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March 8. 1963 Vol. 1, No. 5

EVANGELICAL MENNONITE

the

CONFERENCE

missEnoE IN THIS ISSUE

Clinic Work in Mexico 3 Who is My Neighbor 4

My Testimony ■

Ordination at Heron 8

Combined clinic and living quarters at Picacho, Mexico Our Mission work in Mexico dates back to September 1954 when the first missionary couple crossed the El Paso-Juarez customs into Mexico, h'rom these beginnings the Lord has prospered the work so that last year there were 15 adult missionaries on four different stations re quiring a total support of over fifteen hundred dollars per month.

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Up to 1962. there were 75 Mexicans who had been ac cepted into the church.

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«• • . LET YOUR CONDUCT BE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST . .

PHIL. 1:27

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about this question, why not turn to page four of this issue of The Messenger for an exposition on Luke 10:25-37.

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SEED THOUGHTS FOUND IN GALATIANS By Don P. Shidler

WHO ELSE IS THERE? Who is my neighbor? This question was asked long ago by one who wanted to justify himself. It is a question that I also have asked myself over and over again. A little incident which happened about 6 months ago, again brought the problem into sharper focus. The Home Department superintendent was showing the film “Who Else is There” to promote Home Department. Hearing a commotion at the door I went to investigate. There stood some four ragged urchins, “We came to see the thing, the film” said one. Quickly and in no uncertain terms I told them that this was not for them. (You see we were too busy hearing about “Who Else is There?” to tolerate interruptions whereupon they sadly left. I suppose I had not yet taken my seat when conscience smitten, I realized what I had done. I had sent away from the house of God the very ones who belonged to “thbse others”. But we could not be interrupted! We were getting information on “Who Else is There.” Can you see how blind we can get? Here they were at our door, and I didn’t recognize them as the “others.” Need less to say I went right back and invited them in. They stayed till the film was over, then left. But we can become so immersed in a program; that we fail to see the real need. I have sometimes wondered, must we always deal with our message point by point till we reach the conclusion; the application; before we can act? Must we always stick to a prepared outline and program? Outlines and pro grams are good, but where does the Holy Spirit come in? I think this relationship is very aptly illustrated in Acts 9. Phillip was having a mighty revival in Samaria. No doubt he had much work left there, instructing the believers etc. But the Angel of the Lord said to Phillip “go”. “He arose and went”. I wonder what we would have done in similar circumstances? Jesus was teaching on divorce when suddenly there is on interruption. There was a delegation of young children. The disciples believing that the Master was of course far too busy to be bothered with children, rebuked them. But here is where they made a mistake. They must have learned a lesson that they long remembered for when Jesus saw it. He was “much displeased”. And he gives us that well known saying “Suffer the little children to come unto Me” Let’s make very sure that the next time we are “interrupted” in the multitude of “good things” that we have to get done (meetings, engagements, teaching, keep ing appointments) we do not fail to recognize the appoint ments of God. Remember the good is often the enemy of the best. May God give us grace to recognize our neighbor and help him. It is so easy to see “our neighbor” in our friends loved ones and business associates. But Jesus said “If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you. Even sinners love those who love them . . .” Who then is my neighbor? If you are stUl bothered 2

