May 28, 2012 issue
‘Listen and learn’ concept key to working together
By Sheldon C. Good Mennonite World ReviewPage:
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NEW ORLEANS — As Mennonite Disaster Service winds down its seven-year recovery effort here, it is connecting local Baptist pastors with regional and national Mennonite groups.
Pastor Aldon Cotton, a member of the Faith Based Consortium, speaks to an MDS delegation: “We want to reintroduce Christ to the community.” — Photo by Sheldon C. Good/MWR
Alongside repairing and rebuilding homes, MDS workers and staff have built significant relationships with about a dozen pastors, many of whom participate in two local organizations: Faith Based Consortium and Churches Supporting Churches.
As a result of a retreat held by the Faith Based Consortium and Gulf States Mennonite Conference, the pastors of the consortium and Churches Supporting Churches are asking for a continuing relationship with Mennonites.
“These pastors, who have been through so much, are looking for people to walk alongside them, to support them, to listen to them, to learn from them,” said Leonard Penner, a former MDS community worker for New Orleans.
Penner served with MDS from 2007 to early 2012, living the first year in New Orleans with his wife, Lorena. The rest of the time he worked from his home in Millersburg, Ind., and traveled back and forth to New Orleans.
Penner led a tour May 15-16 to connect some of the local pastors — who shared parts of their faith stories — with representatives of Gulf States Conference, Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Mission Network.
All of the Mennonite groups expressed interest in exploring partnerships with the pastors and the two organizations with which they participate.
The Faith Based Consortium is composed of seven pastors who have connected with MDS for years now. MDS rebuilt homes for two of them. More recently, the pastors asked MDS for leadership training.
With the support of MC USA and Mission Network, Gulf States Conference is exploring how to respond to the consortium’s invitation. One idea is for Gulf States to hold a retreat next year for pastors from the conference and the consortium.
“I was very impressed with the energy and vision of the pastors from the consortium,” said Glenn Myers, chair of the Gulf States Conference Leadership Commission. “I think Gulf States pastors and pastors from the consortium could all learn a lot from each other by sharing their stories.”
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Comments
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Please support our efforts to complete our multi-purpose building by purchasing a copy or copies of the book " Beat away the Buzzards". All proceeds from the sale of the books will benefit the " WELL." There is so much work that we must do for our community so your support will be greatly appreciated by all especially the Jerusalem Church Family.
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This is truly an effort of Love. The Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church is founded upon love and has worked hard to evangelize this community based upon the foundational principles. This is a community with a great need and we would like to lead in the efforts of meeting the needs of this greater New Orleans up town community. The efforts and help from organizations mentioned in the article as well as anyone else who can join in by buying a book or sending a donation is greatly appreciated.
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Our Mission is to Honor God in all we do by providing the word of God and to walk in obedience to His word. We are striving to create a caring and responsive environment that will nurture all individuals in their growths and to foster a meaningful community relationship. Any donations or purchases of the book would be for the sole purpose of building or Muli-Purpose bldg. God Bless and Keep you....
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thank you lord, this is a testimony we as jerusalem family to tell later in life that god is good keep the faith and he will never let our jerusalem family down, we need to get back in our building to support the neighbor hood and show the that god is good.
thank you lord for your blessing.
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God uses people to minister to people. Thus, He is using the members of the Jerusalem Baptist Church family not only to minister to one another but to the community of which it is a part of. We of the Jerusalem family diligently strive to live by the two greatest commandments. "love the Lord thy God with all..., and love thy neighbor as thyself". Therefore we solicit your support buy purchasing one of Pastor Cotton's book and by making donations toward the rebuilding of our edifice. Thaks in advance for your support and may God continue to shower you with His grace and mercy.
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