Far From God to a Relationship with the Father by Steve Campbell I am the pastor at Zion Mennonite Church in Birdsboro, PA. Last year, I began a membership class with a few folks who were interested in journeying with us. One young woman shared deeply with us about her life choices that took her far away from God. During our discussions, the Lord prompted me to keep sharing with the larger group about… Read More
Be the “Thin Space” By LMC Stewardship Team The “thin space” is a beautiful place where people feel that heaven and earth are very, very close together. Perhaps it originated with the Celtic tradition, brought into attention in 2012 by New York Times Travel columnist Eric Weiner. However, it is now used to describe a spiritual space where one is close to God and is connected with the concept… Read More
2025 Garifuna Evangelical Mission Annual Assembly by Keith Blank and Felixa V. de Kunkle We had the privilege of being a part of the annual assembly of the Evangelical Garifuna Mission (EGM) last week, March 6–8. EGM is a network of sixteen congregations spread across the US who are also a part of the LMC movement. This was our first time connecting in this way. We felt like we were a part of… Read More
Mosaic of Grace Church Congregational Profile District:Blue Ridge Location:Harrisonburg, Virginia Average Sunday attendance 45 Worship ServiceSundays at 10:15 a.m. Pastor:Mike & Risha Metzler Mike and Risha are co-pastors/church planters of Mosaic of Grace Church in Harrisonburg, VA. They enjoy God’s gift of life with their children: Hannah, Joel, Toby, and foster daugter. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it… Read More
Bishops Retreat at Camp Deerpark LMC hosted a retreat for our Bishops from October 25–27. The beauty of Camp Deerpark provided the backdrop for Bishops and LMC staff to reflect and tend to their vertical relationship with God and their horizontal relationships with each other. This Spirit-filled time of rest, connection, and prayer is one we won’t soon forget.
Newly Credentialed Leaders Orientation, 2/1/25 by Sherri Martin Have you ever encountered a question that stayed with you and made you pause and deeply reflect? During our recent Newly Credentialed Leaders Orientation, Bishop Hyacinth Stevens asked a thought-provoking question about what heaven on earth might look like. I envisioned a recent time I volunteered at Blessings of Hope, a wonderful ministry focused on bringing hope to our communities by connecting… Read More
New LMC Staff: Mercedes Thomas Mercedes Thomas joined the LMC staff as the new Communications Director in October. Mercedes is excited to help LMC communicate our mission, vision, and values in clear and engaging ways and find new ways to connect cross-culturally and cross-generationally. She has her BA in English and Communications and an MA in Ministry.
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