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Inside: 1971 Index December 31. 1971

Vol. 9

No. 27

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ARE WE TOO TIME CONSCIOUS?

One of the interesting manifestations of the current revival movement which has invaded much of the West, and now also has become evident in Winnipeg, is that time seems to lose much of its importance. A Bible school student testified to the fact that he had begun to get hungry in chapel and all of a sudden realized that it was nearly supper time. Chapel had run to al most 6 p.m. One of our EMC churches in the city experienced a Sunday morning service which lasted on after the reg ular service was dismissed, to 1:30 in the afternoon. Another city church had much the same experience. Current Crusade meetings which began at 7:30 ran for two hours or more and were followed by after meetings beginning about 11 o’clock which could last till after midnight, to one and two o’clock in the morning. And we’re not aware of any one complaining. What do we learn from all this? If it is anything it is that one of the things we must be willing to take a second look at is our deeply rooted preoccupations with time and schedule. I am not against schedule or form of worship but think it should be flexible enough to allow the Holy Spirit to work. We just cannot program the Holy Spirit and put Him into a certain half hour of our day somewhere and be done with it. Many are the cases in the past where the Spirit of God has so moved upon people that they forgot about time. And it seems to me that if the Holy Spirit is to speak to us in this generation, in this land, this province, this town, this church, this home, that we will have to take time to let God speak to us and we to God. This seems to have been the case during the days of Ezra when the people asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses “Which the Lord had commanded Israel.” And as the people stood he “read therin before the street that was before the water gate from the morn ing till midday.... ” (Marginal reading for “from the morning” is “from the light”) So preoccupied were they with the Lord that they even had to be told to go and eat. (Nehemia 8:1-12). Too often we have the mistaken notion that God is where the action is. Elijah had to relearn this theory. God was not in the strong wind; not in the earth quake; not in the fire — but in the still small voice. (1 Kings 20:11-12). Today we haven’t the time to lis ten to the still small voice. We’re far too busy “for God” (I believe it was Grady Wilson who claimed that some 99.4 percent of the so-called Christian work of America is being done through the energy of the flesh.) We take a leap of some 900 years and we see a vast number of people (Mark 6:34-35) who had been so wrap ped up with listening to Jesus that they apparently took no note of the passing of time. This reveals that “the day was now far spent” or in the words of the dis ciples who asked Jesus to dismiss the multitudes “the

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time is far passed”, seemingly indicating that it was far past the usual closing time. But hungry hearts had not taken note of the passing hours. From more recent history we see the same manifesta tions in the revival which swept Wheaton College some 20 years ago. It happened at the semi-annual week of evangelism. With the Wednesday evening service it became appar ent that this was no ordinary meeting. Later Dr Edmen said that “he had wanted to close the testimony meet ing after Gene’s (one of the students) testimony and proceed with the service. But Gene wasn’t the last. Spontaneously more and more rose to their feet. This went on all Wednesday night, through Thursday and Thursday night and on to Friday morning. On Friday morning, fearing too many spectators and curiosity seekers were coming. President Edman dismissed the service to a room in the lower chapel. The Asbury College revival early in 1970 was the same. It too began with testimonies. When the 50 minutes was ended there were still many waiting to speak. A faculty member announced a hymn of dedication and approx imately half the student body moved forward and a re vival which lasted some 185 hours had begun. All these manifestations are evidence that the Holy Spirit does not necessarily work by the clock. The fast systematized, automated pace of life we are seeing all around us has also crept into the church where it may unwittingly become the enemy of the Holy Spirit. While we must have organization and structure, “the problem develops”, as Myron Augsburger puts it, “when organization becomes master instead of tool, and when the structure of the Christian Church supercedes the freedom of the Holy Spirit.... Unless the Spirit of God guides our structure, it is possible that men who seek to use the particular gifts that God has endowed them with will find themselves in conflict with the organized Church.” John Drescher, in a recent editorial, makes a similar observation with regard to a less formal approach of worship saying, “In the observation I’m able to do across our denomination and others it seems that one kind of meeting is catching interest and attendance, while the formal type of meeting — two songs, devo tional, song and speech — is turned off, the praise and prayer informal meeting is turning people on..... People today, particularly young people, are not satis fied or turned on by the distant ritual, the tightly struc tured service, or the monologue. There may be times for these. But there must be time for honest sharing of needs.” Back to the current manifestations of the Spirit includ ing the College revivals mentioned. It seems that the testimonies of those who have experienced revival is one of the important factors of success. Is this maybe an indication of a turn that some (or many) of our meetings should take? More testimonies of those who have had a fresh encounter with the Lord? From observing and hearing in the present awaken ings in many places, one would say yes. It seems that 1 Corinthians 14:26-35 would also support this. In some services there has been no preaching at all. THE MESSENGER

Another fact that is brought out by the revival is the enumerable burdens that people are bearing day after day and for which they had no release until they met God at the revival. The opportunity to freely share these burdens with a sympathetic fellow Christian brought the relief that otherwise might have required psychiatric care. Should this not tell us that we should give serious thought to making time available periodically in our worship services or as the need arises, for opportunity for the sharing and bearing of mutual woes, concerns and burdens? — D. S. REMINISCING ON CHRISTMAS 1971

