The Messenger February 12, 1982

The Messenger CONEERENCE EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE

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INSIDE: • Four Ways To Faith • MCC (Can.) Meets in Winnipeg • Missionary Conference: Region 8

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Four Roads to Faith Samuel Escobar

ow do people come to Christ? What leads them to enter into a rela­ tionship with him? What paths do most people travel in order to find Christ? We usually think people become Christians by hearing the message, following steps 1, 2, 3, 4 and coming to a decision. But this presupposition is too narrow—and so is our evangelism if we follow it. Ask some people in your church or fellowship how they became Christians, especially those who do not come from a church background. You will be surprised with the circumstances and ways of their becoming Christians. I have done it, and my conclusion is that there are at least four different avenues to Christ. We need to know how to meet a friend’s need at any of these four levels.

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1. Search for Truth Let’s start with the most common one, the one to which we refer most when we think about evangelism. That is the avenue we would call search for truth. We have a biblical example in the Gospel of John. This man Nicodemus comes to Jesus with some questions. The way John speaks of him and his search is instructive, because he gives us the details. “There was one of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Council, who came to Jesus by night. ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘we know that you are a teacher sent by God; no one could per­ form these signs of yours unless God were with him. “Jesus answered, ‘In truth, in very truth I tell you, unless a man has been born over again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ “ ‘But how is it possible,’ said Nicodemus, ‘for a man to be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb a

Taking four biblical characters from the New Testament, Samuel Escobar illustrates four ways in which people may come to Christ to­ day.

second time and be born?’ ” (Jn. 3:1-4 NEB). So this fellow is serious enough to come with his questions and concerns. He comes to Jesus because he sees in Jesus a rabbi, a teacher. He comes in search of teaching. He has some questions and he pursues these questions. In the universities today and through groups like Inter-Varsity, many people come to Christ that way. Some kind of in­ tellectual curiosity brings them to their first contact with a Christian group. They have some questions, they are asking, they are searching. Maybe theirs is not an elaborate philosophical search, but it is still a search for truth. I was talking with a group of high schoolers in Calgary who were telling how they became Christians. One of them said, “Well, I saw an ad about a discus­ sion in the club on witchcraft and Christianity. I was Interested in the whole issue of witchcraft. The ad caught my attention and I went to the discussion because I had some questions.” ■ That’s the way he became a Christian. Maybe you could find some in your group who came because of an idea on a poster

that attracted them. They were in­ terested in the idea and wanted to pursue it. Like Nicodemus, they came because they had questions.

2. Interest in a Person There are other people who come in a different way. We find one of them in the Gospel of Luke. Again, the text tells a lot: “Entering Jericho he made his way through the city. There was a man there named Zacchaeus; he was superintendent of taxes and very rich. He was eager to see what Jesus looked like” (Lk. 19:1-3 NEB). For Zacchaeus it is not so much a ques­ tion of ideas. It is more an interest in peo­ ple, a person—"}, want to see what he looks like!” When Billy Graham was in Cordoba, the city in Argentina where I live, I saw one of my neighbors in the stadium atten­ ding the Graham meeting. I had been in­ viting him to go to church, with no success. He is a man I never would have thought would go to the stadium. And then I saw him going to the front when the call came! When I saw him later, I told him I had seen him in the stadium. “Yes,” he said, “I have heard so much about this fellow Graham, I wanted to see him closely. I put up with the sermon because I knew that at the end there was a chance of getting a good look.” He was curious; he wanted to see what this man looked like. He did not become a Christian. In this man Zacchaeus, there is an interest quite different from that of Nicodemus. “But, being a little man, he could not see him for the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see him, for he was to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, be quick and THE MESSENGER

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come down; I must come and stay with you today.’ He climbed down as fast as he could and welcomed him gladly” (Lk. 19:3-6 NEB). There is no intellectual exercise at all, no questions answered, no search for truth. This is a personal encounter, a relationship. This man wants to know what Jesus looks like. He probably is a solitary man (tax collectors were not popular). What is his need? His need is for a meaningful relationship. That’s where it itches! And so what is Jesus’ answer? He says, “I’m going to stay in your home and eat with you.” In that Eastern situation, nothing could be more expressive to Jesus’ desire to take him seriously as a person and to risk having his friendship. Jesus was called a friend of publicans and sinners. For some, truth is in people and they want to have a meaningful relationship with others that will really get them to the truth. 3. Challenge of Commitment There is another way to Christ. I think the most interesting example is Paul, in Acts 9:1-6. “Meanwhile Saul was still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the High Priest and applied for letters to the synagogues at Damascus authorizing him to arrest anyone he found, men or women, who followed the new way, and bring them to Jerusalem. “While he was still on the road and nearing Damascus, suddenly a light flashed from the sky all around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say­ ing ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ “ ‘Tell me. Lord,’ he said, ‘who are you.’ “The voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do’ ” (NEB). Saul’s life can be described in one word: commitment. He is a committed man. He is a go-getter, an avowed anti-Christian. He is convinced, entirely immersed in the cause of Judaism. He sees the Christians as a danger. So when he becomes a follower of Jesus, the quality of his commitment will be the same. He is a man who is going to burn for Jesus. He is ready to give everything he has; his life is characteriz­ ed by this commitment. And probably the only thing that will take him out of one type of commitment will be something that is worth more than what he is com­ mitted to now. FEBRUARY 12, 1982

Some people come to Christ only when they are challenged by a commitment higher than their own.

The stoning of Stephen may be a key in all this. It’s a moving scene. Stephen is just a layman, not one of the apostles, but he is a strong man who gives a brave and powerful message. In Acts 7:51-52 he has strong words: “How stubborn you are, heathen still at heart and deaf to the truth! You always fight against the Holy Spirit. Like fathers, like sons. Was there ever a prophet whom your fathers did not persecute?” Stephen’s words infuriated the crowd. You’ll notice that when people in the book of Acts preach the gospel, it is not usually a nice series of lectures in a comfortable atmosphere where people listen in the same way they would listen to a lecture about the latest discovery in nuclear physics. No, there is something in this gospel that enrages them, something that challenges, something that touches not only the head, but also the heart; it touches people at gut level. We know that Stephen was killed; they dragged him out of the city and stoned him. And they didn’t just leave their coats at the feet of the young man named Saul—the chapter says that Saul was among those who approved of Stephen’s murder. It was there that God started to speak to Saul. Stephen was a committed man who was ready to die for his cause. In fact, he was dying for his cause. The one who is committed takes commitment seriously in others. That’s the only thing that can challenge him. So Saul was im­ pressed by Stephen. Committed to Marxism This is the reason why it’s very difficult to communicate the gospel to Marxists. Usually Marxists, in order to be Marxists (when they are in minority) have to be very committed people. You can only change committed people by showing more commitment. If God is God, he demands more, and it is worth giving your all for him. That is

not only worth living for, but also dying for. That’s the way I became a Christian. I became a Christian because I was put to shame by my Marxist friends. Here I was, able to answer all the questions. I had gone through a course on apologetics in high school. Our minds were sharpened in the process of trying to answer questions. So, Marxism didn’t at­ tract me intellectually. But I was put to shame by the commitment of my Marxist friends. One day I took Hector, my Marxist friend who became the leader of the guerillas in Peru, to my church. After trying for months and months, I finally got him to come. It was Saturday, the day of a social meeting for young people. At the end of the evening, I was talking with him and I said, “Tell me. Hector, what do you think about our church?” And he said, “Well, you know, it’s very easy to be a Christian.” “What do you mean?” “They give you a room, they give you a ping-pong table, they give you hot chocolate after the meeting. You have a great time there. Do you know that I am risking my life for the party? They don’t give me anything! Do you know that I have to give so many hours of my time a week to do this and that for the party?/f’s too easy to be a Christian.” That kind of shocking experience made me take my Christianity seriously. Some people come to Christ only when they are challenged by a commitment higher than their own.

