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EMM vision banquet urges guests to ‘build the heavenly Jerusalem’
LANCASTER, Pa. – “In the final analysis,” said Skip and Carol Tobin, “the biblical narrative pictures only two cities – Babylon and the heavenly Jerusalem.” Nearly 300 people were gathered at the Eden Resort for Eastern Mennonite Missions’ annual mission vision banquet on November 2; the Tobins encouraged those present to consider which city’s interests they are serving.
Babylon centers around money, power, and personal comfort, while Jerusalem centers around a loving, personal God and fully-restored relationships; this Jerusalem values people above all else. “Our eyes are meant to be fixed on Jerusalem,” Carol said, joyfully urging banquet attendees to refuse to allow the luxuries of Babylon to eat away the good vision of Jerusalem.
The Tobins, regional representatives to Southeast Asia for EMM and Virginia Mennonite Missions, told the currently unfolding story of Grandfather Wild Ox in Thailand, providing a window into the “building of Jerusalem” there and the desire of Isaan believers to extend God’s name and fame in their region.
The one-armed Grandfather Wild Ox and his wife, Grandmother Moon Glory, were visiting in a village where some Christian believers from the Life Enrichment Church live. Troubled by evil spirits, Grandfather Wild Ox asked for help, and through the songs, Scripture reading and prayer of the believers, he experienced deliverance from the evil spirits that were making him miserable.
He and his wife placed their trust in Jesus, removed their amulets, publicly asked for forgiveness from their 103-year-old mother, and were baptized in a nearby pond. During the three weeks that they stayed among the believers, Grandfather Wild Ox read the entire New Testament and completed what is normally an eight-week Bible course.
Then Grandfather Wild Ox and Grandmother Moon Glory returned to their home, located in a district of 50-60,000 people, and told their neighbors what had happened to them. The district has only a few Christians, and the church had already targeted the area for a new church plant.
Several weeks later when a group from the Life Enrichment Church went to visit Grandfather Wild Ox, the village was “ripe,” ready for the Bible storytelling, preaching, and spiritual conversations. Five new believers were baptized, and the two-month-old believer, Grandfather Wild Ox, is now teaching these new believers.
Michelle Zook, a recent EMM mission intern to Thailand, also shared stories at the banquet. Her stories came from her experience working with Rahab Ministries, a group of 15 workers committed to helping prostitutes in the red light district of Pat Pong find Christ and a new way of living.
Highlighting the need for additional workers, Michelle explained that Rahab Ministries is the only full-time ministry working in Pat Pong, a red light district of 4,000 women, one among the numerous red light districts in the city of Bangkok.
Eastern Mennonite Missions presented two awards that evening. Paul and Ann Landis received the Orie O. Miller Mission Mobilizer Award for their more than two decades of service with EMM, as mobilizers who have urged countless people toward God’s call to the frontiers of Mennonite mission work.
Richard Showalter, EMM president currently on sabbatical, spoke via video feed, crediting Paul with laying a solid, evangelical Anabaptist foundation at EMM and thanking Ann for her leadership in prayer ministry.
Ira and Evie Kurtz, pioneers of Mennonite Church planting in Hong Kong who served for 25 years, received the Elam W. Stauffer Pioneer Mission Award. Showalter mentioned his joy in the Kurtzes’ presence at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Mennonite Churches in Hong Kong and pointed out that work in other parts of China is also part of their legacy.
At the end of the evening, EMM Associate Director of Development Kaylene Derksen reminded attendees that “building Jerusalem” “requires a community committed to the vision of a global Jerusalem.”
“Let’s build God’s kingdom tonight by giving generously, and when we leave, let’s continue to think of other ways to give,” said Derksen. The offering taken was designated for EMM’s General Mission Fund, which undergirds all EMM ministries. Gifts totaled over $15,500.
- Nita Landis
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