Conference Ministries
Conference Ministries are agencies, committees or programs that originate from the Virginia Mennonite Conference, and while many have separate boards and governance structures, their primary constituency is VMC, a majority of their boards are comprised of VMC members and the entities are, broadly, “owned” by VMC.
Virginia Mennonite Missions
VMMissions equips the church to share new life in Jesus Christ with neighbors near and far. VMMissions envisions a Spirit-filled church of many cultures living out God’s kingdom in every sphere of life.
Virginia Mennonite Missions was formed in 1919 to help Mennonites in Virginia share the good news of Jesus Christ with their neighbors in West Virginia. Within a few decades, the ministry had extended to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Today, with headquarters in Harrisonburg, Virginia, VMMissions supports 60 missionaries serving in 20 countries and sends multiple short-term teams each year, all focused on being and making disciples in the way of Christ. Ministries include evangelism and church planting, education, leadership development, children and youth ministry, deaf ministry, refugee and immigrant ministry, church revitalization and business as mission.
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Conference Endorsed Ministries
Conference Endorsed Ministries are organizations with roots in, continued relationship with, or accountability ties to the Virginia Mennonite Conference constituency. For mutual benefit, they apply for membership, are granted an endorsement for their ministry, and are provided with opportunities for visibility and reporting.
Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center
BRETHREN & MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER’s mission is to share and celebrate the story of Jesus Christ as reflected in the lives of the Brethren and Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley and their values emphasize peace and non-violence, the priority of spiritual over material values, disaster relief and voluntary service, care for neighbors, stewardship of Creation, and the role of faith community in discernment and practice.
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Eastern Mennonite School
Eastern Mennonite School joins home and church in calling students to faith in Jesus Christ, academic excellence, personal integrity, and compassionate service in the world. EMS aspires to reflect Christ’s light as a learning community where every student belongs, thrives, and lives God’s call.
Educational philosophy: EMS has served Harrisonburg and the surrounding counties for over 100 years, combining an academically challenging curriculum with a strong commitment to music and the arts, Christian discipleship, peace and justice, service to others, and a global outlook.
The K-12 curriculum is designed to foster reading, research, writing and presentation skills that grow student curiosity, creative and insightful thinking, organizational strategies and a moral social conscience. A strong college preparatory track includes honors, Advanced Placement, and other advanced courses. Regular activities are also designed to help students grow spiritually as well as intellectually.
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Eastern Mennonite University
EMU offers rigorous academic study at the undergraduate, graduate and seminary level. More than 2000 students study at our main campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia; at our Lancaster, Pennsylvania site; and online. EMU encourages students, faculty and staff to live their faith and values through service to others, peacemaking, cross-cultural engagement and sustainability.
Students, faculty and staff collaborate, learn and lead together. Professors know their students by name and provide lifelong networks and support. You can choose from 50+ programs of study, designed to prepare you for a career. Experience hands-on learning, and mentoring from faculty, as you develop marketable skills and confidence in teamwork, leadership, and intercultural communication.
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Family Life Resource Center
Family Life Resource Center (FLRC) is a nonprofit counseling agency meeting the behavioral health need of individuals, couples and families. Working from a Christian faith perspective, counselors at Family Life Resource Center are committed to helping people pursue health and wholeness as individuals and in their relationships.
The Family Life Resource Center provides professional counseling and services for growth towards hope, health, and healing. They provide counseling with a Christian orientation, assist in individual, family, and marital problems, provide consultation and resources for pastors, students, and congregations, and provide education and resources for early identification of problems requiring intervention.
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Highland Retreat
Highland Retreat is a year-round Christian retreat center and summer youth camp located in the mountains of northwestern Virginia on the edge of the Shenandoah Valley. The 167 acres of mostly forested land is close to the George Washington National Forest and offers scenic vistas as well as a wide variety of wildlife in its hills, streams, pond and fields.
Highland Retreat is a non-profit corporation closely affiliated with Virginia Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church USA. Highland maintains membership with Christian Camp and Conference Association USA and the Mennonite Camping Association. The facilities are offered to churches, families, individuals, and groups whose interests are compatible with Christian principles. It offers a mountain setting where people meet Jesus Christ, explore nature and build relationships.
