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EVANGELICAL

Vol. 2, No. 8 April 17, 1964

MENNONITE

CONFERENCE

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“IF YE LOVE 51E, KEEP MY CO^MJIAND 31ENTS.”

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ST. JOHN 14:15

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Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own words praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:10 - 31 iniiiniiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiii'iiiiKiiiiiiiiiiiiinMiiiiiiiiiitiiiitiitiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiitiiintiiiiiii itiiitiiiiiiiMiiiintiinii

SHOPPING AROIM) Some people like to shop around. They don’t like to settle down to a steady trade with a tried and reliable mer chant. They shy away from any feeling that the merchant who goes out of his way to meet their needs has a right to expect their trade. They shop around in all the stores of the town and the surrounding towns, and probably also in the mail-order catalogs, picking up here and there what they think are bargains. It is delightfully free, this method of shopping. But there are disadvantages. Scarcities develop. It is hard to buy sugar, and soap, and meat, and dry goods. Wise merchants have a way of taking care of their reg ular customers. They do not sell these scarce commodoties to the drop-in stranger, but keep them for the people who have purchase privilege by being steady customers. And so the shopper-around goes without, and complains hew ill he is treated.

A lady said recently concerning church attendance, “Oh, we’re shopping around.” It is delightfully free, I sup pose, to avoid obligation toward any one church. We like music here, the preaching there, and the friendliness some other place. But oh, what disadvantages there are! No one gives us the personal interest and pastoral care which comes to those who really belong. Dropping in on an oc casional sermon, one misses the steady and balanced diet of the regular attendant.

One cannot possibly be of much service where he drops in only as the notion strikes him. Shopping around is a mighty poor Christian practice. Do it if you must until you find the place where the Gospel is preached, and where the fellowship can be a genuine Christian brotherhood. But then, settle down. Be there regularly. Participate whole heartedly. A divided allegiance is a bad thing whether it be to nation, to God, to home, to merchant, or to church. Shop where they know you. by Paul Erb

Paul Erb is the former editor of the Gospel Herald. Shopping Around, is taken from his book “Don’t Park Here” and used by permission of Herald Press, • * *

Announcement Every E.M.C. household and every member living away from home is entitled to receive the Messenger, May this notice serve to the effect that every district will check up and report any names that are not on the mailing list. To facilitate this we are preparing a copy of the mailing list of every district. If you don’t receive one within the next two weeks please ask for it. dllltllllllllUUllllUlllHIIhllllllllllllUUllHIilllllHIlUUllllUIIIKiKlIlilllllUlllUilllliilUliiuiliUlllllllllllilUIIIIIHIUIIlUilll'.IIIIIUIIIUIIlIllJ

to to the the EDITOR EDITOR

I am writing to inform of an error in the publishing of my poem in the last issue of “The Messenger.” As you will probably know, every word in a poem is there for a reason, sometimes to help create a mood by the very sound of the word. This was the case with the fourth word of the third line of “A Song.” It should read “To touch my soul,” “Soul” here is used with “ease”, to give a soothing effect; “heart” in that setting gives a jolt. The same is true in substituting the word “Make” for “set’ in the sixth word of the second last line, although it is not as obvious. Because the poem, as it is printed, is not original with me, would you make the necessary corrections in the next issue of “The Messenger.” Poetry and news write-ups, I believe, hardly come into the same category. Yours sincerely, A. Fast, Fort Garry (We regret the embarrassment we have caused Sister Fast by these errors. We hope this will not discourage future contributions. Ed.)

(Continued from page 1)

The Messenger

her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom: and in her tongue is the law of kind ness. She looketh well to the way of the household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Official organ, In the English language, of the EVANGELICAL MENNONTTE CONFERENCE. Published bi-weekly under the aus pices of the E.M,C, BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AND EDUCATION. Editor, David K, Schellenberg, 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 maU, Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage In cash.

