The first mission worker agency was formed in 1861. In Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective the following statement is made about the Mennonite approach to mission:

“Mennonites believe that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God offers salvation from sin and a new way of life to all people.  We receive God’s salvation when we repent of sin and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.”

“In its mission, the church claims Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world.  Some people feel that all ways to Christ are equally valid and that mission work is intolerant and coercive.  Faithful witness to Christ is noncoercive.  It testifies to Christ’s work in our lives and invites others to know him, follow him and become part of his body.”

“We believe that God calls the church to direct its mission to people from all nations and ethnic backgrounds.”  We recognize however that not all persons may hear the Gospel.  We believe in God’s graciousness in all situations and leave the final fate of persons such as those who have never heard the Gospel to his mercy.

The Mennonite Church places great emphasis on the whole church being missional – which means that all of its programs and functions need to be oriented to reaching out to those around so that more people will come to know and serve God.

Mennonite Mission Network is the mission agency of the Mennonite Church USA, its 22 area conferences and nearly 1,700 congregations. Mennonite Mission Network is one of four program agencies that specialize in mission, education, stewardship and publishing. It exists to lead, mobilize and equip the church for holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world.

Currently, Mennonite Mission Network focuses on these areas:

• Engaging people and cultures with the gospel of Jesus Christ
• Starting missional congregations
• Cultivating missional congregations
• Fostering a missional identity in the church.

It networks with many partners for sharing the Good News of Christ, engaging in service, teaching and a variety of caring ministries around the world and in the United States.