“Beloved, let us love one another!”  That plea from 1 John 4:7 was a touchstone of our time together at Annual Sessions this past weekend.  I felt that call to genuine, deep, grace-filled, challenging, inspiring, Christ-like love to be alive and among us in the movement of the Spirit as we gathered.

This focus of our conferenced acknowledged that love is not an abstract or syrupy thing, but a practice of discipleship that calls us into transformation.  Such love is only possible because God first loves us, and God’s love is enough for all. I appreciated the ways our preachers, speakers, and those sharing stories wove together the personal, communal, structural, and societal ways we are called to love one another.  Our worship called and inspired me to believe in the abundance of God’s love for myself and others, to practice radical love, and to let live cast out fear.  I heard honest confession of the ways in which we too often have fallen short of that love, but I also heard myriad examples of that loved lived out in familial healing, community partnerships, congregational dynamics, powerful prayers, and more ways.  While we have not yet reached the fullest expression of God’s love toward, it is clear that our conference is following Jesus into this call to love as God has loved us.

I shared with my congregation recently that when I was invited to serve for another term on MLT, I weighed the decision seriously; it is not always easy to find the space to give this work the time, energy, prayer, care, and attention I feel it deserves.  I found, though, that I just couldn’t pass up the chance to be as involved as possible in the exciting things I believe the Holy Spirit is doing in and through IMMC right now.  Our energized and capable conference staff, the active leadership teams, the focus on Growing Our Intercultural Witness, the dynamic work and connections of congregations, and so much more feel like ways that God is working through our conference to grow the Reign of Love among us.  My prayer is that you too will witness and feel called further into IMMC’s convicting, Christ-centered efforts to “love one another!”

– Naomi Yoder, MLT Secretary

• The opportunity to gather as a community of congregations at Annual Sessions this week!
• Quinn Brenneke and his leadership with the Elkhart area pastors as they gave leadership to planning our Annual Sessions gathering.
• That five people said “YES!” to serving on the Intercultural Working Group for our conference. The team met with Joanne last week to begin their work together. The team members are: Zenebe Abebe from Shalom, Jes Stoltzfus Buller from Walnut Hill Mennonite, Marissa Smucker from Belmont, Bonita Childs from Peace Community, and Carol Bixler from Shalom.

• Conference moderator Brenda Hostetler Meyer, MLT member Rolando Sosa, and staff members Clayton, Joanne, and Sharon traveled to Kansas City for MC USA delegate sessions May 27-30. Brenda, Joanne, and Sharon also met with Constituency Leadership Council along with other conference leaders across MC USA on Friday May 27.
• Joanne preached at North Goshen Mennonite on June 12 and connected with Pastor Izaete and her family over lunch afterward.
• Sharon preached and led the nurture hour discussion with the Hudson Lake Mennonite congregation on June 12.
• Joanne met with various pastoral cluster groups over the past month. Many of the pastor cluster groups have taken a short break from meeting for the summer.
• Transitional and interim pastors met for their quarterly meeting via zoom on June 14; Sharon met with them.
• Joanne was pleased to make connections with Rev. Rachel Weasley, pastor and church planter at Community of Hope church in Washington State. Joanne will preach via Zoom in July.

• Becky Helmuth was licensed toward ordination on June 5 for her upcoming role as a transitional pastor at Hudson Lake Mennonite Church.
• Volunteer search guides continue to support the work of pastoral searches for congregations in our conference. Ruben Chupp has been serving as search guide for Berkey Avenue and Hudson Lake; Frank Kandel, as search guide for Fairhaven; and Bob Schloneger, as search guide for First Mennonite.
• LET continues to discuss ways to resource congregational coaches and revise the Framework for Pastoral Growth.

weLink 06/13/2022– Amigo Centre

• Amigo Park – Is open! Call to check for availability. Phone: 269-651-2734 – leave a message for Caz and Sheila.
• Amigo Centre is in search of a full-time Program Director. If you have experience in team leadership and a passion for developing and guiding programs for all ages, please send a cover letter and resume to Jessica@amigocentre.org.
• Amigo Summer Camp Camp runs from June 20 through July.
  • The following spaces are still available for day camp ages 6-14
    • June 27-July 1 (Week 2) – three slots
    • July 4-8 (Week 3) – five slots
    • July 18-22 (Week 5) – six slots
  • Family camp is running two weeks this summer. Spaces still available. Adults $200, children $150. Maximum charge of $700 per family.
    • Week 2 – June 27-30
    • Week 6 – July 25-28

Nurses needed! In order to run summer camp, we need a nurse for each week. If you have a valid nursing license or are certified as a first responder and have a week available this summer, please contact us as soon as possible.

• Save the Date: Amigo Bike Michiana for MCC is scheduled for September 16-18. If you would like to become a sponsor, contact mandy@amigocentre.org. To register or for additional information, go to our web site: https://www.amigocentre.org/amigo-bike-michiana.html
• Amigo Scrapbooking, Crafting and Sewing Retreats. Online registration is now open for the dates listed below. See the web for additional details.
  • September 22-25
  • December 1-5

Joanne is a monthly contributor to the Anabaptist World online. Check out her We are family: 5 Things to think about from the May Special Delegate Assembly.

• Mennonite Mission Network has several employment opportunities listed on their employment page.
• Mennonite Education Agency lists openings throughout Mennonite-affiliated schools on their employment page.
• Explore pastoral opportunities in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference and beyond on MC USA’s  Pastoral Openings list.

 If you would like to list an opportunity here, please contact the Conference Office.