p a n o r a m aCelebrating with the people and congregations of Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference F A L L 2013

inside... 2

Immigrant moderatormarks a turning point

for PSMC

3

A Southwest launchfor Anabaptist church

planters in Korea

4

‘Circles’ reach outto society’s

biggest outcasts

6

Advocating for ourundocumented

brothers & sisters

9

A Fresno artist’s‘Menno PopSurrealismº’

Investing our ‘talents’A big ‘yes’ from delegates means PSMC will diginto savings to sow the seeds of church growth

At Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference’s abbrevi-ated assembly in July, delegates voted 95% in favor ofthe conference’s new Mission Policy –– and to use an

injection of reserve funds to invest in growth over the nextthree years. The spending plan marks a bold step forward thatconference leaders hope and trust will lead to more and biggercongregations, stronger giving and more stable funding infuture years, to be used for expanding our witness and servingthe purposes to which God is calling Mennonites in theSouthwest.

At the February assembly, the board asked delegates toapprove new positions at a cost of approximately $225,000 tohelp create a “fully functioning staff”: a half-time minister ofmissions, a quarter-time youth minister and a quarter-time sec-retary, to supplement the current positions of conference min-ister, office administrator and bookkeeper, as well as the net-

work of elders that offer their time to work with smallerclusters of congregations.

After receiving positive feedback at that meeting, the boardhired the conference’s first paid youth minister. John Murray,of Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Ariz., took up thoseduties this spring.

The board also proposed setting aside $100,000 to invest inchurch planting and $65,000 to develop an Anabaptist Center,while maintaining a reserve of $160,000.

Delegates, saying the plan shows common sense, faith andstrategic thinking, encouraged taking a “step of faith” to trans-late the $500,000 total investment into people, programs andcongregations, while accepting the possibility that some pro-grams may need to close at some point. One invoked the“parable of the talents,” suggesting that the conference hasbeen sitting on many “talents” for some time and should beinvesting them. There was a note of caution, though:Delegates noted that new churches typically aren’t able to startgiving in any substantial way to the conference for manyyears, and it was suggested that leaders take a careful look atprogress over each of the next three years.

Delegates at PSMC’s abbreviated summer assembly in Phoenix join hands in prayer after taking a financial leap of faith.

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publication ofPacific Southwest

MennoniteConference.

Please help usshare what’s going

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Write to the editor,Doreen Martens, at:

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well as a diploma in personnel management from theAdministrative Staff College of Nigeria. He was one ofthe African pastors who, in cooperation with West CoastMennonite Central Committee, led a Nigeria LearningTour last year that brought together pastors fromCalifornia and their partners in Nigeria, MCC Nigeriaworkers and their partners, and PSMC leaders for aunique experience of “mutual learning.”

Fataunmbi expressed his gratitude to the delegates andto the leadership team, “who considered my God’s giftingadequate to serve as moderator for our phenomenal, envi-able and diverse conference.”

He recalled his late father, Joseph Adeniran Fatunmbi,“an astute teacher” who many years ago “sat me downand said, ‘Son, gratitude is the grandfather of all virtues.Therefore develop the attitude of gratitude and be thankfulfor everything that happens to you in life, because it willnot only bring you peace for today, but also creates adream and a vision for tomorrow.’”

Fatunmbi thanked churches large and small for theirfinancial contributions, prayers and other support, espe-cially as the conference has moved forward on itsAdvancement Plan. He pledged that the conference willinvest ever more strongly in meaningful support and rela-tionships with the 40 member congregations of PSMC,with hopes of adding to their number.

“Remember that life is always about seed and harvesttime,” he said. “As you have sown, we shall reap togetheras a united, prosperous and healthy conference, in Jesus’name.”

Choice of moderator a milestone for PSMC

Olufemi (“Femi”)Fatunmbi’s election this

July marked a significant turn-ing point for PacificSouthwest MennoniteConference: the conference’sfirst immigrant moderator.

In his acceptance speechat the July PSMC assembly, held in Phoenix just prior tothe church-wide convention, Fatunmbi noted that this wasparticularly significant in light of one of MennoniteChurch USA’s church-wide priorities, “which is to ‘seekto dismantle individual and systemic racism in our churchand develop intercultural competence.’”

“Let me applaud PSMC,” he said, “for taking a signif-icant lead in ‘intercultural competence,’ making history inthis regard by being one of the first conferences to appointan immigrant as their moderator. We have come a longway and paved the way for other conferences to followour shining example as we all journey together as‘Citizens of God’s Kingdom, healed by hope.’”

Born and raised in Nigeria, Fatunmbi, senior pastor atRoyal Dominion International Church in Los Angeles,has served in several capacities with PSMC, includingassistant moderator and chair of the Pastoral LeadershipCommittee. He is vice president of the African, Belizean& Caribbean Mennonite Mission Association, a PSMCConstituent Group, and has been involved in variousways at the denominational level. He holds a degree inmass communication from the University of Lagos as

By Femi Fantunmbi

It was one of the hottest summer weeks in the PhoenixDesert. Residents walked the streets half attired, manyimbibing cold water and pop sodas like a fish as they

trekked along highways. Yet thousands of people, oldand young, kept driving and flying in from various partsof the country for Mennonite Church USA PhoenixConvention 2013. The bounce in their steps and charmingsmiles despite the high temperature indicated that thepower of nature couldn’t stop these determined

Anabaptist folks who werecoming together to cele-brate their faith as Citizensof God’s Kingdom, healedin hope.

In this sweltering weath-er, the Africa Director forMennonite MissionNetwork, Steve Wiebe-Johnson, took the light railto Phoenix InternationalAirport to pick up the presi-dent of Mennonite ChurchNigeria, Bishop VictorIdorenyin Umoabasi, who

had travelled 24 hours from Nigeria to United States witha stopover in London.

