The Messenger November 18, 1998 by The Messenger

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‘El future se ahoga en la desesperacion’ (The future is drowned in desperation) — newspaper headline faxed from Nicaragua

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EMC establishes fund (paged) EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 36 NUMBER 20 NOVEMBER 18, 1998

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'They CaBD Omr BDiuflF' CENTRAL AMERICA has been devastated by Hurricane Mitch. North Korea is suf fering from a food shortage. Sudan is suf fering from war and hunger. The Chris tian Church has, and will, make a differ ence or dead people will “call the church’s bluff.” The quote comes from Colin Morris, a church leader in the African country of Zambia. In 1968 he wrote, “The other day a Zambian dropped dead not a hundred yards from my front door. The pathologist said he’d died of hunger. In his shrunken stomach were a few leaves and what ap peared to be a ball of grass. And nothing else.” A later writer quoted Morris’ state ment, “Little men with shrunken bellies call the Church’s bluff.” The quote rings in my ears. EMC and other Canadian families can tell stories of hunger — from Russia, the potato famine in Ireland, pioneer settle ment in Canada, and the Great Depres sion. In Barry Broadfoot’s book. Ten Lost Years 1929-1939, a waitress tells of cut ting crusts off sandwiches. Word got around that she gave away bags of crusts in the back lane. “I am not telling you any lie when I say 1 have seen as many as 100 men lined up there about seven o’clock, closing time, waiting for crusts,” she said. “These were starving men, and I am telling you the truth when I say I’ve seen men pass out, yes, fall over.” As Canadian major banks promote mergers to make more profits, our coun try has other smaller, struggling banks — food banks; there is something obscene in the contrast. We have needs in Canada; newcasts keep us aware of desperate needs elsewhere. To be alive, not know real hunger, and be a Christian is a triple privilege known to many Canadians. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be de manded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). MCC, World Vision, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and many other organizations have developed in re sponse to Christ’s call to meet human need. PAGE 2

EDITOR Terry M. Smith

In exploring the relationship between gender and ministry, the EMC is working through an important issue. Colin Morris might remind us, however, EDITORIAL to beware of issues produced by well-fed, ASSISTANT self-indulgent Christians who need to get Martha Kroeker THE MESSENGER is the on with the task at hand. Thirty years ago publication of the Evangelical some Anglicans and Methodists were de Mennonite Conference. It is bating merger. Morris found himself available to the general public. Its purpose is to inform, instruct caught up in it — then the Zambian fel and inspire: inform concerning low died nearby. Morris’ book Include Me events and activities in the denomination; instruct in god Out! was his response. liness and victorious living; He wrote. The dead man “was one of inspire to earnestly contend for the two out of three members of the hu the faith. Letters, articles, photos and man race who were not asking with bated poems are welcomed. Unpub breath Ts that service really re-ordina lished material is not returned by request. The views tion?’ or ‘How will the Methodist Confer except and opinions expressed by the ence vote?’ They ask a simpler question, writers are their own and do not ‘Where does my next meal come from?’ necessarily represent the posi tion of the Conference. The bread they are interested in is not THE MESSENGER is pub that, covered by a fair linen cloth [com lished twice a month (once a munion], over which the theologians ar month in July and August) by the Board of Church Ministries of gue, but the other sort that eases a gnaw the Evangelical Mennonite Con ference, 440 Main Street, ing pain in the belly.” Steinbach, Manitoba. Colin Morris would remind us that Jesus Subscriptions: $12.00 per calls us to live out our faith in practical year (Manitoba residents add ways. Morris said, “...I honestly believe that 7% PST, total: $12.84). Sub scriptions are voluntary and op we can get by with a lot less theology pro tional to people within or outside of the EMC. Members and ad vided the little we need is all used up.” herents pay through their More people die today from hunger than church. from persecution as Christians. We are to THE MESSENGER is a care about the hungry and the persecuted. member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press. How are we doing? Second-class postage paid at Given Christ’s concern for the total per Steinbach, Manitoba. Registration Number: 0591 son, it is positive to see how more Mailing information: All churches today are moving past pitting correspondence, including social concern against evangelism. Peo undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions, ple starve today for physical bread and should be addressed to: The Messenger the life represented by bread “on a fair RO. Box 1268 linen cloth.” A divided gospel is a strange Steinbach, Manitoba response to the whole needs of people. ROA 2A0 People need Christ in life and death, in Phone: 204-326-6401 dividually and in community, and Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: emconl@mts.net throughout all generations. Before a Chris tian community can exist, however, indi Cover: Central America has vidual people need to be alive to hear the been devastated by HurriGospel and see it in action. They need cane Mitch. Many people and food, water, medicine, shelters, roads, organizations are responding, bridges, many services, spiritual comfort and our prayers. Help is being given. More MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 22 - December 16 will be. (copy due December 4) Terry M. Smith No. 1 - January 13 (copy due January 4)

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Cultural Truth Versus Absolute Truth Kenton Penner AS WE READ the Bible we are encouraged to ask the question, How does what I am reading apply to my life today? We believe and accept that the Bible is the Word of God, a light for our path (Psalm 119:105, KJV). But how do we take the absolute truth of the Bible and apply it to our lives? 1 believe that how we apply it depends almost totally upon how we view that truth of the Bible; Is it a cultural truth or an absolute truth?

Cultural truth Cultural truth is based on the belief that some of the truths of the Bible are applied truths; that is, that a principle of the Bible is being applied to a particular culture. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 11:3-10, Paul says (commands?) that women should wear a headcovering in church during worship. In the large majority of our churches, women do not follow this. Why? It is because we have accepted this truth as being a cultural truth. We believe that the principle behind this verse is that women should dress in a respectful manner in church. Because only women of loose morals or prostitutes allowed their hair down in public, Paul commanded the women to wear a headcovering in church. Thus we take the principle, women should dress in a respectful manner, and apply it to our lives. 1 should note that in our culture, wearing a headcovering is still a sign of respectable dress, and I encourage the many in the Conference who feel that they should wear a headcovering to continue to do so. Here are several more examples of cultural truth. 1 Corinthians 11:13-14 says that men should have short hair

and women should have long hair. We would say once again that the principle is that all church members should dress in a respectable manner. Of course, what is considered respectable changes from generation to generation. 1 Peter 3:3 seems to say that women should not have braided hair or wear gold and fine clothes. The principle here is that our beauty should come from the inside, from who we really are. How’s this for a final one? Paul advises (commands?) Timothy to drink a little wine for the sake of his stomach (1 Timothy 5:23). The principle? Take appropriate medication for your physical ailments. That too changes with time. Is there anyone in our conference who could say that they practice all of the above literally?

