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'>1 Wise son heareth father’s instructions.” Proverbs
My father didn’t tell me how to livelived, and let ’ me , him f/o it. ~ C/arence B. Pelland
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from the past by Dave Schellenberg After devoting several articles to the prepa rations of the Mennonites to leave Russia, we come to the actual leaving. Today, in our continuing series on the 120th anniversary of the Mennonites coming from Russia to America, we have the account of one of the persons who took part in this journey. The account comes to us through the courtesy
"...The journey to Manitoba was a long and ardous one that involved travel by wagons, trains, ocean liners, street cars, river boats, and ox-carts."
ing the night. The following morning the ship’s agents gave them to us. We then hired vehicles which drove us to the train station. We bought tickets which would take us from Odessa to Bresslau [sic], Prussia. Each ticket cost 18 rubles. We arrived on Friday, June 7, at the Aus trian border... Only one crate and one box were checked. Since they found nothing ille gal, they simply asked whether we had any tobacco with us. When we answered, “No,” they did not check anymore... On June 8, a 7:00 p.m. we arrived in Tarnopol. We had given the conductor 20 kopecks per family as security, so that he gave our women and children comfortable places and treated them well. In Russia we could receive hot water
RUSSIA TO MANITOBA: 1874 of Royden Loewen, and is excerpted from his book Blumenort. a Mennonite Commu nity in Transition, by permission. Despite the difficulties inuolued in the emigration, the Kleine Gemeinde people were the first Mennonites to leaue Russia. Altogether, 200 Kleine Gemeinde families from uarious parts of Russia moued. They made up only ten percent of the 8,000 Men nonites who would settle in Manitoba. The greatest percentage of the Kleine Gemeinde migrated in 1874 and 1875. In the first year about two-thirds of the church left under the leadership of the delegates Klassen and Toews. The next year the second contingent came, led by Elder Peter Toews. ... The journey to Manitoba was a long and arduous one that inuolued trauel by wagons, trains, ocean liners, street cars, riuer boats, and ox-carts. Seueral settlers who Hued in the Blumenort area remembered this trip and others kept day-to-day diaries of this histor ic journey... Peter W. Loewen, a young married man, was in the uery first group to leaue Russia. His account below is an excerpt of one of the most elaborate existing chronicles of the 1874 moue.
Peter W. Loewen's Account On Monday, June 3,1874, we started our trip to America. We bade farewell to our friends, and then people from a neighbour ing village drove us to Nikopol. On Tues day... we sailed [down the Dnieper River] from Nikopol and arrived at the [Black Sea port town of] Gerson at 6:00 p.m... The chests were transferred into the ship going to Odessa. On Wednesday we left Gerson for Odessa. The ride and weather were very beautiful... We arrived in Odessa at 7:00 p.m. We left the ship with our hand lug gage...drove to Maibuch and stayed there for the night. Our crates stayed in the ship dur-
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for coffee and tea at practically every station and stopping place. This we missed on the [Austrian] train. On Sunday, June 9, we arrived at Bres lau ... We had lots of time to rest here. We took a walk in the city where we saw beau tiful streets with four and five-storey build ings... On Monday, June 22, we arrived in Berlin. Immediately we picked up our bag gage, stepped into the street car and drove through Berlin to the Hamburg station. Here...we boarded the train for the harbour city of Hamburg, where we arrived at about 6:00 p.m. Here we met all the other dear brothers and sisters who had left via Maizer and Compa. We were all given lodging in a huge four-storey building. We left Hamburg at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26. We sailed down the Elbe into the
to man's will. 1 had the grace to remain free from seasickness so I could serve others, which 1 should have done much more ener getically. It was a pity to see mothers with their children subjected to seasickness, sick in bed, without the help of their husbands because they were in the same situation. On the fourth day the wind subsided, thank God! We had beautiful weather. The sick recovered and started to eat. The English ship was well taken care of and clean, although the interpreter was not worthy of commendation. The food for the most part was tasty and sufficient... On Friday, July 17, we arrived healthy and well protected in Quebec. We stepped off the ship onto [North] American soil... O God, how great is your goodness! Yes, now we could again enjoy God’s nature in freedom. We had time to look at the many beautiful sights in Quebec till 8:00 p.m... After the government fed us well [we boarded the train]...and arrived in Toronto on Sunday, July 19, at 8:00 p.m. We disembarked and, because it was Sunday, we had to unload our own crates. Here we stayed till July 21, as a decision had to be reached whether we would take the Dawson Road or go via Minnesota. Canadian Mennonites advised us against taking the Dawson Road. Discussions were held with the government via telegraph these two days, and finally, on Tuesday at noon, the news came that we could avoid the difficult road by paying two extra dollars per adult. Quickly our crates were loaded and we with our hand luggage boarded the train for a six-hour ride to Collingwood. In Toron to six [Ontario] Mennonite brethren had
"It was a pity to see mothers with their children subjected to seasickness, sick in bed, without the help of their husbands because they were in the same situation."
North Sea on a steam ship and arrived at Hull, England, on Sunday, June 28. Because of the religious English people, we could not leave the ship till Monday...when our crates were put on the train. We walked to a hotel where the government had provided us with white bread, butter and cheese. Following this we walked to the railroad station, bought tickets and left for Liverpool... After arriv ing in Liverpool, we had supper and went to sleep. In the morning on June 30, after eating breakfast, we walked to the huge seaport and immediately boarded the “Austrian,” the ship which would take us across the vast ocean. The first three days on the ocean were very bad, as the wind and weather were against us. Practically all passengers were down with seasickness. Here we really saw God’s power and His control. On the land with the train it had seemed as if man ruled nature and everything was done according
helped us in all things. Among them was an elder and a minister who served us with God’s Word. The senior [minister Peter] Baerg also preached. At 9 p.m. we arrived in Collingwood, but we could not speak with anyone; everything was in English. The people on the ship, however, loaded our crates as quickly as possible. It had all been obviously prear ranged via telegraph, and by 10:00 p.m. we left shore in order to cross Lake Superior to Duluth.... The sailors on Lake Superior were kinder than those on the ocean.... On July 25 we anived in Duluth. Here Rev. Abraham Loewen preached the Word. On Monday, at 1:30 p.m., we embarked on the Pacific Railway Co. train and head ed for Moorhead, where we arrived on Tues day, at 6:00 p.m. We stayed outside till we embarked on the steamboat “International,” and left for Winnipeg. On Friday, July 31, we safely arrived in Winnipeg....
