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EMC youth Executive Secretory
Stony Brook — Pastor
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Abbeydale — Associate Paster Portage la Prairie — Associate Pastor
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Poreign — Various Positions
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The struggle to recruit Is not new. Are we too **comfortable**?
EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 36 NUMBER? APRILS, 1998
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Messenger
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The Titanic and God's Sovereignty 1 HAVEN’T SEEN the movie Titanic, but 1 will when it comes out on video. With its con cern to be historically accurate (apart from the love story), the movie interests me. Part of my interest stems from a piece of family history. My great-aunt, Rebecca Smith, was a small child when her father, Rees Powell, went from Wales to Canada to pre pare a new life for his family. Finally, he sent for his wife and Becky. They booked pas sage on a ship. Before they were to leave, a family mem ber dreamed the ship would sink. Becky and her mom changed ships — and the Titanic sailed off without them. Recently The Messenger received a notice: When we see the movie Titanic, “remem ber Annie Funk.” It explains, “Annie C. Funk was a Mennonite missionary to India. Her interest in missions was nurtured by her Gen eral Conference Mennonite church in Bally, Pennsylvania. “She volunteered for mission work in In dia, where she organized and managed a school for girls. Her work was interrupted by a telegram from home: her mother was close to death. She was to come home as soon as possible. Annie quickly made travel plans. “When she arrived in Southhampton, Eng land, she learned that her ship would be de layed by a coal strike. An agent suggested another ship called the Titanic, a modern marvel that ‘God himself couldn’t sink.’ She boarded as a second-class passenger...” The note ended there, but Annie’s story doesn’t. Annie died after giving up her seat in a life boat for a mother with children, according to material from Leonard Gross, former di rector of the Mennonite Historical Commit tee, after a phone call to Goshen, Indiana. Why did one family receive a life-saving dream, while so many others died — includ ing a missionary seeking to be at her dying mother’s side? Rabbi Harold Kushner writes of visiting a woman who survived a car crash after be ing hit by a drunk driver. She said, “If I could come out of that alive and in one piece, it must be because He is looking out for me up there.” As Kushner listens, he thinks of other families whose loved ones did not sur vive such accidents. Whatever flaws Kushner’s book has, it PAGE 2
EDITOR Ferry M. Smith
pokes holes in neat views of God’s sover eignty. While clearly disagreeing with some of Kushner’s theology, I share his discom fort with simple answers. A once premature baby who caught pneu EDITORIAL monia and suffered brain damage has ASSISTANT Martha Kroeker grown to now write these words. I thank THE MESSENGER is the God for life. What 1 cannot say, however, is publication of the Evangelical that God cares more for me or has a richer Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public. purpose for my life than He does for the chil Its purpose is to inform, instruct dren dying now of starvation in North Korea and inspire: inform concerning events and activities in the and elsewhere. denomination; instruct in god Many children suffer brain damage through liness and victorious living; malnutrition, or die in prematurity because inspire to earnestly contend for the faith. of a lack of food or medical services — and Letters, articles, photos and that is more a reflection of humankind’s will poems are welcomed. Unpub lished material is not returned than God’s. except by request. The views Do you believe people can die before “their and opinions expressed by the time”? I do — whether of cancer at a young writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the posi age, by suicide, or alcohol-related accident, tion of the Conference. by starvation and much else. THE MESSENGER is pub What God allows in His sovereignty is not lished twice a month (once a month in July and August) by the necessarily what He wants; many people — Board of Church Ministries of believers included — do not receive “His the Evangelical Mennonite Con 440 Main Street, best” in this life. In some of these tragedies, ference, Steinbach, Manitoba. humankind has more responsibility for what Subscriptions: $12.00 per happens in our world than we are often will year (Manitoba residents add 7% PST, total: $12.84). Sub ing to admit. scriptions are voluntary and op Does saying this take away from God’s su tional to people within or outside the EMC. Members and ad preme power or pure goodness? In no way. of herents pay through their Our free-will does not detract from His sov church. THE MESSENGER is a ereignty. That we are not puppets and yet His member of Meetinghouse and good purposes in the world will be accom Canadian Church Press. Second-class postage paid at plished is a reason to rejoice as Christians. Manitoba. Though we ponder what we cannot ex Steinbach, Registration Number: 0591 plain, and wrestle with it or accept it (or Mailing information: All both), life is a rich gift for which we thank correspondence, including undelivered copies, change of God. When we survive accidents, disease, address and new subscriptions, or other tragedy, God does have something should be addressed to: The Messenger for us to do. RO. Box 1268 Part of that “something” involves working Steinbach, Manitoba ROA 2A0 for more of what God really wants for peo ple: proclaiming his Word, giving food aid Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 through MCC for North Korea, providing E-mail: emconf@mts.net medical care in the Chaco of Paraguay, working for social change which honours Cover: Robertson's story taken with Him. We are to share the freeing news of permission Christ in its fullness.
Foothills. Our needs are on page 15.
Perhaps Becky Smith, Annie Funk, and the messenger schedule: “unsinkable” Titanic remind us: We are to , live with a faith in God clearer than easy an- no. io - May 20 swers, mindful of our responsibility in His (material due May s) world around us. Terry M. Smith THE MESSENGER
79 k.
winmi Harry Koop
“HARRY, COME BACK!” “It will hurt!”
“It sure will!” That brief conversation took place between my dad and me some fifty years ago. I can still see him standing there three hundred yards away in the back door of our black smith’s shop. I was sprinting across our well-manicured garden towards the Scifety of dense poplar growth when the sound of Dad’s voice stopped me in full flight. Momentarily, Dad had not noticed I was not following him into the shop. Now he had. He was not used to someone disobeying a command as easily understood as “Come here!” My brother and I had once again transgressed. Dad was used to that. Mel was a year younger, so I suppose I should take most of the blame. As 1 stood there contemplating my options, 1 was mad at Mel. If he had also run, 1 would not be stcinding here alone. “A sissy he is,” 1 thought. I did not dare admit that his choice was now obviously much wiser than mine had been. How had I gotten myself into a situa tion where my options were so limited? Now, you need to understand that Dad was not one who paid very little attention to his hyperactive boys. He had just recently taught us how to make sling shots. We enjoyed making our sling shots as much as we loved firing stones at a variety of targets. Dad even had a list of birds that we dared not aim at. A few were fair game. These, of course, were never in range. We were quite convinced that nobody had sling shots that came close to the ones we made. Dad was a great teacher!
