The Messenger July 20, 1990

The Messenger FVANCEI inAI MENNONITE MFNNDNITF CONFERENCE EVANGELICAL

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VOL. 28 NO. 14

JULY 20/9C 20/90

"I never felt good enough" by Helen Grace Lescheid

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s a refugee child in postwar Europe, I often pressed my nose against a store window yearning for the colored can­ dies I saw displayed. My mouth watered but 1 had no money. I had to trudge back empty-handed to the overcrowded refugee camp with its porridge, potatoes and bread. Later, as an immigrant high school girl, 1 longed to belong. My European long thick braids and outmoded clothes made me stick out like a sore thumb, but the most painful difference was that I was almost always alone. How I craved to have one close friend to hang around with. Gym classes were the worst reminder that I didn’t have what it takes. When dance partners or teammates were chosen, the cluster

"And I didn't feel that I measured up to Cod’s requirements either, if people demanded so much from me, Cod would surely want even more." of students around me dwindled as one by one names were called. 1 wanted to run and hide — 1 wished the floor would open and mercifully close over me. I wanted to yell, “You don’t have to choose me if you don’t want to.” Finally the teacher would give me to a lacking partner or team. And I didn’t feel that I measured up to God’s requirements either. If people demanded so much from me, God would surely want even more. How I worked to earn his favor! 1 made small sacrifices, memorized long passages of Scripture, faithfully attend­ ed church, never forgot my prayers and tried to be a model daughter. But I never felt that 1 had made full payment. 1 learned the truth about God in a Sunday school that met in a community hall near us. At best our meetings were unpolished and unorganized. Yet the couple that directed that Sunday school taught me the most important lesson of my life. My account had been paid in full by Jesus Christ. Two Scripture verses often quoted were, “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God and, “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved . . . And this (salvation) is not of yourselves — of your own doing, it came not through your own striving - but it is the gift of God.’” Our teacher reminded us that it cost God dearly to give us the ^ift of salvation. He would say, “By faith, take this voucher from fcjkinistretched hands of Jesus and present it to God, Do you think ^^^K?ct the offer of his own Son?”

escheid is a free-lance writer and a registered nurse at the L Abbotsford, British Columbia. She and her husband, Bill, |ki five children. They live in Abbotsford, where they atWliance Church. ® 1988 Helen Grace Lescheid.

One day in that Sunday school God let me know that he had accepted me. From that day on I knew that I had complete forgiveness and new life in Christ. 1 had done nothing to earn his friendship. It was pure undeserved favor. Simple grace. Although I knew that I was accepted by God, I carried my “1haven’t-got-what-it-takes” mindset into adulthood. My relation­ ships with others had taught me that I had to earn favors. Nothing came free. Because I was a shy person, my heart was full of fear. 1 didn’t even have ordinary love or a pleasant personality to give away. I felt too impoverished to earn human friendships. I’d watch others banter or chat — my heart almost broke with longing for a small part in it. I had no close friends — nobody to share secrets with, nobody who cared what kind of day I’d had. Marriage, I thought, would be out of the question. Then God sent along a 6’4”, bronzed, muscular, dark-haired man who was not easily dissuaded. We had briefly met as students at the Briercrest Bible Institute in Saskatchewan, and he followed me to Vancouver and artfully courted me for four years. As a hus­ band Bill loved me ardently. He acted as though God had given him a treasure of a wife. I’d hear him thank God for the miracle that brought us together. Once he sent a telegram to the hospital floor where I worked. It read, “Honey, I’m so glad you’re my wife. I love you.” I’d find his love notes in my dresser drawers or on the ktichen table.

"One day... cod let me know that He had ac­ cepted me. From that day on I knew that I had complete forgiveness and new life in Christ."

1 rebuffed some of his affection, but he never gave up. My hus­ band saw something in me to love. 1 could hardly fathom it. Slowly it dawned on me — maybe the fault lay not in who I was but in my belief system about myself. If that were true, I needed to renew my mind. I memorized Scrip­ ture that affirmed my worth as a human being. I used these Scrip­ tures to reject Satan’s accusations and my own negative thoughts. 1 also learned to take my lacks to the Father who so freely gave me what I needed. I’d say, “Father, You command me in Your word to love other people, but 1 don’t have what it takes to do that.” Through Bible teaching and helpful books he gave me in­ sight into what love is: not a warm, fuzzy feeling, but a kind and thoughtful act. “OK, Lord, help me think of something loving to do for . . . ,” I’d pray. As I carried flowers or a pie to a sick or lonely neighbor, I would recite, “For God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us”’; and I’d add, “Please, God, let it flow through me right now.” 1 was surprised how quickly and warmly people returned my feeTHE MESSENGER

ble efforts at loving. But the biggest eye-opener came with the realization that all my life 1 had been offered love by my mother,

"I memorized Scriptures that affirmed my worth as a human being. I used these Scrip­ tures to reject Satan's accusations and my own negative thoughts." brother, sisters and other well-meaning people, but I’d been unable to receive their love. Like a diabetic who cannot digest the sugar he takes in, I had been unable to absorb human love until God’s love, made prac­ tical and real in Bill’s love, triggered the absorption process. God’s love enabled me to assimilate love from others. God’s love was

the energizing force which made it possible to give love in return. My faith in Christ is not a crutch — it’s my life-support system. I received all this completely without earning it. It has been undeserved favor all the way. Sometimes I feel like a refugee girl who has been allowed inside a candy store. Or a young woman who has been chosen as a special guest to attend a great banquet. Some years ago, wanting to celebrate God’s undeserved favors in my life, I took on a middle name: Grace. Every time I write it, it’s a reminder to me and a witness to the world. No matter how impoverished you or I may feel, God has grace enough for us all. ■

(1) John 1:12, Amp. (2) Ephesians 2:8-9, Amp. (3) Romans 5:5, Amp. Bible verses marked Amp. are taken by permission from The Amplified New Testament, ®The Lockman Foundation 1954, 1958, 1987, LaHabra, California.

