Celebrating 500 Years of Anabaptism While the theme of this issue—liminality and communitas—may seem like a strange, modern-day idea, it is actually a defining characteristic of the early Anabaptist movement (even though they didn’t use the same words to define it). A movement or a people that embodies liminality and communitas is one that embraces risk as a community together, dedicated to pursuing the Gospel mission. We see this unity… Read More
Communitas: An Essential Practice for Movement By Rodney Martin The word “communitas” is not one we use on a regular basis. Perhaps we have never even heard of this word. And now LMC is using it, and it can seem strange and alien. This strangeness does not diminish the significant meaning that communitas has for LMC in being a Spirit-led, disciple-making, Jesus Movement. To be a movement necessitates a church culture… Read More
Juntos en Misión Escrito por Mercedes Thomas Aceptar el riesgo y el desafío con los demás Conocí a Jesús a los dieciocho años sentada en el suelo polvoriento de un centro de retiros. Había empezado mi primer año de universidad deprimida, sola y buscando un sentido. Y ahí es donde Jesús me encontró, en un momento crucial de mi vida en el que miraba hacia atrás a lo… Read More
On Mission Together Embracing Risk and Challenge with Others By Mercedes Thomas I met Jesus at eighteen sitting on the dusty floor of a retreat center. I had started my freshman year of college depressed, lonely, and looking for meaning. And that’s where Jesus found me, at a turning point of my life where I was looking back at what my life had been and looking forward to… Read More
LMC Awards Education Grants In 2024, the LMC Grants Committee awarded 33 students $16,833 for their educational journeys; 13 are STEP students. In addition, four congregations received grants for ministry projects from the Ministry/Pastoral Health & Wellness Endowment. To learn more about LMC grants, visit lmcchurches.org/lmc-grants/ 2024 grants included
The Eucharist and Giving by LMC Stewardship Team Eucharistia is a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving,” and within the Christian tradition, there are several ways giving has been and can be expressed. When we share in the eucharist, or communion, the act of giving can remind us us to reflect on the themes of Christ’s sacrifice and apply those themes to our personal call to service and to the local… Read More
Maranatha Christian Fellowship Congregational Profile District:To be determined Location:Reseda, California Date of founding: 1987 Pastor:Sunoko LinHe leads this multi-ethnic congregation with a mission goal of serving God’s purpose and being a witness to the San Fernando Valley. Average Sunday Worship Attendance:70 Worship Service: Sundays 10:15 AM I have served as the bi-vocational pastor at Maranatha Church in Reseda, California since April 2006. This Indonesian church aspires to become a… Read More
South Central: A New District of LMC Twenty-three congregations from Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas recently formed the South Central District of LMC. These congregations were formerly part of the South Central Mennonite Conference. Kurt Horst will serve as the interim Bishop in the new affiliation. A list of the congregations can be found on the LMC website at lmcchurches.org/about-us/governance/
Pastor Retreat with South Central District On November 6th, Louis Kabamba, Adalberto Santiago, Glenn Kauffman, and Rodney Martin flew into Wichita, Kansas for a pastor’s retreat with the new South Central District. Sixteen congregations were represented, including churches in Kansas, a congregation from Colorado, Spanish churches from south Texas, a mostly Native American church from New Mexico, a Congolese church from Wichita, and an Ethiopian church from Kansas City. This diverse group… Read More