Focus

In Western Kenya, the growth of the Mennonite Church was closely linked to local needs and culture, engaging meaningfully across borders. Early influences from Tanzania paved the way for a strong religious presence in the Suna area, driven by African Christian missionaries like Zedikia Kisare. Despite initial resistance from the Kenyan government in 1945, persistent advocacy by individuals such as...

In 1960, EMM began work in British Honduras, now Belize, to assist German-speaking Mennonite colonies from Mexico. This Mennonite group had migrated from Russia to Canada in the 1870s and then to Mexico in the 1920s. In Belize, they settled in areas like Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek, facing challenges such as land clearing and lack of medical facilities. EMM, in collaboration with MCC, provided...

Recognizing a receptive environment for humanitarian aid during the refugee crisis, MCC began relief efforts in Vietnam in 1955, providing clothing, food, and medical assistance. This laid the foundation for future Mennonite missions and service programs.

Jacob E. Brubaker, a Lancaster preacher intrigued by banana boats in New York, envisioned a mission in Guatemala, starting a discussion among his congregation in Lancaster. This curiosity led to an exploration of Central America, after a 1948 mission conference sponsored by East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church.

In the early 1930s, as the EMM launched its mission in Tanganyika, Ethiopia became a parallel interest. Struggling under Italian occupation from 1935, Ethiopia saw Emperor Haile Selassie I flee in 1936, only to return five years later to continue modernization efforts. Post-World War II, the Mennonite Church initiated a relief program in Nazareth, Ethiopia, marked by the establishment of the Haile...

Eastern Mennonite Missions has sent many missionaries worldwide, ministering in over 100 countries. Through God's faithfulness, we've helped start over 20 mission movements, reaching least-reached people. Now, we ask, "Will God do it again?" We believe He will, calling us to share the good news with some of the 3 billion least-reached people globally. From April to June, we'r...

Today is the day of Holy Week in which we reflect on the hopelessness that so many of Jesus’ followers had after his death. Did they know he would be raised from the dead, or were they broken and distraught?

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations...” (Mt 28:18) But, like many people, Mark has often answered, “I’m not an evangelist...it’s not my gift.” Mark Schoenhals' gift in making disciples is in mentoring one-on-one or teaching in small groups. So, he has often responded to Jesus’ Great Commission by focusing on the teaching and mentoring part of discipleship and he has seen beautifu...

Last month, EMM workers Steve Horst and Bethany Tobin and their family attend the EMM annual team retreat in southeast Asia. It was a time with a small group of like-minded people who they have known and worked with for over ten years, sharing deeply, receiving prayer, playing, and enjoying life together for a few days.

Is it time to move forward? Do you have a feeling of holy discontent? Well, we want to invite you to come to a time set aside for reflection and discernment as we revisit a sense of call and invite God's Spirit to fan the embers into flame. This event, "Called: reignite the call" will be held March 22–23 in Akron, Pennsylvania. Register now at emm.org/called .

This past summer, Andres Prins had no idea that a recreational hike through the High Atlas mountains would lead to an opportunity to respond to the earthquake that would devastate the region just months later. In June, a Moroccan friend, who is a mountain trekking guide, agreed to lead Andres and a group of local believers on a trip that had them leave their car at the end of the road in a village...

Every business owner eventually starts to contemplate the future and what is to become of their hard work. It is never too early to anticipate and plan for a leadership transition. If this topic interests you, you're invited to the EMM business leaders’ breakfast on Tuesday, March 12 from 7 to 8:45 am at Hub 450, which is 450 N Prince St in Lancaster City. Register at emm.org/breakfast .

In September 2023, as Alan and Carol Wert's small group continued to grow to 13 or 14 people and packed out their living rooms, they made the decision to multiply the group into two, allowing space for others to join.

Matthew Baugher is participating in Advance Global, a 9-month, international discipleship and service opportunity. He is currently doing his outreach ministry in Halle, Germany. Today’s story is a summary of some of Matthew’s reflections about his time in Germany so far.

Four people in a rural village in Thailand were be baptized by having buckets of water from the ponds poured over them. Given the considerable distance from any of the other churches in the province, a decision was made to empower them to conduct their own church services. In one day, Andre and other church leaders witnessed the birth of a church. God gave them a window to see what is possible whe...

The Czech Republic has the fifth-highest incarceration rate in the European Union (out of 27 EU member states) and the ninth-highest of all the 46 European countries. It is often argued that the Czech Republic is among the most secular countries in the world. Yet, a rich spiritual heritage is part of Czech history, including Jan Hus, a reformer who inspired Martin Luther, and the Moravian Brethren...

EMM’s Advance Global program offers an opportunity to connect and grow with other young adults through intensive discipleship, followed by overseas missions experience. Today, I’d like to share about one of EMM’s Advance participants: Lena Kauffman. Lena is currently on outreach ministry in Cambodia but had spent three months living in Lancaster County and participating in discipleship training.

Turning to the Scriptures, EMM worker Michael* received a renewed conviction for his Anabaptist perspective and its ideals. He realized deep in his heart that to be a witness of incarnational love and to be a light and blessing to those around us in this land is not one-sided.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and...

Several months ago, on one of the first nice days after a very late spring, Eric and Janelle and their family took a day trip to a wild horse nature preserve half an hour south of their home. They went to the preserve with two goals in mind: see wild horses and see the wild orchids which are famous in that region.

“Good morning, Miss!” EMM mission intern Sarah Martin hears these words so often as she walks the hallways and enters the classrooms at the Promesa School in Cusco, Peru.

Christ’s transforming love compels us to cross cultures, engage the world, and multiply disciples of Jesus. We invite you to join us as we focus on least-reached people groups in several regions around the world. Your gift to the Impact Fund sustains these efforts and so much more.

Srey Da's discipleship teachers taught the students to pray with faith for healing. Srey Da took her teachers seriously. Srey Da and a companion went into a house, where a woman was preparing some fermented fish paste. Srey Da did not want to go in at first but did with her companion's encouragement. The woman's husband was there and he made apologies for his wife, saying she could not...

Recently, EMM worker Bethany Tobin, who serves with her family in Thailand, had a devotional that looked at Abraham’s relationship with God. God called Abraham to resume his father’s life of sojourn, traveling as a stranger in a foreign land. Then God called Abraham, who was childless, to look out at the stars and believe God’s promise of many, many children. Many years and mistakes later, as the...

EMM’s strategic focus is to identify, equip, and send missional leaders to serve on multi-generational and multi-ethnic teams who invite people to follow Jesus as maturing, multiplying disciples and nurture transforming communities of worship. We primarily focus on least-reached people groups of Central Asia, Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and West Africa, and refugees in Lancaster, Pa. So here’s...