News & stories Family and friends commission short-term mission teams “The church is going through massive transition,” Matt Buckwalter told the several hundred who had gathered to commission 18 new Youth Evangelism Service (YES) participants for Eastern Mennonite Missions. “We think we’ve got things figured out today," said Buckwalter, "just like in the time between the Old and New Testaments." But, Buckwalter said, at just such a time, God might do things that are "out of the box" from our perspective – like sending a Savior as a helpless baby. We must be ready for and attentive to God's movement. “Matt’s word was very appropriate for the participants, and for all of us,” said Ryan Showalter, director for Discipleship Ministries, EMM's short-term mission department. Matt’s preaching, combined with worship led by Josh VanderPlate, challenged listeners to step into a life of transforming worship and service. Three new staff at the Harrisburg Discipleship Center (where short-term teams train), one Salunga staff member, and three STEP participants were also commissioned with the YES participants. (STEP is a partner program with Brethren in Christ World Missions.) The teams will serve in Albania, Cambodia, Chile, Thailand, and Honduras on assignments that include building relationships through youth camps and activities, teaching English in village schools, and assisting with training in local churches. After the service, team members departed for the Harrisburg Discipleship Center to begin nine weeks of training before their cross-cultural service. After their overseas assignments, the teams will train and debrief for another two weeks before they return home. "This isn’t just training for their assignments,” noted Doreen Ebersole, training director. “They are going to be leaders in their home congregations and elsewhere. This is a generation we need to raise up as leaders!” 8-19-05