Focus

When I think about this disciple-making mission that we’re called to — especially in this Christmas season — I am reminded that our goal is to become more like Christ and to invite others on that journey with us.

Nathan B. Hege of Lititz, Pennsylvania, went to be with the Lord on December 8. You might recall that he founded this very radio program in 1969. To honor Nathan, here are a few words he wrote in October 1992 for his last column in Missionary Messenger.

For more than 100 years, EMM has shared the good news of Jesus around the world. Thousands of global workers have gone to dozens of people groups. Decades later, the seeds that EMM workers have sown are multiplying into hundreds of thousands of people following Jesus in places like Tanzania, Ethiopia, Honduras, and many other places around the world.

You’ve probably heard us talk before about Hub 450, the newly renovated building at 450 North Prince Street in Lancaster City. I’d like to share with you a little bit about Deb Muenstermann who is an EMM worker that oversees the community-centered ministries on the first floor of Hub 450.

Stacy and Vojta Prknovi, and their daughter, Vikki, serve with EMM in the Czech Republic as regional representatives. For many years they had been living in the capital city of Prague. For a few months, they had been praying about and sensing that it might be time for them to move to another city.

Andrew and Kara serve with EMM in northeast Thailand. Andrew will never forget a life-changing event that happened in 1993 while they were planting their first church. A Thai pastor and Andrew set up a Sunday afternoon preaching point in their carport. Gospel tracks distributed in the housing developments surrounding their home brought in believers. Things went fine until the day they announced that they would switch to morning services.

Darrel and Miriam* are EMM workers serving in Germany with their two daughters. After a one-year break because of the coronavirus, their church, Soli Deo, once again held their annual international tour of food and music called Esskultour. At the event, there were seventeen national foods served. Irom Iranian gormeh-zabsi to Brazilian coconut chicken rice to American funnel cake.

Michael Clancy is an EMM worker doing urban mission work in Lebanon City, Pennsylvania. Michael had been in a discipleship relationship with a man named Mark before. But Mark walked away from their discipleship time. In April, Michael saw a social media post saying that Mark was looking for a place to live.

EMM workers Jeremy and Jen* first met Pii Prik about a year ago. They were visiting a nearby village that struggles with poverty and sickness. Their language teacher coordinated these visits. Jeremy and Jen delivered food to the individuals and families with the greatest needs.

Thousands of green sea turtles lay their eggs on the coast of Costa Rica every August, and EMM workers Wendell and Melanie Nofziger hoped to see at least one! When Melanie's parents visited the famly for two weeks in August, everyone took three days and headed to a boat-accessible-only national park on the Caribbean coast.