Welcome Pastor Cal

Illinois Mennonite Conference is excited to introduce you to the second of our new three member Conference Minister Team.  Cal Zehr began his role as a member of the team on November 1, 2024. He most recently engaged in ministry with Willow Springs MC, Tiskilwa, as their pastor for the last 33 years.  Cal has served in many IMC roles over the decades including the Church Life Team (Leadership Commission) and Missional Leadership Team.  He served as the IMC Moderator for six years.
Cal’s other pastoral experience includes Associate Pastor of Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen, Indiana and The Indiana Michigan Mennonite Conference Youth Minister.  He served on the MSUCA Leadership discernment Committee as well.
He grew up on the farm outside of Manson, Iowa and remembers significant nurturing of faith in his family, Manson Mennonite Church and the IA/NE Conference.  At first Jesus was expressed around him in many ways.  Then, in Cal’s faith decisions, Jesus was in his life as Savior.  Later Cal says, “Jesus is life” in the faith journey as “Jesus is Lord.”  Cal’s wife, Carol, grew up near Sterling, Illinois.  They have four adult daughters.  One in Newton, Kansas, one in NW Ohio and two in Northern Indiana along with three grandchildren.
Jesus’ loving and entering into our world keeps Cal inspired and motivated to live in the purposes and mission of God in his ministry and day to day journey.  Cal expresses that the Spirit of Jesus is alive for us to share His Light and expand the Reign of God as individuals, congregations, IMC and MCUSA. “I look forward to the wisdom of the Spirit guiding the Conference Minister Team to work with IMC congregations and leadership in the years to come.”  That is our hope for IMC, too. We pray that, as this team forms and utilizes their gifts and passions, IMC will be shaped by bonds of connection that unite, or re-unite, us in our stated purpose together.
Join us in welcoming Cal to help equip, support, and encourage us to speak and live God’s reign through our congregations and ministries. He joins our two other CM Team members, Bryan Miller (began on September 1) and Eric Potter beginning in a couple of months.

Installment at Mennonite Church of Normal

This past Sunday, September 15, Lauren Satchwell was installed and licensed toward ordination at Mennonite Church of Normal. Lauren serves 1/4 time on the pastoral team with Kevin Chupp and Lynette Miller. CDC Conference Minister Doug Luginbill and IMC’s Bryan Miller led the service.

The picture credit belongs Paula Luginbill.

Conference Ministerial Team Announced- Welcome Pastor Bryan

 

The Missional Leadership Team would like to inform the Illinois Conference churches that three IMC pastors have agreed to serve Illinois Conference churches as a Conference Minister team.

Bryan Miller, Eric Potter, and Calvin Zehr will collaboratively serve IMC churches in the conference staff position of Conference Executive Minister. This team of pastors will be collectively responsible for providing the leadership and function of a Conference Minister. Each individual pastor is not responsible for every responsibility of a Conference Minister.

Although a team of pastors sharing Conference Minister responsibilities is not something new in MCUSA, it is a new arrangement for Illinois Mennonite Conference. It is understood that this approach will involve a degree of trial and innovation.

The search committee of Richard Gehring, Debra Sutter, and Darrel Miller recommended these pastors for this arrangement and the MLT has developed a Memo of Understanding with this team of pastors. Each pastor will serve on a quarter time basis. Bryan will begin September1; Cal begins November1; Eric’s beginning date is yet to be determined.

Churches, of course, will receive the necessary details about how this will initially work as they are determined.

We trust that the Lord’s Spirit is leading us in this step of service in God’s kingdom.

We thank God for the gifts given these leaders and their willingness to serve.

 

IMC Missional Leadership Team

Peoria Rescue Ministries is now PATHWAY MINISTRIES

Peoria Rescue Ministries is now Pathway Ministries.

As we look to clearly communicate our mission and vision for those in need, we have taken on a new name and identity. Our commitment to guiding individuals out of poverty into progress through the love of Jesus remains the same.

Pathway Ministries simply and beautifully describes both what we do and how we do it. We create pathways from poverty to progress through Jesus. The arrows themselves speak to paths – a Biblical concept that all point to the centrality of the cross and wholeness of Jesus.

Addressing Poverty:
A Whole-Person Approach

Poverty stems from a disruption in four fundamental relationships: with God, Self, Others, and Work. We all experience these broken relationships in a sinful world. We believe that only Jesus can truly renew and restore these relationships within us — leading to transformation that goes beyond material needs.

Nepali Ministry – November + December

Jaimashi, dear prayer partners and friends,

I trust this email finds you well. I want to express my sincere gratitude for your unwavering prayers and support for our Nepali ministry. Your encouragement has been instrumental in the progress and impact we’ve been able to achieve.

As a token of appreciation and to keep you updated on our activities, I have attached the Nepali Outreach Ministry Activity Report (Nov-Dec 2023_ Activity Report). This document provides an overview of our recent initiatives, milestones, and the positive outcomes we’ve experienced.

Should you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to reach out. We value our partnership and look forward to keeping you informed about the ongoing developments in our ministry.

Thank you once again for standing with us in this journey.

Peace,

Olak Sunuwar

Ten Thousand Villages opening in Peoria Heights

Hello friends!

As many have heard, after serving the Champaign-Urbana community for 38 years SelfHelp Village Crafts, Inc. (dba Ten Thousand Villages Champaign) is expanding to Peoria Heights! After learning that Global Village would be closing after operating in downtown Peoria Heights for 20+ years, we felt called to action. Our mission is to bring artisan products and stories to communities through long-term fair trade partnerships. We want our communities to have access to these fair trade products and stories and feel strongly about continuing efforts to bring these to Peoria Heights.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the sales of products help us pay our operating expenses (which we do our best to keep minimal) and help us place consistent orders with our artisan partners. Volunteers have been at the heart of our operations since we opened in 1985. They are our most passionate supporters, who love spending time surrounded by beautiful products and sharing our fair trade stories with customers. We couldn’t do what we do without volunteers and are hoping you will consider joining us in Peoria Heights!
Our store hours in Peoria Heights will be Tuesday-Saturday 11-5 (and 12-4 on Sundays in December). Volunteers will be asked to work two 3-hour shifts per month with two time options (11-2 or 2-5 and 1-4 on Sundays). We welcome you to volunteer more than twice a month if you are able, but it will not be required! Shifts will be self-scheduled through a SignUp Genius calendar and can be regular or spontaneous each month, depending on your schedule and preferences. We will have a paid staff person in the shop as well, so no one will have to work alone. As we get established, we hope to expand both our hours and our volunteer opportunities to offsite sales, educational events and speaking engagements.
Our soft opening is planned for October 19, 2023. We are looking for volunteers willing to be trained and ready to start shifts by late October. If you are ready to jump in, you can email me your availability for October 23-31 and we can set up a time for training!
Please reach out to me with any questions about volunteering or the shop and feel free to forward this email to any friends and family members you think might be interested! We are grateful for your consideration of this opportunity and look forward to seeing each of you (in any capacity) at our new store soon!

—

Emily King 
Executive Director

Ten Thousand Villages Champaign

217.352.8200