Videos

VMMissions Centennial Celebration (full version)

A look back at what God has done through Virginia Mennonite Missions over the past one hundred years, and where God may be leading into the next century of VMMissions, featuring interviews with current and former workers and staff members.

VMMissions Centennial Celebration (short version)

A brief look at the past and present of Virginia Mennonite Missions, featuring interviews with current and former workers, and VMMissions President Aaron M. Kauffman.

Photos

Below are a selection of photos from various locations around the globe, covering many of the past 100 years of the work of VMMissions. To view the full size photos, and to navigate through the collection, click on a photo to enlarge, and then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to advance through the photos.

Have some photos of your own to share? Email them to Jon Trotter, VMMissions Communications Associate. Include your name and a brief caption/description of the photo contents.

Henry and Bettie Keener family in West Virginia missions, early 20th century (VMC Archives)
Zion Mennonite Church, where VMBM was formed by Virginia Mennonite Conference, October 17, 1919, John L. Stauffer 1920s photo (James Rush collection)
Building where Mennonites preached and began a church on Crider Mountain, northwest Rockingham County, Va., early 20th century (VMC Archives)
Samuel M. Burkholder (1848-1929) first VMBM President, 1919-1928 (VMC Archives)
Mrs. May, one of the first members in the Mennonite mission on Crider Mountain, northwest Rockingham County, Virginia, early 20th century (VMC Archives Ida Showalter collection)
Mennonite missions in West Virginia, early to mid 20th century (Grace Showalter collection)
Bishop Lewis Shank, Broadway, Va., missions worker in West Virginia early 20th century (VMC Archives)
Joseph R. Driver 2nd VMBM President 1928-1933 (VMM Archives)
Job Mission Home for West Virginia mission workers, 1928 (Roy Good photo)
Eastern Mennonite School YPCA, 1929-30, active with VMBM during the 1930s (Miriam Wenger photo)
Gay Street Mission teachers and children, 1930s, Harrisonburg, Va. (VMC Archives)
Gay Street Mission Hall, 1930s, first Mennonite congregation in Harrisonburg, Va. (VMC Archives)
Warren and Mary Kratz, West Virginia mission workers, 1930s (Paul Kratz photo)
Cullers Run Mennonite Mission, near Mathias, W.Va., a former congregation of the Virginia Mennonite Conference, started in 1932 (VMC Archives)
Etter Heatwole, 3rd VMBM President, 1933-43 (VMM Archives)
Melvin-and-Miriam-Weaver,-Lost-Creek-Ky.,-VMBM-missions,-1940s--(Kathie-Weaver-Kurtz)
Virginia Meat Canner, 1940s, with Dan Smucker (left), Lewis S. Martin, and Wayne Henard, MCC Representative (MCC Photo)
Gay Street Mennonite Mission Summer Bible School 1940, Harrisonburg, Va. (VMC Archives)
Amanda & Mark C. Showalter, missions workers in West Virginia 1940s -1960s (Duane Showalter photo)
Jacob A. Shenk (left), and Mahlon Blosser, in Kentucky missions work 1940s (Ellen Shenk photo)
Jacob A. Shenk (right) with Missions Executive J. D. Graber, mid 1940s (Dorothy Jean Weaver photo)
Jacob A. Shenk, 4th VMBM President, 1943-50 (VMM Archives)
Bible School students, Knoxville Mennonite Mission, Tenn., with Gladys Baer, late 1940s (Conrad Baer photo)
Paul T. Yoder with children at Knoxville Mennonite Mission, Tenn., late 1940s (Conrad Baer photo)
J. Irvin Lehman (left) with Russell Baer at Knoxville Mennonite Mission, Tenn., late 1940s (Conrad Baer photo)
Summer Bible School, VMBM missions, Horton, W.Va., about 1940, with Mary Kratz teacher (back third from right) (Paul Kratz photo)
Anna and William Jennings, 1944, Knoxville Mission, Tennessee (Merrill Raber photo)
Clayton Godshall family about 1945, North Carolina missions family (Evelyn Nice photo)
Original Ridgeway Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, built 1946, started through missions efforts and street meetings (Jim Good photo)