Soviets concerned about translation choices by Wilma Derksen Winnipeg, Man. — “We don’t need your money. We need your knowledge, your books and your help to lift us up to the Western level of thought,” two Soviet Union visitors told the Mcnnonite press here recently. “We were sitting in prison when you were developing your theology and we didn’t have that time, so our theological level is low . . . We need a deeply rooted, biblically-based theology.” Baptist pastor and editor Nikolai Epishin, and psychiatrist/journalist Vadim Molodyi, under the sponsorship of Art DcFchr, visited Manitoba for 12 days with translator Johan­ nes Reimer of Logos International to begin some of that exchange of knowledge. Epishin edits a church magazine, Protes­ tant. with a circulation of 30,000. At the beginning of this year he helped establish a publishing house which has already released 14 titles. He was also part of the organization showing the “Jesus” film on public television, helped produce the play, “The Star of Bethlehem,” and helped organize the Easter show in Moscow’s Olympic complex with Canadian Mcnnonite evangelist Viktor Hamm. Molodyi is the religious editor for a new na­ tional newspaper, Top Secret, which has a circulation of 3.5 million. As of January 1, he has been part of the Bible Society, which publishes a magazine with a circulation of 300,000, The World of the Bible. Both men arc continually amazed with the seemingly insatiable appetite for literature in their country. At the Easter show they sold 100,000 books. Too simplistic - The men were frank about their evaluations of the Western material that has been translated and publish­ ed so far in the Russian language. They described it as being too simplistic: “a-b-c-d, and you arc a Christian; a-b-c-d, and you arc a disciple; a-b-c-d, and you arc in heaven.” They feel that mission agencies don’t want to put a lot of money into translation so they translate light material. JULY 20, 1990

They are continually alarmed that missions agencies arc still not checking with them on which books the people in their country would like to read. One book in process now was, in their opinion, nothing more than “junk.” They are alarmed at the results of this simplistic approach. The churches arc losing their intellectuals. “In Moscow, intellectuals will ask if you arc a Christian or Baptist. If you arc a Baptist you are a semi-criminal. The Baptist message is too simplistic.” The worst part, in their estimation, is that they are watching people who come to evangelistic campaigns turn to the Jehovah’s Witnesses because they can offer them a bet­ ter education. “We do not have a system of education. We come with a lot of evangelistic noise, but it docs not change anything.” Not appropriate - The translation of the Barclay commentary by Mcnnonite Central Committee did not escape their criticism. “The Barclay commentary is not well received by the Baptists. It has received criticism from every segment, above and below.” The biggest problem with Barclay is that he is a rationalist who acknowledges no miracles. This project would have been more ap­ preciated if it had been accompanied by other commentaries. A preferable alternative or

supplement would have been the New Inter­ national Commentary. (In response, MCC says that this is in­ dicative of the changes that have been hap­ pening so quickly in the Soviet Union. When the decision to translate the Barclay commen­ taries was made, there had been less access to the leadership; the pastors they had talked to at the time had chosen Barclay.) The men are concerned that some books now in the process of being translated and printed, “arc not appropriate for our culture.” Since it is much cheaper to translate the books, publish and distribute them in the Soviet Union, they feel it would only make sense for them to do it themselves. What they need is exposure to good Western material. They don’t want the Western churches to feed into the already deep-seated, slave men­ tality that exists in their country. They want to learn to walk by themselves. And until they arc steady on their feet, they want Westerners to walk beside them. Epishin said that they were accustomed to the uncertainty in the land. “Russia has never seen a time of stability for Christians. We know there arc no guarantees.”

Reprinted, with permission from Mcnnonite Reporter.

Tom Sine to Speak at MEDA 1990 Convention Scheduled for Peoria, Illinois WINNIPEG - “The Business of the Future” will be the theme of the Annual Con­ vention of Mennonite Economic Develop­ ment Associates, which is expected to draw over 500 participants to the Hotel Pere Mar­ quette in Peoria, llinois, November 8 to 11, 1990. Convention 90 will examine what is in store for Christians involved in business as the pace of change accelerates in the new decade. Futurist Tom Sine will address the theme

at several sessions. Other speakers will include Mark Ritchie, Emerson Lesher, Dorothy Nickel Friesen, Jim Halteman and Marlin Miller. The Convention will be preceded by a day of seminars on business-related topics. For more information and registration, con­ tact: MEDA Convention 90 (402-280 Smith St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 1K2). Phone: (204) 944-1995.

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German Broadcasting Expands in Mexico Bram Siemens is excited about the challenge of sharing the Gospel by radio in Mexico. This month he has begun broad­ casting two hours a day, Monday to Satur­ day, and two and a half hours on Sunday over XEDP (710 Khz) at Cuauhtemoc, Mexico. “These German programs have a poten­ tial audience of 30,000," Siemens said. “They are vital, because many of the young peo­ ple and adults have not developed adequate reading skills.” The morning hour, from 5:30 to 6:30, con­ sists of news and music. In the evening a 10-minute meditation is added. The cost of airtime is covered by commercials interspersed in the programs. The weekend evening programming in­ cludes children’s stories, local talent, a homemaker’s program, greetings and a Gospel message. Testimonies and interviews, which are more acceptable than preaching, will be highlighted. Several local young peopie are becoming involved in various aspects of the programming. Since these programs are not subsidized by commercials, Siemens is hoping to raise the needed weekly support of about $360 CDN, half in Mexico and half in Canada. There is interest and moral support from Kleinegemeinde people as well as others in Mexico, he said. Bram Siemens, who was born in Paraguay, came to Winnipeg, Manitoba, with his parents, where he trained as a teacher at the University of Manitoba. He then taught in the Christian School at Mennville, where he became a member of the Mennville EMC Church. From there the Lord led him to teach in a Mennonite school in Mexico for four years. In the meantime he sensed a growing interest in and need for Gospel broadcasting. Bram is seeking the Lord’s guidance regard­ ing further expansion in a radio ministry and has made application for a permit to operate a German radio station in Mexico. He re­ quests prayer for this ministry and for response from the listeners. Menno Hamm

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Job Descriptions for Sunday School Teachers “Business and industry give their workers carefully written job descriptions so there will be no misunderstanding con­ cerning expectations and respon­ sibilities,” said Dr. Dennis Williams, pro­ fessor of Christian education at Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado. “For the same reasons, a job description is also valuable for Sunday school teachers. It’s helpful to clearly define what is expected of those who volunteer to teach the Word of God.” Construct a job description with which everyone feels comfortable. Here are some elements you may want to include. Sunday school teachers need to . . . 1. Understand that the ministry of teaching is God-ordained. It’s an impor­ tant job. 2. Be growing in spiritual maturity. Students will watch their teachers’ lives,

learning more from who those teachers are than from what they say. Teachers should be studying the Bible for themselves on the adult level, and be able to explain their church’s theological position. 3. Know how to teach effectively, in­ cluding an understanding of age-level devlepment and the needs of learners. 4. Be faithful in their teaching responsibility. 5. Participate in training opportunities provided by the church or denomination. 6. Spend time with students. For many this will mean arriving in class 15 minutes early and staying after class. Ideally, as children reach the elementary and high school age, teachers will also spend time with members outside class. A service of David C. Cook Publishing Co.