Galatians was written by Paul from Rome about 58 A.D. The key thought is that man is saved by grace plus no thing. The Galatian letter settles it forever that man is free from the law as a means of salvation. Galatia was a province of the Roman Empire in Asia Minor. It gets its name from Gaul or the Celtic people who settled there about 280 B.C. The people were impulsive and quick to receive impres sions. Ihey had given Paul a ready welcome and quickly accepted Christianity. Alter Paul left these churches certain Judaizers drew them away to the observance of the ceremonial law, in the same way they had tried at Antioch (Acts 15:1). They were also drawn to the thought of justification by keeping the law. These teachers had evidently openly denied Paul’s apostolic authority. The purpose of the letter is to trace Paul’s Gospel back to God Himself and to show that the believer is free from the law and saved by faith alone. The key verse is 5:1. We recommend that our readers memorize this verse and follow the outlines with their Bibles each month. We will consider a simple threefold outline of the epistle: 1. Personal (Chapters 1 and 2). 2. Doctrinal (Chapters 3 and 4). 3. Practical (Chapters 5 and 6). The study of this epistle is of tremendous importance to every Christian for as Bishop Eiliot put it, “Alas! Galatianism is ever with us. The Judaizers of the Early Church were the precursors of our modern Ritualists, They always have the same characteristics—retrograded, downgraded, ex aggerated views of ritual, of sacraments, bondage, and the exaltation of man at the expense of the Christ of God.” Galatians is as a beacon and lighthouse to warn us of the danger of Galatianism which is ever present. Here we have a clear light of truth on God’s way of salvation. Emphatic are “Faith,” “Grace,” “Liberty”' and “the Cross;” and important couplets are: “Law and Grace,” “Faith and Works.” and “Flesh and Spirit.” I trust these studies will be as helpful to others as they have been to me in my studies of Galatians over a period of years. (To be Continued) (Ed. This is the first in a series on Galatians by Don P. Shidler.

The Messenger Off-Cial organ, in tlie English language, of the EVANGELICAL MENNONITE OONPEilENCE. Published biweekly under the aus pices of the E. M. C. BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AND EDUCATION. Editor, David K. Sehelleiiberg, 502 Fifth Ave. N.W. Portage la Prairie, Man. Authorized as second class mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa, and fcr payment of postage in cash.

THE MESSENGER

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MISSIONS

some showed deep interest and de sired literature monthly, these were put on the list. A few borrowed Christ ian books to read. We were able to ex plain the way of salvation simply to

HEAL THE SICK BY ELIZABETH REIMER

Nurse! Nurse! Enfermera! Enfermera! (nurse! nurse!) cried an elderly lady through the window one early morning. “Ahorita” I managed to answer while rub bing the sleep out of my eyes. What could have happened now! I wondered as I hurried to unlock the clinic door. There facing me was a groaning wo man covered with blankets attended by several broad shouldered men and a little old woman. “Pasele, pasele,” I told them as I ushered them into our clinic. Immediately the elderly lady explained the patient’s condition and the various remedies she already had administered. She had given bebidas (weed drinks), had applied oil, had firmly tied a kerchief around her fore head, etc. yet all seemed to be in vain. We soon realized her case to be ser ious, possibly menigitis. So we quickly administered a strong sedative and sent them to the doctor.

Yes, the day had begun. We prayed, “Lord, make us a blessing to some one today. Give us passion for the lost. Give us strength and wisdom to lead them to Thee.” When He Saw the Multitudes! By noon numerous trailers and carts were lined up in front of the clinic with patients waiting for their turn of consultation. There were undernour-

some with skin diseases due to vitamin deficiency, uncleanliness, filthy drink ing water, and other reason.?. There were others with sore ears, often wood ticks were found in them. Then there were those with high temperatures. These frequeuntly have a special kind of leaves applied to their temples, which are believed to serve as pain relievers and temperature reducers. Also there were some with dysentry, vomiting whooping cough, and other minor ailments. Most of these, of course, were brought in dirty and un changed since the day they became ill. An application of water to a sick person, according to their idea, could mean death. Often their sicknesses are referred to as caused by a bath. We laugh, but realize the possibilities when we see the methods they use.

Too Late! Then in the midst of the work a house call was to be made immediate ly. 'The sign “Out in the village. Will return soon.’ was quickly pinned on the door and I rushed to the home to find out what had happened. A 4 year old was found enfolded in her mother’s arms gasping for breath. They had given her an alkaseltzer with Pepsi Cola, a grandmother’s prescription, to relieve her severe case of tonsilitis. She choked to death within a few hours. They were unable to reach the doctor in time.

