The Messenger EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE
VOL. 22 NO. 23
• Christian Customers - No Bargain • Miliions Face Famine in Ethiopia
• Two Ministers Ordained
Does my business community generally consider us Christians generous? Are we a good credit risk? Are we more prompt and courteous in making our payments than our non-Christian neighbours?
Christian Customers — No Bargain By Stephen A. Bly Sally demanded a full refund for the coat. “Is there something wrong with it?” the manager asked. “It’s the wrong color. It looks terri ble on me in the daylight.” He noted a soiled collar. “When did you purchase it?” “Oh, I can’t remember exactly,” she said. “But I do have the sales slip.” “You purchased this eight months ago?” “Oh, don’t worry,” she said. “It’s been hanging in my closet.” The manager sighed, pressed the
PAGE 2
“no sale” button, and pulled bills from the register. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Sally said. “You’ve been so helpful in the past, 1 thought you’d like to know—the church is sending a young couple to the mission field. We’d like to get them some nice gifts. You don’t hap pen to have some markdowns left over from your autumn sale, do you?” He didn’t. Talk to businessmen about their Christian clientele and you’ll realize there’s a Sally in every store. Talk to
a Christian businessman and you’ll find he’s been burned even more. Hank, for example, had operated the Mid-City Garage for 17 years. His automotive skills and business savvy carried him through recessions, infla tion, and urban blight. His wife Darla stayed home, his son attended the university, and his daughter wore braces. Business was good. But when Hank and Darla became Christians in the fall of 1980, they decided to dedicate their business to the Lord. Cont’d next page
THE MESSENGER
Word spread, and Christians flock ed to their garage. Hank and his wife had no idea a “ministry” could offer so much opportunity for service. Fellow brethren expected at least a 10 percent discount. Ministers sug gested 25 percent. And missionaries were certain the Lord called Hank to repair their cars free. Lay mechanics borrowed tools without returning them. Other Chris tians knew Hank would understand if they held their payments a few months ... or years. People still wonder why a oncethriving business has taken such a nosedive. But Hank hasn’t deserted his faith in God’s provision. Don’t ask him, however, about his faith in the brethren. Hank’s situation isn’t uncommon. I often hear comments such as: “Wilson owns a grocery store. He can supply buns for the picnic.” “Hey, Mark, old buddy, got any extra typewriters to donate to the church office?” “We’re running short this month, but Burns will understand. Hold his bill again.” “Why should I tip? The whole system irks me. I could be using that money for the Lord’s work.” At times, some of those statements have come from my own mouth. Lately, I’ve had to ask myself some telling questions. Does my business community generally consider us Christians generous? Are we a good credit risk? Are we more prompt and courteous in making payments than our non Christian neighbors? Suddenly, 1 find myself staring into an arena hardly touched by the lord ship of Christ. That’s not the game plan the Lord had in mind. Workers deserve compensation
Scripture indicates that those hired to perform a service are worthy of their wages (Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15). Elaine discovered just the right sofa, but she would need an extra $100 before she could buy it. She remembered, however, that the pro prietor. Mr. Carson, taught the men’s community Bible study. She toyed with an idea—what if her husband dropped hints, asking when the sofa would be “on sale?” NOVEMBER 16, 1984
But she stopped herself. It’s worth the asking price, she decided. Elaine placed a down payment, arranging to have the sofa held until she could pay the full cost. Christians can afford good reputations
Dave counsels every year at high school camp. Tom doesn’t allow his kids to attend. Dave teaches an adult Sunday school class. Tom doesn’t go to Sun day school. Dave directs the choir. Tom doesn’t know a single hymn. Dave chairs the worship committee. Tom hasn’t been inside a church since infancy. Dave reads his Bible a half hour every day. Tom doesn’t own a Bible. Dave has a grocery bill that’s mark ed “90 days overdue.’’ Tom owns the grocery store. Dave invited Tom to an evangelistic crusade. Tom stayed home and watched television reruns. God doesn’t need bargains
When offered a free piece of pro perty for the Lord’s service, King David refused, reasoning, “I will not take what is yours for the Lord . . . (that) which costs me nothing” (1 Chron. 21:24). Paying $1,000 for $1,000 worth of goods or services is not abusive stewardship. I saw the merit of this truth when a clerk in a jewelry shop told me that Pastor Kent had become his favorite customer. Somewhat surprised, I asked, “Oh, does he do a lot of business here?” “Nope.” The man’s eyes twinkled over his gold-framed glasses. “He doesn’t have much money for the
kind of extras we sell. But he did come in here about a year ago to order a mahogany wall clock worth $300. He told me he was going to put it in the church’s social hall. “When I heard that, I said I’d give him a good deal. I always figured it didn’t hurt to show I’m not antireligious. “Anyway, he just smiled and said, ‘1 think the Lord deserves a $300 clock. But if you’re serious about the discount, why not come to church some Sunday morning and slip whatever you’d like into the offering plate?’ ” “So did you?” 1 asked. “Well, I’ll tell you—I’d never heard a preacher respond like that. So I did visit his church one Sunday and put some money in the plate—first time in nine years. That’s the only time since I was a kid that 1 really wanted to give money to a church. And I’ve been going there ever since.” I caught myself thinking. Too bad we don’t have more Pastor Kents in the world. And then I wonder, Why don’t we? Code of Ethics
Perhaps we Christians need to come up with our own personal code of ethics, demonstrating that business people are more important to us than the items they sell. I finally did that, and this is what I’ve determined: •1 will never demand a discount, reduced rate, or free service not available to my non-Christian neighbor. •By my attitude and fair practices, I will work to become a valued customer. •My verbal commitments will be as binding as a contract. •I will consider tips as part of the purchase price where tips are ex pected. And if I can’t afford a fair tip. I’ll forego the service. •When tempted to manuever a bet ter deal, I will refuse to engage in anything that reflects any form of dishonesty. •If 1 can’t pay a bill on time. I’ll write my creditor, no matter how well 1 know him, and inform him of when he can expect payment. •When I hear of a Christian going into business. I’ll view his enterprise as my opportunity to help him succeed, not a chance for personal bargains.■ PAGE 3
/
/
Bags of Canadian wheat are unloaded from the ship “Arafura Sea" at Massawa Port in Ethiopia. This wheat, donated by Mennonite Central Committee, will be distributed to displaced families in Eritrea and Tigray. (MCC photo by Bob Hovde).
