| "STEP became more than an educational program for me. It became the place where I finally discovered my calling. Even more, it gave me the grace to accept that calling. That's no small thing."
Zelalem Eshete
STEP Graduate and Author
After coming to know the Lord as a middle school student in Ethiopia, Zelalem Eshete went on to deepen his relationship with God and engage in ministry. Eshete took part in the STEP program after he moved to the US.
Bolstered and encouraged by the prayers and advice of those around him, Eshete graduated from the STEP program in 2024. He is now partnered with Ethiopian Missionary Fellowship and published his first book, Rediscovering Church: A Biblical Model for Restoration.
Read his full story here.
Thank you Zelalem Eshete for sharing your story!
Picture above: 2024 STEP Graduates; Zelalem Eshete not pictured
| | | Share Your Story
Story-telling is powerful; after all, sharing the Gospel—the greatest story of all—is at the heart of what we do as Christ-followers. If you have a story related to LMC, we'd love to hear it! Share online at our website. | | | Apply to STEP for Aug. 2025!
STEP is a three-year, non-traditional ministry leadership training program. Over the three years, students journey together in a cohort-model. Upon completion, graduates earn 30 undergraduate credit hours from Eastern Mennonite University. For more information, visit our website. | | | Save the Date – Fall Leadership Assembly
We are working hard to plan and prepare for our Fall Leadership Assembly held on September 24–27.
Sept. 24–25 will be a two-day APEST resourcing event. Friday during the day there will be local tours celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Anabaptism. The Friday evening schedule will include a time of worship and plenary speakers. The schedule for Saturday will include worship, plenary speakers, stories, and workshops.
We will NOT be hosting a Spring Leadership Assembly this year. Registration coming soon. If you have any questions, please email information@lmcchurches.org. |  | |  | Call for Volunteers – Fall Leadership Assembly
We're looking for volunteers to help with Fall Leadership Assembly 2025. Are you or do you know someone who may be able to help with Childcare or Media/Photography?
Childcare volunteers are needed for Saturday, September 27. They will be responsible for providing care and children's activities for kids ages 0–8. This will be held on-site at Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community. Volunteers must have or be willing to get the appropriate clearances.
Our Communications Director is looking for volunteers to help with media and photography for some or all of Sept. 24th–27th. Responsibilities may include shooting/editing photos, interviewing participants for their stories/experiences, and creating and posting on social media.
If you're interested in volunteering for either of these roles, email Mercedes Thomas at mthomas@lmcchurches.org for more information. | |  | Office Equipment for Sale
We've done some spring cleaning and found a few items we no longer need. All are lightly used/like new quality. Please reach out to information@lmcchurches.org for prices and additional information. | |  | The Global Leadership Summit – Hosted at Weaverland
Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community is thrilled to be a host site for The Global Leadership Summit August 7–8. This two-day, world-class leadership event is designed to equip and inspire individuals, churches, and organizations to build a culture of servant leadership.
Register before May 8th for a discounted cost of $149 (price will then increase to $169). Discounted rates are also available for teachers, nurses, EMTs, and students ages 14–23. Register at weaverland.org/gls.
Please feel free to share and promote this opportunity with your congregations. Attached here is a flyer, a postcard, promo with more information, a power point slide 4.3 for standard screen, and a power point slide 16.9 for wide screen. | | | Survey for Mennonite World Conference Nyah Tinsley, LMC's Young Anabaptist delegate to the Mennonite World Conference, is welcoming more responses to her youth/young adult survey. Please forward this survey to the young people (13–30) in your LMC congregations. And please join us in praying for Nyah as she prepares to travel to Germany and Switzerland in May.
