Mission, vision & values
Isaiah’s picture of new growth springing up in a garden, later used by Jesus as well, vividly captures our hope for transformation of our broken, weary world and energizes us to join God in mission.
“For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:11, NRSV).
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission statement gives substance to our vision and helps us stay focused when setting goals and making choices about how we function in our context.
Today, the Western church seems to be caught in an irresolvable tension between being appealing while also being a disciplined and discipling community. While we affirm the church’s desire to be warm and welcoming, we also desire a church community capable of confronting principalities and powers; a community that serves as an effective witness to God’s vision to transform all things.
This vision, and our own experiences with Christ’s transforming love, carry us into three tiers of work, as expressed in our mission statement:
Christ’s transforming love compels us to
cross cultures
engage the world
and make disciples of Jesus
Cross cultures (Philippians 2:5–7)
We recognize that God has given us a specific focus for working in cross-cultural contexts. Today, cross-cultural relationships are happening everywhere. This is leading EMM to reach out in the Northeastern United States as well as internationally.
In all cross-cultural interactions, we go with Jesus’ posture of humility and service. At the same time, we are clear about our identity in Christ and our desire to share Him with all people.
Engage the world (Colossians 3:17)
We want to experience life fully with others, as Jesus did. We seek to engage in activities that are beneficial to the surrounding community. We desire to help people express their gifts and callings in ways that will be a blessing to the world and a testimony to Christ’s transforming love.
We are fully engaged to bless the world as Jesus did, and as so many of His followers have done since.
Make disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:19)
The words of Jesus to “make disciples of all nations” stirred the founders of EMM and continue to provide the focus of our organizational life and daily work.
We desire to follow Jesus’ example of making disciples by proclaiming the message of His kingdom to the world, and also by cultivating relationships in which we share our lives with those around us. In this posture, we all grow together into the life of Jesus. We desire to see the multiplication of transformative communities of Jesus followers that seek to make more disciples by radiating the love of Christ throughout the world.
We know that accomplishing this mission is a task bigger than any one organization. That’s why through partnerships, collaboration, and networking, we hope to see, more and more, everyone moving in mission.
CORE VALUES
Our core values flow from our beliefs and shape how we carry out God’s mission.
Obedience “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
At the heart of EMM ministry is joyful, relational obedience to the voice of God. Our obedience is rooted in thankfulness to God, who pursues humanity with love and forgiveness.
Well-being “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
We seek the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of everyone in the EMM community — workers and those whom they serve around the world, staff, and stakeholders.
Multiplication “But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied” (Acts 12:24, NASB).
When every disciple of Jesus goes and makes disciples across the street or around the world, the church experiences multiplication (rather than simple addition), and the kingdom of God expands throughout the earth.
WHY DOES EMM EXIST?
This short, gripping video provides a brief glimpse into EMM’s past, present, and future. In under four minutes, see EMM’s beginnings, some highlights of the global work happening today, and exciting innovations just around the corner — all accompanied by stunning visuals. From 1894 to today and beyond … the vision endures.