Learning to wait. How our parents taught us to delay gratification

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1 MAY/JUNE 2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2 Editorial Resource Corner 3 LifeSpring origins Christian formation 4 Young adults 5 OMW Retreat Sharing Fund 6 Conference minister musings 7 Generosity in the congregation 8 Open Arms Hispanic Ministry 9 Financial contributions 10 About people Learning to wait How our parents taught us to delay gratification By Jono Cullar For the past few summers I have been cutting down dead trees from my grandparents farmland, splitting the logs, and stacking the wood. It s being sold throughout the cold months at our home in North Lima, Ohio. I m away at a university, but it helps pay for textbooks and gives me spending money. I m 21 years old now, and learned financial responsibility from my parents while growing up. My younger siblings (Anna and Andrew) and I also manage college funds with The Cullar family includes (le to right) Dawn, Ken, Anna, Andrew, and Jono Cullar. The family a ends Leetonia Mennonite Church. our family s Everence financial representative, Paul Bontrager. We have always thought our parents, Ken and Dawn Cullar, were frugal. We wore Con#nued on page 4 11 Goshen College graduates LifeSpring focuses on deepening spiritual life 12 Back page briefings LifeSpring, a school of Christian spiritual formation with two locations in Ohio, will be offering a series of Saturday sessions for people interested in deepening their spiritual life. persons are invited to drink deeply from the well in a supportive, Christ-centered environment. Worship, interactive learning, silent reflection and prayer lead participants to greater intimacy with God. God, our Living Water, has given us the gift of holy thirst to draw us to God. At LifeSpring, pastors and lay Operating in a retreat format, this two-year school offers its participants an opportunity to deepen their spiritual life through challenge, surprise, struggle, wonder, and growth as we drink together of the water that Christ offers. LifeSpring was founded in 1995 under the direction of Beulah Steiner of Wooster Mennonite Church and Jerry Flora of Ashland Seminary. Con#nued on page 3

2 May/June 2012 Page 2 VOL. LXVI, NO. 3 MAY/JUNE 2012 Editor: Ann H. Leaman Ohio Mennonite Evangel (USPS ) is published six times per year by the Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA, Box 210, Kidron OH 44636, telephone (330) , fax (330) All material for publication should be submitted to the editor at 5854 Sunland St. NE, Louisville OH 44641, or via telephone/fax: (330) , or ohioevangel@earthlink.net, one month prior to desired publication date. Ohio Mennonite Evangel is distributed to all households of Ohio Conference congregations, other interested individuals and church agencies. Ohio Mennonite Evangel is printed at Carlisle Printing, 2673 TR 421 Sugarcreek OH Send subscription information and address changes to the editor at 5854 Sunland St. NE, Louisville OH Periodical postage paid at Sugarcreek OH E D I T O R I A L Sharing our stories Sharing the good news and how God is working boils down to sharing our stories. We need to share our stories and hear other people s stories. What is our story, what is God s story and how do they connect? Perhaps this Conference year we should focus on hearing and telling stories. Those sentences, found in the minutes of the latest meeting of the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team on March 23-24, summarize R E S O U R C E C O R N E R much of the group s discussion, as we looked at ways to promote worship, faith and witness in member congregations. As a team, we spent much of the weekend looking at feedback from delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. In their written comments, the delegates suggested many areas for focus, such as revitalizing churches, church planting, reaching out in our communities and in the workplace. One starting place MEA offers free online resources By Norma Duerksen Ohio Conference Resource Advocate I encourage you to use Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) resources in your church. Free resources are available at MennoniteEducation.org. Online you will find curriculum in English and Spanish for Journeys with God for grades K- 8. The high school Bible curriculum is also online. There you also will find Anabaptist dramatic readings for grades On the MEA website Everence provides Financial Foundations: Stewardship Curriculum for High School Students, Money Matters for Youth: Integrating Faith and Finances, and What s God got to do with it? Middle school students have Three Key when considering how to proceed