Tag: Stories

​Back in July at Follow Jesus 2025 in Greensboro, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Martin, a Mennonite man from Colorado Springs, CO. He was staffing an exhibit hall table for RAWTools, an organization he founded in 2013. Walking up to the table, I saw a display of incredible tools and pieces of art made out of transformed weapons. As someone who uses garden tools for a living, I was drawn in immediately. Suddenly, I remembered attending a RAWTools event in my hometown years ago where Shane Claiborne gave a talk and Michael was present in a support role. I did not get a chance to talk to Michael at that event, but I am very grateful to be getting to know him now.

RAWTools’ work of turning donated firearms into garden tools and works of art generates searing visual symbols and powerful emotions. But their work goes much farther and deeper than forge and blacksmithing activities. In my observation and in talking to Michael, the work of RAWTools is rooted in a commitment to walk with people who want to experience healing and who want to turn away from violence. The organization seeks to unleash creativity, foster dialogue across divides, and teach new ways of peacemaking and problem-solving.

On their website, RAWTools asks the question, “What if we made a commitment to solve our problems without guns and violence?”

Are you asking this question, too?

I talked by phone with Michael the other day to ask him more questions about his unique ministry and his story. He told me more about the evolution of his unfolding ministry as a movement chaplain and how he was recently ordained by Mountain States Mennonite Conference. We also talked about his roles as a spouse and a father of sons, about living in the West, and about being a Mennonite Christian. What immediately stood out to me was Michael’s willingness to step out of either-or thinking, step out of entrenched divides and stereotypes, and step out of church walls to witness and encounter the Spirit’s transformative power in people’s lives. I was also struck and refreshed by hearing how his ministry brings together people whose backgrounds we might not expect to intersect: gun owners and survivors of gun violence.

“Jesus embodied solidarity with people who are being harmed. I think Jesus is calling people to risk something in this. Fellow Jesus followers—including men—are called to put their bodies between people being harmed. We are being called to put our reputations on the line. People in positions of power need to be vulnerable,” he responded.

I asked Michael about the nature of RAWTools’ work and where he experiences God there.

“A lot of RAWTools’ work happens iteratively. It’s Spirit-led. We work with folks who are survivors of gun violence. They’ve always been the guiding light. In those moments, I feel God’s presence the most,” he shared.

That said, saying yes to this calling is no cakewalk for Michael.

“In getting into this work with RAWTools, I had to work through the traumas of my own life. I’ve had to wrestle with my own sense of belovedness. Once I’d done some of that personal work, I felt more comfortable continuing to invest in where I felt God was moving.”

If you or other men in your circles want to learn more about Michael’s ministry and his faith journey, visit the RAWTools website and consider coming to an upcoming men’s retreat in southwest Michigan. Mennonite Men is fortunate to have Michael as the speaker at its upcoming Men’s Retreat, Becoming Malleable Men, which runs from Friday night, March 6, to Sunday morning, March 8. Online registration can be found at https://friedenswald.org/retreats/.

Photo credits: RAWTools.

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One afternoon back in 2021, I crossed paths unexpectedly with a guy from church when we both pulled into the church parking lot about the same time, arriving before a gathering started. He was alone in his vehicle, head tilted back and looking exhausted. I went over to his van and we started catching up. To my surprise he told me he had just lost his job and his son was getting out of control at school and at home. After that conversation we started making more regular time for hanging out, usually around a backyard fire ring once his kids were put to bed. Our hangouts led to some humbling discoveries and confessions, as we both had really difficult personal stuff going on. The idea of forming a men’s group emerged. Would other guys in our congregation want to have deep conversations like we were having, to find ways to grow spiritually and encourage each other?

The answer was yes!