THE MESSENGER

RIO GRANDE BIBLE INSTITUTE

Missionaries Study Spanish By Alfred Friesen

Due to difficulties in border crossing, we have had five of our Mexico mis sionaries (Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Friesen, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Kroeker and Doris Thiessen) taking further preparation for service, at the Rio Grand Bible Insti tute, at Edinburg, Texas. Both language and Bible courses are offered, in Span ish, at this school. Here Br. Friesen writes about the Language Department “How shall they hear without a preacher?” Here Pauls heart search ing interrogation leaves no doubt as to the importance of the personal contact in the missionary endeavour— speaking, hearing and seeking to en ter the very shrine of the human soul. We all know from personal experience that a sermon heard in our idiomatic language moves us more readily than one brought haltingly and with a Stilted foreign accent. For this very reason some 40 mis sionary candidates from various sec tions of the U.S.A, and Canada repre senting a variety of evangelical de nominations and mission boards have gathered this year at the Rio Grande Bible Inst, for the common purpose of learning the basics of the Spanish language.

How is this accomplished? The In stitutes answer originates from the development of an intensive program of Spanish phonetics, grammer and conversation. Intensive? — any stu dent who finds himself with 22 class hours and 18-20 hours of homework per week, plus caring for a family will readily agree. Most of the missionaries are married and have families. The school has provided a well organized and equipped nursery for the little toddlers while their mommies and daddies are engaged in training their brain to think and produce a language that is noted for its clippedness and flowing tempo.

During the first semester (four and a half months) we gathered three times weekly to analyse and imitate each basic sound. To our surprise we were told that no two languages have identical sounds. This was readily proved by asking a Latin to produce the English ABC’s. The grammer sec tions met five times weekly and here we learned the first elements in Span ish grammer, plus an average daily April 17, 1964

Mr. and Mrs. Jake Kroeker, Doris Thiessen and Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Friesen.

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Rio Grande Bible Institute dose of 20 - 30 new words. For just plain conversation we met three times weekly: here we tried to produce what we had learnt in the other class es. The school’s modern language lab oratory with its electronic equipment provides each student with a sound booth, mike, a set of earphones and controls. The instructor plays various tapes over the system which are made up from the material of our textbooks. This provides scientific physiological approach, we hear, see and then pro duce each syllable or groups of words commonly used in the Spanish lan guage. At the same time the instruct or is able to listen in to each student and give the necessary corrections.

In the afternoons a Latin comes to our homes and drills each one individ ually for half an hour. This is called in formant hour. We are grateful for their patience and continual correc tion. In this way we learn from a Latin rather than from the teachers who speak with an accent.

A great asset to our language study is the unique location of the school.

The Rio Grande Valley is 85-90% Spanish. But even closer are the 40 Latin students attending the Bible de partment of R.G.B.I. These Christian young people help us daily in the ac tual pronunciation, syntax and conver sation. They guide conversational classes, help make tapes for the lab, and serve as leaders in the Spanish Christian work assignments. Also they give us the daily contact with the Latin culture and mind. One of the greatest joys is to sense God’s love for those with whom we are called to work. Now during the second semester more emphasis is put on conversation and comprehension. Canadians studying here at R.G.B.I. are the Jake Kroekers, Alfred Frie sens and Miss Doris Thiessen all with the E.M.C. Frieda Isaac and Martin Giesbrecht from B.C. and Austin, Man. respectively, under the Gospel Mis sionary Union. Br. Jake Kroeker is taking Bible in the Spanish depart ment. Every morning from 8-12 a.m. little Lester Kroeker, Kathy and Pat ricia Friesen spend a happy time at the nursery.

All this is found in an atmosphere that honors Christ and puts Him first. The school realizes that every mis sionary going forth is in great need to know on how to uphold his own spiritual life. Much emphasis is put on the crucified life and maintaining un ity with fellow workers Bible confer ence, chapel and weekly classes pre sent us with vivid truths not to be forgotten. Pray for us.

