About | First Mennonite Church

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to use the Holy Spirit’s power to create an inviting community with persons who want to live as followers of Jesus Christ.

OUR BELIEFS

We are part of the broader Anabaptist movement. At the core of this movement is the placing of Jesus at the center of our understanding of the Christian faith. A full description of our beliefs can be found by referencing the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective [via Mennonite Church USA].

OUR VALUES

As a congregation, our values help shape and guide us as we live out our faith together.

Following Jesus

Jesus is at the center of our theology and mission. We believe that his life and teachings should shape the way that we think and the way that we live. Through this, we believe that we can join Christ in the renewal of our world. As Hans Denck [16th-Century Anabaptist] said, “No one can know Christ unless he [or she] follows after him in life.” In other words, we believe the best expression of our faith looks like following Jesus. To hear more about this, please check out our most recent Values sermon series: [Values] Following Jesus

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel - Jesus calls us to be reconciled to both God and to each other. The Apostle Paul tells us that, just as God was reconciling the world to himself in Jesus, we too are to carry out this work in the world [2 Corinthians 5:18-19]. This means that we often find ourselves stepping into the messiness of life, rather than avoiding it, and actively working towards peace. To hear more about this, please check out our most recent Values sermon series: [Values] Reconciliation

Creating and Engaging Community

Life is better together. Because of that, we value community - whether that is creating a vibrant community where people from diverse walks of life can live, worship, and serve together; or engaging in the life of our neighborhood with the love of Christ. Relationships not only help us create life, but also help us make sense of it. To hear more about this, please check out our most recent Values sermon series: [Values] Creating and Engaging Community

Stewardship of Resources

We believe that everything we have is a gift of God. Being “good stewards” means using and managing these gifts responsibility. Sometimes these gifts are material objects: our money, our possessions, the creation itself. Other times, these gifts are immaterial: our time, our energy, our talents and understandings. Whatever it might be, we value being good stewards - not solely to benefit ourselves, but also to those around us. To hear more about this, please check out our most recent Values sermon series: [Values] Stewardship of Resources

Anabaptist Belief and Practice

As Mennonites, we find ourselves as part of the broader Anabaptist movement. At the core of this movement is the placing of Jesus at the center of our understanding of the Christian faith. While often diverse in its expressions, common convictions include a desire to follow Jesus in our daily lives, life in community, peace and reconciliation, creation care, service to others, and simplicity. To hear more about this, please check out our most recent Values sermon series: [Values] Anabaptist Belief and Practice

OUR TEAM

We are led by many different people with many different gifts and talents. Highlighted below are a few of those individuals.

SEAN SWANSON

LEAD PASTOR - PASTOR@CANTONFIRSTMENNONITE.ORG

Sean began serving as the lead pastor of First Mennonite in July 2016, when he and his wife, Ally, moved to Canton. Born and raised in northern Indiana, he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in ministry from Bethel College (IN). He loves all things Notre Dame football, coffee, and theology.

CHURCH SECRETARY - Oversees and prepares church bulletins, monthly calendars, and church-wide emails.

Teresa Thompson - secretary@cantonfirstmennonite.org

ELDER TEAM - Our elder team oversees the mission, vision, and pastoral care of our church.

Celia King [Co-Chair]
Kat Gritter [Co-Chair]
Andy Reynolds

Darin Nissley
Ramona Nissley
Maynard Hershberger

CHURCH COUNCIL - Our church council is made up of representatives from our various commissions, each responsible for specific areas within our church.

Leora Troyer [Council Chair]
Bob Bowen [Vice Chair]
Terry Miller [Secretary]
Sher Byler [Finace/Treasurer]

Bob Troyer [Formation]
Mike Thompson [Properties]
Maynard Hershberger [Elders]
Sean Swanson [Pastor]

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