May 25, 2009 issue
Wisconsin church to host new VS unit
By Hannah Heinzekehr Mennonite Mission NetworkMADISON, Wis. — Beginning in September, Mennonite Voluntary Service participants will have the opportunity to serve alongside Madison Mennonite Church.
Madison is a diverse capital city full of universities, service agencies and a number of industries and government offices. The town is also home to a bustling farmers market, museums and an active arts community.
For several years, Madison Mennonite Church and Mennonite Mission Network have been exploring the possibility of opening an MVS unit in Madison.
Many Madison church members are already involved in community-based non-profits and initiatives, and MVS will offer opportunity for widening the congregation’s reach.
“We don’t want MVS to take the place of our congregation’s involvement in the community, but with MVS we saw real possibilities for strengthening our existing connections to the community and building new ones. It will help tighten relationships and teach us new ways to get involved,” said Jonathan Wenger, MVS committee chair at Madison Mennonite Church.
Participants in Madison will have opportunities to serve with agencies exploring immigration rights, health services, homelessness, low-income housing, the arts, environmental law, community gardening, elder care, prison reform and many more topics.
During their service term, participants will be invited to participate in the life of the church.
“We want our MVSers to be in a caring environment that nurtures them spiritually and emotionally,” said Hugo Saucedo, MVS director. “When people come to MVS, they are exploring what they want to do with the rest of their lives, and when you have a community like Madison Mennonite Church that’s willing to walk with you through that, it makes a big impact on you.”
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