Category: Stories

Two men stand side by side facing the camera. The man on the left is wearing a blue graduation cap and gown, the man on the right is in a button down shirt.

Life as an Urban Missionary

by Michael Clancy As I enter my eighth year as an urban missionary, I wholeheartedly dedicate myself to helping men transition from prison and programs back into society. In 2016, I met Shawn Connatser, a man with long hair and a warm smile. He first attended my Bible studies at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, and soon after, he became part of our congregation through… Read More

Movement Update: June 2025

by Rodney Martin Glenn Kauffman and I recently completed a survey asking how many leaders LMC has trained in the past year.  After we thought about it for a moment we realized, to our surprise, that the number is higher than we imagined.   In our movement development work, Glenn and I are leading—or learning to lead—two different labs by the Movement Leaders Collective. They are… Read More

Leaders worshipping together at Movement Leaders Collective's Global Gathering in London, May 2025.

LMC at Movement Leaders Collective’s Global Gathering in London

Bishop Elders Rodney Martin and Keith Blank, and Movement Navigator Glenn Kauffman in London in May 2025 for Movement Leaders Collective’s Global Gathering by Rodney Martin Glenn Kauffman, Keith Blank, and I recently attended the Movement Leaders Collective (MLC) gathering in London. MLC hosts an annual, three-day Global Gathering. Previously held in the US, the gatherings include a variety of collective partners (church groups and… Read More

Side view photograph of a man standing on a stage behind a podium. He is looking down at his notes and speaking.

The Impact of STEP in Leadership Development

by Mercedes Thomas and Lynn Shertzer “One of my goals is that we transition well, and that we have a plan in place—not just when we have to—but we are actually being proactive in what that looks like. I thought, what if churches have a proactive plan for the next generation of leaders? What would that look like? And I think what that looks like… Read More

Fourteen students in blue caps and gowns stand together smiling at the camera.

My Story: How the STEP Program Changed My Life

by Zelalem Eshete I would like to share my story of how the STEP program became a turning point in my spiritual journey and changed my life for the better. First, a brief background. I came to know the Lord early in life while I was in middle school in Ethiopia. At that time, the church was under intense persecution due to the communist regime.… Read More

Ten people in blue caps and gowns, all facing the camera smiling.

Taking the Preaching Plunge

by Tom Eshleman Year 1 of STEP challenges students with a class that, for some, can feel like a swimming pool on a frigid day. Each year, at least half of STEP participants have never preached a sermon, so the pulpit assignment can feel as unwelcome as taking the swimming plunge in the cool of spring. Occasionally, a student may make a compelling argument for… Read More

Photo of many students in Vietnam holding certificates of course completion.

Teaching in Vietnam – March 2025

by William Higgins I had the privilege of traveling to Vietnam in March to teach a class at the Vietnam Mennonite Training Institute, the school of the Vietnam Mennonite Church. This was a follow-up to a class from last year, finishing up our study of The Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995). Beyond the regular college students, a number of pastors and church leaders attended… Read More

“This Is All God:” The Lord’s Healing Power

by Mountville Mennonite Church “We don’t do anything, this is all God.” In this video story, Dale Ebersole and Mark Mummert from Mountville Mennonite Church share two stories of the Lord’s healing power. On two occasions, Dale experienced injuries/pain and sought the prayers of his church community. Mark, who has had some training in healing prayer, was one who prayed for Dale both times. And… Read More

Three people on stage together, praying.

Far From God to a Relationship with the Father

by Steve Campbell I am the pastor at Zion Mennonite Church in Birdsboro, PA. Last year, I began a membership class with a few folks who were interested in journeying with us.  One young woman shared deeply with us about her life choices that took her far away from God. During our discussions, the Lord prompted me to keep sharing with the larger group about… Read More

A collage of images from the Garifuna Evangelical Mission Annual Assembly.

2025 Garifuna Evangelical Mission Annual Assembly

by Keith Blank and Felixa V. de Kunkle We had the privilege of being a part of the annual assembly of the Evangelical Garifuna Mission (EGM) last week, March 6–8. EGM is a network of sixteen congregations spread across the US who are also a part of the LMC movement. This was our first time connecting in this way. We felt like we were a part of… Read More

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