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NO. 19

SEPT. 19/86

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•Anabaptist Missions (2) •The Quiet Place -v,

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For the Anabaptists, discipleship, suffering, and Christian community were part of what it meant to be a Christian. But the proclamation of the Good News by word of mouth was also a part of that task. To obey the Gospel meant to talk about it. This was not optional but mandatory, since the Gospel is for all people. The demonstration of the Gospel was not complete unless the “reason for the hope” within them was explained to those who had not yet received that hope. Menno Simons says, “We believe, therefore we speak.”

ANABAPTIST MISSIONS (Part 2)

Demonstration of the Gospel: Verbal Proclamation by David Thiessen Strategy for Evangelism nabaptism was a missionary movement from the moment of its inception. The occasion of the first Anabaptist baptism at Zurich on January 21, 1525 included a commitment to propagate the faith. The Hutterian chronicle records some of the reminiscences of George Blaurock of that historic night. After George had baptized the group of people there, “they together gave themselves to the name of the Lord in the high fear of God. Each confirmed (bestaetet) the other in the service of the gospel, and they began to teach and keep the faith” (Williams and Mergal, eds. Spiritual and Anabaptist Writers, p. 44). By August of that year the movement had spread to St. Gall, Waldshut, Schaffhausen, Chur, Bern, and Basel. Thirty-eight congregations are reported to have been organized in the canton of Zurich alone in two years, 1525-27, and a similar number in the canton of Bern. As persecution increased in the various Swiss cantons, the Brethren began to spill over into other areas in a rather spontaneous fashion. After working with Felix Manz in the Grisons, Blaurock went on to the Tyrol. Wilhelm Reublin and Michael Sattler went to Alsace and Swabia, while Ludwig Haetzer went to Nuernburg and Augsburg. Jakob Gross and Ulrich Teck were active in trips from Waldshut. Gross eventually came to Strassburg and Augsburg. There was no deliberate missionary strategy in the ear ly years of the Anabaptist movement. Whole families migrated as a result of persecution and exile. Further more, general social upheaval forced craftsmen and other workers to travel in search of employment. Since the Brethren believed that the Great Commission was man datory for their times, their mobility served to spread the Gospel. This dual motivation, the Great Commission and the threat of persecution, also caused the Anabaptist leaders to travel from place to place (often in a PAGE 2

haphazard manner), preaching, baptizing, and shepher ding little flocks. In view of the isolated cultural enclaves and lack of missionary vision of Mennonites in the following cen turies, Krahn’s comment about the sixteenth-century Anabaptists is significant. As long as there was a strong sense of mission, the believers were conscious of being in the world but not of the world. They did not develop peculiarities in appearance, speech or behaviour that made them outwardly recognizable. Their inner Christ-filled love which reached out to help others was the distinguishing mark. To be sure, there were activities and trades they did not find appropriate for a Christian (Krahn, Dutch Anabaptism, p. 259).

Among the Anabaptists there was an ascetic emphasis

The call to live “loose from the world” as a pilgrim, missioner, and martyr was a dimension of the Anabaptists’ radical commitment to follow in the footsteps of Christ. that combined their evangelistic fervor with a glory of pilgrimage. “Missioners were bound by Scripture to travel and carry the word, and they were bound by church discipline to be pilgrims for the faith wherever sent” (Littell, Origins of Sectarian Protestantism, p. 119). The call to live “loose from the world” as a pilgrim, missioner, and martyr was a dimension of the Anabaptists’ radical commitment to follow in the footsteps of Christ. One such pilgrim of the faith wrote from his prison cell: “I am cut loose from the world, from wife, from father, and mother and sister according to the flesh, and from all men; but that is right; Christ was also cut loose from all men and from his disciples; it is enough that I be as He was” (Ibid.). This being “cut loose” meant to be a wanderer for the sake of the Gospel rather than to be rooted in the affairs and concerns of “this” world. Thus THE MESSENGER

The constant danger of apprehension required that the Anabaptists carefully plan the time and place for their meetings. Usually they had their gather ings in a forest, often at night. the Anabaptists subordinated “all concerns of life, such as family, occupation, education, and political responsibility, to their missionary vocation” (Toews, The Church in Mis sion. p. 93). The constant danger of apprehension required that the Anabaptists carefully plan the time and place for their meetings. Usually they had their gatherings in a forest, often at night. They also met in places like an isolated mill, a sawmill, a blacksmith shop, remote farms, sand pits, in the shelter of huge rocks, and so on (Wiswedel, trans. & quoted in Kasdorf, Direction (April, 1975) p. 307). Frequently house meetings were held, the objective be ing to reach whole households with the Gospel. Sometimes these meetings were the spontaneous result of a casual visit while at other times they had been planned by the believers. Occasionally these meetings resulted in the conversion and baptism of all adult members, which was then followed by a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. As the leaders were banned or ar rested, the responsibility of spiritual care and evangelism fell more and more on the lay people. As they met, those who could read would read the Scriptures to the nonliterates. These gatherings for Bible reading often led to conversions and baptism. For example, Hans Bichter, a lay brother, baptized thirty believers within a week. Jorg Schad baptized forty people in one day in the village church of Zollikon. These people fulfilled their mission not by ostentatious or polemical argument, but by an obedient life-witness to the Word. For the first two and one-half years of the movement, the missionary expansion of the Anabaptists in Switzerland, South Germany, and Austria was quite unplanned and spontaneous. It was a dimension of their calling as pilgrim people. Then in August 20-24, 1527 a meeting of leaders in Augsburg marked the beginning of a more deliberately planned missionary strategy to reach Europe with the Gospel. More than sixty leaders par ticipated. They came from South Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Some of the names are as follows; Hans Beck of Basel, Jakob Dachser, a former Catholic priest of Ingolstadt, Leonhard Dorfbrunner, Jakob Gross of Waldshut, Eitelhans Langenmantel of Augsburg, Leopold Schiemer, Hans Hut, Hans Denck, and others. Persecu tion had changed these men from wandering pilgrims to missionary strategists, ready also to be martyrs when the time came. Within two weeks (from the termination of the conference on August 24 to the issuance of a new mandate by the Augsburg authorities against the Anabaptists on September 6), the Augsburg Church sent out more than two dozen missionaries to strategic centers in Switzerland and Austria (Ibid., 310).

SEPTEMBER 19, 1986

Then what happened in Zurich and in other Swiss centers now happened at Augsburg; the sending church was choked by fierce persecution. Most of the Anabaptist leaders who met at the missionary conference were mar tyred for their faith within two years. As a result, this meeting has come to be known as the “Martyrs’ Synod.” The Anabaptist missioners had a deep sense of call to their task. It was both an inner charismatic call and an outer call from the church. They believed that the Holy Spirit gives the apostolic gift for the missionary task; the same Spirit supernaturally empowers the believer for this work. The local congregation had the responsibility of discerning the inner call of a person and then commis sioning him to the ministry to which he had been called. The proceedings of the trial (1528) of Augustin Wuerzlburger reveal that he was elected by the congrega tion at Augsburg “to be an apostle to preach the gospel” (Hillerbrand, ed.. The Protestant Reformation, p. 138). As Christ sent “the Church into the world, so the Church sends the missionary across social, cultural, and geographical boundaries” (Kasdorf, p. 315). The following is a description of an Anabaptist commis sioning service. The service began with the missionary candidates telling the church how God had called them

The Anabaptist missioners had a deep sense of call to their task. It was both an inner charismatic call and an outer call from the church. They believed that the Holy Spirit gives the apostolic gift for the missionary task; the same Spirit super naturally empowers the believer for this work. into the work of preaching and evangelism in “other lands.” Then the missioners admonished the congrega tion to remain faithful in their task at home of visiting the sick and imprisoned, of providing for the needy and unemployed, and of supporting them (the missioners) in prayer and with material provision. Finally, the people of the sending church pledged their support to the mis sioners, wished them well, and prayed for God’s blessing upon their ministry (Ibid., 312). The Anabaptist mis sioners were expected to provide for their own needs as much as possible, but whenever a deficiency developed the church would collect funds to provide the necessary commodities. When a missioner was imprisoned or ex ecuted, the church took care of the widow and orphaned children. The singing of hymns played a significant role in the Anabaptist movement. Frequently hymns were written for a specific occasion so that they serve as good theological expressions of that occasion. The following are several verses of a twenty-five-stanza song used for an Anabap tist commissioning service; (next page please)

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from Flanders through Northern Germany to the Vistula Delta and the Baltic provinces. In Switzerland, South and Central Germany, and Austria alone, government records indicate that from 1525 to 1618 Anabaptists appeared in a minimum of 2088 towns and villages. In most of these localities, however, the number of believers was quite low. Yet the very high number of localities in which Anabaptism was found speaks of the tremendous mis sionary activity of the Anabaptist people. In Sebastian Franck’s report on the Anabaptists, he says.

