Mount Joy Mennonite Church sits on Musser Road in Mount Joy, a Lancaster County borough that draws the church's regional reach across Lancaster, York, and Dauphin Counties. With more than a century of history in the community, MJMC carries the tagline "Rooted in Jesus Our King - Grow, Branch Out, Bear Fruit" and operates as part of LMC, a fellowship of Anabaptist churches that grew out of the former Lancaster Mennonite Conference. Today the congregation is known for contemporary Sunday worship, an intentional Next Steps hour for every age, and a wide network of ministries that runs from preschool through seniors.
A Sunday Morning at MJMC
Sunday at Mount Joy Mennonite Church begins at 9:00am with a worship gathering that blends contemporary music with an engaging sermon. The service is held in person at the church on Musser Road and is also livestreamed on the MJMC YouTube channel, mjmc_tube, so members near and far can worship together.
At 10:15am, hot drinks are served in the lobby, giving visitors a chance to connect with others before the second hour of programming begins. Most Sunday mornings wrap up around 11:30am.
Next Steps Hour for Children, Youth, and Adults
At 10:30am, MJMC shifts into its Next Steps hour, a stretch of small groups and equipping classes designed to help people grow as disciples. Children four years and older, youth, and adults all gather in age-appropriate settings from 10:30am to 11:30am.
The church describes the format as "engaging groups and equipping classes for children and youth, and multiple gathering, learning, and connecting options for adults." Next Steps are offered in person only, and the church encourages new visitors to sign up for a class through the Church Center app or the connection form on the visit page.
Discovery Kids Clubs for Children
Children's ministry at MJMC is led by Nancy Bramlet, Director of Children's Ministries. On top of the Sunday morning Next Steps classes for kids, the church runs Discovery Kids Clubs, an evening program described as "an evening of fun to grow in faith and fellowship with friends." Discovery Kids Clubs welcome children from the congregation and the wider Mount Joy community and use the Church Center sign-up system to keep families connected.
Common House YTH: Junior and Senior High
Middle school and high school students belong to Common House YTH, the church's youth ministry, with the tagline "Reaching the Lost, Discipling the Found." The ministry is led by Next Gen Pastor Josh McCullough and includes several weekly rhythms during the August through May school year:
- Sunday mornings - Next Steps classes after the worship service, split into Junior and Senior High groups for teaching and small group discussion.
- YTH HOUSE - the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the church from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, following an Acts 2 model of fun, food, a message, and prayer.
- ENCOUNTER NIGHT - the first Wednesday of each month, a gathering that brings together worship through music, art, Scripture, poetry, prayer, and community.
- REACH LOCAL / REACH ABROAD - mission opportunities throughout the year, including trips and ongoing local outreach.
A youth calendar is published for the school year, and a Parent Resource Page offers additional support for families with teenagers in the ministry.
The Grove YA: Young Adults 18 to 30
The Grove YA is the church's ministry for young adults ages 18 to 30. Its name comes from the image of trees planted and cultivated to bear fruit. The Grove holds monthly Grove Nights on the first Friday of each month from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, typically hosted at the home of Lucas and Janelle Meador. Each night includes food, conversation, a short message, and small group time. The Grove also schedules occasional special events, including smaller small groups called The Grove Small Group for 18 to 30 year olds.
The 3-1-1 Challenge: A Discipleship Rhythm
The 3-1-1 Challenge is one of MJMC's signature small group offerings. The structure is straightforward:
- 3 - Form a group of three or four "challenge group" members who encourage one another to read God's word daily.
- 1 - Meet once a week with your group for 3 to 12 months.
- 1 - Meet for one hour at a location of your choice, whether a coffee shop, the church, a diner, a park, a Zoom call, or a home.
