The Messenger EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE
VOl 26 VOL.
NO. 2
• Those good-looking trips • Paraguay medical project • The man behind the scenes
JAN. 22/88
Ecclesiastes: Staying Off Dead-end Streets Part 1 of 3: Those Good-looking Trips Solomon's purpose in writing is to stimulate God's people to examine life's difficult ques tions, and to look for the answers in the right places, in the "inexhaustible, eternal foun tains." There they will find comfort and rest in God, by John Kornelsen
A
Ithough the book of Ecclesiastes is hard to understand, it does have a very important and relevant message for us today. The title Ecclesiastes comes from the word ecclesia which means congregation. Thus ecclesiastes is the name given to one who gathers the congregation, who reasons with the people, and gives words of wisdom. This need not be a priest or someone with spiritual authority. Our ecclesiastes is Solomon, the third king of Israel. God gave him an extra measure of wisdom upon re quest, but from a casual reading of the book, some may be led to question his wisdom. He has been seen in it as atheist, pantheist, pessimist, or libertine by various readers, but a careful reading shows clearly that he is none of these. Rather he is a deep thinker and a very religious person. Purpose of Book: His purpose in writing is to stimulate God’s people to examine life’s difficult ques tions, and to look for the answers in the right places, in the “inexhaustible, eternal fountains.” There they will find comfort and rest in God. The ecclesiastes wants to awaken our conscience and convince us in our understanding. His life and experiences will instruct us. Man’s big problem arises from the fact that he is in curably tied to earthly things and invariably looks to the material things in search of happiness. He is disturbed then, to find that they don’t satisfy at all. He is further disturbed by the contradictions and anomalies in life, and the injustices he sees in society. He finds himself running a maze that has no apparent exit - only dead end streets. The ecclesiastes highlights these things in life that are disturbing. That’s why the book is a disturbing one. It is meant to be just that. We need to be disturbed. In fact, according to Solomon, it is the wise man who struggles with the problems of human existence. He is not like the fool, who lives for the moment, whose aim and reason for living is short-term pleasure. No, the wise man observes life carefully, thinks about all he sees, and earnestly attempts to seek logical answers. This leads to pain, because he can find no answers to the suffering and pain and evil he sees. The questions of life and death baffle him and he is struck by the PAGE 2
futility of the human predicament. The disturbing elements in Ecclesiastes arise out of the reflections of a wise man. Solomon shows us the total failure of human thinking and demonstrates that the highest ideals of natural man lead only to dissatisfaction - if God is left out. To understand what the ecclesiastes is really saying, we need to see his approach, and he gives us the key to it, found in chapter 12, verse 11. Here goads and nails are contrasted, and Solomon employs both. He uses many goads (long sticks with sharp points to urge the oxen) as sharp stings, to bring us to attention and arrest our complacency. They are the disturbing things that stimulate us to search for meaning in life, and to look for answers beyond ourselves. Again and again he stings us in our intellect and in our conscience. But he always brings in the nails (long tent pegs to anchor the tent against the wind), the spikes of truth that give us footing against the goads. These nails come from the One Shepherd, they are the truths from God’s Word. Goads and Nails: We want to see how Solomon uses the goads and nails in chapters 1 and 2. One sharp sting follows another in the first chapter. From his first exclamation to his sorrow at the end, there is no optimism. Two questions are raised in the ecclesiastes’ pessimistic tone. The first one is that of natural revelation. Having studied and observed everything keenly from his youth, Solomon concludes that nothing can be learned from nature. The universe is a closed system. It keeps on go ing for itself and within itself, endlessly, without getting anywhere. The continuous cycles are meaningless generations come and go, the sun rises and sets, the wind, the water cycle - round and round and round (vv. 11-17). Monotonous repetition, how wearisome, how meaningless! The second question concerns wisdom. Finding no answers or meaning in nature, the “preacher” turns to a devoted study of wisdom, to understand it, as well as madness and folly (1:13-17). But his conclusion shows the bankruptcy of wisdom. The study of man, what he does and is, clearly is meaningless - it’s like “chasing the wind.” It is so, he says, because the study of THE MESSENGER
L
philosophy and psychology only reveals more sharply how futile man’s existence is. You become, in effect, an existentialist, seeing man as a pawn of chance. Two dead ends, natural revelation and wisdom. The ecclesiastes can find no meaning for life in either. But he doesn’t give up. He will try other avenues, take every trip that looks good. Maybe he has missed something. Maybe there is meaning somewhere. So Solomon enters onto the paths of pleasure. We have his experiences described in chapter 2, and we can see in them the pleasure-seeking patterns of modern man. Perhaps we’ll see ourselves here. First he plunges into a life of carefree happiness. But he finds that meaningless (vv. 1,2). Then he flirts with foolishness and tries wine - the alcoholic route. But because he is wise, he makes sure he maintains control (v. 3). He doesn’t even bother to mention how mean ingless that was. Just wasn’t the “kick” he was looking for. (Is it ever?) So he turns to more worthwhile projects (vv. 4-8). He builds himself great palaces. Architecture - what a challenge! Well, what about horticulture - vineyards, gardens, orchards? Or agriculture - flocks and herds. But no, all is meaningless. Maybe his “coin collection” - coffers of silver and gold. But he’s no Alex Keating. Then why not the fine arts - music - great choirs for the temple? And if nothing else, surely the scintillating ecstasies of “legitimate” sex. Oh, delight of delights - a harem! His summary comes in verse 10: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; 1 refused my heart no pleasure.” But his conclusion sounds familiar by now (2:11). “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done . . . everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Having come full circle now, he takes another look at wisdom (2:12-16). He sees clearly the supremacy of wisdom over folly, but when he considers end results.
