Evangelical Mennonite Conference

What Evangelical Mennonite Conference does

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) is a Canadian nonprofit religious denomination headquartered at 440 Main Street, Steinbach, Manitoba, comprising approximately 60 member churches distributed from British Columbia to Ontario. Founded in 1956 and federally incorporated in 1959 under Bill S-11, the EMC traces its theological lineage to the Kleine Gemeinde, an Anabaptist group that originated in Russia in 1812 and migrated to Canada in 1874-75. The organization combines Anabaptist Mennonite heritage with Evangelical theology, emphasizing believer's baptism, peace theology (nonviolence), discipleship, and missions. Governance operates through a Conference Council comprising delegates from member churches, with elected boards (Board of Leadership and Outreach, Board of Missions, Board of Church Ministries, Board of Trustees) overseeing specific functional domains.

The EMC serves pastors, ministry leaders, youth workers, students, and member congregations through a portfolio of publications (The Messenger magazine, The Armchair Anabaptist podcast, Growing Together), study resources (The Christian Life Study Book, Living in God's Kingdom, Follow Me, Going Deeper, Holy Wanderings), governance documents (EMC Constitution), credentialing programs (EMC Essentials Minister Credentialing Program), and an events calendar (EMC Equip, Youth Worker Conferences, Today's Teens Conference, Ministerial Day, Conference Council, Young Adult Retreat). International missions operate in Mexico, West Africa, and Paraguay through the Board of Missions in partnership with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM). The conference is supported by partnerships with Steinbach Bible College, Steinbach Christian School, Canadian Mennonite University, Providence College and Theological Seminary, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Mennonite World Conference, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

Revenue is generated primarily through donations to the General Fund and designated gifts, supplemented by subscription revenue from The Messenger magazine, low-priced physical resource sales ($1.75–$15 per item) via the EMC Store, and recurring donation arrangements for pensions, missionary support, and Project Builders. Many study resources are distributed free as digital downloads. The organization employs approximately 12 staff including an Executive Director, Conference Pastor, Directors of Canadian Outreach, Global Outreach, Communications, and Next Generation, two Executive Assistants, the Messenger Editor, and a Bookkeeper. No proprietary technology products, APIs, or AI capabilities are offered; the technology footprint is limited to a Squarespace-based website, Vimeo, Instagram, and ChurchCenter forms.

Name

Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Legal name

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Website

https://emconference.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference is a Canadian nonprofit denomination of approximately 60 churches from British Columbia to Ontario, headquartered in Steinbach, Manitoba. Founded in 1956, it provides theological governance, ministerial credentialing, publications, study resources, and international missions support to its member churches and pastors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Denomination Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Denominational & Community Periodicals (Church Magazines, Diocesan/Temple Newsletters) (MPAJAHAI)

Keywords

• Denominational governance
• Pastoral credentialing
• Church planting missions
• Theological education
• Religious publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Steinbach

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. General Fund Donations: Undesignated gifts go to the EMC General Fund. Donors can give online, via PayPal (US funds), or e-transfer. Pre-authorized withdrawals can be set up for regular giving to the general fund.
2. Designated Gifts and Special Projects: Donors can designate gifts to specific programs including Board of Missions special giving projects. This includes missionary support, Project Builders donations, and specific mission field contributions.
3. Resource Store Sales: Sale of ministry resources including study books, manuals, and historical publications. Many resources available as free digital downloads. Physical products priced from $0 to $15.
4. Pension Contributions: EMC pastors and staff can make additional pension contributions through recurring donation arrangements.
5. Publication Subscriptions: The Messenger magazine subscriptions provide content about stories, ideas, and information to subscribers. Donations to support The Messenger's work are also accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) is a Canadian Mennonite denominational conference coordinating approximately 60 member churches across Canada. It provides pastoral credentialing/licensing, denominational governance, missions coordination (Canadian Outreach and Global Outreach), theological education and study resources, leadership development, youth ministry programs, and religious publishing (The Messenger magazine, The Armchair Anabaptist podcast, and a Resource Store of books and study guides).