4. Touch of Power There is one more avenue to Jesus which we see over and over in Scrip­ ture—namely, through the touch of his power. We have an example of it in the Gospel of John; “Later on Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now at the Sheep-Pool in Jerusalem there is a place with five colonnades. Its name in the language of the Jews is Bethesda. “In these colonnades there lay a crowd of sick people, blind, lame, and paralyzed. Among them was a man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and was aware that he had been ill a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to recover?’ “ ‘Sir,’ he replied, ‘I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is disturb­ ed, but while I am moving, someone else is in the pool before me.’ “Jesus answered, ‘Rise to your feet, (cont’d. next page) PAGE 3

take up your bed and walk.’ The man recovered instantly, took up his stretcher, and began to walk” (5:1-9 NEB). Now this man comes to Jesus in a different way, by a different route: by feeling his touch of power. And many these days come to him that way. Don’t misunderstand me; many people whom Jesus healed didn’t even come back to say thank you. Do you remember the ten lepers? Nine of them went away without even saying thank you. A miracle was no guarantee that people would become followers of Jesus. He didn’t use miracles for that. What I am saying is that Jesus comes to the lives of some people not after an in­ tellectual search nor by some of the other roads that we have mentioned, but rather through his own act of power in their lives. While travelling in the Maritimes of Canada with Ted MacDougal, I saw some young people who had come to Christ because Christ had been powerful in their lives in a way no one could explain. It was simply that a powerful act of God shocked them, got them off of drugs and helped them at a crucial moment in their lives. No intellectual argument, nothing else. Just a powerful act of God.

titude of caring which can represent Christ to them. All of us need both truth and love. 2. For the curious who want to en­ counter something in a person, you may be the one they need to see as a “friend of sinners” before they are willing to ap­ proach the Lord Jesus Christ. What they see in you day by day is what they con­ sider the Christian message to be—for, after all, you are a Christian. The best thing you can offer this kind of person is to share your life with him or her, honestly and openly. Let your friends see your struggles as well as your vic­ tories. Admit your problems and needs. Let them watch as you pray—and as God answers. Include them in Bible studies if they are willing. Try to have them get to know' other Christians so this meaningful relationship will not be just with you but with the family of God. Make it clear that the real heart of Christianity is a personal relationship with God himself. 3. To the committed person (no matter to what cause he or she is presently com­ mitted) your own commitment will be a key in witness. If you are not taking your discipleship to Christ very seriously, you have nothing to say to this person. Actually, the people who want a cause to give themselves to are better can­ Meeting Needs didates for Christian conversion than the Now it is important to consider how we, merely curious or the ones who want a as individuals and as a group of cure-all for their problems. We must Christians, can help the people in each of never misrepresent the gospel by preten­ these four categories. What kind of ding it is easy to answer Christ’s call; we evangelism will reach each of them and must include the fact that he says “take help them find fullness of life in Christ? up your cross daily and follow me.” 1. People on a search for truth need to As our committed friends see us doing be taken seriously. If you take time to this, not seeking the comfortable way all listen to their questions and to point them the time, they will at least respect our to answers in the Scripture or to find gospel and may become willing to study answers for them when their questions the Scripture with us on a regular basis. are beyond you, they will appreciate your Consider using Ada Lum’s study guide help. Jesus the Life Changer (IVP). You may If you give them a “canned” answer or also be able to include them in a social ac­ simply tell them your own personal opi­ tion project you are involved in. nion on some issue, it will lack authority 4. We all need the powerful acts of God and they may disdain it. Be careful not to in our lives. Try to help friends who are treat their questions with scorn. You may looking too much for something that will think they are ridiculously simple, or too make them “feel good” to get some facts complex to have any value, or totally as a basis for their faith; but do not forget beside the point. But for them they are a to watch for God’s workings both in your valid part of the search for truth. own life and in theirs. Dare to pray Provide books, offer to study the Scrip­ specifically for (and with, if possible) ture with them, invite them to a good lec­ your friends and their needs. Face doubts ture or discussion of a Christian topic. and fears honestly. Encourage them to Respect their intellectual struggle. Above talk to God directly about their all, support the facts you give with an at- questions—even if it means starting with

“Do you exist?” Above all, with this kind of friend as with all the others, remember that evangelism is simply the sharing—and demonstration—of the gospel. It is God, not we, who saves. Be fervent in prayer for a friend who needs Christ. Then, no matter by which avenue the person may come, the Lord is the one who can reach down, meet his need, and bring him to a living faith. Nothing is too hard for our God.

Letters A MA TTER OF CONCERN It is with some concern that I view what happened in two of our churches in December when, within a week, two pastors were “released” by votes of non-confidence. My concern includes these couples, their pain and their need to restore wholeness, a wholeness damaged by people who may not have realized what they damaged. A wider concern is the method used to inform these people that their services were no longer needed nor desired. It seems to me that the method used, as is true of the way we make most of our church decisions, was not Biblical, leads to divisiveness rather than uni­ ty, and was an expression of power rather than servanthood. Paul says in I Timothy 5:19, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.” (cant’d, on p. 15) CONTRIBUTORS: Samuel Escober, “Four Roads to Faith,” living in Argentina, has served the Inter­ national Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) in many countries. Reprinted by per­ mission from HIS, student magazine of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship c. 1979. Gordon Nickel (p. 7) is the interim editor of the M.B. Herald. Leona Dueck Penner (p. 15) and her hus­ band, Peter Penner, are MCC workers in Swaziland, Africa. The article is the first of more to come. “Of Shepherds, Fiefs and Flock” (p. 16) is copyrighted by Christianity Today (1980) and is used by permission. Doris Friesen (Mennville) is involved in medical work and church work in Nicaragua. Grace Thiessen (Steinbach) is working with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Mexico. COVER PHOTO: Jamie and Lisa Riediger cooperated with Grandpa on this snow scene.

THE MESSENGER is published every other week by The Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Board of Education and Publication. Box 1268, Stelhbach, 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

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Reg. Toews Takes Office as Executive Secretary HENDERSON, Neb. The 1982 Mennonite Central Committee annual meeting here marked the transition of the executive secretaryship from William T. Snyder to Reginald Toews. Toews is only the fourth MCC executive secretary, following Snyder, who served from January 1958 to the present, Orie O. Miller, 1935 to 1958, and Levi Mumaw, 1920 to 1935. Ross Nigh, chairperson of MCC (Canada) and vice chairperson of MCC, led the greetings to Toews, a fellow Cana­ dian. Nigh observed, “We have called you to a position of responsibility and leadership in the service of God and the church. In calling you, we have expressed our confidence in your dedication, in your ability to use your gifts wisely, and in your spiritual insights.

Reginald Toews “But more importantly, we have ex­ pressed our confidence in the Lord of the church, who has promised to supply strength and wisdom for any task and any burden. “In this complex world we cannot promise you fewer problems or easier answers. But (we do) pledge you our love, our prayers and our support, as you lead this great and beloved organization, the Mennonite Central Committee.” Toews responded by citing three stories from scripture that characterize the work of MCC, then by listing areas in which MCC service will continue in the 1980s and new areas of focus or challenge. The scripture stories were the Good

FEBRUARY 12. 1982

Samaritan in Luke 10, representing the person-focused ministry of MCC; Matthew 4’s story of Jesus preaching, teaching and healing, representing the wide variety of needs and responses in today’s world; and the story of the loaves and fishes in Matthew 14, illustrating that while MCC is small, its work has a mul­ tiplying effect if done in obedience. What does Toews see for the future? He outlined four areas in which MCC will continue to focus efforts: food production and world hunger, assistance to refugees, village development and agriculture, and working with the local church in places of service. He also identified six areas that present specific challenges in the 80s, noting that “the way in which we address these challenges now, will shape our essential character for decades to come.” The first such challenge is the nuclear arms race. “There is a wide range of opi­ nion in our constituency concerning what government can appropriately do under God’s sovereignty to arm itself. However, I believe that increasingly we are finding some common ground, at least in the recognition of this madness as a poten­ tially catastrophic situation, if not yet agreeing what action the church should take. I believe that MCC is called to provide leadership in this important area for our whole constituency.” He said more efforts should be given to constituency interpretation, particularly “shared learning between MCC and its constituency on how we as North Americans contribute to the problems ex­ perienced by the Third World, and how we may share in finding solutions and answers.” Other challenges include the nurturing of leadership and specialized personnel, as well as the issues of local leadership, setting priorities among world needs, and justice and peace. Toews shared two wishes: “That I may have the wisdom and energy to serve the whole constituency well. Secondly, that I may continue the history of good leadership that has been provided over the years by Orie, William and many others. With the support of staff and working as a team we will continue to serve ‘In the name of Christ.’ ” The transition ceremony had begun with a tribute to William T. Snyder,

presented by Robert Kreider, long-time MCC colleague and presently a member of the MCC board. He suggested that Snyder’s “finest hours” include facilitating the refugee movement after World War II, planning for the Trans­ Chaco Roadway in Paraguay, “the steady hand on the rudder” from begin­ ning to end in times of crisis: the Zaire civil war, the Biafra crisis, wars in Palestine, the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and more, and his continuing nurture of the inter-Mennonite character of MCC.