An easy target We got to be fairly accurate with those sling shots. How ever, after a while we did grow weeiry of slinging stones merely at trees and telephone poles. 1 don’t remember who suggested it, but it seemed such an easy target at the time —that six-inch board that separated the two windows over looking Dad’s work bench in the shop. Hitting a telephone pole at thirty paces was a cinch. We couldn’t possibly miss that board! 1 don’t recall whether we aimed and fired at the same time. All I recall is the shattered glass — and moments later Dad beckoning us to come into the shop. “Let’s run!” 1 quickly whispered to Mel. Mel agreed. We walked toweirds the shop door, and Dad stepped back in side. When we reached the door, Mel walked in, and 1 bolted. Now, here 1 was standing three hundred yards away real izing that there really was no escape. My home weis a se cure safe place. This was where 1 would be having lunch with Dad, Mom, and my other brothers and sisters. This was the place where, when the lightning flashed and thunder rolled during the night. Dad would come upstairs and say, “Come on down, boys. Bring your blankets.” That meant sleeping on the floor beside Mom and Dad’s bed. What a treat! How special to hear Dad say, “Come!” under those circumstances. How 1 hated that same word now! APRILS, 1998
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A dad who tried Fortunately, past experiences had taught me that my rela tionship with Dad would not really be affected, and I slowly retraced my steps. Yes, it did hurt. Now as I recall numer ous such experiences, 1 theink God for a dad who tried des perately to be both compassionate and strict. He did not always succeed, and neither have 1. 1 learned very early that “Come!” can be both a great com fort and a threat, depending on the relationship with the one who beckons. At this particular time in my journey 1 choose not to be critical of my dad. He did what he felt was essenticil to keep his boys on the “straight and narrow.” As 1 study the Scrip tures, 1 notice that they, indeed, speak of discipline: We all have human fathers who discipline us and we respected them for it.... No discipline seems pleasant at the time, too painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of right eousness (Hebrews 12:9). In the book of Proverbs a number of references are made to disciplining with the “rod.” Then 1 look at all the Scriptures where 1 am invited to come to Him and, without fail, they sound like invitations and not commands. Further, it seems that when 1 choose to come to Him He never inflicts any pain. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land, but ifyou resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword (Isaiah 1:18-19). The peiin and heartache 1 experience is far more a result of not coming, of continuing on in my own stubborn path. The Prodigal Son in Luke 15 was in misery until he chose to return. He was very obviously welcomed back and forgiven long before be decided to return. The words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 are just one more example of a God who invites me to come and experience love and forgiveness: Come to me, all you who are weary
Harry Koop, now a grandfather, looks back on being disci plined by his father. PAGE 3
7 thank God for a dad who tried desperately to be both compassionate and strict. He did not always succeed, and neither have I. At this particular time in my journey I choose not to be critical of my dad. ” and burdened, and I will giue you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Please give many, many hugs So with such apparently conflicting messages, what do I say to those who react so strongly to suggestions that maybe spanking is not the best form of discipline? Along with whatever discipline you use, please give many, many hugs. Offer words of encouragement in abundance and heap piles of praise upon your children. You don’t need
any reason to do this. And just maybe there will be fewer broken windows. I am quite convinced there won’t be any more. But who am 1 to make this observation? After all, as my married children tell me, “You have become a soft old grandpa.” Harry Koop is director of Recovery of Hope, Winnipeg, Manitoba, “a resource centre for indiuiduals, couples, and families," and director of deuelopment for Eden Health Care Services, Winkler, Man. (His brother Mel, mentioned in the article, is associate pastor of the Steinbach EMC.)
Four Special Ingredients The Editor
'P'very editor brings his or her style to a magazine;. Dave JZiSchellenberg and Menno Hamm did. I do,, and and ;so will the next editor who sits in this chair. Beyond what an editor brings, do you know four of the special, current ingredients of The Messenger? The first ingredient is the church reporters. In some congregations there is more than one; only rarely now is the reporter the pastor. They keep an eye on events, take pictures, write reports and submit captions, and wait to see their material in print. Each of these reporters is underpaid. Does the church provide paper, films and developing, and stamps? Prob ably not, though it would be proper to do so — and might result in some churches getting more reports in print. Some churches report seven times a year; others send in one or two reports. (That’s decided by the reporter, not the magazine.) Some reporters are creative; others probably feel fortu nate if they manage to get any reports in. In all cases, the readership is indebted. These voluntary correspondents in the fifty-three corners of the EMC in Canada add to the mix. The second ingredient is the missionaries who send articles and reports. They aren’t expected to be great writers. Many would probably rather rest or do some thing else than write for a magazine (writing is work!). Yet material comes in. Though sending pictures through international mail can be tricky, photos arrive also. These photos bring to us images of both the Great Commission and the common humanity of our workers. Stories by missionaries are well read within the magazine. Could we use more stories and even more photos? Yes. The third ingredient is Martha Kroeker, the assistant to the editor. She began working on The Messenger under Dave Schellenberg, served throughout a decade under Menno Hamm, and now for a new editor. PAGE 4
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Martha Kroeker looks over material related to this issue.
Martha serves more than one national EMC board. Within her time on the magazine, she edits and types ma terial, and then proofreads the printed copy and, later, material in layout. She makes subscription changes each issue. Her work is meticulous. She keeps many a slip by edi tor, reporter, missionary or columnist from being pub lished. Her twenty years of hard work was acknowledged this past July at our national convention. THE MESSENGER
"Yes, an editor plays a part. My role is made easier when the reporters, missionaries, Martha and Marvin do what they do. ’’
The fourth ingredient is Marvin Toews, at Derksen Print ers in Steinbach. Marvin has worked there for twentyfive years, and is very familiar with The Messenger. Be cause his work is the least known, it bears longer men tion. Early in my editorship, Marv was one of several people involved in production of the magazine prior to its nega tive-printing-binding stages. Now, except for mostly pic ture scanning, Marv works alone on the computer lay out. We supply files on disk; he gives us waxed pages for cut-and-paste layout. Some of this is* laid out by me in the manual style our office uses; other material is laid out on computer by him in a standard format (such as the editorial or final pages). Marvin receives the finished layout and reproduces it on computer. Since moving to computer layout, some matters are simplified. We supply text and ideas for ads, and he has creative freedom. Adjustments are made in the final proofing, if needed. Marvin does not claim to be an artist, yet he has a printer’s eye. He takes my cover ideas and cut-and-paste magazine layout, and follows it, with the freedom to adjust it where good sense demands. Did you enjoy the wise men on the camels in our Christ mas issue? Marv did that. It surprised me as much as it did you, but it looked good and so it stayed in. Whether it’s Marv’s sense of placement and size, or trying differ ent type styles, he makes his skill known. He adjusts the angle of an image (like a war plane) or even individual letters on a cover or inside material to make the format more attractive. If a page seems dull, Marv’s been known to put in a screen (a shaded spot) or other adjustments. The Mes senger is spelled the same, but the placement has been changed. Cover coloration has varied. These are exam-
Marvin Toews does the final layout on computer, often making suggestions the editor and readers have benefitted from.
pies of Marvin’s creativity. As an editor, I give him the freedom to do what he does well. Marv’s suggestions are made gently. They can be over ruled (except where the technicalities of computer lay out limit our options). When he is overruled, he has never grumbled within earshot. Though it isn’t direct/Vfessenger material, Marv does the layout for the EMC Prayer Calendar. It’s faster for him to do layout on computer than to follow a cut-and-paste lay out from our office. Yes, an editor plays a part. My role is made easier when the reporters, missionaries, Martha and Marvin do what they do. Now, if only pastors and other people would write more articles! And what about our columnists? They are a story in themselves.
National Glimpses HIGH TURNOUT
“GOD CARES” EVEN IF PIZZA RUNS OUT i
Though the food was quadrupled over a previous event, it still ran out before the students stopped coming.
APRILS. 1998
About seventy people gathered March 23 in the University of Manitoba Student Cen tre (Rooms 205-207) in Winnipeg for the EMC post-secondary students luncheon, sponsored by the Board of Church Minis tries (BCM). The EMC has about eighty students at tending the University of Manitoba. Roughly two hundred invitations were sent to students in post-secondary stud ies somewhere in Winnipeg. Manitoba churches had received posters about the event. Wally Doerksen, chair of the BCM edu
cation committee and one of the event organizers, welcomed the students. Kathy Rieder, a first-year education stu dent; Dale Wrrkentin, a pharmacy student in his final year; Heiki Schmid, a secondyear science student going into education; and Kris Plett, in his third year of man agement studies, shared their observa tions on the question “How do we know God cares?” A discussion followed each presenta tion, chaired by Ralph Unger, EMC mod erator. At one point Unger asked how many students had received a care packPAGE5
age from their home church? One student shared that she had received a supply of toothpaste — and didn’t know how the church knew of her favourite kind. People spoke of the pressures of a high work load and low finances, along with appreciation for Christian friends and stu dent groups on campus. Wally Doerksen praised the students for being “salt and light.” In discussion, some students shared their struggle in having a faith not understood by family members. There was a time of prayer. The event was held between 11 -.30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., in a relaxed come-and-go format, to fit into the schedules of stu dents. For this event, the food was dou bled over the previous event, itself douDale Warkentin is a final-year pharmacy student who shared his faith in Christ. Kathy Rieder was one of four students who shared on, “How do we know God cares?”
