Grant program to benefit local ministries - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/ohioconferenceofmennonitechurchusa... · expenses in months when receipts are less than expens-es.

expenses in months when

receipts are less than expens-

es. Further, the Stewardship

Ministry Team recommended

that the Conference make 20

percent of the remaining sur-

plus funds available for minis-

try incentives. For 2012-13,

the amount available for min-

istry incentives is about

$40,000.

Delegates at ACA affirmed

the Stewardship Ministry

Team’s recommendation and

gave suggestions for ways

Local ministries throughout

the Ohio Conference will be

able to benefit from a Con-

ference grant program this

year. This summer the Ohio

Conference Ministry Devel-

opment Team is accepting

proposals for grants. The

total amount available for

grants in 2012-2013 is about

$40,000, said Lois Bontrager,

chair of the Stewardship Min-

istry Team.

At the 2012 Annual Confer-

ence Assembly (ACA), mem-

bers of the Stewardship Min-

istry Team explained that the

Ohio Conference has accu-

mulated surplus funds above

and beyond the funds desig-

nated for reserve funds, the

loan fund and the funds need-

ed to support the Five-Year

Plan to Increase Staffing.

These surplus funds have

accumulated from years in

which the Conference ended

the fiscal year with a surplus.

The Stewardship Ministry

Team recommended to the

delegates at ACA that of the

surplus funds, $125,000

should be kept as an operat-

ing reserve fund to cover

Grant program to benefit local ministries

Straight-line winds in excess

of 70 mph whipped across

the campus of Bluffton Uni-

versity only hours before the

Ohio Youth Event was to

begin. While everyone was

safe, there were many

downed trees, a building

without a roof, and limited

electricity across campus. It

was a dramatic start to a

powerful weekend of worship

and relationship building.

One hundred youth and

sponsors from 10 congrega-

tions came together June 29-

July 1 to focus on the parable

of the Sower. Youth Ministry

students Amanda Hunsberger

and Ashley Litwiler led the

worship times, which includ-

ed Jeremy Kempf’s worship

band and original dramas by

Eliot and Seth Nofziger.

Randy Keeler, professor at

Bluffton, shared during Friday

Youth event is powerful weekend of worship

JULY/AUGUST 2012

2 Editorial

New pastor

orientation

3 Food pantry

4 Friendship Men-

nonite women

Donations

beyond cash

5 Visit to Colombia

Resource Corner

6 Conference

Minister Musings

7 OMW retreat

EMU graduates

8 Relentless Goodbye

Hesston graduates

9 About People

11 Bluffton graduates

Ohio Mennonite

Relief Sale

12 Back page

briefings

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Con�nued on page 8


Youth from across the Conference gathered at Blu�on Univer-

isty for the Ohio Youth Event June 29-July 1 for a meaningful

weekend despite limited electricity on campus due to storms.

VOL. LXVI, NO. 4

JULY/AUGUST 2012

Editor: Ann H. Leaman

Ohio Mennonite Evangel

(USPS 404-500) is published

six times per year by the

Ohio Conference of Mennon-

ite Church USA, Box 210,

Kidron OH 44636,

telephone (330) 857-5421,

fax (330) 857-5485.

All material for publication

should be submitted to the

editor at 5854 Sunland St.

NE, Louisville OH 44641, or

via telephone/fax:

(330) 453-3793, or e-mail:

[email protected],

one month prior to desired

publication date.

Ohio Mennonite Evangel is

distributed to all households

of Ohio Conference congre-

gations, other interested

individuals and church agen-

cies.

Ohio Mennonite Evangel is

printed at Carlisle Printing,

2673 TR 421 Sugarcreek OH

44681.

Send subscription information

and address changes to the

editor at 5854 Sunland St.

NE, Louisville OH 44641.

Periodical postage paid at

Sugarcreek OH 44681.

Thanks for participating In the fall of 2010, Ohio

Conference began a Listen-

ing Project. All Conference

congregations were invited

to meet with members of

Conference leadership to

reflect on several questions

about the congregations’

vision, community interac-

tions, concerns, and rela-

tionship to the Conference.

We want to extend our

thanks to all the represent-

atives of the 36 congrega-

tions which took part in the

Listening Project, which

yielded valuable insights for

our work as a Conference.