Mennonite Food Aid Reaches Ethiopia While News of Plight Hits North American Press by Joy Hofer
AKRON, Pa. - Grim photos of starvation victims in Ethiopia appear ing daily in newspapers and on televi sion have awakened North American conscience to the suffering in that drought-stricken nation. In an urgent telex appeal to Men nonite Central Committee and other agencies, the Christian Relief and Development Agency (CRDA) noted that the current crisis “vastly exceeds in severity the drought and famine of 1973-74,” in which an estimated 200,000 Ethiopians died. Between 6 and 10 million people are currently affected by lack of food, and a minimum of 60,000 tons of relief food is needed each month between now and December 1985. The CRDA, an association of 26 churches and voluntary agencies in cluding Mennonite Mission in Ethiopia, which represents both Men nonite Central Committee and Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions in Salunga, Pa., calls for “immediate and extraordinary action by all relief donors to meet the crisis.” Well before the headlines on PAGE 4
Ethiopia hit the Western press, MCC was providing food aid to that drought-stricken country. MCC has shipped over 7,000 tons of food to Ethiopia in 1984. MCC aid was
Between 6 and 10 million people are current ly affected by lack of food, and a minimum of 6)0,000 tons of relief food is needed each month be tween now and December 1985. distributed by Catholic Relief Services, a member of CRDA, and other groups. Some of this food, which has been donated through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Canadian Inter
national Development Agency, is cur rently being distributed in northern Ethiopia. Another 4,000 tons of food aid for Ethiopia is scheduled to leave Canada in November. In addition to food shipments, MCC has provided about $230,000 for the internal transport of grain received from other sources. CRDA and local relief societies have been the main recipients of these grants. Overall MCC relief efforts in Ethiopia are valued at over $4 million during the last year. The Ethiopia food shortage is not a recent development. Intermittent drought over the past 12 years has drastically reduced the quantities of food produced locally. And ongoing war between the Ethiopian govern ment and guerrilla groups has prevented food aid from reaching the hardest hit drought areas. In Tigray and Eritrea opposition forces control nearly all the territory with the exception of major towns and roads, and government relief trucks are unable to move freely in their territory. The situation is so grave that during the past few days government and private agencies have airlifted aid to cities within the drought area. Efforts at bringing about reconcilia tion between warring parties have been heightened in light of the emergency facing Ethiopia. One relief worker in Ethiopia says, “How much better it would be if there were a cease-fire so that the starving children and their parents could be freely fed until the rains came. It is something many of us are praying for.” MCC is supporting the efforts of other organizations to help bring about a reconciliation among the warring factions. As has been the case in other con flict situations, MCC has made efforts to assure that its assistance has been sent through Sudan to parts of Tigray and Eritrea not controlled by the government. One of MCC’s prere quisites for involvement is the ex istence of effective channels to deliver food to people in need. Cut off from relief efforts by war and impassable roads, over 2 million Ethiopians have left their homes in search of food. Tens of thousands camp on the outskirts of distribution cont’d next page
THE MESSENGER
centers waiting for food aid. But there is not enough food in the country, and truck transportation is difficult even to the distribution centers. The U.S. government has been slow to respond to the crisis despite earlier appeals from the Ethiopian government Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC). A March 1984 RRC report predicted food shortages of over one million tons and an af fected population of 7 million during 1984. The United States has now agreed to supply $45 million worth of food aid for Ethiopia. But U.S. officials still refuse to channel food directly to the RCC, which handles the vast majority of all relief aid to Ethiopia, preferring instead to work through private agen cies. Most private agency personnel in Ethiopia feel that the RRC is one of the most effective governmental relief agencies in Africa. Although the Ethiopian government has been actively seeking ways to alleviate its drought-related problems for many months, it continues to commit far more of its own resources to military needs than to relief. Ethiopia also receives large quantities of military assistance, and very little relief aid, from the Soviet Union. Tim Lind, MCC co-secretary for Africa, believes that the latest publicity will result in a big increase in the ac tivities of other relief agencies in Ethiopia. “MCC has always tried to find ways to meet those needs not met by others,” he notes. “That may mean that we will once again want to look at longer-term needs and responses in Ethiopia.” In the 1970s, MCC was involved in reforestation and agricultural develop ment work in Ethiopia. Ray Brubacher, former MCC Africa secretary, is presently in Ethiopia on a special visit to review current MCC relief involvements and to assist MCC workers in Ethiopia in planning ongo ing involvement. Although Ethiopia has been the largest recipient of MCC food aid to Africa this year, MCC has also sent shipments to six other African coun tries affected by food shortages in cluding Zimbabwe, Burkina Easo (Up-
“PFe need corn, beans and the generous heartfelt support of North American churches in order to help meet the needs of the hungry. ” — Reg Toews
per Volta), Zaire and Kenya. Earlier this year MCC purchased $10,000 worth of food in Chad for local distribution. Mozambique, in southeastern Africa, is facing an equally severe famine. Although Mozambique has a population of only 10.6 million, com pared to Ethiopia’s 37 million people, already over 100,000 people have starved to death there. MCC has a continuing program in Mozambique and plans to ship 5,000 tons of corn
by mid-November. The current MCC fund drive in the United States, Harvest Against Hunger, is raising food and money for programs in 11 countries throughout the world, including Ethiopia. Reg Toews, executive secretary for MCC, says, “We need corn, beans and the generous, heartfelt support of North American churches in order to help meet the needs of the hungry. We have stepped out in faith with this $12 million drive and we believe our constituency will respond.” Toews adds that hunger is a worldwide problem also affecting such countries as India, El Salvador, Kam puchea and Nicaragua. “Our response must move from emergency food aid to food production programs and then to tackling the problems associated with food accessibility for the poor,” Toews says. MCC Canada held a similar fund drive earlier this year. For more infor mation on how you can help write MCC Canada, 201-1483 Pembina Hwy., Winnipeg, Man. R3T 2C8, 204-475-3550. ■
In the hold of the ship “Arafura Sea, “ workers at Massawa Port, Ethiopia, bagged 2000 metric tons of Mennonite Central Committee Canada wheat. The wheat was shipped bulk from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to Ethiopia, where it will be distributed by Catholic Belief Services to displaced families in Eritrea and Tigray. (MCC photo by Bob Hovde).
