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As angefs sang antCsfi^fierifs watched, The wise men saw the star. But Bethhehem sfeyt unaware Lord Jesus, (^Your hirth. Bg most You were not wed received when You came to this earth.
We see no angehs, shey herds none. No wise men, nor that star. As if in shumher, stid our worCd Is hargefg unaware Of Who You are, or whg You came. And mang do not care.
O Lord, weyrag this Christmas-tide, Be horn in us anew! Indwedour hearts andguide our hives To hove and honour You! shine through us to comyhacent ones, Bouse them to hove You too! L. Marie Enns
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EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 37 NUMBER 22 DECEMBER 15, 1999
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Messenger EDITOR Terry M. Smith
May Christ Be Glorified! IN NOVEMBER 1983 Hans Kung, a promi nent Roman Catholic theologian teaching in Germany, was invited to give a lecture at the University of Winnipeg on Martin Luther as an Ecumenical Chailense. After his lecture, Kiing was open to ques tions, so I asked him, “Knowing there is a danger of oversimplification, do you believe that Jesus is a God-filled man or God become man?” People laughed, and I felt embar rassed. Hans Kiing replied that since Catholic lead ership could not expect Protestants to care about his views on papal authority, it had attacked his view of Christ. He said that his view of Christ is not to be judged by the creeds but by the New Testament. The answer did not speak to the question. In some circles today it is said that Jesus is a God-filled man. He is a great moral teacher who reveals God more fully than anyone else through his life. Through his death Jesus re veals the love of God and opens the way for us to experience it. There is some wonder ful truth in this, but we must not leave it there. By leaving it there, we risk losing more of our wonderful Christmas message — whether we are Catholic, Protestant, Ortho dox, conservative or liberal. The heart of the Christian message is God’s love. How is that love revealed? “This how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). Though prophet, priest, king, and teacher, Jesus is most of all our Saviour. Matthew calls Jesus Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The story is told of a man who, on a cold winter’s night, strug gled to care for birds which sought shelter but did not trust him. Frustrated, he thought. If only I could become a bird! In that moment he understood why God became a man for us. There is a depth to our need in life which even a supreme moral teacher cannot meet. God has touched our need by becoming one of us to deliver us! Jesus’ death on the cross — a travesty of justice carried out by ignorant and evil men PAGE 2
— became the ultimate act of divine atone ment. “For Christ died for our sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Martha Kroeker THE MESSENGER is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public. Its purpose is to inform, instruct and inspire: inform concerning events and activities in the denomination; instruct in god liness and victorious living; inspire to earnestly contend for the faith. Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed. Unpub lished material is not returned except by request. The views, and opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference. THE MESSENGER is pub lished twice a month (once a month in July and August) by the Board of Church Ministries of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, Manitoba. Subscriptions: $12.00 per year (Manitoba residents add 7% PST, total: $12.84). Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Members and adherents pay through their church. THE MESSENGER is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press. Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba. Publications Mail Registration No. 09914 Mailing information: All correspondence, including undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions, should be addressed to: The Messenger RO. Box 1268 Steinbach, Manitoba R0A2A0
The Apostle Paul said, “1 do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained by the law, Christ died for noth ing!” (Gal. 2:21). These striking words chal lenge some views. If we go to heaven by be ing law-abiding (or decent) people, Paul saw no point to Jesus’ death on the cross. In that case, the second-greatest theologian of the Christian church viewed Jesus’ death on the cross as an empty mistake. Paul, however, knew it was not an empty mistake; the cross was the supreme act of grace! Certainly, Jesus’ death is an example of suf fering love, but it is more than this; it was also a necessary act which covered our sins and brought us back to Himself. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). A ransom is a price paid to free others; the wonder is that Christ, God-become-man, paid that price Himself. He did what we can not do, no matter how caring, good, or hardworking we are. We are debtors to His undeserved kindness, to His grace. I have thought often of that brief opportu nity to ask a question of a prominent theolo gian. Underneath the inadequate question and answer are central, abiding issues: Who is Jesus and what has He done for us? Christ mas, seen within the fullness of the New Tes tament, provides the answer. “You are to give him the name Jesus, for he will save his peo ple from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Christ is our Saviour. Before, during, and after this Advent sea Phone: 204-326-6401 son, pastors — men and women — will Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: emconf@mts.net spend time in prayer, in study, and in the pulpit, striving to proclaim the wonder of Christ. They will speak to those who come regularly, sporadically, or only for special sea- Cover: Do you like the sons. People will gather out of many needs graphic? Marv Toews chose it. and varied backgrounds. MESSENGER SCHEDULE Pray for those who preach. Pray for those No. 1 - January 12 who ask questions and for those who give (copy due January 3) answers. May Christ be glorified! No. 2 - January 26 Terry M. Smith (copy due January 14)
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THREE ADVENT BIRTHS
On Birth and New Life Jim Cessna
CELEBRATE THREE COURAGEOUS women from the TwoThirds World who gave birth at Christmas. No money for medicine The first woman. Comfort, and her husband. Job, have been preparing for ministry here at Nigeria’s Gindiri Col lege of Theology for the past 5'/2 years! Four years ago they had a son, Erik, who daily stops by our house for drinks of water as he meanders home from school. Now just six months before graduation they find them selves unexpectedly expecting a baby. This woman has no prenatal care, no outside financial help, no balanced diet and no complaints. She, Job and Erik live with twelve other families in a compound designed for, at most, three families. The community toilet has filled up long ago, so everyone in the compound heads for the bush. . The well is polluted, so Job regularly carries water from our house to theirs. The couple has nothing they need for a new baby and no money to pay for medi cines or the clinic. But baby doesn’t care, * choosing as usual the middle of the / ■'1*' night to greet the world. Labour is fshard, blood is lost, and they need help. So Job wakes up the resident midwife and our neighbour, who transports them all to the clinic, where a boy named God-saves is delivered. Semester exams are next week, and both mother and God-saves will be there. Bringing hew life here in the Two-Thirds World is difficult! By the way, the mother’s name is Comfort, and she is doubly that!
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Malaria and labour The second woman, Joy, and her husband, Moses, are also completing their final year here at Nigeria’s Gindiri College of Theology. Both of their fathers are retired pas tors, which means no extra money is available from home. Moses is a good student and a gifted musician, and his brilliant wife is the top student in the class. They have a four-year-old child named Stephanie whose distended belly can’t hide how desperate they all are for nutritious food. Like Comfort and Job, they find themselves unexpect edly expecting a baby. This dear woman suffers from ty phoid fever twice and malaria six times during her ninemonth pregnancy. We all worry about her diet and the harsh medicines doing serious harm to both mother and baby. But baby doesn’t care; hard labour lasts two days, with no end in sight. In the middle of the night she is rushed to the hospital about thirty kilometres away, where they do a C-section because the baby is seriously stressed. The one doctor on DECEMBER 15, 1999
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duty is drunk, so another 90-kilometre dash is made to a mission hospital. While people pray and doctors prepare, just three min utes before the cut is to be made a beautiful baby girl named Grace is born. Both mother and Grace will take exams next week with Comfort and God-saves. Bringing new life here in the Two-Thirds World is difficult! By the way, the mother’s name is Joy, eind she is doubly that! An unmarried teenager The third woman has it much harder than either Com fort or Joy. She is a poor unmarried teenager who sud denly finds herself unexpectedly expecting a baby. Scan dal travels like wild fire, so she walks more than 100 kilo metres to another village to spend three months with her favourite aunt who alone will under stand. The man she is engaged to finds out and knows the baby isn’t his, so he wants to imme diately sever the relationship, but a dream stops him cold. Dreams are lis tened to here in the Two-Thirds World. To make matters worse the oppressive government makes a power play to make sure it gets everyone’s taxes. This requires every male to register V.. in his hometown which, for this man, is about 120 kilometres away. He takes his nine-months-pregnant fiancee with him to protect her from shame and to help her as best he can through her ordeal. Together they walk for at least six days, getting food and water where they can, finding a cave where animals take shelter. The place is cold, damp and dirty. They have no midwife to assist and nothing for baby. But baby doesn’t care, and in due time he greets a hostile world. They wrap him in strips of cloth and place him in a box of hay. His name literally means God-saves, and he certainly is a gift of grace, this one whom we call Jesus. Bringing new life here in the Two-Thirds World is difficult! By the way, his mother’s name is Mary, and she is doubly blessed. And so are we — eternally! This Advent season we wish you good tidings, along with Comfort and Joy. “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” (Isaiah 9:6). Under MCC, Jim Cessna is currently teaching at the Gindiri College of Theology, Nigeria, Africa. He is from Boulder, Colorado. He was previously the pastor of the Open Door Fellowship in Denver.
