Vol. 2, No. 4 Feb. 21, 1934
EVANGELICAL
MENNONITE
Annual Rest-Haven MeetingRiots in Calcutta
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Preachiii; in the Sixtie-s
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Portage Church Nears Completion 7 News
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“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, 0 Lord, Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou. Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, in his word do I hope.’’
Psalm 130:1-5
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-‘A.SU Jfll SPIRII’ AND THE BRIDE SAY, COME. AND LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, COME. AND LET HIM THAT IS ATHIRST COME. AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.” REV. 22.17
Rest-Haven Board
Reveals Extension
Plans Annual Best Haven Meeting The annual meeting of the Best Ha ven Nursing Home took place in the Steinbach E.M. Church on January 29, 1964 at 7:30. Functions of the administration. Own ers of the Institution are the five distriots as follows: Blumenort, Kleefeld, Prairie Bose, Bidgewood, and Stein bach. The ministers, deacons, anl con ference delegates of the said locals are governing body of the Best Haven Coun cil and is responsible for its operation. The Board of Directors are appointed in the following manner: each of the dis-
triots elect their representative on the local scene while four additional mem bers who are to carry an overall re sponsibility are elected alternatively, two each year when the Board and Coun cil come together for its annual meet ing. Order of Meeting. Rev. J. P. Dueck op ened the meeting with scripture read ing and prayer after which Rev, F. D. Reimer as Conference Moderator pre.sided over the meeting and Br. A. R. Reimer was appointed recording secre tary. Minutes of last meeting were dis pensed and proceeded by election of members and reports of operation of the Institute. A nominating committee was elected to present a slate of candi dates from which two board members were elected. Elected for a two year term were the brethren, Albert Friesen, Kleefeld; and Henry A. Reimer, Stein bach. Besides the two interm members, Bev. P. Guenther and C. A. Plett both of Prairie Rose and the local repre sentatives: A. K. Penner, Blumenort; Levi Schellenberg, Kleefeld; Isaac P. Rei mer, Prairie Rose; Ben R. Plett, Ridge wood and F. D. Kroeker, Steinbach form
the Board of Directors. The Board con sisting of Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary and members organizes itself. Report, Building. Together with the committee the board has been engaged in planning the construction of senior housing units. Business transaction such as hiring the services of an architect, processing legal documents for incor poration, erecting a financial structure have been carried out an* tenders are to be let in the near future. After the owners of the “Housing Units” have furnished 5% of costs and provided land the government supplies one third in the form of grant and the balance can be loaned from the National Housing. This venture when in full operation is to pay for itself in a given time and is favourably supported by the Provincial Senior Citizen Housing department. Report, Operation. 14 persons passed away during the past year. The staff at present is complete. There are 54 pa tients at present but there is room for 58. Building payments are up-to-date. $11,000.00 has been paid off in 1963. Government officials are favourably im(Cont’d. page 8)
bought people faithfully preaching the Gospel could prolong this liberty.
EDIT
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Letters to the Editor BARKMANS COMING HOME
Leopoldville, Rep. du Congo, Feb. 13, 1964 UNREST Uprisings in Kwili Province, Republic of Congo; intercommuual violence on Cyprus, fighting in Viet nam ; riots in Calcutta and bloodshed in Panama all remind us of the words of Paul to Timo.thy (11 Tim. 3:1) “This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come . . ” These could well be those days: Although we in Canada have been spared these up risings we have no. guarantee that this will prevail. The human heart is still deceitful and desparately wicked (Jer. 17:9) This condition knows no International boundaries either.
The unrestricted travel and freedom of speech which we still enjoy in this Land are privileges that we should hold dear. But much more than that, o.f which we should take the utmost advantage to broadcast the Good News of redemption through the blood o.f Christ, which alone can bring peace to the individual heart as well as Na tions. ' The open doors for the preaching of the Gospel in our lands could also one day well close bringing to an end the liberty we enjoy. On the other hand a blood2
Greetings in Jesus’ precious name. Just a word about The Messenger. Please change address from here in Cc.iigo to Landmark, Man. We are coming home. Station looted — lost our stuff — Communist band raiding interior — most Protestant missionaries either in Lee. (Leopoldville) or some considered safe place. God bless you.