is looking to see how God is already working in these areas. So Ohio Conference is looking for your stories. How is God at work in your congregation and your community? How can you partner with God in what is already happening, and how can we as the larger church learn from and share in your experience? We are interested in hearing from you. ahl Personnel of the Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA Moderator: Marion Beyeler marionbeyeler@gmail.com Assistant Moderator: Norma Duerksen pnduerksen@aol.com Conference Minister: Tom Kauffman ohconfmin@gmail.com Credentialing Ministry Chair: Naomi Engle pastornaomiengle@juno.com Gifts Discernment Ministry Chair: Delmar Hostetler hostetlerd@firstenergycorp.com Stewardship Minstry Chair: Lois Bontrager Lois.Bontrager@everence.com Regional Pastor: Matt Hamsher matthamsher@gmail.com Regional Pastor: Ralph Reinford ralphreinford@gmail.com Regional Pastor: Wanda Stopher wstopher@gmail.com Administrative Secretary: Judy King ohmc@zoominternet.net Finance Coordinator: Stan Helmuth helmuths@gl.choicebooks.org Coordinator of Volunteers: Sherah-Leigh Gerber shergerber@gmail.com Conference Editor: Ann Leaman ohioevangel@earthlink.net Questions also available from Everence but on MEA s website. I was amazed to find so many resources that were free and downloadable. Homeschoolers, Sunday school teachers, and junior high and high school youth sponsors have a wealth of resources available to them. Check it out at MennoniteEducation.org.

3 Spiritual development Upon their retirement in 2009, two groups have emerged to begin LifeSpring branches in Northwest Ohio and Mid Ohio. LifeSpring NW Ohio will meet at Central Mennonite Church in Archbold, and LifeSpring Mid Ohio will meet at the Hermitage at Beaver Run in Coshocton County. Both schools will meet once a month in the fall and spring, making a total of six Saturday sessions per year, beginning in September LifeSpring is pleased to offer this opportunity to any who operated the Hermitage in Three Rivers, Mich. (Located on 62 acres in southwest Michigan, the Hermitage is a churchrelated ministry endorsed by the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference which offers a place for retreat for individuals and groups.) From 1991 to 1993 the Herrs came to work with a group of people in the Ohio Conference interested in spiritual formation. After that experience, Beulah decided to continue her learning, taking a spiritual guidance course at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, which was located in Maryland near Washington, D.C. Then in the mid-1990s people from Ashland University became interested in spiritual formation. Beulah was invited to wish to drink from this well of living water. For more information, please contact Judy Ringler at judyringler77@embarqmail.com about LifeSpring Mid Ohio or Dana Short at mdshort@embarqmail.com about LifeSpring NW Ohio. Interest in spiritual formation leads to LifeSpring How does a call to ministry develop? In Beulah Steiner s case, an interest in spiritual growth led to a ministry in spiritual formation, and along the way, LifeSpring, a school of Christian formation, came into being. The journey toward founding LifeSpring began in the late 1980s for Beulah, a member of Wooster Mennonite Church. While serving as the chair of the Ohio Conference Nurture Commission, she began to realize that much of what the commission was doing was not focused on nurturing spiritual growth. That realization began a quest for her to understand more about spiritual formation. Eventually, Beulah came into contact with Gene and Mary Herr, who What is Christian formation? Christian formation is one of the seven churchwide priorities affirmed by the delegates at the Pittsburgh 2011 Convention of Mennonite Church USA. The denomination s Purposeful Plan has this to say about Christian formation: Christian Formation This first and highest priority commits us to fashion and mold our lives after that of Jesus Christ. As the sent One of God, Jesus sends us into the world. As missional communities, our congregations, conferences, and agencies will ensure Con nued from page 1 join a planning group for spiritual formation which included some of these people. Out of that planning group, LifeSpring developed, with the first group of participants starting in LifeSpring was affiliated with the Ohio Conference and a conference of the Brethren Church for 14 years. Beulah retired from her work with LifeSpring in She estimates that about 150 people participated in LifeSpring during the years of her involvement with the school. One of the highlights of her time with LifeSpring was working with Jerry Flora, who was a professor at Ashland Theological Seminary, as well as working with numerous professors from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. that people are invited to make a commitment to Christ, discipled in the way of Christ, taught to engage with the scriptures, helped to develop Christian identity from an Anabaptist/ Mennonite perspective, and given the capacity to cultivate their vocational calling. May/June 2012 Page 3

