Report from the sessions of the Southeast Mennonite Conference:
It was a great event – wish you all could have been here. It enjoyed the largest attendance since Marco Guete has been here. Thank God for Marco! It was held again at Ashton as last year. The facilities were more than adequate and they were great hosts. For the Friday evening meal we were served by waiters in formal server uniforms by members from the Fort Myers Church (I think). I asked for an empty plate so Miriam & I could share – one serving was too much.
Friday evening’s speaker, Mitch Samuel from College Hill, did not have his turn until Saturday evening because he was caught in the 40 – car pile up on I-75 near University exit around three o’clock—some people were going too fast for the heavy downpour. As far as I know there were no fatal casualties.
– From Email message by Lowel Nissley
New Sister Church Relationship
College Mennonite Church and Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion, of Fort Myers, Fla., are beginning a sister church relationship. This Sunday, David and Madeline Maldonado, pastors of the congregation, will be visiting CMC.
Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion is a growing church in Fort Myers. The congregation is in the middle of a building project, which when completed will provide additional opportunities for outreach into the community. The congregation has many immigrants and young families.
One of the goals of a sister church relationship is what we can learn from each other as the relationship develops. For example, Arca de Salvacion can teach us how to do outreach in the community and how to bring new families into the congregation. Even though they are in the middle of a building project and have lost families due to deportation, they continue to grow. CMC is a long-standing traditional Mennonite congregation, while Arca de Salvacion is newer to the Anabaptist faith. We can walk with them as they grow in their Anabaptist Mennonite teaching and understanding.
The Sister Church ministry group includes Rebecca Sommers, Claudia Granados, Larry Miller, and Marty Lehman.
Mennonite Church USA Online
The latest issue of On the Way, Mennonite Church USA’s online newsletter, is available at www.mennoniteusa.org/on-the-way. On the Way is a free, short, bilingual online resource—published about every six weeks—for everyone in Mennonite Church USA. You can subscribe to receive On the Way directly at eepurl.com/i8oX9. The issue’s focus is on Leadership Development. Leaders are formed in community. As you look around your congregation, where do you see leaders being formed? How are they being mentored? We hope you’ll enjoy the content and consider sharing your responses and ideas via our website or Facebook page. Blessings, Annette Brill Bergstresser and Joanna Shenk, co-editors.
From College Mennonite’s Newsletter
Family News
Eldon, son-in-law, is home from Guatemala and is telling stories. Some of the stories will be posted later.
Betheny’s orchestra
Last night the family went to Bethany Christian School’s fall orchestra concert to hear Kassy, great granddaughter, play the trumpet. She is the “brown one” in the second picture.
