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The Messenger FVANGFI ICAI MENNONITE MFNNONITF CONFERENCE CONFFRFNCF EVANGELICAL
VOL. 28 NO. 6
MAR. 23/9< 23/90
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British Columbia Government Photograph
Warming temperatures and receding snow give promise of returning spring and renewing life. 1
The Caring Church In The Nineties Herman de Jong Co-ordinator Friendship Groups Canada
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uring the last decade an increasing number of Canadian churches have become caring churches in their communities. The involvement with developmentally disabled people and other minority groups which often find themselves on the very margin of the Church’s outreach has not always been noticed by a media which preferably sets its sharp fangs on the lamentable misbehaviours of a few well-known televangelists. Thousands of good deeds, spread over as large an area as Canada and often performed in the solitude of Jesus’ command that the left hand ought not to know what the right hand is doing, naturally escape the welltrained eye of the modern journalist. Yes, some small and large Canadian churches are really opening up to their communities. While in years past church walls were often fortified from the inside by impenetrable layers of traditionalism, astounding prejudicial attitudes, theological squabbling, attempts to self-preservation, all painted over by a whitewash of self-righteousness, today there are refreshing signs of reaching out to the hurts within and without church walls. Churches traditionally took ex cellent care of their own parishioners and the Christianiz ing of Third World countries, leaving the suffering of their local communities to be alleviated by small bands of Salva tion Army officers and soldiers and larger numbers of government agencies. Now ruling bodies of denominations, church periodicals, and lecturers at Bible college chapel times, are pointing to a hitherto forgotten area: the two square miles of community life at the very doorsteps of churches. The problem is that noble ideas are not always enthusiastically translated into deeds!
Jesus' compassion was never limited to His closest followers. He looked over the shoulders of His disciples and had compassion on those who were without a shepherd. Of course, Jesus’ compassion was never limited to His closest followers. He looked over the shoulders of His disciples and had compassion on those who were without a shepherd. He also went and healed every disease. So strong was his empathy with the suffering world around Him, that at one point in time He called His disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and heal every disease and sickness. It could be reasoned that Jesus’ manner of introducing the Kingdom through miraculous healing was firmly tied to the power He received from His Father. Any other religious leader trying to get a following would have depended on teaching only. But in the Son simmered the compassion which the Father had with mankind ever since it departed from His commandments. God did not turn PAGE 2
away from His handiwork; to the contrary, His concern with mankind culminated in giving his Son to the world. Jesus is compassion, to the fullest degree. He meant compassion to be the very cornerstone of His kingdom. The combination of teaching and healing is not time- or person-bound. He gave His disciples authority to heal. Long after Jesus’ ascension his followers continued to heal in His Name. 1 am convinced that miraculous healing still takes place today. However, Jesus places a much wider command ment before us: to feed the hungry, to welcome the stranger, to clothe the naked and to visit the prisoner. The very last verse of Matthew 25 may well be called the watershed be tween pure Christianity and a Christianity that has gone sour. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’’
“One clue to Jesus' ministry may well be the fact that He never asked His disciples to build a nice synagogue where He could centralize His ministry. ’’ What kind of hurts does one find within a one-mile radius of a particular church? Where are these miserable situations to which the church of Jesus Christ so often has closed its eyes? If Jesus would again be amongst us, walking through the streets of our cities and towns or driving a beat-up Ford van along dusty gravel roads of Canada’s counties and municipalities, where would He go? One clue to Jesus’ ministry may well be the fact that He never asked His disciples to build a nice synagogue where He could centralize His ministry. Roaming through the occupied land of the Jews, He met suffering head-on. I believe He would enter the group homes for persons with mental handicaps, which we now find in most communities. He’d sit on a sofa between Henry and Martha, both 50 years old, both forgotten by their families. Martha sings a song to Him. “Jesus loves me, this I know!” It’s the only song Martha knows. Henry just sits there. He has never been able to utter one coherent sentence. He has never smiled, because long ago there were parents who wished that he had never been born. Jesus takes his hand, and for the first time in Henry’s hurting life there’s a wide grin on his face. Jesus says to the very young staff person: “Thank you, my dear, for loving My children, but are any of my followers in this community caring for them too?” Jesus opens the door of a Nursing Home for Seniors. With some difficulty he disengages the door’s alarm system. He fetches the handles of a wheelchair and pushes it to a warm, sunny corner of the reception room. The old woman in the THE MESSENGER
wheelchair is completely bent over. Like so long ago, Jesus muses. “Now, now, why are you crying, Jenny?” The woman tries to turn her head, but doesn’t succeed. “Oh Peter, my son. I’m so glad you finally came to visit me!” Her mind is confused. Is this tall, good-looking man really her son? Jesus says quietly, “Do you ever receive visits, Jenny?” She shakes her head. No, that’s not true, she sud denly knows. “My pastor came last month, he’s a nice man.” Gratefully Jesus visits Bethlehem Place (a large apartment building for people who are living on the fringes of socie ty), initiated and now partly supported by local churches. He visits the county prison. “Few Christian volunteers ever come to tell the prisoners about the Best Foundation in life,” says the warden. Jesus also visits a boarding home for schizophrenics. He’s amazed what modern medicine can do. He talks to young boarders who smoke incessantly. “Do you not know?” Jesus says. “It’s all we have,” they answer with a sad smile. When he leaves the boarding house, white snow has covered the streets. “You need boots and a coat,” one boarder smiles. “Here, you can have mine, I never go out anyway. The churches are over there.” His hand makes a wide circle.
LONELINESS Maybe I’m somewhat qualified to write on this topic of loneliness. It has been heavy upon my heart to share a need that has been drastically neglected. Since I have gone through much loneliness and others have shared similar experiences, it might help to bring some thoughts to the open. I might come forth with some strong reprimands and suggestions, but I do this with a heart of love and compassion, seeking to improve the situation. The widows, widowers, the handicapped, the sick and the elderly are generally very much neglected. In James 1:27 we read, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after or phans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” We, the lonely people, often sit alone and cry our hearts out. It seems that there are so few that really care. Losing a spouse cuts right into the very depth of the soul. Part of me is gone. In marriage, two become one and if that oneness is shattered, it cannot easily
Church Street. It’s a weekday morning. He passes five churches, but doesn’t enter. With godly intuition he knows that, except for the pastors’ studies and the secretaries’ of fices, these tall landmarks in the community are empty. Jesus bends and picks up a long branch fallen from a tree. The ice-cover melts in His hand. Twelve o’clock—lunchtime. “Look,” says the pastor to his secretary, as she locks the church door, “some fun damentalist nut has been at work.” Large letters on a snowcovered church lawn. “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” A pastor of another church, worrying deeply about yet another deficit budget, doesn’t even notice he’s walking straight through the words, “As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me!” Just outside the town limits, a brand-new, super-modern church. Snow is melting on one of the largest roofs of the community. Slowly the words, “She has done a beautiful thing to Me,” disappear in the gutter. In the distance a Shepherd puts His staff against a telephone pole. He looks up. The wires at tached to the crossbar flash messages. He folds His hands in prayer. The “Caring Church”! This decade holds many promises. The fields are white to harvest, yet the labourers are still few! On what side of the watershed does your church stand?