As God His Son was sending Into this world of sin. His Son is now commanding That we this world should win. He sends us and commissions To preach the Gospel clear. To call upon all nations To listen and to hear. To Thee, O God, we’re praying. We’re bent to do Thy will; Thy Word we are obeying. Thy glory we fulfill. All peoples we are telling To mend their sinful way. That they might cease rebelling. Lest judgment be their pay.

They spread so rapidly, that their teaching soon covered the land as it were. They soon gained a large following and baptized thousands, drawing to themselves many sincere souls who had a zeal for God . . . They increased so rapidly that the world feared an uprising (Aufruhr) by them, though 1 have learned that they have always been found innocent. They were persecuted with great tyranny ... as martyrs they suffered patiently and courageously (quoted in Toews, p. 98).

And if Thou, Lord, desire. And should it be Thy will That we taste sword and fire By those who thus would kill. Then comfort, pray, our loved ones And tell them, we’ve endured. And we shall see them yonder-Eternally secured. Thy Word, O Lord, does teach us. And we do understand; Thy promises are with us Until the very end. Thou hast prepared a haven -Praised be Thy holy name. We laud Thee, God of heaven. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen! (Wiswedel, as quoted in Kasdorf, p. 312). What was the extent of the Anabaptist missionary movement? This is impossible to ascertain with any degree of accuracy. Church records of that time are unavailable and the records of conversion are incomplete. However, some general conclusions can be drawn. Scores of missioners travelled throughout Switzerland, Tyrol, Austria, South Germany, and in the Netherlands CONTRIBUTORS: Today we are presenting the second of three articles on Anabaptist missions by Dave Thiessen of Calgary, Alta. The series is a part of Dave’s thesis for a degree in Master of Christian Studies at Regent College, Van couver, B.C. Anyone interested in the com-

Zwingli complained that the conflict with the Catholic par ty was “but child’s play” compared to the struggle with the Anabaptists. Another contemporary of the Anabaptists asserted that “Anabaptism spread with such speed that there was reason to fear that the majority of the common people would unite with this sect.” It should be noted that these comments from contemporaries ex press the impressions and emotions .of these people rather than seek to give reliable numerical data. The dreadful severity of the persecution testifies to the power and influence of the Anabaptist movement even though it does not give complete information about its numerical expansion. Certainly, with the constant threat of imprisonment, torture, and death, open confession of one’s faith required much courage. Anabaptism began as an urban movement under the direction of well-trained leadership. However, persecution removed that leadership and pushed the movement into the rural areas. This loss of contact with the cities prevented the replacement of competent leadership. By the seventeenth century, persecution had crippled the missionary impulse among the Swiss and South Germans and prosperity had the same effect among the Dutch Mennonites.

The final article in this series, “The Missioners,” is scheduled for the October 17 Messenger.

plete work may see it at our office or at the Steinbach Bible College. Lesley and Marianne Fast (Blumenort) are involved in linguistics and translation in Papua New Guinea with New Tribes Mission. Eaelyn Plett (Prairie Rose) is in charge of the Bethel Bible Center in Spain,.

COVER: If you had been at the junction of Highway *12 and PR 311 (Blumenort) early on September 16 you would probably have seen this sunrise. Going to Winnipeg for a breakfast meeting may have its disadvantages but it also has definite rewards! D.S.

THE MESSENGER is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Its purpose is to inform, instruct, and inspire. Inform as to what Is going on in the Conference; instruct in Godliness and victorious living; inspire to earnestly contend for the faith. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor D. K. Schellenberg, Box 1268, Steinbach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0. Letters, articles, art and poetry are welcomed. Views expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of the editor nor of the paper. Unpublished articles are not returned except by request. Subscription Members pay through their church. Non-members pay $6.00 per year. Send subscription money to The Messenger, Box 1268, Steinbach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0.

THE MESSENGER is published every other week by The Evangelical Mennonite Conference of Education and Publication, Box 1268, Steinbach, Manitoba, ROA ZAO. Second Class Mail; Registration Number 0591. Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be mailed to the above address. The Messenger is a member of Meetinghouse.

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THE MESSENGER

Ti... Q Place When God Delays His Answer by Bettie Kehler Is God on vacation? Is this His day off? Or where is He, why doesn’t He answer? Maybe all of us have at one time or another cried to God for help and He seemed not to be there. In panic or desperation we cried, “Where are you, God? Don’t you hear me?” Yet, hasn’t God promised in His Word that He will answer when we call on His name? Hasn’t He promis ed He will never leave us nor forsake us? In Isaiah 65:24 He even says, “Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.” Why is it then that so often we feel God doesn’t hear us - He doesn’t answer us? We hear young peo ple make remarks like, “I pray a lot but it doesn’t seem to help much,” or “If God loves me why doesn’t He answer my prayer?” Groping for answers, some one said, “Why do I even expect God to listen to me the way I’ve been neglecting my relationship with Him lately?” Personally, I think the last question could be an answer to the first two questions. Our relationship to God is very important as we look to Him for help. Although God does love us and hears us. He will not always instantly give us all we ask for. In His love and infinite wisdom He will sometimes keep us waiting. In an age where everything seems to be instamatic, automatic and in push-button control, we tend to treat our relationship with God similarly. We keep very busy doing our own things, depending heavily on ourselves and our seemingly all-sufficient, man-made resources. Then one day we find ourselves alone.

Perhaps we are faced with tragedy, disease, or even death and we cry out for help to Someone we hardly know. Like in our instamatic world we’d like to press a button and have instant help. Amazingly often God will give just that. He’ll be right there to pick us up, help us out, strengthen us, sustain us and bless us. But what happens if in His wisdom He delays His answer? Do we then panic, or do we trust Him? SEPTEMBER 19, 1986

Maybe this would be an opportune time for us to learn to know our Lord and Father better, to search His word for comfort, encouragement and guidance a time to renew our relationship with Him. From time to time we need to be reminded that all we are and all we have comes from God, our Father. He is much more to us than a push-button Helper in time of need. As we wait for answers we might also ask ourselves whether there is some secret sin or indifference that separates us from God. In John 15:17 we read, “If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.” Isaiah 58:9 says, “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and He will say, ‘If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the poin ting finger and malicious talk . . .’ ” God requires of us that we do away with sin and seek Him wholehearted ly. He also says in Philippians 4:6, “. . . with thanksgiving present your requests to God.” Are we thankful for all that we receive from our heavenly Father each day, or do we take life and its blessings for granted? Although we live in a world of instant on and in stant off, we need to realize that any relationship worth having will take time and effort to build and maintain. This holds true also in our relationship with God, our Father. As we maintain a good relationship with our heavenly Father we need not panic when at times we don’t get an instant answer to our prayers. We can trust His love and wisdom. We know He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will always be there for us. *

A Son’s Farewell to His Mother I thought I’d take time to write this poem Before I leave this wonderful home, 1 guess there’s a time for everyone to move on. But Mom, don’t worry, I won’t be gone too long. As I travel to my destination so far away, I know. Mom, you’ll take time to pray. It’s so great and precious to know That you think of and pray for me wherever I go.

