Posts by VMMissions Staff
Jamaica Mennonite Church conference delivers deep impact
“The Word of God: Eternal, Powerful & Profitable” was the theme of the 53rd annual conference of the Jamaica Mennonite Church, March 4-6, held in Kingston. Delegates gathered on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday to discuss reports from congregations and directors of various areas of church work. During the delegate session, Morris Baker was…
Read MoreNew witness launched in central Italy
Termoli, an ancient and modern city several hours north of Bari, Italy, of approximately 50,000 people, is situated among the coastal hills overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Guarded by a picturesque castle, it nestles among flourishing olive groves and vineyards. Although without an established believers’ church witness, God is at work to carry out His purposes…
Read MoreThe global family of faith
As I stepped off the platform at Winter Delegate Session a couple weeks ago, I whispered to Conference Minister Owen Burkholder, “This is good!” We had just received two more congregations into Virginia Mennonite Conference, Eastside Church and Iglesia Discipular Anabautista. This is becoming a regular and healthy occurrence in our conference. In the history…
Read MoreA tribute to Paul Kropf, long-time missionary
On behalf of VMM, I wish to recognize the significant service rendered by Paul and June Kropf, long-term pioneer missionaries to Albania with Eastern Mennonite Missions. Paul died unexpectedly on Christmas morning. With great sadness and sense of loss, we remember Paul and his contribution to the Albanian church. Upon their arrival in Lezhe, Albania,…
Read MoreSeven joyful baptisms in Trinidad
On January 30, Margaret and I had the privilege of participating in the baptism of seven people. The baptism was scheduled for Saturday, but it was raining most of the day and at noon we learned there was a warning out that people should not go in the ocean because of dangerously rough water, so…
Read MoreTransformed, transforming.
God is on a mission to change the world. Everyone knows the world needs it. Humanity has a propensity of messing things up and we all have done our share. Sin, we call it, and it ripples out into all of our relationships, human institutions, and even affects creation. God’s mission to change the world…
Read MoreMennonite Church in Trinidad now “totally local”
Borrowing from a popular local slogan, Pastor Ganesh Kalloo described the signficance of the day at Sangre Grande Mennonite Church in Trinidad as “Totally Local.” On Sunday morning, January 9, the Mennonite Church of Trinidad and Tobago (MCTT) commissioned and installed the first Trinidadian as their conference overseer. Rawl Gunpath had pastored for many years…
Read MoreAmor Viviente pastor challenges Italian Mennonites
“Although God cares about poverty, suffering and pain, these human problems are not His first priority. He sent Jesus to bring forgiveness, to seek that which was lost, to give new life-abundant and eternal. Jesus commissions us to continue His ministry and make disciples. The message must be so clear that people either believe and…
Read MoreSigns of Life Fellowship celebrates one year
On January 9, Signs of Life Fellowship (SLF) celebrated it’s one year “birthday” of meeting for worship at the Shenandoah Valley Club of the Deaf. SLF is a joint outreach ministry of Virginia Mennonite Missions, Springdale Mennonite Church and Community Fellowship Church in Staunton. Four families from the two churches who had been functioning as…
Read MoreFrom religion to relationship
When Francesco, a young man who attends Centro Koinonia, Bari, Italy, began a new job, he immediately connected with Luigi, a colleague, who questioned him, “Who are you? I can see in your face that you are different!” Two years earlier Luigi had left the religious sect he was part of, having discovered who Jesus…
Read MorePraying with the Early Church
On December 12, the Early Church (in downtown Harrisonburg) gathered to ordain Ron Copeland to the ministry. It was my first visit to their worship service and remarkable in many ways. The youthful diversity of the gathering—students from EMU and JMU—meet with the group on a regular basis. Persons with various racial/ethnic characteristics came together…
Read MoreThoughtful choices change lives with fair trade products
When you hear the term “fair trade,” what comes to mind? Whenever I give tours of our organization, I find that there are many folks who are not acquainted with the term or the impact that fair trade has on artisans and farmers around the globe. In a nutshell, fair trade organizations offer a market…
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