New Ministries Grant Recipients
Ted Lewis, The Agape Peace Center, Duluth, MN
Ted Lewis is the founder of the Agape Peace Center, a new pilot project in Duluth, Minnesota, with rental space provided by First Presbyterian Church, the Agape Peace Center is being established in Duluth, MN to provide a library and educational opportunities in the hope of initiating a future church plant in the Twin Ports area. Through its library and educational programming, the Agape Peace Center will seek to:
Ted Lewis is the founder of the Agape Peace Center, a new pilot project in Duluth, Minnesota, with rental space provided by First Presbyterian Church, the Agape Peace Center is being established in Duluth, MN to provide a library and educational opportunities in the hope of initiating a future church plant in the Twin Ports area. Through its library and educational programming, the Agape Peace Center will seek to:
- Preserve Anabaptist heritage
- Serve as a gathering place for people to explore an Anabaptist perspective and witness
- Promote the Ways of the Lamb
Suzette Schreffler, Busby, Montana
Suzette received a New Ministries scholarship to attend the Strategies in Trauma Awareness and Resiliency (STAR) training in Minneapolis.
Suzette received a New Ministries scholarship to attend the Strategies in Trauma Awareness and Resiliency (STAR) training in Minneapolis.
Students receiving scholarship for seminary studies from the New Ministries Grants this year include:
John Glassbrenner, Eau Claire, WI, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Jill Hofer, Freeman, SD, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
John Glassbrenner, Eau Claire, WI, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Jill Hofer, Freeman, SD, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
2015-16 New Ministries Grant Recipients
Soaring Eagles Youth Group of the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church
Soaring Eagles Youth Group of the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church, would like to say Ha heo’ (Thank You) to the Central Plains Mennonite Conference for helping us with our 4th Annual Community Youth New Year’s Eve Event.
The event this year was hosted at the Northern Cheyenne Tribal School Gym with 80 youth in attendance. With donations from the New Ministry grant and one of private donation we were able to provide youth with a meal, prizes every half hour and a safe place to bring in the New Year. Every year we count down the New Year and bring in the New Year with a prayer and a round dance as seen in the picture to the left.
We were also able to have Erica Littlewolf who was born and raised in Busby MT come and speak with the youth. Erica is a role model to our youth and was able to bring hope to the younger generation, through speaking and activities. Erica was able to bring hope to our youth from a native woman perspective who has traveled to many different countries through her work with MCC and has accomplished a lot in her life.
Soaring Eagles Youth Group of the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church, would like to say Ha heo’ (Thank You) to the Central Plains Mennonite Conference for helping us with our 4th Annual Community Youth New Year’s Eve Event.
The event this year was hosted at the Northern Cheyenne Tribal School Gym with 80 youth in attendance. With donations from the New Ministry grant and one of private donation we were able to provide youth with a meal, prizes every half hour and a safe place to bring in the New Year. Every year we count down the New Year and bring in the New Year with a prayer and a round dance as seen in the picture to the left.
We were also able to have Erica Littlewolf who was born and raised in Busby MT come and speak with the youth. Erica is a role model to our youth and was able to bring hope to the younger generation, through speaking and activities. Erica was able to bring hope to our youth from a native woman perspective who has traveled to many different countries through her work with MCC and has accomplished a lot in her life.
2014-15 New Ministries Grant Recipients
Immigration Training
Hi all! My name is Kate Widmer and I work at Lutheran Social Services Center for New Americans, a non-profit organization in Sioux Falls, SD. I started there with Mennonite Voluntary Service as an assistant in the Immigration Department, but transitioned to full-time employment after my volunteer term was up. I work one-on-one with clients to help them adjust their status (get green cards), replace expired documents, and even help with family reunification. It’s a wonderful job and I love it a lot, but I am not an attorney so I can’t sign any of the forms that I work on. I’m working to get accredited by the US government allowing me to sign my own forms, but in the mean time I’m training under the two attorneys in our office—it’s kind of like having an apprenticeship in immigration law. One of the requirements for accreditation is to attend an Introduction to Immigration Law workshop. With the help of a New Ministries Grant from Central Plains who covered the costs of registration and material fees, I was able to attend a workshop held by MCC at their head quarters in Akron, PA last September. While researching different workshops around the country I was very pleased to learn that MCC’s is highly respected. Having passed the workshop and receiving a letter of recommendation from MCC, I feel confident that I can apply for my accreditation soon. I would like to thank you all for your help in this process, enabling me to do the work with refugees and immigrants that I do.