Two dead ends, natural revelation and wisdom. The ecclesiastes can find no meaning for life in either. But he doesn't give up. he is cast into gloom again. Death levels all people - the wise with the fool. So - what’s the use? Maybe the drop-outs, the bums, the welfare people are better off after all. Why make the effort? So Solomon is stung. He goes from one good-looking bad trip to another. From one disturbing realization of futility to another. Verse 17 sums it up: “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” We have the clear picture now of what happens to a wise man who tries to figure out the difficult questions of life, who seeks meaning in life, on his own. All the goads have not brought him where they should have to God. Failing in this, he becomes resigned, cynical,
JANUARY 22, 1988
apathetic, or even bitter. There are many people like this. We will find them everywhere, but especially in the universities - the thinkers who have become bankrupt in their philosophies. The foolish, on the other hand, just continue on their merry paths of pleasure, refusing to “think,” escaping reality as they go from one good-looking trip to another. But Solomon was neither foolish nor a resigned, cynical, wise man. He learned from his experiences after all. In the end the goads drive him to the right source. He is driven by the stings into the right direction. He finds the nails of truth, and we find them at the end of
One thing he knows beyond any doubt, that without God there is no real enjoy ment for him in anything. The missing in gredient is trust in God. chapter 2. He identifies God’s way to the really good trip (vv. 24-26a). One thing he knows beyond any doubt, that without God there is no real enjoyment for him in anything. The missing ingredient is trust in God. If a man has faith, everything in life can have meaning. Faith brings contentment. One can “find satisfaction” in mundane things, such as sitting down to a simple meal, and working on the assembly line in a factory. Already Solomon realizes what Peter later explains to us (Col. 3:23,24): “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” And Solomon goes on to say that faith brings wisdom, knowledge, and happiness. True hap piness, or joy, is a gift from God. Mirrored against the backdrop of all the disturbing goads, joy is nothing short of miraculous for the wise man. And faith brings wisdom to stay off all those dead-end streets, those good-looking bad trips. What Can We Learn? Can we learn from the ecclesiastes today? Or can it be we are still looking for fulfillment in the same places Solomon did? Are we seeking for meaning in pleasure, and flirting with foolishness? We in America give about $3.5 billion to churches per year. Sounds good. But at the same time we are spending about $150 billion on pleasure, with $14.5 billion of it on liquor. Oh, that we could realize that there is no real mean ing in life to be found on these trips into pleasure! Real meaning is to be found only in those things that will last for eternity. Let us learn from the ecclesiastes. Those pursuits into wisdom, into pleasure, into achievements in the fine arts or architecture or whatever, even though legitimate, are not the roads that lead to satisfaction and fulfillment in life. All is ultimately meaningless. Do you and I seek meaning in them? Forget it. They are counterfeits. Seek fulfillment in life from the Lord. Trust him only. Faith in the Lord will give meaning. Only faith will. PAGE 3
Letters WHERE IS OUR SECURITY?
Greetings to you and all readers in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ with the words of God through Hanani to Asa, king of Judah, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (11 Chron. 16:9). Praise God that even in 1987 God was still looking. He was still finding and He was still showing Himself strong in those who would respond with the whole heart! 1 just reread the report of Brother Lester on the 'Pastoral Encounter’ Nicaragua (Vol. 25, *24, Dec. 11/87). 1 would like to respond with encouragement and challenge, referring in part to the story from which the verse of greeting is taken. 1. too. was taken somewhat by surprise at some of the questions and comments on the subject at the annual convention business ses sion. 1 would have liked to respond there but did not feel at liberty to do so since 1 was only a visitor and not a delegate at that session. However. 1 did feel that some of the com ments were made from a long-sighted view and possibly even partial blindness to things (or issues) around home. But let’s turn to the Word that is forever settled in the heavens. In 11 Chronicles 15 through 20 we have the accounts of two of Judah’s kings. Asa and Jehoshaphat. To conserve space we just want to pick at a few happenings, but 1 would sug gest a detailed study of these chapters to let the Lord speak to us and to teach us that ‘our allegiance to the Kingdom of God take priori ty’ (Matthew 6:33). Asa was encouraged by the words of Azariah in ch. 15 and they had a great celebration of thanksgiving and praise to God. Then came a test or trial. Baasha. king of Israel, came against him and cut him off (sort of fenced him in). No more income from trading with the outside, livelihood threaten ed. security in jeopardy; so now what? A league (union) with King Benhadad. king of Syria, that ought to do it, he can save our job security! Well, it did the material job there but it lost the security in the Lord. When the Lord then sent Hanani, the seer, to tell Asa his re jection of God, Asa got angry and further
rebelled. The Lord smote him with a disease, but Asa, instead of seeking God, sought out the physicians and soon folks sought the best apothecaries’ art for his burial. Now Jehoshaphat comes to the throne. He is a godly man, cleaning up more of the idol worship, seeking the way of the Lord and walking with Him. The kingdom was established by his hand. He builds the spirituality of the nation and the heathen na tions round about him recognize that ‘God is with him’ and they fear to trouble him, but rather bring gifts and tribute. Again a test, a trial. Jehoshaphat longs for social get-togethers (fellowship?). He goes down to Samaria to King Ahab, king of Israel. At the party Ahab asks. “Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead?” “I am as thou art, and my people as thy people: and we will be with thee in the war.” answers Jehoshaphat. He then suggests they inquire of the Lord (so like us so many times, enquire of the Lord AFTER the decision has been made). God is faithful and gives the warning, but, alas, it is not heed ed. The decision almost cost Jehoshaphat his life, by the trickery of Ahab. But once again God miraculously saved him, and brings him safely home and even has Jehu ready to minister the Word of God to him. Unlike his father Asa, Jehoshaphat repents and humbles himself before Almighty God and once again sets a godly example for his people and the kingdom is restored. Yet somehow he has not learned his lesson and we find that near the end of his career he again makes affiliation with the ungodly, another union, instead of trusting God. and he goes down in spiritual defeat. What does that have to do with the ques tions posed at the convention business ses sion or in the fourth paragraph of Brother Lester’s report? Well, at the time of trial or testing, where did Asa and Jehoshaphat place their security? Wherein did they THINK lay their power? Certainly not in God, else why did they join themselves to the ungodly for support and for power against the enemy? Ah, but that is Old Testament, you may say. Well, let’s very briefly look at New Testament Scripture, 1 Corinthians 10, a chapter which 1 believe is an all-applicable Word. It very plainly tells us that the things that happened to Israel happened for our warning, that we should not do as they did, and then goes on to ask us, “What communion hath light with darkness?” or, as Jesus says, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” We cannot join hands with the ungodly and serve God.
And so let us not judge our brethren in Nicaragua and at the same time be affiliates to all kinds of the world’s powers for material gain or security. Rather let us “ . . . lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:21, 22). May 1988 be a year of miraculous spiritual growth as we trust in the ever Faithful One, Jesus, who came to be a servant and a Saviour and returned as both LORD AND CHRIST to be our High Priest at the right hand of the throne of God where He ever liveth to make intercession for us that we might walk with Him to the glory of the Father. John Knelsen Burns Lake. B.C.
WANTED The Kirkcaldy Heights Fellowship Church in Brandon, Man. needs a PA System. Please contact Dave Wiebe (727-6957) if you have one for sale. CONTRIBUTORS: John Kornelsen. pastor of the Wymark EMC Church, is giving us a study of the book of Ecclesiastes in three parts. Part 1 is in this issue: the others will follow. Gerry Dueck and his wife Blanca are members of the Braeside EMC Church. They plan to leave for Paraguay next month to teach in a missionary school. Daue and Lydia Dueck (Saskatoon) are involved in prison ministries in Saskatoon. Ernie Koop (Stein bach EFC) is serving in Nicaragua under the EMC Board of Missions. His work includes Leadership Development, youth work and Theological Education. COVER: A stiff morning breeze a few days ago was threatening to develop into a full blown prairie blizzard. Fortunately the wind let up and by afternoon the sun was shining again. Winter may be devastating - having to drive in poor conditions, paying fuel bills, shovelling all that snow. Winter may also be exhilarating - skiing or skating, children play ing in the snow, curling up with a good book by the fire. We hope your winter has enough of the former to help you appreciate summer, and enough of the latter to appreciate winter. By the editor.