English: https://forms.gle/8o7r9xYTeenM1XA26
Spanish: https://forms.gle/RouUDRSis1grVrL79 | | | Film Screening at Mount Joy Mennonite Church
Unexpected Peace follows social anthropologist and EMM worker Dr. Jonathan Bornman as he asks the question, "Our society believes in redemptive violence—is it possible that most of us are wrong?" Mount Joy Mennonite Church is hosting a screening on May 3 at 7 p.m. of this nominee for Best Picture at the Red Rose Film Festival. Admission is free. See this flyer for more information, or go to unexpectedpeace.com. | | |  The LMC community is in a season of growth! Since 2018, we have welcomed 133 new congregations into our conference. Despite this, donations over the years have remained about the same, and are now beginning to decrease. Would you prayerfully consider joining us in being a Spirit-led movement and donating to LMC? We are grateful for the opportunity to continue ministering alongside you. | | | From Our Resource Partners | |  | Advance The kingdom of God is advancing! Join EMM for a gap year—engage in three months of hands-on, cross-cultural discipleship training in Lancaster City, PA. Then serve five months in one of EMM's priority regions. Your life will never be the same. - Ignite your passion for knowing and following Jesus
- Explore your gifts and calling in a community setting
- Build meaningful relationships across cultures
- Serve others alongside seasoned mission workers
- Practice living your faith and sharing Christ's love as a team
Apply now at emm.org/advance. | |  | You Can Help People Hear the Gospel Many older Isaan people spend their time watching the house and property while the rest of the family goes about their work. They often enjoy listening to the radio and especially to the Isaan music, which is so deeply ingrained in the hearts of Isaan people. The "Life's Answers" radio programs, a 33-episode series produced by Brethren in Christ, uses Isaan music, Bible storying in the Isaan language, and testimonies of Isaan people to proclaim the Good News. Jesus is the answer for your life! Will you join us in sharing this Good News over the radio? A gift of $60 allows us to air these one-hour programs every day for a month, on a radio station that reaches a geographical area of at least 200,000 people.
Learn more and give online at emm.org/isaanradio. | | Housing Need
EMM's Advance program serves as a gap-year opportunity for young adults. As Advance grows, we are looking for creative ways to house young people in the general vicinity of Hub450 in Lancaster City, where our training takes place. Renting a large house (or two smaller houses) within walking distance 450 North Prince Street would be an ideal solution, though other options could also be an enormous blessing. We anticipate a cohort of 10–15 people for this fall (early September through mid-December). Please pray for this need and let Dave Houser know if you are able to help meet this need by emailing dave.houser@emm.org or by calling 717-898-2251. Thank you! | | Call for Volunteers Friendship Community is looking for volunteers! Volunteers help Friendship Community accomplish their mission of empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. To learn more or sign up to volunteer, contact their development team at 717-656-2466 or email development@friendshipcommunity.net. | | | 'They Went Out from Us' To commemorate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism, Mennonite Life is offering a limited-time exhibit titled 'They Went Out from Us:' Zwingli and the Radical Reformation. It will be on display from May 6–June 7 in the Mennonite Life Library. Learn more at mennonitelife.org/events. | | | 50th Anniversary Celebration Mennonite Life is celebrating 50-years of the Biblical Tabernacle Experience! Join the celebration on May 10 from 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. It will include $5 walk-in showings, a kids' scavenger hunt, a historical timeline of the tabernacle, and new merchandise. A food truck will also be on site for the event. Learn more at mennonitelife.org/events. | | | No Longer Alone Support Group Landis Communities will host Brenda Long, former Executive of No Longer Alone Ministries, for a presentation. A time of sharing will follow. Held on April 27 from 3–5 p.m. at the Calvin G. and Janet C. High Learning and Wellness Center at Landis Communities. For more info, email jalbright@landis.org.
Presentation on Addiction & Older Adults On May 14 at 1:30 p.m., Landis Communities is hosting Dr. Ming Wang for a presentation on addiction in older adults and how we can support them on the path to healing. This presentation is sponsored by Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning at Landis Communities. Register by April 15 by calling 717-381-3577 or go to thepathwaysinstitute.org/lancaster-county. | | | ¿Quieres recibir las Noticias de LMC en Español? | | | ¿Quieres recibir Noticias de LMC en español? ¡Haga clic aquà para registrarse! | | | | | |