Today the house is strangly quiet (accept for the chatter of the typewriter where Arlene is typing my lead editorial) after the event of the last few days. But it was a time of rich blessing as we all gathered in our living room to celebrate our Christmas get-together on December 26. Danny — we call him our tax collector — got a long holi day from his job at the city hall where he is employed in the Taxation Department. He got his old basement room back when he came. For real comfort it has something to be desired but we had opened an extra heat vent so I think he made out all right. I think he only complained once. Carol (her name is really Carolyn) got a week’s holidays from her job at the bank (Northdale Shopping Centre) so she had already been home for almost a week. Since her old room was now the spare bedroom she moved in without any major disruptions. After two years of being away at Bible School it is good to have her closer to home for a change. A little bit of excitement was injected into the routine when the phone rang just before we went to the church Christmas program on the 24th. On the other end of the line was a very excited and breathless Gary. After they had left Winnipeg the car began acting up and they had barely made it to the end of town. By the sound of it, it could have been something major! Could we get them? So Danny was dispatched to pick up Gary, Vai (his wife) and Ruth who had also come along. You know Gary is one of those fortunate ones who has a wife to help him through college. Vai works at the Sargent and Sher brook branch of the Royal Bank. It was even her lot last summer to be a witness to a bank robbery which I’m sure she would not want to happen to her again. Ruth was one of those unfortunate ones who did not get Christmas off from her duties at the Winnipeg General Hos pital where she began working after she came home from Europe last fall. This meant that Dad had to get up at six on Christmas day morning to take her back to work. But he didn’t mind. Last year the only communication we had was via long distance telephone from Germany which cost more than an extra trip to Winnipeg. At the gathering we again waited till she was off-duty which made the gift pre sentations a bit late but everybody had just enough patience; the children old enough to have learned patience;

our grandchild still too innocent to know what lay behind all those gaudy wrappings! She, Karla, of course revelled in all the attention she got from Uncles and Aunts (not to speak of all the gifts she received from them!). By popularity contest standards she certainly took first prize. But I don’t think she’s spoil ed yet! In my ramblings I’ve almost forgotten Karla’s parents and that would have been a tragedy. Gordon is our big boy. We kind of look up to him and his wife Dianna. You know Gordon had to pretty well shift for himself from a young age — well 18 or so. Mom and Dad and the rest of the family took on a church some KM) miles away and he didn’t move along since his job was here and he also went to school here. But somehow or other, in spite of this — or because of it — he finished his high school, a year of Bible school and two years at MIT (Red River Community College). Dianna, who got her LPN training before they were married, is now a full time wife and mother which I’m sure she doesn’t mind. Arlene, whom I mentioned before, does not seem to mind too much that all her sisters and brothers have left home. At least Danny doesn’t sass her anymore. Although she claims that by now she gives it right back to him which brought her to the conclusion that he now takes it out on little Karla. Well be that as it may, we know that they do love each other in spite of a little tiff now and then. She is looking forward to taking her Grade XII in the new Region al school going up on the southern edge of town. Talking about sassing, there was some — the good natured reminiscing kind — even among the older ones. Gary never seems to tire of reminding Gordon that when we had liver for dinner he (Gordon) could have wieners be cause he didn’t like liver (neither did the others). But Dad reminded him how well he had turned out! Or the time Danny fell off the horse as his uncle’s farm and went around the neighborhood selling sympathy cards with a cast on his arm. (He claims Gary made him do it and all he got out of it was a box of cracker jack or something.) But now to the one — like the song about the farmer — who “feeds them all.” Mom of course. This year, with an extra table from the basement she rigged it up so that we could all sit at one big table in comfort. This was a real achievement for her because it had caused her some con cern how to seat everyone around one table. No one had to sit at one of these little trays this year. Needless to say for both mom and dad as for many others no doubt, Christmas is one of the highlights of the year. One to be truly thankful for and may the prayer of thanksgiving which was uttered before the giving of gifts, be one which will express itself also in the daily grind of living. But I see that the cuckoo clock on the wall is on the verge of striking nine and it is time to close off this chapter anyway. Forgive my rambling and the Lord bless you all. —D, S. Cover: The American and Horseshoe Falls, Ontario. Courtesy Ontario Oepartment Tourism and Inlormation.

THE MESSENGER. Published every other week by Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Board of Education and Publication. Box 1268, Steinbach, Manitoba. Second Class Mail, Registration Number 0591. Undeliverable copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be mailed to the above address, December 31, 1971

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Church Organization in the Apostolic Church by Dan Thiessen

INTRODUCTION

In order to gain clear insight into church work today, it is necessary to look into the past to study the function, organization, and ministries of the church of the New Testament. This facilitates a comparison with the church of today and enables better application of scriptural principles to the contemporary community of believers. Hence the topic “Church Organization in the Apostolic Church”. The term church in this paper is used in a two-fold sense: (1) the universal body of believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ who have voluntarily com mitted themselves to Him, and (2) the local body of believers as an expression of the universal body within specific geo graphical limits. Further “the aspostolic church appears as a free, independent, and complete or ganism, a system of supernatural life in a human body. It contains in itself all the offices and energies required for its pur poses. It produces the supply of its out ward wants from its own free spirit. It is a self-supporting and self-governing insti tution.” (&haff)

This paper, though, is not a discussion on the Apostolic Church as a whole, but rather a look at the organization of the Apostolic Church as related to (1) the Apostles themselves, (2) its universal ministries, (3) the local church, and (4) authority within the church. The term organization is, in this paper, used loosely to include the spiritual as pects of church structure as well as the administrative and governmental facets of organization.

Mr. Thiessen is e gratluate of Steinbach Bible Institute. He teaches in the inter lake area of Manitoba. The paper was written for a church his tory assignment while at

I. THE APOSTLES AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH Need for Leadership

The apostles had been given the charge to “Go ... and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Theirs was the respon sibility of committing to all men what they had witnessed. This demanded an initia tive on their part. When, at Pentecost, 5000 men believed, the need for leadership became evident, and some system of dealing with the con verts had to be found. The Unique Ministry The Apostles had the unparalleled privilege of being the ones through whom the Holy Spirit “laid the doctrinal founda tion of the church, delivering the doctrine which the Lord had taught them,” and established “the structural foundation of the Church as it had been revealed to them by the Lord.” No one else took part in this

ministry, and when they had fulfilled it, this office ceased.

'The Continuing Ministry But delivering the truths of Jesus Christ to man did not complete the total ministry of the Apostles. These truths had to be perpetuated, and means of the fur therance of the Gospel had to be estab lished. “When the believers began to numbei thousands, the apostles could not possibly perform all the functions of teaching, con ducting worship and administering discip line; they were obliged to create new of fices for the ordinary wants of the congre gation while they devoted themselves to the general supervision and furtherance of the gospel.” (&haff) In all, five basic ministries were given to the church: (1) apostles, (2) prophets, (3) evangelists, (4) pastors, and (5) teachers. With the fulfillment of the apostolic ministry, says Alexander Hay, “Four of the ministries are continuing. Two of these — Prophets (preachers), and Teachers — are for the

carrying out of our Lord’s two commands — to preach and to teach. The other two — Evangelists and Pastors — are for the plant ing and general care of the congregation.” (Schaff) These were the continuing ministries of the Apostles, until such a time as con verts of the faith should be ready to take them over. Of the four continuing ministries, three were universal.