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CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS
Menno Hamm CHRISTMAS DAY dawned sunny and warm. The only snow we saw had been in our dreams. The house, strangely quiet, carried no sounds of children and grandchildren. Nor would there be any. There was no aroma of turkey or anything else roasting in the oven. Our first Christmas alone This was Christmas 1998, and Elvina and 1 were in El Paso, Texas, far from our family—our first Christmas alone. Although we missed our loved ones, we were not really lonely. We reflected on the coming of the Saviour and warmed to a renewed sense of His abiding presence. Yes, this Christmas Day would be an unusually quiet one, but we didn’t mind. The previous two weeks had been rather busy, with guests every night except one. We were ready for some “peace on earth.” Our Christmas festivities had begun a week earlier. On the nineteenth we attended the acclaimed Christmas Pag eant at the Cielo Vista Church. Live pageantry and music vividly portrayed scenes not only of the birth of Christ but also His ministry, triumphal entry, last days and resurrec tion. The final scene of Christ’s return to heaven left every one spellbound. The program dramatically, yet clearly, presented God’s plan of salvation, to which many in the audience responded. Sunday evening the Living Christmas Tree program at First Baptist Church proved to be inspiring. We treasured the glorious music of Christmas, performed with enthusi asm and sincerity, by a choir of sixty-five voices on the huge tree structure, with forty more at its base, accompa nied by organ, piano, strings, brass and woodwinds. If we hadn’t caught the spirit of Christmas before this week end, we certainly had now.
Hosting the annual banquet Monday was a day of sustained activity. Company was coming — we were hosting the Mexico staff’s annual Christmas banquet! One of the missionary couples had returned to Canada for Christmas, leaving twelve adults, two teenagers and three children. What a thrill it was to sit around the enlarged table, like a large family, enjoying each other’s company, and the roast turkey with all the trim mings! After supper we sang carols, played some games and exchanged small gifts. The gifts, either homemade or pre viously used, caused ripples of laughter from time to time. Readings and prayer concluded the celebration. Of course, everyone stayed for the night. A full house, to say the least! But among friends, who cares if it’s crowded! After breakfast on Tuesday the bi-monthly staff meeting began. And since everyone needed to do some last-minute shopping, the business was finished by noon. We reunited at the Golden Corral for supper, cind rePAGE 4
sumed fellowship at our house until everyone retired to bed. The staff members began to leave for their homes on Wednesday, except for one couple, who stayed one more day, leaving on Christmas Eve. So Christmas Day, after so much activity, was blissfully quiet. Elvina and 1 opened our gifts, including some that had come from Canada. We ate turkey sandwiches for lunch and, after a nap, went for a leisurely walk, enjoying the balmy weather. We thought of our family members at home and spoke with several of them on the phone, but had little desire to join them in the frozen North! Lord willing, we would be together again at Christmas 1999. Elvina and 1 experienced only one Christmas separated from family—not a great sacrifice. Most missionaries and their parents are separated meiny Christmases in succes sion. May God give them grace for these times alone, and may His comforting presence help them overcome their feelings of loneliness. Facing loneliness Many people confirm that their most severe bouts with loneliness occur at Christmas. Pangs of longing engulf them, almost to the point of despair. What should be a time of joyous celebration is for them a period of pro longed misery. Sadly, there are those who succumb to the pain and take their own lives. Statistics show an in crease in suicides during the Christmas season. Does it have to be that way? J. Oswald Sanders writes about loneliness from experi ence: Twice he lost a loved wife and spent seventeen years
Editor's note: Elvina and Menno Hamm recently completed a year serving as hosts at an EMC missionary guest home on the El Paso, Texas/Juarez, Mexico, border. An ordained EMC minister and a musician, Menno retired as a schoolteacher, and then served as editor of this magazine from 1988-1997. He now contributes an occasional column, "Border Crossings." Menno and Elvina live in Steinbach, Manitoba.
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as a widower. He says, “Loneliness assumes many forms, “Unless you leam to deal with loneliness whenever it con each equally undesirable — an unsatisfied inner ache, an fronts you, it will only come back to haunt you later — and inner vacuum, a craving for satisfaction. The human heart its impact may be doubled.” has an insatiable longing to be loved.” The writer then goes on to list four steps in dealing with A dear friend, whose husband had passed away, con loneliness. Face it, he says, acknowledge what you’re feel fided her feelings of loneliness: There is no voice, no greet ing. Accept it, don’t run away from it; everyone encoun ing, no discussion, no touch, no hug. Well-meaning friends ters some loneliness in their lives. Manage it, do some glibly reminded her, “You are not alone; the Lord Jesus is thing about it. For example, when you feel lonely for com panionship, invite a with you and He has friend to dinner or promised never to What they said was true — Jesus does understand. He cares and He comforts, visit someone in a leave you or forsake but He often uses His human servants to minister that care and comfort. nursing home. Use you.” What they said was tme — Je it; “look upon lonely sus does understand. He cares and He comforts, but He times as opportunities for personal growth rather than often uses His human servants to minister that care and dreadful periods to be suffered through.” comfort. Perhaps all of us could be more observant so we would It’s something like a young boy who was given the same notice those who are lonely and empathize with them. reassuring reminder. He replied, “1 know Jesus is with me, The Lord would want us to be sensitive enough to their but 1 need somebody with skin on.” In addition to fellow needs to walk with them and share their burdens. Let the ship with God, everyone has a deep thirst for human com Christian community be known for its loving compassion panionship. But there is a tendency among lonely people towards those who suffer. to withdraw, which only compounds their misery. Seeing But for the lonely Christian, the bottom line is this: Jesus others, apparently happy and fulfilled, reinforces their knows about your needs, and He understands because sense of isolation. A university student wrote, “Why am 1 He experienced great loneliness. He loves you and He is so lonely when there are two thousand here?” your ever-present Companion. Review His promises and At such times they can scarcely find the courage and let them reassure you. A little choms that has been run energy to reach out to another person for companion ning through my mind lately, asks. How can I be lonely, ship. Yet they are the very ones “who must take the first when I’ue Jesus only to be my Companion and unfailing step and set the machinery for recovery in motion,” says Guide? How can I be weary, and my path be dreary, when Sanders. An anonymous writer on the Internet states. He’s walking by my side?
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Sixteen teams from four provinces competed in the EMCup heid on November 12-14 at the T. G. Smith Arena in Steinbach, Manitoba.
Giibert Fehr of Steinbach, seen here during the finai game, has served as a timekeeper for many years at the EMCup.
