about three years later, we saw a billboard ad with stick figures of a family and the words, “Got room for one more?”

We did! We became licensed foster parents.

For two years, we fostered children ranging from a 6-month-old to a 16-year-old, who was bigger and looked older than both of us. As we interacted with families and children who were hurting, God gave us eyes to see, hearts to ache and hands to hold.

We could no longer sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” without seeing real faces. We learned it was one thing to protest and vote against abortion; it was another to take a child—and sometimes the family situation—into our home.

Life changed when our former social worker called to say that the 5year-old we had in respite foster care was now 7 and in need of an adoptive home. We took a night to discuss, pray and think how our life would need to change. Regardless, a young boy needed someone to love him. How could we refuse?

We adopted our first son in 2001.

Our biological son was born the following year. We relicensed as foster/adoptive parents, so we could adopt to fill the age gap. Instead, God called us to a newborn.

Excited, we said “Yes,” diving in with a newborn daughter when our second son wasn’t even a year old.

While Talitha was working 80-hour weeks on-call as a medical resident at the hospital, we would all meet in the break room to eat hospital food and allow both babies to nurse.

Almost two years later, we received a call from social services— our daughter’s birth mother was expecting again. The county was already involved and asked if we would take the baby until permanent placement was determined.

We said “Yes,” and added our youngest daughter, who we officially adopted a year later, to our family.

Our forever family, built by God through marriage, foster care, adoption and biology, has known challenges. As parents, we have survived by understanding these are God’s kids. We are not perfect, but what matters most is not a success story but how we continue to live a love story.

As children of God, we have a great example of this perfect, unconditional, agape love: “For God so loved the world.” Our forever family paints an earthly picture of the heavenly love of our Father.

Our children are all adults now, each with their own unique story.

Not one of us has the same genetics. When asked why we don’t all look the same, we say God loves diversity. When asked which of the kids are our real children, we say, “They all are.”

We are not perfect, but what matters most is not a success story but how we continue to live a love story.

Jason Sannes-Venhuizen and his wife, Talitha, have four children and live in rural Frazee, Minn. They attend Lake Region Mennonite Church in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Jason serves as an ICU nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital and as site manager for Camp Cherith, a Christian summer camp.

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■ frontlines A pastor’s perspective

Christ or cause Who do I love?

D

uring World War II, C.S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters, a series of letters from Screwtape, an assistant to “Our Father Below” (Satan), written to his nephew Wormwood, an inexperienced demon. In his letters, Screwtape advises Wormwood on how he can lure his “Patient” (an English man) away from “the Enemy” (God).

There is much in these letters to reflect upon in our own lives, including what we should love and the causes that motivate us.

In Letter VI, Screwtape wonders who the Patient can show benevolence or malice toward. Screwtape surmises that the Patient has both benevolence and malice within him, so “the great thing is to direct his malice towards his immediate neighbors whom he meets every day and to thrust his benevolence out to the remote circumference, to people he does not know. There is no good at all in inflaming his hatred of Germans if, at the same time, a pernicious habit is growing up between him and his mother, his employer, and the man he meets on the train.”

Screwtape would rather see the Patient’s love cast off to people he does not know and his malice pit against those he interacts with regularly. Then love becomes largely imaginary and malice real in his day-to-day interactions.

In Letter VII, Screwtape contemplates if the Patient should be per-

18 christian leader | may / june 2025

suaded toward pacifism or patriotism, concluding that the Patient should be led toward an extreme view of either. Similarly, in Letter XXIII, Screwtape encourages Wormwood to coerce his Patient into seeing Christianity as only a means to achieve a cause. This could be the cause of personal advancement, social justice or anything that takes focus away from Jesus.

Screwtape, arguing the cause of Satan, wants us to care more about our partisanism than our Christianity. He wants us to believe that partisan causes are more noble and important than the cause of Christ. That our Christianity be important to us only as far as it can support our partisan causes. That we care more about meetings, policies, movements and causes than prayer, fellowship, evangelism and discipleship.

So, I wonder, who do I love?

Where is my benevolence directed? Only toward those that are far away and on the circumference of my life or toward those that I meet and interact with on a day-to-day basis? What partisan causes have I become passionate about, maybe even to the point that Christianity has become only a means to achieve that cause?

Jesus speaks to these questions when he’s asked about the greatest commandment. Jesus responds, quoting from the Old Testament, “‘Hear, O Israel: The

Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:2931).

Now, compare this to Screwtape’s instruction. His goal is for the Patient to love people far off from himself that he will likely never interact with and to love causes or movements that can be justified by Christianity.

Let’s not listen to Screwtape’s lie that the people around us are not worth loving or that some cause is more important than following Christ. But rather, may we be anchored in Christ, knowledgeable of the Scriptures and led by the Spirit in each moment.

Cody Meyer is associate pastor of youth and discipleship at Ebenfeld MB Church, Hillsboro, Kan.

got questions ■ standing column

Worship that speaks How do we decide what to sing?

“S

hout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God” (Psalm 100:1-3a).

Scripture invites us to worship God in a myriad of ways, including through instrumental music and singing. For centuries, Christians have regularly and passionately participated in this method of praise as individuals and gathered groups.

The variety of musical preferences and expressions in our history make many of us wonder: How do worship leaders decide what to include in communal gatherings? What songs are churches singing this season?

Worship leaders are quick to note that corporate praise is not a performance or an audition; it is a time to experience God together. So, they make prayerful decisions about what will help their community connect spiritually.

“Music is heart language,” says Meghan Good in a PeaceLab podcast interview, “and resonates with different people differently.” She believes church leaders are “practicing hospitality” when they choose songs and prayers to share. They don’t plan based on what is most popular or what sounds best musically; they choose what is going to speak to the people gathered.

Tim Schoeneberg, director of worship at Ebenfeld MB Church, Hillsboro, Kan., enjoys “leading the

congregation on ‘The Journey’ into the throne room of God.” During the week, he crafts a service starting with a call to worship, then sharing testimony of who God is and what God has done, followed by praying as a community. After the sermon, the service ends with a benediction and singing the Doxology.

