February 27, 2023
Our church history is shaped by the legacy of Christendom: the church aligning with political power to protect and maintain our position in society. This is vastly different from understanding the church being shaped as a missionary church whose calling is to be embedded as “sent ones” in our own societies.
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February 27, 2023
David Gingerich has assumed a new leadership role as Director of Partner Development, focusing on fundraising, donor cultivation and church relations. “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to nurture and grow relationships with our community of partners,” David writes.
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November 21, 2022
With your support, we were able to appoint 18 new mission workers in 2022, bringing our total number of those serving to 61 – kingdom ambassadors representing 12 countries, yet all with the same goal of sharing the peace that Jesus makes possible. This Christmas, help us call, equip, send and support more ambassadors of reconciliation through a donation to our Mission Fund.
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September 26, 2022
From the one year old riding in a bike seat with her dad to the 81 year old who rode the 50K route, all 84 participants of the 25th anniversary Bike Shenandoah enjoyed their time on the road and in community on September 17, raising money for six local organizations. The event was a resounding success, raising a total of approximately $28,000.
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September 1, 2022
On August 31, Carol Tobin retired from her staff role as Mission Advocate and Transforming Content Editor. Though her formal role has ended, she will continue in volunteer roles for VMMissions, including helping to coordinate the upcoming Perspectives course and local missions recruitment efforts.
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August 5, 2022
Border Perspective, a VMMissions E3 Collective, is an immersive and educational service learning trip that will offer participants a first-hand connection with immigrant leaders serving families on the U.S.–Mexico border. Participants will gain an understanding of the complexity of immigration on the border and service opportunities to help support local immigrant ministries.
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August 5, 2022
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course is offered next spring (held on Tuesday evenings, January 3 to May 2, 2023) in Harrisonburg. The 15-week course is heartily endorsed by a broad spectrum of evangelical denominations, ministries, and mission agencies.
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July 20, 2022
Watch the Church of Many Cultures Celebration as VMMissions celebrated nearing the end of a campaign raising $3 million for new initiatives through a service of worship and commissioning new workers. The service was held as part of Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly at Zion Mennonite Church, Broadway, Va.
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July 18, 2022
Thank you for helping us continue the chain of disciples who make disciples with your gifts to our Mission Fund. Funds are still coming in, but so far we have raised 89% of our Mission Fund fiscal year goal of $460,000. The fiscal year ended August 31, 2022. Your gifts will help more people have the opportunity to know and follow Jesus.
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July 18, 2022
Putt Fore Missions was a great way to connect with those who support the vision of VMMissions to strive toward a Spirit-led church of many cultures. It was a hot evening on the greens at Mulligan’s Golf Center in Harrisonburg as twenty teams of four enjoyed a friendly competition in pursuit of the “green jacket t-shirts” awarded to our top golfers in four age categories.
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July 18, 2022
An idea that started at Powhatan Mennonite Church ten years ago has now raised nearly $115,000 to support the mission of VMMissions to “equip the church to share new life in Christ with neighbors near and far.” And this year’s tenth anniversary ride broke records, including the amount raised for missions!
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May 31, 2022
As many persons gather June 18-19 in Albania to celebrate 30 years of Guri i Themelit Church, and 10 years of Lezha Academic Center in Lezhë, Albania, learn more about the long involvement of VMMissions in Albania.
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May 12, 2022
We launched A Church of Many Cultures in 2021 with the goal of raising $3 million for three new areas of ministry: Business for Transformation, Global Church Planting, and a Mission Training Center. I am happy to share that as of this month, we have raised nearly $2.7 million. If you haven’t already, please consider how God is calling you to support this campaign.
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April 19, 2022
The “marketplace worker” category supports and equips believers to “live out God’s kingdom in every sphere of life.” This category enables persons employed in trades or professions to receive coaching toward fruitful ministry in the workplace, and to network with other Christians who see their work as ministry.
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March 31, 2022
Pastor Senior’s experience as a successful businessman made a great contribution to the development and significant ministry of the Maranatha School for the Deaf in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Galen and Gloria Lehman, former VMMissions workers in Jamaica and later staff members, began their friendship with Pastor Senior in 1981. “We cherished his warm personality, commitment to integrity, his deep prayer life, dignified commanding presence, and strong Christian faith, making him an excellent church leader,” they write.
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December 3, 2021
Christmas is about kindness, God’s kindness toward us in Jesus Christ. In a world where kindness is in short supply, this is good news. We are invited to throw off the shackles of sin and receive the new life only Jesus can bring. Thank you for helping us share this kindness of God through a gift to the Mission Fund and meeting our year-end goal of $160,000.
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November 6, 2021
Watch the full video highlighting the ‘A Church of Many Cultures’ campaign. Consider joining this vision!