be restored. It takes time, and the pain and suffering that a person goes through can be alleviated by family, relatives and the church, by visitations, prayer and other means of help. A lonely person generally will not reach out to others, but will stay put and go through sorrow alone. What we need today more than ever is a sensitivity of the Spirit. Will God really speak to us and direct us to needy people? If we walk in the Spirit, He will give us direction. I know we have brothers and sisters in the Lord who really care, but we need a whole army of Christians who are led by the Spirit of God, who will fulfill a great need, because there are so many who are lonely and suffer. 1 must, however, quickly mention the positive side. Personally I have experienced much love and support by some people. A dear friend a few times sensed in his spirit that something was wrong and called me. He found me crying and came and prayed with me. Then there were those who travelled long distances to visit me, made phone calls and wrote letters. One sister, while praying, became deeply burdened for me and quick ly made a long distance phone call. What a balm for my soul! 1 praise the Lord for these people, and I’m sure there are many more that are faithful in this ministry.
I would want to be the first one to admit that 1 failed many lonely people. I was careless and indifferent to the sufferers’ needs. I didn’t understand, nor did I make much of an effort to understand. My ques tion is, “Do we first have to experience loneliness before we can be a real blessing to the lonely?” Let’s ask God, in the name of Jesus, to open our blind eyes and hearts to become what God wants of us. I believe we can all receive a greater sensitivity of the Spirit so that we may know what God wants us to do. Paul says in Rom. 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” Maybe we need to deal with our selfcenteredness. We have too many excuses, saying we have no time, or we have to do our own thing first. How long does it take to make a phone call, mail a card or pay a short visit? Only one month after her hus band died, a lady asked herself, “Where are the cards and the visitors?” How can we forget so soon? Isn’t it pathetic and tragic to be so careless? What will it take to awaken us? May God give us the vision we need to become sensitive to His Spirit to fulfill the ministry that He has for us. Dave Dueck
THE MESSENGER is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Its purpose is to inform, instruct, and inspire. Inform as to what is going on in the Conference; instruct in Godliness and victorious living; inspire to earnestly contend for the faith. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor 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 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.
MARCH, 23. 1990
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Winnipeg Convention Centre mill be the setting for the pienary adult sessions during Assembly 12.
Assembly Program Takes Shape: Registration Passes 4,000 CAROL STREAM, ILLINOIS— Program details are rapidly falling into place, while registration has climbed past the 4,000 figure, report planners of Mennonite World Conference Assembly 12, entering the last six months before the largest-ever gathering of Mennonites worldwide. The Assembly begins Tuesday evening, July 24, with a keynote address at the Win nipeg (Manitoba, Canada) Convention Cen tre by MWC President Ross T. Bender of Elkhart, Indiana (United States). The Assembly concludes on Sunday, July 29, with an open-air mass communion ser vice in the Winnipeg Stadium. The daily schedule for adults will begin at 9 a.m. with singing in the Convention Cen tre, which seats in excess of 7,000. The sing ing will be followed at 9:30 by a 90-minute worship service featuring participants from various continents. Messages will focus on the daily subthemes of the Assembly theme, “Witnessing to Christ in Today’s World.” These subthemes include “Christ, the Light of the World,” “Living Christ as Community,” “Following Christ as Disciples,” “Proclaiming Christ as Witnesses,” and “Empowered by the Holy Spirit.” During the mornings, youths age 15-21 will meet for their own convention at the Win nipeg Arena. Junior high age students (13-14) will join the older youths in the mornings, then take part in recreation and service ac tivities in the afternoons. Older youths will share in the regular conference program ex cept for their separate morning sessions. A service project for Saturday afternoon is in the planning stage. After the large morning adult services, PAGE 4
participants will have three choices for follow-up activity: 1) Bible study groups in English, Spanish, French, and German; 2) discussion groups related to the daily themes; and 3) talk-back question and answer sessions with the main speaker of each morning. Since there is no single facility that will ac commodate the entire Assembly group for mealtimes, contracts have been signed or are being negotiated for meal service at several nearby hotels. In addition, restaurant guides will be provided to Assembly participants. Snack bars will also be set up in strategic locations. During the afternoons a wide variety of activities will occur simultaneously at loca tions throughout the city of Winnipeg. The programming will be based on the Life Cen tres concept—five focal points, each with its own emphasis: 1) Personal Wholeness; 2) Family Life; 3) Congregational Life; 4) Community/Neighbourhood; and 5) Global Issues. Each Life Centre will feature seminars, workshops, and displays related to the theme. Videos and slide sets will be shown, and the display areas will also include space for visiting, refreshments, and impromptu “street” performances by musicians or ac tors. Mennonite artists have been invited to submit works related to the themes for display in the Life Centres. Conference participants will be encourag ed to choose one Life Centre each day as the focus for their afternoon activity. At the same time, various churches and schools in the Winnipeg area will be the set tings for drama, music, and oratorio presen tations. Films will be shown continuously in the Convention Centre Cinema.
Because activities will be spread around the city of Winnipeg, an urban center of 600,000 population, conference planners are organizing an extensive transportation system. Contracts are being arranged for charter bus service to shuttle assembly-goers among the various venues, and, in addition, MWC participants will be able to ride regular Winnipeg buses free of charge simply by showing their assembly name tag. Several Park-and-Ride locations are being arranged so that assembly-goers with their own vehicles will not need to battle the city traffic. For those interested in more in-depth theological reflection, the MWC Faith and Life Committee is planning three afternoon activities each day—a “Forum” designed as an open-mike discussion of the Assembly theme; “a Roundtable” featuring an inter national panel that will help articulate trends and insights; and a “Listening Post” for receiving input from individuals. The Faith and Life Committee is plann ing to prepare an Assembly statement, to be read at the closing service on Sunday. This would mark the first time an MWC Assembly has offered such a statement since 1972. The Winnipeg Arena, a hockey arena seating 16,000, will be the setting for the mass evening meetings, with all ages par ticipating together. The 90-minute evening programs are designed as primarily inspirational in nature, with several music or drama groups schedul ed to perform each night, and the main ad dress limited to 15 minutes. These sessions will begin at 8 each even ing. Late-night music programs will follow, and special late-night youth activities will be organized at various locations. The Assembly will conclude with an out door Sunday morning worship service in Winnipeg Stadium, a football stadium located adjacent to the Arena. Throughout the week, programming for children ages 3-12 will be offered at Calvary Temple from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ac tivities will include Bible lessons, sports, arts and crafts, and a one-day camp program. The conference offerings at evening ses sions will be designated for churches in the two-thirds world, with a focus on leadership training, resource materials, exchanges, and outreach. The Sunday morning offering will be divided between conference expenses and future development of Mennonite World Conference, with a view to underwriting some of the cost of a future Assembly in a two-thirds-world setting. Registration materials are available from local Mennonite congregations or from the MWC offices. The addresses are 465 Gundersen Dr., Suite 200, Carol Stream, IL 60188, U.S.A., and 405-326 Broadway, Win nipeg, MB R3C 0S5, Canada. David Shelly THE MESSENGER
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LOUD MUSIC You might be interested to know what the Bible says about loud music - and then again, you might not. There are several passages that indicate perceptions of volume in music. The follow ing includes most of those passages: “ ‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain ... So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder” (Exodus 19:13, 16, 19). “And it shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the peo ple shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead” (Joshua 6:5). “Zadok the priest then took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the peo ple said, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ And all the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise. Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it, as they finish ed eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, ‘Why is the city making such an uproar?' ” (I Kings 1:39-41). “Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loudsounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy . . . Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres” (I Chronicles 15:16, 28).