4 May/June 2012 Page 4 Money management Con nued from page 1 hand-me down clothes, rarely ate out, and chose to purchase used cars. Our parents guiding principle to teach us financial responsibility was the concept of delayed gratification. For example, in our family, we wait to get a cell phone and driver s license until we turn 16. This taught us patience. Mom said, I was pleased when Andrew, at 14, once said he was looking forward to getting a cell phone when he turns 16. That kind of understanding means you don t beg or whine for things you want. Another way our parents taught financial responsibility was by including us in their meetings with Paul Bontrager, their Everence representative. We heard them discuss not only how their money could benefit them, but also how their investments could help people around the world. In the end, we recognize our parents have deeply molded our views from how to earn money to making socially responsible investments and to tithing gifts. We also know now we are global citizens, understanding that being holistic witnesses to Jesus includes how we earn and spend money. This story was excerpted from a story written for Everence s magazine, Everyday Stewardship. To read more, go to Everence.com. Young adults attend retreat, plan work day at Camp Luz Camp Luz hosted the Ohio Conference Young Adult Retreat April Fifteen young adults from across the state attended the retreat. Dave Maurer, pastor of Bethel Mennonite Church in West Liberty, led the group in several sessions using the Open Spaces model. The retreat also included a time for participants to do service at the camp. The Young Adult Retreat included me for par cipants to do service at Camp Luz. Now the Young Adult Resource Team is inviting Ohio Conference young adults to join the young adults from Franconia Mennonite Conference at Camp Luz for a service project day on Saturday, May 19. The service project will begin at 9 a.m., and the day will end with a campfire. Young adults are encouraged to come for as much of the day as they can. If you would like to participate, please your reservations to Tamara Gill at tamarajg@gmail.com.

5 OMW Retreat to focus on hope in troubling times May/June 2012 Page 5 Ohio Mennonite Women (OMW) invites all women to attend the annual OMW Retreat Sept at Camp Luz in Kidron. Ruthann Bosley, author of Victory in the Valleys, will be the featured speaker. Ruthann Bosley is a former elementary teacher and former children's ministry director at a local church. She assisted her late husband in his role as a mortician and funeral director. Currently she is pastoring two rural churches in southern Stark County, and is a volunteer chaplain for cancer and palliative care patients at Aultman Hospital and a Grief/Share workshop leader, as well as serving on numerous boards for the community. Ruthann is the mother of two sons and one grandson. She received her B.S. from Cedarville University and her M.A. from Heritage University with additional hours from Ashland University. Recently she graduated from the Methodist Theological Seminary Course of Study at Delaware, Ohio. She is the author of the book Victory in the Valleys, as well as numerous articles dealing with grief and healing. Ruthann's love is to teach and encourage people to be all that they can be in Christ Jesus. Her theme for the upcoming retreat in September Sharing Fund grants meet local needs Kidron, Ohio 50 churches in Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA received needed financial assistance last year to help people facing financial challenges as part of a grant program from Everence Financial. In 2011, the Everence Sharing Fund program provided more than $62,469 in matching grants to churches in the Conference. Among the churches receiving grants were North Clinton Mennonite in Wauseon; Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship in Plain City; First Mennonite in Berne, Ind; Longenecker Mennonite in Winesburg; Salem Mennonite in Elida; Sonnenberg Mennonite in Kidron; and Leetonia Mennonite in Leetonia. The grants help members facing financial distress because of lost employment, medical bills or those struggling to pay for basic living expenses. The program also supports other church needs such as community aid or service projects. Phyllis