Harvey Barkman
The Messenger Official organ, in the English language, of the EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE. Published bi-weekly under the aus pices of the E.M.C. BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AND EDUCATION. Editor, David K. Scliellenberg, 502 Fifth Ave. N.W., Portage la Prairie, Man. All new subscriptions should be sent to Mr. Abe Klassen. Box 1447, Steinbach, Man. Authorized as second class mall. Post Office Department. Ottawa, and for payment of postage In cash.
THE MESSENGER
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Riots in Calcutta By Vernon Reimer, Director MCC in India The disappearance of a Muslim relic, Mohammeds' hair, in a Kashmir shrine was by piany Muslims attributed to the Hindus. This resulted in communal riots in Dacca and in other parts of East Pakistan. News of the East Pakistan riots aggravated the already underlying animosity between Hindus and Muslims in Calcutta. Calcutta has about seven million people of which one million are Muslims. When Hindus, who had been attacked in East Pakistan, fled and ar rived by train in Calcutta, the spark was provided for the explosion of vio lent communal disturbance. On Friday night, January 10, the rioting let loose Ln real earnest and many were killed or injured and hundreds of houses set on fire or destroyed by home-made bombs. Entally area, where the MCC centre is located, was one of the worst affected areas and all of us slept very little that night because of all the noise of bombs (large home made crackers), yelling, and rattle of iron bars, knives, bricks and sundry weapons of the people in the streets. Witness Killing!
On Saturday morning rioting broke out right beside our house and from a vantage point on the roof we witnessed a few people being killed with iron bars and bricks. It was a horrible sight to witness and yet we were helpless to help in the midst of this violence. There were not enough police to enforce law and order and violence occurred in broad daylight. Accompanying this was a great deal of looting—much of it right in the open. Large areas were completely de stroyed and many individual shops and homes wrecked and looted.
Needless to say, thousands fled from their homes in the face of this to places that might offer protection and refuge, such as school compounds, commercial and private buildings where they were given shelter, or areas where they were among their own groups e.g. Hindus and Muslims. This created in a short while a great refugee problem and certain places had influxes of thousands of people who brought with them little or no food. By Sunday the Government acted and clamped a night curfew on the badly February 21, 1964
affected areas. This emptied the usually teeming streets and made one feel un easy because of this. One night we took the ladies and children to friends in an unaffected section of the city while two of us men remained at the house. We actually do not think we ever were in much personal danger but having wit nessed what we did and with a lot of hooligans on the loose, one never knew what might happen.
