| "Year 1 of STEP challenges students with a class that, for some, can feel like a swimming pool on a frigid day. Each year, at least half of STEP participants have never preached a sermon, so the pulpit assignment can feel as unwelcome as taking the swimming plunge in the cool of spring. Occassionally, a student may make a compelling argument for why they should be exempted from the assignment, but generally we encourage STEP students to push past their fears and trust our faithful God.
Year after year, preaching instructor Joe Garber and I motivate students to take the preaching plunge. We recall our own early days when the waters of preaching felt as frightening and uninviting as our students experience it, and we remember the courage it took to jump in the pool. And every year, Joe and I see God fill our students with courage and watch in amazement as they experience God equipping them for what feels like an intimidating task.
Every student takes a turn presenting a video of themselves preaching in a congregational setting. The STEP students give encouragement and affirmation to one another, as well as gentle constructive critique. I am continually amazed at the insights students offer to one another, calling out and affirming the unique gift and voice each one brings to the pulpit.
Joe and I are thrilled each time we watch the Holy Spirit empower a student to preach. Inevitably, they discover the waters are warmer than they expected and, most of all, they discover the Lord Jesus with them in the water, upholding, empowering, and equipping them to proclaim God's Word."
Tom Eshleman
STEP Oversight Commission, Chairman | | | Share Your Story
Story-telling is powerful; after all, sharing the Gospel—the greatest story of all—is at the heart of what we do as Christ-followers. If you have a story related to LMC, we'd love to hear it! Share online at our website. | | | Apply to STEP for Aug. 2025!
STEP is a three-year, non-traditional ministry leadership training program. Over the three years, students journey together in a cohort-model. Upon completion, graduates earn 30 undergraduate credit hours from Eastern Mennonite University. For more information, visit our website. | | | Save the Date – Fall Leadership Assembly
We are working hard to plan and prepare for our Fall Leadership Assembly held on September 24–27. Sept. 24–25 will be a two-day APEST resourcing event, and the 26–27 will include local tours celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Anabaptism and a Saturday leadership assembly with a plenary speaker and breakout workshops. We will NOT be hosting a Spring Leadership Assembly this year. Registration coming soon. If you have any questions, please email information@lmcchurches.org. |  | |  | Office Equipment for Sale
We've done some spring cleaning and found a few items we no longer need. All are lightly used/like new quality. Please reach out to information@lmcchurches.org for prices and additional information. | |  | The Global Leadership Summit – Hosted at Weaverland
Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community is thrilled to be a host site for The Global Leadership Summit August 7–8. This two-day, world-class leadership event is designed to equip and inspire individuals, churches, and organizations to build a culture of servant leadership.
Register before May 8th for a discounted cost of $149 (price will then increase to $169). Discounted rates are also available for teachers, nurses, EMTs, and students ages 14–23. Register at weaverland.org/gls.
Please feel free to share and promote this opportunity with your congregations. Attached here is a flyer, a postcard, promo with more information, a power point slide 4.3 for standard screen, and a power point slide 16.9 for wide screen. | | | Survey for Mennonite World Conference Nyah Tinsley, LMC's Young Anabaptist delegate to the Mennonite World Conference, is welcoming more responses to her youth/young adult survey. Please forward this survey to the young people (13–30) in your LMC congregations. And please join us in praying for Nyah as she prepares to travel to Germany and Switzerland in May.
English: https://forms.gle/8o7r9xYTeenM1XA26
Spanish: https://forms.gle/RouUDRSis1grVrL79 | | | Trinity Youth Choir from Ontario, Canada
The Trinity Mennonite Youth Group from Ontario will be presenting at First Mennonite Church in Middlebury, IN on April 26! This is an evening you won't want to miss. The program begins at 7 p.m. For more info, check out this flyer. | | |  The LMC community is in a season of growth! Since 2018, we have welcomed 133 new congregations into our conference. Despite this, donations over the years have remained about the same, and are now beginning to decrease. Would you prayerfully consider joining us in being a Spirit-led movement and donating to LMC? We are grateful for the opportunity to continue ministering alongside you. | | | From Our Resource Partners | | Apply to Advance Are you or do you know a young adult who may benefit from Advance? EMM's gap-year experience is open for applications! Participants will receive hands-on, cross-cultural discipleship training in Lancaster, PA before serving on an outreach team in one of EMM's priority regions around the world. Learn more about Advance by going to emm.org/opportunities/advance. | | | Call for Volunteers Friendship Community is looking for volunteers! Volunteers help Friendship Community accomplish their mission of empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. To learn more or sign up to volunteer, contact their development team at 717-656-2466 or email development@friendshipcommunity.net. | | | 'They Went Out from Us' To commemorate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism, Mennonite Life is offering a limited-time exhibit titled 'They Went Out from Us:' Zwingli and the Radical Reformation. It will be on display from May 6–June 7 in the Mennonite Life Library. Learn more at mennonitelife.org/events. | | | Online Exhibit: Pincushions Mennonite Life presents its first online exhibit! This interactive, online exhibit includes close-up photos and detailed information about dozens of pincushions in the Mennonite Life collection, as well as a recorded presentation from Curator Emily Immel. View the exhibit at mennonitelife.org/learn. | | | No Longer Alone Support Group Landis Communities will host Brenda Long, former Executive of No Longer Alone Ministries, for a presentation. A time of sharing will follow. Held on April 27 from 3–5 p.m. at the Calvin G. and Janet C. High Learning and Wellness Center at Landis Communities. For more info, email jalbright@landis.org.
Presentation on Addiction & Older Adults On May 14 at 1:30 p.m., Landis Communities is hosting Dr. Ming Wang for a presentation on addiction in older adults and how we can support them on the path to healing. This presentation is sponsored by Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning at Landis Communities. Register by April 15 by calling 717-381-3577 or go to thepathwaysinstitute.org/lancaster-county. | | | ¿Quieres recibir las Noticias de LMC en Español? | | | ¿Quieres recibir Noticias de LMC en español? ¡Haga clic aquí para registrarse! | | | | | |