About seventy people gathered for the EMC post-secondary students meeting at the University of Manitoba.
bled over its predecessor. Even so, the pizza ran out before students stopped ar riving. Survey forms were filled out. Wally Doerksen indicated there is thought of holding two events per year. The Board of Church Ministries is seeking to have more contact with students within and beyond Manitoba. It is looking at ways to
do this. Most BCM members were present, along with some EMC pastors and mem bers of the Inter-Mennonite Chaplaincy Association. John Koop, Conference pas tor, and Lester Olfert, foreign secretary, were in attendance. Lester Olfert stood to say he was im pressed with the gathering. It was his first time at the gathering, but he would be back, he said. Terry M. Smith
GOD SAYS AND SHOWS HE CARES Kris Plett
WHEN MR. JOHNSON [Ed Johnson, BCM member] called me up about a month ago and asked me to give a short talk on the topic “How do 1 know God cares?” 1 accepted readily. 1 remember thinking, Boy, is this going to be easy! Then, like any good university student, 1 put it out of my mind until the day before it was due, which was yesterday. So yesterday 1 sat down and tried to think of the ways that 1 know God cares for me.
Besides drinking Pepsi, Kris Plett is in his third year of management studies at the University of Manitoba. He shared these thoughts at the post-secondary students rneeting on March 23. PAGE 6
And you know what? It wasn’t as easy as 1 had hoped. Oh, believe me, 1 thought about saying stuff like, God cares for me because he put me in a loving family, or God cares for me because he’s given me a great bunch of Christian friends, or He's given me minimal heartaches in life, or He answers all my prayers. But then 1 thought, What about all of those people who are not born into lov ing families, or do not have Christian friends, or have lost many loved ones in the past few years? If I say God cares for me because he placed me in a loving fam ily, does that mean that God doesn’t care for the person who was born into an abu sive home? If 1 believe that, then 1 am going against everything that 1 have been taught since as long as 1 can remember. 1 was always taught that God cares for and loves every body, sinners and Christians alike. So after thinking all of this, 1 was back to square one. After thinking long and hard about this and talking it over with my parents, 1 re ally came up with only two reasons which allow me to know that God cares for me. The first reason is that in the Bible God
says he cares for me, and his actions also show that he cares for me. First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxi ety on Him [meaning Godj because he cares for you.” I’m sure most of you could come up with other passages that prove to you God cares for you. This verse is especially fitting for me, because a lot of times when the school work is piling up, 1 start getting stressed out, and instead of worrying about it, 1 pray about it. And 1 know that God hears these prayers be cause he told me that he cares. The other way 1 know God cares is through his actions, and I’m going to point out the one action that probably all of you are thinking about right now: the cruci fixion. God sent his only Son to our world to die for us so that we may have eternal life. 1 believe that dying for someone else is the ultimate example of caring. God cared for us so much that he allowed his Son to be killed — and why? For you and me. If we keep our eyes on these two rea sons to know that God cares, then even if we are already going through a tough time, we can still know that God cares. Thank you. THE MESSENGER
The meetingplace of Aberdeen EMC was the site of the All-Boards meeting on March 7.
ASSESSMENT ALL-BOARDS MEETING HELD ON MARCH 7 On Saturday, March 7, the national boards of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference met at the Aberdeen EMC in Winnipeg to reflect on what has hap pened in the past year and where they seek to go in the future.
Marvln Frey, MCC Canada director, gave the morning message. In part, he made observations about the September 1996 conference assessment committee report.
Ralph Unger, EMC moderator, wel comed board members. Board chairmen were asked to lead in prayer from a verse of a hymn based on Psalm 23. Marvin Frey, executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Canada, had the opening presentation. He spoke on Paper does not a kingdom bring, but it can help. From Acts 2 he spoke of how people then and now can be cut to the heart and have “aha!” moments. In looking at the assessment commit tee report produced in September 1996, Frey noted high readership of The Mes senger, suggested the national convention focus on more worship and less business, and said all Mennonite organizations struggle to effectively involve youth. On central conference leadership, he says the report gives conflicting options: two-thirds want strong leadership, and one-third says, “Don’t you dare!” He said this was the “toughest one” in the assess ment report. He suggested the Conference cut post age, include the Pastorally Speaking col-
Board members travelled by foot to the Inner City Youth Alive site. The doors were locked, so the planned tour did not occur.
APRILS. 1998
The five national boards of the EMC met in joint and separate sessions, to assess what the boards have accomplished during the past year and what goals lie ahead. The next All-Boards meeting was tentatively set to be held within two years.
umn in each issue of The Messenger, and spend twice as much on phone bills and travel. He said we should cut the “time wasters,” mentioning paper and weak time management. He noted a double message in the as sessment report: churches want the na tional body to provide more services, without spending more money. He said that congregations tend to be like teen agers. They say “leave us alone,” but when they need us, they want us to be experts, he said. A matter which did not show up in the report was the role of Bible colleges, he said. Another is that diversity is only hinted at in such areas as women in leadership and culture. Frey mentioned some questions that came from a Christian Reformed leader in the Philippines: Are we called? Is the kingdom still our goal? Do we ualue and appreciate each other? Are we successful and also faithful? Are we market driven, or are we Spirit driven? Are we willing to change? Are we still burning or are we
Since 1993 the EMC has been moving through a national assessment process. This meeting was a step further in this.
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burned out?
The national boards of the EMC — the General Board, the Board of Ministers and Deacons, the Board of Missions, the Board of Church Ministries, and the Board of Trustees — met in separate sessions. They were to look at what was accomplished in the past year and adjust their goals for the coming year. Some of this was then shared in a general session. The Board of Missions is moving toward hiring a part-time youth minister. Various short-term mission initiatives have been implemented. The Board is planning to work with local churches in missions, with regions in church planting, with SBC in church planting, and associate mission agencies. A matter of concern is to pro vide a “more relational style” of leader ship and pastoral care to missionaries. The Board of Church Ministries is work ing on a Sunday school curricula review format, anticipating a half-time staff mem ber to focus on youth, has seen the EMC
go on the Internet with the help of SBC, and has had a poor response to the mu sic materials search to date. The Board of Trustees wishes to strengthen the area of stewardship, to help motivate churches in giving. It wants to implement a new accounting system for the Conference Office. It wants to work in the area of youth stewardship, perhaps in a presentation at Abundant Springs. The Board of Ministers and Deacons wants to strengthen its ministerial exami nation process. New guidelines have been given to the examination commit tee. Pastors are being encouraged to “cover” for the Conference Pastor on re gional issues. The minister’s manual is being revised. The General Board discussed the Con ference mission statement. It looked at how Conference loyalty can be enhanced and how younger people can involved as delegates. Conference orientation is im-
portant to youth and senior pastors enter ing our conference. The board suggests a “regional corner” be included in The Mes senger.
people. A project that was to take a few weeks ended up taking a few months. As the eleven-year conflict in northern Uganda drags on, people live in fear that their houses will be burned and their loved ones killed. Rev. Nicholas requests: “Pray that the hearts of the leaders will be changed so that they will look for so lutions that will help the grassroots peo
These schools have few facilities — sometimes classes are held outdoors un der the trees. MCC needs seven more sponsors for Zimbabwe students. For in formation, in the United States, phone Kate Myers at 717-859-1151; in Canada, phone Evelyn Peters-Rojas at 204-2616381.
ple.”