If you would like to see a

summary of the Listening

Project, go to the

“Resources” section of the

Ohio Conference website

(www.ohiomennoniteconfe

rence.org) and choose

“Links/Documents.” �

Personnel of the Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA

Moderator: Marion Beyeler — [email protected] Assistant Moderator: Norma Duerksen — [email protected] Conference Minister: Tom Kauffman — [email protected] Credentialing Ministry Chair: Naomi Engle — [email protected] Gifts Discernment Ministry Chair: Delmar Hostetler — [email protected]

Stewardship Minstry Chair: Lois Bontrager — [email protected]

Regional Pastor: Matt Hamsher — [email protected]

Regional Pastor: Ralph Reinford — [email protected]

Regional Pastor: Wanda Stopher — [email protected]

Administrative Secretary: Judy King — [email protected]

Finance Coordinator: Stan Helmuth — [email protected]

Coordinator of Volunteers: Sherah-Leigh Gerber — [email protected]

Conference Editor: Ann Leaman — [email protected]

July/August 2012 | Page 2

E D I T O R I A L

“To catch

the

reader's

attention,

place an

interesting

sentence

or quote

from the

New pastors learn about Conference

Kidron and lunch at Amish

Door.

The group was also able to

visit MCC Connections,

where they learned about

the quilt room and material

resource center that has a

significant ministry in addi-

tion to the thrift store.

After a quick tour of Cen-

tral Christian School, the

group wrapped up the day

by visiting Camp Luz. �

Seventeen people repre-

senting six congregations

participated in Ohio Con-

ference’s New Pastor Ori-

entation June 24-25.

Beginning with an overnight

stay at the Millersburg

Comfort Inn, new pastors

and their families were able

to meet each other and

have a relaxing evening of

swimming and snacks. On

Monday, June 25, Regional

Pastor Ralph Reinford and

Coordinator of Volunteers

Sherah-Leigh Gerber led

the group in a tour of the

area, which included a

cheese-making experience,

visiting the cyclorama mural

at Behalt, a tour of the

Ohio Conference offices in

The New Pastor Orienta�on included �me at the Ohio

Conference offices in Kidron.

Grants these funds could be used.

The Ohio Conference Ministry

Development Team (MDT) will

be deciding how to use these

surplus funds. So far the MDT

has made a grant to Summit

Mennonite Church for a minis-

try project. (See the article be-

low for more details.)

The MDT is now accepting pro-

posals from Ohio Conference

congregations that would like

to request funds for mission

projects.

As it considers all grant pro-

posals, the MDT will be consid-

ering several factors:

• Does the proposal fit with the

Conference priorities of wor-

ship, faith and witness?

• Will this grant assist where

the Holy Spirit is already at

work in congregational ef-

forts?

• Is this proposal a collaborative

effort among Ohio Confer-

ence congregations?

• Is this a project which is be-

yond the scope of normal

MDT-budgeted funds?

• Is this a project which fits

common concerns found in

the Congregational Listening

Project? (A report from the

Listening Project can be found

in the “Links/Documents”

section of the Conference

website.)

• Does the project fit the gen-

eral purpose of the Surplus

Money Suggestions from ACA

delegates? (See the

“Delegates/ACA” section of

the Conference website for a

list of delegate suggestions.)

The deadline to submit a grant

proposal is Aug. 22. Congrega-

tions may apply online or

through the mail. To apply

online or to download a printed

copy of the grant request form,

you may go to

www.ohiomennoniteconference

.org and click on “Grants.” �


Barberton

and Norton.

The goal is

to help peo-

ple develop

independ-

ence and

self-reliance

through

financial and

consumer

education,

budget

counseling

and direct aid programs.

Summit Mennonite is using

grant money from Ohio Con-

ference, as well as other grants

and donations to install air con-

ditioning and a handicapped-

accessible entrance with elec-

tronic doors. “Most poor

[people] are exposed to the

heat of summer all day and all

night,” said Summit’s pastor,

Norma Duerksen. “The goal is

to provide a comfortable place

for respite as they seek financial

help and food assistance.”

The food pantry coming to

share the building has sparked

ideas of different ministries by

the church: prayer ministry,

Bible studies, canning classes,

sewing classes, etc. The congre-

gation hopes that through inter-

active relationships the people

using BACM’s services will feel

welcome to attend the church’s

worship services as well. �

One grant from surplus funds

already made by the Ohio Con-

ference Ministry Development

Team (MDT) is going to Sum-

mit Mennonite Church in Bar-

berton. At its May 16 meeting,

the MDT approved a grant re-

quest from Summit Mennonite

Church for $7,000 to be used

for renovations to the church

building needed for housing a

local food pantry.

Barberton Area Community

Ministries (BACM) has made its

new home in Summit Mennon-

ite Church since mid-April. Af-

ter 15 years, this local organiza-

tion had outgrown its previous

location, and so BACM moved

its offices and the food pantry

to Summit Mennonite. The food

pantry is open Tuesdays and

Thursdays from 1 to 7 p.m.

The mission of Barberton Area

Community Ministries is to

offer hope, compassion, service

and advocacy to the poor in

Grant supports renovations for local ministry

Con�nued from page 1

Volunteers at Sum-

mit Mennonite

Church prepare

shelving units for

use in the food pan-

try now housed in

the congrega�on’s

building. The food

pantry is one of the

services provided by

Barberton Area

Community Minis-

tries.

and enjoying time in God's

beautiful Creation. The women

were blessed by compelling

messages and conversation led

by Mattie Marie Mast, and

through sharing their stories

they found their spiritual friend-

ships deepened.

