Giving is a way of life, rooted in faith, family and a deep commitment to
the global family
For Ruth and Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, generosity has never been simply an act of giving – it has been a way of life, rooted in faith, family and a deep commitment to the global family.
Both Ruth and Timothy were raised in families that modelled faithful stewardship and active service within the church. Ruth’s father taught at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia, while her mother led a Christian radio and newspaper ministry and served as a pastor.
Timothy’s father served as administrator of a Mennonite mental health hospital in California and became a leader in Mennonite Mental Health Services and Mennonite Mutual Aid. His mother was a teacher and writer.
Through MWC, churches learn from one another, support one another and bear witness together to God’s love in the world.
Ruth and Timothy Stoltzfus
In both families, faith was lived out through service, hospitality and a commitment to sharing God’s gifts with others.
Timothy remembers his Mennonite Brethren congregation in Reedley, California, USA, welcoming refugees from the Soviet Union and immigrants from Paraguay. Ruth recalls relatives serving in Mennonite mission around the world. From an early age, both learned that belonging to the church meant caring for people beyond one’s own community.
Timothy and Ruth, both lawyers, met in 1981 at a conference exploring the relationship between law and the Bible at a Mennonite seminary. They married shortly thereafter and began building a life centred on faith, service and community.
Defining experience
One of the defining experiences of Ruth’s youth was attending the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Amsterdam in 1967. Hosted by a Dutch Mennonite family living on a houseboat, she experienced firsthand the warmth and connection of the global Mennonite family. Following the conference, her family travelled to Czechoslovakia to visit members of the Czech Brethren Church, deepening her understanding that faith transcends national borders.
Over the decades, Mennonite World Conference continued to shape their family’s understanding of the church. In 1997, while living in Germany and participating in a German Mennonite congregation, they attended the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Calcutta, India, with their three sons.
In 2009, Ruth and Timothy attended the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Paraguay and visited Mennonite communities throughout the Chaco. Ruth was particularly moved by a prison ministry that demonstrated the church’s active witness in urban communities. Their visit challenged assumptions and revealed a vibrant faith expressed through compassionate service.
Ruth later attended the 2015 Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, continuing a lifelong connection to the global fellowship of Mennonite believers.
Live modestly to give generously
Throughout their lives, Ruth and Timothy have embraced the values of simple living and generous giving.
Timothy spent part of the 1970s living in Mennonite intentional communities where resources were shared in the spirit of the early church.
Ruth often recalls her mother’s simple instruction whenever the children received money: “Spend some, save some, and give some.”
Those values have been passed to the next generation. Today, their youngest son serves with the German Mennonite Peace Fellowship, leading accompaniment tours to Palestine.
Throughout their marriage, Ruth and Timothy have viewed their resources as gifts entrusted to them by God. They have sought to live modestly so they can give generously – to support the church, care for people in need and advance the work of peace and justice.
Spiritual solidarity
For them, Mennonite World Conference embodies the biblical vision found in 2 Corinthians 8: a community where believers share resources, burdens, encouragement and hope across cultures and continents.
That sharing includes material support, but it also encompasses spiritual solidarity. They vividly remember receiving messages of prayer and encouragement from Mennonite churches in other countries during difficult times in the United States – a powerful reminder that they are part of something far larger than themselves.
That is why they support Mennonite World Conference.
Mennonite World Conference strengthens relationships across borders, connects believers from diverse cultures and builds a global community where faith, generosity and mutual care flourish. Through MWC, churches learn from one another, support one another and bear witness together to God’s love in the world.
Ruth and Timothy Stoltzfus Jost invite others to join this ministry of sharing.
By supporting Mennonite World Conference, you help nurture a worldwide family of faith – one that embodies Christ’s call to unity, generosity and hope for generations to come.