The Messenger FVANCFI ICAl MFNNONITE EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE CONFERENCE
VOL. VOL. 21 21 NO. NO. 10 10 V^MAY MAY 20/83. 20/83, a
Be Filled with the Spirit Mennonites in the Future Where is the Salt? O'* ’K
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Be Filled with the Spirit
by David Ewert
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i^nd be not drunk with wine, wherein is ex cess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God'' (Eph, 5:18-21). PAGE 2
HE NEW Testament event known as Pentecost marks the dramatic day when the Holy Spirit, sounding like a violent wind and appearing as tongues of fire, fill ed the gathering of believers and empowered them to launch the ministry of their Lord’s church. We celebrate that glorious event even to day. But the miracle that occurred, the fill ing of believers with the Holy Spirit, pro bably raises more questions than hymns of praise in the hearts and minds of contem porary believers. What does it mean to “be filled with the Spirit” today? How and when does it happen? Can we really know? Whereas Luke speaks repeatedly of the filling with the Spirit in both his gospel and the Acts, Paul mentions it only once. In Ephesians 5:18 he commands his readers to be filled with the Spirit — the only text in the entire New Testament in which believers are so exhorted. Nowhere in the apostolic writings does a Christian personally claim that he or she is full of the Spirit. Presumably, then, the fullness of the Spirit in a believer’s life can be sensed by others. If that were not so, the apostles’ instruction to look around for men “full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:3) would have made no sense. It doesn’t follow, though, that a believer can do nothing about being filled with the Spirit, for then Paul’s command, “be filled with the Spirit,” loses its authoritative ring. Let us see how Ephesians 5:18-21 helps us understand what it means to be filled with the Spirit. The apostolic command (v. 18b). Paul is not simply expressing a pious wish; he is not dreaming of an impossible ideal, but he com mands, “be filled with the Spirit.” Paul’s command must not be understood to mean the apostle wanted to force people to do something they did not like. He’s not cracking the whip over their heads. His con cern is that the readers of his epistle ex perience all that is available to them in Christ. Moreover, God does not demand where he has not first given. It is sometimes said that the imperatives (the demands) of the New Testament are based on indicatives (that which is given). Perhaps this is what John implies when he says, “his commandments are not burdensome” (I Jn. 5:3). Surely when Paul, God’s servant, com mands us to be filled with the Spirit, he has no intention of placing a heavy yoke around our necks. On the contrary, he is concerned with our growth, our maturity, our wealth in Christ. To balk at this command leads on ly to our own loss and impoverishment. A command given by God calls for a response. There is nothing automatic about being filled with the Spirit. Without our response to God’s gift, it cannot be received. The idea of being filled with the Spirit of
God is so overwhelming that some wonder whether this is a privilege God grants only to certain people. Doesn’t the desire to be full of the Spirit reek of spiritual arrogance and pride? Surely, we say, Paul cannot be commanding ordinary, run-of-the-mill Christians, who fail only too often, to be fill ed with Christ’s Spirit. But Paul is not addressing bishops or deacons or missionaries. If he were, it would be rather embarrassing that these spiritual leaders should be warned first not to get drunk with wine (v. 18a). No, there is no escape. Every humble believer must come to terms with this command. So, what does it mean to be full of the Spirit? “To be filled” is figurative language which expresses the notion that our lives are governed and directed by the Spirit of Jesus. Words such as pouring, filling and baptiz ing do not mean that the Holy Spirit is a fluid. Rather, they are figures of speech which underscore how richly God’s Spirit has been given to us. A question often raised is whether the fill ing with the Spirit is a single, unique, post conversion experience. The answer from our text must be, “No, not necessarily.” The command to be filled (plerousthe in Greek) is in the present tense, which usually implies continuous action. A present tense may also be iterative, meaning that something happens again and again. Since believers experience God in many different ways in their Christian pilgrimage, it may well be that individuals can point to moments where God worked deeply in their life through his Spirit. It may be as they faced an insuperable task, or struggled through a failure or tragedy, or as they dealt with a besetting sin in their lives, that they ex perienced profound renewal. One thing is clear: the New Testament nowhere teaches that being filled with the Spirit is a second stage (after conversion) in our salvation experience. In the words of Michael Green, “It is not a plateau on to which you are ushered by some second stage in initiation, a plateau which separates you from other Christians who have not had the same experience ... It can also be regain ed, through repentance and asking God to fill us afresh” (/ Believe in the Holy Spirit, p. 153). Preceding the command to be filled with the Spirit stands the prohibition, “And do not get drunk with wine.” That warning sug gests that there may be things in our life which prevent God from filling us with his Spirit. . Human obstacles (v. 18a). There are several places in the New Testament where being filled with the Spirit stands over against being filled with wine. Of John the Baptizer it was predicted that he would be filled with the Spirit in his mother’s womb, and that he would not consume strong drink (Lk. 1:15). When the disciples were filled with the Spirit
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at Pentecost they were charged with drunkenness (although the charge was ludicrous) (Acts 2:4ff.). In Ephesians 5:18 drunkenness clearly stands in the way of the fullness of the Spirit in a believer’s life. Whereas the New Testa ment nowhere forbids the drinking of wine (only the overindulgence is condemned), the evils that stem from strong drink in our society are so monstrous that we are wise to refrain from intoxicating drink altogether, both as a witness against this evil and for our own good. But, having said that, surely we are not to think that avoiding intoxicating drink will assure us of the Spirit’s fullness. There are obviously many other things that can fill our lives (if not our stomachs) in such a way that the Spirit of God is crowded out. And 1 am not thinking of gross sins, either — which obviously rule out the Spirit’s fullness. Legitimate and innocent practices, carried to the extreme, can also push God’s Spirit into a corner. While 1 am entirely in favor of clean, healthy sports, I find it hard to har monize the inordinate obsession with sports that fills the lives of so many believers. Others are so deeply engrossed in political issues that Christ seems to take second place to Caesar. How people who spend an in credible number of hours before the televi sion screen can at the same time be full of the Spirit of Jesus, is beyond me. And if our minds are occupied day in, day out, with one question, “How can I make an extra dollar?”, 1 can’t help but think the Spirit is grieved. All of us need to ask ourselves from time to time: “Lord, is there someting in my life that stands in the way of the fullness of the Spirit?” How, then, does the fullness of the Spirit express itself? To get a more complete pic ture of a life full of the Spirit one should turn to the book of Acts, but we shall limit ourselves to Ephesians 5. Practical expressions (vv. 19-21). Joyful song (v. 19). “Be filled with the Spirit, ad dressing one another in psalms and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.” The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of joy. Indeed, joy is a fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22). This joy expresses itself in song. The New Testa ment is full of songs, beginning with the birth narratives of Jesus and ending with the shat tering music of the Apocalypse. The word “to sing” {psallo) originally meant to pluck the strings, then to accom pany song with an instrument and finally simply to sing. And that is how it is used here. Paul also mentions “hymns.” Hymen was the Greek god of song and of marriage. The word had already become a religious word and is used here for songs with a Chris tian message. The third word {odai} is a secular word for song and for that reason Paul qualifies it with the adjective “spiritual.” This would not mean that God’s
MAY 20, 1983
people should never sing nature or folk songs, but Christian worship calls for spiritual songs. It is interesting to observe that Christian hymnody always flourished best during the great spiritual revivals of history. Think on ly of the early church, then the Reformation, the Wesleyan revival, and the rich hymnody of Pietism. One could hardly think of D.L. Moody without his songleader, Ira Sankey. The presence of the Spirit is felt when believers build themselves and others up by singing. To sing “in the heart” doesn’t necessarily mean silent singing, although we may well do that even as we go about our daily work. Paul probably means that our singing should have heart in it. “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but . . . joy in the Holy Spirit”
All of us need to ask ourselves from time to time, Lord, is there something in my life that stands in the way of the fullness of the Spirit?
