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.
Ending and Emerging
I come to the end of my presidency of VMMissions at the conclusion of 2013. I have spent my life in the church. As a young adult I ratified the choice my parents had previously made for me and I became a Mennonite. I have no regrets.
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Start Here
Seven years ago VMMissions became intentional in providing a “doorway into missions.” People could start with VMMissions and go virtually anywhere that Mennonite missions has been involved, and beyond. The old mission “field” language is obsolete when referring only to some remote exotic far-off location.
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Why Short-term Missions?
If you or your congregation are thinking of a short-term mission experience, get in touch with us at VMMissions. We can help you turn a good idea into an excellent experience and avoid the kind of mistakes that have sometimes given short-term missions a bad name.
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Word and Deed
An interesting dichotomy has been argued in Christian mission. Should the Christian’s mission in the world focus on verbal witness, or should acts of care and compassion be our priority? Word or deed? I answer the question with a resounding, “Yes! Both!”
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Giving One’s Life
During our Christmas holidays my five year old granddaughter came to me and said, “Do you know what, Grandpa? I gave my heart to Jesus.” Bless that little heart! She told her mother, “When Jesus knocks, you must let him in!”
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The Consequence of Christmas
When I think of consequences my mind first goes a rather negative direction. We call it the fear of consequences and are reminded that we reap what we sow, or are warned, “be sure your sins will find you out.” There are, however, good consequences.
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Let’s “transForm” Missions and the World
VMMissions’ transForm program is a support initiative intended to provide up to 50% of the support for long-term workers similar to the way we now support tranSend internships. VMMissions is creating a hybrid support model, combining the best of the new and the old.
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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.
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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.
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Winds of the Spirit
The Spirit blows at will, we are told. We do not fully know its direction nor can we ever adequately predict its affect. We can, however, see some of the results and we have been told what fruit to look for. We do well to continue to look for “love, joy, peace” as evidence of where the Spirit is blowing.
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Global Sisters Enrich My Life
I have the unusual privilege to visit church sisters in the Caribbean region several times a year. Talking with the women in their settings is heart-warming, and sometimes heart-rending. Global sisters show me that holding onto faith is imperative in this uncertain world.
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The Global Family of Faith
A church conference dare not exist for itself. Myopic or extended self-absorbed attention tends to devolve into defensiveness and mere maintenance. It is for these reasons that I believe in missions. The church must always think beyond itself and risk its life for the sake of others.
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