THE MESSENGER
He is a Hero by David Nadeau Ideals bring to mind perfection or a utopian point of view. In this discussion of fatherhood in the 90s, this model is, if desired, adequately attainable.
He wants the best possible life for his family. He cares for them far beyond supplying their house, clothing and food. He freely gives the greatest non renewable resource — his time. He gives his love, his care, his tenderness. He puts aside his reading when a little one or his wife needs attention, knowing that his response to a request today conditions how and if it is repeated tomorrow. He is a hero to his children, a champion for his wife. He believes in tomorrow, great ideas, high ideals. He believes in things he hasn’t seen. He teaches his children to be not crowd followers, but single-minded souls capable of bending as they learn. He knows the meaning of balance and moderation and actively teaches moral values. He believes in rules and regulations, setting reasonable expectations and consequences for his children in concert with his wife. He acts when the consequences have to be delivered as promised, doing so in love, not anger, in firm balance, not terror and violence. He counts to 20 before responding to situations he can’t control: a sick child, carelessness, a broken toy, his lost hammer rusty in the long grass, lateness, a hopelessly jammed fishing reel. He is gentle with an irritable and child-burdened mom who is so pleased to meet an adult at the end of a long day, she forgets how
To a Father When his children ask his guidance As they walk along life's road, And they feel they're heavy burdened, He is there to lift the load.
A father's love reveals itself In ways none can compare — In correcting, and forgiving. In compassion, and in prayer. When the children brought report cards, and in fear, quite often stood. He would praise them, and remind them To always do the best they could.
May each father be remembered. What privilege ours, it is to say, God bless you today and always — Have a happy Father's Day. Violet M. Wright Sturgis, Sask. JUNE 8, 1994
to handle the situation and him with the tact and balance he expects. He never demeans his wife, especially in front of others. He never mocks her or makes little of her efforts to be the person she is. He knows the force of the cutting word and the power of encouraging words. He applies the stain remover to his vocabulary to rid himself of two-edged words that cut. He “reads” dictionaries, absorbing words which bless, bend, build and beautify young and pliable lives. He builds up his wife with more than encouraging words, picking up after himself and offering to help with the small daily tasks which make a house a home, which make children into team-player adults, which make this day a savory and suitable building block for her tomorrow. He comes home. He knows how to play and he knows when to work. His hobbies are in balance; he is not obsessed by them. He is faithful. He goes to church with his family and demonstrates a living relationship with Jesus Christ and His Word during the week. Even without being ordained, he is known as a man of God. He is observant, not blinded by being macho, and responds with compliments for nice make-up, jobs well done, tasty meals, attractive clothing and good efforts around the house or school. He firmly sets a child on the couch with his wife and backs her when she says, “No, everyone is not doing it! And neither will you.” His word is his bond, his handshake better than fine gold. His physical strength only serves and never intimidates the family, for he treats and treasures his wife and children as precious-beyond-value gifts. He understands the delicate balance between authority and dominance, the difference between wife and servant. He is not afraid to laugh, to touch, to listen, to pray, to cry, to tease or be teased, to hug and be hugged, to sing, to change his mind. He knows pride is his keenest enemy. He submits his authority to a higher Authority, humbling himself when needed, submitting to the correction of others when needed, ready to admit error and quick to ask forgiveness when he has wrongly assumed, accused or punished. He knows he is not perfect and does not demand perfection from his family. Knowing he can’t be all things to all people, he recognizes that his first calling is to his family, not so much for what it can give him, but for what its members can become.
David Nadeau is a free-lance writer, living in Three Hills, Alberta. PAGE 3
an agency agreement to be in writing. It should address holding of funds, the nature by Henry Friesen of activities and financial and other report ing back to your church. 4. Enter a joint ministry agreement with a foreign charity. Revenue Canada requires Is Your Church Being Charitable Illegally? that there be a formal agreement, and that Have you heard of the Henri) Friesen urers to bend the rules). the Canadian charity have meaningful input Spiritual Retreat Fund, Inc.? It operates out Registered charities must spend all of their in establishing policies and administering the of Minneapolis, sponsors annual winter pil money on their own charitable activities. joint ministry activity. grimages to Hawaii and accepts donations This is deemed to include sending funds to 5. Adopt an independent missionary. A from Canadian charities. other registered Canadian charities (who are joint ministry agreement in writing is recom So Pm just kidding, but would you be subject to the same rules). It is illegal for your mended if others also provide support, or the alarmed if Revenue Canada allowed receipt church to send funds to any foreign organi missionary should be appointed as an agent. ed monies to be used in this way? They zations, whether receipted or not. It is usually At a minimum the work of the missionary don’t, but the same rules may also apply to illegal to send receipted money directly to in should be formally adopted as a ministry of donations your church makes to foreign dividuals who are not employees of your the church. This would include communicat charities or projects. They are probably church. ing the commitment of the church and the illegal. So what is acceptable? reporting expected from the missionary. Let me explain. When a charity obtains 1. Send funds through the registered Cana The end does not justify the means! a registration number from Revenue Cana dian affiliates of the foreign charities your “We’ve always done it this way” doesn’t cut da it agrees to follow certain rules. Given the church wishes to support. it either. If your church may have a problem, significant tax savings available through 2. Hire employees (or volunteers) to carry ask the Board to check it out right away. receipts, it is not surprising that Revenue out your foreign charitable project. Where Canada imposes some restrictions to avoid the project is undertaken directly by your abuses. It is also not surprising that donors church, it would qualify as its own ministry. These articles are provided as a service of the want to get receipts that are valid for Cana 3. Appoint an agent to carry out your own Board of Trustees. Churches are encouraged to dian tax purposes (and often try to get treas- charitable project. Revenue Canada requires clip and file them for future reference.
STEWARDSHIP THAT COUNTS
E.M. Conference
May 31, 1994
Financial Update Budget (June to May) Receipts to date
POS
jjf-l co' 1* A
1994
1993
1993
$566,667 347,975 $218,692
$566,667 366,660
$572,652 361,056
$200,007
$211,596
Please pray that the necessary funds would come in to be able to carry out the programs approved by the Conference Council in December 1993 for this year. Our missionary personnel and pro grams are dependent on these contributions. Thank you for your interest, prayer and concern.