William T. Snyder The appointment of Toews to follow Snyder was confirmed a year ago at the 1981 annual meeting, following a search for a new executive secretary that began in 1980. Snyder will remain on staff dur­ ing 1982 as “assistant to the executive secretary.” Toews is formerly of Steinbach, Man., and since 1977 has been associate ex­ ecutive secretary for MCC Administra­ tion and Resources. From 1979 to 1981 he was also interim executive secretary of MCC U.S. Toews came to Akron headquarters after serving as Voluntary Service and Personnel director of MCC (Canada) from 1974 to 1976. Earlier he served in various positions with the Department of Health and Social Development of the Province of Manitoba, including ex­ ecutive director of the social services branch. He holds a B.A., B.S.W. and M.S.W. from the University of Manitoba. He and his wife, Phyllis Dueck Toews, are parents of two daughters, Lynne and Bar­ bara. Toews, now related to Akron (Pa.) Mennonite Church, is a member of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Win­ nipeg, Man.

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Missions

EMC Board of Missions Speciai Projects MEXICO

Whetting the Appetite

Dona Juana and Doris Friesen in the clinic in Las Lajas

NICARAGUA

Health Leader Accepts Christ Las Lajas Opportunities to Share the IVord How quickly the months slip by! It seems so recently that I interacted with many of you in your churches or in your homes. Thank you for your part in making my furlough in summer a very meaningful ex­ perience. During my time at home I introduced to many of you the work that was opening up in Las Lajas, a remote community in the mountains. A health leader was trained and the clinic began to function in April 1981. Simultaneously, the Word of God was shared formally in meetings and informally in the homes. Several have accepted the Lord. Dona Juana, the health leader, was showing very keen interest in the truths of the Bible. She had begun a Bible course and was forming convictions of the truths she was learning. Just last month as we were sitting together in her humble home, going over part of the Bible course she had done, she said she wanted to accept Christ as her Saviour. What a joy! A new life had begun. Dona Juana has great opportunities to share her newfound joy with her own family. She appreciates our prayer support for her hus­ band. Carolina, her five-year-old daughter, begs her mother to take time off during the day to read the Bible to her. Dona Juana’s opportunities reach out into the community as well. She thinks and feels like the people of her own community, and as a health leader and now a child of God, she can assist in meeting the needs of the total person in her community. Doris Friesen

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... two books for the price of a Pepsi I I never thought that being a missionary would involve being a salesperson as well, but that's what I felt like as I extolled, for the tenth time that day, the merits of a small book in Santa Ana Yareni Zapotec, “It only costs three pesos,” 1 said. “Wouldn’t you like to take this book home so that you can show your husband how Zapotec is written?” Augustina smiled as she fingered through the little book on how to make tortillas. She didn’t need a book on how to make tortillas, of course. She could make them in her sleep almost. But how absolutely delightful to hear this obviously non-Zapotec person read her language! It made laughter well up inside of her. Yes, that’s exactly how we make tor­ tillas, she thought. “If you take this other book on the fiesta too. I’ll sell both to you for five pesos,” I continued. Seeing that Augustina still wasn’t convinced I hurried on. “A Pepsi costs five pesos. Just think, for the same amount of money you can buy two books! You drink a Pepsi and it’s gone. The books will keep. You can read them again and again.” Augustina nodded her head in agreement, beautiful smile wrinkles appearing around her eyes. She agreed with what I had just said. It was good Zapotec logic. When these two gringas first came to live in Santa Ana she had thought they’d never learn to speak Zapotec. So many mistakes they made! But they learned - even though they still didn’t say everything right. In another year they’ll un­ derstand everything, she thought. But why are they so excited about books? What good is a book to me? What good, indeed, are books to the earth-oriented Zapotec of north central Oax­ aca? Joan and 1 believe that exposing the people to the written form of their language is very important. Someday we want them to be able to read God’s Word in Zapotec. Although we are not quite ready to start translation, it isn’t too soon to get the Zapotecs used to the idea of books in their language. That’s why we’re reading to everyone who comes to our house, to everyone we meet around town. Augustina handed the tortilla booklet back to me and said that she had to go now. That's how most of our encounters went. But, by the end of two weeks, we had sold forty books. A small beginning. We’d like to whet the reading appetite of every man, woman and child in this dialect of Zapotec so that when the New Testament is publish­ ed, they’ll be excited to read yet another book in Zapotec - the most important Book in any language. Grace Thiessen

February 1982

1. SPONSORSHIP OF LOW GERMAN PROGRAMS ON RADIO CHACO ZP-30 “Die Evangeliumskunde,” produced by Elmer Hamm of La Crete, Alberta, is air­ ed weekly by Radio Chaco ZP-30 in Paraguay. The cost is $20 per week. 2. CHACO LEADERSHIP TRAINING PARAGUAY This involves training of church leadership in La Esperanza and the higher training program for Indian leaders at Yalva Sange. $70 per month is needed for this program. 3. EAST PARAGUAY EVANGELISM TEE PROGRAM To provide materials needed for these ministries in East Paraguay $20 per month is needed. 4. LITERATURE FOR CHAPLAINCY MINISTRY $25 per month is needed to obtain literature for our chaplain’s jail ministry. 5. EQUIPMENT FOR RADIO ZP-30 Radio ZP-30 has just completed an expansion to the studio in Filadelfia in the Chaco, Paraguay. Equipment is needed to facilitate the production of local programs and to improve transmission quality. 6. NICARAGUA RADIO MINISTRY This ministry needs $40 per month to assist the national church in airing evangelical programs in Nicaragua. 7. MEXICO BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE MINISTRY This ministry needs $25 per month to provide Bible correspondence courses in Mexico. These courses are distributed and marked in Chihuahua City and El Paso/Juarez. Personal follow-up is also being done. 8. LENDING LIBRARY IN MEXICO Dora Friesen, EMC missionary, and Gloria Trevizo, national church mis­ sionary, are involved in a Sunday School Training and Promotion program. This library will make books available to different churches that Gloria and Dora visit. Cost to stock the library is $300.

For further information contact: Board of Missions Evangelical Mennonite Conference Box 1268. 440 Main St. Steinbach, Manitoba ROA 2AO Telephone: 326-6401

THE MESSENGER

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Messenger News

MCC (Can.) annual meeting in session at the Morrow Gospel Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

God at work in the midst of the earth by Gordon Nickel

“God is working salvation in the midst of the earth,” quoted Helmut Harder from Psalm 74 at the start of the annual meeting of Mennonite Central Committee (Canada), held in Winnipeg, January 21-23. “I want to ensure,” Harder continued, “that the work of MCC is part of God’s salvation work.” Harder’s affirmation seemed to be borne out in many reports and discussions during the 18th annual meeting, held during three bitterly cold days at the Morrow Gospel Church. Over 100 observers joined the 31 members of the MCC (Canada) board for

the sessions, jointly led by chairman Ross Nigh and vice-chairman Joe Neufeld. Highlights of the meetings included a dis­ cussion of new opportunities for service in China; a public Friday evening debate on directions for food aid policy; formal and in­ formal exchanges with John McCrae, representative of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); and the set­ ting free of the Mennonite Food Bank to develop into an umbrella agency for all Canadian church and relief agencies. Helmut Harder of Canadian Mennonite

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Menno Kroeker (right), EMC board member on MCC (Can.), is seen talking to Reg Toews, now Executive Secretary of MCC based in Akron, Ohio. At the annual MCC (Can.) meeting on January 22.

Bible College in Winnipeg led the board in three meditations on phrases from the Lord’s Prayer, on the themes “salvation,” “justice,” and “peace.” In the first of his talks. Harder urged his listeners not to separate dis­ cipleship from atonement. “We must make sure in all our good works,” he said, “that God remains the reference point for them.” Out-going treasurer Albert DeFehr reported a “substantial increase in giving” of 20 percent, including $200,000 increases in Manitoba and Ontario. He predicted a levell­ ing in giving in 1982. The board approved a 1982 budget of nearly $12.4 million, up from $9.5 million in 1981. Nearly $5 million of the projected income is expected to come in the form of matching grants from outside agen­ cies. Food Bank executive director Wilbert Loewen presented the board with good news of several grain shipments during the past year, including a special inter-church corn drive in Ontario dubbed “Corn for the Horn.” At the very time of the meeting, suggested Edgar Stoesz later, a charter vessel was arriving in Somalia with nearly 400,000 bushels (10,250 M.T.) of corn, wheat and high protein grains gathered by the project. At last year’s annual meeting, the status of the Food Bank became a major issue of dis­ cussion. Board members were divided on whether the Food Bank should continue as a broadly-based organization, or whether it should become a branch of the overseas department of MCC. At that time the ex­ ecutive recommended that it' work out a more thorough recommendation for this year. At this year’s meeting the executive recommended that MCC (Canada) “initiate the establishment of a Canada-wide inter­ church, inter-agency Food Bank for the pur­ pose of forming an overall umbrella for all participating groups to provide a single point of contact and negotiations - with CIDA for funding purposes, with the Canadian Wheat Board for purchasing, storing and shipping arrangements, with Revenue Canada for tax deductible receipts for donation-in-kind pur­ poses.” Mennonites are the only group which has a food bank, and other denominations in Canada would like to become involved. CIDA representative John McCrae, an Anglican, called the Food Bank “a prophetic movement in Canada.” There’s no question, he said, that in the coming years there will be many more mouths to feed. He sees the Food Bank as “storing up grain for the lean years.” If the Food Bank discussion represented progress toward a food aid mechanism, the public meeting of the same evening represented MCC’s “struggle for a food aid

