ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Two books from “The Christians Meeting Muslims Series” are making new inroads for Christian-Muslim relations in Ethiopia and Somalia.

SALUNGA, Pa. — Rhoda M. Sauder, 83, a pioneer and career missionary, passed into eternity on March 23, 2019, in Ephrata, Pa. Rhoda and her late husband, James Sauder, served with Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) for 30 years.

You’re invited to join us in our annual week of prayer and fasting, scheduled this year for April 15–18. In particular, consider participating in our 24 hours of prayer from 12 noon Wednesday, April 17, until 12 noon on Thursday, April 18. Contact Jess Herlein or click the button below to sign up for a one-hour time slot. Use this guide as a resource as you pray.

SHIRATI, Tanzania — In mid-February, 50 Tanzania Mennonite church leaders, under the guidance of Palmer Becker, a Canadian Mennonite author and teacher, studied spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and Anabaptist essentials using the translated publication, “Begin Anew: Christian Discipleship Seminars.”

Gerry Keener, president of Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM), is pleased to announce that Lorri Bentch has been appointed as the Mission Team director. Bentch will begin employment on April 3, providing leadership to 111 global workers serving in 33 countries, including regional representatives, and five Central Administrative Office staff members.

AKRON, Pa. — Twelve people were gathered closely in a circle as Yvonne Garber uttered a simple Swahili phrase: “Mungu Anajua.” Garber then shared the translation of this short expression — “God knows” — as she and her husband, Joe, elaborated about how they first discerned a calling to serve the Tanzania Mennonite Church: Kanisa la Mennonite Tanzania (KMT).

This annual report is an overview of EMM’s work in 2018. It provides glimpses of the major events that happened in each of the 12 regions where EMM workers are serving, introduces you to the people working in each region, and shows how EMM funds were allocated throughout the year. For a more in-depth look at EMM’s vision for each region of the world and the work taking place there, visit emm.org/regions. Stay updated on EMM’s work through news releases, feature stories, podcasts, photo galleries, and more at emm.org/stories. Thank you for taking the time to engage with EMM’s mission!

NAIROBI, Kenya — A little more than a decade and a half ago, Bud and Shari Yordy owned and ran a hardware store in central Illinois. Responding to an urging they felt came from God, they started to actively seek out volunteer opportunities.

LANCASTER, Pa. — Authors Shane Claiborne and Michael Martin will forge guns into garden tools as they release their new book “Beating Guns: Hope for People Who Are Weary of Violence.” On the first day of their book release tour, March 9, at 6 p.m., Claiborne and Martin will be at Neffsville Mennonite Church in Lancaster.

It’s no surprise that learning a new language is difficult. But add to that task the challenge of trying to learn an endangered language with no official written component that is spoken by only an estimated 200,000 people worldwide — and it seems overwhelming! Where to begin? EMM worker Tim Groff begins by singing.

Ethnomusicology is the study of musical styles and their respective cultures around the world. As an ethnomusicologist, EMM worker Glenna Sollenberger is passionate about helping every culture understand the Scriptures in ways that are meaningful to them. Glenna invites you to explore mission work through music among five different people groups.

SALUNGA, Pa. — The Board of Directors of Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) announces the appointment of Gerald “Gerry” H. Keener as the president of the organization.

CATEL, Guinea-Bissau — During its 2018 annual conference, Mennonite Church West Africa (MCWA) celebrated its first-ever credentialed leaders.

In 2008, John and Debbie Coats started a pilot program for children which focused on character training in a rural village in southeastern Cambodia. The program began with staff members meeting with children twice per week.

BADHOEVEDORP, Netherlands — It seems unlikely that a topic with apparently little common ground could serve as a starting point for Christian-Muslim dialogue: the relationship between humanity and divinity. On November 30, 2018, Tyndale Theological Seminary in Badhoevedorp hosted the event: “A dialogue comparing the divine and the human in Islam and Christianity.”

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — On Christmas Eve, nearly 2,000 people — many of whom are homeless — will be invited to a beautiful white-linen meal in Tegucigalpa. For the sixth year, this free meal, Una Cena con el Rey (A Dinner with the King), will be held in the historic city center by the ministry Talita Cumi.

Former EMM worker Brook Hostetter connected a North American children's choir with a Peruvian children's choir. The result was this original song and music video, recorded and filmed in Cusco, Peru! Enjoy Kuska Takisun ("Together We Sing"), and read the story behind the music video below.

"Would you like to join us for a Bible discussion? There's free food ..."

LANCASTER, Pa. — Five hundred fifty Lancaster Mennonite High School (LM) students were challenged to go 48 hours without using their smartphones or social media. Smartphone addiction is becoming an increasing concern for 21st-century society, especially for adolescents.

CHEPILAT, Kenya — In 2015, Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) gave a $250 grant to Kenyan pastor and entrepreneur, Kefa Moirore, to fund his business, Loafstar Bakery. “The amount has multiplied like the ‘loaves of bread and fish’ in the Bible,” said Moirore, allowing him to acquire a plot of land worth 1 million Kenyan shillings (about $10,000).