Day’s End The day was far spent. One was tired but strangely at peace, as one paused to watch the sun slowly sinking be hind the rugged mountains leaving the last rays of light gleaming in the sky. The activities of the day seemed to unfold in ones mind and the great question arose. What have I done for ished children, who possibly lived most my Master today? Was I a blessing ly on rice water and coffee, (even new to someone? — Yes, we handed out borns are given this diet). There were Christian Literature to most of them, .

March 8, 1963

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some as they listened reverently. One couple entered with whom we had scripture reading and prayer. They seemed so close to accepting Christ as their Saviour. Yet one wondered — is it all in vain? So few are really saved. Is my passion for them too small? God’s Word says “. . . your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Let us stand together in prayer for a greater pas sion for the lost and for lives yielded and controlled by His Spirit.

* * * More people more problems; With World population racing well past the 3,000,000,000 mark, we face greater human problems then any proceeding generation. More then a third of the world — perhaps half of the world — suffers from chronic hunger of malnu trition. A spokesman for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organ ization has said that unless vast new sources of food can be tapped, the number of the world’s hungry will continue to grow. President Sekou Toure of Guinea pointed out some of these human prob lems when he said, “Our century is not only one of overproduction and the perfecting of technical means and of great scientific discoveries; it is also a century of endemic famine, of leprosy, of record rates of infant mor tality and ignorance. It is not only a world of space vehicles, it is also the world of those who urgently need wheelbarrows, hoes and trucks. It is not only the world of interplanetary voyages, it is also the world of vil lages imprisoned in jungles and des erts.” —Prophetic Word * • *

* If you’ve lost the key to success, look for it in your working clothes-

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A Call to Action

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR By ELMER H. HAMM

The Question This heart-searching and earnest question, which, if the Christian ap plies it to himself is of much greater significance than we may commonly recognize. The original question when asked of Jesus by a certain lawyer, as recorded in Luke 10:29, was not in tended to reveal to him his own responsibiuity to his feljowman but to de fend himself in his position as a selfrighteous Jew. Notice that the lawyer did not ask “How may I inherit eternal life?” but “what can I do to inherit eternal life?” When we consider the connecting word "And”, it appears quite probable that this lawyer had overheard the pre ceding discourse of Jesus to the seventy disciples who had just returned from their mission tour. “So we take the tempting point to be the fact that this man was discouraged by what he had heard and offered his question to show that more was required for eternal life than just to see and to hear what Jesus was showing the Seventy.”!

What is Written in the Law? The Lord Jesus meets and answers the lawyer’s question on his own ground. “What is written in the law?’’ Jesus asked. And he answering said, “Thou Shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself.’’ And He said unto him, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou Shalt live.” A more correct translation of this last phrase would be, “This keep doing and thou Shalt have eternal life as thy lot.” “The present imper ative, keep doing, means without a single break for one failure would bring in sin and guilt and would there by raise an entirely different ques tion . . . That answer was intended to show him his fatal mistake regarding the law as a means of securing life.”2 The purpose of the law is to serve as a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith.”3 Since the Jews’ interpretation of neighbor excluded all Gentiles, espe cially the Samaritans, and included

only those of their own nation and religion it is probable that the lawyer felt that he was fulfilling the required law. However, after Jesus had shown him by way of this parable that even the Samaritan was his neighbor, he could readily see that he had failed. To love the Lx>rd his God with all his heart, . . . and his neighbor as himself, would require the grace of God ob tainable only through salvation by faith in Christ.

Who is My Neighbor?