Board of Trustees June 25 Called To Be a Counterculture COMING EVENTS Global March for Jesus Speaker: John A. Redekop June 11 "A Day to Change the World" Winnipeg, Man. MCC Man. Relief Sale Phone: (416) 778-7080 Phone: (204) 326-6401 At The Forks June 26, 3 p.m. July 8-9 Winnipeg, Man. Graduation Ceremonies MCC Alberta Relief Sale Phone: (204) 261-6381 Steinbach Christian High Didsbury, Alta. June 18 School Phone: (403) 275-6935 Canadian Foodgrains Bank Steinbach Bible College August 6 Relief Sale Steinbach, Man. MCC Manitoba Relief Sale Hague, Sask. Phone: (204) 326-6451 Keystone Centre Phone; (204) 944-1993 June 30 - July 2 Brandon, Man. June 23-26 National Pro-Life Conference Phone: (204) 261-6381 Canadian Christian Festival IV with Link Byfield and others September 22-24 with George Carey, David University of‘ Saskatchewan ‘ Prophecy Conference Mainse, Jean Vanier and Saskatoon, Sask. Calvary Temple many others Phone: (306) 244-2259 Winnipeg, Man. Copps Coliseum July 1-3 Phone: (204) 254-7843 Hamilton, Ont. CMC, EMC and EMMC Phone: (905) 523-3100 TAI-CONFERENCE CONVENTION
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CHANGE OF ADDRESS; We received the above change of address card, but the back was blank, so we didn’t know whose address to change. When your address changes, please send us the old address, as well as the new one. CONTRIBUTORS: Dora Friesen (Rosenort) is involved in church planting in Oscar Soto Maynez in Mexico. Agnes Friesen (Rosenort) works at the Cana dian Sunday School Mission Office in Winni peg, Man. Thanks to Beth Steele and Lester Olfert for the pictures on the cover. NEXT MESSENGER: The next Messenger, dated June 29, should arrive in three weeks. THE MESSENGER is published twice a month (once a month in July and August) by The Evangelical Mennonite Conference Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main Street, Box 1268, Steinbach, Manitoba, ROA 2A0. Second Class Mail; Registration Number 0591. Undelivered co pies, change of address and new subscriptions should be mailed to the above address. The Messenger is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.
Editor: Menno Hamm Assistant: Martha Kroeker Phone: (204) 326-6401: Fax: (204) 326-1613
THE MESSENGER
The convention steering committee, at a meeting in Steinbach, consists of (left to right): Bill Hildebrandt (Bishop CMC), John Koop (Moderator EMC), BUI Thiessen (EMMC), Cornie G. Peters (CMC), Ralph Unger (EMC), Ben Friesen (EMC), John M. Wiebe (CMC) and Len Sawatzky (EMMC). Abe Peters (EMMC) and David Penner (Moderator EMMC) are missing.
Tri-Conference Convention Steering Committee STEINBACH, Man.; Planning for the 1994 Tri-Conference convention, which began 1 /2 years ago, is nearing its final stages. Most of the arrangements are completed, and antici pation is mounting as the first weekend in July approaches. t
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The steering committee has been meeting periodically since December 1992. It is com posed of the moderator or bishop and two ad ditional representatives of each Conference. Early on the committee members divided the duties and assumed the responsibility
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A Father Celebrates His Daughters by Mark A Tabb ' ■ Typical American male — that’s me. If there is a sporting event ...................................... ■ on TV, I■ watch it. ~ Baseball, basketball, football, even golf. I always believed that a son would make all of these better. We would be a team. Inseparable. A dynamic duo. There would be a baseball glove in the hospital crib. I would introduce my son to doubleheaders and slam dunks as early in life as possible. I tried to convince my wife, Valerie, that we should name our future son after the 1977 New York Yankees’ outfield — Lou Pinella, Mickey Rivers and Reggie Jackson. When she pointed out that our child would have to live with the name Louis Michael Reginald Tabb for the rest of his life, we decided to look somewhere other than the sports page for the perfect name. We settled on Caleb Andrew, after the Old Testament spy who stood against the crowd and the disciple who brought his brother to Jesus. But the doctor delivered our first child and he was a she, so we traded in Caleb Andrew for Bethany Rachel. And when she looked up at me with big, dark eyes, the room seemed to get a little foggy, To celebrate Bethany’s second day in the world we watched a baseball game on TV together. The New York Yankees were playing the California Angels. I pointed out that just because one team was named after heavenly messengers we did not have to root for them. As I recall, her reaction to baseball was much like her mother’s — she slept through most of it. When Hannah Michelle was born two years later, she found the world a rather annoying place to be. So she did what any rational person would do — she cried. I placed my hand on her back as she lay under the warming light and spoke to her as I had before she was born. She suddenly stopped crying and lay very still as though she felt secure and safe. So I did what any rational dad would do. I cried. Sarah Elizabeth came into this world two years after Hannah and staked a claim on my left shoulder for a sleeping place. Night after night, Valerie handed our third daughter over to me for the magic shoulder treatment. Now I’m the only male in an all-female household. Every stuffed animal in our house has been given a distinctly feminine name. Even our dog is female. Our tomcat couldn’t take the pressure and ran away. All three girls Ccime with curly hair as standard equipment. Long JUNE 8, 1994
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of liaison for a particular committee. Representing the Chortitzer Mennonite Con ference are Comie G. Peters (Finance), Bishop Bill Hildebrandt (Ministerial) eind John M. Wie be (Youth). The Evangelical Mennonite Mis sion Conference is represented by Abe Peters (Facilities), Bill Thiessen (Publicity), Len Sawatzky (Chairman) and Moderator David Penner. Ralph Unger (Music), Ben Friesen (Children) and Moderator John Koop represent the Evangelical Mennonite Con ference. Each committee is composed of an addi tional member from each Conference. The en thusiastic efforts of these committee members will be augmented by support from many more volunteers in each of the areas. May we pray fervently for the outpouring of God’s blessings at Convention ’94.
THE
FAMILY
flowing curls are a beautiful sight for a dad to behold —until Mom goes out of town for the weekend.
