Sprouts, October 1, 2013

WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE

SPROUTS

October 1, 2013

A weekly communication for:

WDC Churches and Pastors

WDC Executive Board, Commission, Committee and Task Force members

Any content may be used in bulletins and newsletters and forwarded to congregational leaders and members.

WDC Sprouts is also available at:  www.mennowdc.org (Publications)

 IN THIS ISSUE:

*Clarence’s Clarion Call
*Prayer Requests
*Coming Events
*Parish Paper
*Announcements

Clarence’s Clarion Call – WDC Connects with Congo Church

     by Clarence Rempel, WDC Conference Minister

There was an outburst of joyous praise at the ordinations of the first women in the Mennonite Church of Congo in Kinshasa on Sunday, September 22, according to Amanda Rempel*. Women joined in a parade of exuberance using mops, brooms, kitchen utensils, and even a small refrigerator as rhythm instruments. The five-hour worship service was held in a large, rented pavilion to accommodate guests from across Kinchasa and Congo plus six representatives from the United States. Amanda is serving as an ambassador from the Western District Conference (WDC) to the church in Congo in support of these women pastors and as encouragement to the church. She was commissioned by the Leadership Commission and Executive Board of Western District Conference. Five choirs sang, six offerings were received, and numerous persons spoke before the ordinations of both men and women according to Amanda’s report.

The C of WDC’s vision stands for “Connect to God’s mission in the world.” This is a very tangible connect that began with two Congolese businessmen and church leaders visiting Western District Conference on April 29. Macaire Kilambo Kabanga and Roussel Kumakamba invited Amanda as an ordained pastor to come and stand in solidarity with those women who would be ordained in Congo. What seemed an impossibility gradually became a call from God and the church to which Amanda said “yes.”

On Sunday, September 29, Amanda preached at the Bondeko Mennonite Church in Kinshasa. Singing was already underway when she arrived at 9:30 AM. There were multiple singing groups, multiple offerings, multiple prayers of confession, intercession, and praise before she began to preach at 12:00 PM on “Pentecost, the Early Church, and Women.” The church building had a corrugated roof overhead with walls and floor partially completed.

Amanda is currently in Tshikapa for more ordinations of men and one woman on Sunday, October 6. She appreciates your prayers and the support of WDC.

God’s unfolding vision of redemption and restoration in the Old Testament moved out from the particular of calling one person, Abraham, to encompassing all peoples on the earth. “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Mennonites in the first half of the 20^th century had a small part in sharing God’s restorative blessing in the Congo at great personal sacrifice. Medical, agricultural, and educational development accompanied proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and planting new churches. In spite of great political turmoil, oppressive poverty, and church conflicts, the three Mennonite church bodies in the Congo have grown to a membership of 235,000, the second largest national Mennonite church in the world.

Let’s join in an exuberant outburst of praise to God.

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
Proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
His marvelous needs among all peoples. (Psalm 96:2-3)

*Amanda is my wife

Prayer Requests
Oct 6 – Pray for Nathan Koontz, who is being installed today as an Associate Pastor with a focus on pastoral care at First Mennonite Church, Hutchinson, KS.
Oct 13 – Pray for Richard Gehring, Moderator-Elect, Jaimie Cazares, pastor of Iglesia Menonita Casa Betania, and Clarence Rempel, Conference Minister, as they represent Western District Conference at the Constituency Leaders Council of Mennonite Church USA at Sturgis, Michigan, October 13-16.
Oct 20 – Pray for the spiritual vigor and leadership vision of our Western District Conference ministry staff: Marlene Bogard, Minister of Christian Formation; Gilberto Flores, Associate Conference Minister; Dwight Regier, Youth Ministry Network Team Leader; and Clarence Rempel, Conference Minister.
Oct 27 – Pray for Moises Romero, pastor of Iglesia Camino de Santidad, Liberal, KS, who is being licensed towards ordination today. Pray for Mennonite Church of the Servant, Wichita, KS, as they dedicate their new meetinghouse this afternoon.

Coming Events

Oct 25 – “Engaging our Sexual Culture”, Bethel College Krehbiel Auditorium, North Newton, KS (11 am – BC convocation: “Toward an Ethic of Sexuality”; 7 pm – Premier Performance:  “A Peek into the Church’s Journey with Sexuality”)

Oct 26 – WDC Reference Council (“The Church and Homosexuality:  A Conversation That Can Hold Us Together”), Faith Mennonite Church, Newton, KS

Oct 31 – New Pastor orientation, WDC Office, North Newton, KS

Nov 1 – Pastor Misconduct Prevention Training, Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, KS

Nov 16 – Out of the Pew (youth event), Newton, KS

Nov. 21 – Pastors’ Day Apart, “Journeys with Scripture”, with James Krabill, Location TBA

Nov 28-29 – WDC Office closed for Thanksgiving

Dec 24-Jan 1, 2014 – WDC Office closed for Christmas & New Year’s break

Parish Paper