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Should We Forget?
A Mennonite ReFIects on RememBrance Day EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 36 NUMBER 19 NOVEMBER 4, 1998
Messenger
125 Years: Celebrate and Reflect! GOVERNMENTS insensitive about culture create disgruntled citizens. People are hurt if they cannot speak their language at school — whether German, Ukrainian, Cree, English or French. Many Dutch-German (DG) Mennonites demon strated they would rather leave Canada than accept such limits. Some DG Mennonites have celebrated seventy-five years in Mexico — in part, a sad tribute to insensitivity by a Canadian government which was pro-British. Missionaries insensitive about culture crip ple their ministry. Either they see cultures as worthy of equal respect and value to their own or they interfere with the gospel’s re ception. Communities unreflective about culture become divided or isolated. The lines drawn between municipalities can be deeper than just on paper. Villages and towns of different cultures might have little to do with each other. Churches indifferent to culture hurt their evangelism. As Christianity took root within cultures, early leaders worked through the issue of whether Gentiles must adopt Jew ish ways (Acts 15); the answer was no. The council decided the church is to be care ful, not causing unnecessary offence. This advice has often been overlooked. In 1999 it is 125 years since the KG/EMC moved from Russia to Canada. The EMC will celebrate, paying tribute to the pioneer courage and struggle of those who came to a southern portion of Manitoba. This re spect for cultural forebears is appropriate — whether DG or Scottish settlers, Ukrain ian or Irish, Sioux and more. For a church called to carry out God’s will, however, it is a time to reflect. The DG Mennonite church did not live in Russia to evangelize; battered by persecu tion, it promised the government not to seek converts from the Orthodox faith — an unu sual move for Anabaptists. Except in God’s sovereignty, our conference did not enter Manitoba in 1874 because of the Great Commission. The Kleine Gemeinde was content to carry on the faith of its forefa thers, interpreted to include a pattern of cultural isolation and inward focus. The great evangelists of the sixteenth cenPAGE 2
EDITOR Terry M. Smith
tury became the “quiet of the land” by the nineteenth. Within this was a shift on selfidentiFication: Mennonite changed mean ings. Coined by outsiders to refer to people EDITORIAL of faith (the culture was the same within ASSISTANT both groups), insiders used it to refer to a Martha Kroeker THE MESSENGER is the mixture of faith and culture. Part of the publication of the Evangelical Anabaptist vision, with its outward focus on Mennonite Conference. It is to the general public. New Testament Christianity, was muted by available Its purpose is to inform, instruct isolation and cultural exclusion. and inspire: inform concerning During the KG’s first seventy-five years in events and activities in the denomination; instruct in god Canada, people of non-DG culture picked liness and victorious living; up on the cultural exclusion. They caught inspire to earnestly contend for what was taught — whatever Mennonite the faith. Letters, articles, photos and meant, it wasn’t intended for them! When poems are welcomed. Unpub Mennonite church workers of DG back lished material is not returned except by request. The views ground began to share the Christian faith in and opinions expressed by the the 1940s, the historic pattern of avoiding writers are their own and do not surrounding cultures proved a hindrance to necessarily represent the posi tion of the Conference. sharing Christ’s Good News. THE MESSENGER is pub In 1952-60 we became the Evangelical lished twice a month (once a month in July and August) by the Mennonite Conference. This said many things Board of Church Ministries of well, but the change alone did not speak the Evangelical Mennonite Con clearly enough to the cultural issue; our mid ference, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, Manitoba. dle name was being abandoned to culture. Subscriptions: $12.00 per During the Western Gospel Mission period year (Manitoba residents add PST total: $12.84). Sub (1946-61), and in later western Canadian 7% scriptions are voluntary and op expansion in non-DG circles, Mennonite tional to people within or outside was increasingly surrendered to culture — of the EMC. Members and ad herents pay through their a trend today among Mennonite confer church. THE MESSENGER is a ences and local churches. Should we lose member of Meetinghouse and Mennonite because of the way the EMC has Canadian Church Press. lived out its meaning in Canada? Second-class postage paid at Anabaptist vision and cultural exclusion Steinbach, Manitoba. Registration Number: 0591 move in opposite directions. We have made Mailing information: All many changes, and are making more. In correspondence, including undelivered copies, change of all our concern about strengthening our address and new subscriptions, commitment to Anabaptist theology, look should be addressed to: The Messenger ing at the many-sided issue of faith and RO. Box 1268 culture remains a current challenge. Steinbach, Manitoba ROA 2A0 In part, our success in evangelism in Canada — and whether we retain our Phone: 204-326-6401 Anabaptist theology or slip into a generic Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: emconf@mts.net evangelicalism — depends on how openly and sensitively we deal with the relation Cover: Remembrance Day is ship between faith and culture. set aside for special reflection Let us respect our cultures and the pioneers in Canada. Most EMCers are who came here, whatever our personal citizens of Canada. How do we roots. As we approach the EMC’s 125th anniversary in Canada, let’s celebrate the MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 21 - December 02 church’s arrival here. Let us share openly (copy due November 20) and widely what it means for us to be a No.^22”-“Decembe'r'l e' church today. Terry M. Smith (copy due December 4) THE MESSENGER
AS NOVEMBER 11 NEARS
SHOULD WE FORGET? Darryl Klassen AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, eighty years ago, an armistice was declared ending the hostilities of the Great War. Nearly five years of fighting had been concluded in the “war to end cdl wars.” This day of world peace came to be known as Armistice Day. We now know it as Remembrance Day. In Mennonite circles where violence is denounced, we prefer to call it Peace Day. This is, in my opinion, an attempt to disassociate ourselves from “celebrating” the act of war. As Christians we shun the promotion of violence, and “remembering” the war-dead is out of place. Remembrance Day for Mennonites is swallowed up by the more noble theme of world peace. What then is there to remember on November 11? As a Mennonite and a Canadian, 1 find myself torn by the morals of my Christian conscience and the passion of patriotism. Part of me despises war and violence, while another part of me recognizes the sacrifices made on my behalf. It is a conflict of reason that 1 have battled with all my life. The question I propose is. How does a Mennonite respond to Remembrance Day?
Childhood memories My personal journey with this issue began when 1 was a young boy. Of all the special days observed in my
Darryl Klassen (foreground) is the senior pastor of Crestuieu! Fellowship (EMC) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He and his wife, Sharon, are new parents of a baby girl, Katy. (Photo by Editor) NOVEMBER 4, 1998
elementary school. Remembrance Day impressed and haunted me the most. There was a very strong emphasis on^hoKouring the dead from both world wars in the annual Remembrance Day assemblies. At the age of eight I was deeply moved by that year’s service of remembrance. 1 was assigned to paint a huge poster picturing a soldier with'the'words Lest We Forget printed underneath. We all wore the red poppies they hande'd out every year. The lights in the auditorium were turned Voff while we listened to thepoem In Flanders’ \
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Then came the mournful wail of a bugle playing “taps,” while on the screen a projector flashed black-and-white images of soldiers and battle scenes., For a young boy it was a ghostly experience, and without a. doubt it was meant to be that. -: The overwhelming rnessage of these assemblies was that these men died (for me. There was rip elaborate explanation given. Sirnply stated, these rneri gave their lives to keep our counlry free. I came away^with a great feeling of respect for them. \\ J My own dad was ^drafted in the j9,4Gs’but sat out the war as a conscientious objector (C.O.).''iBased on his belief in Christ, Dad told the authorities that he did not believe in killing. The judge reluctantly ekcused him and sent him off to cut t'rees in Banff. ' Dad’s example impresses me now, But'in myE youth 1 did riot fully understand his convictions. ; ( Ji ' i Even though Dad was a C.Oi, he had an unusual sense of patriotism that rubbed off on me/ He talked proudly of the Canadian soldiers who stormed the beaches on D-Day, or of the Allied exploits he refnembered from the news releases of those days. Grovving up in Winnipeg, I found many reminders of-the wars^ nearwhere we lived — Vimy Ridge Memorial Park ^nd Valour Road were a stone’s throw frornhome. This was the climate I grew up in, surrounded by images and influences that made me think how sad it was not to have a relative in the war to remember. College experiences The worldview of my youth soon collided with the worldview I came to know in Bible college. I intended to study at Winnipeg Bible College (now Providence), but the Spirit convincingly nudged me to attend Steinbach Bible College instead. It was there that I came to understand and love the Mennonite interpretation of faith. I embraced the Anabaptist peace position and attempted to reject the influences of my youth. Studying the Anabaptist perspective in college opened my eyes to the literal and personal application of scriptures such as Matthew 5. Jesus taught clearly that PAGE 3
This is the danger I see in the Mennonite Church: Sometimes we believe so strongly that we are right that we forget to love and listen to brothers and sisters on the other side of this issue.