Spiritually speaking then, who is my neighbor? Considering the commission of Christ, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”4 and “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth,”5 I am inclined to be lieve that all men are my neighbors and that I am being held responsible for reaching as many of these for Christ as I possibly can. Secondly, I fear that far too much of our church programming is cen tered around the pampering of our al ready overfed, dissatisfied church, in stead of challenging it’s members to disperse into all Judea and into the re gions beyond in order to be an effect ive witness for Christ. Many whose talents now lie dormant through the lack of opportunity or challenge in the home church could be a real blessing assisting in some remote place where a lonely missionary, or one or two Christian families are desperately struggling to keep a small work go ing, but may soon be forced to give up for lack of sufficient help. Then there are also many untapped areas that have not been entered by a personal witness of the gospel and because of our neglect the false cults are going in with alarming results. Just recently I heard of a remark made by a cer tain false cult witness who stated that people in her home vicinty were hard and indifferent, but every Sunday they are driving out into a neglected dis trict, some 125 miles away where al most every home is open to them and people are hungry and eager to accept their literature and teaching.

Christian friends, how can we sit back and ignore our responsibility when seeking souls are perishing for lack of the personal touch of a true Christian witness? Maybe it would be better to drop our Sunday evening church services, rally our church mem bers into groups, and spend the after noons and evenings in going out to do personal witnessing! Then there is another area. Are we truly anxious to help and reach the neglected and needy ones in our vicin ity, or do we prefer to teach and preach only to those-who are more respectable and well-dressed? Jesus said that we are to go out into highways and by ways and compel them to come in. The people usually found on the high ways and byways are the ill-clad, the despised, the rejected, the drunkards and the harlots. Beloved, unless our hearts are filled with a loving com passion for these as weU, I’m afraid our Christianity is a sham, empty and void.

In conclusion, my responsibility to my neighbor includes to be there where my Lord and Master leads me and where I can do the most for Him. I am fully aware of the fact that there are many fears and difficulties to be overcome in moving out for God into distant fields with our fcimiles. Never theless we need to move, trusting in Him who said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye there fore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have told you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”6 The assurance of His abiding presence is the blessed portion of those who are obeying and following His command.

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Bibliography

IR. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of of St. Luke’s Gospel (Columbus: Wartburg Press, 1946), p. 595-6. 2Ibid, p. 601 SGalations 3:24 4Mark 16:15 5 Acts 1:8 SMatthew 28:18-20

Elmer Hamm is the pastor at our Mac Gregor church.