“And the sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments to the Lord” (Il Chronicles 30:21). “Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals” (Psalm 150:5). “. . . and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly" (Ecclesiastes 12:4). “Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices. The set tlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains” (Isaiah 42:11). “Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression, And to the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). “For thus says the Lord, ‘Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chiefs of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, “O Lord, save Thy people. The remnant of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:7). "... and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no fur ther word should be spoken to them” (Hebrews 12:19). The most immediate and obvious observation is that most of the passages speak of loud music. This is not because only the ones describing loud music were chosen, but because there are no others. Only one (Ecc. 12:4) describes soft music. Another observation is that mostly the loud sounds are pro duced by cymbals and voices. We don’t know how loud, loud was in those days. Although decibels can be measured, even now loudness is relative. In any case, in the writers’ terms these events and sounds were considered loud when compared to others. Another sound that was probably loud was the trumpet’s “blast.” In most cases the Bible speaks of the trumpets “sounding” but in these passages it is a “blast.” So what does this prove? Maybe loud is alright (sometimes). Parents, if you want to withhold this article from your teenagers you certainly may, but you might also allow them to turn the stereo up more when you’re gone. We still do have our preferences and you’re still the parents. Dr Thiessen, a minister in the Ridgewood EMC Church, is Music Professor at Winnipeg Bible College.
EASTER AUDIO-VISUALS FROM THE EMC RESOURCE LIBRARY Enhance your Sunday School, club or church program with one of the following audio-visuals: Jesus’ Arrest and Trial THE BIBLE STORY OF EASTER Filmstrips, records, manuals (older The Tomb is Sealed elementary children, youth, adults) He is Risen! Cup of Sorrow (8 min.) Day of Gladness (8 min.) Contact: EMC Resource Library Box 1268 NEW TESTAMENT STORIES Steinbach, Man. Filmstrips, cassettes (7-10 min. each). ROA 2A0 Thirty Pieces of Silver (204) 326-6401 The Last Supper In the Garden of Gethsemane
Pastor Needed The Mennville E.M. Church, River ton, Man., is looking for a pastor. For further information contact; Dave Kroeker Box 370 Riverton, Man. ROC 2R0 Phone: (204)378-2859 MARCH, 23, 1990
Appointment
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CONTRIBUTORS: Marian Houghton, a member of the Steinbach EMC church, is a career missionary in Ecuador with her hus band Stan. Jake & Myrna Bartsch, EMC mis sionaries in Mexico, are members of the Stein bach EEC church.
Beth Steele has been appointed to the posi tion of bookkeeper/secretary at the E.M. Conference Head Office in Steinbach. Her job includes bookkeeping for the Board of Finance and secretarial responsibilities for the Board of Missions and Board of Finance. Beth lives in Kleefeld, Man., with her hus band, Don, and two children. They are members in the Kleefeld EMC.
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r Correspondence staff at HCJB in Ecuador. Left to right: Anabeila Cabezas, Linda Fiuker, Denise Zambrano, Marian Houghton, Edna Beachy, Karen Pedersen.
ECUADOR
Paper Pusher Or... ? The Greatest Work on Earth Working in an office each day can be bor ing or challenging depending on how you look at what you are doing. In each of the language services at HCJB there is a vast amount of paper being handled. It is also call ed “letters” and each one has to be acknowledged and answered. In our English service alone we receive about 1000 letters and reception reports a month. With a staff of two full-time and several part-time helpers we do quite a bit of “paper pushing.” First the letters get counted and opened. Then the file cards need to be found, or in the case of new writers, file cards have to be typed. Envelopes are also typed and routing slips prepared so that each person concern ed with the letter gets to see it. Then the readers get the letters and read each one carefully, noting down each thing the writer wants from us. If a QSL card is asked for, the reader has to make sure that all the necessary information has been entered. When the routing slip has all the information on it, such as which program was heard and whose name was mentioned in the letter, it is put in a basket before being stuffed. Stuffing just means that the things that have been noted on the routing slip are put into the envelope before it goes on its way to the listener. Now the letter that is left to us is sent to each programmer whose program was heard by the person writing the letter. This may be to only one person or to half a dozen. If this is not a first-time writer, we may have a ques tionnaire that he has filled in and needs an answer. If he has asked any personal or spiritual questions these arc answered as well. Now, if you arc not too bored yet, comes the interesting part. When the mail is opened and read we arc always looking for meaningful responses, cither to our broadcasts or to any follow-up PAGE 6
that we have done. Our grestest joy is get ting a positive response to what we have writ ten him or to what he has heard on the radio. Sometimes we get something like this: At a tender age of 13 or 14 I began listen ing to shortwave radio. HCJB was one of the first signals 1 received, and very strong at that. I do not recall how long it took, but on this particular day 1 vividly remember bowing my head in my upstairs bedroom in front of an array of radios surrounded by QSL cards and pennants and praying along in my heart with you over the airwaves from Quito. Simply in credible how God can use man (Marconi) to further the gospel through the tremendous outreach of radio! There were no fireworks or angels singing (that 1 could hear), but I do recall saying to myself that what I’d heard you and others report over the months made sense. Then we had one from an old friend: HCJB holds a special place in my heart.