The inscription on the memoriai at Peiiy, Saskatchewan, reads, “Dedicated to the giory of God and to those who served their country.” (Photo by Editor)
murder is sin, and so is harbouring an angry thought towards another. “Turning your cheek” and “loving your enemy” are radical alternatives to worldly solutions. Jesus left no room for retaliation in our relationships. Christ’s death on the cross is our model for responding to the world’s hostility. As my personal theology matured, 1 wondered whether war was necessary to stop the Hitlers of the world. Was it true that the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki helped end the war? 1 asked a professor for his response to this problem of mine, and 1 remember clearly his passionate reply that, from a Christian perspective, the war should never have been fought. The bombing of innocent people in those two Japanese cities, he said, was outrageous to the God who created those people. War was never an acceptable answer in the shadow of Christ’s cross. From then on, with the same passion as that of my professor, 1 became an advocate of nonresistance. I took this teaching seriously and renounced all things military. Two confrontations As a result of this new “righteous” platform, 1 experienced two distinct confrontations with friends over the matter of military involvement. The first was with a friend whose father had been in the air force in the Second World War. Our conversation deeply probed the Christian response to fighting and war. 1 struck a nerve when 1 stated what 1 perceived to be the truth taught to me in college. Bluntly 1 proclaimed PAGE 4
that no Christian who truly loved and understood Christ could allow himself to go to war, and that we throw out everything Christian if we take up arms. My friend was stunned. She asked if her father forfeited eternal life because he believed in defending his country. 1 told her that this was my belief. 1 felt so strongly about the Mennonite peace position that, in effect, 1 was excluding a great majority from the reaches of God’s grace. A couple of years later 1 had another confrontation much like the first. It was during the Gulf War crisis, and a young woman 1 knew was worried that her boyfriend would get drafted. Since he was taking flying lessons, she assumed that he would be prime for conscription. While she battled with her fears of losing her beloved in battle, something stirred in me the old passions from college. Again, the conviction — that people who went to war would not see the gates of heaven because they were sinning against God — came bubbling out of my mouth. I look back on these incidents with regret, not because 1 believed so strongly in the peace of Christ versus the violence of man, but rather 1 regret and am ashamed that my zeal for this theology led me to condemn and hurt others — self-righteousness. Being so concerned that 1 was right had overshadowed the mission we have to love people into the Kingdom. 1 took the place of God as judge of these people and sinned zealously. This is the danger 1 see in the Mennonite Church; Sometimes we believe so strongly that we are right that we forget to love and listen to brothers and sisters on the other side of this issue. Maturing reflections A seminary professor once said, “This is my conviction at the moment. But in ten years the Holy Spirit may change my mind.” God does not change, but our theology and philosophies concerning God develop as we experience life. In my own experience, 1 went from a deep respect for those in the military to a complete disgust for war and fighting. Now, another change has taken place in my thinking. As an amateur historian, having studied various national and international conflicts, 1 am seeing more and more of the pointlessness of war. At the same time, I am also becoming aware of the benefits we as Mennonites inadvertently gleaned from these wars. Let me take you on a quick trip through history. The War of 1812 is an example of a useless loss of life. The United States had been insulted by Britain and was determined to invade and claim Canada in retaliation. Before the first shot was fired the insult became a moot point; nevertheless, a three-year war ensued. By the end, no land was exchanged and the borders remained relatively the same. The only real change was THE MESSENGER
that Canada had become distinctly different from the U.S., where before the differences were vague. Canada remained a constitutional monarchy instead of being swallowed up into the southern republic. In the 1870s our EMC ancestors sought to leave Russia because certain rights were being revoked. Freedom of religion was threatened, young Mennonites were being pressed into the military, and the right to educate their children in German was slipping away. North America offered a solution to this dilemma, but to which country would the Mennonites emigrate — the U.S. or Canada? They chose Canada. Why? Because they felt more secure with a queen than a president. More importantly, Canada promised freedom of worship, military exemption and the right to German-language education. Argue with summation if you wish, but Canada was the “promised land” for Mennonites because of this offer of rights and because of its unique character established by a war. We still have freedom of worship and military exemption. (The promise of self-education was a farce.) These freedoms which the Mennonites desired and cherished were later defended in two world wars. Hitler’s plan for world domination would have erased the rights the church enjoyed in Canada. But if political freedom is of no consequence, our Mennonite forefathers might as well have stayed in Russia. As it is, we enjoy the freedom to worship as we please and would greatly miss this political right if it were taken away. My convictions Where do 1 stand today? As a Mennonite, 1 continue to hold strongly to the peace position that Jesus taught. Because 1 love Jesus and believe that every man and woman is created in the image of God, 1 cannot become personally involved in the taking of life. Wcir is always going to be with us until
Christ returns, and it is our responsibility to prevent war for the sake of Christ. Equally so, for the sake of Christ, we must not allow ourselves to become self-righteous in our nonresistance. It is Christlike to hate war, to preserve human life rather than destroy it, and to love peace, but being right aibout what Christ taught can easily become an offence to others, depending on how we present ourselves. 1 also recognize that Remembrance Day was established to honour the sacrifice of those who died to protect the freedoms we Mennonites benefit from. It was also an admission that war is a terrible tragedy, resulting in unjustifiable losses of life. Lest we forget and Never again are confessions of the nightmarish effects of war. Believe it or not, humankind does not actually enjoy war but becomes embroiled in situations to which they see no other alternative. While visiting a small town and enjoying their fall supper, 1 noticed on the wall of the community hcdl several photos of the town’s citizens who had gone to war. Among the First World War photos was one of a young man with a gleam in his eye and a face full of potential. Barely twenty, he had left the farm community to fight on foreign soil. Beside his name, written in red ink, were the words “died in action.” All 1 could think of was his mother crying, “Where is my baby?” He lay dead on a muddy battlefield, having believed in a cause. What cause? On many memorials commemorating the wars are written solemn words. Maybe you have seen these words before: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” The interpretation veterans apply to this verse may not agree with our theology, but they believed they were being obedient. They offered us a gift. Can we refuse it? Are we allowed, as Mennonites, to remember? Something in my heart will not let me ignore November 11.