Umoabasi was born in Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom Stateand holds a master’s degree in human development.Married and blessed with four sons, he was called intoChristian service in 1994 and ordained as a Mennoniteminister in 1996. He has served in various capacitieswithin the Mennonite Church Nigeria, including districtelder, pastor and diocesan bishop in Mennonite ChurchNigeria, Itam.

Umoabasi came at the invitation of Pacific SouthwestMennonite Conference and the African, Belizean &Caribbean Mennonite Mission Association (ABCMMA), a Constituency Group of the conference, withassistance from Mennonite Mission Network.

Sixteen months ago, PSMC and West CoastMennonite Central Committee, under the leadership ofexecutive director Sheri Wiedenhoefer, collaborated on ajoint learning tour to Nigeria with the intent of learningmore about the ministries and mission work of both MCCand PSMC Nigerian churches in the U.S. The tour wasunique in many ways, as a joint effort by the two bodiesas working partners, and geared towards understandingthe perennial religious riots in northern Nigeria. A thirdobjective was improving relationships between

Stronger bonds: Southwest hosts Nigerian Mennonite leader

Below: MennoniteChurch USA executive directorErvin Stutzman withBishop VictorOmaboasi andConference MinisterDick Davis.

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In July, Church for Others, the Korean-language Mennonite congrega-tion in Southern California, invited three Koreans who plan to plantchurches in their homeland to participate in the Mennonite Church USAconvention in Phoenix, and later to visit California for more trainingand commissioning for their pioneering work to build Anabaptist faithcommunities in Korea. For Hyun and Sue Hur, founders of the peace-building Anabaptist ministry ReconciliAsian, it was an opportunity toshare issues close to their heart with the wider church community.

Report and photo by Sue Hur

From July 1-6, 2013, over 4,000 people gathered in the blisteringPhoenix heat to participate in the bi-annual national conventionfor MC USA. Throughout the week, we wrestled with the theme

of what it means to be “Citizens of God’s Kingdom” and how we are tomove ahead “Healed in Hope.”

On July 3, Korean Anabaptists were given the opportunity to plan aLearning Experience. These Korean Anabaptists from Canada, Koreaand the U.S. gathered in the designated room waiting nervously. Wouldanyone be interested in a workshop entitled “Korean Anabaptism: aWitness for Peace”?

Apparently, people were.The room was packed with over 60 people who came to the workshop

eagerly wanting to hear what has been happening among KoreanAnabaptists. We began the workshop showing the film Memory ofForgotten War, which narrated the stories of North Koreans who nowreside in the U.S., but their heart longs for reunification and peace in theKorean Peninsula.

Then, we showed another film about Mennonite Central Committeeworkers who served in reconstruction of Korea after the Korean War.

We had not planned this, but discovered shortly before the workshop

that an ex-MCC worker who served in Korea was going to attend theworkshop. After the film was shown, we recognized and thanked himfor his service and sacrifice in the rebuilding. It was a moving momentwitnessing that the seeds of peace he had helped to sow in Korea haveraised up Korean peacemakers who were present in the room.

Next, Namshik Chon, from Dream Church in Daejun, shared aboutKorean Anabaptist Fellowship as well as the vision of plantingMennonite churches in Korea. Then, Hyun shared about the vision andmission of ReconciliAsian. Lastly, Hyungjin Pablo Kim shared aboutChurch for Others, the only Korean Mennonite church on the west coast.

After the three presentations, participants were invited to gather insmall groups and encouraged to write down important questions thatthese Korean Anabaptist ministries need to ask as they wrestle with theiridentity, calling, and mission. The conversations were lively and insight-ful. Palmer Becker, the author of What is an Anabaptist Christian? par-ticipated in the conversation around the table with Noel Moules of theAnabaptist Network in England and Rhoda Miller Blough ofEverence. Old friends like Jennifer Sensenig and Matt Hamsher, whohelped to initiate the formation of Korean Anabaptist Fellowship, werealso present, along with Kuaying Teng from MC USA Asian Ministries.

The Korean leaders felt deeply encouraged by this affirmation fromthe larger Mennonite community, and though their work could be diffi-cult and lonely as they trudge ahead, what they want to pursue is valu-able and meaningful.

The three Korean church planters who participated in the July assemblylater visited Southern California, where they joined Conference MinisterDick Davis’s class on “Leadership and Authority from a MennonitePerspective,” developed Accountability Plans and were commissionedand blessed by Church For Others, together with PSMC, to return toSouth Korea to begin new congregations. The plan is to partner withthem for a short time until they have five congregations, which willenable them to begin their own Korean Mennonite Conference, Davissaid. “I was pleased to participate in this historic event and felt a little bitlike the Apostle Paul, who responded to the vision he had about the callfrom the Man of Macedonia to come over and help (Acts 16:9).”

Visit reconciliasian.com to learn more. To support Korean AnabaptistFellowship, ReconciliAsian, or Church for Others, prayerfully or finan-cially, please contact reconciliasian@gmail.com .

Mennonite organizations and their ministries in Nigeria. These includeMCC Nigeria, Mennonite Church Nigeria, Church of the BrethrenNigeria (EYN), Mennonite World Conference, Mennonite MissionNetwork, and PSMC congregations with links to Nigeria.

Both PSMC and MCC Nigeria made it a goal to continue exploringways to strengthen relationships with Mennonites in Nigeria, which ledto the official invitation to Bishop Umoabasi to attend both the JulyAssembly of PSMC and the MC USA convention. According toUmoabasi, he received an unusual favor during his visa interview at theU.S. consulate in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital: he was given a two-year, multiple-entry visa. Delays in clearing customs and checking inforced him to miss the brief PSMC assembly, but he was able to attendthe opening ceremony of convention, where he was introduced duringthe delegates session the second day. During that intense week, he metwith Dr. Stanley Green, executive director of MMN, and his wife,Ursula, who had visited Nigeria several years ago to lay the foundationof a Bible School for the Nigerian Mennonite churches.

