By Jon Zirkle
Every Tuesday morning from 7 to 8 am in the fall, winter, and spring, a group of 30-40 men who identify as Mennonite in the Harrisonburg, Virginia, area gathers for Bible study. They pray together, study Scripture and receive input, share a delicious breakfast, and have meaningful and reflective conversation around tables. Parkview Mennonite Church is the meeting place. Though many of the men are 60 years and older, attendees range in age from their twenties to their late eighties. Men who attend come from congregations in several Mennonite Church USA conferences, as well as from congregations in the Blueridge District of LMC. Want to learn more? Visit their website.
Recently, I followed up with a few men from the Bible study. I wanted to hear their personal perspectives on what it’s like at a given Tuesday gathering and to get a sense of why each of them is committed to this Bible study. Connecting by Zoom with three men from the group, I was blessed to hear them share practical information and spiritual reflections.
Floyd Blosser, who is on the planning team and purchases breakfast food, described the Bible study setting to me and what he enjoys most.
“After breakfast and the morning input, I like the table discussions we have while sitting at round tables together. At the table where I sit, it’s often the same guys sitting together. Over time we’ve built trust and really get to know each other. It’s a deep connection, not just surface level conversation,” said Blosser.
Steve Pardini, who recently completed a term serving as Virginia Mennonite Conference Council chair and is part of the Bible study planning team, noted that not everyone chooses to sit at the same table.
Photo provided by Virginia Mennonite Conference
“One of the men deliberately sits at a different table every week,” Pardini added. “He intentionally wants to get to know the various men in the larger group.”
I learned so much in this conversation. The Bible study input is planned out in advance, sometimes connecting to a multi-week series, and guest presenters are common. A collection is taken each week, enabling the group to offer an honorarium to presenters. By visiting the Bible study’s website, you can see who will be leading in the coming weeks. Folks can even view the YouTube recordings of the input and hear recordings of the men singing hymns together. Clearly this group is organized!
“Also, it’s not the same format each week. There is variety in who’s teaching and in the way we do Bible Study. A few weeks ago, our presenter had to cancel. With short notice Floyd Blosser volunteered to lead by presenting scripture as a Bible character,” Pardini noted.
“Our time together is not focused on what divides us. Sure, there are differences held in this group. But there are many things in the Bible we can study together. We value the relationships we have with each other more. The Spirit is creating community.”
Blosser added that, “I see our Bible study as a unifying time for men from different conferences and denominations. It may be one of the only occasions where this happens.”
Jim Musser also chimed in with, “Food also brings us together!” He also complimented Blosser’s breakfast-making skills. Hard-boiled eggs, bacon, and coffee were mentioned.
Others pointed out that Musser takes on the role of the breakfast team leader and is always there very early to get coffee started. Recently, when Blosser had surgery and couldn’t purchase food for breakfast, Jim stepped up to cover it. Then Ken Horst, from the planning team, did food purchases while Floyd recovered.
These men are deeply committed to showing up for one another and to providing opportunities to grow their faith together. I am moved to bear witness to the details of this men’s Bible study, and I invite you and your community to pray for their continued commitment to studying God’s word together and building community among men. You may also contact this group by e-mailing Virginia.mennonite.men@gmail.com.
Does your congregation or conference have a men’s Bible study or a men’s group with a story to share? If not, are you looking for one to join or feeling the nudge to start one? Mennonite Men welcomes hearing from you with stories, ideas, and requests for resourcing as we work to encourage men as followers of Jesus for God’s shalom. Anyone who wishes can reach out to us and find digital resources by visiting our website at www.mennonitemen.org.