THE MESSENGER is published every other week by The Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Board of Education and Publication, Box 1268, Stein bach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0. Second Class Mail; Registration Number 0591. Undeliverable copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be mailed to the above address.
NOVEMBER 16, 1984
PAGE 5
Letters Straight Talk Response
Allow me to respond to Dr. Bonk's “Straight Talk” in the October 19 Messenger. It is quite possible that Dr. Bonk and 1 would find much common ground if we were to have a face-to-face discussion. This letter is mere ly responding to certain points brought out in the aforementioned article. The following phrases in quotation marks were used to tell the reader “What’s Wrong with TV.” 1) “War makes better viewing than peace.” While TV depicts war it does not promote it. Rather it dramatically reveals the horror of war and encourages us to flee from it. 2) “Cooperation offers no conflict and would thus be dismissed as boring.” This phrase was used by Dr. Bonk to say that TV is wrong because it displays conflict rather than cooperation. 1 would say that conflict is an essential ingredient for entertainment. This is. in fact, what writers are taught and is a premise followed by Christian and secular novelists alike. The reason this is so is because conflict is a part of life. Most TV programs at tempt to portray a day or week in the life of a character and therefore to be realistic there must be conflict. The program then moves on to resolve the conflict. This is particularly true of sit-coms where there is a) an introduction, b) conflict, c) resolved conflict. The viewer, in fact is prompted to hope for a “good end ing,” e.g., justice prevails/lovers reunited. The conflict then acts as a foil for the “good” ending. In conclusion then, while 1 agree that negative emotions and actions are displayed on TV programs, 1 do not feel that they are generally promoted. Rather, they appear as a foil for positive emotions and actions. Lori Klassen 7-175 Ruby Winnipeg. Man.
Tell it to the church, not the judge, MEDA members urged Lawsuits have become a new form of entertainment in North America and Christians are tuned in just like anyone else, a professional conciliator claims. Laurence Eck. national coordinator of the Christian Conciliation Service, told Mennonite businesspersons attending the annual conven tion of Mennonite Economic Development Associates that each year eight million lawsuits are launched in the U.S. alone - and many of them are between Christians. In fact. Eck said, the rate of litigation among Christians is no lower than among non-Christians. Eck. a former malpractice lawyer for a large urban hospital and now national coordinator of the Christian Conciliation Service, was the main resource person at MEDA's Oct. 25-28 convention in Toledo. Ohio. MEDA, an organization which works at helping Men nonite businesspersons keep faith and business close together, had chosen “The Business of Conflict” as the theme of this year’s gathering. Eck had much to say about conflict in general and lawsuits in particular but his sharpest words were for those who sue fellow believers. Lawsuits between Christians are clearly contrary to the teachings of Jesus and Paul, he asserted. Moreover they usually in crease rather than decrease hostility, they contribute to congestion in the courts, they are expensive, and they cost Christians many opportunities to witness to their faith in Jesus Christ. Eck urged his audience to “think Christianly” in their business enterprises. To resort to the public court system is a secular response that usually results in welts and bruises being raised on the bride of Christ, the church, Eck said. The Christian Conciliation Service which Eck heads now has 40 local chapters nationwide, all of them devoted to helping resolve various types of conflict, including business, marital and congregational disputes. The method used differs markedly from secular approaches in that it involves the parties’ chur-
Conference Council Meeting Date; December 1, 1984 Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Braeside EMC, 1011 Munroe Ave., Winnipeg Agenda: *1985 Conference Budget Conference Committee Goals for 1985 Constitution Change re Election of Moderator N.B. At the July Conference Council meeting it was agreed to open our Council meetings to non-delegate participation. If you are not a delegate but would like to attend please inform the Conference Office (326-6401) by November 28. This will help in planning for the meals and materials. The fee is $3.00, payable at the meeting.
PAGE 6
ches. Bible study, prayer and an attempt to determine the spiritual dimensions of the conflict. The organization works closely with Mennonite Conciliation Service in some areas. The convention theme “The Business Conflict” was probed in other ways. Thomas Gumbleton, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, ad dressed one of the evening sessions on the urgency of cooling down the arms race. “We must refuse to legitimate the idea of nuclear war,” he said. Brethren in Christ theologian Ron Sider en couraged the assembled businesspersons to make Jesus Christ the Lord of their businesses and make peace through their work, Businesspersons need to share the gospel in their places of business, put their families ahead of their work, promote right relation ships in their corporations and work for “shalom” in the public sector, which includes the realms of international economics and the arms race. The convention also featured numerous seminars and workshops on procedures for mediating disputes, styles of leadership, communication on the job, and using conflict as an opportunity for growth. In the business session members were told that MEDA, currently with a total membership of more than 1,400 is a “financially healthy organization” whose membership contributions help “entice and leverage” government funds and grants for overseas development. In the past year U.S. and Canadian development funds channeled through MEDA have been more than three times the total membership contributions, Domestically, Meda officials reported that 11 local chapters across Canada and the U.S. are growing and becoming increasingly active in promoting integration of faith and business. Milo Shantz, St. Jacobs, Ont., stepped down after serving as chairman of the organization for the past 10 years. Elected to replace him was Don Hedrick, a grocery store manager from Landsdale, Pa. Wally Kroeker For Meetinghouse
COVER: These families are visiting a Catholic Relief Service (CRS) feeding centre in Mekele town in Ethiopia. The 2000 metric tons of Mennonite Central Committee wheat sent to Ethiopia this summer are distributed through CRS programs. (MCC photo by Bob Hovde).