Absolute truth When we believe in absolute truth, we believe that something is right or wrong, regardless of culture or situation. It is true because of who God is. Take the Ten Commandments, for example. The ninth commandment says. Do not lie. Why? Because God is truth. The eighth one says. Do not steal. Why? Because God is honest. The seventh is Do not commit adultery. Why? Because God is faithful. The sixth says. Do not murder. Why? Because God respects life. If these truths are anchored in God’s character, and if God never changes, then these truths never change either. Consider this example. Romans 1 tells the story of the sin of mankind. Because man rejected God (v. 21), He turned them over to sexual sin, first of all (w. 26-27), the worst of which was homosexuality, and then to nonsexual sins (vv. 28-31). Some churches and denominations have decided that homosexuality is no longer a barrier to church membership or leadership. By implication, they no longer consider it to be a sin. We simply disagree, arguing that truth does not change, regardless of our culture. NOVEMBER 18, 1998

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Cultural and absolute truth This position is, 1 believe, the most scriptural and the most difficult. It is the belief that all the principles of the Bible stay the same forever, but their application in our culture can change. It satisfies our belief that God is true and does not change, and also allows for different applications in different situations. The challenge is, what is an unchanging principle, and which is an application which can change? Some of you may object and state that this position is on the slippery road to liberalism, and you would be right. Others might say it is on the slippery road to the legalism of our past, and you too would be right. As is often the case in our Christian lives, we need to stay on the narrow road and be careful not to fall into one ditch or the other. As we look back, I believe we realize that sensitivity to culture has produced great growth in our conference. As we look ahead, we see how abandoning the truth of Scripture prevents growth and destroys the church. I am concerned about some other churches and denominations who have, in many ways, given up their scriptural beliefs.

education. They had no opportunity to practice leadership skills in society. At home and in public they were expected to be followers, and thus they did not have a developed ability to lead. Paul seems to indicate in other passages that some women were involved in his ministry and church leadership. One example is Aquila and Priscilla. When they are first introduced in Acts, he is mentioned first and she is mentioned later (as is proper), but in every instance thereafter, her name is mentioned first, presumably because she was the primary Christian worker in their marriage. She and her husband were responsible for the training of a new Christian convert, Apollo (Acts 18:26), who became a great preacher and leader himself (1 Cor. 3). Priscilla and Aquila had a church that met in their home, of which we assume she and her husband were the leaders (Romans 16:3). Romans 16 lists a number of other women who worked with Paul. It seems from Scripture that spiritual gifts are given regardless of sex (there are no gifts given only to males or females), and all spiritual gifts are to be developed and shared with the church (1 Cor. 12:7). Women in leadership Consider just one list of spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6In our conference we are re-entering a debate about 8): prophesy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, the role of women in leadership in our conference. leadership and showing mercy. Note especially the gift Sometimes we get so caught up in the emotion of the of leadership, given to all, is to be developed and used in issue that we forget the real the church by all who have issues that lie behind this The challenge is, what is an unchanging principle, been given this gift by God. In decision; it is those real issues and which Is an application which can change? Some fact, we could easily argue that make this decision so of you may object and state that this position Is on that refusing to share a important. the slippery road to liberalism, and you would be spiritual gift with the church How do we look at right. Others might say it Is on the slippery road to or refusing to accept the passages that deal with the legalism of our past, and you too would be right, spiritual gift of another is to women in leadership, as reject the work of the Holy cultural or absolute? A committee appointed by the

Spirit in our lives.

Board of Ministers and Deacons is preparing material on the role of women in leadership in the church. I look forward to this, to learn more about the truths of this matter. We face a difficult discussion, on which much prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit is required.

Roman culture was based on a hierarchy model. The New Testament argues strongly against that. Note Galatians 3:28, where Paul says that in Christ all are equal, and there is no difference between people. In the Old Testament, Jews were God’s chosen people, and Gentiles had to become Jews to be saved. Not so in Christ — It makes no difference if you are a Jew or a Gentile, all are equal in Christ. In Roman culture, and many others, masters were superior to their slaves. Not so in Christ. Paul urges a radical change to this relationship, one that ultimately destroys the master-slave relationship, although Paul never directly says so. Finally, what about men and women? Men basically owned their wives as property; they were the masters of their homes, and their wives were their servants — but not so in Christ. Men and women are equal in Christ. This verse required a large change in the way Jews viewed Gentiles. It required a large change in the way owners viewed their slaves and in the way men viewed women. The church has always been the defender of women and greatly raised their position in the church, the home and the world.

Women in leadership as absolute truth Many of the statements in Scripture about women are abundantly clear at first glance. Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” In 1 Corinthians 14:35 he says, “If they [women] want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.” What is particularly strong in the 1 Timothy passage is that he argues his point on the basis of creation. By doing this he seems to be clearly indicating that this is not a cultural but rather an eternal truth based on the way God created us.

Women in leadership as cultural truth How can we interpret these passages in a different way? What other principles could be at work here? Perhaps Paul is saying that only those who have leadership abilities should be allowed to lead. Women of Paul’s day received little or, in most cases, no PAGE 4

A final question If you lived in a culture in which prostitutes and women THE MESSENGER

of loose morals wore hats and all others did not, and you had to preach from 1 Corinthians 11 about headcoverings, what would you say? Would you say that the women of the church should wear headcoverings as the passage clearly indicates, or would you rather use the principles of the passage to argue that women should not wear headcoverings? Either way, you face a difficult decision. If you say they should wear them, it means that your church’s reputation will be soured in the community and its ability to reach out severely hampered. If you say they should not, you are taking the clear words of Scripture and twisting them to mean the exact opposite. If you don’t find that scary, 1 do — because if you can do that to one passage, what stops us from doing it to more to suit our culture? We face a difficult life as Christians, but God can grant us the wisdom to carry on.

Balance sought I have tried in this article to maintain a balance, but in all likelihood my own biases have come through. The main reason that more space was given to the idea of cultural rather than absolute truth as it applies to women is that cultural truth is much harder to determine and apply. We need to discover the principles behind the examples and then apply that principle to our own lives, neither of which is a very easy task. It is my prayer that as a conference, as we approach this issue and others, we will strive for unity, love and truth. We must stand firm in what we believe but also respect those brothers and sisters who have very different views.

1 Corinthians 11:19 says, “No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.” As we work through these issues, our maturity in Christ shows. Are we peacemakers or dividers? Do we respect each other or tear each other down? Are we blown about by every argument, or are we firmly anchored in what we believe?

Kenton (right) and Lucille Penner are the pastoral couple at Pelly Fellowship Chapel. They have two daughters, Ashley (3) and Megan (1).

They Thank God for the Remembrance of You Generations gather together today in Grandma’s great room. Lovingly they recall fond memories with miscellaneous laughter and unforgotten chapters. Reflections of family reunions they embrace. They gaze upon the familiar resemblance upon , each child’s delicate face. They thank God for the remembrance of you. Their rich heritage of holiness calls them gently home Today with thanksgiving they unite as they turn a golden autumn leaf into a divine opportunity which turns their hearts towards a new season, A precious page, rich with promise of their ardent pilgrimage.

In their hands they hold the family heirloom of truth, the “Holy Word.” They ask God for guidance as they strive to live in one accord. They pray for the outpouring of your radiant Spirit upon their nation, the lingering hope of the oppressed soul still searching for a shepherd. May they flock towards your luminous crown of glory, towards Jerusalem’s unforgettable story. They thank God for the remembrance of you. Heal our land, Lord, as we faithfully labour in the field. Harvest a humble bumper

NOVEMBER 18, 1998

crop of believers to do your divine work and to bring in your yield. I

They paused and peered through the picture window, pondered and looked over yonder at the fertile unfinished field.

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Outside the solemn sturdy oak tree quietly guards the generations that gather inside. Where God’s truth abides with wealth and wisdom within the walls of his worthy children.

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He has blessed their home with health, happiness and hope. For when the heavens usher in the whimsical winter wind. Soft snowflakes whirl in the midnight frost-filled air, weighing down the barren, brittle branches once again.

Generations listen to the lingering hope the harvest holds. How their ancestors coped with the challenge that each new season would bring! May their thankful hearts sing with the divine opportunity each encounter that their pilgrimage will bring.