‘Conduct remembered longer than scores’ at EMCup Blumenort defeated Kleefeld in Sun day’s final game to emerge the tourna ment champions at the fifteenth annual EMCup hockey tournament held Novem ber 12-14 at the T.G. Smith Arena in Steinbach, Manitoba. Interest in this event DECEMBER 15, 1999
remains strong, with a capacity sixteen teams from Ontario participating in the last EMCup of the millenium. Grande Prairie and La Crete combined to enter a team from northern Alberta for the fourth con secutive year; the team drove five hours
to Edmonton to catch a flight to Winni peg. It’s great to have them out each year. Action got under way Friday night with a number of close games. On Saturday morning about a hundred players, referees, and friends attended a PAGES
fellowship breakfast at the arena. Wayne Friesen from Grande Prairie gave a short devotional, reminding players that their actions on and off the ice would be re membered much longer than the score of a game. The four division winners were Kleefeld, Morris, Rosenort, and Blumenort. Other
teams came from Mennville, Morris, St. Vital, Fort Garry, Grande Prairie/La Crete, Fort Frances, Steinbach, Ridgewood, Pleas ant Valley, Portage la Prairie, Prairie Rose, and Steinbach Bible College. The tournament serves as a venue for EMCers to gather for fun in hockey and fellowship with each other. For the third
year funds were collected for Toonies for Nicaragua, with $341 being raised. The tournament committee would like to thank all of the players, referees, time keepers, arena staff, and fans for another successful tournament. See you next No vember! Russ Dyck
Changes at MCC Manitoba Helm me very busy,” he said. “But it’s also been very satisfying and gratifying.” Alty said Peters served the Mennonite constituency well, working hard at bring ing diverse groups of Mennonite people together. “1 suspect he’s one of the few people who could name all of the Mennonite churches in the province. And 1 suspect he has been in most of them representing MCC,” he said. MCCM
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He has taught high school, instructed college courses at Concord College in Winnipeg and served as an interim pas tor. He has an MA in Canadian history and a Masters of Divinity from Associ ated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in Elkhart, Indiana. Reddig said ever since working with
CONFERENCE TO EXPLORE RELATIONSHIP OF ‘MENNONITE AND ABORIGINAL PEOPLES’ A conference focusing on the relations between Mennonites and Aboriginal Peoples will be held at the University of Winnipeg in October 2000. It will cover a wide range of relationships, including both the successes and the failures. It is hoped that by looking at the history of these relationships it will contribute to a stronger partnership of these two peo ples and in building a better Canadian
MCC as a young adult he has felt the tug
society.
of the agency. He is excited about help ing link the grassroots responses of Mani toba Mennonites to human needs here in Manitoba and around the world. “1 want to roll up my sleeves and get in volved with some hands-on projects,” Reddig said. He and Willa have two adult children. They attend Mclvor Ave. Mennonite Brethren Church. Meanwhile, MCC Manitoba has said goodbye to Peter Peters, who served as executive director for the past eleven years. He retired at the end of October. Peters and his wife, Greti, also volun teered overseas with MCC, from 198388, both in India and China. He has been a high school teacher and principal. Peters said he felt most rewarded as executive director when Manitoba Mennonites came together to work in thrift stores, relief sales, cyclathons and more, and in the process learned about the lives and suffering of people around the world. “It’s been a lot of work. This job kept
The organizers believe that the commonalities of these two peoples — their close ties to the land, their minor ity position and their emphasis on equal ity — can serve as a foundation for com mon understanding. Suggested topics include Aboriginal Lands and Mennonite Settlers, Mennonite Missionaries and Aboriginal Spirituality, Mennonite-Aboriginal Rela tionships in Business, Aboriginal Artists and Mennonite Consumers, Aboriginals in Mennonite Literature, Mennonite So cial Actinism and Aboriginal Issues. We welcome proposals for other topics. The sponsors of this conference to date are the following: Mennonite Historical Society of Canada, Aboriginal Neighbours (MCCC), Native Ministries (Mennonite Church), Chair in Mennonite Studies (University of Winnipeg). Please send a 100- to 200-word proposal to Royden Loewen, Chair in Mennonite Studies, 515 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3B 2E9.
After eleven years as MCC Manitoba executive director, Peter Peters (standing) retired in October.
Ken Reddig is the new executive director of MCC Manitoba.
Ken Reddig has been hired as Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Manitoba’s new executive director. Reddig took the helm in mid-November after directing the Mennonite Herit age Centre and Gallery — the archives and art gallery of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada — since 1997. “We’re certainly pleased we could hire someone with Ken’s qualities and inter ests,” said James Ally, chairman of the MCC Manitoba board. “He brings a lot of different experiences with him, pastoral and administrative, along with an under standing of world and local issues.” Reddig and his wife, Willa, volunteered with MCC in Jordan from 1969-72, where he worked with micro-loan projects for Palestinian refugees in several refugee camps. They also spent some time in France with MCC, developing a work shop for mentally and physically chal lenged young adults. Reddig also comes to MCC with deep roots in the Mennonite community. He has for years worked as an archivist in Manitoba, both for the Conference of Mennonites in Canada and the Mennonite Brethren Church of Canada, as well as with the Provincial Archives of Manitoba. PAGES
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SEettefts BAHAMAS — A TIMELY RESPONSE 1 just read Darren Flett’s well-written re port in The Messenger [November 17,1999] on the work team that went to the Baha mian island of Eleuthera to help repair the damage caused by Hurricane Floyd. 1 sur veyed the devastation shortly after the storm. Windermere High School staff had already cleaned up much of the debris. Bandages had been applied to the build ings to give temporary protection, but it took volunteers like the team from the Blumenort EMC and other churches to repair and shingle the campus buildings and missionary housing. GMU is most grateful for the work team’s timely response and display of Christian charity. Our thanks to the team and to the editors of The Messenger. Abe Reddekopp Gospel Missionary Union Letters to the Editor
Letters for publication, commenting on issues raised in The Messenger, are welcomed. Their tone should be charitable, dealing with subjects rather than individuals. To be published they must include the writer's signature, address and phone number. Names and general location will appear, except for extraordinary circumstances, on letters published.
The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, and charity. It can refuse publication when the material does not conform to the editorial policy approved by the Board of Church Ministries (November, 1997).
Edwin Friesen Stewardship Consultant
YEAR-END YEAR-END IS AN excellent time to review your financial affairs, and preparing an annual balance sheet is a good place to begin. Most farms and businesses do fairly extensive annual balance sheets showing the assets (including receivables) and liabilities (including payables) of the farm or business at year-end. By subtracting the liabilities (what you owe) from the assets (what you own), you determine your net worth. Net worth is the money you would have left if you sold all your possessions and paid off all your debts. Of course we don’t actually sell all our stuff each year just to determine our net assets, but recording our realistic estimates of values on paper and comparing that with our liabilities helps us to know how we are doing. A balance sheet is also a helpful base for estate planning. For many people, doing an annual balance sheet can be as simple as taking a sheet of paper and listing all your major assets in one column — savings, RRSPs, major furniture items, vehicles, house, other property, investments. Below the asset total, list liabilities, including all debts, credit card balance, personal Ioans, car loan, and mortgage. This simplified approach will give you a fairly accurate picture of your net worth. For those want-
It \ a Happening! EMC Post-Secondary Students Luncheon Tuesday, iQ February 1, 2000 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Room 205-207 University Centre The University of Manitoba Come and Go. Lunch supplied. Bring a friend! ✓
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ing a more detailed inventory, many com puter accounting programs include a pro gram for this. Over the years, annual balance sheets will provide you with a quick snapshot of your financial affairs. If you discover that your net worth is shrinking, it may be time to take another look at your income and expenditures to determine what’s happening. Maybe some adjustments can be made that get you headed in the right direction. Others may feel that their net worth is shrinking as they stmggle to pay their bills through the year when, in fact, the annual balance sheet will show a net increase. Some people I know have decided to “cap” their assets at a certain ceiling and give away any excess over that amount, Think of the freedom of no longer feeling compelled to accumulate and the joy of sharing the balance. The balance sheet can help monitor the “cap.” Year-end is a good time to review your progress on long-term goals like RESP RRSR mortgage repayments, savings for major purchases, and charitable giving, Knowing where things are at is a good basis for setting new directions for the coming year. For Christians, managing our resources well is more than a challenge, it is an op portunity. Make the most of it!