Mishler, Member Benefits Manager for Everence, said the grants are part of how Everence and Everence Federal Credit Union fulfill their joint mission and work together to support the financial needs of local congregation members. To our members seeking to express their faith in their financial lives, the Sharing Fund is one of the most important ways we work with their congregations, Mishler said. For an individual need, congregation program, or community need, they can turn to the Sharing Fund for financial support. The Everence grants are funded primarily by members who own Everence products or use Everence Federal Credit Union Ruthann Bosley will be Hope in the Midst of Troubling, Changing Times. Brochures with more retreat information and a registration form will be sent to each Ohio Conference congregation. banking services. Because of the organization s unique tax status, money that would be paid in federal taxes instead is distributed through mutual aid including the Sharing Fund. However, Mishler noted, grant money also comes from other sources. As a company, Everence tithes on its income by donating to the Sharing Fund, plus many staff contribute generously, and we also receive contributions from others who support the Sharing Fund, Mishler said. In 2011, the Everence Sharing Fund gave more than $924,000 in matching grants to 2,049 families across the country. The Sharing Fund accepts contribu ons throughout the year. To donate, visit Everence.com or call (800) ext

6 May/June 2012 Page 6 C O N F E R E N C E M I N I S T E R M U S I N G S What makes community? We all considered ourselves to be brothers and sisters in the same church who had come together to do the work of God s church that is called Mennonite. Yet our heart songs were completely different. By Tom Kauffman Conference Minister A friend shared with me a blog that has some interesting ideas about what constitutes community. While he is talking about community within another denomination, I believe the concept still makes sense for Mennonites as well. He raises the question about what makes up the unity we experience as a people of faith. We can look to the hymns we sing, the way we organize our congregations, a common confession of faith, and certain faith practices we all share in common that define our group. We can ask What do we share in common? and find our identity in that way. Such a connectedness might be illustrated by the single circle below. All who share the same thing (be it music, confession of faith, faith practices, etc.) will find themselves within the circle. And that defines our unity. But then he goes on to speak of unity in quite different terms. He talks about this as an aggregate model of unity in that it depends more on relationships and networks among smaller groups or subsets. We may all call ourselves Mennonites but as the second circle (with the cluster of smaller circles) shows, many of the subset circles overlap with some of the other circles, but some circles do not overlap at all with other circles. Yet all circles find at least part of themselves within the darker circle (which we might call Mennonite. ) I think functionally, this aggregate model of unity makes a lot of sense as we attempt to describe who we really are as Mennonites. Last year at Pittsburgh 2011, each of the delegate table groups were asked to list their individual heart songs and to share them around the table. (This was a part of the bi-national worship committee s report on whether or not it was time for us to consider publishing a new hymnbook or supplement.) Of the eight persons around the table of which I was a part, when we shared our two to three heart songs each, there were no duplicates! Every one of us selected mutually exclusive songs compared to our tablemates. For some of us, we did not even recognize some of our tablemates heart songs. While our table was likely an anomaly among all the delegate tables, I found this most interesting. We all considered ourselves to be faithful Mennonites. We all considered ourselves to be brothers and sisters in the same church who had come together to do the work of God s church that is called Mennonite. Yet our heart songs were completely different. I suspect if we follow through with our denominational leaders urging to select (both individually and congregationally) the 12 most significant scripture passages that shape our lives, we will also find a wide variety of texts that shape and guide us. I expect there to be some texts that we hold in common, but I Con nued on page 7