I’ve Taken a Chunk of Asia Home With Me! Reuben Penner
When reporting to the Kola church on his experiences in Thailand, Reuben tried to portray his Thai home as realistically as possible. NOVEMBER 4, 1998
AS 1 WAS FLYING over the Pacific Ocean, 1 saw the sunset before the sunrise of the same day, making me feel very disoriented. 1 was returning home to Canada after spending 6'/2 months in northern Thailand on a short-term missions assignment with the Mennonite Brethren (MB) missions program. As the sun peaked over the horizon, 1 begcin to retrace my past few months. 1 had never travelled outside of North America, so when 1 stepped off the plane in Bangkok, 1 was introduced to a whole new world. 1 spent my time in the remote province of Nan, where 1 was warmly welcomed by an MB missionary couple, who works among the Khmu people. 1 lived half of the time in a northern Thai town with Khmu students and the other half in a Khmu mountain village. 1 tried to live like the Thai and Khmu people as much PAGES
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Reuben Penner spent 6'/2 months in Thailand. Here a Khmu workteam gathers for lunch.
Spear fishing with Khmu friends in Nam Sawt, a mountain creek.
as possible: eating, living, working, even speaking, as they do. Instead of becoming more like the Thai, 1 just turned into a non-understandable, strange-looking foreigner whom people laughed at all the time. As hard as I tried, I just couldn’t fit in. During much of my first few months I spent trying to learn the language. The Thai language, luckily, has an alphabet, in contrast to characters, but there are five tones which make it more difficult to learn for most North Americans. Learning was, of course, not without its blunders. After learning the word for delicious, which I mistranslated to simply mean good, I tried to use it as often as I could. After a friend asked me if I liked his home town, I kept answering with the word for delicious, thinking I was saying the town was good or great. During the week, I lived in a Khmu high school dormitory. Here I ate dog, rat, snake, and other wonderful under-rated foods, always with a local variety of rice. 1 also learned a lot about the culture. I had to constantly remind myself to keep the bottom of my feet tucked out of the way so they were not pointing at anyone, which is considered very dirty and impolite. On weekends I boarded an over-crowded, extremely
unreliable bus and travelled to a Khmu village, where 1 lived in a grass thatched-roof hut beside a rice paddy. 1 worked on a church field-development project, where farming practices were being introduced that will, hopefully, stop destructive slash-and-burn techniques. I often went hunting with my friends and had many adventures. The 6'/2 months passed by very quickly. God kept a farm boy from Kola alive through many intense situations. I learned to put much more trust in God, and I also learned how important my family, friends and church are. I have taken a large chunk of Asia home with me. At times I have the strange sensation that somehow I do not fit in, even in my home culture. I still tuck my feet in under me; I accidentally slip Thai words into conversations; I enjoy strange food; and my friends laugh at me for dressing funny. Now, after five months at home, 1 think 1 am starting to become reoriented — or perhaps I’ll just become oriented with being constantly disoriented.
Reuben Penner is part of the Kola (Man.) EMC, and is a student at Concord College in Winnipeg.
Letters to the Editor
Letters for publication, commenting on issues raised in The Messenger, are welcomed. Their tone should be charitable, dealing with subjects rather than individuals. To be published they must include the writer's signature, address and phone number. Names and general location will appear, except for extraordinary circumstances, on letters published. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, and charity. It can refuse publication when the material does not conform to the editorial policy approved by the Board of Church Ministries (November, 1997).
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DEACONS AND DIVORCE This letter is in response to Henry Hiebert’s letter in the September 23 issue of The Messenger. In the last paragraph he states that the EMC is already endors ing divorce and remarriage and female deacons. The words deacon and deaconess come from the same Greek root. The issue of female deacons is a non-issue, if one con siders the true role of the deacon. In Acts 6, deacons, while men, were selected to look after the distribution of food.
In Romans 16, Paul sends greetings to Phoebe, a servant in the church who has been a help to Paul and others in the church. Paul had a number of women serving in the various churches that he started. The role of the deacon is to serve those in need; gender should not be an issue. As Christ’s followers we should all be servants, whether male or female. With regard to the EMC endorsing di vorce and remarriage, one needs to look at each case individually. Divorce does occur, and one needs to know whether it THE MESSENGER
has happened because of adultery on the part of one of the partners, in which case divorce is sad but biblical. The questions to ask with regard to di vorce are: “What is the issue? How much counselling has gone on? Is a person’s physical life in jeopardy?” The Confer ence does not condone divorce, but nei ther does it forsake the individual going through a divorce. As Christians we are called to hate sin but to love the sinner. The EMC Statement of Faith and Prac tices is our Bible-based ideal, our goal. However, Jesus said that those who are whole do not need a physician, only those who are sick (Matthew 9:13). Jesus told the woman who had lived with five hus bands, and who was presently living with a sixth man, that anyone and everyone was invited to come and worship God in spirit and in truth. Jesus did not condemn her. He motivated her to bring all of Samaria out to hear Him (John 4). To another group of righteous people. He said, “He who is perfect let him cast the first stone,” and they all left (John 8). Some pastors have officiated at mar riages of divorced people, but with thought, prayer and counselling. To boldly state that the EMC endorses remarriage is the same as saying “the moon is made of green cheese.” There are pastors in the EMC who will not marry a divorced individual. There are others who look at the issue and consider all cases on an in dividual basis and make the decision prayerfully. May we in all these matters of faith and practice adopt the mind of Christ Jesus. Mary Bueckert Winnipeg, Man.
CONCERNED ABOUT DIRECTION I would like to commend Henry Hiebert for his excellent letter in the September 23, 1998, issue of The Messenger. My husband and I are fairly new mem bers in the E. M. Conference. We are very concerned as to the direction the Confer ence leaders are taking the Conference and the church in regard to women in leadership roles (see August 12 issue). Let’s remember that God’s Word has not changed over time and will never change in the future. Ruth Froese Winnipeg, Man.
My statement says that Galatians 3:28 is typically used by both groups to support their agendas (plural), implying that they each have their agendas. Using the same verse (base) does not link them as read ers might infer from this. What it does in dicate is how a biased gender-based hermeneutics can skew our interpretation of the Bible. (1 might refer our readers to a Mennonite feminist conference in Win nipeg in 1996, under the title Women Do ing Theology, which was reported in The Messenger. The thrust of the conference was to define theology according to a dis tinctly feminine hermeneutics.) It might also be of interest to note that there is a steady defection of women from the more conservative wing of evangeli cal feminism to the more liberal group, which embraces homosexuality. There are numerous ordained homosexuals, especially women, who would strongly object to not being “lumped” with evan gelical feminists; they would certainly consider themselves evangelical. The Mennonite and Brethren Gay Society and the many homosexual churches, which claim to follow the same God and Bible we do, also base their stand on Galatians 3:28. Need 1 say more? Anyone who is familiar with evangeli cal feminist literature must admit that their concern is not so much about “how
women are treated within the church and in society” as it is about women assum ing offices of leadership in the church expressly limited to men in the New Tes tament. “1 do not allow a women to teach or to exercise authority over a man...” (1 Timothy 2:12). Henry Hiebert Steinbach, Man.