IL THE UNIVERSAL MINISTRIES AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH While the overall ministries of the Apostolic church were as much, if not more, of a spiritual nature than adminis trative, they were nevertheless a part of the organization, and as such deserve to be discussed. Each had its function so all things could “be done decently and in or der.”

Teachers Teachers were those who “explained and applied the truth that was already pos sessed (He 5:12). Although “in many cases a teacher’s gift is exercised in the congregation with which he fellowships ... in other cases his ministry is to the church as a whole,” says A.R. Hay. “Such ‘Doctors’ or Teachers travel from church to church exercising this ministry.” Evangelists “The work of Evangelist or church planter ... is one of the basic continuing ministries in the Church, for the carrying on of which the Holy Spirit raised up an ever increasing number” to carry on the work begun by the Apostles. They “may be compared to modern missionaries”. While their work would involve preach ing, some oversight of newly established congregations, and even teaching, their basic purpose would be to plant the seed, nourishing it until believers had become established, and then go elsewhere to be gin again. The apostle Paul was this type of work er, spewing of his work in I Cor. 3:6 where he says “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Prophets Where the teacher’s work would in volve expounding doctrine to believers, the ministry of the prophet would be more “the proclamation, or telling forth of the Gospel”. (Hay) Another difference from the other min istries is that “prophesy was a gift and function rather than an office”. Many of the church might possess this gift at one time or another without holding a specific office.

THE MESSENGER

m. THE LOCAL MINISTRIES AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH “Two offices seem to have been re garded as more or less permanent in the church, namely that of bishops or elders ...and that of deacons.” (Wenger)

Deacons The office of the deacon originated, according to the Lukan account in Acts, when Hellenest widows of the newly formed body of believers in Jerusalem, was being discriminated against. “The primitive churches were charit able societies, taking care of the widows and orphans, dispensing hospitality to strangers, and relieving the needs of the poor.” Further, the Apostles felt they did not have time to ’’serve tables”, and so suggested that other men, qualified, be chosen to take care of “the business af fairs of the congregation, such as the care of funds and the distribution of the money intended for the poor of the con gregation.” (Hay) The early church seems also to have had deaconesses. They were “female helpers (who) had ... charge of the poor and sick in the female portion of the church. This office was the more needful on account of the rigid separation of the sexes of that day, especially among the Greeks and the Orientals. It opened to pious women and virgins, and chiefly to widows, a most suitable field for the regular official exercise of their peculiar gifts of self-denying charity and devotion to the welfare of the church.”

Pastors After the Word had been preached, and converts had been gathered into a “flock”, someone was needed to take the respon sibility of attending to its spiritual wel fare. This was the function of the pastor or elder. Some have tried to distinguish between the various terms: bishop, pastor, elder, etc., but it seems that “the terms Presby ter (or elder) and Bishop (or over seer, Superintendent) denote in the New Testament one and the same office.” Further "in Acts 20:17, 28 and I Pet. 5:1-4, it is stated that the Elders should perform the work of Pastors.’^ Contrary to the pastoral system cur rently practiced by many churches today, the elders “appear always as a plurality or as a college in the one and the same con gregation, even in the smaller cities as Phillippi.” “The group of Elders of a con gregation was termed the presbytery’ ... There is no example of a church ruled by one Elder,” says Alexander Hjy. The Elder was a key figure of the local December 31, 1971

church. A quotation at length is in order here: (Hay) (a) As Bishops, the Elders are over seers of the local congregation. In this capacity their responsibilities are: (i) to preside over the gatherings of the local church. They are responsible to see that order is maintained in the meetings of the church and that all is done in accordance with scripture. (ii) They act as leaders of the con gregation, taking the initiative where necessary in that which concerns its corporate life. (iii) They act in representation of the congregation in pronouncing its de cisions and in the laying on of hands. (iv) As the ones who reside they must not permit a weak brother to en gage in disputing and criticizing. They must not allow wrong doctrine to be taught. (v) They must see that there is full liberty for the exercise of all the gifts of the Spirit by all who possess them, but that no one minister who has not the gift of the Spirit to do so. (vi) They must see that the scrip tural procedure is followed in the case of any who may fall into sin. (vii) At times they had to act as jud ges and arbiters in disputes between brethren, although, evidently, others besides the elders may perform this service... (b) As pastors the Elders are responsible for the shepherding of the flock. This means continual watchfulness over the spiritual needs of the congregation and covers every phase of its life and activity. The principal aspects of their ministry as Pastors may be stated as follows:

Summary The pastors and deacons worked to gether to serve the local congregation in its spiritual and physical needs. But as yet no mention has been made of the exer cise of authority within the church, or of decision making activity. rV. AUTHORITY AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH “In the Christian congregation there was no Chief Ruler or President; that place was occupied by the Lord who was present in the midst. There was no High Priest or Great Sanhedrin; Christ was the High Priest, and his absolute authori ty was exercised directly through any company that met in his name.” How did this work out in actual pract ise?

An Example When the Apostolic church faced the problem of the Judaizers, a council was called to deal with the matter. “It consisted not of the apostles alone, but of the apostles, elders and brethren ... James - not one of the Twelve - pre sided as the local bishop and proposed the compromise which was adopted. The transactions were public, before the con gregation; the brethren took part in the deliberations; there was a sharp dis cussion but the spirit of love prevailed over the pride of opinion; the apostles passed and framed the decree, not with out, but with the elders and with the whole church’; and sent tlie circular letter not in their own name only, but also in the name of the brother elders’ or the elder brethren to ‘the brethren .” (Schaff) It is especially noteworthy that not even the Apostles did not impose upon the brethren with their authority, but rather that the solution was finalized when it “seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church ”. More than that, the solution which “seemed good to the apostles and the el ders with the whole church”, stands paral lel, in the same passage, to seeming “good to the Holy Spirit”. The solution proposed by the church coincided with the solution satis fying the Holy Spirit. On another occasion, the church reach es a decision while “worshipping the Lord and fasting.”