Worship leaders make varying decisions on styles of worship but all of them want to point people to Jesus.

A few churches sing directly from passages in Scripture like Psalms, while others tend toward more contemporary styles of worship. Some communities opt to sing a capella, some with an organ accompanist, some with electric guitars. Some use liturgical prayers to open and close their time together while others speak extemporaneously. All of it is meant to be pleasing to God. When choosing what songs to sing in her church congregation, Lorena Blom, worship coordinator at Bethesda Church, Huron, S.D., looks for music that is “deeply theological in lyrics and singable by the congregation and playable by the volunteers.” Her church desires a “mixed style of worship to minister to everyone” and appreciates hymns as well as recent music from artists like City Alight, Elevation Worship and Matt Redman.

I asked a variety of people what songs speak their heart language at church this season. People are enjoying contemporary songs like “The Goodness of God” and “The Stand”

as well as older hymns such as “Amazing Grace” and “Praise God from Whom” (traditionally known as #606 in the Mennonite hymnal).

A few say they don’t mind what style of music is played but are most interested in songs that “lay a foundation of faith” or “focus on God’s greatness.” Worshippers also don’t have to sing to enjoy the music.

Some people prefer to listen and praise God by reflecting on the lyrics being sung by those around them.

No matter how a church community chooses to engage with musical worship, Schoeneberg encourages leaders to “make room for the Holy Spirit to lead freely.” We can take time to pause and reflect in our worship. As the psalmist often says, “Selah.”

Caitlin Friesen , a graduate of Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, is married to Ben Friesen and is part of Cornerstone Community Church in Topeka, Kan.

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■ bodylife stories that connect us

Following God’s call Musinga focuses on church planting, leadership development and education

W

ith 30 churches and almost 10,000 members in three countries, Grace Tabernacle Ministries (GTM) has grown significantly since its humble beginning in Kenya with seven Congolese refugees in 2009.

Founding pastor Emmanuel Musinga, who now pastors in Indianapolis, Ind., borrowed $300 from a former primary school teacher to build a roof for the fledgling church.

“The Bible says, ‘Don't despise the small beginnings,’” Musinga says. “Just listen to the voice of God, and follow the passion that God has given to you.”

Musinga’s passion is for church planting, leadership development and children’s education, and today, the church he founded has multiple branches and includes 22 congregations in Kenya, seven in Uganda and one in Indianapolis that is part of USMB. Empowering others Musinga’s strategy for church planting is to find and empower people who have a passion for ministry.

“I focus on church planting and discipleship,” he says.

“I find people who have a passion, empower them and open churches.”

Though Musinga moved to Indianapolis in 2010, he maintains connections with African pastors and often travels back to visit.

Church growth happens both through the efforts of local pastors and Musinga’s preaching at conferences.

“Pastors keep going in the villages (and) meeting people, and that's how the churches start,” he says. “When I preach somewhere in Kenya, some people come, ‘I want to be part of your ministry.’ I say, ‘Thank you. Welcome.’”

Musinga does not pay the pastors. He, too, is a volunteer and works two jobs to fund his ministry.

“I tell those pastors I don't have the money to pay them,” he says. “I'm a volunteer. They need to be a volunteer and work to God's glory. God will provide.”

In both Kenya and Uganda, each church has a senior pastor who provides reports to a country overseer, who in turn reports to Musinga, so he can follow up if a pastor needs support or encouragement.

While some of the churches are self-sufficient, paying their own rent and owning land, Musinga helps others with rent and church buildings. Recently, GTM finished a

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Emmanuel Musinga (center, blue shirt) and Grace Tabernacle Ministries donated school supplies for children at this church in Nairobi, Kenya.

Photo by Emmanuel Musinga

$15,000 building project in Kenya seating nearly 1,000 people. Musinga still hopes to put a concrete floor in the church.

Resourcing ministers and children Musinga travels to Africa to lead pastors’ conferences to encourage and resource African ministers. He is planning a trip for this purpose in July.

“I love to encourage pastors,” Musinga says. “I've been in refugee camps. I've been in the slums. Our African ministers need more encouragement. Because I've been there, I know what they are going through.”

He is also passionate about helping children receive education and is building a primary school in Uganda with hopes of one day adding a high school and Bible college.

bodylife ■ stories that connect us

“I grew up in a village without a pen and paper,” Musinga says. “I struggled to go to school without shoes. Wherever I can, I help children.”

His Indianapolis congregation, a USMB church comprised of refugees from Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, partners with African churches in this project.

“We work together,” he says. “That's how we are building this school and the leadership conference. We work together, and we work with those who are on the field in Africa.”

Leadership strategies Musinga’s leadership efforts are not focused solely on Africa but on Indianapolis as well, where the congregation rents a worship space and would like to purchase its own building.

To keep youth engaged in the church, each year, GTM has a youth conference, a couple’s retreat and a concert.

Musinga is thrilled to see young leaders rising up.

“I'm so excited to see the young leaders who show me they’re understanding my vision and the Bible,” Musinga says. “They want to serve God. That gives me hope.”

Musinga, who is the main preaching pastor in Indianapolis alongside three other pastors, looks for leadership opportunities for young people.

“Sometimes they lead the service,” he says. “They preach. I encourage those I see who have that potential.”

Since November, GTM has received funding from the Central District. The district budgeted $24,000 for the church in 2024-25 to pay a portion of Musinga’s salary, so he does not have to work three jobs and to hire an administrative assistant.

“Our ethnic pastors are hard workers,” CDC minister Daniel Rodriguez says. “Pastor Emmanuel is a very intelligent man. He's doing well, and he wants to plant churches. I think it's in our responsibility to figure out how do we help them plant churches.”

The district is praying about what it might look like to do church planting in a Congolese context in the United States.

Musinga’s message for potential church planters stems from his own story.

A victim of civil war and a cancer survivor, Musinga endured seven years of struggle in the U.S. with difficulty finding a meeting place and a church of 20 members before growing to its nearly 200 members today.