Science Project Winner at WMES The Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary School came up with a winner at the recent Manitoba Schools’ Science Symposium held at the University of Winnipeg, May 3-6. Alex­ ander Hare, grade six in Mrs. Nikkei’s class, received the Gold Medal from the Manitoba Research Council for his project on collecting and using solar energy to power a lighthouse. He was awarded a plaque for the best Individual Energy Project, Intermediate Level, at the Manitoba Schools’ Science Sym­ posium, which attracted more than 700 en­ tries. He also received a cheque for thirty-five dollars from the Solar Energy Society of Canada, Manitoba Chapter.

JOB OPPORTUNITY The Mennville Christian School is looking for a qualified teacher to teach several subjects in grades 6 to 10. Applicant must have good references and a personal commit­ ment to Judeo-Christian values. Salary range: $18,000 - $24,000. Send resume to: Ed Harms Box 338 Riverton, Man. ROC 2R0

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SUPERVISOR/PRINCIPAL NEEDED Supervisor/Principal needed for an ACE School, Island Gospel

CONTRIBUTORS: Helena Dueck, a member of the Steinbach EMC Church, enjoys freelance writing as a hobby. Kathy Bartel (Pleasant Valley) is a dorm assistant at the Black Forest Academy in Germany. Tim and LaVerna Reimer (Aberdeen) are in Germany under Mennonite Central Committee. Edwin Friesen and his wife, Lil, live in Steinbach, where they are members of the Evangelical Fellowship Church (EMC).

Fellowship (EMC). Contact Bill Bueckert R.R.1 Burns Lake, B.C. VOJ1E0 Ph. (604) 692-3362 or (604) 692-75S1 (church) U

Pontius' Puddle HOW CAN you EXPECT YOOR CHURCH TO INCREASE GIVING, MEtABERSHlR ANO

Support for mission when yoo’ve

REMAINED DORMANT FOR THE ENTIRE LAST DECADE ? I'M COUNTING ON A BIBLICAL PRECEDENT.

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Va/HAT'S TWAT?

COVER: Patricia and Douglas Giesbrecht en­ joy making refreshing cool drinks available on a hot summer day. Their parents are Abe and --(’ A miracle Regina Giesbrecht of Filadelfia, Paraguay, s Their dad works at Radio ZP-30. Cuarana is I a local, fruity, thrist-quenching drink. The photo was taken by the editor in March 1990. <r___

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THE MESSENGER is published every other week by The Evangelical Mennonite Conference Board of Education and Publication, Box 1268, Stein­ bach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0. Second Class Mail; Registration Number 0591. 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

JAKE - MY BROTHER by Helena Dueck

Last summer my brother Jake died. He was a quiet, listening sort of person, someone whom 1 loved and someone who in­ fluenced my life tremendously. As 1 think of him, recollections come thick and fast. A hazy, summer day moved by too slowly until the buggy with two people 'in it turned into our yard. There was a round-topped, steamer trunk in the back. One pant leg, caught between the lid and the box, flapped in the wind as if it had not quite agreed to the move. My sister Lisa and 1, watching through the window, laughed to each other, clasped hands and ran out. Once there, we stop­ ped short. Was this the brother we had waited for? He was a stocky youth, sober-looking, with an upstanding brush of dark hair and thick, dark eyebrows. His eyes looked strangely mature and he had about him a dignity and sadness not at all in keeping with his eleven-year-old physique. This boy had had experiences we knew nothing about. It did something to our exuberance, and from there on we proceeded with caution. The trunk was brought into our kitchen, with the pant leg hang­ ing limply by its side. That pant leg loosened our tongues. Later, with my sister and me crowding close beside him, Jake introduced us to some of the treasures in his trunk. He had pictures, toys and even some dishes — things that to my young eyes seemed very fine and spoke eloquently to me of his other family — where there was no mother anymore. That summer 1 was very conscious of having a new, big brother. He helped with chores and played with us. Sometimes we just talked. One afternoon 1 could not find him. 1 looked in every conceivable place, then stepped inside the barn. While getting used to its dim shadows, I heard a strange noise. It was my new brother weeping, wildly and uncontrollably. Never before had 1 heard anyone cry like that. I stood still for a few seconds, all

my insides knotting up. Then I slipped out of the barn and ran straight to my mother. From that day on our friendship took on a new meaning. It was as if Jake had always lived with us. He listened to my ab­ surd little-girl fancies and later took interest in my progress in school. By the time 1 was a young lady and excited about life’s adventures, Jake remained my trusted friend and mentor. He made me feel good about who 1 was in such a way that 1 did not want to be caught in any situation that Christians had no business being in. Sometimes he sat down in a chair, straddling it with his arms over the back, listening to what he had to say. chuckling about our jokes and sharing some of his own. Our hap­ piness and sorrows mattered to him. The friends 1 was with mattered to him, too. Jake himself knew the secret of friendship and over the years acquired many friends of all ages. Sometimes 1 almost thought he must have been born good. But he shattered that myth when he told me of how his sisters had been playing together and interesting things about his brother who was my age. He said he often had been angry with them and spoiled their playtime. “1 was angry at my mother, too, at times,” he said. One day, when he had been grumbling about having to wash the dishes again, she had looked up from her work and asked, “What would you do if I died?” Her words shocked and sobered him. She died not too long after that. When Jake came to live with us, 1 accepted him as my brother, yet he was not quite my brother. 1 was always aware of that at Christmas time when his other father, who lived far away, visited us. He was a day laborer and had crippled feet. During those visits, Jake was always very obviously happy, even if his father visited more with our parents than with him. In reviewing the life of my brother, the stocky lad with the upstanding brush of dark hair and the questioning eyes, 1 am convinced that the integrity Jake lived by and the love he spread around helped to fashion him into the kind of man that people could depend on and God could use.