The theme for the weekend

was "Our broken pieces used

by God," and a collaborative art

piece went along with it, as

together over the weekend

they worked fabric pieces and

remnants into a beautiful mosa-

ic. They found the time spent

working together on this art

piece also a sweet time of fel-

lowship. The artwork now

hangs in the Friendship Men-

nonite Church, a symbol of

stories and friendship, and

God’s beauty found in broken-

ness. �

By David A Miller

Mennonite Founda�on

Have you ever donated some-

thing other than cash to your

favorite charity?

I’d like to suggest that many of

us are missing out in maximizing

our charitable opportunities.

The saying within Mennonite

Foundation is, “Anything that

has value and can be sold, can

be gifted.” The list of items

that the Foundation has accept-

ed over the years is long and

almost humorous (i.e. lame

boars, a litter of cats, scrap

metal and a forestry tower).

A sampling of more typical non-

cash gifts includes real estate,

soybeans, mutual funds, vehi-

cles, farm machinery, cows,

timber, coin collections and

mineral rights.

Most congregations and non-

profit organizations are not in a

position to receive this type of

donation directly. Thanks to

Mennonite Foundation as the

transaction agent, the logistics

of getting the donation to one’s

favorite charity (or charities) is

enabled, whether now or some-

time in the future.

Often there are tax savings to

the donor, but regardless,

knowing that some material

blessing that we no longer need

and/or want can be put to good

use is part of extending our

“Firstfruits giving.”

So think creatively — when the

time comes that one of your

physical possessions is no long-

er needed and you’re in a posi-

tion to donate part or all of it

to charity, let’s have a conver-

sation.

In 350 B.C., Aristotle wrote,

“To give away money is an easy

matter and in everyone’s pow-

er, but to decide to whom to

give it, how much to give, when

to give, and to give for the right

motive and in the right way, is

neither in everyone’s power

nor an easy matter. Hence, it is

that such excellence is rare,

praiseworthy and noble.”

May we seek God’s guidance in

all we do, including our charita-

ble giving.

David A Miller is the Charitable

Services Representative of the

Mennonite Foundation. You may

contact him at (330) 763-3191 or

[email protected]. �

Donations beyond cash — many options exist


Retreat finds beauty in brokenness

The women of Friendship Men-

nonite spent two nights and

two sun-filled days together at

Camp Asbury in Hiram over

the first weekend in May. The

weekend was a rich time con-

necting and worshiping together

A C H A R I T A B L E P A S S I O N S T O R Y

Women from

Friendship Men-

nonite Church

collaborated to

make a mosaic

(pictured be-

hind the group)

at their spring

retreat.

LifeBridge group visits Colombia July/August 2012 | Page 5

if you would like to order a

copy. This document will guide

our denominational work for

the next 10 years.

A summary of the Purposeful

Plan can be used as a study

guide for congregations, Sunday

school groups, small groups,

etc. You can find the PDF

online at the Purposeful Plan

Web page: http://

mennoniteusa.org/about/

purposeful-plan/.

Second, I’d like to remind you

of another important denomi-

national resource – The Men-

nonite. The Mennonite is our

denominational magazine which

comes out monthly. It is sub-

scription based. Congregations

can still get a group subscrip-

tion at a reduced rate. For

more subscription information,

see www.themennonite.org/

subscriptions.

In addition to the monthly

printed magazine, The Mennon-

ite also has a weekly electronic

edition called TMail. TMail is

free and is a wonderful way for

people to stay engaged with

what is happening across the

church. You can sign up for

TMail online at

www.themennonite.org.

Lastly, Mennonite Church USA

has a new electronic newsletter

called On the Way. This news-

letter is designed to be interac-

tive for readers. The audience

is the person in the pew. It is

short and a quick read. Cur-

rently the denomination is

sending it to area conferences,

asking them to send it on to

their congregations. Congrega-

tions are then asked to send it

on to their members. Mennon-

ite Church USA is inviting indi-

viduals to subscribe directly to

this newsletter, which comes

out about every six weeks. To

subscribe, go to http://

mennoniteusa.org/on-the-way.�

By Norma Duerksen

Ohio Conference

Resource Advocate

I’d like to highlight three re-

sources this month.

First, at the Pittsburgh Conven-

tion in 2011, the delegates

adopted a 10-year plan for

Mennonite Church USA called

the Purposeful Plan. The plan

includes seven denominational

priorities, along with goals for

each of the priorities. The pri-

orities are Christian Formation,

Christian Community, Steward-

ship, Undoing Racism and Ad-

vancing Intercultural Transfor-

mation, Church-to-Church Re-

lationships, Leadership Devel-

opment and Holistic Witness.