(Rom. 14:17). And this joy expresses itself in song. Gratitude (v. 20). “Always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” That sounds impossible! How can we be thankful at all times for everything? Paul knew only too well the dark valley of suf fering. He had his disappointments, sorrows and losses. His experiences in Asia were so heavy that “we despaired of life itself” (2 Cor. 1:8). Is Paul asking us to do what he did not practice himself? Certainly not! Think only of that horrible night in a Philippian jail when he and his colleagues sang praises to God. From his prison in Rome he writes a letter to the Philippians which is peppered with outbursts of joy. Paul is not asking us to become hypocrites and to thank God for evils that strike our lives. Often when we are in the midst of trials the best we can do is to say with the psalmist: “For I will yet thank him.” Even in the dark moments of our life we have the assurance that we are being led by the hand of our heavenly Father. And when the puzzles of life seem hopeless, we can be grateful that in the end he receives us into glory, where all mysteries will be made plain. Fullness of the Spirit is not seen primarily in enthusiasm and effervescence, but in sub mission to the will of God and in deep gratitude for his goodness and grace by which he sustains us. That leads us to a third expression of the filling with the Spirit. A humble spirit (v. 21). “Being subject one to another out of reverence for Christ.” In order to live joyfully and gratefully we must do away with all strife. Strife is often caused by arrogance and pride; by exalting ourselves and denigrating others. Where God’s Spirit fills people’s lives they seek to serve one another and treat each other respectfully. We all know that the church is to respect its leaders; spouses are to respect each other, children their parents. Paul, however, asks every believer to be subject to his/her fellow believers. Will such an attitude not undermine all social structure and lead to utter chaos? Sure ly someone must lead and others follow; some instruct and others learn. Yes, indeed, but even leadership must be carried on in a spirit of humility; leaders in the church are also subject to their fellow believers. In fact, only when they treat their “subordinates” with respect, can Christians ever lead. That may not be the world’s pattern, but that’s what Jesus taught. The fullness of the Spirit, then, is manifested not necessarily in ecstasy or in the flourishing of striking gifts, but in joy, gratitude and humility. The fullness of the Spirit is seen primarily in Christlikeness, for the Spirit who yearn.s to fill us is the Spirit of the risen Christ.
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. . . the issue will be whether we desire to be churches which are faithful to the witness of Christ’s life and teaching as recorded in the Bible.
Mennonites in the Future by John Friesen
ennonites in North America are a diverse group. Some Mennonites have North American roots which go back three hundred years, and others have immigrated after the Second World War. Some can trace their Mennonite ancestry to the sixteenth cen tury Anabaptist beginnings, and others have made the Anabaptist-Mennonite heritage their own less than a generation ago. Some have thoroughly adopted the lifestyle and values of the Canadian or American cultures, others have developed their own counter culture. Some witness to their faith in God through active programs of missions and evangelism, others witness by living their faith in quiet simplicity. The world in which Mennonites in North America live is constantly changing. During the past three hundred years Canada and the U.S.A, have changed from colonial outposts of European countries to major partners in the community of nations. Pioneer frontiers have been transformed into bustling, modern societies. Travel has changed from stagecoach, to railway, to cars and to planes. The quiet, secluded, rural enclaves of the earliest settlers have been sucked into the stream of urbanization. The simple ethical morals of the stable, rural village and com munity have been overwhelmed by complex lifestyles by a mobile and rootless society. The future promises even more change and less security. The threat of nuclear war will continue to hang over our heads. As we become ever more affluent, the energy short fall will threaten this affluence and cause anger and fear. The economic dominance of the northern nations will be challenged by southern nations. The combined threat to na tional prestige, wealth, and power may create new, irrational nationalisms which may lash out in unpredictable, destructive fury. I can see a lot of opportunities and challenges for Mennonites to express the best in their heritage in the future. Our Anabap tist beginnings were in the crucible of a changing and exploding world. Anabaptism was led by people who were breaking out of established mold.s - former priests, women, middle class artisans, lower class nobility, and former peasants. Even though in the in tervening centuries the radical beliefs of the Anabaptists were often incarnated in safe, secluded, stable, rural enclaves, there is no
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reason why these revolutionary beliefs can not be expressed again in a changing, mobile, urban world. 1 would like to identify four areas in which I believe we will have opportunities in the future: communicating our beliefs and values to others, being peacemakers, establishing community, and fostering economic sharing.
a righteous crusade against the evil forces which seem poised to destroy our supposed ly Christian lifestyles. 1 fear that as our af fluence is threatened we will lose interest in the plight of the poor and oppressed at home and abroad. The optimist in me hopes that we will allow our views on peace to be shaped as we read our Bibles, listen to God, learn from our forebears, and dialogue with each other. I hope that we will forge ahead to create new structures of peacemaking, reconciliation, and justice. We may even find new avenues for strength as we cooperate with people from other confessions who are also convinc ed that peace is God’s will.
Mennonites will have opportunity to be a witnessing church. During the past decades we have been entering every facet of North American society. Never before have we had such an opportunity to communicate and ex press our values and beliefs. The issue will probably not be whether we will witness, but how. The pessimist in me says that we will con A third challenge we Mennonites willface tinue to copy the programs of mass is to rediscover the dynamic, vitality, and evangelism. Our message will be in strength of community. During the past three dividualistic, “spiritual,” and concerned centuries the context of decision-making for with technique and numbers. Our evangelism our understanding of salvation, our pro will save the souls of people who will go on grams of evangelism, our economic patterns, expressing racial prejudice, economic in our choice of vocation, have shifted from the justice, and militant nationalism. community to the individual. The optimist in me hopes that we will In the world of the future we will need to discover the Biblical understanding of discover how to create community - a new witness, and learn to witness to the person sense of belonging to each other in commit and to the society, combine word and deed, ment. We learned to create community in and base our witness in the dynamic of the one setting, will we learn it in another? church. The pessimist in me says we will probably Second, Mennonites will also face the fail. We are already too enthralled with the challenge to provide a peace witness. For lure of individualism and with the freedom four and a half centuries we have been from accountability that it provides. 1 fear known as a peace church. We have rejected that the weak and the strong among us will the idolatry of nationalism, refused to take not be able to see their destinies intertwined the life of fellow human beings, and have in each other’s futures. said that peace must express itself in acts of The optimist in me believes that new pat reconciliation. terns of commitment and mutual respon The pessimist in me quakes at the pro sibility can be created. In our history we have spects of witness in this area. I fear we will frequently lived in contexts in which mutual be unable to relate peace to our understan responsibility among people of diverse ethnic ding of salvation and that we will relegate and economic backgrounds was not to be peace to the position of a Mennonite taken for granted. I believe it should be peculiarity. I fear that as America’s energy possible to create new structures which will supplies are threatened, we will be caught up express this Biblical emphasis. in a new, militant nationalism within which A fourth challenge that Mennonites will we will be unwilling to raise the Biblical ques face will be to learn to share economically. tions about the demonic nature of this Our forbears in the sixteenth century cri nationalism. tiqued the economic injustices and exploita tions of their age in a variety of ways. The I fear we will not be able to free ourselves critiques all included some form of sharing, from the corroding influence of a civil equality, and concern for the needy. In the religion which will link God and country in intervening four and a half centuries we have
THE MESSENGER
Fourth in a series