Hi all! My name is Kate Widmer and I work at Lutheran Social Services Center for New Americans, a non-profit organization in Sioux Falls, SD. I started there with Mennonite Voluntary Service as an assistant in the Immigration Department, but transitioned to full-time employment after my volunteer term was up. I work one-on-one with clients to help them adjust their status (get green cards), replace expired documents, and even help with family reunification. It’s a wonderful job and I love it a lot, but I am not an attorney so I can’t sign any of the forms that I work on. I’m working to get accredited by the US government allowing me to sign my own forms, but in the mean time I’m training under the two attorneys in our office—it’s kind of like having an apprenticeship in immigration law. One of the requirements for accreditation is to attend an Introduction to Immigration Law workshop. With the help of a New Ministries Grant from Central Plains who covered the costs of registration and material fees, I was able to attend a workshop held by MCC at their head quarters in Akron, PA last September. While researching different workshops around the country I was very pleased to learn that MCC’s is highly respected. Having passed the workshop and receiving a letter of recommendation from MCC, I feel confident that I can apply for my accreditation soon. I would like to thank you all for your help in this process, enabling me to do the work with refugees and immigrants that I do.
Values-Based Leadership Program
True Leadership starts when leaders find out and own who God created them to be. Some say that leaders are born which is true to a sense, but leaders are formed as they learn to use their strengths and weaknesses to create an atmosphere of allowing others to develop and use their gifts.
Value Base Leadership training is a journey to start learning who you are as a leader by participating in a variety of assessments. We say it’s a start because the assessments lay the foundation but as individual leaders you must be willing to own and lay what you learned about yourself at the foot of the cross and seek Christ for the ultimate transformation to come.
For Suzette and I, the Value Base Leadership training was a blessing in many ways; first it showed us who we were as individual leaders, secondly it allowed us to own who we were as leaders and thirdly the program helped us to understand each other as husband and wife. Another aspect of the training was being placed in a cohort group, where we met on a monthly basis by phone or the web between the first and second session. The cohort group allowed us to process what we learned about ourselves through assessments/reading materials with other peers to gain feedback, which was very beneficial.
We would like to thank the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church, Native Mennonite Ministries and Central Plaines Mennonite Conference for making it possible for us to attend.
True Leadership starts when leaders find out and own who God created them to be. Some say that leaders are born which is true to a sense, but leaders are formed as they learn to use their strengths and weaknesses to create an atmosphere of allowing others to develop and use their gifts.
Value Base Leadership training is a journey to start learning who you are as a leader by participating in a variety of assessments. We say it’s a start because the assessments lay the foundation but as individual leaders you must be willing to own and lay what you learned about yourself at the foot of the cross and seek Christ for the ultimate transformation to come.
For Suzette and I, the Value Base Leadership training was a blessing in many ways; first it showed us who we were as individual leaders, secondly it allowed us to own who we were as leaders and thirdly the program helped us to understand each other as husband and wife. Another aspect of the training was being placed in a cohort group, where we met on a monthly basis by phone or the web between the first and second session. The cohort group allowed us to process what we learned about ourselves through assessments/reading materials with other peers to gain feedback, which was very beneficial.
We would like to thank the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church, Native Mennonite Ministries and Central Plaines Mennonite Conference for making it possible for us to attend.
Hmong mission trip to Thailand
The purpose of this trip was to bring relief and observe the Hmong people in Thailand and Laos. There were numerous times I have had the idea of going overseas and helping out my fellow Hmong brothers and sisters. The question is how do I manage such a huge task and fulfill the mission? Turn to God, have faith in him, and it will happen. I’m blessed and thankful for this opportunity. This trip opened my eyes to see what God has given to me. I need to help and share with others who are less fortunate. We managed to bring important things that were needed for the villages. After observing how the Hmong people in Thailand worship and pray in their Sunday service, I realized that they have so much faith in God spiritually. Physically, they have nothing to offer or show, but the emotions and the expressions on their faces show how much faith they have in God. Tears would flow down from their eyes as each of them prayed. The prayers would get louder and louder and the words “Amen” and “Hallelujah” would echo through each of them. I have not experienced this kind of event in the United States. We as Hmong Americans have taken luxury items and wealth as our key to happiness and forgot what it means to be Christians. We go to church whenever we feel like it and pray only when we have to. This trip and mission has put my faith at another level. The call that I have to help my people in Thailand and Laos truly comes from God’s love. I would like to thank God for the strength that guided me through this mission. And lastly, thank you so much for all the generous support from Central Plains Mennonite Conference, Salem-Zion Mennonite Church and Emmanuel Mennonite Church. |
Free Lunch Program - West Union and Wellman Mennonite Churches
Like pieces of a mystery puzzle, the parts start fitting together. It started with a simple story of kids enjoying summer fun with their neighbors. Ben and Nicole Miller found themselves living in a temporary home in Wellman, Iowa. Their three children soon found town living supplied them with playmates.
In the first week, their new friends—whose houses were empty during the daytime—started enjoying lunch with the Millers. It was great for them to be in a home with a parent, friends and lunch. Even the rules and the chores seemed like fresh activities.