THE MESSENGER is the publication o( 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 Menno Hamm, 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 Board of Education and Publication, Box 1268, Stein bach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0. Second Class Mall; 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.
PAGE 4
THE MESSENGER
Missions
The Lucero Medical clinic in Paraguay welcomes a doctor to its staff to improve health services in the Tres Palmas/Lucero area.
PARAGUAY
Special Medical Project For a number of years the Tres Palmas/Lucero church has operated a clinic. This clinic has a ministry to the surrounding Paraguayan and Indian communities. The EMC Board of Missions has provided subsidy to this clinic for sometime. Prior to December 1983 the clinic was closed for a period of time. In December 1983 the clinic was reopen ed, with an administrator, nursing staff, maintenance staff and a doctor-in-training. This resulted in the clinic having a busy and effective ministry. In January 1987 they were unable to get a doctor-in-training. In July 1987, on a visit to Paraguay by Board of Mis sions representation, the church requested the Board to help them get a doctor so the clinic could again have an effective ministry to the surrounding Paraguayan communities. The Board of Missions decided to help the church and committed itself to raise $1200 per month to make this a reality. Walter and Jeanette Braun, local residents, have accepted the administrative responsibility for the clinic. They sent the following infor mation recently: “First we would like to wish you all a pro sperous and profitable New Year - in every aspect of your lives! We thought it would be good to communicate with you at times this coming year about our hospital for which you have so sacrificially committed yourselves to supporting a doctor. We cannot express our gratitude enough to you and those involved in this decision as well as the sacrifices that must be made. We realize the needs are great everywhere, and the fact that you have chosen to help us in this way is so greatly appreciated! “We are so enthused and excited about the coming year, with the doctor planning to start January 1 and another nurse arriving from JANUARY 22, 1988
Bergthal January 4. We continue to look for another nurse, since we are expecting the workload to increase rapidly. Just knowing that we were expecting a doctor and were not closing is already increasing the number com ing here. “We would also like to share personally a few of the many wonderful experiences the Lord has led us through in the past few months. First it was through a rough finan cial year that our eyes and ears were opened to again realize that so much of this life is spent for things that pass away and we felt so strong ly that God wanted us to invest time, effort and more of our lives in helping others, physically and spiritually. We had long seen the clinic struggling and had made efforts to help, but God wanted more than our ‘leftover’
time, energy and money! Although we can’t say everything turned rosy financially when we followed His leading, we have experienc ed real joy in sharing His love in this way with needy people at our hospital. “It is another great miracle to find- a Chris tian doctor, willing (and almost begging) to come help build up our hospital and meet our many poor neighbours’ needs. We definitely believe God has led, and pray that this doc tor will find our hospital a place where he can also grow spiritually and be professionally satisfied. “Personnel was a problem when we took over; it looked as though in a few weeks there would be no one besides us. Everyone from doctor to nurse to kitchen help had quit or was planning to quit. God has led, and sup plied everything to this point in time. “Financing the doctor was a great concern which God took care of by guiding you in your decision to support one. Thank you a lot and praise the Lord! “We want to express again to you (and each one involved) our appreciation for your belief in the importance of this work and your commitment to support it. We believe it will be an eternally significant investment!” Walter and Jeanette Braun
The $1200 per month which pays for the national doctor’s salary has not been budgeted for. We encourage you to give towards this project and thus help the medical ministry to the Paraguayan people. The clinic also pro vides a spiritual ministry to those who come. Send your donations designated for “Lucero Medical Clinic” to: EMC Board of Missions
Box 1268 Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0
NICARAGUA
Renewal in San Jose “Lord, I am the one. ’’ The following article was submitted by Er nie Koop, EMC missionary in Nicaragua, ft was written in Spanish by Pastor Ramirez and translated by Ernie.
Brethren, 1 have come to understand how much God loves the sinner and does not want any to perish. In my twelve years as a Chris tian and five as pastor in this church, 1 had never experienced anything like this. As an Anabaptist, 1 knew about the prophecies about speaking in tongues but 1 had never ex perienced it or seen it happen. The church had about fifteen active members when 1 accepted the leadership posi tion, even though the list of members includ ed 33. From that day on 1 began to work, but it was all in vain. The church didn’t grow but
rather seemed to be going backwards or downhill. New converts would come twice and then wouldn’t return. For me it was very sad and discouraging; I began to be concern ed and asked the Lord to indicate to me where the problem was. Well, the Lord responds in His time. In May of 1987 I saw something very strange - In a prayer circle one of the sisters began to speak in tongues but no one understood and no one was in agree ment or liked what was happening because her testimony had not been that good. She continued this for a few days and I just couldn’t understand. 1 had never read I Cor inthians 1:27, 28 with the idea that God doesn’t choose the saint to speak to the ‘wise’ (cont’d. next page) PAGE 5
but rather uses the sinner. One Sunday the National Council of the Fraternity came to encourage the membership to help me in the work (I was ready to resign) and also came to try to help exhort one of the brethren whose negative testimony was hindering the work of the church. Again that evening during the service the sister spoke in tongues. Eight days later (Sunday) we had decided to have a day of prayer and fasting. That day was terrible for all of us and worse for me as pastor. Our sister began speaking in tongues and I prayed that the Lord would give us the interpretation. I noticed that she was suffering terribly and almost fainting so I placed my hands on her head and said, “Lord, if this is your Spirit that is speaking, please tell us now, and if it is an evil spirit, in your name I reprimand it.” She called out in shouts, saying, “Thank you, Lord, because you are revealing it to us, the one to blame is here." Later she said, “Lord, I am the one. Please forgive me.” It was an hour of extreme tension. We all cried out of compassion and prayed for mercy for her. She had hidden her sins for nine years, but that day she confess ed it all. Well, things didn’t stop there. The next day (Monday) she continued to fast and dreamt that there were many dead. The Lord said that it was the church (Rev. 3:If). The sister went to her mother’s place and began calling them to repentance. She also told her father that he had to confess his sins. Her father told her to be quiet, and she suddenly became un conscious. They put her into one of the beds in order to give her some water, but she seem ed to be having seizures. They went and call ed one of the other sisters, who was on her way to teach a class (“sister" in the sense of being a member of the church, not sister in the flesh). She asked what had happened and whether anyone had forbidden her to speak. Her father said no, but in that instant she spoke and said that he had forbidden her to speak because he didn’t want her to reveal what he had done over the years and had not confessed. The sister’s husband was called in from the fields in order to confess his sins publicly. Many other members of the church did the same. The church was guilty of many things that are common in the world but are not to be found in the church. Our sister fasted for three days and spent those days evangelizing without stopping. The people (unsaved) began to treat her as a men tal case, but many told me that when she was speaking the message to them they were afraid and some couldn’t take it and fled. One sister indicated that she had been healed and all the members of the church confessed things that I don’t even want to remember. I didn’t know what kind of church I was pastoring, but now it is different. It is free! There is a renewed desire to work together, there has been reconciliation and a few deci sions for Christ. However, Satan continues to work. There is a tremendous fight between PAGE 6
two persons but the One that is on our side is the strongest! Brethren, the cleaning has started in the most sinful church because God loves her and doesn’t want her to perish. I trust you will pray that we will be strong against all the attacks of the evil one. Ignacio Gutierrez Ramirez, Pastor P S. The above article is an account of a particular experience in one of the churches in Nicaragua last fall. It is not a normal ex perience but the national church leadership interprets it as an unsusual manifestation of God’s working. They cannot explain it but believe God has used it in the renewal of a church that had deep spiritual needs. They do not look for a repeat of this experience but continue to pray for renewal. In a recent report from Nicaragua we are informed that the church referred to in the ar ticle has been encouraged as new believers have come into the church lately. Let us pray with our fellow believers in Nicaragua.