(i) They must see that new converts are properly cared for, visited, in structed, and baptized, and that they take the places apportioned to them in the congregation of the Lord. (ii) They should see that all phases of the ministry are taken care of: the instruction of the children, the preach ing of the Word to the saved and un saved, the teaching of the Scriptures, the visitation of those who are sick, the care of those who are weak in the faith and the ministry of prayer. (iii) The responsibility for the act ual preaching and teaching of the Word does not fall upon them more than upon any other member of the congregation. Method Their particular duty is to exercise a Some principles which may be gleaned, watchful care over the spiritual state of the congregation... then, regarding the exercise of authority (iv) They give instruction to any who within the church, and the making of de require it. cisions, are these: (V) They exercise a continual prayer 1. Each brother has equal authority within ministry. When called, they pray for the the church. sick (Jas. 5:14). (Hay) Cont'd on page 6

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CHURCH ORGANIZATION Cont’d.

2. All brethren concerned may be present when issues are discussed and decided upon. 3. Prayer and fasting are the means by which God may make known His will. 4. The unanimous decision of the bre thren constitutes the directive of the Lord. Earle E. Cairns suggests that the scripture teaches that conclusions were reached by democratic vote, but what ever means was used, would make little difference if the brethren were unanimous in their opinion.

CONCLUSION The church organization of the Apos tolic Church began with the apostles themselves. After they had committed the truths entrusted to them to others who would build upon these truths and ap ply them to practica' living, the apostles Seen here are oui two short-term workers in Nicaragua, Ron Wieler and Ronald Olf continued preaching, planting churches, ert, as they do a renovating job on Lester Olfert’s camper. and teaching until other church leaders and administrators had been prepared. your love may abound yet more and God then perpetuated his plan of sal BLESSINGS IN more in knowledge and in all judge vation for man through the organized SHORT TERM SERVICE ment. . . Being filled with the fruits church. Some of the ministries, namely, the Time is flying. This whole short of righteousness which are by Jesus preaching, and church-planting minis term has been a terrific blessing to Christ, unto the glory and praise of tries were for the expansion of the God. This has really become real to me. I praise God for bringing me here church, while the other ministries: and showing me many aspects of true me of late. teaching, the deacon’s offices and the pas I have enjoyed my work here thus tor’s offices were more for the establish victorious Christian living. Unconsciously, my habit for years far and the fellowship with mission ing and nourishment of the churches. The organization of the early church, was to fall into temptation, ask for aries of other denominations has the Apostolic Church was (1) simple, forgiveness and then follow the pro meant a lot to me. For me to live is Christ and to the whole church having but five basic cedure over and over again. God has spiritual ministries, and two local of given me a way out in His Word; “Re die is gain. Phil. 1:21. fices; and (2) adequate, for the church sist the devil and he will flee from grew by leaps and bounds during the first Ronald Olfert you.” James 4:7 and “If God be for us, century. who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. It’s tremendous to experience victory + + + BIBLIOGRAPHY HOW TO AVOID TROUBLE in reality. Cairns. Earle, E., Christianity Through The Centuries Let us give up our work, our thoughts, The fellowship with the Friesens, Hay. Alexander, R., The New Testament Order for our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved Olferts, and other missionaries has Church and Missionary ones, our influence, our all, right into His also been very beneficial to my own hand, and then, when we have given all Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, Christian life. Work is enjoyable. over to Him, there will be nothing left for vol. I. Apostolic Christianity us to trouble about, or to make trouble James Orr (editor). The International Standard about. Ron Wieler Bible Encyclopedia —J. Hudson Taylor PRAISES GOD

Praise the Lord anyhow! I really thank and praise Him for showing me and giving me many spiritual blessings. My mind has been broadened a great deal to the real needs of people in foreign fields. The meaning of prayer has meant a great deal more to me now than before I came here. Phil. 1:9-11 where Paul writes to the Philippians, and this to pray that Page 6

Wenger. John C., Separated Unto God

MCC (Canada) Annual Meeting January 14, 15. 1972 Mennonite Brethren Church, Steinbach There will also be a public session which will be held in the EMC church at 422 Main Street, Steinbach, on Friday evening, January 14, 1972

THE MESSENGER

1971 Index ARTICLES

...Jan.1 Mennonites: Evangelical Thrust for 7O’s............. . Jan. 29 12,000 Attend Urbana ’70................................... March 12 Please Call the Vet, Barbara Winston................ .. .April 9 Christian Service Brigade, Helena Dueck........... . .April 23 The Unchanging Certainty of the Bible.............. ...May 7 Give Her the Flowers, Now, Sharon Sherwood.. ...May 7 Helping in Mexico............................................. The Early Christian Community and the Question of Pacifism, Paul Loewen.................................................. June 4 Pioneer Girls, What Is It? — Erna Koop............................June 18 Observations: Re Constitution Revision I, Harvey G. Plett. .July 30 Missionaries Are People I, Jac Kroeker........................... Aug. 13 Missionaries Are People II, Jac Kroeker........................... Aug. 27 Congo Churchmen Here.................................................... Aug. 27 Congo Delegation Visits Canada and U.S.A........................ Sept. 10 NAE Acquires EFMA Purchasing Office Wheaton, Illinois........... Sept. 10 Sept. 10 Mid-West Church Growth, D. K. Schellenberg........ Sept. 24 So You’re Off to School, Harvey G. Plett................. Sept. 24 Communicating the Gospel to Other Cultures......... Increase in Conscientious Objection — A World-Wide ..Oct. 8 Phenomenon, Gerald E. Shenk.............................. Oct. 22 Revised Constitution II, Harvey G. Plett................. .Oct. 22 Numerical Quantitative and Qualitative Importance. .Nov. 5 Why a Constitution, Harvey G. Plett........................ .Dec. 3 Social Action vs Evangelism................................... .Dec. 3 E.M.C. Nurses Fellowship, Evelyn Doerksen........... Dec. 31 To The Holy Land, Harold Plett..............................

CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES Missionary Conference — Steinbach.................. S.B.I. Youth Conference................................... S.B.I. Ministers’ Seminar.................................. Student — Minister Fellowship.......................... E.M.C. Sunday School Superintendents’ Seminar S.B.I. Missionary Conference............................. Rest Haven 25th Anniversary............................. Rest Haven Apt. “C” Opening........................... Shut-Ins’ Day at the Rest Haven........................ S.B.I. Commencement...................................... Annual Conference — Steinbach........................ S.B.I. Alumni Homecoming.............................. E.M.C. Orientation School................................

. .Jan. 29 ..Feb. 12 March 26 March 26 ...April 9 .. .April 9 .. .May 21 .. .May 21 . .June 18 ....July 2 .. .July 16 .. .July 16 ,. .July 30

EDEN MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE Redekopp Joins E.M.H.C. Staff........................... Eden Mental Health Centre Presentation of Roses. Two Trainees Arrive at Eden Mental Health Centre

March 12 . .July 16 ..Aug. 27

EDITORIALS To All People................ The Land We Live In.... Single Or Plura! Ministry Your Leaders.............. . What’s New?.................. Looking Ahead.............. The Joy of Discovery....

December 31,1971

.. .January 1 . .January 15 . .January 29 February 12 .February 12 .February 12 .February 26

The Canadian Mennonite............. “One Another” Christianity......... Church Growth........................... Spring’s Resurrection.................. God’s Book................................. Social Problems and Evangelism.. What Kind of Faith..................... Will God Really Forgive?........... , ’The Ascension............................ Too Many Churches................... By The Way — The Blue Trunk... Rooftop Revelation..................... Annual Conference...................... You Are Going The Wrong Way... The Power of Influence.............. The Masks We Wear................... Who Has The Answer?................ “Spoiled” Weekends................... Where Will It End?..................... Lord, Increase Our Faith............. One Body, Many Members.......... The Cutting Edge........................ Laborers Together...................... Time To Retire.......................... Miracles Still Happen.................. Preaching vs Teaching................ What If?..................................... Sunday Praying........................... Develop Those Ideas................... Eyesalve ................................... Discipline Your Thoughts........... Recovering Lost Opimism ........ . Revival...................................... Are We Too Time Conscious?.... Reminiscing on Christmas — 1971

... .March 12 ... .March 12 ... .March 26 ........ April 9 ...... April 23 ........ April 23 ...... April 23 ..........May 7 ........ May 21 ........ May 21 ......... May 21 .......... June 4 ........ June 18 ........ June 18 ........ June 18 ........... July 2 ..........July 16 ..........July 16 .......... July 30 ........ April 13 ....August 27 ... .August 27 ....August 27 September 10 September 10 September 24 ... .October 8 .. .October 22 . .November 5 .November 19 .November 19 . .December 3 .December 17 ........ Dec. 31 ........ Dec. 31

EDUCATION 12,000 Attend Urbana ’70.................................................... Jan. 29 Schools and Colleges, Dave Thiessen.................................. Feb. 26 Joint EMMC — EMC Committee.........................................July 2 Joint Publishing Venture..................................................... July 2 Ninth Annual School of Christian Writing, Raymond Duecks.......... Aug. 27 Theology and Arts Study Outline.... .Aug. 27 Learning Centre to Open in Winnipeg .Aug. 27 Minneapolis for Probe ’72................ Sept. 10 Sunday School Seminar Held........... . .Oct. 8 800 Attend Columbia Conference...... .. Nov. 5 Minneapolis for Probe ’72................ . .Nov. 5 New Curriculum to Be Explored...... .Nov. 19

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE Be Thankful for Dirty Dishes, Anne Klassen........................ Jan. 1 A New Diiriension — Being Shut-In, Amanda Peters. Feb. 12 A Little Visitor, Laura Siemens....................................... March 12 What Is God’s Will For My Life, Mrs Peter R. Barkman... .April 23 “Mommy, What Are Circumstances?”.................................May 7 Labour of Love, Anne Klassen............................................. July 2 The Hand of God in My Life, Laura Siemens....................... Aug. 27 Back To School, Anne Klassen.......................................... Sept. 24 Stop, Look, Listen, Helena Dueck......................................... Oct. 8 As a Bride Adorned, selected by Helena Dueck..................... Oct. 8

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All In a Day, Anne Klassen..................................... The Day Our (Foster) Children Left, Anne Klassen Edna Finds Joy, Anne Klassen.............................. A Cup of Cold Water, Violet Wright....................... Fellowship Bible Coffee, Anne Klassen................

.Oct. 22 .. Nov. 5 Nov. 19 .Nov. 19 .. Dec. 3

MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MCC (Saskatchewan) Annual Meeting.................. MCC (Canada) Annual Meeting............................ MCC (Manitoba) Annual Meeting......................... Women’s Auxiliary Meets, Velma Mieray............ Pakistan Crisis......................................................... Grosvenor Place..................................................... East Pakistan Refugee Situation, Vernon Reimer PAX Men Return: Prairie Rose, Harold Plett.,,. Russian Refugee Recalls 50th Anniversary.......... Pakistan Refugee Relief....................................... Botswana King and Thorns, James Juhnke.........

