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

a Regional Conference of Mennonite Church USA

Journey Baptisms

By

In recent Sundays 17 persons have been baptized at the three Journey Campuses.  Eleven were baptized at Journey McPherson including adults, college students and youth.  Four were baptized at South Hutchinson and two at the Yoder campus.  McPherson adults baptized include persons with little or no Bible knowledge or church since childhood.  Two men’s and 3 women’s study and discipleship groups are meeting along with discipleship mentoring and a missional community.  After 3.5 years Journey McPherson attendance has averaged 173 since Christmas.  Jim Ostlund is pastor.  Pray for their search for an associate to help with worship.

Marion Bontrager RCM

Herold Mennonite Celebrates 100 years

By

On Dec. 6, 2015, Herold Mennonite Church celebrated the 100th anniversary of the church sanctuary with songs of praise and a message entitled “What Do These Stones Mean?” by former pastor Eugene Thieszen.  After a time of fellowship over a carry-in dinner, the afternoon service focused on the history of the church with skits, pictures, and stories.  The sanctuary was dedicated on Dec. 5, 1915.  On that day, there were 3 services with numerous speakers.  If these walls could talk, they would tell of over 5,000 Sunday services, revival meetings held, missionaries sent out, lives changed.

The history included the adding of a basement, the education wing, and then the family center.  A time-line of the history of pastors, missionaries, and important events was put up in the family center by Jane Janzen.

–by Marilyn Harms

Inman Community Food Pantry

By

The Inman Community Food Pantry, initially called The Food Bank, was started in 2003. The 7th and 8th grade “God Squad” Sunday School Class was studying tithing.  In order to help them understand the concept of giving 10% back to God, the teachers said they would match the 10% the students earned and gave during the summer. The teachers were surprised and pleased when they needed to match $500.00. There were 13 students in the class who then decided to use the money to begin the Food Pantry. For a number of years the students and teachers would go shopping and fill the Pantry shelves. At that time the Pantry was mostly used by people attending Bethel Mennonite.
The Pantry has since become an outreach of the Inman Ministerial Alliance and is under the direction of Bethel Mennonite Church.  Goods are replenished by food drives in the community and also from businesses in McPherson County. There have been very few times that the pantry was low on food. Cheese, butter and pizzas are purchased and requests are sent out for hamburger from the congregation. It is staffed by volunteers from the church.
Forty-one families or single homes were served in 2015 and the goal is to find ways to continue to better serve the community. God is blessing the Food Pantry and in return the organizers want to bless the community.  There is current need for 4 people to work one Thursday afternoon per month from 2 pm -4 pm for the next three months. This need is urgent so that the Food Pantry can remain open. If you can volunteer, contact Shirley Kroeker at 620.474.1708. Thank you.

Mt Pisgah re-visions for the future

By

The Mt Pisgah Mennonite Church is re-visioning their life and mission in their rural community of large farms in northeast Missouri.  With young people moving away they need to reach out into the community.  It is one of the oldest Mennonite Churches, and only conference congregation, in the state. They have a regular attendance of about 50. John Thomas is a the part time pastor.

-Marion Bontrager
Regional Conference Minister