Romanians Respond to the Gospel ROMANIA is a cardinal example of the Changing Face of Europe. On five previous visits behind the Iron Curtain, the Romanian evangelicals were forbidden to preach in public; put up foreign visitors overnight; print material until pictures and copy were ap­ proved; use photocopiers for church work; build churches without rarely granted permis­ sion; and listen to foreign radio stations. But, on this visit, 1 sensed the oppression and intrigue has largely passed away. The Secret Police, stringent regulations, suspicion, informers, the Ministry of Cults (Department of Religion) and much else that characterized Ceaucescu’s Communism have gone. There is a new air of release and liberty among the people that 1 had not sensed before. Out of the debilitation caused by a barrage of rules and restrictions there has come a new en­ thusiasm in the church. All of the crusade services we did were held in places other than churches. Six months ago, this would have been unheard of. Posters and display boards were evident in public. This, too, would have been unthinkable and impossible. And the crowds came — sometimes arriv­ ing an hour before the service, sitting expec­ tantly for so long, listening reverently throughout, and then responding quickly at

JULY 20, 1990

the point of invitation. This was a never-tobe-forgotten experience surpassing to some degree the earlier meetings of our first five visits. We had the joy of preaching to thousands upon thousands of people and saw hundreds

of them personally counselled at the end of the services. Hundreds of Bibles and Testaments were given to this great host of enquirers. May God help us to buy up the oppor­ tunities that are available through the open doors in Eastern Europe. Barry Moore Ministries

1990 - International Literacy Year TORONTO, June 20 (CBS) - The United Nations has declared 1990 International Literacy Year, and to promote this UNESCO initiative, the Canadian Bible Society has developed six Early Reader booklets titled “Walking With Jesus.” The series has been published in English and French, and work is underway in several of Canada’s indigenous languages. Book 1 of this series has been printed in Inuktitut (Syllabic), Micmac (Roman), Ojibwe (Roman) and Swampy Cree (both Syllabic and Roman). Translation work is underway in Atikamekw, Mohawk, Moose Cree, Western Ojibwe, East Coast Cree and Western Cree, with further languages under consideration. The English series of “Walking With Jesus” is graded in three stages. Books 1 and 2 are designed for the beginner level, using a specially adapted Scripture Text. Books 3 and

4 move up to the intermediate level with Scripture text taken from the American Bible Society’s Early Youth translation. The third stage is found in books 5 and 6 with text from Today’s English Version (Good News Bible). All of the indigenous language texts are presented in contemporary language and in a format conducive to easy reading. Production will continue through the balance of this year and well into 1991. The interest being shown in this series already, from within Canada and around the world, is extremely encouraging. The reality exists for these booklets to be distributed in many English- and French-speaking countries around the globe. Mr. John Page, Distribution Manager for the Canadian Bible Society in Toronto, would like to hear from you if these books would help you in your literacy program. PAGE 5

Missions GERMANY

“I Spoke as a Child...”

La Verna and Tim Reimer with their three children, Karl, Toby and Diedre.

GERMANY

Berlin - Before and After Breaking Down the Walls

“This is Berlin,” announced our four-yearold in spring of 1989 as he showed me his latest project - a piece of paper with all four sides folded up, much like a box. 1 recogniz­ ed it immediately. We were only too aware of that sometimes boxed-in feeling of living in West Berlin. Our children were well-versed in border crossings, car checks and long waits. “Are we at the border?” was the familiar groan from the back seat. “Shhh . . . Daddy can’t hear what the guard is saying if you are too loud.” After having lived in West Berlin for six months, and crossing often into East Berlin for church services, our children were amaz­ ed that when we crossed the German/French border last summer the guard simply waved us on. “Was THAT the border?” Now we are experiencing the casualness of such border crossings on a daily basis here in Berlin. It has become so commonplace that we easily forget that less than a year ago we would have said it could never happen. The tumultuous events happening to Berlin. Germany and Europe have affected our life and work here. We often talk about “before” and “after the Wall.” “Before” it seemed important just to be able to cross the border frequently and to be in contact with Christians in the East. “After the Wall” - that in itself is hardly an accomplishment. How is the Christian message relevant to a new era in Europe, a Europe that is not clearly defin­ ed as “East” and “West”? As walls break down and as easy access between East and West becomes commonplace, may the witness of Christians also freely access each other and encourage new spiritual growth on both sides. LaVerna Reimer PAGE 6

Language Barriers He was a tall twenty-year-old with white skin and red hair, striding his way through a tiny village on a remote Japanese mountain. From house to house he walked, carrying a small bundle of tracts, nervously opening front doors (the missionary had assured him this was “normal”) and calling out the assigned phrase, “Yon dai kudasai!” Usually it was the woman of the house who answered, squinting in puzzlement at the lanky stranger, as she jabbered away, presumably about the housework which had been interrupted. He smiled politely, and tried a slightly different intonation of the assigned phrase, “Yon dai kudasai.” (The missionary had told him this meant, “Please read this.”) The young short-termer worked resolutely and courageously at shedding his self­ consciousness before reaching the next doorstep. One day his concentration was broken by two neighborhood children. Before long there were at least a dozen sets of curious dark eyes. A tiny voice proudly enunciated, “This is a pen.” Suddenly, as if ignited by this spark, the whole crowd began to run after the man, shouting, “This is a pen! This is a pen!” Fortunately, the missionary came to rescue the bewildered tract distributor from his em­ barrassment. He dispersed the children quick­ ly, and explained to the young man that they meant no harm. They were only reciting the

first English phrase they learn in grade school in this country. With a look of great relief, the man smiled at their childish efforts to com­ municate with the foreigner. You don’t move all the way to Germany with your family of five without carefully coun­ ting the cost. You feel rather keenly that your three children, for example, will have their lives shaped by the experience of learning a second language. At first, the task of immer­ sion in a whole new culture is thoroughly intimidating. You find yourself thinking back to previous cross-cultural experiences, perhaps even ten or twelve years ago, to your term of summer service after Bible college. The GermanEnglish/English-German dictionary remains close at hand for the first few months. You really do want to be able to talk with people about the most important questions in life. You want to talk about faith in Jesus Christ. 1 can see them now. One thousand Japanese housewives peeking out of their windows, watching me leave. For every at­ tempt 1 made at the assigned phrase, 1 got one neighbourhood kid running after me with a phrase of her own. No doubt they were smil­ ing at my childish efforts, but 1 trust they knew 1 meant no harm. Perhaps they even read the tracts! Tim Reimer Berlin West Germany

Excerpts from an earlier report by Tim Reimer . . .