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Propelling them closer to the promise of His return. They thank God for the remembrance of you. Koherla Lougbrin Kleefe/d, Man.

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NICARAGUA DISASTER FUND ESTABLISHED BY EMC The EMC has established a disaster fund for Nicaragua and donations are invited, according to executive secretary Henry Klassen. The fund will be administered in cooperation with the Anabaptist Emergency Action Committee in Nicaragua. The Evangelical Mennonite Conference has a number of con nections to Central America. A major connection is that it be gan mission work in Nicaragua in 1966. Church growth and political circumstances caused the church to become autono mous. The church is known as the Fraternidad de Iglesias Euangelicas Menonitas de Nicaragua (Fraternity of Evangeli cal Mennonite Churches in Nicaragua). The EMC has no missionaries in Nicaragua, but the Board of Missions works in partnership with the FIEMN in various min istries and projects. Currently two delegates from the FIEMN, Bayardo Blandon and Elizabeth Vado, are in Canada travelling with EMC foreign secretary Lester Olfert. Lester and Darlene, his wife, have served as missionaries in Nicaragua. The del egates will return to their homeland on November 24. A third delegate from Nicaragua, Dolores Salgado, had to can cel plans to come after his visa application was denied. Word has been received since that Dolores has suffered the loss of his crops and cattle. He is married, with seven children. Those who wish to participate in the fund can send dona tions to the Conference office designated for the Nicaragua Fund. It is tax deductible. The office number is 204-326-6401. Henry Klassen and Terry Smith

UPDATE FROM FRATERNIDAD In the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, radio and television report widespread destruction in all of Honduras and Nicaragua. The death toll is around 11,000, with the majority of crops destroyed, mudslides in mountainous regions, roads damaged and bridges washed out. In Nicaragua a number of villages were buried as a mudslide came down Las Casitas volcano in northwest Nicaragua. In both countries they are still searching for missing persons. Food sup plies, clean water and medicines are running out in many places. There is a high danger of epidemics from water contaminated by decomposing human and animal remains. In a telephone conversation on November 3 with Gregorio Calero, a pastor of the Fraternity of Evangelical Mennonite Churches, he reported that there had been no loss of life in his church and the outreach that he serves. Between sobs, he told us that their crops had been totally.destroyed, all their domestic animals died, and the stored grains were soaked. Arnulfo Vado, vice president of the Fraternity, reported they had not suffered loss of life, but they had not heard from two congre gations. The Emergency Committee representing Brethren in Christ, the Mennonite Convention and the Fraternity had a meet ing on November 2 to make plans for relief efforts. Their first plan of action is to assess the damages in each of the communities where there are churches of one of the denomina tions. MCC Nicaragua works together with this committee. Lester Olfert EMC Foreign Secretary

MCC RESPONDING TO MITCH Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has announced an urgent call to respond to Hurricane Mitch, which last week dev astated Central America. The death toll in the region continues to rise as rescue workers continue to search for the nearly 13,000 still reported missing as of Novem ber 5. MCC is calling on constituents to give at least $465,100 as MCC responds to re quests from Central American partners for immediate and longer-term assistance. Other plans, not yet finalized, include pro viding food, together with Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Winnipeg, Man. MCC is also asking constituents to pre pare 10,000 Hurricane Relief Kits imme diately and bring them to the nearest MCC office. MCC is planning two shipments of relief kits, a first shipment the week of November 23 and a second shipment before Christmas. A Hurricane Relief Kit includes: 2 widetooth combs, 6 adult-size toothbrushes (leave in package); 2 family-size tubes of toothpaste; 1 package of 24 sanitary nap kins - thin maxi-pads; 1 bottle acetami nophen, i.e., Tylenol (min. 100 tablets); 1 bottle of cough syrup with expectorant; 2 lightweight bath towels; 4 bars of anti-

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bacterial soap; 1 large tube of antifungal cream, such as Tinactin or Lotrimin; and an envelope with a $15 cheque. MCC will use these funds to include a Spanish-language Bible and pay for transporting the kits. The contents should be placed in a fivegallon plastic pail with lid and delivered to the nearest MCC office. If a pail is not available, a box will do. MCC is also pro viding water purification equipment and medicines accessed through Interchurch Medical Association, New Windsor, Mary land. Relief efforts began in earnest on No vember 5, when MCC purchased sixty tons of rice, beans and corn in Belize for shipment to Honduras. A ship sails from Houston, Texas, to Honduras on Novem ber 11, carrying twenty-two tons of MCC canned meat, blankets, soap and food. MCC has provided $15,500 to its partner, the MAMA Project in San Pedro Sula, Hon duras. MAMA is working in areas near San Pedro where flooding is a chronic problem. MCC provided another $62,015 to the Mennonite Social Action Commis sion for emergency relief. MCC expects additional requests from partner agencies in the coming weeks.

To donate funds for the Hurricane Mitch relief effort, mark the contribution 59002030, Hurricane Mitch. Hurricane Mitch has been described as the worst natural catastrophe ever to hit Central America. According to the Na tional Emergency Committee (COPECO), in Honduras alone, the death toll is now 5,273 people. Another 11,085 are missing. COPECO also reported that 1.9 million people have been directly affected by the storm, losing their homes or being tem porarily displaced. Around the country 15,044 shelters still hold displaced peo ple. The storm battered the north coast of Honduras causing widespread loss to human life and property. Ed Stamm Miller, who with his wife. Sue, is country co-representative, lives in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. During a phone interview on November 5, he said rescue efforts continue on the north coast. “Many are still waiting for rescue from their flooded homes,” he said. “People are get ting sick from bad waler, and we can see kids beginning to suffer from malnutrition. Many have been wet and living in the waters for more than a week.” The capital city, Tegucigalpa, was hit hard. This city in the mountains is ordi-

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narily a picturesque old Latin city with a charming downtown area. After Mitch, mud slides destroyed portions of the city. Water reached up to the third floor in some buildings in the downtown market area. South of the city, in the Choluteca Re gion, where MCC had been working in drought relief, floods blanket the land scape and have destroyed this year’s crops. George and Lois Zimmerman, Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) church and leadership workers in Guate mala City, spoke with EMM workers in La Ceiba, a Honduran city on the north coast. La Ceiba had been hit hard by the storm but fared better than was first thought, they said. There is less loss of life than there was during Hurricane Fifi in 1974, but property loss and destruction of infrastructure is far worse. The number of dead in La Ceiba and other areas on the north coast is not yet known. Honduras’ infrastructure has been se verely damaged. COPECO reports ninetythree bridges were destroyed and sev enty-one seriously damaged. “Infrastruc ture damage is huge, with nearly every major highway in Honduras severed by destroyed and damaged bridges. Central Tegucigalpa was totally cut off after every major bridge leading into the downtown area was either destroyed or damaged by high water,” added Stamm Miller. In Nicaragua, the devastation caused by Mitch is being compared to the 1972