....Jan.1 .. Jan. 29 ...Feb. 26 .March 12 August 13 ..Sept. 10 .. .Nov. 5 . .Nov. 19 . .Nov. 19 ...Dec. 3 ..Dec. 17

MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE

M.D.S. Prepare for Disaster, Delmar Stahly

April 9

MESSAGES

,, Jan. 1 Youth and the Christian, Joel H. Naderhood.............. .Jan. 15 Meeting the Days Ahead, John Dresher..................... .Feb. 12 Education in a Secular World, Myron and Augsburger April 23 Toward an Understanding Church, Archie Penner.... .May 21 The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, D. K. Schellenberg.. June 18 A Meditation on Joy. Gladwin Plett............................ ..July 2 World Evangelism, Elmer Hamm................................ .July 16 The Four Hundred Silent Years, Elmer Hamm......... The Kingdom and the Church, D. K. Schellenberg.... .July 16 People Movement, Donald McGavran.................................... Oct. 22 Healing and Evangelism I, Charles A. Neff, M.D................... Nov. 5 Healing and Evangelism 11, Charles A. Neff, M.D................. Nov. 5 In — But Not Of the World, Alfred Friesen............................. Dec. 3 Meditation on Christmas Day, A. Tholuck............................. Dec. 17 Church Organization In The Apostolic Church, Dan Thiessen Dec. 31

MISSIONS Missionary Teacher Writes, Marilyn Goertzen............ Missionary Travelogue, Harvey Barkman..................... First Churches in East Paraguay, Pete Friesens........... Christmas in Brazil, Leanora Koop................................ Moves to Bible School, Evelyn Barkman..................... Chapel Dedicated, Jake Kroeker.................................... Many Things New, John Dycks..................................... Missionary Profile, Ellen Brell..................................... Helps in “Every Home Crusade,’’ Gordon Reimer.... Greetings From Canada’s Northland, Edwin Heal.... Air Mail Messengers, Ernest Funk................................ Youth Conference in Mexico......................................... Ethiopia......................................................................... How God Worked in My Life, Wayne Herrod.............. In a Mexico Clinic, Katherine Thiessen......................... Missions in Paraguay..................................................... Fusion in Congo, Local Church Gains Further Control Spiritual Fruit in Japan, Dan Koops.............................. Christian Service Worker to Field, Diana Plett............ Participation in “Every Home Crusade"..................... Winnipeg Indian Ministry, Leo Thiessens..................... Mexico Committee......................................................... Many Jobs — Canary Island, Marilyn Goertzen........... A Missionary Writes, Lena Dueck................................ . Page 8

,,,, Jan, 1 ,,, Jan, 15 .,, Jan. 15 ...Jan.15 ...Jan.15 ...Jan.29 .. .Jan. 29 ..Feb. 12 . .Feb. 12 ..Feb. 12 ..Feb. 26 . .Feb. 26 . .Feb. 26 ..Feb. 26 ..Feb. 26 . .Feb. 26 . .Feb. 26 . March 12 .March 12 March 12 . March 12 March 26 , March 26 ...April 9

Canada Committee.................................................................. Apil 9 S.B.I. Missionary Conference.................................................. April 9 Evangelistic Outreach in the Chaco, J. Toews and D. Lepp. April 23 Committee to Associate Missions.......................................... April 23 Helping in Mexico, Abe Plett................................................... May 7 God Does Answer Prayer, Lester Olfert...................................May 7 Radio Committee..................................................................... May 7 For Such a Time As This, J. K. Reimer.................................... May 7 Missions — Family Style, John Dycks.................................... May 21 Walk On Your Own Feet, Pris Reimer.................................. May 21 936 Bibles Sold In One Day...................................................... May 21 Christian Service Committee.................................................. May 21 Back in Spain, Evelyn Plett...................................................... June 4 Something New in Bible Camps, Myrna Dueck...................... June 4 Chaco Happenings, Frank Kroeker........................................June 18 With the Koops in Brazil, Abe Koops........................................July 2 Northern Teaching Post, Elmer Warkentine........................... July 2 Back in Texas, Doris Thiessen.......................... July 16 V.B.S. at La Nortena, Mexico, Sylvia Dueck..........................Aug. 13 Steeprock Bay, Amanda Kroeker........................................... Aug. 13 Seeking the Lost in the City, Leo Thiessens.......................... Aug. 13 Arrives in Mali, Evelyn Barkman.......................................... Aug. 27 Missionary Retreat in Mexico.................................................Sept. 10 Christ Breaks Power of Drugs, John Dyck............................... Oct. 8 Changed Lives — Unbelievers Baffled, Abe Koop.................. Oct. 8 Arrives in Brail, Elizabeth Koop............................................... Oct. 8 Good News — La Esperanza, Tina and Dietrich Lepp...........Oct. 22 A Day of Thanksgiving at Peardonville Church, B.d. Reimer.................... Oct. 22 What God Has Wrought, Gospel Recordings Inc.................... Oct. 22 ,Evangelism in Europe, John Peters........................................ Nov. 5 Congo Still Needs Missionaries — Congo Delegates............... Nov. 5 Many Find Victory in Jesus (Bahamas), Monroe Doerksen. Nov. 19 Prayers Answered, Marilyn Goertzen.................................... Nov. 19 A Summer in Europe, Eleanor Penner and Barbara Reimer.. Nov. 19 Farewell and Commissioning at MacGregor, Marvin Thiessen.......................... Dec, 3 Building For God, Harvey Plett.............................................. Dec, 3 Learning Bambara, Evelyn Barkman...................................... Dec, 3 Is It Worth It? — Tina Barkman............................................... Dec. 3 Blessings at Muree Christian School, Ellen Brell.................... Dec. 3 Missionary Conference — East Paraguay, Frank Kroeker,, Dec, 3 Translating the Scriptures, Ben Eidse.................................... Dec. 17 No More Peeling Potatoes, Pris Reimer............................... Dec, 17 Rejoicing at Campo 77, Ed Friesen........................................ Dec, 31

MISSIONARY ARRIVALS June 1— Leanora Koop — Brazil........................................... June 18 June 5 — Clifford Reimers — Panama............................... June 18 June 21 — Janet Toews — Bad Gandersheim. Germany.. .July 2 June 22 — Mary Brandt — Bad Gandersheim, Germany.. July 2 June 23 — John Peters — Germany (Janz Team).................... July 2 July 2 — Stan Houghtons — Ecuador............................. July 16 July 4 — Helen Kornelsen — British Honduras..................... July 16 July 9 — Henry Klassens — British Honduras...................... July 16 December 13 — Ellen Brell — West Pakistan............ December 17 December 8 — Diana Plett — East Paraguay............... December 17 December — Katherine Thiessen — Quellen Colony, Mexico......... December 17

