About Us - Waterford Mennonite Church

Our Mission Statement

As the people of Waterford Mennonite Church, we Welcome everyone to faith and fellowship in Jesus Christ, Minister to the needs of one another and our neighbors through the Holy Spirit, and Call out each other’s gifts for the joyful work of God’s reconciling mission.

Quick Facts

Average Attendance: 272
Youth Group Size: 25
Year Founded: 1959
Affiliation: Mennonite Church USA (Indiana-Michigan Conferance)

Come Join Us

Discover the ways in which worship and fellowship with the Waterford congregation can help you experience God and open doors for you to share God’s love with others. We are a worshiping and fellowshiping community of around 400 people.

Worship

Our worship services are a lively mix of traditional and contemporary styles. When you attend, you can expect lots of singing, teaching, and praying. Fellowship and congregational sharing are also an important part of our time together.

Children
Worship services are planned to be meaningful to children. There are age- level classes for children during the nurture hour. Children up to age two are invited to be in the staffed nursery during the worship service and Sunday school. Venture Club for children in grades 3-5 meets on Wednesday evenings twice a month.

Youth

Waterford Mennonite Church has a large and very active Mennonite Youth Fellowship (MYF) and Junior Mennonite Youth Fellowship (Jr. MYF). Under the leadership of Youth Minister Loanne Harms, there are numerous times of worship, Bible study, service projects, and social activities.

Adults

There are many opportunities for adults to engage in Bible study, sharing joys and prayer concerns. There are nurture classes available to all ages. One option is an intergenerational class called The Open Door, which is a good way to be introduced to the Waterford community. Adults also have the opportunity to engage in small groups.

Senior Adults

An important part of the ministry of the Waterford congregation is with senior adults. Each Sunday morning a handicapped accessible bus offers transportation from Greencroft to our worship and nurture times.

Caring for Each Other

At Waterford, we believe that members should reach out to each other and offer Christian care, compassion and concern. Adult nurture classes, which meet Sunday mornings, are the place where primary pastoral care happens. Each class has a shepherd who facilitates sharing and prayer during the class time and works with the pastors giving ongoing care.

We Commit Ourselves to

Studying the Scriptures and praying individually and with others.
Participating in times of gathered worship, nurture, fellowship, discernment and decision making.
Sharing the good news of Christ with family, friends and others with whom we come in contact.
Contributing our time, earnings and abilities to the ministry of the church.
Giving counsel in Christian love and considering carefully counsel given.
Accepting the process of reconciliation and the experience of forgiveness.
Promoting the way of peace in all of life.

About Our Location

The church building is located on a 61 acre tract. Fifty-five acres is a forested floodplain wetland located along the Elkhart River, 2 miles upstream from the city of Goshen. Besides is obvious value to wildlife, this wetland also benefits Goshen and surrounding communities by serving as a storage area for floodwaters-- thus reducing flood damage to downstream properties. When inundated, this area slows the flood water and allows it to soak into the groundwater, thus improving water quality by removing sediment and other contaminants. A maintained system of elevated loop trails is used by the local community for walking and bird watching. A nearby Mennonite high school uses the site for environmental science field studies, and occasionally provides students groups to assist in trail maintenance. By protecting and managing this unique asset for the benefit of the congregation, community and God's creation, Waterford Mennonite Church exhibits another way it lives out it's core value of Stewardship.