Focus Eastern Mennonite Missions

By sending James Sauder to lead mobile Bible schools in Haiti several times a year, EMM aimed to promote unity within the body of Christ by empowering Haitians to serve their community. Over time, James spearheaded this initiative, teaching Bible classes and working with a Haitian partner to develop educational materials in Creole. The teaching ministry expanded to the Dominican Republic as per the request of the Region V Council of Spanish Mennonite Churches, with EMM's support.

In 1971, missionaries from EMM were called to the Philippines by Francesco A. Arreola, a former Catholic on a quest for a church aligned with Biblical teachings. Arreola embarked on his journey by baptizing himself and six others in Manila, dissatisfied with existing Protestant sects and striving for a foundation based on Biblical principles. The group dispersed, with many settling in Ilocos Sur, a disadvantaged region in Northwestern Luzon. Years later, Arreola found inspiration in a Mennonite publication that led to a connection with the EMM.

A few weeks ago, we talked about the Honduras Mennonite Church, but we’re looking at another movement that EMM helped to start in Honduras. Tegucigalpa served as a vibrant hub for a youth ministry initiative. Ed and Gloria King, former literacy advocates, initiated an informal drop-in center that drew in twenty to thirty young individuals four evenings a week. Additionally, a bilingual coffeehouse on Friday evenings attracted a similar number of attendees.

Jacob E. Brubaker's vision of establishing a Mennonite mission in Guatemala came to fruition in 1967, with efforts concentrated in the Alta Verapaz Province and Guatemala City. The mission, a collaborative effort between the EMM and the Washington-Franklin County Conference, aimed to address the spiritual needs of the Kekchi Mayans, who lacked gospel access. Initial investigation highlighted the necessity of starting in both rural and urban settings to maintain connections with community members moving to cities for better prospects.

In Western Kenya, the growth of the Mennonite Church was closely linked to local needs and culture, engaging meaningfully across borders. Early influences from Tanzania paved the way for a strong religious presence in the Suna area, driven by African Christian missionaries like Zedikia Kisare. Despite initial resistance from the Kenyan government in 1945, persistent advocacy by individuals such as Jonathan Mabeche and Clyde Shenk led to official church recognition in 1965.

In 1960, EMM began work in British Honduras, now Belize, to assist German-speaking Mennonite colonies from Mexico. This Mennonite group had migrated from Russia to Canada in the 1870s and then to Mexico in the 1920s. In Belize, they settled in areas like Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek, facing challenges such as land clearing and lack of medical facilities. EMM, in collaboration with MCC, provided health services, financial assistance, and material aid.