Mexican Sonshine Report Last winter, a group of Canadians, in cluding five Manitobans, had the experience of a lifetime in sunny Mexico taking part in a special two-week outreach called “Mexican Sonshine” The project was sponsored by Campus Crusade. The purpose was to draw as many people out of the darkness of sin in to the sunshine of the Son’s gospel by show ing the film “Jesus.” This film was produced by John Heyman, a Christian of Jewish heritage. In the film, Jesus speaks only the words recorded in the Gospel of Luke. At the end of the film there is an invitation to receive Christ. The film we used was dubbed into Spanish. We showed the film in Monterrey and Mexico City, resulting in over seventeen thousand people seeing the film in a two-week period. More than two thousand persons made personal commitments to Jesus after viewing the film. The group of forty-five Canadians was divided into eight teams of six persons per team. Each team was given a copy of the Jesus film and assigned to a specific local church. We didn’t come to Mexico to tell the Mexican Christians what to do. We came as equal partners in the work. At every stage of the planning, both Mexicans and Canadians worked hand in hand, with frequent pauses for prayer once we got “on the field” The local churches followed up all new converts and encouraged them to attend church regularly. Home Bible studies were also set up. Each team member had a specific task and responsibility to ensure that everything was looked after. No one got a free ride. For most of us, who were here for the first time, there were plenty of surprises. Things did not always go as planned. Remember, the film was shown out in the street, subject to the
elements and numerous distractions. Most people would stand throughout the showing. Many would come after the film had started. In most cases the street lighting was poor. Often the street was more like a dusty path than the paved throughways we are ac customed to here in Canada. There were logistical problems no one could have imagin ed had they not been on a project like this before. Some members in our particular group vowed never to complain about anything back home again after seeing the poverty in the slums of Mexico City and Monterrey. There were many highlights one could relate about our two-week stint in Mexico. Let me share with you only a few. At one of our film showings, a seventeenyear-old girl, Silvana, accepted Jesus as her Savior. The next night she arrived with her two sisters and a brother whom she had already led to the Lord earlier in the day. That evening, after the invitation had been given, she was busy handing out comment cards, in viting people to come to the lights for counsell ing, and then counselling several people herself. In another location, in one of the worst slums in Mexico City, I went out “fishing” to see if I could find someone who might be thinking about deciding for Jesus. I approach ed a gang of five tough-looking teenagers. I could immediately smell the odor of model cement on their breath and could tell by their expressions that they were stoned. I began reading the “Four Spiritual Laws” booklet to them. My Mexican-born wife, Blanca, arriv ed on the scene, very worried about my safe ty. We were in a dark part of the street, way back of the screen. But I was too busy talking to the group to take note of any danger. In the end, all but two of the young people drifted away. A girl and a boy remained. A Mexican counsellor then came over and he took the boy aside and led him to the Lord while I led the girl in the sinner’s prayer. The young man, who was smiling sarcastically just before, now was sobbing in repentance. The girl was shaking and crying also. There are many more experiences one could relate but suffice it to say in conclusion that this kind of experience is not limited to a specific place. Neither is it for those few peo ple called to be “full-time” missionaries. This experience of leading others to an awareness of their need for a personal Savior is the privilege of every Christian. We all know that Canadians are every bit as needy of salvation as those in distant lands. The opportunities are all around us. By the way, Campus Crusade is sponsor ing a film showing project again this year. The dates are February 29 to March 15. The deadline for receipt of applications is February 1. For more information on how you could become involved and have the experience of a lifetime, phone 943-9924 (Winnipeg). Gerry Dueck THE MESSENGER
4 meeting was held on January 14 in the Conference office to explore ways of in creasing Mennonite World Conference awareness in the EMC. Participating in the discus sion were (left to right): Arden Thiessen, EMC moderator; Harvey Plett, EMC delegate in MWC; John Dyck, director MWC Canadian Office, Winnipeg: and Paul Kraybill, MWC executive secretary, Carol Stream, Illinois. Preparations are underway for the 12th MWC Assembly in Winnipeg in 1990.