“Don't follow your ambition, don't follow your emotion—follow the calling of God,” he says. “Even Jesus himself faced challenges. Don't quit because of any challenge. I always tell the people, ‘You will never be qualified until you are tested.’”—Janae Rempel Shafer

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christianleadermag.com 21

■ bodylife stories that connect us

Better together Church, school and retirement community join forces to meet a need

A

new childcare center opened in February in Buhler, Kan., as the result of a collaboration between three Christian organizations dedicated to meeting a need in the community.

Central Christian Child Care at Buhler is a new daycare facility operating out of the Buhler MB Church building. It is run by Central Christian School of nearby Hutchinson, with food service provided by Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community in Buhler.

Keith Pankratz, CEO of Sunshine Meadows, says that before the COVID-19 pandemic, he became aware of a need for more childcare options in Buhler from his employees who were parents. After the pandemic, interest surfaced again, and he decided to reach out to John Walker, superintendent at Central Christian School.

The school has operated a daycare and preschool facility in Hutchinson since 1980, and Pankratz asked if the school might consider opening an additional facility in Buhler.

“We know that childcare is an issue, and we’ve always wanted to be seen as being on the leading front of helping solve issues in Reno County,” Walker says.

Church joins collaboration During their discussions about possible locations, they considered Buhler MB Church, where Pankratz attends. Walker and Pankratz brought pastor Curt Vogt in on their conversations.

“For any of us to do it on our own probably wouldn’t be very workable, but with this arrangement it should work out really fine,” Pankratz says.

Buhler MB’s children’s wing needed to be remodeled and brought up to code to host the daycare. The church received a grant from the Buhler Community Foundation to help cover the cost of the remodel, which began in April 2024. Vogt says they had a lot of volunteer help from church members to complete the project.

22 christian leader | may / june 2025

They also considered the logistics of having church activities on weekends and evenings and the daycare operating during the weekdays.

“We’re optimistic that we can work that all out,” Vogt says. “We really are committed to having this be a ministry in our community.”

Walker says: “One of the coolest parts of the entire thing, truly, has been the test of faith for all of us to continue to pursue the next step, and the Lord providing for our needs each and every time.”

Center focuses on faith The center hosted an open house on Feb. 13 and had a “soft opening” on Feb. 20, with two infants being the first enrolled. The center has a capacity for 24 children, from infant through age 3.

Each day, hot lunch is delivered to the center by Sunshine Meadows staff, as well as snacks and a continental breakfast for the next morning.

Pankratz says he hopes there might be opportunities for intergenerational connection, such as retirement community residents visiting the center to read to children, tell stories and eat together.

Walker, Pankratz and Vogt all especially emphasize the center’s focus on faith, which they see as a unique opportunity for families in Buhler. “(The) childcare program is not just about keeping people alive and healthy; we sincerely seek to instill traditional biblical values in the hearts and minds of people even at a young age,” says Walker.—Jessica Vix Allen

Buhler MB Church held an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 13 for the new daycare facility operating out of the church, Central Christian Child Care at Buhler. Photo by Curt Vogt

bodylife ■ stories that connect us

Building blocks of faith Skills camps at Bethany Church open doors for discipleship

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s Crystal Nachtigall, children’s pastor at Bethany Church in Fresno, Calif., saw the same kids participating in vacation Bible school each year, she found that reaching kids who don’t typically attend church would require thinking outside the box.

So, with the help of church volunteers, in 2022 Nachtigall created skills camps—a variety of summer camps that teach skills, create fun experiences and share the gospel.

“We love to do events within our church that we call ‘friend-friendly,’” Nachtigall says. “These are events which friends can easily be invited to and participate in. We asked ourselves what might be appealing to unbelievers to draw them into a church and landed on the idea of skills camps.”

Building skills Bethany Church’s skills camps—for participants from third grade to high school—have included chess camp, worship ballet camp, theatre camp, sign language camp and LEGO camp. Each camp is designed to build skills while also building faith through theme-based devotionals.

For example, as campers build the foundation of a LEGO project, the devotional theme is “Jesus is my baseplate.” At theatre camp, leaders use character sketches to help campers more deeply understand Bible characters and how they point to Jesus.

Emilia Kolbert, children’s ministry coordinator, says coming up with fresh ideas for the camps each year can be a challenge, but seeing the impact on the kids is a much greater reward.

“It definitely is a church-wide effort, but there is nothing like the excitement of seeing a child understand the gospel and then be discipled throughout the camp,” Kolbert says.

“I’ve personally seen families start coming to church, or the camps become a doorway of having faith-based conversations with families who don’t normally go to church.”

Planting seeds Audrey Baloian, a member of the Bethany congregation, has seen the impact firsthand.

“All of the camps at Bethany are amazing,” Baloian says. “Last year, I had the opportunity to volunteer at LEGO camp as a member of the youth ministry. It was so cool to see how it was organized from a leader’s perspective. (We) worked with adult volunteers and ministry staff, forming lasting relationships.”

Audrey’s brother, Jonathan Baloian, says as a participant his favorite camps are the LEGO and Ignite theatre camps.

Campers select the bricks they need from a brick station during LEGO Camp at Bethany Church in Fresno, Calif.

Photo by Bethany Church

“LEGO camp gives me the opportunity to participate in challenging building projects in a fun social setting,” Baloian says. “Theatre camp introduced the combination of acting, singing and dancing to me through Bible stories.”

This year, Bethany Church will host two sessions of its theatre camp as well as its LEGO, chess and worship ballet camps and is looking to expand its camps into more themes in the future.

“We’re looking forward to another year of investing in our youth and looking for new faces,” Nachtigall says.

“The skills camps are a fun, hands-on way to engage our youth in a practical way, and we hope (the camps) also will plant seeds and lead to more hearing about and following Jesus.”—Caitlyn Decker christianleadermag.com 23

■ bodylife stories that connect us

Bridging the gap Graduate theology initiative partners Tabor College and the local church

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new graduate theology initiative is taking shape at Tabor College, the Mennonite Brethren institution in Hillsboro, Kan., with the hope of offering a master’s degree in ministry starting in Fall 2025. The effort is intended to help address a national ministry leadership shortage through partnership with MB churches.