The newly appointed PSMC moderator, Pastor Femi Fatunmbi, assis-tant moderator Kathi Oswald and Conference Minister Dick Davis alsomet with Bishop Umoabasi and dialogued on how to sustain and moveforward relations between PSMC and ABC MMA. Later in the week,Ervin Stutzman, executive director of the denomination, and outgoingmoderator Dick Thomas also met with him. Umoboasi eloquentlyshared the vision of Nigerian Mennonites with the church leaders.

At the close of the convention, Wiebe-Johnson gave the bishop adesert ride to Palm Springs and finally to Los Angeles, where he haddinner with church leaders involved in the African, Belizean andCaribbean group.

Korean church planters enjoy a light moment at the Phoenixassembly. From left: Yongha Bae (Korea), Junho Han (Korea),Jina Im (US), Kyunchae Oh (Korea), Jinho Jang (US), JunggyuYang (US), David Kim (Canada), Sook Kyoung Park (Canada).

Bold Anabaptist vision for Korea launches ... here!

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By Clare Ann Ruth-Heffelbower

It is Friday afternoon on the first Friday of the month. Two men, Reedand Peter, arrive at Mennonite Community Church in Fresno to setup tables. Both men are registered sex offenders. They got to know

each other through Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA), areentry program for sex offenders who are returning to the communityfrom prison. COSA’s goal is to help create a safe community by assist-ing persons who have committed sexual offenses to become responsible,productive, and accountable members of the community.

COSA began in Fresno in 2007. It is modeled after the very success-ful program which originated with Mennonite Central Committee inCanada. COSA in Fresno began with funds from the CaliforniaDepartment of Corrections and Rehabilitation and is one of the serviceprograms of the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies of FresnoPacific University, with Clare Ann Ruth-Heffelbower as founding direc-tor. Working with two foundational principles—“No more victims” and“No one is disposable”—COSA forms groups of three to five volunteerswho meet regularly with one ex-offender, who is called the “core mem-ber”. This “circle” provides support for the core member and holds himor her accountable as he or she transitions back into the community.

Peter and Reed have each had a COSA circle for several years. Theyhave volunteered to set up for the monthly COSA event called “TheGathering.” One of the greatest needs of ex-offenders is to develop ahealthy social network. Not-unfounded fears of ostracism and rejectionoften lead them to isolate themselves. COSA circles provide one oppor-tunity to develop healthy relationships in a setting where they will notfeel judged. The Gathering is another opportunity to be with friends.

The Gathering addresses both social and spiritual needs. Many sexoffenders would like to attend church, but find it difficult due to restric-tions placed on them by parole or probation and uncertainty as to thewelcome (or lack thereof) they would receive from a congregation.Each Gathering begins with a meal, hosted by one of the circles.Volunteers and core members work together to prepare and serve themeal. Following the meal, a large cake is brought out to celebrate anymilestones of the past month — birthdays, anniversaries, getting offparole, getting a job — whatever there is to celebrate. Then the groupmoves from tables into a large circle. A few songs are sung. “AmazingGrace” and “Holy, Holy, Holy” are among the favorites.

The story of Dismas, the legendary name of one of the two thievescrucified on either side of Jesus, is incorporated in The Gathering. Whenone of the thieves mocked Jesus, Dismas replied, “Don’t you fear God?We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. Butthis man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus and said,“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesusanswered, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” At The Gatheringparticipants remember Dismas and are reminded that each of us is anoffender before God, forgiven through Jesus. Everyone joins together inthe Dismas prayer:

Dear God,In your mercy remember me and forgive me for the wrongs I have done.Set me free of my deep fears and resentments.Melt the hard places of my heart, andAllow me the grace toSurrender this day to you.

Then a person selected ahead of time tells a story of where God hasworked in their lives, sharing out of their “experience, strength, and

The GatheringCircles of Support and Accountabililty reach out to the truly marginalized

hope.” After responding to thespeaker in small groups, everyonegathers for a closing prayer andsings the Taize song, “Jesus,Remember Me.”

Volunteers, core members,and friends of COSA find TheGathering to be a meaningful event. Core members talk about being witha group of people where they won’t feel judged. The wife of an ex-offender says, “No one knows what it’s like. People judge me too. AtThe Gathering I’m accepted and don’t have to worry about what peoplethink.”

The Gathering allows all who attend to be real, to share their pain andtheir hope. At The Gathering, God’s presence is tangible with its healingpower. Those who attend leave refreshed and empowered for the daysahead. The Gathering is an expression of church that is different — to saythe least — but genuine.

Editor’s note:

Though the Fresno Circles of Support and Accountability programhas struggled with funding due to government cutbacks, it continues as aunique and valued contribution by Anabaptists to one of the most difficultfacets of peacemaking. While no such program can achieve 100% suc-cess, there is evidence Circles help prevent core members from repeatingtheir offenses while finding the friendship and support they so badly needwhen released back to the community. Circle members are truly the faceof Jesus to those most rejected and reviled in our society.

New volunteers and supporters are always welcome. To learn moreabout COSA circles and how they work, visit peace.fresno.edu/cosa/.There you will also find links to the COSA newsletter as well as a PBSdocumentary and a Christianity Today article about COSA.

If you can’t volunteer, you can show your support through a directdonation (see the link above) or by designating your Amazon purchases.

Gathering attendees, ‘coremembers’ and volunteers,enjoy a meal together, a timeof sharing, prayer and singing,and often celebrate birthdaysand other special days.

