Focus

This year, Michael Clancy had another opportunity to take another group of students on a celebratory trip because they completed a job readiness program. In the kind of ministry Michael works with, celebrating successes are important ways to mark milestones of transformation in people’s lives. Unfortunately, not every person that Michael works with continues on with the path that Jesus invites the...

As you bump along the lake-side road through the town of Los Naranjos in Honduras and weave up a slight hill, the welcoming sign on your left reads, “Campamento VidaNet” (Camp VidaNet). Tropical flowers wave and palm trees tower overhead in the humid air as a few young adults come out to greet you: Welcome to Campamento VidaNet!

EMM worker Andre* and two other believers gave a clear gospel presentation to three employees of one of these believers. Andre asked them what percent of what they heard do they believe. The first man responded “80%.” The second man answered “50%.” The second man’s wife exclaimed “100%!”

The past few months have passed in a flurry of activity, as is quite typical for Sonya Harnish and the Crossroads-Torchbearers Bible school. There's been joy in seeing this group of students really wanting to grow during their time at the school and taking initiative to pray together!

This year started off with a bang for Aaron and Katarina Miller in Chile!  The first two weeks were spent busily preparing to host 11 students from Rosedale Bible College. At the end of January and the beginning of February, there were two weekends of camps: one with younger kids and the other with older kids.

As EMM workers Tim and Julie Groff gathered for the seventh annual leadership retreat with Belize Garifuna churches from Hopkins, Dangriga, Gales Point, and Belize City they spent time focusing on this attitude: Taking off the “expectations” the world has piled onto them and instead look around for the tools God has already given them to use.

Carol Wert reflected on her own ability to hear from and speak with God. Over the years, Carol’s prayer life has mostly consisted of speaking at God rather than speaking with him. The conversation has often been one-sided, with her telling God her long list of (valid) requests for herself and others.

In 1938, scientists began tracking the lives of 268 Harvard University sophomores to discover the source of happiness and a good life. What did they find? Was it wealth, having a successful career, a good education, or being born into an upper-middle-class family? No, it wasn’t any of those things. They discovered it was relationships. Their conclusion: “Good and close relationships and a happy ma...

David W. Shenk of Lititz, Pa., went to be with the Lord on January 31, 2023. David was an ambassador of Christ’s peace who devoted his life to serving God through missions and the church. In his memoir, “A gentle boldness,” David concluded by reflecting on Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:20. David wrote that he and his wife Grace “were seeking to celebrate the peace of Jesus … Jesus commissions us...

David W. Shenk went home to be with his Lord and Savior this morning, Tuesday, January 31, 2023. We grieve the loss of David's presence here on earth but rejoice that he has been received by his heavenly Father. Next week, we’ll spend more time on this program, highlighting the ministries for which God used David and his wife, Grace, for many decades through EMM. This week, we felt like it was app...

"Influence" is something we strive for in the youth and young adults we lead, and it's a trait we hope to cultivate in our students. We desire to train youth in biblical teaching and nurture them as individuals. We hope that as they interact with their peers and as they continue to learn and grow, they will engage their communities as Kingdom people.

In November, a 12-member team from EMM, Virginia Mennonite Missions, and the Integrated Mennonite Church of the Philippines joined the team serving in Thailand in Det Udom. This prayer-vision team tip included first- hand exposure to the Isaan context, building trusting relationships for potential future partnerships, and onsite prayer for current and future kingdom work here in Isaan.

It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of 2022, and as we have been reflecting on the year, the word “hope” came to mind. There are many days when the world feels hopeless — the news is filled with war, famine, drought, natural disasters, and violence. Some days it seems that all may be lost.

EMM worker Austin Zuercher, and his wife Griselda, returned to Costa Rica and have enjoyed reconnecting with people after having spent a few months in Spain. For two months they are enjoying good coffee and sweet memories before they relocate to Honduras long-term. It has been very bittersweet for them, as they know these are the last months they’ll have in Costa Rica.

At first, it was a deliberate choice for EMM workers Alan and Wert, because it’s their stage of life with adult children. But the run-up to Christmas this year has felt less frenetic and more peaceful than in other years.

This summer, William Higgins took his first trip as an EMM non-resident missionary. To get to his final destination, William flew to Doha, Qatar, then to Nairobi, Kenya, and finally to Kisumu. From Kisumu they drove down to Migori, about three and a half hours, where the school is that he would be teaching, the Mennonite Anabaptist Theological College.

EMM worker Melanie Nofziger attended a gathering with her friends a few months ago when someone stated “We should help the Venezuelan refugees.” “The refugees?” Melanie wasn’t even aware of the growing presence of refugees in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Jonathan Bornman and his film crew included some Christ-followers, some with no religious commitment, and many Muslims. As producers, Jonathan and Michael Hostettler were committed to the making of the documentary being as much a part of the ministry as the film itself. This was an opportunity to live incarnationally with the crew. 

EMM worker Austin Zuercher and his wife, Griselda, were married on August 6th together with friends and family in Honduras. Instead of going on a traditional honeymoon, the couple decided to take a few months to serve together in a different ministry setting. Here’s a small glimpse into our first three months of marriage.

Suddenly, a look of puzzlement came the faces of the Yeu villagers, and they began chatting among themselves in their own language. What stumped them was a question about their origins. Finally, one of the villagers answered Andre and Karen Provost in Thai, “We have no idea where we originated. We only know that we came to Thailand from Laos.”

A man once asked EMM workers Steve Horst and Bethany Tobin, “How do you keep going when you see so few people believe?” At that time, Bethany thought about many disappointments and stories and then just simply said, “Not living for success in numbers. Digging deeper into faith in God.” It requires courage and prayer to reply with an answer like that. It requires wrestling with disappointments and...

Shortly after arriving back in Wales after a busy summer in the US, EMM workers Alan and Carol Wert took a Sabbath day of rest and sat on a hill overlooking the bay near Barry Island. As they soaked up the last of the summer sun, Carol read through the book of 1 Peter asking the Lord to speak to her. The breeze swept across the tall grass and Carol sensed the Spirit reminding her of our calling as...

Dorothy* went through a dark, dark valley of mental illness, but God has used it to find her heart again. She had been deteriorating since January when she began openly persecuting the believers and cut off relationships with EMM workers Steve Horst and Bethany Tobin, forbidding her mother from worshipping or associating with the church. 

EMM workers Phil and Linda Gottschalk arrived in Bucharest, Romania in August. During the interim time until they found a long-term apartment, they got to know the neighborhood around the rental they were living in. They explored the area and visited a few stores for groceries and household supplies.

In 1987, Glenna Sollenberger went on a mission trip to San Miguel Chicaj, a village in Guatemala. When they arrived, the team discovered that most of the people spoke a local Mayan language. Their heart language was Rabinal Achí. The missionary told the team that the people respond better when the local pastor preaches in their language, rather than Spanish.