Mennonites Doing Something

branches of the Mennonite Church, met to consider disaster organization on the Hesston College campus on March 31, 1952. The Rev. Peter J. Dyck, pastor of the Eden Mennonite Church, Moundridge, Kansas, called the meeting to order. He read from Hebrews 11 and James 1. Dyck point ed out that “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead, also.” The delegates selected a temporary Disaster Committee to guide the work in Arkansas and to be prepared should another disaster oc cur.

Mennonite Disaster Service Ninth annual all-unit 3IDS meeting held at Christo pher Dock School, Lans dale, Penn., on February 13 and 14. All told, 250 regis tered as visitors and dele gates from 14 states and 3 provinces.

By Esther Eby Glass

We read the two-inch headlines, TORNADO RIPS THROUGH ELDOR ADO! HURRICANE HATTIE DEMOL ISHES COAST TOWNS OF HONDU RAS, wring our hands and say; “If we could only do something to help!” As Mennonites we believe in faith that acts, love that reaches out a helping hand. When the cows break through the fence, or the neighbor’s barn cat ches fire, we say “Don’t just stand there, do something!”

The initials MDS officially stand for Mennonite Disaster Service, but some one has aptly nicknamed the organ ization — “Mennonites Doing Some thing.” MDS provides tne an.-..,, through which Christian concern can be demonstrated effectively. Have you ever wondered just how this useful service arm of our church came into being? You would hardly expect anything so substantial as MDS to have its roots in a picnic. But at a picnic in Kansas the movement was born.

At a joint fellowship meeting of young married couples of the Pennsyl vania Mennonite Church and the Hess ton College Church, a discussion arose over the practical outworking of cuncern for their neighbors. To put this concern into concrete form, the young people appointed a committtee and sent a statement of concern and will ingness to serve, to the Mennonite Cen tral Committee and to the South Cen tral Conference of the Mennonite

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Church, their local conference. They proceeded to establish a Mennonite Service Organization in each of the two congregation, and selected a co ordinator. Opportunity to serve arose before their enthusiasm had time to cool. On May 17, 1951, a call for help to sandbag the Little Arkansas River in Wichita, Kansas, attracted the atten tion of the organization. Volunteers weie dispatched and the Mennonite Service Organization was in business. That same night the co-ordinator called the Eden Church of the General Conference and the Christian Welfare Workers of the Church of God in Christ Mennonites Inter-Mennonite co operation was born.

That fall, an MCC unit moved into Topeka, Kansas, to aid flood victims. The Topeka unit had been waiting for help from Kansas volunteers. Because efficient organization was necessary for this program, a co-ordinator was appointed, and a continuous supply of volunteers was provided for this re habilitation project.

Through the work in Topeka it be came evident that the church ought to be able to offer its services in a well-organized and systematic way if it wanted to gain access to disaster zones. This, coupled with the reports of severe tornado damage in Arkansas, triggered the beginning of what today is known as Mennonite Disaster Ser vice. Eighty

men,

representing

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This committee was not to replace relief committees or service organ izations already in the congregations, and was not to be a money-raising group. Rather, it was directed to . investigate the needs and avenues of services immediately,” in the event of a major disaster, and to report to the local church organizations, co ordinating them into the total pro gram. This down-to-earth plan worked. Tt is still working across the country today.

All over the U.S. and Canada groups began to organize, patterned after the Kansas area disaster service unit. Soon it became apparent that co-ordina tion and encouragement was neces sary on the national level. The Men nonite Central Committee called the first meeting of MDS representatives on March 2, 1956, at the Atlantic Hotel in Chicago. A plan for a nation-wide co-ordinated committee, composed of one representative from each of the constituent groups, was recommended by MCC. This plan has been the basis for national cooperation to this day.