ALICIA’S TESTIMONY LIVES ON We want to take this opportunity to thank those who faithfully send us The Messen ger, it is a very important link between you and us. We search the pictures for familiar faces and anticipate reports of churches we have visited. Articles sent in by different missionaries connect them with us as they share about their joys and struggles. Many of you will remember us mention ing a dear sister, Alicia, in several of our articles. In the last 1 '/2 years we and our co-worker, Joanne Martens, were inti mately involved in Alicia’s life. (She had AIDS.) We know many were challenged to pray for her and to share financially. We sincerely thank you for the way you par ticipated. Joanne and 1 spent many months in and out of the hospital until God finally re leased Alicia of her suffering on Septem-
Food for Fun and Fellowship Favorite Recipes of the Canadian Evangelical Mennonite Conference Funds raised through the selling of Food for Fun and Fellowship will assist two EMC mission projects: 1) the Children’s Nutrition Program in the Morazan Mennonite Church in Nicaragua, where sixty-five children receive a noon meal three times a week, 2) the soybean cooking class of Doris Friesen, EMC missionary in Paraguay. This community ministry is an excellent way of looking after the physical and spiritual well-being of many women. The book is available at the Conference Office and at Hull’s Family Bookstore (Steinbach). Or use this form to order your copies. Name:
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A CLARIFICATION Several people have asked me to clarify this statement in my previous letter: “Galatians 3:28 is typically used by evan gelical feminists and pro-homosexuals in support of their agendas.” Mary Ann Smith asks in her letter, “Does the use of ‘and’ lump together the concerns of evan gelical feminists...with those who are pro homosexual?” This is a fair question and deserves an answer. NOVEMBER 4, 1998
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ber 12. In the midst of this trial, we saw God’s blessing and care. Alicia used every opportunity to share her testimony — in churches, schools, radio interviews — and her voice lives on. She had plenty of time to prepare her daughter, Vaneza, for their “temporary”
separation. Vaneza has valiantly accepted the baton her mother passed on to her and is not ashamed to speak about Christ and about the sickness her mother had. Vaneza is presently continuing her Grade 8 studies and has accepted us as her par ents and family for the time being. Let’s
continue to pray for her future. Thank you again, and may God continue to use and bless each one of you in the work of His kingdom.
•International food aid has made a dif ference, and people express their grati tude to Canadians. •The public distribution system works well for most people, but it is essentially empty of food or has food only sporadi cally. •Some people with gardens were bet ter able to cope with food shortages. •The country will remain short of food even as people work hard to increase pro duction. •Factories sit idle in various stages of decay. There is a country-wide lack of electricity and fuel. •There are signs of greater openness in the country: recent changes in the country’s constitution refer to individual ownership, pricing concepts and toler ance of small markets. •Wide-scale food and medical assist ance will be needed among vulnerable people for several years to come. More than 44,000 MT of Canadian aid, valued at $ 14.4 million, has been provided to the hungry in North Korea since the appeal began. A shipment of 16,100 MT Canadian wheat arrived in mid-June and provided much-needed flour.
CAYO WELCOMES MCC Don Cayo, long-time journalist and head of a think tank, sees Atlantic Canada as finally extracting itself from a dependence on government funding. Government cutbacks have actually generated an upswing in the economy through private sector initiative, he said. He’s quick, however, to acknowledge the casualties. “A rising tide raises most boats. But it swamps the ones with holes in them,” Cayo told an MCCC board of directors meeting, held October 3, in Petitcodiac, New Brunswick. “This is a time when the very existence of rural communities is on the line,” he said. He suggested MCC’s skills in setting up collectives or cooperatives in develop ing countries could have applications in Atlantic Canada communities. He called the native logging issue in New Brunswick one of the most perplexing problems in the region, and potentially the most explosive. “The people involved could sorely use your compassion, your intelligence and, perhaps above all, your unswerving com mitment to nonviolent solutions,” Cayo told the board members. MCCC
Judy Schmidt Asuncion, Paraguay
l^(S^ NORTH KOREA’S NEED CONTINUES A four-person Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) delegation has returned from a week in North Korea, saying that aid over the past year has helped, while more food aid is needed in the coming year. “In a visit to a pediatric hospital in Wonson, we saw some extreme signs of malnutrition among children age seven to seventeen. There were several teenagers who looked fragile, thin and clearly in advanced stages of malnutrition,” said Trish Jordan, director of resources with Canadian Foodgrains Bank. “One girl, in particular, had been in and out of this hospital three times, which in dicates that there is simply a lack of food at home to keep her healthy. It was a so bering sight, reminding us more should be done to help,” she said. In visit after visit, signs of the food short age and its impact on people were obvi ous. The country is working hard to gather this year’s harvest, but current estimates say it will be short of its food needs in the year ahead by 1.5 million tonnes (1.65 million ton). Last year, with a similar shortage, the country ran out of food by early December. Among the delegation’s findings:
CFB
With AIMM
BERTSCHE HONOURED, HISTORY RELEASED Long-time missionary and mission ad ministrator Jim Bertsche was honoured in October for his ten years of work in re searching and writing a new, comprehen sive history of Africa Inter-Mennonite Mis sion (AIMM). At the Fall Council Meeting, October 1517, at Brookside Community Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, AIMM chairman and EMC executive secretary Henry Klassen thanked Bertsche for his dedication to this project. He presented Bertsche and his wife, Jenny, with a money gift intended to allow them to revisit Africa, a continent to which they have devoted their lives and service. In his 35-year involvement with Mennonite missions, Bertsche witnessed the spread of the gospel, the growth and development of indigenous churches. PAGES
political turmoil and revolution, the chal lenges of cross-cultural cooperation, and the joys and frustrations of missionary life. Bertsche included all this and more in his newly published history, CIM/AIMM: A Story of Vision, Commitment and Grace. The book details the unfolding story of Congo Inland Mission (CIM) and its suc cessor, AIMM, as well as the African churches with which the agency has worked. Bertsche’s narrative presents the African mission story within its social and politi cal context, giving attention to things such as colonialism, nationalism and apart heid. The volume also explores critical missiological issues that have surfaced through the year, such as AlMM’s decision to work with and support African Inde pendent Churches in some cases, rather than launching new Mennonite denomi nations. AIMM traces its beginnings to 1912 when
two midwestern American Mennonite groups cooperated in sending missionar ies to the Belgian Congo. Today AIMM is supported by five Canadian and U.S. Mennonite conferences and works in six African nations. Stephen Nolt
Henry Klassen presented Jim and Jenny Bertsche with a money gift so they can visit Africa, where they served for many years. THE MESSENGER
With Our Congregatioh^ ..Ji FOUR BAPTIZED Treesbank, Man.: IV
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On July 12 pastor James Regehr and deacon Leonard Plett baptized four believers upon the confession of their faith In Christ.
MEN’S RETREAT A HIGHLIGHT j Winnipeg, Man. (Crestview): This i summer found a number of members I from our congregation away on holi1 days. However, the people who were in church were welcome to stay after the services for a barbecue. It was a time to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Thank you to all who helped with the preparations. On the September long weekend. Pastor Layton led a group of men to Gem Lake for a retreat. They had a ! great weekend and shared their expe rience with the congregation one Sun day morning. One of the highlights was the evening fireside time, a time of sharing that brought them closer to each other and to God. Promotion Sunday took place on Sep tember 13, and the children and adults settled back into their Sunday school classes. For the first five classes the adults are learning about Anabaptist history, with Harvey Plett teaching four lessons. Dick Toews brought us the morning message that Sunday, titled ! “The Word.” Now that a relaxing summer is over, we are looking forward to a busy fall and winter of church activities. Shannon Esau
NOVEMBER 4, 1998
It was a day of rejoicing for our church when Cathy Buie, Joe Buie, Nancy Buie and Darryl Friesen were baptized. With them in the photo are deacon Leonard Plett (left) and pastor James Regehr (right).