PAGE 7

Henry Dueck (left), editor EMMC Recorder, chafing with Ed Barkman who is with MCC (Sask.), living in Saskatoon. policy," as secretary Larry Kehler expressed it. A panel of three, all of whom have served under MCC in Asia, tackled the question: Art DeFehr of Winnipeg, Paul Myers of Akron, and Dorothy Friesen of Chicago. DeFehr argued that compassion should characterize MCC’s food aid policy. “Com­ passion is not out of date - it was at the core of the historical Jesus, and must be at the core of our service,” he said. He suggested that Mennonites are not strong on political astuteness, and that debates do not feed peo­ ple. He also said that the size of MCC programs should be determined by the need of our resources. “At the present time,” he concluded, “our programs do not reflect our resources.” Dorothy Friesen recommended that for answers for the food aid question, MCC con­ nect with people in the Third World who already have a plan. She said that the largest part of bilateral Canadian aid is “tied,” help­ ing little or even harming the countries to which it goes. “We need silence before God, and silence before our brothers and sisters in the Third World. Maybe silence can transform us,” she suggested. Paul Myers, former program director in Bangladesh and now part of the MCC (Akron) staff, said that we should focus on the problem of chronic hunger, and put our best minds and efforts into the long-term development process. In the stimulating dis­ cussion which followed, between panel members and with the audience, a consensus was reached that MCC become “transnational” - studying country situations

thoroughly and making “genuine friends” among the Third World poor. “Last night CIDA was quite correctly castigated for tied aid,” admitted John McCrae of CIDA on the following morning. He then helped John Wieler of Overseas Ser­ vices explain a new pattern of CIDA fun­ ding, in which more of the onus for proper allocation and use of funds would be placed on MCC (Canada). “The danger with the new way is that we might be seen as an ex­ tension of the CIDA arm,” suggested John Wieler. “We'll have to stick to our guns” (after some uproarious laughter, he changed “our guns” to “our cross”). McCrae responded by confiding that the new staff head at CIDA is a man who “takes the values of people seriously.” China concerns first came up during the Overseas Service report, then kept on sur­ facing as the final day progressed. Wieler reported a “new dimension” to MCC’s relationship to China - the growth of the Chinese Mennonite community in Canada. He projected drawing on Canadian Chinese Mennonites in the search for ways of service to people in China. Frank Epp, member-atlarge from Waterloo, Ont., later made a mo­ tion that the executive committee consider the proposals of fellow board member Stephen Lee. Lee, from the Chinese Men­ nonite Church in Vancouver, put forward several possible projects, including funds for a hospital, and religious books for a Chinese seminary. Later, Atlee Beechy from Goshen College reported that “a door is slightly ajar”

through which some have been able to enter China. He described briefly the teacher ex­ change between Goshen and China, the only such program involving a U.S. college. Goshen decided in the early stages of the program to work with the Council of Inter­ national Ministries, an inter-Mennonite group, and now CIM was thinking that perhaps MCC (Akron) would be the group to head up China concerns. Some caution was expressed as to the development of the China program. “If we move ahead solidly, there will be further responsibilities,” Beechy suggested. The China opportunities present "a new way of living our faith,” he said. In other business: • The board welcomed Abraham Wiebe, first board member from the Sommerfelder Mennonite Church. • Thanks was expressed to outgoing executive secretary of MCC (Akron), William Snyder (a resolution of thanks was “enriched” at the request of Frank Epp), and new executive secretary Reg Toews was welcomed. • Secretary Larry Kehler and treasurer Albert DeFehr ended their work with the ex­ ecutive; Frank Epp and Paul Peters were elected to take their places, respectively. • Members-at-large were limited to three two-year terms. A resolution to increase the executive committee from seven to eight members will go through the process re­ quired for a constitutional change.

CAMS Regional

CHORAL FESTIVAL ’82 featuring

a 300-voice mass choir conducted by Henry Peters

SUNDAY, MARCH 14 Winkler Bergthaler Church 2:00 p.m. Steinbach Bible College 8:00 p.m. no admission charge

Choirs from: Mennonite Coliegiate Institute Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute Elim Bible Institute Winkler Bible Institute Steinbach Bible College Westgate Mennonite Collegiate

MCC (Canada) staff in a group song at the annual meeting at the Morrow Gospel Church in Winnipeg. PAGE 8

THE MESSENGER

V

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«

Winnipeg pastors taking part in the joint missionary conference with speaker Mr. J. J. Toews. Left to right: C. R. Plett (Braeside), J. J. Toews (speaker), Karl Goertzen (Aberdeen), Ben Friesen (Crestview), Peter Peters (Church of the Open Door). (Missing is Al Friesen, Fort Garry). H. P. Dyck

Historic First For Winnipeg E.M. Churches It was the first combined effort of our four Winnipeg churches but by appearances it won’t be the last. The occasion was a joint missions con­ ference of our Crestview, Braeside, Fort Garry and Aberdeen Churches, plus the Church of the Open Door. Featured guest speaker was Mr. J.J. Toews, formerly of Winnipeg, now of Neuwied, Germany. One of the objectives was to have the Winnipeg churches involved in a mutual ministry, and to experience meaningful fellowship among themselves. The meetings rotated in three of the five participating churches. The purpose of the rotation was to acquaint members with the different EMC churches in the city. Mr. Toews spoke to the topic “The New Testament Church in Mission.” Included was a practical aspect where they went call­ ing from door to door. One participant observed, “I have ap­ preciated some of the things he came out

with, his practical way of combatting critics.” One of the pastors involved remarked that he would have liked to see “more time spent on practical application.” Another pastor remarked that we should “not only consider what we have heard but that we may indeed become obedient to the heavenly vision we have received this week.” Two of the participants who had taken part in the door-to-door calling during the week spoke of their experiences. Both of them were encouraged to carry on this kind of ministry. In his closing remarks on the last night of the series, Mr. Corny Plett encouraged the participating churches to evaluate the meetings as to content and effectiveness and to consider whether there should be another function in the future. Attendance per evening was around the 100 mark. On closing night it was a little higher. Dave Schellenberg

average was taken - membership/brother55%, ’hood' meetings ' ' and Bible study 42%. He went on to point out how his church keeps contact with members when they move and also the process used to make con­ tact after some time elapses. Mr. Dyck’s concluding remarks were: “I believe church membership is meaningful to the degree that the member is involved in his church. If a church member only warms a pew for an hour a week and that not even on a regular basis, church membership must be pretty dry. 1 don’t have nearly all the answers but let’s try and mirror our church and its members in the survey and attempt to see and wrestle with the problem.” Some of the observations coming out of the discussion groups were the following: • The pastor should be team captain rather than company manager. • Don’t be too hard on members working in another church. • There should be stronger teaching on the need for one another. • Any contact is better than none. • Responsible membership can be taught in the home, instruction classes, pulpit and by counsellors. • There should be more sensitivity to people membership, revealed that some 13 per cent who hurt before it becomes critical. of members were non-resident. The survey • Gifts need to be confirmed. “The Mark of the Beast” was the title of went on to pose several questions on how the second paper. Stan Plett, Rosenort non-resident members are ministered to. All respondents to the questionnaire (10) Fellowship Chapel, was the author, said they encouraged non-resident members Mr. Plett started out with stating two un­ to transfer their membership to the church derlying concerns. they were attending. His first concern was to determine Biblical The question on church involvement teaching on the subject. “There is a strand of revealed that average involvement was only Biblical teaching through much of Scriptures 59%. that points to a concentration of Satanic Membership meetings and Bible study power in an end-time figure.” were the lowest attended functions when the His second concern was a pastoral one.