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October 29, 2021
Within the Italian Mennonite world, there are few who would not recognize the powerful voice of Elio Milazzo, who for years was producer and voice of Parole di Vita, a radio broadcast sponsored by Italian Mennonites in partnership with Mennonites in North America, including VMMissions. The Italian Mennonite Church grieves his recent passing on August 29.
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October 22, 2021
My Coins Count is an annual campaign that benefits programs designated by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and VMMissions. In 2021, contributors donated a preliminary total of $17,073.74, of which $8,536.87 will benefit the family discipleship ministries of VMMissions workers Hannah Shultz and Seth & Theresa Crissman.
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October 4, 2021
On Saturday, September 18, nearly 100 bicyclists gathered at the grounds of Eastern Mennonite School to participate in the 25th annual Bike Shenandoah Cycle for Service. The event raised over $25,000 to be shared evenly among its six partnering entities, including Virginia Mennonite Missions and the Stephen R. Leaman Memorial Endowment for Missions.
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July 27, 2021
As we are seeking $100,000 to reach our Mission Fund goal for the fiscal year ending in August, I want to share two recent stories of the healing only Jesus can bring. Dramatic physical healing is not always our experience today, yet Scripture promises that the cross is God’s ultimate answer to the sickness of sin. Your generosity makes these stories possible.
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July 21, 2021
Prayer continues to emerge as a priority as VMMissions looks ahead at the next decade. One concrete opportunity is available this fall: Michael and Ruth Hershey will be leading a three-month exploration and discovery called “Cultivating a Life of Prayer.”
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The Board of Directors of Virginia Mennonite Missions announces the reappointment of Aaron M. Kauffman as President for a third four-year term, beginning January 1, 2022. “Under Aaron’s leadership, VMMissions has continued to thrive and increase in numbers of appointed workers and in financial assets,” noted Lavonne Lehman, Board Chair.
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July 9, 2021
In both marriage and the church, God brings together people who have different gifts and ways of perceiving the world in order to build communities that provide a foretaste of the kingdom of heaven. Tyler and Kendra draw on varied gifts to strengthen their ministry together.
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July 9, 2021
Become the leader you’ve always wanted to be. The Center for Serving Leadership is hosted a Harrisonburg Leadership Breakfast on August 25, 7-8:00 a.m. at A Bowl of Good, sponsored by VMMissions. Learn from leadership trainers Nelson Okanya and Jon Byler, and take away a practical action step that you can implement immediately.
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May 27, 2021
In March 2020, VMMissions launched the Coronavirus Immigrant Care Fund as a domestic response to immigrants in need due to job loss and other hardships related to the coronavirus pandemic. Staff person Lizzette Hernandez led a distribution committee that fielded requests, verified needs, and made distributions. All told, VMMissions distributed $38,940 to 130 families in Virginia and North Carolina.
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May 25, 2021
As of May 24, 2021, all office staff and tenants at VMMissions are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In accordance with updated guidance from the CDC and the Governor of Virginia, VMMissions is no longer requiring fully vaccinated staff or visitors to wear masks or maintain social distancing. We ask that all staff and visitors, even if vaccinated, make a point to accommodate requests to wear masks, socially distance, meet outside, or otherwise adjust office protocol for the sake of the comfort, health or safety of others.
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March 10, 2021
VMMissions is pleased to announce the hiring of Todd Van Patter as Director of Operations, beginning March 31. In this key role, Todd will lead the Support Services Team and serve on the Leadership Council. His background is in organizational design and culture: the systems and practices that lead to vibrant and effective organizations.
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March 9, 2021
In November 2020, Honduras and other Central American countries were devastated by two major back-to-back hurricanes, Eta and Iota. VMMissions started a Honduras Hurricane Relief Fund to participate with the Honduran effort by providing funds and supplies.
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March 9, 2021
On October 24 and November 6, 2020, VMMissions board and staff members participated in a two-part training on racial and cultural sensitivity facilitated by Alicia Manning, an educator, consultant, and member of Calvary Community Church (C3) in Hampton, Va.
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March 5, 2021
Virginia Mennonite Missions seeks a full-time Human Resources Manager (consideration will be given for a part-time position if preferred). This individual will be the primary human resources officer for VMMissions, handling employment applications, coordinating hire and termination events, administering payroll and benefits, and leading the work to review and improve HR systems. Responsibilities will include administrative and office management duties to support the work of VMMissions’ staff.
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December 7, 2020
Each year, VMMissions workers propose projects to meet some special or immediate need in their ministries for our Alternative Christmas Gifts program. These projects range in scope and are ideal for individuals, families, Sunday School classes, small groups or entire congregations to consider. See this year’s projects.