Teaching in Sudan Electricity outages, student riots and no advanced notice of schedule changes are all in a day’s work for teachers in Sudan, as MCCer Rick Binder has discovered. Since 1996 he has taught English at Omdurman Ahlia University, a 20,000-student university in greater Khartoum. His contact with students — about 1200 in all — has provided opportunities for friendship and breaking stereotypes. Many students and teachers are devout Muslims who greet each other with “Praise be to God.” They are often sur prised to find that Rick, a Christian, is also interested in spiritual matters. “The world reacts to Sudan’s govern ment, but the people feel forgotten,” says Bev Binder, MCC co-country representa tive in Sudan. Few foreigners remain in Sudan. The country’s long-running civil war continues to drain resources; some 90 percent of Sudanese live below a U.N.defined poverty level. Universities are requesting that MCC send teachers of English, psychology, physiology, physics and conflict resolution.
Since 1993 the EMC has been going through a national assessment. A prelimi nary report was issued in September 1996. The decision was made at the Ab erdeen meeting to hold another meeting in two years. A final written report is planned. Some of the material might be published in briefer form in this magazine. Beyond the meetings, lunch was pro vided by the Aberdeen congregation. Af ter lunch board members walked down to Inner City Youth Alive, a few blocks from the church. Through some error, the doors were locked and the planned tour did not happen. Terry Smith and Ernest Reimer
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Young Adults Sought Concerns about a declining number of long-term volunteers — and about a need for greater involvement of young adults, both in the field and at the board table — surfaced at the MCC annual meeting February 20-21. “If MCC wants to continue carrying out its mandate in future years, it must do more active solicitation of young peo ple,” said Steven Sider, 30, the youngest MCC board member.
Dwight McFadden, MCC director of per sonnel, cited a trend of young people en tering a large number of short-term pro grams offered by MCC rather than going for the three-year commitments. Ron Matthies, MCC executive director, said, “We need to continue to push our selves to make sure young adults are in volved in our programs, that enough op portunities are afforded them and that their imagination and vision is stirred for the future.”
Relief in Uganda Things did not work out as planned when MCC gave the Church of Uganda $14,300 to buy food for victims of vio lence in northern Uganda. Almost im mediately rebel activity increased, with fresh looting, abductions of children and killing. Near ambushes and uncooperative lo cal officials hampered the relief effort, but Rev. Nicholas of the Church of Uganda and his team persevered, getting food to some 11,000 desperately hungry PAGES
Maize to Zimbabwe Food is running out in Zimbabwe’s drought-stricken Binga district, and many people “simply have nothing to eat,” re port Fremont and Sara Regier, MCC Zim babwe country representatives. Zimbabwe’s Brethren in Christ (BIC) church, with $14,700 from MCC, is pro viding more than 3300 people with enough maize to last until the next har vest. The rain came late to this area north west of Bulawayo, delaying planting. As well, many families now have more mouths to feed as AIDS-orphaned chil dren are sent (from cities) back to rela tives in poor rural areas, according to BIC Pastor Mabhena.
Sponsors needed for Zimbabwe MCC also helps students in the Binga, Zimbabwe, area receive an education, through its global family program. MCC has arranged for North American spon sors to help pay for students’ tuition, books, and uniforms at three secondary schools.
THE MESSENGER
With our missionaries .
Henry Klassen Executive Secretary
ARE THERE STILL TRIBAL RELIGIONISTS? INTERNATIONAL Bulletin of Missionary Research, a quarterly missions publica tion, annually publishes a statistical ta ble on Glob^ Missions. The Bulletin is published by Overseas Ministries Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut. Jon Bonk, formerly chairman of the EMC Board of Missions, is the associate editor of this publication while serving as assistant director of the Study Center. David Barrett, a research professor, pro duced these tables originally in 1984 and
PERU
Best Seat in the Housel Nancy Black began work in 1969 among the North Junin Quechua speakers in the central Andes Mountains of Peru. Twenty eight years later, after seeing the New Tes tament manuscript sent to Dallas and then on to Korea for printing, the Lord took her home. Only a few months earlier she had at tended a church convention in a small Quechua town at around 15,000-feet alti tude, enthusiastically interacting with the Quechua people. A month later she be gan to experience heart problems. Triple by-pass surgery in the USA followed and, while recovering, the Lord took her home on January 31, 1997. For colleagues and Quechua friends, it was a shock. Why would the Lord take her so close to the celebration event, when the completed New Testament was soon to be presented to the North Junin Quechuas? Much earlier in her career, Nancy had been successfully treated for Hodgkins disease. Why take her now, Lord? Nancy’s literacy partners since 1988, Ron and Debbie Fuqua, said in October, while planning for the dedication, “We all miss Nancy a lot and wish she could be here to share in the celebration. But as a number of people have said, she’ll have the best seat in the house, right next to the Lord.” More than five hundred Quechua speak ers from all over the dialect area attended the dedication of the New Testament on January 20, in Tarma, the district capital. Heavy rains the previous week, resulting APRILS. 1998
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annually updates them. One of the most startling statistics in 1998 is that in 1990 there were 100 mil lion tribal religionists identified. These tribal religions include animists, polythe ists, shamanists and others. They are at times grouped with unreached peoples or language groups. In the current census the global total of tribal religionists is 240 million located among 5,600 distinct ethnic peoples. This indicates that the number of tribal religionists has increased 240% since 1900. Barrett refers to this as a highly signifi cant opportunity for global Christianity and its world mission. He states, “This means that in this huge new bloc of tribal religionists, Christ’s world mission now has one of its great est opportunities. Mission agencies that launch into this new arena and invest personnel and energy sharing the ' Good
News’ with any of the 5,600 peoples in volved will find an open door. But let us be warned: this new door may itself re main open for only the next five or ten years.” EMC is involved in reaching some of these tribal religionists in our partnership with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM) in Burkina Faso and Senegal in West Africa. Some of the EMC associ ate missionaries with missions like Fron tiers, New Tribes Mission and Wycliffe Bible Translators are focusing on reach ing tribal people. AIMM is looking for missionaries to go to tribal religionists in West Africa. There is a great opportunity to invest person nel and financial resources in sharing the ‘Good News’ with these tribal groups. How do you and 1 respond to this op portunity?
in precarious roads, did not stop the peo ple from coming. The celebration began at 9 a.m. with a parade including banners in Quechua an nouncing the event, two bands, and many participants marching from a small park on the edge of town to the main central plaza. An official flag-raising ceremony was led there by the mayor of Tarma, accompa nied by members of the city council. The national anthem was sung in Quechua. The mayor spoke, ending with these re marks: “We esteem this book not just for how the words fit together and sound good but because they bring salvation to those who read them.” The parade continued on to a school auditorium, where the main celebration took place. For five hours (11:00 to 1:00, then 2:30 to 5:30) the people enjoyed sev eral conjuntos (bands/music groups) from different Quechua churches, a number of speakers. Scripture reading in Quechua, presentation of certificates and gifts, and special recognition and honour. The special recognition and honour went to the four translation committee members: Maura Yachachin, who had worked with Nancy for twenty-five years; her brothers, Yulve and David; and Hec tor Huaman. In addition, sixteen others were honoured for their participation in the translation process. Nancy Black’s two sisters, who attended the event in gratitude to God for their sis ter and this milestone event in which she had played a part, were recognized pub licly several times and warmly greeted by everyone they met.
Does Talk About Praying For Missionaries Make You Feel Guilty? Experiences differ, but it can be tough for people to find time to pray. Does it make a difference if you have young children underfoot? An empty nest? Or I are retired? This is an invitation, not a burden. The EMC Prayer Corps is a prayer and an information network. Missionaries send information which is shared with people who sign up for various fields: Canada, Mexico, Africa, Paraguay, Nicaragua, and Associate Missions. Some people pray much. Some pray. Others benefit from the information. While respecting the sensitive nature of some requests, use this material to encourage our.workers in Canada and elsewhere. To begin to use the material as you see fit and time allows, let the Confer ence Office know which fields you are interested in.