MISSIONARY DEPARTURES Jan. 12 — Tina Barkman — La Esperanza, Paraguay.......... Jan. 29 Jan. 19 — Priscilla Reimer — Bad Gandersheim, Germany . Jan. 29 May 18 — Dora Friesen — Mexico......................................... June 18 May 18 — Doris Thiessen — Mexico..................................... June 18 THE MESSENGER

June 12 — Barbara Reimer — Europe..................... ........... July 2 June 12 — Eleanor Penner — Europe..................... ........... July 2 July 12 — Sylvia Dueck — Mexico............................. . ......... July 16 July 12 — Martha Kroeker — Mexico....................... . ......... July 16 "July 16 — Anne Braun — East Paraguay.................. .......... July 30 July 16 — Sara Loeppky — East Paraguay.............. ......... July 30 July 16 — Mary Kroeker — East Paraguay.............. . ......... July 30 July 24 — Ron Wider — Nicaragua......................... ......... July 30 July 24 — Ron Olfert — Nicaragua........................... ......... July 30 July 29 — Jim Reimer — Mexico............................ ......... July 30 August 23 — Margaret Penner — British Honduras .... August 27 August 23 — Elizabeth Koop — Brazil.................... ....August 27 August 24 — Clifford Reimers — Panama.............. September 10 August 26 — Richard Kroekers — Edinburg, Texas (RGBI) Sept. 10 Sept. 10 Sept. 1 — Menno Kornelsens — Germany (Janz Team) Sept. 1 — Helen Kornelsen — British Honduras......... Sept. 10 Sept. 3 — Mary Brandt — Bad Gandersheim, Germany... Sept. 10 Sept. 6 — Harvey K. Plett — Bahamas.................................. Sept. 10 Sept. 6 — Mrs John Peters and sons Robert and Philip — Germany........................... Sept. 24 Sept. — Ron Duecks — Swaziland (MCC)............................. Sept. 24 Oct. — Hilda Friesen — Newfoundland (MCC)...................... Oct. 8 Oct. — Doris Penner — Labrador (MCC)............................... Oct. 8 Oct. — Shirley Plett — Labrador (MCC).................................. Oct. 8 Sept. 28 — Esther Reimer — Bad Gandersheim, Germany.. .Oct. 8 Oct. 1 — Mr John Peters — Germany (Janz Team)................. Dec. 3 Nov. 25 — Marvin Thiessen — Germany (Janz Team)........... Dec. 3 Nov. 30 — Ruth Dueck — Germany (Janz Team)................... Dec. 3

MISCELLANEOUS Favours Single Ministry, Waldon Doerksen.............. .Feb. 26 New Books................................................................... Feb. 26 Christian Service (Poem), Elvira Dueck.................... .April 9 New Books, J. Herbert Kane..................................... Sept. 24 Mr Abram C. Penner.................................................. .Oct. 22 “God’s Word For Today” is the Theme of 1972 Bible Reading Program Sponsored by NAE.................................... Nov. 19 Congo Changes Name............................................................... Dec. 3 From Shades of Night to Plains of Light, John Goertzen... .Dec. 17 Good News — Bible Society.................................................... Dec. 17 Christmas Is For All, (poem), Elizabeth Reimer.................. Dec. 17 Care Package (poem), Gary L. Stucky, submitted by Mrs Ben Eidse Dec. 17

OBITUARIES Mr. Peter H. W. Reimer. Mrs Mary Martens......... Mrs Agenetha Koop....... Larry Reimer.................. Kenton John Kroeker.... Mrs Agnes Brandt.......... Mr Peter J. Wiebe.......... Mr Peter P. Plett............ Mr John F. Janzen......... John Kroeker Dueck.. Mr Frank P. Friesen.... Mr John B. Loewen....... Mr Isaac J. Thiessen.... Richard Plett.................. Clyde Jerone Hiebert.... Mrs Susanna Letkeman.. Mrs Peter U. Kornelsen Mrs Nettie Klassen......... Alex Marcel Reimer... Mrs Jacob F. Wiebe....... Mrs Henry T. Friesen...

December 31,1971

.. .January 29 .. .January 29 . .February 12 ___ March 12 ___ March 26 _____ April 9 ______ May 7 _____ May 21 _____ May 21 ____ June 4

....... June 18 ......... June 18 ......... June 18 ......... July 16 ... .August 13 ... .August 13 .... August 27 September 24 ...October 8 .. .October 22 . December 17