For more information, contact Gerald at 204-326-6401, Ed at 204-326-1644, or e-mail: emconf@mts.net Sponsored by the EMC Board of Church Ministries
Edwin Friesen is a stewardship consultant serving, in part, the EMC and SBC constituency. He is available to meet with groups or individuals to discuss will/estate planning, family finances, and charitable giving. He can be contacted at 204-4881985.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The EMC Leadership Retreat is planned for Camp Arnes, Manitoba, March 3-5, 2000!
Walking the Tightrope! Resource People: Abe and Helen Block Lethbridge, Alberta
Pastors, ministers, deacons, and elders and spouses will be swarming with vigor and enthusiasm! • You will laugh.
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Abe Bergen for the Planning Committee
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E.M. Conference Financial Update November 30,1999
DAY OF PRAYER FOR MISSIONS SET FOR JANUARY 9 Congregations are encouraged to pray for our missions program on January 9, the EMC Day of Prayer for missions. The conference has 135 personnel in 25 countries. "...Missionaries are involved in a great variety of ministries. Many live in challenging circumstances and encounter different kinds of obstacles. All of them are spreading the Word of God and therefore have to overcome the powers of darkness. Prayer is probably the most effective way we can partner with the missionaries in their ministry," Lester Olfert, EMC Foreign Secretary, has said previously. To assist in the day, missionaries are encouraged to send in prayer requests. The requests are divided into five lists, and one prayer list is sent to each EMC congregation. Churches have used the material previously in various ways; during the worship service, in Sunday school classes, in Bible studies, or at an evening prayer service. If January 9 is already booked, congregations are encouraged to have the prayer emphasis on a different day. Roughly eighty per cent of the EMC national budget goes toward missions. In 1999 the missions portion was 5 1,165,000. On December 4 the Conference Council adopted a budget that sees the year 2000 missions portion increase to 51,216,000. EMC Sources
A QUOTE SUBMITTED
Actual disbursements till November 30 Projected disbursements for December
$1,248,911 155,000
1,403,911 Actual receipts till November 30 Receipts needed in December
1,118,496 285,415
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We thank the constituency for the giving of the first eleven months. It is com mendable. Christ's mission has been furthered by your donations. We believe that the objective of $285,000 is realistic for December. Last year the December receipts came to $295,000. We encourage you to be part of reaching the objective by investing in the mission Christ has entrusted to us as a Conference.
May you have a blessed Christmas! EMC Board of Trustees
General Secretary Appointed
The General Board, the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Missions are happy to announce the appointment of Len Barkman of Landmark, Mani toba, as the new General Secretary for the Con ference. He is replacing Henry Klassen. Len is married to Faye. They have four sons and one daughter-in-law. Len and Faye are active mem bers of the Prairie Rose EMC. Len comes to the position with a wealth of expe rience. He and Faye have a heart for missions and the church. They have served in missions in the Bahamas and Belize for eight years. Len has been a teacher and a school administrator with the Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary Schools for sixteen years. Len will commence his duties in the middle of August 2000. Harvey Plett Moderator
Len Barkman
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As long as the Church wore scars, they made headway. When they began to wear medals, the cause lan guished. It was a greater day for the Church when Chris tians were fed to the lions than when they bought sea son tickets and sat in the grandstand.
COMING EVENTS January 1- December 31 Together 2000 Christians in Canada Honouring Jesus Evangelical Fellowship Canada Canadian Council of Churches Phone:416-233-2020 January 9 Day of Prayer for Missions Evangeiical Mennonite Conference Phone: 204-326-6401
January 23 World Fellowship Sunday Mennonite World Conference Phone: 204-326-6401
Vance Havner
February 25-27 ENRICH Parenting Seminar Stony Brook Fellowship Steinbach Bible College Chapel Phone: 204-346-9129 March 3-5 EMC Leadership Retreat Speaker: Abe Block Camp Arnes, Man. Phone: 204-326-6401
March 17-18 SBC Leadership Conference Steinbach Bible College Chapel Steinbach, Man. Phone: 800-230-8478
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THE MESSENGER
REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATION Rosenort, Man. (Rosenort Fellowship): As this year draws quickly to a close, we reflect on all that the Lord has led us through — some good times, some hard times, all learning experiences if we’ve allowed them to be. We’ve welcomed new members into our fellowship and said goodbye to a few of our faithful ones. There have been changes; all these things are part of life here on earth. Oh, for the time when we’ll be with Christ in heaven for all eternity! But until then, praise God for His continuous goodness, grace and mercy toward us. May we be diligent in passing it on to those around us. We rejoiced with the group His Very Own when it released a CD. Shan Eidse (one of the members) wrote the lyrics to every song. This CD has blessed many and may be obtained from any one of the group: Kim Dueck, Shan Eidse, Amos Fehr, Alan Friesen, Graham Friesen, Kim Kroeker, Camden Rempel and Susan Zacharias. The women invited the men to join in a delicious Christmas banquet. We were spiritually uplifted in a concert by New Covenant Quartet from the Steinbach area. The terms of many committee members expire at the end of the calendar year. We take this opportunity to thank them for a job well done and encourage those taking up the task at hand to “Go with God.” May we, the congregation, again determine with renewed vigour to uphold each one in prayer. Lord, we look ahead with eager antici pation for what You have in store for us in the millennium. To God be the glory for ever and ever!
Ken and Mildred Toews (elders), Dorothy and Mike Mclnnes (new pastoral couple), Tina and Dick Unrau (interim pastor couple), and Ron Penner (Conference representative) pose on November 28 after the installation of the Mclnneses as Steinbach EFC's pastoral couple.
Ron Penner, chairman of the EMC Board of Ministers and Deacons and pastor of the Braeside EMC, represented the Confer ence. As guest speaker he gave a timely message to the couple and congregation. Ron conducted the installation of Mike and Dorothy as senior pastor couple. The new pastoral couple was surrounded by the laying on of hands and prayer. Ken and Mildred Toews, leading elders, pre sented roses and gave words of support and encouragement to Mike and Dorothy.
Judy Schellenberg
NEW PASTOR INSTALLED Steinbach, Man. (EFC): November 28 was an exciting evening for our congregation, along with Mike and Dorothy Mclnnes, their family and church friends from Win nipeg. Presentations were given, along with choruses, hymns and the Word. Mike and Dorothy shared their personal testimonies of God’s love, grace and di rection in their lives. Pastor Dick accepted Mike and Dorothy as members of our con gregation. (Dick and Tina Unrau have served as our interim pastor couple for the past year.)
Martha and Art Dueck were accepted as members into our fellowship earlier this year and now have been elected as a deacon couple for a three-year term.