CONTRIBUTORS: Stephen Bfi/ is a pastor of Fillmore Bible Church, Fillmore, California. The article is reprinted from Euangelical Visitor. Joy Hofer is a news service write for Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, PA. Amanda Barkman (Blumenort) teaches missionary children in Venezuela al the New Tribes Mission school.
THE MESSENGER
Missions
Ernie Koop
RGBl RELEASE
Preparing For Missionary Service A Steinbach, Manitoba man is taking nine months of Spanish language study in preparation for missionary service in Central America. Ernie Koop, now enrolled in his final semester of language training at the Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas, anticipates moving to Managua, Nicara^a this January following graduation exercises. Sponsored by the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Mr. Koop will be involved in leadership training as well as instruction in Theological Education by Extension. He will also assist in establishing new churches Meanwhile, he is enjoying the somewhat arduous task of learning Spanish. “Language training is a must in order to get a solid base from which to build your understanding and use of the language,” he says. “It facilitates rapid apprehension and use of the language.” Mr. Koop has an extensive theological background including a bachelor of theology from Steinbach Bible College and a master of divinity from Winnipeg Theological Seminary. He also served as an assistant pastor in Aylmer, Ontario for one year. Serving in Nicaragua is sure to be a huge challenge, but Mr. Koop is confident this is where God wants him to minister for the years to come. “I feel called by God to
NOVEMBER 16, 1984
serve Him in this Latin American country. The church in Nicaragua needs this type of help and assistance so I want to be faithful in going.” The Rio Grande Bible Institute (RGBI) is an interdenominational school which trains students from around the world in both Spanish and Bible. In this, the institute’s 38th year, RGBI has an enrollment at near capacity with 193 students who are nearly equally di vided between the language school and Bible Institute. Missionaries studying Spanish represent a wide variety of mission societies and churches while the Bible students come from various parts of the world including Central and South America, Europe and even Australia. The Bible Institute differs from most schools because it has never charged for tuition since its inception in 1946. Students only pay for fees pertaining to their classes and books. The Hispanic students live in dormitories and pay for their room and board on a work-scholarship basis. Part of their work includes serving as tutors for the missionary students in their study of the Spanish language. The one-year missionary student language course consists of 52 hours of intensive study covering grammar, phonetics and conversation. The language students also have the advantage of being closely associated with the Latin culture during their stay in the Rio Grande Valley in Southwestern Texas. The institute’s motto is “Training Christian Leaders for Latin America.” This is being accomplished yearly as graduates study and return to their respective countries.
VENEZUELA
A Typical School Day Morning (Grade 3 and 4 Classroom) Prayer Requests from Missionary Kids
7:05 a.m. People from different parts of the campus are making their way to school. 7:15 a.m. A generator can be heard starting up. Lights come on in the classrooms (fans too; PTL) and it’s time for class to begin. Teacher: How are all of you this morn ing? Have we any news to share, or things to pray about this morning? Josh: (His parents work with the Pume Indians.) Could we pray for a new Pume believer who is burdened for his own peopie but is afraid to share the gospel with them? As far as we know he is the only Pume believer and he needs courage to take a stand. Natalie: (Her parents are dorm parents at Tama Tama.) We need to pray for all the sick people in Coshalowateli (a Guica Indian village). The Dawsons requested prayer on the radio this morning because malaria is taking its toll in their area. Peopie from near and far are coming to the Dawsons for help. Pray that the medicine won’t run out, and pray especially that peopie will find spiritual healing as well, David: (His parents work with the Yuwana Indians.) Please pray for the Yuwana Indians. Due to an unexpected turn of events, there are no missionaries in Cano Iguana right now. Please pray that the Indians there won’t think we have (Cont’d. next page)
Mission Grams Brazil Abe and Dorothy Koop will be at the New Tribes missionary training institute during the latter part of November. This institute trains national Brazilians for tribal missionary work. The Koops’ base is in Manaus. Pray for them. Africa Henry Klassen, executive secretary of the Board of Missions, is on a five-week assignment in Africa, November 15-December 21. This is an administrative visit to the fields of AIMM. The delegation will be evaluating, consulting and planning in Lesotho, Botswana, Transkei, Zaire and Burkina Faso. Your prayers for this mission are appreciated. Paraguay - Nurse Needed The La Esperanza clinic in Paraguay is in urgent need of nursing personnel. This is an opportunity to serve God and to alleviate the needs of people. For further information contact EMC Board of Missions, Box 1268, Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0, Ph. (204) 326-6401.
PAGE 7
Messenger News
I
Ordination of ministers at the Vanderhoof church. Left to right: Goldie Harms, John Harms, Sarah Loewen, Johnny Loewen, Anne Wiebe, Peter Wiebe, Pete Schlamp, Carol Schlamp, John Koop, Clara Koop.
mainly a one-man ministry. This has often harmed the church and many pastors have been hurt as well. The plural ministry has some definite advantages. It allows the burden of ministry to be shared, thereby easing the pressure on one man. It can also help to blunt some criticisms if not just one person is considered responsible for the overall scope, direction, and well-being of the church. Pastor Johnny Loewen of Rosenort, Manitoba officiated at the ordination ceremony. For the ordination prayer dur ing the laying on of hands the three ministers, their wives and two deacon couples formed a circle around the two couples being ordained. (The wives were not ordained, but were at their husbands’ side and also answered some questions, because the wives are part of their hus band’s ministry.) Johnny Loewen, John Koop and John Harms and deacons Ron Penner and David Thiessen prayed for the couples and their ministries. We had a very scriptural group of men for this ordination — first, second and third John and first and second Peter!