A New “Springtime” for Czechoslovakian Churches Gripped by the freshness of it all, literally beaming with freedom, but still listening every hour to the news for assurances that the in­ credible changes in his country were for real — such was the first weekend of December of Miroslav Frydrych, pastor of an evangelical church of Czech Brethren just out­ side Prague................ When Pastor Frydrych greeted me at the train station Friday evening, he began almost immediately to discuss what the political changes meant for his church. There would probably be new freedom to hold meetings in places other than church buildings, freedom for Christian education of their children and for open discussions of their faith................ For Christians in North America, where changes of government are “boring politics” for many, it is hard to imagine how intensely and immediately people were affected by re­ cent events in East Europe. Pastor Frydrych could feel tension in the air as he got up to preach Sunday morning. He knew that especially in small towns like his, there was a growing urge to take revenge on Com­ munist Party members now that the tables

have turned against them. Their corruption was no secret to anyone. “Rather than work revenge,” preached Frydrych, “we need to be catalysts for a new sense of trust in our community. Rather than painting slogans on fences, we should wear the love of God on our hearts.”. .... One of the clearest signs that the church is not remaining underground in Czechoslovakia happened, interestingly enough, under­ ground — in one of Prague’s modern underground transit stations. 1 was rushing to catch a train when 1 noticed a lively group of about 30 young people singing heartily to a crowd of about 100 onlookers. 1 noticed a police officer walk up to the crowd, observe for a while, then turn his back and walk away. 1 asked the singers if anyone spoke English or German. One young woman volunteered broken English with a glowing smile. 1 asked her what they were singing about. “They are singing about Jesus!” she responded excitedly. From the look in her eye and the tone in her voice, it was obvious that never before had she sung these songs outside of a church building. How refreshing! How challenging! THE MESSENGER

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Back to Pakistan

Another term in Mexico

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Mary and Peter Thiessen (Morris) and three of their children, Rebecca, Joel and Caleb, returned to Mexico on July 10 for another term of service under New Tribes Mission. They are in charge of the NTM guest house in Chihuahua City. Their oldest daughter, Anne Marie, will be attending Bible school in Missouri.

Alfrieda and Harold Fast and their family, Jordan, Kara, Stephanie, and Mary Jane (Blumenort), left on July 15 for another term of missionary service at the Bach Christian Hospital in Pakistan.

Please pray for the Thiessens.

Please pray for the Fasts.

GERMANY

Hearing God’s Voice My First Prayer May I tell you about one of our boys? David is a grade student in his first year at BFA. He is Taiwanese, has grown up in a Buddhist family, and now lives in Libya. It is exciting to see how the Lord brought him here and how he has continued to work in his life. He travelled to Czechoslovakia during the Easter holiday to visit his girlfriend. I want to share part of his travel story with you: Around 3:30 in the afternoon the train stopped between the Czech./German border. Some policemen came into the train, check­ ing visas and passports. I gave my passport to him, he looked at it and said, “Where is your visa?” I showed him and he said, while shaking his head, “No, this is not a visa, this is just a piece of paper. Take your suitcase and get off the train.” He took my passport away. I was following behind him because I wanted my passport back. When he saw that I was walking behind him, he became angry and said to me with a nasty look, “Get off the train now!” I took my two heavy suitcases and got off the train. I was very humble and afraid. There was another policeman who was stand-

JULY 20, 1990

ing in front of me. He told me to follow him. He put me in a huge room and I was the only person there. I sat down. It scared me, it made me nervous. I was thinking, “What are they going to do to me? Why did 1 come to such a terrible place? What should I do?” 1 just sat there, put me head down, looking at the floor, and put my hands under my chin. I felt so stupid and said, “What should I do? Oh God, please help me! 1 want to get out of this place. Ah, please!” After a while 1 felt really strange. Something really strange hap­ pened. I heard someone talk to me. He call­ ed me with a very soft and encouraging voice, “David, don’t worry, just don’t worry.” I heard it -1 did. God was speaking to me — He did. I know I heard His voice somewhere, somewhere in my mind or heart. It was just like he was standing in front of me and en­ couraging me. I felt so guilty, but I said with a happy smile, “Thank you. Lord. Thank you for encouraging me.” Then I put my head down and closed my eyes and started my first prayer to Him. I said, “Dear Lord, I know you are listening to me. I just want to get out of this place, and please forgive me that I refus­ ed you before. I’m sorry. Lord, I really am. Help me, please! Lord, I love you. I pray in your name. Amen!” I opened my eyes and 1 realized that the strange feeling had gone away. David eventually filled out enough papers to satisfy the police, and he was allowed to continue on. After his return to the dorm, David spent a night in his friend Jon’s room. With Jon’s help, he prayed and accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour! We praise the Lord for this answer to prayer and now pray that David will grow and be a strong witness to his family this summer. It is events like this that make this job rewarding! Thank you for your part in this work. Kathy Bartel

Unrest in Zaire Recent events in Zaire following President Mobutu’s April 24 speech, in which he an­ nounced major reforms over the next two years, have caused uncertainty and insecuri­ ty among the population, the church people, as well as missionaries. Students demonstrated, demanding immediate change and the President’s resignation. Student clashes with security forces resulted in widespread demonstrations and some deaths. A general strike among mine workers in the Lubumbashi region followed. Security forces dispersed crowds of citizens meeting to organize political parties in major cities. AIMM missionaries were able to continue their ministries without interference or danger. Although momentarily demonstrations have ceased, there is a serious call for special prayer because of the situation in Zaire.

Being a Christian means... enjoying all God’s gifts, but adoring the GIVER more!

PUBLIC RELATIONS POSITION The Steinbach Bible College Collegiate Division requires a parttime Public Relations person to give direction in the areas of recruitment and public relations. Duties to commence September 4, 1990. For more information write or cail Ben Eidse, Box 1420, Steinbach, MB, ROA 2A0, 326-6451.

PAGE 7

Messenger News VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE! Swift Current, Sask.: If it's true that “variety is the spice of life," then surely life in Swift Current has been spicy of late — it’s been a whirlwind of activity! (And speaking of wind . . . we’ve had more than our share of that too and a good amount of rain as well.) We’ve had everything from bake sales to car washes, commissioning services to vision ban­ quets. All in all, there’s been something for everyone. A whopping 34 enjoyed a super evening of fun and laughter April 27 as the Friend­ ship Circle bowled, or tried to bowl, in almost every imaginable position. We enjoyed a good old-fashioned family crokinole tourna­ ment in May. I’ve concluded that being able to play the game well must either be a God­ given gift, or else the result of years of train­ ing (of which I have NEITHER). Invariably I end the game with fingers that smart and a great deal of frustration! Thanks to each one who participated in the Sunday afternoon ser­ vices held at local seniors’ housing in May. The College and Career group got off to a good start with their first activity, a ball game at Rosenhof School on May 11. No doubt there will be lots of action with this group in the months ahead. And it just wouldn’t be spring without a Youth Group car wash and yard sale. What a good way to get the car cleaned, basement organized and support the Youth Group at the same time! Mrs. Gertie Dueck was honored May 6 as she was commissioned for the Lord’s service in her new calling as pastor’s wife. Let’s remember to pray for both Gertie and Dave as she joins in the ministry in Peace River. May God grant them wisdom, insight and much, much happiness in their marriage.