Someday when we get together again. I’ll talk to you, and you to your son Glenn, You’ll probably ask me about the good times and bad. And then I know you won’t be sad. But if heaven will be our next meeting place. And we’ll both be there because of God’s unchanging grace, Then I know I’ll see you - and you’ll see me, And together forever we’ll always be. A poem written for me by my son the night before he left for Bible school. Helen Loewen

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Missions fas

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Bethel Bible Center staff. Left to right (front): Jaime and Merche, little Abigail, Evelyn. Back: Isabelle and Elisabeth.

SPAIN

Working as a Team Joys, Struggles, Needs

Possibly three or four questions you would most likely ask if we met in person would be the following, right? Here you have some answers, which 1 trust will help you, as you minister with me by your praying, giving and caring. What have you been doing? Many of you who get the MESSENGER will have read of the teacher-training course here at the Center in February. It is always a rewarding and blessed experience to see the eagerness of a group of students as they learn and then put into practice by passing on to others. The special event of March was the arrival of Abigail in the home of Jaime and Merche. This little new member of the team is, of course, a real joy to all of us. During the spring months we were able to spend some time on producing teaching materials, but most of the time went into the planning and preparations for our summer camps. Though we plan as a team, Elisabeth is in charge of the kindergarten camp, Jaime of teen and family camps, and 1 of children’s camp. Isabelle programs the nature class and the camping-out program for the older PAGE 6

campers. Again we thank the Lord for the dedicated voluntary staff of over 20 people who have helped us through this summer, for the many new campers and good attendance. Most of all we thank the Lord for His work ing in many lives. There were around 15 who accepted the Lord. We were sorry that we had to cancel family camp for lack of sufficient ap plications. We feel that perhaps it was partly due to the dates we had for it, so with chang ing them, we trust it will go better next sum mer. The time we had set aside this summer for this camp we have spent very profitably in working on teaching materials. Besides the camps this summer we have again hosted the Brethren Bible Convention, which we have done since its beginning each summer. Dr. Gooding from England was their speaker and there were about 90 people at tending. We thank the Lord for providing a very efficient cook from our church in Segovia. Isabelle headed up the team of kit chen helpers, while my responsibilities were food shopping and administration for this group. Right now the CAM International mis sionaries of Spain are having their annual con ference here and I am cooking this week.

Are there any struggles? Yes, there are. As a team here at Bethel, we are still “in training.” It is not always easy

to know just how and whom to delegate to different responsibilities and ministries. 1 do thank the Lord for the good unity thus far, but am also very aware of the fact that we need constantly to be on the alert. Pray that the Lord will give me much wisdom and understanding in teaching and working with the team He has given to me to work with, and that I will be sensitive to their needs. Sometimes we struggle with priorities. When there is more work for each one than we can do, some matters being urgent but others important, it is hard not to get so wrap ped up in things that crop up unexpectedly and that seemingly need to be done “now,” that important matters, such as working on putting materials into Spanish, are left behind. Keeping up with painting flannelgraph backgrounds as fast as orders come in is also a struggle. Seemingly no one else in Spain supplies them. Elisabeth, who is in charge of the sale of materials, used to paint most of them, but orders have increased so much that she does not have the time anymore. Yet we need to get backgrounds made up because they are a “must” in teaching with flan nelgraph, which more and more churches use. Pray that the Lord will show us how to solve this problem.

Do you have any needs? Yes, many, but the Lord has always been faithful in the past and I know we can trust Him for the future. I would like to share just one personal need and one of the needs of the Center. In all the 20 years of my missionary life, this is the first time that I have a personal debt of over $1000, rather unexpectedly. For the 18 years 1 have been in Spain 1 have not had to pay Canadian income tax because I was not a Canadian resident. Now I have been inform ed that because of some change of law I need to make a choice of paying non-resident tax and lose all the Canadian benefits, such as Canada pension, etc., which I have been pay ing in these years, or be considered a resident, pay income tax and get the benefits. Seem ingly when all is calculated, what 1 would have to pay either way is about the same, so I was advised to choose becoming a resident. This, however, has meant filing income-tax for 1985 and since I had paid nothing in the whole year, the amount due is over $1000. Not everything will be completely clear to me till hearing from the income-tax office, but I just felt I should share this need with you, so that you can pray with me for the Lord’s solu tion. For the time being the Canadian BCM office has paid for this. Having now to pay income tax monthly also considerably lowers my support. Then there is the need for a new van for the Center. The one we have is about 16 years old and in constant need of repairs: it THE MESSENGER

has to pass inspection every six months. We started a fund several years ago but so far we have only about one fourth of the necessary funds for a new one. Pray for God’s provi sion. Maybe He wants to use you to help meet this need. Better health was a need a few months ago. Some have asked about it in recent letters. I am thankful to say that my health now is fair ly good. The three months medical treatment for my stomach hernia seems to have been a great help. What will you be doing this fall and winter? In September we take turns going on holidays to get a change and rest. This sum mer Jaime and Merche have holidays the first part of the month, Isabelle and 1 the second part, and Elisabeth goes home to Switzerland for a two-month furlough. Though 1 thoroughly enjoy the work, it will be very good to get away for a few weeks of rest, much needed by all of us. October is completely booked with retreats

here and training courses in two different churches. The Lord willing, we will be hav ing one ladies’ retreat and one church retreat here. For two successive weekends Isabelle and 1 will be having a teacher-training course at Talavera de la Reina, about 200 kilometers from here. Then during the last week of the month we have another course here in our own church in Segovia. During the winter months we will be work ing on the layout work of TINY STEPS OF FAITH, volume 2 (in Spanish), and camp materials. Then at the beginning of March we again expect to have a two-week training course right here at the Center. 1 trust that my sharing with you in this let ter will encourage you to keep praying, giv ing and caring, without which these ministries cannot go on. You too are needed. In clos ing, 1 also want to express my sincere thanks for your faithfulness in upholding me in prayer, supporting me financially and writing. The Lord promises fruit for our labours, so let us not become weary in well doing! Evelyn Plett

Praise the Lord, God was already beginning to answer Dave’s prayer! We had 30 students last year! God had provided the students and now it was up to us, the teachers, to sow the seed of Jesus’ love in these precious lives. The first half hour was rather chaotic, try ing to get some of the shy students to give their name and age, organizing classes, and finding room for them. But with much pa tience and grace we finally got our classes organized. To make this week successful took much prayer, preparation, and dedication by the teachers and helpers. Norma Martens (begin ner class) and Mary Kliever (primary) had up to 19 students per day. Helen Koop taught the middle class and Ed Thiessen the teens. Ed was also the director and coordinator. The helpers were Ingrid Heinrichs, Krista Kruse, and Delores Koop. God marvelously answered Dave’s prayer! By the end of the week we had an enrollment of 64 students! Praise the Lord for allowing us to tell this record number of students about Jesus’ saving grace!

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Praise and Prayer New Culture: Adjustments

DVBS at the Sioux Valley Indian Reserve in Griswold.

GRISWOLD, MAN.

Prayers were answered Vacation Bible Schoo! July 7 was a beautiful, sunny day to begin a week of DVBS at Sioux Valley Reserve (Griswold). Since spring Dave Plett, mis sionary at the Reserve, had been praying that God would double last year’s enrollment. Also, this was the first year that we had DVBS in the afternoon instead of the morning. With prayerful hearts, four teachers and three helpers and Dave Plett left Kola for the

SEPTEMBER 19, 1986

Reserve. When we arrived at the Reserve chapel, we were pleasantly greeted by some of the waiting and eager students. In previous years the first day of DVBS usually brought out fewer than ten students. By the time Dave Plett had completed his two pickup routes in Les Penner’s van, we had an overwhelming and unexpected number of children - 39!

