The Messenger Mrach 4, 1977

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Form and Freedom in the Church by Francis Schaeffer

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▼ ¥ e now come to the fourth consideration needed if the church is going to be what it should be, ready for what lies ahead in the years at the end of the 20th century. The first is the difference between being a cobelligerent and an ally. The second, the preaching and practice of truth, even if at great cost. The third, the practice of the orthodoxy of community within the true Christian groups and between true Christian groups. The fourth is the con­ sideration of what form and what freedom the Bible gives in regard to the church as the church, or we could speak of it as the boundary conditions set forth in the New Testament on the polity of the church. Note that here we are not just speaking of Christian work in general but the church as the church—what is often spoken of today as the institutional organized church. Does it have a future? The church of Jesus Christ is, of course, first of all the church in­ visible. It is the body of believers united by faith in Christ in the full biblical sense, whether or not they are members of an external organization. It includes the church today at war in the present world and the church of yesterday whose members are already at peace. It is the church universal. When Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18), this was what he meant. And the writer of Hebrews, in 12:22-23, had the same thing in mind—the unity of the entire body of believers of all times and all places.

The visible church. But one of Jesus’ remarks also points to the visibility of the church. In Matthew 18:17 Jesus says, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” So here we have already indicated the fact that the church is not only to be invisible, but visible as well. It would be meaningless to command to bring before the invisible church a brother in Christ with whom we have had a difference. There is an indication here that there is some structure to which we may bring our brother when we have had a falling out—a structure which makes a distinction between those in that structure and those out of it. As we turn to the book of Acts we find this concept is immediate­ ly picked up and carried out very rapidly. Acts 13:1-2 concerns the group of Christians at Antioch. Antioch is a place of importance because it is the place where most church historians and exegetes feel that for the first time full Gentiles (not just “God fearers,” Gen­ tiles like Cornelius who believed but had not taken on the full Jewish rites) were reached by the Christian Jews. The text begins; “Now there were in the church that was at An­ tioch ...” Thus, here was a functioning local congregation called “the church.” From here on the New Testament clearly indicates that churches were formed wherever some became Christians. Salvation, as I have emphasized already, is individual, but not in­ dividualistic. People cannot become Christians except one at a time,

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and yet our salvation is not solitary. God’s people are called together in community. Hence at Antioch individual Christians are not now acting individualistically; they are acting as a unit. Not only the officers among the believing Jews but apparently the members at Antioch as well could not refrain from telling the good news to their Gentile neighbors. Manaen especially is singled out and called, according to the best translation, “Herod’s foster brother.” Here, then, is a member of the aristocracy who was a member of the church at Antioch. This church covered the whole spectrum of society. It was as wide as the culture which it faced. Undoubtedly it had simple peo­ ple in it, but it could also have Herod’s foster brother. It had Jews, and it had Gentiles. It was, in fact, from the very beginning the ideal local church. It encompassed the whole spectrum of the surroun­ ding society, including, furthermore, those who, like Herod’s foster brother and a slave, could not come together in any other setting. Similarly, you will notice that though they were not all “professional ministers” or “missionaries,” yet they were all tellers. Christians felt a burden for being tellers into their own culture, and this is how the Gentiles became Christians here at Antioch. But also they felt a burden for sending Paul and Barnabas abroad. In a sense we have a complete picture of what the local church ought to be: Individuals were becoming Christians, but not in­ dividualistic ones; the congregation covered the full spectrum of the society; the members were all tellers, not only at home but abroad. And when the Holy Spirit said that Barnabas and Saul should be

sent on the first missionary journey, the members did not function only as individual Christians, but as a unit, as a church. I am often asked, “Is the institutional church finished as we face the end of the 20th century?” My answer is very much No, for the church is clearly given as a New Testament ordinance until Christ returns. However, that is a very different thing from forgetting that the New Testament gives freedoms as well as forms as to what the institutional church may be like. Let us consider what limits the New Testament places upon the institutional church; that is, what form the New Testament im­ poses. We have already dealt with the command for orthodoxy of doctrine and life and orthodoxy of community. Now we are think­ ing of the New Testament statements concerning the polity of the church as a church. The first of these is that local congregations are to exist and that they are made up of Christians.

The formation of local churches. If we look on into Acts 16:4-5, we hear about the missionary journey upon which Paul and Barnabas had been sent from the church at Antioch. “And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.” As the missionary journey progressed, once more individuals were brought to salvation, but they soon joined together in a specific, observable structure, an organization with form.

THE MESSENGER

Does the New Testament support the idea of a local church? If so are there guidelines as to what form it should take? The author would say yes to both questions. But in addition to this he would also endorse a certain freedom. In other words he feels there is room for both, form and freedom in the church today.

Throughout Paul’s missionary journey we see a stress on the for­ mation of churches. In Romans 16:16 Paul writes, “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” The reference is to churches, not just the church. In II Corinthians 11:28, Paul refers to “the care of all the churches.” Romans 16:3-4 contains some very instructive statements about the early churches that were formed. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila.” (In Greek the word is Prisca, a term of fondness for Priscilla.) “Greet Prisca and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” It is not church, but churches; individual churches were formed. Paul continues, “Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” Aquila and Priscilla were then in Rome. But when they were in Asia, as we learn in I Corinthians 16:19, they also had a church in their home. Apparently wherever Priscilla and Aquila went, people were saved and a church was then started. It is interesting, however, that the church was in their home. Lightfoot says that there were no church buildings as such before the third century. Since Lightfoot made that statement, however, archaeologists have found a most interesting place in Rome. Roman houses—unless they were the great mansions—were relative­ ly small. What archaeologists found was a place with the facade of two houses still untouched, but with the internal walls torn out to make a larger room. And from everything that was found there, the archaeologists believe that this was a church building. This struc­ ture is dated at the end of the second century. But whether one accepts Lightfoot's beginning in the third century, or whether one dates it at the end of the second century, it really makes no difference. There is no biblical norm as to where and where not the church should meet. The centralfact is that the early concept of the church had no connection with a church building. The church was something else: a group of Christians drawn together by the Holy Spirit in a place where they worked together in a certain form, a form which we will examine as we go now through various verses in the New Testament. I Corinthians 4:17 and 7:17 also give the most clear statements that one could have that churches were considered as churches and not just as an abstract or invisible concept. Individual churches were formed as people became Christians and these were definite, specific entities. In I Corinthians 11:18, we have a note which is unhappy, and yet which is surely encouraging for us. “First of all when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.” It is unfortuante and yet it is encouraging to us that already at this early time we find troubles and problems in the church. The church is not a church building, mind you, but a congregation of believers. And this congregation of believers was not perfect because there is nothing perfect in a fallen world. And

MARCH 4, 1977

Christians are not perfect until Jesus comes. So while there is dis­ cipline in the church, this does not mean that something is held aloft as an ideal totally beyond our imagination and our experience. This is not a picture of a perfect congregation, but it is a congregation made up of Christians. Right up to the year 100 (if you take the book of Revelation as having been written then) John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, directs the book of revelation to individual churches. Hence, up to the end of the New Testament, individual churches ex­ isted and were important enough for letters to be addressed to them. The picture is clear. As Paul moves over the Roman Empire, as Aquila and Priscilla move over the Roman Empire, as other Christians move over the Roman Empire, individuals are saved and local congregations are organized. And this, I believe, is a pattern that holds for the church till Jesus comes. The first biblical norm, then, is that there should be churches made up of Christians. Not to have such churches would be con­ trary to this norm. Second, it seems clear that these congregations met together in a special way on thefirst day of the week. Though there are not many references, they do seem definite; Consider I Corinthians 16:2 and Acts 20:7. Each first day of the week they met as a statement that “He is risen. He is risen indeed!” But let us notice that no specific time of the day is given as a nortp. The day is set; the time of the day is left totally open.

Local church polity. The letters of Paul and the book of Acts in­ dicate something of the specific form these congregations took. We know, for example, that the churches had offices. Acts 14:23 reads, “And when they had ordained (or appointed) them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Scholars have discussed how these elders were chosen; I personally think that there is no clear indica­ tion. But there simply is no doubt of the fact that there were elders. The church did not sit there as a group of believers with no form. The third norm, therefore, is that there are to be church officers (elders) who have responsibilityfor the local churches. Missionaries on missionary journeys produced not only individual Christians, but also churches with officers.

Elders and deacons. As one reads the New Testament, a rather detailed picture begins to emerge—the church begins to take on dimension and life. There is, for example, the remarkable passage (Acts 20:17-37) which describes Paul saying good-by to the church at Ephesus, a church he dearly loved and where he had spent so much time. He did not want to go to the city itself, where he knew he would be forced to stay longer, so he went to the seaport of Miletus, about 30 or 40 miles from Ephesus, and asked the elders to meet him there.

