Time to rethink how we connect with each other
- col-dave-mast
- May 9, 2025
- 37
The very word comforter is in and of itself defining as to what it is meant to be.
Comforter: something to bring comfort, peace and hope.
On April 9 Berlin Mennonite Pastor Jeff Hochstetler and many of his congregation traveled to Kidron to become the first of many groups to dive into a service project in aid of the efforts of MCC Great Lakes Ohio in its new resource facility.
Hochstetler talked about how this new facility, built through the hard work and dedication of many — many who believe it will embellish exactly what God called his people to be as servants — was built one faithful stitch at a time.
Hochstetler shared about that experience during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 4, but more importantly, during his prayer dedicating the facility, he spoke from the heart about serving others and the important role it plays.
He spoke about God calling his people to be hands that heal, feet that carry hope and voices that speak hope.
Hochstetler talked not just about the many hands who dove in and helped build the facility, but also those who helped provide funding for it and those who diligently planned every detail. He also mentioned the quiet acts of faith that made the facility a reality.
In his dedication prayer, Hochstetler said, “Now, oh Lord, establish the work of your hands through us. May this space echo with purpose.”
That purpose includes school kits going to less fortunate who are eager to learn. It includes providing hygiene kits bringing dignity to young women. It includes creating comforters to warm the hearts and souls of people who have been overlooked, who can cling to these offerings of warmth as a sign of hope for better things to come.
“Let this not only be a building, but a bridge of compassion,” Hochstetler said, “a place where your people come to serve the world you so deeply love.”
He then turned his attention to sharing about how the things that take place inside those walls of the new facility will help change hearts, not only of those who receive, but also of those who give.
“May this space cause us to rethink how we as your churches connect with each other,” Hochstetler said.
In a world that is more and more built around identifying as one’s church rather than as a unified group of church believers, it was these words that struck me the most.
“The way we connect with each other.”
When it comes to serving others, is there really any difference when it comes to doing good deeds?
If you’re drowning and a hand reaches out to help you, do you really care if that hand is attached to a Protestant, Baptist or Mennonite? A Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist or Buddhist? Do you really care if help comes from a Democrat or Republican or what color of a person’s skin that hand is?
If you’re a sane, thinking human being, those types of things don’t really matter when you’re clinging to life. All that truly matters is someone is there, extending a hand in compassion in hopes of being a saving grace in your life.
Their willingness to think not of themselves but of someone else trumps all else. No egos get in the way. No glory or front-page headlines matter, just the simple act of kindness and compassion that says, “I’m here to help regardless.”
“Rethink how we as your churches connect with each other.”
Those words are touching, almost haunting.
I suppose when it comes right down to it, those words can be paraphrased, shorted and still carry plenty of weight.
“Rethink how we connect with each other.”
“Rethink how we connect.”
I think when God is in that equation, it makes it much easier because we are acting on faith, doing what God wants us to do in reaching out to others.
But it also works so well on every level, faith or not.
Connections.
In the end I firmly believe we all have a lot more in common with one another than we have not in common.
We all seek love, peace, grace, joy, compassion, family, friends, a sense of purpose and value, to be respected, and so much more.
Yet we shamefully focus on our differences and cling to those, rather than finding ways to make connections.
Let’s all take Hochstetler’s closing words to heart and work toward connecting rather than dividing.
Then we can all have a positive impact on the world around us, one person at a time.