EMC Ministerial Meets: Discusses Two Papers The EMC Ministerial met in the Pleasant Valley Church for its February meeting. The main features were two papers and church reports. “Meaningful Church Membership” was the title of the first paper, given by Henry P. Dyck, pastor of the Steinbach E. M. Church. A survey which Mr. Dyck had conducted as part of his study indicated that there was a need for “in-depth work in maintaining meaningful membership.” The questionnaire, which had gone to 15 churches, representing about half of our

FEBRUARY 12, 1982

PAGE 9

E.M. Conference - Update on Finances The following is a 1981 summary financial statement of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference as it relates to the 1981 budget’s income and disbursements:

Budget (accepted in December 1980) Actual budget disbursements Income from all sources for budget Excess (income over disbursements) Income short of budget

Stan Platt Here he referred to the high level of interest in which the topic was held. “To what extent is the level of interest a healthy and Biblically balanced one and to what extent is it rather a reflection of academic curiosity?” He enlarg­ ed a bit and asked, “To what extent do cer­ tain sensational books lead to a greater degree of Christlikeness and to what degree do they result in divisive and dogmatic claims and counter-claims?” The paper went on to deal with Methods of Interpretation, Apocalyptic Literature, Book of Revelation, The Beast in Biblical Teaching, and The Mark of the Beast. The other major item on the agenda was reports from the churches. “For me this part is the best part of getting together,” remarked one pastor. I think many pastors would echo this. One church is in the process of starting another church nearby. A joint communion service with other churches was referred to as an “enjoyable occasion.” But there were also remarks like, “Last year was a difficult year for our church.” Mixed with this was the pastor who remark­ ed, “Something very good happened,” referr­ ing to an experience he had. One pastor was looking forward to the dedication of new facilities. Another one related of 12 baptized in November. In another church they are placing a lot of emphasis on Bible study. Then there was the church which has had to resort to two morning services on Sunday due to crowded quarters. (This must be a first in our Conference.) Some 60-70 people were present at the meeting. There were two first-timers, John Reimer (Nicaragua missionary) and Peter Hiebert (on assignment to Mexico). A hearty thank you to the ladies who served the delicious meals. Dave Schellenberg PAGE 10

$856,985 818,750 830,682 11,932 26,203

At the December 5, 1981 meeting of the Conference Council a budget of $903,800 was accepted by the Council. This is an increase of 5.5% over the 1981 budget and an increase of 8.8% over the 1981 actual receipts. This means that as a Conference we have committed ourselves to $75,317 per month for 1982. January 1982 receipts came to $57,714 which is $17,603 short of budget re­ quirements. As each person and each church in the Conference contributes cheerfully and abundantly, more than the immediate needs will be taken care of. Funds will then be available to expand the mission outreach even more than the limited amount that is included in the budget. God has blessed the united effort of the Conference and as His people fulfill their responsibility God will continue to bless. Henry Klassen Executive Secretary EMC Board of Missions

CHRISTMAS SEASON MEANINGFUL

Pleasant Valley, Man.: We’re into the new year so it’s time the loose ends of 1981 were tucked in and put away. The Christmas season in our church was a busy one and brought great results. When Sunday evening, December 21, came, all of us were amazed and delighted. The whole program was a complete slide-song perfor­ mance, from the grandeur of winter scenes, to the birth of Christ and on to summer camp pictures where the gospel is brought out. What was particularly touching was the

special narrated story of a young boy dying in his effort to tell everyone about Jesus on a bitterly, cold stormy winter day. Slides had been made to follow the story, featuring one of our own young mothers and her son; it was very effective. Photography and the presentation, under the direction of Mrs. Florence Loewen and Mrs. Marilyn Kornelsen, were perfect. The children’s sing­ ing, with Mrs. Ellie Loewen directing and Lori Rempel at the piano, was superb with its harmony and enthusiasm. The whole program made such a spiritual impact on everyone that it was suggested that they pre­ sent it at some other places. Anyone missing

POST-SECONDARY STUDENT MEETING Date: Thursday, February 25,1982 Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: Fort Garry E.M. Church Corner of Pasadena and King’s Drive, two blocks south of the U. of Manitoba Speaker: Erwin Kroeker Topic: "Aspects of Christian Growth at College/University” 1. The Word - New Depth of Meaning 2. Christ and Culture 3. Commitment and Revision (Each topic to be related to sharing faith on campus) There will be music and lunch will be served. Sponsored by the EMC Board of Education and hosted by the Fort Garry EMC College and Career group COME AND BRING A FRIEND!

THE MESSENGER

it that evening had another chance when they brought it again at the Eventide Home that next week. The evening • of the 24th our choir presented their program under the leadership of Rick and Karen Friesen. As usual the singing was top value. A short drama was presented portraying the story of a cobbler waiting for the Lord’s visit all day, only to find all these different needy people interrup­ ting his preparations. It is finally revealed to him that the Lord came in each one of those people. After that the whole choir gathered and praises rang out till we could have join­ ed, just for sheer adoration. Thank you, choir directors, for leading young people into a meaningful way of celebrating Christ’s birth. A few evenings before that the young peo­ ple had already been out carolling. It was very cold, but then it’s appreciated even more. Young people, keep up that tradition! Christmas morning is always exciting because so many families have loved ones coming home and you see people you don’t otherwise meet. There is many a hug and many a “good to see you again” is heard. This already sets the atmosphere for the worship service. Rev. Frank Friesen brought the message, making the service very meaningful. “What is the heart of the Chris­ tian message? So much of what we observe is tradition, or maybe even the world’s dicta­ tion of outward show.” It had been decided beforehand to have a vote on whether to have services on the 26th this year (as usual) since this meant three days of services in succession. The popular vote was “yes.” There is always such an abundance of spiritual talent available when “everyone” comes home for Christmas that it’s a waste to let the opportunity of an extra service go by. The choir sang a few numbers. Carl and Lydia Wiens (nee Kornelsen) presented a wonderful skit on the down-toearth meaning of Christmas, from the view­ point of some unlearned street kids. It show­ ed how Christmas should affect our daily walk; it should not just be a tradition you take off a shelf as the season rolls around. The message came through very clearly. Sunday, December 27, was a momentous day in our church. We celebrated our 20th birthday as a congregation. Many of the earlier members had come for this occasion, some from quite a distance. When all charter members went forward to bring some songs, the pews looked very empty. In these years we’ve had two brothers and one sister pass on, all at a relatively young age. Pastor Frank Friesen was the chairman, and Rev. Bert Kornelsen had the message. To close the year our young people had their watchnight service on the evening of the 31st. As midnight drew near, groups were formed and the changing of the year was observed in a prayer session. We wish all readers even more of God’s blessings and leading in the coming new year. FEBRUARY 12, 1982

( i

The Kindergarten class at the Christmas program in Hudson Bay. MISSIONARY CONFERENCE HELD Hudson Bay, Sask.: We were privileged to us were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Reimer from have our missionary conference from Paraguay, Phyllis Penner from Venezuela November 27-29. Our guest speaker was and Luella Loewen from the Chaco, Rev. Johnny Loewen from Rosenort, Paraguay. The youth choir, under the direction of Sandra Reimer; a mixed octet from the Pineridge Fellowship; and Mr. and Mrs. Baber from the Erwood Church of God serv­ ed us with messages in song. A young people’s banquet was held on December 18. Our Sunday school Christmas program took place on the evening of December 20. Each class from nursery to junior had a part in a play called “Prologue to Christmas,” with Tim Plett as narrator. On December 25 some of us were together for a morning service. Many had travelled to visit relatives. Rev. Johnny Loewen was the speaker The ladies’ group is having studies by at the missionary conference at Hudson cassette tape from the book “Lord Change Bay. Me” by Evelyn Christenson. Rusty and Lois Schultz lost their trailer Manitoba. The theme was “The Grace of and belongings on December 26. They were God that Brings Salvation” (Titus 2:11-14): not home at the time of the fire. January 17 we were challenged about the 1) Salvation Required, 2) Salvation Appeared, 3) Salvation Accepted/Rejected, needs in Nicaragua by slides which Fred Buhler showed us. He was there as a summer 4) Salvation Proclaimed. The missionaries visiting and challenging worker.

The youth choir, under the direction of Sandra Reimer, served at the missions conference at the Pineridge Fellowship Chapel.