SUMMER ACTIVITIES Pelly, Sask.: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). Reflecting upon the activities of this past summer, we remember many things. One of these is Ketchen Lake Bible Camp, especially the work of the helpers and counsellors and the children’s commit ments to the Lord. Another highlight was Vacation Bible School. The weeks of July 27-31 and Au gust 10-14 saw VBS being held in Swan Plain Hall (north of Norquay) and in Pelly Chapel respectively. Presenting the gos pel message to the community children in Bible stories, songs and crafts and all the activities related to the theme “Pass port to the Holy Land,” was exciting, knowing that the children’s hearts would be touched. It was also encouraging to have four classes for the thirty-three children who enrolled in Swan Plain. They were taught by four teachers and six helpers. The parents and grandparents enjoyed the in dividual class items and a mini-musical at the closing service on Friday afternoon (July 31). The children in Pelly drama tized many of the Bible truths at their clos ing programs. Other events of the summer included the Sunday school picnic at the Pelly Park
on August 23. Following the barbecue, the children and adults participated in various races and several games. A ball game at the school ball diamond pre ceded the lunch of ice cream and visiting at the park. The young people have resumed their Bible studies and have also had their fun events. A highlight for them was the 25mile bike hike (cycling) on September 5. With the weather being very warm, they embarked from the church and con cluded with a “hobo supper” on the yard of Jake and Phyllis Dyck. Tim Schroder had an outdoor Bible-teaching meeting, the way it is held in the area of Papua New Guinea where the Schraders serve. Tim and Laurel Schroder showed their appreciation to the church by hosting a wiener roast at Clifton Abrahamsons on September 6. Several different relays and a tug-of-war saw enthusiastic involvement from those who were there. At the first fall evening service on Sep tember 20 the Schraders presented a video of the work they are doing in Papua New Guinea. The people are asking for missionaries to teach them the gospel of salvation. “Call for Reapers” was the theme for this missions emphasis serv ice. In the morning service on the same day, Maurene Borne shared about her upcoming ministry with Gospel MissionPAGE 9
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Peily Fellowship Chapel held VBS on July 27-31 in Swan Plain, and during August 10-14 at Peily.
The children presented Bible truths in drama, songs and verses at the VBS closing service in Peily.
The young people cycled from Peily Fellowship Chapel to the Jake Dyck yard.
Everyone had a chance to show their strength in a tug-of-war at an appreciation evening hosted by Tim and Laurel Schroder.
ary Union in Mali, Africa. She plans to leave in early November. Maurene is the sister-in-law of Laura and Helen Hamm. Promotion Day for the Sunday school on September 6 saw several children being
On March 29, a number of parents demonstrated their commitment to train their children for the Lord: Lynn and Betty Bartel with Evan, Pete and Ann Harder with Joshua, Angela and James Siemens with Collin, Colleen and Lloyd Bartel with Lindsay. Pastor Ward Parkinson stands with them.
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promoted into another class. It has been several years since there has been pro motion, so it’s exciting to see the increase in attendance. Students are back in the classroom. We
On September 20 the Morris Fellowship Chapel held a parent/child dedication service. James and Arietta Boulton with Megan, and Melanie and Nathan Bartel with Tobias were involved.
have one student, Lana Abrahamson, back at Nipawin Bible Institute for her third year. We also remember in prayer those who have been sick and are at home. Phyllis Dyck
A GROWING CHURCH! Morris, Man.: There is one thing you can say for sure — MFC is a growing church! We had a parent/child dedication service on March 29 and another one on Septem ber 20. Pastor Ward noted that in the past 4'A years, thirty-nine children have been dedicated! Easter Sunday was full of activities. We held a “Sonrise” service outside with a lot of singing and Scripture readings. This was followed by a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and ham served to us by the church council. Now we know our leaders can cook! Next came the morn ing service, with communion. Focused on our Saviour, it was a very meaningful morning. June 19-21 we held our church fam ily camp at Roseau River Bible Camp. John Koop led the sessions for the weekTHE MESSENGER
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Rose and Janine accompanied future song leaders during children’s chorus time at the Morris Fellowship Chapel family camp.
I end. With the family being the main fo cus, our Saturday evening' session was special for married couples — we re newed our marriage vows to our spouses, sealed with a kiss. 1 later heard some young people say they were never getting married. Singing and Bible jeopardy preceded
PARTS OF THE BODY Winnipeg, Man. (Aberdeen): My name is Elizabeth Plett and 1 am happy for the opportunity to be the new reporter for the Aberdeen church. Here are three windows into the life of our church. These people contribute im measurable gifts in our congregation, just by being who they are and accepting oth ers for who they are. 1 hope their indi vidual profiles begin to give you a picture of Aberdeen life from the unique perspec tive each one has to offer. 1 hope to con tinue submitting profiles for future issues
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Rachel Guenther is part of Aberdeen EMC. She lives on a farm and has many interests.
Pastor Ward led in a game of Bible “Jeopardy.”
Annie and Lillie Bartel were in charge of meal preparations, assisted by Carissa Bartel.
each of the sessions. Activities ranged from river rafting, outdoor floor hockey, baseball and trail rides to the usual pic nic races and relays on Sunday afternoon. Pastor Ward had the pleasure of receiv ing his parents, David and Eleanor Parkinson, into our church membership. They moved here from Mississauga, On
tario, a year ago. We are pleased to have them officially join our church family. The busy summer is behind us, and our church activities will increase. We look forward to spending more time with our fellow church members. Let us draw near to God, and He will draw near to us! Ruth Bartel
to keep on filling out the picture. Rachel Guenther. 1 live on a farm with two cats, one dog, three chickens and five goats. 1 am seven years old and am in Grade two at the Hazelridge Elementary School. When Tm not in school 1 like to play with my cats, read a book, play the piano, play with Lego, and practice Ukrainian dance steps (but not all at the same time!). 1 have gone to the Aberdeen church since 1 was a baby. 1 go to Sunday school and go up front for the children’s story. For me the best part of church is being with my friends. Sarah Reimer: Sarah Reimer is a regu lar attender at Aberdeen. She anticipates meeting with friends of all ages, learning from them, as well as learning from teach ings in the Bible. “Even though 1 have heard these things many times, different people have different perspectives that bring fresh meaning to me,” she says. Besides attending church, she is the church treasurer, executive committee member, participant in a small-group fel lowship and occasional worship leader. Sarah also has a busy life aside from church life. She lives in an apartment near the Grant Park shopping mall and has gotten to know several interesting neigh bours with whom she likes to share bak ing and company. Her recipes can, at times, be found in iheAberJABBERdeener, our church newsletter. Sarah also enjoys offering her services as bookkeeper for Inner City Youth Alive and volunteering with the Red Cross (Ca nadian Blood Services) and with Mennonite Disaster Service. Sarah has
been, and is still, deeply involved with MCC Refugee Sponsorship and Resettle ment, which has been very rewarding to her. Sarah has been attending Aberdeen since 1966, just prior to the time when the Braeside church was started, so she has been witness to various changes in the church and community around us. She says she is glad to be part of the process, although it is slow, of including the sur rounding community in our church body. “I hope for a greater openness, on our part, to forming partnerships with ethnic groups that we may not normally be com fortable with. 1 think we are accomplish ing some of that with open invitations to our Thanksgiving dinners, Easter morning breakfasts and other functions,” she said. Viithana Suon: 1 am thirteen years old and am attending Grade 8 at Hugh John Macdonald School. 1 live in the down town. 1 like to read magazines, play video games and play around with my compu ter. 1 attend services at Aberdeen with my family and also join the other youth in Sunday school and junior youth group events. This year we went hiking at Birds Hill Park and attended a football game, where Winnipeg won! 1 am on the youth committee, and we plan events together with our youth leaders. All of the youth have a mentor with whom we spend time. My mentor is Wendy. 1 have been coming to Aberdeen since 1990. 1 come to church to get a deeper understanding of who God is and what Jesus did during His life here on earth. My wish for this church is to have more of PAGE 11
NOVEMBER 4, 1998
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the neighbourhood people come and join in the services and in Sunday school. Elizabeth Plett
Vuthana Suon has been attending Aberdeen EMC since 1990. He attended a football game where the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won.