The Ladies’ Mission Workers participated in an overseas missions project, “Woman to Woman,” during April. We were reminded daily of our exceeding abundance in contrast to the drastic needs of even basic necessities, such as water and fuel for cooking, for many women in third world nations. It was a good learning experience for us all. Participating in the June 3 parent/child dedication service were John and Barb Friesen with Jeffrey Mark and Randy and Gloria Fehr with Brittany Allyssa. It was a special treat for Gloria to have her parents, Ernest and Elsie Funk, attend, since they are preparing to return to the mission field in Paraguay. June 3 could well be designated as “First Day” with the first Children’s Rally during the Sunday school hour, and the first watermelon and rollkuchen dinner organized by the Family Camp Committee, to raise funds for the up­ coming annual weekend event. It’s encourag­ ing to see new and exciting ideas being implemented. God gave us a beautiful day June 10 for our annual Sunday school picnic. We enjoyed a delicious dinner of barbecued hamburgers, hot dogs and “Bill Fehr” sausage, with sweets for dessert. After races and a ball game, the afternoon ended with an abundance of cool and refreshing ice cream. Aaaaah . . . summer! What a wonderful season! Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wieler bade farewell to daughter Rosanne and her husband Ron Poffenroth and family who returned to the field in Austria on June 11. Though the part­ ing is difficult, it is made easier knowing that they return to do the Lord’s work, and that He is with both them and loved ones from whom they are separated. We wish them the Lord’s blessing as they return.

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Commissioning for Gertie Dueck at the Swift Current church. Left to right: Dave and Gertie Dueck, Darlene and Lester Olfert.

The men were kept very busy this spring with interior renovations. Beautiful grey carpet was installed on the main floor and it looks great! A coat of paint for the walls will have it looking almost new! Thanks to each one who helped restore the Lord’s temple. The Music Committee has been promoting fund-raising efforts for the purchase of a new organ. We’re almost halfway to our goal of $6,500.00. Thanks to the committee and everyone who has helped us achieve this milestone. It has been a hectic spring in our neck of the woods, and the weeks ahead appear to be much the same. As we prepare for gradua­ tion, family camp, the annual EMC conven­ tion and Mennonite World Conference, let’s not lose sight of the One whom we are called to serve. Let’s not become bogged down with details, but instead rejoice in the work which we have been called to do in His Name. Un­ til next time . . , Keep Looking Up! Cindy Penner

CHALLENGED BY LADIES’ RETREAT

Nursery Class at the Swift Current church Sunday school picnic preparing to race. Front to back: Ryan, Shayna, Corissa, Mellisa, Josh, Denver, Rachelle, Gillian. Associate Pastor Tom Peachey is looking on.

PAGE 8

Braeside (Winnipeg, Man.): On May 26 the ladies of our church took one day out to focus on God and fellowship with one another at the Braeside Ladies’ Retreat. Attention was focussed on the theme, “Ser­ vice.” The songs and testimonies, and the talks given by guest speaker, Audrey Harder, sent the message that ‘God uses ordinary peo­ ple.’ The theme song chosen for the day, en­ titled “Make Me Like You,” inspired the ladies to follow Christ’s example of servanthood, with the words, ‘Lord, make me like You, please make me like You, You are a servant, make me one, too.’ Testimonies by Peggy Anderson and Arlene Loewen showed how two ordinary women in our church are being Christ’s servants. Peggy spoke of the possibilities of service for a mother of three young children. Her service includes listen­ ing and encouragement via the telephone, as

well as being a faithful prayer warrior for her husband. The group “Shiyrah,” who provid­ ed the special music for the day, sang the song “Prayer Warrior.” which emphasized the aspect of servanthood for women. Arlene began by relating how she has been blessed by the service of others and then told of her own service in three areas; in her home, in church and at work. Using the example of Paul in II Corinthians 4 and 5, Audrey Harder pointed out how God uses jars of clay (or­ dinary people), to carry out His work and bring glory to His name. She brought out the importance of focussing more on the Master and less on the vessel. A practical example of servanthood was given by the youth of Braeside, who served a luncheon for the ladies. The ladies left feeling refreshed and challenged to carry on in their service for Christ. Wendy Froese THE MESSENGER

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A parentichild dedication service took place at the Kleefeld church on June 10. Left to right: Wes and Jerlene Dueck with son Kurstin, Tom and Lucy Dueck with son Joel, Jeff and Elaine Fast with son Joshua, Dave and Joanne Stewart with daughter Clarissa.

GRADUATION

Kleefeld, Man.: Babies are a gift from God. Training these bundles of joy is a full-time job and we need the Lord for such an enormous undertaking. That’s why, on June 10, four young couples publicly asked the Lord to lead, guide and direct them in this important task. Some of the results are already evident when we look at our two-year-old Cradle Roll graduates. We had a fine group marching down the church aisle on June 10, with their white and black tasseled hats perched trium­ phantly on their heads. Pastor Koop offered a dedication prayer for these precious little ones. Not only were the little ones recognized, we also recognized about 25 adults from our church family who graduated from various schools, colleges and universities. Congratula­ tions and God’s best to you all! Some of these studious results are evident as well. Missionaries are serving all over the world. Jim Friesen, son of Albert and Elizabeth, has been a pilot with Air Serv In­ ternational for V/2 years in Mozambique, Africa. His main involvement is relief work, transporting workers who provide food and clothing in famine stricken areas. Presently Jim is on furlough, with plans to return in fall. Our prayers for safety and God’s blessings are with you, Jim. Another promising young missionary, Bon­ nie Bartel, daughter of Norman and Rosella, left for New Guinea on June 27 for a few months. She works with New Tribes Mission in their Destination Summit Interface pro­ gram; she is considering going into full-time mission work. We thank the Lord for you, Bonnie, and may He bless and keep you always. Another missionary couple. Rod and Eileen Seib, graduates of WBC, presented a most interesting report of their work in Taiwan. They will be conducting English Bible classes, as well as door-to-door evangelism. They hope to return to Taiwan shortly for a fouryear term. During our Mission Spot on Sunday morn­ ing we realized that Wes and Carol Schellenberg have a real burden for the Muslim people. They are working with Gospel Missionary Union and will be taking language studies in fall, after which they plan to go to Belgium. We appreciate our dedicated misJULY 20, 1990