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MDS TEAM MEETS

PRESIDENT Akron, Pa. (MCC) — Upon com pletion of disaster service activities in Haiti MDS volunteers were granted 55 minute private audience with Pres ident Duvalier of Haiti on March 3, in the Yellow Room of the Palace. Health Minister Philippeaux ar ranged the audience and coached the men on proper decorum for the occa sion. Observing three coatless and tie less Mennonites, Philippeaux prompt ly relieved three of his office staff of

the messenger

TRUTH for youth r

MY TESTIMONY

Jesus said in Matt. 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I can truthfully say that Jesus does give a person perfect rest. Before I was saved, I used to go to parties and dances, and took part in many worldly affairs. At these places I was always known as the life of the party. I was always saying and doing something: But the people that thought I was always happy, were badly mistaken because I was not. Away down deop inside I was longing for something real, something that would last. I simply hated the life that the world had to offer, because it brought me no satisfaction, only grief. Satan is a hard master to follow. Jesus was the only one that delivered me from sin. It was on December 2, 1931 that I gave my life to Christ as Evangelist Barry Moore was preaching in our home town at Austin, Manitoba. Since then I have had complete joy and satisfaction in Christ. The Devil has put tremendous temptations before me, and still tempts all of us. But as we spend time with the Lord in prayer and seek his face. He gives us complete victory. And when I do fall into sin I always con fess it and he always forgives. John 1:9. My desire is to serve the Lord with all my might. Pray for me as I attend high school that I might be a real testimony and that the Lord can draw souls unto Himself through me. Friend, are you a child of God! If not, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.” Gordon Neufeld Valley Stream E.M. Church Gordon is active in the Valiey Stream Church. He is presently tak ing liis Grade XI in the Austin Collegiate.

their coats and ties and loaned them to the MDS men. Tlie President received the group while seated at his desk, shook hands as each man was introduced, and lis tened to the Health Minister describe the work in Haiti done by Mennonite Central Committee units and Menno nite Disaster Service volunteers. After introductions, a photo album illustrating the rebuilding project at Cotes de Fer was presented to the President. He requested that the pic tures be shown on television so that his people could see what foreigners had accomplished in their country. He also thanked the men for their ser vices and announced that he wished to award them with citations the next day from the Haitian government.

April 17, 1964

On March 4, Church World Service representatives and Mennonites re ceived citations of honor. A captain of the army and the presidential guard represented the President. Minister Philippeaux delivered a speech and presented the awards. Philippeaux said he has known the President for fifteen years and this is the first time he has found Duvalier to be completely satisfied. He stated that Haiti has had its share of prob lems with foreigners and that America has often been at fault. However, the Mennonite volunteers were the most welcome foreign group in Haiti. The President urged the men to con tinue the kind of work they have been doing and to “invade” his country with an even larger program. Thus ended

a four month period of disaster ser vice in Haiti that has seen 35 men and two women volunteer under the MDS banner for work assignments at Cotes de Fer and Petit Goave. ( P.S. Peter Wieler, Wymark, Sask, was one of those serving under the MDS in Haiti. He too is now back home. Ed.)

LITERATURE PROGRAM IN KAMSACK A. Wiebe The $15.00 a month literature pro gram is proving a blessing. This month we sent out 900 “Visitors” in Kamsack. We plan to increase this to 1,300. It is a blessing to know that some are reading the literature. It also serves as a pre-introduction when I visit the homes. The cantata “The Living Redeem er” also is proving a blessing. Many invitations have been received. As a result of many hours of practice, we have learned to know our young peo ple better, we have been able to help them with many of their problems; also, we have learned to work togeth er more effectively. ♦ ♦

KOLA Y.P, PRESENT

"BEYOND THE REGIONS" Our young people’s group recently presented the play “Beyond the Re gions.” This hour and a half long mis sionary play in three scenes is a chal lenging portrayal of the great need to evangelize the world. The setting is Africa where the young missionary couple are laboring and planning to soon go home on a much needed fur lough. However the great need makes them cancel their flight home. Just how they help those bound by Satan and those dying of disease, and how they are opposed by the witch doc tor, is vividly shown. The listener seems to be right there; seeing the evil spirit worship hearing the eerie jungle sounds, watching how the witch doctor deceives his people and attempts to get rid of the white missionary. Then to see what the transferring power of Christ can do—all these add up to a play worth listening to and seeing. It should awaken the compla cent Christians of America to the great unfinished task! The cast of players, numbering twenty are hop ing to present “Beyond the Regions” elsewhere.