THE MESSENGER

feats and blessings. There will be no “study” papers. Fellowship is to be one of the dominant notes of the meeting. From 75-100 ministers are expected at the conference. The larger Confer ences will each be sending 15. while He had died for me. Then she read the smaller ones ten. The planning com John 3:16 to me. That afternoon two mittee has suggested that a cross-sec MY TESTIMONY names, Ileen’s and mine, were written tion of ministers from each conference By Diane Wilkes down in heaven in the book of life. attend, i.e., from larger and smaller The two of us were the happiest churches from city and rural churches, To some people the most important part of their life is fame and fortune. girls on earth! And not only we, but from mission and “mother’ churches, the angels too, were rejoicing. I thought etc. To me it is much more than that. Each conference or church decides This part of my life came at the I heard them! I’ll never forget that age of nine at a Bible Camp. Carol day. I’ll also never forget that He has by its own method who shall attend ( from its ministers. Also each confer was sleeping and Joan was reading a plan for me. A few years later I found the verse ence decides on its own financial ap the Bible. There were two other girls beside Been and myself. I lay there in Romans 12:1 that tells me to be a proach to the question of the expenses thinking about last night’s sermon. ■living sacrifice. This is reasonable for of its attending ministers. The minis As far as accepting Jesus as my Sav me, because it is His will. It is also ters who plan to attend should make iour — well I was not sure about that. the only way in which I can show God their own reservations at the hotel in Chicago early. My mother had always told me about how much I love Him. Through my growing Christian life At this time six conferences are Him ever since I was small. actively participating. These are the Finally without further hesitation I have had much help from people Mennonite Church (OM), the General I asked to be excused. Ileen who felt who have given their bodies a living Conference, the Mennonite Confer the same way as I did asked if she sacrifice for their Lord. The gates are still open to every ence. The evangei-Mennonite Bre could come along. Holding on to each thren, the Brethren Christ, and the others hands for moral support we person. Salvation is free and yet price Evangelical Mennonite Conference. jvalked to our class teacher’s tent. It less. A few years down here is not to The Evangelical Mennonite Mission was here that God knocked at my be compared with happy time in hea Church and the Church of God in heart’s door. The teacher said that ven someday. * ♦ ♦ Christ (Mennonite) are also being in I must open the door. She said that vited. The theme of the ministers’ confer OVER 75 MINISTERS TO ATTEND UNPRECEDENTED MEETING IN ence will be “Our Fellowship in the CHICAGO IN MAY Ministry with Christ.” Paul’s letter to at the Mennonite World Conference at the Ephesians will be the foundation of the Bible study and discussion. Each By Archie Penner Kitchener, Ontario. day will have its own specific theme. Six Conferences Iowa City, Iowa — The days of May On the first day, Tuesday “the Min 7-9 have been set aside for a unique From the committee meetings at Kit ister as a Person, as an individual, in conference of Mennonite ministers of chener, at which representatives from his calling” will toe the theme. North America. six conferences were in attendance, The subject for the second day will This will be the first time in the his came a concrete development. Decisions be “the minister and as -well as in his tory of the Mennonite church that its were made to have this conference, as (Congregation.” ministers from all parts of the United well as to its location and date. “The Minister in his Wider Respons States and Canada will meet in this A smaller committee for the further ibilities” will be the subject on the last way. planning of the conference and its day. This subject will raise the ques Because the city of Chicago is cen execution was appointed Dr. Erland tions about the minister’s relationships trally located and because of its varied Walter was appointed chairman, Elk outside of his church and his respons facilities, this city has been chosen as hart, Indiana; Archie Penner was ap ibility in the conference and even be the location of the conference. The pointed secretary, Iowa City, Iowa; yond it. ministers will meet at the South Wa Nelson Kauffman of Elkhart, Indiana It is expected that every minister bash YMCA Hotel, and Henry Dick of Shafter, Calfornia will make his indivdual contribution in A number of years ago, the late H. S. were appointed members. participation and that he will become Bender with the brethren, which at The purpose of the conference is personally involved in the problems, that time constituted the Mennonite unique and important. It will not be questions, blessings and answers as World Conference Committee of North a decision making conference. It is well as experience the personal pre America had the vision and urge to intended to be a time when minister sence of Christ in a new way. call such a conference. will meet minister and share with each The closing session will be dismissed Finally, after five Mennonite con other. They will meet to study the at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. It will be, ferences had favourably responded to Word to pray, to try to understand it is expected, a meeting of real spir an invitation to participate, the ground each other. The ministers will discuss itual import. There will be testimonies, work and plans were laid last summer their mutual problems, victories, de prayers and a few items of business.

TRUTH FOR YOUTH

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March 8, 1963

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CHILDREN’S STORY

Lincoln By Linda Leigrh

Tommy heard a scratching at the kitchen door. There was a soft whim per, too. Tommy ran across the room. “Oh, it’s a little puppy,” Tommy cried happily, when he looked out the back door. “Why he’s almost frozen.” He picked up the puppy and shut the door. How soft and furry the little dog was. His round, plump body was wet with snowdrops. His tiny nose and four little feet were very cold. “I have my puppy now,” Tommy sang. “The very one I’ve been want ing.”

Just then Cissie came into the room. She stopped to pet the little dog. “Wonder who it belongs to?” Cissie asked. Tommy began to feel glum. When he had found the little puppy, and taken him in out of the cold he had never thought but that he could keep him. He had not thought of anyone else claiming him.’ The very thought made Tommy gloiymy and very sad. He had wanted a playful puppy like this one for months. Daddy and Mother agreed to let him have a dog but they had not been able to locate one. Now to find a perfect dog and not be able to keep him! “Finders keepers,” Tommy told Cis sie. “Oh, no,” Cissie disagreed. “Not al ways.” “If no one calls for him, he’ll be mine,” Tommy said. “I would keep him then.” Tommy was thinking that he could keep quiet about finding the puppy, and no one would know that he had one.