Greetings from ever balmy New Hanover! We are doing well in the village of Umbukul. We are daily soaking in the language and are beginning to see how the sounds and grammar hang together. The people here seem pleased with our progress and in their kind way probably give us too much credit in their compliments. We also have some specific concerns for prayer: 1) In talking with some people here, we have sensed a real desire for vernacular scrip tures. Peter Passingan (age 45) is one man who has shown special interest in this work. Pray with us that during the time we need to gain sufficient fluency in the language his vi sion will grow. 2) We are constantly exposed to a strange culture and, although we basically enjoy it, we also notice that it is producing stress on us. Pray that we will be able to deal positive ly with this stress. Pray that we will realize the great resource of strength we have in the power of the Holy Spirit. 3) Making travel arrangements here is not what we are used to and since we feel that we need to get around to see different places within the language group, this is often a cause of concern for us. 4) We also need to build a house of our own as we are still sharing a house with a family. This arrangement is working well and is good for us in many ways but we, as well as the community, feel that we need a place of our own. Please pray that the details of this will work out smoothly. Lesley and Marianne Fast PAGE 7

Messenger News

Heinrich Duerksen (center microphone), chairman of the planning committee, welcomes guests in German. Missionary Alex Bartel (left) translates into Lengua and missionary Gerhard Hein (right) into Chulupi.

Chulupi and Lengua women work to prepare lunch for 6,000. A hundred such half barrels of stew were prepared.

6,000 attend 50-year celebration of Chaco Indian Mission YALVE SANGA. PARAGUAY - About 6,000 people gathered at Yalve Sanga on Sunday, August 10, to celebrate 50 years of work among the Chaco Indians. Lenguas, Chulupis, German- and Spanish-speaking Mennonites and other Paraguayans par ticipated in open-air morning and afternoon programs held on the original spot where the work began. The morning service with simultaneous translation in three languages-German, PAGE 8

Lengua and Chulupi--was transmitted live over the Filadelfia Mennonite radio station ZP-30. Speakers for the morning service included Sepe Lhama (Lengua) and Sinecio Zacarias (Chulupi), who gave their personal testimonies. They were among the first bap tismal groups of their respective tribes. Dietrich Klassen gave a talk as a representative of the German-speaking Mennonites. Sieghard Schartner of “Licht den Indianern” gave a

history of the mission work at Yalve Sanga. Ewald Reimer gave a summary in Spanish. Chulupi and Lengua choirs sang. At noon the 5,000 people enjoyed a delicious meat-noodle-rice-bean stew with beet potatoes, baked in ashes. The meal was prepared and served by the Chulupi and Lengua people. The afternoon program consisted of testimonies by the pioneering missionaries and the first baptized Lenguas and Chulupis, most of whom are currently active church and com munity leaders. The pioneering missionaries told about their move to Yalve Sanga on August 7, 1936, and other experiences in the early years of their work there. Sepe Lhama, who was with them, described how he had observed for the first time on a scouting trip how the Men nonites prayed with bowed heads. He thought they were talking to the ground. He also described the fears under which his tribe was living before they knew God and Jesus,Christ. Now it is not necessary to live with that fear since Jesus Christ also died for the Indians in the Paraguayan Chaco. An international committee planned the multicultural event, which included tours, ex positions, sales of indigenous arts and crafts, demonstrations of community hunting and gathering traditions, displays of agricultural equipment, literary materials and literature in five languages for schools and churches, and the sale of a new pictorial bilingual history of Yalve Sanga, prepared for the celebration by Sieghard Schartner of “Licht den Indianern” and Wilmer Stahl of the Association of Indigenous-Mennonite Cooperative Services (ASCIM). The work at Yalve Sanga, located about 35 kilometers southwest of Filadelfia, is under the auspices of Licht den Indianern for evangelization and church planting and ASCIM for settlement, schools, health and social services. Yalve Sanga is the first, largest and most important of the nine Indian settlements under the Indian Settlement Board. Now Yalve Sanga, which means Armadillo Lagoon in the Lengua language, has programs in primary, secondary and Bible schools, kindergarten, literacy classes for spouses, churches, health education, agricultural extension work, machine repair shop, sawmill, blacksmith shop and education in cooperatives. Five language groups are represented in the work at Yalve Sanga. The 50th anniversary celebration was an opportunity to look back at what has been ac complished with God’s help, but now we must face the challenges of the present and the future. by Ingrid Epp (Filadelfia, Paraguay)/ Rosemarg Wgse

THE MESSENGER

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New MCC Building

New MCC building completed

WINNIPEG, Man. - Staff of MCC Canada and MCC Manitoba moved into a new, larger office building at the end of July with the gracious help of volunteers from various parts of southern Manitoba. Rather than hiring a moving company, more than 20 volunteers, 15 assorted trucks and vans and the complete office staff were enlisted to help with the move, which was ac complished in a day. The new building, located at 134 Plaza Drive in the southern part of the city, features expanded office space, a large SELFHELP Crafts store and increased warehousing area for material aid goods. It also offers relief from crowded office conditions, limited parking space and barriers to disabled people, which had made the old building increasingly unsuitable. Though by most standards a modest struc ture, the new office has some especially plea sant features, including a library lit by skylights and a warmly inviting reception area. Its openplan design (which eliminates separate offices for administrators) allows for future flexibili ty. All on one level, it is also compeltely ac cessible to disabled people. Administrative and support staff housed in the Winnipeg office are responsible for a varie ty of Canada-wide ministries, including recruiting and placing workers, providing in formation on MCC to churches. Unemploy ment Concerns, Native Concerns and Peace and Social Concerns work. They also oversee the activities of 164 workers serving “in the name of Christ” in pockets of need across Canada, in settings as diverse as povertystricken northern communities and inner city youth centres. Winnipeg-based workers also organize shipments of food and material aid from Canada around the world, and work in con junction with the U.S. MCC office on overseas programs such as development in SEPTEMBER 19, 1986

Ethiopia and Sudan, international work with disabled people, the East-West (North America/Soviet Union) program. Interna tional Visitor Exchange program, work with returning “Kanadier” Mennonites, refugee resettlement and exchanges with China. The new facilities will be an asset in carrying on these important tasks. MCC Manitoba and MCC Canada are split ting the costs of the $1.35 million structure, with some revenues coming from the sale of the old office building and a job-creation grant from the province of Manitoba. Each of the provincial MCC organizations has been ask ed to chip in a proportionate share of the MCC Canada portion, with some $568,000 left to be raised across the country. Donations designated for the new building will be gratefully accepted through provincial offices of MCC, or by writing to MCC Canada at the new address: 134 Plaza Drive, Win nipeg, R3T 5K9. Dedication ceremonies were conducted on Sept. 14, 19S6.

ANNUAL HAYRIDE ENJOYED BY YOUNG PEOPLE Roseisle, Man.: With summer coming to an end, it's good to see the pews somewhat fuller again. We thank the Lord for providing safety to our holidaying families throughout the summer. We had our Sunday school picnic on June 8. It was a beautiful sunny day that was enjoyed by all. The morning service was filled with choruses, skits and a devotional by our pastor. After a barbecue lunch, we had our races and relays and, of course, the baseball games that lasted until evening. August 11-15 was the week of our VBS.

Our theme was “Jesus, I Love You.” The enrollment was 47. Even though attendance was down from years past, the kids were enthusiastic about learning and the teachers were excited about reaching the kids for Jesus. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped in so many ways. We extend our congratulations to Don and Connie Harms who were married on August 17 at Mennville. We wish you God’s blessings in your new life together. August 31 was Promotion Sunday. It was good to see that people had again been willing to volunteer to teach Sunday school. There were also three more children added to the enrollment. It is exciting to have some children from the community being sent to Sunday school. Congratulations are also extended to two young couples in our church who have become parents for the first time. Wes and Brenda Klassen had twin girls and Larry and Elenor Penner had a son. We wish you much joy in the responsibility God has given you to train these children for Him. The young people held their annual hayride on September 5. This year they invited the young people from the Portage and MacGregor E.M. Churches. Once again it was great to meet new people and make some new friends. The evening ended with a wiener roast at the park and a time of singing and sharing. Following that, it was a chilly ride back to town. No one seemed to complain an awful lot. Thanks to these youth groups for coming and making an enjoyable time for us all.