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Paul then addressed this statement to them in the 28th verse: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Notice how the elders are given a double charge. They are to watch out for those who will bring in false doctrine. They are called upon to exert discipline, but they are not only to be like a court, as if this is their only or their chief function. They are also to feed the flock. They have a responsibility to see that the church is not anemic. The elders are not to forget either side: Both are necessary. They must see that the Word of God is brought to the church so that, on the one hand, false doctrine and false life are kept out (or if they arise, that discipline is applied) but, on the other hand, that the church does not dry up like an old pea in a pod. They are to feed the church by the Word of God. This surely has the concept of teaching, but the use of the word feed carries more with it; it implies that the church is to live. The officers have a responsibility for maintaining real life in the church. Paul implies in Timothy 5:17 that there were only two kinds of elders: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of the dou­ ble honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” Here, then, is an indication that in the early church some elders gave special attention to preaching and teaching. That is, there are elders who are especially committed to preaching and teaching the people, as it is expressed here, “labour in the word and in doctrine.” In addition to elders, there are also deacons. Acts 6:16 makes clear that they were the men who were to care for the distribution of gifts to meet the material need. The fourth norm, then, is that there should be deacons responsible for the community of the church in the area of material things. If the practice of community in the church were being taken as it should be, this would be no small task! They would indeed need to be men of the Spirit, as were the first deacons. Consisder, for example, what this would mean when poorer blacks from the ghetto joined a more wealthy “middle-class” or “upper-class” congregation. Discipline. The fifth norm is that the church is to take discipline seriously. I Corinthians 5:1-5 is one example among many which calls for careful discipline based on the principle of the purity of the visible church in doctrine and in life. The New Testament stresses such purity, for the church is not to be just like an amoeba so that no one can tell the difference between the church and the world. There is to be a sharp edge. There is to be a distinction between one side and the other—between the world and the church, and between those who are in the church and those who are not. Paul writes, “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as ab­ sent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan ...” The simple fact is that discipline in the church is important. For a church not to have discipline in life and doctrine means that it is not a New Testament church on the basis of the New Testament norms.

Qualifications for office. The sixth norm is that there are specific qualifications for elders and deacons. Not only does the Bible set

forth the offices of the church but it also describes the kind of men who should hold these offices. The qualifications for elders and deacons are given in two places-I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. These give what the elders and deacons should be like. The church has no right to diminish these standards for the officers of the church, nor does it have any right to elevate any others as though they are then equal to these which are commanded by God himself. These and only these stand as absolute. In Titus 1:5 Paul writes, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting (left undone), and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” So, although churches had been formed, the situation was still in­ complete. The form was not yet full because elders had not yet been appointed or ordained. So Titus is to take care of what has been left undone; he is to bring this church up to the level of the form that the New Testament church should have. The first church council. Form did not end with the local church. Acts 15 shows that these churches were not entirely separated one from the other. Representatives from individual churches at a time of real crisis met together in Jerusalem in what has often been called the Jerusalem Council. The issue was crucial: how a man is to be saved (Acts 15:1). It was a major doctrinal question bearing on the problem of the Judaizers who were saying that a man must be sav­ ed not only by faith in Christ but also by the addition of the Jewish ceremonial law: “Certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” So they met together as of­ fice bearers (verse 6) in a formal way. First of all, there was discussion (verses 7-12). The Authorized Version calls it “disputing,” but this implies the wrong tone. There was much questioning, much discussion, but not what we would call disputing. Verse 7 reads, “And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them. Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us..." What follows is Peter’s testimony in the situation. Afterwards, “all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them” (verse 12). Hence, on the question of salvation there is discussion and testimony first by Peter and then by Barnabas and Paul. It would seem from the 13th verse that a kind of moderator is also present here: “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying. Men and brethren, hearken unto me.” There is very little detail as to the exact form here, but the general picture is clear. Somebody—James, the half brother of Christ—draws the discussion together and relates it to Scripture (verses 15-17)—the basis of the church’s authority. Their solution was not merely something they generated out of themselves. It was rooted in Old Testament Scrip­ ture, in this case, Amos. James quotes, “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things (or who maketh these things of old).” So here we find a meeting, a moderator, an appeal to Scripture and a conclusion. It does seem to me therefore that the seventh norm is that there is a place forform on a wider basis than the local church. I would add as the eighth biblical norm that the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be practiced.

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THE MESSENGER is published every other week by the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Board of Education and Publication, Box 1268. Stein­ bach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0, Second Class Mail, Registration Number 0591, Undeliverable copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be mail­ ed to the above address,

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THE MESSENGER

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

How to Teach Adults by David Helmuth

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How can teachers of adults become more effective in their teaching? More understanding of how adults learn would seem to be a first step in becoming a more effective teacher. Let us examine, then, our assumptions about adult learning. Adults can learn. They can learn about as well as children and youth. The ability to learn declines very little during the stages of adulthood. What does decline is the speed of learning but even this can be minimized by the continued use of the intellect throughout the adult years. Sometimes adults do not perform well in learning situations because of a number of factors, such as their being away from systematic education for some time. As a result, some un­ derestimate their own ability to learn. Other factors such as a change in teaching methods from the time they were last in school, poorer eyesight, slower reaction, and less energy are barriers to learning unless there is some compensation for these factors. Also adults tend to respond less to exterior rewards for learning (such as grades) than to internal motivation. An additional way to understand better how adults learn is to note changes that take place as a person matures. According to Malcolm S. Knowles in The Modern Practice of Adult Education, the following changes usually occur: 1. One’s personality moves from a dependence toward greater self-directedness. A sense of need and internal motivation are much more important than was the case during childhood and adolescence. 2. One accumulates a growing reservoir of experience that becomes an increasing resource for learning. As a person grows older, this reservoir of experiences increases and so the potential for positive learning experiences increases. 3. One’s readiness to learn becomes oriented increasingly toward the developmental task of social roles. For example, middleaged adults (ages 30-55) have a task of adjusting to aging parents. This task produces a “readiness to learn” which at its peak presents a teachable moment. 4. One’s time perspective changes from one of postponed application of knowledge to immediacy of application, and accor­ dingly, orientation toward learning shifts from one of subject centeredness to one of problem centeredness. For instance, in early adulthood concerns or problems relating to selecting a mate, lear­ ning to live with a marriage partner, starting a family, rearing children, and managing a home would illustrate the focus of a young adult’s interests and concerns. Learning is an internal process. And the central dynamic of the learning process is the experience of the learner, experience being defined as the interaction between an individual and his environ­ ment. The quality and amount of learning, therefore, is directly related to the amount of interaction between the learner and his en­ vironment — and by the educational potential of the environment. The art of teaching becomes essentially the management of these two key variables in the learning process — that is, environment and interaction. The truly effective teacher of adults realizes that the locus of responsibility for learning is to be with the adult leader. Adults are capable and ready to assume this responsibility. The effective

MARCH 4, 1977

teacher of adults consciously suppresses his compulsion to tell them what they need to know and chooses consciously to guide and facilitate adult learners in discovering for themselves what needs to be learned. The teacher becomes a resource to guide and enable this learning place. For adults, a number of conditions provide a favorable situation for learning. Malcolm S. Knowles lists them as the following: 1. Learners who feel a need to learn. 2. A favorable learning environment, characterized by physical comfort, mutual trust and respect, freedom of expression, accep­ tance of differences. 3. Learners who see the goals of a learning experience to be their goals. 4. Learners who accept a share of the responsibility for planning and operating a learning experience, and therefore have a feeling of commitment toward it. 5. Learners who participate actively in the learning process. 6. A learning process which is related to and makes use of the experience of the learners. 7. Learners who have a sense of progress toward their goals. How do these understandings become helpful to me in teaching my Sunday school lesson next Sunday? Here’s the situation: I am teaching a class of adults who are in the 35-55 age-group. I would first of all like to have before me a clear idea of the adults whom I will be teaching. What are their in­ terests, concerns, needs? And what are the events which are im­ portant in their lives? I notice that many adults in the 35-55 age bracket are experien­ cing achievement in their vocations. Those who are married and have chosen to have families, now have children becoming married; they become grandparents. Often during this time they lose their own parents by death. They are aware that they’re growing older and more conservative in their thinking. Sometimes they need to adjust their goals, occasionally to make a shift in vocation. New adjustments need to be made in the marriage relationship. With increased age vigor, health, eyesight, and hearing decline; new aches and pains begin to appear. Concerns tend to focus on self — and grandchildren. There often is a need to adjust to a smaller in­ come as they move toward retirement. They feel an increased need for a close circle of friends. As I teach the lesson “Jesus Demonstrates Total Commitment,” 1 am aware that most of my fellow learners are feeling quite settled down in life. Openness to the challenge of accepting new service/ commitment opportunities may meet some resistance. Yet I believe this age group is open to discuss together the challenge of finding new directions in life. This is a time of reflection upon the past and willingness to readjust and to recommit one’s life to the purpose of Christ and His kingdom. My classes response and participation in the learning experience is very important to me. I want to establish some clearly defined learning goals before beginning to teach, but I also want to be ready to adjust and change them according to the interests and needs of the class. I intend to use teaching methods that will facilitate adult learners in sharing responsibility for the learning experience. The following books are very helpful for those interested in reading further about how adults learn; How to Improve Adult Education in Your Church, by Jerold W. Apps. Augsburg Publishing House, 1972. $2.95 paper. The Modern Practice of Adult Education, by Malcolm S. Knowles. Association Press, 1970. $12.95 cloth. Teaching Young Adults and Adults, by John W. Wade. The Standard Publishing Company, 1973. $.75 paper.