The Purposeful Plan can be

found online at http://

mennoniteusa.org/about/

purposeful-plan. The cost is $2

each for printed copies. Please

be in touch with Joanna Shenk

at [email protected]

Denominational resources can be found online R E S O U R C E C O R N E R

By Dale Pierce

From June 18-26, on what was

billed a Service and Learning

Trip, 18 members of Lifebridge

Community Church in Dover

shared work and fellowship

with LifeBridge’s sister church,

Fuente De Vida (Fountain Of

Life) in Cali, Colombia.

Even Dover church members

who did not take part in this

particular trip to South America

have been long familiar with

Fuente De Vida, as their in-

volvement and contributions in

the past have helped to fund

the building of a physical church

structure for the Fuente De

Vida congregation.

Pending embassy approval, Pas-

tor Jorge Morales of Fuente

De Vida is planning to visit at

LifeBridge in turn, with his wife,

Stella, and their daughter, Ana

Maria, sometime in early au-

tumn.

Some members of the Life-

Bridge crew were repeat visi-

tors from a similar trip two

years beforehand, while others

were assisting for the first time.

Over the years, drug violence

and crime have marred the rep-

utation of Colombia, as well as

providing tribulation for the

church body. In recent times,

things have improved consider-

ably, and the visitors encoun-

tered no problems. Most re-

turned, however, with an even

stronger burden to keep Cali,

Fuente De Vida and its people

in their prayers. �

“If we are to be

in healthy

relationship

with one

another, that

means taking

time for one

another. And

one of the

things I learned

that summer as

a pastoral

intern was that

taking time for

one another

doesn’t always

require an

agenda to be

completed!”

By Tom Kauffman

Conference Minister

Part of Sabbath-keeping is

respecting the rhythms of

life that are part of the cre-

ated order. In our 24/7

work-minded culture, there

appears to be only one

rhythm — full speed ahead

all the time.

I must admit there is something

exhilarating about having a “to

do” list with many items on it

and being able, at the end of the

day, to have checked them all

off, knowing this was a day filled

with many activities completed.

But repeating that drill day in

and day out with no variation

— at least for me — quickly

loses some of that exhilaration.

While in seminary I had the

occasion to spend a summer

interning in one of our congre-

gations. I learned many valuable

lessons about pastoral ministry

that summer. Two that were

surprising to me involved my

work routine.

There was a period during the

summer, early on in my time

with the congregation, when my

supervising pastor was away.

When he returned and we had

one of our supervisory ses-

sions, he reported that the

church secretary observed I did

not take breaks during my time

in the office. He suggested that

break time could be a valuable

time to build camaraderie

among staff. It was also good to

sometimes stop what one was

doing, to pause for reflection,

rejuvenation, or simply to rest.

That was one important thing I

learned about considering

rhythms that sustain life rather

than wear one out. Seminary

studies, if anything, rewarded

the full-bore application of en-

ergy and effort in order to

complete all the assignments

within the limited time frame

we had each semester.

The second important learning

from my not taking breaks was

that I had to hear this observa-

tion from the church secretary

secondhand. I didn’t hear it

from her directly. Without tak-

ing the opportunity simply to

leisurely get to know her, we

didn’t have the relationship (or

the time!) for her to share this

observation with me. I had to

hear it from someone else.

Much of ministry is relational.

Being a part of the body of

Christ means staying in touch

with the other members of the

body. This isn’t just pastoral

work. It is for each one of us to

consider and embody. That’s

why Sabbath-keeping in the first

testament of our Bible is out-

lined for everyone in the faith

community, even the stranger

and alien residing in the land.

Even the animals are to observe

it!

If we are to be in healthy rela-

tionship with one another, that

means taking time for one an-

other. And one of the things I

learned that summer as a pasto-

ral intern was that taking time

for one another doesn’t always

require an agenda to be com-

pleted! Sometimes simply being

with one another is all the

agenda required.

After all, a formative image con-

cerning our role in life is not of

the mythical figure Atlas holding

the world on his shoulders, but

of being held in the arms of

God. The world is not ours, but

God’s. True, God has called us

to be caretakers of creation,

but we are caretakers who also

have been given the instruction

to keep the Sabbath and rest.

So, rather than filling up all your

time this summer with a multi-

tude of activities and opportuni-

ties, perhaps it would be good

to practice some Sabbath-

keeping. May the times of rest

be renewing! �

When the to-do list isn’t most important: Sabbath rest can help build relationships


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


Name

Address

City/State/Zip

Phone

Email

I want lodging at Camp Luz.

I will be at Camp Luz for all meals.

My special needs are

Registra�on Fee:

$70 Full registra�on (Friday-Sunday)

$20 Friday only or Sunday only

$40 Saturday only

Workshops:

Session 1 (2-3:15p.m.)

Growing Through Conflict — Beverly

Steiner

Companioning: Many Ways We Travel

the Journey Together— Ella Nafziger

Massage

Session 2 (3:30-4:45 p.m.)

