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Vol. 1, No 17 Aug. 23, 1963

MENNONITE

CONFERENCE

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missEncE i i

IN Tins ISSUE

‘‘Hear my prayer, 0 Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me. and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgement with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living he justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he

Child Evangelism

Children's Story

Cyclone Disaster

hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

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r. . LET YOUR C<

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OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST . . ”

PHIL. 1:27

or preachers (Prediger) which is still widely used. The

EDIT

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BEGINNERS All across the land there will again soon be heard the ringing of school bells, calling the young and old back to the halls of learning. For the many thousands of beginners it will be a new experience- For them a new world is about to open up- He is entering upon the adventure of learning with which he might be engaged for the next 12 yearsThe roll of the mother which has played such an im portant part till now will be challenged- For some six hours a day, the mother will be replaced by the teacher- What the teacher says and doe.s will now start forming an important part of your child’s life-

Care must be taken at this stage that the training of the child be not handed over to, the teachei alone- Cherished beliefs may be <iuestio.ned and the parent must be right there to reassure the child- Here is; where a godly training will stand the child in good steadTheir accomjilishments and attainments although appearing insignificant to us should nevertheless com mand our attentie-n- ft is so easy to brush aside a crumpled piece of paper held up for your inspectionEager eyes upturned for your approval Don’t do itLook at it, examine it as you wo.uld the costliest contiact- For him it is a creation, something he has madeMay we never come to the stage where we will be too busy to. admire and wonder at what childish hands have createdYes, the beginners of today should command our careful and prayerful attention as they will be the leader of tomorrow- And altho.ugh their training is now to a large extent passing to another this does not mean that hoiuie influence must cease to predominateThe home is still the most ])otent training school on earth if rightly utilized- In the case where ungodly teachers and companions tempt, the home can still be th» haven of refuge where faith i.s renewedTrain up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it-” Proverbs * * *

Letters To the Editor BISHOP OR PASTOR Several generations ago it was customary in the Mennonite Church, including the Kleine Gemeinde to use the term elder (Aeltester) for the leader of the church, the term teacher (Lehrer) for a minister and deacon (Diakon) for the brother looking primarily after charity and welfare. Then it became customary to speak of ministers

last several years there has been a tendency in the E.M.C. to use the term bishop instead of elder. Are we doing this because the word elder does not seem to convey the importance which we put into the German word Aeltester? It seems to me that the word bishop means more than we want to put into it for our way of thinking. The term bishop really means an overseer of a whole diocese or church district and applies well for a state church or at least a large church district. Would it not be more appro priate for our conference to speak of the leader of a congregation as a pastor? This is the term used by other evangelical churches in this country and they would expect us to use the same term if we want to be looked at as evangelical churches too. A pastor is a shepherd of souls and also an overseer of at least one congregation. The other ministers could be called assistant pastors or ministers. They are really assistants with the same scriptural ordination of a minister (Diener).

Another term which we probably overuse is the word Reverend. The use or abuse of this term has been dis cussed very much in some other denominational papers. It seems to me that if we want to be true evangelical people we should use reverend only where it is absolute ly necessary to indicate the rank of clergy. Some of us have earned the status or rank of certain degrees from universities and have a right to use those letters indicat ing the kind of degree after their names, but ordinarily refrain from doing so except where it is advisable for certain reasons to do so. Let us practice the kind of humility which the world understands and which would please the Lord.

With brotherly love, P. J. B. Reimer

• • * V’ernoii Reimer (Page 7) is MCC director in India. Myrtle Doerksen (Page 3) is a children’s worker in Winnipeg under partial support, EMC Missions.

Abe Penner (page 5) is from the Ridgewood Church doing PAX service in Burundi, Africa together with Gilbert Unger.

* * * We have been receiving THE MESSENGER and are en joying it. May God bless you for this endeavour.