“Honey, you’ll be fine with the girls by yourself. It will be good
spend some time alone together.” It was good until Sunday morning — the one day of the weekend when they actually had to look presentable in public. Dresses were no problem. Bethany and Hannah could pick out what they wanted to wear. Sarah, like most two-year-olds, will wear whatever you talk her into. Even finding three pairs of matching socks was less taxing than I anticipated. There they were — bodies bathed, teeth brushed, clothes on. Only one thing left — their hair. I had one thing going for me: as pastor of the church no one would say anything too critical of the girls’ appearance for fear of becoming a sermon illustration. I took full advantage of this knowledge, more out of necessity than desire to put fear into the hearts of my congregation. In addition to inviting me into their world, my girls share mine as well. My girls have learned the essentials; how to cheer and how to boo. Hannah is especially fond of Michael Jordan. A Michael poster hovers over her ballerina and Little Mermaid posters. My daughters also try to watch football with me. They under stand that there is some team from Dallas, where Bethany was bom, that we are supposed to cheer for. And there is a team from Washington that we are supposed to root against. Things become complicated when they ask, “Which team is Michael Jordan’s?” I am outnumbered but overjoyed. Daughters and fathers have the potential to have one of the most unique of all human relationships — and I get to experience it three times over. Long ago I was told to enjoy my children while they were young. I’ve listened. Right now my girls think Daddy is the greatest man on earth, I realize time will change this. As they grow up, other men will come into their lives. One day, each daughter will believe there is another man more wonderful than her father. I’ll have to learn to call those men sons. Whatever the future may hold, I know this; Bethany, Hannah, and Sarah will always be my little girls. They’ll never get so big they can’t wrap their arms around my neck, look into my eyes, and say, “1 love you. Daddy.” And there will never come a day when I will not love them with all my heart. Mark Tabb is pastor of First Baptist Church in Springuille, California. His wife and three daughters are willing participants in basketball games and outdoor expedition! Excerpted frorn They Eat Dirt, Don’t They? (David C. Cook). Used by permission of Chariot Family Publishing. A service of David C. Cook Publishing Co., Elgin, Illinois.
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Missions
Seven sisters (three are missing)! Marbel and Norma are on the right. Pilar, the girls’ mother, is a Christian.
r Norma’s birthday
MEXICO
Baptism — Eternal Life? Won’t you sing? May 5 — Eduardo Juarez died this morn ing, hemorrhaging from the mouth. Before they could take him to the doctor he was gone. Liquor — what a terrible killer! Hortencia and 1 went to greet Elvera. She was composed and quiet. When a person dies, the custom is to empty one room of all the furniture, with only chairs, the coffin and burning candles in the room. People come, sit quietly for a while, and then leave. When Hortencia and 1 were leav ing, Elvera asked, “Won’t you sing?” We were surprised because, although she is strongly re ligious, she has voiced her disapproval for evangelicals. We sang a few choruses and left. In the evening, Rosa, Pilar (both sing well) and I sang many songs. Outside men gathered around a fire, talking and drinking; this went on all night. The Juarez family is very poor so they didn’t have an undertaker. They put bags of ice on the body and soon water was dripping from the coffin. The youngest son, Salvador (age 17), was in the USA and they
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The successful applicant should have proven leadership qualities to administer a staff of five professionals in a multi grade K-10 school. Several years of teaching junior high lev el a definite asset. Ability to become ac credited (Manitoba) necessary. For more information or to apply, please contact: Arnold Pries Box 1630 Swan River, MB ROL 1Z0 Phone: 1-204-734-3335(4891)
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had difficulty locating him. The next morning I checked as to the time of the funeral and was informed that misa (mass) was almost over. When I entered the church, the priest was making last remarks, “Our brother is in glory. Baptism gave him eternal life,” and sprinkled the coffin with holy water. Salvador had sent word that he was on his way, so the body was again taken back to the house, awaiting him. Another son, Tereso (age 18), accepted Christ after seeing the Jesus video in Decem ber 1993. One day Elvera said to Rosa in a mocking tone, ”Your disciple (my son) is drinking.” Tereso started the Abundant Life course but, because of persecution from his family and friends, he quit. But he still comes to my house to watch videos with other young people on Thursday nights. During the holy week we read the Easter story with Elvera and we saw evidence of her interest in the Gospel. To “cover up,” she said, “You are welcome at my house, but you need not think that 1 will come to your church.” I think we are gaining Elvera’s confidence.
MANITOBA
Never Too Old Redeeming the Time How time flies...! A common expression, but how true! We are still in the month of May and already we have processed many staff ap plication forms for our summer ministries. As we realize how fast a year goes by, we are reminded of the urgency to redeem the time of spreading the Good News of salvation to young and old. I remember, about ten years ago, when a dear lady was rushed into Winnipeg by am bulance and admitted to St. Boniface Hospi tal in critical condition. Since she was soon slated for major surgery, several of us made it a point to visit her at intervals and to present the plan of salvation to her. Being a gentle,
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Rene
Please for her and her family. Also, remember to pray for the young peo ple here. Rene has assurance of salvation but has “hang ups” from the time he studied for the prieshood. Pray for complete release and victory in his life. Norma accepted Christ when she was 12. Now she is a backslidden, single mother. She and her sister Marbel attend Bi ble study. Dora Friesen kind and considerate lady, she found it rather difficult to understand the verse. For all have sinned and come short... However, after sever al visits and detailed explanations of what sin is, including an unforgiving spirit, her face lit up and she said, “I will never hold that against that lady any more; I will just accept her the way she is.” The day before surgery, she con fessed her sin to God and invited Christ into her life. PTE! A few weeks ago I had the privilege of visit ing this lady in her home. Now, at the age of 93, she is still thanking God every day for what He has done and is doing for her. What a blessed reminder that no one is too old to enter God’s fold! May we be found faithful in sharing the Good News while it is yet day. Pray the Lord of the harvest for a harvest of souls this sum mer. Agnes Friesen THE MESSENGER
Messenger News LITTLE KINDNESSES
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Grande Prairie, Alta.: May 6 was a spe cial evening for the ladies who attended a tea, hosted by the Women’s Ministries Commit tee. A few women eloquently shared ex periences and encouraging thoughts on the theme for the evening. Little Kindnesses. There is a saying, Anyone can go out and buy a dog, but only kindness can make its tail wag. We were challenged to reach out, extend our selves to others without waiting to be asked, and be willing to take risks at times. One defi nition of kindness is doing for others what you wish they would do for you, and this some times requires us to pay closer attention to others’ needs and feelings. Most often the greatest kindnesses shown are the unexpect ed ones, big or small, and they become the uplifting touch we desperately desire but either cannot or will not ask for. In Ephesians we read, “Be ye kind and con siderate of one another,” and yet how hard that can be when the other person docs not return the kindness or make any attempt at being nice. We come in contact with so many people like this outside our circle of family and friends — at the store, in school, even on the street, but especially in the workplace. How do we reach out to someone we work along side, someone who actually goes out of the way to be unkind, or completely indifferent? A song beautifully sung that evening was called / Owe Him Everything. The words re mind us of how Christ did the greatest kind ness of all when He gave His life for all of us, despite our imperfections. How small a price for us to pay by returning some of that loving kindness with our attitudes and actions towards those around us. After all, even a smile can work wonders! Those of us who arc mothers have ample opportunity to show kindness each and every day. The message Pastor Peter gave on Mother’s Day, based on the story of Hannah from I Samuel 1, was so appropriate and very encouraging. He pointed out that, although there arc many vocations in the world, mother hood was planned by God since the beginning of time. For this reason it easily outranks even the highest position in any corporation, and yet with this prestige comes tremendous responsibility. Our children will carry with them always the things they have seen and hccird from their mother, both good and bad. We can find great inspiration in the exam ple Hannah set for us. The way she lived her life exemplified her faith, and her love for her son was totally unselfish, so much so that she was willing to give him back to the Lord to be in His service. By following these two bas ic guidelines, living daily for Christ and loving unselfishly. Pastor Peter assured us, we have the ability to be a model to the world, to bring respect, notoriety and admiration back to motherhood. Thank you for challenging me. JUNE 8, 1994
Membership reception at the Grande Prairie church. Left to right: Pastor Peter and Trudy Dueck, Dave and Elaine Fehr, Darryl Wyton, Herman and Eva Klassen, Dan and Helen Siemens.