Product overview

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference offers a portfolio of religious publications, study resources, and ministry services for its member churches across Canada. The core offerings include The Messenger publication and The Armchair Anabaptist podcast for ongoing theological engagement; study resources such as The Christian Life Study Book, Living in God's Kingdom, Follow Me, Going Deeper, and Holy Wanderings for discipleship and baptism preparation; governance documents including the EMC Constitution; and event services including conferences like EMC Equip, Youth Worker Conference, Today's Teens Conference, and regional retreats. The products are distributed both as physical items through the EMC Store and as free digital downloads, supporting the EMC's mission to equip churches for ministry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Messenger: Official publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference featuring stories, ideas, and information for members
• The Armchair Anabaptist

Products and services

• The Messenger

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 member churches served across Canada
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner ministry providing relief, development and peacebuilding work. MCC is a key organization in the Mennonite community that EMC collaborates with for humanitarian initiatives.
• Mennonite World Conference (MWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Mennonite fellowship connecting EMC with churches worldwide. Both Co-Executive Coordinators of AIMM must be members of a Mennonite World Conference congregation.
• Steinbach Bible College (SBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMC's conference-affiliated Bible college at 333 Loewen Blvd, Steinbach. SBC prepares servant leaders for ministry worldwide. EMC provides SBC Student Assistance and Barnabas Bursary support.
• Steinbach Christian School (SCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in education providing Christian education services in the EMC community.
• Canadian Mennonite University (CMU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in theological education offering graduate studies including Global Mission Theology program.
• Providence College and Theological SeminaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in education providing theological seminary programs.
• Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of evangelical Christian organizations. EMC partners with EFC for broader evangelical engagement in Canada.
• AbundanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner ministry focused on abundance and sustainable community development.
• Eden HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare ministry partner providing health-related services within the Mennonite community.
• Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing disaster response services within the Mennonite community.
• Mennonite Archival Information Database (MAID)minorOthersPartnership for organizing EMC history through archival collections including photos, events, and people records.
• Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMC participates in AIMM seeking two Executive Coordination positions. Requires Co-Executive Coordinators to be members of MWC congregations, with one based in Africa (French/English) and one in North America (English, French asset).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada: Major Canadian evangelical denomination with a national church network, credentialing, and educational institutions. Operates at materially larger scale than EMC but shares the evangelical church governance and missions model.
• Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada: Evangelical denomination in Canada with national governance, church planting, and missions programs. Larger in scale than EMC and broader theologically, but operates a comparable denominational model.
• Evangelical Fellowship of Canada: National association of evangelical Christian organizations in Canada. EMC is a partner organization; EFC operates as an umbrella body serving a broader evangelical membership base with advocacy and convening functions.

Direct peers

• Mennonite Church Canada: National umbrella for Mennonite congregations in Canada with similar denominational governance structure, member church network, and shared Anabaptist theological heritage. Most directly comparable peer to EMC.
• Canadian Mennonite Brethren Church (MB Church): Another major Canadian Mennonite denomination with a national network of churches, credentialing programs, and publishing operations. Overlaps with EMC in target membership and Anabaptist identity while being distinct in theological emphasis.
• Brethren in Christ Church Canada: Anabaptist-Evangelical denomination in Canada with a similar blend of Anabaptist roots and evangelical practice. Comparable in scale and governance structure, operating as a smaller network of congregations.

Others

• Canadian Mennonite University: Mennonite-affiliated university in Winnipeg offering undergraduate and graduate theological programs including a Global Mission Theology stream. EMC partners with CMU for ministerial education at a level beyond what SBC provides.
• Steinbach Bible College: EMC-affiliated undergraduate Bible college in Steinbach preparing students for ministry. Directly connected through scholarship programs and credentialing pipeline, functioning as EMC's primary theological education partner.
• Mennonite Central Committee Canada: Relief, development, and peacebuilding organization partnering with Canadian Mennonite denominations. EMC lists MCC as a core partner; MCC is comparable as an adjacent institutional expression of Mennonite communal ministry.
• Mennonite World Conference: Global fellowship connecting Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches worldwide. EMC is a member; MWC provides international coordination comparable in governance scope but at a much larger global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/emconference
• Instagraminstagram.com/em_conference
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evangelical-mennonite-conference

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Evangelical Mennonite Conference