As the first unopened box of New Testa ments was presented for prayer, a number of people gathered around it and placed their hands on it. The priest from Tarma and a representative from the Peruvian Bible Society opened the box and then held a New Testament high up for the crowd to see, presenting the books to God and to the people. The crowd cheered; it was a highlight moment! At 1 p.m. the program broke for a celebration feast — PAGE 9
a pachamanca (earthen barbecue) of fif teen sheep, sacks and sacks of potatoes, habas (big boiled beans), and humilas (sweet tamales). Everyone sat in groups in a big grass field like the multitude that Jesus fed. Celebrate! Because of the generosity of the Bible League in publishing the New Testament the books could be offered at a reason able price to the Quechua people. Eightyone New Testaments were sold or given as gifts that day. The rest are now being made available to the 60,000 North Junin
Quechuas who live in villages and towns up and down the mountains and valleys of this central Andean dialect area. Praise God with us, and pray for God’s Spirit to carry His word in Quechua into the hearts and lives of these hard-work ing, industrious people. Ron and Debbie Fuqua are working with Quechua church leaders in promoting the sale and use of the Scriptures. Ruth Cowan
Submitted by Verna Doerksen
Verna Doerksen (Blumenort) is serving in Peru with Wycliffe Bible Translators.
SPAIN READY TO BLOOM Over the past months the truth of God’s word in John 15:2 has become more meaningful and real to me. Even as na ture has its season of flourishing and of wintertime, so the Lord has seasons for those who seek to serve Him. “He re moves any of my branches which are not bearing fruit and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit to increase its yield" (Phillips, emphasis mine). As 1 pruned the rose bushes this past fall, in preparation for winter, and 1 cut off the foliage, including some branches that still had buds on them, this thought struck me: What if the rose bush could talk? Would it perhaps protest: “Why do you come with the pruning shears already? Can’t you see 1 still have a few more buds? Isn’t it a pity to waste the opportunity of a few more roses before the stark winter months of nothing?” Then 1 thought of myself before the Mas ter Pruner. 1 had been so busy serving Him, with so many opportunities, when suddenly the ministry came to a halt! The building project was suspended; one co worker was on furlough; another co worker had to go home because of death in the family; and then the third and only co-worker was suddenly hospitalized, in critical condition.
Evelyn Plett (Prairie Rose) di rects the Bethel Bible Centre in Spain. PAGE 10
Pili, one of the women in my Bible class, was baptized last summer.
How could I alone host retreats, send out orders and teach? Maybe somehow 1 could manage to teach a few more Bible classes before Christmas... Then the rose bushes came to mind! A few more roses? No, the Lord seemed to say, “Leave off trying to bloom. After a winter halt, you will be ready to bloom.” Psalm 71:20 is the verse He gave me: Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shait quicken me again, and shait bring me up again from the depths of the earth. It was amazing to see how he control led those months! Very few orders for teaching materials came in, and nobody called to book retreats. With Christmas so near, the ladies did not mind cancel ling Bible classes, and 1 got some help for the work that needed to be done on the property. Now that Marjorie is back from furlough, Isabelle is back from attending to family affairs after the death of her father, and Elisabeth is back to good health, the Lord is also bringing back ministry opportuni ties. We are getting booking after book ing for retreats, the attendance at the la dies’ Bible class is up, and we are once again working on getting new materials
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out. So when it is God who calls a halt, his work does not suffer. Thinking about that same principle in connection with the long halt on the build ing project helps me to keep on waiting and trusting in God’s timing and control, especially when the situation keeps get ting more complicated, and it seems that answers are not forthcoming — yet. Town Hall seems to be confused about whether our building has to be in line with the new Complementary Plan or the Gen eral Urbanization Plan (GUP). (It was planned and built according to the GUP) If they now decide that our building has to be in line with the Complementary Plan, major and very costly changes would have to be made. Pray that Town Hall will find a way to legalize our building project according to the GUP so as to avoid costly major changes, which would result in a great setback in different ways for us Surely the Lord has some reason for this, quite unknown to us at this time. Please do not lose heart, but continue to pray with us and for us. In God’s time we will understand, and then we will rejoice all the more! Evelyn Plett THE MESSENGER
With our churches RETREAT MEMORIES Winnipeg, Man. (Fort Garry): Once upon a time a wonderful bunch of youth, ages 12-16, and their equally wonderful leaders decided to make a voyage. This trip would not take them too far away from their homes, but it would be an ad venturous and exciting trip all the same. So the twenty-five members of F.E.E.T (Fighting Every Evil Thing) group of our church piled into the vans and cars and drove the half hour to a quaint little place known as Camp Assiniboia, making it by nightfall. They still found the energy to have a lively time of worship, as well as a spec tacle put on by some of the talented guys of the group. They soon discovered that smoke and juggling make for a strange combination, but very interesting, none theless. After a movie and snack, they were ready to fall into a sleep full of dreams of the exciting day ahead. And exciting it was — unity-building games (including the tireless Red Rover), cross-country skiing, horseback riding, tubing, “slooshing,” and the ropes course! On this course they walked across valleys on a rope, swung across ravines, and zipped down from trees — of course all the time wearing their safety harnesses. There was also an action-filled girlsagainst-guys broomball game. The girls defeated the boys, with the help of their honourary member, Mario Reimer. Heroes having fun need their nourish ment as well, and there was plenty of food to keep them going throughout the whole day. To keep them nourished spiritually, they had the chance to encourage one another by writing notes to each other on care cards, telling their friends just how
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wonderful they are. There was also time for testimonies and uplifting praying and singing. The beautiful weather and scenic set ting helped to remind the group just how wonderful God’s creation is. While they were feeling a bit glum when it came time to pack up and leave, they had enough memories packed up inside of them to last forever; memories of see ing Jesus Christ working through each other, memories of the worship and fun, and especially memories of toothpaste on doorknobs. Just ask any member of the F.E.E.T group and they’ll be able to tell you this retreat (twenty-four hours) was one that will last a lifetime! So they drove the half hour back home, and lived happily ever after! Candida Doerksen Reporter: Glen Klassen Group games at the Fort Garry EMC youth retreat were challenging!
'<1 God was worshipped In song by youth at the retreat held at Camp Assiniboia.
Parent/child dedication on February 8: Jonathan and Dolores Wiebe with Nickolas, Henry and Sharon Soulatzkoff with Shawn Jackson, Lowell and Carolyn Kornelsen with Tanner, Barry and Ruthanne Dyck with Toban, Randy and Sarah Bartel with Hannah, Stuart and Nancy MacTavish with Sierra.
APRILS, 1998
Clifford Reimer (left) was commissioned on February 15 to be part of our ministerial. Cliff and Diana have been with us for the last two years after retiring from missionary service with the Gospel Missionary Union. We are grateful for their willingness to serve. With them In the photo are Pastor Dave and Merna Thiessen.
Region 1 is holding a leadership retreat May 15-16 at Peace River Bible Institute, Sexsmith, Alberta. Resource people are Stan Plett and John Koop. The prayer and purpose for the retreat includes: “to be renewed in our spirits and our commit ment to our Lord Jesus...and to form new friendships and strengthen existing rela tionships for the glory of God.” For more information, contact Dave Wiebe (250567-9198) or Peter Doerksen (403-5322660). PAGE 11
SERVING IN THE NAME OF CHRIST Rosenort, Man. (Rosenort Fellowship): Although there are still families in our area unable to live in their homes since the flood’s destruction, there are those whose houses have been completed. The ones in which MDS has been a ma jor part of reconstruction are encouraged to celebrate and dedicate their homes, thus bringing closure to the months of hardships, and bringing praise to God for his faithfulness in providing both the funds and the volunteers. On March 5 such a celebration took place in the home of Peter and Susie Giesbrecht. Both expressed gratitude to all involved in,getting things back to nor mal.
order for someone to be blessed with giv ing, someone else often needs to suffer. Pastor John Klassen added that tragedy and disaster are never pleasant but at times are used to draw us closer to God. He also led in a prayer, dedicating the home and the Giesbrecht family to God. Gord Friesen, who did much of the “hands on” part of the project, spoke of the challenges and blessings of working in these situations. Paul Friesen, another volunteer for MDS, presented the Giesbrechts with a Bible and a key to their restored home. To date, 13,000 volunteer days have been recorded (75 per cent by people liv ing outside Manitoba), with 840 homes worked on. A great big bouquet to all those involved; some gave their “holiday” time, and others sacrificed financially. Frank and Marianne Friesen, Elmer and Anne Brandt, and Harry and Norma Koop are back from a rewarding several weeks on their annual mission to Sebring, Florida. Art and Rose Cornelsen plan to return home in April. The couples help wherever needed at the retirement home 2“
One of many families affected by the Red River flood, Peter and Susie Giesbrecht with children Marvin, Nettie, and Kenny, expressed gratitude to everyone who helped their lives get back to normal.