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from the editor The Community of Believers in the Development of Children and Young People A WHILE BACK you read (Jan. 21, in case you didn’t) my editorial, “If I Were Called to a Church.” In the issue which came out previous to this one you may have read the article on “Develop­ ing the Home as the Center for Christian Nurture.” I feel that to make the series more complete we need a third one, one that is also very vital in the upbringing of the child or young person. And that is, as you see above, “The Responsibility of the Community of Believers in the Development of Children and Young People.” In relation to this let me share this experience: A very grave and responsible assignment was given to me when a friend of mine, who had grown-up children, left for the mission field. As I remember it he said something like me now being a father to their daughter, in his place. What I have done about this — or rather not done — is quite frequently in my thoughts. How could he do that? Why should I be concerned over other people’s children? What business is it of mine? I have my own children entrusted to me and my wife by God. No thanks. No thanks? Or, wait a minute. Could there be such a thing as a Christian community — church or congregation, if you please — caring for each other, children included, without necessarily having family ties? Is this scriptural? Is this one of our Christian obligations? You may say that we do this all the time in Sunday school, clubs, children’s church, child evangelism, etc. True. But all these, good as they may be, are planned, artificial settings of the moment without efficient life support. Teaching, to be ideal, must go way beyond this. The truth of God must be taught in the context of Christian living whether in the home or in the Christian community. This is why God instituted families. “Both the Scriptures and the early church and the experience of the Anabaptists and the very nature of human offspring indicate that the home must continue to carry responsibility for Christian nurture.” (Lederach) If this is true then we need to ask ourselves whether we have our priorities straight, whether it is right to plan more and more church settings which isolate families and children from adults, situations where 1 teach your children and you teach mine. In a way I have a hard time seeing the rationale for this. And I am not the only one to admit that we need to take another fresh, long, hard look at peak departmentalization. Open area classrooms may still have something to teach us. But what 1 set out to do when I began was really to see if we could get some enlightenment on the educational aspects of the Christian community as a whole. Should I feel obligated to count myself as a part of the up bringing of the children of our Christian community, or congregation or church? Again, let me quote Paul Lederach and I believe he’s so right. “The children who grow up in the nurture of the church need the knowledge of the kerygma as the Gospel by which they also are saved, just as do those outside the church. Our understanding of the meaning of faith and membership in the body of Christ... commits

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us to the proposition that only responsible persons can have faith, that only those who make a deliberate commitment can be in Christ. The nurture of the church does enfold the children of the church, and parents as well as the whole church are to rear children ‘in the discipline and instruction of the Lord’ (Ephesians 6:4). And Jesus did include children in His love. But all children, as they mature and take responsibility for their lives, need to come to con­ scious faith in Christ and personal commitment to discipleship to Him. In doing this the youth of Christian parents have the great ad­ vantage of the love and the nurture of the church; they need never find themselves far out in the world, but can come to faith as the call of the Gospel reaches them understandingly within the Chris­ tian community. For this reason, if for no other, the Gospel must be preached within the fellowship of the church.” You see, the church is one large family and is a very appropriate setting for much Christian teaching and nurture to take place. But in contrast to advice to parents to do more things together it seems the church’s trend is in the opposite direction - do more and more things in separate units. And this seems to be the way it is in the majority of teaching we do. Everybody must be segregated into their proper age group. Tell me, how many functions do you have where both adults and children are present? If children need models, where are they to see and hear these models so they can learn of them and their ex­ periences? Only in the church lobby? That the obligations go far beyond inviting or placing a child in a Sunday school class or club is shown by this quote from Jones: “To help the youngest members of the church fellowship respond to God’s self-disclosure, then, the church will afford opportunities to enjoy the evidences of God’s creative power through the loving, providing care in the world about them. It will help children to ex­ perience love through associations with loving persons in the church fellowship, in the home, in the community. When it finds a child with no one to love him, the church will seek to relate some person to the child in loving companionship. The church will provide opportunities for the child to use his own development powers with satisfaction so that he will come to know himself as a person, significant and precious. Such experiences will be inter­ preted specifically but briefly and simply.” Among Anabaptists was a rite known as “infant dedication or consecration.” It is described in Pilgrim Maypeck’s Confession of 1953. Here he says, ”... with respect to young children, in the presence of the Lord the name of the child is to be given in the congregation and God is to be faithfully praised for this creature. His fatherly goodness is to be thanked and lauded, that through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior he also has shown himself merciful to even the unwilling or innocent creatures and without distinction taken them under his hand and promised them the kingdom of God. Thus we are obligated, not only occasionally, but at all times, to be thankful for

THE MESSENGER

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all of his good deeds and alongside of it to pray for everyone in­ cluding for the child, that in the future it may, along with us, share God’s gracious will according to the freedom of the Spirit and the Word of Christ.” I believe from the foregoing my question is answered. The whole congregation is a caring, sharing, supporting, saving and nurturing body. This means that the Sunday school teacher can say to the little fellow who has committed his life to Christ, “You are now a young Christian and will not always know how to act or what to do in a given situation. In times like that you can see how I handle it and do as I do.” Or he can point to you and say that you are his example (c.f. I Thess. 1:7, Phil. 3:17, I Tim. 4:12). In an age of individualism and where we are no longer so sure if we are our brother’s keeper, this concept could be revolutionary. But indications are that this is what we ought to do. Anna B. Mow (Your Child) puts it this way: “As the family is the custodian of a child’s response to God, the church also has its uque responsibility to the children. The church must finish what the family cannot do and it must compensate for wherever the family fails the children. Even when the home is all it should be, the time comes when the parents cannot push a child into the church, the church must draw him. The Sunday school teachers, the pastor, and other members of the church must truly represent the drawing power of God’s love in their every relationship with every child. The host of little ones are not to be merely tolerated and somehow con­ trolled in the stampede between Sunday school and the worship hour. When the big folk remember that the little ones are the impor­ tant future members of the church they will recognize them as in­ dividuals to be noticed as human beings with their own individual dignity.”

I grant that the home is the primary teaching agency in the economy of God for transmitting His truth. Nevertheless what the home teaches should be reinforced by a multitude of Christians who make up the church of God. I do not understand this to mean that this need consists only of preaching. I believe I would be safe in saying that 90% of our children know the Gospel. What is needed is adults in whom is in­ carnated the life of Christ. New Christians need models. One of the problems may well be, though, that too often our own lives are lived on such a shallow plane that we have little to con­ tribute to the one who needs help. Then, of course, we should get our own lives in order first. Another problem is that we tend to show favoritism to our own small group so that the larger group which often needs it most goes unnoticed and uncared for. It’s so tempting to be buddy, buddy with a small clique and then make some petty excuse for not speaking to those who really need it. Maybe you say, “I would like to show more love, but how?” Care can be shown in so many different ways and methods. One word of love, in the name of Christ, counts. One small deed counts. One greeting can count. One indication of care counts. One phone call counts. I believe these are the cups of cold water that Jesus speaks about. I wonder how many children and young people could have been kept from falling, if, as Anna Mow says above, the church had represented “the drawing power of God’s love in their every relationship with every child.” Yes, I believe that father had every right to ask of me what he did. Only I feel that I have not made a very good job of it. May God give me grace that as I gain new insights and am made aware of needs, I will serve Him more faithfully. - D.K.S.

FORM and FREEDOM continued

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Form and freedom. Now it is important to realize two things here. First, these are the New Testament form commanded by God. There norms are not arbitrary—they are God’s form for the in­ stitutional, organized church and they are to be present in the 20th century as well as any century. Second, there are vast areas which are left free. There is form and there is freedom. Someone may feel that something else is clearly commanded beyond the eight norms I have given. Others may question whether one of these is really a norm. But do not let us get bogged down at this point. My primary point as we prepare for the end of the 20th century is, on the one hand, that there is a place for the institutional church and that it should maintain the form commanded by God, but, on the other hand, that this also leaves vast areas of freedom for change. It is my thesis that as we cannot bind men morally ex­ cept with that which the Scripture clearly commands (beyond that we can only give advice), similarly, anything the New Testament does not command in regard to church form is a freedom to be ex­ ercised under the leadership of the Holy Spirit for that particular time and place.' In other words, the New Testament sets boundary conditions, but within these boundary conditions there is much freedom to meet the changes that arise both in different places and different times. I am not saying that it is wrong to add others things as the Holy Spirit so leads, but I am saying that we should not fix these things forever—changing times may change the leading of the Holy Spirit in regard to these. And certainly the historic accidents of the past (which led to certain things being done) have no binding effect at all. It is parallel to the evangelical church being bound by middle­ class mores and making them equal with God’s absolutes. To do

MARCH 4, 1977

this is sin. Not being able, as times change, to change under the Holy Spirit is ugly. It is the same in regard to church polity and practice: In a rapidly changing age like ours, an age of total up­ heaval like ours, to make non-absolutes absolute guarantees both isolation and the death of the institutional, organized church.

CONTRIBUTORS: Again we bring you a MESSENGER which we believe is just chock full of good things from beginning to end. We would especially commend to you the article by Francis Schaejfer on church form and freedom. I believe he has a lot to say on the form of the contemporary church. It was also our good fortune to see and hear this man (see report on page 13) whose writings one had appreciated in times past. The article is taken from the book “The Church at the end of the 20th Century." by Francis Schaeffer copyright 1970 by the L’Abri Fellowship. Used by permission of Inter Varsity Press. "How to Teach Adults," is from Builder, March 1976 pp. 2-5, by permission. Our missions section again contains exciting news from the fields. Linda Penner (Blumenort) is in medical work at La Esparanza, Chaco. Waller Reimer (Mennville) is in Language school at Edinburg Texas. Len Barkman (Landmark) teaches at Windermere High School in the Bahamas. Be sure and also read Church News. We also appreciate these faithful writers. Contributers to The Quiet Place, are Anne Klassen, High Bluff, Man.; Laura Siemens, and Nettie Brandt, Morris.