MINISTERS ORDAINED
GROWING IN CHRIST
Vanderhoof, B.C.: On August 5 Mr. Peter Wiebe and Mr. Alvin (Pete) Schlamp were ordained as ministers in our church. Pastor John Koop opened the service with a reading of 2 Timothy 2:1-3 and prayer. John Harms, the former pastor of the church, then brought the message. He spoke about Christ being the foundation rock, the chief cornerstone, and of the church as a building, built by Christ, who uses us born again believers as living stones, building blocks with which He shall complete the building. Jesus Christ is also
(MISSIONS CONT’D) deserted them for good. They were just in the beginning stages of hearing and understanding the gospel. Please pray that someone can go back there soon. Tammy: (Her parents work with the Guica Indians.) Could we pray for my mother? My parents are the only mis sionaries in Parima this year. That means they have all the teaching and medical responsibilities. The Indians come and go all day long, it seems, demanding attention for one thing or another. They entertain government officials frequently too. Besides all this, and her regular housework, my mother tries to teach my brother first grade. Alan: (His parents are on maintenance
PAGE 8
the head of the body and we as members of the body have various functions and positions in that body. Mr. Harm.s also mentioned our responsibility to the great commission, and ordaining ministers is one aspect of obedience to that call. God gives the enabling to those He calls, when He calls. Christians can only do the work of God by the power of God. He pointed out that a plural ministry is scriptural (Acts 6:1-3, 13:1-2). In the last few decades we have moved away from a plural ministry to a pastoral ministry.
staff at Tama Tama.) We need to pray for the MAF pilots as they fly today. Yester day they were not able to fly as planned due to bad weather. We need to thank the Lord for good pilots and pray for their safe ty. We also need to thank the Lord for the folks at home in the U.S. and Canada who pray for us and support us so we can be here in Venezuela. Teacher: That's right! Why doesn’t each one of you talk to the Lord about the con cerns you shared as we bow for prayer right now. Thank you to the Lord and to all you faithful supporters at home who make it possible for me to be here at the school for missionary children in Tama Tama, Venezuela. Amanda Barkman
Arden, Man.: We are happy to report that the Spirit is working in our lives, and therefore, as we reach out to others, they too are beginning to respond. In October we set a new Sunday school attendance record of 45. More children are beginning to attend regularly. Every Friday evening we have Family Night. This involves all age groups. There are three classes for the children, taught by Betty Penner, Leona Rempel, and An dy Penner. Each class has a Bible lesson, workbooks, and crafts (supervised by Jerry and Phyllis Plett). The teenagers enjoy the young people’s program directed by Rey and Marlene Toews. The adults participate in prayer and Bible study, led by Art Plett. The book of Matthew was chosen as their text, with helps gleaned from Warren Wiersbe’s book “Be Loyal.” Our aim was to provide an opportunity for children who attended DVBS in sum mer to return for more teaching, and to reach out into the community. We are achieving our goal. Some come for Family Night, others for Family Night and Sun day school. The number is increasing week ly. Non-church families are being reached. We want to continue our work of prayer, witnessing, visiting, and inviting. The Lord spoke to us through his ser vant, Rev. Cornie Plett, during our Deeper Life Meetings, October 25-28. The theme
THE MESSENGER
t
f
was “Relationships Within the Church.” We studied the characteristics of the ear ly church found in Acts 1-4. A very impor tant characteristic was that of unity, love and concern for one another. Studying God’s Word, worship, fellowship, and prayer were at the top of their list of priorities. Sin was dealt with. Jesus Christ was preached boldly. We were challenged to spend more time studying God’s Word, and to “have all things in common” (koinonia). Something which we should try to maintain is an at mosphere where we feel free to share our thoughts, struggles and joys. Then we can experience the healing power of prayer. All that was available to Christ is available to us. We were blessed and strengthened through the prayer meetings which preced ed each service. Saturday morning there was a Men’s Prayer Breakfast at the church. PARTICIPATION NIGHT
4
Riverton, Man.: Now that the cold of winter is here it is good to look back and warm ourselves with memories of autumn days. Participation night on September 16 found children of all ages enjoying a hayride through the countryside. Return ing to the Albert Friesen home the church family enjoyed a fireside service consisting of the singing of choruses and sharing of testimonies. Also in September, we caught a glimpse of what we could have experienced had we been at the World Conference. John and Martha Klassen shared tapes and slides and memories brought home with them from their tour in Europe. “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2). A program of singing praises to God and families sharing voluntary items followed a satisfying potluck supper on Thanksgiv ing Day. The evening came to a close with the viewing of the film “Peege.” A highlight in the month of October was the missions conference held at our church. We heard about life on the mission field and how it requires a cheerful, optimistic attitude. We were encouraged to pray; many battles experienced on the mission field are fought and won by the continu ing sincere prayers of people at home. Sharing with us their experiences were Frank Kroeker, Dora Friesen, John Stoesz, Phyllis Penner, Elmer Barkman, Frank Brauns, and Katherine Penner. We want to give thanks to God for the protection upon these of our congregation who have been travelling. We welcome back John and Martha Klassen from Russia. We are also happy to see Brad and Debbie Kornelsen back after a two-week trek to Mexico.
NOVEMBER 16, 1984
'
1
»•
■z
Jake and Agatha Reddekop celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Kola on Oc tober 20.