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for SIM missionaries, from redoing a roof to washing windows. Other opportuni ties to minister are spending quality time with the people who live there. The women and girls at our Pal/Gal Tea were treated to Michelle Sawatzky Koop’s singing and telling her story about the part that volleyball and God play in her life. Her challenge to all of us was to “always do the best that you can.” On March 1 we held another successful winter picnic. Our Christian Education Committee does a great job of encourag ing family fun. The skating and broomball at the Rosenort Arena started off the af ternoon. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt. We realized that some of us are younger at heart than we are physically. We were served a hearty barbecue at the church and challenged by Puppets With a Promise. What a ministry this is! Judy Schellenberg
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Syd Reimer, coordinator for MDS, said that the responsibility of the distribution of funds and volunteers entrusted to them was taken seriously, since their mandate is to do all “in the name of Christ.” He also stated that it is unfortunate that in
-<L*I**P Tony Driedger Stewardship Consultant
CHOICES IN STEWARDSHIP MANY TIMES in our life we are faced with the question of stewardship. The question comes in many different forms: How much should 1 give? Should 1 give from my gross pay or from my net pay? Should we give from our first fruits or from our leftovers? For business peo ple and farmers particularly, this is an important question. If only 1 earned a little more, then I’d be able to tithe; so what do you expect me to do right now? These questions are not only relevant PAGE 12
Michelle Sawatzky Koop spoke and sang at the Pal/Gal Tea.
when it comes to our wealth but also when it comes to our time and talents. At the end of the day there is no time left to be given for the Lord’s work. All our time has been allocated; nor can we go back and reclaim some of the time we have spent in some other way. We have used all our time. Seldom is there any extra money, money that we hoped would be there at the end. All our money and wealth is allocated; it goes somewhere. What then is the solution to the diffi culty that some of us face in this area of stewardship? Is it not the choices we make that put us into this difficulty? We need to diligently plan our allocation of our funds, talents and time. As some one has said, there is no “free lunch.” It takes effort and determination and com mitment. Why do we want to give anyway? Isn’t
On March 1 the Rosenort Fellowship (EMC) held a successful winter picnic. All ages enjoyed time on the ice.
our giving an expression of our love for God, for what He has done for us? God didn’t have to send His Son. He chose to because He loved us. Can we express our love for Him by doing anything less? May God continue to bless you as you give of yourself, your wealth, your tal ents, and your time. In Malachi 3 the Lord says, “Test me and see if I’ll not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing.” Tony Driedger, Stewardship Consultant with the EMC Board of Trustees, is avail able to discuss stewardship concerns, assist in planning a church stewardship program, and help individuals or cou ples with financial concerns, charitable gifting, estate planning and will writing. Call Tony (204-661-6367) or leave a mes sage at the Conference Office (204-3266401). THE MESSENGER
The Wider Church MB ORDINATION IN LITHUANIA Brad Thiessen The Lithuanian Free Christian Church celebrated its First pastoral ordination since the end of the Communist Regime in Lithuania. On November 30, 1997, Valdas Vaitkevicus, pastor of the Siauliai Free Christian Church, was ordained as a pas tor by Mennonite Brethren Missions and Services International (MBMS) missionciry Bob Kroeker. One week later, the newly ordained pastor performed his first mar riage ceremony. MBMS International partners with Lithuanian Christian Fund-related churches and the Lithuanian Christian College through teaching, church disci-
pieship and evangelism. Bob and Wanda Kroeker are team leaders for MBMS Inter national missionaries in Lithuania, Russia and Central Asia. “I preach often in these churches and offer guidance in their church life,” says Kroeker, “because they are young in the faith and in the leadership of their churches.” At the ordination service, Vbldas and his wife, Jurate, shared a testimony of grow ing up under a communist regime. Be cause of his faithfulness to the Commu nist Youth Party, Valdas was advanced as a leader of the Party. He became a Christian in 1987 and joined the Siauliai church in 1988, while it was still an underground church under
THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT MORE THAN “THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS” Rich Preheim
on their work. He asked: How does Mennonite insur ance differ from secular insurance? Is the church uncritically accepting secular norms for retirement financial planning? Has the church looked too much to Mennonite aid organizations for ways of economic sharing? In a conference workshop, Steven Brown shared how his congregation. Calvary Community Church in Hampton, Va., responds to the needs in their locale. Calvary, a member of the Virginia Con ference, serves a predominantly AfricanAmerican community filled with teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, unemployment, welfare dependence and other social ills. “This is our mission field,” said Brown, a member of Calvary’s pastoral team. Among the congregation’s efforts are a GED program, child daycare, parenting and lifeskills classes, mentoring pro grams, a school, a food pantry and radio and TV ministries. Sermon topics have included paying bills on time, setting goals and how to apply for a job. “We have not been called to give hand outs, but we give a hand,” Brown said. “Our brother should not keep depend ing on us to always give. “Calvary’s min istries have not only changed lives, they have changed the congregation. In 1990, Calvary had fifty members. Now, Brown said, membership is about 1,100. Spurred on by the conference’s pres entations, outgoing AMAS board mem ber E. Fred Goering of Moundridge, Kan., suggested that at each annual con ference, AMAS make a financial contri bution to a local charity. The idea will be discussed by the executive commit tee.
In a community filled with crime, un employment and broken families, the church is called to model Christ’s com passion and discipleship. In a world filled with poverty, environmental degradation and lost souls, the church is called to model Christ’s Good News. And there is much more to do, requir ing changes in belief and action, Ron Sider, author of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, told representatives from more than twenty U.S. and Canadian Mennonite mutual aid organizations. “If the gospel was just the forgiveness of sins, we could just go on and not do anything different,” said Sider, the fea tured speaker at the Association of Mennonite Aid Societies (AMAS) annual conference March 11-13. Some 140 people at the conference heard Sider, founder of Evangelicals for Social Action and an ordained Mennonite minister, highlight the discrepancies be tween the haves and have-nots, the roots of the problem and the responsibilities of the church. “One part of what it means to be the church means to be sharing economi cally,” he said. Explaining that God has a special con cern for the poor, Sider said Christians need to respond with both social action and an invitation to salvation. “It’s when all of that comes together that we can really change people,” he said. Unfortunately, Sider noted, evangelism usually neglects social concerns, and so cial programs — even those that are Christian — minimize or ignore the sal vation message. In his final presentation, Sider pushed the Mennonite mutual aid organizations APRILS, 1998
Rich Preheim is associate editor of “The Mennonite."
the pastorate of Lithuanian Christian Fund’s executive director, Otonas Balciunas. After the fall of Soviet com munism, Valdus attended a Bible school in Hungary for a short while and was mentored by Otonas to take over as pas tor in the summer of 1997. “We encourage you to pray for this pas toral couple, that God would make them effective in His service,” says Kroeker. “As well, please pray for wisdom in leading our MBMS International team members and as we encourage and counsel the Lithuanian Free Christian Church congre gations.”