Cradle Roll graduation at the Kleefeld EMC on June 10. Left to right: Tim and Jodi Hiebert with daughter Kendra, Abe and Kathy Bergen with son Derek, Crystal Esau with daughter Jasmyn, Ivan and Diane Naylor with son William, Gerald and Karen Friesen with son Zachary, Carson and Brenda Isaac with son Ian.

sionaries and commit them all into God’s keeping. We had a unique and meaningful Father’s Day service on June 17. Six young people, ranging in age from five to 18 years, gave tribute to their unselfish dads by publicly voic­ ing their appreciation for them. A most in­ teresting message followed by Bill and Anna Penner of Ridgewood. They alternately shared suggestions and thoughts of en­ couragement to all dads on how to train their boys to become responsible fathers: Do things together. If it’s mechanics and they break some tools, don’t fret; you can always buy new tools, but you can’t buy new boys. Agree with your spouse regarding discipline. Love them unconditionally, be kind and patient, just as our heavenly Father is to us. Impress upon them the teachings of God. They con­ cluded by saying, “Building boys is easier than mending men.” Thank you for sharing those words of wisdom. Singing stirs the heart to worship and praise. “The Language of Love” group of

Landmark did just that as they sang “King of Kings.” In order to give free reign to a wor­ shipful and victorious life we need to “Take my Yoke Upon You and Learn of Me,” just as the Winnipeg Fort Garry double trio ad­ vised us to do. Thank you for coming and cheering us on! It’s that time of year again when we get to enjoy God’s great outdoors. The Boys’ Brigade had a super time, fishing, canoeing and camping at Brereton Lake on May 25-27. Also we managed to have a beautiful sun­ ny day for our church picnic between al! the frequent rains (for which we are very thankful). The message during worship time came out loud and clear — “God is Faithful,” and to that, “let all the people say ‘Amen.’ ” We have had two special wedding anniver­ saries recently: fifty golden years for Bob and Eleanor Filer on May 25, and 55 years for Peter and Margaret Bartel on May 18. Con­ gratulations and may the Lord continue to bless you richly! Nettie Fast

Peter, Elda and Cheryl Reimer with an engraved tray, which was presented to them by the church.

Baptism at the Treesbank EMC. Left to right: Janet Friesen, Kurt Heinrichs, Will Clark, Sharleen Plett, Pastor Mel Friesen. ted with results of his excellent carpentry skills. We wish you many happy, healthy years of retirement. On June 24 four young people followed the Lord in baptism: Janet (Neil and Anita Friesen), Kurt (Herman and Lou Heinrichs), Will (Beav and Lorna Clark), Sharleen (Leonard and Luella Plett). All expressed a desire to grow and mature and be of service to Him. May God richly bless each one of you. Congratulations to Cameron Peters and Will Clark, who graduated from high school. All the best as you choose your different Vocations. Esther Plett

FAREWELL Treesbank, Man.: “Farewell” - the word means ‘Fare Ye Well.” This is our wish for Peter, Elda and Cheryl Reimer as they establish their new home in Steinbach. A barbecue supper was held in their honour, after which everyone was given an opporunity to express their appreciation. Cheryl’s musical and athletic talents will be greatly missed by our young people. Elda was one of the Ladies’ Group committee and also did volun­ tary work at the Personal Care Home. Peter’s many years as chairman of the local church council and the Carberry Camp Board kept him busy. Wawanesa and countryside is dot-

PAGE 9

I Commissioning service for Jake and Helen Martens at the Kola church. Left to right: Pastor Art Neufeld, Jake and Helen Martens, Ben Friesen.

Baptism and membership reception at the Fort Garry church on May 27. Left to right: Randall Thiessen, Jennifer Klassen, Paul Millburn, Mario Reimer.

MEN’S WIND-UP BREAKFAST ENJOYED Fort Garry (Winnipeg, Man.): Approx imately forty men and boys of all ages par­ ticipated in a special father/son breakfast on Saturday, June 16, at the Dakota Motor Hotel. Those in attendance came from Blumenort, Brandon, Landmark, Steinbach and Winnipg. In addition, there was one per­ son from Mexico and two from New­ foundland. The youngest person attending was two-year-old James Wieler and the oldest one was Aron Bueckert. Two families, the Loewens and Pletts, were represented by three generations of males. There were six grandfathers and one set of twins present. The regular Fort Garry men’s breakfast is held monthly and provides an opportunty for informal fellowship and sharing. At the wind­ up breakfast the theme was relevant to fathers and sons. A story about fishing and a verse on being a communicative parent were shared with the group. “When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, ‘Lay hold of my words with all your heart, keep

COUPLE COMMISSIONED

my commands and you will live’ ” (Proverbs 4:3,4). Fatherhood is a God-given privilege and a responsibility that may prove to be more challenging than a career and more rewarding than fathers would have believed possible. The bonding that begins at birth, once made, lasts a lifetime. Warm, loving fathers produce more competent and secure offspring. A father who loves his children unconditional­ ly, will draw a family together. His children will honour him as he models the love of Christ for the church and the union of Christ with the church. The standard of obedience is “in the Lord,” and NOT absolutely arbitrary. The family is the place where character is formed and home is the place where “they take you in when you have nowhere else to go.” How fortunate for those sons who are able to say, “You taught me well. Dad.” For those sons and daughters who are hurting and in pain, there is hope and joy in new beginnings.

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Mervin Brandt of Grande Prairie shared a short devotional.