British Honduras

Henry Klassen 4

The Messenger Official organ, In the English language, of the EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE. Published bi-weekly under the aus pices of the E.M.C. BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AND EDUCATION. Editor, David K. Selielicnberg, 502 Fifth Ave. N.W., Portage la Prairie, Man. Assistant Editor, Abe P. Unger. All new subscriptions should be sent to Mr. Abe Klassen. Box 1147, .Steinbach, Man. Authorized as second class mall, Post Office Department, Ottawa, ohd for payment of postage in cash. *•**" _________________________________________________ THE MESSENGER

)

MISSIONS Children’s Evangelism in Winnipeg By Myrtle Doerksen It is just over a year now that I came to Winnipeg and started helping with children’s work. It is a real privilege to be able to tell many boys and girls about our great God and His wonderful plan of redemption. Al though many children’s clubs have been taught in the city this past win ter. I shall limit my report to those in which I have been engaged.

Good News Club At a Good News Club we sing, tell the children a story which contains some lesson, teach them a Bible mem ory verse, and present a Bible lesson. Much of the material used comes from Child Evangelism. I helped along with five clubs. Monday nights at seven o’clock there was a Good News Club in the basement of our church on Aberdeen and Andrews. We are happy that many boys and girls in that area have been able to hear the Gospel in that way. Then, on Tuesdays we had our first club in Point Douglas. (This is the area in which we live). After that we went to the West End where we held a second club in the living room of the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Kehler. Wednesdays at 4:30, children gathered in the basement of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Bark man in Elmwood. The following day we would go to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Kroeker in East Kildonan to teach a club at 6:30. These Good News Clubs are suspended for the summer, when there is Vacation Bible School instead.

Wayfarers On Friday we taught Wayfarer clubs. At 4:30 we had a club in Point Doug las. Then at 7:30 there was a club at our church. The material comes from Herald Press. A Wayfarer is a girl who is at least ten years of age. She must attend club three consecutive times in order to become a member. Furthermore, she must memorize and recite a Wayfarer’s Aim, Motto, and Pledge. Everyone who wishes to be come a member must bring the signa-

August 23, 1963

nature of one of their parents allowing her to join. At a Wayfarer Club we have a time of devotion, help the girls with work in their Wayfarers’ Guide Book and Travelogue and then work at some project. Some of the projects were doing art work, making recipe holders, paper flowers, and rag dolls, and doing cooking. We have spent many enjoyable hours together with our Wayfarer girls. Sunday School At Sunday School I teach a Junior girls’ class. The girls and I enjoy studying the Bible lessons on Sun day mornings, but we also enjoy other activities. None of us will forget a hike into the bush on my parents’ farm one cold Sunday afternoon last winter. These girls are energetic and ambitious. Their eagerness to do right and to serve the Lord manifests itself in the way they participate in class. This presents a challenge to show to them the importance of fol lowing the Lord while they are young. My desire is that as they grow up they might continue to follow Him. The children come from different homes. We praise the Lord that some of them have Christian parents. The majority, however, do not come from Christian homes. We have the privilege of presenting the Gospel to Catholic children. Furthermore, there are boys and girls who attend our week-day clubs, and on Sundays they attend a Sunday School that is not evangelical. Others do not go to a Sunday School or church at all. All of these children need the Word of God.

Sin Many of these precious youngsters have no idea what a good home is like. It is not uncommon to hear one of our pupils say, “My mother does not like to live with us.” Recently Jean told me, “I don’t even know where my father is.” She also tells about her three step fathers. One noon Elda Kroeker went to see Gloria, one of our Way farer girls, Gloria told her that she had

not been in school in the morning be cause her mother failed to waken her. She was still sleeping from a hang over from the night before. Oh the sin that prevails in homes round about us! What will these boys and girls do when they grow up? Do they have a chance to be different, to break from sin and immorality, and to serve the Lord? Do we give them enough help? Results Let us not become discouraged or grow weary in serving our Master. His grace is sufficient to change lives. I am thinking of little Barbara. She begged her parents to attend church. One evening at an evangelistic service they decided to follow the Lord. They are now members of an evangelical church. We have much reason why we should explain the way of salvation to boys and girls. They are eager to accept it, and they tell it to others. “Even a child is known by his doings . . . whether his work be pure and whether it be good.” * * *