Melvin-and-Miriam-Weaver,-Lost-Creek,-Ky.-1947,-with-Don-Jacobs-[back-row-left]-(Kathie-Weaver-Kurtz-photo)
Melvin-and-Miriam-Weaver,-in-missions-at-Lost-Creek-School,-Ky.,-1947-(Kathie-Weaver-Kurtz-photo)
Crockett, Kentucky, Missions trip, 1947, with Gospel Quartet from EMC (Eugene Souder photo)
EMC Gospel Team in Crockett, Kentucky, 1947, with Aaron King and Alvin Swartz (Eugene Souder photo)
EMC Quartet Gospel Team in Crocket, Ky., with Cora Maust and Martha Smoker, 1947 (Eugene Souder photo)
Tent Meeting with J. Otis Yoder, evangelist, Richmond, Virginia, 1948 (Eugene Souder photo)
Richmond, Va., children during Tent Meetings, June, 1948, with Roy Kreider's car (Eugene Souder photo)
Buckhorn Church Mathias, W.Va., missions outpost established 1949, later became Mathias Mennonite Church (VMC Archives)
Lewis S. Martin, 5th VMBM President, 1950-1952 (VMC Archives)
Missionary Paul Lehman produced music for Italian radio in 1950s-60s (VMC Archives)
John H. Shenk, 6th VMBM President 1952-55 (VMM Archives)
Richmond, Va., Tent Meetings, with J. Otis Yoder, evangelist, and Eugene Souder, Roy Kreider, Aaron King, and Paul Swarr (Eugene Souder photo)
Harold H. Lahman, 7th VMBM President, 1955-56 (VMM Archives)
Warren Metzler with baptism class, Jamaica, 1957 (VMC Archives)
Mahlon L. Blosser, 8th VMBM President, 1956-66 (VMM Archives)
Mahlon Blosser preached at first service in Glad Tidings Church, Kingston, Jamaica 1957, with Roy Kiser (VMC Archives)
Trissels Mennonite Church women quilting for relief and missions (VMC Archives)
Willard and Melba Heatwole family, Jamaica missions, 1958-1972 (VMC Archives)
Building at Retreat, Jamaica, 1959 (VMC Archives)
VMBM 1960s Executive Committee (VMM Archives)
Roy and Kathryn Good family served with VMBM at Lambert Mennonite Church and Job Mission station, West Virginia, 1960s-1970s (Roy Good collection)
Peggy Memorial Home for girls, Jamaica, early 1960s (VMC Archives)
Church service at Retreat, Jamaica, 1960 (VMC Archives)
Staunton Mennonite Church mission outreach 1960s (VMC Archives)
Knoxville Tennessee VMBM work, late 1960s (VMC Archives)
David & Merna Jo Kindy set up a missions location for VMBM in Winston-Salem, N.C., in the late 1960s (VMC Archives)
Audrey Shank, book ministries, Jamaica, 1960s-70s (VMC Archives)
Vivian Coffman worked in Virginia Mennonite Conference offices in the 1960s - 1970s (Glenna Hertzler collection)
Frank and Frances Harman, missions supporters, who traveled to Jamaica and Mexico in 1963 to visit missionaries (Ceci Steiner Gray photo)
Delegates to Jamaica Mennonite Conference, 1965 (VMC Archives)
Jamaica Executive Committee, 1965, Ransford Nicholson, Eric Robinson, Simeon Walters, Kenneth Brunk, and Willard Heatwole (VMC Archives)
Good Tidings Church, Jamaica, 1965 (VMC Archives)
Lloyd Weaver, Jr., 9th VMBM President, 1966-1979 (VMC Archives)
Abrams Mennonite Church Clinic, Jamaica, Robert Henry, left, and MCC Nurse (VMC Archives)
Palermo, Italy, congregation 1966 (VMC Archives)
Hearease Mennonite Church, Jamaica missions, 1966 (VMC Archives)
Christian Deaf Fellowship Dining Hall, Jamaica, 1966 (VMC Archives)
Guyana missions with Roy Kiser (left) and Willard Heatwole, 1967 (VMC Archives)
Truman Brunk and Ransford Nicholson, Jamaica, 1968 (VMC Archives)
Guyana missions 1967 (VMC Archives)
Virginia Mennonite Conference youth workgroup at Grundy, Va., an orphanage, restoring waterwheel (VMC Archives)
Winston-Salem VMBM work, 1968 (VMC Archives)
Alpine Mennonite Church, Jamaica, 1968 (VMC Archives)
George R Brunk III teaching in Sicily, Italy (VMC Archives)
Durham, North Carolina, Frank and Evelyn Nice, missions work, 1969 (VMC Archives)
Highland Retreat Staff, Bergton, Va., late 1960s (VMC Archives)
B. Charles Hostetter, evangelist, radio announcer, and missions worker (VMC Archives)
Working on parsonage at Retreat, Jamaica, with Calvary Church in background, 1969 (VMC Archives)
