Annual Sessions 2022 will be held in Elkhart on June 17-18, with worship resources* provided for Sunday, June 19 to connect congregations with the ministry of conference. Register Today.

*The worship resources for June 19 will include Opening Words/Call to Worship, Song Suggestions, Children’s Time Suggestions, a Video-Recorded Sermon, and a Sending/Benediction. These can be used in their entirety or however is best for your congregation in connecting with Annual Sessions and IMMC. Our goal is to provide these to congregations by mid-May.

Greetings fellow servants of Jesus Christ,

As we enter Holy week, let us remember the Vicarious Victory that’s involved in our Lords great suffering and pain, endured on the Cross. And let the Holy Spirit’s authority be revealed as we focus our attention to Jesus great Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness sake for they shall be filled, blessed are the merciful for they shall shall obtain mercy” (Mathew 5:1-7). The Lords favor is in the hands of his people today and forevermore.

Remembering, also, Paul’s compelling message in Romans 12 verse 1, “I compel you by the authoritative mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrafice.” We are alive in one sense to the spirit and dead in the other sense to sin. Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies seeing that we would crucify the Lord afresh. Walk in the spirit so that you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Allow Holy Week to remind you of the Victories already Won.

– Pastor Shawn Lange, MLT Member

Breaking the body of Christ? Hear MWC General Secretary César García – Join César García and Mennonite World Conference (MWC) President Nelson Kraybill at Silverwood Mennonite Church, 1745 W Lincoln Avenue in Goshen, on Thursday evening, April 28 at 7:30pm for a public gathering lifting up Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the church. “When we exercise our gift of unity as sisters and brothers in Christ and follow Jesus together, others are more likely to follow Jesus, too,” says César. Come and welcome César to our community!

For pastors only: A conversation with César García – We are churches together for mutual learning and sharing, says César García, General Secretary of Mennonite World Conference (MWC). Join César for an hour of conversation together about being a global communion of churches, not just fragmented congregations. Berkey Avenue Mennonite Church (2509 Berkey Ave in Goshen) will host us on Friday morning, April 29 at 11am.

• God’s Spirit’s presence permeating our Spring Summit gatherings at Fairhaven on March 19 and virtually on March 26. Participants found meaning and challenge in Ben Tapper’s presentation on Decentering Whiteness.
• IMMC’s Intercultural Working Group continues to take shape. At present, we are blessed to have Zenebe Abebe and Carol Bixler from Shalom, Marisa Smucker from Belmont, and Jes Stoltzfus Buller from Walnut Hill join this group. Jes will serve as chair. Please continue to pray for God’s Spirit to bring us a few more members and to be present in our work.
• Frances Ringenberg began as interim pastor at Waterford Mennonite Church on March 1.
• Michelle Merchant recently accepted the call to serve as pastor of Maple River Mennonite Church in Brutus, MI. Michelle also serves as pastor of New Hope United Methodist Church in Levering, MI.

• Joanne Gallardo will lead worship and preach at Wildwood Mennonite Church on April 24.
• Joanne continues to connect with pastor clusters and is delighted with the undertaking of Annual Session’s worship by our Elkhart cluster. Joanne meets with pastors who are working at ongoing leadership in their congregation.
• Sharon Yoder met with the Holdeman Mennonite Church on April 10 to discuss the vision and mission of our .
• Sharon and Joanne have been meeting monthly with other MC USA conference ministers to connect with one another and to share ministry resources.
• Joanne continues to meet with staff and MLT members to go over the Intercultural Development Inventory. 

• Cindy Voth will be installed as lead pastor at Waterford Mennonite Church on April 24. Sharon will officiate the installation.
• Ministry Credentialing Team will interview several current pastors anticipating ordination and several pastoral candidates anticipating new ministry assignments in the next 2 months. We are awed by the opportunity to engage stories of ministry and call. These conversations are holy spaces.
• First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis, recently launched their search for a half-time pastor to focus on pastoral care and congregational life who would join Pastor Monica Miller on the pastoral team. We invite your prayers for a meaningful search process.  
• Leadership Enhancement Team (LET) has been discussing potentially integrating The Corinthian Plan’s pastoral wellbeing checklist with the Framework for Pastoral Growth.
• Dave Sutter agreed to be congregational coach for Hopewell.

• Amigo Park – opens May 20, 2022. Think camping… call now to reserve your space for this summer! Phone: 269-651-2734 – leave a message for Caz and Sheila.
• Summer Camp Dates are posted on our web site. Registration will open this week. We are still looking for camp staff – if you know of any young adult 16 years of age or older, that would be interested in working at Amigo this summer, please let us know!
• Save the Date: Amigo Bike Michiana is scheduled for September 16-18. Additional details coming soon.
• 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

The Special Session of the Delgate Assembly for Mennonite Church USA is coming up on May 27-30. Please be sure to access the Delegate Resource page for more information, resources, webinars, and everything you’ll need to prepare for this important time of discernment.

Voices Together Worship Leaders’ Workshop | May 14, 9 a.m.-noon (on Zoom) | sponsored by Benton Mennonite Church

Anneli Loepp Thiessen and Katie Graber will provide background on worship resources in Voices Together, and the Voices Together Worship Leaders‘ ed., highlighting uses in worship as well as the styles, cultures, and eras they represent. They will discuss tools for understanding your community’s worship culture in order to make intentional, theologically grounded, and spiritually inspired choices about worship practices that respond to your local contexts and dismantle oppression in your communities. No cost required. For more information, and to register, go to www.bentonchurch.org/voices-together-worship-workshop.

Joanne is a monthly contributor to the Anabaptist World online. Check out her 5 Things to Be Aware of in April.

• IMMC Office is seeking a part-time Bookkeeper and Administrative Assistant! Learn more here.
• Holdeman Mennonite Church is looking for an Administrative Assistant to work Tuesday-Friday mornings (4 hours each). For more information, please contact the church at 574-862-4751 or contact the moderator, Lee Leatherman at 574-533-3760.
• 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.