In addition, Mission Network hosts six service programs. Read more about them here.

Mission Network also provides a wide array of print and multimedia resources that are meant to help congregations think about how to be missional in their own context. These include mission bank teaching tools, Missio Dei booklets, Beyond Ourselves (a quarterly magazine), Mission Mosaic worker directory, and more. Get info here.

How is my money being spent? When I give "where most needed," where does the money go?
Money contributed to the general fund goes to support many different areas of mission, including: 

• International mission workers, like Neal and Janie Blough at the Paris Mennonite Centre, and Nancy Frey and Bruce Yoderin  Burkina Faso.
• U.S. programs, including church planting, the Peace and Justice Support Network, Asian ministries, and urban ministry.
• Staff in the Elkhart and Newton offices, as well as dispersed staff around the country. Our staff make sure workers are cared for, administer programs, create resources for congregations, and get out the word to constituents about ways that God is working around the world.
• Service programs and staff.

What are Mennonite Mission Network’s goals or vision for the future?
As the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, we are about engaging congregations, conferences and families in extending their witness in the world. Mennonite Mission Network envisions each congregation and all parts of the church being fully engaged in mission from across the street to around the world.

What makes Mennonite Mission Network different?
Mennonite Mission Network operates within a context of partnerships and relationships: acknowledging one another as equals, recognizing our need for each other, and emphasizing conversations. This is not hierarchical ministry, but relational. Relational ministry uses the gifts of everyone involved, and encourages learning among all who participate. The goal of our work is to support existing communities of faith, to help facilitate new faith communities by working with local leaders, and to see individuals come to know Jesus. We believe that peace and reconciliation are an integral part of the gospel, and we seek to learn from and serve those on the margins as well as the mainstream.

Relationship FAQs

How does Mission Network fit with other organizations within Mennonite Church USA?
Mennonite Mission Network is one of four program agencies of Mennonite Church USA. The other three are Everence (stewardship), Mennonite Education Agency, and MennoMedia. Mennonite Mission Network has a relationship of accountability and collegiality with the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board. We are separate institutions with separate identities, boards, leadership, responsibilities and mandates, even though we intersect at many places (including sharing some staff).

What’s the difference between MCC and Mennonite Mission Network?
Mennonite Mission Network is an agency of Mennonite Church USA and is supported by Mennonite Church USA congregations and individuals. MCC includes numerous Anabaptist groups and other denominations.

Both Mission Network and MCC are focused on doing God’s work in the world, but in different ways. MCC concentrates on relief and development work, while MMN focuses on relational ministry, teaching, preaching and healing, as well as leadership development. Both groups work at peace and justice advocacy and training.

What’s the difference between Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) or Virginia Mennonite Missions (VMM) and MMN?
Mennonite Mission Network is the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, which means that our constituency includes all Mennonite Church USA congregations and individuals. Eastern Mennonite Missions is the mission agency of Lancaster Conference, and Virginia Mennonite Missions is the mission agency of Virginia Conference. We have positive collaborative relationships with both EMM and VMM.

What is the relationship between Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite World Conference?
Mennonite World Conference receives support directly from Mennonite Church USA, to which Mennonite Mission Network contributes. In addition, Mission Network, through the Anabaptist-related Council on International Ministries, is a leader in Mennonite World Conference's Global Anabaptist Mission Consultation.

New building FAQs

What is happening with the Mennonite Church USA building project?
Elkhart staff moved into the new building adjacent to AMBS in December 2011. The space is shared with numerous other Mennonite organizations to encourage cross-agency communication and collaboration.

Why did you build a new facility in Elkhart (and not in an urban area)?
There are hundreds of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Mission Network staff and workers located around the globe and in almost every urban area of the United States. The office facility is a logistical base, and is located where there is a strong support base and low cost of living.

Position and policy FAQs

What does Mennonite Mission Network believe?
Mennonite Mission Network affirms the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective as a primary point of reference for our theology and identity. In all areas of discernment, we understand the Scriptures to be normative for our life and practice as the Body of Christ.

What is Mennonite Mission Network's position on sexuality and membership?
Mennonite Mission Network is not intended to be the place where differing views on this issue are sorted out. This question is best addressed in congregational and area conference settings rather than in the context of mission.

Do mission workers have to raise their own funds?
Mennonite Mission Network continues to stand behind our position that mission workers should not be responsible for raising their own support. It is true that workers are the ones with the vision and call to serve, and they can best communicate the passion about their assignment, but through various partnership models, funding is a responsibility shared among all participants in the process – Mission Network, the worker, the MST*, and the sending congregation.

This is distinguished from the “faith mission” approach, where the workers themselves are entirely responsible for raising their support. Read more in a past issue of Beyond Ourselves.

*What is an MST?
A ministry support team (MST) is a group of five (or more) individuals who agree to care for a specific mission worker through prayer support, encourage them with notes and cards, communicate with them and their friends back in the United States, and assume the responsibility for finding the financial resources to support their ministry.  A Mission Network staff person serves as MST coach, and works with each MST to help them be successful by clarifying their roles, offering advice and counsel, providing them with resources, and linking them to other churches who are also interested in supporting the mission workers.

Does Mennonite Mission Network work with congregations or groups that are not part of Mennonite Church USA?
Yes. We believe Jesus calls Christians to unity by coming together around a common vision.