Calvary, Jamaica, with Showalter and Knicely (VMC Archives)
Guyana Worship Team (VMC Archives)
Jamaica Christian Deaf Fellowship officers, 1969 (VMC Archives)
Dr. Richard Keeler, Hansen's Disease missions work in Trinidad (VMC Archives)
Richard Keeler in medical work, Trinidad (VMC Archives)
Richard Keeler family Trinidad (VMC Archives)
Dr. Richard Keeler, Hansen's Disease work in Trinidad (VMC Archives)
Myron Augsburger spoke at 50th Anniversary of VMBM, 1969 (VMM Archives)
Ruth Ann and Reuben Horst, Voluntary Service, 1970-1972, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Addona Nissley, VMBM Secretary of Missions (VMM Archives)
Harrisonburg office of VMBM, late 1970s (VMC Archives)
VMBM's Adonna Nissley sent a Gospel Team to Jamaica, mid 1970s (VMC Archives)
Moses Slabugh, VMBM staff (VMC Archives)
Ransford and Iris Nicholson, Calvary congregation, Jamaica, 1970 (VMC Archives)
Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions officers (VMC Archives)
Wellington and Evangeline Moyer family, North Carolina missions (VMC Archives)
Harold Eshleman, Earlene and Loren Horst, 1978 (VMC Archives)
Glendon Blosser with Pastor Collins Grove in Georgetown, Guyana (VMC Archives)
Glendon Blosser taught Biblical studies at Sophia, Guyana (VMC Archives)
Iglesia Menonita Hispana Washington DC, Pastor Justiniano Cruz, left (VMC Archives)
Frank and Evelyn Nice family, mission workers in N.C. (VMC Archives)
VMBM Home Office, Harrisonburg, Virginia, mid 1970s (VMC Archives)
Gladys and Wayne Yoder in Trinidad missions (VMC Archives)
Gladys Yoder taught women in Trinidad missions (VMC Archives)
Open doors with VMBM, 1970s (VMC Archives)
Ruth and Truman Brunk, Sr, church workers and missions promoters (VMC Archives)
Jordan Relief Funds, 1971 (VMC Archives)
VMBM missions event, 1971, at Weavers Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va. (VMC Archives)
Mennonite Gospel Mission, Newport News, Va. (Grace Showalter Slides 1972)
Robert Mast, VMBM staff (VMC Archives)
Former Shenk Hatchery, South Park View, Harrisonburg, agency headquarters (VMC Archives)
Lewis and Cora Martin (left) with Franca Ceraulo, from Palermo Sicily (VMC Archives)
VMM Roy Kiser (VMM Archives)
VMM Kratzes (VMM Archives)
Linda Troyer (left), Leona Burkholder, and Linda Yoder, North Carolina, VMM event, 1972 (VMM Archives)
Justiniano & Mabel Cruz family, Iglesia Evangelio, Washington, D.C.
VMBM Office 1973 (VMC Archives)
Singing Messengers to Jamaica, 1974 (VMC Archives)
Springdale Mennonite Church Missions event, 1976 (VMC Archives)
VMM Missions meeting, 1976-77 (VMC Archives)
Jamaica Leadership Seminar, 1977 (VMC Archives)
Willard Heatwole and Lloyd Weaver at Ocho Rios Church, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Trinidad fellowship Diego Martin Church (VMC Archives)
VMBM Executive Committee 1977-78 (VMM Archives)
Gospel Team to Jamaica, 1978 (VMC Archives)
Trinidad fellowship group after worship, 1978 (VMC Archives)
Jamaica Mennonite Youth Team, 1978 (VMC Archives)
Paul and Evelyn Kratz, Guyana missions (VMC Archives)
Pastor Caonabo Reyes baptism, Washington Spanish fellowship, 1978 (VMC Archives)
Roy Kiser, missions promoter (VMC Archives)
Elton and Freida Nussbaum, missionaries to Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Harold Eshleman, Missions Pastor in Harrisonburg, Va. (VMC Archives)
Italy Evangelism Team, 1979 (VMC Archives)
Dan and Frances Smucker, Leadership Training in Trinidad, 1981 (VMC Archives)
Gerald Martin missions preacher, about 1981 (VMC Archives)
Loren and Earlene Horst family (VMC Archives)
Willard Heatwole, 11th VMBM President, 1982-1985 (VMC Archives)
Leslie Francisco II, Missions Pastor, Southeast Virginia (VMC Archives)
Richard Good, VMBM Missions staff (VMC Archives)
J. Harold Buckwalter, with International Seaman's House ministry, Norfolk, Va. (VMC Archives)
Gloria Lehman in Jamaica missions (VMC Archives)
Dorothy and Orval Shank, missions workers (VMC Archives)