7 May/June 2012 Page 7 A C H A R I T A B L E P A S S I O N S T O R Y My congregation Oh, the joy of generosity! By David A Miller Mennonite Founda on Live generously, live out this identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously. Luke 6:29 (The Message) We talk and read often about generous individuals and families, but it seems we are more hesitant to talk about money and generosity within the congregation. What are the characteristics of a generous congregation? Yes, we all see the annual budget and periodic treasurer reports. We have a Sunday or two that emphasizes stewardship or a study series in a smaller group setting. Special projects are identified and money is raised above the annual budget. As a congregational member, are you experiencing the joy of generosity? How might you and your congregation discover new ways to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to you? Wouldn t it be helpful if the pastor and congregational leaders were given additional training and tools to help create a congregational culture of generosity? Recently, Everence, in consultation with Mennonite Church USA and area conferences, chose to offer resources and training to congregational leaders nationwide. Through Everence Church Relations Representatives, a two-day workshop is being offered for congregational leadership teams. The curriculum is written by the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving. Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity sessions might help in the following ways: Offer tools to assess the fiscal health and insights into the congregation s culture Understand how generosity is formed and nurtured Provide faith-based vocabulary the congregation can use to talk about money and its faithful use Understand how pastoral care is the key to generous giving See the interrelatedness of missions to story-telling This opportunity has been introduced to Ohio Conference pastors, and sessions are being scheduled. It s anticipated this will be an ongoing resource that will be offered periodically. Talk to your pastor and encourage your leadership team to explore this resource and training. The spirit of generosity might transform your personal and congregational life! For more information about this program, contact Lois Bontrager at lois.bontrager@everence.com or (330) David A Miller is the Charitable Services Representative of the Mennonite Foundation. You may contact him at david.miller@everence.com or (330) We talk and read often about generous individuals and families, but it seems we are more hesitant to talk about money and generosity within the congregation. What are the characteristics of a generous congregation? Musings Con nued from page 6 will be surprised if all of us agree on only 12 across our denomination. Yet they all come from the same Bible, and in that sense we find our unity. (I suspect there are also some extra-biblical texts that profoundly guide our lives as well, if we are completely honest. Those texts might represent the portions of the second circle that lie outside the dark circle.) Whether we think of the congregations of which we are a part, or the denomination to which we belong, I wonder if the aggregate model of unity may more closely represent the networks and relationships that hold us together as a widely diverse portion of the body of Christ known as Mennonites. Can we live with that? If you are interested in reading this blog for yourself, here is the link: denominations/.

8 May/June 2012 Page 8 Welcoming immigrants with open arms By Celia Lehman Raul and Vanita Tadeo never know what to expect when their phone rings. Why? In the past they felt God s call to go to Mexico to evangelize. When they moved back to Dalton in 1992, the phone started ringing. Immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries were coming to America and could not speak English. Word spread that the Tadeos were Vanita and Raul Tadeo fluent in both languages, and their telephone number suddenly became very busy. Not only could the Tadeos communicate, but they were willing to help. They realized it was a way of meeting spiritual and physical needs in Wayne and Holmes counties as well as in Mexico. Life can be difficult for people who understand little or no English and have no one to interpret for them. What are the areas of their needs? medical employment housing legal papers mechanical problems mistreatment working with local authorities interpreting and translating These are common requests that are being addressed by a loving pastor and devoted wife. So, what do they do about it? Vanita, a registered nurse, takes pregnant women to a physician, talks to them as they sit in the waiting room, and interprets what the doctor says. She cooks for and invites people for a meal, shares produce from her garden, gives those who have no place to go