“I have always desired to see and understand the world beyond my immediate environment, to learn from diverse communities. When I learned about YAMEN’s vision for young people of global learning and service, I saw it as a platform that will expose, shape and equip me for the betterment of myself, the church and my community,” says Moses Johnson Jumbo.
Moses Jumbo, a member from Mennonite Church, Inen district, Nigeria, served as partnership and reporting assistant for MCC Chad through the YAMEN program from August 2024 to July 2025.
The Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network (YAMEN) program is a joint program between Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). It places emphasis on expanding the fellowship between churches in the Anabaptist tradition and developing young leaders around the globe. Participants spend one year in a cross-cultural assignment starting in August and ending the following July.
“During my YAMEN year, I experienced deep spiritual transformation. In the past, I lived by certain societal patterns that I thought was normal, but through my connection at the worship centre, regular devotions and conversations with the Country Representatives, my mindset got lightened,” says Moses Jumbo. “Now, serving in the church, I share this transformation about the need for a renewed mind, even among my friends.”
He was deeply excited to learn about Project Management, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) through his placement.
“I learned how to plan, manage and evaluate real projects and make a difference. This is more than a skill to me, it becomes a calling and I love it,” he says. “Each time I visited the field with the team, I saw the importance of listening to other people’s perspectives and valuing their contributions. Through this, I learned that building peace is not narrowed to resolving conflict but also is a lifestyle of understanding the next person.”
At home in Nigeria, “I’m working on a Peace Initiative Project to establish Peace Clubs in my community to educate and sensitize young people on the need to shun cultism and violence and to embrace peace, unity and understanding.”
He dreams of a network in secondary schools across Akwa Ibom State. “This vision was birthed when I realized that many of the negative behaviours among the youths in the community can be traced to some degree of ignorance. Through this club, I hope to provide awareness and positive alternatives.”
“Serving with MCC in Chad has touched my senses and filled me with love and purpose to continue with the program for years, if that was possible,” says Moses Jumbo.
“From the moment I arrived at the airport, I saw love from the team. Their warm reception makes me feel at home immediately. I continued to see that love every day in how they value my opinions, encouraged me and are always ready to support me.
“The team are always open to my ideas, often saying ‘Moses, if you need any assistance, please ask us.’ These words built my confidence and strengthened our relationship.
“I felt the warmth of friendship daily among the team; this was genuine and gave me a lasting sense of belonging.
“Living and serving with people from different cultures has taught me to see Christ in others and to extend his love beyond boundaries. Through YAMEN, I have discovered that following Jesus means becoming a channel of hope to someone close to me, my community and wherever I go.
“At first, it wasn’t easy being in a new environment, hearing a language I didn’t understand and worshipping with people whose doctrine were different from what I used to. But through time, I began to see unity through my learning to adapt, love, respect and value another despite our differences,” he says.
“For me, “the courage to love” became real during my YAMEN experience in Chad. Coming from Nigeria and making a decision to serve in Chad was birthed by courage. Living in a new country, language and environment wasn’t easy at the start, but I learned that love goes beyond comfort or familiarity. I began to express my love through my service to the community.
“Shortly after returning, I organized a three-week skills acquisition program at my church offering free training for young people in barbing, decoration, hair weaving, graphic designing and baking. This initiative – inspired by the passion for community service from YAMEN – is already bearing fruits.”
Today, Moses Jumbo serves as a volunteer teacher at the Mennonite Star Schools, Nigeria, where he uses the language skills he honed through immersion in Chad to teach French and computer studies.
“It gives me joy to see the eagerness and excitement of the pupils to learn these subjects with practical demonstration. Through this teaching, I continue to share my experience, build relationships and nurture a peaceful and purposeful generation,” says Moses Jumbo.
The Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network (YAMEN) program is a joint program between Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). It emphasizes expanding the fellowship between churches in the Anabaptist tradition and developing young leaders around the globe.
Participants spend one year in a cross-cultural assignment starting in August and ending the following July.