Mary began studying Russian as a teenager. Eventually, knowledge of the language led to missionary service mostly in Ukraine, first through Mennonite Central Committee and then through Mennonite Mission Network, from which Mary retired in 2021.
Besides teaching Church History and other subjects in theological schools around the former Soviet Union (most recently at Odesa Theological Seminary), and administrative work, Mary has also been involved in literature production. Presently, she is helping to edit the English translation of the Slavic Bible Commentary, a significant work produced by the first post-Soviet generation of evangelical Bible scholars.
Over the years, the evangelical movement in Ukraine has shaped Mary’s academic and spiritual life. She now lives in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), where she is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish.
Mary brings a formidable set of skills and a wealth of experience to the DHM Board of Trustees and her fluency in Russian helps DHM to strengthen its links to our ministry partners in Eastern Ukraine.