MEXICO
1990 - Exciting School Year Attendance Increasing The new year, 1990, has been exciting with the attendance at school increasing to seven teen students from the four we had last year. Most of the new students come from a village about 10 km away. The school van we brought from Canada last fall is very conven ient to pick up these children every day. The new students arc usually tense when they start coming; it’s a totally new experience for them. It’s the teacher’s job to find everybody’s level and put them in the right grade. The students arc all determined not to go back to their previous school. Some of them have been mistreated and come to our school with a lot of fear. We arc praying that the parents will begin to understand and look after
I have enjoyed your programs since 1968 as a freshman in high school. I am always im pressed with how HCJB puts forth its ideas and faith and docs not try to cram it down our throats. Every time I listen to HCJB, 1 learn something. Thanks for all the hard, dedicated work. Recently a young man from Detroit wrote and said he was very discouraged by his home situation and had considered taking his own life. One of our office workers knew the telephone number of a Crisis Hot Line there and sent it to him. The next time we heard from him he told of how he had called the crisis center and was now better able to handle his problems. In time he wrote us of how he had become a Christian and need ed a Bible. Well, it so happened that one of the programmers here had a nice new Bible that had been an award of some kind. We sent this to Detroit and soon had an answer with many thanks. The most recent letter says that the fellow would like to serve the Lord and wants to know what he needs to do to be able to do so. Praise the Lord for results like this! Sometimes the response is not so positive. One man wrote and said he was an atheist. He didn’t expect to change his mind, but add ed, “You may send me any literature you have!” When we hear of people whose lives have been changed, at least in part because of HCJB, we know we are not just “pushing paper,” but are truly involved in the greatest work on earth, that of rescuing people from their lost condition and pointing them to the Savior. Marian Houghton
the spiritual needs of their children. Evening classes are held twice a week. We began with around 80 people but at least half of them have dropped out for various reasons. It’s not that difficult for those who did well in school, but others have to work hard and eventually give up. Sometimes it’s hard for us to know what is best for them. Occasionally we get together in different homes to sing. We are usually welcome and people enjoy the singing, even though it’s often in three different languages. As we look around us, we see how blind many of the people are and it’s sad to see so many people living in sin. Many seem to think that the less they know, the better it is for them. Will they ever find the way out of darkness? What can we do to help them? One very important thing we can do is pray, and we ask that you pray with us. Pray also that a pastor couple will be found to come and help us share the gospel with these people. Jake and Myrna Bartsch THE MESSENGER
Messenger News
\’ Saskatoon church congregation
Peter, Kathy and Jonathan Friesen
FIRST SERVICE HELD IN NEW LOCATION Saskatoon, Sask.: God is so good! The might be available to build a church. Lord truly is good and blesses His children. “In May of 1986 the congregation decided The last time you heard from us 1 told you to move from the North Park area to a more about our name change and our prospective growing type of community west of Circle move. I also requested prayer in reference to Drive. In the meantime we looked at other the move. Well, the Lord has blessed our churches (not in the west side) that we thought might be feasible. It seemed that we were sur move and answered our prayers. rounded by closed doors. Either the location We’ve been meeting for two months now in the school and I think everyone is a bit sur or the price wasn’t right. prised at how smooth the transition was. The “Last fall we pursued all avenues in the west school lends itself very nicely to church side for possible facilities, but came up meetings. Our Sunday school and baby room empty. Finally we checked out most of the areas are actually working out better than in schools in the west side and found one about the church we were renting. Everything is set half a mile from our home on the same street. up for us before we get there in the morning. The church decided to move from the North We just have to set up and remove our own Park to Pacific Heights. PA system. It’s been a very positive change “In retrospect, 1 still remember that sudden for our group and we’re looking forward to urge to look at a house on Centennial Drive what God has in store for us. Please continue (1986). Yes, we bought that house and have to pray for us as we continue to reach out in continually thanked the Lord for His leading. to the surrounding community. We never realized that our church would Following is Pastor Peter Friesen’s perspec someday be on our street. tive concerning the move: “Since we moved to Saskatoon we have wrestled with the concept of a church loca tion. At first I spent a fair amount of time in community studies and searched for lots that
“January 7, 1990 we had our first service in he Lester B. Pearson School. We also changed our name from Saskatoon E.M. Church to Westside Christian Fellowship. “We have prepared flyers to be distributed in Pacific Heights and Confederation Park, covering about 2500 homes. We finished our first distribution February 17. “On March 10 a number of students from Millar College of the Bible will assist us in doorto-door evangelism. We plan to do two more flyer blitzes at the end of March and April. We trust it will create an awareness of our church in the community. “Our program facilities are limited during the week. Our emphasis is to meet God Sun day morning in such a way that our lives will be directed to live for His glory during the week. “1 believe the church move was directed by the Holy Spirit and has encouraged all of us to work together. Praise the Lord!” Cynthia Kroeker
Pastor Needed The Portage Evangelical Church is looking for a pastor. If interested, contact: Dale Falk 179 Seneca St. Portage la Prairie, Man. RIN 3S9 Lucy and Jude Kiteta and their children
TEACHER NEEDED The Morris Christian Day School (Morris, Man.) is in need of a teacher, starting in September 1990. For further information call Ernie Siemens at (204) 746-8342.
MARCH, 23, 1990
CAMPERS’ GET-TOGETHER HELD Fisher Branch, Man.: It was very special to have Jude and Lucy Kiteta and children come back to our church for a weekend in early March. Jude gave a musical concert and was our main speaker at a few special ser vices. He was our pastor last summer and is
now studying music at Caronport. They are hoping to eventually go back to Kenya to minister to their people. This summer they will be looking for a Canadian ministry as the Lord leads. In February we were blessed to have John Peterson out for a country gospel concert. He sang and played at a few local schools. Many of the students were delighted to receive some of his gospel tapes as well. Beaver Creek Bible Camp put on a follow up get-together for last summer’s campers at the Fisher Branch Elementary School. Atten dance was very encouraging (almost double from last year). Another campers’ get-together is being planned at the Poplarfield School in March. We trust and pray that these gettogethers will be an encouragement to the campers to walk with Jesus. Obeying God at first seems hard, until we come to see that all he asks is for our good and makes life full and free. Happy Easter to all our readers! Rose Plett