YEAR-END REVIEW Kola, Man.: The past months were scat tered with special events and activities for our congregation. October ended and November began with our yearly missions conference. This year interviews were attempted and finally a ques tionnaire handed out to gather impressions and information gleaned from our conference. This resulted in nothing at all - not one responded. I’m sure this did not mean that there was nothing learned nor that no one’s heart was touched with the need of missions. It must be that I asked the wrong people. It seems impossible that we would not change our lifestyle in some way when we hear of our Christian family suffering in one country and the need for financial help in another, and a shortage of workers somewhere else. But I wonder? So I will report the facts. October 30 - November 1 we had a mis sions conference in our church with the theme “Reaching the Unreached.” Our guest speaker was Mr. Peter Buhr of Winnipeg from the Overseas Missionary Fellowship. His messages reminded us consistently to be faithful where we are now but challenged us to wider world involvement. He gave us many ideas for involvement and asked us to pray that God would help us select the ways which suit each of us best as we work together to reach the unreached for Jesus Christ. Besides the guest speaker we also had special reports to keep us up to date with the work of our Conference missionaries. Evelyn Plett (Spain), Dave and Susie Eidse (Mexico), Don and Elizabeth Plett (Nicaragua) and Dave and Audrey Wiebe (Brandon) shared what has been taking place on their fields and told us about their future plans. Ben Friesen, EMC Board of Missions, shared the direction of EMC missions and the needs and oppor tunities available. JANUARY 22, 1988
On Saturday morning the men had a prayer breakfast, with Dave Wiebe as speaker. After Dave’s talk, many gave generously to help the Brandon church purchase a building. In the afternoon the ladies had a tea with Susie Eidse, Audrey Wiebe and Elizabeth Plett as speakers. As women, we were asked to consider if we are really where we should be if we are not reaching out to those around us. The concentration of Christians in our com munity exceeds that of the non-Christians, and we were challenged to spread out and share the hope we have in Jesus. On Sunday afternoon we watched the film “The Wait of the World.” The powerful message came through: do something - get involved - the world is waiting. Once we get
involved and see the need, we can’t ignore it; we will never be the same. Another missions conference, another challenge, another chance for the Holy Spirit to speak and prod, and more awareness of the need. When and how and if we become involved will be seen in the year to come. It is up to each of us. November seemed busy for many of us. Many youth attended Steinbach Bible Col lege’s Youth Alive. The young people also had a fund-raising pancake breakfast on November 21 which was well attended. Fami ly night continued after the missions con ference and ended the last week in November. Canadian Foodgrains Bank spotted two cars in Maryfield, so many farmers in our church family donated grain. December came with all the practices for the Sunday school Christmas program. Our program, entitled “Jesus, God’s Gift of Light,” was presented the evening of December 20. The message that God’s gift to us. His Son, brings light to all, was clearly communicated and smoothly presented. Following the pro gram there was a time of fellowship and food. On December 23 the young people invited the church family to go carolling with them. It was a beautiful evening and, after singing at many homes, we gathered at the church for hot chocolate and donuts. There were other special services to close the year. On Christmas morning Archie Pen ner spoke on the truths revealed in Christmas. New Year’s Eve we had a watchnight service with games, a crokinole tournament, food, and the film “Thin Ice.” These activities were followed by a special time of singing and a meditation by Art Neufeld. Joy Penner
YOUTH MINI-CAMP
Pansy, Man.: On January 8 and 9 up to 75 young people filled the church for a mid winter mini-camp called “Come and Grow.” Some neighbouring groups had been invited to join ours. Excellent meals and generous refreshments were served by the leaders and volunteering parents, while overnight lodging was provid ed in nearby homes. The main feature - Guest speaker Mel Koop spoke powerfully on the subject, “Come and Grow,” emphasizing the need to grow in pa tience (remember Job?), in purity (see Joseph) and power (David), giving many ap propriate illustrations. There were guest singers, including the Pete Falk family and the “Braun” family, in teresting skits and informal breaks. A very fit ting film, “The Love Note,” brought things to a meaningful climax. Thank you, Wyatt and Thelma Goertzen and Wilbert and Alvina Falk, for planning this.
Thank you, young people, for your hearty participation. May we show signs of “growth” for a long time. Our ladies’ fellowship meeting this month featured a panel discussion by experienced mothers on “Sharing a Mother’s Insight.” Honest discussion on “Mistakes 1 made but wish I hadn’t” and “What I’ve learned in the process and found most important” was the main thrust, followed by a free-for-all shar ing time on related questions. With Titus 2:4,5 as a base, and a slant toward the younger families, the evening turned out special for all those who weathered the weather to get there. Parenting never was an easy job, and it’s not getting simpler. We need to work together, giving moral support and en couragement. PTL! With Him all things, even good parenting, are possible. Betty Barkman PAGE 11
John and Clara Koop. YOUNG PEOPLE SHARE THEIR FAITH
Kleefeld, Man.: Exciting things are happen ing in Kleefeld! We heartily welcome our new pastor and his wife. John and Clara Koop, into our midst. After 30 years away, they felt they had come back home! January 3 was the beginning of John's pastorate among us. with a special installation service scheduled for January 31. We are looking forward to God's blessings as we work together to build His kingdom. At the same time our church family would like to express our sincere appreciation to Dr. Jim and Sarah Watson, who served us so abundantly for the past year as interim pastor, which makes us doubly thankful that they will continue as one of our ministers. Another exciting event was welcoming more members into our church family. Rhon da Letkeman and Marilyn and Peter Goert zen were received into our fellowship on November 22. A warm and hearty welcome to all of you! While we happily say ’welcome’ to some, we feel saddened to say 'farewell' to others. Werner and Crista Haeuser left for Brazil on January 6. where Werner will be involved in Bible teaching. They have fellowshipped with us for about H/z years, and will be greatly
missed. A commissiong service was held for the Haeusers on December 13. Our hearts joined in with the prayers that the Lord might uphold and bless their continued ministry. Our thoughts and prayers also go with Rhonda Hiebert as she continues her work with Emmanuel International as Personnel Coordinator in their head office in Stouffville. Ontario, until the end of March. Mor exciting things are happening with our young people too! They decided to put their Bible studies into action. So in December, during the Christmas rush, they headed out for St. Vital Shopping Mall. They separated in order to contact more people. Sitting down beside some tired Christmas shopper gave them an excellent opportunity to share the meaning of Christmas. As they got home to compare notes, they were amazed at the positive results that their witnessing had ac complished. Their overflowing joy made it vir tually impossible for them to sleep that night. In fact, their enthusiastic report inspired all of us to be more faithful in our own witnessing. We just received word that Ken Friesen, beloved son of Ed and Lil Friesen, has already gone to his reward. He was very much a part of our young people and will be keenly miss ed. May God surround the family and friends with His infinite love and caring comfort. The funeral took place on January 12 at our church. Under the leadership of Bob and Iris Bartel, our young people were also in charge of our New Year’s Eve service, which is a special highlight of the year. The lower auditorium was filled as we shared New Year’s cookies, games, slides, singing, and meaningful wor ship. There was a spirit of love and goodwill among us as together we praised the Lord for His faithfulness in the past and looked forward to His promises for the future. A happy new year to all the Messenger friends! 'Nettie Fast
Births PENNER - to Robert and Martha Penner of Kola. Man., a son. Nickolas Robert, on October 13, 1987. LOEWEN ■ to John and Maria Loewen of Strat ton, Ont., a daughter, Esther Adeline, on January 6. 1988. ISAAC - to Carson and Brenda Isaac of Kleefeld. Man., a son. Ian Clarke, on December 28. 1987.
Weddings DUECK-KEHLER: Larry, son of Dave and Katherine Dueck of Kleefeld. Man., and Esther, daughter of Jake and Mary Kehler of Lowe Farm. Man., were married on December 5. 1987. The wedding took place at the Kleefeld E. M. Church, with Henry Kornelsen of Fort Frances. Ont. officiating.
Notice The office still has a good supply of certain back numbers of our former German paper,
Bcr ffifinatlitljE JFatnilitnfreunii. These are free to anyone interested. Direct inquiries until February 29 to; EMC Board of Education and Publication Box 1268 Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0 Tel. (204) 326-6401
WHOM SHALL I SEND? Rhonda Letkeman and Marilyn and Peter Goertzen were received into the Kleefeld church membership on November 22, 1987.