Revival Comes With Self-Recognition by Abe Leiding After Genesis 32 Jacob is beginning to be Jacob now. He has been away for many years but he is coming near. This is the begin ning of good things for Jacob. Good news is starting. But the old Jacob does not die quickly. He has prayed, but read on and you will see that after he prayed he began to scheme. Jacob is pushing cattle, goats and servants ahead of him, paving his way, think ing that that will be a sufficient sacrifice to atone for his sin to his brother Esau. He is still a scheming, clever Jacob, for he says, “1 will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward 1 will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me” (v. 20). This is Jacob! Appeasement is the wrong way of coming to blessing. You try to make the other per son forget you wronged him. You want to put on smiles and do something good for the person. And then we pretend that all is well. And our Lord Jesus said, “If your brother has something against you, leave the sacrifice at the altar, go to your brother and put things right with him first” (Matt. 5:23, 24). Face your Esau. Face him as you are. Jacob failed. He schemed. Jacob had a wonderful gift for scheming. He had it all at his fingertips. But after all his scheming see what happened. “And he rose up that night . . . ”(v. 22). He had no peace at all; no sleep came. Even after the scheming and beautiful planning there was no peace in his heart. Schemings and avoiding our “Esaus” are very futile, are they not? They fall far short, and the blessing of God does not come that way. Don’t try to scheme. If you remember there is an Esau for you somewhere, realize the way to blessing in your life is to face that Esau situation and be what you are. It may mean writing a letter to someone, asking for forgiveness. It may mean facing someone in the church and making restitution if you want God’s blessing on you. It may mean as a pastor bowing to someone in the congrega tion and being reconciled. It may also mean for someone in the congregation to be recon ciled to the pastor. Be practical. Be very sim ple about it because that is what God wants his people to be. That is what Jesus died for. Jacob had no sleep. “And Jacob was left alone” (v. 24). I hope this will be your ex perience, putting all your scheming and defenses aside. “And there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” I believe that man was Jesus Christ. It does
not say, “An angel wrestled with him.” It says, “There wrestled a man with Jacob.” Through twenty years of gruelling ex periences and then, all night, God struggled and wrestled with Jacob. How long has it taken Jesus to break some of us? He has been wrestling. You see. He came from heaven because He saw Jacob in this dilemma, in this misery of twenty years of defeat and cheating and failure. After twenty years of hard work the battle was still on. Is Jesus, the wounded Man of Calvary, still struggling with you? Are you one of those who is hard? You know that inwardly your Christian life is not a fulfill ed life, but you bulldoze on in that dry state. You have no real testimony of God’s fresh work in your life, areas where His Spirit is moving and you are discovering a new clean sing and a new joy. We might feel. Oh, no, I cannot admit 1 am a failure because if I do, it means I was not properly trained. What might my church think if I said I was defeated and dry? There are many Christians who live under the clouds of impurity, jealousy, hatred, fear and criticism, with an unforgiving spirit and deep pride in their hearts. In deep bondage. They dare not ad mit, because if they do, what about the socie ty in which they live? When the man saw he could not prevail against Jacob, that Jacob was too strong for God to bless, “he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him.” Do you know why our individual lives are often dry? Do you know why our churches are often dry and nothing great seems to be happening? We are too strong to be bless ed. We are mighty men, strong men of doc trine, we have no weaknesses as far as we are concerned. We consider ourselves to be spiritual men, but all the while we are much too strong for God to bless. God’s strength is released in weakness. Jacob became very weak. Hear the ques tion in verse 27. Mark it carefully and answer it. “And the man said unto him. What is thy name?” After twenty years the same ques tion is asked: “What is your name?” This time the answer comes quickly: “Jacob,” Thank God for that. “Jacob!” That is the key to the blessing. It is the key for you and me if we will be sincere enough to say, “Jacob, Lord, is my name - a cheater, a sup planter, a dry Christian, a defeated Chris tian. I try to hide it from people but. Lord Jesus, you know the way it is with me.”
expressed this belief with very uneven consistency. During the next century when Canada and the U.S.A, may well be going through some serious economic adjustments, we will have the opportunity to contribute creatively this dimension of the gospel. How well will we do it? The pessimist in me argues that our religious ideals will be shaped by our economic system. In our history it has become evident that our economic patterns have a greater influence on what we believe than our beliefs have on our economic pat terns. I fear that the economic individualism of capitalism, its success orientation, its assumption that the poor deserve their fate because they must be lazy, will be too strong to be reshaped by our beliefs. The optimist in me argues that the gospel of Christ is strong enough to overcome all bondages, even the bondage of economic determinism. If we will be willing to create new forms of community, alternative economic patterns can also emerge. In many respects the future of Mennonite churches may be very bright. Memberships may well rise, budgets may be high, and pro grams in missions and evangelism may flourish. The real test for us will, however, not be in these areas. Rather the issue will be whether we desire to be churches which are faithful to the witness of Christ’s life and teaching as recorded in the Bible. Our challenge will be to contribute to this com plex, shrinking, defensive world that which is liberating, humanizing and saving in the fullest sense of the Christian gospel.
CONTRIBUTORS: David Ewert (page 2) is the president of the Mennonite Brethren Bible College, Winnipeg, Man. The article “Be Filled with the Spirit” is reprinted by permission of Christian Leader, Hillsboro, Kansas. John Friesen is Associate Professor of History and Theology at Canadian Men nonite Bible College, Winnipeg, Man. The articles comes from Meetinghouse. Ernie Koop, p. 12, works with the Aylmer Church. Doug and Sandra Doerksen (Braeside) are involved in community development and evangelism among the Guarani Indians in Paraguay. Elizabeth Koop (Kleefeld) return ed to Brazil recently where she is serving under the New Tribes Mission. Mary Loewen (Rosenort) is a teacher at Camp 67 in Mex ico. Ernie and Mary Ann Loewen (Pleasant Valley) are involved in radio work in Paraguay. COVER PHOTO: When my wife and I were in Europe some years ago Peter and Sally Dueck and their family took us for a sightseeing tour This is one of the photos from that trip. Cory, of course, is quite a bit older by now. He was 12 in November.
THE MESSENGER is published every other week by The Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Board of Education and Publication, Box 1268, Steinbach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0. Second Class Mail, Registration Number 0591. Undeliverable copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be mailed to the above address. Subscription price $6.00 per year.
MAY 20, 1983
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Ben Eidse was the main speaker at the retreat.
Ministerial Retreat by Dave Schellenberg Just over 100 people registered for the 1983 Ministers’ Retreat held May 6-8 at Camp Arnes, Manitoba. Not all stayed the whole period. 1 think if we wanted to put the goal of this retreat in a few words it would be something like relaxation, inspiration and fellowship. To my mind all three occurred. The main speaker for the event was Mr. Ben Eidse, president elect of the Steinbach Bible College, recently returned from Zaire. The theme for the retreat was Mr. Eidse addressed himself to this topic in four different lectures: 1. Relationship Between Husband and Wife 2. Relationship Between Parents and Children 3. Time Scheduling 4. Family Worship The relationship of husband and wife began in Genesis 1 when man was made in the image of God. This image was marred as is seen in Genesis 3. But it is being restored as seen in Romans 8:29. But we have a responsibility here. “How can I be like
Jesus? 1 have to die to self.” Am I willing to take a stand for Christ regardless of what it will cost?” Mr. Eidse pointed to Jesus’ life as an ex ample. “Let’s look at the gospels to see what Jesus was like. The more I do this the more my wife will see Jesus in me.” In his topic “Relationship Between Parents and Children” Mr. Eidse zeroed in on three things: 1. What Parents Should Be 2. What Parents Should Know 3. What Parents Should Do He stated that we should “permit the triune God to restore His image in us.” “We like to be identified with important people,” he stated. “But we should also be willing to identify with the weak and lowly. “We should know the characteristics of children in general as well as each child in particular.” We need to spend time with our children and recognize the teachable moment. Deut. 6:4-9 and Proverbs 22:6 show that parents should also do something in relation to their children. He went on to state that
A group from Braeside rendering a number in song at (he ministers’ retreat.
Ron Penner, Landmark, Man., was overall director. But I think he and Ruth worked as a team.
we must discipline our children. “The pur pose of discipline is internal control.” The question period after this session brought out one significant query: “How do you deal with a child that is overly conscious of sin and guilt?” Some answers: 1. Parents need to also share their own struggles with the child. 2. Make the child aware that there is forgiveness; accept it. In the session on “Time Scheduling” Mr. Eidse pointed out that in the ancient world the view was cyclical. The dominant view in the Bible is that time is linear. He further reviewed some Gospel passages that refer to Jesus and time. Other new Testament passages which speak of time are Eph. 5:16, Gal. 6:10, 2 Tim. 4:6. He en couraged his listeners to “use time for the things which outlast time.” We need to plan carefully. “Without plan ning you don’t reach goals ... it serves as a basis for measuring and controlling programs.” His “Steps in Planning” were taken from a book by Robert White: 1. Analyze the external situation 2. Analyze the internal capabilities 3. Determine key issues 4. Set goals 5. Choose strategies 6. Develop plans for action 7. Decide on the budget Things to consider in family worship, ac cording to Brother Eidse, are 1) time and place, 2) material, 3) and methods. Time needs to be utilized, both as scheduled and unscheduled. In this session Mr. Eidse advocated a study method called Inductive Bible Study. This method was demonstrated. The participants were the group present. The procedure in-
THE MESSENGER
Several missionaries on furlough were able to lake part in the ministers' retreat. On right are Larry and Kathryn McNeill, Mali, Africa; next are Don and Liz Plett, Nicaragua. On left are Wayne and Essie Herrod, Kenya. In the foreground are Wilbert and Hilda Friesen (former missionaries in Nicaragua) of Roseisle, Man., where Wilbert is pastor of the E.M. Church.
