Indigenous-led
Our work grows from the relationships, wisdom, and leadership already present in local communities.
The spirit of EFM
Tuungane!
toon-GAH-nay · “let us come together”
Reconciliation begins with an invitation.
This Swahili word for “let us come together” describes the spirit of EFM. Tuungane is both the means and the end of our work.
We must come together to begin reconciliation within communities, families, and congregations fractured by conflict and violence, even when it seems impossibly difficult. When we do, we learn ways of seeing and relating to the other that we did not know were possible.
With the right structures in place, we can bring others along with the invitation: Tuungane! Let us come together to build stories of reconciliation.
How we work
Four organizational distinctives.
Nimble
We stay close to communities, listening and responding as needs and opportunities emerge.
Scaled
We equip leaders who can bring practical skills and renewed hope into their churches and neighborhoods.
Relational
We believe lasting change is carried through trusted relationships and shared responsibility.
Team
Country Director
Marcel Serubungo
Energy for Mission began as a calling in the life of Marcel Serubungo, who from a young age felt drawn to help reconcile divided people. After years of ministry and peacebuilding work across Africa, he returned to stay in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo, believing God had called him to help rebuild and heal communities from within.
In 2020, that calling took shape as a grassroots movement equipping local leaders to bring reconciliation. Today, alongside his friend Colby May, that light continues to grow—helping communities by restoring Christian leaders, moving people from division to reconciliation, and healing survivors of gender-based violence.
Marcel holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Peace and Conflict Management. He worked with World Relief for 18 years in the DRC, Sudan, and South Sudan, bringing divided communities together as a Regional Peace Building Technical Advisor. Marcel has been featured on CNN and served as keynote speaker at The Justice Conference.
Leadership & founding
People shaping the mission.
Founder · CEM, MAET
Colby May
Colby May is a Certified Energy Manager with more than 23 years of experience specializing in energy management. He has conducted energy audits for over 5,000 commercial-scale facilities nationwide, including churches, seminaries, universities, K–12 schools, and local government buildings. Colby has also presented at numerous mission, faith, and energy management workshops across the world.
Colby holds a Master’s degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with a concentration in Ethics & Society (Integral Mission) and a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in International Business and Spanish. During the Kivu Conflict, he spent time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing his studies on the role of the local church in responding to conflict and injustice.
He is deeply passionate about empowering the Church and believes energy sustainability is a powerful tool for transformation, enabling ministries to redirect resources toward mission and impact. His work is shaped by a conviction that lasting justice begins with the heart and is lived out through Integral Mission. Colby’s current focus is leveraging sustainability initiatives to support ministry and community development efforts in Nepal, India, and beyond.
Colby has been married to his wife, Amanda, since 2001, and together they are raising their two sons, Carter and Coen.
Executive Director
Paul Sassenrath
Paul grew up in Davis, California, the son of two university professors. After graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Engineering, he started a long career at Hewlett Packard. Paul is passionate about working with the most vulnerable and is a strategic volunteer with World Relief Sacramento and a founding partner of Norcal Refuge.
Paul also is a Ski and Bike patrolman in the Sierras and on the American River Bike Trail. Paul lives in Granite Bay with his wife Rebecca and enjoys the outdoors and being Papa to his 6 grand-daughters.
Meet the team
People who keep the work moving.
Estha Penuella
Administrative Assistant
Germain Nganitsa
Transportation
Kyle Fisher
Marketing & Communications
[email protected]
Matthew Miller
Fundraising & Communications Consultant
[email protected]