Companioning — Ella Nafziger

CraE — Demo of Clutch Tie Purse

Massage

Mail registra�on form and $25 by Sept. 6 to:

Treasurer: Edna Troyer

230 Montrose Way

Wellington OH 44090

The cost for the retreat is $70

for those staying the entire

weekend, $20 for Friday or

Sunday only, and $40 for Satur-

day only.

Registration brochures will be

mailed to all Ohio Conference

congregations in July. Below is

an abbreviated registration

form for the retreat. Registra-

tion forms are due Sept. 6. �

Ohio Mennonite Women

(OMW) invites all women to

attend the annual fall OMW

Retreat Sept. 21-23 at Camp

Luz in Kidron.

Ruthann Bosley, author of Victo-

ry in the Valleys, will be the fea-

tured speaker. Her theme for

the retreat will be “Hope in the

Midst of Troubling, Changing

Times.”

OMW Retreat registration forms due Sept. 6

Nine from Conference graduate from EMU HARRISONBURG, VA — Nine stu-

dents from Ohio Conference congre-

gations were recognized as members

of the 2012 graduating class of East-

ern Mennonite University.

The student’s names, hometowns,

majors, and home congregations are

listed here:

Esther Shank of West Liberty,

English, Bethel Mennonite (West

Liberty); Sarah Schoenhals of Arch-

bold, social work, Central Mennonite;

Laura Gehman of Dalton, social

work, Kidron Mennonite;

Maria Lehman of Beach City, peace-

building and development, Lifebridge

Community; Joshua King of West

Unity, business administration, Lock-

port Mennonite; Stacy Kinkaid of

Harrisonburg, Va., art, Lockport

Mennonite;

Carrie Schlabach of Harrisonburg,

Va., nursing, Longenecker Mennonite;

Rebekah Nofziger of Pettisville, nurs-

ing, North Clinton Mennonite; and

Rachel Jenner of Harrisonburg, Va.,

master’s degree in education, Son-

nenberg Mennonite. �

Holland of Archbold, son of Bruce

and Chris Holland, associate of ap-

plied arts and sciences degree in

general studies, Tedrow;

Alyssa Horst of Orrville, daughter of

Roger and Janet Horst, associate of

arts, Martins; Jordan King of Dalton,

son of Glen and Judy King, associate

of arts, Orrville; Kendra Mast of

Walnut Creek, daughter of Conrad

and Jane Mast, associate of arts, Wal-

nut Creek;

Kara Meyer of Kidron, daughter of

Steve and Rachel Meyer, associate of

arts, Kidron; Bryan Miller, pastor of

Roanoke Mennonite Church, associ-

ate of applied arts and sciences de-

gree in pastoral ministries, former

member of Longenecker Mennonite

HESSTON, Kan. – Fifteen students

from Ohio Conference congregations

were among the 167 graduates re-

ceiving degrees at Hesston College’s

commencement ceremony May 6. Joe

Manickam, a 1987 Hesston College

graduate, presented the commence-

ment address “Back to Basics,” based

on the college’s 2011-12 theme verse

from Micah 6:8.

The graduates are listed below, along

with their parents’ names, their ma-

jors and their home congregations:

Kenny Graber of Stryker, son of Joe

and Karen Graber, associate of sci-

ence, Lockport; Ashley Hager of

West Liberty, daughter of Rod and

Margaret Hager, associate of arts,

Oak Grove (West Liberty); Benjamin

Church; Rebecca Short of Archbold,

daughter of Randy and Deb Short,

associate of arts, West Clinton;

Joe Smith of Hartville, son of Mary

Lou Smith, associate of arts, Hartville;

London Smith of Archbold, son of Jeff

and Kathy Smith, associate of arts,

Central; Colby Troyer of Waterford,

Pa., daughter of Kevin and Sharon

Troyer, associate of arts, Beaverdam;

Taylor Waidelich of Stryker, daughter

of Steve and Lisa Waidelich, associate

of arts, Pine Grove; Corey Wyse of

Archbold, son of Mike and Julia

Wyse, associate of science, Central;

and Grace Yoder of West Liberty,

daughter of Steve and Christine

Yoder, associate of arts, Oak Grove

(West Liberty). �

Fifteen from Conference graduate from Hesston


Kanagy and Anna Knutson re-

flecting about weeds that try to

choke out faith. Everyone was

invited to participate in a time

of anointing and blessing.

In addition to worship times,

Saturday featured a variety of

workshops for youth and spon-

sors. Youth also had the oppor-

tunity to get to know others

from across the Conference

through recreation times which

included water games, giant

evening’s worship time. He in-

vited students to consider what

type of soil they were, and he

challenged them to take action

and become good soil. On Sat-

urday evening, Deb Horst, re-

flected on what it means to be

good soil, giving youth ideas

about how to cultivate a rich

spiritual life.