MCC GIFT OF CATTLE Thankful for the help MCC gave them a few decades ago, a Mennonite colony in Belize has passed on a similar gift to a Mexican Mennonite colony. MCC donated some Holstein heifers to Spanish Lookout, Belize, approximately thirty-five years ago. The colony has pros pered. Last year MCC asked Spanish Lookout if it would sell some good milking cows, well suited to the hot climate, to MCC for the new El Temporal colony in Campeche, Mexico. El Temporal was started last year when a group from the arid El Cuervo colony in northern Mexico moved to a more arable region in Campeche state on the Gulf of Mexico. Rather than sell the cattle, Spanish Look out decided to donate ten cows and one bull. “This was a way of thanking MCC,” says Dan Penner, an MCC volunteer in Mexico. Not only did the generous colony reuse money from its members to buy good quality milking cows, it also collected the $5,250 needed for the paper work and to transfer the cattle. NOVEMBER 18. 1998

earthquake, which measured 6.5 on the Richter Scale, and leveled the capital, Managua. Wednesday, Mt. Cerro Negro, a 675-metre volcano, began spewing lava and ash. The volcano erupted in 1995, spreading ash over a ninety-square-mile area. The volcano is located only twenty miles away from Mt. Castas, another vol cano that was the site of a mud slide Fri day, October 31. The crater lake inside the volcano col lapsed, sending a wall of mud and debris over villages below. The mud slide took the lives of as many as 2,000. Another 600 died elsewhere in the country from hur ricane-related incidents. By the time the storm reached Guate mala City it had been downgraded to a tropical storm, but was no less furious. With the storm still packing 45-mph winds and heavy rains, many of the poorly con structed homes of Guatemala City were unable to withstand the pounding. The eye of the storm stayed over the city for more than twenty-four hours. Rains led to mud slides, which destroyed many barrios built on the sides of deep ravines. Guatemalan President Alvaro Arzu an nounced November 3 that 157 people had died, 100,000 homes had been damaged or destroyed and 30 highways blocked. The Zimmermans also reported the Bezalel Centre, located near San Pedro,Carcha, Guatemala, withstood the hurricane. There was, however, consid erable flooding in Carcha and surround ing areas. The Bezalel Centre is an edu-

cational conference centre. Its construc tion was a joint project between EMM, MCC and the K’ekchi Mennonite Church. In El Salvador, The National Emergency Committee had counted 222 dead, 135 missing and 50,000 people displaced by the storm. MCC expects to respond to a request for $7,750, up to $15,500, to as sist with relief efforts in the coastal region. Tropical Storm Mitch killed at least five people in the southern state of Chiapas, said Mexican authorities. Many MCC workers in Central America are currently involved in relief efforts. John M. Spidaliere/MCC

Mennonite Central Committee Phone Numbers MCC has a toll-free number (1888-G22-G337) which connects people to their nearest MCC office, according to Kathleen Hull, MCC Communications.

Here are the provincial numbers:

BC G04-850-GB39 Alberta 403-275-B935

Saskatchewan 30B-BB5-2555 Canada/Manitoba 204-2B1-B381 Ontario 519-745-8458

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The cattle arrived in El Temporal in May 1998. Penner said when he last visited the colony in August, the new milking cows were doing well. Spanish Lookout has appointed a man from their colony, Ernie Thiessen, to check on the cows every couple of months. He is to advise on feed, disease and management. KOSOVO VIOLENCE MCC’s partner Bread of Life is distribut ing MCC-donated soap to families who fled their homes in Serbia’s war-torn Kosovo province. More MCC aid for vic tims of the violence in Kosovo is on its way, including 12,800 comforters valued at $430,000 that left British Columbia in October. MCC is requesting 500 refugee kits by December. These will also go to the Kosovo region. For information, contact your nearest MCC office.

KENYAN BOMBING VICTIMS MCC has given $7,700 to “People for Peace,” a Kenyan organization that is pro viding emergency family counselling to some of the thousands of Kenyans af-

fected by the August 7 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. More than 250 Ken yans died in the blast, and more than 5,000 were hurt. Many of the injured have been scarred, with pieces of glass and shrap nel still embedded in their bodies. Some are now permanently disabled.

FOOD FOR KINSHASA MCC is contributing $38,000 to help pro vide food to hungry people, primarily Mennonites, in Kinshasa, the capital. Food prices have risen dramatically over the past three months and some people have survived by eating unripened man gos.

DOMINICAN RELIEF Just days after Hurricane Georges hit the Dominican Republic on September 22, causing a flash flood in San Juan, Domini can Mennonites worked quickly to re spond to the need by forming a disaster relief committee. MCC is assisting the relief committee by providing $38,500 and a shipment of canned meat, milk pow der, soap and blankets that arrived in Oc tober. PAGE 7

EMC IN PARGUAY IN 1966, EMC missionaries started evan gelism/church planting among the Spanish-/Guarani-speaking people in East Paraguay. Over the years the overall growth has been slow. A month ago, when 1 visited Paraguay, 1 had the privilege of fellowshipping in two churches that were born during the last two or three years. Both of these churches are growing. 1 sensed excite ment in the churches to bring others to Christ. Today there are at least thirteen groups of believers, both rural and urban, with

an active membership of more than two hundred. Indications are that growth will accelerate as God’s Spirit works and as personnel becomes available for evangelism/church planting. EMC missions has as its primary ob jective to be involved in evangelism/ church planting in partnership with the church that has emerged. This primary objective was affirmed in the consulta tion we had with the indigenous church leadership. The churches are working on the strategy that would best fit the objective. To complement evangelism/church planting, EMC has various ministries: radio, bookstore, training church lead ers, and health/nutrition. Radio, in par ticular, has opened many doors to com munities and homes. The seed is being sown, and people’s hearts are opening to the Gospel. A new radio station is now being con structed by the local churches, both

Spanish- and German-speaking, with the EMC Board of Missions. This station will assist in opening new communities for evangelism and in teaching believers. I was impressed with the needs and opportunities for evangelism/church planting in East Paraguay. There are many urban and rural communities that need and are open to the Gospel wit ness. Allow me to paraphrase Jesus’ state ment in Matthew 9:37,38: The opportu nities and needs for euangelism/church planting in East Paraguay are plentiful, but the missionaries are few. Therefore pray that the Lord would send mission aries to Paraguay. Will you pray? Will you make yourself available? Will you encourage someone else to go? Will you pray that missionaries would also go from the indigenous churches in Paraguay, to reach their own people?

SPAIN BUILDING GO-AHEAD GIVEN After almost another IVi years of wait ing and praying, many times discouraged and feeling our faith waver, we now have the permission to move ahead on the con struction of the new building here at Bethel. Thank you for standing by us in prayer and encouraging us many times. After repeated petitions from us to the Town Hall to take the suspension off, since the new Complementary Urbaniza tion Plan (CUP) came through, they have finally come up with a solution. They have been slow in answering us because our building, in fact, is supposed to line up with the new building code of the CUP,

but it doesn’t. To give us the permission to go ahead, the Town Hall has legalized as much of the building as they could and have de clared the rest of it fuera de ordenacion (not legally in order) until the courts give their final decision, and this could be years from now. Already a lot of bricks, sand, cement and door frames have been delivered, and walls are beginning to go up, though slowly. Ricardo, a dear Polish brother from Segovia, who is a professional brick layer, is giving all Saturday afternoons and holidays to this work here. There have also been a few others who have helped some. We thank God for every provision

and all the help we can get. The more voluntary labour the Lord provides, the farther the funds will go in buying materi als. We are also seeing God providing by gifts of money that are once again begin ning to come in, and these are confirma tions to us of the Lord’s hand in it all. It is our desire to move ahead as quickly as possible. Windows and outer doors are now being ordered so they will be in be fore winter hits. One of the highlights of our teen camp this summer was to hear the testimonies of seven campers who will no longer be able to come as campers because they are now over 16. All of them have spent