CO VER PHOTO: South-Eastern Manitoba has virtually been a winter wonderland in the recent past. I for one wasted film shamefully! But I also got a few good pictures — I hope. One of these is on our front cover today. It was taken just out of Steinbach on the No. 12 highway south.

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missions I I I I I II j I I I I I I I I I I I I

Carlito and Elnora with their firstborn, together with nurse, Linda Penner. Linda is a missionary nurse in Paraguay.

The Lord, Our Shepherd Such joy! Soon Carlito and Elnora were to have a firstborn. Little did they realize the valley of shadows that lay between them and the fulfilment of this joy. A Lengua student nurse, home for the summer break, alerted us about Elnora’s edematose ankles. Having personally ex­ amined her, we presented her to the doctor on his tri weekly visit to La Esperanza. He confirmed our fears that her blood pressure was too high and that she could convulse, which in turn would endanger the life of both mother and child. Carefully Dr. Epp pointed out to us the drugs that we were to use now, and later, should this happen. We made sure we had these drugs on hand. Several days later with Elnora in the hospital bed here, I shared Psalm 23 with her. We prayed, committing ourselves to our Shepherd. Realizing that we were facing a medical crisis, I couldn’t settle down to sleep well that night. The words of the Psalm kept on reverberating in my mind. Yes, I had assured Elnora that with Christ as our Shepherd all our needs would be met, but would He really meet our present needs? “Lord”, I prayed, “Please give us the necessary wisdom to br­ ing this child into the world safely. And please. Lord, don’t let the mother’s blood pressure rise.” Next morning at eleven a.m., a big baby boy was born. Elnora’s blood pressure didn’t go up. It dropped down, down to nothing! At PAGE 8

this point Olga, our Wirtschafter’s wife, brought us their house keys, since they were planning to leave for the weekend (within half an hour). Being a nurse, she immediately detected the urgency of the situation and they remained to work side by side with us. Could we spare a minute to go on our regular radio contact at 12:15? Yes, maybe Frank Kroeker could get some medical ad­ vice for us via telephone and radio the message back to us. Although we lacked some necessary drugs, we were again able to get a blood pressure, though low and un­ stable. Not only was Frank able to contact the doctor, but fellow missionaries and friends on our radio set thousands of kilometers away prayed, as we continued the fight for this life. In the meantime Elnora remained un­ conscious. And Carlito? He saw his beloved tossing and turning restlessly — muttering unintelligibly. He also saw the struggle to maintain her life and the sympathetic looks of the busy nurses, who were unable to stop and give him a word of explanation. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...” we now seemed to have entered the valley. Signs and symptons indicated that our Eclamptic patient had gone into renal shut-down. Earlier we didn’t think that Elnora could survive a two-hour trip to the doctor in an “open” vehicle wkh the noon day sun pelting down at 100

degrees. Now we knew we had nothing to lose! With aching hearts we put her on the back of our little Datsun for the rough trip to Filadelfia. Today Elnora together with Carlito and baby Rofino are a living testimony that with Christ as our Shepherd we shall “not want”, even in “the Valley of the shadow of death”. Looking back over this experience Luella and I continue to marvel at the Lord’s doings! His timings were so exact! Had the baby been born an hour later, the many peopie that stood by us so faithfully would have been unaware of the crisis in which we were finding ourselves. “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all the marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High” (Ps. 9:1,2). Linda Penner

Rewards of Teaching It is often said that in teaching, the rewards of our present work will be seen five years from now. Fortunately, that is only partially true because there is great satisfac­ tion that comes in working with young peo­ ple and in being able to have a part in in­ fluencing and directing their lives. To see young people respond and accept the claims of Christ and begin to build on this firm foundation far surpasses the frustrations that come in the teaching profession. The way in which the above statement is true is that it is after students leave school that the teaching they have received, and their faith, are put to the greatest test. It is one thing to live the Christian life at a Chris­ tian school; it is another thing to face the world on your own. In this sense the greatest reward in our work is to meet with former students who, in spite of their new problems in a spiritually hostile environment, are find­ ing strength to be victorious in Christ. Let us share a few comments recently received from former students: “1 am happy for Windermere High School and the Christian staff I was brought up un­ der. You have helped me grow stronger in Christ. There are many things around college, where young people find themselves. that is displeasing to God. These are the peopie I am supposed to witness to and I often find it difficult. Please pray.” “1 really miss Windermere and my many friends there. Windermere stafT has played big part in my life and it was really a privilege of mine to have been a student there. Over the past few weeks 1 have been busy at Cliff College (England). We have just come from a weekend mission. We were sharing the gospel in Hansforth-Leeds with people in that area and we really had a great time.” Len Barkman Bahamas THE MESSENGER

*•

Lena Klassen, Maria Hiebert, Irma Dyck and Hilda Dyck (left to right) were baptized at Aylmer, Ontario on February 6.

Rejoicing in Him It all began in September, 1976 when we first started to meet in a school close to Aylmer. From there we moved to a Baptist church which we rented and where we still are. The work just seemed to almost boom; people came, souls were saved and many wanted to be baptized. We told you about the work in fall, and ’76 was closed with the people gathered together in church, first for lunch, and later, while two girls kept the little ones in the basement, the adults went up­ stairs for sharing and singing. We went into the new year by forming a circle, holding hands, and praying. Since then Rev. Cornie Dueck started Saturday night instruction classes for those who wanted to be baptized. We also planned to go ahead in inviting Rev. John P. Loewen to come and conduct evangelistic services sometime at the end of January. Rev. Loewen came and the Lord blessed. Satan tried his utmost to discourage and defeat us, especially during the week before the services began. However, people came to know the Lord and there was victory over sin and doubt. It is like Mr. Loewen said one evening, “We do not have to work towards victory but from victory.” Jesus won the bat­ tle on the cross. Church organization, baptism, and the communion service seemed to be a very ap­ propriate way to end the evening services. On February 6, 1977 we had just that. Rev. Henry Kornelsen came, and as vice­ moderator, he accepted Rev. and Mrs. Cornie Dueck as the first members and then in­ stalled them as the pastor. Pastor Cornie Dueck then accepted Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dyck, Mr. And Mrs. Henry Peters, and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Klassen as members. Mr. and Mrs. Don Thiessen and Jeannette Dueck became associate members. Thus the new church was started, a joy for

MARCH 4. 1977

all of us who have been here to witness the beginning and growth of the work. Many tears of repentance and joy had been shed over the weeks and months, and it was a thrill now to be part of this new group who this Sunday also became a part of the EMC Conference. Lakeview Fellowship Church was organized and now ready to work as members together in the Lord. Lena Klassen, Irma Dyck, Hilda Dyck and Maria Hiebert were baptized and accepted by Rev. Dueck. In the afternoon we gathered around the communion table as brothers and sisters, to commemorate Christ’s death and resurrec­ tion. The footwashing was a new experience for some but very meaningful and worthwhile. Rev. Dueck closed the evening service by speaking on “The Warfare of the Christian.” We thank Rev. Loewen for coming and ser­ ving us here for two weeks. It has really been worth it. The work has just begun here and we are all looking forward to working together as a church in reaching more people for Jesus. We want to see the Lakeview Fellowship Church fill up and expand.

A Lecture I Can’t Forget by Walter Reimer It came during the week of the Spanish Bi­ ble Conference. Bro. Nunez, president of a Bible seminary in Guatemala, with a doc­ torate in studies on Roman Catholicism from Dallas Theological Seminary, was lec­ turing to the missionary student body. Though speaking with a Spanish accent, he still made himself very clear. He quickly passed over the dogmas resulting from Vatican II and explained their actual outworkings in the minds and the practices of Roman Catholic leaders in Latin America. It’s shocking! Of course, you still have the traditional pressures and practices of Orthodox Catholicism. These include opposition to the ecumenical trends, use of images and merits of pilgrimages, etc. However, religion is giv­ ing way to political and social reform, and revolutionary methods to achieve these. The theology being pushed from the in­ tellectual circles aims at freeing the Latin American people from foreign domination, both politically and economically. Marxism and Leftism have strong influence in this new ideology. It is written up and taught in such terms that people don’t understand it, but it is made so seductive that they drink it in un­ knowingly. Salvation has become a matter of the here and now, to liberate Latin America from poverty, hunger, foreign oppression.