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Hopi Mission School has added seventh grade this year after sixth grade parentsexpressed strong interest in expanding the school’s presence in their kids’ lives. The smallChristian elementary school on Arizona’s Hopi Reservation, originally founded byMennonite mission workers at parents’ request more than 60 years ago, is valued as asafe environment with high standards and Christian values. Mennonite Voluntary Serviceworkers are prominent among its teachers. HMS celebrated Cultural Days Sept. 25-27,an event that included traditional dress, foods, demonstrations and a Clan Run. There aremany ways to support the school, including a special Arizona tax credit and designatingthe school as a beneficiary of your Vons, Pavilions or Safeway store card. To learnmore, see tinyurl.com/lvu4n9e or watch a student-narrated video at tinyurl.com/ozxtqnc

PSMC churches were outin full force at theSouthern CaliforniaFestival & Sale in May, insupport of MennoniteCentral Committee. Thesale carries on time-hon-ored traditions of an MCC“relief sale,” including aquilt auction, but gets anextra zest in SouthernCalifornia from the multicultural food onoffer –– including duellingchicken stands! Watch agreat video about the salenarrated by members ofPSMC churches attinyurl.com/l5y59ah

Photos courtesy ofTim Nafziger

Above, the Clan Run for younger grades. Right, painting traditional clan symbols. Below, learning the traditionalcraft of coiled baskets. Photos courtesy of teacherBecca Yoder.

Faith, hope and cultural pride

Fun, food and fundraising for a common cause

Prayers, voices and advocacy for our

Congressional fights over other matters may haveput immigration reform on the back burner thisfall, but the issue is very much alive for the

church, as was evidenced in the themes of the MennoniteChurch USA assembly in Phoenix in July.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, PSMC churches were invited tojoin in a day of prayer to remember, in ways unique totheir own context, our undocumented brothers and sistersin Christ. “Over the past years, Iglesia Menonita Hispanaand others within Mennonite Church USA have remind-ed us that significant numbers of people in our churcheslive with uncertainty because of their documentation sta-tus. These brothers and sisters are leaders, members andactive participants in our churches,” wrote ConferencePastor Dick Davis and Conference Mission Team chairSteve Penner in a letter to congregations. “We want ourundocumented and undocumentable sisters and brothersto know that they are fully accepted in our churches andin our conference.”

They leaders also encouraged churches to make use ofthe resources available through Mennonite CentralCommittee (washington.mcc.org/ issues/immigration)and to consider participating in the Interfaith ImmigrationCoalition’s Sept. 9-Oct. 18 fast as an expression of soli-darity with undocumented persons.

Back in May, two PSMC pastors –– Virgo Handojo,senior pastor at Grace Indonesian Christian Fellowship inSierra Madre, Calif., and Femi Fatunmbi, then PSMC’sassistant moderator –– were part of a delegation ofMennonite leaders who gathered in Washington, D.C., tomeet with congressional representatives to advocate forjust and humane immigration reform.

The delegation was co-sponsored by MennoniteChurch USA and the Mennonite Central CommitteeWashington Office.

“It was a historical event on many different levels,”Handojo said. “Personally, visiting Capitol Hill andknowing how our ideas and opinions can change the lawof the country was really a humbling experience.”

Iris de León-Hartshorn, director of transformativepeacemaking for Mennonite Church USA, noted thethree-fold importance of the delegation: it provided anopportunity for immigrant leaders to delve into the legis-lation and name concerns; it gave voice to immigrants,

who are directly affected by the legislation; and it spokedirectly into the legislative process through meetings withcongressional representatives.

Participants spent time in the MCC Washington Officelearning about the legislative process, with presentationson reform proposals and broader church advocacy oppor-tunities.

On the second day, delegation participants visitedoffices of the Senate and House of Representatives to lettheir representatives know what they would like to see inthe immigration reform bill and why. Handojo andFatunmbi met with staff people for California Sens.Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, and Rep. Judy Chu. “The initial training and coaching were excellent,enabling me to understand the real talking points in thebill,” said Fatunmbi, who also serves as vice president ofthe African, Belizean and Caribbean Mennonite MissionAssociation, adding that the lobbying role-plays led byMCC staff helped him to “face the officials and makeremarks not only with confidence but also respect andboldness.”

Handojo reflected on the experience: “At the commu-nity level, people become excited and empowered whenthey call their senators and representatives. Theologically,like the Ephesians, we learn to understand and deal ‘notagainst flesh and blood but against the rulers, against theauthorities, against the powers of this dark world andagainst the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’(Eph. 6:12, NIV). Often, this dark side of the system hasbeen manifested through the law and bills of the land.Thus, the event gave us opportunity to face and confrontthe structural sins of this land and strive for peace and jus-tice—to bring healing and hope not only for our commu-nity today but also for our generations to come.”

The immigration delegation was part of several initia-tives to encourage congregations to advocate for just andcompassionate immigration reform. On May 19, congre-gations, including PSMC churches, were invited to com-municate with their congressional representatives througha “Day of Prayer and Faxing” which kicked off “40 Daysof Scripture and Prayer” leading up to Mennonite ChurchUSA’s July assembly in Phoenix.

–– adapted from a Mennonite Church USAnews release by Annette Brill Bergstresser

A Washington delegation included PSMC pastors Virgo Handojo, second from left, and Femi Fatunmbi, right.

‘Personally, visiting

Capitol Hill and

knowing how our

ideas and opinions

can change the

law of the country

was really a

humbling

experience.’

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ur undocumented brothers and sistersP a n o r a m a

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By Emily Will

The green card that Francisca held in her hand for thefirst time on May 30 represented not only freedomto live in the U.S. legally, but also freedom from

fear that she would be separated by deportation from hertwo American-born daughters.

Francisca’s green card meant that her former husbandcould no longer threaten to turn her in to immigrationauthorities if she reported his abuse. Instead, she has apathway to U.S. citizenship. (The names of Francisca andher children have been changed to protect their privacy.)

Francisca migrated to the U.S. in March 1997 whenshe was just 21 working at whatever jobs she could get ––dishwasher or housecleaner.

She had a daughter, Sara, a year later, raising her as asingle parent until she married a U.S. citizen in 2006.When she became pregnant in 2008, her husband beganto abuse her verbally and physically. Once she gave birthto Ana, Francisca's husband threatened to have herdeported if she tried to leave with her daughters.