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NEW PASTORAL COUPLE INSTALLED Swift Current, Sask.: February 3 was not couragement were given by representatives only a busy day. but also a special day for our of the local Fellowship of Evangelical church family. The ladies organized a soup Churches and various guests in attendance. and pie dinner, which immediately followed Lester thanked the congregation for the call the regular morning worship service. Then at to pastor, and Darlene for her unfailing love, 2:30 p.m. a special service was held to of support and encouragement. Darlene pledg ficially install Pastor Lester and Darlene Olfert ed her continued love and support to Lester as the senior pastoral couple of our in their ongoing work in the ministry. congregation. Lester and Darlene bring with them a James Penner was our guest speaker. His wealth of experience in a variety of areas. message, “Nurturing the Congregation into They were both born and raised in the Swift the New Year 2000,” addressed three topics Current area, and therefore are previous which are essential if we are to achieve this members of our community. Lester holds a task. The first topic was “Communication,” diploma in Biblical Studies and Missions from which includes not only verbalizing our Steinbach Bible College, while Darlene thoughts, ideas and actions, but also listen graduated from Millar Memorial Bible Insitute. ing to others. Second to be addressed was Lester has taken additional studies at Cana “Caring.” If we do not truly care, we will surely dian Theological Seminary (Regina) and fall short in the other two areas. Last, but not Briercrest Bible College (Caronport), where least, was “Commitment” - commitment to he is studying towards his Master’s degree. each other, commitment to the task at hand After their marriage on May 16, 1964, and, most important, commitment to the Lester worked for a year at the Swift Current Lord. Union Hospital, while Darlene worked at the Lester and Darlene were challenged to take local Research Station. During this time they every opportunity available to nurture the were active in the ministry of the church as congregation as the Holy Spirit leads, while youth leaders. the congregation was challenged to allow this In 1965 they were accepted for missionary nurturing to take place. service at Weekes, Sask., where they We were reminded that it is not the pastor’s pastored a church, with an outreach at Hud duty to fulfill every need in the congregation. son Bay. Sensing a call to the mission field, Rather, we too have a responsibility to assist they were acepeted as missionaries to Mex in any area(s) where we are capable, qualified ico and were commissioned on August 27, and led by the Spirit. 1967. After one year of language school in Pastor Tom Peachey officiated at the in Texas, they spent a year in missionary ser stallation ceremony. Lester and Darlene were vice in Mexico in itinerant preaching and welcomed into the congregation by Cornie evangelism. Following a five-month furlough Janzen, representing the church board. As they were assigned to Nicaragua to serve in well, special greetings and words of en- the area of church planting. Three four-year
NEW PASTORAL COUPLE ELECTED Rosenort, Man.: Due in part to this cor respondent’s recent trip to Belize, the Rosenort EMC news has not appeared on these pages for a while. A great deal has hap pened, however, including the election of a new pastor. Menno and Dorothy Kroeker ex pect to take on the shepherding duties in our church later this year, since Frank and Marge Kroeker plan to return to the mission field. We are thankful to God for His gracious leading in this whole matter, and we desire to help the new pastoral couple in building His church, the Body of Christ. We also want to wholeheartedly support Frank and Marge while they are still here, as well as when they return to Paraguay. Bill McNairn of the Union Gospel Mission, Winnipeg, spoke to us on January 14 on “The Good Samaritan.” His good friend Art, the night watchman at the mission, shared his personal testimony, having come out of alcoholism to Christ. “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought!” Agnes Friesen, our missionary with the Canadian Sunday School Mission, gave an update on her work on February 25. She also had a valuable lesson for the children. Then
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on March 2, CSSM held a regional banquet in our church. The program included numerous songs by the Glencross Quartet, a testimony by a children’s camp worker, a report by Bernie Dueck and a challenging message by Arno Fast. At the February Mission Night we heard Ken and Vai Zacharias report on Paraguay. They also had a slide presentation and a challenge to missions. Later (in March), they spoke to the boys and girls at our Awana club. Amos and Wendy Fehr and a number of our senior youth went to Briercrest Bible Col lege for their “Youthquake” recently, using two vans. They report having had a spiritual ly uplifting conference. On March 4 our Sunday school was privileged to hear Dennis and Amanda Anderson of The Pas as they reported and showed slides. Of no less interest was the native couple accompanying them. Burt and Liz Genile and their two little boys used their gift of song to the glory of God. They also related how God had used Dennis and Aman da to lead them to the Lord and/or nurture them in the faith. Amanda Anderson (nee Kroeker) was born in our community and liv-
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Keith Clothier, Lester and Darlene Olfert, Tom Peachey, James Penner.
terms were spent there before returning to Swift Current during the summer of 1983. Lester served as youth pastor of our con gregation from January 1984 to June 1987, when they returned to Nicaragua once again, this time for a two-year term. In the spring of 1989 they were issued a call to pastor our congregation. After prayer ful consideration they accepted and returned home in August 1989. After a three-month period of reporting to Conference congrega tions concerning the missions and outreach in Nicaragua, they joined our pastoral staff on December 1, 1989. Lester and Darlene have three children, Lyndon and wife, Bailey, of Winnipeg: Dan, cunently studying at Steinbach Bible College; and Elisa, who is presently in grade 9. On November 21, 1989 they achieved status as grandparents on the birth of their first grand child, Matthew Todd. It is indeed our pleasure and privilege to have them rejoin our church family. We look forward to the opportunity to work with them toward meeting the challenges and achieving the goals presented by Mr. Penner. Cindy Penner
ed here before she learned to love the native people and her future husband, who was already serving with the Northern Canada Evangelical Mission. In the worship service that morning, Amos Fehr asked, “Does God Deal With Sin?” The answer is obvious if you read the book of Habbakuk, the background for his message. Repentance and renewal came through as the needed remedy. Mrs. Mary Pearson of Calgary, a sister to Henry K. Dueck, passed away on March 2 as the result of cancer. We believe she made her peace with God in December when the Duecks and others visited her. Praise the Lord! Eduard and Abe Klassen played their musical instruments in our church on March 8, namely, the Paraguayan harp and the guitar. They are beginning a tour to the churches all the way to B.C. and Mexico. Eduard gives his personal testimony as well. The “Children of Light” and Archie Pen ner served in our worship service on March 11. Mr. Penner spoke on “God’s Last Words” from Revelation 22:10-20, and especially verses 11, 12 and 17. Can we respond, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus?” Thanks, SBC! Leui Dueck THE MESSENGER
OUTREACH GROUP STARTED Crestview (Winnipeg, Man.): A young adult group has started in our church as a form of outreach (young adult being anyone from the age of 18 and up). Under the able leadership of Ron and Sherri Hildebrand and Darlene Plett, the group had their first outing on February 11 at Camp Manitou, with 36 people in attendance. There were activities such as cross-country skiing, soccer in the snow, pizza making, snow sculptures, games and fireside singing. We wish the Lord’s bless ing on this new group. Frank Solnik has had major heart surgery. We praise the Lord for his return to health and understand he will be home shortly. Our congratulations go to Vern and San dra Esau on the birth of twin daughters, Tanya and Dayna. This marks the first time twins have been born in our church! Big sister
Amanda will be busy helping Mommy and Daddy with her brother Garrett and her sisters. We wish the Lord’s blessing on all of you as you raise your children for His glory. Our young people have been fairly active. 1 asked them to tell me about some of their favourite activities. The two that stood out the most were the Young People’s Christmas Banquet on December 16 and a sleigh ride at Miracle Ranch. 1 am told that on the sleigh ride it is beginning to become a tradition that someone loses his set of car keys. We have been privileged by our young people’s group leading the morning worship service and are really looking forward to them doing the ser vice again the morning of March 18. We have had numerous people in our con gregation go South for winter holidays. It is good to see them back home safely and once again worshipping with us. Jackie Warkentin
Parent/child dedication at the High Levei Christian Feitowship church. Left to right: Richard and Anne Oifert with Timothy and Stephani Anne, Eugene and Sandra Peters with Devin Nichotas, Henry and Caroiine Krahn with Landis Cherie, Richard and Kathy Klassen (pastoral couple).