Relief Work Organized On Monday morning, January 13, we met with CORAGS-CWS, and Bengal Refugee Service poeple and discussed what might be done in terms of relief for the thousands of homeless people. We unitedly approached the Government Relief Minister who then asked us to look after certain areas until such time as government was mobilized to take care of the complete situation. CORAGSCWS made milk powder and wheat flour available from American surplus food and by the afternoon of the same day, Monday, several teams were out, in areas where the riot affected people were clustered, handing milk to women and children. Some of the houses and placees were so packed with people that it was hard to get from one to the next to hand out milk. Many had not had anything to eat for several days and children eyed the milk with longing eyes till it was their turn for a dr-ink. It was surprising how well people or ganized themselves in the situation so we could reach more people in a short time. By the following day we also had flour available and soon local commit tees formed to take over the actual feeding. We then supplied the different centres with daily provisions. It was estimated that about 90,000 people had fieri their homes. According to our figures Bengal Refugee Service, and MCC with some help from a few of the local churches distributed food and milk to upwards of 40,000 people. Ben gal Refugee Service also sent out sev eral medical teams to help in looking after medical needs and sanitation and do mass immunizations. By Saturday, January 18, Government released a lot of rations and was ready to take care of the people and encourage them to return home under police and military
protection. They asked the private re lief groups and others to suspend their relief operations so that people would not be tempted to remain in their newly sought refugee places, and so cause a further refugee problem. Army Restores Order
The Government must be commended for taking the situation in hand as quickly as they did. By Monday, eve ning, January 13, the Entally area and a few others were being patrolled by the army and a 22 hour curfew was en forced. The crowded congested streets of Calcutta were suddenly empty except for some wandering cows and military patrols here and there. It gave one a queer feeling when at 6 p.m. after a days relief operations, often in areas where there was no curfew, we returned to our centre on empty streets except for groups of soldiers patrolling with rifles and submachine guns. It was a time however, when we appreciated the security of the armed patrol. After a week the military forces slowly gave over the control back to the city. En tally was the last area to be turned back to the Calcutta police on January 28. Whether the passions and hatreds once more aroused since the 1947 riots, can be controlled in the coming months and year remains to be seen. Govern ment officials and many private citizens from both communities are doing their best to overcome future outbreaks of violence - peace marches have been or ganized and public meetings held to urge upon all to help restore and maintain harmony between Hindus and Muslims. Our prayers are that hatred might in some way be replaced by love. If we can be instrumental in some small measure at least for love and tolerance to enter the hearts of men we shall be happy. What a difference it makes whether the love of Christ and light indwells them.
* * * THE CLOCK OF LIFE The clock of life is wound but once. And no one has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in tomorrow, for The clock may then be still.
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Preaching in the Sixties By Vance Havner
We are invincable when we stand above the mists of uncertainty on one hand and the fogs of controversy on the other. I grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains under the influence of old-fashioned preaching. It never oc curred to the country pastors of those days to doubt the Bible. They believed it was God-breathed and if they met problems in it, they enjoyed the meat and left the bones to the theologians. As I reflect over it now, I marvel at the power of that plain, unadorned preaching. I have heard scholarly efforts since then that did not carry a fraction of the voltage that shocked and stirred us when those humble men pro claimed the gospel.
New Breeze I set out as a lad to preach that glor ious message. I did not have the mis fortune of attending a school that taught me to doubt the Word of God. But by the close of World War I a new theolo gical breeze had begun to blow and a new virus was in the air. I say “new,” but there was nothing modem about mechanism. The gei-m was as old as un belief, I was infatuated with the new approach and thought the gospel should be adapted to the modern mind, I began to blow this uncertain trumjjet and such pleasant moralizing won com pliments and popularity. But under it men died unsaved without warning. No body got angry at such prophesying of smooth things and nobody went home under conviction. The Road Back Eventually I returned to my old home in the hills. I remember reading J. Gres hams Machen’s Christianity and Lib eralism as I meditated in the woods. Some have taken it upon themselves to disparage that great champion of the faith, but I remember what he meant to me. I needed to hear somebody who
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spoke with authority and not as the scribes. There were many such giants in the land in those days and I am in debted to many of them. Once again we have come to a time when such voices need to be heard. But most of the giants are gone. When I started out again I was prea ching it straight and the Lord began to open doors. To this hour I have never lacked for a pulpit. It has been estab lished to ’my satisfaction that God still still runs the preaching business and will make a way for the man who will give His message. Moreover, I was cured of the “bug” of liberalism and kindred viruses. I am against them for scriptural, historical and personal reasons. I have lived to see the hot war of the twenties become the cold war of the sixties. The language and personalities are different, but the issue is still supematuralism against naturalism. It is a day of diplomats instead of prophets. Defenders of the truth are a weaker breed easily disarmed by the smiling tolerance of the new school. What was black and white in the twenties is gray in the sixties. In such spiritual fogs and doctrinal twilights it is not stylish to turn on the light. We must be inoffens ive even if it means being ineffective. Those who went through all this be fore will not be deceived. The approach is more subtle now. Today it speaks the language of evangelical Christianity. Un belief has a wardrobe of disguises and some of them are so like the robes of truth as to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. The mock angel would lead some to believe that we are enter ing a new Reformation. But the next re vival will not blow from this quarter. Nobody will prepare for battle under such uncertain bugle-blowing. Need of the Hour But while some will not be taken in by the new error nor lost in these con ditions of low visibility, we face another danger. The challenge o f such a time will not be met by bitter con troversy. It is not enough to bewail the situation and bemoan the hour. There i.s indeed a place for apologetics and the sturdy defense of the gospel, but right now we need some apostles—God-sent men, not beligerent but militant, bloodwashed and Spirit-filled—preaching the great verities in the power of God. Such men leave no doubt as to what they believe. They do not argue, they affirm. They are not lost in generalities; their yea is yea and their nay is nay.