“This is a collaborative effort, and it's centered around the local church,” says Wendell Loewen, Tabor professor of youth, church and culture. “Leaders are identified within the church, they practice what they're learning in the local church. Ideally, then, when they complete the program, they're sent back into that church or to an MB church.

That's what we'd like to see happen.”

A Midwest option Conversations began as denominational leaders attempted to address the shortage of young leaders, including at a January 2024 vision summit in Phoenix.

As district ministers Brian Harris (Southern) and Daniel Rodriguez (Central) spoke with pastors, an idea emerged.

Would Tabor, jointly owned by the Southern, Central, Eastern and LAMB districts, be willing to offer graduate-level theological education?

Fresno Pacific University—the MB institution owned by the Pacific District—houses Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in California, but the Southern and Central districts sought a Midwest option for MB theological training.

After denominational leaders evaluated questions about

which constituencies the two colleges were intended to serve with graduate-level instruction, there was agreement that Tabor was free to serve the Midwest.

In August 2024, Harris called a meeting with denominational leaders and pastors in Hillsboro, and a seven-person steering team was identified and commissioned to explore what graduate-level theological education at Tabor might look like.

In addition to Tabor’s Loewen, Harris and Rodriguez, the team includes pastors Aaron Garza from Bethesda Church in Huron, S.D. and Aaron Halvorsen from Community Bible Church in Olathe, Kan., and two individuals from Tabor, Provost Frank Johnson and Eric Foster-Whiddon, assistant professor of biblical studies.

“Where are we going to get our upcoming pastors, missionaries, church planters and more?” asks Garza. “The answer that our team has been working on is to say, ‘Right here at Tabor College in our own USMB family.’”

Accessible and collaborative The initiative will require two years of study and is for students who want to serve in church ministry positions but who lack undergraduate degrees in theology or ministry.

Anyone who wants to participate must have a supporting church in which to implement learning.

Current pastors without formal training are also eligible.

“We care about those pastors who never had any opportunities for formal training,” CDC’s Rodriguez says.

Pastors and denominational leaders gathered at Tabor College on Aug. 28, 2024, for a “Graduate Theology Roundtable” to discuss graduate theological education. Pictured (from left) are: Brian Harris, Frank Johnson, Eric Foster-Whiddon, Kyle Goings, Jeremy Mattlock, Brent Warkentin, Aaron Halvorsen, Russ Claassen, David Janzen, Andy Owen, Aaron Garza, Aaron Box, Jesse Swiers, Wendell Loewen, Jeremy Jordan, Daniel Rodriguez. Photo by Aaron Box.

24 christian leader | may / june 2025

bodylife ■ stories that connect us

“Hopefully by learning and practicing, they can have a more effective ministry in their local context.”

The initiative involves five elements, including a mentor to walk alongside the student; retreats offering face-to-face experiences with instructors and fellow students; cohorts providing students with a community in which to learn, connect and grow; courses to provide essential learning content and context within the local church where learning is applied and skills are developed.

Halvorsen celebrates the initiative’s accessibility for people ministering in multiple contexts and its collaborative nature.

“From its inception, (this initiative) has been a collaborative work of the church and the academic institution,” says Halvorsen. “Those who take part in it will receive investment from both professors and practitioners. My hope and anticipation is that this will be a prime example of the good that can be done when the ‘whole family’ works together.”

Courses will be offered in a hybrid format in which students meet regularly as a cohort online and occasionally face to face. The application will be broad, Loewen says, serving a wide variety of ministry positions.

Students will take two, seven-week courses in each of the fall, spring and summer semesters, taught by Tabor faculty or pastors serving as adjuncts. A cohort facilitator, put forth by a district and vetted and brought on by Tabor, will work alongside the instructor to shape content and delivery.

The initiative focuses on 11 competencies: preaching/teaching, theological acumen, pastoral skills, spiritual formation/character, doctrinal faithfulness, biblical/systematic theology, church history, leadership, church administration, cultural engagement and discipleship and evangelism.

“We want to see leaders who can apply what they've learned and do it well,” Tabor’s Loewen says.

The conferred degree is yet to be determined but will likely be a Master of Arts in Bible and theology or ministry. Lay leaders may also audit courses.

Tabor would like to have a pilot cohort this fall.

Courses will be offered at the graduate level, though accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission is pending. Students joining before accreditation are expected to be grandfathered into the program once accreditation is approved, Loewen says.

Loewen is hopeful the initiative can help bridge the gap between institutions of higher education and the church, he says, as tension sometimes exists between academic and on-the-job training.

“We're working together, not working against each other,” Loewen says. “We're excited about that.”

USMB National Director Aaron Box echos the sentiment.

“I am thrilled to see new opportunities for our pastors and potential leaders who might not easily access traditional higher education,” Box says. “What makes the program unique is the true partnership between the college and the local church.”—Janae Rempel Shafer

YOUR FUTURE - YOUR VALUES

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Open a new IRA Rollover or transfer an IRA Make additional contributions

LEARN MORE at mbfoundation. mbfoundation.com/iraforimpact com/iraforimpact 620.947.3151 800.551.1547 Toll Free info@mbfoundation.com w.. m b f o u n d a t i o n . c o m www The purchase of M BLF’s securities is subject to risks, which are described in our Offering Circular. This is not an offer to sell you our securities and we are not soliciting you to buy our securities. We will offer and sell our securities only in states where authorized. The offering is made solely by the Offering Circular. Not FDIC or SI PC Insured. Not a Bank Deposit. No U.S. Conference Guarantee.

christianleadermag.com 25

■ bodylife stories that connect us

Inspired to invest PDC Grant Program helps equip the next generation for ministry

T

he Pacific District Conference has been purposefully investing in young leaders since 2004. But in 2024, the district launched a new version of its NextGen Grant Program in collaboration with USMB’s Leadership Pipeline to assist churches with developing young leaders.

“The need for younger generations of leaders to engage with their own culture intentionally is urgent,” says Lawrence Smith, PDC associate district minister. “Through this program, the PDC is able to provide financial and training assistance to churches who are willing to invest in their young leaders.”