COORDINATOR OF INPATIENT SERVICES Eden Mental Health Centre is a fully accredited 40 bed community mental health centre, with an active outpatient department, located in Southern Manitoba. It is a stimulating, suppor tive and healing community which at tracts persons with a faith commitment to Christ. This Centre requires a Coordinator of Inpatient Services to accept overall management for the Nursing, O.T., Pharmacy and Volunteer Departments, with the potential to expand to other areas in the future. The position is suitable for an ex perienced individual with a nursing background, preferably in mental health, plus basic training in administration. To obtain an application form, contact: The Assistant Executive Director Eden Mental Health Centre Box 1300 WINKLER, Manitoba ROG 2X0 Phone (204)325-4325 Closing date: November 14th, 1986

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Just visiting! High Level Christian Fellowship church camp.

' 3r-* ~ Eating again at the High Level church camp. FIRST CHURCH CAMP HELD

High Level, Alta.: Our first church camp was held at Riverside Bible Camp August 1-4. Fri day evening we started with some ice-breaker games and then a short devotional by Mr. Harvey Plett. The whole time was a really great experience for all of us in growing closer together as a church and a Body of Christ. The camp facilities were very limited, but this too was instrumental in deepening rela tionships between us. Some of us tented, some brought their tents on wheels, and still others stayed in the camp cabins. Since our congregation is faily small, we all

had to pitch in and get involved in whatever there was to do {washing dishes, cooking, building fires, etc.). Working, playing, and worshipping together — that was our ex perience and we were blessed. Harvey Plett (who also brought part of his family) spoke to us on the topic “Relation ships.” He had a lot of good, helpful points that he shared with us. We were very much blessed by his ministry. I’m sure none of us will want to miss next year’s church camp.

SUMMER '86 RECAP Morweena, Man.: Our summer started out on a bit of a sad note as we said goodbye in June to Wilbert and Doris Petkau and sons Larry and Dustin. It was hard to actually say goodbye and we miss their fellowship in our midst but wish them the Lord’s blessings in their new home and job. Ed and Erna Plett gave us a missionary challenge on June 15. They are on deputa tion in Winnipeg and are planning to leave on a church-planting ministry to Italy in a PAGE 10

year’s time. Ed grew up in Morweena and it was good to have them with us. It is exciting to see how the Lord works in our lives through the years as we yield to His leadership. We welcomed Lowell and Bev Stauffer in to the community with a grocery shower in June. They had spent this past year in Penn sylvania, working out immigration papers for Lowell. We’re glad to have them in our con gregation and appreciate their willingness to serve in the church.

The church shared in a communion service June 29. Symbolically commemorating the suffering and love of Christ truly binds us together “with cords (of love) that cannot be broken.” The Rosedale Summer Chorale of Rosedale Bible Institute in Ohio brought us a splendid program of excellent singing and sharing on June 29. We were all blessed and encouraged by their song service. VBS was an activity that was undertaken in several places with good attendance. We’re thankful to the young people who dedicated a part of their summer to reaching kids in this way. July 27 marked a year since Alan Plett was called home to be with Jesus. Our thoughts and prayers are often with the Pete Plett fami ly who miss him so much. On August 10 Dan Warkentin challenged us to give the lesser ‘talents’ in our lives to the Lord. He said we often wait and look for big opportunities to serve God while all the time God wants to use what little we have. He gave a moving account of how dedicating three minutes at a hospital bedside to the Lord had made an eternal difference in the life of a sick friend. Some of the young families enjoyed a ■ barbecue on August 10 at the home of Ar nold and Gertie Brandt. Special speaker, Randy Wengal, gave us a short talk on the need to meet people’s physical and emotional needs in our attempt to win them (meeting their spiritual needs) to the Lord. The Sunday morning worship service on August 24 was dedicated to all those who are leaving for the winter. Several shared their testimonies. They were then asked to come forward and Peter P. Friesen prayed a prayer of dedication for them. The congregation was asked to rise to show our willingness to sup port this group in prayer as they venture out into VS, school and jobs away from home.

DAY CAMP WELL ATTENDED

Treesbank, Man.: This summer, instead of our usual Vacation Bible School programs in Treesbank, Wawanesa, Rounthwaite and Nesbitt, we had a Wawanesa and Area Day Camp. It was held at the Treesbank picnic grounds. We had set up a large tent and most of the activities were outdoors. We had Bible lessons, crafts, adventure time, games and relays, and surprise times. The kids were bussed in from the surrounding areas. The total enrollment was approximately 53. Nearly everybody in the church was involved in helping out with the various activities. God really blessed this outreach and we certainly plan to try this method again.

THE MESSENGER

Sandra and Harold Friesen and their children, Crystal and Steven.

VOLUNTEERS RETURN HOME

Calgary, Alta.: We are pleased to report that Harold and Sandra Friesen and their children, Steven and Crystal, have arrived safely back in Calgary after two years of volunteer work for MCC in Akron, Pennsylvania. They left Pennsylvania at the end of June but spent a month or so travelling and visiting with fami ly in Manitoba and Saskatchewan before ar riving in Calgary. Harold spent a week in Calgary to get “set up” while Sandra and the children were stationed in Swift Current. Then Harold joined them for a family reunion there before they travelled to Calgary together. Judging by the smiles on their faces, they are as happy to be back as we are to have them return to us. A welcome get-together was held for the Friesens on August 6 at the home of John and Elda Enns. The weather cooperated beautiful ly. It was so good to visit with them again. On August 16 we were treated to a detail ed slide report. Harold’s attire was typical of the Amish people, short of the beard they wear. We also learned that it does not necessarily take an experienced grandma to piece a quilt. Harold did a beautiful job on the quilt he pieced for Sandra as an anniversary gift. She will always treasure this piece of in tricate art work. However, quilt-piecing was not one of Harold’s primary duties. His daily work was centered more on management and other duties in the warehouse, as well as giv ing tours. Sandra worked in the officce where she met and got to know other MCCers from Calgary. Everyone needs to let his hair down and relax once in a while and the Friesens, in col laboration with the other Calgarians, hosted a stampede breakfast, gave “barrel-horse” rides and provided entertainment cowboy style. We’re so pleased they discovered inSEPTEMBER 19, 1986

novative ways to lessen culture shock! Pennsylvania’s scenery is so lovely and peaceful looking; it’s easy to understand what keeps life there at a pace one can keep up with. The Friesens spent a week at an Amish farm as visitors, where they helped out with daily tasks like part of the family. Among the chores Sandra helped with were doing laun dry with a gas-powered loud washing machine, canning, and picking fruits and vegetables to sell at a roadside stand. Harold helped with harvesting tobacco with a team of donkeys. (Try that if you think your trac tor can be temperamental!) He also helped remodel a chicken coop into a house! On another occasion he helped with a barn raising, a true art in itself. It consists of com pleting a massive barn in one day with 100-200 men at work at all times. The whole structure is tied together with wooden pegs; no nails are allowed and no boards are pre cut. Quite an experience! They had a few words of advice to anyone moving to Pennsylvania. They discovered it was not necessary to take one’s wool com forters. Also, if you need to make a phone call while you’re there, find a pasture com plete with cows, locate the centre of it, and if you find there a booth resembling an outhouse, with a wire connecting it to a pole at the roadside, you’re in luck. Make your phone call. Their presentation not only wet our ap petites to go see Pennsylvania, but it challeng ed us to give generously of ourselves in volunteer work, wherever that may be. The house the Friesens lived in during the two years they were there reminds me of what our lives should be like. It had five exterior doors and fourteen windows! We need to give to others of our lives as well as open the doors of our lives to help sincerely where help is needed. Remember, others can see through us as though we were made of glass. Bill Thiessen, Alberta representative for MCC, added his comments. He challenged us to consider voluntary service and thereby enrich our own lives. He thanked Harold and Sandra for a thorough report. We thank them also for being windows for us: we’ve had our horizons broadened.