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PAGES

Goodbyes were said to seven campers who will not be returning to camp because they are over age 16. Evelyn Plett is with them in the photo. THE MESSENGER

six to eleven summers with us. How our hearts thrilled with joy to hear them share all that the Lord had done in their lives these years! Four of them had accepted the Lord here at Bethel in camps, one in another camp and two in Sunday school. And, oh, the tears on the last day of camp when goodbyes were said! However, we have assured them that they can now train and start serving in camps. Actually one of them already helped in the children’s camp this summer. Besides the daily Bible teaching, another important part of our camp program is the missionary hour and the project we have each year. This is the time when I have more direct contact with campers be cause I have had the privilege of teaching them about missions and sharing some exciting serial missionary stories. This year our project was to help renovate a newly acquired property in Hungary for camps. Both campers and staff gave gen

Evelyn Plett had the privilege of teaching Bible and missions Evelyn Plett (Prairie Rose) directs at camp this past summer. the Bethel Bible Centre in Spain.

erously and enthusiastically. Again I want to express my deep gratitude to you for standing behind me and this work in prayer and with your gifts.

There is so much to be thankful for, and I praise Him for His faithfulness. Evelyn Plett

Church?” We were encouraged to love one another in a Christlike way and thus draw others to the Lord. As we again work with Operation Christ mas Child, may we begin to prepare our hearts for the coming King. May God bless each one as we pray for one another.

a superb job. We received a lot of help from our Re gion 9 sister churches. From Straffordville we got the kitchen staff, as well as a cou ple to do the children’s ministry. Wilbert Friesen from Mount Salem was our speaker; he challenged us to be praying, growing and witnessing disciples. For our pastoral couple, Peter and Elma Reimer, it was a wonderful way of get ting back into the work after a two-month “furlough” or “mini-sabbatical.” They showed us their pictures and told of their relaxing and rewarding trip to the Pacific. Among the 150 people present there was a strong consensus that we should have another family camp next year. Be cause many are busy with the tomato harvest in September, we are consider ing an earlier date, if the camp will be available.

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GOD IS FAITHFUL Endeavour, Sask.: Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithful ness is unto all generations; thou hast established the earth, and it abideth (Psalm 119:89-90). Thanksgiving — a time of year, or a way of life? We have once again been blessed by God. Gardens have yielded their bounty, granaries are overflowing, and fields are being tilled for fall. The beauty of the countryside fills our hearts as we say with the psalmist, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” The weather caused a change of plans in the family hay ride, which is always a fun time. The annual meeting saw most positions filled. The Region 3 conference in Birch River was a time to look at the topic “Why the

Rose Steppan

FAMILY CAMP ENJOYED Leamington, Ont.: On the September 11 13 weekend almost half the people from our church enjoyed togetherness at the feet of Jesus. Before retiring to our tents, RVs or cabins on Friday, most of us gath ered around the fire for singing and shar ing. Some visited into the early morning hours. Bill Friesen headed the planning com mittee and acted as camp director. He did

SPEAKERS MINISTER Arden, Man.: On November 1, Elmer Barkman of New Tribes Mis sion gave the message in the morn ing service. On November 8 a former Arden pastor, John Toews of MacGregor, spoke on Barnabas, Son of Encour agement. “The singing was quite hearty,” John Toews said later. Art Plett continues to give leadership to the Arden Community Bibie Church.

NOVEMBER 18, 1998

Luisa Giesbrecht and father Diedrich enjoy the sandy beach at family camp.

PAGE 9

During the time the Reimers were gone, Ben and Henrietta Friesen of Steinbach served us for four Sundays. Their minis try was much appreciated. Our fall program seems to be back in full swing. More Sunday school classes have been added, six of them in portable classrooms. Bill Friesen is continuing the SEAN classes with about twenty students. A week of evangelistic meetings was held November 8-15, with Dan Warkentin of Landmark as the speaker. We continue to gratefully appreciate the prayers of our brothers and sisters in the EMC constituency who read The Messen ger. Peter Reimer

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Pillow fight! Who will fall off the log first, Jac Dyck or John Fehr?

Henry Loewen, one of Straffordville’s cooks, and Bill Friesen, camp director, enjoy a relaxed moment in the kitchen.

On September 20 Leamington held a parent/child dedication service. Shown are Debbie and Bill Dick with Matthew Tylor, Sara and John Bartsch with Kyle James, Eva and Pete Fehr with Ryan, and Abe and Errin Berg with Alyssa. The children are the first in each family.

A baptismal service was held at the Fort Garry church camp in June.

Candida Doerksen, Ryan Neudorf and Kim Pododworny followed the Lord in baptism recently.

PAGE 10

BAPTISMS AND BIG ONES Winnipeg, Man. (Fort Garry): Two bap tismal services, one at the annual church retreat at Nutimik Lake, were held for three young people. It was wonderful to welcome them into our church. We also had many young people par ticipating in various ministries this sum mer, and to help them we had a fund-rais ing lunch, which raised $2000. In Sep tember we heard their reports of camp, service and evangelistic work in Canada, Bolivia and Kazakhstan. Our pastor, Dave Thiessen, is on a sixmonth sabbatical at the present time. He has been studying at Regent College in B.C., and is now teaching a course at Steinbach Bible College. Recently he joined a group of other men from the church for a weekend at Gem Lake, the camping outpost of Inner City Youth Alive. They worked, relaxed, and caught some big ones! The church was a lively place in August when about thirty children explored “Sonlight Island.” About half of the chil dren were from the neighbourhood. Then in early September the Sunday school proTHE MESSENGER

motion occurred, with the Cradle Roll graduation stealing the show again. Cameron and Irma McKenzie, together with Stephen and Tamara, have moved to Sheffield, England, for two years of theo logical studies for Cameron. We will miss them very much. Irma Janzen and David Kruse have stepped into the void left by Cameron and Dave. We wish them God’s blessing and wisdom. Betty Klassen

Cradle Roll graduates stole the show at the Sunday school promotion at the Fort Garry EMC: Bethany Kruse, Erin Toews, Camille Plett, Madison Dueck, LaDawn Friesen (behind Madison), and Jesse Fast.

Births

Pastor Dave Thiessen displays some of the rewards of helping at ICYA’s camp at Gem Lake.

Edwin Friesen Stewardship Consultant

PUNCH CLOCKS AND TITHING YEARS AGO I worked briefly at a place where employees were issued time cards to keep track of hours worked. As people came in to work, they would place their cards in the punch clock, which would stamp the time of day. This process was repeated at noon as well as at the end of the day. Every two weeks the payroll clerk would collect the cards and issue paycheques based on the hours recorded. Unfortunately, being at work and do ing a day’s work are not synonymous. Employees might punch in at 7:55 a.m., but waste another thirty minutes before getting down to work. In short, a duly punched time card, which recorded the right number of hours, did not mean a full-day’s work well done. Tithing is similar. You might get the numbers right. NOVEMBER 18. 1998

OSTROMAN - to Rick and Angie Ostroman of Kola, Man., a daughter, Paige Ellen, on July 23, 1998. AANDAL - to Jeff and Kristine Aandal of Anola, Man., a son, Joshua Colin, on July 14, 1998. KONKEL-YOUNG - to Levi Konkel and Rocky Young, a daughter, Lexie Cari-Ann, on July 25, 1998. BOULTON - to James and Arietta Boulton of Morris, Man., a daughter, Megan Sarah, on June 3, 1998.

yet miss the essence of giving. If our giving is not motivated by love and gratitude to God, then we, like the punch card employees, will find ingen ious ways to minimize our giving. A gift given only from the calculator and not from the heart is a response of duty and not love. Jesus challenged the Pharisees not to separate their tithe from their love for God. “Woe to you, Pharisees, because you give God a tithe of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God" (Luke 11:42). Giving is our response to God’s grace in our lives. Each time we give of who we are and what we have, we proclaim that God is our God and that we are God’s people. Each offering is a practi cal, tangible expression that God has first claim on all we are and have. Edwin Friesen is a stewardship consult ant serving, in part, the EMC and SBC constituency. He is available to meet with groups or individuals to discuss wilUestate planning, family finances, and charitable giving. He can be con tacted at 204-488-1985.