It’s now been three years since our men’s group formed, and the gathering has transformed how I feel about church, male friendship, and myself. For one thing, this gathering is not for talking sports, weather, or gossip. Each time we gather, there is time for each man to check in about what’s going on in his life. We ask for volunteers to help facilitate and bring food, one man shares deeply from his life (or leads a teaching of sorts), and we open and close with prayer. We have ground rules that help structure our sharing and listening, and we read aloud words that remind us all that we are welcome and in God’s presence.

Three years later, I still need this group. Why? Because it’s raw and unpolished. We confess and ask for help. We laugh. We sometimes say the wrong thing and hurt each other and have to apologize. We break bread together. In short, we are walking together. And it takes practice.

I write not to brag, but to offer permission for guys to spend intentional time with other guys. Many men out there—including those within church communities—are lonely and don’t know how to find male friends and community. There’s no formula for how to start friendships with other guys or how to start a men’s group. Sometimes it starts with a simple text, phone call, email, or ‘Hey, how’s it goin’?’ when running into one other guy.

Mennonite Men seeks to engage men to grow, give and serve as followers of Jesus for God’s shalom. We care about men, we pray for men, and we want to offer resources to men. Here are a few ideas and invitations—not a list of ‘shoulds’—for you or men in your life during this dark time of the year and as the new year approaches:

• Revive contact with friends past and present. You might be surprised that guys you haven’t talked to in a while may be in the same boat: they mean to reach out, but haven’t gotten around to it. If someone takes initiative, it could lead to a great connection. Many people—including men—have a hard time during the holidays.
• Seek support (beyond friends) if you need it. If you need to talk to someone who is trained to listen well and be a supportive resource, talk to a pastor, a therapist, a spiritual director, or a friend who might refer you to someone they recommend. This could include joining a men’s group or a support group. If you’ve got the energy, consider starting a group that has some sort of clear focus. Mennonite Men would love to be a sounding board if you want ideas (check out our website).
• Spend time outside of our own bubble, encountering men in everyday situations where we can interact and bear witness as followers of Jesus. For me, joining a local gym creates opportunity to interact with other guys in the community I wouldn’t otherwise meet. Perhaps the Spirit may lead me to strike up conversation with brothers there who are struggling.
• Go on a retreat, getting away from the fast-paced and technology-driven rhythms of daily life and work. Contact a retreat center near you. Check out Iluman’s website and their upcoming online or in-person men’s retreats. And if you haven’t heard, Mennonite Men is offering a men’s retreat at Camp Friedenswald March 6-8, 2026, with guest presenter Michael Martin of RAW Tools (registration is open).
• Offer yourself in some form of in-person service to others. Maybe this looks like volunteering in the community, becoming a mentor at church or in a local school, visiting elders who are often alone, or doing repairs or yardwork for someone who just had surgery or a family emergency.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came to us as a child born into a dangerous world. And we anticipate a new year coming. Lean in. May you find ways to join with other men, and may you find that, in doing so, you discover new ways to connect with yourself, with Christ, and with God.

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In recent years, Mennonite men have become directly involved in Indigenous solidarity work. Some of this has come to Mennonite Men as an organization through staff and board members; in other cases, individual men have initiated involvement on their own. In both cases, Mennonite men are being invited to show up, listen, and bear witness to realities that Indigenous persons have historically and currently faced. Mennonite men are being invited to pray with and for Indigenous siblings, to show care, build relationships, and raise their voices alongside Indigenous voices who are advocating for just treatment.

I want to highlight two different Indigenous communities in the U.S. that are advocating for justice and with whom Mennonite men are getting involved. In both examples, Indigenous communities have invited involvement from the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery (CDDoD).

The first example is at Oak Flat (Chi’Chil Bildagoteel), sacred land of the Western Apache in Arizona. Rich Meyer and David Baer of Benton Mennonite Church (IN) have been serving at Oak Flat to pray, learn from Apaches, offer accompaniment to Apache Stronghold when needed, and maintain the camp. Rich Meyer offers this reflection:

“I knew coming here that I would need to be listening and learning—listening to the Apache, to teammates with experience, to God. In my daily walks here, I am able to really stop, wait, and listen much more deliberately than in my usual busy life.”