Yet neither do they live in ceaseless bickerings and personal recrimination. They move in a higher altitude. Glorious things happen under their preaching. Their message is its own defense. It needs no props and gimmicks. It is God’s Word and it will not return void. A lot of water has run under the bridge since I started out as a boy preaching a virgin-bom Saviour, His sinless life. His substitutionary death, His resurrection bodily from the grave, His personal visible return. During this time the impression has been created that we must rethink the inspiration of the Scriptures and revamp all our theolgoy and work out a new code of Christian conduct acceptable to this nu clear age. A lot of time and brains and ink is being wasted these days of sup position that we must devise some grand new scheme of faith and practice to keep step with missiles and summit confer ences and ecumenical get-togethers. Ac tually this is only another generation of poor lost sinners and we need most a fresh crop of New Testament Christians instead of run-of-the-mill church mem bers. It I were starting out as a minister today I would get an education, but I would also get into the woods with my Bible to read and to pray. I would waste no time with wisdom of words about neo-orthdoxy existentialism. Barth and B u 11 m a n, relativism, “encounters,’’ “thrusts” and new approaches. I would come out of the bushes and just preach. We are invincible when we stand ahove the mists of uncertainty on one hand and the fogs of controversy on the other. We contend best for the faith when we boldly declare it and leave the Holy Spirit to secure the results. We advertise it best when we preach it in the power of God. Pentecost was its own publicity. Let us not be disturbed about theories of inspiration. The Bible is not God’s Word only as it applies to you in one verse and to me in another. It is absol ute or it is obsolete. Let preachers make sure that its authority and power can work through them unhindered by unbelief. The sixties are not very different from the twenties. Even this genera tion could be set on fire by a handful of all-out Christians willing to be called the scum of the earth and to be made a spectacle to the world for the scandal of the cross. Reprinted by permission from Moody Monthly
THE MESSENGSR
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TRUTH for youth r
MY TESTIMONY I was around twelve when I accepted the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour, and I am thankful for this wonderful gift which each and everyone can receive, for it says in John 1:9 “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin® anid to cleanse us from all unrighteousness .” After I had made my decision I did not witness but went on living the same way I had before. Then later I realized that to have victory in my Christ ian life I woud have to yield myself complete ly to Chiist, give up my living for self and put myself under Christ’s control through faith. Then I committed my life to the Lord and He gave me peace and joy for which I had * sought. Since He has been my strength and my guide and has helped me to overcome trials and temptation. 1 am thankful that we can come to the Lord with all our problems and He will not turn us away for it says in I John 5:15 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything accoixling to His will He heareth us.’’ He has also given me this assurance dhat I am saved for it isays in I John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” My prayer is that I might be obedient to God in all things and be willing to follow the plan He has for my life so that when Christ comes 1 need not be ashamed but that I might bring with me some precious souls won for Him. Martha Hiebert Box 336, MacGregor, Man. (Martha is at present attending SBI as a second semester student. Ed.)