MISSIONARY CONFERENCE HELD High Level, Alta.: It was a privilege to have our yearly missionary conference, January 19-21. The reports were encouraging as we heard from Paraguay, Mexico, Mali and Nicaragua. The slides presented gave us ex cellent information on a closer view of how the missionaries live and serve the Lord in other countries. It was also enjoyable to hear each different children’s feature illustrated during the weekend. Ken Zacharias, in church planting in Paraguay, focused on “one cent”; just as one penny is one cent so we as believers are “one sent” by God to do His work. Peter and Mary Thiessen, working with New Tribes Mission in Mexico, related their story of Peter in jail. Mary helped the children understand how the apostle Peter must have felt in prison and Peter Thiessen filled us in on his experience of being arrested and put in jail. Evelyn Barkman (teaching in Mali, Africa) enlightened us on how Mali women dress and MARCH, 23, 1990
talked about different types of jewelry. Those made of wood, hay and stubble can easily be burnt. Likewise, our own worthless activities that are not pleasing to God will also be destroyed. Lester Oifert, who has served in Nicaragua, spoke on Sunday on “The Nature of The Task” (Luke 4:16-21) - the Great Commision, and “The Method for the Task” (Matthew 20:25-27) - a life portrayed by Jesus. He en couraged us to preach and live a wellbalanced lifestyle, patterned after Christ’s ex ample, and challenged us by asking, “Are you willing to give yourself to that task?” February being Valentine’s month, we celebrated Sunday, the 11th, with a Sweetheart Party. It was a fun-filled, enjoyable evening for both young and old! We brought our sweethearts and enjoyed an evening of good food and stimulating games. Thank you to all those who planned a successful, lighthearted break from the seeming, long, cold winter blues. It does a body good to laugh! Thanks again. Committee, and all those who came and participated in a wonder ful night! Evelyn Steeves
PETE S. FRIESEN 1923-1990
"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Our beloved husband, father, and grand father, Pete S. Friesen, died peacefully in the Palliative Care Unit of the St. Boniface Hospital at 9:20 p.m. on January 29, 1990. He went to be with the Lord after a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer. During this difficult time his faith never wavered but grew stronger as the reality of his imminent death drew nearer. Dad was born to Cornelius and Mary Friesen of Riverside, Man. on September 3, 1923. As the oldest of a family of eleven and a product of the lean times of the twenties and thirties, he knew all about disappoint ments, calloused hands, and nagging debts. His elementary education, obtained in the Rosenhof North School, was sufficient for a life of usefulness. Life and living taught him more than he ever found in the pages of textbooks. As a young lad he was already dreaming of a life of togetherness with one of his classmates, Mary Eidse. But before this was finalized through marriage on October 1, 1944, he committed his life to Jesus Christ as Lord and had his vows sealed with water baptism on June 27, 1943, joining the Rosenort E.M.C. Both decisions were for life and for eternity. He never displayed any regrets for either of these two choices in life. Together Mom and Dad enjoyed their chosen occupation of farming, although they experienced some difficult years. Dad re mained actively involved in the farming operation until this past year. Throughout his life. Dad was actively in volved in the lives of his loved ones, willing ly sharing of himself. His involvement in community affairs was varied but he took a special interest in the sponsorship of Lao tian refugees, who also became his very good friends. His optimistic outlook on life and his outgoing personality gained him a wide circle of friends. This was evidenced by the numerous enjoyable discussions he had over a cup of coffee with these friends, many of whom continued to encourage him after he was no longer able to join them due to his failing health. Dad was always willing to take leadership in family matters. Until three years ago, he PAGE 9
was often the one who would be called when emergencies arose. Then there came a time when his role began to change. He was diagnosed as having a cancerous growth and the word “terminal” was used with caution. Gradually but firmly Mom moved more to the center of the stage. He needed her as she had always needed him. He looked to his family as they had looked to him. Many prayed. Dad and Mom kept reaching out to the Great Physician but physical healing seemed not to be part of the Master’s Plan. Gradually, even if somewhat reluctantly, he accepted the inevitable. The probability of an early departure was freely discussed with family as well as with trusted spiritual advisors. Although physical healing did not occur, continued inner healing was evidenced by his growing dependence on the Lord. On numerous occasions, in times of intense struggle, he would whisper the words, “God is still in control.” His greatest desire for us as family was that we remain true to the Lord, and that we continue to love and take care of each other. As time went on, he ex pressed an increasing desire to be released from this life, to be in the presence of the Lord. He deeply appreciated our reassurance that we would soon follow and be reunited with him. He was predeceased by his father, Cor nelius T. Friesen, in the fall of 1988, and one brother, Johnny, in infancy. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife Mary of 45 ‘A years, two daughters and three sons, Diana and husband Jake, Dennis and wife Helen, Larry and wife Pearl, Lon and wife Pat, and Gwen, together with nine grand children. As well he leaves his mother, Mary S. Friesen, five sisters and five brothers and their families, and many other friends and relatives. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who remembered us in prayer and with gifts of love and kindness during this difficult time. We would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff of the Palliative Care Unit of the St. Boniface Hospital. Their flexibility, dedicated service and loving care allowed us to experience Dad’s hospitalization of 39 days as if it were our second home. SAFELY HOME I am home in heaven, dear ones. Oh, so happy and so bright. There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief are over. Every restless tossing passed. I am now at peace forever. Safely home in heaven at last.
Mary Friesen and family
The funeral service followed on February 2 at the Rosenort E.M.C., with Frank Kroeker and Cornie Loewen officiating. PAGE 10
DAVE R. FRIESEN 1924-1990
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more ex ceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17,18). It has pleased our heavenly Father, the ruler of life and death, to take our beloved husband, father and grandfather to his heavenly home on January 18, 1990 at 8:20 p.m. He reached the age of 65 years, 5 months and 9 days. He was born to his parents, Henry and Helena Friesen, on August 9, 1924 in Rosenhof, Man., where he got his elementary education. He realized his lost condition, accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour, and was bap tized and received into the Kleinegemeinde church on May 24, 1942 by Elder Jacob B. Kroeker. He remained faithful unto death. On October 26, 1947 he was united in ho ly matrimony with me, Agnes Dueck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Dueck. Rev. P.W. Friesen officiated. We were blessed with one daughter, five sons and one foster daughter. In 1950, after a few years of farming in Manitoba, we decided to move to Chihuahua, Mexico, where he took up farm ing and secretarial work. In 1961 he felt the Lord’s leading to move to Belize, where he took up farming once again. For twelve years he served as mayor of Spanish Lookout, twenty years as auctioneer and in various other offices. In 1984 he decided to take up residence in Nova Scotia, where two of our children had already moved. He seemed to work with new ambition here. He suffered from kidney stones for 25 years and had two surgeries to correct this problem. In the last six months it was ob vious that he tired very quickly. In spite of this, we took a trip in August to see our children, relatives and many friends in Manitoba. Also, together with Dennis and Erna, we went all the way to the West Coast. He felt pain in October and had X-rays but nothing serious showed up. However, on December 30 we noticed a severe swelling so we sought help from Dr. Snow, who diagnosed an inflammation. The next day he walked to church with difficulty. On January 1 we went to see Dr. Snow again, who, after examining him, immediately made an ap pointment in Halifax, where he was admit ted to the hospital. After many tests it was diagnosed as incurable cancer. Upon his sincere desire, we took him home on January 11. We noticed his strength diminishing every day. On a few occasions he talked about having seen visions of the beautiful beyond that he so much longed for, where he would meet his Saviour in heaven.