Word spread about the somewhat unusual lunches in the Miller household. Carolyn Hochstetler became the next piece of the puzzle. Carolyn remembered hearing about life at the Miller’s house, but it took on new meaning as she read Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles. Miles was raised an atheist until one morning for no reason she wandered into a church. She ate a piece of bread and took a sip of wine and was radically transformed. She turned the communion bread into tons of groceries and nearly a dozen food pantries in San Francisco.
Carolyn says, “More than a few times, the Millers’ experience in Wellman interrupted my reading.” One morning Carolyn said aloud, “Help me remember to call Nicole today and hear this story for myself.” A few hours later as Carolyn was leaving the local grocery store she met Nicole. There in the store, the story unfolded.
The next piece was for more people to hear. The hear- ing snowballed. There was a meeting that included anyone interested from Wellman Mennonite and West Union Menno- nite. The puzzle was beginning to take the shape of a summer lunch ministry for Wellman kids. The at-risk coordinator for the local school sent invitations to families she knew who would benefit from summer lunches. Cookie bakers, bread makers and sandwich creators volunteered. Financial support fell into place. Somehow it all came together. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunches were available at Wellman Mennonite.
Looking back, it seems like a mystery just unfolded before us. Pieces of a puzzle came together. Since this summer I have found myself looking for mysteries that are unfolding. What is God’s Spirit piecing together right before our slow eyes?
Like pieces of a mystery puzzle, the parts start fitting together. It started with a simple story of kids enjoying summer fun with their neighbors. Ben and Nicole Miller found themselves living in a temporary home in Wellman, Iowa. Their three children soon found town living supplied them with playmates.
In the first week, their new friends—whose houses were empty during the daytime—started enjoying lunch with the Millers. It was great for them to be in a home with a parent, friends and lunch. Even the rules and the chores seemed like fresh activities.
Word spread about the somewhat unusual lunches in the Miller household. Carolyn Hochstetler became the next piece of the puzzle. Carolyn remembered hearing about life at the Miller’s house, but it took on new meaning as she read Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles. Miles was raised an atheist until one morning for no reason she wandered into a church. She ate a piece of bread and took a sip of wine and was radically transformed. She turned the communion bread into tons of groceries and nearly a dozen food pantries in San Francisco.
Carolyn says, “More than a few times, the Millers’ experience in Wellman interrupted my reading.” One morning Carolyn said aloud, “Help me remember to call Nicole today and hear this story for myself.” A few hours later as Carolyn was leaving the local grocery store she met Nicole. There in the store, the story unfolded.
The next piece was for more people to hear. The hear- ing snowballed. There was a meeting that included anyone interested from Wellman Mennonite and West Union Menno- nite. The puzzle was beginning to take the shape of a summer lunch ministry for Wellman kids. The at-risk coordinator for the local school sent invitations to families she knew who would benefit from summer lunches. Cookie bakers, bread makers and sandwich creators volunteered. Financial support fell into place. Somehow it all came together. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunches were available at Wellman Mennonite.
Looking back, it seems like a mystery just unfolded before us. Pieces of a puzzle came together. Since this summer I have found myself looking for mysteries that are unfolding. What is God’s Spirit piecing together right before our slow eyes?
Community Concert at Wood River
On September 14, we held a Barn Concert in rural Wood River, Nebraska. Doyle and Chelle Jantzi, members of Wood River Mennonite Church had renovated the old Jantzi family barn so they could use it for hosting. They allowed us to host our event in their barn, and it made for a great environment to listen to folk/bluegrass/country music. We invited our church to this event, and we also invited many of the people who lived in the general area around the church. There were 54 in attendance, and probably 25% were our neighbors and guests.
We served a meal of pork loin sandwiches, baked beans, chips, and watermelon. It was a chilly evening (mid-50’s outside), and so hot cocoa and coffee were very popular!
Our musicians were Pastor David Miller of Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford, and Pastor Brett Klingenberg of First Mennonite Church, Beatrice. Each musician played 15-20 minutes solo, and then they played together for 15-2o minutes. It was fun to see how people connected with each musician. Brett sung several songs about his experiences growing up on a farm – and a number of the younger people in the audience really connected with his stories. Especially popular was a song about being chased by a bee while making hay; a number of people in the audience had similar experiences while working in the field. David performed more bluegrass/gospel type music, and many people in the congregation were encouraged by his performance of classics like “I’ll Fly Away” and “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
Our major expenses were the sandwiches (meat, buns, barbeque sauce) and the musicians. Based on how much fun we had, we did not pay the musicians enough!
A number of people commented to me afterwards that “We should do this again sometime.” We’ll see what the future holds. For now, thank you to the New Ministries Grant for helping us get this off the ground.
On September 14, we held a Barn Concert in rural Wood River, Nebraska. Doyle and Chelle Jantzi, members of Wood River Mennonite Church had renovated the old Jantzi family barn so they could use it for hosting. They allowed us to host our event in their barn, and it made for a great environment to listen to folk/bluegrass/country music. We invited our church to this event, and we also invited many of the people who lived in the general area around the church. There were 54 in attendance, and probably 25% were our neighbors and guests.
