Hope for the Future 2024 attendees. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
Learn more about the Hope for the Future 2024 honorees here. See the online photo album here.
Joanne Gallardo. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
“Do we know what it means to remove chains?” asked Joanne Gallardo, co-conference minister for Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference at MC USA’s 11th Hope for the Future conference on Feb. 9-11. Gathering in Dallas, Texas, 70 Black, Indigenous and people of color considered the theme, “Breaking Chains, Mending Walls,” which centered on Isaiah 58.
“Every year, we’re trying to see where we are as a church. Reading the times and trying to find a message of hope for us,” said Sue Park-Hur, MC USA director of racial/ethnic engagement. Park-Hur shared how the passage resonated with members of the planning committee – Marco Güete, Abby Endashaw, Mahlet Mamo and Ana Hinojosa. “In times of difficulty and traumatic times, we look to rituals and ancient practices to help us be rooted,” said Park-Hur. “And Isaiah 58 reminds us of the heart of these rituals.”
One of three worship speakers tasked with unpacking the theme, Gallardo focused on practical applications, challenging listeners to consider a kind of prayer that moved from words into action.
“It’s risky: removing chains and dismantling unjust systems,” Gallardo said, reflecting on examples, such as the peaceful protestors demonstrating for a ceasefire in Gaza and those who marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement.
Abby Endashaw. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
Stepping into the role of storyteller, Endashaw, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) summer service national coordinator, engaged listeners in a story of transformation. Her early experiences of Dallas, Texas, as a college student was of “spiritual and social isolation.” She spoke about how, at that time, she “found in Dallas an expression of faith that was not embodied in community, diversity or service.” Her story then shifted to one of reconnection to self, God, community and the city – all fostered through her introduction to peace theology, which helped her “reunite with God in a way that affirmed [her] culture.” Through her work with MCC, she recently returned to Dallas with a renewed vision and commitment to serve with a more holistic model of service. She ended by inviting listeners to tell their own stories, posing the parting question, “what has been your journey to true worship?”
Steve Chun. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
Rounding out the weekend, Steve Chun called listeners into deep study, revealing layers of depth to the text. “Isaiah 58 calls us to something radical,” said Chun, a member of Pasadena Mennonite Church in California. Drawing attention to mentions of Sabbath, Chun asked listeners to consider that it “is a disruption to the entire system of production. …Sabbath is rest for the entire community.”
Speaking into the silences
“You are historians,” declared Felipe Hinojosa, professor of history at Baylor University. In his two-part keynote address, Hinojosa invited attendees into a dialogue about the importance of naming: people and their legacies.
Felipe Hinojosa. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
Of the stories told, some included Maria Rivera de Snyder, an advocate for women’s rights, and Mennonite leader Seferina de León. In stories like de León’s, Hinojosa addressed the importance of social location, saying, “When we do church history, it’s never separated from the context we’re coming from.” He showed a picture of de León wearing a traditional Mexican skirt, pointing out how important that moment was as a reclaiming of culture because it “at one point would have been looked down upon by white Mennonite missionaries.”
In the specificity of each story, Hinojosa demonstrated how many had reclaimed their cultural identities, breaking the chains of assimilation and erasure. “All theology is contextual. The way that we understand God should be rooted in our own experiences.”
The discussion continued with a focus on the MC USA Historical Archives in Elkhart, Indiana. “The Archives is a space of silences,” said Hinojosa, noting the lack of representation in the materials on people of color. “It’s a space of marginalization. It’s a space where our stories, people that are most marginalized, are often left out.” He then urged attendees to begin filling in the gaps by documenting their own stories, histories and legacies that could be contributed to the archive.
Preparing and persisting
Hope for the Future 2024 honorees are: (top row) Bishop L.W. Francisco III, Elder Wilma Redbird, Maria Hinojosa, Eduardo “Lalo” Hinojosa, (second row) Roy Williams, Esther Hinojosa and Conrado Hinojosa. Top photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
Friday night, attendees gathered for a gala held in honor of community elders who emphasized the interconnectedness of generations. (Read about our honorees here.)
“These people who we’re honoring are folks who have spent a good amount of their lives investing in their communities, investing in their churches,” said Endashaw as she introduced each one. “And, so, we thank you for the sacrifices and the time that you have given to building, uplifting your community.”
Elders reflected on the wisdom they gleaned from their years of experience and crafting it into advice to pass along to those coming up behind them. Elder Wilma Redbird shared about how she encourages her great-grandchildren to attend church and learn about God, and Bishop Francisco offered advice he gives to young pastors, urging everyone to “trust God, learn how to make quality decisions, and remember and prepare for the elder in you.”
Eduardo and Maria Hinojosa also reflected on their years of ministry, with Maria sharing the advice to “keep on doing your work for Jesus.” Though they were unable to attend, Conrado Hinojosa, Esther Hinojosa and Roy Williams received acknowledgment and appreciation as well.
“You are the future. You are the hope. You are the ones we have been waiting for,” said John Powell, one of the honored elders from last year who was unable to attend. His pre-recorded video played to a rapt audience as he spoke these concluding words: “Have yourself a lot of fun, but also be surprised by what God is going to do.”
Considering our contexts
On Saturday, attendees had the choice of three different learning labs. Through “God’s People on the move,” Ana Hinojosa engaged participants in an interactive exercise that immersed them in stories of migration, from Biblical to contemporary contexts.
Lynette McIntosh-Madrigal. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
In “Ministering to Gen Zs,” Lynette McIntosh-Madrigal of Willow Ave. Mennonite Church, Clovis, California, invited participants to “embrace the generational change.” Participants first reflected on the influences that molded them before learning about the unique traits of Gen Z, like a strong affinity to technology and a deep care for diversity and justice. Madrigal left everyone with the advice to “lead with love” when interacting with the Generation Z people in their lives.
Iris de León-Hartshorn. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
Offering resources to help navigate conflict, Iris de León-Hartshorn, MC USA associate executive director of Operations and director of Human Resources, guided participants through two case studies and helped them recognize their role on a leadership, mediation or grassroots level. Naming the fears people might face, de León-Hartshorn helped participants make an important distinction between those “we have no control over” and “fears that we actually can influence or control.”
Equipping and encouraging
The final day of the conference provided space for equipping everyone for the journey home. Around the room, pastors and leaders stood up to receive prayers of encouragement, and all participants were invited to the front to be anointed by Marisa Smucker, executive director of Mennonite Mission Network, and Hyacinth Stevens, executive director of MCC East Coast.
Hendy Matahelemual and Marina Setyati leading worship. Photo by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.
Students also had the chance to speak about their experience. “Being here has made me realize how there is such a wonderful community that is supportive of each other,” said Eastern Mennonite University student Genesis Figueroa, “and it made me appreciate being Mennonite a little bit more.”
Throughout the weekend, Pastor Hendy Matahelemual and Marina Setyati of Indonesian Light Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, led worship, and as the conference concluded, voices lifted in the verses of “Great is Thy Faithfulness, leaving the conference on a fitting note: “Strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow.”
Written by Elisabeth Ivey for Mennonite Church USA.
Lea la versión en inglés aquí.
Photos of attendees at Hope for the Future 2024. Photos by Juan Moya, Anabaptist World. Used with permission.