ARE YOU LISTENING? FOCUS ON MISSIONS Heard weekly on the following stations:

Sunday 10:00 p.m. on CKSW-CJSN Swift Current, Sask, (now on 10,000 watts) Thursday 9:30 p.m. Radio Southern Manitoba CFAM-CHSM-CJRB

This program is produced by your EMC Board of Missions and focuses on mission news around the world. Obviously the theologians are forced to a situational hermeneutics to prove their selfish ideas from Holy Scriptures. With the upswing in education, both adult and youth, there are ever-increasing oppor­ tunities to inject these revolutionary ideas into the minds of the people. There are leaders who advocate a quiet and peaceful revolution. They mean to resist the foreign oppressor by firm protest without violence. But even these are Lenins stalking around in priests’ garments. Then there are those who advocate violent revolution. A certain Dr. Torres became chaplain at a university in Colombia. He pushed his revolutionary ideas at the youths of that country. When he saw that being a priest and talking about his ideas did not ac­ complish his goals, he left the priesthood and joined the guerillas. He gave his life for his cause. The deceptive cloak of religion is used in this cold revolution. The Psalms that call down God’s wrath upon evil and evil man are turned against the political powers and foreign influences in their countries. Is it any wonder that some countries won’t issue missionary visas, with such pressures from the institutional and official religion in Latin America? Praise the Lord, His church will stand firm as He has promised. But I am sobered by the concerted efforts of the devil, working through the highest intellectual circles, to destroy the church and missionary activity. With international ecclesiastical machinery working through anthropologists and sociologists, pressure is increasing to eradicate the work of the church and of the Lord. Dear friend, the time is running out. Will you volunteer for the Lord’s work now, while the opportunities are still there?

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church news Rev. Melvin Dueck, was admitted to the General Hospital for tests in preparation for major sur­ gery. Since then he’s had the operation and has come home. We thank God that it was successful. We are, however, aware that it was a very painful experience and there still are many battles to over­ come. We continue to pray for you, Melvin. With the help of the beautiful weather, our an­ nual Sunday school snow picnic at the local rink was a great success. Rusty skates and muscles were sharpened as young and old people flocked onto the ice for hockey, broomball and pleasure skating. Prizes were given to the largest family on skates (Norman Wienses), the oldest person on skates (Jac W. Brandt), and the youngest On January 16 two couples were (Caroline Wiebe), in the meantime, at the church, accepted as members in the Rosenort ladies had prepared a hot lunch of sloppy joes. Fellowship. From left to right: Rev. Fred which quickly disappeared with all those healthy Laura Friesen (receivappetites partaking! ed by transfer), Peter and Florence Each family had brought their “Love Loaf’ for Loewen (baptized). World Vision back to church to be opened that evening. Each family was allowed to break their own loaf and count the money they had saved up. With the addition of one offering our final tally rose above the $2,000 mark. We are thankful that we are able to share with the needy in a meaningful way. The last weekend in January our young people headed for Star Lake for a time of spiritual fellowship and fun. Pastor Fred Friesen was camp speaker and Harry Koop the director. From reports I have gotten, everyone had a super time, despite water shortages and loss of sleep. On February 28 our pastor, Fred Friesen, left for Nicaragua to instruct Bible school for three weeks. On his way back he hopes to stop in at Belize to visit the Stan Pletts and Bill Thiessens who are teaching there at King’s College. Excited young voices drifted up from the church basement as the young girls, ten years old Received into membership at the and up, stood in line to have a red carnation Rosenort Fellowship on January 23 were pinned on. Red hearts and streamers laced the ^'■®-. walls, a beautiful background for the Brenda Thiessen (center), and Hlldie and white and red decorated tables. Menno Kornelson (left). They are seen Such was the setting for our Pal-Gal Valentines here with the pastor. Rev. Fred Friesen Tea. Each “pal” or lady, was ushered to a table (rear). across from her “gal”, a younger girl whose name she had picked the year before. The theme for the NEW MEMBERSACCEPTED evening was “LOVE”, of course. The place of Rosenort Fellowship: Rich spiritual blessings honour was granted to Kathy Friesen when her have been ours as a church family right from the name was picked to be “Queen of Hearts” for the minute 1977 was ushered in. Warm fellowship evening. was felt by those who took part in the singing and The ap-“pealing” singing by the Church Belles sharing at the watchnight service. of Morris, prepared our hearts for the talk by A baptismal service was held for Pete and Mrs. Wilma Arnold of Winnipeg. Her definition Florence Loewen on January 16, at which time of love was not an emotional, tingly feeling, but an Gary and Laura Friesen were received into attitude that is unnselflsh, resulting In action; fellowship as well. Holy communion was observ- maybe followed by emotional feelings. She ed that afternoon, making it a special day of bless- pointed out the importance of loving and caring for each other, and the tradgedies of not receiving ing for everyone. The following Sunday saw two more couples, love. We must acknowledge God’s love, for Menno and Hildie Kornelson and Dick and without it there would be no human love. Just Eleanor Zacharias, and Brenda Thiessen received before a lunch of sandwiches and cake was serv­ into fellowship; they transferred from Braeside ed, the ladies picked new names to be “pals” for the coming year. The aim of this program is to and Morris Mennonite, respectively. befriend a young girl in the church, really get to It was also in January that our assistant pastor,

PAGE 10

know her, pray for her, and encourage her to live for the Lord. We believe it is paying off in spiritual dividends already.

A VISIT TO PARAGUAY Birch River: On January 25 one of our mis­ sionaries, Betty Friesen, brought a color film of Paraguay to show us. The scenery was breathtak­ ing in its beauty and the children in the mission schools looked so happy and well-cared for. While Betty explained each picture one could almost imagine himself being there in person, among the beautiful surroundings. Let us pray for these missionaries as they continue in their chosen work for God. On February 13, our pastor, Ralph Unger, showed a film titled, “Give Us This Day Our Dai­ ly Bread." It was heartbreaking to see little children wandering around naked and starving, and the parents with such hopeless expressions on their faces. One could truly say, “But for the grace of God, there go I,” or my children. May we give generously of the abundance God has given us, to help these unfortunate people who are also God’s children. Our young people challenged the married couples in a broomball game at the Ben Kroeker home on February 18. The seniors soon proved that they could hold their own though out­ numbered by the younger set. The young people went bowling on February 20 at Swan River. Hamburger and hot drinks were enjoyed at the Pete Reimer home.

YOUTH RETREAT Prairie Rose: February; retreat time — food, ac­ tivities, fun, fellowship, Bible study! February 18 some forty kids from Landmark travelled to Moose Lake for our annual winter retreat. Too bad those weekends are always so short. Everyone was looking forward to some great times. Our theme was “Ethics and Decision Making.” It was handled well by our pastor. Rev. Ed Plett. He dealt with the theme in four sections — “The Principle of Right and Wrong,” “The Will of God,” “Methods of Decision Making,” and “Three Sources of Light.” Several of the points made during the weekend showed that we do not live in a vacuum, therefore our decisions do affect others and we are making decisions all the time. How can we be sure we are making the right decisions? A thorough knowledge of the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit are two important factors. Sometimes we feel we would like to know more about what lies ahead thus being better able to make wise decisions. God will not flood our path with light but will illuminate enough for the next step. Between sessions, physical exercise prevailed. With activities such as soccer, cross country ski­ ing and snowshoeing available, a lot of time was spent outdoors. Youth retreats are time well spent. The con­ tinuing results are up to the individual.

THE MESSENGER

ing at King’s College in Belize, also a GMU school. Thanks for the hearty reception. At Puer­ to Rico the Jim Brandts are managing the mis­ sionary radio station WIVV (West Indies Voice of Victory). The Brandts certainly seemed victorious and courageous. Jim, with his commercial radio experience, saw this station as a far cry from other stations but with the listener response they are getting they were rejoicing. We had a very warm stay (double meaning). From there we left for home to be reunited with our youngest, a girl. What a happy reunion — a foretaste of heaven! We praise the Lord for his journey mercies over all of us.

