Signs of Life creates space for worship in Deaf culture

Kelli Yoder

MaryBeth and Chris Moore expected God would call them to use their training as nurses to go to impoverished places. So they were surprised in 2000 when they felt convicted to adopt Mynor, an 8-year-old from Guatemala who is deaf. “It was one of those things where if we hadn’t adopted him, it would have…

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Powhatan Mennonite celebrates 50 years

November 2-3 was an exciting milestone for Powhatan Mennonite Church, as we celebrated 50 years as a congregation and also dedicated our new addition, the Community Life Center. Our theme was “Remembering God’s Faithfulness: Reflecting on the Past and Looking Forward to the Future.” The weekend was filled with friends who came from far and…

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VMC Women’s Retreat focuses on ‘Familiar Blessings, Blowing Spirit’

Some 85 sisters considered the spirituality of our parents and grandparents and how we focus on Jesus today during the annual Virginia Mennonite Conference Women’s Retreat, Sept. 27-29 in Lynchburg, Va. Attendees came from some 20 VMC congregations. The retreat was held at the beautiful wooded Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center. Dawn Ruth Nelson, Mennonite…

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Durham Mennonites stand with immigrant neighbors

On a Saturday in June this year, members of Durham (N.C.) Mennonite Church were working together to paint, clean, and mow around the church property, when several police cruisers parked around the intersection in front of the church. Focused on our work at hand, we paid little attention to them until an SUV turned aside…

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Credentialed leaders meet for Confession consultation

Clyde G. Kratz

One hundred and twelve credentialed leaders and invited guests of Virginia Mennonite Conference assembled at Waynesboro Mennonite Church on Friday, November 8, to discuss the role and function of the Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective. This event was planned by the Leadership Enrichment Committee of the Faith and Life Commission and included times of…

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Mennonite Church USA Constituency Leaders Council meets

Clyde G. Kratz

On October 13, representatives from the twenty-one conferences of Mennonite Church USA gathered at Amigo Centre, in Sturgis, Michigan. Additionally, representatives from the Executive Board of MC USA, MC USA staff, key staff leaders from Mennonite Mission Network, Everence, and Mennonite Education Agency, as well as representatives from Constituency Groups were present. This gathering of…

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Bible Quizzing season will focus on Exodus

The 1994 tournament-winning team with Matt Trost, center. Courtesy photo

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “Let my people go!” If you immediately thought of Charlton Heston, long hair and bearded, you are not alone. He played Moses in the Hollywood movie telling the story from the book of Exodus. Many powerful images come from this book of the Bible: the waters…

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Grace Mennonite engaged in ‘missional service adventure’

Clyde G. Kratz

For the last five years, Grace Mennonite Fellowship, Lacey Spring, Virginia, has been developing relationships with people in Jonesville, Virginia. Jonesville is located in the most southern portion of Virginia near the Kentucky and Tennessee state lines. It has a population of about 1,030 with a median household income of $24,439. As part of the…

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Nominee for Moderator of Virginia Mennonite Conference

Elroy Miller photo by Lindsey Kolb, EMU

Elroy Miller of Harrisonburg, Virginia, was enthusiastically approved as the nominee for moderator of Virginia Mennonite Conference by Conference Council on Friday, October 18. The Gifts Discernment Committee, which has the responsibility to select the nominee, will make the recommendation to delegates for their vote at the Winter Delegate Assembly held on February 1 at…

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Conference embraces sustainable financial mission

Clyde G. Kratz

Virginia Mennonite Conference engages in the mission of providing vision and leadership to a network of missional communities that are located in Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Our ministry is encouragement, evangelism, faith building, peace-building, and witness. Our call is to live in unity as disciples of Jesus as we…

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