BAPTISMAL SERVICE HELD Swan River, Man.: August 24 was a special day for our fellowship. Four people publicly declared their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by being baptized. Jeff Dyck related his need to allow Jesus to be Lord in his life and not just coast along on his parents’ beliefs. Kevin Scales was influenced by his mother who was the first one in their family to become a Chris tian. After reading his own New Testament he invited Jesus into his life and now desired to be obedient to Him in baptism. Dave and Maryann Leibel are newcomers to the Valley and will share their testimonies: Maryann Leibel: 1 was fortunate to be rais ed in a religious family where 1 received

enough teaching about God to satisfy me in my younger years but in my 20s I started los ing my desire to go to church - 1 was falling away from God. 1 tried to be “good” during the week and attended mass regularly with my family because of habit and guilt but I didn’t get much out of it. I was used to reciting prayers as a way of communicating with God but the thoughts or meanings behind them were usually lost; knowing how to pray on my own wasn’t one of my better skills. There was a time in my life when 1 prayed more in my own words, especially at night before going to bed, and that was comforting. Dave and I had been married four years by now and were still childless. 1 recall lying in bed and cry ing, longing to be a mother. In my prayer that night 1 bargained with God. 1 told Him that if He would bless me with one child I’d have as many as He wanted me to have. Well, bargaining is not the way to pray but God answered my prayer and Monique was born a year later. During a course at our church 1 was discouraged from asking God to answer my prayers; that was being too bold. This fill ed me with guilt, but Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way the Spirit comes to help us, weak as we are, for we do not know how we ought to pray, the Spirit Himself pleads with God for us in groans words cannot express.” In the meantime God wanted me to learn more about life. I thank God for blessing me in my marriage to Dave. In nine years we have moved to more than eight different places because of our work in the so-called “work-hard, play-hard” oil patch. We hardly had a chance to make friends before we mov ed again. My eyes were opened to the worldly ways, and slowly 1 became very hardhearted. 1 was just concerned about myself. While carrying my second child, my life really started to fall apart. First, I was shock ed with the news of my brother’s death in a motorbike accident and then, without warnHistorical Seminar: “Pioneer Leaders of the West Reserve”

Place: Sommerfeld Mennonite Church 10th Street, ALTONA. Manitoba

Time: Thursday, October 23, 1986 at 7:30 p.m. Chairman; Jacob C. Fehr

Program: (1) Heinrich Wiebe - The Delegate Dr. John Friesen (2) Isaac Mueller - The Oberschulz Dr. Adolf Enns (3) Johan Funk - The Bergthaler Dr. Lawrence Klippenstein (4) COFFEE (5) Abraham Doerksen - The Sommerfelder Mr. Jac. Peters (6) Johan Wiebe - The Reinlaender Rev. Peter Zacharias (7) QUESTION PERIOD (8) Closing - Rev. Abe Wiebe

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A baptismal service took place at Swan River on August 24, 1986. Left to right: David Leibel, Kevin Scales, Jeff Dyck, Maryann Leibel, Pastor Wil Warkentin.

ing, Dave’s twin brother, Dennis, who had leukemia, took a turn for the worse and died. He had accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour and tried to convey this to us. 1 remember wishing 1 could get closer to God but, 1 thought, perhaps when 1 was older. 1 was doing fine on my own and didn’t really have time, but the mustard seed he planted by his actions and how he grew in faith would soon begin to grow in my heart. Then our oil company merger fell through and we sold. Dave found a job with a new company but had to quit because of depression. This hap pened in three short months. 1 hardly had time to catch my breath. Then Dave got volunteer work and climb ed out into the world, again leaving me behind with the postpartum blues after the birth of Brian, and life went on ... 1 Cor. 10:13 says, “Every lest you have experienc ed is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test. He will give you strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out.” I believe God knew we needed all the help we could get so, besides leading us to the Valley and away from our background. He gave us Christian neighbours. As we got to know them better we were impressed by their lives and desired that “something extra” as well. My New Year’s resolution was to read the Bible. 1 had tried to do this before when we were first married but I soon lost interest. This time it was different, though, and Dave became interested also. He even took a Bi ble along when he took another oil job in Estevan and when he returned he had read farther than I and we were both full of ques tions. We decided to have Bible studies with our neighbours every evening after the children were in bed. We learned how to use the Bible and about God’s love for us. We read in John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said

PAGE 12

to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.’ ” Our conversation was almost entirely about the Bible, the church and Jesus. One morning as we were involved in one of our deep discussions our neighbour showed up. John 14:6 was brought up, “Jesus said to him, ‘1 am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” 1 said, “But don’t you have to feel something?” With this he pulled out a little booklet, “The Four Spiritual Laws,” and that day, January 28, 1986, Dave and 1, as a cou ple, accepted the Lord as our personal Saviour on faith alone. 1 pray that 1 might instill a mustard seed in someone’s life. My mustard seed was given to me by my parents and 1 thank them for that. It was planted by Dennis, Dave’s brother, through his actions and faith. And I’d like to thank all of you for helping me to grow. Most of all, though, 1 thank God for sending His Son, and 1 feel especially blessed when 1 read my name in John 3:16, For God so loved Maryann that He gave His only Son that if she believes in Him she shall not perish but have eternal life. Let’s praise God! Dave Leibel: 1 was brought up in a Catholic home and, like my parents and their parents, 1 did not question what was taught to me and felt quite fortunate to have been brought up Catholic. We prayed the rosary almost every night and 1 was quite diligent in my memoriz ed praying. 1 have quite a few nuns and priests for relatives so we were very much a Catholic family. I remember the time when, after 1 had left home and started to work on the oil rig, I was driving south from Edmonton on my way to a new job at Trochu, Alta. As 1 was going along Highway *2 I saw an oddly dressed elderly woman carrying a large amount of groceries and hitchhiking. I drove by at first, but when I saw that no one else was picking her up, 1 turned around and went back to pick

her up. As she got into the car she was prais ing the Lord and said that she had been pray ing to Jesus that someone might pick her up and give her a ride because she was sure she would perish in the heat. She turned to me and said, with tears in her eyes, “You must be a Christian.” 1 was a little choked up by this and in my mind 1 was thinking, “Well, no. I’m Catholic,” but 1 gave her a slight nod, just to please her. Later, as we were driving, 1 was thinking to myself, “Well, yes, 1 guess Catholic is more or less Christian,” and that’s how 1 thought of myself - Catholic first and Chris tian after. When my twin brother came down with leukemia at age 24 1 saw him start to read the Bible and he seemed to be very concerned as to where he was going. He had talked about his friends from another church and, besides going to the Catholic church, he was also attending another church. One day he came to me and said, “1 know it might sound like a bit of a cliche, but I’ve been reborn.” He didn’t say much after that but later talked to my sister, who understood him better. He told her that from the expression on my face he didn’t think he should carry on the topic. My brother died and went home to be with the Lord in 1984 at the age of 26. Meanwhile we had moved to Swan River and met our neighbours. They quickly became a source of inspiration to my wife and me, and when our lives became tormented and troubled we looked at them and saw that they had something we didn’t have. 1 didn’t know what it was they had and when 1 told him we wanted to be reborn 1 thought he would administer it to us like a drug. Through Bible study with them 1 learned what it meant to be a true Christian and to be reborn. 1 had given my life to the Lord but 1 was still quite skeptical of the church that they went to; after all it wasn’t Catholic. 1 remember the first Sunday morning we went to this church we made sure we first went to the Catholic church and after mass 1 told my wife, “As far as I’m concerned, we had the meat and now we are going for the potatoes.” 1 went in with a very skeptical at titude. There was a smiling fellow to meet us at the door with a warm handshake which I thought was quite suspicious because he didn’t know me from Adam. When we got in there were many more friendly people we didn’t know (and a few we did). After a while 1 discovered that the warm welcomes were ge nuine and these people really cared about my soul and wanted to welcome me into fellowship with the Lord. My family has not embraced the changes I have made in my life but 1 am praying they will. 1 will try to relate to them the simple truth that through His Word the Lord has promis ed salvation to me by believing in Him, He has atoned for my sin and my desire is to give Him control of my life. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will reuse him up on the last day” (John 6:44).

