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From Brazil to Albania

Norma Teles

Called to Albania as a mission worker 25 years ago, Norma’s ministry has made a generational impact. “We can see how the power of the word of God can transform anyone who receives it, and how that transformation brings hope, not only to individuals, but also to the community,” she writes.

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From Everywhere to Everyone

Map of workers sending and receiving

Many are now being sent from the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, places formerly viewed as mission fields. VMMissions has been living into this shifting reality in many ways. Currently, a third of VMMissions workers come from the Majority World.

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The Whole Church to the Whole World

Aaron M. Kauffman

God’s primary strategy for reaching the world remains the church, everyday followers of Jesus like you and me. To my joy and utter astonishment, that church now includes believers from every continent on the globe, and most of the world’s known people groups.

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Worker Profile: Joy M. (name changed)

Art and handicraft market in a Central Asia city park. Photo: Francisco Anzola via Flickr

Joy (name changed) serves on the Launch Team in Central Asia, where she is studying the local language and culture and teaches middle and high school science part-time at an international school. She sees her role as integral in the spiritual formation of these students with whom she has the privilege of developing relationships.

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The Story of Squirrel Toys

Anowar (name changed) with a wooden toy in the process of being made.

When Anowar’s uncle was forced out of his ancestral Muslim village because he now followed Jesus, he wondered how he could help his uncle find work. Anowar had two young daughters of his own and wanted his kids to develop creativity. The idea was born to create quality wooden toys, and the business, organized around B4T principles, took off.

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Call to Prayer: Reflecting Christ in Relationships

Central Asia city

We want to reflect Christ in our lives here; that is the most important aspect of our vision for our work in this Central Asian country. Our Muslim neighbors are often outwardly religious, but there are often underlying longings. Prayer helps us connect with what is below the surface.

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Business as Gospel Opportunity

Hahns and Suzy Kanode

Seeing business as a tool for transformation allows for a holistic approach in an authentic manner as relationships are built and cultivated over time. We believe that business is a great venue for spreading the knowledge of Christ and what it means to follow him through ongoing relationships.

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Work as Worship and Blessing

The Business for Transformation (B4T) that I will be joining in Central Asia is part of a bigger network with a vision to use agricultural businesses in Central Asia to empower national believers to live in rural areas and make disciples through business connections.

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An Impact for Generations

Central Asia city where German Mennonites lived.

I would like to see business enterprises in Central Asia that make a long-term economic, social, and spiritual impact. Part of what drives me is creating legitimate roles for Christians to be able to live in Muslim communities as salt and light, and business is a way to be become that blessing.

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Workplace Witness

Aaron M. Kauffman

I have never served in business, but my experience as a teacher gives me a window into what it is like to have a genuine and readily understood role in a cross-cultural context. This is only one of many reasons we have embraced the Business for Transformation (B4T) movement.

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Call to Prayer: Music as Prayer

VMMissions worker Raleigh, with his son Robbie (names changed) sings and plays his guitar. Courtesy photo

Recently I was driving alone to the airport and decided to sing prayers rather than think or speak them. I was surprised how much more real my praises and petitions felt to me as I expressed them in this way. The words felt enlivened by the Spirit of God groaning within me, connecting me with the Father God.

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