Jesus Stories: Inspiration for the Road Ahead

Across ONMB we long to see folks asking how they can make disciples of Jesus in the social realms they inhabit. Through an initiative called Power Serve, Darren Milley is doing just that! This ONMB-sponsored Missional Expression is seeking to equip truckers as disciple-makers across the industry.

Camp Crossroads is starting a Gap Year discipleship program this fall! Christie & Andrew Hiebert join us to share how God is calling Camp to disciple young adults in small cohort setting with Bible study, servant leadership, multicultural experiences, travel and mission.

Do you know someone who would be a good fit?

Why MB? This key question was addressed by Kristal Toews at the national EQUIP Conference in October. This was one of two plenary sessions that Ryan Jantzi and many others found to be particularly inspiring.

Why Church? This key question is addressed by Ken Esau, CCMBC National Faith & Life Director at the national EQUIP Conference in October. This was one of two plenary sessions that Ryan Jantzi and many others found to be particular inspiring.

The ONMB Board has appointed Trevor Seath as our new Executive Director! Trevor will start this role on January 22, 2024.

Listen in to hear Trevor's heart, how God has led Trevor to this point and the gifting, experiences and vision he brings to leading ONMB.

Trevor has been closely connected to ONMB for many years now, most recently through his work with C2C Collective. Trevor is a credentialed leader with ONMB and has served as a church planting coach, confidant, friend, and spiritual leader to many across our province. Trevor brings a passion for raising up disciples who make disciples and a strategic vision born out of over two decades of ministry leadership in the local church, church plants, and diverse missional expressions.

Episode Links

Join Derek Klumpenhouwer, Pastor with WMB Church as we discuss how to nurture cultures of justice across our churches. Derek is clearly passionate about the fullness of God's good presence being manifest among his Bride.

Join Ken Esau, National Faith and Life Director with CCMBC as we discuss how to nurture cultures of truth in our churches. Ken also offers a nuanced perspective on Ch. 9, reminding us that the motivations of parties pursuing truth aren't always known to others and even themselves. It's a rich conversation!

Join Michelle Knowles as we discuss how churches can avoid "institution creep", keeping the shepherding of people as the focus. Michelle serves as the ONMB Board Chair and is a pastor of Adult Ministries with WMB Church in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Join Derek Klumpenhouwer of WMB Church and Jordan Duerrstein of Scott Street Church as we discuss how to nurture grace in our churches. We long to be communities that mutually give and receive the gifts of God.

Why do narcissism and 'power through fear' dynamics take root in some church contexts? How can we identify these dynamics? How can we mitigate them? How can we form cultures of goodness across our churches? Join Connie Maier and Ryan Jantzi to discuss Chapter 2, Early Warning Signs of a Toxic Church Culture.

Connie is a Pastor of Outreach and Implementation with Glencairn Church in Kitchener.

How do we foster cultures of goodness across our ONMB leaders and churches? This is the question we'll be asking throughout 2023 as we engage in A Church Called Tov by Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer.

Join Matt Ehresman of USMB Lead Pods for this conversation, getting to know Bruce Enns, the recently appointed general director of Multiply. 

Bruce has years of local church leadership experience after his time as an MB pastor with Forest Grove Church in Saskatchewan. There have been lots of changes within Multiply over the past few years, but on this episode we get a peek into Bruce's heart for ministry and his vision for this next chapter of Multiply's work around the world.

Much thanks to Matt and Bruce for permitting us to use this LEAD Pods interview for Jesus Stories. 

What does leading God's people amidst a foreign invasion look like? Meet Pavlo Lozynsky. 

Pavlo is a church planting pastor with God's Design Church in Lviv, Ukraine. Following several years in the Niagara region, as a member of Southridge Community Church, Pavlo responded to God's call back to his homeland to share the Gospel. He offers insight into the challenges his people face, the way God is at work, and casts a vision of hope for the future of Ukraine. 

Would you consider supporting Pavlo and his family in their ministry through prayer, finances or building relational bridges? You can contact him to receive his regular newsletter. Pavlo is in Canada through November and is looking for opportunities to engage with churches and leaders.  Contact Pavlo at: p.lozynsky@gmail.com.

You can support his ministry at the following links:

The time is ripe for having spiritual conversations with our neighbours! Using a guiding philosophy of "pray & obey" Sandra Reimer follows the Holy Spirit into new territory, creating spaces for the diverse people around her to discuss life and spirituality. Sandra is driven by a desire to see people meet Jesus!

What if we actually tried to live like Jesus did? What if we oppose the tenets of Christendom? What if we took Jesus' call to peacemaking to heart?

These are a few of the questions that have inspired Chris Walker on his journey to becoming an Anabaptist Christian. As Mennonite Brethren, what does it mean when we say we're Anabaptist? Why does it matter? How do we fit into the broader Christian church? Chris offers the unique perspective of one who chose this expression of faith, rather than one who was born into it. 

We live in a time when many are facing housing affordability challenges. Listen in on how God led Doug Valerio and Ray Gerard together toward a creative solution. The values of generosity and financial discipleship expressed in this episode point to a true Jesus Story... and the cool piece is that the story is already multiplying!

Obed Rod of the Jesus Network shares how God is at work among Afghan people in the country, in refugee camps and here in Canada. It's remarkable how goodness is springing up amidst horror. God is using Obed in significant ways to share the Good News and to lead people to freedom both spiritually and physically.  

Find out how you can help, particularly through enabling Refugee Sponsorship. 

Show Links:

All churches say they want to engage their community. Southeast City Church is among the few who do it well. After years of steadfast and gracious presence, Southeast City was invited to support their neighbourhood amidst covid-19 by establishing a food bank. As a result, doors have been opened to express the Good News of Jesus in new ways. 

Any other leaders find it challenging to listen for the voice of God for yourself, rather than only on behalf of your church? 

If so, the discipline of Spiritual Direction is for you! Listen in as Sarah Patterson, a Spiritual Director and Instructor with Tyndale Seminary specializes in the role of Direction in the formation of pastors. Sarah is a member with Scott Street MB Church in St. Catharines where her husband is the Lead Pastor.