What is Central Europe? This is an interesting question that will probably bring a different answer depending on who you ask. Is this region defined by a common language, distinctive geographic features, similar political histories, or shared religious influences? The short answer is, “Sort of ... but not necessarily.”

Not everyone will move into a new country or engage with another culture. However, many people can participate in this calling by partnering with those who “go,” impacting people and cultures far from our home communities.

Jen Hoover is an EMM worker who lives with her family in Costa Rica and serves with VidaNet. Jen recently reflected on the idea of one’s own purpose in life. Jen defines purpose as knowing the reason why something is done or created or for which something exists. In the grand scheme of things knowing one’s purpose, enables one to look outward. Not knowing one’s purpose, causes inward destructive thinking, the downward spiral we all fall imprisoned to.

Recently, EMM Mission Team Director Lorri Bentch reflected on the need for mission work in Europe. She and her family served with EMM in Hungary for a number of years. Here are some of Lorri’s thoughts about how critical this work is.

EMM and LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches invite you to respond to a critical humanitarian appeal from the Meserete Kristos Church (or MKC) in Ethiopia. Since 2020, the southern Borena zone of the Oromia state has experienced severe drought due to 5 failed rainy seasons. It is estimated that 24 million people have been impacted by the drought — 11 million of whom are experiencing food insecurity.

This year, Michael Clancy had another opportunity to take another group of students on a celebratory trip because they completed a job readiness program. In the kind of ministry Michael works with, celebrating successes are important ways to mark milestones of transformation in people’s lives. Unfortunately, not every person that Michael works with continues on with the path that Jesus invites them on. Within the past year, two of the three men that Michael had been discipling have given themselves over to the temptation of addictions.

As you bump along the lake-side road through the town of Los Naranjos in Honduras and weave up a slight hill, the welcoming sign on your left reads, “Campamento VidaNet” (Camp VidaNet). Tropical flowers wave and palm trees tower overhead in the humid air as a few young adults come out to greet you: Welcome to Campamento VidaNet!

EMM worker Andre* and two other believers gave a clear gospel presentation to three employees of one of these believers. Andre asked them what percent of what they heard do they believe. The first man responded “80%.” The second man answered “50%.” The second man’s wife exclaimed “100%!”

The past few months have passed in a flurry of activity, as is quite typical for Sonya Harnish and the Crossroads-Torchbearers Bible school. There's been joy in seeing this group of students really wanting to grow during their time at the school and taking initiative to pray together!

This year started off with a bang for Aaron and Katarina Miller in Chile!  The first two weeks were spent busily preparing to host 11 students from Rosedale Bible College. At the end of January and the beginning of February, there were two weekends of camps: one with younger kids and the other with older kids.