Sharing Hope across Continents 

EMS Sunday 2026 invites Christians around the world to come together as a visible sign of hope. On or around 20 September, the member churches and associations of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) are invited to celebrate worship services under the theme “Ambassadors of Hope.” 

EMS Sunday also commemorates the founding of EMS on 16 September 1972. For more than five decades, this fellowship has brought together churches and Christian organizations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East in their shared commitment to faith, justice, and solidarity. 

“In a time marked by deep divisions and growing polarization, sharing in worship can deepen our bonds as siblings in Christ and strengthen our sense of belonging to one another. Our common act of worship becomes a visible sign of hope and solidarity, bearing witness to God's reconciling presence in a world longing for healing and unity,” says Rev. Dr. Dieter Heidtmann, General Secretary of EMS. 

Sharing Hope – Globally and in Daily Life 

This year’s theme highlights the churches’ shared calling to make God’s hope visible in a wounded and fractured world. In widely differing social, political, and cultural contexts, EMS member churches are committed to proclaiming this hope and making it tangible through their actions. 

EMS Sunday thus makes visible what unites the international EMS community: the conviction that God’s hope transcends borders, brings people together, and opens new perspectives. As “Ambassadors of Hope,” the member churches carry this message into their congregations and societies. 

A Liturgy from Korea for the Global Fellowship 

The liturgy for EMS Sunday 2026 was prepared with the support of EMS member churches in Korea: The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK). It brings insights and inspiration from Korea’s rich worship traditions into the global celebration. 

“In a world deeply wounded by division, economic hardship, and ecological grief, we refuse to simply endure or maintain the status quo. Instead, the PCK and EMS are called to boldly cultivate a world where every creature and every community can truly thrive in God's abundant grace,” says Sangdo Choi, PCK General Secretary. “We are Ambassadors of Hope!” 

The liturgy is offered as a gift to the worldwide EMS community. Congregations are encouraged to adapt it to their own language, cultural context, and congregational life. 

Offering Strengthens International Solidarity 

An important part of EMS Sunday is the offering. Donations support projects and programmes throughout the international EMS community. In member churches across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, people are working with and for those affected by poverty, illness, disability, and the consequences of war. 

Here, hope becomes tangible through lived solidarity, practical help, and a shared commitment to human dignity. Through their offerings, congregations help sustain and expand this important work. 

Together as Ambassadors of Hope 

EMS Sunday 2026 invites congregations around the world to celebrate the unifying power of faith and to share hope together. As a global fellowship, the member churches of EMS bear witness to the fact that God’s hope is stronger than division, exclusion, and despair – and that it connects people across continents and cultures. 

Be an Ambassador of Hope! Download the resources for EMS Sunday 2026 and create a worship service that brings people together—with liturgy, texts, and reflections from Korea, available at ems-online.org/ems-sunday