:■
MCC is looking for people who feel called by God to serve at home and around the world. Current openings include: • Agricultural workers, Haiti • Health and development workers, Tanzania • Economic development coordinator with Atawapiskat Band, Ontario • Vehicle and building maintenance person, Bolivia • Community health nurse among Innu of Labrador • English teacher for southeast Asian refugees, Thailand • Social worker, Davis Inlet, Labrador • Volunteer coordinator for prison visitation program, Montreal • Church youth worker, Nain, Labrador • Administration, Zaire • Accountant, SELFHELP Crafts.
For more information about these and other openings, contact: Len Siemens or John Peters, MCC Canada, 134 Plaza Dr., Winnipeg, Man. R3T 5K9 (204) 261-6381, or your provincial MCC office.
WHO WILL GO FOR ME? PAGE 12
THE MESSENGER
Our Tribute to
KENNETH RYAN FRIESEN Born on the 23rd of February, 1968 (the oldest of four children) Died Saturday, January 9, 1988
Ken, as we began to reflect on many special memories, we realized quickly that for you the quality of life was not to be measured by how long you lived, but by how you lived it. It became very evident to us from our earliest recollections that you were moving in oiie direction - towards God - . . . sometimes fast, sometimes more slowly, but always towards God, You made a solid claim on this highlighted verse in your Bible, “Whether by life or by death, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:20,21). Your brush with death at the tender age of two was a reminder to us of the brevity of life. Your ministry, however, was not yet com pleted, You blossomed into manhood. You loved people. Even at the age of two at a church picnic in Hudson Bay you said, “But I want to play with my friends,” rather than stay with us as parents. Your life was people. When friends called on you, everything had to be dropped - sometimes we simply had to stand back in a supportive role as a family when we really wanted you with us. We remember you for your peaceful and gentle nature. You would sooner absorb the pain than retaliate. You would loyally protect others without much concern about protec ting yourself. We remember you for your early leader ship when as a student you began the prayer and praise group in the Kleefeld Junior High School. We remember your commitment to those less fortunate than you. During grade 9, after landing your first part-time job, you co sponsored a Third World child. Even then, as now, your values in life did not rest with the pursuit of personal gains and possessions.
JANUARY 22. 1988
Your values were placed in people . , , in God’s view of people. And so you ministered . . . Your positive spirit brightened the scene wherever you went. At home or with friends, you were ad mired for your cheerful and friendly nature. You seemed to sense the urgency of life: - You entered the counsellor-in-training program two years ahead of schedule. - You served as junior and senior camp counsellor well ahead of schedule. Again your philosophy of life became evident. You wanted to serve God now. Service was not to be hindered or suppressed by qualifications, training or even age. We discovered why . . . You had not only highlighted, but also underlined, this verse in your Bible, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). And so the fear of man became secondary to your quest for an all-out commitment.
You made a public confession of your faith in Christ, in baptism. Oh, you had your strug gles . . . You recognized your weakness in overcoming evil. And it was common for us to find you on your knees declaring your helplessness to God. You drew great strength not only from prayer but from your diligent reading of the Bible. Your thirst for the knowledge of God and His righteousness was very evident. During this last year your spiritual walk and desire to serve God intensified significantly. You sensed the need for more training and so enrolled in Bible college. Your zeal for lear ning was evidenced by your determination to complete many of your second semester reading assignments before the semester began. What really moved us was that you were so concerned about mediocre and com placent Christianity that you openly declared your willingness to lay down your life if that would make the difference. You had this same passion for unsaved friends. Sharing your faith even with a stranger seemed second nature to you. How we thank God for you! Ken, you would be the first to admit that your weren’t perfect, but now you are. We have seen a glimpse of the glory that filled heaven when Christ presented you faultless and blameless before God.
You have joined loved ones like your aunt, your grandpa and your cousins. We see you walking tall among all the saints; we know you feel at home, no in troductions needed, no jostling for position, you are among God’s greatest possession His redeemed people. You have taken your position in the heavenly Hallelujah Chorus. You are now singing your most treasured song. You have gone before us. You are now boldly emanating the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy and peace - in its truest form. Though you touched many of us by your life, you are touching all of us by your death. We will endeavour to thank God every time we remember you. You were God’s gift to us. We look forward to joining you in the presence of God and the redeemed. Until then, we too want to join in saying, “Whether by life or by death, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” To our many friends who share our grief, thank you for your prayers, cards and visits. The Family Edwin and Li/ Friesen, Sheryl, L^indon, Jennifer
Hymnbooks Wanted The Mount Salem EMC Church would appreciate 35-50 copies of the M.B. German Hymnbook in good condition. Contact: EMC Office Box 1268 Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0 or Mt. Salem EMC Church R.R.6 Aylmer, Ont. N5H 2R5 (519) 773-8569
COMING EVENTS January 31, 10:50 a.m. - Installation of Pastor John and Clara Koop at the Kleefeld church February 4, 3:00 p.m. - Post-secondary Students Meeting, U. of M. February 6, 10 to 4 - EMC Ministerial Meeting at MacGregor February 14, 3:00 p.m. - Dedication of the Brandon Church April 15-17 - Missionary/Ministers Retreat, Camp Arnes July 8-10 - Annual EMC Convention, Blumenort
PAGE 13
Around the World MENNONITE EVANGELISM LEADERS TOLD TO FOCUS EFFORTS ON CHURCH by Carla Reimer
Oak Brook. III. (GCMC/MBM)-"The American consumer has started to treat religion like it's another product." nationally known speaker Herb Miller told 54 Mennonite church planting and evangelism leaders and staff who had come here to learn how they could be more effective at their work. People will not necessarily stay with the denomination of their upbringing, said Miller, citing a study which showed that of the 17 percent of Americans who changed residences in 1986, half switched to a different denomination when they moved. Although Miller spent some time discussing the ways of making a church more visible, he stressed the fact that "people are much less likely to judge a church by the label on the lawn than by what's going on inside. "Friendliness is the major component in churches that are growing significantly." said Miller, executive director for the National Evangelical Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Eightyfive percent of first-time visitors to a church will pay a second visit if they are visited by a church member within 36 hours of their first visit, he said. If the church waits one week before making a contact, only 15 percent will come back for a second visit. (Visitation by the pastor is only half as effective because people believe that that is part of the pastor's job. he noted.) "People don’t visit our homes unless we invite them." Miller said. “Chur ches are the same way." When asked to brainstorm about why the Men nonite church has not grown in proportion to the nation’s population, participants were quick to men tion Mennonites' ethnic "exclusivity” and separa tion from the world. However. Miller also cautioned against getting caught up in the numbers game. We shouldn't evangelize for success or survival but because "Jesus called us to be the salt of the earth." he said. "Evangelism is the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ."