I

FILMS ON TRIBULATION BEING SHOWN

OPEN FORUM EVALUATION MEETING:

Creighton, Sask.: The ACE school reopened this fall with ten students and a new super­ visor, Miss Marilyn Wiebe of Pansy, Man. We held our Sunday school rally on September 20 with a children’s film. The Covenant Players visited us on September 27. A Thanksgiving supper was held at the Chapel on October 18. Our congregation attended the showing of “Joni” which was sponsored by several evangelical churches in Flin Flon and Creighton in October. A missionary conference was held in November with Peter Reimer (Paraguay), Frank Braun (Kamsack), and Dave Sharp (Brazil) reporting. Shirley Siemens spent 2‘/2 weeks in the hospital in December due to an injury to her back. On December 13 we held our Christmas supper. There was a good turnout and it was enjoyed by all. We held our Christmas program on December 20. The children did a puppet show on the birth of Christ, and they did a good job. Ben Siemens had surgery on December 18. He is doing well and is back at work now. Lori Rempel was home for Christmas with her family. Glenda Rempel was at home also. The Brown family was home with Mary for the holidays. The Fraser Gibsons were home for the holidays. Fraser spoke at the morning service on December 27. He is attending the Steinbach Bible College and he and Lois are in charge of Junior Church at the EMC Church in Steinbach. Pastor Harvey Kroeker attended the Scientific Creation Seminar at the Steinbach Bible College in January. He was quite

The journal Open Forum will be holding its evaluation meeting for all subscribers and interested persons on March 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Steinbach Bible College. This meeting will include a report and a general discussion/evaluation on the past two years of publication as well as the future direction of Open Forum.

enthused about the lectures that were presented. Our church congregation, along with the young people, is sponsoring a series of films based on the Tribulation Period of the book of Revelation. Three films will be shown the last Friday of each month from January to March. BIBLE STUDY GROUPS ORGANIZED

La Crete, Alta.: Pastor Hamm returned to La Crete following his trip to Edmonton to have his foot operated on. The operation was to correct a misplaced bone in his foot from an accident he had four years ago. He will be off his feet for three weeks, Johnny Wider is convalescing in La Crete following his bush accident. He suffered a dislocated knee, torn ligaments, and a frac­ tured cheek bone. Ben Wiebe received his visa and has flown to Germany for missionary service. Dan and Sue Maxson, former attendants of our church, have left for Toronto to prepare for missionary work in Africa with Emmanuel International Missions. Arlyn Enns delivered the Sunday morning message January 3. He has returned to Prairie Bible Institute to continue serving with the King’s Messengers quartet. Our Sunday school was involved in preparing school kits for Kampuchea. A total of 118 kits was put together.

STEINBACH BIBLE COLLEGE

APPRECIATION AND OPPORTUNITY

Banquets STEINBACH

March 5,1982 - 6:30 p.m. Steinbach Bible College

ROSENORT

March 20,1982 - 6:30 p.m. Rosenort EMC

TICKETS $5.50 PER PERSON Tickets Available: Local Church, Alumni, SBC Staff, Board Members and SBC Business Office.

PAGE 12

A church social was held on January 29. Despite the cold weather there was a good turnout. This time of fellowship was highlighted by games, refreshments, singing, and a devotional. The December 31 watchnight service had to be cancelled due to bitterly cold weather. Bible studies will soon be beginning in the homes. Three study groups have been organized. At our January business meeting the budget was set for the upcoming year. Work has begun on a church history year­ book. The recording of the early beginnings of our church will be an important part of this work. Our library committee is holding a reading month during February. PRAYER SISTERS REVEALED Fisher Branch, Man.: The Bill Buhler family of B.C. was billetted at the Vernon Reimer home for a few days in January (due to the fact that their residence at the Reserve was not quite ready). Mr. Buhler had been ap­ pointed by MCC to manage a sawmill opera­ tion on the Fisher Indian Reserve. We were happy to have the Bernie Brandt family of Kola worship with us on December 27. The Brandts, together with Bert and Helen Dueck, served with a special number that morning. We were privileged to gather for a com­ munion service on New Year’s eve. After this the young people had a watchnight service. Our prayer sister revelation night was held on January 7. This was special for various reasons, but basically it was special because on this evening we had our husbands with us. A filmstrip and a testimony were on the agenda and, last but not least, we each came forward to present a rose to our last year’s prayer sister. We felt very honoured to have a group from the SBC serve us in our morning ser­ vice on January 24. Rev. Harvey Plett serv­ ed with a sermon and The Children of Light did some excellent singing. Speaking in our morning service on January 3 was Rev. John Harms of B.C. Speaker at the Christian Endeavour on January 17 was James Thiessen of Hodgson. Then on January 31 Rev. Menno Penner of Morweena spoke. Mrs. Betty Reimer was admitted to a Win­ nipeg hospital for surgery on January 21. We praise and thank the Lord that she is back home now and well on the way to recovery.

THE MESSENGER

COMMUNION SERVICE HELD

MR. CORNELIUS P. D. REIMER

1916-1981 Fort Garry (Winnipeg): December 20 was a special Sunday for us. It was the morning when our Sunday school Christmas program was presented. The children were excited because this was the day in which they could present what they had practised for so long. The nursery class recited short verses and the other children were all involved in a play. The whole program was done very well un­ der the direction of Mrs. Betty Klassen. We were pleased to see several visitors and that our church was full. On December 27 Paul Loewen was our guest speaker. We enjoyed having Paul with us again. He spent the summer with us as a student minister and is now back again studying at Briercrest Bible Institute. A social evening was held on December 31. It was an evening of enjoyment and fellowship for the whole family. Table games, visiting, a short talk by our pastor, and a lunch were enjoyed by those who came out for the evening. January 10 we had two members of the Athletes in Action basketball team give their testimonies. They were Randy Adams of California and Jeff Fuhrman of Virginia. They are presently residing in B.C. while with Athletes in Action. January 17 in the afternoon we had a very meaningful communion service. It was well attended and a special time of communion and sharing was enjoyed. After the service and sharing session a fellowship lunch was served. It was refreshing to see how the Lord can renew the desire to serve Him and live more closely to Him.

Rent-a-Camp (Week or week-end) Plan a summer retreat (week or weekend) for your young people, church or family group for June, August or September at Beaver Creek Bible Camp located 30 miles north of Riverton, Manitoba.

For more information contact: Raymond Dueck Box 700 Arborg, Man. ROC OAO Tel: 1-800-442-0407 (Toll free) or 364-2383

FEBRUARY 12, 1982

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken a wav: biessed be the name of the Lord. ’’ (Job 1:21). Our beloved husband and father was born on the 14th of May 1916 in Blumenort, Manitoba and passed away on November 30, 1981, shortly after 3:00 a.m., at the age of 65 years, 6 months and 17 days. His parents were the deceased Bishop Peter P. Reimer and Elizabeth (Dueck) Reimer. He grew up and got his schooling in Blumenort. In February 1935 his mother passed away, and in May 1935 his father was united in matrimony with my mother. He usually worked away from home in winter at lumber camps as a sawyer, and in summer he did carpenter work. He accepted Christ as his own personal Saviour in 1937 and was baptized by his father Bishop Peter P. Reimer on July 11, 1937, and accepted into the membership of the Kleinegemeinde. He has kept his faith in Jesus to the end. In 1942 he volunteered for camp service as a conscientious objector and left home in January 1942 for Seebe, Alberta. After the expected four months of service were nearly over and the youths were looking forward to being released, notice was given that they were to stay on for the duration of the war. Here he, with many others, learned to put his trust for the future in the Lord. Soon after that he came home on a short leave, and then was transferred to Van­ couver Island to serve the B.C. Forestry. He came home for Christmas in 1942. During this time we definitely felt the Lord was leading us together. When he left home again at New Year’s we promised to exchange letters. More and more through his letters to me I learned to know and appreciate his lovable character and found that he was a sincere Christian. He often encouraged me in my young Christian life. At Christmas (1943) he came home on leave and remained in Manitoba where he worked at various jobs. On April 14, 1946 we were united in the bonds of holy matrimony by his dear father and my beloved stepfather. We faithfully shared our joys and sorrows 35 years and 7'/2 months. Soon after we were married he was elected as Sunday school teacher, a work which he loved to do. We started to build up a farm one mile west of Twin Creek and moved into our own little house in November 1946. We looked into the future happily and expectantly. After a few years the Lord gave us a little girl who died shortly after birth. A year later we were blessed again, this time with our daughter Irma. In July 1950 Cornelius had to have an appendectomy from which he recovered quickly. A few weeks later a son was born to us who died the next day. In November 1950 we, with our daughter

Irma, moved to Mexico. Our parents and some brothers and sisters had already moved there. Cornelius was soon asked to serve as a teacher. He found it difficult to adjust to the German language, but found the work rewarding since he loved to work with children. On August 7, 1955 he was elected as a minister of the gospel and was ordained on August 21 by Bishop C.R. Reimer. This ser­ vice he fulfilled faithfully until his health no longer allowed it. During these years on our farm in Mexico our children, Margaret, Lavina and Bernie were born. In March 1958 we, with a group of others, left for Belize, C.A. We had a difficult journey but arrived safely through God’s providence. Cornelius was the only minister there for the first few months, so he tried to do his best as spiritual leader, though under very difficult circumstances. There our son Alvin was born. In the spring of 1959 Cornelius had a serious nervous breakdown due to too much strain. We left Belize for Canada in October 1959. After Christmas we journeyed to Mexico where we still had our farm. We settled down again on the former place. The children Annie, Elizabeth, Cornie, twins Linda and Lydia, and Evalina were also born in Mexico. In the winter of 1969 he noticed shortness of breath, so he went to a heart specialist in Chihuahua. He came home with the solemn news that he had a damaged heart and was to rest awhile. Since then he has steadily used heart pills. He improved so much that he could start working again.. He was very faithful as head of the family spiritually, but also physically worked as long as his strength allowed. In the spring of 1977 his condition worsened considerably, so he often had to spend time in bed, with various problems. We decided to try a change of climate, so we travelled to Leamington, On­ tario for the summer where we and the fami­ ly worked on the cucumber and tomato fields; he improved greatly. For the winter we returned home, and again he found it hard to adjust to the high altitude. After two months he became seriously ill and suffered great chest pains and difficult breathing. The nurses nearby tried to help and he got some relief. It was during this time that 1 knelt by the bed one night and cried to the Lord for help. I told the Lord that I was at the end of my strength, being sick myself. I asked Him to help us, to send some person to help, so that I would not need to make any effort. Soon after that we went to see his doctor in Chihuahua who kept him in the hospital. During this time I had very serious problems and had to see my doctor. He told me I would have to be operated on. After five days John D.F., Peter D.F., Bernard P.D.R., and son David arrived in Chihuahua from Canada. After praying very earnestly, we got the assurance that they were the help God was sending. They came to take us to