volves observation, interpretation and ap plication. He also named other helps to be used in family worship; Scripture Gift Mis sion, ISCF, IVCF, Daily Bread and Family Hour Notebook. I think among the significant events was the Sunday communion service and feetwashing. The spirit and atmosphere I believe will be long remembered. Saturday afternoon was the occasion for a brief ministerial meeting where a few items of business were discussed as well as church reports given. We were glad for Fisher Branch where some new families have moved in. Kteefeld has elected a minister. A tragic drowning at Rosenort tended to make church differences disappear. Pleasant Valley anticipates star ting a church in an outreach area. In Heron they want to set a goal of community outreach. The Braeside report indicated that a number of people had accepted Christ. A concern about headship in the matter of mar riage was expressed. In Calgary they are en-
Retreat song leader Harry Neufeld did a good job.
thusiastic about the work. In Kamsack they are looking forward to the John Cosens’ coming. In Roseisle they are excited about the sum mer program. Morweena had meetings with a Mr. Yoder from Minnesota. Services in Hudson Bay with Abe Leiding made a good impact. The Pleasant Valley church is get ting too small! In Prairie Rose they had meetings with David Ewert. The church here also decided to continue with dual services for another two years. Mr. Willie Dueck shared the need for teachers in Seminole, Texas. Mr. John Peters is going to a Gideon convention in Germany May 12-15. Cathy Thiessen reports that they have a building project in Chihuahua, Mex ico. Prayer was requested for two erring ones. I can not help but believe that hearts were lifted in praise at what the Lord is doing. May there also be prayer for issues of concern. After the ministerial meeting there was a
Saturday afternoon there was a period of recreation.
time of recreation. There were also places where people could go and pray as they were moved. At mealtime I think we all appreciated both the fellowship and the food; both were good. Our congenial hosts, Dave and Fran Harms, added to the overall enjoyment of the weekend. Both are on Camp Arnes staff. Certainly not to be overlooked are Ron and Ruth Penner of the Prairie Rose con gregation. Ron was asked to be general direc tor. He and his wife did a good job. EMC ministerial retreats are held about once every two years. The first one was at Red Rock Bible Camp in 1972. After this, retreats also took place at Ninette and Riding Mountain. A number of other people took part in the services by way of singing, openings, etc. We should express our appreciation to the organizers for an enjoyable and blessed weekend. If you couldn’t make it this year why not plan to attend the next one, if the Lord tarry.
Enjoying a meal in the dining room at Camp Arnes at the ministers’ retreat.
Missions preparations, 1 had grudgingly suggested that we cancel all birthday parties for next year. Now, as I look back, a birthday party is a challenge rather than a chore. A challenge to help create an atmosphere of loving in teraction, unity and fun. In our family of five girls each one needs
my love and affection. A happy birthday party can be a tangible way to show that 1 care. So I want to do it “heartily as unto the Lord.” ...I think we’ll continue birthday parties again next year! Mary Ann Loewen
Mission Grams Germany Mary Brandt writes, “Our area of Germany is in full bloom again — fruit trees as well as countless bushes and spring flowers. These tasteful colors! Did He create all of this for us to enjoy? Words fail me when 1 see such beauty! In the midst of this beauty we have people sick and tired of living. What a contrast! Families torn apart. People ruined by sin. If only they would come to Jesus! He can make something new and beautiful out of a messed up life. We have again prayed for 150 young people to help us in a city-wide campaign. We want to be obedient in sowing the seed. His word is living and powerful. He changes lives. He gives new life. What a responsibility is ours as His children to show others the Way. We as YFC will be in much prayer as we make special efforts to reach a lost world.”
Belize Katherine Penner reports; “We are going into the last six weeks of school here at King’s College. The Form Ill’s begin outside exams tomorrow. They will continue for the next two months. There are ten graduating students.”
Ernie and May Ann Loewen and their daughters. Faith. Jennifer, Hannah, Monique and Angelica. PARAGUAY
Chaco Challenge Birthday Time Again'. Mary Ann Loewen is the wife of Ernie Loewen, the manager of Radio ZP-30 in the Chaco, Paraguay. She is the mother offive girls. It’s birthday time again! Our oldest daughter is having a party! Eleven guests have been invited. Can it be that Faith is 11 already? Sighing, I begin the day. Another party to bake for, clean for. Selfishly I ask myself, “Am I not busy enough?” If only my sister were here to decorate the cake... Our daughter has made good use of her creative abilities. She made her own invita tions. Now she does her own entertaining. The day is warm and the “Nordsturm” is raging. Nevertheless, the whole celebration takes place outdoors. Streamers from old workbooks decorate the trees...lively relays...preteen banter in Plattdeutsch (Low German).. .drinking “terere” (only water)...load.s of fun! I meet the guests. What a great bunch! What a privilege to open our home to Faith’s friends. Guiltily, I recall that at noon, amidst
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Summer Christian Service There are numerous opportunities for a summer ministry in camp, DVBS and evangelism. Contact the missions office in Steinbach, Box 1268. Phone (204) 326-6401. Mexico
Grace Thiessen, serving with Wycliffe, reports: “Felix and his wife are a great help in the linguistic workshop. He has now identified himself with the believers and the change in his life is very noticeable. Pray for him as a new believer. Felix’s faith will be tested in the village. He knows so little about God’s Word.”
EMMC Annual Convention, July 1-3 Dan Zehr, Altona, Man., and Harvey Plett, Steinbach, will be the keynote speakers at the 1983 annual convention of the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference. Delegate sessions will be held on Friday and Saturday. The ladies and youth will also meet on Saturday. Sunday is Missions Day with activities beginning at 10:00 a.m. A Sunday evening communion service is the last item of the convention. The convention activities will take place in the Steinbach Regional Secon dary School. This facility includes a 350-seat theatre for business sessions, a large gym, ample parking space and many other conveniences.
Welcome THE MESSENGER
Left to right: Julio, Doug Uoerksen, Francisco.
Antonia and her family.
PARAGUAY
Christ - the Victor
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Times of Testing These are days when our faithfulness to Christ and commitment to Him are being tested. The purpose of testing is to bring honour and glor to Him by showing Him vic tor over evil forces through the lives of believers. From home we hear these days of Christian marriages tested, with some found weak, others strong in Him. We hear of tests of allegiance as disunity and strife threaten church groups, and on it goes. The evil one tests us in the area of our weakness, and each believer faces this crisis with Christ as Helper. Just as you and 1 have faced tests presented to us in the context of our cultural susceptibility, so too our fellow believers here among the Indian tribes of Paraguay face situations which to them are crises of belief. Julio, a baptized believer with leadership potential, is at present fighting the powers of a love spell cast on him by a neighbour lady, tempting him to leave his family and faith, for her. Though lacking complete understanding, we see the evidence of the power of the evil one in the bondage to this cultural belief. May some be found who would faithfully pray for Julio and his family so that the Spirit of the Overcomer would reveal Himself as the Victor over love spells to Christians and the unbelievers at Santa Teresa. We praise God for those who prayed for Antonia, an Indian lady of Santa Teresa, who almost died when possessed by a spirit of fear which held her in its clutches. (Sara Loeppky wrote about this in a Messenger ar ticle in November.) Due to concentrated prayer and attention, especially by Sara Loeppky and Anne Braun, she claimed faith in Christ and the resulting liberation has left her a “changed one,” a radiant Christian lady. Worthy of all praise is Christ, the
MAY 20, 1983
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,1. Julio and his family.