THE MESSENGER

♦

Mary and their daughters officially welcom ed as the pastoral family of the church. A potluck dinner followed the service and was enjoyed by the congregation and guests.

others. She will always be known as the pianist who could create such a peaceful at mosphere of worship. Their family of two boys and three girls will also be missed for their individual contribu tions, especially Gerald who leaves behind a youth group who will miss his well-organized secretarial traits. The picture above was taken at the farewell held for John, Martha and Gerald Klassen. An outdoor fellowship brought many people out to wish the family the best for their future in Winnipeg. The youth group wishes Gerald a good school year in Winnipeg. God bless!

MISSIONARIES RETURN TO FIELD

John, Martha and Geraid Kiassen with Pastor Det Fast. Accepting the gift!

Ed Friesen, Conference Pastor, at the instattation ser'jice for Harry and Mary Friesen at the Hudson Bay church.

Harry and Mary Friesen and their daughters.

NEW PASTOR INSTALLED Hudson Bay, Sask.: An installation service for the Pineridge Fellowship Chapel’s new pastor, Harry Friesen, was held Sunday, August 24. Edwin Friesen, Conference Pastor, and Otto Hamm, pastor of the Por tage la Prairie E.M. Church and a close friend of the Friesens, were on hand to participate in the ceremony. Family and friends of the Friesens also made the trip to see Harry and

SEPTEMBER 19, 1986

SAYING FAREWELL Riverton, Man.: Here we are nearing fall. What has your summer been like? Ours has been a busy one. Daily Vacation Bible School was again a highlight for the many children, ages kindergarten to grade 5, who attended. The staff did a beautiful job of making the program a successful one, by being relaxed and en thusiastic. The special highlight remembered by those involved was Friday night when in dividual classes gave presentations to their parents. We have also said farewell to special peo ple who have felt God’s call elsewhere. Among these are Dave, Fran and Heidi Harms. They were involved in the work at Camp Arnes and still were always willing to participate in the chapel’s activities. Heidi’s en thusiasm will be missed by the youth group. Others we will miss are Wendy Johnson and her daughters, and Frank and Chris Long. We appreciated their involvement, especially Frank’s participation in the adult Sunday school class. The John Klassen family is a special family who deserves more than the few lines I am able to write. John and Martha came to the chapel in the late 1960s and their participa tion will be sadly missed. For years John has served on the church board and been the Sunday school superintendent. Martha serv ed as pianist, choir director and much more. John will be remembered as a very wellorganized and faithful chairman. He was always ready to help, and never walked away from responsibility without completing it. Mar tha will always be remembered by the members, especially by those who were for tunate to be the recipients of her many gifts of love. These gifts usually contained a bunch of her lovely flowers. She too was always there ready and willing to help and encourage

Rosenort, Man.; Jake and Bertha Kroeker and their two youngest boys have returned to El Paso and Juarez for another term of service there. A commissioning service was held for them here on August 31, with Mr. John K. Reimer bringing the message. Following the service, a potluck lunch was tucked away and a short farewell program held. As Jake so clearly pointed out in a July message, they desire to be “Disciplined Disciples” of Jesus, and so should each one of us. We are also very glad to welcome home Menno and Dorothy Kroeker and family from Mount Salem, Ontario. Brother Menno will be involved in MCC’s “Kanadier” work and also help along in our church’s ministry, visitation and Sunday school. Son Don is attending the Steinbach Bible College and David and Leanne are at Rosenort. Mary Loewen has returned to Mexico to teach at Camp 77. Darren Reimer is back home following a summer ministry in Europe. Ed and Annie Kroeker celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on August 10 with their family and many friends in attendance. Lester and Sharon Kroeker shared the duties of Master of Ceremonies. Lester is almost like one of the family, having worked for them for years. A black and white movie taken by the late Ben K. Kroeker at the original wedding was shown to the guests. We wish you well in your service for the King, Ed, Annie and girls! September 7 was Sunday school promotion day with a common opening for

Needed A church-planting pastor to assist a core group in Fort Frances, Ont. to establish an EMC church. Inquiries should be directed to Ben Friesen EMC Office Box 1268 Steinbac, Man. ROA 2A0 Ph. 326-6401

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all ages and the reassignment of classes and teachers. Mr. Dick Eidse had a perfect attendance record for the year, and several others were very close. In the worship service, Johnny Loewen spoke on “Learning to Know God” (Psalm 46). The evening service was devoted to the observance of the Lord’s supper and of feetwashing. Frank Kroeker had the message; we received a blessing from the Lord and a new sense of fellowship of believers. Our three rural area churches are jointly sponsoring Awana Clubs for Kindergarten to grade 6, beginning September 17. Much planning and work has already been done. May God grant His guidance to this project! The following is a report on Living Fountain Bible Camp as seen by two girls’ counsellors, Laurie and Karen Dueck. The annual two weeks of Bible camp are sponsored by the four local EMC churches Morris, Pleasant Valley, Rosenort and Rosenort Fellowship. The camp staff left the Rosenort Fellowship Chapel at 4:00 on Sunday afternoon, July 27. Our excitement grew as the weather got warmer. Sunday evening the staff had a short meeting on cabin assignments. Monday morning as we prepared for our excited campers to arrive, the rain came down. With no sun in sight, we prayed for the weather to change. Before the kids arrived, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. An answered prayer! We had a busy week with team activities such as camp skills (fire building, sandcastle building), crafts, archery, recreation (capture the flag, prisoner’s base) and one team on. clean-up. During morning chapel of the first week. Pastor Stan Plett answered questions about God, sin and Satan, Jesus, heaven and forgiveness. At evening chapel campers and staff were intrigued by his bird stories. During the second week. Pastor Frank Kroeker centered his lessons on forgiveness. Cabin devotions were a special time to get to know our campers better. In this way we could see each child’s personal needs. We had the campers memorize Bible verses and as a reward they got a water balloon wich they could break on any person of their choice. In the afternoon the campers were eager to go swimming and have tuck shop. Some of the girls’ counsellors were looking for some added excitement. Since the cooks had not yet been in the water, we decided to get them a “little” wet. Friday evening we had a banquet followed by two films and sharing. It was encouraging to hear an excited boy say, “Un cle Ben and I went for a walk and Jesus came into my heart!” We experienced a unity among the whole camp staff and we got along well as a team of workers. Camp directors, Larry and Pearl Friesen, did a great job of keeping everything under control. PAGE 14

i.’v ' ,

I •

Parent/child dedication at the Swift Current church on July 27, 1986. Left to right: Ben and Brenda Neufeld with Denver James, Pastor John Toews, Gloria and Gordon Neustaeter with Ryan Gordon.

Births SPERLING — to Gilbert and Ann Sperling of Camp Arnes, Man., a son, Scott Wesley, on June 16, 1986. FRIESEN — to Corny and Laura Friesen of Fisher Branch, Man., a daughter, Suzanne-Marie Laura, on July 18, 1986. PLETT — to Alvin and Sue Plett of Arborg, Man., a son, Jonathon Mark, on March 9, 1986. KORNELSON — to John and Margaret Kornelson of Arborg, Man., a daughter. Crystal, on August 12, 1986. DUECK — to Allan and Rose Dueck of Fisher B.^nch, Man., a son, Bryan Lendall, on February 28, 1986. PLETT — to Bill and Bonnie Plett of Acme, Alta., a daughter, Shauna Gail, on August 12, 1986. GRIMEAU — to Dave and Trudy Grimeau of Calgary, Alta., a son, Abraham Christopher, on August 16, 1986. PENNER — to Larry and Elenor Penner of Roseisle, Man., a son, Kyle Brent, on September 1. 1986. KLASSEN — to Wes and Brenda Klassen of Car man, Man., twin daughters, Kaylee Marie and Stacey Amory, on August 5, 1986. PLETT — to Eddie and Valerie Plett of Wawanesa, Man., a son, Jeremy Evan, on August 20. 1986. AIKENS — to Stan and Helen Aikens of Prince Albert. Sask., a daughter, Alison Lea, on September 1, 1986.

