wfn.org | Urban leaders spread gospel of peace

[BethAH <BethAH@mbm.org>]

May 9, 2001
Beth Hawn
Mennonite Board of Missions
(219) 294-7523
<NEWS@MBM.org>
May 9, 2001

Urban leaders spread gospel of peace in Cleveland

CLEVELAND (MBM) – Nurturing urban leaders has long been a
priority for Lee Heights Community Church of Cleveland.  Now, two
leaders from this congregation, Robin Miller and Regina Shands
Stoltzfus, are working with Mennonite Board of Missions to offer
their gifts to the larger church.

Robin Miller has accepted a position with Ohio Mennonite
Conference as urban ministry director (UMD).  In this role, Robin
works to educate other churches and leaders from his own role and
experiences as a pastor at Lee Heights.  Regina Shands Stoltzfus
has accepted a part-time position with MBM as staff consultant.
She will continue to work with Miller as associate pastor at Lee
Heights, but will now also serve as a consultant for his role as
UMD.

Robin Miller passionately believes that the city needs Christ’s
gospel of peace.  A former chaplain and social worker, Robin
specialized in family counseling, focusing on times of illness
and grief.  Besides his job as pastor at Lee Heights and his new
job as UMD, Robin also serves as the chairperson for the Ohio
Mennonite Conference Peace and Justice Commission.

Robin’s commitment to nonviolence is rooted in his experiences as
a pastor in the city.  Recently, a 14-year-old member of Lee
Heights was shot and killed by another teen.  The incident has
fueled Robin for his continued work in the city.  In the midst of
his grief, Robin reflected, “I believe the city is tired of the
violence and ready to hear about the gospel of peace.  This is
why I am such a strong proponent for Mennonite evangelism.  I
don’t think that just any gospel will suffice.  The gospel,
without the peace of Jesus, does not respond to the escalating
violence in our cities.”

It is this gospel of peace that also motivates Regina Shands
Stoltzfus in her ministry.  Regina has been working in urban
ministry for many years.  She grew up at Lee Heights and has long
been committed to peacemaking.  Prior to working with MBM, she
worked with Mennonite Central Committee as a staff associate for
urban peacemaking, with Mennonite Conciliation Services, and the
MCC Damascus Road anti-racism project.

In many ways, she said, the work she is now doing with MBM has
grown out of previous experiences.  “This assignment gives me the
opportunity to keep doing what I already am doing,” she said.  “I
can continue to use conflict-resolution skills and do mediation
work from the urban setting I live in.  I also see connecting
people with each other as an important part of what I will be
doing.”  With all her previous work in urban ministry, Regina
will have plenty of contacts for the urban ministry directors she
consults.

Both Robin and Regina see their new roles as fitting in with how
the church should engage the city.  Robin sees church work in the
city as a necessity.  “How can they hear, if no one will speak?”
he said.  “We must speak about the peace of Jesus, about his
answer to violence.  It is true that we can do nothing to rescue
[the student] from the violence that took her life, but through
the power of the Holy Spirit, we can spread the gospel of peace –
the peace of Jesus Christ, to everyone around us.  We can let
them know there is a better way, the Jesus way.  And maybe, just
maybe, another 14-year-old child of God won’t have to die such a
violent death.”

* * *

Joni S. Sancken       PHOTOS AVAILABLE