Redeemer and Victor. During the Easter season we again remembered in faith the One who overcame all evil powers at the cross and tomb. Praise and a continual renewal of our faith in Christ in times of testing of His power in our lives is our worship. Doug and Sandra Doerksen BRAZIL
Back at the Indian Post Need Spiritual Revival Greetings from Brazil! On March 22, shortly after 9 p.m., 1 was on a big Brazilian plane heading back to Manuas, Brazil. 1 had mixed feelings but praised the Lord for another opportunity to serve Him in this great country and to work with the Pacaas Novos Indians! Because of heavy storm clouds over Manaus, the cap tain took us all the way to Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil. We went through customs there, bought our tickets (paid by the airline) and were back on our way to Manaus; we arrived there in the early after-
noon. It was good to get there. Abe and Dee Koop arrived at the airport almost at the same time, from a visit to the Pacaas Novos Indians. I spent ten days with them at our Mission Headquarters, enjoying fellowship with them as well as the others there. The second of April I took the plane to Porto Velho and from there to Guajara Mirim. There was no one to meet me at the airport but the Lord provided others and I was taken, baggage and all, to our house in town. 1 had the key to our house so soon was settling in for a good night’s rest. The next day being Sunday, 1 went to the Baptist church for Sunday school and services. It was a real encouragement to see the spiritual growth there. Monday I went to the Indian Service place in town to see the Indians and the director for this area. The director is a fine Christian man and has been a help and blessing in the work with the Indians. He asked when I’d be ready to go back up to the Indian Post. 1 wasn’t sure then, but on Wednesday mor ning the man in charge at our Post came to our house and told me that 1 could go back to the Post with them; they would be going that day or the next. He said that he would like to see me back as soon as possible since there was no nurse there at the time. So I came up with them in their speedboat. It took us a good two hours because our boat was quite loaded. It was good to see the girls (my co-workers) and the Indians again! The next morning 1 started my work again in the infirmary. My co-workers were hap py for that; they had been doing that besides teaching in school. It has been a busy month and I feel pretty well settled back in again. Colds, coughs with fevers, as well as malaria, have been making the rounds. Another nurse is coming in here for a month so I will be relieved of that for awhile. I’m glad for that because I’ll be alone here for about six weeks when my co-workers take school holidays. 1 would like to mention a few things that have been a real encouragement on my return as well as some needs for prayer. It was a sur prise when a young Indian man from the Post upriver came to our house. It was Daniel, the twin we had as a little baby because he was so very tiny. He has grown into a healthy man, and is a good worker. It was a thrill to hear him say that he is a believer in Jesus now. Several other young people from that Post have become Chris tians during the revival there. We are thankful for those who have remained faithful in this group here but we too need that spiritual revival. It is good to see some of these young girls married and settled in their new life. Then there are some others who have fallen into sin and need our prayers, understanding and help. Pray for me that the Lord will be able to use me in encouraging and being a blessing to these precious Indian people. Thank you for your gifts and prayers. Elizabeth Koop
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Mr and Mrs Abram Klassen and their family.
MEXICO
My Heart Was Empty Now I read the Bible with joy The following testimony was translated from the German language and submitted by Mary Loewen who is teaching at Camp 67 in Mexico. Mrs. Ahram Klassen is a 33-yearold mother of six children, living at Camp 67. I would like to write about my experience of the past. From the time when I was quite young 1 had many trials and problems and tried to get along without sharing my feel ings with anyone. 1 am happily married, have a good husband, and am a mother of six children. All this didn’t help to make my life easier because 1 always felt that 1 needed something, that my heart was so empty. I found Bible reading boring and did it on ly because 1 thought I had to, until one day I came in contact with our schoolteacher, Mary Loewen. We became great friends. 1
learned to love her and to have confidence in her. We started reading the Bible together in November 1981. She told me how 1 could accept Jesus. At first after I had done this it seemed to me that it wasn’t the right thing to do. The devil tried to tell me that this deci sion didn’t mean anything. One morning I prayed that the devil should flee from me; 1 was taking my decision seriously. I didn’t tell my husband about this at all. A short while later he also accepted Christ. Then 1 felt much stronger. Now 1 read the Bible with joy even though 1 have had times where I’ve seriously doubted. The verse in Hebrews 2:18, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted,” means a lot to me. “Thank you, God, that you always are our closest Friend, and that you understand us completely.” Mrs. Abram Klassen
South Dakota Hosts AIMM Freeman, South Dakota was the setting for Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission’s semi annual Board meetings April 28 to May I. Area churches, representing three of the five Mennonite groups that constitute AIMM, hosted nearly three dozen Board members. Mission staff, missionaries on furlough and candidates for service. A special guest was Pastor Mundeke Kalawu representing Men nonite churches in Zaire. Arrangements made through the Men nonite Ministerium enabled AIMM person nel to share in 15 congregations on Sunday morning in the Freeman, Marion, Bridgewater, and Sioux Falls communities. Churches of the Evangelical Mennonite
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Brethren, the General Conference and Mennonite Brethren were involved. Heavy rains and strong winds on Sunday evening failed to dampen the spirits of the more than 300 who gathered at the Salem (South) Mennonite Church for a concluding Mission Celebration. Featured were the Freeman Junior College Choir, a multi media presentation portraying AlMM’s fields of service, testimonies from mis sionaries and new appointees, and personal greetings from a Zaire pastor, the Rev. Mundeke. Business sessions were held at the Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman. Board members grappled with substantive issues as
well as receiving reports and interviewing candidates. Policy statements on decision making in crisis situations, procedures in the event of death overseas, guidelines for in come earned through assignments and policy concerning loss of personal properties on the field were approved. Attempts to bring equi ty in financial structures and support levels between the vastly differing economies in the countries in which AIMM works received a great deal of attention. Reports shared by Zaire mission workers, Peter and Gladys Buller and Mary Epp, focused on the needs of leadership training at several academic levels. The Bullers are on staff at the Theological Institute in Kin shasa known as ISTK. Miss Epp is a staff person of the Bible Institute at Kalonda. Their reports were coupled with a moving plea to give highest priority to adequate leadership training at all levels for the strengthening of the rapidly growing Zaire church. Six candidates were approved for Africa ministry. Dr. and Mrs. Gary Groot of Saska toon, Saskatchewan will join the medical staff at Kalonda, Zaire. Sandra Friesen of Steinbach, Manitoba was approved for teaching at the Kalonda Bible Institute following language study in France. David Bergen of Herbert, Saskatchewan will serve in Kinshasa, sponsored by the General Con ference Overseas Mission Volunteer (OMV) program. Harlan and Claire de Brun, from Waldoboro, Maine will go to Lesotho in southern Africa to minister with African In dependent Churches in a Bible teaching pro gram, An additional appointment was made as Elda Hiebert of Elbing, Kansas was reassigned to Zaire after an absence of five years. She will work in the maternity hospital at Nyanga. Elected as officers of the Africa InterMennonite Mission at the Freeman meetings were Andrew Rupp, Fort Wayne, Indiana, President; Peter Sawatzky, Waterloo, On tario, Vice-President; and Erwin Rempel, Newton, Kansas, Secretary. James Bertsche continues as Executive Secretary. Great appreciation was expressed by AIMM staff and missionaries for the detail ed arrangements the host committee had made. George Leppert, pastor of the Bethany Church, and Ernest Neufeld, Nor thern District Conference Minister, efficient ly accommodated the visitors. Meals were prepared by the local churches and Freeman Junior College. For many AIMM persons it was a first opportunity to become acquainted with the South Dakota partners in mission. The warm hospitality and new friendships assure that it will not be the last. Bob Gerhart AIMM Communications
THE MESSENGER
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Messenger News DOBSON FILM SERIES SHOWN
100th BIRTHDAY
ast Thursday, May 19, was a rare occasion at the local Resthaven when a 100th birthday was celebrated by one of the residents, Mr. A. A. Reimer. A birthday tea had been arranged at the Resthaven which was basically for the residents. (An open house was to follow on Sunday.) Present to celebrate with Mr. Reimer were his brother and wife, his sister Agnes, his sister Mrs. Peter Toews, and daughter Margaretha Reimer. Prior to the residents’ receiving a piece of birthday cake, Mr. Kurt Weaver, orderly at the Home, had a short devotional. A duet was sung by resident Mrs Harder and nurse Helena Siemens “Wie Schon Musz Doch der Himmel Sein” (How Beautiful Heaven Must Be).
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Birthday celebrations were in order at the Resthaven on May 19 when Mr. Abram A. Reimer (center) celebrated his 100th birthday. To Mr. Reimer’s left are Mr. and Mrs. John A. Reimer (a brother). To his right, sitting, is daughter Margaretha Reimer. Standing on right is sister Mrs. Peter Toews. On left is sister Agnes Reimer. In the foreground on the table is the birthday cake.