During a visit in 2010, Francisca’s father became wor-ried about his daughter’s safety and called the police.When they arrived, Francisca’s husband had already fled,but he was arrested a few days later. While serving a two-year sentence, Francisca’s husband continued to threatenher from jail, claiming he would obtain custody of Anabecause he was a U.S. citizen.

Francisca’s pastors referred her to Gloria James, theimmigration program coordinator for West CoastMennonite Central Committee in Upland, Calif., whenthey learned about Francisca’s history of abuse and herfear of being separated from her daughters.

When James heard her story, she knew Francisca wasa prime candidate for legal residence through theViolence Against Women Act (VAWA). This actallows undocumented victims of domestic violence, rapeor sexual assault by a U.S. citizen to obtain lawful status.VAWA exists, in part, so that abusers cannot use the vic-tim’s immigration status to prevent the victim from call-ing the police or seeking safety, according to a WhiteHouse fact sheet.

Francisca was able to apply for legal residencythrough the help of West Coast MCC immigration staff.James and her colleague, immigration staff associateCrystal Fernandez, who works in Reedley, Calif., guideimmigrants through the maze of U.S. immigration poli-cies.

West Coast MCC established the immigration pro-gram in the late 1980s at the request of Anabaptistchurches in California who worked with undocumentedpeople in and beyond their congregations. The pastorsand MCC saw the need to keep families together, toadvocate for just laws and to provide immigration educa-tion plus practical advice on specific cases.

The program is seen as “highly reputable,” said SheriPlett Wiedenhoefer, West Coast MCC executive director,especially since MCC immigration staff were accredited

by the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) fiveyears ago. This BIA recognition allows West Coast MCCto assist people in legal proceedings.

Francisca’s case was one of about 32 that West CoastMCC worked with in 2012 using VAWA or the petitionfor a U visa, which allows victims of violent crimes tobecome legal residents. Each case requires many hours ofwork and can take years to process, James said.Francisca’s case was active for two years.

Victims must provide exhaustive documentation,including police and medical reports, James said, and theprocess often re-traumatizes the women. Applicants arerequired to tell their painful story multiple times.

James often listens to difficult stories that reinforce theneed for MCC’s presence in the field. Many lack themoney or time to seek professional counseling. Throughreferrals to outside agencies, victims of crime canreceive counseling and services to assist them in healingfrom past trauma.

“This group of victims, our brothers and sisters inChrist, don’t often have the monetary resources or infor-mation they need to speak out. MCC is actingwith compassion to empower women, especially whenthey are the most vulnerable,” James said. “Everyoneneeds an advocate.”–– from a Mennonite Central Committee release

‘Everyone needs an advocate’: West Coast MCC

‘This group of

victims, our

brothers and

sisters in Christ,

don’t often have

the monetary

resources or

information they

need to speak

out. MCC is

acting with

compassion to

empower

women,

especially when

they are the most

vulnerable.’

CrystalFernandez,

left, andGloria James,

West CoastMCC immigra-

tion staff,work togetherto help some

of the mostvulnerable

immigrants.

Speaking up

If you’d like to learn more about the “Advocating for our

Neighbor” program and/or know somebody who needs help,

email West Coast MCC at westcoast@mcc.org . Gloria James

is based in Upland, Calif.

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First Mennonite Church Reedley had the opportunityto host new Mennonite Church USA moderatorElizabeth Soto Albrecht during her special journey

across the United States this summer. Soto Albrecht wasvisiting congregations that were not attending thePhoenix assembly because of Arizona’s laws targetingundocumented immigrants, and listening to the concernsand hopes of the diverse people who make up the church.

Reedley’s unique decision 17 years ago to beginmerging Hispanic and English-speaking congregations ––with different histories, languages, cultures, worshipstyles, theological understandings and socio-economicbackgrounds –– was particularly inspiring to SotoAlbrecht, who is a native of Puerto Rico. In an audio fileavailable on Soto Albrecht’s blog of her travels, journey-withelizabeth.com, she tells pastors Juan Montes andSteve Penner that it was a delight to meet sisters andbrothers from both language groups. “I felt that it wasn’ttwo congregations, but one trying to work together, so Iwant to bless you in this holy commission of making thiswork. It is going to be difficult; it has its challenges; butboth of you are so flexible, you think outside the box ––and that’s what makes this project fun on occasion, diffi-cult on others. Sometimes we can feel it goes out of con-trol, but God is here. I want to bless both of you to dreamand be an example for others –– this is the present and thefuture of Mennonite Church USA.”

The pastors were pleased that a number of new con-gregants were present at the evening gathering andseemed excited to learn what’s going on in the widerchurch. Soto Albrecht and her support group “lifted upand gave us a sense of the whole church we’re all part of,”Penner said. “For many of us tonight, this was all new,and it was kind of an eye-opener to learn how our particu-lar church fits within Mennonite Church USA.”

A visit was also arranged for Soto Albrecht and herhusband, Frank, at the fruit farm of members David andDorothy Boldt, to learn about their operations. The Boldtfamily, Soto Albrecht noted, “has helped more than 300immigrants to get their papers –– what a ministryindeed!”

Mennonite Church USA moderator Elizabeth SotoAlbrecht prays with Pastors Juan Montes and StevePenner, top, and visits, along with husband Frank,the farm of Dorothy and David Boldt. See more photos, videos and sound files from the moderator’stravels, which also include the Hopi Mission School,at journeywithelizabeth.com

National leader’s journey leads to Reedley

With the adoption of a new Mission Policy for the conference andthe promise of a strong new investment in mission activities,PSMC’s Conference Mission Team has a task ahead to help

guide how that money and energy is directed.CMT is an ad hoc group –– meaning anyone with an interest is wel-

come to attend meetings –– that periodically gathers at various locationsthat represent missional (and inspirational) activities in which Mennonitesare involved.

A new minister of missions, which the PSMC board hopes toannounce soon, will give leadership to the mission team, which will con-tinue meeting twice a year, with a coordinating group meeting a furthertwo times a year. A policy will need to be developed for disbursinggrants ($30,000 total per year) that PSMC plans to make available.

