Meet your new MCC regional associate

Constituents in central and eastern Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Kentucky have a new regional associate.

Marlin Yoder replaced Bruce Glick in this position in August, and has been working at building relationships with congregations and individuals in his territory.

This isn’t Yoder’s first position with MCC, in fact he spent 13 years with MCC in Bolivia and Mexico. “During adolescence, my heroes were MCCers returning from their assignments,” said Yoder. “After hearing their stories, I knew I wanted to serve someday with MCC internationally. My journey with MCC has indeed been a journey of personal growth while being taught by those especially favored by God.”

Now working for MCC in his home state of Ohio, Yoder has high hopes for connecting with congregations as a regional associate. “I hope to promote local, national and international service opportunities for all ages, but particularly for younger persons who may want to express their Christian faith by volunteering in their nearest thrift shop or in any of the 51 countries where MCC is serving alongside partner groups,” he said.

Yoder will also make it a priority to be accessible to congregational representatives and form cluster groups to strengthen faith and practice.

With his long-time MCC experience, he hopes to find ways to encourage participation in MCC projects. “Living now in this affluent country, I hope to offer rewarding opportunities where many people both young and old can share financially for relief, development and peacemaking efforts.”

Prior to becoming a regional associate, Yoder served as the program director for the Latin American Community Center in Dover, Ohio, which welcomes and orients new Hispanic immigrants.

Yoder is married to Sara King, who is volunteering in the Great Lakes Kidron office, and they have two grown daughters who are working in Argentina and Costa Rica. “I enjoy reading, riding my road bicycle, practicing Pennsylvania Dutch, visiting my Hispanic friends and living in a Christian Land Trust,” said Yoder.

Yoder’s passion for the work of MCC is clearly evident. “God’s love is revealed to me when people are actively seeking ways to express their faith in action,” he said. “I am energized when people come together and organize in order to promote justice and peace.”