Being at Oak Flat allows one to bear witness to the beauty of God’s creation and the injustices Oak Flat is slated to experience if the land is transferred to the copper mining company Resolution Copper. Efforts to protect Oak Flat and to stand with Apaches are not over. If you or your congregation would like to get involved in prayerful work where you are to support Apache Stronghold and sacred land, contact Molly@dismantlediscovery.org. If you are intereseted in joining pray-filled protective accompaniment at Oak Flat, or have someone to nominate for this work, contact Carol Rose at cofa@dismantlediscovery.org to explore options for training and serving on a team. You may also contact me at JonZ@MennoniteMen.org to hear about my personal experiences.

Photo at right: Rich Meyer (R) and David Baer (L), both from Benton Mennonite Church in Goshen, at Oak Flat.

The second example is from the Shinnecock Nation on the east end of Long Island, New York. After years of relationship-building that began with Sarah Augustine and Shinnecock leaders, Shinnecock leaders invited members of a new CDDoD working group to visit their reservation. This delegation in September of 2025 included Mennonite associate pastor Matt Carlson of Akron Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania, along with six others. Matt shared a reflection from his time with the delegation:

“We began our mornings together at a communal fire on their reservation to hear stories of their people and our hosts took us around the area to show us some of their sacred sites, some of which they’ve only recently regained access to. This is an example to me of yet another reversal. In the parable Jesus shared, the host is a person with power and resources who organizes the banquet and invites those who are socially marginalized. For those of us with power and resources, this is an appropriate and good expression of faith, sharing our resources with an open hand with those who are in need. I’m also left with the question, “What does it look like to give up that power, to relinquish our place at the head of the table?” After all, the stories of the Jesus we follow are all about giving up power, from being born as a baby in a stable, to resisting the temptations in the wilderness, to depending on the hospitality of others, to being crucified on a cross.’

Matt also documents the various ways in which Shinnecock land has been stolen and treaties broken, as well as the ongoing pollution affecting the waters of Shinnecock Bay due to failing septic systems from homes in nearby Southampton. The Shinnecock people continue to experience disrespect and discrimination to this day and are entangled in many lawsuits.

“Untreated wastewater from outdated septic systems and cesspools has been leaking into the groundwater and flowing into Shinnecock Bay. This is harming the bay, with excess nitrogen causing toxic algae blooms, which deplete oxygen and destroy the marine life that is an integral part of the Shinnecock culture and economy. In response to this crisis, a group of women leaders from the Shinnecock Nation have resurrected the ancient practice of raising sugar kelp in the waters of Shinnecock Bay. Kelp has the ability to sequester carbon and nitrogen, which will help heal the waters of the bay, and the harvested kelp can be sold as a natural fertilizer, supporting the Nation’s economy.

“Raising kelp is one piece of a larger effort to maintain ancestral ties to the lands and waters that the Shinnecock Nation has stewarded for thousands of years. Unfortunately, continued development in the Hamptons and the unwillingness of local and state leadership to recognize the land rights of the Shinnecock Nation make that effort extremely difficult. The purpose of the delegation was to learn how those of us who are newcomers to this land can help support the various initiatives of the Shinnecock Nation. With guidance from Shinnecock leaders, and as part of a larger network of allies, we are working to build a campaign to aid the Shinnecock people in realizing their economic and cultural sovereignty.”

I am encouraged to see men like Matt involved with CDDoD who live in closer geographical proximity to Long Island, as the issues, advocacy, and in-person visits could literally be closer to home. If you wish to learn more about the Shinnecock Working Group of CDDoD and get involved, please contact Alicia Maldonado-Zahra at amaldonadozahra@goshen.edu. If you wish to read Matt’s full article about what he learned during the Shinnecock delegation visit, you may email him at mcarlson@akronmench.org.

