On 16 September 2022, the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) celebrated its foundation exactly 50 years ago with a thanksgiving service in Stuttgart's Matthäuskirche.
In 2022 the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) turned 50 and celebrated the event with a Jubilee Year from September 2021 to September 2022, taking up the tradition of the biblical "Year of Jubilee," in which the 49th year is celebrated as a year of liberation and solidarity.
50 Years | 25 Million Brothers and Sisters
The Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) was established in 1972 as the "Evangelical Mission in South-West Germany" with its seat in Stuttgart. 50 years later, the "Evangelical Mission in South-West Germany" has become the "Evangelical Mission in Solidarity": an international association of 25 churches and five mission societies in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Together they connect about 25 million believers across three continents.
EMS 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service
Jubilee Song “Together We Are Free”
The musical "join-in-campaign" was a special feature of the EMS anniversary year. In January 2022, a especially composed jubilee song was sent on a musical world tour. Congregations and groups in the EMS Fellowship were invited to use their musical talents, to perform the song in their own creative way and to send their recordings back to Stuttgart in the form of a video.
Together We Are Free
The response was impressive. They include versions from choirs, a South African brass band, Indian dancers, soloists, a tile-zoom version, children, students, adults and even a group of deaf people from Indonesia. Our five-minute video medley, featuring 17 song interpretations from Germany, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, China and Lebanon, impressively demonstrates the diversity of mission today.
Song Sheet
"Together We Are Free"
Join in. Sing along!
The anniversary song was written by pastor and musician Fabian Vogt. The song, entitled "Together We Are Free", talks about similarities and differences, and about a world where we are stronger together. It has a catchy tune and is fun to learn and sing.
Would you like to sing the EMS song "Together we are free" in your church or choir?
Our song and lyric sheets, sets for singing groups and trombone choirs, various playback versions and a karaoke version are still available free of charge. If you would like to make a video recording of your version of the song, we would be delighted to receive it even now that our jubilee year has already ended. We will be happy to publish them on our online channels.
Sheet Music
"Together We Are Free"
Create your very own version of the song!
Trombone Choir Sheet Music
Trombone Choir Sheet Music in A-flat Major
"Together We Are Free"
Optional Drum Set
Drum Set for Trombone Choir (Sheet Music)
Trombone Choir Sheet Music
Trombone Choir Music Sheet in G-Major
KEYNOTE for the Jubilee: YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH
"Free For the Future" was the motto of the EMS Jubilee. Therefore, we asked three participants of the Theological Jubilee Conference September 2021 to share with the EMS what they expect from churches in future.
Elim Wilson Taruk, Indonesia (Toraja Church)
Shin Chul Peter Bae, South Korea (PROK)
Georgina Boateng, Ghana (PCG)
Urgent Call from EMS Jubilee Theological Conference
In order to launch the EMS Jubilee Year, 40 young representatives from EMS member churches and member organisations met for a theological conference from 13th to 17th of September 2021. The Akrofi Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (ACI) in Akropong (Ghana) and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) co-hosted the conference on the theme: “Free for the Future”.
The conference message can be found here as a download in English, German and Indonesian.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!
Jubilee Theological Conference
13 - 17 September 2021, Akropong, Ghana
JETZT IST DIE ZEIT ZUM HANDELN!
Theologische Konferenz zum Jubiläum
13. - 17. September 2021, Akropong, Ghana
SEKARANG WAK- TUNYA BERTINDAK!
Konferensi Teologi Menyambut Tahun Yubileum
13 - 17 September 2021, Akropong, Ghana
In their Conference message, the participants of the conference urge the churches and mission associations: “We are convinced: Now is the time to act! Acting means engaging in mission as social-transformative instrument, acting means the church as agency of God’s mission witnessing to the world, to bring this reality into the world.
Thank you for your interest. If you have any general questions, please use the contact form below. We are also happy to help you personally if you have any questions or require further information – by phone or by E-mail.