About the program The grant program offers hands-on ministry experience for young NextGen leaders, who work with a supervisor at a participating church in youth or children’s ministry or with summer programming.

The district offers grants of up to $1,000—used to pay the NextGen leader—to churches who hire a young person either full- or part-time. The Board of NextGen Leadership reviews applications and distributes grants at the program’s completion.

Additional funding is available through the MB Foundation Leadership Generation Fund. LeadGen offers three levels of funding, with Level 1 and Level 2 qualifying to be paired with the PDC NextGen Grant Program.

When the NextGen program re-launched in 2024, for the first time the district required participation in the Leadership Pipeline, which provides training material.

“We've been trying to grow our sense of connection to our larger MB family,” Smith says. “Our hope is that this partnership between the PDC grant and Leadership Pipeline is a strong and intentional effort in making disciples together as one nationwide MB family.”

Last year, 28 NextGen leaders participated at 10 churches in five states, including seven who served at Bethany Church in Fresno, Calif. “(Our NextGen leaders) made a huge difference,” says children’s pastor Crystal Nachtigall. “All of them, but especially my children’s ministry NextGen leaders, were absolutely instrumental in maintaining momentum and running our summer fun.”

Renewed vision In the 20 years the PDC has offered programming for young leaders, the district has given $388,000 to churches to subsidize ministry experiences for 239 young people, Smith says, but challenges have threatened the

26 christian leader | may / june 2025

Emilia Kolbert helps the 2- and 3-year-olds at Bethany Church in Fresno, Calif., prepare for the kids Christmas program. Kolbert, a NextGen Leader in Summer 2024, has stayed on as children’s ministries coordinator. Photo by Crystal Nachtigall

program’s sustainability.

“With district-wide staffing changes from 2017 to 2023 and increase in cost for keeping staff members like NextGen leaders on staff at churches, the program began to dwindle,” Smith says. “The Board of NextGen Leadership was put on pause for a brief time to dream and cast vision for the future.”

The district elected a new Board of NextGen Leadership at its 2023 convention, including chair Joe Broesamle, associate pastor of Vinewood Community Church in Lodi, Calif.

“As a PDC NextGen board we wanted to continue developing young leaders,” Broesamle says. “The NextGen grants allow for our local churches to give young leaders the keys to grow in their relationship with Jesus and in leadership qualities.”

In 2025, the district has funding for 22 NextGen leaders, and Smith says he would like to see 15 to 20 churches participate.

“I hope that churches become inspired to invest in the next generation of leaders,” he says. “I also hope that this program helps (young leaders) grow closer to Jesus and more excited and equipped to share the Good News of Jesus' love, hope and life in a culture that often seems focused on fear and shame.”—Janae Rempel Shafer

bodylife ■ stories that connect us

LeadGen grants fund ministry training Grants from MB Foundation will increase by 50 percent

“W

Eshbaugh is hopeful that the increase in scholarship e need more pastors,” says Rick Eshbaugh, MB Foundation director of financial disciple- amounts and expanding training programs will encourage more young adults to consider pastoral ministry or serving ship, “and MB Foundation wants to help.” as Multiply missionaries.

For the past nine years, that help has come in the form “We want them to taste and experience ministry; we of MB Foundation’s Leadership Generation Fund (Leadwant them to open themselves up to serving God in this Gen). Since 2016, MB Foundation has provided financial way,” he says. “Through these internships and other opassistance to young adults from high school to master’s level students who are exploring or pursuing ministry lead- portunities, they can dip their toes in real-life ministry.”

He also reminds the rest of us that congregations play a ership opportunities in the Mennonite Brethren family. The key role in identifying new leaders. “There needs to be stewardship ministry sets aside $50,000 annually to promore shoulder-tapping,” Eshbaugh says. “We can all help vide scholarships for individuals preparing for pastoral call out the next generation of leaders in ministry.” ministry or serving as a missionary.

“The program was started to address the shortage of stu- —Connie Faber dents training for ministry within the MB denomination,” To learn more, visit www.mbfoundation.com/leadgen or Eshbaugh says. “At last count, we’ve given 150 grants to contact Eshbaugh at reshbaugh@mbfoundation.com 102 recipients, with a total of $246,864 awarded. In 2023 we had 15 grants and in 2024 we had 25.”

Effective May 1, LeadGen grant amounts will increase by 50 percent and will reflect the growing number of training and educational programs available to U.S. Mennonite Brethren.

“Potential leaders are being offered new experiences to learn what ministry looks like,“ Eshbaugh says. “Hopefully LeadGen can help make it affordable.”

Grants that help fund one to two months of service for Level 1 programs will increase to as much as $750; Level 2 programs that are three months to one year in length will qualify for up to $3,000; and Level 3 programs that offer one-plus years of training will qualify for up to $4,500.

Each level assumes an increase in certainty of vocational ministry and an increase in the length and intensity of the educational or training experience. Level 1 is intended for those who are exploring vocational ministry in short-term internships or with Multiply’s ACTION program.

Discover how you can join with God on His mission Typical Level 2 grants include college level Explore Multiply’s Mission Training Programs. education, internships, residency programs or Multiply’s TREK, or similar oppor< multiply.net/mtp tunities. Level 3 participants are involved in graduate ministry classes, internships and residency programs or Multiply’s Together T ogether that that the world ma mayy know Jesus FOCUS program and are pursuing MB ministry positions.

Ignite your passion and find your purpose.

christianleadermag.com 27

Church Life Compiled by Janae Rempel Shafer

MILESTONES

Baptism/Memberships Tyler Fast, Max Phillips and Aurie Wornkey were baptized March 30 at Hesston (Kan.) MB Church.

Jonah Aase and Benjamin Aase were baptized March 2 at Good News Fellowship Church, Ferndale, Wash.

Conner Amstutz, Trysta Miller and Amy Spangler were baptized and received as members March 2 at Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church.

Tyler Vogt, Tugger Vogt and Evynn Johnson were baptized at Pine Acres Church, Weatherford, Okla., Feb. 23.