We served a meal of pork loin sandwiches, baked beans, chips, and watermelon. It was a chilly evening (mid-50’s outside), and so hot cocoa and coffee were very popular!
Our musicians were Pastor David Miller of Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford, and Pastor Brett Klingenberg of First Mennonite Church, Beatrice. Each musician played 15-20 minutes solo, and then they played together for 15-2o minutes. It was fun to see how people connected with each musician. Brett sung several songs about his experiences growing up on a farm – and a number of the younger people in the audience really connected with his stories. Especially popular was a song about being chased by a bee while making hay; a number of people in the audience had similar experiences while working in the field. David performed more bluegrass/gospel type music, and many people in the congregation were encouraged by his performance of classics like “I’ll Fly Away” and “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
Our major expenses were the sandwiches (meat, buns, barbeque sauce) and the musicians. Based on how much fun we had, we did not pay the musicians enough!
A number of people commented to me afterwards that “We should do this again sometime.” We’ll see what the future holds. For now, thank you to the New Ministries Grant for helping us get this off the ground.
Christian Mukuna Fraternal Visit to Congo (Link to Report and Photos)
Hmong Youth Retreat
The weekend of November 8-10, the Hmong Mennonite Church of St. Paul hosted our very first youth and young adult retreat. We were joined by youth from the Hmong Mennonite church of Hickory, North Carolina and Hmong Mennonite Church of Denver, Colorado. The retreat, held at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto, Minnesota, consisted of workshops, worship services and activities. The three different workshops were: Leadership by Shana Peachey Boshart, Anabaptist History & Perspectives by David Boshart and Asian- American Cross-Cultural Training by Jonah Yang. Jonah is the president of the Hmong Mennonite Church Mission, the fellowship of Hmong Mennonites in the United States and Canada.
Many times we come to church and just sit, listen to the pastor preach and then go home. Some think that as long as we hear the pastor talk about God and the Bible that is good enough, while others may seek further and wonder, “Since I go to a Mennonite church, what does ‘Mennonite’ mean?” or “How does one view things from an Anabaptist Mennonite perspective?”
During the Anabaptist workshop, Dave taught an over- view of Mennonite history and how the church came to be. We learned that our core values are “Jesus is the center of our faith, Community is the center of our life, and Reconciliation is the center of our work”. We realized that we can practice this every day, even when we are not at church on Sunday.
In order to grow, churches need strong leadership. Leader- ship is more than telling people what to do or not to do. Lead- ership is about leading from the heart where Christ dwells. With the five practices of leadership that Shana taught during the session, the youth have a better idea of how to be a leader and what to expect from a leader.
In the cross-culture workshop by Jonah, many of the youth realized how lucky we are. We do not have to wake up early to cook then work on the farm all day until night--the same thing every day. When our parents disagree with what we do, we have to remember that the lives that they had in Laos and Thailand were way different from ours.
The workshop helped the youth to come to a better understanding of what it means to be part of a Mennonite church community. We also learned what leadership skills are needed, how to be a leader and what is needed as a leader. And, it is good to remember who we are and the culture we come from.
The weekend of November 8-10, the Hmong Mennonite Church of St. Paul hosted our very first youth and young adult retreat. We were joined by youth from the Hmong Mennonite church of Hickory, North Carolina and Hmong Mennonite Church of Denver, Colorado. The retreat, held at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto, Minnesota, consisted of workshops, worship services and activities. The three different workshops were: Leadership by Shana Peachey Boshart, Anabaptist History & Perspectives by David Boshart and Asian- American Cross-Cultural Training by Jonah Yang. Jonah is the president of the Hmong Mennonite Church Mission, the fellowship of Hmong Mennonites in the United States and Canada.
Many times we come to church and just sit, listen to the pastor preach and then go home. Some think that as long as we hear the pastor talk about God and the Bible that is good enough, while others may seek further and wonder, “Since I go to a Mennonite church, what does ‘Mennonite’ mean?” or “How does one view things from an Anabaptist Mennonite perspective?”
During the Anabaptist workshop, Dave taught an over- view of Mennonite history and how the church came to be. We learned that our core values are “Jesus is the center of our faith, Community is the center of our life, and Reconciliation is the center of our work”. We realized that we can practice this every day, even when we are not at church on Sunday.
In order to grow, churches need strong leadership. Leader- ship is more than telling people what to do or not to do. Lead- ership is about leading from the heart where Christ dwells. With the five practices of leadership that Shana taught during the session, the youth have a better idea of how to be a leader and what to expect from a leader.
In the cross-culture workshop by Jonah, many of the youth realized how lucky we are. We do not have to wake up early to cook then work on the farm all day until night--the same thing every day. When our parents disagree with what we do, we have to remember that the lives that they had in Laos and Thailand were way different from ours.