MISSION BRIEFS The Lengua Indians of Paraguay will soon have the New Testament in their language. The manuscript is be ing prepared by the joint efforts of the Mennonite missions of Paraguay colonists and the Anglican Mission. The American Bible Society will print the Testaments. * * ♦

“LACK of parental discipline” and “the sex-permeated atmosphere of our time” are the chief causes of the grow ing illegitimacy in America, says Dr. Clark E. Vincent in his new book, “Unmarried Mothers.” Parents must teach and enforce moral standards in combating the “fun morality” that is so prevalent nowadays. Dr. Clark em phasizes.

* * * A LONG dam is to be built along the southern tip of the Dead Sea, near the town of Sdom, for the purpose of forming an artificial reservoir is ex pected to triple the output of potash at the Israeli-operated Dead Sea Works. A Chicago company has been given the contract to build the dam, while a Denver company will construct the new potash plant. The Dead is considered the most mineral-rich inland body of water in the world.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD By Dr. Andrew Murray (Continued) You want to know what this faith is, and how it is to act. Listen to what our Lord tells us. Our third question was: What is it to Receive the Kingdom? What is the difference between the two expressions our Lord uses; en tering the Kingdom and receiving the Kingdom? You see. He makes the lat ter, receiving, the condition of the former, entering in. The one is active: I enter in and take possession. The other is passive; I receive. The words give expression to the great truth that before I can enter the Kingdom, it must first enter into me. Before I can possess its privileges and powers, it must first possess me, with all my power and being. I must, in subjection and surrender, in poverty and emptiness, receive the Kingdom into my heart before I am fit to be entrusted with all the power and glory it offers me. What is dark and evil within must first be cast out; what is of God must fill my being; that which is born of God alone can inherit the Kingdom and its heavenly life. There must be a heavenly nature before there can be a heavenly state. Receive the Kingdom: the word is very simple. It implies two things: there is one who gives, and another who accepts. How many there are who have heard of the blessed life in the Kingdom, and the wonderful joy it gives, and who have never thought that it must be received from the living God Himself. What we need is to be brought to such consciousness of our utter ignorance and impotence, that we feel we cannot grasp or apprebend this wonderful salvation that is offered, but that we are to come into contact with the Father in hea ven, and as a heavenly bestowal, re ceive from Him the Kingdom in power. And that not as something that we have to persuade Him to give us but the child’s portion that actually be longs to us, and that He yearns to see us enjoy. It is as we believe this, and look up to the everlasting God, inifinitely ready and able to give the Kingdom in its power into our very heart, that our hearts will take courage to expect that the Kingdom with

its blessings can, indeed, enter into us. Then our accepting will become so simple. When we see the God who has ' promised, in his infinite love, just as the sun seeks to enter with its light and life into every little flower and Ievery blade of grass, longing to enter into us, and toe all that as God He can be, we shall understand how our place is simply to rest in what He will do, to claim His great gilt of the Spirit Who brings the Kingdom into us, and to wait in patient dependence for Him to do His mighty work. Our position day by day will toe as of those who, having accepted, now count upon God to reveal and work in us all that He has for us. You may be inclined to ask. If the receivng be so simple, how is it that it still is so difficult, and that so lew really find what they seek? The an swer is, the whole thing is so simple, but we are not simple. The simplicity of the thing is its difficulty, because we have lost our simplicity. It is this Jesus teaches us in the words He ’ adds, and which we must still speak of.

