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LMC maintains dynamic church-with-church relationships with growing, thriving churches in Africa, Asia, Europe, South and Central America, and in the Caribbean. These relationships are tended in two ways. First, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) received LMC as a full member in 2018. Second, LMC, in partnership with EMM, is setting in place a system of Global Delegates to foster and grow these connections. Tom Eshleman (teshleman@lmcchurches.org) is the LMC Global Delegate coordinator.

West Africa Trip
December 1 to 11, 2021

Mike, Karen and Josiah Baker, Joe Showalter, Jerry Sauder, Lori Bentch, Tom Eshleman, and
Lloyd Hoover traveled to West Africa from December 1st till the 11th of 2021. They traveled trusting the Lord for all of the details including meeting stiff COVID 19 requirements for international travelers.

One of the things this trip’s mission vision was to support the move of God through the Mennonite Church of West Africa and support the leaders who have stepped up to carry on the work of Beryl Forester, the mission pioneer, who passed away in February.

Highlights of the Trip

A night of Prayer led by the youth at the Catel Church on the night of our arrival. This was a very moving experience witnessing the next generation of leaders crying out passionately for the church, their community, and a great harvest over all of West Africa. They prayed until 3:00 the next morning.
Hearing stories of new believers coming to Jesus and of miracles happening as the church is exercising their privilege to share Christ and pray for people.
Meeting with the Mennonite Church of West Africa Leaders and discussing leadership development strategies, calling and credentialing of leaders, church oversight structure, church planting vision in 8 different areas, business loan opportunities, preschool challenges, facility maintenance, etc.
Observing the success of the medical clinic which is providing emergency room care for a wide region around Catel. They shared a vision for expanding the clinic to provide expanded services to meet the needs of the growing demand for their holistic care.
Connecting with the preschool which has grown to approximately 100 students. The vision is to grow the school to offer a solid Christian education up to grade 6.
Experiencing the spiritual hunger from the women who gained from the Bible studies.
Feeling the passion of leaders for reaching the entirety of West Africa with the good news of Jesus.
Sensing the desire of the leaders for theological training and to grow in their capacity to raise up leaders for multiplication for this significant move of God.
Experiencing the collaborative approach of EMM, Rosedale International, and LMC to best support this passionate movement across West Africa and respond to the needs with careful discernment.

LMC Traveled to Ethiopia

A group from LMC traveled to Ethiopia for a 10 day trip in August 2019 to the Meserete Kristos College.

The travel group consists of LMC Bishops – Alvin Motley, Glenn Kauffman, Keith Weaver, Jim Sutton, Rodney Martin, and LMC Global Delegate, Pastor Tom Eshleman.

The purpose of the trip is to represent the spiritual fathers Holy Spirit used to birth MKC and to establish a relationship in our generation that honors that legacy. To learn from MKC leaders what God will impart to the group for us to carry home to the USA and impart into LMC.