Betty and Aron Reimer celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with family and friends.
MANY CELEBRATIONS Hudson Bay, Sask.: Summer has come and gone and with it many people as well. The month of July saw many of our young people attend Bible camps at various lo cations. We trust that as a result each one will have been drawn into a closer rela PAGE 12
Dennis and Ruth Reimer enjoyed a barbecue with their friends to celebrate twenty-five years of marriage.
tionship with their Lord. Several families from our congregation enjoyed the Jesus Manifest weekend in Dauphin and came back enthused about the musical talent. We welcome little Tabitha Vellacott into our congregation. Born prematurely to Lincoln and Marilyn, she weighed only 2 pounds 11 ounces. With prayer and the medical expertise in Regina, she pro gressed favourably and arrived home at the end of August. Welcome home! The long weekend in August brought many friends and relatives to Hudson Bay for a double celebration. Aron and Betty Reimer celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. “To God be the glory, great things He has done” was sung as a song of praise as family and friends gathered in the church basement. Their family of six children, their spouses and twenty grandchildren had prepared some skits, songs and stories. The guests then vis ited over a lunch served by the church la dies. The same weekend Dennis and Ruth Reimer celebrated twenty-five years of marriage with a barbecue supper with their guests on their front lawn. After a short program, featuring a skit and some singing, everyone enjoyed visiting in the open air. Many reacquaintances were made this weekend as many relatives had come from great distances. It was also great to see so many fill the pews at the Sunday morning service. August was VBS time at our church. Each evening the youngsters visited a dif ferent location on their tour through the Holy Land. On Monday they visited a car-
penter’s shop in Nazareth and were able to do some hands-on work with the tools there. Then they proceeded to Jerusalem, where they toured a synagogue with a Jewish rabbi. The marketplace at Capernaum was a centre of activity as the children purchased some fresh vegeta bles. At Bethlehem a real sheep brought the story of the Good Shepherd to life. Mary and Martha’s hospitality was dem onstrated on Friday evening when the children made a stew to serve the guests who came for the closing program. Par ents and friends came to the musical pro gram of songs learned during the week. Our Sunday school again had a bikathon/ rally to begin the new Sunday school year. The bikathon raised money for the two camps, Torch Trail and Ketchen Lake. We did not have Sunday school in July and August, so this was a good way to begin the year. The barbecued hamburgers/ wieners and salads were still delicious at the end of the summer season. The church family had a farewell pot luck to say goodbye to Dale, Angela and Jemma Seale and Adeline Severight. Dale and Ang moved to Dauphin, and Adeline moved to Saskatoon this summer. Their friendship and contributions to the church will be missed. We wish them well in their new endeavours. Irene Buhler
YOUNG PEOPLE IN MISSIONS Kola, Man.: Reuben Penner returned from Thailand at the beginning of June and is presently attending Concord Col lege In Winnipeg. On June 28 we were privileged to hear a firsthand report on his time on the mission field. Rolf Kruse, another young fellow in our church, left in mid-September for a week of orientation at the SIM headquarters in Toronto, after which he flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Rolf’s plans for the next year or two include training teachers to teach the children in the Bongo refugee camp. While he is living with a missionary fam ily, Rolf will also “have the opportunity to homeschool their two children; work on vehicles; maintain and repair buildings, water tanks, wells, and the clinic; and fix roads.” Sounds busy enough! Wonder when he’ll have time to send his first re port home! In the meantime, we will continue to uphold him in prayer. Closer to home, our youth group was involved in a “missions exposure” as well, when they spent three days at Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) in Winnipeg. Rachel Penner wrote the following report of that experience: On July 30 two vans with eight teenag ers and four adults left their comfort zone to minister in the inner city of Winnipeg. THE MESSENGER
The adults were Roy and Vi Kroeker, co ordinators for the youth group, and Gerald and Elly Martens, the cooks; and the brave young people were Ashley and Dalton Fehr, Hazel and Rachel Penner, Nikarre Yutzy, Maxine Plett, Tamara Martens and Nettie Rempel. Chris Eidse, director of The Bridge drop-in centre, had arranged the itinerary for our three days, i When we arrived at ICYA vve were given a tour of the centre and workshop. The youth were impressed with the pool and ping-pong tables and other facilities. We dropped off our luggage at the Ab erdeen EMC and then had a tour of the North End, with Chris as our guide. He pointed out places of interest — a church which had once been the residence of the Hell’s Angels (a biker gang), only a few blocks from the Aberdeen church. As Chris talked about the deterioration of the North End and the loss of many busi nesses, it was obvious that tie has a heart and vision for the people. I Our first work project was with New Life Ministries, a church in the North End. Pas tor Harry told us about his project — two old apartment buildings vyhich he had bought and was now cleaning up to use as housing for low-income families and
individuals. We helped people who were a few hours. Chris offered to drive us moving and did some cleaning and dry around the North End to see what it is like wall sanding. at night, so we all piled into the fifteenAfter supper at the Aberdeen church we seater ICYA van for another tour. went to the Drop-in Centre, where we We were able to sleep in the next morn befriended children ages eight to twelve, ing because there was nothing left to do many with hyperactivity disorders and at New Life Ministries. We toured two very short attention spans. After helping other ministry centres. Union Gospel Mis with clean-up and a word of prayer, we sion and Salvation Army. It was enlight went back to the church for some sleep. ening to see how these shelters and soup The next morning we met Chris at The kitchens operate. Bridge. He took us to an old Victorian-style ' A little cleaning up was needed at The house, which is to become a drop-in cen Bridge — painting over graffiti, picking up tre for young children. Here we tore down garbage, cleaning the van — after which walls, cleaned up glass from broken win we packed up and, after lunch at the dows and scraped off peeling paint. It church, headed home. looked much better by the time we left. It was a good experience, and 1 think After lunch we went back to New Life the whole group enjoyed helping other Ministries, where some of us did some people, as well as interacting with many sanding and cleaned up an apartment, non-Christians and being challenged to while others did street clean-up with share Christ’s love — to “make a differ members of Winnipeg’s Green Team, ence.” Those who run ministry centres who had been assigned to New Life Min are excited about the work they are do istries for the summer. ing and about serving the Lord. This made We spent the evening at The Bridge. It a positive impression on me and has en was easier to talk to and play with the couraged me to be more cheerful while children this time, but it was also hard, serving God where 1 live. knowing that we would probably never Rachel Penner see them again and wondering what kind Reporter: Florence Penner of an impression we could make in only
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On March 22 six families participated in a parent/child dedication service at the St. Vital church: Natalie Dueck with Dayvia (Jason is at the pulpit), Evelyn (hidden) and Awin Davison with Andrew (hidden). Penny Stafeckis with Janessa and Jeffry, Nathan and Genevieve Kroeker with Teya, Sandra and Garry Nickel with Trevor, Jennifer and Gordon Giesbrecht with Mackenzie, and Judy and Roy Friesen with Stephan. Pastor Al Friesen (on the left) officiated.
THE GREAT SCULPTOR Winnipeg, Man. (St. Vital); We serve a wonderful, creative heavenly Father! Not only did He create the heavens and the earth. He also created us. He is the great Sculptor, who lovingly moulds and shapes us into the people He wants us to be. This was expounded in our first sermon series of 1998. I NOVEMBER 4, 1998
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Jennifer and Ed Richardson (with Tiana, Jessica and David) and Sharon and Mike Yarowy (with Cassia) pledged to train their children for the Lord on March 29 at the parent/child dedication service. Pastor Al Friesen is in the foreground.
