South Central Mennonite Conference PO Box 564 Hesston, KS 67062 .620.327.4187

a Regional Conference of Mennonite Church USA

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Journey@McPherson celebrated their fifth anniversary on Sunday, January 28, with thanksgiving to God and a fellowship dinner of soups and pies. In its beginning the church met in rental space in the local middle school with a trailer load of furnishings to set up and tear down every Sunday morning. They have since bought and substantially renovated a former grocery store one block off Main Street in downtown McPherson. A current focus is the development of children’s and youth ministries including an after school arts and music program that runs Monday – Thursday. Current pastoral staff in the picture are Zach Batson, Worship Pastor; Howard Wagler, Lead Pastor; Kevin Wilder, Associate Pastor; Jim Ostlund, Campus Pastor; and Josh Wardle, Youth Ministry Intern from Central Christian College.

–Clarence Rempel- Regional Conference Minister

https://sccmenno.org/2212-2/

Eden Life Launch Needs

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Eden Life Church was able to purchase a building from the Assembly of God as a meeting place for their church at 4233 Independence Ave in Kansas City, Missouri..  The nine families that are helping with this church plant provided the down payment with some help from “friends of Eden” and the sellers are providing financing.  Eden’s goal is to start a multiethnic congregation for immigrants from Ethiopia and other African countries as well as second generation immigrants and Americans.  The building has an attractive sanctuary that will hold 160 people on the second floor and classrooms and a small kitchen on the first floor.  The plan is to officially launch the church on March 25, 2018.  At the present time they are meeting at the building and they are trying to prepare for the official start of their church.  They plan to have an English service at 9 am, an Amharic service at 11 am and a service in the language of the Anouk people in the afternoon.  They have announced two pre-launch services which they are inviting people to attend on November 26 and January 7.  
Omot and Hanna Aganya and their children are the church planters for Eden Life Church.  They report that they need a number of things to help them be more successful in officially starting church on March 25, next year.  They would like to have the following items available in either new or in good condition.   If individuals or Sunday School classes would like to help with these needs, you can give the funds to South Central Conference and they will be forwarded to Eden Life Church.  Thank you for your support and prayers.
  • projector  ~ $1,000 new
  • laptop computer      ~ $500
  • screen     (There is a possibility that one will be made available for them)
  • Web site and Facebook (if purchased it will be about $1,500; is anyone able to help them?)
  • banner and new church sign   $500
  • A mailing to everyone in their zip code would be about $1,000.  (They have more contact with Ethiopian people, but they want to let English speaking people also know about the English service).
–James Wenger

Eden Life Church Purchases Ministry Space

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On September 28, 2017 Eden Life Church in Kansas City, Missouri closed on a church building where they can worship and reach out to their community.  The church is located on Highway 24 in the east central part of Kansas City at 4233 Independence Ave, 64124.  In the next few weeks, the members will be painting and fixing the building and a new roof will be installed.  Church planting Pastor Omot Aganya believes that this building can help them reach people of Ethiopian, Sudanese and other African backgrounds living in that area.  Some of the services will be held in the native languages of the immigrants, but Omot intends to also have an English service for English speaking immigrants, second generation immigrants and Americans.  His vision is that they will be able to reach people of different ethnic groups and that they will be able to worship together in the same building.  South Central Conference is supporting Omot half time for up to three years as a church planter.  Eden Life Church purchased this building with seller financing.  Continue to pray for God’s protection and guidance for this new witness.
James Wenger

Harvey

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“My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever” (Psalm 145:21)

I cannot stop saying God is good and praising God! Watch for God is what I always say. On Thursday, I spent the day preparing my apartment expecting the worst and had decided to stay put in Corpus. On Thursday a couple I met, Steven and Selene Lopez, who had moved to Corpus from Brownsville and since become friends, invited and graciously opened their home for me to stay with them and ride out the storm together . I packed and went to stay with them. The news was reporting the worst, storm going up to CAT4 and on Friday the storm moved north 30 miles from Corpus and hit Rockport, TX where it cause so much damaged. Corpus did sustain some damage (fallen trees and power outages) but not as bad. I came home Saturday afternoon.  I had no power and water coming in through the sliding door.  My car wouldn’t start but God had been good! Some people still don’t have power and rain is still in the forecast for the week. Please continue to pray for the coast of Texas as Harvey lingers. My family and friends in Houston are suffering the flood.
I hope that I can get together with others and go help people in need. I feel the Lord has blessed me, and I want to pass on the blessing He gave me to others!!
Thank you for keeping me in your prayers, I felt the presence of God around me having so many people praying for me! God is good! Watch for God, He is on the move!!
Your sister in Christ.
–Grace Tijerina (pastor Community of Friends church plant in Corpus Christi, TX)

 

Note:  Prince of Peace Mennonite Church, another SCC congregation in Corpus Christi, sustained fairly substantial damage to their building from the storm.  Pastor Felipe Almodovar and Church Secretary Raquel Almodovar are in the process of assessing the costs and resources to repair this damage and working with SCC Regional Conference Minister, Lupe Aguilar.  Some financial assistance will be needed and we will communicate these needs as they are finalized.