NOTICE ABOUT CONSENT As of November 5 thirty-three churches of the fifty-two within our conference have forwarded consent lists to help retain the postal subsidy for The Messenger. At this point, nine teen churches have not. Currently we do not appear to have the more than 50% reader consent level needed to retain a subsidy for The Messenger. If we are limited to current consent information, there will be sub stantial changes to the magazine’s mailing list; one large church has a consent rate of 48%, while a medium size church has 40%. We assume more people do want to sign, but that it is clumsy to do so. We do not gaurantee a consenting majority will save the subsidy for The Messenger; the government depart ment has various concerns as it proc esses applications. A lack of consent, however, leaves us without a key piece of evidence: That you want to receive the magazine. Based on current information, if re tained the subsidy covers only those who sign up. If you do not sign up, it will cost about $18 more to mail it to your household. This cost cannot come out of our current budget. We prefer to continue to mail the magazine to all EMC households at reduced cost; you can help by giv ing your consent (and your prayers). The only guarantee we can give is that a lack of consent will not help. We trust that you continue to value The Messenger.

Ward Parkinson, Chairman Board of Church Ministries

PAGE 11

BCM REPORT TO EMC CONSTITUENCY The Board of Church Ministries (BCM) is normally composed of seven members. Patrick Friesen began serving in Septem ber. Upon Dave Wiebe’s resignation, Clarence Dueck agreed to serve in Octo ber. We are grateful for Clarence, while having appreciated Dave’s involvement. There are si.x areas of Board of Church Ministries responsibility:

I. Youth — Ward Parkinson i.s our liai son to the Youth Committee. Patrick Friesen will take over after Abundant Springs in 1999. The board ha.s sponsored two post-secondary sludent.s meetings at the University of Manitoba (March 23, Sep tember 22). Both were well received. We are concerned about effective contact with post-secondary students on cam puses across the province.s where the EMC exists. 2. Music — A search for worship music materials did not turn out as well as hoped. .Some submissions were made; none were used al convention. Concern was expressed about protecting musi cians’ rights. The board is looking at where to go with this. We are approach ing a musician about assessing the sub missions and possibly publishing some as an insert in The Messenger. T. Aichiues — We have a bulging vault and valuable, likely irreplaceable, mate rials overflowing into a non-climate-controlled, unlocked space in the conference office. The board, through it.s archives committee, i.s working to organize and safeguard the materials entrusted to us.

4. Education — The board has grappled with how to encourage Anabaptist theol ogy among our churches. We are com missioning an article on this topic for The Messenger. The potential of a joint Sun day school quarterly is being looked at. A scholar ha.s made some materials avail able for us to consider for publication.

.5. Other publications — The memo cal endar produced for 1999 will contain 16 month.s (including .lanuary to April, 2000), not 12. The yearbook has been altered: church information is first, with minute.s and other items toward the back. The yearbook has three purposes. The most important to local churches i.s the list of congregations and officers. We are trying to determine if there is a better way for U.S to do thi.s. 6. The Messenger — The probation pe riod of our editor wa.s reviewed. The PAGE 12

board was in favour of his continuing. The magazine’s subscription is about 3,850 mailed, 50 foreign, and 50 extra copies. The process with the publication.s assist ance program, designed to promote lit eracy, ha.s been lengthy; the end is not in sight. We are trying to deal actively with the issue of consent. With the delay in hiring of an Executive Youth Minister, certain possibilities or plans have been pul on hold. We trust this will get sorted out in due time. Ward Parkinson Chairman

THE BOT RESPONSE TO THE ASSESSMENT REPORT At the All-Boards Assessment Review Meeting on March 8, 1997, the Board of Trustees (BOT) identified the following goals in response to the Conference As sessment Report: to motivate local churche.s to Conference giving; strengthen the education component of the stewardship program; and co-ordinate additional volunteers and other resources to strengthen the stewardship program. What has the Board of Trustees done to follow through with these goals'.’

/. Molinate local churches to Conference gining. The Board of Trustee.s is following a plan to have all local EMC churches contacted by an elected member of the board per sonally or by telephone. Thi.s involves contacting either or both the pastor and the church council chairperson. This con tact is made two times a year and is for

the purpose of sharing the latest rinancial information, to thank churches for their participation and encourage them in their giving. 2. Strengthen the education component of the stewardship progranr A co-operative Planned Giuing Program was started on July I, 1998. Thi.s program is a partnership of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Foun dation and Steinbach Bible College. It involves a full-time consultant service in three main areas: stewardship educa tion in the constituency; program promo tion of EMC at SBC; and financial coun selling in estate planning.

.3. Co-ordinate additional nolunleers and other resources to strengthen the steward ship program. A year ago the Board of Trustees spon sored a volunteer who visited many EMC churches to encourage stewardship and promote available resources. This sup plemented the involvement of the stew ardship consultant. The Board of Trustees maintains and seeks to keep the stewardship section of the Conference video library current. The Board of Trustees seek.s to be open in its communication concerning the fi nances of the Conference. The board is in the process of installing a new account ing system, which will include changes in financial reporting that will improve the clarity of the overall financial Involvement. Henry Klassen Executiue Secretary

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THE MESSENGER

Regional i^otes Region 6 is holding a marriage enrich ment seminar on February 12-13 at Mor ris Fellowship Chapel. The theme is Keeping Oneness Alive in Your Marriage. Steve and Jackie Masterson are assisting in this. There will be three sessions. Registra tion is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The semi nar’s final event is “a celebration of vows to one another” at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. To register, or for more information, con tact John Klassen at 204-746-8360. Cost: $85/ couple before February 1 (postmarked), $100 after February 1. REGION 8 REPORT Region 8 is comprised of eleven EMC churches: Anola, Blumenort, Fort Frances, Kleefeld, Pansy, Prairie Grove, Prairie Rose, Ridgewood, Steinbach, Steinbach EFC and Stony Brook. A five-member Executive Committee, elected by these churches at an annual meeting, for a two-year term, is mandated

