Focus

When we pay attention to the Spirit’s leading, we often find ourselves doing unexpected things, things that were not originally in our plans or our minds. This is a common occurrence here at EMM — among our staff as we dream of new ways to participate in God’s kingdom work, and in the lives of our workers as they respond to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those around them.

What do you do when everything stops? EMM’s Christian-Muslim Relations Team was familiar with a steady flow of invitations to teach, equip, and train.

In January 2018, EMM worker Vojta Prkna attended a four-day retreat in the Czech Republic — where he is from and lives — called the Battle for the Heart. It was a kick-off retreat to a longer program that he would go through with a small team of four people. The program consisted of two retreats, individual preparation, and team meetings.

Binsa* is a recently appointed EMM worker serving the Buddhist and Hindu community in Lancaster, Pa. She is a Bhutanese refugee from Nepal, who is now creatively sharing the gospel.

John and Debbie Coats’ situation suddenly changed at the end of March. The Coatses serve with EMM in Cambodia. They had been in the city for several weeks because the roads to their province had been closed. Since their children’s work was closed by the authorities due to the coronavirus pandemic, John and Debbie were using the time to prepare to help in the village if the disease got out of hand.

I’m certain you’ve heard us talk about Dr. David W. Shenk over the years on this program. Perhaps you even know David personally. I’m excited to announce that on September 21, Herald Press will be releasing David’s newest book called, “A gentle boldness: Sharing the peace of Jesus in a multi-faith world.”

While recuperating from surgery, Andrew* decided to watch his favorite missionary film, “Hudson Taylor.” In one scene, a recent Chinese convert addressed Hudson with deep sincerity. He said: “For many years I have sought the truth, as did my fathers before me. But only here, in the words you have spoken, has peace come to my heart. Is the gospel doing well in your country?”

Shovel in hand, Michael Hostetter heaped soil onto a pile in front of him. Rainwaters had been gushing into the foundation of his house. Michael knew that he had to just start digging to solve the problem. Meanwhile, the world had come to a standstill, through ebbs and flows of closures and reopening in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

On August 26th, Barry is embarking on a cross-country motorcycle trip to listen to the stories of EMM short-term alumni. Barry’s goal is to raise awareness for EMM’s new short-term mission program called Advance, underscoring EMM’s long-term commitment to raising up young people to live out the gospel.

Sometimes in mission, visible transformation is incremental and even hard to see, especially when circumstances like a global pandemic disrupt your regular mission routine. This past year has probably been the toughest year in ministry that Alan and Carol Wert have faced since their sabbatical in 2010. That’s why passages like Colossians chapter 1 can be so encouraging. The Werts are reminded of h...

Sometimes people have told EMM workers Mark and Sarah Schoenhals, with a twinge of regret in their voices, that all they can do to support the work in Isaan, Thailand, is to pray. Others wish they could do something, besides “just praying.”

The transfer of leadership is a work of God’s grace that holds its unique challenges. It was 1988 that Joe and Yvonne Garber left for a three-year term to a place in Tanzania that the Tanzanian Mennonite Church had invited them to serve.

The world is changing, and God is not surprised. He is on the move, shifting things and using Christians from the Global South and East to take the lead in global missions. It’s their turn, and we can partner with them.

We recognize that while we have gifts and resources to offer, we have much to learn and gain from others’ contributions and from walking this path of discipleship together.

There are many benefits to a good partnership. Partners focused on a similar mission can provide us with skills we don’t possess alone, help us see from new perspectives, and expand the reach of our efforts. Throughout our history, we have partnered with hospitals, schools, children’s ministries, churches, and mission agencies around the globe who are motivated to share the transforming love of Ch...

Owen* preached his first message in the local language. He worked hard and his language ability has really expanded since then. Ever since he shared his first message, it seems as if his language has hit a turning point.

On Tuesdays, Kara and Andrew* help a woman from a local church in her evangelistic endeavors. One week, two leaders from the neighboring province, whom they worked with in the past, were there to assist them in expanding that work into their province. Suddenly, Andrew felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit saying that he should take the team with him to this church.

EMM workers Peter and Christy have heard the Arabic phrase inshallah a lot among their time serving among Muslims. This phrase means “if God wills it.” Every time, Peter and Christy hear someone say “inshallah,” it reminds them of James 4:15, which says: “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

The pandemic is still taking its toll on Europe. Germany is still under a shutdown with only the essentials open. Despite the pandemic, Charlotte was thankful to be able to still complete an internship. Due to the pandemic, Charlotte had to find an internship in Germany. As Charlotte describes it, “God’s plan always exceeds expectations.”

Almost a year had passed since Jon and Heleen Yoder returned to Alabama from Sierra Leone. The past year has been interesting for them, but they are very grateful for God’s faithfulness and His work of restoration in their lives. But they decided it was time for a change again.

In 2015, at an EMM workers’ conference at Black Rock Retreat in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, Carol Wert picked up a newspaper called Mennonite Weekly Review . In it, she saw an article about a new course starting in Bristol, England, that focused on theology and mission from an Anabaptist perspective. The course was led by a church planter, prolific author, and trainer, Stuart Murray Williams.

Stephen and Bethany Horst, who are jointly appointed workers with EMM and VMMissions, and their family are preparing to return to their home in Thailand. They have quarantine bookings, visas, documentation and airline tickets to return. After a lengthy quarantine, they should arrive back home in Nam Yuen at the end of April, just shy of a year since they left.

For years, EMM worker Michael Clancy dreamed of starting a Christian community house, much like the one he lived in when he purchased his current house fromJubilee Ministries. The house that his family is now living in was once a program house for Jubilee Ministries Christian Discipleship program.

Why are people traveling up to 40 miles to be part of this fellowship in rural South Asia? It's simple. They've experienced the healing and deliverance that only Jesus can bring through His Holy Spirit. And as one comes to faith, and family members or neighbors see the miracle that happened, it's not long until the others begin to follow too.

Do we really see who’s at our door? Or do we see who we expect to see? EMM worker Phil Gottschalk says that much of what we see when we look at the “other” — the immigrant, the refugee — depends on what we are prepared to see and what we expect to see.