It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we share the news of the sudden and unexpected passing of our colleague and friend, John Fumana. John has faithfully served as the Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM) executive coordinator since 2020. He passed away on May 15, 2026.

The EMC Board of Missions is pleased to announce the acceptance of two couples for service in Spain. These couples will join a team led by Antonio and Esther Pitta.

Closing out the 2025–2026 school year was a meaningful and encouraging season for the Steinbach Bible College (SBC) community as we celebrated another group of graduates being sent out to follow Jesus, serve the church, and engage the world.

The Mennonite World Conference was founded 101 years ago with a desire to be in solidarity with Mennonites facing persecution. This was a time when political leaders were misusing their power and life was difficult for believers who held a peace position. My own relatives were living in a time of horror in the Soviet Union before they were sponsored to come to Canada in 1926.

Picture Butte Mennonite Church (PBMC) graciously hosted an EMC Missions Fellowship. This newly revised gathering aims at building awareness and relationships with EMC churches. Around 100 people gathered from all over southern Alberta on May 31, 2026. After a brief introduction and history of EMC Missions, we heard a report from Nancy Friesen.

The Council of International Anabaptist Ministries (CIM) is a group of agencies from across North America that meets once a year for collaboration and discussion. Each agency takes a turn hosting. This year it was the privilege of EMC Missions to host the meeting.

On May 15, 2026, the Canadian Christian Communicators Association held its annual awards ceremony in Toronto, Ont. The Messenger placed in seven categories for work published in 2025.

The Encourage retreat was an inaugural event held at Lakeview Resort in Gimli, Man. We were excited to see 17 churches send pastors to this event. Though the weather was uncooperative, the event gave time for pastors to retreat, recharge, and connect with God and others.

The Board of Missions is pleased to announce that Chris and Katie Koop (Kleefeld EMC) have been accepted to join the mission work in Guadalajara, Mexico. They have begun pre-field orientation and are preparing to leave this summer for Texas to begin learning Spanish at RGBI.

Steinbach Bible College (SBC) is taking big steps toward completing its new campus at 333 Loewen Blvd, in Steinbach, Man., marking a significant milestone in the institution’s mission to equip servant leaders for ministry and service worldwide.

In the emergence of the Sunday school and youth group movements of the nineteenth century, the church was seen as inherently trustworthy. The programs it ran and the people who ran them could be trusted. Over the years, there have been many damaging stories of abuse and inappropriate behaviour.

EMC young adults gathered at Red Rock Bible Camp in Manitoba for times of learning, fun and worship on March 6–8, 2026.