Kola, Man.: On March 25 a commission­ ing service was held for Jake and Helen Martens. Ben Friesen, Canadian Secretary for the EMC Board of Missions, was present for this meeting. Jake and Helen have already been active in serving at the Sioux Valley In­ dian Reservation since Dave and Helen Plett retired from this work. Besides Sunday morning services, they are also involved with a mid-week service, VBS and other activities on the reserve. This keeps them busy since the reserve is almost an hour’s drive from their home. They are often helped out by Roland and Judy Sinclair, whose assistance is much appreciated. They need our prayers for this challenging and often frustrating outreach. The service was followed by refreshments and a time of fellowship. Pat Schellenberg BEGINNINGS OF A NEW CHURCH Grande Prairie, Alta.: A new church - or shall we say the beginnings of a new church - were discussed at a supper meeting in Grande Prairie, Alta., on June 17, 1990. Twenty-five people met to talk about some aspects involving the start of a new church. Pastor Richard Klassen from High Level Christian Fellowship chaired the meeting, Mervin Brandt of Grande Prairie shared a short devotional, and Ben Friesen of Stein­ bach, Man. (representing the EMC Board of Missions) led the business part of the meeting. Most of the Grande Prairie people present showed great interest in pursuing the plans for a new EMC church. A steering commit­ tee was elected to start things rolling. Your prayers will be much appreciated as we get together for planning sessions. “The Lord is faithful and He will do it.” Betty Brandt Correction: In the “By the Way” column in the July 6/90 issue of The Messenger, the last paragraph should have read, “It marks the 50th year of our married life together,” not “15th,” as printed. We apologize for the error. Dave and Helen Schellenberg invite you to join them on August 5, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the E.M. Church, 422 Main St., Steinbach, on the occasion of their GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY. THE MESSENGER

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Playin^ball Reception of new members of La Crete Christian Fellowship on June 24, 1990. Left to right: Pastor Milton and Gladys Fast, Bill and Sara Neudorf, Dave and Tina Loewen, Peter and Carol Friesen, Bill Schellenberg, Anne Peters, Assistant Pastor Dave and Sharon Siemens.

JULY 20, 1990

’ “and Baptismal service at La Crete Christian Fellowship on June 24, 1990. Back: Cameron Peters, Harvey Derksen, Marlin Penner, Kathy Friesen, Cheryl Wiebe, Lori Wiebe. Front: Gwen Elias, Annie Derksen, Judy Wolfe, Eva Braun, Sally Friesen, Gladys and Milton Fast (pastoral couple). —Frieda Boehlig

PAGE 11

From the Editor Guest Editorial

MOVING TOGETHER-CAUTIOUSLY WITH ALL THE Inter-Mennonite activity this summer, maybe it’s appropriate to reflect on how the EMC fits into all this. At our own convention we expect to have a number of national church leaders from our sister Conferences in Mexico, Nicaragua and Paraguay. This will provide international flavour to our concept of Conference. As a finale to our convention, we will be joining the Chortitzer Mennonite Conference and the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference for a joint musical celebration. Though we have different historical roots, there is a growing friendship, as evidenced by joint ministerial meetings in 1985 and again in 1988. Our missions people have met to share information and create understanding. We are joint sponsors of SBC, where many of our young people go for their Bible training. They too are developing inter-Conference friendships, resulting in a number of “inter-Conference marriages” Who knows what im­ pact these marriages will have on future inter-Conference rela­ tionships! (If my faint recollection of European history is right, kingdoms were sometimes brought together and boundaries ex­ tended through strategically arranged marriages.) And then there is the Mennonite World Conference, embrac­ ing a rather wide spectrum of people under the umbrella of “Mennonite.” I’m not sure how we fit in, but by participating we hope to enrich that spectrum. Historically, our Conference has been more concerned about being a pure church than about inter-Conference dialogue and unity. We were born through division in Russia and suffered the scorn of the larger Mennonite church. Over the years we have experienced the pain of separation when several groups left our Conference. The reasons were varied and at times hard to ascertain. Shortly after the migra­ tion to North America in 1874, John Holdeman, a dynamic American preacher, led about a third of the Kleine Gemeinde and most of the ministers into what became known as the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. When the Kleine Gemeinde migrated to North America in 1874, about a third of them settled in Nebraska/Kansas. Though serious attempts were made to maintain relationships between Manitoba and Nebraska/Kansas, eventually differences and distance took their toll, with the break coming in 1944. In the late 1940s, a large contingent of Kleine Gemeinde peo­ ple moved to Mexico, distancing themselves from the Canadian Conference. They have retained the Kleine Gemeinde name. During the ’60s, a number of people in Manitoba’s Interlake area left to form the Interlake Mennonite Fellowship. Christian unity calls for a delicate balancing act. On the one side we are deeply committed to ethical and doctrinal purity, on which people at times disagree, and on the other side we also have a concern for Christian unity, which calls for some tolerance. Given our history of separation, one might be tempted to say that in the past we leaned too heavily on the side of ‘purity,’ but it should be noted that serious attempts were made at uni­ ty.>.Many personal friendships remain and new ones are being

formed. There is also a growing openness for dialogue with some of the groups. The above is part of our history. What about the future? How will we balance the issues of ‘purity’ and unity within the Conference and beyond? At this time our Conference appears open to inter-Conference dialogue and, with time, this will likely increase. Our growing friendship with the CMC and EMMC is evidence of this. The leaders of these three Conferences affirmed this direction in a joint statement issued in 1989: “We, as Con­ ference leaders, affirm our fellowship in Christ, and commit ourselves to continue to nurture inter-Conference relationships. We are open to working together where/when opportunities present themselves” There are other factors that also push for closer ties between our Conferences. Consider the following; • Our present separation is based more on historical events than present realities; e g., geographic origin in Europe, geographic settlement in Canada, renewal experiences, etc. This means that the reasons for our separateness will be less meaningful and less convincing to each succeeding generation. Along with other people, Mennonite people are leaving the rural areas and moving into the cities. As long as the peo­ ple of the various Conferences lived in fairly well-defined separate, rural areas, it made good sense to be separate. However, as people move to more urban areas and in­ teract with people of various spiritual traditions, both Men­ nonite and other, the distinctness of our historical dif­ ferences tends to fade, as we discover our commonness with believers of other churches, particularly Mennonites. The world has become a global village and wherever we go we bump into each other as Mennonite Conferences. To explain our historically-based differences in international settings seems artificial and not very convincing. Many of our churches have quite a mosaic of ethnic backgrounds reflected in their congregation. These firstgeneration Mennonites do not understand, nor are they in­ terested in propagating, a view of the church/Conference based on cultural homogeneity. As the young people of various Mennonite Conferences study together at SBC, they develop similar theology, become aware of and better informed about the various Conferences and form many inter-Conference friendships. Because we are a small Conference, our identity as an Anabaptist Conference is threatened in the context of the large evangelical influence. If we know our histories, we know why there are a number of small Mennonite Conferences. Will (or do) the historic reasons for being separate make sense to our children? grandchildren? Edwin Friesen

EMC Conference Pastor

THE MESSENGER

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