What is it to Receive the Kingdom •as a Little Child? Have we any illustration of this :in nature? Yes. How did the Prince 'of Wales become heir to the throne 'of England. By his birth as a little 'child he received the kingdom. He 'was born to it. And so we must be 1born by the Holy Spirit into that 'disposition of heart or childlike sim plicity which will receive the King 'dom as a little child. When a little 'child receives a kingdom, it does so :as a feeble, helpless little thing. As it grows up and hears of what is com ing to it, it does so in simple trust fulness and gladness. Even so Jesus calls us to become little children, and ' ias such to receive the Kingdom. How hard it is for men and women, with their will and their strength and their wisdom, with all the power of self and the old man, to become as little children, and as such to receive the Kingdom and its heavenly life. We can know about the Kingdom, we may taste some of its powers, we may i ’work for it and often rejoice in it

Shall we not at once say: Lord! —but we cannot enter in fully and entirely until we become as a little child. And with men this is impossible. But with God all things are possible. There are some things we can do towards it. We can yield to the teach ing of God’s Spirit when He con vinces us of our pride and self-con fidence. We can confess our self-will and self-effort. We can pray and long and strive after the childlike spirit. We can go as far as Peter and the disciples did before Pentecost. But the little-child nature that enters into the Kingdom, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God’s Son, who cries Abba, Father, the Spirit that claims and expects and receives all from God alone, alone can give. He is within you, as the Spirit of Christ to work this: He gives the grace to become a little child, and so He fits the heart for receiving from heaven His ful ness, as He brings the Kingdom in heavenly power. How to become a little child? How to lose all our strength and wisdom, our will and life, and be as little newborn children? Oh! that I knew the way you cry. Look to Jesus! As a babe in Bethlehem, He was born heir to the Kingdom of David. He grew up to manhood and then giving up His will in Gethsemane when He cried Abba, Father, He gave up His life, and was laid in the dark grave in the helplessness of death. Thence He arose as the first-begotten of the dead, born again out of the dead to the Throne of Glory. In the feebleness of the grave He gained His throne. We need to die with Christ—that i.s the way to get delivered from the old man and self, the way to receive the heavenly life as a little child, and so to enter the Kingdom. The feeble ness of Bethlehem and the manger, of Calvary and the grave, was Christ’s way to enter the Kingdom—for us there is no other way. Let us then hold fast two* things. The one, the unspeakable blessedness, the divine possibility, the absolute certainty of the Kingdom of God in power being the portion of God’s peo ple. Our heart is meant to be the very dwelling of God living in it. The Holy Spirit is meant so to be in us and through us all the action of the heart, all that is done by it is to be done by the Holy Spirit inspiring it. The King dom of Heaven has come to earth (Cont’d. on page 5) THE MESSSENGER

(

TRUTH for youth PAX SERVICE IN BURUNDI By Abe Penner

The Call God interrupted my life. Like many another young fellow I was drifting along without a care in life beyond getting my education and having as much fun in life as possible. Then it happened. God put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Abe, I want you to drop everything and do something for me.” This conviction had been growing throughout the summer of 1981 but it wasn’t till one warm fall night that I finally realized, or rather allowed myself to realize that it was actually God calling me to join the MCC Pax group. God moves in mys terious ways and it so happened that at the very same time He called my cousin and close friend, Gilbert Unger into the same service. An application sent to MCC headquarters in Akron Pa., brought a speedy reply and finally led to our being assigned to the same place, Nyankanda Leprosarium, in the newly independent country, Burundi. August 29, 1962 found us on our way to Akron where we had a two week orientation course to acquaint us with the whole MCC program and prepare us for our individual assign ments. There were twenty-six orientees, heading for the four corners of the earth. At present there are around two hundred workers under MCC working in practically all parts of the world. Most Pax men go out for a two year term except for the Far East where the term is three years. There were representatives from every walk of life, from phar macists and nurses to surveyors. On to Africa Gilbert and I headed for the heart of Africa. Burundi is situated just south of the equator, bordering on the Congo and Lake Tanganyika on the west, Tanganyika on the south and east and the small republic of Rwanda on the north. Nyankanda is over a mile above sea level and not very hot considering that we are with in three degrees of the equator. The vegetation of this country is beauti ful. It seems everything from cocoanuts to cacti grows here. The flower-