Perhaps by spring, when the puppy had grown a lot, the person he be longed to would not recognize him. Tom ran to find his mother. “May I have that old white plate?” he asked. “And some bread and milk. I have my puppy.” Mother nodded, and Tommy went back to the kitchen as fast he could rur. He had not given Mother time to ask where he got the puppy. She was busy dressing his baby sister. If he hurried he could be on his way to school before Mother got to the kitchen. The puppy ate like a pig, lapping the plate again and again with his pink tongue. Tommy made a bed behind the kitchen stove and put him in it. Then he fairly ran to school. “I must not be late for school today,” Tommy said half-aloud.

Abraham Lincoln would not have hid-

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den away the puppy. He would have tried very hard to find the dog’s owner. Tommy talked the matter over with Mother.

Today was Lincoln’s birthday. Tom my’s class was having a program. Ev eryone had a part in it. They were going to sing a song, and they had practiced it until they knew it well. Some of the boys and girls would recite poems that had been writ ten about Lincoln.

“i’ll send in an advertisement to the Lost and Found section of the eve ning paper,” Mother suggested.

Tommy had one of the very longest recitations. He was happy that he knew it so well. It was about the time when Lincoln had been a clerk in a small store at New Salem Ill. Lincoln had treated everyone so fairly in business dealings that they began to call him “Honest Abe.”

It was a little past suppertime when some one knocked. A man stood at the door.. With him was a boy Tommy’s age.

Tommy was happy to stand up there in front of his class and to teU them about Lincoln. He recited his verse, slowly and clearly just as his teacher had taught him to do. Finally, the program was over, and Tommy went home for lunch. He hoped that Mother would not ask him where he got the puppy. Perhaps she would think that one of his school friends had brought it on the way to school.

The puppy seemed glad to see him. He scampered all over the floor. Tom my took him up in his arms and hugged him hard. “I’ll not take it out where anyone can see him until he’s grown a good bit,” Tommy told himself. But somehow. Tommy could not get the thought of Lincoln out of his mind. “What would Lincoln have done?” he asked himself. And then he knew. Without a doubt.

Tommy tried to keep from hoping that the owner would not read the pap er. But of course almost everyone in town did read it.

“We’ve just moved into the yellow house in the next block,’’ the man said. “Towser wandered away.” He showed Mother papers to prove that the puppy belonged to them. Tommy watched the boy take his dog up in his arms. How glad the little puppy seemed to be when he was there. His red tongue licked the boy’s hand. Of course, the boy was grinning from ear to ear.

“My name is Billy,” the boy told Tommy. “I’ll be in your room at school. We can have lots of fun, you, Towser and I.”

It would be almost as much fun as owning a dog himself, to be able to share one.

“We go up north every summer,” Billy’s father explained. Towser might visit with you that month, if you’d like him.” Tommy thought that Towser’s visit would be the most fun of all. And it was. —Gospel Herald

THE MESSENGER

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MOMMY, WHAT SHALL I DO?

by Mrs. Henry B. Dueck

“Mommy, what shall I do?” What mother hasn’t heard this over and over again? It may be voiced by a preschool er after the older children have gone off to school, or by a convelescing from an illness, or by a children not sick enough, but too sick to run around. This can be quite a problem, can’t it? This seems to be the time of the year when colds, the flu, etc., are quite common. At our house our little girl has been sick for a week now, so you can imagine my entertainment prob lem. A sick child needs first and foremost our loving sympathy and understand ing along with this the medicine the doctor prescribes. Give the sick child as much of your companionship as is reasonably possible even though you may have to neglect some of your huosehold duties. They say that hold ing, cuddling and loving a baby when it is sick is a great help in its recovery. This goes for any child whatever it’s age. Play quiet games with him for it’s so much more fun with mother! Get out the snapshots of bygone days and tell interesting things about the aunts and uncles, about the time when he was a baby, or about any other things the pictures may remind you of. Good books read to him or to read by him self, picture and colouring books are always popular. The little girl will like her dolly close by to dress and give medicine to. The small boy will enjoy his small cars, imagining the humps on the blanket are hills. Cutting out families of paper dolls from old cata logues,, or pictures and poems from old magazines and pasting them into a scrapbook can provide entertainment for hours! Our daughter likes to play she’s having a program, where she plays her favorite records and acts as chairman, reading out the titles from the covers before each song or story. This is also an ideal time for impart ing spiritual truths. God loves us even if He allows us to be sick. He permits