MISSIONARY CONFERENCE HELD Kola, Man.; What’s happening in the Kola church? It’s been a while since I have sent a report. We enjoy reading the different church reports so I’ll do some catching up for your interest. Just this last weekend, November 2-4, we had our annual missions conference. John Harder of Winnipeg, with GMU, was our conference speaker. Other missionaries reporting of their work and challenging us to greater faithfulness were Frank and Marge Kroeker, Peter and Louise Hiebert, Elmer and Tina Barkman and Ben Friesen, EMC Board of Missions. We realize, as Brother John Harder said, that our respon sibilities as Christians are greater as a result of this missionary conference. The children had a special project. In three special offerings they reached over the $180.00 which was the goal they had set. This money was given to Elmer Barkmans, who will now be able to buy a hand-held planer, which will assist them greatly in making boards to build their home when they return to Venezuela. Sixteen of Kola’s young people are at tending schools away from home again. Les Martens is attending Mountain View Bible College; Lowell Reimer, Ernie and Sherridan Reimer, Connie Siemens and Keith Siemens are at Peace River Bible In stitute; Sherryl Kliever is attending Prairie Bible Institute; Randy Plett, Denise Plett, Angela Penner and Nikki Penner at the University of Manitoba; Tania Wiebe, Chris Rempel and Jacque Penner at the Steinbach Bible College; Glenda Rempel is in nurses’ training at the Brandon General
Hospital; and Laurie Brandt is at Christian Heritage College in California. On October 28 our congregation saw the film “Two Masters.” This exciting film features Larry Burkett and is designed to minister to families in the area of stewardship. The young people, with their leaders. Ger Martens and Rocky Siemens, had their annual fall social on the evening of October 31. They had a costume party which started with all of them visiting eight dif ferent homes in the community to have their costumes rated. Suzi Schneider, Jacquie Doerksen and Darcie Reimer were the lucky winners. The young people then pro ceeded on to Earl and Florence Penner’s warmed barn loft for games, food and a devotional time by James Penner. Mrs. Jake Koop is the Kola represen tative for the Brandon Self Help Store. She faithfully looks after getting the volunteers lined up for our monthly work day. The an nual Self Help meeting took place on November 2 at the Oak Lake Mennonite Church. Family film night on October 26 was very well attended by young and old. Brother Curt Bork, who was the speaker at the special Thanksgiving and dedication ser vice at the Elkhorn Fellowship’s new church on October 14, left several of his films here. A large number of our congregation at tended the dedication service of the new Elkhorn Gospel Fellowship church building at 3:00 p.m. on October 14. As a result of Region Four’s pulpit ex change, we were privileged to have Richard and Kathy Klassen of Maryfield minister to us with special music and a message from God’s Word. They were a tremendous blessing to us. The Maryfield Tabernacle had their an nual Children’s Crusade with Aunt Rose and Aunt Shirley of the Canadian Sunday School Mission, October 15-19. Many of the Kola folks went to enjoy these special ministries. On October 12 we had our Thanksgiving supper at the church. As in other years,' there was a full church basement. At the service that followed upstairs we heard a report on what the Food Bank is doing in India. Jerry and Vai Peters of Boissevain, who had observed and helped in the distribution of the Food Bank grain in In dia, had a very informative slide report. Jake and Agatha Reddekop celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 20. In spite of very poor weather many relatives had come from different points in Canada and the United States to join them in this special, joyous celebration. In August of this year the Kola congrega tion celebrated their 20th anniversary with a three-day Homecoming. A pictorial report of this special time should appear in the next issue of the Messenger.
PAGE 9
Around the World
Len Sawatsky SAWATSKY APPOINTED TO EDEN PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE Eden Mental Health Office in Winkler announced this week that Len Sawatsky has been appointed to the position of Public Relations Officer. Sawatsky, who until recently served as the Personnel Manager of Triple E Canada has worked previously for Sheritt Gorden Mines at Lynn Lake, Manitoba in the same capacity. For a period of seven years before that, he served as an instruc tor at Keewatin Community College at The Pas, Manitoba. A science graduate from the University of Manitoba, Sawatsky has studied as well in the area of management, by way of evening courses and seminars. The Public Relations Position at Eden will include responsibility for communica tions with the church consituency and the community at large. It will include work with the Eden Foundation in terms of estate planning and fund raising. At the same time, it will involve the coordination of seminars, workshops, and lectures of fered by Eden staff. The first major assignment for the Public
PAGE 10
Relations Position is that of fund raising for the capital funding of several new pro grams supported by the Eden Mental Health Centre Foundation. The drive en titled “Target 300” is attempting to raise some $300,000 for a new building for Linden Place and for the building and equipment for Trainex Industries. MENNONITES APOLOGIZE TO JAPANESE CANADIANS WINNIPEG, Man. - Mennonite Central Committee Canada, on behalf of Mennonites and Brethren in Christ in Canada, apologiz ed to the National Association of Japanese Canadians at a news conference in Winnipeg on October 30. Frank H. Epp. Secretary of the Mennonite Central Committee Canada Executive Com mittee, delivered the apology to Arthur Miki. president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians. Epp stated that “a great injustice was done” and that a “profound and meaningful expression of regret for that wrongdoing is owning by Canadians through the Canadian government. Epp also indicated that Mennonites “have a debt to pay.” “We benefitted from the wrongful sale of Japanese-Canadian lands in (B.C.’s) Fraser Valley.” he said. Arthur Miki. in accepting the apology on behalf of 46.000 Japanese-Canadians, stated that Mennonite Central Committee “should be commended for taking this position and publicly recognizing these past injustices."
'THE MENNONITE’ GETS NEW ASSISTANT EDITOR, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Newton, Kan.—The General Conference’s General Board has made new appointments to the staff of The Mennonite, the church’s English-language periodical. Gordon Houser assumed the position of assistant editor for the 24-page fortnightly publication on Sept. 1. He has served as editorial assistant for the magazine for the past six years. As assistant editor, he manages the production of the magazine, edits the news and works closely with editor Bernie Wiebe (Winnipeg). M.B. MISSIONS/SERVICES’ NEW WORKERS GOING OUT Winnipeg, Man.—This summer and fall, 28 missionaries and short-term workers are launching into new overseas assignments under Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services. Nine of them, all of them appointed as long term missionaries, have served with Mis sions/Services before, but are returning after periods of study and service in Canada and the U.S. Of the nineteen others. 15 are serv ing in the three-year Good News Corps pro gram or in one-year assignments under the Missionary Assistance Program.