One priority for the conference now is creating a culture of church

planting. At an August CMT meeting held in Hollywood, MauricioChenlo, Minister of Church Planting for Mennonite Church USA, spokeabout the subject from a denominational perspective, suggesting that weneed to think much more outwardly –– planting churches for others, notjust those who are already committed, as in the “Mennonite fellowship”model. The West is particularly ripe for growth, Chenlo said. But weneed to discover what kind of models of church planting we will supportand encourage. Our “brand,” Chenlo suggested, could be as planters of“peace churches,” built on following Jesus, building community, andpracticing reconciliation.

PSMC Conference Minister Dick Davis said PSMC is at a criticaljuncture in releasing saved money for missional church planting, and thatleaders need to move forward with serious thought and prayerfulness.Several possibilities for church plants are arising in Southern California,

Conference Mission Team germinates a ‘culture of church planting’

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9

Chris Janzen, a musical and visual artist who is partof Mennonite Community Church in Fresno,exhibited some of his recent work, titled “More

Again Now,” at Fresno’s Fig Tree Gallery duringOctober: oil paintings varying in size from 6 inches to 6feet in height.

Janzen described his work to Donald Munro of theFresno Bee as “Menno Pop Surrealism.”

“I coined the phrase because I needed a simple name todescribe the dominant characteristics of my work,” heexplained. “Surrealism refers to the improvisational lay-ering I use to create my paintings, which borrows manyconcepts from the original 1920s art movement of thesame name. ... ‘Pop’ is used to describe the subject matterof my work. I choose images from catalogs, magazines,television and other commercial media for the sourcematerial for my paintings. ... ‘Menno’ is the Mennoniteviewpoint that separates my work from other Surrealist orPop artists. Surrealism is totally irrational and entirelyfocused on the artist. Pop art glorifies the ordinary mass-produced stuff that is cheap and meaningless. As aMennonite, I feel it is important to make art that helpssociety and has something unique to say that can’t bebought at a 99 cent store.”

Janzen teaches studio art courses and jazz guitar atFresno Pacific University. He’s a graduate of BethelCollege, a Mennonite college in North Newton, Kan., andhas a master of fine arts degree from the University ofSouth Dakota.

Music is an equally important part of his life, and dove-tails with his visual art. “I compose paintings the sameway I compose music. I improvise,” Janzen says. “Paint islayered on the canvas like a musician layers instrumentsin the studio. My experience as a jazz guitarist influencesthe colors, textures and shapes I use to create a finishedpainting.” Janzen often performs around town with hisFresno Underground Trio and contributes his musicalgifts to his church community, sometimes arranging andperforming jazz versions of hymns.

To read more of the Fresno Bee’s interview, visithttp://bit.ly/1csWVhq Chris Janzen, above, with the piece that graced the poster for his latest exhibit.

in the Hispanic, Indonesian and Korean communities, and there are otherpossibilities in Nevada and Arizona. As well, three church planters havebeen commissioned through Church for Others and PSMC to start newcongregations in Korea.

Then there are old relationships being revived, one being with the HopiMission School, a private Christian school originally founded byMennonite mission workers and still a location for Mennonite VoluntaryService workers, who come from around the country to teach there.While there is no formal relationship with PSMC, the school is seeking acloser connection. Trinity Mennonite Church is beginning a new rela-tionship with VSers to be their “local sponsoring church.”

The August CMT meeting was held at DOOR Hollywood, co-spon-sored by Mennonite Mission Network, which focuses on homeless min-istry, racial reconciliation, empowering kids and young people and

immersion in city ministry. Co-director Marvin Wadlow explained howDOOR brings together young people from diverse backgrounds:Dwellers are young adults who come to serve the community, up to eightpeople who live at the DOOR location for a year. Discerners are youngpeople who live in the neighborhood and work with DOOR. Wadlowdescribed two youths who were engaged this summer in an eight-weekintensive program where they wrote personal mission statements; nextyear, those participants will become leaders. Then there are participantsin the Discover program –– often church youth groups, who will stay fora shorter period of time to experience inner-city ministry and living.

The next CMT meeting, to which anyone interested is invited, will beheld on Thursday, Jan. 30, just prior to the Winter Assembly.

–– from a report by Pastor Steve Penner

Discovering ‘Menno Pop Surrealism’: Fresno artist’s work is suffused with faith

What’s the scoop?People and events

Get ready: the Anabaptist world is coming!Mennonite World Conference has announcedthe theme and program details for Assembly

2015, which will be held in North America for the firsttime since 1990. The 16th Global Assembly will be heldJuly 21-26, 2015 in Harrisburg, Pa. The theme is“Walking with God.” Just prior, July 17-19, 2015, the 3rdMWC Global Youth Summit (18+) will take place atMessiah College in nearby Grantham, PA. For completedetails visit mwc-cmm.org .

Jinah Im, Jung Gyu Yang and Hyejung Yum, allpart of Church for Others in Southern California,

and Brittany Owens, of First Mennonite ChurchPhoenix, are among 20 students who received scholar-ships for the 2013-14 educational year from MennoniteInsurance Services. Recipients of the $500 scholarshipsmust be members of a West Coast Anabaptist church, atthe junior year or higher, and have a GPA or 3.0 or better.The first three recipients are all students at FullerTheological Seminary, while Owens is a student atArizona State University West. “It is a privilege to helpleaders within our churches develop their potential. Aconsistent theme running through the recipients’ goals isservice, through medicine, education, or pastoral min-istry,” noted Jerry Linscheid, general manager.

“The military culture [in Korea] is dominant not onlyto Korean society but also to Korean churches. Thegospel of peace, what I have learned from Mennonite andJohn Howard Yoder’s books, is hidden treasure forKorean churches. Therefore, I would like to preach thevaluable gospel and to introduce the spirit and life ofMennonite for Korean Christians,” wrote recipient JungGyu Yang.