and all mothers, to become more like Hannah. The following, “What Church Membership Means to Me,” was submitted by Elaine Fehr, who was accepted into the membership of our church on March 6; The day I joined Swan City Fellowship in Grande Prairie was a spe cial day for me. It gave me a sense of official ly belonging to the church family with whom we have been worshipping and fellowshipping since June of last year. There is also a sense of identity. 1 realize that as a born-again Christian I am a mem ber of the universal church of God; however, I recognize the vast diversity of churches in His name. If anyone knows about the EMC
and what it stands for, they will also know what I support because I have chosen to join this particular church. I also have a responsibility to this church: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” When 1 see or hear of a need within the church, I should respond as well as 1 can. 1 marvel at how needy Christians can be taken care of in the church when it func tions as God intended. Becoming a member of this church has been a positive experience. I look forward to con tinuing to worship with and serve this body of believers. Audrey Friesen
FAMILY LIFE SERIES
Dcllins from Norquay. They have a ministry to children at camps and other events. Yvonne, with the help of her son and husband and little friend Amanda, presented a program which emphasized the meaning of the Easter season. The two black light numbers were a highlight of the evening. The Easter morning service, planned by members of the worship committee, used music and scripture to direct our worship to our living Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our annual Seniors’ Supper was held on Tuesday, May 3. This event, sponsored by the Ladies’ Aid group, saw fifty of our area seniors enjoy supper together, and later they were en tertained with a program of musical numbers, both instrumental and vocal, a reading and a short devotional from the pastor. Some of the , old familiar hymns were heartily sung by the whole group as well. Mother’s Day was a special time for the women of the church. The morning service had several special items in it, ranging from a short play put on by the Primary Sunday school class, a quiz about mothers of the Bi ble done by the teen class and a number by the men’s chorus. Following the service, we all enjoyed the lunch put on entirely by the men (including the dishwashing afterwards). Thank you, men, for making it a special day for us.
Endeavour, Sask.: March was a busy month for our church as we hosted three spe cial events. Mirror Image, a music team from Bethany Bible College, was with us on March 13. Two members of the staff, Susan Schmidt and Rick Schellenberg, accompanied them. We appreciated their musical program of praise and worship and the message which Rick Schellenberg brought to close the morn ing service. A Family Life series took place two weeks later, with Ralph Unger as the speaker. All members of the family, from children to seniors, were ministered to during the weekend. The topic on Friday night was “The Greatest of these is Love,” which dealt with husband/wife relationships. On Saturday evening, “Is Your Basket in the Nile?” dealt with parent/chid relationships. Sunday morn ing Ralph spoke to the children with the mes sage “Privileges and Responsibilities of Children in a Christian Home.” After a fellow ship meal, we had our final session, an “Open Forum” in which the older members of the church family responded to questions on var ious topics. At each session we were privileged to have Willing Servant, a men’s quartet from Gladstone, Manitoba, minister to us. On Thursday, March 31, the children’s club had a special evening to which their families were invited. Our special guests were the Van
Margaret Moorhead
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Circle Square Ranch was the beautiful location of the Kleefeld ladies’ retreat. Horseback rid ing and hayrides were just part of the fun, with a western banquet Saturday night rounding out the theme.
RELATIONSHIPS - TOPIC AT RETREAT
Kleefeld, Man.: Missions and outreach, as we know, are vital and that’s why our missions committee set aside several Sundays in March to focus on these topics. Several speakers came and reported on Bible camps, MCC work, market gardening by refugees and work in Cambodia. This is just a sampling of minis tries, but it was enough to open our eyes to the need for more workers, more prayer and more financial support. May we be faithful to God’s leading in these areas. One weekend in March a diverse group of ladies from our church ventured out for our first-ever Ladies’ Retreat, ready to enjoy each
other’s company. The beautiful Circle Square Ranch in Austin, Man., was the site for our weekend, and it was here that we explored the topic “Relationships.” Lorna Dueck, an award winning writer and an excellent speaker from Steinbach, Man., did a wonderful job of lead ing us in this exploration. She spoke about friendships, family and our relationship with God, and I know that each one of the women came away with much to think about and a resolve to seek God’s leading in all our rela tionships. As a whole, the retreat was a posi tive time to reflect on God’s goodness to us, to establish relationships that go beyond a
Fun night was a highlight of the retreat. Lorna Dueck, our speaker (far left), and her friend Debbie Giesbrecht (far right) play a joke on Pam Fowler, with the help of Lorena Reimer.
On March 6 we had the privilege of having the Crystal Springs Youth Choir sing for us during the morning service. Kathy Bergen of our church directed, and also had our Praise Ensemble visit them in return.
Parenf/child dedication was held on April 10 at the Kleefeld EMC. Lett to right: Vera and Darcy Penner with Kari and Jared, James and Sandi Toews with Hayley, Larry and Esther Dueck with Mathew, Glen and Deb Kuhl with Nicole, Brad and Lorraine Friesen with Garret, Trevor and Dillon, Pastor John Koop, Scott and Rhonda Ferguson with Sarena.
