When Jeni Umble was in college, she became a Mennonite, a decision which later in life led her to a pastoral career, a path she never thought she would take.
“I had no interest in being a pastor at all, I was interested in history, with an emphasis in church history,” Umble said.
But after doing an internship with a church in Indiana, Umble realized she had a passion for pastoral ministry, becoming their associate pastor. A few years later, she and her husband moved to Colorado and started to attend Arvada’s Mennonite Church, now named Living Light of Peace, which was slowly losing members and in need of a new pastor.
“Since 1985, they’ve had several short-term pastors, an interim pastor and then no pastor,” Umble said, “My hope is that I can give a sense of pastoral stability to the congregation — I’m going to be here for a while.”
To officially recognize Umble’s new position and the church’s new name, Living Light of Peace held a Service of Transformation, Sunday, March 30. The service included an appearance by the church’s Mennonite conference pastor, Herm Weaver, a litany of transformation, a lighting of the Peace lamp and a special bulb-to-flower exchange.
“You have a small group of people here who are seeking to change, and follow Jesus. The name change is one concrete way to show they’re trying to be something different, and hiring Jeni is sort of a second step towards becoming something new, instead of a church that’s fading away,” Weaver said.
Living Light of Peace, 5927 Miller St., is a Mennonite church practicing the Anabaptist tradition. Opened 50 years ago, the congregation once was a strong congregation fighting for social justice. Today, the congregation has decreased, serving around 20 members, and is looking to become a thriving, dedicated part of the community.
“We voted to stay open and they voted to change the name as a mark of a new congregation,” Umble said. “The congregation is changing, and we want people to know they’re changing, we’re not the same congregation.”
Living Light of Peace is open to the community and hosts weekly services at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Aside of Sunday services, the church hosts events such as Movies that Matter the first Saturday of every month; a community meal the third Wednesday of the month; and a chronic illness support group the third Monday of the month.
“I would love to see this facility become a resource for the community,” Umble said.