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2008-12-16 issue:

Preach-off raises $2,994

Winning sermon text: “Give beer to those who are perishing.”

by Everett J. Thomas

Print Article

Many young adults want to avoid sermons. But more than 60 went to church on Dec. 6 at Goshen, Ind., to hear seven sermons—and raised enough money to send another young adult delegate to the Global Youth Summit at next July’s Mennonite World Conference (MWC)  Assembly Gathered in Asunción, Paraguay.


Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary student Reece Retzlaff preached from the Isaiah 16:7b text, “You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, utterly stricken,” and then good-naturedly attempted to bribe the judges with a cake prepared for the occasion. Photo by Everett J. Thomas.

“We’re less than $30,000 away from our goal of raising $220,000,” said preach-off organizer Jason Shenk at the Dec. 6 event at College Mennonite Church, “and $2,500 will cover the costs of one delegate to attend--someone like Etienne Tshibamba, the delegate from … Congo who is just a visa and a plane ticket away from attending.”

Delegates such as Etienne represent young adults from their national churches; they have surveyed 50 peers in preparing a report on church life in their contexts. At the Global Youth Summit, young adult delegates will draft a statement on service and discipleship to be presented to the General Council of MWC, their home conferences, and other Mennonite leaders around the world.


After Goshen College student Penina Acayo opened her sermon with a long pause, she preached from the Revelation 8:1 text, “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Photo by Everett J. Thomas.

The preach-off fundraiser included several ways for participants to contribute to young adult delegate travel. The competition centered on offering baskets set out with one preacher’s name on each basket. Whichever basket had the most money determined the winning preacher.

Each preacher was given a random Bible text on which to preach. The sermon could be no longer than five minutes.

Joanne Gallardo won with a total of $416 in her basket. Her assigned text was, “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those in anguish” (Proverbs 31:6 NIV). Gallardo is a student at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Ind., and is serving as an intern at Eighth Street Mennonite Church in Goshen.

Four judges also provided feedback to each preacher and established quixotic categories for their awards.

Goshen College student Penina Acayo won the “Jacob Award” for her wrestling with the text. Reece Retzlaff, a student at AMBS, was awarded the Most Embodied sermon. With a variation on the Peabody Award, AMBS student Rolando Sosa received the “PEA” award for passion, energy and animation.

Steve Wiebe-Johnson was awarded the Best Random Nonverbal sermon. Wiebe-Johnson is Mennonite Mission Network’s regional director for Africa. Tyler Yoder, a Goshen College student, won Best Pun-laden Wisdom. Steve Schweitzer, assistant professor of Old Testament at AMBS won Best Virtual Sermon for his efforts; he presented his sermon electronically due to the inclement weather. Gallardo received the Most Anabaptist award.

Interspersed between the sermons were testimonies from audience members, and North American AMIGOS representative Sarah Thompson auctioned off items of clothing.

Others wishing to contribute to the fund may send a check made payable to Mennonite World Conference—AMIGOS, c/o Mennonite World Conference, 2529 Willow Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612. Donations may also be made online at www.mwc.cmm.org (designate the donation for AMIGOS).

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