a place to sleep, and takes time to explain whatever people want to know. Raul, a minister, has literature available in Spanish, talks to them about activities of their interest, makes connections for places to work, visits those incarcerated, talks with understanding about the difficulties especially the men face and tries to help them. He carries out the activities for various age levels such as volleyball, wiener roasts, videos, or visiting. Hispanics started attending Salem Mennonite Church of Wooster where the Tadeos attend. After church the Hispanic group wanted to spend the afternoon together. At first they went to Tadeos home for lunch. As the group grew, families took turns hosting the group, and currently a carry-in meal takes place in the church on the last Sunday of each month. In 2001 a group of men sensed the need of getting involved in this ministry. They made contact with some of the Mennonite churches in the area for a financial stipend. That is when the Open Arms Ministry began. The focus was not only on providing financial help, but also on providing help to find employment, English lessons and solve other pertinent needs. Many people became involved in the Open Arms Ministry. In 2004 Raul coordinated a retreat at Camp Luz for Hispanics from neighboring areas which included fellowship, worship and Bible teaching. One hundred nineteen people from various Mennonite Churches of Ohio attended. The retreat has become an annual event, with the latest retreat taking place April With continued growth, Raul felt the need for assistance. He spoke to Haroldo Nunes of North Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon, and invited him to come and help with the work in the Wayne County area. Raul knew that Haroldo felt a call to ministry among Hispanics. Haroldo accepted the invitation and moved to Orrville with his wife, Esmirna, and their family. In 2011 Haroldo increased from part-time to full-time ministry with Open Arms. Now in the Salem congregation two groups worship simultaneously each Sunday morning. When a minister preaches in Con nued on page 9

9 Open Arms Con nued from page 8 English, interpretation is given via wireless equipment to the earphones worn by Spanishspeaking worshippers. When preaching is in Spanish, the interpretation is given in English. Choruses and hymns are projected on a screen in both languages so that people can sing either language. In 2007 Willing Hearts, a group of church leaders and pastors, came together to sponsor mission projects in the Ohio Conference. One was a Mission Festival for Open Arms Hispanic Ministries. This Intercultural Fiesta brought Hispanics and non-hispanics together for a time of fellowship and fiesta. This event has grown in attendance and has continued annually. You have heard much about the strangers and immigrants in our land. Due to problems in other countries, people have been forced into exile. They come to the United States to find a new Contributions help to fund Conference programs Included with this issue of Ohio Mennonite Evangel is an envelope for donations to the Ohio Conference. Please consider making a financial contribution toward the work of the Conference. While most of Ohio Conference s funding comes from congregations, donations from individuals also help to make Conference programs possible. In addition to providing support for individual pastors and congregations, the Conference is life in the land of opportunity. To the Hebrew people who knew what it meant to be strangers and exiles, God sent a message: You shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt (Leviticus 19:34). As Christians, we too are called by God to accept the Hispanic strangers in our land. Not only should we open our homes and tables to welcome them, but also to open our hearts, minds and Open Arms. Gabriela, Haroldo, Esmirna, Laura and Paulo Nunez Ohio Conference provides financial support to Hispanic ministries, including Open Arms Hispanic committed to providing resources through various events. In addition to Annual Conference Assembly, recent events included a Young Adult Retreat at Camp Luz and two teacher training workshops. Upcoming events include the Ohio Youth Event, a Conference-wide gathering of youth at Bluffton University June 29-July 1, as well as resourcing events for singles in ministry, women in ministry and multiple-staff congregations. Ministries, which is based in Wayne and Holmes counties, and Brazo en Brazo, which is based in the Lima area. The Ohio Conference Immigration Resource Team has compiled a list of print and Web-based resources with more information about immigration. To see this list, go to the Ohio Conference website ( org), click on Resource Teams, and then choose Immigration. Contributions also may be made online at the Ohio Conference website: Thank you for partnering with us in this Kingdom work. May/June 2012 Page 9