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Mennonite Disaster Service of the Shenandoah Valley
Mennonite Disaster Service is a volunteer network of Anabaptist churches dedicated to responding to natural and man-made disasters in Canada and the United States. Our aim is to assist the most vulnerable community members, individuals, and families who would not otherwise have the means to recover. MDS volunteers – men and women, youth and adults – provide the skills and labor needed to respond, rebuild and restore in the wake of a disaster. MDS is known for having a collaborative spirit, and we work with other groups including faith-based organizations, local recovery committees, and both governmental and non-governmental agencies. MDS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
MDS Vision Statement: To inspire and equip every Anabaptist congregation to respond in Christian love with volunteers to those affected by disaster.
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Mennonite Women of Virginia Conference
The Conference chapter of Mennonite Women USA, inviting women across generations, cultures, and places to share and honor our stories, care for each other, and express our prophetic voice boldly as we seek to follow Christ. Any woman who desires to connect with other Mennonite women through our publications, events and social media is a part of us. There is no membership. Mennonite women are diverse in age, ethnicity, geography and theology. We meet in Bible study groups, during seminars, mission and service groups, one-on-one in friendships, and at retreats. We are women who juggle work, family, and spiritual growth yet seek to be part of faith circles that fit our needs.
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Mennowood Retirement Community
Mennowood Retirement Community is a tranquil, friendly place for seniors seeking a caring, enriching lifestyle.
It is our mission to enhance the quality of life for each resident through personalized attention and care. We believe in preserving dignity through personal choice, respect and understanding in a comfortable and welcoming environment that brings joy and fulfillment for those that live and work at Mennowood Retirement Community. Our retirement community offers what each resident needs; independent living, senior assisted living, memory care, and more. The focus is on providing seniors with a supportive setting so life is the way they want it to be.
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NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center
NewBridges is a resource center for the spiritual, social and economic needs of immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley.
They can answer housing-related questions such as how to apply for affordable housing and how to refinance mortgages, help people navigate the world of personal finance, provide an immigration law clinic, help community members explore adult continuing education and connect children with the public school system, and assist with everything from document notarization to renewing documents with respective Consulates.
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Pleasant View, Inc.
Pleasant View, Inc. supports individuals with disabilities achieve their own spiritual, emotional, relational, vocational and residential goals. Currently they are supporting about 105 adults in residential locations and about 125 people in day support programs.
Pleasant View, Inc. was founded in 1971 by members of the Virginia Mennonite Conference out of a concern for people within the church and the wider community who have intellectual disabilities. All individuals will have the opportunity to live in and enrich their communities. Pleasant View supports individuals with disabilities achieve their own spiritual, emotional, relational, vocational, and residential goals.
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Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC)
Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community achieves its vision of being a community of hope, meaning and growth for people to age well and live fully by emphasizing core values of heritage, innovation and authenticity. VMRC provides a broad continuum of quality senior services in a manner that demonstrates Christian love and compassion.
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Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center
Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center provides Christ-Centered programs, services and retreat facilities in a peaceful setting to encourage fellowship, growth, and renewal.
WCRC seeks to remain faithful to Christ, the Word of God, and the demonstration of His love; provide a peaceful setting that encourages a relaxed pace, enjoyment of the outdoors, and worship of God; present attitudes that are friendly, compassionate, courteous & helpful; provide opportunities for adventure, recreation and fun that will build positive memories for all ages; and maintain clean and attractive grounds and facilities.
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Mennonite Church USA organizations
Mennonite Church USA
The national denomination, officially created in 2002, to which Virginia Mennonite Conference and the following denominational organizations belong.
Everence
A financial services organization based on the idea that it is possible to incorporate your faith and values with your decisions about money.
Mennonite Education Agency
Mennonite Education Agency strives to strengthen the life, witness and identity of Mennonite Church USA through education, and drive the growth of Mennonite Church USA by equipping our educational systems, with innovative tools and vibrant connections.
MennoMedia
A print and electronic media organization based in Harrisonburg, Va., with staff also located in Kansas, Ohio, Indiana, Ontario, Manitoba and Pennsylvania. MennoMedia is an agency of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada.
Mennonite Mission Network
The mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, with offices in Elkhart, Ind.; Newton, Kan.; and Harrisonburg, Va.; along with dispersed staff throughout the United States. Mission Network currently support workers and ministries in more than 50 countries.
Global Mennonite organizations
Mennonite Central Committee
A worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches, shares God’s love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice. MCC envisions communities worldwide in right relationship with God, one another and creation.
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Mennonite World Conference
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) represents the majority of the global family of Christian churches rooted in the 16th century Radical Reformation in Europe, particularly in the Anabaptist movement. MWC membership in 2018 included one international association and 107 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national churches from 58 countries, with around 1.47 million baptized believers in close to 10,000 congregations.
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