The workshop helped the youth to come to a better understanding of what it means to be part of a Mennonite church community. We also learned what leadership skills are needed, how to be a leader and what is needed as a leader. And, it is good to remember who we are and the culture we come from.
Wood River Mennonite Church Sponsors Conflict Mediation Workshop
This past weekend (November 7-8), the Wood River Ministerial Association (WRMA) hosted a workshop titled “Conflict In the Church: Entrusted with the Message of Reconciliation.” It was taught by Elizabeth Troyer-Miller, a member of Wood River Mennonite Church and a member of the Central Plains Conflict Management Team. The Wood River Ministerial Association is the First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Wood River Mennonite Church.
There were 40 people who attended the workshop. Representatives attended from four out of the five local churches. Three out of the five local Pastors attended, with one other unable to attend because of unexpected health problems. We also had representatives attend from Bethesda Mennonite Church, Salem Mennonite Church-Shickley, Bethel Mennonite Church-Mountain Lake, and Beemer Mennonite Church.
Many of the attendees had recent experience in church conflict that served as a source of reflection. The workshop allowed them to process further their experiences with conflict, while also giving theory and practical skills. It was based on a curriculum of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, and LMPC provided us with the materials and a selection of “conflict themed” books to sell.
The grant from the New Ministries Fund allowed us to heavily subsidize this workshop. The WRMA discerned it was important to keep costs down, and the grant was used to cover the costs of advertising and the speaker. Registration fees covered the cost of the class materials and the lunch. We heard strong feedback that people appreciated receiving a high quality workshop for such an affordable price. It would not have been possible to do this without the generous grant. Thank you for your assistance in making this weekend possible.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Brad Jepsen, First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Phil Sloat, First United Methodist
Rev. Jim Fandrey, Grace Lutheran Church
Rev. James Janovec, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Pastor Matt Troyer-Miller, Wood River Mennonite Church
This past weekend (November 7-8), the Wood River Ministerial Association (WRMA) hosted a workshop titled “Conflict In the Church: Entrusted with the Message of Reconciliation.” It was taught by Elizabeth Troyer-Miller, a member of Wood River Mennonite Church and a member of the Central Plains Conflict Management Team. The Wood River Ministerial Association is the First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Wood River Mennonite Church.
There were 40 people who attended the workshop. Representatives attended from four out of the five local churches. Three out of the five local Pastors attended, with one other unable to attend because of unexpected health problems. We also had representatives attend from Bethesda Mennonite Church, Salem Mennonite Church-Shickley, Bethel Mennonite Church-Mountain Lake, and Beemer Mennonite Church.
Many of the attendees had recent experience in church conflict that served as a source of reflection. The workshop allowed them to process further their experiences with conflict, while also giving theory and practical skills. It was based on a curriculum of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, and LMPC provided us with the materials and a selection of “conflict themed” books to sell.
The grant from the New Ministries Fund allowed us to heavily subsidize this workshop. The WRMA discerned it was important to keep costs down, and the grant was used to cover the costs of advertising and the speaker. Registration fees covered the cost of the class materials and the lunch. We heard strong feedback that people appreciated receiving a high quality workshop for such an affordable price. It would not have been possible to do this without the generous grant. Thank you for your assistance in making this weekend possible.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Brad Jepsen, First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Phil Sloat, First United Methodist
Rev. Jim Fandrey, Grace Lutheran Church
Rev. James Janovec, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Pastor Matt Troyer-Miller, Wood River Mennonite Church
Our Stories Untold by Rachel Halder
This website was created as a safe and open space to discuss sexualized violence within Christianity (and specifically, the Mennonite Church). Blog entries are a mix of personal experience, reflection, discussion, sex positivity, theology, and current events in our world dealing with sexual abuse, all aimed at opening up dialogue about this important topic. I’ve never been one to stay silent when I think something needs to be said. That’s how I feel about this topic. I am working with Joanna Shenk and other Mennonite women on a task-force focusing on a project called “Mennonite Monologues.” Through this project we hope to collect Mennonite women’s stories. As a self-proclaimed story-teller, I certainly believe that all stories have validity and need a place to be told. Yet through working on this project I’ve realized that I have a much stronger desire, passion, and need to collect stories of Mennonites who have experienced sexual assault or abuse – in whatever form that may be.
I recognize this is an incredibly taboo topic, hence the reason why many in the church, both men and women, want to shy away from it. But it is a topic we can no longer ignore:
Can we honestly say that these statistics don’t affect women and men in the Mennonite church? As a victim of child molestation, I can fully say that yes: I am a number within these statistics, and there are other Mennonite women out there, too.
So please, I invite you to go along on this journey with me of collecting and sharing stories of sexual assault, abuse, domestic violence, molestation, or attempted harm to a person’s body. We can only heal when we have the support of each other. These are only the beginning stages of the project. I call upon any support or hope you have to offer, in form of blog posts, contacts, research, donations, or encouraging notes.