Livie Claassen and Claire Claassen were baptized at Koerner Heights Church, Newton, Kan., March 9. Jacob Loewen was baptized March 5.

Brahm Smith and Oliver Smith were baptized Feb. 19. Maddy Dick, Franklin Schrag, Landry Smeeton and MaLeah Smeeton were baptized Feb. 16. Owen Runge and Lucas Simkins were baptized Feb. 9.

Silas Hogue, Juan Gonzalez and Shawn Casady were baptized March 2 at South Mountain Community Church, South Jordan (Utah) Campus. Dalton Bowling, Twyla Carwell, Angela Connor, Andrew Darkins, Mason Foy, Natalie Foy, Freddie Garcia, Freddie Granado, Clark Harper, Brynn Helt, Malea Lambros, Marla-Maria Merrithew, Alexee Milton, Khloee Perea and Kat Petersen were baptized at St. George (Utah) Campus, Feb. 9. Destri Pennington, Preston Pennington, Steffy VanLeeuwen, David Williams and Mitch Myler were baptized Feb. 9 at Draper (Utah) Campus.

28 christian leader | may / june 2025

Cliff Cover, Bill Mills, Kaye Mills and Kathy Muñoz were received as members Jan. 26 at North Fresno (Calif.) Church.

Workers Michael D’Alessio, alongside his wife, Michelle, will begin serving as pastor of student ministries at Shafter (Calif.) MB Church in May. Scott Holman concluded his service as lead pastor at Butler Church, Fresno, Calif.

Ty Graham began serving March 23 as youth pastor at Pine Acres Church, Weatherford, Okla.

Matt Harder concluded his service as pastor of care and counseling at Reedley (Calif.) MB Church Feb. 9. Randy Janzen concluded his service as worship pastor in September.

Deaths Alban, Dorothy “Dolly” Carolyn, Lawton, Okla., of Faith Bible Church, Lawton, Nov. 27, 1941—Dec. 2, 2024.

Parents: John and Dorothy (Ferriera) Silva. Spouse: Louis Alban (deceased). Children: Paul, Marie Eden, Dorothy DeFranco, John Iverson; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Braun, Bill, Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, May 2, 1938—March 18, 2025. Parents: Abe and Louise (Penner) Braun. Spouse: Carol Braun. Children: Sheryl Reimer, Randy; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren.

Cox, Neal Calvin, Ferndale, Wash., member of Good News Fellowship, Ferndale, Aug. 5, 1950—Nov. 6, 2024. Parents: George and Dorris (Wiley) Cox. Spouse: Brenda Anderson. Children: Regina, Bryan, Garrett; six grandchildren.

Dobrenen, Merle Ardene, Bakersfield, Calif., member of Shafter (Calif.) MB Church, Dec. 7, 1925—March 7, 2025. Parents: Grant and Margaret Groat. Spouse: Alex Dobrenen (deceased). Children: Susan Cederquist, David, Michael (deceased); six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.

Duerksen, Kathryn, Dinuba, Calif., of Hope Kingsburg, Calif., June 22, 1953—Nov. 11, 2024. Parents: Edward and Mary Falconbridge. Spouse: Larry Duerksen (deceased).

Ediger, Robert D., Topeka, Kan., member of Cornerstone Community Church, Topeka, March 11, 1935—Feb. 18, 2025. Parents: David and Helena Ediger. Spouse: Evelyn Janzen. Children: Mark, Joan Felling, Daniel; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Enns, Anna “Ann” Rachel, Reedley, Calif., member of New Life Community, Dinuba, Calif., March 31, 1925—March 15, 2025. Parents: JP and Anna (Ratzlaff) Fast. Spouse: David (deceased). Children: Greg, Cindy (deceased); two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren.

Enns, Patricia L., Visalia, Calif., member of Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, April 12, 1939—March 10, 2025. Parents: Eugene and Rhoda (Lankford) Askin. Spouse: Harold Enns (deceased). Children: Sandra Long, Judi Szpor, Sharol DeGroot; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren.

Friesen, Brenda Kay, Enid, Okla., of Crosspoint Church, Enid, May 31, 1968—March 19, 2025. Parents: Robert and Viola Truitt. Spouse: Kevin Friesen. Children: Alison Dickey, Thomas, Katie Rebmann; three grandchildren.

Friesen, Paul, Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, Jan. 19, 1934—March 19, 2025. Parents: J.W. and Tina (Harder) Friesen. Spouse: Freda Friesen.

Children: Cyndi Richardson, Chelle Sugimoto; six grandchildren.

Friesen, Thelma, Fresno, Calif., member of Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, Oct. 4, 1930—Jan. 11, 2025. Parents: Barney J. and Elsie (Klassen) Pauls. Spouse: Edmor Friesen (deceased). Children: Philip, Kenneth, Brian, Janice Sanders; 10 grandchildren, 14 greatgrandchildren.

Gift, James Edward, Wichita, Kan., member of Ridgepoint Church, Wichita, Jan. 21, 1937—March 10, 2025. Parents: Francis and Thelma (Baldwin) Gift. Spouse: Charlotte Wilkens. Children: Lydia Sills, Dorcas Fikejs, Nathan; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren.

Goertzen, Erma, Henderson, Neb., member of Living Hope Church, Henderson, July 2, 1929—March 8, 2025. Parents: Dan and Anna (Goertzen) Buller. Spouse: Herman Goertzen (deceased). Children: Royce (deceased), Dale, Mark, Greg; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.

Goossen, Mary June, Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, Feb. 2, 1931— March 16, 2025. Parents: Rudolf and Lillian (Janke) Nickel.

Spouse: Ray Goossen (deceased). Children: Gail Esch, Kevin, Keith; six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild.

Harden, Peggy Ann, McCook Lake, S.D., April 18, 1953—Feb. 9, 2025. Parents: Jake and Vivian (Bartel) Bergen.

Spouse: Glen Harden. Children: Kerry Diehl-Hauser, Eli, Seth, Timbrel Eunson, Josh; 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.