PAGE 13

Canada. We went home first and got ready. David R. accompanied us on the plane and we arrived in Winnipeg on February 5, 1978. By this time Cornelius was so weak he could hardly walk. Soon he was under doc­ tor’s care, taking tests, etc. Since I had to have an operation first, it wasn’t until the se­ cond of June that he finally had his heart sur­ gery. The doctor said he had a fair chance to recover but his lungs were in poor condition. He did recover and became quite active again. In the same year he had to have a hernia operation from which he recovered fairly well too. We looked forward to spending Christmas 1979 in Mexico, but on arriving there he again did not feel well at all. In between he improved a bit and did some visitation. In January 1980 he took sick so we left for our home in Blumenort, Manitoba, where we arrived on the 31st. A few days later he was admitted to the Ste. Anne Hospital. On February 5 he was transferred to the Health Sciences Center into Intensive Care. He was critically ill. His heart was very weak but he improved again so that after a month he was returned to Ste. Anne where he stayed another ten days. He was allowed to return home on March 17. We praised the Lord for His care. In August we felt led to move to Arborg where we joined the fellowship on December 26, 1980. Although he had various problems, he did some work and rarely miss­ ed a church service. In April of this year he developed a sore eye, which the eye specialist called a virus infection of the cornea. We went to Winnipeg many times to get help. At times it improved and then it was worse again. On November 13 his eye got worse and he developed severe headaches. On the 16th we went to Winnipeg for help and Dr. MacBeath sent us to Dr. Ekins who gave medication, patched his eye and let us go home. He felt a little better, but the head pains got worse, and he had very little rest day or night. On Thursday we again went to Winnipeg, but Dr. Ekins was not in, so another doctor saw him, and let us go home again. He had a very difficult night, so we decided to go to Winnipeg again the next day. He was ad­ mitted to the General Hospital. His eye im­ proved a lot the next week. Our trip down the elevator together will be one of the precious memories left to me. On Saturday afternoon, a week later, he called me by phone and told me he did not feel well and the doctor had told him he had pneumonia. 1 had planned to stay home that day, so 1 asked him if he wanted me to come. He thought it would be better. Cornie and I got there at six o’clock; by then he had been transferred to the respiratory center. It look­ ed as if he was short of breath but he was still friendly. Sunday afternoon when we got there I was shocked to see how much worse he was. The children from home were all there. He had great difficulty breathing, even with oxygen. PAGE 14

It got worse in the evening. Once when I stood by his bedside he said, “Has the time come for us to part? Will I soon be in eternal glory? Am 1 good enough for that?” I replied, “No, none of us is good enough, but that is why Jesus died, to cover our sins.” Then he repeated the verse, “Christi Blut and Gerechtigkeit” (Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness). At various times he quoted this verse. He also said if his suffering should help to bring a revival or to save a soul he was willing to suffer. The previous night he had been praying earnestly for those who were not ready. And he encouraged us by saying, “Keep looking up” and “Never give up. You will never be sorry if you turn to Jesus.” At 12:00 midnight he was transferred to the Intensive Care unit. Each time 1 went in to see him he was struggling for breath, but still spoke words of comfort. He encouraged me again to trust in the Lord who would help me through. Around 3:00 a.m. as I stood at his side again, he looked at me so lovingly. The way he suffered and struggled to breathe was a pitiful sight. I ask­ ed, “Are you still hanging on?” He replied, “I will be leaving you very soon.” When I left him I cried to God to relieve him of his suffering and to take him home. God answered, and Cornelius left this earth just a little later to meet the Saviour whom he loved and served. His death was caused by pneumonia and heart failure. He was predeceased in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother, and two in­ fant children. He leaves to mourn me, his beloved wife, Evelyn; eight daughters and three sons, Irma and Howard Dueck, Margaret and John Kornelsen of Mexico; Lavina and Jake Peters, Bernie and Anna Reimer of Blumenort; Alvin and Mildred Reimer of Calgary; Annie, Elizabeth, Cornie, Linda, Lydia, and Evalina at home; six grandchildren, four brothers and two sisters, my one sister and four brothers, besides many relatives and friends. We want to submit to God’s leading, and praise Him for sustaining grace. We praise the Lord for answered prayer for revival in our home. We are deeply grateful for the prayers sent for us, and all the love and help given us by friends, hospital staff, doctors and funeral directors. We sorrow, but not without hope. We are looking forward to meeting Cornelius again in that heavenly home. With a very thankful heart we can say all the family are now Christians. Bessed be the name of the Lord. The Sorrowing Family

O ur crosses need not be losses, And our tears need not be fears; When the Holy Spirit takes control, As all our burdens on Him we roll.

JACOB FEHR 1911 - 1982 Jacob Fehr, age 70, of Blumenhof, Sask., a retired farmer, passed away on Friday, January 8. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on January 23 from the Chortitz Evangelical Mennonite Church, Chortitz, Sask, with Rev. Peter Schlamp and Rev. David Froese officiating, with interment at the Chortitz Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were Abe Leiding, Abe S. Knelsen, George Martens, Jacob Hiebert, Jacob J.P. Friesen and Abe Redekopp. Ac­ tive pallbearers were Ed Friesen, Henry Ban­ man, Jake Banman, Henry Fehr, Dave Fehr, and John Fehr. Organist was Mrs. Tina Peters and the songleader Dave Peters. The deceased is survived by his wife, Helena; one daughter, Linda, Mrs. Jacob Wiebe, Blumenhof, Sask.; seven sons, John, David, Leslie (Neville, Sask.); Jake and Henry (Regina, Sask.); Cornelius (Wymark, Sask.), William (Consul, Sask.); fifteen grandchildren, four brothers, four sisters and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Fehr was predeceased by one daughter, Helena, in in­ fancy; his father in 1927; his mother in 1972; one sister and two brothers. He was born on January 14, 1911 in Hopefield, Saskatchewan. He attended Ger­ man school at Hopefield. Following his schooling Jacob worked as a farm hand in the area for many years. He was united in marriage at Blumenhof, Sask, on November 29, 1936 to the former Helena Martens of the district. The couple then farmed and Mr. Fehr also worked for the R.M. of Lac Pelletier. In later years Jacob worked for the Lac Pelletier Regional Park helping to es­ tablish and maintain the grounds, until his retirement. Mr. Fehr enjoyed helping his family, friends and neighbours and will be sadly missed. “I have fought the good fight, I have fin­ ished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of right­ eousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who longed for his appearing” (II Timothy 4:7,8). The Family

Needed Lifeguard for Ketchen Lake Bible Camp for two weeks in July. Apply to: Dave Wiebe Box 111 Endeavour, Sask. SOA OWO Tel. (306) 547-3058

THE MESSENGER

In Transit By Leona Dueck Penner

Once again we approach the Swaziland/South Africa borderpost. As usual, my stomach tightens slightly at the sight of the official looking buildings and I wonder nervously whether we've brought all the necessary documents for crossing the border. There seem to be so many: passports, vaccination booklets, temporary residence permits, money ... Quite different from the in­ formality of the Canadian/USA border. A quick glance through my purse on our way to "Customs and Immigration" reassures me. Yes, it's all there. It should be - I've checked it innumerable timesi Our pens move quickly through the familiar questions on the white depar­ ture forms - name, address, destination, car licence number. On and on. But at last we're finished. We watch tensely as the dark hands of the Swazi of­ ficial skim through our papers with casual efficiency. A small pause as he glances up at us. For some reason I feel guilty. Does it show? Apparently not. He stamps our passports authoritatively and waves us onwards. Now for the South African side. The process is much the same, except now the arrival papers are blue and the hands holding the all-important stamp are white. He glances over our documents with practiced eyes. Hesitates. I gulp. What have we done wrong? "You've missed a question," his voice sounds accusing. "How long are you staying in South Africa?" My husband answers quickly, "We're just passing through, in transit to Botswana." A short pause, then the stamp comes down, four times in rapid succession. We're cleared I Breathing more easily, we head on our way. It seems that those two little words "in transit" are very relevant to our daily lives. On a personal level, our work as MCC country representatives in Swaziland (a tiny kingdom in southern Africa -120 by 90 miles), frequently requires us to travel through one country in order to attend a meeting in another. As a result, we often experience feelings of unease as we cross borders and journey through strange lands on our way to our destination. Being "in transit" we are constantly aware of the need to do the right things so that our progress won't be hindered. On another level, there is a sense in which we feel as though we are "in tran­ sit" as Christians. Because we are citizens of a new kingdom in which we seek to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, release to the captives, there is much that we find alien in our present world. In this "old" kingdom, racial dis­ crimination, exploitation of the weak, poverty, war, are not only tolerated but are actually encouraged to flourish. As long as this is so we can never be fully at ease here. We are foreigners in such a setting, and will continue to experience the unsettled feelings of being "in transit" even as we work for change and cry with increasing urgency; "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven."