August 23, 1963

ing trees and shrubs make it look like some fairy land. Lions, leopards, monkeys, hippos and snakes still roam large parts of the country but they have been pushed back as civil ization has spread. What a pity tha* under all this beauty there exists sin, poverty, and filth! At the Leprosarium

What is a leprosarium like? Can you have any contact with the pa tients? What is leprosy like? These and many other questions like them are frequently asked. Contrary to pop ular belief, leprosy is not, as a rule, very contageous at all. Every day we rub shoulders with many of the patients. There is only a small per centage of the patients that have con tageous leprosy and even when they do, the chances of spreading it are very slight. Another false concept is that leprosy is fatal. The fact is that leprosy never kills. It might in some cases lower the resistence of the body that another disease becomes fatal but this is the only way it ever causes death. Another erroneou.s belief is that leprosy “eats away” fingers, toes, etc. What happens is that lep rosy kills the nerves and a person feels no pain. Then it is very easy to burn, bruise, or otherwise serious ly injure a limb and it has to be amputated. Leprosy is 100% curable if caught in time and all the patient needs to do is take his weekly drugs. He can go out to the fields and do exactly the same work he could do before. This has come about through the work of dedicated doctors and the people who stood behind them, fi nancially and prayerfully. Most of Gilbert’s and my time has been occupied with mechanical work and building a mile and a half of power line. We also have done al most all the wiring on the station. Now we have received a tractor and .we’re planning an agricultural project. Our first task will be to break-up new land and seed corn. We hope to keep breaking up land till we have at least a hundred acres. There are times

when I feel tempted to get discour aged. When I look back and see how little I’ve accomplished, I feel like giving up, but I know that God can bless our efforts, no matter how weak, and this gives me the courage I need to go on. Charging Buffalos! Our work can lead to various sit uations. When we had been here for less than a week, we went to pick up a car for repairing. 'The lights went out on the way back and we had to sort of feel our way along the moun tain road. Another time Knud Dahl, former director of the leprosarium, was called out to destroy some buf falo which were causing trouble in the Africans’ gardens. Gilbert and I went along and at one point the beasts came charging out of the bush a scant hundred yards from us. In situations like these we are reminded again and again of God’s care. Workers Needed Most of the evangelical work here is done by Africans. The only white people on the station work in the hospital. There is an organized church here with an African pastor and they are almost completely in dependent. The missionaries just act in an advising capacity. Modern Af rica is a changing Africa and the field is truly ripe for harvest. Many young churches want to become inde pendent of white control. Some are ready for independence and some are not. They desperately need your pray ers. More workers are needed if we are going to come near meeting the challenge of modern Africa. Will you pray, or go as God leads? • « *

The Kingdom of God (Cont. from p.4) and can be set up within us in such power, that the presence and the will and the power of God shall be our life and joy. It is more than the mind can grasp: let us believe it. Our won der-working God wiU make it true. The other thing is this. Let us be lieve that all that is needed to be in ful possession of these blessings is what the Holy Spirit, Who is already in us, will work. He will make us as little children before God. He will enable us as such to receive the King dom from the Father, He will lead us and bring us in, so that we enter into the Kingdom and the heavenly life it gives. Shall we not at once say: lord! (Cont’d. on page 8)

THE DOLL COLLECTION Betty Swinford Nancy moved about the room slow ly. She liked the soft white curtains the pictures, the beautiful toys—and the bed that Merle didn’t have to share with a sister. But she especially liked the collection of foreign dolls that occupied three shelves on the east wall. 'There were dolls there from all over the world—Mexico, France, Italy, Spain and many other coun tries.

“But how did you ever get so many. Merle?” she asked, her blue eyes still studying the small dolls. “Mostly from missionaries. My fa ther and mother have lots of mission ary friends and they send me dolls from almost everywhere.”