Mennonite Insurance Services and its parent,Mennonite Aid Plan, provide property insurance toAnabaptists on the West Coast. For more information onscholarships, visit mennoniteinsurance.com or theMennonite Insurance Facebook page.

P a n o r a m a

10Miracle of Faith Mennonite Church in Los Angeles

began its fall by inviting members to participate in a7-day period of fasting and prayer during the last week ofSeptember, the goal being to deepen their individual rela-tionship with God and seek direction for their lives andthe life of the church. Prepared by a sermon series earlierin the month, members were encouraged to take on a fastin whatever manner they chose, such as the “Daniel fast”(refraining from meat and dairy foods), while using thetime normally devoted to media and entertainment tofocus on spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship,guided meditation on the Word, and reflective journaling.Participants gathered on the Tuesday and Saturdayevenings for prayer and worship. For many, it was a fruit-ful week spiritually: members shared testimonies of phys-ical healing, restored relationships, financial favors andreceiving direction on important issues.

One of the big fields for ministry at PasadenaMennonite Church is the Peace & Justice

Academy, a multicultural Mennonite middle and highschool with a unique curriuculum that incorporates faithin action, founded by two educators who are members ofthe congregation. (One prospective parent who recentlytoured the school remarked: “Brilliant ... amazing ... youguys are going to change the world.”) Church members,many of whom have volunteered or taught at the school,also turned out before the fall term to help clean, repairand prepare classrooms, housed in a sprawling Methodistchurch. The term started, as has become a tradition at theschool, with the students making something together.This time, it was tie-dye! Now in its fifth year, the Peace& Justice Academy looks forward to granting its firstgraduation diplomas next spring. It has a policy of assur-ing that no Mennonite student will be turned away forfinancial reasons. For more information, visitthepeaceacademy.org . (Window photo by Joe Roos)Scholarship recipients Jinah Im, Jung Gyu Yang, Hyejung Yum, Britanny Owens

Did you know?

To encourage

congregations and

conferences to “spread the

peace” in and beyond

Mennonite Church USA,

the Peace and Justice

Support Network of

Mennonite Church USA

has small start-up grants

available. Grants of $1,000

will be given as funding

allows to Mennonite

congregations or

conferences for

projects based in the

United States; for church

initiatives; for witness,

reaching out, sharing the

peace; and to recipients

who will raise local match-

ing funds from individual

donors both within and

outside the congregation

to demonstrate local own-

ership and

commitment. Applications

are being accepted until

Dec. 5. For more informa-

tion, visit pjsn.org

currents for the service were nurtured by the long standingrelationship between Mennonite Community Church andthe Hmong community, as both have worked hard todevelop and maintain a bond of Christian unity,” reflectedConference Minister Dick Davis, who also took part inthe service along with Stan Friesen. There was also acommissioning for special ministry for Memee, whocontinues her ministry to Hmong women on a nationaland international level. This summer, the Yangs accepteda call to Hickory Hmong Mennonite Church in NorthCarolina, which had been seeking a pastor for three years.

On May 27,Mennonite

Peacemakers ofFresno offered apublic witnessagainst the U.S. useof drones to attacktargets in Pakistan,Afghanistan and theMiddle East with afull-page ad pub-lished in the FresnoBee, signed by morethan 200 people.

Titled “SupportLife ... No MoreDrones: AStatement &Petition,” the adcompares the sear-ing effects of eventssuch as 9/11 and theNewtown massacreto the psychologicalterror “our U.S.drones cause on all the peoples living below.”

“Our nation’s ever-increasing use of lethal drones toattack and kill people whom our government defines asenemy terrorists is a critical reason why hatred towardsAmericans is increasing,” it continues. “Farmers are keptfrom caring for their crops and children are kept fromattending school or running errands for fear of being hitby drone missiles. Can we begin to identify with the acuteinsecurity that our drones impose upon these humanbeings, our world neighbors, who live in fear of deathfalling from the sky?”

Nov. 7Mission Sunday

Nov. 9ReconciliAsian

fundraising dinner6:30 p.m.

6355 Oak Ave. Temple City, Calif.

Southern California

Nov. 2326th Anniversary

celebration4:30 p.m.

Maranatha ChristianFellowship,

Northridge, Calif.

Jan. 19Stewardship Sunday

Jan. 26Mennonite World

Fellowship Sunday

Jan. 30Conference Mission

Team gatheringSouthern California

Jan. 31-Feb. 1PSMC Winter

Celebration Assembly

Southern California

May 4Many Peoples

Sunday

May 12-15MC USA

Youth MinistryWorkers gathering

Kansas Cty, Mo.

June 21PSMC Summer

AssemblyArizona

P a n o r a m a

11

Milestones

eMembers and friends of Mountain View MennoniteChurch in Upland celebrated the many years of serviceof retiring Pastor Roger Richer on July 7, titling the event“Life Journey with a Good Shepherd.”

eA service of ordination was held for Pastor JulesMassamba Makanata and Sister Helen NzuziMfwilwakanda at Wholicare Community MissionaryChurch in Pasadena, Calif., on Sept. 1.

ePastor Hyung Jin (Pablo) Kim celebrated his licens-ing in a service in Sierra Madre, Calif., on Oct. 13. Kim isnow serving as pastor of Church for Others, theKorean-language congregation founded by Hyun and SueHur.

eJonah Yang, of Hmong New Hope MennoniteChurch, was ordained in a service May 26 in Fresno,Calif., led by Pastor Shoua Moua and MennoniteCommunity Church pastor Gordon Smith. The eventsmoothly blended Hmong and English languages, as wellas western and Hmong food. Yang is president of HmongMennonite Churches Mission in the U.S., while his wife,Memee, leads the women’s division. “I think the smooth

The ad challenges readers to believe, along with thesigners, that there is a better way, that our God is a God oflife and peace, that all violence that brings harm and deathis “terribly wrong.”

