After 37 years at Magazine Training International (MTI) as the founder and president, Sharon Mumper will retire this month. Since the inception of MTI in 1989, Mumper has dedicated herself to the training, mentorship, and encouragement of Christian magazine publishers.

Prior to founding the ministry, Mumper worked in newspaper, magazine, and book publishing in the U.S., at various times as editor, publishing director, and designer. She also taught journalism in a college in Appalachia.

She founded the ministry in Germany, while serving as a consultant with the German Lydia magazine. Later, the ministry moved to Austria, and in 2007 to the U.S.

Under Mumper’s leadership, MTI hosted 74 international conferences, courses, and seminars in East/Central Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America; developed a robust online training platform; and created a global community of Christians in magazine publishing that are committed to sharing the Gospel.

As an internationally recognized organization, MTI’s dedication to equipping Christians in magazine publishing with the training and resources they need to succeed and reach their societies for Christ.

Throughout Mumper’s tenure, MTI grew into a vital resource and training hub, that impacts countless publishing professionals in over 100 countries. Because of Mumper’s dedication, millions of magazine readers around the world have been introduced to God and encouraged in their faith through magazines that exist because of her dedication to training and lifting up local leaders.

“You introduced us, people without a specialized education, to the wonderful publishing business,” says Larisa Zibrick, founder and editor of the Hope for You magazine in Belarus. “Thanks to your work, thousands of people have read amazing testimonies published in magazines and their lives have changed.”

MTI provides innovative and timely training both in-person and online, including on-site courses and conferences, some 100 online courses and workshops, as well as e-books, DVD courses and training videos, course manuals, textbooks, and other published materials.

“The board of Magazine Training International celebrates Sharon Mumper’s role in establishing the ministry 37 years ago, and in continuing to faithfully fulfill the mission,” says Carla Foote, MTI board of directors chair. “It is critical that this unique ministry continues to thrive as the need to train Christians to communicate the Gospel to people in their own context is still great.”

In July, MTI became a division of the Evangelical Press Association led by Lamar Keener. Under the leadership of EPA, MTI Director of Operations Jennifer Howard will continue MTI’s online training programs, ensuring continued access to practical, Christ-centered publishing education.

Media Associates International (MAI), led by Heather Pubols, will assume responsibility for international in-person training events, building on MTI’s legacy of face-to-face instruction and community-building. Pubols will also take responsibility for organizing the next Global Christian Publishing Symposium, a new program launched last August by MTI.

“I’m so glad that the ministry will continue without interruption after I retire,” says Mumper. “Jennifer worked with us for nearly 15 years and has the experience and expertise to lead the online training program into the future.”

Mumper’s retirement is the end of an era, but her vision and ministry will continue to shape Christian publishing for years to come.

by Jennifer Howard, MTI director of operations