I Mennonite Board of Missions worker, John Driver (right), ieads a one-week SEMiLLA seminar in Managua. (Photo by Lester Olfert)
DRIVER CONCLUDES TWO-MONTH TEACHING ASSIGNMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA
ELKHART, IND. (MBM)—A two-month teaching assignment with SEMILLA took John Driver, Mennonite Board of Missions worker in Uruguay, to five countries in Central America this fall. SEMILLA is a three-year-old leadership train ing program for Mennonite pastors and other con gregational leaders. It involves ten national Men nonite conferences in eight countries and is sup ported by eight North American mission agencies. John taught one-week seminars on evangeliza tion and discipleship from a believers church perspective. “We looked at terms like gospel, salvation, conversion, discipleship, witness and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and asked, ‘What do they mean biblically?’ “he explained. The seminars involved John’s presentations, reports on readings assigned (largely by Latin American writers), small group discussions, and subsequent plenary sessions. In Metapan, El Salvador, 15 pastors and church leaders were present, mostly from Mennonite con gregations in that area. Several others were Bap tist church leaders who travelled six to eight hours
Audio-Visual Resource Available
SELFHELP Crafts; A world of difference A world of difference describes how MCC’s SELFHELP Crafts pro gram combines talented craftspeople from developing countries, Chris tian volunteers and North American shoppers who care how their money is spent. This set of 20 slides and 5-minute cassette may be borrowed from the E.M. Conference Office, or your MCC Office.
PAGE 14
to the seminar. Twenty to 25 Mennonite church leaders attended the seminar in Guatemala City, Guatemala. At tendance totalled over 30 at La Ceiba, Honduras, and included pastors and some students at the Mennonite Bible Institute where the seminar was held. In Managua, Nicaragua, 15-20 persons from the capital city and outlying areas attended the seminar. Participants relate to one of three Anabaptist-related groups in the country— Brethren in Christ, Nicaragua Mennonite Con ference, and Fraternity of Evangelical Mennonite Churches of Nicaragua. John appreciated the SEMILLA teaching ex perience. “I found that the closer the church is to a precarious life of suffering, the more affinity one finds between their thought patterns and those in the New Testament.” For example, he asked one small group in the Managua seminar what images best communicate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in Nicaragua. They mentioned images of reconcilia tion (enemies becoming friends), vicarious suffer ing (the just suffering for the unjust) and the witness/martyr motif (true witness involving suf fering). John commented, “Those are some of the most important images in the New Testament.” John said the people’s will for peace is extraor dinary. “They are tired and sick of the conflict.” One pastoral leader told John that Mennonites in Nicaragua live in a delicate balance of despair and hope. During the conversation with the Nicaraguan church leader, John told him that many Christians in the U.S. don’t know what to believe about the Nicaraguan conflict. The leader replied, “Why don’t they ask us? We would welcome more direct fraternal relationships with Mennonite congrega tions in North America, as well as in other parts of the world.” John returned to the U.S. Nov. 13. He and his wife Bonny will return to their ministries in Uruguay early next year. THE MESSENGER
WE BURIED MARK TODAY by Mark HursI
SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick—We buried Mark today. On Sunday evening we learned from the news that a man had been stabbed downtown. 1 said to my wife, “I wonder if I know him?” As Com munity Chaplain for Ex-Offenders in Saint John, N.B., I meet men who spend a lot of their time hanging around downtown. My work finds me visiting men in prison and then helping them get back into society after their release. Next morning the man was identified. I did know him. It was Mark. Part of me was surpris ed and, yet, another part wasn’t. Mark had been in my office Friday afternoon. He was really feel ing low. He had just been released from jail three days earlier and could not find a place to stay. He used my phone to call the local alcohol treatment center and was told he could stay there. I offered him bus fare but he declined, saying he thought he could get a ride. “Later man,” he said as he left the office. It was our usual farewell. He never went to the treatment center. He met some old friends from jail, went drinking and got mixed up in the holdup of a taxi driver. There was a quarrel after the robbery and he was stabbed. He stumbled into a downtown mall and died before anyone could help. Mark was the first offender I met when I came to Saint John as a Mennonite Central Committee volunteer a year ago. He gave me some of my most difficult times as chaplain. We also had some special times together. People were drawn to Mark. There was something inside him that made them think that he could “make it” on the outside. He was bright, good-looking and gifted. He wrote poetry and played the harmonica. Christians gave him places to stay, furniture, jobs, money, their time. They prayed for and shared their faith with him. He had a conversion experience in prison several years ago. He liked to talk about it. He knew how to talk to Christians in their own language, but I never knew if what he said was coming from within. Sometimes I became so frustrated with him. “Wake up, man!” I’d exclaim. “You have so much going for you. Take advantage of it. Get your life straightened out.” It was easy for me to say. We think that because we’re successful, other people can be, too. But it wasn’t easy for Mark, or for the other men I meet in prison. They are different from most of us— they have never really experienced love. When Mark was eight years old he came home from school and found a crowd of people around his house. Inside he found the police and his mother’s body, stabbed and beaten, floating in the bathtub. (Ironically, the police officer who in vestigated Mark’s death had also investigated his mother’s murder.) He was separated from his sisters and brothers and was passed from one foster home to another—34 in all. He got into trouble and was sent to reform schools and the county jail. By the time he was 17 he was in federal prison. The most time he spent out of prison in one stretch between then and his death, at 29, was eight months. I read some of his personal papers, looking for something appropriate to say at the funeral. He never got over his mother’s death, and spent his life looking for the love he missed as a young boy. I also found a well-worn New Testament. Some
JANUARY 22, 1988
verses from Romans chapter five were underlin ed: “For while we were still helpless . . . while we were His enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son. Having been recon ciled, we shall be saved by His life.” The priest picked up on that theme in the funeral service. He talked about God’s love for the helpless. He reminded us that Jesus came for the widows, the poor, the prisoner, the downtrodden. Shortly after Mark’s death, I preached during Prisoner’s Sunday in our area. The Gospel reading for that day was Matthew 25:31-46. It’s a familiar passage. I always cringe when 1 read how those on the left say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick or in prison?” Jesus answers, “To the extent you did not do it for the least of these, you did not do it to me.” 1 thought of Mark as I read those verses that Sunday. Mark Hurst is art MCC volunteer serving as the community chaplain for the Saint John, N.B. Community Chaplaincy. He is from Elkhart, Indiana.