Paul T. Yoder, 12th VMBM President, 1985-1990 (Paul T. Yoder photo)
Haiti, with Stanley Shirk (left) and Sam Scaggs, VMM missions staff, 1985 VMM (VMC Archives)
Haiti VMM missions 1985 (VMC Archives)
Ocho Rios Groundbreaking, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Mission workers Heatwoles (left) and Kratzes (VMC Archives)
Iglesia Del Evangelio, Justiniano Cruz, pastor, Wash. D.C., 1980s (VMC Archives)
Stanley Shirk, Secretary of Congregational Relations for VMBM (VMC Archives)
Simeon Walters works in his tailor shop, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Twila and J. Harold Buckwalter (right) with Adonna Nissley, VMBM missions (VMC Archives)
J. Clair and Lois Hollinger, Leadership Training in Trinidad, 1982-83 (VMC Archives)
Glendon and Dorothy Blosser in Trinidad Missions Leadership Training, 1983-84 (VMC Archives)
Richie and Verna Tyson, Maranatha School, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Groundbreaking at Calvary Community Church, Hampton, Va. (VMC Archives)
Bishop Leslie Francisco II and his wife Naomi, along with their sons (from left) Myron, Leslie III, and Steven (VMC Archives)
Slater's Hill Vacation Bible School, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Richard Lantz, VMBM Board Member 1987-1997 (VMC Archives)
Ken Horst preached at Centro Agape church baptism, Sicily, Italy, 1989 (VMC Archives)
Serving at VMBM Meeting, about 1991 (VMM Archives)034
VMBM Missions meeting, 1991 (VMM Archives)
David D Yoder, 13th VMBM President, 1991-2002 (VMM Archives)
Floyd and Janet Blosser family, VMM missionaries in Sicily, Italy (VMC Archives)
VMM Bicycles Harrisonburg 1991 (VMM Archives)
PIM team commissioning for Jamaica, Ridgeway Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va., 1992 (VMC Archives)
Richard Lantz (right) award for missions service, from Marvin Slabaugh (VMC Archives)
Reginald David and members of Sophia congregation, Guyana (VMC Archives)
Partners in Mission (PIM) team to North Carolina, 1992 (VMC Archives)
Robert Henry (second from left) receives ordination from Willard Heatwole, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
James and Mary Bergey in Missions Service, Huntington Mennonite Church (VMC Archives)
VMM Slabachs 1992 (VMM Archives)
Missions team in Jamaica, 1993 (VMC Archives)
Jamaica missions team, 1993 (VMC Archives)
VMM Italy (VMM Archives)
VMBM Missions Banquet Guests (VMC Archives)
Pastor Brandis Lewis, at Open Bible Mennonite Church, Sophia, Guyana (VMC Archives)
VMM Keelers (VMM Archives)
Gospel Team from Weavers Mennonite Church in Guyana, 1993 (VMC Archives)
VMM North Carolina event (VMM Archives)025
Haiti work team, 1995, Tapion Mennonite Church (VMC Archives)
Missions Festival VMBM (VMC Archives)
VMBM Display (VMC Archives)
Quilt made from African fabric through Sister link with women in Arusha, Tanzania - Gladys Driver, Yvonne Martin, Jan Kauffman, and Brownie Driver (Dorothy Krieder photo)
Can Le and Lisa Pham, 1996, Vietnamese missions (VMC Archives)
VMM Italy (VMM Archives) (2)
Missions Festival (VMC Archives)
VMBM 1997 Board meeting (VMM Archives)
Jamaica Mennonite Conference 1997 (Elwood Yoder photo)
VMM Piazzas (VMM Archives)
Basil Marin, evangelist and missions pastor (VMC Archives)
Vacation Bible School at Joyland Church, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Karen Brunk, Jamaica (VMM Archives)
Jamaica Mennonite Conference, 1997 (Elwood Yoder photograph)
Lewis E. Strite, Missions supporter and promoter (VMC Archives)
Jamaica Mennonite Conference, 1997 (Elwood Yoder photo)
VMBM Board meeting with Galen Lehman (left), Gerald Miller, Earlene and Loren Horst, 1997 (VMM Archives)
Trinidad worship (VMC Archives)
Pastor Caonabo and Mireya, with Jacalyn Reyes, Washington, D.C, supported by VMBM (VMC Archives)
Martha and Francesco Picone family, Italian Mennonite church leaders (VMC Archives)
Maranatha School for the Deaf, VMBM missions, Jamaica (VMC Archives)