Hofer, Josephine, Huron, S.D., of Bethesda Church, Huron, Aug. 5, 1929—Feb. 13, 2025. Parents: Paul W. and Anna (Tschetter) Gross. Spouse: John J. Hofer (deceased). Children: Darwin, Brenda Smith, Loren, Joletta Heller, Carey, Gena Timmerman, Janine (deceased), Darrell (deceased); 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren.

Huebert, Stan, Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, June 7, 1935—March 8, 2025.

Parents: Herman and Esther (Buller) Huebert. Spouse: Darlene Huebert. Children: Marlan, Rod; five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren.

Jost, David A., Selma, Calif., member of Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, Aug. 18, 1931— March 29, 2025. Parents: David S. and Justina (Warkentin) Jost. Spouse: Bonnie Jost. Children: Carol Groft, Michael, Mark; 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren.

Jost, Katheryn Shirley, Hesston, Kan., member of Cornerstone Community Church, Topeka, Kan., Nov. 16, 1943— March 25, 2025. Parents: Abram N. and Tena (Martens) Dick. Spouse: Marvin Dale Jost (deceased). Children: Travis, Bruce; two grandchildren.

Ketsela, Solomon Telahun, Alexandria, Virg., pastor of Assemblies of Trinity International Church, Alexandria, Dec. 24, 1960—Oct. 29, 2024. Parents: Telahun Feseha and Roman Demsse.

Lautt, Arthur “Art,” Minot, N.D. member of Bible Fellowship Church, Minot, April 24, 1929—Dec. 10, 2024. Parents: Albert E. and Katherina (Beck) Lautt. Spouse: Opal C. Vannett (deceased). Children: Pat Froese, Art Jr., Dorothy Doerksen; nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren.

Lewis, Robert F., Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, Aug. 7, 1934—March 2, 2025. Parents: George and Ruth (Bienfang) Lewis. Spouse: Marilyn Lewis. Children: Kim Goto, Kelly Lewis-Muñoz, David; six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren.

Luther, Katarina “Katy”, Clovis, Calif., member of New Life Community, Dinuba, Calif., Aug. 8, 1993—Feb. 5, 2025.

Parents: George “Bud” Jr. and Darlene Osorio Isaak. Spouse: Garrett Luther.

Main, Penny K., Wichita, Kan., member of Ridgepoint Church, Wichita, Jan. 21, 1941—March 3, 2025. Parents: Charles and Dorothy (Foraker) Tuell. Spouse: Dennis A. Main (deceased). Children: Denice Kuhns, Jeff, Darla Schaller; 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren.

Martens, Leanne, Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, March 28, 1955—Feb. 10, 2025. Parents: Elmer and Shirley (Vanderwall) Schuil.

Spouse: Jeremy “Jerry” Martens (deceased). Children: Jason, Kyle; two grandchildren.

Meyer, Deanna Dee, Buhler, Kan., member of Buhler MB Church, Dec. 18, 1939—Jan. 15, 2025. Parents: John J. Schell and Helen (Koch) Borchardt. Spouse: Bill Mason. Children: Kevin, Kelley Pankratz; two grandchildren, two greatgrandchildren.

Children: Ronnie, Jed, Julianne O’Mara; seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild.

Spouse: Stanley Voth. Children: Amy Bloemhof, Sara Paul; seven grandchildren.

Richert, Carolyn H., Overland Park, Kan., member of Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan., Sept. 17, 1941—Feb. 5, 2025.

Parents: Clifford and Helen Lewis. Spouse: Calvin Richert.

Children: Carson, Cari Allen, Camin Bell, Carmen Nelson; 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren.

Wohlgemuth, Ivan Dean, Reedley, Calif., member of Hope Kingsburg (Calif.), Jan. 8, 1931—Jan. 19, 2025. Parents: Henry and Bertha Wohlgemuth.

Spouse: Rosalind “Jean” Zimmerman (deceased). Children: Sandra Greene, Terry; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild.

Rosfeld, Donald Gene, Goessel, Kan., member of Koerner Heights Church, Newton, Kan., June 28, 1944—Feb. 14, 2025. Parents: Daniel and Stella (Hanneman) Rosfeld. Spouse: Mary Plett. Children: Sheri Bartel, Kristi Unruh, Kerry; 16 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren.

Schroeder, Frances Ruth, San Jose, Calif., member of Lincoln Glen Church, San Jose, July 12, 1934—Jan. 16, 2025. Parents: Walter and Elizabeth Karber. Spouse: Delano Schroeder (deceased). Children: Daniel, Colleen Friesen; three grandchildren.

Sirucek, LaNette Kay, Detroit Lakes, Minn., of Lake Region Mennonite Church, Detroit Lakes, Aug. 9, 1973—Jan. 26, 2025. Parents: John and Mary Koczur. Spouse: Neil Sirucek.

Children: Jared Koczur, Darian Koczur, Aidan, Eli, Isaac and Obi.

Nix, Howard Leon, Corn, Okla., of Corn MB Church, Oct. 22, 1936—Feb. 3, 2025. Parents: Carlyle and Mable Nix. Spouse: Doris Smith. Children: Brenda, Harvey, Carla, Ivan; nine grandchildren, 17 greatgrandchildren.

Suderman, Sharon Kay, Hillsboro, Kan., member of Ebenfeld MB Church, Hillsboro, June 15, 1951—Feb. 8, 2025.

Parents: Roger and Edna (Schmidt) Hiebert. Spouse: Ronald Ray Suderman (deceased). Children: Dan, Diane Meisinger, Nichole Hendrickson; nine grandchildren.

Reimer, Ron, Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, July 9, 1944—Jan. 7, 2025.

Parents: Ralph and Elsie (Regier) Reimer. Spouse: Betty Reimer.

Voth, Sharon Lorena, Shafter, Calif., member of Shafter MB Church, Oct. 22, 1951—Jan. 23, 2025. Parents: Donald and Loyce Corcoran.

REACHING IN

Discipleship Cornerstone Community Church, Topeka, Kan., held a parenting conference Feb. 22.

