Focus

When Phil Gottschalk was 17 years old the Lord called him to work with Russian-speaking young people. So, he did a bachelor’s degree in Russian language at Penn State University. When he graduated in 1980, the Iron Curtain was still up. Phil went on to seminary to prepare to be a missionary.

Last summer EMM workers and staff led Chamber Choir members from the Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster on a tour to Central Europe. They traveled in both the Czech Republic and Germany. Beyond providing cross-cultural experiences for youth, EMM hopes that these kinds of trips inspire people to find their calling in missions. Here’s a quick snapshot of one of the more interesting concerts the...

John and Debbie Coats are EMM workers who serve in Cambodia. There is a lady who lives on the streets about a mile from their house in Phnom Penh city. Though she never asks, John has often stopped and given her a little money for food. She won’t look at or speak to him. She never smiles. He can’t hand her the money. He has to lay it down on the street, and later when he is gone, she picks it up a...

It’s a transformational journey that each person who chooses King Jesus as our leader needs to make — a reversal of the mind and a turning of the heart. From thinking about self, to thinking about others. Welcoming rather than turning away the ’least of these,’ putting aside personal agendas and valuing the contributions of all, forgiving others as God, in Christ, forgave us, and becoming leaders...

What is Central Europe? This is an interesting question that will probably bring a different answer depending on who you ask. Is this region defined by a common language, distinctive geographic features, similar political histories, or shared religious influences? The short answer is, “Sort of ... but not necessarily.”

Not everyone will move into a new country or engage with another culture. However, many people can participate in this calling by partnering with those who “go,” impacting people and cultures far from our home communities.

Jen Hoover is an EMM worker who lives with her family in Costa Rica and serves with VidaNet. Jen recently reflected on the idea of one’s own purpose in life. Jen defines purpose as knowing the reason why something is done or created or for which something exists. In the grand scheme of things knowing one’s purpose, enables one to look outward. Not knowing one’s purpose, causes inward destructive t...

Recently, EMM Mission Team Director Lorri Bentch reflected on the need for mission work in Europe. She and her family served with EMM in Hungary for a number of years. Here are some of Lorri’s thoughts about how critical this work is.

EMM and LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches invite you to respond to a critical humanitarian appeal from the Meserete Kristos Church (or MKC) in Ethiopia. Since 2020, the southern Borena zone of the Oromia state has experienced severe drought due to 5 failed rainy seasons. It is estimated that 24 million people have been impacted by the drought — 11 million of whom are experiencing food insec...

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.