Please pray for our Indigenous brothers and sisters who face daily hardship and disrespect. Also pray for Mennonite men and others who are feeling God’s call to build relationships and offer direct accompaniment to Indigenous communities pleading for justice.

In the spring of 2025, Mennonite Men was contacted by Matthew Krabill of Mennonite Mission Network, who is serving in Ghana, inquiring about JoinHands grants for a Ghanaian congregation seeking to build a place of worship. After receiving a JoinHands grant application for the Santramozorh Mennonite Church, Mennonite Men’s JoinHands committee engaged via email and Zoom in dialogue with Ghanaian pastor Francis Kwame Dzivor and with Krabill. What an honor it has been to hear stories and learn about this community’s worship setting, as well as to receive photos and videos from Ghana. We are humbled to learn that this community often worships outdoors under a large tree or in a bamboo structure open to the elements—a stark contrast to the large and comfortable indoor spaces where many of us worship here in the United States.

Photo: members of the Santramozorh Mennonite Church next to previously erected pillars that will support the new church’s roof. (Matthew Krabill)

At its October board meeting, Mennonite Men approved a grant for the Santramozorh Mennonite Church, a faith community of Ghana Mennonite Church in the eastern part of the country. Given Mennonite Men’s policies that limit the percentage we can give relative to a project’s total cost, this congregation is still seeking additional funding sources. We invite you to pray for Ghana Mennonite Church, particularly the Santramozorh congregation, Pastor Francis Kwame Dzivor, and their continued fundraising efforts to complete this building project. If you would like to inquire about additional ways to give, please email krabillm@tsinet.org to reach Matthew Krabill.

We thank all who donate to Mennonite Men’s JoinHands ministry, which helps congregations with limited resources purchase or create secure spaces for worship. May God’s kin-dom flourish throughout the world, including among our brothers and sisters in Ghana.

​When I arrived at the Indonesian Community Bazaar in South Philadelphia, I was greeted with warm smiles, a cold Thai tea, and a plate of delicious food. Members of Indonesian Light Church ushered me with excitement into the tent where they were selling home cooked food. I was there to present a grant check on behalf of Mennonite Men’s Join Hands program that helps congregations purchase their first church building. I was also being welcomed into their circle of hospitality.

After the check presentation, Pastor Hendy Matahelemual invited me to tour the nearby building they hope to soon call their own. Since early 2024, Indonesian Light Church, a Mosaic Mennonite Conference congregation, has been renting this South Philadelphia church building on a month-to-month basis with the intent to purchase. Thanks to faithful giving and tireless fundraising—like the bazaar—I learned they are nearly at their down payment goal and expect to close by the end of September 2025.

Indonesian Light is part of a large and growing Indonesian community in South Philadelphia. Many members are Chinese-Indonesian Christians, who faced persecution in Indonesia and sought asylum in the United States beginning in the late 1990s. Today, Christian and other minority groups in Indonesia continue to feel unsafe, and many still emigrate seeking refuge.

Pastor Hendy explained how vital community is for those who arrive here: “Community is a huge part of Indonesian culture. When Indonesians move here, they search out a church community. In church you get connection, the community holds you accountable, and the pastor and community can vouch for you.”

That spirit of welcome is lived out daily in the congregation. Members help newcomers find housing, jobs, and healthcare. Once established, those who were welcomed become welcomers in turn. “It’s organic,” Pastor Hendy said. “You don’t have to ask, they just do it.”

Though recent anxieties around immigration have affected many members and so the congregation continues to lean into hope and hospitality. Their new space has already allowed them to double in attendance, share worship space with a Hispanic congregation, and host weekly AA and NA groups.

Indonesian Light Church embodies what it means to be a welcoming community of faith—rooted in culture, strengthened by Anabaptist values, and open to the Spirit’s leading. I left filled with good food and encouraged by seeing their joy, hope, and hospitality flourishing in the city of brotherly love.