MDS SECTION HOLDS FALL MEETING
QUARRYVILLE, Pa. - The Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Section met for its fall meeting at Black Rock Retreat here September 7. The group heard reports on the activities of many hundreds of MDS volunteers, and discussed the coordination of the more than 50 MDS units. Landis Hershey, director of MDS Region I, reported that the Avian flue quarantine has not yet been lifted, even though 15.7 million birds were destroyed. MDS volunteers in Region I have helped clean up after the spring tornadoes in the Carolinas, and following the fire that destroyed the administration building at Eastern Mennonite College in Harrison burg, Va. Hershey reported the need for more volunteers in his region. Virgil Gingerich, director of Region II, reported on an August barn raising at Black Earth, Wis., following the tornado that struck there in June. Myron Schultz, director of Region III, reported on activity in a number of states in that large region. He noted the sustained response of local volunteers from three Iowa congregations following tornadoes and floods this spring. Henry Mast, director of region IV, reported on the MDS activities in the Tucson, Ariz. flood area as well as the third MDS project in Hawaii following a 1983 earthquake there. Syd Reimer, chairman of the MDS section and recently named director of Region V, reported on the clean-up activities in his home community of Rosenort. Man., which involv ed over 1,200 volunteers. He reported that he spent a weekend with the newly organiz ing churches in the eastern provinces. Reimer, as director of Region V, succeeds Eddie Bearinger who was honored for 25 years of MDS service. Joan Barkman, who is completing her term as an at-large member of the Section, reported that the MDS orientation packet is completed. Nelson Hostetter, executive coordinator, reported on the projects in which MDS bi national assisted. He also briefed the section on organization changes in other agencies do ing disaster and emergency work. He reported that the number of American Red Cross staff members available for disaster ac tivities has decreased. The MDS Section voted to extend the term of Executive Coordinator Hostetter by one year, to August 1986. It also authorized its
MCC Manitoba Meeting
Nov. 23-24 — Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church
THE MESSENGER
Executive Committee, in conjunction with Mennonite Central Committee U.S. and MCC Canada, to evaluate staffing and organizational structure. It is understood that this study appropriately coincides with plans for MDS staffing beyond the Hostetter term. Region II is planning to host to 1985 All Unit meeting at the Central Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio. February 8 and 9, 1985. NEW APPOINTMENT Steve Shenk of Elkhart, Ind. has been named managing editor of Gospel Herald— the official weekly magazine of the Mennonite Church of North America. He will start Oct. 8. The 76-year-old magazine is produced at Mennonite Publishing House in Scottdale, Pa. Daniel Hertzler is the editor. Shenk is currently news and information manager at Mennonite Board of Missions in Elkhart. He has been a member of the Church Relations staff there for six years. Before that, Shenk served three years in Japan as an MBM missionary and two years as a staff writer at Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Va.
CHOICE RESOURCES GOES INTO CHRISTIAN VIDEO
4
Choice Resources Inc., a not for profit, in terchurch, book distributing company, has an nounced its entry into the field of Christian Video Rentals, Choice Rentals is better known by the label Choice Books which identifies the 190 plus book racks in stores and offices throughout Manitoba, Northern Ontario and Eastern Saskatchewan, some of which have been making Christian Books available there since 1968. Using the services of Crown Video, Calgary Alberta. Choice will stock fifty titles in its Win nipeg office and will also have available over 1000 titles from which to draw on. Four of the largest Mennonite Conferences are represented on the board of Choice Resources. They are Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Evangelical Mennonite Missions Conference and Mennonite Brethren Con ference of Manitoba. Representation from other Conferences is invited. The total program involves a large network of concerned prayer partners and part-time volunteers from many different denomina tions without whose active support the work would be much weaker.
MARTHA JANZEN LEAVES MCC CANADA INFORMATION SERVICES After six years as secretary and writer for MCC Canada Information Services, Martha Janzen left at the end of August to begin an MCC assignment as secretary at the Kathman du. Nepal office of the United Mission to Nepal. Janzen, a member of the Fort Garry
NOVEMBER 16, 1984
NOW AVAILABLE New EMC Missionary Directory The EMC Board of Missions has printed another Missionary Directory. This is the fifth one printed thus far. Missionaries, both career and short-term, who were on the roster of the Board of Missions on June 1, 1984 are included in this Directory.
Price: $2.00 postpaid Order from: EMC Board of Missions Box 1268 Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0
Mennonite Brethren Church in Winnipeg, came to MCC Canada in 1978 after 19 years of service as secretary and accountant at the Bethesda Home for mentally handicapped adults in Vineland, Ont. "My years with MCC Canada have been a time of growth," Janzen says. “I’ve learned much about the spirit of service from my co-workers. It has been a motivating factor for me." She begins her assignment in Nepal in October. She is being replaced by Lorna Unger, a member of the First Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. WIELER LEAVES MCC AFTER 21 YEARS John Wieler, MCC Canada Overseas Ser vices Coordinator, concluded 21 years of ser vice with Mennonite Central Committee in August. Wieler began his service with MCC in 1963 when he and his wife. Betty, served as coun try representatives in Greece. They went to Germany in 1967 to serve as a liaison be tween MCC and the then newly-formed Euro pean International Mennonite Organization (IMO). After three years in Europe they returned to Canada where John became Associate Executive Director of MCC Canada in what was then a four-person office. In 1977 he became MCC Canada Overseas Services Coordinator, a position he held until August. J.M. Klassen, MCC Canada Executive Director and long-time colleague of Wieler’s, says that “John brought enormous energy, drive, enthusiasm and dedication to the cause of Christ to his work. MCC Canada benefitted from his ability to find the people, material and financial resources necessary to make the work of MCC Canada successful."
PRAYING FOR AND WRITING TO M.P.s The election of a new Parliament is an ap propriate occasion to recall that people can pray for and write to their elected Members.
