Missions Team
Mission:
to initiate support
for missions outside our immediate community.
Team Members:
· Bill
and Bertha Schaefer
· Brady
Hochstetler
· Frank
Vaughn
· Ben
Powell
· Janis
Ranck
· Carolyn
Nowlin, Team Leader
A recent article in Christianity
Today, “What Makes a Church Missional?” states that
“everything the church ought to be and do is mission: ‘Missions’ should
not be one church program among many, but the church’s core identity as
witnesses sent by God into the world’” (March 2008, 56).
As team leader for the Missions Team at PMC, I would be
thoroughly intimidated by this quote (which, by the way, I believe is true) if I
didn’t know the heart of our fellowship for missions.
The whole church’s commitment to reaching beyond our walls and the
excitement of the Missions Team enhance my enthusiasm for the large task before
us.
To help us tackle the wide range of opportunities under
the umbrella of missions, our team members have each assumed responsibility for
one area. No one will be surprised
that Frank Vaughn is focusing on prison ministry, and he shares with Debbie a
strong interest in the young men at Elk Hill in Goochland.
Frank’s enthusiasm has grown from his participation in prison crusades
with We Care in Alabama, and his excitement is contagious.
The Vaughns follow in a strong tradition established at
PMC largely through the efforts of Louie and Helen Burkholder, whose concern for
incarcerated men and women in many Virginia prisons stretches back forty years.
Louie and Helen conducted weekly Bible studies for many years and
continue to lead Prison Fellowship Seminars, touching hundreds of lives with the
saving love of Christ. Helen grades
home Bible studies for inmates each week, and Louie corresponds with men in
prison. From its earliest years, PMC
has been committed
to prison ministry, and Louie’s prayer is that we will not lose that vision.
Brady and Crystal
Hochstetler have brought to PMC and to the Missions Team a fresh vision for
reaching the persecuted church, especially in China.
They have both spent time in that nation where house churches are under
constant threat and leaders are imprisoned and tortured.
Brady plans another trip to China after the Olympics; he foresees Bible
distribution and street witnessing as important parts of his group’s ministry.
Another spark of interest has been ignited in our team by
the work of Virginia Mennonite Missions in Montenegro, where Ron and Blanche
Nyce are helping to rebuild a meat packing business.
According to Mennonite Weekly Review, “the emerging strategy of ‘business as mission’”
(January 14, 2008) is a new model for missions.
Our team believes this model may present an opportunity for retired or
semi-retired PMC members with business experience to share their expertise.
Bill and Bertha Schaefer are looking into possibilities in this area.
Two important aspects of missions will receive increased
attention thanks to Janis Ranck. Peace
and justice concerns and initiatives will be given more exposure in our
congregation. Also, we have asked
Jan to make us more aware of ways, individually and as a congregation, we can be
better stewards of God’s creation. If
we are serious about ministering to physical needs locally and around the world,
we must be more concerned about caring for the environment in which people live.
From time to time through the years, we have sent
individuals and teams to work with MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service).
Most recently, Ray and Betty Hertzler joined a group from other churches
for a week of service in Florida, repairing hurricane damage.
Ivan Lehman will continue communicating needs and coordinating efforts in
support of MDS projects. Here, as in other areas of missions emphasis, we are
reminded of St. Francis’ admonition: “Preach the Gospel always, and when
necessary use words.”
I’m not sure there can be sweeter music to any team
leader’s ears than, “I don’t know what’s needed, but I’m willing to do
whatever!” Ben Powell has
had missions experience in Holland and Jamaica and has a heart for sharing
Jesus; our team is blessed to have his background and his “will do”
attitude.
Three support teams are already fully involved in the work
of missionaries from our church. Dave
and Nancy Moyer, Nate Landis, Christina Moyer, and Pres and Carolyn Nowlin are
on the Missionary Support Team for Ron, Regina, Hannah, Jeremiah, and Bethany
Shultz, serving in Cusco, Peru. Don
and Janet Benson, Louie and Helen Burkholder, Bill Iazzi, and Glen and Carol
Landis comprise the MST for Ed and Doris Ranck;
Gene and Pat Hertzler and Frank and Debbie Vaughn form Donna Wyatt’s
team. The Rancks and Donna serve
with We Care Prison Ministries in Alabama. The
Missions Team will help communicate and coordinate the efforts of these three
groups as together we promote the wider mission of the church.
To borrow once more from Christianity Today, we embrace a “vision of the church as a community
called to participate in God’s mission in and for the world” (56).
The Missions Team counts on God’s love and the Holy Spirit’s power to
equip us for this crucial and exciting journey.
By Carolyn Nowlin