In February our church was involved in the ENRICH parenting seminars taught by Al Friesen. The majority of attendees were from non-church families, and there were ample opportunities to show hospitality. On February 15, Harold Fast, a mission ary to Pakistan, had a message on “Lord of the Harvest" to tie in with the missions Sunday emphasis.
Our annual baby/bridal shower was held on March 22. After trying to identify the people in some baby pictures, everyone had an opportunity to visit and partake of the delicious food. Babies honoured were Mackenzie Giesbrecht (Gordon and Jennifer), Cassia Yarowy (Mike and Sharon), and Trevor Nickel (Garry and PAGE 13
At the St. Vital church picnic Garry Nickel told David Richardson and Scott Reitmeier that they can eat their bovtfis of rocks with milk.
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On May 31, Andrew Buhler, Jennifer Richardson and Kellie and Wes Bergen were officially welcomed as members of the St. Vital EMC.
Sandra). Couples honoured were Donavan Friesen and Kendra Koop, Murray MacBeath and Jennifer Meuniur. Our much-anticipated Sunday school/ church picnic was held on June 7 at the St. Vital Park. Pastor Al spoke on “Once It’s Said...?’’ with his son Donavan assist ing with the hands-on illustrations. We were reminded that, just as toothpaste can’t be put back into the tube once it’s been squeezed out, so our words can’t be put back inside us. Our youth group (Floor 17") participated in Region 7’s Power Trip ‘98 at Camp Ce darwood in March and experienced World Vision’s 30-hour famine in April. A missions trip to Nelson House, to lead Va cation Bible School, took place in August. The girls also had a “Spending Time with God” Bible study one afternoon a week during the summer. Our relatively new Ladies’ Fellowship group planned a highly successful (and caloric) progressive supper in February, where the women partook of a fourcourse meal prepared by the men of our church. In May the women were given the opportunity to work off some of the extra calories at a cleaning bee at the church, and in June a yard sale/hotdog fundraiser was held. Natalie Dueck
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REMPEL - COX: Fred, son of Cornelius and Tina Rempel of Aylmer, Ont., and Carrie-Lynn, daughter of Vicky Lamond and Alan Cox of London, Ont., were married at the Mount Salem EMC on September 5,1998, with Wilbert Friesen officiating. The couple is making their home in Aylmer. GOERTZEN - CAMPBELL: John Goertzen and Sonja Campbell were married at the Pioneer Inn in Steinbach, Man., on May 16, 1998, with Mel Koop officiating. The couple lives in Steinbach. KEHLER - FRIESEN: Chad, son of Stan and Mary Kehler of Mitchell, Man., was married on July 4, 1998, to Kathy, daughter of Cornie and Mary Friesen of New Bothwell, Man. The wedding took place at the Steinbach EMC, with Stan Kehler, father of the groom, officiating. The couple i.s residing in Mitchell. ZlLINSKl - KLASSEN: Dan, son of Dennis and Susan Zilinski of Steinbach, Man., and Jodi, daughter of Frank and Bev Klassen of Steinbach were married on August 7, 1998. The wedding
\Jntapped potential in a mining commu nity! A pastor is needed for a cross-bor der congregation. Northern Fellowship Chapel (EMC) continues to need a pas tor. Part-time salary and modern housing is available. Other employment is avail able, depending on training and work experience. Contact: Search Committee, Box 35, Creighton, SK SOP OAO. Call board member Deb Odegaard at 306-6882996 or Conference Pastor John Koop at 204-326-6401. Steinbach Bible College, Inc., an evangeli cal-anabaptist college and high school serving a Mennonite constituency seeks a business manager. Responsibilities: member of senior ad ministration; management of fiscal opera tions, physical plant and equipment; su pervision of support staff. Qualifications: ca, cma, cga or equiva lent training experience; team player in agreement with statement of faith and life style position of the institution. Position will remain open until filled. Send resume to President Stan Plett, Box 1420, Steinbach, MB ROA 2A0. Phone: 204-326-6451. Fax: 204-326-6908. E-mail: splett@SBCollege.mb.ca.
Treesbank Community Church is looking for a vibrant leader to pastor the congre gation and lead in a variety of church min istries in the community. If you are out going, like to interact with the church and community, please send a resume and cover letter to Pastor Search Committee, Treesbank Community Church, Box 172, Wawanesa, MB ROK 2G0, or phone Leonard Plett at 204-824-2475).
took place at the Steinbach EMC, with Hans Rahn officiating. The couple is living in Kitchener, Ont. NEUFELD - LOEWEN: Sheldon, son of Edward and Julianna Neufeld of Morris, Man., was married on August 21,1998, to Sarah, daughter of Burt and Karen Loewen of Steinbach, Man. The wedding took place at the Steinbach EMC, with Arden Thiessen officiating. The couple is making their home in Morris, Man. BROESKY - FROESE: Ray, son of Anna Broesky of Steinbach, Man., and Sheryl, daughter of Cornelius and Elnora Froese of Killarney, Man., were married on September .5, 1998. The wedding took place at the Steinbach EMC, with Mel Koop officiating. The couple lives in Steinbach. KRAHN - TURCOTTE; Brad Krahn and Angela Turcotte were married at the EMC church in Steinbach on September 12, 1998, with Mel Koop officiating. The couple is residing in Steinbach. FROESE - SCHMITT: John, son of Isaac and Lisa Froese, and Mary, daughter, of Abe and Katharina Schmitt, were married on September 26, 1998, with Peter Reimer of Leamington, Ont., officiating. The couple i.s residing in Leamington.