Betty Koop La Crete, Alberta EVA THE BALCONY of the old church in Prairie Rose (where 1 grew up) holds many memories for me — mostly about all the noisy boys and how the ushers came upstairs to quiet them. Of course, my girlfriends and 1 were al ways silent observers and would never follow the boys’ example! But 1 must confess there was some enterteilnment value in these episodes, and the thread of the sermon was probably broken at times. But we also gathered there for our Sunday school classes. Curtains di vided the balcony into three class rooms, and we had to become experts at shutting out the sounds around us. Thinking back, the teachers must have been very dedicated — no black boards or tables, children sitting in rows on church pews, and noise com ing through curtains on either side, as well as drifting up from the auditorium below. But 1 remember those classes and NOVEMBER 18, 1998

to work out and encourage projects that will be beneficial to the spiritual upbuilding of this family of EMC churches. The members are Jeff Plett (Fort Frances), Harvey Kroeker (Steinbach), Henry Kornelsen (Ridgewood), Harvey Barkman (Prairie Grove) and Ralph Linger (Ridgewood). God has blessed the Region 8 churches with manifold gifts in music, teaching, preaching and sharing, and it is with this in mind that these churches are encour aged to interact and share with one an other their God-given gifts and expertise. Last January we initiated an annual fel lowship of the pastors, other hired asso ciates, and their spouses. This takes place on an afternoon in January at one of the Region 8 churches. We have a time of sharing — about ourselves, our families, our churches — and prayer for the needs expressed. This is followed by a meal prepared by the host church. These meet ings have resulted in more interaction and

stronger ties among the churches. The next meeting is January 21, 1999, at the Kleefeld EMC. We are also in the process of getting a committee organized to plan a celebra tion of the 125th anniversary of the com ing of our forefathers to this area. This celebration will take place in August or September 1999. A youth event is being planned for this region, to be held every other year, so as not to conflict with Abundant Springs. Youth leaders will be contacted well in advance for their input. The executive believes that every effort made to inspire, encourage and help each other makes for a more unified, healthy and spiritually energized family of churches — an asset to our conference. May it always be the intent, in all that we do, to love and obey the Lord our God according to the Holy Scriptures. Harvey Barkman Chairman

various excellent teachers. Eva took our class for only a few months, but she seemed to have new ideas about teaching. She was a Bible school student at the time and actu ally used objects to illustrate the truths being taught. One Sunday the lesson was on the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. She told us there was only one God but three Persons in that Godhead. To our child minds this was incomprehensi ble. In fact, to my adult mind it still is a mystery which 1 have had to accept by faith. She must have seen the puzzlement in our faces. She held up a circle cut out of paper. “How many circles am 1 holding?” she asked. “One,” we chorused. Then she cut it into three triangles and held them up. We could see there were three distinct, equal-sized pieces. When she put them together again, there was only one circle. That is a sim ple illustration that has stayed with me over the years. Perhaps it does not do justice to describing the Trinity fully (no illustration does), but it gave us girls a simple answer to help us understand a profound truth. Eva also challenged us to give our hearts and lives to Jesus, not putting on pressure but making it an invitation

given because she loved us. That im pression of love and caring has also stayed with me through the years. Many of us women have taught Sun day school for many years. It is a lot of work to prepare and present the les son. It is challenging when students do not exhibit much interest or are disrup tive. It is a commitment that is ongo ing, week after week, and for some, year after year. At this time of year there is that Christ mas program to plan, practice and present. When the little angels are any thing but angelic and the wee sheep are not ready to follow their shepherd and the wise men seem to have left their wits in the Far Country...then our dedication wears a bit thin! But as 1 look over more than fifty years of attending Sunday school and think of the women (and men) who taught my classes, 1 thank God for the indel ible imprint they have left on my life. As you teach, practice for the pro gram, or wonder what to do about lit tle Sally who doesn’t seem to listen or care, remember the words of Paul to the Galatians: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, NIV). And you may be sure, the grandmas and grandpas, the moms and dads will say the Christmas program was just right. PAGE 13

John Koop Conference Pastor

A COMFORT TO KNOW GOD WE ALL NEED comfort sometimes. We need someone to come and walk along side us, to touch us, to hug us, to simply say words of kindness to us. God is like that. Isaiah 40:1-2 reads in part, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and pro claim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for.” What is God like? In verse 18 we have the same question: “To whom then will you compare God?” He measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, held

the dust of the earth in a basket, and weighed the mountains. The nations are like a drop in a bucket. Some people try to make images or statues of what they think God is like, taking a piece of wood, shaping it and covering it with gold. It never is close to what God is really like (w. 19-21). God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth. He is over and beyond any thing we know and experience (v. 22). He created all and is over all. He is the Holy One (w. 25-26). Yet God is also with us and among us. Verse 1 tells us that God is willing to be our comforter. He does not leave us to ourselves. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young” (v. 11). Our God and Father is present and knows our fears, struggles and pain. He cares deeply, and when we come to him in prayer he listens and answers our re-

quests. “The Lord is the everlasting God.” Time is a part of his overall plan, and we as his children fit into that plan. “He is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.... But those who hope in the Lord will re new their strength” (see w. 28-31). Jesus repeated the promises of God in John 10: “1 am the good shepherd; 1 know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and 1 know my Father — and I lay down my life for my sheep” (w. 14-15). “Mysheep listen to my voice; 1 know them, and they follow me. 1 give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (w. 27-28). That is the kind of God we have, one whom we can trust with our lives, now and forever.

community, please send a resume and cover letter to Pastor Search Committee, Treesbank Community Church (EMC), Box 172, Wawanesa, MB ROK 2G0, or phone Leonard Plett at 204-824-2475.

ferrals. Evergreen seeks to assist streetinvolved youth to move away from street culture. Responsibilities: facilitating the effective operation of the drop-in program; recruit ing, assessing, training, motivating and supervising a volunteer staff of 35; provid ing crisis intervention and counselling to homeless youth; supervising a paid staff of 6-7; facilitating group discussions and activities. Education and experience: Essential experience in providing individual support to youth who are living in poverty, deal ing with mental health issues, socially iso lated or homeless. Strong informal coun selling skills, crisis intervention experi ence, and group facilitation skills. Excel lent supervision and organizational skills, able to take initiative and set priorities. Some evening and weekend work is re quired. A post-secondary degree in social work, or a related field, five years of working with marginalized youth in a drop-in set ting, two years of supervisory experience, and proven ability to recruit and train vol unteers. Start date: fall/winter 1998. Please send resume and cover letter to: David Adcock, Associate Executive Director, Yonge Street Mission, 270 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario MSA 2G4. Phone: 416-929-9614. Fax: 416-929-7204.

Shoulder Patient parish prefers prompt personage practicing preaching, patience, predomi nantly pastoral praxis. In other words, Northern Fellowship Chapel (EMC) con tinues to need a pastor. Part-time salary and modern housing is available. Other employment is available, depending on training and work experience. The Sun day school is growing. Contact: Search Committee, Box 35, Creighton, SK SOP OAO. Call board member Deb Odegaard at 306-688-2996 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

PAGE 14

Mennonite Central Committee Canada seeks applications for the position of ex ecutive director, its chief executive of ficer. All applicants must exhibit a com mitment to a personal Christian faith and discipleship, active membership in a Mennonite or Brethren in Christ church, and nonviolent peacemaking. Please direct enquiries to Search Com mittee members: John Wiens (604-4345358), Pauline Hogan (905-688-0361), Willie Stoesz (204-377-4724), Ed Barkman (204-254-7734), Lori Brandt Unger (204284-7881). Direct applications to John Wiens, Executive Director Search Com mittee, c/o Mennonite Central Committee Canada, 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg, Mani toba R3T 5K9. Fax: 204-269-9875. Review of applications will begin on January 31, 1999, and will continue until a suitable candidate is selected. Yonge Street Mission requires a drop-in program coordinator. Evergreen is a drop-in centre that provides basic services to street youth in downtown Toronto, in cluding food, referrals, health care and employment training. This position will develop and maintain programming de signed to engage street-involved youth to access resources, basic services and re-