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SHOW GRATITUDE FOR SPOONFUL OF CANNED MEAT A DAY
Serving in the capacity of mid-wife and nurse, Mennonite Brethren mission ary in the Republic of Congo, Mathilda Wall, gives an account of the impact MCC canned meat can have on the sick and near-starving treated at their dis pensary. “I wish you could see the faces of these people when tliey receive meat. We do not give a can to each patient but one spoonful at a time. “We are happy working in the Re public of Congo for there are countless opportunities to evangelize. Gifts of canned beef help to open the way.” February 21, 1964
OPENINGS FOR 30 R.N.’s IN 1964
At least thirty registered nurses will be needed for MCC medical projects in 1964. There will be openings in hospi,tals, clinics, and mental hospitals in eight countries. The hospitals at St. Anthony, Twilingate, and Comer Brook, Newfound land, will need seven R.N.’s. Hospital Albert Schweitzer and the MCC-operated hospital at Grande River du Nord, Haiti, are looking for five.
The programs in Bolivia and Para guay will need at least one each. In two each in Vietnam, Korea, and India. Asia there will be openings for one or
A Canadian R.N. will be needed for the latter. The Mennonite mental hospitals in the United States will have nine posi tions open. The Appalachian Regional Hospitals in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, and Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Ga., will need a minimum of four. There are currently sixty R.N.’s in the Mennonite Central Committee pro gram.
* * * J. M. KLASSEN APPOINTED
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY for Mennonite Central Committee (Canada)
J. M. Klassen Rev. David P. Neufeld, Chairman of the newly formed Mennonite Central Committee (Canada), has announced the appointment of J. M. Klassen of Win nipeg as Executive Secretary to serve on a full time basis for a three year term. Mr. Klassen formerly served un der M.C.C. in Korea and returned to Ak ron as Assistant Director of Relief. For the last year Mr. Klassen served as Ex ecutive Secretary of the Canadian Menn onite Relief and Immigration Council.
In March of this year, Mr. Klassen will conduct a South American tour. During this tour participants will have an opportunity to visit Mennonite settlements and gain an insight into their pioneering struggles in ^ming a livelihood, building schools, hospitals and churches, and to capture a vision of the opportunities for development and expanision there. * * * 6
I’ll buy him some shirts from Ali at Luanda.” The missionary smiled and opened the door. “I do hope the time will come when people won’t throw away their FOURTH ISTALLMENT twins. 'Twins are just as good as other THE STORY THUS FAR: Chuma and her friend Limoni find an aban childien. In our country everyone is doned baby in the grass. Both Chuma and her friend are Christians so proud when they have twins. Sometimes they rescue the baby and hide it in Chuma’s hut. But they need a bottle they dress them alike so others find it difficult to tell them apart. Let’s kneel to feed it and go to the white missionary lady for supplies. right now and pray that God will help In a moment the tall thin lady with better leave them that way because we the Bunyore people to give up this terr the white skin was at the door. “Please do not want the baby to get too much ible custom.” Miss Wilsoni” began Chuma, her eye.s milk all at once. It might make him “And please pray that Baku won’t on the cement floor, “I would like a sick.” make me have my six lower teeth pried little rubber nipple and a bottle so I can out,” added Chuma. teed the baby.” Tuti was screaming at the top of his “Where did you get him?” asked the voice when Chuma crawled into the missionary kindly. hut. “He doesn’t like me,” grumbled Li Chuma explained what had happened moni. “I think you’ve been too good to as briefly as possible Missi Wilsoni him. He’s spoiled!” looked off into space, and then speakiing “Have you fed him yet?” to herself murmured, “Oh, I wish we “No, I haven’t. 1 let the fire burn had more missionaries so we could stop dow'n, for I thought you wanted to make these cruel things, I wish the churches in the obusela yourself!” America would wake up!” “No wonder he’s crying,” said Chu “D-don’t you have a nipple?” asked ma impatiently. “Well, we’ll get busy Chuma, bravely looking into the white and fill him up.” She put another gourd woman’s face. full of water into the pot and stirred “Yes, I’ll get you one,” said the mis up the fire. Then she brought out a sionary, a