Loren Horst and Ganesh Kalloo, pastor of Diego Martin, Trinidad (VMC Archives)
Learning tailoring with donated sewing machines in Guyana (VMC Archives)
Pastor Caonabo Reyes Washington DC (VMC Archives)
Robert Henry (left) with Loren Horst, in Jamaica, 1997 (VMC Archives)
Lewis Strite, missions supporter (VMC Archives)
Jamaica Mennonite Conference, 1997 (VMC Archives)
Don Jacobs (left) and Galen Lehman at VMBM meeting, 1997 (VMM Archives)031
Richard E. Martin (right) with David D. Yoder (VMC Archives)
Jamaica Mennonite Conference, 1998 (VMC Archives)
VMM 1997 Zooks (VMM Archives)
Waterloo Church, Kingston, Jamaica Mennonite Conference, 1997 (Elwood Yoder Photo)
VMM Brunks (VMM Archives)
Jamaica missions, 1998 (VMC Archives)
Yoder family served in Albania with VMBM, 1999 (VMM Archives)
Galen Lehman, Jamaica missions work, 2000 (VMC Archives)
Zion Hill Youth help at Maranatha School, Jamaica (VM Archives)
Myron Augsburger spoke at Missions Banquet (VMC Archives)
Missions clean up event (VMC Archives)
Mexico missions trip to Miguel Hidalgo, with Weavers Church group, 2001 (Yvonne Martin collection)
Loren Horst, Fourteenth VMBM President, 2002-2013 (VMBM Archives)
Ruth Byler (1917-2001), long-term mission worker in Knoxville, Tennessee (photo from Alice Souder)
Missions meeting with Dick Good, Marvin Slabaugh, Joseph Shenk, Sam Scaggs, and Willard Eberly (VMC Archives)
Lezhe, Albania, prayer for Allen Umble and Norma Teles, 2002 (VMC Archives)
Dayton, Va. group visits Lezhe, Albania, 2002
Paul Gaskins (right), founding pastor of Christian Conquest Ministries, Washington, D.C. (VMC Archives)
Sunday worship at Lezhe, Albania, 2002 (VMC Archives)
VMM Trinidad Leaders, 2002 (VMM Archives)
Missions Festival for VMBM (VMC Archives)
Hmong Mennonites, Hictory, N.C. 2007 (VMM Archives)029
Hmong Mennonite singers, Hictory, N.C., about 2007 (VMM Archives)028
Partners in Mission (PIM) team to China, 2007, with VMM (Elwood Yoder photo)
June Lantz, missions worker to China, 2007 (Elwood Yoder photo)
VMM Eberlys 2009 (VMM Archives)
Mennonite Relief Canning Center, Hinton Virginia, 2010 (Elwood Yoder photo)
Iglesia Discipular Anabaptista, a 2012 worship team, Harrisonburg, Va. (Lucia Martinez photo)
Ken and Sue Horst, right, and Floyd and Janet Blosser, VMBM worker couples, attended Virginia Mennoniite Conference in Chesapeake, Virginia, 2012 (Elwood Yoder photo)
Maranatha students, Jamaica, with MaryBeth Moore, 2013 (VMM Photo)
The Table Mennonite congregation, Harrisonburg, Va.(VMM Archives)
VMM Possibly Outlet 10 27, N.C., with Keith and Tami Nice (VMM Archives)023
Mr. and Mrs. William Broughton, pastoral couple from Jamaica, spoke to Virginia Mennonite Conference delegates, 2012, at EMU (Elwood Yoder photo)
Thailand VMM Missionaries, Mark and Sarah Schoenhals (right), received visitors from Weavers Church members, 2014 (Sandi Good photo)
James Rhee (right lower) with CrossWay Mennonite (VMM Archives)
Aaron Kauffman, 15th VMM President, 2014-
Mission and church workers commissioned at VMC, 2014, by Aaron Kauffman and Clyde Kratz (Elwood Yoder photo)
Stutzman family with VMM and MMN in Germany, 2016 (VMC Archives)
VMM Staff read a commissioning for new mission workers July 18, 2018, Harrisonburg (Yoder photo)
Alisha and Brent Justice Uganda missions, Africa, with VMM and Serge Missions (Justice Photo)
Steve and Laura Campbell, VMM missionaries in Montenegro, after speaking at their Missionary Support Team meeting, June, 2018 (Elwood Yoder photo)
Janet Blosser, VMM Mediterranean Regional Director, spoke at Missionary Support Team meeting, June, 2018 (Elwood Yoder photo)
Mission workers read a litany at their VMM commissioning service, Harrisonburg, July 18, 2018 (Elwood Yoder photo)
Dillion and Esther Sinclair, from Jamaica, spoke to Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly, July 21, 2018 (Elwood Yoder photo)
VMM Building Harrisonburg Va., June 17, 2019 (Elwood Yoder photo)