PEOPLE WAITING TO HEAR Endeavour, Sask.: Reports from several fields were heard at our mission confer ence November 12-14. Menno and Elvina Hamm related experiences at the guest house in El Paso, Texas — cooking, clean ing, laundry. In their spare time they en joyed Mexican music concerts. They told how scorpions were kept under control with pesticide. Menno and Elvina also sought to encourage the other missionar ies. Elvira Hamm, dressed in Burkina Faso clothing and carrying a “baby” in a back pack, held the children’s attention as she told of life in that part of western Africa. Many languages make communication dif ficult, but results are being seen. People are hungry for the Word. When we are zestful, we will be a pleasing aroma, draw ing people to the Lord Jesus, she said. David and Kim Field, candidates with
New Tribes Mission, spoke on Saturday night. Bom and raised on the field, Kim’s desire is to serve as a missionary. Their next step is language school in January. David told a gripping story of a witch doc tor who begged for someone to come and tell his village about the God the mission aries serve. We were challenged to pray, pray, pray! On Saturday evening Harold Fast told of life in Pakistan, where ninety-eight per cent of the population is Muslim. Muslims in Pakistan are generally a peaceable peo ple. It takes time to build tmst so that the gospel will be accepted. Muslims believe they have the true word and that some how Christians have changed it. On Sunday morning Evelyn Plett was with us. She serves at Bethel Bible Centre in Spain, where she teaches and is the ad ministrator. Camp work reaches children and youth, and missions is taught. More
DECEMBER 15, 1999
John Sawatzl^
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workers are needed. Lester Olfert reported on missions in general and what our conference is doing. He challenged us to do our best and make the name of the Lord great among the nations. Our church again packed shoe boxes for the relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. They were dedicated on Sunday morning. When Lester reported that he had wit nessed the distribution of boxes last year near the hotel where he was staying in Nicaragua, this was a very special blessing to us. We were blessed to be a part of this great ministry. Thirty-five boxes were packed by the kids’ club and the church. Praise God! On October 9 a very special celebration was held by family and friends for Peter and Rose Steppan on October 9. It was our fiftieth wedding anniversary. Rose Steppan
DEEPER LIFE MEETINGS Taber, Alta.: The Lord was at work in our church during the week of deeper life meet ings, November 7-14, with Diedrich Harms of Texas. He preached very timely mes-
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Kathy and John Schlamp, pictured with their children Wendolyn, Merlyn, Kaylyn, and Arlyn, were commissioned as ministers in the Aberdeen church on September 26. Both the couple and the congregation committed themselves to accept their callings and share their ^nirit.nivon Spirit-given niftc gifts uuith with oarh each nthor other.
___ .__ f______11___ 111____ I __ I____ I j;J _ i_i _f I sages from the Word of God and did a lot of counselling. SCHLAMPS — GIFTS FROM GOD We are a young church made up of Low Winnipeg, Man. (Aberdeen): Let me in German-speaking people from a number troduce you to John and Kathy Schlamp. of Latin American countries, including (Some of you know them much better Mexico, Belize and Paraguay. A number of than 1 do and could add interesting details the people had heard Brother Harms be to this profile.) fore, in Mexico and Belize, and had also John and Kathy have attended Aberdeen listened to his messages on cassette tapes. church since 1975, so to those of us who One woman sheired how one of his mes started attending later, they seem like fix sages on cassette tape had helped her tures, part of the furniture — except that through difficult times in Mexico: they are always moving and doing and “1 want to share my testimony of how the welcoming. They make people feel com Lord used one of Brother Harms’s messages fortable and part of our church family. It to help me through some very difficult seems redundant that they are now offi times in my life in Mexico. One night when cially members of the church ministerial. 1 felt so alone and forsaken 1 listened to It seems to me they always have been. that message again. Together John and Kathy run the “In this message he tells the story of how Schlamp Construction Company. Kathy a group of men come into a church and put does the bookkeeping, and John pours a picture of Jesus on the floor. They usher cement foundations, together with their everyone past it and make them spit on it, employees, who, among others, include in Jesus’ face. A little girl, who is told to spit their children, Arlyn, and sometimes on the picture, says, ‘1 will never spit on my Kaylyn. John says he likes his work: “There Jesus.’ She is shot and killed on the spot, is something wonderfully good about and her blood runs on to the picture. physical work and being tired at the end “1 thought of this little girl’s words and the of the day.” A completed job and satisfied stand she took for Jesus, giving her life for customers are the rewards for their la Him. I asked myself. Would I take that bours. kind of stand too? Or would I spit on my John and Kathy are the parents of four Jesus? What does Jesus really mean to me? children: Wendolyn, Arlyn, Kaylyn and 1 invited Him into my heart as my personal Merlyn. One clue that this also has been a Lord and Saviour. Since then 1 have not felt successful venture is a remark 1 recently so alone and sad. 1 know that He is always heard from one of the children: “They are with me, and 1 can share every burden with the best parents ever. 1 am so thankful for Him.” them.” As a church we thank you, Brother Harms, Something else that Kathy and John for coming and ministering to us. God bless have in common is their love of reading. you as you minister to individuals and to Kathy stocks her shelves with true stories churches. and Low German books. She jokes, “John Peter Wiebe says I read too much about Mennonites.”
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John, on the other hand, says he reads a variety of books on theology, philosophy and history. Lately, he’s gotten into “inter esting stuff that’s tough to read.” Hospitality is a gift that this couple loves to bestow on both their church family and their North-end community. Kathy has a knack with crafts, and she shares this abil ity with a small group of women that meets in the Machray School, just across the street from their home. The women look forward to this weekly creating event with great anticipation. John is involved
John and Kathy Schlamp pose at their care group's costume party. THE MESSENGER
in the community as a member of the Youth Justice Committee that works to get youth in conflict with the law to make res titution for their harmful behaviour by do ing community work. Kathy and John’s home is a comfortable place for visitors. Kathy is a great cook, an ability that she is passing down to their children. One Saturday I dropped in to find her and her son churning out a kitchen-full of buns. Every New Year’s Eve, John and Kathy’s house is jammed with merry-makers from church who know they are welcome with no formal invita tion. Besides their new roles on the ministe rial at Aberdeen, John and Kathy are on an ad hoc missions committee that seeks ways of being involved in the neighbour hood that surrounds our church building. Like all Aberdeen members, they also participate in janitorial work. In addition, Kathy is on the social committee and John is on the speaker roster and tells children’s stories. Even delivering a sermon is something John likes to do in community — He of ten invites four or five people to discuss the topic and related Bible passages to help him develop the message. Kathy says she does not find it easy to commit her self to the church as a minister. She con tinues, “It was easier for me to speak at my mother’s funeral” when she passed away last year. But Kathy is thankful for the confidence and trust that the congre gation places in her to carry out the task. John and Kathy come to church to give but also with a need to receive. They both say they receive connectedness, commit ment, and affirmation of their gifts from others. The church congregation is instru mental in bringing their relationship to their Maker and their everyday lives, together. John wishes for even greater camaraderie and a sense of belonging among individu als within the church community. Thank you, John and Kathy, for your will ingness to be yourselves and to share your laughter, friendship and support with all of us as you continue your old and new roles in our church family. Liz Plett
Found a-Fter December 3 EMC Ministerial: An item to be identified by owner. Please contact Ridgewood EMC office at 204-326-2957.
DECEMBER 15, 1999
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The Stony Brook church gained nine members in November: Charieen Barkman, Susanna and Corny Krahn, Chuck Bueckert, Randy Barkman, Cheryi Perrin, Miryam Bueckert, Stephanie Penner, Becky Buhler. With them is Pastor Earl Unger.
