Focus

We cannot plant all of the seeds on our own, nor do we want to try to do so. EMM is committed to training more workers to help in preparing the soil, planting the seeds, nurturing the sprouts, and harvesting the fields. Our Impact Fund provides the support for us to be able to invest in leadership development locally and around the world. When you support the Impact Fund ,you’re not only helping to fund the integral structures of EMM’s sending capacity, but you are also investing in our combined efforts to raise up and train leaders who will continue to go out and join God with us in this critical work.

On the last three episodes of Focus, we talked about the first three fields: the open, seeded, and sprouted fields. Today, we’ll look at the fourth field: the one that is experiencing the harvest. In the 11 countries that make up the geographic region of Southeast Asia, there are more than 680 million people! The Joshua Project estimates that nearly 53 percent of the people in this region would be identified as least-reached.

EMM has been committed to reaching the least-reached people of the world for nearly a century. Our initial ministry to the Luo people of Tanzania was one of reaching out to people who had not heard of Jesus. This continues to be a central focus for EMM: going to places with “open fields.”

EMM workers John and Debbie Coats were instrumental in establishing a children's program in Cambodia. Three sisters, who were part of the program, lost their parents and grandparents at a young age, and they have largely been responsible for taking care of themselves. Seena, the eldest sister, took on the role of caretaker for her younger sisters during their formative years.

Responding to an invitation from partners in Indonesia, EMM Christian-Muslim Relations Team Member Jonathan Bornman traveled to Indonesia from September 10 to 27 for the premiere and tour of the film Unexpected Peace. Along with Michael Hostetler, he participated in seven screenings across six cities, where local Muslim and Christian scholars reviewed the film and engaged in discussion panels. The trip exceeded all his expectations.

Five hundred years ago, a handful of believers dared to reimagine discipleship — not as a cultural inheritance, but as an embodied response to Jesus. Their practices proved life-changing. Their Scripture reading awakened hearts, their communities redefined belonging and their baptisms defied empires.

God prompted Jen Hoover's spirit during worship as the congregation sang a beautiful song, "Vuelvo a casa, a la casa de mi Padre, donde me ama y me llamas por mi nombre" — which means, “I'm going home to my Father's house, where he loves me and calls me by name.” As she pondered these words on her drive home, the sentiment created an image in her mind of walking through the front door of her childhood home.

When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he began the prayer by proclaiming God’s kingdom on earth. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This was not just some lofty future vision, but a powerful declaration of his inauguration as a different kind of king.

EMM worker Stacy Prknova felt a long-standing call to church planting, a calling that began even before she moved to the Czech Republic. As a member of West End Mennonite Fellowship, she gained practical experience by participating in one of their church plants, understanding the importance of knowing how a church operates before venturing abroad. When she sensed God’s nudge to join EMM in the Czech Republic, she felt ready, even though she had no idea how many years it would take before that dream would materialize. For years, the desire for church planting lay dormant while she engaged in various ministry opportunities. At times, she questioned her role in church planting in the Czech Republic, but everything changed when she met Voyta, who became her husband. His background in house church ministry resonated with her and deepened their connection.

Somewhere in the archives of EMM, there is a video taken with a camcorder in October of 1990 of the first baptism of the Peruvian Mennonite Church. There might also be some slides or even some fuzzy photos taken with a film camera of that highly significant day. Somehow, by the grace of God, a church was born on October 12, 1990! Steve and Beth Gibbs were fortunate enough, along with other EMM missionaries and a good number of Peruvians, to be witnesses of all that took place that day. While many things have changed in the 35 years that have passed since then, the Jesus movement that began that day has continued.

EMM workers John and Debbie Coats are thankful for positive developments among the staff of the children’s program they run in Cambodia. These stories represent the first young Christian families in their villages, marking the second generation of believers. The initial believers came to faith in the early 1990s, and now their young children have grown up, married fellow believers, and started their own Christian families. This is a new phenomenon in the area. Unfortunately, many young Christians in Cambodia marry non-believers and often drift away from the church.

Multiplication is a buzzword in many missions and church circles regarding the expansion of the kingdom of God. Let’s say you start with one church. At some point, the church plants a second church. Later, another church is planted, and you have three. When a fourth church is planted, there are four. That’s addition.Now, think of it another way. Let’s say you start with one church. And at some point, that church multiplies itself and becomes two churches. Later, those two churches each multiply themselves, and there are four. And after that, the four churches multiply and become eight.There isn’t a huge difference between four and eight, but as you go further down the chain, the difference between addition and multiplication becomes exponentially larger.

“Called: Taking the Next Step” is a 24 hour retreat that is co-sponsored by EMM and LMC. We will engage with these three themes: Direction, preparation and timing, by worshiping, learning, and reflecting with others. Together we will respond to the nudge of God’s Spirit and break through the inertia in our lives. You can learn more and register online at emm.org/called.

A dream came true for Elizabeth* this past summer when she had the opportunity to travel to Great Britain and attend the summer school of a community she belongs to called "Movement in Worship." Elizabeth had joined the online community several years prior because, as many of her friends know, using movement to express her worship is one of her primary love languages with the Father. Deep down inside, singing a worship song without moving to it usually feels to her like reading a recipe in a cookbook without actually making or eating the food.

EMM workers Owen and Abby* recently moved to the same village where EMM workers John and Debbie* live. The family rented a truck recommended by friends, but it turned out to be much smaller than expected, requiring some creative packing to get everything loaded. Over ten people came out early to help, and despite packing well beyond its capacity, they still had to ship Owen's motorbike. The trip to the village with the loaded truck was quite entertaining.

Kingdom Teams (or K-Teams) were dynamic experiences this summer for the students served through a migrant education program, the K-Teams staff, and the youth who participated in the teams. Kingdom Teams Director German Bernardez led a K-Teams staff that included Esther Milonde Makoma, Sapjah Zapotitla, and Yokebed Zapotitla.

In May, Valerie Mumau ended her five-month outreach in Upala, Costa Rica, and returned to the base in Heredia, Costa Rica. As May turned into June, she transitioned into the final chapter of Vida220, known as VidaMissions. VidaMissions is a two-month period during which youth groups, school groups, or families can come to Costa Rica and experience a ten-day mission trip. This summer, there were three ten-day periods during which groups could participate, and Valerie enjoyed being a part of all three.

EMM worker Jan Heindel serves in Dobris, which is in the Czech Republic, by teaching English, building local relationships, and discipling youth and young adults in her local congregation. She strives to model a biblical lifestyle in post-Christian Europe and nurture others into the freedom and life that Jesus offers.

EMM worker William Higgins serves globally, providing discipleship training, leadership development, and mutual learning and encouragement with EMM’s partners. Recently, William found himself in Ethiopia, specifically in Bishoftu, an hour south of Addis Ababa. This vast nation, home to 120 million people, also holds the largest Anabaptist national church in the world: the Meserete Kristos Church (MKC), meaning "Christ the Foundation Church." In 2022, the MKC had 515,000 members, a number that swelled to nearly a million when including unbaptized individuals and children.

John and Debbie Coats organized two workshops on training Cambodian Christian leaders on how to deal with spiritual bondages, including unrepentance and past ties to cults. Debbie wrote the materials, organized the workshops, and worked together with several Cambodian leaders who conducted the teaching.