My story, our stories, will not remain untold.
Find out more at: http://www.ourstoriesuntold.com
This website was created as a safe and open space to discuss sexualized violence within Christianity (and specifically, the Mennonite Church). Blog entries are a mix of personal experience, reflection, discussion, sex positivity, theology, and current events in our world dealing with sexual abuse, all aimed at opening up dialogue about this important topic. I’ve never been one to stay silent when I think something needs to be said. That’s how I feel about this topic. I am working with Joanna Shenk and other Mennonite women on a task-force focusing on a project called “Mennonite Monologues.” Through this project we hope to collect Mennonite women’s stories. As a self-proclaimed story-teller, I certainly believe that all stories have validity and need a place to be told. Yet through working on this project I’ve realized that I have a much stronger desire, passion, and need to collect stories of Mennonites who have experienced sexual assault or abuse – in whatever form that may be.
I recognize this is an incredibly taboo topic, hence the reason why many in the church, both men and women, want to shy away from it. But it is a topic we can no longer ignore:
- 74% of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence
- 24 people per minute in the U.S. are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner
- 3 or 4 women a day are murdered by their intimate partners
- 1 in 5 women has been sexually assaulted in her lifetime
- 1 in 3 women in the world will experience violence directed towards them during their lifetime
- The average rapist has attacked 14 times
- 15 out of 16 rapists never spend a day in jail
Can we honestly say that these statistics don’t affect women and men in the Mennonite church? As a victim of child molestation, I can fully say that yes: I am a number within these statistics, and there are other Mennonite women out there, too.
So please, I invite you to go along on this journey with me of collecting and sharing stories of sexual assault, abuse, domestic violence, molestation, or attempted harm to a person’s body. We can only heal when we have the support of each other. These are only the beginning stages of the project. I call upon any support or hope you have to offer, in form of blog posts, contacts, research, donations, or encouraging notes.
My story, our stories, will not remain untold.
Find out more at: http://www.ourstoriesuntold.com
2012-13 New Ministries Grant Recipients
Scholarships for Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience---The STAR Training
What do Newtown Connecticut, Deraa Syria, Omaha Nebraska, Mogadishu Somali, Blacksburg Virginia, Kabul Afghanistan, Oak Creek Wisconsin, Aurora Colorado, Tucson Arizona, Minneapolis Minnesota, Baghdad Iraq, Atlanta Georgia, Oslo Norway, Dover Delaware, Fort Hood Texas, Red Hook New York, Atlantic City New Jersey, Tohoku Japan and Red Lake Minnesota have in common? All of these communities have experienced intense psychological trauma and cry out for healing. They know what it means to be traumatized and overwhelmed with experiences that leave them feeling powerless and lacking a sense of security. So what can be done about this? For some, professional help is required. But what about others who, having experienced trauma, seek healing for themselves, their families, and fellow community members? Thanks to the New Ministries Grant in 2012, CPMC Mennonites learned important information and skills to respond to traumatic circumstances with a message of hope, healing and reconciliation from the STAR Training.
With Faith Mennonite Church in Minneapolis as its fiscal agent, in 2012 the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute (MPLI) sponsored three 4 ½ day community trainings using the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience-The STAR Training curriculum that was developed at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA in the months following the tragic events of September 11, 2001 (www.emu.edu/star). The STAR Training educates professionals and laypersons by integrating concepts of community psychological trauma healing and resilience, conflict transformation, restorative justice, nonviolent peacemaking, human security, and spirituality toward reconciliation. STAR is fundamentally based on Biblical principles: Truth, Mercy, Justice, and Peace (Psalm 85:10) and STAR’s Trauma Healing or “SNAIL” model provides strategies for negotiating the narrow path of forgiveness, peacebuilding and reconciliation (Matt 7:13-14).
Because of the generosity of the 2012 New Ministries Grant, scholarship assistance was available for Mennonite/Anabaptist laypersons, caregivers and leaders from Central Plains Mennonite Conference (CPMC) who had the time and interest in attending the STAR Training but lacked the financial resources for the full tuition. In total, eight members of CPMC congregations shared the New Ministries Grant award to attend the STAR Training in Minneapolis. Since 2010, MPLI has trained 113 individuals from diverse religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds in the STAR’s trauma healing principles of forgiveness, restorative justice, conflict transformation and reconciliation that are the path to authentic individual and community healing. Thank you CPMC for making this possible!
Donna Minter
With Faith Mennonite Church in Minneapolis as its fiscal agent, in 2012 the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute (MPLI) sponsored three 4 ½ day community trainings using the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience-The STAR Training curriculum that was developed at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA in the months following the tragic events of September 11, 2001 (www.emu.edu/star). The STAR Training educates professionals and laypersons by integrating concepts of community psychological trauma healing and resilience, conflict transformation, restorative justice, nonviolent peacemaking, human security, and spirituality toward reconciliation. STAR is fundamentally based on Biblical principles: Truth, Mercy, Justice, and Peace (Psalm 85:10) and STAR’s Trauma Healing or “SNAIL” model provides strategies for negotiating the narrow path of forgiveness, peacebuilding and reconciliation (Matt 7:13-14).