CHILDREN’S STORY

CHUMA FINDS A BABY By Charles Ludwig The presence of the baby they rescued is starting to create difficulties for Chuma and her friend, Limoni. Where to keep it? On top of this Chuma has difficulties of her own. According to prevailing heatlien costom, her six lower teeth have to go. In the last issue we left Chuma lying on the ground with Ngutla poised over her, ready to begin the job of prying out her teeth. Sud denly there is the cry of, Fire! Fire!

Rescued! In an instant Chuma was released. Big flames of yellow fire were licking upward through the roof of her hut. “Tuti is in there!” she screamed frantically. “Go get him! Go get him!” A young man rushed up to the door, but he turned away. “There’s too much fire,” he shouted, guarding his face with his arm. “No one can go in there. They’d be burned to death!” In an instant Chuma was at the entrance. Part of the roof fell in with a crash. Sparks flew everywhere. She heard a dozen people shout for her to stay away to protect her own life. But without a thought she plunged in. She couldn’t see through the smoke, and it bit into her eyes and choked in her throat. She breathed a prayer asking Jesu to help her find her brother. The smoke was so thick and the fire so hot she found herself gasping for breath. She heard a faint cry. The sound came from near the hole they had dug for the new baby. A flaming pole struck her on the shoulder. She felt the fire burn into her flesh. But she kept going until she had. Tuti in her arms. Then she stag gered outside. The people cheered when they saw the baby. Baku snatched the child from her and shook him to make sure he was alive. Everything started to whirl in front of Chuma and she slumped to the ground like wilted banana leaf. When she opened her eyes someone was pouring cool water on her face. Her shoulders stung with the severe burns she had received. She ached in every joint. She sat upright and a tiny smile played on her lips, for she had heard her father say, “I’m going to let Chuma keep her teeth. You can all see that she has real courage. She saved my son’s life!” The smile, however, didn’t last long because she began to worry about where she would find a place to hide 6

the new baby since the hut was gone. And at that moment her father went over to the hole they had dug and looked at it curiously. Chuma’s knees became so weak she found it hard to remain on her feet as she watched her father stare at the hole. She wondered what she would say when he asked about it. She prayed that Jesu would help her. Her father walked over to the place, care fully stepping between the hot embers. He bent down and picked up a hand ful of the dirt, and slowly let it sift through his fingers. He threw it away with a motion of disgust and a dark cloud formed on his face. “Chuma,” he said, striding up to his daughter, “I thought you were too old to be digging holes like a baby.” He spat on the ground, and Chuma ground her teeth fearing what would come next. “But I’m proud of you. You saved my son’s life. You have strong blood in your body and it comes from my people!” He finished with a smile and Chuma was so happy she wanted to laugh, but she knew that she had better wait until Baku was gone so that he wouldn’t ask any more ques tions. She took Tuti from his arms and walked away. At a quiet place, where the path turned sharply toward the valley, Li moni suddenly stepped out of the grass with the new baby! “Did Ngutia pry out your teeth?” asked her friend all at once. Chuma answered by smiling and pulling down her lower lip. “The Lord helped me,” she answered happily. “But now tell me, how’s the new baby? “He’s fine, but I’ve had a horrible time with him. Missi Wilsoni let me keep him in the square house, and she filled his bottle with milk. I had just started to feed him when I saw Osaka coming toward the house. As you know he wants to learn all the wisdom of the white people, and to

be a heathen at the same time. I think he’s sort of a spy. I knew that if he saw me with the ne",v baby he would tell your father, and then we’d really be in trouble. I don’t trust him any farther than a turtle can fly!” “And so what did you do?” asked Chuma anxiously, her eyes as wide as they could get. “Well, I . . .”