March 8, 1963

this so that He can draw us closer to Himself. Show him that all things work together for good for those who love God. Pray with the child, that if it is God’s will, to make him well again and to help him bear his illness patiently. And when the child is well again, praise and thank God together for answered prayer. May God bless you. * * * MENNO HOME OF SASKATHEWAN (ED. Since we have a number of ^churches in Saskatchewan we thought the following News release would be of sufficient interest to include in the Messenger.) The Menno Home at Waldheim is presently nearing its final stages of construction. Painting, tiles, electrical, and plumbing need only the final touches. Eaton’s is presently in the process of setting up the furniture and hanging the drapes. The home is be coming an impressive unit for the adult (16 and over) mild mental and retarded guests it shall become a home for. As a board we are in the process of outlining the policies and functions of the home and are now awaiting app lications from those who wish to use these services. We have set April 1st as our opening date. Il there are such within your congregation who are awaiting the opening of this home, we would have you or them write the home for application and doctor cer tificate forms. Those of you who have your names listed on a survey several years ago will receive a personal not ice as well. We would wish to remind the var ious congregations or their ladies aids to accept the challenge that was ren dered at the annual meeting to provide the balance of the means required to to construct and equip the home. Ap preciate and wish to acknowledge our appreciation for each and every don ation of time and money that has been rendered. Further remittances still may be directed to Mr. K. K. Klassen, the M.R.I.C. secretary at Herschel or di rectly to the home at Waldheim. The board also invites applications lor the various positions. Interested ones may send in their application or write for an application form. If any further information is required in regard to the home, admittance of guests or the staff, don’t hesitate to inquire. The Menno Home Executive, John Bartel Sec. * * *

Steinbach Bible Instintute The students of the Steinbach Bible Institute sponsored a special music night on January 26 featuring the Ca nadian Mennonite Bible College chor ale of Winnipeg as guest singers. The fine program of hymns, classics and spirituals was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. The informal time of fellowship and lunch following the pro gram gave the students opportunity to compare and discuss the various aspects of study and activity of their schools.

A similar evening was held on Feb ruary 16, when the Gospel Light Hour choir brought an inspiring program. On February 5. Miss Betsy Theaker, Ontario dierctor of Child Evangelism Fellowship, visited the school. Through a series of slides entitled “Doorways” she brought before the students the challenge of child evangelism, pointing out the many open doors to this work all over the world.

Other visitors have been the Rev. George Thomas of the Unevangelized Fields Mission and the Rev. Harold Germaine of the Sudan Interior Mis sion. Many parents and friends came to visit the school “Open House” day, February 15. This proved to be an en riching experience.

At the end of February the S.B.I. chorale will again begin its annual visitation program to the Mennonite churches of Manitoba. These programs are rendered with the purpose of en couraging young people to attend Bible School and to give the churches a better insight into the achievements and goals of the school. Lena Dueck

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In a church-wide visitation campaign called “operation Doorbell” members of the church of the Nazarene con tacted 501,496 families or about 1,500,000 persons, in a 14 day period in Oct ober, according to district reports reaching world offices in Kansas City, Mo.