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Steinbach; Marking his 100th birthday on May 19 is Mr. Abram A. Reimer (left), the oldest member of the Steinbach E.M. Church. Mr. Reimer is the son of Abram W. Reimer, eldest son of pioneer Steinbach merchant, Klaas R. Reimer. With Mr. Reimer is Robert Brandt (formerly Reimer) who is the son of Frank K. Reimer who was the youngest son of pioneer merchant Klaas Reimer.
MAY 20, 1983
Swan River, Man.: We have just completed the Dobson film series “Focus on Family Living.’’ Many attended each film and were well rewarded. Our prayer now is that we might put to practical use what we have learned. The youth group has been keeping busy (if you want to call rocking on rocking chairs for 24 hours busy)! They raised close to a thousand dollars for their group and had lots of fun doing it. They are planning to donate some of the money to the church building fund. On Friday, April 22, all the youth groups in the Valley were invited to see the film “The Cross and the Swit chblade.” There was a very good turn-out so we had a second showing on Saturday, the 23rd. The young people have now started a 12-lesson Bible study on James - a road map for down-to-earth Christians. They are look ing forward to these Bible studies very much. The ladies have also been busy, re-doing wool blankets and making new baby blankets. Also they have been having a wonderful time of sharing and fellowship while they’re quilting. The Lord says to share one another’s joys and burdens. The youth leaders would like to thank all of the parents for their support and for tak ing care of Bobby and Charlie. A special thank you to Pastor Wil for his interest and support! FAREWELL FOR PASTOR AND FAMILY Treesbank, Man.: On March 20 a farewell service and supper was held for Frank, Irene, Melaney, Karen and Jonathan Goertzen. Mr. Goertzen has been our pastor for the last three years. They have moved to the Virden/Kola area and are fellowshipping in the Kola church. May God further lead and guide in your lives as you serve Him. April 23 dawned sunny and hot as we gathered at our church for a work bee. A hearty thank you to everyone who helped to make our church building and grounds a more beautiful and cleaner place. An auc tion sale was held of the things that had been lying around for so long. The money raised was donated to the church. Congratulations to the Bible college graduates! Erna and Elma Plett graduated from Briercrest Bible College, Leonard Plett from Steinbach Bible College and Stan Reimer from Winnipeg Bible College. Con tinue to look to God for further direction in your lives as you follow Him. God bless you!
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EASTER CANTANA ENJOYED Arden, Man.: “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8). On April 24 we were blessed by the music of the MacGregor EMC choir as they presented their Easter cantata. We especial ly enjoyed the song “Easter Bells” with the girls playing the handbells. Another favorite was “Sunrise Over Calvary.” In our hearts we were joyfully singing along with you. The directors, Ervin Thiessen and Elvera Hamm, deserve a hearty thank you. It was a joy to visit with the MacGregor people, friends from the community, and our church members, during lunch. Several of the people for whom we have been praying attended the program. Our Sunday morning attendance this month has improved con siderably as well. These are two answers to prayer.
LADIES’ MONTH
Endeavour, Sask.: March was “ladies’ month.’’ The ladies’ group has been able to meet several times during the last few months to make quilts for local and MCC use. During March many of these quilts were completed. How good it is to work together with Christian sisters and see the beautiful results when the quilts are finished. May the Lord bless the work of willing hands and use these quilts for His honour. The ladies’ drama group travelled to Hud son Bay for “ladies’ time out” and to Sturgis for a Sunday evening service to present a play called “Who is My Neighbour?” The group appreciated the opportunity to show others the message of Luke 10:25-37 where Jesus
Teacher-Principal Required -in private Christian school -Junior and Senior High supervision and instruction -Alpha and Omega curriculum -50 students, 3 teachers, including principal -for ’83-’84 school term For further information write or phone:
Jake Reimer Box 1361 Swan River, MB
ROL IZO Ph.: (204) 734-4356
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ANNUAL CONVENTION UPDATE
“The Church: Christ-centered Community or Self-centered Religion.” This is the theme of the 33rd annual EMC convention to be held July 8-10. The keynote speaker is Jon Bonk of Kleefeld, Man. Following are some of the highlights of the convention (a complete program to follow): Friday, July 8, 1:30-4:00 p.m. Conference Council session at Blumenort. Friday, July 8, 7:30 p.m. First public session. Saturday, July 9, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Conference Council meeting continues at the Steinbach E.M. Church, 422 Main Street. Saturday, July 9, 2:30 p.m. Ladies’ session at the Evangelical Fellowship Church in Steinbach (corner of Friesen and Giesbrecht). Saturday, July 9, 7:00 p.m. Public session at the Steinbach E.M. Church, 422 Main Street. Saturday, July 9, 9:30 p.m. Coffee House featuring the musical group, “Eden,” at the Evangelical Fellowship Church (corner of Friesen and Giesbrecht) Sunday, July 10, 3:00 p.m. Third public session at the Blumenort E.M. Church. Sunday, July 10, 3:00 p.m. Children’s session at the Blumenort church. Sunday, July 10, 7:00 p.m. Final session at the Blumenort church. •There will be camping facilities on the campus of the Steinbach Bible College. •Overnight billeting will be available in nearby homes. •Nursery facilities will be available during all public sessions. •There will be Interpretation for the deaf. describes who our neighbours really are. May the Lord help u.s to apply thi.s message in our own lives. We have been privileged to have many groups minister to us recently. We enjoyed an evening of fellowship with our brothers in Christ from Hyas as they presented a variety of musical selections and a challeng ing devotional talk by their pastor Jack Coy. During the lunch which followed, movie pic tures of last summer’s Bible camp at Ketchen Lake were shown. These brought many chuckles as we reminisced, and also en couraged us to begin prayerful preparation for this summer’s fast-approaching camp. A special thank you to Ed Friesen for his challenging and uplifting messages during the series of special meetings held here April 7-10. It was a blessing to have you minister to us, and we know the Lord will bless you for your faithfulness. The Easter story was presented in a cantata by the Wymark choir under the direction of Stan Hamm. The Lord has blessed this group with many talented singers and it was good to have them with us. The Peace River Bible Institute presented an excellent program of songs and skits on April 26. The young people’s group had a special treat April 22 when the Covenant Players presented a program of meaningful
skits. The willingness of these groups to serve gives opportunity for us to see the many avenues of Christian service open to us if we are open to the Lord’s leading. Our pastor and his wife attended a con ference in Regina April 21-22 and the follow ing week Dave was back in a student role at C.B.C. in Regina. We pray that these will be valuable learning experiences for him and further equip him for the Lord’s work. It has pleased our Lord to call two of our veteran prayer warriors to Glory. Mrs. Mary Wilkinson, who has been living with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Don Burroughs at Creston, B.C., was actively in volved in many areas of Christian service, including being the church organist for many years. Mr. John Hoffer went peacefully in to the Lord’s presence at his home in Endeavour on April 8. We miss them, but we can not wish them back because each of their lives was a testimony of the hope that they would live with Jesus in the mansions He has prepared for them. We know they have gone to their eternal reward for their faithfulness to the Lord’s work on earth. We extend heartfelt sympathy to the two families, and together with them look for ward to seeing Mary and John when we get to heaven.
THE MESSENGER
GM--'.-* An ordination service took place at the Kleefeld church for Jon and Jean Bonk on May 15. ORDINATION SERVICE HELD
Kleefeld, Man.: Our cup is running over! What a day of rejoicing May 15 was! An or dination service took place for Jon Bonk at our church. The Lord has truly blessed us by sending us another minister, and we praise Him for His goodness. At this service the speaker, Dr. Jim Watson from WBC, said that the standards of a shepherd are high, and concluded his message with these words, “After all, we would not be sheep without a shepherd.” (You have to think about that for awhile.) Conference moderator, Edwin Plett, performed the ordination rites and en couraged Jon and Jean in their new and challenging undertaking. The whole con gregation stood to their feet to pledge prayer support. To further show our appreciation we went downstairs to partake of that ageold Mennonite meal of love called “faspa.” Spring is exhilarating. On April 26 it overflowed into the lower auditorium of our church. There we saw freshly cut daffodils, flanked by a spray of soft pussy willows, decorating each table centre. It was a special morning - the morning of our ladies Bible Coffee closing rally. The advance prepara tion and anticipation of good attendance was well rewarded. Eighty ladies came out to hear Joanne Janzen give her testimony. How it
thrilled our hearts to hear of her special ex perience with the Lord, and the close fellowship that she enjoys with Him each day in spite of the many trials and temptations that all of us can identify with. Thank you, Joanne. It truly encouraged and refreshed our own hearts, just like a breath of spring. Another thing we took home with us that morning was a message beautifully wrapped up in a song by Bev Peters and Hilde Labelle, “Why Worry When You Can Pray?” Why indeed! It would be quite a feat to travel around the world in one evening, but that’s just what we did during an “International Trek” spon sored by the Pioneer Girls on May 11. The brilliant colors of daily decorated ponchos and wide-brimmed sombreros caught our eyes, so we stopped in Mexico first. After browsing through their shop, filled with crockery and other knickknacks, we were graciously offered a plate of spicy Mexican food. Warmed and fed, we travelled on to Greece. When we caught sight of the big pur ple olives and the long striped skirts, topped with billowy white blouses, we knew that we had arrived. Here too the hospitality was ge nuine and warm as we partook of a few Greek delicacies, accompanied by a spicy
Mr. and Mrs. P. K. Schwarz celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on May 15 at their home in Kleefeld.