“Hide! Hide!” shouted Chuma hoarsely, “Someone’s coming!’’ The girls scrambled into the tall grass and hid behind a long granite boulder that lay in the grass like a loaf of the white man’s bread. Tuti and the new baby squirmed, but the girls held them tightly and made little baby noises in their ears to keep them quiet. Chuma peered over the top of the boulder and noticed that the approach ing person was an old woman with an empty pot on her head. The footlong pipe in her mouth and the wire bracelets and charms on her neck and wrists showed that she was a hea then. Chuma reasoned that she was heading for the spring in the valley to get some water to cook with. “We are going to have to do some thing quick,” whispered Limoni with a worried tone. “We can’t be hiding like this all the time! It isn’t good for the children. And who is going to keep the new baby tonight?’’ “I-I k-know where there is a cave. Maybe you could take the new baby and hide it there until we can think of something better,” suggested Chuma. “Are you being funny?” demanded Limoni, annoyed at such an idea. “Don’t you know that leopards live in caves? Would you like to be eaten?” The heathen woman had now dis appeared and so the girls slipped back onto the path. “Let’s go over to the three rocks across the creek where we can talk without being discovered,” said Chuma. Without answering, Limoni headed for the place Chuma had mentioned. The girls had been there many times and it was an ideal hideout. The three stones stood on end on top of a very wide boulder—it was almost as wide as the open space in Baku’s village— and formed a little shelter. And to make things perfect there was a table sized rock in the center that was just right to sit on or eat from. (Cont’d.)

Used by permission Scripture Press Foundation THE MESSENGER

FROM

HOUSE

TO YOU!

HOUSE

1 NEWS I KLEEFELD HEARS

“ME MONEY — ME KEEP!” by (Mrs.) Rosalind Loewen It was Rhonda’s first time for Sun day School. She had graduated from the Cradle Roll Dept, to the Nursery Class, for she was now two years old. She was proud to have her own en velope with an offering in it—just like big brother! She clutched it tightly in her small pudgy hand, lest she should lose it. When we came home I asked her how she had liked Sunday School. Her face lit up at the mention of it, but it clouded over a s she remembered something. In no time at all, two big tears were running down her baby cheeks, as she told me that the teach er had taken away her money. We were greatly amused, as we had no idea that she had expected to keep it. We tried to explain to her why we took money along to Sunday School, but she would not be consoled. It was too much for her young mind to com prehend. All she said was, “Me money —me keep!” I thought of these words later that day, I wondered if we mothers were sometimes guilty of portraying this very attitude of selfishness to our children. Do we give them the im pression that the money we have is ours to spend for self only, or can they see by our walk and talk that we recognize the Lord as the owner as we find it in Haggai 2:8? It reads, “the silver is mine and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of Hosts.” We are only stewards. How important it is that we teach our children the right use of money, as wen as the right attitude towards it.

WOMEN BUILD HOMES A house is built of bricks and stones. Of pillars, posts and piers; But a home is built of loving deeds That stand a thousand years. Men of the world build houses Halls and chambers, roofs and domes; But the women of the world, God knows. That women build the homes. Heart to Heart Poetry Album

AprU 17, 1964

MISSIONS SPEAKER Rev. and Mrs. P. K. Bartel re turned home on March 12 from sev eral weeks of service in Mexico. They helped along with the radio work and the general work of the E.M.C. group out the'-e. Rev, Bartel gave a short report of their work at the Christian Endeavour program March 22. Mr. Harvey Barkman, missionary on furlough from Congo, brought a re port and challenge on March 18. It was interesting and challenging to hear about their experiences; the way the Lord has kept them safe in His care how souls have been saved and brought out of darkness. On March 27, Rev. David Affleck, missionary on furlough from France, was the guest at our Young People’s program. He explained the uses of some curios that he had put on dis play and rendered several accordian solos. He also showed slides about his work in France and Italy. Rev. Eton C. Brucks brought a chal lenge to us on the field of Japan on Sunday, April 5. He has been serving in Japan under the Japan Evangelical Mission. He also showed slides to encourage us to do something about harvest time in Japan. What are we doing about souls that need to be har vested?

