Overview

When congregations, area conferences or other groups look to begin new ministries, a difficult obstacle often is providing ongoing financial support for the ministry. The Mission Network’s New Ministry Formation staff provide consultation to Mennonite Church USA groups in how to set up and maintain a support network—an association of individuals and groups who provide ongoing financial support to the ministry. This process connects congregations, groups and individuals with mission workers all around the world. It enables a deepening sense of connection as relationships develop. Ministry supporters express care for workers and ministries by personal encouragement, prayer, and sharing financially in their work. In addition to assistance in forming such networks of support, the Mission Network also produces printed materials to assist ongoing support networks.

Mennonite Mission Network has brought together 14 networks of congregations and individuals that are organized to provide much-needed personal, prayerful and financial support to specific ministries and/or workers.

Argentina
Mennonite Mission Network and Plow Creek Mennonite Church desire to assist indigenous Christians in the Argentine Chaco to find authentic ways of worshiping God and translating the Bible into their own languages. (Richard Foss, facilitator)

Argentine Missionary Seminar
Mennonite Mission Network and Mount Pleasant Mennonite Church (Chesapeake, Va.) are committed to support the Argentine Mennonite conference in their ongoing mission training through the intensive missionary seminar and periodic exchange visits. (Robert Mast, facilitator)

Argentina-Akron
Mennonite Mission Network and Akron Mennonite Church desire to assist the efforts of Escuela Vida to provide a Christian education and to prepare children to become future leaders of the church and society. (H. A. Penner, facilitator)

Benin Bible Institute
Mennonite Mission Network and Waterford Mennonite Church (Goshen, Ind.) desire to assist the efforts of Benin Bible Institute (Cotonou, Benin). This support network seeks to develop a spiritual relationship through prayer, communication and visits. The congregation offers financial support for the school and carries out visits and exchanges. (Rod Hollinger-Janzen, facilitator)

China
Mennonite Mission Network and Pasadena Mennonite Church (Pasadena, Cal.) desire to support the efforts of China Educational Exchange in providing English language teaching with a Christian presence. (Kathy Gable, facilitator)

Chile
Mennonite Mission Network and Glennon Heights Mennonite Church in Lakewood, Colo., support the efforts of the 5&2 Multiplying for All program in Santiago, Chile, to provide a shelter for women experiencing violence in the home and to work within the community toward preventing and treating family violence.

Colombia-Iowa City
Mennonite Mission Network and members at First Mennonite Church (Iowa City, Iowa) and Harrisonburg Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, Vir.,) desire to assist the efforts of the Colombian Mennonite Church to build cross-cultural, nurturing relationships that strive toward peace and justice in Colombia. (Mark Keller, facilitator)

Ecuador and the Dominican Republic
Emerging in the late 1990s, the Northwest Ohio Partners in Mission is a cluster of Ohio Mennonite congregations that supports long-term mission efforts by Mennonite Mission Network, particularly through workers in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. (Roger Rupp and Mike Wyse, facilitators)

Democratic Republic of Congo
Mennonite Mission Network and several congregations in Minnesota and South Dakota have formed CongoNet, which seeks to support a visible representation of North American Mennonites to African Mennonites. First Mennonite Church of Mountain Lake, Minn., is facilitating the network of support while Arnold and Grace Harder, members at First Mennonite, serve in a coordinating role with the Mennonite churches of Congo.

Germany
Mennonite Mission Network and members at Immanuel Mennonite Church and Community Mennonite church seek to assist the efforts of the German Mennonite Peace Committee (DMFK).

Liberia
Mennonite Mission Network and Kidron Mennonite Church desire to assist the efforts of the Liberian Mennonite Church. (Bruce and Jill Detweiler-Breckbill, facilitators)

Lithuania Christian College Partners
Mennonite Mission Network and Zion Mennonite Church (Broadway, Va.) desire to assist the efforts of Lithuania Christian College to provide a liberal arts education in a Christian context, and prepare leaders for the growing evangelical church in Eastern Europe. (Ron Piper, facilitator)

Northwest Ohio Partners in Mission
Supports long-term mission efforts of workers from northwest Ohio, presently through workers in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. (Roger Rupp and Mike Wyse, facilitators)

Ukraine
Mennonite Mission Network and Burr Oak Mennonite Church in Rensselaer, Ind., seek to help the church in the Ukraine to grow and witness in new ways. Mary Bess Hayward, an associate member at Burr Oak, serves as a support person to church-planting efforts in the Ukraine.

Support Networks
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