Focus

EMM worker Melanie Nofziger attended a gathering with her friends a few months ago when someone stated “We should help the Venezuelan refugees.” “The refugees?” Melanie wasn’t even aware of the growing presence of refugees in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Jonathan Bornman and his film crew included some Christ-followers, some with no religious commitment, and many Muslims. As producers, Jonathan and Michael Hostettler were committed to the making of the documentary being as much a part of the ministry as the film itself. This was an opportunity to live incarnationally with the crew. 

EMM worker Austin Zuercher and his wife, Griselda, were married on August 6th together with friends and family in Honduras. Instead of going on a traditional honeymoon, the couple decided to take a few months to serve together in a different ministry setting. Here’s a small glimpse into our first three months of marriage.

Suddenly, a look of puzzlement came the faces of the Yeu villagers, and they began chatting among themselves in their own language. What stumped them was a question about their origins. Finally, one of the villagers answered Andre and Karen Provost in Thai, “We have no idea where we originated. We only know that we came to Thailand from Laos.”

A man once asked EMM workers Steve Horst and Bethany Tobin, “How do you keep going when you see so few people believe?” At that time, Bethany thought about many disappointments and stories and then just simply said, “Not living for success in numbers. Digging deeper into faith in God.” It requires courage and prayer to reply with an answer like that. It requires wrestling with disappointments and the idols of comfort, family, and identity.

Shortly after arriving back in Wales after a busy summer in the US, EMM workers Alan and Carol Wert took a Sabbath day of rest and sat on a hill overlooking the bay near Barry Island. As they soaked up the last of the summer sun, Carol read through the book of 1 Peter asking the Lord to speak to her. The breeze swept across the tall grass and Carol sensed the Spirit reminding her of our calling as believers … to bless others.

Dorothy* went through a dark, dark valley of mental illness, but God has used it to find her heart again. She had been deteriorating since January when she began openly persecuting the believers and cut off relationships with EMM workers Steve Horst and Bethany Tobin, forbidding her mother from worshipping or associating with the church. 

EMM workers Phil and Linda Gottschalk arrived in Bucharest, Romania in August. During the interim time until they found a long-term apartment, they got to know the neighborhood around the rental they were living in. They explored the area and visited a few stores for groceries and household supplies.

In 1987, Glenna Sollenberger went on a mission trip to San Miguel Chicaj, a village in Guatemala. When they arrived, the team discovered that most of the people spoke a local Mayan language. Their heart language was Rabinal Achí. The missionary told the team that the people respond better when the local pastor preaches in their language, rather than Spanish.

In 1954, EMM was at a crossroads regarding how it might get involved with ministry to unreached people groups in Southeast Asia. There were two equally important opportunities: Indonesia and Vietnam. In fact, Orie O. Miller, who was the secretary of the organization at the time, made visits to both countries.