Brad Thiessen is the Secretary for Media and Communications, MBMS. MDS IN RED RIVER VALLEY As MDS reviewed events of 1997 during its all-unit meeting February 12 and 13, the focus was on the Red River. The Red River floods, the largest disaster recovery operation in history, covered 1000 square miles of Manitoba, requiring 25 million sandbags, damaging 3200 houses and causing 28,000 people to be evacuated. MDS plans to rebuild twelve to fifteen more flood-damaged houses this year.
6BC 1998 Graduation Weekend Activitie<s Spring Concert Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. SBC Chapel Chorale Free Servant New Creation
Alumni Brunch Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m. Chortitzer Mennonite Church Steinbach All alumni & ‘98 grads are invited Call SBC to reserve your tickets Graduation Ceremony Sunday, April 26, 3:00 p.m. Steinbach EMC Speaker: Willie Martens Pastor, Gospel Mennonite Church
Steinbach Bible College Phone: 204-326-6451 Fax: 204-326-6908 PAGE 13
V I?*** Betty Koop La Crete, Alberta
MARGARETA The living room of Kornor’s home was a delightful mixture of African and West ern decor. A coal fire burned brightly but did not have much effect on the chilly air that March day. It appeared that autumn was coming early. As I glanced out of the large windows I saw that the eucalyptus trees were shedding their bark and the grass was brown after a hot summer. Kornor was Liberian and, with her UN doctor husband, had settled in Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho. She was very regular in her attendance at Ladies’ Bi ble Study. This month it was her turn to be hostess. We enjoyed the hot tea and unique refreshments that she had arranged on the table. Ernestine, from Sierra Leone, was preparing to begin the study. I no ticed the ladies’ faces were rather som bre as we all took note that our Swed ish friend, Margareta, had not come. Sitting in a rough circle were June from Scotland, Gil from Zimbabwe, Judy from Uganda, Marge from Canada, Peggy from Fiji, Jennifer from England, Abonish from Ethiopia, Emma from Ghana, be sides our hostess, her mother and 1. Uppermost in our minds was the cruel
event that had happened in Margareta’s life less than a week ago. Margareta was a kindhearted, caring person who had made a special effort to help MarieLouise, a young Swedish woman who had had a baby a few months ago. Margareta and Marie-Louise had gone shopping for locally made sandals at a strip mall on the outskirts of Maseru. Their shopping completed, MarieLouise put her three-year-old daughter in the back seat of the car, and Margareta put the keys in the ignition. A sound at her window made her look up, straight into a gun held by a man who gestured for her to get out. Another man, bran dishing a knife, was at Marie-Louise’s window. Our embassies had warned us of a vi cious car-theft ring that operated, seem ingly without fear and with no compunctions about killing any driver that did not co-operate. As instructed in the memo, both women got out of the car to run, hoping the men would be satisfied just to steal the car. Marie-Louise turned back to take her child out of the back seat. The man with the knife did not understand why she turned back, may have felt threatened, and stabbed her in the chest as she clutched her child. Her life blood spurted from the wounded heart, cov ering the little girl. Marie-Louise stag gered a few steps, then collapsed. The men jumped in the car and sped away. Marie-Louise lay in the hot sun and died on that black pavement as panic and chaos ruled. Margareta rescued the little girl and tried to comfort her.
GOLF CLASSIC JUNE 25
48th EMC Annual Convention duly 3-5, 1998 Morris, Manitoba Speaker: Dr. Jon Bonk Theme: Share Where? •EMC’s Uttermost Parts •EMC’s Samaria •EMC’s Judea •EMC’s Jerusalem
See You There! Where? At Morris! PAGE 14
The 4th Annual EMC Golf Classic is be ing held June 25, 1998, at the Steinbach Fly-in Golf Course, “rain or shine,” accord ing to a brochure received from Ron Penner, one of the event’s organizers. The brochure goes on to say, “This tour nament is open to men and women, young and old, experts and duffers. This is one of the few remaining non-Fox-sponsored events in North America. “Come and enjoy an afternoon of food and fellowship as we chase golf balls to and fro and get acquainted with each other and the happenings of our confer ence.” There is a limit of 144 golfers for the tournament and priority will be given to those who enter early. The fee is $85.00, which “includes din ner” and is “fully receiptable.” The two listed fund-raising projects are for Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) and the Rwanda Widows Project.
That was Friday. Today was Thursday and we were not surprised that Margareta had not come. She must be terrified to leave her home, in shock over the senseless death, grieving for the young husband and motherless little ones whom the Swedish government had whisked back to Sweden and safety. We heard the door. There stood Margareta, pale, but her usual serene self. Words seem so inadequate at such a time, but we tried to show and express our love and grief. We were her family! Our study completed, we turned to prayer. Tears flowed as we prayed for the bereaved family, and also as we asked for courage to continue our work in spite of dangers around us. Then, following a moment of silence, I heard Margareta’s voice. In spite of her inner torment and grief, she was praying. My heart was filled with awe and amazement as I heard her pray for the men who were the reason for her torment: “Lord, their hearts are filled with hate...They too need to feel Your love and forgiveness as we have experi enced it.” Tears finally choked off her voice, and all was quiet. It seemed as if Jesus was in that room, saying, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,” and Margareta was simply following her be loved Master’s teaching. Would my faith come anywhere near to passing such a horrendous test? Thank God for women who live their faith, quietly, without pretence, day by day, so that when trials come they can rest (and wrestle) in the security of His loving presence. COMING EVENTS April 18 Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary Schools Annual Spring Banquet Bethel Mennonite Church Winnipeg, Manitoba Phone: 204-885-1032
April 18 Annual Preaching Seminar with Dr. Haddon Robinson Union Gospel Mission Winnipeg, Manitoba Phone: 204-943-9904 April 24-25 Promise Keepers Canada Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Phone: 905-331-1830 May 7-9 Generation Next Canadian Youth Leader Institute McMaster Divinity College Hamilton, Ontario Phone: 905-525-9140 ext. 24401
May 15-16 Region One Leadership Retreat Peace River Bible Institute Campus Sexsmith, Alberta Phone: 403-532-2660
THE MESSENGER
Shoulder Tapping Eagle Lake Bible Camp is looking to hire a ma ture, certified lifeguard for the 1998 summer Bible camp season. Camp dates are July 1 to August 15. Please contact Cornellie Plett at 204326-1644 or mail to Eagle Lake Bible Camp, c/o Box 114, Blumenort, MB ROA OCO. Portage Evangelical Church is looking for an associate pastor to provide leadership, particulary in the areas of youth ministry and worship. Interested applicants may call Brian Rushton (chcdrman) at 204-239-6763 (work) or 204-239-0795 (home) or send resume to 631 Queen Ave., Portage la Prairie, MB RIN 0W7.
Abbeydale Christian Fellowship in Calgary, Al berta, is looking for an associate pastor. Inter ested people are invited to submit an applica tion and resume to; Abbeydale Christian Fellow ship Search Committee, 20 Whiteridge Place NE, Calgary, Alta. TIY 2Y6
Stony Brook Fellowship, a young, newly estab lished EMC church, is seeking a pastor for a half-time position starting in summer 1998. Av erage attendance is 30-40. Interested people should submit their application and resume by April 15 to: Stony Brook Fellowship, Box 4088, Steinbach, MB ROA 2A0. For more information contact Vic Friesen at 204-326-9227 or Brian Penner at 204-377-4551. still searching! The congregation of the North-
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John Koop Conference Pastor PRIORITIES IN CONFLICT SOMEONE HAS CALLED the pastor the “pester.” Sometimes there are other de scriptive words used for church leaders that are more appropriate and compli mentary. Whatever way we are ad dressed, it may give us hints as to how we are perceived, how we function and how we think we should be seen. Are we like a parent who, with genu ine concern, seeks to “bring up” his chil dren as mature adults? Or is the pastor
Births
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SEALE - to Dale and Angela Seale of Hudson Bay, Sask., a daughter, Jemma Rae, on Februeiry 8, 1998. BARKMAN - to Wes and Bonnie Barkman, a daughter, Katrina Laura, on January 21, 1998. DUECK - to Richard and Connie Dueck, a son, Jonah Richard, on November 11,1997. APRILS, 1998
ern Fellowship Chapel (EMC) is looking for a pastor. Half-time salary and modern housing provided. A trade is useful for other work. Con tact: Search Committee, Northern Fellowship Chapel (EMC), Box 35, Creighton, SK SOP OAO. Or call board member Deb Odegaard at 306688-2996 or Conference Pastor John Koop at 204-326-6401.
home in El Paso, Texas, for a one-year term; teachers for the Camp 67 school (K-9). Knowl edge of German is helpful, but teaching could be done In English and Low German. For more information contact Lester Olfert at the Con ference office.
