College Mennonite Church Ministry Groups

Conexiones
Conexiones relates to Central and South Americans and Central and South American refugees in a way that promotes cross cultural understandings and communications. Since 1993, the group has developed a link between the El Salvadoran community of Los Calles, in Chalanternango province, It also oversees CMC’s sister relationship with Justapaz—the Mennonite-related human rights and peace and justice organization in Bogotá,Colombia. These relationships serve as a means to develop and promote personal understanding of the Central and South American issues.

Deaf Ministries Committee
Deaf Ministries Committee is involved in sponsoring Sign Language classes, planning an annual retreat for families with hearing impaired members, sponsoring quarterly ecumenical deaf worship services, and developing a resource library.

Hunger Concerns
The Hunger Concerns Ministry Group brings awareness and action to the issue of hunger by educating the congregation about hunger issues, raising a voice of advocacy to local and national leaders, and by initiating hunger awareness activities at College Mennonite Church.

Interfaith Hospitality Ministry Group
Interfaith Hospitality Ministry Group coordinates CMC partnering in this coalition of 12-15 in the Goshen community, including College Mennonite Church, who each open their facilities three to five weeks annually to host homeless families in the evenings and overnight. IHN has a day facility and office that families can go to during the day. College Mennonite Church’s IHN Coordinating Ministry Group relates to the larger network and coordinates CMC volunteers needed for the weeks we host families. http://www.nihn.org/index.html 

Jail Sisters
Jail Sisters’ mission is to provide support for the spiritual well-being of women incarcerated in the Elkhart County Jail. They provide monthly times of worship for the women at the jail, listen to needs and pray with them, support through visitation, and follow up after release as needed. Jail sisters also provide child care during visiting hours and educate the congregation with increased awareness of the needs and hopes of incarcerated women.

Jubilee Fund
The Jubilee Fund can be drawn upon to assist people outside CMC needing temporary financial assistance. Many small groups, Sunday school classes and neighborhood groups have a representative on the Advisory Council.

Mennonite Disaster Service
Mennonite Disaster Service Ministry Group keeps the congregation informed of the activities and needs of Mennonite Disaster Service. MDS brings attention and service coordination to areas that experienced a disaster such as flood, fire, tornado, and other catastrophic events. It sometimes also coordinates local projects and is overseeing CMC’s partnership with the Pearl River, Slidell, Louisiana communities in providing post hurricane clean-up, repair and encouragement.
http://www.mds.mennonite.net

Mennonite Women
Mennonite Women meet monthly for a variety of outreach projects many related to MCC. These include quilting, assembling MCC kits and special projects.
http://www.MennoniteWomenUSA.org

Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale
Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale is a yearly event to raise funds for the support of the worldwide relief program of the Mennonite Central Committee. CMC has several adult Sunday school classes that oversee particular areas of this event, the Das Dutch Haus, homemade ice cream and the Ten Thousand Villages booth.
http://www.mennonitesale.org/


Peace Center Ministry Group
The Peace Center Ministry Group educates CMC about peace and provides peacemaking activities and opportunities for congregational members. It also provides an office space for fledgling peace and justice groups in the area.


Seniors for Peace
Seniors for Peace is a grass roots organization for Seniors who are interested in participating in personal and public efforts to further the cause of peace. The CMC chapter helps sponsor JustPeace Seminars, writes letters and make phone calls to our legislators, and provides materials for conferences, working at peace in light of our understanding of Christ’s mandate.

The Vocations Task Force
The Vocations Task Forceoversaw a 2005 survey of CMC members and is now assessing the results of that study.