SALUNGA, Pa. — Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) is searching for a collaborative, mission-hearted change leader to be its next president. This person will be spiritually passionate about living a life that is being transformed by Christ.

Christ’s transforming love compels us. These are the first five words of our mission statement. We recognize that Christ’s love is not static — it is transformative. This means that we expect Christ’s love to change us to be more like Him. This kind of transformation happens when we approach God with a posture of humility, repentance, and openness to what Jesus might have to show us. 

EMM echoes this call to prayer issued by LMC. Please join us in this prayer challenging all of us to repentance, reconciliation, healing, and peace.

Did you know that EMM has a church revitalization coach whose main role is to help churches develop healthy personal and corporate spiritual lives? It’s true! His name is Antonio Ulloa and he frequently speaks in churches to equip and support them in their spiritual health and development.

Focus is a weekly 3-minute radio program which airs on WDAC (94.5 FM) on Saturdays at 8:55 p.m. This program aired on Saturday, May 23, 2020.

Instead of being a great leveler, the COVID-19 pandemic is exposing pre-existing systemic inequalities that benefit some and disadvantage others. How can the Anabaptist family respond?

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor once wrote a wise statement about how our well-being is reliant on one another. She wrote: “We don’t accomplish anything in the world alone and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that create something.”

Focus is a weekly 3 minute radio program which airs on WDAC (94.5 fm) on Saturdays at 8:55 p.m. This program aired on Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra O’Connor once wrote a wise statement about how our well-being is reliant on one another. She wrote: “We don’t accomplish anything in the world alone and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that create something.”

A second chance at love brought Jim and me together after both of our spouses passed away from cancer. At our wedding more than 8 years ago, we served our guests communion and told them that as we started our life together, we would be hand-in-hand as husband and wife in service towards others.

Approximately three months ago, a couple showed up at church, easy to identify because they were obviously strung out on heroin. The man was nodding the entire service. (“Nodding” is defined by the Urban Dictionary as “A semi dreamlike state where an opiate user slips in and out of consciousness.”) He was so high that he kept drifting off, unaware of his surroundings, only to wake up, look around, and nod off again. The woman, on the other hand, was engulfed in the message. As tears rolled down her face, it was obvious that Jesus was speaking to her.

Sometimes as an urban missionary, my task feels like an uphill battle. I envision my work of discipleship like being a pitcher on the mound, and my students are the batters who keep striking out as they fall back into their addictions. I am presented with a new batter every three or four pitches. Over the past 14 years, I can count a small handful of men who are continuing to live transformed lives.