A global movement & an eternal hope

A new member being baptized into the Meserete Kristos Church of Ethiopia. 
PHOTO BY LISA IMMEL

The Anabaptist movement celebrates its 500th anniversary this year. In these five centuries, Anabaptist churches have been multiplied around the world, making it a truly global movement. In fact, current statistics from Mennonite World Conference show that there are 2.1 million baptized Anabaptist church members around the world.

Of that 2.1 million, only 28 percent of members are from the U.S. or Canada, and only 3 percent of members are from Europe. Perhaps you have heard these numbers before, or something similar. So, how did we get to this place today? There are a number of factors, but I think the greatest one is: The Holy Spirit’s leading to share the gospel with people around the world.

For decades, EMM workers have played an important part in this global work of sharing the good news with people who have not heard it. We helped to multiply more than 20 Anabaptist networks of churches, but we have also joined in God’s work in other churches beyond the Anabaptist tradition as part of this greater call to help people experience the hope of Jesus. This passion for seeing people come to know Jesus is rooted in John’s vision from Revelation 7:9–10:

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

John saw people from every nation. Every tribe. Every people group. Every language group. All of these people were praising God! This was not just a vision of what could be, but a vision of what will happen! God invites us to make this vision a reality.

Mission workers, partners, donors, and volunteers aren’t just supporting missionaries. Together, we are seeding catalytic movements that can transform entire regions through indigenous leaders who are equipped to reach their least-reached neighbors using simple, biblical, and reproducible methods.

Your partnership in EMM’s strategic regions makes this vision possible. Imagine a future where disciples are making more disciples without Western dependency, creating ever-widening circles of transformation. Here are some of the people groups among which EMM has ministries:

  • Czech people of Central Europe
  • Persian people in Central Europe
  • Chadian people of Central Africa
  • Moroccan people of North Africa
  • Various people groups in The Gambia
  • Isaan people of Thailand
  • Khmer people of Cambodia
  • Various sensitive people groups in Central and Southeast Asia

We stand at a pivotal moment. With your financial support, we work toward that glorious day described in Revelation, when we can stand together in front of the Lamb. We will stand together with our global brothers and sisters in Christ, not because we did all of the work, but because we have been faithful in stewarding the resources we have to help catalyze movements in which disciples make disciples who make disciples until there is not a place in the world that has not heard the good news of Jesus.

We invite you to make a gift to EMM’s Impact Fund and play a critical role in fulfilling the vision of people from all over the world worshiping God. Would you please make a gift to the Impact Fund by June 30 to help us continue doing this critical work? Thank you for your continued partnership in this critical ministry of sharing the good news with the world.

Dr. Marvin Lorenzana serves as the president of EMM.

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