Nancy did not answer. She had not known Merle long and perhaps her new friend would not understand. After all, Nancy’s parents had no missionary friends — they had no Christian friends at all. Nancy had no doll collection, no lovely home, not even a room of her own. Oh, to own just one of those beautiful little dolls’ “Merle, can you come down for a moment?” Merle’s mother called from downstairs. The dark-haired girl turned to Nan cy quickly. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” After Merle was gone Nancy stared at the collection of dolls again. It seemed that it was impossible to look at anything else. Especially the doll from Switzerland with its bright clothing and golden hair. It was only about six inches tall and the prettiest one of them all. Nancy reached out her hand for it and clutched it tightly. She felt that she had never wanted anything so much in her whole life! Without glancing toward the door, Nancy opened the lid to her small overnight case and tucked the doll under her pajamas. Merle would never miss it, she had so many others! She — Nancy ffroze where she stood, the lid of the overnight case still half open. Just behind her and with an expression on her face that was partly hurt and partly surprise, stood Merle.

“I would have been happy to give you one of my dolls, Nancy,” Merle said slowly. “But you should never have taken one!”

Nancy tried to swallow around the lump in her throat Slowly she with drew the small doll and laid it on the bed. “I’m so sorry Merle. I—I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t seem to help it. You have so much, all the things I’ve always wanted.” She locked the lid of the case now. “I’ll go on home—you won’t want me to stay with you aU night now.” She doubted that Merle would ever want to see her again.

Then Merle stepped up and laid a hand on her friend’s arm. “You’re wrong, Nancy. Christians aren’t like that.” “But I’m not a Christian, Merle.” “There was a time when I wasn’t a Christian either, Nancy. But you can be a Christian—if you want to be.” Nancy looked up. “I’d like to be like you. Merle. You’re different from anyone I’ve ever known.” Merle reached for a new Testament that lay on her night stand. (Quickly she turned to a verse. “Read this, Nancy, only put your name in place of “the world” and see how it sounds.” Nancy read the words slowly. “For God so loved (Nancy Whitman), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Merle’s brown eyes were soft and understanding. “. . . that if Nancy Whitman would believe in him she should not perish.” “That makes it so personal, doesn’t it. Merle? I never thought of it like that.” “I know. When I first read it with my name in the verse I knew that —since Jesus loved me enough to die for me—I surely wanted Him to be my Saviour!” She hesitated. “How about you, Nancy?” Nancy looked from the collection of doUs back to the verse, and sud denly the dolls no longer mattered. “Yes, Merle!” she breathed. “Oh, yes!” ♦ * *

FROM

HOUSE

TO YO

HOUSE

JUST A HOUSEWIFE

By Elma B. Dueck

Are you just a housewife? Did you know that we are engaged in the most wonderful career in the world? You are caring for a husband and children and the home, and in that order of importance, as one radio speaker used to say. We are sometimes inclined to feel our job is so insignificant, like wash ing dishes, sweeping, scrubbing, wash ing and the countless chores we have to do each day. In fact, I think it is the continual repetition of such daily chores, year in and year out that tires us down at times, isn’t it? Here is a lit tle secret—just follow what the Bible says, “Whatsoever you do, in word or deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17 HSV) At least once a day, stop and thank God for your husband and for each child by name. Thank Him for the privilege of living for them. Then note how quickly and pleasantly the humdrum of daily chores will disap pear. Love makes the most tiresome task easy. We gladly sacrifice ourself, our own plans and wishes for the ones we love. Love doesn’t become irritable, love is patient and kind. Love bears all things. Love serves others, does not expect to be served. If we do every task out of love for God and those we serve, we will find joy in doing them. In the Bible we find many passages on this important job. For a new vision on your important task read Proverbs 31, verses 10-31, carefully, and in a modern translation if possible. Yes, to be a wife and mother is the greatest career of womanhood. May God be with you in each daily task. ♦ * *

TO MEDITA’TE ON: “Poverty of purpose is worse than poverty of purse.”

