Please note date change: August 19. Through our partners at WellSpan EAP, we are excited to be offering a free webinar on compassionate leadership. This webinar looks at what it means to be a compassionate leader by understanding the importance and impact of leading with a focus on self-compassion. Through discussion and exercises designed to lean into mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity you will learn the benefits of self-compassion for you and your work environment.

Register Today!

• God’s love has no borders! “Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.” (Phillips) This verse from I Corinthians 13:7-8a will guide our work in the coming year as we live into new things that God is doing among us in IMMC. 
• With deep gratitude, we celebrate the service of those who concluded ministry on IMMC leadership teams in June: Brenda Hostetler Meyer (Missional Leadership Team, former moderator); Leandrea Lange, Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, and Grant Miller on Gifts Development Team; David Sutter on Leadership Enhancement Team; Angy Moore on Ministry Credentialing Team; and Jim Gerber and Patty Graber on Stewardship Team.  
• New members are serving on IMMC leadership teams! Jeshua Franklin (Kern Road) and Meredith Sommers (Wildwood) joined Missional Leadership Team. Micheline Ilonga (Kalamazoo and Prairie Street) and Ndunge Sefu (Kalamazoo and Prairie Street) joined Leadership Enhancement Team. Linda Thomas (Walnut Hill) joined Ministry Credentialing Team.

• Joanne Gallardo preached at North Goshen July 21 and will preach at Belmont August 18. Sharon Yoder preached at Waterford on July 21. 
• Sharon met with Parkview congregational leaders in Kokomo on August 6.
• Chaplains from IMMC gathered via zoom for networking and support on August 8, hosted by Joanne.
• Mennonite World Conference representatives hosted a meeting for area pastors on July 16. Sharon was one of nine credentialed leaders from IMMC who joined the group.

• Derrick Ramer began serving as pastor at Benton on August 1. Sharon joined their worship service on August 4 to lead a litany of commissioning for Derrick.
• Becky Helmuth began part-time interim ministry at East Goshen on July 1. She concluded transitional ministry at Benton on July 31.
• First and Kern Road congregations continue active searches to fill pastoral ministry openings. Pray for God’s Spirit to guide discernment around their processes.  

Above are the reports for the end of our fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) for 2023-24, which were not ready to be included in last month’s weLink. July financials will be reported with August’s financial report in next month’s weLink.

Join us at Amigo Centre for one of our retreats this fall!

Scrapbooking, Quilting, and Crafting: September 27-29 and December 6-8

Join us for a time of fellowship and creativity at one of our retreats!  Spend time in the beautiful setting of Amigo while having time to focus on your projects with others who enjoy similar things!  We get a table ready for you, provide delicious meals, and offer fun optional diversions and spiritual input throughout the weekend.  Additional days are an option – come as early as Wednesday and stay till Monday for an extended getaway. (We know that this is on Relief Sale weekend this year – we highly encourage field trips to the Relief Sale Friday evening or Saturday morning!)

Amigo Bike Michiana for MCC: September 13-15

Join Amigo Centre for our 22nd year of biking to support specific projects through MCC. This year, all proceeds go directly to the Bolivia Water Project, which is addressing water shortages and climate change in Bolivia by piping spring water from the mountains for household and agricultural use and by planting trees to conserve local water sources. Spend time biking through beautiful Michiana while hanging out with fabulous people – all skill levels and ages are encouraged.  

Register for these programs at amigocentre.campbrainregistration.com

Joanne Gallardo, Conference Co-Minister, draws us in to remember Sonya Massey in this months edition of the Five Things Friday Roundup: Remembering Sonya Massey.

Inner Soul Work Groups provide leaders contemplative space to tend their own inner soul in community with others. Meeting once a month for a full day retreat, participants follow the gentle rhythm of gathering, contemplative prayer, two hours of silence and solitude, lunch and afternoon group sharing of the spiritual journey with attentiveness to God’s transforming presence.

Who: This group experience is for clergy ministering in any setting. The maximum number is 6 participants.

When: Mondays or Fridays, once a month, from 9am to 3 pm. The number of sessions between September and May  will be 6-8 based on enrollment.

Cost: $70 per session
Participants bring their own lunch.
This is the same price as an individual spiritual direction session and is for six hours rather than one. This is an opportunity to try group spiritual direction in a retreat setting. Participants will be billed in September and February​

Facilitator: Brian Roots

More information and Registration.