AN EXCITING CHURCH! Steinbach, Man. (Stony Brook): It is ex citing to be a part of our church. Our con gregation has been growing spiritually and in numbers this past year. Last fall we hired Pastor Earl Unger part-time, and since July he’s been full-time. Many new members were added this year. New programs keep popping up. The men in our church, spearheaded by Jake Rempel, Randy Barkman and Corny Krahn, met in October to start a men’s ministry; they meet twice a month for breakfast and Bible study. Judy Martens headed up a Family Fun Night as an alternative to the regular Hal loween activities. Sixteen kids, parents and volunteers had a wonderful evening. On October 27 the ladies met for an evening honouring two special people, Caroline Unger (our pastor’s wife) and Kathy Friesen (our missionary). Kathy had a short talk and devotional. She gave the Ladies’ Bible Coffee group practical items for prayer. We celebrated Caroline’s birth day with a gift and cake. This fall, a number of parents dedicated their children to the Lord: John and Agatha Berg with Kimberly, Mark and Lisa Gretsinger with Vanessa and Anika, Darrell and Cheryl Peters with Angelica, Sam and Amanda Dueck with Kai, Chuck and Miryam Bueckert with Justin, Corny and Suscinna Krahn with Matthew, Andrew and Angela, Ron and Jeannette Karney with Daenica. November 21 was an exciting day in our
I Kathy Friesen (a missionary) and Caroline Unger (our pastor’s wife), two special ladies, were honoured in October.
church. We accepted nine new members into our Fellowship. Corny and Susanna Krahn, Randy and Charieen Barkman and Stephanie Penner were accepted by Con fession of Faith. Cheryl Perrin was bap tized, while Becky Buhler and Chuck and Miryam Bueckert transferred their mem bership from other churches. In the evening we held our first Praise and Worship/Music evening. It was well attended, and we had many visitors. As a church we look forward to the New Year, to see what the Lord will do in our congregation. Heidi Friesen
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The theme of the Region 6 conference was, ‘Join with me in suffering for the gospei.”
Jeff and Wes Dueck provided a children’s feature on Sunday morning.
REGIONS
MISSIONS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
Samir Youssef, a worker with Arabic Ministries International, gave the Sunday morning message.
Frank Kroeker, interim pastor at the Rosenort EMC and long-time missionary to Paraguay, leads in prayer for Ray Eidse, who is setting out for mission work in Paraguay.
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“JOIN WITH ME in suffering for the gos pel.” These words from 2 Timothy 1:8 were emblazoned at the front of the auditorium at the Rosenort School as the churches from EMC Region Six gathered for a mis sions conference October 29-31. Beneath this written invitation stood servants of the Lord who extended the same, verbally, as they recounted their own experience and witness of suffering in places like Sudan and Egypt. James Okott, a pastor with the African church that meets at Calvary Temple in Winnipeg, opened the conference on Fri day evening with a message that an swered the question “Why are Christians persecuted?” He showed that Christianity has always been subject to misunderstanding and per secution — at the beginning it was consid ered as a Jewish heresy, later it was seen as a subversive movement against emper ors claiming divine status, and became viewed as an exclusive religion in a plural istic world. We should expect nothing dif ferent today, he said. On Sunday evening Mr. Okott shared practical ways in which we can encourage those who face perse cution now. Several missionaries reported during the weekend. On Friday Alvira Friesen spoke on her work in Mexico, and on Saturday Carl and Lisa Loewen shared their vision to reach street children in the Philippines. Also on Saturday, EMC missionary Dave Schmidt shared of his ministry experiences, which have been both joyful and painful. He challenged listeners to be resolute in pursuing a life of holiness, no matter the cost. It is when we allow God to refine us in His fire that we emerge as pure gold, he said.
Sunday was a full day for those attending the conference. The auditorium was filled with worshippers from the five churches within the region. We heard from Flo Friesen, who shared of a fascinating and poignant “prayer tour” in Turkey, a trip that ended up being quite different than ex pected! We experienced a little of the Antioch experience in Acts 13 as Frank Kroeker, pastor of the Rosenort EMC, led in a com missioning prayer for Ray Eidse, who is setting out for mission work in Paraguay. Hearts were captured by the intriguing tales of Samir Youssef, a missionary to Muslims in North America through Arabic Ministries International, as he delivered the Sunday morning address. The program also featured several informative workshops Sunday morning and evening. Many people commented on the timeli ness of this emphasis on the persecuted church. They appreciated an increased awareness of how we can actually join in the struggle through intelligent prayer and encouragement. Ward Parkinson
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A quartet from the Rosenort EMC provided music.
THE MESSENGER
Loreena Thiessen Winnipeg, MB
HEY KIDS! DO YOU HAVE A DREAM? DO YOU DREAM of climbing the Alps, or soaring high above them in a noiseless glider? Do you dream of studying lions and hyenas on an African safari, or marvelling at the colours of the bird of paradise? Is it your dream to work with children or
‘^lAtlus SIGURDSON - to Jonathan and Pat Sigurdson of Riverton, Man., a son, Tanner Blayke, on April 14, 1999. KOWALSON - to Michael and Delores Kowalson of Riverton, Mem., a daughter, Tianna Marie Ruth, on October 6, 1999. HERRON - to Mark and Sherry Herron of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Brenna Stephanne, on August 18, 1999. PETERS - to Willie and Justina Peters, a son, Blaine Charles, on September 15, 1999. BEZANSON - to Bryon and Janice Bezanson of Swift Current, Sask., a daughter, Taylor Marie Kate, on October 21, 1999. FRIESEN - to Chad and Crystal Friesen of Winnipeg, Mem., a daughter, Marissa Alexy, on May 6, 1999. DYCK - to Kelly and Carla Dyck of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Mikayla Danielle, on May 15, 1999. COX - to Patrick and Laurie Cox of Alberta, a daughter, Julia Danae, on June 7, 1999. REIMER - to Jeff and Corrie Lynn Reimer of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Mikayla Chantelle, on August 25, 1999. BROESKY - to Mike and Jacqui Broesky of Steinbach, Man., a son, Christian Michael Scott, on April 28, 1999. HILDEBRAND - to Patrick and Chantel Hildebrand of Steinbach, Mem., a son, Hayden Patrick, on September 19, 1999. GOERTZEN - to Robert and Monica Goertzen of Steinbach, Mem., a daughter, Sonya Lexine, on September 14, 1999. THIESSEN - to Al and Robyn Thiessen of Nairobi, Kenya, a chosen daughter, Hailey Malaika Ruth, bom on October 11, 1999. WIEBE - to John and Desiree Wiebe of Lowe Farm, Man., a daughter, Megan Raelynn, on October 28, 1999. FRIESEN - to Darryl and Trudy Friesen of La Crete, Alta., a son, Logan David, on November 27, 1999. DYCK - to Trevor and Connie Dyck of La Crete, Alta., a son, Brody Wayne, on October 22, 1999. FEHR - to George and Karen Fehr of La Crete, Alta., a son, Landen James, on October 30,1999. BRAUN - to Suzanne Braun of La Crete, Alta., a daughter, Kenzie Joelle Yvonne, on November 4, 1999. DECEMBER 15, 1999
help hurting people in faraway places where war and earthquakes destroy en tire villages? Do you want to write a book, be a mother or a father, or someone’s special friend? Or, is your dream a secret dream, one you haven’t told anyone? Long ago it was believed that dreams during sleep held meaning for people in their daily lives. People who study dreams today tell us our nighttime dreams are re lated to events that happen to us while we are awake. Do you remember Joseph? He dreamed his brothers’ grain sheaves bowed down to his sheaf. Then he dreamed that the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him. That’s in Genesis 37. Joseph’s family felt insulted. They took that dream to mean they would bow down to Joseph. They also felt threatened. In fact, his broth ers felt so threatened they planned to kill Joseph. Thirty-seven years later Joseph’s dream came tme. When he was the Pharaoh’s food manager during the great famine in the land of Egypt, his family did bow down to him. This was part of God’s plan in sav ing Jacob’s family. It was through Jacob’s family line that Jesus would be bom many years in the future. God’s plan that Jesus would be bom on earth began with His promise to Abraham and Sarah. Their dream was to have a child. This was God’s plan too. Their child was
Isaac. Isaac was Joseph’s grandfather. At the time of Jesus’ birth God sent sev eral important messages through dreams. In a dream He told another Joseph, Mary’s husband-to-be, not to be afraid to marry her. He said their baby was God’s Son; He would save His people from their sins. He told them to call Him Jesus. In a dream God warned the wise men not to return to Herod. Then, in another dream. He told Joseph to escape with Mary and Jesus to Egypt. God did this to ensure that His plan would be carried out. His plan was that Jesus would live among the people on earth to teach them what He wanted them to know. God made this plan because He loves you. He is interested in you. He knows all about you, too. Read about that in Psalm 139:1-6. He created you (Psalm 139:13). This means He gave you your talents and skills. He gave you your dream. Your dream, and your talents and skills, the things you are good at, go hand in hand. Your dream is like a goal, and your abilities can help you get there. Because God gave you your dream. He can use it to help Him in His plan for the whole universe. But “Stop!” I can hear someone say. “I don’t have a dream!” If you don’t have a dream and you want one, why don’t you ask God to give you one? Then wait to see what happens. You could be pleasantly surprised! God is the first dream-maker!