« « «

THE MESSENGER

Cyclone Disaster in East Pakistan By Vernon Reimer

A devastating cyclone and a 20 foot guide volunteered to take us to some of the worst hit coastal villages. high tidal wave hit the coastal area near Chittagong, East Pakistan, May When we asked him how they had 28 and 29. Approximately 20,000 peo fared, he broke down and cried. Later ple were killed and 300,000 left home he told us the story. He came from a village that was less by the disaster which struck an area about 15 miles wide and 160 completely washed away. He himself miles long. During the height of the had nothing. Even the clothes he storm, wind velocities reached 150 to wore had been given to him. Further 170 m.p.h. This was followed by a more, nearly all of the members of tidal wave which caused untold de his family had been killed. He had saved himself only by clinging to a struction of life and property. I visited the area June 7 to 12 to tree when the tidal wave struck. We walked for five miles towards survey the damage done. Arrange ments were then made for MCC to the coast and passed through one work together with the East Pakis village after another which had been tan Christian Council in an area as completely wrecked. People were signed to it by the government. This standing around, dazed and discour area is a 15-mile coastal strip, one of aged, even ten days after the storm. the more inaccessible areas, which re Some had already gone to relief cen portedly did not have so much loss of ters to see if there was food, but all too often there was not enough. Time property. On Sunday, June 9, I had a power and again we met people coming from ful sermon preached to me. On that villages of which the rest of the day a Pakistani worker and I hired a world, up to that time, had not heard. scooter and travelled 40 miles along They managed to survive—God knows the trunk road from Chittagong. The how. disaster and damage done has to be By two o’clock in the afternoon we seen to be believed. Houses by the were thoroughly soaked and muddy thousand were completely destroyed, from slipping and sliding along the and people were crawling under any narrow paths between the rice fields. kind of shelter to find protection from Rain pouring down during most of the rain. Ail along the road were the time. We stopped in a small people, many of them naked, begging village and were invited to share for help. In a few places groups of the primitive shelter that the few people stood in the middle of the ■ remaining people had. road and stopped all vehicles to beg We were hungry and decided to for help. have our lunch. However, with ten Forty miles from Chittagong we hungry-eyed and suffering people came to a Red Cross center where a standing around we could not but

share our lunch with them. Even then they begged us to supply them with more food. When we came nearer to the coast, not only were the villages destroyed, but in many cases, almost completely washed away. It was in this area that so many people had drowned when the wave came. On our return we met a police group which was burying dead bodies. Fish were lying along the roadside wherever we walked. The stench was dreadful. Even the city of Chittagong liad few houses that were not de stroyed or damaged to some extent. Yes, a sermon that would not be forgotten for many days had been preached. The question remained: “Will the sermon provoke action?’’ “■Whatsoever ye have done to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’’ Following the survey I consulted with Murray Milner of Church World Sei-vice and members of the East Pakistan Christian Council and of fered that MCC would provide work ers in their program. They had de cided to do relief for three to six months and to organize local groups to clean up rubble and rebuild homes. Members of these groups would be paid with surplus foods brought in by Church World Service. MCC has agreed to set aside $1000 for this co operative relief effort. The money is being used for equipment and transportation for workers. On June 16 John Weber went to Chittagong and was followed by Floyd Bauman on June 20. They were released from assignments in Cal cutta, India, to begin immediate relief activities in Chittagong. Weber is in -

-- -•'jr-'

Picture on left: Beaming men with new clothing. What a difference it made even though clothing was odd size. Centre: Two girls have just received new dresses. On right; Sampan delivering a load of U.S. surplus flour to remote relief centre along 40 miles of rivers and canals.