catch in her voice. “I only small pot of com meal. wish we could care for him here. But “What are you going to do with the there is no room. Our hospital is full new baby?” asked Limoni, moving her —‘Some beds even have three people in head to escape the smoke that curled them. A man came in yesterday who ‘upward toward the grass roof. At first the baby wouldn’t touch it. was chewed up by a leopard. We had “I had hoped that Missi Wilsoni would to make a bed for him on the out Then Missi Wilsoni squeezed some milk take him, but she says they have no side. There are sick people who sleep on into its mouth. This was all that was room,” replied Chuma. “The only thing the floor of our kitchen, and the Bun necessary. Soon the baby was working I can think of is to keep him here . . .” yore Girls’ School is so crowded we had away with all its might. “But we can’t do that very long. Baku to turn fifty girls away! You pray, “Does he have any clothes?” asked is sure to discover him, and when he Chuma, that people in America will the white woman. does he’ll beat us both and throw the wake up and do something.” She took “I found him in the grass just like baby into another pot!” exclaimed Lithe baby in her arms and rubbed its this,” answered Chuma. “Tuti has two moni excitedly, feet. “Do you really think you can shirts but I think they’re much too “No one will know he’s here if we’re care for him until we can think of a big. Just look at this baby’s legs. They careful, and keep him from crying too better way?” are no thicker than the stem of an much,” said Chuma. “I can’t remember Chuma nodded. “It will be hard to old woman’s pipe!” Father ever coming into this hut. When keep him hidden because he cries so “It’s a wonder he’s still alive,” agreed he wants me he calls at the door.” much, but I’m sure I can keep him for a Missi Wilsoni after she had pulled open “But what will you do if the baby little while. When we get his stomach the wide drawer in her wooden desk. cries when he’s around?” full of milk he’ll go to sleep.” “Don’t even think of such a thing!” She took out a little shirt made of “Do you have any milk ready?” cheap white cloth. There was a thin red said Chuma, her face darkening. The water suddenly frothed to the Chuma shook her head .“I don’t have border which went around the neck top. Quickly she poured in some of the any now, but I think one of our cows and arms. Chuma took the shirt eagerly. “Thank flour and began to stir with a long, has a little left. Debe milked her this morning, but he’s so lazy I don’t think you, Missi Wilsoni, thank you very spoon-like stick that had been carved much,” she said, her eyes filling with from a piece of osiola wood. She kept he got it all.” this up u.itil all the flour had been “Then I’ll get some,” said the mis moisture. “I wish I had another to give you, worked into the water. Then she poured sionary. She went into the kitchen at the far end of the house. In a moment but this is all I have,” replied the white the obusela into a gourd dipper and placed it in the door way to cool. she was back with the bottle of milk. woman with a smile. (To be continued) “Don’t worry,” said Chuma with a She put the nipple on and handed it to (Copyright 1956, Scripture Press Chuma. “The holes in the rubber are shake of her head. “I’ll think of some Foundation, Used by permission.) very small,” she explained “I think we’d way to eat (earn) some cents, and then
CHILDREN’S STORY
CHUMA FINDS A BABY
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THE MESSENGER
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HOUSE FROM IQ TOVOtJ HOUSE THE MOTHER — A TEACHER (Mrs.) Leona Reimer
Another E.M.C. Sunday School Con vention is in the offing. Which workshop will you and I as mothers attend? Or—is that only for the Sunday school teacher to decide; and we’ll just stay home and baby sit. Today our public school teachers need more and more qualifications in fact they should be specialists in their field to adequately teach our children. The Sunday school teacher as well is re quired to have some training for the particular department he or she is teach ing in. For this reason we have teacher training courses and S.S. conventions. How do the mothers fit into this train ing program? In the house we mothers find our selves working in five or six different departments or age levels—with only one assembly room, the living room; only one work table, the dining room table, where we work on table manners and family gratis. Of course we all have a counselling room which could be the bathroom, bedroom or basement.