THE MESSENGER

here it stands, straight and tall. It definitely is one of the older resi dences in our city. If houses could tell stories, this one would surely have its share. My uncle Jacob G. Kornelsen (18861953) was for many years a teacher in the Steinbach (Man.) school system. In 1928 he built a house on the corner of Reimer and Hanover. It was a large lot, and today there are probably two or three houses on his original lot. Here he and his wife, Susan, whom he married in 1921, and their family lived. Susan had been a Steinbach teacher as well. They had three children. His father, Gerhard E. Kornelsen (my grandfather), was already retired, but he was still quite active. He had been a schoolteacher in Steinbach schools for thirty-three years, but during that period he also farmed. In a letter to his daugh ter he shares that he sometimes helped with “Jac’s house construction” (I pre sume he means his son). He delivered nine loads of small stones. Whether he offered to supply these stones or whether he was asked I don’t know, but Tm sure Grandpa knew where he could get them. His old farm had lots of them. My parents farmed on this land later, and I can attest to that. Likely he was over age 70 at the time of the stone episode, but as the account goes, he probably delivered these stones with horses and wagon, for which he was paid nine dollars. Do you wonder then that I paused and reminisced a bit when I passed this house the other day and stopped to take a second look? In my mind’s eye I could see Grandpa parked with a load of stones at the construction site. To me this stately residence is a re minder of other days, when I was wel comed into this house by my uncle and aunt, and the pleasant times I spent there. It cilso reminds me of my grand father, who I would say served his gen eration well, by word and deed. So much today goes beneath the wrecker’s ball. Buildings much newer than this one are demolished in the name of progress. Today the house at 330 Reimer Ave. still stands, tall and straight (although reno-

vated), as a symbol of another era. * * * WITH GREEN CABBAGE advertised at a very reasonable price, I decided that we should again make sauerkraut this fall. You see, there is something about do ing this yourself rather than picking it off a store shelf. It elicits a sense of pride and accomplishment, and I think every senior or retired person needs to have something in which they can take pride. Besides that, I love sauerkraut! So does our oldest son, who, I think, would miss it if it wasn’t on the Christmas menu. But to make sauerkraut one needs a cabbage shredder and one of those oldfashioned crocks. Fortunately, when so much went under the hammer when we moved, our three-gallon crock survived, and we also have a genuine old-fash ioned antique KommstHaeuel (cabbage shredder). This cabbage shredder has a little story behind it. It is hardly something one would give as a gift to someone, but for me it is a fondly remembered gift. You see, we received it from my brother for our fiftieth wedding anniversary. I don’t know where he got it; maybe he inher ited it from our parents. But for me it has become more than a gift, it is now a keepsake. When my brother brought this over, he and his wife, Mary, were anticipating their own golden wedding, and he had asked me to say something at that oc casion. But before that event took place, God called him to “an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Can you see now why it has become a gift to be fondly remem bered? So on one of those gorgeous fall days toward the end of October, we got the cabbage, the crock and the shredder all assembled in one place, and the result was a fair supply of sauerkraut. If you have a taste for sauerkraut, come and sample it and see if it is the real thing. ♦

♦

FOR TIMES LIKE THESE is a small pa perback of 128 pages, with fifty short meditations by William Culbertson, which were originally published in Moody Monthly. I doubt, though, that this book is still in print, since there is a

1972 date in it. I’d like to share one of these medita tions with you today and trust it will be the blessing to you that it was to me. In the following I recall some of Mr. Culbertson’s thoughts and add some of my own. In this article the writer takes a verse from the story of Isaac, the miracle son of Abraham: “Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well” (Genesis 26:25). The Altar: Isaac put first things first. Even before he provided shelter he made sure God would have His place. The altar likely was made of stone and suggested permanence. This was no passing fancy of convenience only; it must have been a vital part of his testi mony. The Tent: As the altar speaks of per manence, the tent surely speaks of the transitory. Mr. Culbertson comments, “...an altar of stone, a tent of cloth.” Hebrews 11 records that Abraham “so journed in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob.... For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” The Well: Isaac’s servant dug a well. A well could spell refreshment for Isaac and his family and maybe for some weary traveller along the way. We could ask the question. Are we like a well which refreshes others? Thank you. Dr. Culbertson, for remind ing us of the altar, the tent and the well.

COMING EVENTS

November 28 Interlake Youth Workers Enrichment Day Arborg Christian Fellowship Arborg, Manitoba Phone: 204-364-3008

December 5 EMC Conference Council Meeting Fort Garry EMC Winnipeg, Manitoba

December 4 EMC Ministerial Meeting Crestview Fellowship Winnipeg, Manitoba

January 22-24,1999 ENRICH Parenting Seminar Stony Brook Fellowship Steinbach, Manitoba Phone: 204-3460576

NOVEMBER 18, 1998

January 24,1999 World Fellowship Sunday of Mennonites/Brethren in Christ

January 29-31 Youth Encounter ‘99 Providence College Otterburne, Manitoba Phone: 1-800-668-PROV

February 12-13 Building Marriages of Integrity Region 6 Marriage Enrichment Morris Fellowship Chapel Morris, Manitoba Phone: 204-746-8360

PAGE 15

1 ‘A PRICELESS TREASURE’

Freed to Love Children Irene Kroeker

’VE BEEN IN THE Rosenort School for the past six teen years, and for the most part of these years, I ■have questioned my love for children. Because of some mixed messages I received over a period of many years, I came to the conclusion that I was a teacher at heart but 1 did not have the “natural gift” of loving chil dren that 1 saw in my family, my friends and colleagues at school. 1 was quite confident that God had placed me in the Rosenort School. My desire was, and still is, to be found faithful. Many times 1 told myself, God has not called us to success but to faithfulness. My friends tried to point out my special gifts for the work 1 was doing, but it didn’t penetrate my heart. If 1 ever came close to accepting the compliment, Satan was sure to whisper, “But you don’t really love chil dren. Look at so and so.” 1 felt so sad and defeated if 1 allowed myself to dwell on this, so 1 would try to block it out of my mind. One June day in 1995 the Holy Spirit moved in my heart. Some deep hurts, pain and anger of my past all surfaced. 1 had planned something else for that after-

noon, but 1 realized that God was visiting me in a spe cial way. 1 cancelled my plans and gave myself to this soul struggle. When it was over 1 knew in my heart that 1 too could have been a mother who truly loved children. My friends had shared with me that they were ex pecting their first baby; 1 was truly excited and thrilled. They now have two children. These children have filled my heart with love and awe. The love of a child is a priceless treasure. Through these children the Lord Je sus has filled my cup to overflowing. 1 can now reach out and love other children around me. I’ve been freed deeply enough and lived long enough to find out 1 do indeed love children. 1 have for a long, long time, but 1 couldn’t see “the forest for the trees” until Jesus in His mercy and compassion stepped in and set me free on the inside. “If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free in C deed” (John 8:36). A special thanks to all the Moms in Touch in our com / munity who have faithfully prayed for me and my stu dents at school. Please continue.

Irene Kroeker is a member of the Rosenort EMC.

Do you haue a story for The Personal Touch? Il must be a true account (although names may be changed, if necessary) illusiraling the Christian life or character. Send your YOU-word story and a photograph of yourself or suggestion for a story to the address below.

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