LETTERS cont'd. This idea, for Paul, had its roots in Yahweh’s command to the Israelites, record­ ed in Deuteronomy 17:6 and 7, that for capital crimes at least two witnesses were to be required to convict a person and these two witnesses had to throw the first stones in the execution. For Paul, accusations against a church leader were not to be taken lightly and removal from office was to be done carefully and reponsibly. Notice the contradiction here with our practice of using the secret ballot. The in­ dication in Deuteronomy and I Timothy is that those with a case against someone are to speak up and take responsibility for what they say. The accusations are to be dealt with openly. The accused (the elder) is to FEBRUARY 12, 1982

know what he stands accused of and who it is that is accusing him. Then there is the possibility of defense as well as openness, honesty and fairplay. The secret ballot does the opposite. The one who writes a “no” takes no responsibility for his/her action. There is no need for openness and honesty. The “no” may be based on rumor and malicious feelings with no thought as to what will happen. It is really equivalent to talking behind someone’s back — gossip. The feelings and personhood of the elder may be completely ignored. If the accusations are false there is no possibility of correcting people’s opinions since no one knows who the people are nor what the accusations were. This is far removed from brotherhood, love, truth and responsible discipleship.

Secondly, divisiveness seems to be in­ herent within the secret ballot system or, if you will, the democratic system. Decisions are all seen as either/or. There are winners and there are losers. If you happen to lose, too bad. You are forced either to accept the will of the majority (sometimes the minority) or to leave. No attempt is made at having the two sides meet and work out a consensus. An 80% majority does not express unity. A unanimous agreement arrived at by discus­ sion and the willingness to give does. The view that we are right and therefore you are wrong is in direct contradiction to Paul’s ad­ monitions to the early churches. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard another (or another’s views) as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own per­ sonal interests, but also for the intersts of others” (Philippians 2:3 and 4). That is possible when we join to discuss, whether our pastor and his work or other church issues. With issues in the open we can give in to each other and come to general agreement, taking the other person and his views seriously. The secret ballot is the very antithesis of this. It says that I am right, you are wrong and there is no need for discus­ sion. This leads us to a third aspect that needs to be considered, that of power versus ser­ vice. Jesus, in Mark 10:42-45, says, “You know that those who are recogniz­ ed as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.” Although not totalitarian and authoritarian in the sense of dictatorship, the democratic system in our churches works on the basis of power. If we can get ‘x’ number of people to go our way then we win and all others must go with that. As indicated above, in balloting there is no room for con­ sensus. In conversation some time ago Mr. Ben Eidse, missionary in Zaire, said that in the African church the push to move from consensus to balloting came when one in­ dividual wished to impose his will on the whole group. When we see ourselves as ser­ vants, the will and views of others are impor­ tant to us and become determinate for us. That can only happen as we openly discuss and then seek to move towards togetherness. It would seem to me that the democratic system as we have learned it from our world is an expression of the principalities and powers mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 6. We as the church are to live the Kingdom way as a clear alternative to the ways of the world. We need to do that in our decision­ making processes, especially when dealing with our leaders. Ray Friesen (Aberdeen EMC) Mediation Services

PAGE 15

From the Editor GUEST EDITORIAL

OF SHEPHERDS, FIEFS, AND THE FLOCK A well-known Christian educator and commentator has described the current evangelical scene in the context of what he calls the “Balkanization of discipleship.” Just as American society is comprised of numerous regional, political, ethnic, and economic interest groups, the evangelical subculture in­ creasingly is being defined in terms of its particular personali­ ties, movements, organizations and causes. This trend poses a danger, and—to follow through with the analogy—presents itself as the “soft underbelly” of an outwardly strong church. Denominational differences have subdivided American evangelicalism into a spiritual patch work. However, there still have been clear evidences of unity within the diversity. In recent years, evangelicalism has given birth to numerous “transdenominational” enterprises and parachurch organiza­ tions. Aided by mass market advertising and given exposure via the ever-expanding Christian media, they have produced the slogans, seminars, and celebrities with which millions of American (Christians identify. But just as single-issue politics so often leads to tunnel vision and lack of wholeness, the evangelical equivalent—whether the “one-man show” or the cause ceelebre—can have damaging consequences for those im­ mediately involved and for the larger Christian community. Many Christians no longer find their badge of belonging in the church universal, but in a person or a movement. There seems to be an unprecedented hungering for adjunct affilia­ tions with those Christian organizations providing shepherd­ ing, marriage enrichment, inner healing, motivational impe­ tus, financial success, conflict resolution, or political guidance. While the seeking of spiritual and personal Improvement is always praiseworthy, the search can be subverted by the un­ critical and unquestioning pursuit of techniques and teachers. The making of religious empires and the elevating of evange­ lical gurus has been facilitated by an unending supply of trust­ ing followers who invite disaster with their almost cult-like devotion to popular Christian figures. As one observer put it, “We want heroes! We want reassurance that someone knows what is going on in this bad world. We want a father or a mother to lean on. We want revolutionary folk heroes who will tell us what to do until the Rapture.” In recent years a string of Christian celebrities has exper­ ienced divorce. The disillusionment and disappointment these events have caused rank-and-file Christians only underscore the perils of hero worship and the need to develop inner spiri­ tual resources apart from fallible humanity. When widely respected leaders are found to have feet of clay, it is time once again to acknowledge the potential for abuse that exists in all organizations that are essentially “one-man shows.” Institu­ tions (and even churches) that focus on the ministry of one person run the risk of vulnerability to exploitation—financial, spiritual, and psychological. The temptation to control the lives of others is often rationalized and Christianized by spiritual strong men who present a benign persona to the world at large. PAGE

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THE MESSENGER

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This does not mean that we do not need heroes or trusted leaders whom we can boldly follow with ready heart and un­ flinching loyalty. God has always used “charismatic” men and women with great gifts of leadership to carry on his work in this world. The author of the Book of Hebrews recognized God’s hand in raising up heroes of faith when he wrote: “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” But ultimate commitment is safely made only to God. No man or woman can be ultimately trusted. Therefore the same biblical author warns us to look to Jesus, who alone is the author and perfecter of our faith. We follow imperfect human leaders because they are the only ones we have. But we do not follow them blindly. We subject their fallible guidance to the perfect and infallible guide God himself has given us in Scrip­ ture. In the final analysis we obey God rather than men (Acts 4:19). The church today desperately needs strong heroes whom we can follow gladly to the ends of the earth. But we cannot follow our leaders blindly. We must select leaders with spiritual dis­ cernment, illuminated and informed by the Word of God. God will hold us who are followers responsible for choosing our leaders rightly—both spiritual and political. He also holds us responsible for following our leaders with a commitment appropriate to leaders who are less than perfect. 'The Scripture also has much to say about the special respon­ sibility of leaders—the guards upon the walls of the secular city and the shepherds of the flock of God. Leaders are to be above reproach, men and women of integrity, dedicated to justice. They will be judged by a higher standard of righteousness be­ cause of greater consequences of their actions. Some Christian organizations have enjoyed untarnished reputations under the godly leadership of a single man or woman. Many others have been less fortunate. In an age when television and jet transportation have com­ bined to produce Christian personalities with the potential to exercise even greater power over people, Christians might do well to remember the examples of at least one organization that has been quietly serving God and humanity in the United States without a hint of scandal or need for recognition and power: the Salvation Army. Its leaders are seldom guests on Christian TV talk shows, nor are their names household words in evangelical homes. Salvationists rarely write Christian best sellers or conduct workshops. Respected by both saints and sinners, they continue to give a cup of cold water in the Savior’s name as they have for the past 100 years. They pro­ vide a model of Christian unity and leadership that is needed and yet too often goes unnoticed in today’s mainstream evan­ gelicalism. —Christianity Today