In our training program often each sentence we say is directed to a differ ent age level. It may be something like this: A word of admonition to the junior girl. The do’s and don’t’s go io the primary boy. The rebukes go to the misunderstood teenagers. The cradle roll members wishes are quickly quench ed with a soother. And now the be ginner member asks for that same story again, which by now she can recite from memory due to repeated readings. And so our class continues, not thir ty minutes, one hour, or five hours but all day, from early morning till late at night.
When a mother finally retires for the night and quietly rehearses the activi ties of the day she can only say, “Oh Go<l, be merciful to me a sinner. I did not know that the demands of mother hood would be so difficult.” Then rea lizing our great task and lack of train ing we look to God and His promises,” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraidebh not.” But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreat ed, full of mercy and good fruits. James 1:5, 3:17. May we as mothers, as much as pos sible, attend these training courses of fered to us as well as attend the Sunday school convention. They will be very beneficial and uplifting to each of us as we continue our teaching ministry in the home.
PORTAGE CHURCH RECEIVES VALUABLE ASSISTANCE
Thanks to a group of men from Kola the Portage la Prairie E.M. Church’s up per auditorium is now all but ready for occupancy. Having (been built in 1960, all ser vices thus far were conduct ed in the lower auditorium. On Feb. 4 a group of 14 men, with saws, hammers and a mind to work proceeded with the “finishing” of our main auditorium. They worked all day and evening and all next day with the result that where before there had been bare walls, floor and ceiling, there now was an almost fin ished room 40x44. Here you see them, but for a well earned supper, ready to leave for home. February 21, 1964
_____ I INEWS BLESSINGS AT KAMSACK News of blessings and souls saved come from this Town of around three thousand. One couple who have come to the services for a year or so now made an open profession of faith in the Lord. Another lady (whose daughter is at tending S.B.I.) accepted the Lord one night after prayer meeting. Her husband made his decision after one of the ser vices. Please pray for this man; he has many temptations. These decisions were made in Jan., 1964. At present the choir is working on an Ester Cantata. Would any of the home Churches be willing to give us an op portunity to present the Cantata, testi monies, and a first hand report of the work in Kamsack ? A tour is being planned for the week of the Easter School Holidays. Arnold Wiebe
ARDEN December 2nd through the Sth were days of special blessings as revival meetings were held here with Rev. Mel vin Dueck the guest speaker. On the 6th the service was held in the Arden hall. John Funks, mission workers in Saskatchewan were with us on the 3rd and showed a film. May God continue to bless the house visitations that were made and the challenging messages that were rendered through the week. The annual church meeting took place on Jan, 13 with Bev. Elmer Hamm in charge. Brother Henry Thiessen and the Peter K. Plett family were also present. Communion Services were observed on Jan. 26 with heart stirring testi monies. The opening was made by Peter K. Plett. A challenging message was given by Brother Henry Thiessen, liev .and Mrs. Elmer Hamm were with us and we all were richly blessed. Our l^rayer is that God will richly reward all of you who help in the work here at Arden. * * * MacGREGOR NEWS With winter upon us, we have launched out into two new spheres of church activity, namely. Good News Clubs and a Teacher Training course for Sunday School teachers.
