ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) — Karla Minter and Grant Miller began working with Mennonite Mission Network in early September and have already jumped in to their roles of building relationships with congregations.
On the Friday of their first week at Mennonite Mission Network, they traveled to North Carolina for a departmental retreat where they learned about their new ministry and visited Raleigh Mennonite Church.
“I appreciated hearing about [the congregation’s] passions and interests in the local community,” said Miller, who is doing his second year of Mennonite Voluntary Service serving as an associate intern of Mission Network’s Church Relations department.
Karla Minter attended the church in the early 1990s. On this return visit, as an employee of Mission Network, she understood the church’s history.
“It is a joy to see how a culture for mission and service is continuing through the generations,” said Minter. “A parent who served in Mennonite Voluntary Service shared about his child’s interest in taking a gap year for service.”
Minter graduated from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 2012, after deciding to pursue a call she felt toward Christian formation, or the process that leads us to desire what God desires.
Previously, she had worked in public health nutrition, specializing in maternal and child health. She received a Master’s degree in public health from University of North Carolina and received her Bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition from Goshen (Ind.) College.
“I got involved in lay leadership, helping with adult nurture and worship, and I wanted to know more,” said Minter. “I have a passion for Christian formation in congregations. I like to learn how a church is encountering God in their worship and community life, and how it shapes their call to work in their community and in the world.”
She’ll connect with churches in Central District, Illinois, Indiana-Michigan, and Ohio Mennonite conferences.
“I’m excited to work with congregations, worship and fellowship with them, get to know their congregational stories, and meet with pastors, congregational leaders, and groups in the congregation doing mission,” said Minter.
Minter lives in New Paris, Ind. She currently worships with Open Table Mennonite Fellowship, an emerging house church in Goshen.
In her free time, Minter enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Bill Minter, especially biking, cross-country skiing, and canoeing. She also likes to quilt and read.
Last year, Grant Miller participated in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Seattle. He served at Legal Action Center, a small law agency that works with tenants going through home evictions. Miller interviewed clients and then worked with the attorneys as the client went through the legal process.
“It was an inspiration to work one-to-one with professionals who chose a vocation that seeks to help and heal the world instead of seeking personal prestige,” said Miller.
In his role with Church Relations, Miller will focus on connecting with urban churches and churches with young adults.
“I’m excited to work in the church and continue to engage with congregations about how we are the church together, and bear witness to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ,” said Miller.
Miller is a 2013 graduate of Goshen College, where he had a double major in history and peace, justice and conflict studies.
In his free time, Miller likes to read, play piano, listen to music, and hang out with friends. He attends Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship (Goshen).
“I’m excited to have two new people on the Church Relations team because we learn from each other,” said Sandy Miller, director. “In many ways, we do the same work in relating to pastors and congregations, but everyone’s training and life experiences add value to how we do it, and it helps us talk about how we can do it better.”
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