At home he talked very little, a few sentences, but mostly words. He suffered a lot of pain and fatigue. The last six hours he lay quietly until he softly passed away at 8:20 p.m. on January 18, 1990. His wife and children were at his bedside. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9,10). As husband and father he was always ready to lend a helping hand wherever need ed. He also had a deep desire that all men live in peace and had a special concern for the welfare of the church. He appreciated the singing of the young people on Christmas Day. The Lord bless you all! He was especially glad to see his three sons come from Belize and Manitoba, as well as two of his sisters from Manitoba. He leaves to mourn me, his beloved wife Agnes, one daughter, Linda and husband Henry F. Dueck; five sons, Levi and Lena, Henry and Anna (Nova Scotia), Dennis and Erna (Manitoba), Menno and Mary, John and Lena (Belize), and Anna and Jacob Friesen (Nova Scotia); 32 grandchildren, three brothers and their wives, three sisters, one brother-in-law and one sister-in-law; many friends and relatives. He was predeceased by his parents, three brothers, three sisters and two brothers-in-law. We mourn but not as those who have no hope. We hope to meet him again in heaven, but we know we will miss our courageous husband, father and grandfather very much. We thank you heartily for all the prayers, help and food. May God bless you richly. The Family
Funeral services were held on Saturday, January 20, with son Henry Friesen, Rev. Wilbert D. Friesen, Rev. Martin R. Penner and Bro. John R. Friesen (Arborg, Man.) participating.
Teaching Position A teaching position is open on the staff of Rainbow Christian School, Vanderhoof, B.C. The school in cludes kindergarten to grade nine. The school follows the curriculum guidelines established in British Col umbia and the common curriculum established by the British Columbia Ministry of Education. A full-time teacher is required for a grade 7-8 class commencing in September. Applications should be addressed to: Mr. Bob Wilson Administrator/Principal Rainbow Christian School Box 1339 Vanderhoof, B.C. VOJ 3A0 THE MESSENGER
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Births
LOEWEN - to Ron and Phyllis Loewen of Portage la Prairie, Man., a son, Daniel Martin, on January 19, 1990.
LOEWEN - to Nick and Helen Loewen of Aylmer, Ont., twin sons, Joshua and Justin, on February 4, 1990.
WALL - to Terry and Cheryl Wall of Regina, Sask., a son, Brandon Taylor, on February 24, 1990.
HARPER - to Dave and Marianne Harper of Vanderhoof, B.C., a daughter, Brittany Trisha Aimee, on January 21, 1990. WIEBE - to Jacob and Tracey Wiebe of Vanderhoof, B.C., a son, Kalib Eric, on January 27, 1990.
REMPEL - to Gordon and Amy Rempel of Austin, Man., a daughter, Lindsey Denise, on February 14, 1990. PENNER - to Gord and Laura Penner of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Gina Lynette, on June 29, 1989. PETERS - to Abraham and Maria Peters of Blumenort, Man., a son, Rudolph David, on April 22, 1989. REIMER - to Munay and Gwen Reimer of Stein bach, Man., a son, Brent Conroyd, on July 4, 1989. KORNELSEN - to Mark and Sheryl Kornelsen of Steinbach, Man., a son, Tyson Brett, on July 9, 1989. PENNER - to Delbert and Melody Penner of Stein bach, Man., a daughter, Carly Mae, on November 25, 1989. REIMER to Bernie and Anna Reimer of Blumenort, Man., a daughter, Valida Karlene, on May 19, 1989.
PLETT - to Don and Rose Plett of Steinbach, Man., a son, Justin Donald, on July 1, 1989.
WARKENTIN - to Scott and Karen Warkentin of Steinbach, Man., a son, Ryan Scott, on February
27, 1990. REIMER - to Howard and Claudette Reimer of Landmark, Man., a son, Lee Michael, on February 8, 1990. BALDWIN - to Ed and Vicki Baldwin of Ste. Agathe, Man., a son, John Edward, on December 31, 1989. JANZEN - to Marvin and Myrtle Janzen of Morris, Man., a son, Mitchell Todd, on December 29, 1989. CHANTZIANTONIOU - to Kostas and Connie Chantziantoniou of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Alex ander Nicolas, on February 12, 1990.
PLETT - to Grant and Celia Plett of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Kirsten Leigh, on January 28, 1990. ESAU - to Vern and Sandra Esau of Winnipeg, Man., twin daughters, Tanya Jennine and Dayna Joline, on February 19, 1990. SCHLAMP - to Ben and Anne-Marie Schlamp of La Crete, Alta., a daughter, Kayla Renae, on February 9, 1990. KLASSEN - to Duncan and Rhonda Klassen of Ed monton, Alta., a son. Derrick Edwin, on February 5, 1990. FAST - to Don and Wannetta Fast of Steinbach, Man., a son, Lyndol Don, on February 27, 1990. DYCK - to Wayne and Corissa Dyck of Portage la Prairie, Man., a son, Justin Wayne, on February 24, 1990.
MARCH, 23, 1990
HARDER - to Ben and Gertrude Harder of High Level, Alta., a daughter. Erica Dawn, on February 8, 1990.
ISAAC - to Ross and Robin Isaac of Kleefeld, Man., a son, Fraser Henry, on February 22, 1990. FAST - to Jeff and Elaine Fast of Kleefeld, Man., a son, Joshua Jeffrey Frank, on February 17, 1990.
DUECK - to Wes and Jerlene Dueck of Kleefeld, Man., a son, Kurstin Wade, on January 26, 1990. BARKMAN - to Alvin and Gloria Barkman of Stein bach, Man., a daughter, Michelle Joelyn, on February 11, 1990.
Weddings PENNER-TOEWS: Harv, son of Willie and Rose Penner of Steinbach, Man., was married to Rhon da, daughter of Eric and Anne Toews of Steinbach, on June 3, 1989. The wedding took place at the Ridgewood E.M. Church, with Don Thiessen of Ridgewood, Man. officiating. The couple is mak ing their home in Winnipeg.
REIMER-PLETT: Jeff, son of Raymond and Lillian Reimer of Steinbach, Man., and Marilyn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Plett of Steinbach, were mar ried at the Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach on October 28, 1989. John Braun of Steinbach of ficiated. The couple is residing in Steinbach. THIESSEN-FRIESEN: Harv, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Thiessen of Winnipeg, Man., was married on September 16, 1989 to Sylvia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Friesen of Blumenort, Man. The wed ding took place at the Morrow Gospel Church in Winnipeg, with Edward Hamm of Winnipeg and George Zacharias of Winkler, Man., officiating. The couple is making their home in Winnipeg. SCHAPANSKY-DRIEDGER: Maurice Ward, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wes Schapansky of Waldeck, Sask., and Elaine Marie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Driedger of Wymark, Sask., were married at the E.M. Church in Wymark, Sask., on February 10, 1990. Lester Olfert of Swift Current, Sask., of ficiated. The couple is making their home in Waldeck, Sask. LOEWEN-FROESE: Henry, son of Frank and Neta Loewen of Chihuahua, Mexico, was married to An na, daughter of Henry and Agatha Froese of Aylmer, Ont., on February 3, 1990. The wedding took place at the Mount Salem E.M. Church in Mount Salem, Ontario, with Cliff Loewen of Mount Salem officiating. The couple is making their home in Aylmer, Ont. FEHR-ELIAS: David, son of Mrs. Susan Fehr of La Crete, Alta., and Sharon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Elias of La Crete, were married on February 11, 1990, at the La Crete Christian Fellowship, with Millon Fast of La Crete officiating. The couple is making their home in La Crete.