“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES” Mennville: “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” Here at Mennville our Bible studies have The Kleefeld choir with Grace and LeeRoy Bartel, director (right). taken on a slightly different form as we have endeavoured to accommodate the entire family in various age levels in a program called “Family “SING UNTO THE LORD” and so on. But Jesus Christ tops the list, and Night.” After a united sing-song, where new Kleefeld: Have you ever wondered what this remains our dearest Friend of all. choruses and hymns are introduced, and old ones world would be like without singing? Isn’t it Now the anticipated moment had arrived — polished up, the four- to twelve-year-olds proceed wonderful that God chose to beautify our form of award time! As each girl stepped forward to downstairs where they are taught and entertained worship by giving us the ability to sing? “Let the receive her due, I thanked God all over again for for an hour or so, with Bible lessons, flannelgraph, nations be glad and sing for joy.” “Come before Pioneer Girls, and all the leaders dedicated to this singing, filmstrips, popcorn processing, or His presence with singing.” The whole book of work. Let’s pray more often for this tremendous whatever the couple in charge comes up with. A Psalms seems to be one continuous song of adora­ outreach! nursery class takes care of the little ones, freeing tion and praise. moms and dads for more intensive studies. A Since our Kleefeld church has been without a visiting, or local, speaker shares his concerns and choir for a number of years, we are especially TRAVELLING findings on the topic chosen for the evening, after thankful to LeeRoy Bartel who has been un­ Morweena: In all of God’s provisions for us there which the adults and young people divide into selfishly giving of his time and talent to organize comes to mind, as a fitting response. Psalm 48: 1: smaller groups for discussion and brainstorming. and direct our group of singers at present. Christ­ “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in Christian weddings, stewardship, baptism, nonmas has come and gone, but the songs of worship the city of our God, in the mountain of his resistance, and Mennonite heritage and life-styles and praise that the choir rendered during the holiness.” have been discussed during these times of festive season still linger and will keep a glow in One of the most prevalent activities in this fellowship. “Search the Scriptures for in them our hearts for the rest of the year. locality must be travelling. The Peter D, Plett ye think ye have eternal life.” Our hearts, our souls, and our whole beings family went on a trip (or maybe moved) to Missionaries highlighting our Christmas season simply lifted up to God in adoration and Phoenix, Arizona for health reasons. Bro. Peter is by their home-coming have again left for training thanksgiving as we listened to the Winnipeg Bible an arthritis patient (many a time he has had to be or service — Walter Reimers (Texas), Doris Singers in a Praise Concert on February 13, patient under pain) and climate affects his well­ Thiessen (El Paso), Doris K. Friesen (Ontario). directed by Bill Derksen. being. Since the Arizona climate is both much Catherine Thiessen has again returned to Mexico If we do embrace our faith in God as Al warmer and drier they motored down their with a to “tell the story.” Many thanks for sharing your Hiebert said we should, and if we are the salt of station wagon and trailer. We hope they are en­ excitement and enthusiasm during your short the earth as Jon Bonk admonished us to be, then joying their surroundings and wish them good stay. Also appreciated were Ismael and Blanca, let’s sprinkle the whole world with more singing, results and lasting good friendships with the peo­ enrolled in the Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edin­ ple down there. because we certainly have Someone special to burg, Texas. sing about! The Menno Penners, with two small girls, left Our church building overhaul job is by now Our group of sixty Pioneer Girls had a delight­ right after New Year’s for Mexico with a precious ful Valentine’s party at the church on February “cargo” in the form of Mrs. Penner’s two mis­ almost completed. Destruction and construction were practiced side by side until the finished 16; all the mothers were invited. sionary sisters, Doris and Catherine Thiessen. As soon as we stepped into the lower These three sisters hadn’t been together for seven product is now almost ready for services. May the auditorium we could sense a festive atmosphere. years. After spending a short time at home, Doris master carpenter perform His renovations as well so that we might truly be a temple, fit for the The walls and ceilings were beautifully decorated and Catherine returned to their respective fields of Master’s use. with different shapes and sizes of valentines. The service, El Paso and Mexico. The Penners had a spotless white tables each bore bright red hearts very brief stop-over at the Quellenkolonie. On the entwined with flowers that were fastened to a way back they stopped in at the Fred Thiessens SERVING THE LORD silver holder. Some lovely door prizes were (former short term missionaries in Belize) in Kan- Ridgewood: If you had been at the Ridgewood waiting on the front table. sas City. Church on February 8 at approximately 6:15 a After showing us many different patches of We, the Brandts, enjoyed an extended excur- strange sight would have been witnessed. Instead fabric that could be used to beautify our homes, sion to three Caribbean points - Eleuthera, Belize of young people boarding a bus, they were women Mrs Ray Rempel, our guest speaker, went on to and Puerto Rico. We visited a couple at each of all ages. These ladies represented the senior and explain that life is like a patchwork quilt. Some of place plus friends and relatives at Belize. At junior sewing circles. This group was heading for us are velvet patches (the praying ones), some Eleuther we found the Abe Penners happy in their the Union Gospel’s Ladies’ Center where the are woolen patches (the encouraging ones). Too work of teaching at GMU’s missionary high monthly ladies’ aid meeting was held. We were in bad some of us are synthetic patches (the touchy school. The weather was very cool but the recep- charge of serving lunch and bringing a few special ones), others are denim (the good old stand-bys) tion very warm. Ben and Betty Thiessen are teach- numbers. Ruth Toews did a wonderful job of in-

MARCH 4, 1977

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troducing our two representatives, Lillian Reimer and Elsie Loewen. These ladies are responsible to be at the meeting each month and also to dis­ tribute clothing at the Mission when it is our turn. (Ruth and Lillian represent the Ridgewood I Ladies’ Fellowship.) Mrs. Henry Kornelson and I Mrs. Isaac Loewen are the representatives for the I senior sewing circle. After an interesting meeting, I lunch was served. After the bus ride some of the I ladies mentioned that they could feel with their I school children now. I The young people had an enjoyable time I tobogganing on a warm Sunday afternoon recent­ ly. They gathered at the church and then left for “Suicide Hill” in the Marchand area. After everyone had experienced a number of rides down the hill they came back to the church to satisfy their hearty appetites (Sloppy Joes were served). Elections were held with Herry Plett being elected I as editor of the youth paper. ■ Get well wishes are extended to Mr. Frank The young people’s group af Fisher Penner who underwent surgery in the St. Boniface Branch Hospital. Mrs. D. P. Reimer and Wayne Plett are also recovering from surgery. YOUTH Our pastor, Henry Kornelson, had a trip east. Fisher Branch: How about joining us for the first He went to assist in a church organization in youth committee meeting of the year? In attenAylmer, Ontario. dance were the following: Peter Friesen (Pastor), February 19 was the date for the joint Sunday Bert Dueck (Youth Leader), Jeffrey Plett school seminar in the Blumenort Church. The (Secretary), Steve Heinrichs (Recreation Direc Kleefeld, Ridgewood and Blumenort churches tor), Elaine Schroeder (food). We decided to have organized it. They also invited the Pansy Church a cycle of three meetings per month — Bible and the EMC Church in Stratton, Ontario, since study, singing (at hospital and chalet), recreation, these are branches of the Blumenort Church. Looking back at the last year our coldest Various workshops took place with different meetings were spent on the ice. The newest thing speakers. Rev. John P. Loewen had the message, we did was to present the play, “In As Much.” He chose the topic “Teaching With Conviction.” We were thrilled each time a new enthusiastic face joined our group and became involved. A piano was installed in our church in February. We trust this will give us ample oppor­ tunity to develop our musical talents for the Lord. A TRIP TO PALESTINE “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unArden: Just imagine! With today’s means of transporation, the whole Arden congregation and wise men but as wise, making the most of your friends took a trip to Palestine on Sunday, time, because the days are evil. Therefore be not February 13. The time of departure was 8:00 p.m. foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord and time of return was 9:30 p.m. The trip was is” (Ephesians 15:15-17). made via Henry Dueck’s (Altona) projector and PROGRESSIVE YOUTH GROUP slides. He was our tourist guide as well. The cost was minimal — only the gas it cost to get to church. The whole trip was interesting and infor- Crestview: The Crestview Fellowship young peomative for the attentive tourists. pie have progressed a long way in the past five The travellers were taken to such cities as years. From a small group of ten to fifteen we Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho. The Jordan now have 20-25 young people attending regularly River, Sea of Galilee, and Dead Sea were viewed with about two thirds of the present group being as well. The most impressive were the sites of baptized members of our church. The entire Jesus’ birth, crucifixion, burial, and ministry. young people’s program was revitalized in fall Another trip was made by a smaller group on after a series of discussions between young people February sixth. This time they visited Germany and church leaders. Our fall kick-off banquet with John and Joyce Dyck as guides. They show- began the year with a flourish and from then on ed beautiful scenes from their country, and told we have been enjoyably busy. The young people about their work with the Janz Team Crusades, presented a Christmas program and further follow-up, S.S. publication and printing, and celebrated the festive season with a progressive children’s clubs. supper on the 18th, and a hayride and fellowship We extend our sympathies to Mrs Helen on the 23rd of December. In January the annual young people’s elections Neufeld and family. Their husband and father, and our brother in Christ, Abe Neufeld, went to saw a change in the executive. Gordon Dyck was be with the Lord on Feb. 12. Funeral services elected president; Leonard Klassen, vice-president were held Feb. 16 at the Portage Ave. MB church and chairman of the program committee; Darlene in Winnipeg. Schmidt, secretary treasurer; Randy Klassen, program committee member in charge of refreshments; and Richard Schmidt, program

PAGE 12

committee member in charge of the six yearly programs at a local senior citizens’ nursing home. The young people were pleased to have a series of talks in January and February on self-acceptance, friendship, and dating. Glenn Koop from the S.B.I., dealt with the first topic, and Harvey Plett, president of the S.B.I., followed up with the se­ cond and third topics, providing interesting thoughts and food for discussion. On February 11 we attended a Coffee House sponsored by the Braeside Church at St. Alphonses Hall. As is often commented on when a group of Mennonites gather, there were relatives to be found. The singing of the group, “The Sweet Spirit”, was of notable quality, making it in­ teresting to look forward to the group’s develop­ ment. Looking forward to the Crestview Fellowship young people’s future, we will be having a number of biblical character and topical studies from God’s Word. We also plan to enjoy the outdoors God has made for us. On April 9 we hope to have the Braeside youth group join us for a showing of the film, “Eighteen”, which is about a young girl named Connie, and the effect her Christian life has on those around her. It is our prayer that this film, as well as all our programs, will be not only a blessing and encouragement in our Christian lives, but an incentive to work and praise our Lord more as well.

births Born to Mr. and Mrs. Allan Friesen of Kleefeld, Man., a daughter, Carla Annette, on November 29, 1976. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fehr of Burns Lake, B.C., a daughter, Angela Lorraine, on December 21, 1976, Born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thiessen of Ridgewood, Man., a daughter, Cassandra Lee, on January 7, 1977. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wiebe of Burns Lake, B.C., a daughter, Paula Odett, on November 19, 1976. Born to Mr. and Mrs. L. James Penner of Kola, Man., a son, Reuben James, on January 31, 1977. Born to Mr and Mrs. Denver Plett of Kola, Man., a son, Colin Gregory, on July 9, 1976. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Klassen of Kola, Man., a son, Darrin Scott, on August 21, 1976, Born to Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Chen of Portage la Prairie, Man., a daughter, Clarissa Irene, on January 4, 1977. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Friesen of Rosenort, Man,, a daughter, Twyla Shaelyn, on October 28, 1976. Born to Mr and Mrs. Denver Bartel of Rosenort, Man., a daughter, Adrien Shawn, on October 16, 1976. Born to (chosen) Mr. and Mrs. Fictor Loewen of Rosenort, Man., a daughter, Pamelyn Debra, on September 14, 1976.