“Instead of more powerful weapons or more deadlymethods to destroy the enemy, we strongly urge ournation’s citizens to reach out to our enemies in ways ofhealing and assistance toward developing peaceful com-munities with a better life for all,” the ad says.

It ends by imploring the nation’s leaders to end the useof lethal drones –– “just a newer and particularly callousform for humans to inflict violence upon others.”

For more about Mennonite Peacemakers, visit peacemaking.us/mennos or the Facebook page at facebook.com/MennoPeace/info

Mennonite Central Committee is encouraging con-gregations to make 2013-14 a year to “talk peace,”

challenging the cultural norms that support militarism andviolent solutions. Through MCC, more than 30 speakersare available to help facilitate those discussions, as theydraw upon their personal and professional expertise withviolence and peace-building. The “Let’s Talk Peace”speakers bureau includes a recent conscientious objec-tor, MCC staff, professors, a musician and an artist. Inaddition, people who formerly served in the military, aphysician, mediators and those who have lived in themidst of violence in the U.S. and other countries are avail-able to lead discussions. A list of all the peacemakers,which includes our Conference Minister Dick Davis, isavailable at mcc.org/fearnot/speakers . In addition, MCCU.S. provides worship resources online, including sermonideas, children’s stories, prayers, readers’ theater piecesand even song suggestions at mcc.org/fearnot . For moreinformation on the “Fear Not: Seek Peace” campaign,visit mcc.org/stories/news/talk-peace-violent-world .

Conference Minister Dick Davis with Jonah andMemee Yang at the ordination service.

include spiritual practices, all from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective. The video segments contribute tothe discussions, using people from across the MennoniteChurch in North America sharing their faith as it relates tothe session topics. More information on Claiming Faithcan be found at the mennomedia.org online store or bycalling 800-245-7894. The DVD and book are availablefor $36.99.

PSMC Youth Minister John Murray has placed anumber of other youth ministry resources on the PSMCwebsite (pacificsouthwest.org). These include the YouthMinistry Road Trip, a collection of free resources offeredby Hesston College professors and students, includingBible studies, youth group lessons, spiritual disciplinesguides and tips for mentoring. If you have any questionsor concerns about how to implement these tools , contactMurray at johnmurray@pacificsouthwest.org.

What would it have been like forHagar, feeling alone and mis-

treated in the desert before she expe-rienced God’s provision? Or for themidwives Siphrah and Puah, whodeceived the Egyptian authoritiesbased on their fear of God? InCourageous Women of the Bible,author Linda Gehman Peacheyexamines a cast of unsung femalebiblical heroes, whose stories serveas models for doing the right thing and acting with faith.Commissioned by Mennonite Women, this book, whichincludes 12 sessions, is recommended for women’s gath-erings, Sunday school groups, retreats, or individual read-ing and inspiration. Available at $8.99, mennomedia.org

Building on the practice of earlyAnabaptists to discern the

Scriptures together instead of individ-ually, Dig In: 13 Scriptures to help usknow the way focuses more on per-sonal encounter with the texts than onscholarly study. The group studycomes out of Mennonite ChurchUSA’s “Year of the Bible” initiative;its 13 sessions focus on 13 texts thathave special meaning for Mennonites. The sessionsinclude video segments with personal stories about howpeople across the church have been affected by and inter-pret these Scriptures. A Leader Guide is available themennomedia.org at $29.99, with participant books just$10.99.

Students at Eastern Mennonite University inHarrisonburg, Va., together with Everence andLSS of Minnesota, have produced a series of

three videos to help prospective and current students andrecent graduates –– and their parents –– deal with thefinancial issues surrounding college. Students in thevideos describe preparing for college, dealing withfinances while in college and handling loans and debtafter graduating. The videos are available in English andSpanish at everence.com/college .

How can North Americanscome to terms with the lamen-

table clash between indigenous andsettler cultures, faiths, and attitudestoward creation? Showcasing avariety of voices, both traditionaland Christian, native and non-native, Buffalo Shout, Salmon Cry($21.99), edited by Steve Heinrichs,offers up alternative histories, radi-cal theologies and poetic, life-giv-ing memories that can unsettle our souls and work towardreconciliation. This book is intended for all who are inter-ested in healing historical wounds of racism, stolen land,and cultural exploitation. Essays on land use, creation,history, and faith appear among poems and reflections bypeople across ethnic and religious divides. The writers donot always agree –– in fact, some are bound to raise read-ers’ defenses. But they represent the hard truths that wemust hear before reconciliation can come. A study guideis available at heraldpress.com

Believing that it is important topass faith from one genera-

tion to another, MennoMedia haspublished a new resource:Claiming Faith: Youth Discoverthe Confession of Faith.Designed with both print andDVD components, this new toolwill help youth become familiarwith the Confession of Faith in aMennonite Perspective. The 10-session program alsooffers practical ways to live faith and reflection times that

PSMC contacts

ModeratorFemi Fatunmbimoderator@pacificsouthwest.org323-759-6608

Conference MinisterDick Davisdickdavis@pacificsouthwest.org214-608-6334

Youth Ministry LiaisonJohn Murrayjohnmurray@pacificsouthwest.org

Resource AdvocateBarbara Ewyabewy@cvip.net

Conference Office379 N. Campus Ave.Upland, CA 91786agneschigoji@pacificsouthwest.org909-243-5003

Panoramapanorama@pacificsouthwest.org905-829-9640

PSMC Website: www.pacificsouthwest.org

Facebook:facebook.com/PacificSouthwestMennoniteConference

News you can use: Resources for congregations

P a n o r a m a

12

Support for PSMCPacific Southwest Mennonite Conference gathers California,

Arizona and Nevada churches in partnership for leadership,

mission and congregational relationships. Giving by

congregations and individuals ensures that conference

ministers are funded, mission activities flourish, and

resources are available for church nurture. Donations may

be made via PayPal at www.pacificsouthwest.org/donate,

or mail to: PO Box 39038, Phoenix, AZ 85069