FOOD FOR FUN AND FELLOWSHIP Favorite Recipes of the Canadian Evangelical Mennonite Conference > > > >
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING? Every time I take my cookbook to work, people there want to order their own books! I already bought 4 for my daughters, now my mom wanted one, too. Please send me 3 more copies—I have one and find it's a great cookbook! One of the cookbooks was sent to [me in] Quebec from MB. I would like to get 4 copies for Christmas gifts...
SPEAKING OF CHRISTMAS... Is there anyone on your Christmas list who might like to unwrap their own copy of FOOD FOR FUN AND FELLOWSHIP this holiday season? Featuring approximately 600 recipes from around our Evangelical Mennonite Conference, FOOD FOR FUN AND FELLOWSHIP is a great gift idea—or perhaps you don’t yet have your own copy and feel you're missing out on the excitement! Cookbooks are available at the Conference Office as well as Hull's Family Bookstores in Steinbach and Winnipeg. You may also use this fonn to order copies by mail ’*By last Christmas (’98), through the sales of Food for Fun and Fellowship a total of $1,260.00 had been given to our EMC missions program. THANK YOU!!
NAME: ADDRESS:
PHONE: CHURCH: Send books at $13.50 Add Shipping & Handling Total Enclosed Return to: Melanie Frayle, P.O. Box 8, Grp. 18, R.R. 1, Steinbach, MB ROA 2A0 (cheques payable to Melanie Frayle)
Shipping & Handling: 1-3 books to MB/SK $4.10/4+ books $4.55 1-3 books to AB/ON $5.45/4+ books $6.05 1-3 books to BC/QC$6.30/4+ books $7.10
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Prayer is requested as the Taber EMC, with a Sunday morning attendance of around 80, looks for a full-time pastor to begin in the spring 2000. Candidates should have some pastoral experience and be fluent in Low German. The church and the EMC Board of Missions take joint responsibility for hiring the pastor. Candidates can write to Dave Thiessen, Taber EMC board chairman, 5004-45 Ave., Taber, Alberta TIG 1A8, or phone him at 403-223-2240. The EMC Conference Pastor, John Koop, cein also be contacted. The Northern Fellowship Chapel (EMC) In Creighton, Sask. (pop. 1700), near Flin Flon, Man. (pop. 7500), seeks a pastor gifted in outreach with a vision for the future; the worker would also direct a local CSSM Bible camp part-time. Salary and housing package worked out with church in consultation with the EMC Board of Missions and CSSM. Information pack age sent on request. Applicants are to be well grounded spiritually and personally. Contact: Search Committee, Box 35, Creighton, SK SOP OAO. Call board member Deb Odegaard at 306-688-2996, EMC Conference Pastor John Koop, or CSSM Manitoba director Dean Davidson at 204-667-8311.
EMC ministry opportunities in Mexico. A youth worker is needed to work in the Spanish churches. Duties include discipling youth and training/mentoring youth leaders. A pastor for a long-term (2 to 3 years) ministry is needed for a new Low German-speaking church in Oasis in the state of Chihuahua. Contact Lester Olfert or other missions staff (Henry Klassen, John Koop). VhnderhcKif Christian Fellowship (EMC) invites applications for a youth pastor. If interested, please contact the search committee: Ron Penner at 250-567-9983 or Lindsay Janzen at 250-567-4905. Senior pastor position available at the Mount Salem EMC in Aylmer, Ont. The congregation is younger, and the Sunday morning attend ance is 350. Duties are to begin early spring 2000. Contact Arnold Loewen at 519-773-2728 (phone and fax) or George Krahn at 519-7735061 or write Pastoral Search Committee, Mount Salem EMC, R.R.6, Aylmer, Ontario N5H 2R5.
Youth for Christ in Carman, Man., is looking for a person to fill the position of executive direc tor of a drop-in centre. The successful appli cant needs to be excited about the challenge of ministering to youth and have a good grasp of dealing with people. For more information, contact Ang Penner (204-745-6186) or Mel Toews (204-745-6062), E-mail: yfchrist@mb.sympatico.ca. The Rest Haven Nursing Home in Steinbach, PAGE 14
Man., invites applications for the position of volunteer coordinator on a volunteer basis. Responsibilities include recruiting volunteers and assisting the director of recreation serv ices in management/coordination of volunteers. A job description is available upon request. Call Peter Enns at 204-326-2206, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Youth for Christ Steinbach welcomes inquir ies and resumes for the position of ladies’ youth guidance worker as part of a team in reaching out to troubled youth in Steinbach, Man. The successful candidate will be re quired to raise her own support. Qualifica tions; vital and growing relationship with Je sus Christ, keen desire to share the life-chang ing message of Jesus Christ, agreement with the YFC Statement of Faith and Conduct. Con tact: Jim Harms, Executive Director, Box 1791, Steinbach, Man. ROA 2A0, Phone; 204-3264366, Fax: 204-346-0620, E-mail: yfcs@ccco.net. Aylmer EMMC, a growing congregation of 400, seeks a pastor of discipleship to help de velop and carry out a plan for making biblical disciples of Christ, with a special emphasis on children and youth. The primary responsibility will be the development and coaching of lead ers who are involved in the church’s educa tional programs, especially the youth ministry. The person will have strengths in teaching, plan ning, and leadership development. For a job description and information about the application process contact: Abe and Helen Martens, 38 Hawthorne Cr., Aylmer, Ont. N5H 3C3. Phone: 519-773-8253, E-mail: martens@kanservu .ca.
BOARD OF MISSIONS
EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE What interests youf CANADA - MEXICO NICARAGUA - PARAGUAY AFRICA
We plant churches, serve in evangelism, discipleship, leadership training, radio, public health and development.
Contact us!
Box 1268 Steinbach, MB ROA 2AO Phone; 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: emconf@mts.net Website: www.sbcollege.mb.ca/EMC/ indexhtm
The E.M. Conference invites applications for the position of
Steinbach CMC Church invites applications for youth director (married couple preferred). If interested, please contact the search com mittee: Kevin Martens (204-326-4826) or Ri chard Martens (204-326-2151). Needed for March 2000: a senior pastor for the Rosenort Evangelical Mennonite Church. The church has an active membership of 250. Pastoral qualifications will include an engaging preaching style, an evangelistic outlook, strong visitational skills, and sound doctrine. Previous pastoral experience is an asset. There is an opportunity to work with a youth pastor and a multiple lay ministry. A resume, including a doc trinal statement, is requested. An information packet is available from the search committee chairman Larry Eidse, Box 218, Rosenort, Man. ROG 1 WO. Phone: 204-746-8422(home) 204746-8355(work). Fax: 204-746-2069.
Bergfeld Mennonite Church is accepting ap plications for the position of pastor. If you feel God leading you to a small rural church setting, we would like to hear from you. Con tact: Pastoral Search Committee, c/o Edwin Dueck, Box 21, Plum Coulee, Man. ROG IRO.