Because of the generosity of the 2012 New Ministries Grant, scholarship assistance was available for Mennonite/Anabaptist laypersons, caregivers and leaders from Central Plains Mennonite Conference (CPMC) who had the time and interest in attending the STAR Training but lacked the financial resources for the full tuition. In total, eight members of CPMC congregations shared the New Ministries Grant award to attend the STAR Training in Minneapolis. Since 2010, MPLI has trained 113 individuals from diverse religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds in the STAR’s trauma healing principles of forgiveness, restorative justice, conflict transformation and reconciliation that are the path to authentic individual and community healing. Thank you CPMC for making this possible!
Donna Minter
Immigration Certification Training
40 hours Job Shadowing/Training
I went to DuPage, IL the week of December 10-14, 2012 to job shadow in the World Relief DuPage office. This week gave me the minimum of 40 hours of experience to be able to apply for Board of Immigration Appeals accreditation. Once BIA accredited a person is able to help immigrants fill out the appropriate forms and guide them through the steps to becoming immigrants with legal status at a cost that is a fraction of what many pay an attorney. This followed the 40 hour Basic Immigration Training I took in Akron, PA at the MCC offices. My next step is to work on my immigration resume a little longer so that I can apply for BIA accreditation. This will include more hands-on job practice, e-seminars, e-workshops, and teleconference on various immigration topics. While in DuPage I had the opportunity to do some classroom learning, homework exercises and debriefing, observational learning, hands-on learning with clients, and to participate in a teleconference. The topics covered in the classroom setting were: types of Visas/Who can enter on what Visa, Refugees, Green Card issues, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Hierarchy of Law, U-Visas, and VAWA Visas. Homework covered all of these topics as well as legal agreements and fees, Asylee requirements, the Visa Bulletin, Inadmissibility and Deportation, Consular Process, knowing your rights as an immigrant, and practice filling out many forms. As well as homework practice with filling out forms, I had the opportunity to fill out forms for clients over the course of the week. I was able to help with many different types of immigration applications. The Thursday I was there we held a DACA workshop for young people to come in and apply for deferred action. During the DACA workshop I was able to do many “intake forms” to screen the clients to make sure they were eligible for deferred action. I was also able to sit in on the interviews with the clients while filling out the DACA forms. This was an all day workshop. While there I was able to shadow and work with four different individuals to see how each of them work with clients and to see their particular specialties within immigration law. I received a certificate of completion for participating in their shadowing program and will also receive letters of recommendation for my BIA accreditation application. Thank-you for this opportunity, Rachelle Luitjens |
Rachelle Luitjens
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Feeding the Hungry in our Community
We applied for a grant from the New Ministries Fund to support the re-building of the kitchen at the Beacon of Hope Shelter in nearby Fort Dodge. Manson Mennonite Church has made a commitment to participate in this ministry by providing Saturday evening meals at the shelter every month. Because this meal is open to the community often others in homelessness or poverty come as well. There are a number of reasons we see our partnership with this ministry as being important. First, and most importantly, we believe that as we serve the people at the Beacon of Hope we are serving Jesus (Matthew 25:40). Secondly, we see this as an opportunity for us to join in evangelism. We recognize that often the best evangelism happens in the context of relationship. We hope and pray that we can continue to build relationships with the people as we become a regular part of their experience and that we can minister and share the love of Jesus with them. We also want to support the ongoing evangelism that the chaplain and directors are sharing with the people. We view this experience of serving as one that promotes spiritual growth and discipleship for us. It helps us get outside of ourselves and get a first-hand awareness of the needs in our community. It gives us hands-on opportunities to exercise our “witness, compassion, and evangelism muscles.” For each meal, approximately ten different people from Manson Mennonite Church volunteer time, money, and energy to serve in this way. As this experience is being shared by different members of our church our eyes are being opened to God’s love and how God can use us. For more information on the Beacon of Hope Shelter, go to http://beaconofhopeshelter.com.
Movie on the Lawn Community Outreach Night
We wanted to send a follow-up to the event we received a grant for from you.
We held the Movie on the Lawn a few weekends ago and what a wonderful night it was! God blessed us with gorgeous weather and a crowd of around 300 people of all ages. The lawn was filled with excitement and the whole evening was truly a time of worshipping God and families spending time together and in fellowship with others. There were many people who we had never seen before that came and were able to get a taste of Jesus and also of the LDC family. The night began with activities for the kids, hot dogs & lemonade, followed by a worship team and ice cream, ending the night with popcorn and the movie UP on the big screen. It was a wonderful night and many church members helped with the event, and working together was so fun! We are so thankful for your contribution that helped make it possible. What a blessing to have a conference that wants to help churches with outreach and ministering to not only the congregation but also the community!
