By Byron Pellecer, WDC Associate Conference Minister (Texas-based)

In an effort to join God’s mission in the Dallas, Texas vicinity, WDC Hispanic Ministries invited Mennonite congregations and friends to participate and partner with Festival de la Fraternidad Familiar (Family Fellowship Festival) on September 24 at the Iglesia Menonita Luz del Evangelio, in Dallas.

The goals of this missional project were: 1) to build community together in a Mennonite perspective, and 2) to do outreach, connect and build relationships with the local community.

The spirit of the event was to gather the WDC churches for a time of fellowship and for local outreach.  Live music, games, sports, food, and even an unexpected car show with about twenty vehicles and a four-wheeled motorcycle  were part of the festival.

There was a lot of enthusiasm, team work and communal preparation for this event.  Everyone felt this activity would build community with our Mennonite congregations and with “el barrio”, their neighborhood.

“United as one body, we will be able to do great things in God’s Kingdom”, said Antonio Caceros, from Iglesia Menonita Camino Nuevo in  Dallas.

The event surpassed everyone’s expectation with over 200 participants.  Included in the attendees were people from the community and non-church goers.  They felt connected with the Christian body without pressure of any kind.

“We have to build bridges that are able to reflect and connect with our cultural diversity amid Western District Conference,” said Sandra Montes-Martinez, from Iglesia Menonita Monte Horeb in Dallas.

God was glorified, the Church was strengthened, and the neighborhood was presented with Christ’s gospel!