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casual Hi on Sunday morning and to just bas ically enjoy each other as sisters in Christ. If there’s one thing a guest in our church may notice these days, it’s that our nursery is cer tainly the busiest room in the building. We’ve been blessed with a lot of tiny new faces in our church family and one way that we celebrate them is with Fellowship Showers for each one. March 7 was the date for the shower for Brad and Lorraine Friesen and their triplet boys. Garret, Trevor and Dillon, and for James and Sandi Toews and their daughter, Hayley. The shower for Don and Wannetta Fast’s daughter, Kaitlyn, and Larry and Vai Martens’ twin daughter and son, Deidre and Ian, was held May 10. The emphasis of these show ers is on fellowship, but the wide array of gifts is also always appreciated. What a blessing that each child is always precious and special, no matter how many others there are! Another highlight of this spring has been the beginning and completion of our elevator project. It’s something that’s been in the works for quite some time, as far as planning and fund-raising goes, and it was with a sense of satisfaction and thankfulness that we held the dedication on May 8. Mrs. Margaret Dueck had the honour of having the first ride into the basement. Tanya Klassen had the second ride, coming up from the basement. These are two of the people who will be happy for this ad dition. Iris Bartel
Membership reception in the Kleefeld church on April 10. Lett to right: Pastor John Koop, Darcy and Vera Pen ner, Ellie Martens and Judith Tonn.
THE MESSENGER
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Youth In Touch Ridgewood Youth Kentucky Bound During the past spring break, the youth group from the Ridge wood church had the privilege of going to Kentucky on a mission trip. Packed into three vans, twenty-seven youth and youth lead ers made a long journey into the depths of Kentucky. On the way we met many types of people and had the chance to talk face to face with a trucker with whom we’d made connection on the CB. He was a Christian in the trucking industry, struggling to hold on to his beliefs. Two and a half days of driving brought us to our destination — Harlan, Kentucky. The hills were cluttered with rick ety houses and abandoned buildings; the poverty was very obvi ous. The sad thing was that there were wealthy people with expensive houses, who seemed to do little for their poor neighbours. Peter and Susan Thiessen, who work for an organization called
Villa’s roof couldn’t keep out much water until the holes were patched and the roof reshingled.
Youth Retreat
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The annual youth retreat for the Ridgewood EMC happened about two weeks earlier in the year than it usually does but that didn’t seem to make any difference to the thirty-five young people who showed up to go. The May long weekend ended up being great for it, even though our main activity has always been waterskiing. The water temperature was somewhat lower than we would have preferred but it didn’t keep many of the youth from taking their turn behind the boat. Even our speaker, Marv Thiessen from the Prairie Rose EMC, got into it. The very warm Sunday afternoon helped to convince a number of people that the water might be bearable after all. Marv didn’t quite accomplish all he set out to do in his waterski ing run but he did an excellent job at speaking to the group on our theme, “Self-esteem.” He asked four questions and answered one of them at each of the four sessions. He started with “What does a self-esteem problem look alike?” The next question was “Where does a self-esteem problem originate?” followed by “What does God think of us?” “How do we help a friend who has a low self-esteem?” was the fourth question. In a day when all of us are influenced by a barrage of messages that undermine our self-worth, it was good to hear how we can change our way of thinking about ourselves. The weekend was filled with fun and meaningful and delicious activities. This made for a great weekend but also a tiring one. Our time at Longbow Lake Camp ended with an unscheduled trip into the lake for me, courtesy of a number of young men. Then, after lunch in Kenora, we had a very quiet bus ride home. Despite being thoroughly worn out, we look for the positive results of a good weekend. Les Martens Asst./Youth Pastor
JUNE 8, 1994
The Ridgewood Kentucky mission trip participants
Sharing With Appalachian People (SWAP), organized our tasks. Susan cooked delicious meals for all of us and Peter got our materi als and helped us on the two different job sites. One job site was at Villa’s house. She was an 80-year-old wom an with energy and a love for the Lord. Her roof had huge holes and the shingles, layered up over the years, did no good. A small tree was even growing from her roof. We could only imagine what the inside of her house must have looked like; she was too embar rassed and ashamed to let any of us go inside. While repairing and reshingling her roof, she taught us a very important lesson. She often said that these earthly things didn’t matter because some day she would be in heaven with Jesus Christ. It caused a lot of us to look at our own lives and think about where our happiness lies. The other job site was for a family of five, with a pregnant teenager and a very small house. The two daughters were sleeping in the kitchen and they had only one bathroom, which had no door. Our job was to make an addition with a bedroom and bathroom. Their son David was around sometimes, but the first couple of days he tried to avoid the work that lay waiting for him at home. Work ing in the mud, rain and cold required patience and determination from all of us. Pulling nails and digging clay-like mud was not al ways met with smiles, but we did it out of love for the Lord, and the Osborne family was very grateful. The week wasn’t all work and no play. We went on a hike through the hills to a waterfall and played many games of Sardines in the church. As a youth group we bonded together and I think each one of us grew closer to God, our Creator and Father. It opened our eyes to the world around us and the need for God’s love to be spread around. So now, to us, Kentucky isn’t just some state in the USA, where great fried chicken came from. It has a place in all of our hearts. . We know people who live there and we will never forget the friend ships we made. Possibly we’ll never know the impact we made in these people’s lives. And who knows, maybe someday some of us will go back for a visit or maybe to the mission field. The mis sion trip was an experience to be remembered forever. Charmaine Thiessen
Some members of the Ridgewood youth group building a two-room addition for the Osborne family.
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BLESSED BY MANY VISITORS Leamington. Ont.: During the past few months we have had a number of guest speak ers and singers. Don Thiessen, EMC Board of Missions, was here in February and again in April. Wilbert Friesen spoke at our first parent/child dedication service in January. He has been back several times since. Dave and Susie Eidse surprised us with a much-appreciated visit on April 30. Brother Dave consented to share the Word with us on Sunday morning. Three groups have been here to minister in music and song. Jake and Myrna Bartsch came with a group of sixteen from Mexico. Af ter singing on Sunday morning, many of us wanted them to come back. Since they were free on the following Tuesday, we ananged for them to come and present a fuller concert. Since most of our meetings are held at a Chris tian high school, we hoped the gym would be available, but it wasn’t! Fortunately we were able to rent a church, and a large group came to enjoy the singing and the music. Other singing groups that have served here lately are Rick, Carol and Shawn Plett of Lin den, Alberta, and The Children of Light from the Steinbach Bible College. Some of the above visitors came rather un expectedly, with little or no advance notice. But for the April 22-24 weekend we had
Almost 200 people crowded into the school basement (Leamington) to hear the choir from Mex ico.