The weekend concluded with

worship on Sunday morning

featuring Dan Owolabi, Nan

Dutch Blitz, a scavenger hunt

and ultimate Frisbee.

The genesis of this event was

conversations and requests

from Conference pastors for a

lower-cost, closer opportunity

for youth from smaller congre-

gations to get to know each

other and experience a larger

worship setting. Conference

staffers Matt Hamsher and

Sherah-Leigh Gerber facilitated

the planning process. �

Ohio Youth Event Con�nued from page 1

behavioral functions. The book

describes both the path to his

diagnosis and the ensuing jour-

ney.

By writing Relentless Goodbye,

she hopes people will be en-

lightened about some of the

challenges brought to the lives

and marriages of anyone giving

major care to a spouse or loved

one with dementia. Yet anyone

who is a caregiver will identify

with the emotional toll of care-

giving that Burkholder de-

scribes. The book also includes

study questions for personal or

group use.

Relentless Goodbye: Grief and

Loss in the Shadow of Demen�a

is available for $16.99. It is

available at

www.MennoMedia.org/

RelentlessGoodbye or by call-

ing (800) 245-7894. �

Ginnie Horst Burkholder, a

member of First Mennonite

Church in Canton, is the author

of Relentless Goodbye: Grief and

Love in the Shadow of Dementia,

a new book published by Her-

ald Press.

Burkholder’s husband, Nelson,

developed Lewy body dementia

(LBD), a multisystem form of

dementia that affects people’s

cognitive, physical, sleep, and

Book draws on experience of dealing with dementia


Pastoral notes Ernie Hershberger was installed

as the interim lead pastor at

Longenecker Mennonite

Church in Winesburg on Sun-

day, May 6. Regional Pastor

Matt Hamsher led the installa-

tion ceremony.

Ernie was most recently lead

pastor at Berlin Mennonite. He

will serve as an interim pastor

while the congregation’s search

committee continues to look

for a permanent lead pastor

candidate. �

Jeff Smith has completed his

service as lead pastor of Cen-

tral Mennonite Church in Arch-

bold.

The Central congregation held

a farewell lunch for Jeff and

Kathy and their family on Sun-

day, June 17. The Smiths are

moving to Key West, Fla., to

plant a church. �

On Sunday, June 3, Jimmy Harr

was licensed toward ordination

at Hillside Chapel in Jackson,

Ohio. Jim Bartholomew, pastor

of Dayspring Christian Fellow-

ship in Massillon, gave the ser-

mon, “There’s a New Shepherd

in Town,” based on 1 Kings

19:19-21. Regional Pastor Matt

Hamsher officiated the licensing

ceremony. A carry-in meal

followed the service.

Jimmy Harr had previously

served as an elder in the early

years of Dayspring Christian

Fellowship with Jim Bartholo-

mew as his pastor there. The

Hillside Chapel congregation is

excited to welcome Jimmy and

his wife, Marilyn, after several

years without a pastor. The

Harrs lived most recently in

Port Charlotte, Fla. �

Jimmy Harr was

licensed toward

ordina�on June 3 at

Hillside Chapel. Pic-

tured at back are

(leE to right)

Regional Pastor

MaI Hamsher,

Jimmy Harr and Jim

Bartholomew. In

front is Marilyn

Harr.

environment.

We weren’t

simply pas-

sive vessels

being filled

by infor-

mation, but

we were

expected to contribute, to

teach one another and to be in

constant conversation.” �

AMBS Elkhart, Ind. (AMBS) – Jessica

Schrock-Ringenberg graduated

May 26 from Associated Men-

nonite Biblical Seminary,

Elkhart, Ind., with a Master of

Divinity degree with a concen-

tration in theological studies.

She was one of 28 graduates.

Schrock-Ringenberg is exploring

further education as well as

other ministry possibilities. She

and Shem, her husband, have

two children. They are mem-

bers of Zion Mennonite Church

in Archbold. Previously she

received an A.A. from Hesston

College and a B.A. from

Goshen College.

Schrock-Ringenberg said,

“I appreciated the way in which

community was such an im-

portant aspect of the learning

A B O U T P E O P L E


Brian and Donna Miller have

started a short-term assign-

ment in Mongolia with Joint

Christian Services International

in Erdenet. Brian and Donna

were appointed Special Assign-

ment Workers with JCS and

Mennonite Mission Network.

Their assignment is from May

31, 2012, to Aug. 13,

2012. Brian and Donna Miller

are members at Martins Creek

Mennonite Church in Mil-

lersburg, Ohio. Please keep

them in your prayers! �

Mennonite Mission Network


Dan Owolabi has been serving

as Pastor of Congregational

Care since Aug. 1, 2011, at

Walnut Creek Mennonite

Church. He was licensed to-

ward ordination during the

worship service on April 29,

2012. Don Hamsher brought

the message and Regional Pas-

tor Ralph Reinford led the in-

stallation and had a prayer of

blessing for Dan and his wife,

Erica. �

Dan Owolabi

(pictured at cen-

ter) was licensed

toward ordina-

�on at Walnut

Creek Mennonite

Church April 29.

