On Saturday, September 10th, one of FPGW’s founding Host Congregations, Hope Mennonite Church, gathered to grieve as a congregation after the loss of their pastor, Dave Stevens, in a tragic accident the week before. The hearts of Hope’s members were understandably heavy as they mourned such a sudden and painful loss.
In the midst of this heartbreak and pain, a beautiful blessing came from another local congregation. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, who serves as an FPGW Support Congregation on the weeks that Hope Mennonite hosts guest families, stepped in to support Hope’s community during this difficult time. The Aldersgate family came in to host a reception after Dave’s service and was a huge blessing to the family and all of Hope’s congregation on this difficult occasion.
When FPGW Executive Director, Dawn Epp (who also is a member of the Hope congregation) saw the Family Promise network in action during and after the service for her pastor, she was overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion for the way FPGW churches are connected and willing to serve one another.
Velva Ellenz, the Aldersgate Volunteer Coordinator, recalled the moment she received the call asking her congregation to help take some of the burden off of the Hope community. She felt honored that the Stevens family and the Hope congregation would trust her and the Aldersgate network with such an intimate and important task. She did not hesitate to put out the call to her Family Promise volunteers, who, together with the FPGW Board of Directors, came through with trays of cookies and fruit for the reception. Aldersgate volunteers, who are comfortable in the Hope kitchen and facilities from host weeks, were able to step in to host this reception without missing a beat.
In discussing the work of Family Promise and the unique way it involves community collaboration, Velva noted that “the network of churches is almost as precious to me as the program itself.”
The FPGW staff and Board teams, along with others across our network, are in awe of this act of kindness and interconnectedness and what it reflects about the Family Promise model and community. These two faith bodies, tied together not by denomination or location or any common thread other than Family Promise and a love for fellow man, were bound together in a moment that speaks loudly and clearly about what support and community can really look like and how the Family Promise model can foster that.
Father Aaron Warwick, FPGW Board Member and Congregational Care Chairperson, said, “It’s inspiring to see one congregation take care of another congregation. So often we rejoice with them when they rejoice, but this was a time to weep with and uplift them.”
The entire Family Promise network wishes to again extend our sorrow and sympathy to the family of Pastor Dave Stevens and thank them for supporting the work of Family Promise of Greater Wichita through gifts in Dave’s memory.