Conference Pastor Responsibilities include: Pastoral responsibilities with the Board of Ministers and Deacons. This involves pro viding oversight of and support to established churches and church leadership in Canada. Canadian Secretary duties with the Board of Missions. This involves providing over sight and support to churches, and workers within churches, classified as plants or sub sidized works in Canada. Duties are to begin July 2000. For a more detailed job description, or to submit a resume with a cover letter, please contact:
Ron Penner Search Committee Co-chairman 1011 Munroe Ave. Winnipeg, Man. R2K 1J7 Phone: 204-667-3790 Fax: 204-255-9062 THE MESSENGER
DICK ZACHARIAS 1924-1999 Suddenly at his home in Rosenort, Man., with his wife at his side, Dick Zacharias, aged 75, went home to be with his Lord, on November 13, 1999. Dad was born on November 5, 1924, in Altona, Man., to Peter P. and Mary Zacharias. Dad met Mom in Rosenort, and they were married on November 3, 1946. He was a faithful husband and
Mom’s best friend. He will be missed more than words can say. Dad loved music, golfing, travelling and long walks. Above all, he loved his family and will be remembered as cheerleader for his kids and grandkids. His involvement in the church and community was extensive. He served as a councillor for the RM of Morris, as director of the Eden Foundation Board of Directors, and a member of the Chris tian Businessmen’s Corporation for twenty-five years. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Morris Community Development Corporation. One of Dad’s first jobs was in the local cheese factory. He went on to found Dick’s Construction and, in 1965, Rosenort Concrete. Dad was a deacon in the Rosenort Fel lowship Chapel, as well as a song leader, choir director, Sunday school teacher and superintendent. Mom and Dad spent many hours in Bible study and ministry to senior friends. He was predeceased by their thirteenyear-old son, Wesley, in 1963. Dad leaves to cherish his memory his dear wife.
Eleanor, three sons and three daugh ters: Richard and Donna (Winnipeg, Man.), Brenda and Norman Thiessen (B.C.), Lloyd and Lorna (Morris, Man.), Kel and Susan (Rosenort), Shan and Dan Eidse (Rosenort), and Holly and Cam Rowland (California). He is also survived by their grandchil dren and great-grandchildren: Chris and Jana Zacharias (Raydan and Morgan), Marshall and Malynda Zacharias, Tara and Chris Meilun, Sharalee and Ian Smith; Renee and Chad Allen (Mackensie and Chase), Rochelle and Mike Bartlett, Alison and Joel Thiessen; Lyndsey and Stacey Zacharias; Jill and Amy Zacharias; Tyson, Molly and Jonah Eidse; Harrison and Toban Rowland. Also left to mourn Dad’s passing is a large extended family, including John Penner, as well as a host of friends, ten ants and business acquaintances. The funeral service for Dick Zacharias was held in the Rosenort EMC on Wednesday, November 17. His Family
DAISY BARTEL PENNER 1922-1999 On Wednesday, July 7, 1999, at the Reston Hospital, Daisy Penner, beloved wife of Albert Penner, passed away af ter a courageous battle with cancer. Daisy was born on September 2, 1922, in Kleefeld, Manitoba. In 1942 she was baptized upon her faith and modelled the service of her Lord for the rest of her life. She married Albert Penner in 1946 and moved to a farm near Sinclair, Man. She helped Albert on the farm, raised four sons and pursued her interests in the church, singing, nature, flowers and trav elling. Mom lived life to the fullest. Mom’s family was always foremost in her mind — keeping Dad from over-em
bellishing his stories, making sure he took his medication, and advising him on decisions, listening to her sons and “chosen” daughters (daughters-in law), reading to her grandchildren. She was not an overly demonstrative person but she could, in very few words, let you know she was around, supporting us. Her touch and her hug meant a lot. Mom loved to sing, and her clear so prano voice could be heard throughout the church. One of her favourite topics was sacred music, and she did exten sive research on this subject. She also had a great love for poetry. In 1988 she and Albert retired to Reston, where they continued the pur suit of her interests and took up golfing. They lived in Reston until she entered the local hospital in mid-June. Mom’s dignity and courage were a source of strength for us right to the end. Her strong faith carried her and us through the difficult time of her illness. Daisy is lovingly remembered by Albert, her husband of fifty-three years; her sons, Randy and Gloria, Don and Dianne, Trev and Kathy, Barry and Brenda. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren: Kent, Verne, Amy, Ivan, Colleen, Bryce, Cory, Kendra, Laurae, Gayla, Jay, Andrea and Carissa. Daisy is also survived by her stepmother.
Helen Isaac; her brothers and sisters, Edward and Nellie Isaac, Bill and Mathilda Isaac, Walter and Betty Isaac, Leona and Glen Braun, Alfred and Lorene Isaac, Gladys and Milton Fast, Jean and Clarence Giesbrecht, Joyce and Walter Koop. She will be lovingly remembered by her friends and neigh bours from the Sinclair, Reston and Kola districts. She was a strength and model to her extended family of brothers, sis ters, nephews and nieces. Daisy was predeceased by an infant son, Errol, in 1948, and by one sister, Amanda Toews, in 1994. Thank you to the staff at the Reston Hospital for their gentle and thoughtful care, along with their understanding of the presence of Dad and the family dur ing this difficult time. Funeral services were held at the Kola EMC on July 12, with interment in the Reston cemetery. Mom, we are going to miss your love for your family, your ability to under stand other people’s perspective, your dry sense of humour, and your great Christmas dinners. We know you have gone to heaven and are being rewarded for your exemplary life on earth. Her Family
DECEMBER 15. 1999
PAGE 15
MH
THINKING ABOUT MEXICO AND TURKEY
To the Homeless and Hurting Dora Friesen
I
silence followed. Then Vaio, Riveras’ youngest son, a married man, asked me to pray. Aricely, a schoolteacher, prayed as well (not their usual custom). After the scrumptious Mexican meal and visiting, 1 was wonder ing when 1 should leave. 1 knew they would be going to another relative’s house and would be up all night. Soon 1 knew what to do. One of my neighbours came looking for me, asking me to give an intravenous injection to his mother. 1 thanked the Riveras and left. When I went to bed at midnight 1 felt very thankful for the wonderful evening. 1 was not with my family, but 1 had been in a family setting. 1 am grateful for all the good Christmases 1 have had in Mexico. Only a few were lonely ones. Today 1 am thinking of the people in Turkey. Many are still living in green military tents or white Red Cross tents. It is getting cold, and 1 hope they will all soon get insulated winter tents. In September 1 was part of a group of six women who went to Turkey to help serve food to those who were left homeless after the August earthquake. How could we show the love of Christ to these hurting people who had lost loved ones? We didn’t know the lan guage, and smiling did not seem to be enough, so we started hugging Dora Friesen, seen here in Turkey, was an EMC missionary for many years in Mexico. She is now retired in Steinbach, Manitoba. While Dora has already shared this letter with many of her the women. Some cried, all re sponded, which was rewarding. friends, she was encouraged to share it with a wider audience. Often they served us chai (tea) and sprinkled our hands with cologne. touches to the big meal. Since I knew the Riveras quite Our two translators, who also slept in our tent, were a well, 1 felt comfortable about gathering the children tremendous help to us when we visited in the “tent around me to tell them the Christmas story, with the cities.” One “city” had more than three thousand adults listening in. One daughter-in-law was asking people and another one over four thousand. It was an questions. experience never to be forgotten. Finally, we all sat down around the table; an awkward T IS DECEMBER 24, late afternoon, in Oscar Soto Maynez. I was walking to the home of the Riveras (my former landlord) for a family Christmas supper. 1 felt honoured by the invitation, and took them a gift. As 1 neared their house the aroma of deep-fried meat filled the air. The pig had been slaughtered in the morning. On arrival 1 was soon served an appetizer of spare ribs, com tortillas, and coke. There was much activity — getting all the grandchil dren bathed and dressed, and putting the finishing
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