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Mr. Conrad Durston, director for Child Evangelism Fellowship i n Manitoba, spoke to our local congregation, remind ing us of the tremendous need in reach ing the boys and girls of today with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and giving us needed information on just how Child Evangelism operates. As a result, two new clubs have been started, one in our local town, one in a rural school where one hour of school time has been granted us for this purpose (A club had already been in operation since November in the town of Austin.) Perhaps you are tempt ed to ask, “Is it worthwhile?” or “Are there any results in this type of minis try?” A young girl, aged ten, coming from a United Church background made a decision for Christ in one of the clubs just before Chritsmas and is very faith in attendance and certainly shows a keen interest in God’s Word, the stories and memory work. So I’m sure you will agree that the time is well spent. The teacher training course takes place during our Wednesday evening Family Church Nite. The textbook used is entitled, “Teaching Techniques”, Approixmately 20 have enrolled in this course including most of our present Sunday School teachers, substitute teachers; as well as teachers to be. Recent visiting speakers ministering to us have been: Mr. Henry Werner, affilliated with W.I.M.; Mr. Harvey Plett, Prairie Rose; Mr. Peter Schlamp, Swift Current. * * « VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AT MAFEKING
By Mrs. Ralph Salmond On Sun. Feb. 9 we were blessed by the Steinbach Bible Institute Male Quartet a message by Henry Hiebert. the page an important means for gospel we have a literature proour church announcements placed into all the boxes a Pray serve to i-each who have responded to the Lord’s
Extension Tuesday night alternately Baden and Average attendance at 15 and The these are children, some whom showing a interest The young people, few number, regularly, Friday nite. On January 31st they all en-
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•'A joyed a blessed evening fellowshipp with other Christians at a Youth Rally at the Swan River First Baptist Church. They also spent two social evenings tobboganing in the mountains. One Sun day evening gospel service a month is rendered entirely by the young people. Rev. Dave Dueck had the opportunity of serving on a panel discussion at the Swan River First Baptist Church during their Youth Week. Being a panel of men frem all walks of life, he represented the roll of pastor. The Cradle Roll Department has been another means of entering into a home and we trust that this will bring another family to the Lord. The Girls’ Club has regular meetings on Wednesday evening. Boys’ Club was discontinued for the present. Boys don’t come due to rink activities.
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CANORA FELLOWSHIP CHAPEL NEWS On Jan. 30 we had our annual busi ness meeting in our church. Since it is now an organized member church of the E.M.C. we have elected the officers for the various responsibilities of the church. ■ ■. Our Sunday School and church attend ance has been fairly good lately. The at tendance is about 40, with a record at tendance of 45. Attendance at our week ly Bible study and prayer meeting .'s about ten. We have Young People’s
ischool were presented to us. It was a joy 1to listen to such good hearty singing. —Tina Penner
* * * ;Explanation: The news item, “Couple Saved, Many iCounselled,” in our last issue was from ;Swift Current and sent in by the pastor Br. Friesen. Sorry that it was not ident jified. ♦ * *
REST HAVEN (Cont’d.)
pressed by the work of the Ladies’ Aid in canning of food. Much of the Ladies’ Aid work is calculated in cash and en tered as such in budget on which gov'emment grant is based. Praise: for financial and moral support and improvements that have been poss ible such as chapel enlargement. Challenge: V.S.ers are welcomed during rush seasons and times of labour short age.
On behalf of the Board, P. P. Friesen *♦♦♦♦♦« *♦♦♦♦♦« ♦ ♦ February 26 - March 8. Janz Team X 0 German ’Language Crusade in J J Winnipeg. The first part of the ♦ irtrusade’ Will r-”’ be conducted in S’local --S‘ » * s and the laht fives nights J Winnipeg Civic Auditoriujn. J - March 1 The MacGregor ♦ lias meetings with Don P. ♦ ♦ 1-19 Missionary Conference X Iregor with Mark Gripp as J
COMING EVENTS
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* h 7 & 8 Sunday school con- J at the Blumenort church ♦ 3v. J. J. Toews of the Men- ♦ Brethren Bible College as ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
XJXA^ meetings -12 JLZC:'=pCX Deeper Life Aberdeen E.M. church, Win- ♦ Ldwin Wright is the speak-
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THE MESSENGER