Also pictured are

Erica Owolabi

and Regional

Pastor Ralph

Reinford.

Con�nued from page 9 A B O U T P E O P L E

Goshen College Seven Goshen College students

are spending the summer in

service around the world with a

church-related service or mis-

sion agency through Goshen

College's Service Inquiry Pro-

gram (SIP).

The program allows students to

engage in service for three

months while under the spon-

sorship of a church agency and

under the tutelage of an onsite

mentor. During service, stu-

dents are exposed to societal

inadequacies and injustices,

challenged to come up with

creative responses to perplex-

ing human problems and en-

counter people from other cul-

tures and backgrounds. At the

end of the summer, each volun-

teer receives a scholarship of

up to $1,500 toward tuition

costs for the next academic

year. In many cases, though not

all, students receive a summer

stipend from the agencies being

served.

Marita Beachy, a junior elemen-

tary education major from

Shaker

Heights, is

working

with Men-

nonite

Central

Commit-

tee in

Bolivia.

Beachy,

daughter of Nathan and

Rochele Beachy, is a 2009 grad-

uate of Shaker Heights High

School. She attends Lee Heights

Community Church.


Jane Elizabeth Friesen, age 55,

of Archbold, passed on sur-

rounded by her family on Sun-

day, April 22, after a two-and-a-

half-year struggle with breast

cancer. She was a member of

the pastoral team at Zion Men-

nonite Church.

Jane was born in Hutchinson,

Kan., on June 16,1956, the

fourth daughter of Abe K. and

Dorothy M. (Wiebe) Friesen.

She was a graduate of Bethel

College and just recently com-

pleted her Masters of Divinity

degree from Associated Men-

nonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS)

in Elkhart, Ind.

Jane married Kelvin Friesen in

Hutchinson, Kan., on May 26,

1979. During their 33 years of

marriage, they lived and worked

in Denver, Colo.; Arlington

Hts., Ill.; Toledo; and finally,

Archbold.

Preceded in death by her par-

ents, Jane is survived by her

husband, Kelvin; daughters Kim-

berly (Kim) and Kathryn (Kate);

and sisters Judy (Tim) Williams

of Spokane, Wash., Karen

(Rod) Franz of Manhattan, Kan.,

and Arlene (Wilbur) Schmidt of

Newton, Kan. She is also sur-

vived by two nephews and five

nieces and their families.

Jeff Kauffman, pastor at Zion

Mennonite, and Regional Pastor

Wanda Stopher officiated at a

celebration of Jane's life on

April 28, 2012. Jeff preached

the message, “Take Care.” The

seeds of Jane's life have been

sown. The evidence of God's

faithfulness continues to grow!

Memorials can be given in Jane’s

honor to Fish Food Pantry in

Archbold or to Camp Little

Eden, Onekama, Mich. �

Participants in SIP engage in a

three-month term of direct,

meaningful service for others

while testing their fit for future

long-term service. Students

applied for assignments and

were matched with opportuni-

ties available with service agen-

cies. �

Wauseon, English and Writing, North

Clinton Mennonite;

Abigail Huerta, daughter of Joe and

Valentina Huerta of Archbold, busi-

ness administration, Zion Mennon-

ite; Mollie Elizabeth Landry of

Wooster, art, Orrville Mennonite;

Megan Raber, daughter of Ken and

Heather Raber of Hartville, social

work, Dayspring Christian; Naomi

Raber of Millersburg, English with a

minor in TESOL (Teaching English to

Speakers of Other Languages), Mil-

lersburg Mennonite;

Spencer P. Raber of Plain City, food

and nutrition, Sharon Mennonite;

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Fourteen stu-

dents from Ohio Conference congre-

gations received degrees at the May 6

commencement ceremony at Bluffton

University.

The graduates are listed below, along

with their parents’ names, their ma-

jors and their home congregations:

Joshua Bruner, son of Mark and Jane

Bruner of Wauseon, accounting with

a minor in business administration,

West Clinton Mennonite; Samuel

Cook, son of Charles and Susan

Cook of Toledo, chemistry, Toledo

Mennonite; Rachel Giovarelli, daugh-

ter of Glen and Shirley Giovarelli of

Ahmed Zabi Rahat of Berne, Ind.,

economics with a minor in political

science, First Mennonite (Berne);

Kirsten Stopher, daughter of Bret and

Wanda Stopher of Archbold, social

work with a minor in sociology, Cen-

tral Mennonite;

Laurin Waidelich, daughter of Steve

and Lisa Waidelich of Stryker, chem-

istry, Pine Grove Mennonite; Heidi

Wiebe, daughter of Carl and Mary

Wiebe of Kidron, art, Martins Creek

Mennonite; Elizabeth Ann Yoder of

Marshallville, food and nutrition,

Kidron Mennonite; and Tim Yoder,

son of Jeff and Ann Yoder of Dalton,

music education and music, Kidron

Mennonite. �

Bluffton graduates include 14 from OC


Con�nued from page 10 A B O U T P E O P L E

GOSHEN, Ind. — Two Ohio

Conference natives are partici-

pating in the Goshen College

Study-Service Term (SST) in

Peru during this summer, along

with 19 other students.

