Mennonite Women USA

In 1935 during the great depression women's groups from the General Conference Church saw a need to provide retirement funds for missionaries. They began to give “two cents a week and a prayer.” These two cent gifts were invested wisely, and over time, grew into a full sized endowment which became known as the Missionary Pension Fund. Today, as the steward of this fund, Mennonite Women USA (MW USA) sends the interest (about $2,900) each year to Mennonite Mission Network (MMN). The money is dispersed for needs of missionaries not covered by regular support, such as funeral travel costs or mental health needs. In 2007 the fund enabled a mission worker to attend the funeral of a stillborn grandchild, provided counseling for depression to another, and a week-end of marriage enrichment for a couple. Each July MW USA transfers the interest from Mennonite Foundation to MMN. See also: Missionary Pension Fund story Missionary Pension Fund policy Women in Search of Mission, pp. 69-71, by Gladys Goering