October 1stMCBC Pastoral Highlight
Andrew Haak - Level Ground Mennonite Church
5 Fun Facts About Andrew:
1. Marie and I have been married for over 20 years and we have four children (Joelle, Conrad, Nadine and Shenae) spanning from elementary to high school age.
2. I grew up on a dairy farm and thoroughly loved it, though grass and cow allergies made it clear i was to go in a different career direction.
3. Because our first child (Josiah, 2007-2009) was born with a rare and complicated condition, I have a random assortment of dormant medical knowledge such as how to clean and change a trach.
4. The most nerve-wracking job I have ever had was running a dilapidated tractor-operated Zamboni once a week for a year while I was in Bible college.
5. My kids think my dad jokes are actually funny (most of the time).
A Quick update from LGMC:
It's been an exciting start to fall as we have in recent weeks kicked things off with a Community BBQ, welcomed four people into membership and celebrated a child dedication! Youth and children's ministry are returning to regular rhythms and our midweek Journey Groups will also begin to find their groove in the weeks ahead.
Through the course of the year we have been having intentional conversations related to the future of our building and property. We are fortunate to be in a season of health and stability which allows us to patiently, creatively and collaboratively look ahead and discern how God is leading us to be a welcoming community of grace and transformation for years to come. One practical step we are taking this fall is to assess the state of our building and property, which will greatly inform our conversations and decisions going forward.
Looking further ahead into the fall, one notable thing that LGMC does differently is that we include our budget meeting as a part of our worship gathering. We believe that participating in the business of the church is an act of worship, so for the last few years we have in November taken a Sunday morning to host a worship gathering that is styled as a lively and relational 'family meeting' around tables. For the most part, this has been really well received by our church family as it encourages more people to be involved and aware of what's going on. And this change has come with an unexpected added bonus: it's been our experience that visitors and newcomers who attend that day actually appreciate this approach because it allows them to see what we are all about as a church.
To our beloved family of churches: thank you for your prayers and partnership in Christ!
grace,
Andrew Haak
pastor of Level Ground Mennonite Church
Community Formation & Discipleship