At 34 years old, Michael J. “MJ” Sharp, 91¶ĚĘÓƵ ’05 alum, was working for the United Nations Group of Experts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – urging rebels to lay down their weapons – when he and his colleague, Zaida Catalán, were murdered, likely assassinated by killers with government ties. Marshall V. Yoder tells about Sharp’s life, death and legacy and how modern Mennonites wrestle with their place and role in the world in his new book, “” (Herald Press, January 2022).

This book and signing from the author will be available at the event.

 an 91¶ĚĘÓƵ ’92 alum who served with MJ Sharp as Weathervane editors, lives in Goshen (IN), serves as an adjunct professor of communication at Goshen College, worked for The Elkhart Truth newspaper for more than 20 years as a reporter and eventually managing editor. His writing, including the popular Dining a la King column, often focused on food. He is currently the head storyteller for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. 

Homily: John and Michel Sharp (Parents of Michael J. Sharp ’05)

Worship Leaders: Jane Hoober Peifer, ’75, MDV ’98, Les Horning ’86, MDV ’98

Music Leader: Benjamin Bergey ’11

Honoree Introductions: Louise Otto Hostetter ’79, Jeff Shank ’94

Honorees: Chester ’36 and Sara Jane ’42 Wenger, Michael J. Sharp ’05, Anxo Perez ’97, Leonard Dow ’87, Laura Rosenberger ’03

Musicians: Maria Zehr ’11, David Berry, Katie Derstine ’05, Matthew Hunsberger ’02, Heidi King ’12, Fred Flores-Cano ’19

Gospel Choir: Ariel Barbosa ’20, Tae Dews ’19, Oksana Kittrell ’17, Justin Odom ’20, Bruce Cypress ’19, Matej Gligorevic ’19, Earnest Kiah ’21

Willow Run: Jon Bishop ’17, Perry Blosser ’18, Joseph Harder ’20

Changing the World One Life at a Time

John and Michele Sharp share reflections from the life and calling of their son, , recipient of the 2017 91¶ĚĘÓƵ Life Service Award, who was killed while on a United Nations peacemaking mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in March 2017.

John Sharp teaches history and Bible at Hesston College, is a storyteller and author. Among his books: A School on the Prairie: A Centennial History of Hesston College, My Calling to Fulfill: the Orie O. Miller Story, and most recently, The Bible as Story: An Introduction to Biblical Literature, written with colleagues Marion Bontrager and Michele Hershberger.

Michele Miller Sharp launched her career in education and moved into the medical field working in family practice for the past 20 years as a physician assistant and more recently in clinic administration as Director of Clinical Excellence.

John and Michele are the parents of two married daughters, Erin & Laura and a son, MJ, as well as the grandparents of three absolutely adorable grandchildren, Oscar, Lucy & Jesse.

Drawing from the story of dry bones in the book of Ezekiel, Kevin Ressler engages issues of injustice and what we are called to and how we are called to be involved in our neighbors’ plight.

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Kevin Ressler (91¶ĚĘÓƵ ’07); poet, playwright, Thespian, want-to-be-novelist, lover of the arts is father to Acacia, husband to Melissa, with anticipation for another child in May. He believes in injustice and hopes to work against it instead of pretending it away. He has been to over a dozen so-called developing countries and found that a lack of economic infrastructure doesn’t mean people are not developed spiritually or hospitably. As a Mennonite and Anabaptist, Kevin’s understanding of life’s work purpose is service driven for symptoms and solution focused for systems. He is from Lancaster. He left Lancaster for college. He returned to Lancaster. His father gave the best advice to him around 15 years old saying, “Kevin, you can do whatever you want but I want you to know what I’ll be proud of you for. I’ll be proud as long as whatever you do you help people.” Lastly, Kevin makes his living as Executive Director of Lancaster Meals on Wheels. He is running for Mayor of Lancaster City, PA, his beloved hometown because he believes we aren’t taking seriously the rise in poverty and crime and desires equitable opportunity for all of the 59,000 residents. He serves on a variety of community boards including ASSETS LANCASTER, Conestoga Valley Education Foundation, Executive Board of the Atlantic Coast Conference for Mennonite Church USA, and Everence Federal Credit Union. Oh, and he much prefers deep conversations to small talk.