Weddings DUECK—SCHULTZ: Sid, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wiilie Dueck of Arborg, Man., was married on Ju ly 26, 1986 to Beatrice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Schultz of Moosehorn, Man. The wedding took place at the Morweena E.M. Church, with Peter Dueck of High Level, Alta, officiating. The couple is residing in Arborg. REIMER—REIMER: Bruce, son of Abe and Betty Reimer of Arborg, Man., and Evalina, daughter of Mrs. Evelyn Reimer of Arborg, Man., were mar ried on June 21, 1986 at the Morweena E.M. Church in Arborg. Glenn Plett of Arborg officiated. The couple is making their home in Arborg.

Secretary Wanted PLACE: Evangelical Mennonite Con ference Office POSITION: Secretary for Board of Missions

QUALIFICATIONS: Interest in people Commitment to the mission of the

church Typing skills Ability to initiate

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Typing, filing, involvement in production of public relations material, scheduling missionary itineration, and other responsibilities related to the ad ministration of the missions program of the Board of Missions. Enquiries should be forwarded to: Office Manager Evangelical Mennonite Conference Office Box 1268 Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0 Ph. (204) 326-6401

THE MESSENGER

Summertime presents numerous opportunities for people to get in volved in travelling, working and serving God in a unique way. Both Jeannine Koop and Holly Zacharias of The Rosenort Fellowship Chapel have done just that. They have written about how God has worked in their lives as they served Him away from home.

The Lord Can Use You! When 1 first told people that 1 was go ing to New Guinea this summer to serve the Lord under Missions Outreach Inc. (MOI) their first question was, “Where’s New Guinea?” I’d explain that it was an island just north of Australia and south of the equator. Then came their second question, “Why way out there?” That question was both difficult and easy to answer - because God sent me! Yes, it was true, God did send me to New Guinea this summer. 1 used to think that to serve the Lord on the mission field you had to have something important to give. You had to be trained: i.e., a preacher, teacher, nurse, etc. And that meant that I’d have to wait a few years. Then the Lord gave me this verse, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity show yourself an example to those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12) and it became my favourite verse. God could use ME! My age didn’t matter, and 1 did have skills to offer Him, so 1 followed God’s calling and I’ll never be sorry 1 did. Yes, God could use my skills, and the

skills of other teenagers. We built two Bi ble school classrooms, a huge tractor barn out of bush materials, a stage for the church, a small addition to the mis sionaries’ house and a small ward for the clinic! We also got to share our testimonies and sing for the nationals. Through that and our evangelist 250 came to Christ! God never let us get bored, what with fighting off “rascal men” who came around our bamboo hut at night, boun cing around in the back of a flat-bed truck over those horrible New Guinea roads, and the children with whom we fell in love. The Lord also allowed me to witness one of his most awesome miracles - the birth of a child. That truly is a miracle of God! Yes, the Lord called me to go around the world to New Guinea to spend five weeks with some very special people, and 1 praise Him for it. A challenge to other youth - The Lord can use YOU! Go! Jeannine Koop

to love and appreciate this summer. One of my closest and dearest friends was Carla Giesbrecht of Steinbach. We became very close, and I treasure her a lot! She taught me a lot in her own way, and I praise God for her. I learned more this summer than 1 ever thought I would. I matured as 1 saw the “real” world. 1 had never realized how sheltered I was from this mad and crazy world around me. God showed me again how He can work miracles and how He has control over my life. He showed me, while I was working with kids, how their hurts and needs became mine as I became vulnerable. 1 was a counsellor for one week, during teens camp. 1 learned so much about the struggles kids only three years younger than 1 go through. Know ing that 1 went through those same strug gles and now being able to watch these kids and learn through them, makes me realize how much 1 have matured through the struggles that God has already allowed me to go through. I was only supposed to be there till August 9, but at the end of that term I felt that 1 was still needed. I prayed about it and, as God saw fit, 1 was needed to be tuck manager for one more week. So 1 had the privilege of staying till August 17. As 1 look back on my summer I can not believe how fast it went. I would never have expected it to turn out this weel at all! It was definitely a “learning” summer and I praise God for it! 1 en courage other teenagers to become open to God and take a summer to be used by Him and to learn from Him. HoHii Zacharias

A “Learning” Summer My holidays began this summer with a trip to British Columbia, to attend my cousin’s wedding. 1 had planned to go to camp during the last two weeks in August, but my plans were drastically changed when 1 was called on July 14 and told that I was needed at camp. SEPTEMBER 19, 1986

Luckily, they could get someone else for that week, but I still had to be there on the 20th to start my month of camp. Once I got to camp and got myself in volved, it was great! 1 met many wonder ful people whom I had gotten to know last summer, but whom 1 really learned

REMEMBER. . .

Abundant Springs Caronport '87 PAGE 15

From the Editor Time is Precious

New Horizons “In just three more days I’m going to kindergarten,” said our youngest granddaughter the other day when we were visiting there. From observation, one got the impression she could hardly wait for the moment to come. From childhood to old age life seems to come in blocks or sections. For the child and the youth it is, of course, much more pronounced - the home, then Sunday school, then kindergarten, and so on. Each has its unique learning pattern. Each makes its con tribution to a whole. As one grows older the sections and blocks grow longer. Time loses some of its urgency (so many days till Christmas, etc.). However, time is still precious, it is still golden. It has value, just as much as when we were younger, in the growing-up period. The quality might be different but it is still precious time. Scriptures tell us to redeem the time. I suppose this is one of our greatest challenges, one that 1 often fail. As one grows older one sees more and more that the time to do things in narrows down. Would that one then would concentrate on the things which are significant and important. There are, however, so many things that are impor tant that one sometimes is at a loss as to what to do

first. Then also sometimes one does nothing because of the immensity of the task. This is also wrong. We must remember that a journey begins with one step and then another and another, until the destination is reached, not by one leap, but by many steps. For Tania, kindergarten was something to look for ward to, to anticipate. One could say she has faith to believe that it will be a good experience. As older peo ple we could borrow some of her enthusiasm. And doesn’t Christ say we are to become as children? We talk about a childlike faith; maybe that is what is meant. We know that kindergarten, and later school, will not be all play. In fact, as grades progress, it becomes less and less play. But this she doesn’t need to know now. Each stage brings its own learning experience. In the Bible we are told that Abraham too had a forward look and he “looked for a city which hath foun dations” (Heb. 11). This hope sustained him. There is a danger in the Christian life that things become humdrum. At times like this I believe it is im portant that we project our thinking into our future, even though our inclination is different. Ever before us we need to realize “the hope of our calling.”

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is proclaimed.” I cannot help but agree with Opposition House Leader Gerry Mercier where he is to have said, “Sarasoda ads, which feature animated flamingos in a bar, encourage children to experiment with drink” (Free Press). Sarasoda, according to the report, has a 0.9 percent alcohol. I believe the wisdom of Solomon would apply here, “Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” D.S.

THE MESSENGER

D.S.

Sarasoda Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is decieued thereby is not wise (Proverbs 20:1). This is what Solomon wrote maybe some 3000 years ago. Evidence is overwhelming that it is still thus today. And so we need to applaud the news (Free Press, August 15, 1986) that “Sarasoda and other low alcohol drinks will no longer be available in Manitoba supermarkets and grocery stores once new legislation