M.P.s are interested in letters from their con stituents! The letters can express encourage ment or concern. And one does not have to be an expert on an issue before expressing concern about it. Admittedly, often such let ters cannot be as focused on specific votes as those in the U.S. where Senators and Representatives in Congress vote on many more details and where adherence to party lines is not as important. In Canada, many positions are worked out in each party’s caucus meetings behind closed doors. Never theless, as M.P.s go to these caucus meetings and to other places where decisions are made, they may well be influenced by the letters and prayers of their constituents. Perhaps the concerns mentioned in the “Ottawa Notebook” can encourage people to do these things for their elected representatives. — Ottawa Notebook VIOLENT TOYS CALLED OFFENSIVE
Gobots and Transformers, toy robots that fold up into race cars, trucks and planes, are popular with kids but they’re not favoured by the Canadian Toy Testing Council, a volunteer group that rates toys according to play value. The Council dislikes the goodversus-evil theme associated with the toy robots. “Names such as Cy-Kill suggest ag gression and violence and the concept of Friendly Robots and Enemy Robots reinforces this,” testers complain. “For such an intrigu ing toy, it’s a shame that a more constructive aspect of robots cannot be emphasized.” Copies of the Council’s Toy Report can be ob tained from major book stores or from P.O. Box 6014, Station J, Ottawa, Ont., K2A ITl. The report costs $5.95. (MCC News Briefs)
PAGE 11
From the Editor More Good News! “P'or (IS the rain cometh doivn, and the snow from heaven, and retumeth not thither, but walereth the ea rth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word he that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, hut it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whaweto I sent it” (Isaiah .55:10, 11). The word of God has great promise. I suppose we could say it is the supreme evangelist. The above promise that the word of God will not return void comes to my mind as I think of the visit of Billy Graham to the USSR recently. He reports of this occasion that “Thousands heard the gospel in the churches or through the brief television and radio coverage ...” He says that there were no restrictions on his message but there were restrictions on where he could preach. He doubts whether a single Christian believer was unaware of their visit. He spoke fifty times. From what one hears of reported religious suppression in the USSR it may be somewhat of an enigma to have the church in vite a man like Graham to come and to have him speak fifty times. Some may be quick to say that it is a front or a ploy. However that may be, if it is, they are not reckoning with the power of God and the word as outlined in our above verse. And, remarkably, Walter Sawatzky in his book Soviet Evangelicals Since World kUar 7/writes, “The Soviet state has never been able to demonstrate its conviction that religion is a thing of the past bound to disappear with the advance of scien tific progress.” We need to thank God for this and I’m sure the word of God has a lot to do with it. Coupled with this, we need to remember the words of Christ when he says, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18b). , With this I am not minimizing the gravity of the situation and the persecution of Christians in the USSR. What I would like to repeat, however, is what God says about his word, “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29). For an illustration of this we can go to the very recent amaz ing developments in China. In 1951 Moody Monthly carried a comprehensive account of “The Future of Missions in Red China.” J. Herbert Kane, a travelling evangelist in China under what was then China In land Mission, writes as follows: After a century of unparalleled progress, foreign missions in China are facing the gravest crisis in their history. With the Communist victory, religion in general, particularly Chris tianity, has fallen on evil days. During the past two years there has been a large exodus of missionaries from China. Amazingly, in 1954 Christian Life magazine car ried an article with the heading “China’s Church Carries On.” It begins, “When missionaries were thrust out of China, many Chinese Christians remained.” It talks about increased atten dance at Sunday church services in Shanghai and Peking.
THE MESSENGER
PAI
NVW
8^8 TO
“. . . Many conversions have been seen , . it continued. One Christian witness was able to lead 300 to baptism. On the other hand, according to a recent summary of happen ings in China, over the last 35 years the Newsletter of the Cana dian Bible Society includes the cultural revolution of 1966. “At that time it was reported that all Christian activities came to a halt and that stock and many of the Bibles, including some owned by individuals, were destroyed. In May 1972 Gospel Herald carried an article entitled “China: A New Opening?” by Wilbert R. Shenk, secretary for Overseas Missions at Mennonite Board of Missions, Elkhart, Indiana. He refers to the visit of Richard Nixon, who was president of the United States at that time, and the beginning of a new diplomacy, and then remarks, “What significance does this have for Christians as they look at China today?” (1972). Is there in deed a new opening! (italics mine). In bold headlines the February 1980 Quarterly Newsletter of the Canadian Bible Society declares “A Giant Awakes.” “The door is beginning to open. And what a door it is! China, with at least 800 million people, approximately one-fifth of the en tire world’s population, has been virtually closed to all Chris tian work and influence since the communist takeover. Now, after a long isolation, barricaded behind the bamboo curtain, China is relaxing the grip on its gate.” What is there current to report on China? We cannot but think of the Psalmist’s words in Psalm 118:23, “This is the Lord’s do ing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” We again quote from the aforementioned Newsletter (Nov. 1984): “The number of Pro testant Christians in China is reported to have grown from about 700,000 in 1949 to an estimated three million today. There are now 1600 Protestant churches open, and large numbers of groups worshipping in homes. It is also reported that the China Christian Council has published more than 1.3 million Bibles and New Testaments, as well as a new hymnal. By September 1984 the seminary established in Nanjing will have increased its enroll ment to 170 students. Three regional theological institutes have been established in key centres and a Bible correspondence course has been developed, with some 40,000 persons enrolled.” I have gone into this rapid summary of what happened in China, a land many of us may have written off long ago as ever opening for Christianity, to show that God is still sovereign and to encourage us to also anticipate great things for situations that appear impossible to man today. The 1984 Mennonite World Conference saw four persons representing churches in the USSR in attendance. “God has given us a place and time to serve ... we serve in our places in the Soviet Union . . . God blessed our service tremendously,” declared Anatoly Sokalov. He further spoke of 8000-9000 con verts every year. Daniel Janzen brought greetings from “all the Mennonites in Russia . . . Also we Mennonites in Russia serve in hope.” My aim has been to be objective in this editorial, assumptions and speculations aside. If something quoted is interpreted as merely a front, that is the reader’s privilege. However, even if it is, we cannot discount the power of the word of God, as quoted at the head of this article, as well as another verse later on out of Jeremiah. D.S.
030 yo.y
xoa
■'^3NN3d ■J 1 3 d