1998-99
Modular Education « Short Term - 3 or 6 weeks • Six entry points during the year Full 3-credit Courses in each Module Nov 9-Dec 16 Biblical Interpretation Gospel of John, Jeremiah Introduction to Psychology I Evangelism, Principles of Teaching
Jan 5 - Feb 9
Introduction to Old Testament Pastoral Epistles, Theology I Christianity and the Imagination Introduction to Psychology II Marriage and Family Introduction to Youth Ministries Other modules;
Feb 16-Mar 4, Mar 8-Apr 15
Evening Course • Introduction to Microsoft Word Nov. 17, 19, 24, 26; 7:00-10:00 p m. Instructor: Emery Plett Cost; $50 For more information; 204-326.6451, Fax 204-326-6908 E-Mail; PR@SBCollege.mb ca Box 1420, Steinbach, MB, ROA 2A0
Steinbach Bible College
THE MESSENGER
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FRIESEN - to Hans and Ellie Friesen of Straffordville, Ont., a daughter, Amy Caroline, on July 11, 1998. HARMS - to Len and Sharon Harms of Swift Current, Sask., a son, Jaden Peter, on May 15, 1998. I FRIESEN - to Blaine and Donna Friesen of Swift Current, Sask., a daughter, Mandy Jane, on Septembers, 1998. KOOP - to Conroy and Sheila Koop of Swift Current, Sask., a son, Mitchell James, on July 22, 1998. I KLASSEN - to Darryl and Sharon Klassen of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Kathryn Elizabeth, on September 1, 1998. WIEBE - to Alex and Darlene Wiebe of Elie, Man., a daughter, Brianna Michelle, oh July 1, 1998. GILROY - to Bob and Twyla Gilroy of Hudson Bay, Sask., a son, Jacob Alexander, on September 11, 1998. REIMER - to Ron and Anne Reimer of Aylmer, Ont., a daughter, Sabrina Danielle, on August 2, 1998. i HARDER - to Peter and Anne Harder of Aylmer, Ont., a daughter, Amanda Grace, on August 19, 1998. FRIESEN - to David and Anna Friesen of Straffordville, Ont., a son, Jonathan David, on August 23, 1998. I KOOP - to Chad and Darlene Kopp of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Rebecca Anne, on July 29, 1998. HILDEBRAND - to Gordon and Mona Hildebrand of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Jodi Amber, on August 11, 1998. J RUPERT - to Bill and Shirley Rupert of Steinbach, Man., a son, Eric Matthew, on June 4, 1998. THEISEN - to Dean and Barb Theisen of Steinbach, Man., a son, Lenden Carl, on June 7, 1998. ;
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EDY KLASSEN 1934-1998 Edy was born June 16, 1934, in Grunthal, Manitoba, to Nettie (nee Sawatzky) and Jacob Klassen. Edy’s mother died when he was^six years old. He was fostered by the Jacob Loewen family of Steinbach until he was eight, when his father married Susana
NOVEMBER 4, 1998
FRIESEN - to Tim and Cathy Friesen of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Madison Erin, on August 28, 1998. GUENTHER - to Tom and Sharon Guenther of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Maria Katherine Rae, on September 7, 1998. FRIESEN - to Bernie and Cheryl Friesen of Rosenort, Man., a daughter, Jayelle Renee, born November 4, 1995, adopted September 22, 1998. THIESSEN - to Anthony and Teresa Thiessen of Rosenort, Man., a son. Pierce Hayden, on September 10, 1998. HARTLEY - to Jeremy and Pearl Hartley of Calgary, Alta., a daughter. Piper Ciera Dawn, on September 2, 1998. THIESSEN - to Wayne and Marilyn Thiessen of Blumenort, Man., a son, David Wayne, on September 26,1998. PLETT - to Randy and Lorraine Plett of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Kathryn Megan Kehler, on May 29, 1998. KRUSE - to David and Tammy Kruse of Winnipeg, Man., twin daughters, Janae Elise and Emily Marie, on August 12, 1998. FARMER - to Randy and Lisa Farmer of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter. Abbey Michelle, on June 28, 1998. KROEKER - to Derek and Shauna Kroeker of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Emily Grace Lauren, on September 22, 1998. EPP - to Jason and Connie Epp of Grunthal, Man., a daughter, Chelsea Annika Marie, on April 1, 1998. THIESSEN - to Pete and Nancy Thiessen of Aylmer, Ont., a son, Dominic Dmitre, on April 1, 1998. HAMM - to Marvin and Janet Hamm of Arborg, Man., a daughter, Samantha Jane, on July 31, 1998. REIMER - to Rick and Elaine Reimer of Arborg, Man., a daughter. Savannah Jewel, on August 21, 1998.
SCHARFENBERG - to Jeff and Shelly Scharfenberg of Hudson Bay, Sask., a son, Blake Jeffrey, on August 10, 1998.
Gerbrandt and reunited his family. After serving as a farmhand, a para trooper with the Princess Patricia Light Infantry and as a porter with the CNR, Edy began working as a machine operator at Canada Wire & Cable in 1959, where he stayed until his retirement in 1994. Edy had a keen interest in family his tory, photography, computer usage and current events. He was also an avid and accomplished golfer, always looking for ward to his next game. His easygoing, “no-problem” attitude and his astute, understated sense of humour will be sorely missed by all. Edy was certain in his faith, which he came to later in life, and thoughtful in its application. He was active in the life of the Crestview Fellowship. His and M.J.’s faith and their faith community helped sustain him through his illness.
After fighting back from a difficult pe riod with his illness last winter Edy put all his strength into living each day fully, enjoying the people and activities that filled his days. Edy died suddenly at home on July 16, 1998. He leaves to mourn Mary Jean (nee Enns), his beloved wife of forty-four years; his sons, Brian and Gerry, and their partners, Lesley and Lorraine; and his treasured granddaughter, Maia; as well as his sisters, Susan and Henry Harder, Doris Stepa, Anne and Harry Neufeld, Kathy Klassen, Helen and Dennis Dicks and Marg and Frank Wiebe; and his brothers, Jake and Lori, and John. Donations can be made to Crestview Fellowship or to Riverview Health Cen tre Palliative Care Unit. His Family
ibie Coll^D3
November 20-21 /98 speaker • Randy Friesen
.o' A weelwnd dssigiied for
Senior ll/Orade 10 students and up_. and their youth leaders
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November 11-14 Seeing Then, Seeing Now Prairie Bible College Three Hills, Alberta Phone: 1-800-705-7481
itlllKS jpansit I Dave Schcllcnberg Steinbach, MB.
He who does not know his past does not understand his present and has no direction for the future. ____ — J. B. Toews In pl he year 1999 will see the city of Steinbach, Manitoba, cel. i ebrate its 125th anniversary. Already preparations are on the way. The first citizens of Steinbach were eighteen families of Mennonite set tlers from Russia in 1874, who had left Russia for conscience sake. The promise of freedom from military service, given when they came to Russia seventy to eighty years ear lier, was in danger of being an nulled. With this threat hanging over them, they looked for another country where they could live out their faith. Canada became such a refuge. We are today the beneficiaries of this faith of our Kleinge Gemeinde (now EMC) forefathers. 1 wonder how many of us would take a simi lar step if our faith were threatened today. Would we suffer the hard ships of a relocation to another land a they did? We should be eternally grateful for the choice they made. Our forefathers had a faith that is enviable; they were willing to up root themselves from a land where they had lived for seventy years to venture into the unknown, to the hardships of pioneer life of Canada’s bald prairies and forests. And with a pioneering spirit, they prospered, after some years.
Their faith was evident in the fact that they conducted services, even though they did not have church buildings. They gathered in private homes and even in stables. It is in order to periodically com memorate events like this, to re fresh our memories concerning the hardships our people endured for the sake of Christ. The first such event took place in 1924, com memorating fifty years in Canada. 1 faintly recall this event. We went there by horse and buggy. It was a rainy day, and the service was held in a tent. If my memory serves me right, we had an accident on the way home. In 1934, the sixtieth year was com memorated, and in 1949, the sev enty-fifth. A more general celebra tion for the hundredth anniversary was held in 1974. At an event like this we should not emphasize our own achievements but rather honour God by remem bering those who took the step of faith to provide this land for us. 1 believe sometimes we lack an atti tude of thankfulness and apprecia tion for all those who made this possible for us. 1 may be wrong, but 1 think all former celebrations of this event were church sponsored. This time it is well that the city of Steinbach is planning a celebration. Area churches, no doubt, will also have appropriate events. May all events be God-honouring.
November 13-15 Region 4 Marriage Retreat Supers Motel Brandon, Manitoba Phone: 204-556-2635
November 14 Region 8 Women’s Day Giving and Receiving Care Ridgewood EMC Phone: 204-377-4467
November 20-21 Impact ’98 Steinbach Bible College Phone:204-326-6451 December 4 EMC Ministerial Meeting Crestview Fellowship Winnipeg, Manitoba December 5 EMC Conference Council Meeting Fort Garry EMC Winnipeg, Manitoba
January 24,1999 World Fellowship Sunday of Mennonites/Brethren in Christ February 17-19 Revitalizing Ministry in Small Places Regina Travelodge (Nipawin Bible Institute) Phone: 306-862-5095
November 15 - Stony Brook Fellow ship invites you to celebrate with them. A Pastor Installation Service for Earl and Caroline Unger will take place at 3 p.m. in the Steinbach Bi ble College Chapel. Coffee to follow.
January 22-24, 1999 - ENRICH Parenting Seminar with Al Friesen, sponsored by Stony Brook Fellow ship. Seven sessions, beginning Fri day night.
Do you have a story for The Personal Touch? Il must be a true account (although names may be changed, if necessary) illustrating the Christian life or character. Send your 700-word story and a photograph of yourself or suggestion for a story to the address below.
THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference Box 1268, 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB ROA 2A0
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