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MAY 20, 1983
Joanne Janzen was the speaker at the Ladies’ Bible Coffee Rally on April 26 at the Kleefeld Church. green tea. Again refreshed, we were on our way, this time to Japan. The beautiful cherry trees covered with delicate pink paper blossoms were a sight to behold! The kimono-covered girls were flitting here and there, preparing exotic chicken tidbits, fried in oil, and rice wrapped up in tiny little pan cakes. A Japanese Bible lay open, waiting to be read in its interesting vertical fashion, which only Ruth Dueck, missionary to Japan, was able to do for us. It brought to us the sobering thought that many of these countries around the world still need to be reached with the Word of God. And that was what this “trek” was all about - to help our missionaries. All proceeds went to Phil and Ellen Koop, missionaries to the Philippines. Outstanding awards were given to two Pioneer Girls this year. One went to Shelly Hiebert who received the highest Trailblazer award, and the other to Debbie Martens, with the highest Shikari award. Congratula tions, girls! “Get your spring clean-up job done the easy way.” So read a sign put up by the young people for their slave auction to raise more money for Abundant Springs. Together with another fund raising project at a community garage sale, their efforts should be well rewarded and their final goal realized. Lester Schellenberg will be leaving us for three months to work in Montreal with the MCC. He will be working with immigrant children in a day camp, distributing food and clothing to the poor and helping along in the churches. Our prayers go with you, Lester, as you go forth in the name of Christ! A very unusual celebration was the 65th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. P.K. Schwarz, long-time residents of Kleefeld, An open house in honour of them was held on May 15 at their home, with many friends and relatives dropping in to rejoice with them and to wish them God’s richest blessings!
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LINDA FUNK 1960-1983
Baptismal candidates at Vanderhoof, B.C., baptized on three different Sundays. Left to right: Pastor John Koop, Pete Unruh, Mrs Barb Unruh, Ruth Klassen, Mrs TracySchlamp, Pete Wiebe.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S WINTER CAMP-OUT Vanderhoof, B.C.: Our young people had a blessed weekend on March 11-13. The scene was beautiful Camp Morice near Fort St. James, B.C. The 23 young people who at tended were enriched by the messages brought by Dave Friesen on paradoxes in the Bible. The weekend included a day of ski ing, outdoor games, skidooing, monkmeal and kangaroo court. Praise the Lord for blessings received! During the past couple of months Pastor
Koop has preached a series of messages on “The Life of Jesus Christ.” It is spiritually challenging to study the life of our Master and Saviour and then to seek to apply this teaching and example to our own lives. With spring break-up and school spring break many families took advantage of the situation and went on vacation. We trust the Lord refreshed them as they travelled and that they returned with a renewed zeal for service.
FRIENDSHIP TEA Steinbach; “In the spring a young man’s fan cy lightly turn.s to thoughts of love,” wrote Tennyson. The women of the Steinbach E.M. Church discovered that spring is also a very good time to celebrate the love and joy of friendship. On Tuesday evening. May 17, approx imately 200 women gathered in the church basement for a Friendship Tea. The evening was sponsored by the six women’s fellowship groups, but all the church women, from col lege and career girls to silver-haired grand mothers, were invited and each one was en couraged to bring a friend. The atmosphere was warm and open. Singing together and particularly sharing thoughts and insights on the theme of friend ship were highlights of the evening. “A friend loves at all times ... a friend is born for adversity ... a faithful friend is a secure shelter; whoever find.s one has found a
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treasure.” Treasuring old friends, reaching out to make new friends, sharing our friends with others rather than clinging to them, are all ways of growing in the joy of friendship. If we are honest with our friends, listen to what they say, if we are ready to sacrifice a little to keep a friendship in repair, and if we take time to pray for our friends we will be bet ter friends. Jesus, our best friend, is a perfect model for us to follow in developing our friend ships. And the joy of knowing Him as a close Friend surpasses any other. Friends are drawn together by common in terests. To demonstrate this we took time to learn a new craft - making a pretty flower with frayed ribbon. A good time of visiting while we had refreshments finished off a lovely evening.
“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. ” Linda was born September 3, 1960 in Vanderhoof where she also grew up and received her education. She was healthy, usually quiet, and always friendly. John and Linda were married September 3, 1977 in Vanderhoof. Linda greatly enjoyed the children’s Christmas program on December 19, 1982. Then, on the morning of Wednesday, December 22, she was taken to the hospital with a severe headache, was rushed to Prince George, and the next day to Vancouver for further tests and surgery. Because of advanc ed cancer she was allowed to return to the Vanderhoof Hospital where she passed away quietly on Friday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. She leaves to mourn her husband, John, and two children, Mindy, (J’/z) and Bevan (2); her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Penner; four brothers and two sisters; her parentsin-law, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Funk; her brothers- and sisters-in-law; both her grand parents; and many other relatives and friends. Her testimony is expressed in the song “O How 1 Love Jesus” which she sang along with those at her bedside.
In Memory In memory of Laura, a very special friend that I have in heaven:
They say that heaven’s pretty, which you will know by now. Because you have been living there For quite sometime by now. It seems long since I’ve picked up the phone And heard your cheerful “Hi there. Mom, how are ya?” I miss you very much sometimes. But then I tell myself, you’re so much happier now. Skipping along the streets of glory. Or sitting at your Jesus’ feet. Singing, playing the piano, no more pain. That’s how 1 see you now. Sometimes I’ve envied you; I’d like to sit at Jesus’ feet with you And share and talk and laugh with you The way I always used to do. But I’m looking upward, Laura, As I know you’d want me to. And soon before 1 know it We’ll all be there with you. With much love, Jess, Ger, and boys
THE MESSENGER
Around World TV. VIOLENCE The National Coalition on Television Violence (NCTV) released its most recent monitoring data today on prime-time and Saturday morning network TV violence. It has found that prime-time violence is presently at its highest level on record averag ing 8.7 acts of violence per hour in the most recently completed quarter (Sept. 27, 1982 - Dec. 26, 1982). This surpassed the previous record of 8.0 acts per hour set in the first quarter of 1982 (comparable data available since 1967 from Univ, of Pennsylvania and/or NCTV). NCTV reports findings of a record of 28 high violence programs accounting for 5O'7o of all prime-time televison programming. Its preliminary data for January and February of 1983 show even higher levels of violence averaging well over 9 violent acts per hour. Network TV’s most violent series accor ding to NCTV is The A Team (NBC) with 39 acts of violence per hour (a gang of U.S. soldiers wanted by the U.S. military has gone underground and works as mercenaries tak ing on jobs that police can’t or won’t do). Next is 1982’s most violent program. Fall Guy (ABC) at 34 acts/hr. followed by Tales of the Gold Monkey (ABC) (31), Voyagers (NBC) (30), Dukes of Hazzard (CBS) (23), Greatest American Hero (ABC) (22), T.J. Hooker (ABC) (20), Simon and Simon (CBS) (20), Magnum P.I. (CBS) (19), Knightriders (NBC) (18), etc. TV movies made up onethird of all TV violence.