BIBLE COMMENTARIES ARRIVE IN MOSCOW AKRON, Pa. — The Russian-language Barclay Bible commentaries arrived in Moscow December 21. “Praise the Lord. All Barclay books reached Baptist Union December 21. Many thanks. May God bless you all. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Sincerely in Christ” read the telegram Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) received from the president and general secretary of the All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians/Baptists (AUCECB). The only step remaining in this $500,000 pro ject is distribution, and use, of commentaries. The All-Union Council will distribute the books to chur ches in a variety of denominations, including Mennonites. The project was a joint undertaking of MCC, AUCECB and Baptist World Alliance (BWA). MCC and BWA have worked in Europe, the United States and Canada for the past 10 years translating and printing the books. February 9, 1987, the Council of Religious Affairs for the Soviet Union gave MCC and BWA permission to send 5,000 copies each of the 15-volume commentary.
Book Review Believer’s Baptism for Children and the Church. Marlin Jescbke. Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1983. Reviewed by John Koop, pastor of the Kleefeld E.M. Church. This book is timely and needed for all churches claiming to practice believer’s bap tism. I quote from chapter three to convince the reader to buy or borrow the book and
read it: “For example, it has been widely held that baptism might convey forgiveness but not necessarily a new nature; or that it might confer spiritual life but not require church membership; or that it might involve church membership but not regeneration. In a pro per understanding and practice of baptism, all these elements must be held together in a balanced and holistic unity” (p. 49). That “balanced and holistic unity” the author seeks to bring to the reader from the Scriptures and, in the reviewer’s opinion, he does quite well. He deals with “innocence and accoun tability” in one chapter, a subject that seems to create differences in our understanding of child conversions and children’s ministries. This book encourages children’s ministries, yet clearly advocates believer’s baptism, which suggests teenagers. “Baptism is in tended to be and should always remain the sign of an owned faith” (p. 117). We may have some difficulty with the author’s leaning towards the mode of immer sion, but even here he is charitable and we need to follow the advice of making our bap tism meaningful to young people who have not “lived in sin,” as we sometimes express it. The book ends with seven excellent points for a church to follow regarding believer’s baptism for children of the church. I would suggest an elective Sunday school class for parents with teenagers and preteens, with this book as a text. Christian Words. Nigel Turner. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 513 pages. Reviewed by Arden Thiessen, pastor of the Steinbach E.M. Church. Nigel Turner is convinced that in order to teach or preach well we must understand the meaning of the New Testament words that we employ. He reminds us that the early Christians, in many cases, filled their words with new theological meaning; hence, creating what he calls, “Christian Words.” This books is essentially a dictionary. The word headings are in English, Greek words in the text are in English script, and the language throughout is lucid and unacademic. Consequently, this book will be a useful tool for the lay student. A frustrating feature of this book is that it is not an exhaustive dictionary of New Testa ment words; it deals only with about 450 words that the author considers to have been used with a unique Christian meaning. However, the discussions are quite thorough; for example, “Baptism” takes up over four pages of text. Even the scholar or pastor who already owns Kittel’s or Colin Brown’s sets on New Testament theology may occasionally turn to this book for some quick help or confirma tion. Any tool that helps us understand the thought of the New Testament writers has to be appreciated, and should be used.
PAGE 15
From the Editor Sharing the Flame The flame of the Olympic torch relay is causing a flurry of excitement as it moves westward on its 18,000-kilometer course across Canada toward Calgary. As the torch passes, other flames are lit along the way as a symbol of the Olympic spirit. Hundreds of people have been chosen to participate in this event. Each car ries the torch for a short distance before passing it on to the next runner. Precautions are taken to ensure that the original flame is not extinguished before it reaches its destination: the 15th Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. The flame is shared. The second chapter of Acts also describes a sharing of the flame. As the believers were empowered by the Holy Spirit, a visible flame appeared on each of their heads. Immediately they were emboldened to share their faith, to share the flame. The result? Three thousand joined the ranks of the faithful that day. They were plucked from the kingdom of darkness and transplanted into the kingdom of light. The flame burned brightly. The fledgling church grew by leaps and bounds as the flame was passed along. Through the years the flame of the gospel has been passed from one generation to another. Satan in devious ways has sought to douse and extinguish the flame. At times it has dimmed and flickered. But never has the prince of darkness prevailed. From time to time the flame has been fanned by prayer, glowing to great brightness in the fires of revival. While we long to see an unprecedented revival in our land, we are witnessing with growing excitement the quiet sharing of the flame in many areas. It is thrilling to read the reports as they come into the office here. The torch of Christ, lifted high on the mis sion fields, is penetrating spiritual darkness, report the missionaries. The enemy does not yield his long-held territory without a fierce struggle. We must increase our prayer efforts to uphold our workers and national believers. 1 also get excited reading the reports from the churches, telling of their efforts in sharing the flame, individually and as a body, through such a variety of means. Harold and Mary Plett of Landmark are involved in the Choice Books ministry which our Board supports. Harold a few days ago reported to the Board of the ex panding horizons of this work. Not only are the books made available in stores and malls, but they are being placed in prison and hospital libraries. A recent breakthrough was the approval of Choice Books for
school libraries in one of the Manitoba school divisions. The flame is being shared. In this issue Gerry Dueck tells of his involvement in an evangelistic project in Mexico. Through the medium of film, the gospel has been presented to thousands of Mexicans, a number of whom have been saved. Gerry and his wife Blanca are leaving next month, the Lord willing, to teach in a missionary school in Paraguay. The flame is being shared. God has raised up a group with a burden to share the flame in Quebec, Canada’s Samaria. The Quebec for Jesus Team, affiliated with Janz Team Ministries, is presently on a tour of several areas in western Canada. Jacques Marcoux, the evangelist, told of the spiritual awakening among French Canadians. Churches are growing, people are finding new life in Christ. The Team’s desire is to broaden their outreach to the six million Quebecers through a television ministry. Pray for Quebec. The flame is being shared. We were sadly shocked on January 9 to hear of the sudden, unexpected death of Ken Friesen. Ken was the elder son of Ed and Lil Friesen, our Conference Pastor. Please pray for the Friesen family as they deal with their grief and loss. Ken had just completed his first semester at Winnipeg Bible College. While there he was involved in a class that went on a witnessing tour to the University of Manitoba. This experience inspired him to help organize and prepare for a similar tour to the St. Vital Mall by the young people from his church in Kleefeld. Ken passed on the flame before his was ex tinguished. He shared the flame. A statesman in the E.M. Conference, Peter J.B. Reimer, passed away on January 11 at the age of 85 years. Pray for the bereaved wife, Marie, and family. His life also was an example of faith in action. He became a teacher, at the age of 20, and taught for 43 years. In the Steinbach EMC Church he was the first Sunday school superintendent, directed the choir and youth programs; and later was elected to the ministry. Even in his retirement he did not sit back but was in volved and informed. He shared the flame. I hope these few examples of the zeal in sharing the gospel of Christ and discipling young Christians will en courage you to raise your torch as well. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16, NIV). Are you sharing the flame? M.H. THE MESSENGER
PAGE 16
2T86 M3N3y st >K
T0T06
yaoiiNyw ‘a'lytino EOT
ststst
EOT
tix