Next page please THE MESSENGER

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Penner of Ridgewood, Man., a son, Rockford John Dennis, on February 10, 1977. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Dave Warkentine of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Charis Marie, on February 19, 1977.

in memoriam GEORGE B. KORNELSON 1892-1977

and Pete F. Reimer, Mary and George B. heartfelt appreciation to the staff of the Dueck, Esther and David H. Dueck, all of Eventide Home who helped so much in Arborg; Lottie and Clarence Siemens, and brightening Dad’s stay there. We are also Mrs. Eleanor Loewen, both of R.R.l, thankful for the very peaceful way in which Morris; one son, John and wife Agnes of Dad was able to enter his eternal home, and Steinbach; two_ daughters-in-law, Mrs.------Rose‘ are confident of meeting him in glory by .----Kornelson of Morris, and Mrs. Susie and by. McClelland of Winnipeg; 47 grandchildren The Family and 24 great-grandchildren; one brother, Werner of Morris, and many nieces, The funeral was held in the Rosenort relatives, and friends. He was predeceased EMC Church on February 2, 1977, with the by one daughter, Margaret, in 1929, and two ministers Johnny Loewen, Peter L. Friesen sons, George in 1964 and Albert in 1965, and Frank D. Reimer officiating. Following also one son-in-law, Alvin Loewen in 1970. the interment in the local cemetery, a Dad was grateful for the care he received fellowship lunch was served in the lower at the Home. We want to extend our auditorium of the church.

“O give thanks unto the Lord for His mer­ cy endureth forever” (Psalm 118:1). Our dear father and grandfather passed away at the age of 85 years on January 30, 1977 at the Eventide Home, Rosenort. He was born to his parents, Henry E. and Elizabeth Kornelson of Steinbach on January 22, 1892, and he also received his elementary education there. He took up local employment at an early age and later came to Rosenort where he was involved in the building trade. Realizing the lost state of his soul, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour from sin. Upon the confession of his faith, he was baptized on June 29, 1914 by the late Bishop Peter R. Dueck, and accepted into the fellowship of the Evangelical Mennonite Church. Since private schools were still in opera­ tion during that time, he was challenged by the local ministers to take up the teaching profession. He accepted the challenge and taught for seven years. Dad was married to our mother, Mary K. _____ Francis and Edith Schaeffer on their Dueck, on December 16, 1916 by the late Rev. Abram Eidse?'They shared^'joVs ind the evening presentation in sorrows for nearly 56 years till August 20, Winnipeg on Feb. 3. 1972 when Mother passed away. This Speaking to a large audience in the new caused great loneliness for him. After “his teaching years, he took up far- Winnipeg Convention Center on February 3, ming during the course of which he had an Francis Schaeffer declared that the present accident with a team of horses when he was world situation holds only two alternatives — 45 years of age. As a result of this mishap imposed order or an affirmation of the Bible his left hip was seriously injured, causing him as the base for human relationships. to limp for the rest of his life. The appearance of Mr. Schaeffer, his wife Father was active in church and com­ and son, in Winnipeg, was held in connection munity affairs. He served for 25 years as school secretary and then as bookkeeper for with the area premiere of a new film series the cheese factory for a number of years. and book. How Should We Then Live, as After his retirement from farming, he was in­ well as a message by Dr. Schaeffer. The 10-episode film series portrays the volved full-time as an insurance agent. After our mother's passing, he lived alone rise and decline of western thought and in his house in Rosenort for a further four culture. Although it is “an original and in­ years. jThen,| due to his failing health, he novative analysis of the past” it is more than decided to take up residence in the Eventide history. It has a message for 20th century Home on September 20, 1976. He enjoyed man. Some of these “episodes” were shown his stay here very much, and Often expressed to the Winnipeg audience. “Hopefully the his gratitude for the bountiful goodness of films will turn our culture around or help the Lord. On Sunday, January 30, during his after- Christians to see the dark days ahead,” is the noon nap, his heavenly Father very gently wish of the author. The question period brought out the called him home to eternal glory. The cause of death was diagnosed as a heart attack. following questions, among others: He is survived by five daughters, Elizabeth Q. Is Genesis chapters 1-3 mythic truth?

Francis Schaeffer Speaks in Winnipeg

MARCH 4, 1977

A. It is not to be taken as myth. The New Testament makes this plain. Q. Are you saying the church should be in­ volved in political activities? A. He gave the example of Abraham Kypper as one who was both a churchman and a politician. Some other questions were: What about transcendental meditation? How should we witness to moral non-Christians? If God is alive why does He allow war? The evening closed with a hard-hitting challenge to be aware of the times in areas such as genetic engineering, the potential of the mass media, etc. “Right and left,” said the speaker, “have no meaning. History proves they are two roads leading to the same end.” “We are faced with pressures our society does not know how to handle,” he said. To name some he named inflation, violence, food shortage, shift in wealth, affluence, threat of war and fear of war. In closing the speaker emphasized the passage from Romans 1: 18-20 as the message we need to proclaim today. Francis Schaeffer is the founder of the L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland. He has written a number of books including “The God Who is There,” “True Spirituality,” and “Escape From Reason.” These have been widely read and studied in over 15 different languages.

CHURCH GROWTH SEMINAR March 17-18

With Wyn Arn of the Fuller Church Growth Seminar. Steinbach Bible Institute PAGE 13

u.

When Mark Confessed “Mom, will you come up to my room? I want to talk to you” was Mark’s simple re­ quest on a Saturday night right after his bath. Feeling a bit lazy I responded, “How about you coming here to the living room?” “I’ve got to talk to you privately,” he replied and with that he bounded up the stairs two at a time. Slowly I got up and followed him, wondering what was up now. He was cosily nestled in his warm bed in the semi-dark room when 1 entered. I sat down on the edge of his bed and before I could say anything he blurted out, “Mom, I’ve got a confession to make.” I was bracing myself for the “confession”, expecting almost anything — some kind of shinanigan. I watched his clean face, framed by a mob of dark wet hair, his big brown eyes looking straight at me. “Oh?” 1 asked. “What is it?” He wasted no time but came straight to the offense, “Mom, I stole eggs off you.” “Whatever for?” I inquired. "Well, my friends, Robert and Blake got eggs from their homes, and I wanted to join in the fun, so I took some from the base­ ment ...” "What sort of fun?”.

"You see, we sat beside the road and tried to hit the passing cars. . .” 1 felt betwixt anger and amusement. 1 thought I had heard it all. . .throwing raw eggs at cars! “How many did you take?” I wanted to know. “About a dozen all together” “Are you sure that’s all?” “Maybe about 16 — but no more.” "How come you decided to confess this?” “You see, last night I had a dream — I dreamed I was going to hell and soon after 1 dreamed that 1 told you the whole thing. So

PAGE 14

upon awakening I knew God wanted me to confess my sin.” “I appreciate this, Mark, but you’ll have to pay for the eggs.” Instantly he said, “I know.” We prayed together and he asked God to forgive him too. This gave me a good oppor­ tunity to explain that sin doesn't pay. We might think it gives us a few minutes fun but the pain after makes it bad. Besides, Mark’s concern about witnessing spoils it too. He realized it and decided he would tell his friends about feeling sorry about this act. After I retired I thought about Mark — now a clean boy again, inside as well as out­ ward. We, mothers and fathers, too, sometimes think a little thing doesn’t matter, but it’s these little harmless-appearing things, which separate us from God. Sin never pays. Little bitter feelings, slander, envy — all tend to spoil our relationship with God and .leed to be cleaned out. Then joy and peace can again enter in. Anne Klassen

Contrasts You want to see my new cupboards? They look chalky white. The wood is elm. As I rub the pecan stain on, the grain shows up. It’s like a magic painting such as children like to do. Dip a brush in water, go over a picture, and the hidden color shows up on the magic picture. Here, you dip a brush in stain, go over a door and a whole new pattern emerges. You go from door to door. One door has lots of lines zigging and zagging all over. Each line is outlined in a dark color. Beside it is a lighter line and beside it a still lighter one. Beside the lightest line is an offwhite area. Other doors have more straight lines. The coloring is more subdued. Some doors have very dark and very light lines moving in short lines and sharp curves over the surface. The dark and the light - they show up so well when they’re put side by side on one piece of wood. I like sunny days. They’re more cheerful than cloudy days. But a cloudy day has more depth to it. The sun may be hidden behind a dark cloud. You wonder how soon you’ll see it again. But you see fingers of light curling around the edges, reaching out to the earth to hold it in its warm embrace. The cloud is dark, yet the edges are gloried up with light. The contrast of bright rays and dark clouds gives a depth to this day that a dazzling, sunlighted day doesn’t have. Toothache is painful. My teeth all ache. There’s nothing I can do about it, only fight it. Finally I take pills to make it bearable. But it comes again and again. Finally I yield, yield to the pain. No fighting, just relaxing, and praying. Relaxing in God - asking Him for strength to bear the pain. That makes it

The Operation My heart was hurt. Bitterness, Hatred, Self-pity overwhelmed me. False accusations had been hurled my way.