10 May/June 2012 Page 10 Jane Friesen receives her diploma as Sara Wenger Shenk, president of AMBS in Elkhart, Ind., confers on her the Master of Divinity degree. The process for her gradua- on was accelerated due to her declining health, and the special commencement service on April 4 was held in Jane s home in Archbold. Photo by Sara Klassen. A B O U T P E O P L E Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary By Mary E. Klassen In a service that Sara Wenger Shenk, president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), described as a commencement like no other, Jane Friesen received her Master of Divinity diploma at her home in Archbold, Ohio, on April 4. Friesen began study at AMBS in Elkhart, Ind., in 1989, commuting first from Toledo and then from Archbold. She was able to continue her studies sporadically even after a diagnosis of cancer in After she went into Hospice care, her declining health prompted the seminary to accelerate the process of her graduation. (She died at home on Sunday, April 22.) Anabaptist Disabilities Network MennoMedia Anita Hooley Yoder, a member of Friendship Mennonite Church, has been chosen as a writer for the Gather Round curriculum. She took part in a week-long writers conference in Chicago, Ill., as preparation AMBS granted the degree in recognition of a mission accomplished, a ministry fulfilled, Wenger Shenk said. It was a recognition of her persistence and courage, but most of all an acknowledgement of the integrity of her calling to ministry. Over the last two and a half years, Friesen reflected on her illness in a blog, janefriesen, describing the struggles and the blessings of her experiences. AMBS faculty recognized her careful theological work in this writing as fulfillment of the final five hours of credit needed to complete her degree. David Miller, associate professor of missional leadership development at AMBS, said, Jane has given a legacy gift to family and friends, the church and future seminary students in the way that she has engaged the struggle with cancer and its attendant questions with deep faith, humanity and theological insight. Her blunt honesty of The April issue of Connections, the newsletter of the Anabaptist Disabilities Network, features an interview with Tamara Gill of Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville. The interview details how friends with disabilities have changed Tamara's life. "I pray that followers of Jesus will recognize our calling to become the healing hands and feet of Jesus by reaching for the writing assignment. Gather Round is produced for preschool, primary, middler, multiage, junior youth, and youth groups. Hooley Yoder is writing the junior youth level the physical challenges and losses, the abandonment of easy theological clichés, and the discovery of a God who does not shield us from suffering nor abandon us to despair serves to break the captivity of wellrehearsed cultural and ecclesiastical taboos. This is the work of an honest, trustworthy and skilled pastoral theologian. More than 70 family members and friends, many from Zion Mennonite Church where Friesen was a pastor, came to celebrate with her. Also participating were members of the Goshen (Ind.) College Women s World Music Choir, directed by Debra Brubaker. Jane and Kelvin s younger daughter is a member of the choir. Their older daughter and several other family members joined the celebration by Skype. Wenger Shenk said after the service, You don t often have the opportunity to be in the presence of death with such honesty and aliveness to beauty, community and celebration. out to people who often feel like they have no place to belong, she says. To see the interview, go to for the spring quarter of the Sunday school year as well as the junior youth/ youth level for the summer quarter. Con nued on page 11