The purpose is to grow in Christlikeness, build a daily rhythm of devotion, foster accountability, and multiply disciples. Each session includes reading one to three chapters of the Bible, sharing what God is speaking, personal accountability, and prayer. Bible reading plans are offered at three levels, ranging from the Gospels and Psalms for those newer to the faith to Romans through Philemon, the prophets, and Old Testament books for more mature readers. Group members use three simple discussion questions: What did God speak to you in your reading? What does this passage show me about God? What is God asking me to do?
After 3 to 12 months, members of an established 3-1-1 group are encouraged to recruit two or three others and start a new group, creating a multiplying movement of discipleship.
Small Groups and Sermon Discussion
Beyond the 3-1-1 Challenge, MJMC offers a range of small groups that meet in homes and other social venues. The church describes three typical formats:
- A small group of 8 to 12 people meeting weekly in 9-week trimesters to discuss the previous Sunday's sermon.
- A small group of 8 to 12 people meeting once a month.
- A small community of 15 to 20 people meeting twice a month.
For those who want to facilitate their own discussion, the church publishes guides titled "How To Discuss Any Sermon" in two versions, available as downloadable PDFs.
Women at MJMC
Women's ministry is coordinated by Natalie Wagner, Director of Care and Women's Ministries. The stated goal is for every woman in the church to make extraordinary connections that bring spiritual growth and relational joy. Programming includes:
- Bible studies - multi-session studies held on Wednesday mornings (9:30am to 11:30am) and Wednesday evenings (6:30pm to 8:00pm), covering books of the Bible and topical themes such as hope in suffering. Recent studies have included "Abide: A Verse-by-Verse Study on 1, 2, 3 John" by Jen Wilkin, "Gospel on the Ground" by Kristi McLelland, and "Desperate for Hope."
- Sewing Circle - women of all ages gather the first Wednesday of each month to knot comforters that are shipped to people in need around the world through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).
- Social gatherings - periodic events to deepen friendships among women of all ages, including annual traditions like a spa night.
- Mentoring - women can join a mentoring relationship for roughly a year at a time, with pairings available for younger women, recent high school graduates, younger adults, and recently married couples.
Men at MJMC
Men's ministry is led by Nathan Brubaker, Lay Minister of Men's Ministries. The vision is for men to experience the goodness of being known, encouraged, and challenged, and to go deeper with God and one another. Most of the men's ministry takes shape through small groups that meet in homes or around breakfast tables, where men catch up, share their spiritual journeys, and pray together. Mentoring for younger men and for married couples is also available, usually for about a year at a time.
Prayer and Care Ministries
Prayer is led by Amy Benner, Lay Minister of Prayer. Her vision includes a prayer corner full on Sunday mornings, a Tuesday night prayer gathering at 7:00pm at the church, and prayer as a first response to decisions, hurts, joys, and burdens throughout the week.
Care Ministries at MJMC supports people during times of acute or chronic illness, hospitalization, grief and loss, the arrival of a new family member, depression or anxiety, and other overwhelming life challenges. The team offers two forms of support:
- Companion Care - a one-to-one ongoing relationship with a caregiver who checks in weekly, with at least two of those connections in person.
- Friendly Visitor - a caring person who visits with an individual to provide support, prayer, and a non-judgmental listening ear.
Care needs can be directed to care@mjmc.org or the church office at 717-653-5660.
Outreach in Mount Joy and Beyond
Lay Ministers of Outreach Fred and Shelley lead the church's outreach efforts. Their focus is blessing and encouraging neighbors in Mount Joy, supporting refugees settling in Lancaster, and engaging mission opportunities further afield. Fred and Shelley joined the MJMC family after living and working in Southeast Asia for fourteen years and moving to Mount Joy in 2022. The church also partners with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), especially through the women's Sewing Circle, which sends comforters to people in need around the world.
What We Believe
Mount Joy Mennonite Church is part of LMC, a fellowship of Anabaptist churches that grew out of the former Lancaster Mennonite Conference. Although some Mennonites in Lancaster County dress differently from the surrounding population and limit their use of certain technology, MJMC emphasizes that the congregation is similar to other Protestant Christians in worship and practice.