A VISITOR TO ST. LUCIA The Gladwin Pletts as a rule do not get too many Canadian visitors, how ever it so happened that his father came to visit them this winter. Mr. A. P. Plett boarded a T.C.A. plane March 7, 1964 and arrived at Castries, St. Lucia the next day wher e the Pletts were waiting to pick him up and take him to Soufriere. After a stay of thirty days Mr. Plett has come home with quite interesting pictures and reports. The climate is quite hot and sticky day or night. The country very un even and mountainous, and the people of course, dark with quite a different culture than ours. Life for the mis sionaries is quite busy seven days a

week, attending services, street meet ings, house visitations, correspond ence, etc. A special event during Mr. Plett’s stay was the ordination of a national minister, who, of course, had gone through quite a lengthy, rigid probation in active service. The Pletts are enjoying better health this term than in the previous one. The Prairie Rose congregation was favoured two evenings with slides and reports by Mr. A. P. Plett who had just recently returned from the field. Mr. Plett, I’m sure would also be willing to show the slides at other places. FELLOWSHIP SUPPER HELD The Goodwill Sewing Club found that their charity fund was rather low, so they had a fellowship supper, where each guest was given the opportunity to give an offering, to carry on their various projects such as: Korean Or phans, M.C.C., Christmas bundles. Rest Haven Charity, Church kitchen utensils, missionary gifts, etc. Fortunately the Harvey Barkmans had returned by then so the evening was well spent including a personal report and challenge by the Barkmans. At a later time a full evening open to all was given to the Barkmans, who then reported more completely by pic tures (slides), songs and reports. Iruly the providence of God was evident in their safe deliverance. To Him be all the Glory.

ROSENORT JUNIOR CHOIR RENDEIiS PROGRAM As most of the readers may well know, different churches and groups participate in rendering programs at the Union Gospel Mission in Winnipeg. On Good Friday the Rosenort Junior Choir, under the direction of Walter Dueck, presented a program centered around the suffering, death, and re surrection of Jesus Christ for the sins of the whole world. The meeting was well attended by men who need to appropriate this great salvation, the only remedy for sin. VANDERHOOF FEELS QUAKE On Good Friday, March 27, we ga thered at the North side Mennonite church to hear the Crucifixion mes sage from Rev. Clarence Raymer, Dutches, Alta. After singing several songs. Rev. Kropf, made the opening and we reverently stood for prayer. As we stood thus before the Lord in pray er I felt a violent dizzy spell come ov-

er me. So I grabbed with both hands at the back of the seat ahead of me to steady myself and I felt myself sway from side to side. Several people sat down P’ld ^jo'me' le walked to the back. M’ wife a chair with the baby on her lap and wondered who shook her chair. Brother Kropf felt the pulpit shake while praying. We had a real touching message, and af ter the meeting somebody mentioned an earthquake. So I found that they had all had dizzy spells. One home had very suddenly lost a dear one only a few weeks before. The father of that home told me as everything began to shake a great joy had surged through him, as he thought probably the Lord would come at this time to take them home to be with their loved ones. As they waited and watched they saw the bird cage swing ing gently back and forth, and heard the doors creaking. As we came home we turned on the radio and heard about the Alaska earth quake. I went back to the hospital where I work and found that they had felt the 40 to 50 bed building sway quite hard. It was not just a tremor like they have experienced here be fore but a distinct swaying. Vanderhoof, B..C Jacob R. Unger * * «

Steinbach S.S. News

A number of Steinbach Sunday school teachers of the E.M.C. church in Steinbach sought to improve their effectiveness by taking teacher train ing courses this winter. Approximate ly fifteen teachers studied “Principles of Religious Education” at the S.B.I. with Wilbert Loewen as the instructor. Comments by these teachers were very enthusiastic. One teacher admit ted, “These lessons have given me something I lacked — a definite aim in developing Christian character in my pupils.” A six session course in teacher train ing was taught by Harvey Plett in the church library during the Sunday school hour, with a good attendance of both young people and teachers

Our new Sunday school superintend ent is Eddie Loewen with Irwin Kroeker as assistant. Attendance during the winter averaged approximately 485.