Hymnbooks Available Used hymnbooks available (Favourite Hymns of Praise). Contact Morris Fellowship Chapel (746-2424) or Lome Loewen (746-8406).
Edwin Friesen Conference Pastor
SOMEDAY, SOON ... Someday, believers of various denominations will put their historic dif ferences aside and join together in the wor ship of God. Someday, believers from various regions of the country will come together and unite their voices in praising “the Lamb that was slain.” Someday, soon, brothers and sisters in Christ will meet face to face for the first time and celebrate their bond in Christ. Someday, soon . . Well, actually the date has already been set - July 22, 1990. You say that conflicts with our annual convention? Not really. We’ll just incorporate that into our program. Confused? Let me explain. Over the years there has been a growing feeling of kinship between the Chortitzer Mennonite Conference, the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference and the EMC. We are partners in the sponsorship of Steinbach Bible College. Here our young people develop inter-Conference friendships resulting in a significant number of inter Conference marriages. In 1985 and again in 1988 we held joint ministerial meetings focussing on fellowship and mutual con cerns. Another tri-Conference ministerial meeting is being planned for 1991. In keeping with that direction, the EMMC got the ball rolling for a joint (CMC, EMMC and EMC) worship session to be held on Sunday evening, July 22. Both the EMC and EMMC are planning to have their convention in the Steinbach area. Both Conferences are now planning to shorten their convention by cancelling the Sunday evening sessions and then, together with the CMC, plan for a joint music/worship session to be held that evening. This inter-denominational fellowship and worship should be a great prelude to the worldwide gathering of Mennonites that following week, July 24-29, of the Mennonite World Con ference, indeed a fitting prelude to heaven, where we expect to join with the rest of God’s family in the worship of God. Maybe our joint worship with the CMC and EMMC, and then with the larger Men nonite family in Winnipeg, are like a choir rehearsal for our worship in heaven. 1 don’t know about you, but I find it a bit awkward to sing with the choir on performance day if 1 have not been to any of the rehearsals. PAGE 11
From the Editor I
DESTINATION: BRAZIL A DREAM AND DESIRE of many years has become a reality. Elvina and 1 have long dreamed of taking a holiday to southern Brazil to visit our brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Wendy Thiessen, and their four children. About a year ago we began planning in earnest. When we discovered that at very little extra expense we could visit a number of other missionaries in South America we decid ed to add that to our trip. On February 19 we boarded Northwest flight *782 in Winnipeg to begin our journey. Three flights and four stops later we touched down in Manaus, Brazil, almost an hour late, at about 4:00 a.m. Only one of our four pieces of baggage got off the plane with us. And it was not the one that contained our clothes. Abe and Dee Koop were there to meet us, but we were separated by a wall of glass. After some time we found someone with whom we could com municate in English. He went to check the plane but found nothing. So we left with his promise to try to locate the missing items next day. The Koops took us to their home and offered us their guest room for some rest. The fan and the opportunity for a cool shower made the warm, humid conditions in this equatorial city quite bearable. In the morning, after a delicious breakfast, we continued to become acquainted. The Koops first went to Brazil under New Tribes Mis sion in 1949. The early years were spent in tribal work in the in terior of Brazil. Abe is now the field director for western Brazil. With two assistants the work is administered from a pleasant office facility in Manaus. New Tribes Mission has about 200 missionaries spread over a vast area of western Brazil. Half of these are Brazilian, trained in the NTM Bible School and Language School in Brazil. Abe spends con siderable time travelling to the various stations and counselling workers. Dee works at the office in the mornings and often helps missionaries in their language study. After lunch the Koops took us to see some of Manaus, including an Indian museum and the military zoo which features jungle life. 1 have jotted down a few of our many impressions of Manaus: •The city is much larger than 1 had expected. •There is a great deal of industry, including the manufacture of automobiles and electronic equipment. •The land is quite rolling; 1 had thought it would be flat. •Most of the yards are enclosed with a brick or concrete wall four or more feet high, so that from the house you can’t see beyond the wall. Entrance is through iron gates. •Many streets are very narrow by our standards but handle a large amount of traffic. There are an innumerable number of well-loaded buses transporting people back and forth throughout the day. •There are many taxis and all by law are yellow. Most of these are well-travelled VW “bugs.” Horns are used a great deal. •Wherever there is an unused valley, or steep hillside, there are countless shacks on stilts—the homes of the poor. •The lush green trees and shrubs, the profusion of flowers and
butterflies, and the abundance of tropical fruit are products of a perpetual summer. Looking back in my diary, 1 notice that we had a fine supper in a Japanese restaurant with the Koops and the Sharps. At the con clusion of the meal we were introduced to cafecito, the potent “lit tle” coffee, served in tiny cups. Brazilians add a lot of sugar, and for us “a little goes a long way.” The following day (21) was spent with Dave and Laura Sharp. They first went to Brazil in 1972, although Dave had grown up in Brazil as an MK. They spent several terms doing tribal work in the interior. Now their primary responsibility is looking after the mis sion guest house. It conveniently provides accommodation for mis sionaries travelling to and from their tribal stations. After a tour of the mission compound we drove to one of the docks at the edge of the river where Dave engaged a motorboat and driver for a trip down river to the NTM residential school for MKs. It was a pleasant ride, first on the black waters of the Negro River and then on the brown Amazon water. In about an hour we arrived at the school, situated in a beautiful compound right on the bank of the Amazon River. The compound is surrounded on three sides by the thick, dense vegetation of the jungel. We were given a tour of the facility and were impressed with the efforts made to provide an excellent education and a home away from home for the mis sionary children. Kimi and Vicki, Dave and Laura’s daughters, both attend this school. After lunch, threatening clouds encouraged us to leave for Manaus sooner than we had intended. It was a wise decision; we managed to stay ahead of the rain which followed us not far behind. But we were not able to escape the rays of the bright sun overhead and so were guaranteed the discomfort of sunburn. The Sharps gave us a tour of other areas of Manaus: the docks for ocean-going vessels and river boats, the vast market, the industrial area and some new developments. After supper we rested while Dave went to lead a Bible study in church. 1 reflected on the many impressions of the past two days: •This vast country, its millions of people in great cities and in tribal villages. •The dedication and commitment of a large number of Christians determined to present the good news of salvation to all. •The evidence of a united work involving many people, each do ing the tasks for which the Lord has gifted him or her. •The partnership of North American missionaries working side by side with the Brazilian missionaries. •The opportunity and urgency for all of us on the “home front” to be partners with them in prayer, support and encouragement. •The time, perhaps sooner than we think, when Christ will return, calling to Himself all His children from “every tribe and nation.” (To be continued) Menno Hamm
THE MESSENGER
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