Inner City Youth Alive is hiring on a two-year grant the following positions; work/Ilfe skills program development coordinator who will do research and write curricula for youth at risk (part-time); part-time administrative asslstant/clerlcal (32 hours per week); work shop assistant (3-month term) to assist in workshop. Phone 204-582-8779 or send resume to 418 Aberdeen Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R2W 1V7.
The Board of Church Ministries and the Board of Missions are inviting applications for a new position of executive secretary. The applicant will be a member of the EMC. For the Board of Church Ministries the work will include assisting with Abundant Springs, serving as a resource for youth lead ers, visiting post-secondary students, and serving as a resource in the area of Christicin Education for the churches. For the Board of Missions the work will in volve recruitment generally, but especially among youth; missions promotion in the Conference churches; direction of Project Macedonia; and Bible college visitation. For a more detailed job description, scilary package, etc., contact the Conference office. Box 1268, Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0, I telephone 204-326-6401, FAX 204-326-1613. 1 Submit written application and resume to the above address. Attention: Board of Church Ministries cheiirman or Board of Mis sions chairman.
Inner City Youth Alive is looking for remote wUderness camp hosts to assist at their facility at Gem Lake this summer. The successful ap plicants will enjoy living in a simple island cot tage, host groups and maintain the facilities. Phone Travis Unger at 204-582-8779. EMC ministry opportunities in Mexico! youth worker: a person or couple Is needed to min ister to youth in the Spanish churches. The worker will disciple youth and train them for ministry in their churches; guest home host: a person/couple (could be retired) to run a guest
the teacher, who is responsible for all the education in the church? Is the pastor the fix-it manl When there is a problem or a complaint, is it the pastor’s respon sibility to repair it, solve it and/or remove the irritant? It is these expectations, voiced or be lieved, that are often the source of con flict in the congregation. The complaint usually has a name connected to it — it may be an associate pastor, the head of a department (Sunday school, club min istry) — and the criticism is focussed on an individual who is seen to be responsi ble. The pastor is the one who is perceived to be responsible for all the leaders of the church, and so it is his job to fix the prob lems. Taking all that responsibility, he fo cuses on the problem of another indi vidual. This creates at least three un happy people — the complainant, the
pastor and leader/director of the source of the problem. The people have been identified, but the real issue may not have been addressed. Several questions could be asked: Is the complaint factual? Is the complaint a mistake, a misunderstanding, some thing unforeseen? Is it a serious or frivo lous matter or somewhere in between? What different solutions could be applied to the issue? Finally, can all relationships be restored to mutual confidence by deal ing with the process openly, yet keeping the details confidential? Relationships strengthened and in creased make for healthy churches. Pbstors need to practice building relation ships with staff and leaders as lhey ex pect the leaders to do with their volun teers. To do that well we need to, first of all, care about people, then about the process and, finally, about issues.
KLASSEN - to Abe and Lisa Klassen of Brownsville, Ont., Dmitri Abraham, on March 7, 1998. FRIESEN - to John and Tina Friesen of Aylmer, Ont., a daughter, McKenzie Nicole, on Februciry, 10, 1998.
Dueck, daughter of Mrs. Jacob Dueck of Morris, Mem., were married on January 10, 1998. The wedding took place at the Springfield Mennonite Church, with Amos Fehr of Riverside, Man., officiating. The couple is residing in Winnipeg. CAMERON - lACOHAZZl: Darcy, son of Helen Cameron of Calgary, Alta., was married on December 19, 1997, to Marie, daughter of Carmella and Nick lacohazzi of Ontario. The couple is residing in Etobicoke, Ontario.
a KRAUSE - DUECK: Peter Krause and Mary
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COMettOMS! s ITS SUPPGR TiMe! Cindy Penner
When I was but a boy /girl/ in days of childhood Mom was a “no-frills” cook, but a turkey dinner with all I used to play till evening shadows come, the trimmings was common in our small home. We were Then winding down an old familiar pathway cramped, with no basement and only about seventy-five I heard my mother call at set of sun, square feet, and Mom would spend hours standing over a Come home, come home, it’s suppertime! hot stove and setting up tables of various sizes, but the en The shadows lengthen fast. tire family would always sit down to eat at the same time. Come home, come home, it’s suppertime! Today Mom lives in a one-bedroom senior’s apartment, We’re going home at last. but she still thrills to prepare a “sit-down” meal for as many It had been many years since Td heard that old-time hymn. children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as possi 1 sat listening to the Last Mountain Boys and, without warn ble. We can pack her little apartment wall to wall, even if ing, 1 was transported back in time to the days of my child just for a little while. She still insists the best gift we can hood as though it were yesterday... give her is to “get along” and be together. “Cindy! Cindy! Come home! It’s suppertime!” Some thirty-odd years later, roles are somewhat reversed 1 grew up in a small rural Saskatchewan community where for Mom and me. Now that we have grown children and everyone knew their neighbours. grandchildren of our own, 1 under Children socialized at each other’s stand the importance of just being together. 1 too find it rewarding to homes — across the street or across town, but we were never far serve even a simple meal. All the from home. At suppertime Mom time spent preparing, serving and would open the kitchen door and cleaning up is worth it if it’s shared 1 call out, “Cindy! Come home! It’s in the good company of our chil suppertime!” dren and grandchildren or friends. Sometimes 1 couldn’t hear my 1 was unprepared for the effect mom calling because 1 was too in of the music and words as they volved in my play. Sometimes I’d washed over me like a rushing hear but would ignore the call. tide, wringing my heart like a rag. Other times 1 would answer and My mind was filled with a vivid run home at full speed, especially image of a long table trimmed with if darkness was approaching. a feast fit for a King. There were Some of my fondest memories many chairs around it — empty. Cindy Penner waits for her famiiy. are those of family suppertimes. It My family wavered in the shadows, brings back pleasant memories of and 1 stood at the table next to Je a large table, covered with a tablecloth, surrounded by chil sus. dren with voracious appetites. Just as my mom so often called me years ago, 1 can hear Sounds of pots and pans clanging filled the kitchen as the Jesus calling her and my entire family, now more than fifty food was removed, producing steaming bowls of mashed in number, to come Home to Him. But they are busy “play potatoes, creamed peas and a large platter of meat. Dishes ing” in their work and business, doing good deeds and wal of pickles, fresh homemade buns and butter rounded out lowing in the world’s pleasures. Perhaps they cannot hear the meal before dessert. A special treat was homemade ice Him. Or do they hear but simply ignore His voice? cream, and we’d all take turns churning. 1 don’t know what The shadows of life are lengthening fast. My heart yearns 1 enjoyed more, making the ice cream or eating it! for the day when they will answer the call and run Home at My older brothers lived a long way away when 1 was grow full speed — filling our family table once more! ing up, but they came home often with their families for just a weekend, or most certainly for traditional holiday gath Cindy Penner is a mom and a member of the Swift Current EMC. She is the congregation's reporter. erings.
Do you haue a story for The Personal Touch? It 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.
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THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference Box 1268, 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB ROA 2A0
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