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“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

NEWS ORDINATION OF MINISTER AT HERON

Sunday, Feb. 24th was to us a day of rich blessing. In the morning wor ship Rev. Frank Reimer served us with an inspiring message. In the afternoon a big event took place when Bro. and Sis. Henry Klassen were ordained into the ministry. We are indeed thank ful that God has restored Bro. Klas sen’s health again, and may we be in prayer for the brother and sister that they might have the full joy to serve the Lord. The main speakers were Rev. Frank Kroeker and Rev. Frank Reimer. We were also glad to have the min isters from Butler congregation with us. We also thank the guests who came to share in the blessings. The Frank Kroekers who have served us so faithfully for almost two years will be leaving us in the beginnig of March. We are plannng a farewell program for the 26th. We are sorry to see the Kroekers leave us, but our prayers go with them that the Lord might lead and direct them, as they leave for their new mission field in Paraguay. At night we had our Christian En deavor, which was completely ren dered by the sisters. The theme was, “The Sisters’ Duties in the Church”. Instead of a message we had a panel discussion on what a sister or mother’s duty is at home, church, at work or as a minister’s wife. It was a real blessing to all of us. Mrs. Leora Thiessen

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MORWEENA Welcome guests at the Morweena Church of Arborg on Feb. 24 were Rev. and Mrs. Peter P. Friesen of Ridgewood. The inspiring message which Rev. Friesen delivered in the morning was about “Discipleship”. Isn’t it much easier to accept the free gift of sal vation than paying the cost of being a faithful disciple? In the afternoon and evening we had special meetings conducted by Deacon Clarence Huber, a Conservative Mennonite, from Alma, Ontario. He gave a message based on Genesis 6 :l-5. This portion of the time before the flood was compared to the time we now live in. In the evening he spoke on the growth of a Christian. * * » Inter-Mennonite Sunday School Convention in Winnipeg The second Inter-Mennonite Sunday School Convention was held in Winni peg from Feb. 22-24 in the Portage Ave. M.B. Church. The speaker for the inspirational sessions was Rev. J. T. Friesen of Bluffton, Ohio, who mani fested a deep interest and insight in Christian education. There were also the different workshops, numbering forty, where all the departments of the Sunday school were dealt with as well as many other topics closely linked with the teaching responsibility of the

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church. A banquet was served on Sat urday evening. No doubt those who attended this convention have been challenged and inspired to more effective service in the teaching ministry of the Church. Peter Dueck * * * Carman Churches Sponsor Crusade A joint crusade with the theme, “Bible Prophecy and Israel” was held in the Carman Memorial Hall from February 17 - 22. The main speaker was Mr. Simon Forsberg of the Multnomah Institute of the Bible. He was assisted by Dr. Montz and Rev. Harry Flaumbaum of Winnipeg. Carman and district churches tak ing part were the following: Bergthaler, Mennonite Brethren, Penticostal, Evangelical Mennonite and General Conference. Chairman of the Crusade was Rev. A. Quiring of the Mennonite Brethren.

Mrs. Ben Eidse at Portage In spite of the cold February wea ther 39 ladies gathered in the base'ment auditorium of the E.M.C. Church at Portage la Prairie on the 25th of Feb. for an evening of enjoyable fel lowship. Seventeen of the ladies had coms in from MacGregor district, while our guest speaker, Mrs. Benny Eidse, came a distance of 100 miles from Steinbach. It was a great pleasure to have Mrs. Eidse consent, upon such short notice, to speak to us. Having been unable to accompany her husband previously to the Portage church, this was Mrs. Eidse’s first visit here. The Eidses are scheduled to return to Africa on March 9, (again post poned two weeks. Ed.) Mrs. Eidse expressed her desire to send names of native Christian women to us that we might adopt them as prayer sisters. Not only did we derive much infor mation from the talk which was highly interesting, but the work of the mis sionaries in the Congo will likely be of more concern to us from now on. Es pecially as a “Mission” Group we pray that our hearts might be more bur dened for the many lost souls in the Congo. Helen Klassen THE MESSENGER