11 May/June 2012 Page 11 A B O U T P E O P L E Con nued from page 10 Mennonite Mission Network Lane Stopher has been appointed to a three-year term, beginning March 2012, as a Mennonite Mission Network Mission Associate working in Serbia. He is a member of Central Mennonite Church in Archbold. Lane writes, After working in the War Trauma Center for three years as a seconded worker through Mennonite Central Committee, I have returned to Serbia to continue the important work of rebuilding a society that has been torn by war. The War Trauma Center is working at building peace in the Western Balkans through alleviating the mental health consequences of war for individuals, families and society, and through constructively using war experience in society. My work will largely be focused on program and project management, along with fundraising, website maintenance, and general assistance in the office as needed. War Trauma Center is thrilled to have him back and regards his work and commitment highly. Part of Lane s financial support will be through a grant from Northwest Ohio Partners in Mission. This is a partnership of northwest Ohio congregations committed to supporting local people going into long-term mission. The group has collaborated with Mennonite Mission Network since Mennonite Mission Network invites Ohio Conference congregations to join in prayer for Lane and the ministry to which he has been called. Twelve from Conference graduate from GC GOSHEN, Ind. Twelve students from Ohio Conference congregations were among the 233 individuals receiving diplomas at Goshen College's 114th Annual Commencement on April 22. The graduates are listed below, along with their parents names, their majors and their home congregations: Jonathan Michael Hershberger, son of Maynard and Jean Hershberger of Canton, social work, First Mennonite (Canton); Matthew Ryan Lehman, son of Galen and Sherri Lehman of Kidron, theater and Bible and religion, Kidron Mennonite; Dustin Ervin Linder, son of Cliff and Julie Linder of Louisville, nursing, Beech Mennonite; Seth Hershey Martin, son of John and Sue Martin of Columbus, social work with a minor in women's studies, Toledo Mennonite; Ashley Jenae Miller, daughter of Ross and Jude Miller of Uniontown, biology, Hartville Mennonite; Andrew Eugene Nussbaum, son of Don and Ellen Nussbaum of Apple Creek, social work, Sonnenberg Mennonite; Sarah Gotwals Rody, daughter of Susan Gotwals and Tim Lehman of Sterling and Joseph Rody of Georgetown, Ky., mathematics with minors in piano pedagogy and conflict studies, Jubilee Mennonite; Meredith Lane Thomas, daughter of Mark and Polly Thomas of Bellefontaine, interdisciplinary major with concentrations in sociology, conflict transformation studies and Bible and religion, Bethel Mennonite (West Liberty); Ryan David Troyer, son of Dave and Betty Troyer of Fredericksburg, Salem Mennonite (Wooster); Nicholas Michael Wesman, son of Daniel and Phebe Wesman of Apple Creek, journalism, Kidron Mennonite; Bethany Nicole Yoder, daughter of Stephen and Christine Yoder of Bellefontaine, interdisciplinary major with concentrations in youth ministry, psychology and sociology, Oak Grove Mennonite (West Liberty); and Rebecca A. Zehr of Wauseon, organizational leadership, North Clinton Mennonite.

12 Conference Calendar M A Y J U N For more Ohio Conference news, visit the Ohio Conference website: ohiomennoniteconference.org 7 Single in Ministry Retreat, Camp Luz 16 Ministry Development Team Meeting, Good Shepherd Mennonite, Archbold Black Swamp Benefit, Fulton County Fairgrounds, Wauseon Ohio Youth Event, Bluffton University Family Camp Weekend, Camp Luz J U L S E P T 1 Ohio Youth Event, Bluffton University 1 Family Camp Weekend, Camp Luz Ohio Mennonite Women s Retreat, Camp Luz O C T Adriel Benefit Auction, Adriel Campus, West Liberty N O V M A R Young Adult Service Project, Camp Luz 9-11 Youth Retreat, Camp Luz 8-9 Annual Conference Assembly, Central Christian School, Kidron Back page briefings... Have you seen Mennonite Church USA s new online newsletter, On the Way? This newsletter is a free, short online resource through which Mennonite Church USA staff hope to start conversations about how we are living out our vision and mission that will help us learn from each other. Each of the first seven issues, which will come out every six weeks, will focus on one of the seven denominational priorities. Check out the latest issue at mennoniteusa.org/on-theway/march-on-the-way/, and subscribe at eepurl.com/i8ox9. Attention high school seniors: Want to take some time off from school to focus on service and learning? Service Adventure gives you the opportunity to live in community with other young adults and a unit leader or couple while you learn more about what it means to serve God and each other. For more information or an application, visit Service.Mennonite Mission.net. Friendship Week On July 18-22, Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., will host Friendship Week: A retreat for families, friends and persons with disabilities. One of Laurelville s longest-running programs, this retreat is tailored to the needs and interests of individuals with a wide range of disabilities as well as their caregivers. Scholarship assistance is available, and new families/ group homes receive 20 percent off the cost of registration. Learn more at Laurelville.org/friendshipweek or by calling (724)