The church's stated beliefs center on the Trinity - one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit eternally. Members affirm belief in Jesus Christ as the Word of God become flesh, the Savior of the world, the head of the church, and the exalted Lord who will return to reign with God in glory. They believe in the Holy Spirit as the source of life in Christ who empowers the church and leads worshipers deeper into the experience of God.
Scripture is held as inspired by God through the Holy Spirit and accepted as the fully reliable standard for Christian faith and life, interpreted in harmony with Jesus Christ. The Church is understood as the assembly of those who have accepted God's offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and are sent into the world to share his love and make disciples.
Baptism is practiced as a sign of cleansing from sin and a covenant pledge to walk in the way of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Family is honored as a blessing through which God intends human life to begin, and marriage is held to be a covenant between one man and one woman for life. Peace is described as the will of God, most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is the peace of the whole world, and members follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing nonresistance. The 1995 Mennonite Confession of Faith serves as a fuller statement of these convictions.
Rooted in Lancaster County: Vision and Heritage
Mount Joy Mennonite Church has more than a century of history in the Mount Joy area. The church describes its region as economically stable and growing, populated by young families across Lancaster, York, and Dauphin Counties. Its vision statement is "Rooted in Jesus Our King - Grow, Branch Out, Bear Fruit," and the congregation reflects a casual atmosphere intended to welcome everyone.
The staff includes Lead Pastor Tim Bentch, Next Gen Pastor Josh McCullough, Director of Worship and Creative Arts Camden Hyman, Director of Children's Ministries Nancy Bramlet, and Director of Care and Women's Ministries Natalie Wagner. Lead Pastor Tim Bentch was installed in February 2025 following a season of pastoral transition featuring Pastor Joel Smith, Pastor Jeremy Tuel, and Pastor Josh McCullough in preaching and leadership roles. Tim Bentch is a former missionary in Hungary who later served as a missions trainer traveling to more than twenty countries, and he carries a background in music. He is married to Lorri Bentch, who has also preached in the church's sermon series.
Lay ministers partner with the staff in key areas. Blake and Becky Sweigart serve as Lay Ministers of Welcome and Community Life. Amy Benner leads prayer. Nathan Brubaker oversees men's ministry. Fred and Shelley lead outreach. Tony Brubaker and Marlene Hess serve as Lay Ministry Partners, with Marlene Hess known for leading Bible studies, small groups, marriage enrichment, and the church's monthly community meal.
Visiting MJMC
First-time visitors are welcomed at the door by a friendly greeter. Letting the greeter know it is a first visit sends guests to the Welcome Center desk, where they receive a small gift and help finding their way around. Dress ranges from jeans and flip-flops to dresses and the occasional jacket and tie, so visitors are invited to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.
Children under three are welcomed in the nursery and toddler care rooms during the 9:00am worship gathering. These rooms are staffed by background-checked caregivers. At 10:30am, children under three join a Next Steps class designed for them, while children four and older start the morning in worship with their families and then move to age-appropriate Next Steps classes.
To plan a visit, guests can fill out a visit form through the MJMC Church Center portal, and a host will follow up with a welcome email and meet them on Sunday morning. Questions can be directed to the church office at 717-653-5660 or mjmenno@mjmc.org.
Staying Connected Throughout the Week
Sermons are available through the church's audio page, the mjmc_tube YouTube channel, and the Mount Joy Mennonite Church podcast on Apple Podcasts. The Church Center app lets members and visitors check event details, pre-check in children, give online, and stay updated with church announcements. The church's calendar of events covers women's Bible studies, youth events, 3-1-1 group sign-ups, and Discovery Kids Clubs.
Giving is accepted at giving stations inside the building, through electronic bank transfer set up through the church office, or online through the Church Center giving portal. A delays and cancellations page is also maintained on the church's site for weather-related updates.