August 23, 1963

charge of the motor boat to keep up communications and supplies between Chittagong and the area in which the churches are working. Bauman is in charge of one of the centers where work groups are organized to rebuild houses and build up embankments. Some clothing has been distributed at these centers. To date 83 houses have been rebuilt and sections of em bankment to keep out flood waters have been repaired. During the first month of relief ac tivities the work was hampered by incesant rains. Further, a second flood caused the death of another thousand people as well as a lot of property damage. During one of his trips to the relief area Weber, who was driving the motor boat, saw a number of people up in the trees shouting lor help. The heavy rainfall during the past month—65 inches in 12 days—while hampering relief activities and caus ing suffering to many thousands, is really a blessing in disguise. Shortly after the storm it was believed that practically no crops would be obtained this year due to salinity of the water. Now, with the many rains, much of this has been washed out and pros pects lor crops are much better. In fact, many fields at present have a luscious green color and look quite promising. Further, it seems as though this abundant rain had also helped to keep down the incidence of disease. When the need of the Chittagong area was presented to the India Men nonite churches at their meeting on July 10 and 11, they responded by of fering to send in volunteers to help with the work. Two men, M. Kumar of Seraipali and F. Benn of Champa, have already gone to help with the relief activities for the next two months. It was certainly thrilling and gratifying to note the response on the part of the Indian brethren, who them selves often have a real struggle to maintain their own families. * * * (Cont’d. from page 5) THE KINGDOM OF GOD nothing less than this can satisfy me. I want to live my life fully in thy kingdom. I yield myself, I yield self W’ith all its life to thee. In the faith of the Holy Spirit I say: Here I am as a little child; Father, in the gift of Thy Spirit in Pentecostal power, let me receive the Kingdom as a little child.

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REPORT ON BRUNK REVIVAL By Doreen Reimer July 3-21 were unusucd days for the town of Steinbach and surround ing communities. From the first day, the 2,000 seat tent, brought by the Brunk Revival Team of Harrisonburg, Virginia and set up on the yard of Steinbach’s Central School, was wellfilled, with considerable over-flow crowds on three Sunday nights of the Crusade.

The Brunk Team, including Rev. George R. Brunk, evangelist; Mrs. Brunk, sons Paul and Conrad, song leaders, and daughter Barbara, came to Steinbach at the united invitation of six denominations; General Confer ence, EMB, Bergthaler, MB, Emman uel Mission and EM Conference. Rev. H. G. Rempel of the Steinbach Em manuel Mission Church was the mod erator of the Crusade while Rev. B. D. Reimer of the Steinbach Evangel ical Mennonite Church was the chair man of the spiritual life committee and in charge of instructing the 80 volunteer counsellors.

During the 19 day Crusade, 60 first time decisions for Christ were re corded, with approximately 115 other recorded decisions. Parents and young people, who responded at Family Night and Youth Night respectively, not only filled the area at the front of the tent, but the aisles as well. Various church choirs and singing

groups contributed to the blessings that were experienced. Of special inter est was the mass choir under the direc tion of Henry Hiebert, which sang on four different evenings, and thrilled the hearts of many with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”. Many of those who regularly at tended the meetings, testified to the heart-warming they had experienced during these days. God richly blessed the Christians who worked together in this evangelistic and revival effort.

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BIRTHS To Mr. and Mrs. Jake Reimer, Stein bach, a boy, Franklin Jake, May 20.

To Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Hiebert, Steinbach, a son, Anthony Dwight, on July 9. To Rev. and Mrs. Corny R. Plett, Burns Lake, B. C. a boy, Daniel James, July 17. To Rev. and Mrs. Henry P. Dyck, Steinbach, a boy, Reynold Von, July 23. To* Mr. and Mrs. Jac R. Plett, Stein bach, a girl, Grace May, July 23.

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HYMN BOOKS FOR SALE The Swift Current EMC has some 75 hymn books (Spiritual Songs and Hymns) that they want to sell for half price. As these books are being used in a number of our churches Br. Friesen thought that there might be those who would be able to use them. They are said to be in fair shape. Contact: Rev. Ben Friesen

1300 Walker Street Swift Current, Sask. 4

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