Fellowship North Fresno (Calif.) Church had a hymn sing and faspa March 30. Moms had a fitness class and parenthood discussion March 2. Dads and kids went hiking March 1.

Salem MB Church, Freeman, S.D., held a game night March 30.

The Ridgepoint Church, Wichita, Kan., women’s ministry held a speed mingle March 29.

Copper Hills Church, Peoria, Ariz., held a mother/son silent disco March 28 and a daddy/daughter dance Feb. 28.

Neighborhood Church, Fresno, Calif., held a BBQ March 26.

Lake Region Mennonite Church, Detroit Lakes, Minn., tied comforters March 21 and had a broomball tournament Feb. 23.

christianleadermag.com 29

Butler Church, Fresno, Calif., women had a baking day March 15.

Reedley (Calif.) MB Church women learned about thrifting March 11.

Zoar MB Church, Inman, Kan., women went on a mystery trip March 15.

Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan., women discussed hospitality March 7.

Small groups at Community Bible Church, Mountain Lake, Minn., began meeting for a meal before splitting into groups.

Koerner Heights Church, Newton, Kan., women had a paint night March 9. The church hosted a prayer summit for high school students Feb. 22.

The three Mennonite Brethren churches in Hillsboro, Kan., held a unity service March 9.

Axiom Church, Peoria, Ariz., men had a potluck game night March 22. Women had a game night Feb. 28.

moved to a new location in Clovis, Calif., April 6, and changed its name to Mountain View Clovis Campus.

REACHING OUT

Locally

Worship Greenhouse Community Church, Saratoga Springs, Utah, added a second worship gathering March 16.

Neighborhood Church, Visalia, Calif., held a groundbreaking ceremony April 5 for the Neighborhood Degree Community Center.

Pine Acres Church, Weatherford, Okla., women held a night of worship Feb. 22.

Bethel MB Church, Yale, S.D., women collected donations for a pregnancy center.

Celebrations SouthLife Church, Wichita, Kan., celebrated its second birthday with a 24-hour prayer and worship service April 5-6.

Mountain View Church East Campus, Clovis, Calif.,

Lincoln Glen Church, San Jose, Calif., served during a Manor appreciation ice cream social April 3.

Community Bible Church, Mountain Lake, Minn., sent students to Omaha to serve, March 17-21.

Cornerstone Community Church, Topeka, Kan., packed hygiene and school kits with MCC March 17.

Faith Bible Church, Omaha, Neb., participated in an apartment building outreach March 6.

Axiom Church, Peoria, Ariz., went on a prayer walk March 1.

Copper Hills Church, Peoria, Ariz., held its 4 Peak Challenge hike Feb. 15.

Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church held its Valentine Extravaganza Feb. 15.

Reedley (Calif.) MB Church hosted a JOY disability ministry respite event for families affected by disability Feb. 1.

Classifieds USMB Editor: The U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches is seeking the next editor of Christian Leader, the magazine of U.S. Mennonite Brethren. The Christian Leader editor directs the production of the magazine as well as the magazine’s social media platforms and website. This is a remote position, reporting to the USMB national director.

For more information, visit www.usmb.org/jobs. To apply, send a resume and cover letter in PDF format to offices@usmb.org.

LOCAL CHURCH Discipleship Pastor: Bethesda Church, Huron, S.D. is seeking a full-time discipleship pastor, integral to leading our ministry programs, which are designed to grow believers into godly disciples for the glory of God. The discipleship pastor will focus on empowering leaders within our diverse range of ministries by providing essential resources, recruitment support, training and pastoral care. Our goal is to develop strong leaders who can effectively guide and nurture the spiritual growth of our church community. The discipleship pastor will work closely with the senior pastor, serving as a key partner in creatively devising new strategies to cultivate healthier disciples. For more information, visit the church website.

out the gospel of Jesus through service and meaningful relationships. Eugene is a college town offering year-round natural beauty. NPCC has a history of knowing and loving our neighbors well.

Throughout the years, NPCC has bonded with the neighborhood association where our church resides, made meaningful connections with non-profits, churches and ministries in the community, and have made ourselves known as those who love our neighborhood school. If you have a heart for others, service, Scripture and developing disciples, consider learning more about our Senior Pastor position: https://www.northpark.cc/senior-pastor/ Lead Pastor: Ebenfeld MB Church, Hillsboro, Kan., is seeking a full-time teaching pastor who will be responsible for providing sound biblical teaching, leading and equipping the congregation in its mission to “Gather, Grow, Go,” with a relational and engaging spirit through personal connections with congregation. His role and responsibilities also include pastoral care of members and attenders and active involvement in the local community.

Ebenfeld is committed to an Anabaptist-evangelical theology as articulated in the MB Confession of Faith. https://usmb.org/confession-of-faith-4/ For more information or to submit resume, email to ebenfeldsearch@gmail.com

ing youth group gatherings, midweek programs and outreach to the broader community. A bachelor’s degree in ministry, education, social sciences or a related field is preferred. For a detailed job description, please visit our website https://www.northfresnochurch.org If you want to join our team, please send your resume to ChurchStaffing.com. For further inquiries, email ypsearch@northfresnochurch.org.

AGENCY Senior Adult Ministry Coordinator: MB Foundation is seeking an individual with a passion to work with churches in developing and executing strategies for healthy and growing senior adult ministries. They will also work directly with seniors in the MB community to help them activate God’s meaning and purpose in their retirement years. This is a remote, hourly position, working 10 to 15 hours per week. If interested, visit www.mbfoundation.com/employment.

Planned Giving Advisor: MB Foundation is seeking a planned giving advisor. This is a relationship-building position for someone who has a heart for people and stewardship and loves the Lord.

The position is full-time with a generous benefits package. Salary commensurate with experience.

Training is available. If interested, visit Senior Pastor: North Park Community Church, Youth Pastor: North Fresno Church, Fresno, www.mbfoundation.com/employment.

Eugene, Ore., is seeking a senior pastor. NPCC is Calif., is seeking a youth pastor to oversee the spira small faith community that finds meaning in living itual development and discipleship of youth, includ-

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