We are followers of Jesus Christ committed to
Nurturing spiritual growth and mentoring leaders
Extending compassion to the needs of the local community
Reaching outward in love
Local
Shantz Mennonite Church has had a relationship with Hidden Acres Camp (HAC) since HAC’s inception over 50 years ago. Fund raising, volunteering, and being camp counsellors are just some of the ways that members of Shantz have been involved over the years. Shantz continues to grow this relationship with annual HAC workdays, where a group of volunteers spends a Saturday working on specific projects selected by Camp management, and funded by Shantz. We strive to not just write a cheque, but also donate sweat equity into these projects, thereby also building relationships with our partners, not just at HAC, but also at Pikangikum, and Shirati.
National
Shantz Mennonite Church continues to be connected with Pikangikum First Nation (Pik), an indigenous community on the shores of Pikangikum Lake, north of Red Lake, Ontario. Working through Colleen Estes of Living Hope Native Ministries, Shantz has provided Christmas hampers annually for vulnerable families. This has included as many as twenty-two members of all ages including adults. Some funds have also been provided towards Scholarships for deserving young adults wishing to pursue additional Christian post secondary education. Funds have also been provided to assist Colleen in taking youth to an annual Leadership camp called Warriors Summit.
Shantz has also provided funds through Mennonite Central Committee toward a Pikangikum Working Group initiative installing running potable water and septic systems into homes where this is most needed. Over 80% of homes in Pik do not have running water or sewer. A small group from Shantz made an exploratory visit to Pik in June of 2018, and while this visit has not yet provided easy answers, we continue to seek ways to be involved in helping improve living conditions in this community, sometimes labelled as the suicide capital of the world.
International
Shantz Mennonite Church has been developing a relationship with a Mennonite Diocese located in Shirati, Tanzania on the shores of Lake Victoria. Four Service Projects have been undertaken since March 2014 and a fifth is being planned for the summer of 2021. Besides developing relationships with new our Tanzanian friends, we have been building mud huts for the most vulnerable, providing Tech School support with infrastructure and classroom assistance, and assisting with Feminine Hygiene education for young women during our two week projects.