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December 7, 2020
As 2020 came to a close, we invited you to help us reach our goal of raising $100,000 by December 31. Thank you for helping us reach our goal! Gifts are still coming in; as of January 4, we raised just over $101,000.
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December 4, 2020
After two major hurricanes only two weeks apart bore down on Honduras, VMMissions was invited to join several relief initiatives led by Honduran churches with whom we have relational links, and Manantial de Vida, a partner congregation within Virginia Mennonite Conference. A total of $22,000 is needed to respond to practical needs such as family sanitation kits, food packet distribution in isolated communities, and repairs to homes and church structures.
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December 2, 2020
VMMissions thanks the 36 donors who contributed a total of $4,800 to this year’s #GivingTuesday campaign. This includes a matching gift of $800 from Everence. VMMissions will use these contributions to multiply disciples among neighbors near and far as we join the work that God is already doing at home and around the world.
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November 18, 2020
With thankfulness for the ways that God has been faithful to the ministries and partners of VMMissions, and out of gratitude for the prayer and financial support of God’s people, VMMissions hosted an event on November 21 to express our thanks and share stories from our ministries.
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November 2, 2020
VMMissions and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) cooperated this year to channel My Coins Count funds to help some of the most vulnerable people during the global COVID-19 crisis. Gifts through My Coins Count are supporting VMMissions’ continuing response to needs arising in the communities where our workers and partners live and serve.
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November 2, 2020
This summer, VMMissions hired Karen Yoder as the new Ministry Support Coach and Global Assistant. In these roles she resources Ministry Support Teams and lends administrative support to Jason Showalter and the Global Team.
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November 2, 2020
VMMissions worker and jail chaplain, Jason Wagner, is happy to announce the launching of a new initiative of care for persons released from incarceration. He has begun a partnership to build bridges between former inmates and the church. He acknowledges that it is complicated to walk with people in hard situations and churches are often ill equipped to do this.
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October 7, 2020
VMMissions workers Michael and Ruthy Hershey led a seminar on October 17 and 18 focused on engaging prayer as the foremost tool given to us by which to engage in God’s mission and see God’s purposes unfold in our lives and in our world.
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September 29, 2020
On a crisp, sunny September morning, the largest number of riders in Bike Shenandoah’s 22-year history rode in memory of Steve Leaman, a beloved former principal, educator, and VMMissions staff member. The 133 total riders chose among four rides between 5 and 62 miles to raise money for six non-profit organizations.
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September 28, 2020
On September 11-12, a group of 24 motorcycle riders covered a total of 419 miles in support of the ministries of VMMissions. Despite ominous skies, the first group left Harrisonburg early Friday morning, and met up with another pack of riders at Powhatan Mennonite Church. VMMissions workers Tyler and Kendra Yoder met them to share about their church planting work in nearby Richmond.
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September 8, 2020
VMMissions is honored to announce to the public the Stephen R. Leaman Memorial Endowment for Missions, which will benefit three areas of ministry. To finalize the endowment, VMMissions is seeking a total of $25,000, of which $20,435 has already been committed. Would you be willing to help us reach our goal?
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June 12, 2020
VMMissions is pleased to announce the promotions of Abe Hartzler to Associate Director of Advancement, beginning June 15, and Tom Yoder to Ministry Coach, with a particular focus on the Balkans, starting September 1. Both are current VMMissions staff members who have felt called to take on new or expanded roles.
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June 8, 2020
Thank you for your understanding in the closing of our offices due to COVID-19 these past several weeks. In view of the Governor’s recently announced guidelines for Phase 2 of Virginia’s reopening plan, effective Monday, June 8 we will be allowing visitors inside our offices by appointment only.
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June 8, 2020
At a recent prayer time, several staff members gave voice to our collective confession for complicity in systemic injustice and racism. We share this prayer with you as a statement of our ongoing need for God’s mercy and transformation. We also commit to learning from our sisters and brothers of color in their suffering and in their strength, and to taking steps toward undoing racism in our church and in our culture.
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June 1, 2020
Learn about changes in charitable giving options in light of the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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June 1, 2020
The last three months of the coronavirus pandemic have introduced unimagined challenges and tragedy to the entire world community. At the same time, this adversity has unearthed deep wells of adaptability, creativity and compassion. This is certainly the story at VMMissions.
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May 18, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing preexisting systemic inequalities that benefit some and disadvantage others. In response, Mennonite World Conference has invited Anabaptist mission and service partners to coordinate their financial response to COVID-19 hardships experienced by member churches around the world.
moreMay 1, 2020
Latino Ministries hosts Training for Trainers event on March 14
Cloth face mask drive launched for poultry workers
Coronavirus Immigrant Care Fund makes impact
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