Stories of Mission
Explore mission themes in our quarterly magazine as workers tell stories of making disciples in the way of Christ.
Stay informed of all the latest VMMissions news.
MCTT’s mentoring move!
What an uplifting worship of praise and fellowship! The five congregations of the Mennonite Church of Trinidad and Tobago (MCTT) gathered for a joint service held on Sunday, April 29 in the Diego Martin Mennonite Church to install Bro. Ronald Latchman as Pastor Mentoree. The moderator of the service, Sis. Linda Gunpath gave everyone a…
Read MoreFlowing river baptisms provide firm foundation for faith
By Gloria Lehman In June, the Eastern Mennonite High School Touring Choir traveled to Eastern Europe for a three-week tour of Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Italy. Galen and I accompanied this group of lively, talented young people and listened to them singing in both big and small worship spaces. On June 17, we were…
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Paid to Serve the Lord?
Being paid to serve God does have its advantages. One advantage is that it increases the available time for service. In some cases missionaries have no other option. I am, however, interested in others who, like Paul, “haven’t made use of any of these rights.” We often call them tentmakers.
Read MoreWith Pedal Power, cyclists of all ages gear up to support community development, missions
A year ago, Calvin and Eve Bixler were the youngest riders in the annual Bike Shenandoah. The siblings, six and two-years-old, respectively, completed the five-mile ride with their parents, Sarah and Ben, whose bikes were outfitted to bring the little ones along. “We really enjoy biking,” Sarah, who attends Eastside Church, said recently. “It’s good…
Read MoreAfrican Pentecostalism, a recipe for global church growth
On Saturday, May 19, 28 followers of Jesus from both Calvary and Eastern District congregations gathered in Williamsburg Mennonite Church to discuss what is a disciple and how do we make them? Two persons from international cultures and communities—Phil Detweiler who served with Mennonite Missions Network for 21 years in Africa and Skip Tobin who…
Read MoreA Trip to Albania: Our Availability as God’s Instruments in Mission
By Lee and Peg Martin A picture may be worth a thousand words, but actually being there is in a totally different category. For us, Albania was a distant place we’d hear about through faithful missionaries including Allen Umble and Norma Teles. Allen is a former member of our congregation, Mt. Clinton Mennonite, and Lee…
Read MoreFormed by gratitude
I have great blood! My blood is type O Negative (universal donor), and CMV Negative (it does not contain cytomegalovirus.) The attendants at the blood donor room tell me my blood can be pulled off the shelf and used immediately for trauma patients, and it can be used in young children. I was quite pleased…
Read MoreDeep longings, deep hopes from younger adults
Where are all the young adults? Recent studies show that more than 50% of youth who were active in church during their high school years are not returning after graduation. Indeed, many VMC congregations are noticing this dramatic disappearance of younger participants and are wondering what is happening. Yet in the meta-crisis of a rapidly…
Read MoreBrazilian couple returns to Albania for second term
Rafael and Solange Tartari along with infant son, Paolino, recently returned to Lezhe, Albania, following a busy three-month “home assignment,” visiting family and churches in Brazil. They were commissioned by their sending agency, Junta Menonita de Missões Internacionais (JMMI), and seconded to work collaboratively with VMM missionary team in Albania for a second term. Their…
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Exponential: Accelerating Multiplication
Exponential Conference has become a significant conference of leaders and practitioners engaged in God’s work of planting churches. Held annually in Orlando, Florida, this year’s conference included 5,000 people, with 24 persons attending through Virginia Mennonite Missions.
Read MoreLove and boldness for Christ’s glory
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 The word “learning” greatly sums up my past year in Germany. Coming to a new language, culture, land, people, and work has made each day full of unknowns, surprises, challenges and all together constant…
Read MoreIn Christ, the crooked made straight
“If you aren’t promoted at school this year, I’ll kill you!” As a child, I believed my father would actually carry out this threat since he punished me severely when I didn’t do my homework well or for other childish misdeeds! My Dad grew up in a family greatly influenced by the mafia mentality where…
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