window on missions by Ken Zacharias, Foreign Secretary kzacharias@emconf.ca
T
hose who are involved in business or farming understand well the careful deliberations in making the decision to expand your business or in purchasing more land and cattle. These decisions are not made lightly as they will affect long-term the life for your family. Likewise, the EMC Board of Missions has been having discussions and careful deliberations in respect to expansion by considering new ministry opportunities: the city of Guadalajara (in Mexico) and in Bolivia (among Low German Mennonite people). The Board of Missions received two recommendations at its April meeting: (1) to expand into Guadalajara and (2) to enter into formal discussions with our sister conferences in Canada who are currently serving in Bolivia. Decisions on these two recommendations will be made on July 1, 2010. These decisions would then be presented to the conference council on July 3, 2010, in Leamington, Ont. Representatives from the board have visited the two targeted locations and met with many individuals who are working within these
Guadalajara is the birthplace of Mariachi band music.
contexts. The board has deliberated over the pros and cautions of each location and has discussed at length how the pending decisions will affect the EMC family. As our own family members are Bolivia: Ministry is much needed among Low German Mennonite people. different one from missionaries in a church planting the other, so is our EMC family. The two locations should not be looked at ministry. Bolivia is an opportunity where as two options, but rather as two new ministry is much needed among Low opportunities for our family to be German Mennonite people. Some of involved in reaching out to others. you within our EMC family are fluent Guadalajara is a large city of 6.5 in speaking Low German and have million people with an evangelical the cultural preparation needed to population of two per cent or less. work in partnership with ministries The need is great; and evangelical already in progress in Bolivia. We churches and North American do not want to miss this invitation mission agencies ministering in which we feel the Lord may be giving Guadalajara express the need for us at this time. more witnesses to join them in this In preparation for making the city. decision on July 1, the Board of We, as an EMC family, have been Missions is asking for input and blessed with more than fifty years of feedback. We welcome the quesministry among Spanish-speaking tions that you have regarding either people in Latin America and more Guadalajara or Bolivia. Your quesrecently in Canada. In Guadalajara, tions, for example, may be in respect the board’s desire would be to to strategy, partnership, or finances. place a team of We invite you to please send your The two locations questions to info@emconf.ca or call Ken Zacharias at 204-326-6401. should not be Throughout this process of looked at as deliberation, the Board of Missions two options, but has not forgotten to pray for wisdom, direction, and peace in making the rather as two decision to expand. Can we ask you new opportunities to pray for the Board of Missions during the month of June in preparato reach out to tion for July 1?
others.
THE MESSENGER | May 2010
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PHOTOS: Ken Zacharias
Board of Missions considers Guadalajara and Bolivia