VIETNAMESE DELEGATION VISITS CANADA On May 2 a four-member delegation from Vietnam, members of the Solidarity Friend ship Committee, visited the Mennonite Cen tral Committee Canada office in Winnipeg. Mr. Do Xuan Oanh, leader of the delega tion, expressed gratitude to MCC for arrang ing this trip and also for material aid assistance to their country from 1975-1981. “Food is not our only problem,” he said. He indicated that they would require decades, even a century, to achieve Canada’s level of economy and stability. Purpose of this two-week visit is to pro vide an opportunity in which a deeper understanding of the situation and concerns of the Vietnamese can be gained by all par-
MAY 20, 1983
ties concerned. While some of the questions and issues relate to governmental policy, the visit is not designed to deal with these primarily. Most of their time in Canada will be spent with Mennonite people and institu tions and with representatives of other chur ches and organizations. INUIT CHURCH LEADERS KILLED IN PLANE CRASH — On April 7th the Glad Tidings Arctic Mission aircraft lost altitude and crashed into a hill just minutes from their destination, killing all on board. Mis sionary pilot Bill Goward had picked up the group in Eskimo Point and was carryhing them to the one-week Bible School in Coral Harbour. Paul and Solomoni Siusangnark were a gifted father-and-son team leading the church at Repulse Bay, and David and Kathy Tulugak were graduates of the Cambridge Bay Bible School who had just recently ar rived in Repulse from their home in Eskimo Point to help teach and build up the work. Their year-old baby Holly died with them. Solomoni leaves three children and his young wife is expecting a fourth. Mission director Kay Gordon conducted the funeral services in Repulse Bay and Eskimo Point, while the much-loved pilot was buried from his home church. Glad Tidings, in Vancouver. Bill leaves his wife Ethel and two children ages 6 and 4. Kay reports that although the Inuit are stunned and saddened by the loss, they are confident that God will supply another plane so that they may carry on and com plete their evangelizing of every Inuit settle ment in the Canadian Arctic. - MARC
FEWER CANADIANS DRINK BUT TOTAL CONSUMPTION INCREASES— A March Gallup poll found that 73 per cent of Canadians drink alcoholic beverages, at least occasionally. The rest claimed to be total abstainers. This percentage of drinkers is slightly lower than the 1978 figure of 78 percent. The survey also found that the 18-29 age group had the highest number of drinkers, with 83 percent, but even here there was a decline from the 1981 figure of 86 per cent. Still, the Brewers Association of Canada and the Addiction Research Foun dation of Ontario report that those who do drink, drink slightly more than in the past. Also noteworthy is that the current percen tage of drinkers, although it has declined slightly, remains well above the 1943 figure of 59 percent.
SEVENTY ATTEND FIRST SESSION OF INTER-MENNONITE ACTION AND REFLECTION GROUP ON NUCLEAR THREAT Seventy persons from half a dozen or more Mennonite churches in Winnipeg came to be informed about the nuclear threat and to seek appropriate forms of action Sunday evening. May 8. They gathered at Canadian Mennonite Bible College at the call of a reflection and action group which emerged
Pastoral Position Open The La Crete Christian Fellowship of La Crete, Alta, is in viting applications for a full-time pastor. Duties to commence August 1, 1983. Direct inquiries to: Peter Janzen Box 434 La Crete, Alta. TOH 2H0 Tel.: (403) 928-2591
out of a study group in the Charleswood Mennonite Church this winter. The group has planned to meet six more times, the second and fourth Sundays of every month. Its topics of discussion will be the six points proposed in the New Aboli tionist Covenant: prayer, education, spiritual examination, evangelism, public witness and nuclear disarmament.
SOAP FOR OVERSEAS Women from five Niverville area churches produced 3,600 lbs. of soap during the lat ter part of April during the spring soap making bee. The soap is donated to Men nonite Central Committee for shipment to countries such as Zaire, India and Brazil. During the spring and fall bees last year the Niverville group produced 8,100 lbs. of soap destined for overseas countries. Mennonite Central Committee (Manitoba) has shipped up to 24,000 lbs. of soap a year to overseas countries, as part of its material aid program.
WANTED Journeyman/Mechanic urgently needed to assist the Indian Band at Sandy Lake, Ontario in setting up a service station and in train ing a repairman. Voluntary Ser vice position. Please apply to the Personnel Office at MCC Canada, 201-1483 Pembina Highway, Win nipeg, Manitoba R3T 2C8.
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From the Editor GUEST EDITORIAL
Where is the Salt? INCLUDED AMONG the paradoxes in scripture is that age old conflict between the principle of separation (hallmarked by 11 Cor. 6:17) and that of being a positive Christian influence (heralded by Matt. 5:13-16). The perplexity of this seeming discrepancy of ideas has spawned debate over the years resulting in various lifestyles and manifestations of different sorts. The idea of ‘salt and light’ in Matthew comes in the context of discipleship and must be recognized within those parameters. It recognizes the fundamental difference between Christian and non-Christian, between church and world. The responsibility that this distinction places upon us is expressed in a twofold manner, that of preventing decay (salt), and that of illuminating darkness (light). For us then to be different does not mean to be withdrawn. Can one be different and still be present! Or must one withdraw to maintain one’s peculiarity! The practical consequences of believing that Christ is Lord of ALL is that we as the Christian community will begin to resist the attempt to confine that community’s activities to what the secularist defines as “religion.” Politics, Art, Science, and Philosophy all comprise the arena of activity of the believing community. It is quite true that religious groups on the ‘right’ can be questioned on their choice of issue, or even their stand on some of them, but they cannot be challenged on their assertion that believers are compelled to speak to the moral character and political life of our society. Today the idolatrous quality of our culture is most clearly expressed in the massive worship of the creature rather than the Creator. This materialistic world view has permeated every aspect of our society. Even our government and our law courts have grasped this tenet, developing a sociological view of the law, resulting in the triumph of relativism. In other words, the world’s materialistic concept of reality (humanism) has produced the inevitable consequence that law has become situational law, or relativistic. This can easily be demonstrated by the attitude of the courts today on issues like abortion, in fanticide, and even euthanasia. What ever happened to the practice of living according to a set of given principles, i.e., the Bible? Can Christians be quiet in the face of this humanistic takeover? When is it appropriate for us to resist? Better yet, when or for what will we as believers go to the wall?? When we finally clamor for justice, do we do it only when our own ox is gored? Our commitment to justice will not be measured by whether we defend our own interests, but whether we defend those without the power or means to raise
their own defense — the poor and oppressed at the gate. For years we have allowed them to legislate religion out of the schools (primarily U.S.), thinking we were keeping the cults under control, while the religion of humanism is being taught at the expense and exclusion of Christianity. No man can serve God and mammon. The challenge for us is to construct a social order in which the goals of justice, mercy and good faith — what Jesus called “the weightier mat ters of the Law” — will take precedence over economic security, political power, and technological progress. We must freely, through voluntary associations, pour into that social order a spirit of serving, self-sacrifice and common purpose. As ‘salt and light’ we will need to give and expend ourselves. “To be the salt of the earth and the light of the world is not to belong to a mighty elite, risen sun-like above the herd. Any disciple caught preening himself over Christ’s metaphors has seriously misunderstood them. We do not lie around being salty or shoot across the world like stars. The salt is poured out, spent. The lamp burns away, serving. Isaiah 58: 7,8: ‘Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the homeless poor. Clothe the man you see naked. Then will your light shine like the dawn.’ ” —Joseph A. Tetlow Are we willing to commit ourselves to be included in the writing of a ‘new story’? Will we be faithful watchmen (Ezek. 33) speaking out against the evils of our society? Or will we complacently watch as standards slip and slide for want of a clear Christian protest? If our faith only works in the Sunday school classroom then it doesn’t work at all. “Day after day the wind blows away the pages of our calendars, our newspapers, and our political regime, and we glide along the stream of time without a judgement, carried about by ‘all winds of doctrine’ on the current of history, which is always slipping into the perpetual past. Now we ought to act vigorously against this slackness, this tendency to drift. If we are to live in this world, we need to know it more profoundly, we need to rediscover the meanings of events and the spiritual framework which our contemporaries have lost.” Jacques Ellul Let’s not become complacent nor despondent. We are not called upon to change the world singlehandedly but we are re quired to be faithful in that which the Lord provides. I’d rather light a candle then curse the darkness. Where is the salt? Ernie Koop
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THE MESSENGER
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