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Alinisters and Deacons Meet The ministers and deacons from seven Steinbach churches, and sev eral surounding churches, held their bi-annual meeting in the E.M.C. church in Steinbach on April 11th. The speak ers were Rev. H. H. Voth from Win nipeg M.B.B.C. and Rev. Sam Epp from the Steinbach E.M.B. church. Theme of their messages and the discusisons following the messages was “pre-destination”.

Minister Moves to Kansas Rev. and Mrs. Ben D. Reimer and their younger children have left for Meade, Kansas, where Rev. Reimer has consented to serve five months as pastor of a church. * * * ExMERGENCY DISASTER SITUATION IN ALASKA Akron, Pa. (MCC)—The worst earth quake in U.S. history occurred Good Friday evening, March 27. Anchor age, Alaska’s biggest city was hardest hit. Tidal waves, kicked off by the earth tremors, sped 4(X) to 600 miles pei’ hour down the length of the West Coast to California and across the Pacific to Hawaii. The President declared Alaska officially a disaster area. Early reports estimated the Alaska earthquake damage $250 mil lion. The west coast of Vancouver Island was partially isolated over the Easter weekend because of damage incurred by tidal waves. The British Columbia Mennonite Disaster Service units have moved into the Port Alberni area for cleanup and repair. Other Cana dian units may come to their assist ance. Ivan Martin, Blue Ball, Pa., MDS chairman, and John Garman, Saska toon, Saskatchewan, Canadian MDS chairman, are flying to Anchorage on Monday, April 6, to evaluate the sit uation and determine whether MDS units should swing into action. Martin and Garman will undertake a week of thorough on-the-spot inves tigations before submitting their re commendations. ♦ * *

EVANGELISM AT ARBORG

Evangelistic services are being held at the Morweena Chapel starting Mar. 30 to 31 then from April 1st to 10th at the Arborg Community HaU. These are being conducted by Rev. Milton Fast from Kleefeld.

Our prayer is that many will come to know the Lord before it is too late. Plans are that Extension Sunday School will be held at Hayek starting April 5. The two other places where Extension Sunday School is being held is at Sylvan and in the town of Arborg.

MEAT PROJECT The two Mennonite relief committees in Manitoba have purchased the second carload (40,000 lb.) of canned meat; this one for shipment to Korea. Earlier, one carload was divided between Vietnam and Hong Ko-ng. A carload of 40,000 pounds of canned meat costs $13,500 delievered in Seattle. From Seattle to the port of discharge the freight is paid by the United States government. In Korea the meat will be distributed by MCC workers to the wel fare institutions (hospitals, orphanages, widows homes, old peoples homes, lep rosariums, etc.) in and around Taegu. Any further contributions for this project will be applied toward a third carload.

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BIRTHS To Mr. and Mrs. Martin G. Friesen of Steinbach, a girl, Lois Agatha, on January 29. To Mr. and Mrs. Donald Friesen of Steinbach, a girl, Marilyn Pearl, on March 14. To Mr. and Mrs. Dave Penner, of Steinbach, a girl, Beverly Roxanne, April 1.

:******GOMING EVENir****: ♦: April 12-26 Evangelistic services *

♦ ♦: ♦ ♦; ♦ ♦ ♦> ♦J ♦ ; ■ ♦: ♦; ♦ ♦■ ♦ : ; :; : ♦ ♦: ♦ '

at Rosenort with Rev. Kornelsen as speaker.

Henry J ♦

April 19-26 Spring Crusade at « Portage la Prairie with Rev. MU- J ton Fast as speaker. ♦ April 26 - May 5 Revival meet- * ings at the Pelly Fellowship Cha- * pel with Rev. John Unger of ♦ Dauphin as speaker. ♦ ♦ May 17-24 Evangelistic services * at the Steinbach E.M.C. church J with Rev. Henry Unrau of Brier- ♦ crest Bible School, as speaker. « ♦ June 26, 27, 28 Annual Confer- J ence of the E.M.C. at Steinbach. |

THE MESSENGER