Four couples took part in the parentfehild dedication service in Leamington on January 30: John and Agatha Enns, Peter and Elizabeth Dyck, Dave and Tina Dyck, Jake and Anna Enns.
planned for more than a year. On this weekend, Al Friesen was here to share part of his ENRICH Parenting Seminar. People sat spellbound for hours as he told one story af ter another in the Low German language. The many requests for audio and video cassettes
JESUS VIDEO DISTRIBUTED
AWANA AWARDS NIGHT
Fisher Branch, Man.: Jesus prayed for the believers, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23). This Easter our church group united to let the people in our town know that God loves them. We did this through the distribution of the Jesus video. The video was offered as a free gift to anyone who was interested and will ing to have us return in a few weeks with a follow-up survey. Of the 125 homes visited, 75 videos were accepted. Prayer was the key to this minis try. Following the example of Jesus, we prayed that the seed would fall on receptive soil. We give the glory to God for the positive response of the viewers. A number of people prayed the sinner’s prayer, and some invited us to return for further discussion. A few responded negatively and we were reminded of Jesus’ words, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). Our work is not finished. For many people this has been an introduction and beginning of a relationship with Christ. We need to help develop those relationships, and we are en couraged that God will continue to work in their hearts. He will continue to use us as we allow ourselves to be brought into complete unity. I would like to leave the readers with a challenge to be creative in discovering effec tive means of letting people know that God loves them. We need to be faithful in making disciples so together we can fulfill the Great Commission. Rose Plett
Pleasant Valley, Man.: We were vividly reminded of our part in Christ’s crucifixion at our Good Friday morning service, when each of us deposited nails at the foot of a wooden cross in front of the sanctuary — an object lesson of our sins being responsible for Christ’s death on the cross. We have had informative messages on the Gospel of John during our morning worship services with titles like “Christ on the Hot Grid dle of Life,” “The Battle for our Minds — De ception or Truth” and “The Raising of Lazarus.” In April the men enjoyed a Saturday break fast at church and were challenged by guest speaker Allen Harder, pastor of the Lowe Farm Emmanuel Church, who shared his tes timony. The Christian Fellowship Committee put on a Family Gym Night at the Rosenort School. An evening filled with fun family games end ed with yummy banana splits. Carl Loewen, son of Danny and Florence
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of his messages is a strong indication that he spoke on a very relevant topic. Thank you to all of you who came to minister here, whether you came upon invita tion or you just happened to be in Leamington. Peter Reimer
Marilyn Loewen
Carl Loewen
Loewen, graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in mission studies, on April 24 at Calvary Tem ple in Winnipeg. Carl has interned with Ac tion International Ministries in the Philippines for a year and plans to study Social Develop ment at the University of Winnipeg next year. On May 4 the AWANA clubs of our three area churches held their Awards Night. More than fifty children received awards for books completed and Bible verses memorized. Four clubbers received the highest award present ed by our Rosenort club. Nathan Dueck and Marilyn Loewen from Pleasant Valley received the Timothy Award. May the Word of God in the minds of our children guard and guide them. On Mother’s Day we were treated to a lovely program, planned and presented by our young people. The program con sisted of complimentary tributes, true-to-life skits, lively music and a presentation of pink carnations and a prayer of dedication for ev Nathan Dueck (Pleasant Valley), Rhonda Loewen (Rosenort ery lady present over 18 years of EMC), Marilyn Loewen (Pleasant Valley), Kenton Eidse age. (Rosenort EMC) received the highest award (Timothy Award) that the Rosenort AWANA Club presents.
THE MESSENGER
In a garden-like setting, the Ladies’ Fellow ship had a mother/daughter tea and shower on May 10 in honour of Lisa Siemens, daugh ter of Laura Siemens, who plans to marry Francis Siemens, son of Les and Paulina Sie mens, on May 28. After a devotional, music, landscaping presentation and a game, Lisa was presented with a gift of china, and a lunch of tea and rolls was served. The young people had a successful fund raiser on May 14 with their annual Chinese auction and bake sale held at the Rosenort Fire Hall. Florence Loewen
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JACOB FRIESEN 1946-1994 Jake was born in Steinbach, Manitoba, to Peter D. and Gertrude Friesen on August 24, 1946, and passed away peacefully on February 11, 1994, at his home in Winnipeg.
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He grew up in the Blumenort area, where he shared the many duties on the family farm. He attended 4 elementary school in % Greenland and the first years of high school in Blumenort. He completed his high school education in Landmark, where he graduated in 1965. Throughout his teenage years, Jake worked for various farmers and on numerous con struction projects in the area. In 1967 he helped his family with the move to Wawane sa, where he assisted in the construction of the house and farm buildings. These were the beginnings of his lifetime career in carpentry, which he always enjoyed and in which he found a way to express his creativity. Jake’s work in construction took him to many loca tions in northern Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Alberta. In 1983, Jake joined his brother Ron in Winni peg, where they later formed the Friesen Fram ing partnership, in which he worked with enthusiasm until the diagnosis of his illness almost a year ago.