Thank you again!!!! Ashleigh Nelson & the Lower Deer Creek Congregation
We held the Movie on the Lawn a few weekends ago and what a wonderful night it was! God blessed us with gorgeous weather and a crowd of around 300 people of all ages. The lawn was filled with excitement and the whole evening was truly a time of worshipping God and families spending time together and in fellowship with others. There were many people who we had never seen before that came and were able to get a taste of Jesus and also of the LDC family. The night began with activities for the kids, hot dogs & lemonade, followed by a worship team and ice cream, ending the night with popcorn and the movie UP on the big screen. It was a wonderful night and many church members helped with the event, and working together was so fun! We are so thankful for your contribution that helped make it possible. What a blessing to have a conference that wants to help churches with outreach and ministering to not only the congregation but also the community!
Thank you again!!!! Ashleigh Nelson & the Lower Deer Creek Congregation
Summer Service Worker with the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church
This past summer I was hired by the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, Montana, thanks to a grant from the New Ministries Fund. My first assignment at the church was working with Vacation Bible School. During that week, I was assigned to work with the K-1 boys and girls. Every day, we followed a schedule that included Bible story lessons, arts and crafts, and recreation. Helping out with the younger children was a challenge, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It was an awesome learning experience to be working with members of the church and community, all for the benefit of the children.
The following week, the other two service workers and myself helped with the general upkeep around the church. We cleaned the church before the Sunday services and rearranged the setup after Bible School. We also began to prepare for the Family and Junior camps that would take place later in July. After a week, the workers that had been hired through MCC attended a workshop in California, as I continued with upkeep and helping out with anything that needed to be done. In the evenings, we would play with kids that came to the church for recreational time. These were some of the less busy times of the summer, but nevertheless enjoyable!
Another event of the summer was the Central Plains Mennonite Conference Annual Meeting in Henderson, Nebraska. During the conference, we sat in discussion groups and listened to the issues that were brought to the table. Although the conference was more for adults, it was exciting to observe what was going on inside the church. One significant event that really inspired me was when a need for funds to build a new building in a Mennonite church nearby my hometown of Busby, Montana, was brought to the group. One anonymous donor started the giving, and by the end of the day, people at the conference had generously donated $40,000. Another area of the conference that I really enjoyed was the workshops; through them I saw perspectives of many different views on immigration, violence, and drugs/alcohol. The weekend in Henderson was inspiring and gave me more of an idea of what being an Anabaptist really means.
Church youth groups from Kansas arrived around the time we began to set up for camps at Crazyhead Springs. We in- stalled campers, tents, teepees, basketball goals, volleyball nets, the generator, the kitchen, the staff house, and the outhouses. Connections were made and relationships were built with many different people. Family camp started on July 11th and featured several speakers with amazing testimonies. It was a great time! Kids came to me for many different things, whether it was just to play, or to talk to me about things going on in their lives. I tried my best to listen, be open, and pray with them. I really hope that I made an impression on their lives as they keep moving forward.
Ariane King
The following week, the other two service workers and myself helped with the general upkeep around the church. We cleaned the church before the Sunday services and rearranged the setup after Bible School. We also began to prepare for the Family and Junior camps that would take place later in July. After a week, the workers that had been hired through MCC attended a workshop in California, as I continued with upkeep and helping out with anything that needed to be done. In the evenings, we would play with kids that came to the church for recreational time. These were some of the less busy times of the summer, but nevertheless enjoyable!
Another event of the summer was the Central Plains Mennonite Conference Annual Meeting in Henderson, Nebraska. During the conference, we sat in discussion groups and listened to the issues that were brought to the table. Although the conference was more for adults, it was exciting to observe what was going on inside the church. One significant event that really inspired me was when a need for funds to build a new building in a Mennonite church nearby my hometown of Busby, Montana, was brought to the group. One anonymous donor started the giving, and by the end of the day, people at the conference had generously donated $40,000. Another area of the conference that I really enjoyed was the workshops; through them I saw perspectives of many different views on immigration, violence, and drugs/alcohol. The weekend in Henderson was inspiring and gave me more of an idea of what being an Anabaptist really means.
Church youth groups from Kansas arrived around the time we began to set up for camps at Crazyhead Springs. We in- stalled campers, tents, teepees, basketball goals, volleyball nets, the generator, the kitchen, the staff house, and the outhouses. Connections were made and relationships were built with many different people. Family camp started on July 11th and featured several speakers with amazing testimonies. It was a great time! Kids came to me for many different things, whether it was just to play, or to talk to me about things going on in their lives. I tried my best to listen, be open, and pray with them. I really hope that I made an impression on their lives as they keep moving forward.
Ariane King