Darin E. Bontrager, son of Phil-

ip and Lori Bontrager of Arch-

bold, is majoring in interdiscipli-

nary. His home congregation is

Zion Mennonite.

Eliza J. Graber, daughter of

Dennis and Barbara Graber of

Plain City, is majoring in ele-

mentary education. Her home

congregation is Sharon Men-

nonite.

They left for Peru on April 25

and will return to the United

States on July 23. �

Central Christian to host Relief Sale Aug. 3-4 Central Christian School in

Kidron will host the 47th annu-

al Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale

Aug. 3-4.

The sale begins on Friday at 4

p.m. with the opening of food

and vendor booths. An evening

program will begin at 6:30 p.m.

with a variety of music by John

Schmid, the Miller Sisters and

the Loren Glick Family.

On Saturday breakfast starts at

7 a.m. The Run for Relief 5K

run will be held at 8 a.m. At 9

a.m. the Art and Collectible

Auction starts in the large tent,

and the Wood & Tool Auction

starts in the gymnasium. The

Quilt Auction will begin at 10

a.m.

The fourth annual cornhole

tournament and third annual

volleyball tournament will be

part of Saturday’s activities.

New this year are bungee jump-

ing activities for everyone to

watch or bounce into action.

Children’s activities are availa-

ble throughout Friday and Sat-

urday. Brochures, registration

information, and forms for the

Run for Relief, cornhole, and

volleyball tournaments are also

available online at

www.OhioMCCReliefSale.org.

Admission and parking are free.

Handicap parking and wheel-

chairs are available. �

Back page briefings...

For more Ohio Conference

news, visit the Ohio

Conference website:

ohiomennoniteconference.org

boating. Camp Luz is a

great place for this event,

and the cost is only $20 per

camper! Registration infor-

mation has been mailed to

each church. Please contact

Hannah Gehman at

[email protected] (330)

857-7677 orif you need a

registration packet or fur-

ther information. Registra-

tion deadline is July 30.

A new book with Ohio

Conference connections

is now available from the

Ohio Conference Resource

Library. Standing at the

Crossroads – A Mentor’s In-

spirations is written by Cory

Pariseau and Jim Mullet.

Cory Pariseau was a 7-year

-old boy with an abused

early childhood who was

adopted into the Pariseau

family, who attended

Hillside Chapel in southern

Ohio, near Jackson. While

attending Hillside Chapel,

Cory accepted Christ, and

he found Pastor Jim Mullet

to be a valuable friend and

mentor.

Over an eight-year span,

Pastor Jim Mullet produced

weekly inspirational medita-

tions which he sent to an

ever-increasing email list.

This book is Cory’s story

combined with many of

Jim’s inspirational medita-

tions. Published by Xulon

Press, it is available in most

Christian bookstores, at

Barnes and Noble and on

Amazon.com.

To borrow Standing at the

Crossroads or any other

item in the Ohio Confer-

ence Resource Library,

contact Judy King at

[email protected]

or (330) 857-5421.�

Attention girls (Grades

3-8): You and your spon-

sors are invited to attend

the Girls’ Jamboree at

Camp Luz on Aug. 10-

12. Kris Nussbaum, Minis-

ter of Christian Education

at Kidron Mennonite

Church, will be speaking on

“Friendship.” The weekend

will include lodging, meals,

music, crafts, a service pro-

ject, games, swimming and

Conference Calendar A U G

10-12 Girls’ Jamboree, Camp Luz

S E P T

12 Ministry Development Team Meeting, Martins Mennonite, Orrville

21-23 Ohio Mennonite Women’s Retreat, Camp Luz

O C T

19-20 Adriel Benefit Auction, Adriel Campus, West Liberty

N O V

7 Ministry Development Team Meeting, Berlin Mennonite

9-11 Youth Retreat, Camp Luz

J A N ’ 1 3

9 Ministry Development Team Meeting, Bethel Mennonite, West Liberty

M A R

8-9 Annual Conference Assembly, Central Christian School, Kidron

15-16 Women in Ministry Retreat, Mohican State Park Lodge, Loudonville

3-4 Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale, Central Christian School, Kidron

13-15 Damascus Road Antiracism Analysis Training, Bluffton University