Births
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SIEMENS - to Pat and Kim Siemens of Rosenort, Man., a son, Mitchell Taylor, on April 4, 1994. FRIESEN - to Randall and Karen Friesen of Linden, Alta., a son, Michael Paul, on April 11, 1994. STEPPAN - to Brad and Carol Steppan of En deavour, Sask., a son. Jay Bradley, on May 4,1994. DUECK - to Steve and Gwen Dueck of Steinbach, Man., a son, Aaron Steven, on May 4, 1994. HUNT - to Crystal Hunt of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Shaun Nicholas, and a daughter, Amy Rebecca, on February 16, 1994. MARTENS - to Larry and Vai Martens of Kleefeld, Man., a son, Ian Gregory, and a daughter, Deidre Elayna, on April 12, 1994. DUECK - to Albert and Beverly Dueck of Kleefeld, Man., a son, Ryan Nicholas, on April 27, 1994. JUNE 8, 1994
Jake’s inquisitive and adventurous spirit took him to various parts of the world, not so much as a tourist but rather as one seeking understanding and kinship with people of other cultures. As a result of his travels to Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Latin Ameri ca, he developed a strong social conscience and he often identified with those who were politically disadvantaged, the poor and those simply struggling to survive. It was on a trip to ^uth America that he met Alida Hoogstra, whom he married back in Canada in 1976. While living in Calgary, their son, Stephen, was born. After farming briefly near Lens wood, Manitoba, they moved to a remote property, known as the Tulip Farm, in the Kootenay region of southeastern B.C., where they lived until their move to Winnipeg in 1983. Sometime later their marriage ended in divorce and Jake and Stephen moved to their current residence in St. Boniface. Jake had a great appreciation for the natural environment and enjoyed activities such as canoeing, fishing, sports and gardening. Dur ing the last few winters he played recreation al volleyball at a local community centre, an activity he enjoyed immensely. He was an ac complished cook and frequently entertained family and friends. Jake was an avid gardener and read widely on the subject and took sever al courses in horticulture related to the propa gation and pruning of trees and shrubs. His love of flowers and his appreciation of family was demonstrated in his thoughtful choice of amaryllis bulbs as Christmas gifts to his sis ters and brothers. Appropriately, as we celebrate Jake’s life today, these flowers are in full and glorious bloom in our homes and in our hearts. Jake enjoyed a life of excellent health until he was diagnosed with cancer approximately a year ago. He subsequently had surgery and underwent a series of chemotherapy treat ments, to which the disease did not respond. Despite his deteriorating condition, he was de termined to live life as fully as possible, evi denced in his many interests and outings as long as he was able. Throughout this difficult time, Jake saw his situation in a context be yond his physical condition and focussed more on wholeness and spiritual healing. At his re quest, he was released from the hospital and spent his last few days at his home, with his son and members of his family, where he passed away with dignity and peace. Jake leaves to mourn his son, Stephen; his sisters and brothers: Rosella and Wilmer Brandt (Wawanesa), Gladys and Allan Fries en, Lena and Lome Friesen (all of Bowsman), Ron and Martha (Winnipeg), Del and Shirley (Wawanesa), Al and Linda (Brandon), Neil and Anita (Wawanesa), Elsie (Winnipeg), Peter and Helen (Niverville), Julia and Robert Friesen, Ruth and Harry Plett, Dennis and Margi (all of Wawanesa), Sylvia and Leroy Plett (Brandon); a number of nieces and nephews and many relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, a sister-inlaw and a nephew. “Although in our hearts we sorrow, we are
Don Thiessen Conference Pastor
My Father Taught Me ...the dignity of hard work
...the importance of loving my children's mother ...that it is more important to go to choir practice than bale hay on a dry, summer, Friday evening ...that Sunday is meant for rest
...to be responsible ...the value of loyalty to people, organi zations and products ...to help God keep the world beautiful ...to confess ...to admire a ripening field of oats ...to value quality above quantity ...to cry
...that you don't miss a worship service ...to tithe ...to change cautiously ...to pay my bills ...to play checkers ...that it's more fun to win than to lose ...to risk ...to set the children free when it's time ...to be on time ...to finish
...to plant trees, and keep the grass green and cut ...to get up in the morning ...the seriousness of a responsibility given by the church ...that wisdom and common sense are not dependent on formal education ...the value of punishment in discipline ...to give with discretion ...patience ...that anger is a legitimate emotion ...to pray for my children ...that you can die in dignity even when you're helpless.
comforted in the knowledge that we will meet again in the presence of the Lord where there will be no more tears, death, sorrow or pain.” The family wishes to thank the medical staff at the Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg, in particular those in the Oncology Clinic, for their kind and thoughtful care; George Neu feld, chaplain at the Misericordia Hospital, for the guidance and sincerity of friendship he provided, not only recently but over a num ber of years; and to Jake’s special friend Shawn for her many acts of kindness and love. The Family PAGE 11
From the Editor A Tribute to Two Fathers IT HAS BEEN my privilege to benefit from the bless ings of two fathers. Each one has left an imprint on my life that has helped me become a better person. Although they were very different, they each taught me, largely by example and with encouragement. The first was my own father, whom I remember for his diligence and integrity, among other virtues. Never a man of many words, he demonstrated the value of hard work before his children. His word was as good as a contract, better in fact, be cause he could be counted on to keep it. Even when others took advantage of his scrupulous honesty, he would not retaliate. He endured his disappointments quietly and rose above them. Our father had a great interest in education, something that was denied him. After he completed grade three his help was needed at home on the farm. Imagine a young boy of nine or ten, in charge of a team of horses, walking back and forth on the fields behind the harrows! He never returned to school, except for a few months in a barbers’ school after his marriage. Father also would have loved to attend Bible school. Since this was also a closed door for him, he rejoiced to see all of his six children take a year or more of Bible training. He encouraged our involvement in church and ministry, whether in the home church or elsewhere. We honour his memory. The second father through whom I have been blessed is the father of my wife, my father-in-law. Besides having the most desirable daughter in the world (for me), his zeal for Christ has often encouraged my own faith journey. Through the years that I have known him, he has consis tently demonstrated a sincere concern for the spiritual welfare of each of his children. Following his initial commitment to Christ, he drifted away from the Lord in the early years of his marriage. Soon after the family moved to Manitoba in the early 40s, Elvina’s father rededicated his life to the Lord. The family immediately observed a remarkable change. There was now prayer and Bible reading in the home. He became the spiritual leader of his family. It was said that even his horses and cattle noticed the change. He was thrilled to see God answer his and Mother’s prayers for their children as, one by one, they were saved. When I was privileged to become his son-in-law, I also
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came under the influence of his prayers. He was a second Dad to me. I admired his boldness in sharing his faith with anyone who would stop to chat with him. Through his years of ministry as a deacon and leader of Bible studies, a great many have been comforted, enriched and instructed in living the Christian life. Now his greatest joy will be his promotion to heaven to be forever with the Lord whom he loved and served. We join his prayer that the family circle there will be com plete.— M. H.
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Congratulations, Graduates! THIS SPRING has marked the graduation of many young people and adults in our Conference family from a variety of educational programs. They graduate from high school, Bible colleges and seminaries, secular colleges and universities, technical schools and others. Graduation is a time of happiness and relief because the pressure to perform and produce is off. There are also feelings of well-being that come with meeting all the requirements for graduation. The achievement is generally accompanied by gradua tion ceremonies and celebrations. We join your families and friends in congratulating you on the completion of your course. We wish you God’s great blessings during this time. Graduation may also bring up other emotions — there may be a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. You have come to the end of a segment of life, and you wonder, what comes next? New decisions have to be made, whether for further education, a career or even a tem porary job. The prospect of not finding employment after preparing for a career is most unsettling. Many nurses and teachers, for example, who have graduated in recent years, have not been able to find regular or full-time work. Where does a person then find answers? I believe we need net works of support and encouragement in our churches, not only for recent graduates, but also for those who have been laid off. But, for now, we don’t want dismal thoughts to cloud the joys of graduation. The same Lord who has enabled you to come this far, will certainly guide you forward day by day. — Menno Hamm
THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference Box 1268, 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB ROA 2A0
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