I was miserable, depressed, unhappy. Then Jesus came and reminded me: My heart did not have room for Him. He would perform the operation if I would allow Him to.

He cut away the ugly roots Satan had planted and encouraged to grow. He healed my wounds with peace and joy and love, and filled the empty places with His precious self.

The Great Physician had performed another indescribable Operation! Praise the Lord! —Nettie Brandt

easier to bear. Soon the pain is gone. Next time it comes 1 know it will leave again. And I learn patience. And I learn to be thankful and happy, thankful for all the pain-free time I enjoy. 1 took it all for granted before. But life is good. And there is still much to do. What contrasts this life has! Dark wood, cloudy days, and pain, so that we can better see the light wood, the sunshine, and the health we enjoy. All these we receive from the hands of our great Creator! Laura Siemens

THE MESSENGER

around the world Third Story on the Air lawyer Walter Redekopp on wills. The four The Third Story, a Mennonite Brethren smaller workshops will deal with wills, estate Communications television series for planning, investments, and the Role of Menchildren, finally hit the airwaves in Manitoba nonite Foundation of Canada. Each particion January 22, and for producer, Lorlie P^’’! "'‘I* I’® ^'’1® 1° attend two workshop Barkman, it was a satisfying moment. sessions. The workshop will conclude with a The 13-week series, produced with the co- luncheon after which Dr. Fred Douglas, operation of CKY-TV in Winnipeg, is also Director of Special Gifts for the United being broadcast during Saturday noon-hours Church of Canada, will speak on “Acin six other Manitoba communities. Each complishments through Will Power”. show is a half-hour collection of songs, carThere is a registration fee of $5.00 for the toons, filmed parables, Bible stories, and Saturday session. For advance registration call Mennonite Foundation of Canada at a science feature with Glenn Klassen. Leading the singing is The Third Story’s 475-3550. friendly, bearded host, Harry Loewen. He is joined by six young friends, who complete Commemorating 50 years Chadean farmer operates rice the regular cast. Much of the music was in the Chaco thresher built by MCC'er Robert Slabach. December 31, 1976 saw a memorable serwritten for the series by Ron Carleton, who used to play piano for the Messengers Loma Plata, Paraguay, comQuartet. memorating the 50th anniversary of the Time-Saving Rice Other contributors to the series were Allan arrival of the first group of Mennonites from Thresher Developed Kroeker and Dave Dueck, each of whom Manitoba to the Chaco. Of the 309 persons Koyom, Chad — An inexpensive rice in ..that. group some 174 are still liv­ filmed a number of the parable sequences, included - ' thresher made by a Mennonite Central Com­ ing today. Of these, 100 are in Paraguay (92 which illustrate biblical principles. mittee volunteer is helping a local farmer in Menno Colony), fifteen in Bolivia, and 59 near Koyom, Chad, to do his threshing in in Canada. Most of those in the Menno Christian Stewardship Workshops one-fifth the usual time. The thresher, made Colony were present at the service. WINNIPEG, Manitoba — On March 18 entirely out of local materials such as wood, Bishop A. S. Wiebe made the opening. and 19 the Mennonite Foundation of bicycle parts, half of an old 45-gallon barrel, Rev. A. B. Giesbrecht emphasized the nuts, bolts, nails, a round tube to serve as an Canada is sponsoring its first public wonderful ways of God and M. W. Friesen workshop under the theme “ Responsible axle and rejected bale wire from a cotton fac­ Christian Living” at the Mennonite Brethren reflected on the past. Rev. J. T. Funk made tory, cost an estimated $75 to build. Collegiate Institute Auditorium in Winnipeg. the closing of the service. Volunteer Robert Slabach, Indianapolis, Ind., who has since completed his MCC The workshop will deal with various aspects "Rundshau” Approaches Centennial term, saw a similar thresher at an irrigation of Christian stewardship such as, wills, estate Winnipeg - Mennonitische Rundshau, the project in the neighboring country of planning, and investments. German-language weekly publication by The Friday evening, March 18, will focus Cameroon. After studying this steel thresher M.B. churches in Canada, is marking its which sold for $150, he returned to Koyom on a theological perspective given by John 100th year of existence in 1977. in the southwestern corner of Chad and Rudy, long-time manager of Mennonite The paper, then called Der Nebraska AnFoundation, Goshen, Indiana. Bethel Men ­ started making one like it out of wood. He siedler, began as a monthly in 1878 with of­ sold the finished product to a local farmer nonite Church will supply special music. fices in Nebraska. On Saturday special workshop sessions who lives 20 kilometers from Koyom. In 1880 the name was changed to Die will begin at 8:30 a.m. with an address by Mennonitische Rundschau and was publish­ ed fortnightly. In 1908 the paper was moved to Scottdale, Pennsylvania and later to Win­ nipeg. Circulation is just over 5,000. A special centennial edition is planned for June. March 18, 3:00 and 6:30 p.m. University of Manitoba New Format for Room: 205-207 University Center "Grace" Paper Grace Tidings, the official paper of Grace College of the Bible, has a new format. The Participants: change in the format is to be in keeping with • Ben Friesen, EMC Board of Missions, Winnipeg the overall purpose of the college, namely • John K. Reimer, Ex-Secretary, Board of Missions, Winnipeg that of ministering to the needs of people. • C. P. Loewen, Steinbach, Man. The auxiliary enterprises of the college, • Grant Loewen, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Thunder Bay, Ont. such as the bookstores and radio station KGBI-FM, are dedicated to the task of Invited are all students in post-high school studies whether in university, Bible school, providing helpful Christian literature and of Bible college, nurses' training, etc. proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and For further information call 269-2474 (Winnipeg) the abundant Christian life. or 326-6401, Steinbach, Man. So likewise, the newly-revised Grace Tidings is designed to minister to the needs EMC Board of Education and Publication. of the constituency, as well as informing them of the activities of the college.

POST-SECONDARY STUDENT MEETING

MARCH 4, 1977

PAGE 15

k

Church Music Seminar Well Received Winnipeg, Manitoba — More than two hundred registered par­ ticipants along with many local visitors took part in a church music seminar sponsored by MBBC and CMBC in Winnipeg on the weekend of January 21-23. More than half of them were conductors of various choirs; the others were organists, pianists, singers and lovers of music. They had come from all parts of Canada, and about half of them were women. Special guest for the occasion was Dr. Charles Hlrt, for many years chairman of the Department of Church Music at the University of Southern California. During four stimulating lecture-rehearsal sessions and a magnificent closing program in the Elmwood M.B. Church he demonstrated the processes through which a choral composition becomes a living example of worship through music. He shared with all those present from the wealth of his knowledge and experience as a scholar and church musician and conductor. Hirt’s special talent consisted in drawing attention to the spiritual and musical factors involved in the presentation of sacred music. “A conductor of a church choir must not only be concerned that his choir knows the music well but he and the singers must be as knowledgeable about the purpose for which they sing. It is important to know ‘where we are’ and what music has to do with it.” Hirt maintained that the Christian witness through music was as powerful today as it ever had been, and as necessary. “What people once thought were absolutes in life such as time and space have been discovered (by science) to be relative after all. The true absolutes are standing out more clearly now than ever before. It is these ultimate realities that form the content of sacred music.” Hirt’s presentations were interspersed with a good deal of humour and cheerful banter. His personal warmth and charismatic leadership inspired the large choir to achieve new heights in choral song.

Workshop Sessions — Other dimensions of music-making were

PAGE 16

THE MESSENGER

explored in six workshop sessions on Saturday afternoon and one repertoire reading session. All sessions were presented twice to allow participants to attend sever. Winnifred Sim, well-known Winnipeg organist (also on Hymn Sing) led a workshop dealing with all aspects of organ playing for church services and solo ac­ companiment. Repertoire for weddings and funerals was also considered. Dr. John Martens provided a lecture-demonstration of sacred vocal solos. Margaret Neufeld and Edna Dahl led a workshop on repertoire and technique for children’s choirs. Ber­ nie Neufeld and George Wiehe were in charge of two different sections, involving conduting, choral techniques, and interpreta­ tion. Elvera Froese led a workshop in piano service playing and accompanuing, and Bill baerg conducted the repertoire reading session. Other highlights in the weekend of meetings included a con­ cert by the MBBC A Cappella Choir on Friday night, featuring six motets by Mendelssohn and Bach’s famous double-choir motet “Singet dem Herrn”. The choir was in fine form and gave a spirited and sensitive rendition under Bill Baerg’s leadership. On Saturdy morning a short organ recital was presented at CMBC by Lawrence Ritchie, organist at St, Stephens in Win­ nipeg and professor at Manitoba University School of Music. It was the first recital presented on the newly-installed Baroque pipe organ constructed by Wilhelm Mueller, a famous organ builder in Quebec. The fine presentation closed with im­ provisations on the chorale “Nun danket alle Gott” with the par­ ticipants singing the choral melody in unison. The Saturday evening banquet featured music by a madrigal group of students from MBBC. Participants found the sessions and the final public program on Sunday afternoon a stimulating and uplifting experience. The sponsors of the seminar were confident that the ministry of music in our churches has received a positive impetus as a result of the meetings. Peter Klassen