WITH THE CHURCHES

January 1 — Portage la Prairie, MacGregor, Ridgewood, Rosenort, Creighton January 15 — Birch River and Mafeking, Vanderhoof, Mennville, Rosenort Fellowship Chapel, Kamsack. January 29 — Pelly, Prairie Rose, Pansy, Blumenort, Crestview, Hudson Bay. February 12 — Portage la Prairie, Morris Fellowship Chapel, Endeavour, Stratton, Heron, Roseisle, Fisher Branch, River ton Gospel Chapel, Kleefeld, Kola. February 26 — Rosenort, Creighton, Swift Current, Treesbank. March 12 — MacGregor, Aberdeen, Arabella, Rosenort Fellowship Chapel, Birch River and Mafeking, Mennville. March 26 — Gouldtown, Blumenort, Steinbach, Prairie Rose, Crestview, Hudson Bay, Pelly, Tobati (East Paraguay), Morweena. Portage la Prairie. April 9 — Stratton, Heron, Roseisle, Kola, Kleefeld, Morris Fel lowship Chapel. April 23 — Clearbrook, B.C., Endeavour, Treesbank, Creighton, Fisher Branch, Ridgewood, Rosenort, Pleasant Valley, Tobati (East Paraguay). May 7 — Braeside, Kamsack, Aberdeen, Arabella, Rosenort Fel lowship Chapel, Mennville, Portage la Prairie, Vanderhoof, Tobati (East Paraguay). May 21 — Pansy, Gouldtown, Blumenort, Crestview, MacGregor, Prairie Rose, Morweena, Pelly, Creighton. June 4 — Pleasant Valley, Tobati (East Paraguay), Heron, Rose isle, Fisher Branch, Kola, Kleefeld. June 18 — Portage la Prairie, Rosenort, Endeavour, Steinbach, Ridgewood. July 2 — Aberdeen, Kamsack, Arabella, Rosenort Fellowship Chapel, Tobati (East Paraguay), Birch River and Mafeking. July 16 — Burns Lake, Prairie Rose, Pelly, Crestview, Hudson Bay, Vanderhoof, Swift Current, Blumenort, Fisher Branch, Braeside. July 30 — Portage la Prairie, Kola, Morris Fellowship Chapel, Kleefeld. August 13 — Ridgewood. Tobati (East Paraguay), Riverton Gospel Chapel, Rosenort, Treesbank, Ridgewood, Steinbach. August 27 — Braeside, Arabella, Aberdeen, Fisher Branch. September 10 — Tobati (East Paraguay), Gouldtown, Pelly, Por tage la Prairie, CYestview, Prairie Rose, Hudson Bay, Vander hoof, Morweena. September 24 — Kleefeld, Roseisle, Kola, Heron, Pleasant Valley. October 8 — Swift Current, Creighton, Rosenort, Treesbank, En deavour, Steinbach. October 22 — MacGregor, Arden, Aberdeen, Rosenort Fellowship Chapel, Portage la Prairie, Fisher Branch, Birch River and Mafeking. November 5 — Blumenort, Fisher Branch, Crestview, Hudson Bay. November 19 — Gouldtown, Heron, Kleefeld, Tobati (East Para guay), Stratton. December 3 — Rosenort, Portage la Prairie, Morris Fellowship Chapel, Pansy, Endeavour, Steinbach, Burns Lake. December 17 — Rosenort Fellowship Chapel, Braeside, Arabella, Birch River, Aberdeen. December 31 — Tobati (East Paraguay), Prairie Rose, Arden, Vanderhoof YOUTH SECTION

How to Live with Mother, Diana Kornelsen... Christianity Doesn’t Work, Barbara Jurgensen Urbana 1970, Eleanor Penner.......................... Another Year Begins at the S.B.I.....................

,..Jan.15 . Jan. 15 March 12 ....Oct. 8 Page 9

news /sc ope MENNONITE PERSONNEL in India and Pakistan have not been endangered by the Indo-Pakistani war. according to latest reports from staff of the Mennonite Central Committee and Commission on Overseas Mission of the General Confer ence Mennonite Church. Robert Miller, MCC director for Asia, said Maynard and Griselda Shelly, assigned to East Pakistan, had left Dacca November 24 because their onemonth visas had expired. Mennonite Central Committee has five workers in West Pakistan on loan to other organizations. None have been evacuated, since their locations are not close to the border, the MCC office said. Vernon Reimers, working under MCC with Pakistani refugees in India, are continuing their work, according to latest reports.

THE PEARDONVILLE Fellowship Chapel took part in a Scripture distribu tion campaign held on November 14 to mark centennial Sunday in the Matsqui-Sum.as — Abbotsford area. On this Sunday a group of about 25 people from the church worked at distribution c*' the Gospel of Mark in their assigned area of some 300 homes.

SMALL GROUPS and evangelism were the focus for forty-eight persons at a weekend retreat at Camp Friedenswald. Mich. The retreat on “Sharing Faith Today " October 29-31 was sponsored by the Central District Missions Committee of the General Conference Mennonite Church and arranged by an Ad Hoc Evangelism Task Force composed of Stanley Bohn. Gerald Stucky. Lynn Liechty. Louis Delagrange, and Leonard Wiebe. Resource person was Joseph Baker, pastor of the newly organized Faith Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., and chairman of the Division of Evangelism for the Indiana American Baptist Con vention. CURRENTLY, more than 250 prisoners from correctional institutions in Canada and the United States are enrolled in Mennonite Hour Bible Courses. These courses, represent 20 percent of all enrollees in Home Bible Studies. Here is one testimony. "I am an ex-junkie with no one at all except God. Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit," a 19-year-old writes from prison. He admits having taken every kind of drug conceivable and almost died three

Page 10

times. The last two times were attempt ed suicides. “Before I was put in prison I lived a life of pure hell," he says. "But your Bible studies have helped me tremen dously; I have been born again." Testimonies come in continuously from prisoners who are being reached by the gospel through the Home Bible Studies lessons. THE BIBLE MAY soon become Com munist-dominated Europe's best seller if the present rate of demand continues, according to the Rev. Sverre Smaadahl, the United Bible Societies' regional sec retary-consultant for Europe. The supply cannot keep pace with Eastern Europe's demand which has tripled since 1967. At present there are only 750.000 Bibles available for 350 million people. Smaadahl stated. Earlier this year the Reformed Church in Rumania was given permis sion to import 10.000 Hungarian Bibles from the West. In addition 100.000 Bibles have been printed in Rumania since the ban on production was lifted in 1968. according to Smaadahl. In the last two years, he said. 122.000 copies had been produced in the Czechoslovak cities of Prague and Bratislava and production of 50,000 New Testaments is expected in Bulgaria when the new translation is completed. Smaadahl. who has spent the last four years traveling in Eastern Europe, said he felt there was a more liberal at titude in the governments. Bibles now come under the departments of culture and information and there is no official ban on the Bible. —World Vision ON DECEMBER 8. TWA air lifted 1,987 pounds of medical supplies free of charge from New York to Nairobi. Kenya, for the Mennonite Central Committee. The shipment, valued at a quarter of a million dollars, will be sent on from there to Somalia by Hershey Leaman, Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities worker and MCC repre sentative in Kenya. The need for the supplies, a result of the famine which struck Kenya and Somalia last spring, was made known to MCC by Harold Reed, an EMBMC mis sionary in Magadiscio, Somalia. Four thousand dollars was sent, in addition to the medical shipment, to buy meat, maize and rice locally and for immediate distribution. The Swiss Mennonite Relief Committee has also responded to the famine need by shipping ten tons of powdered milk to Nairobi. It is hoped that all. or a large portion, of the shipment will be sent into Somalia.

ON WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 8, a five-year legal battle involving Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite convic tions regarding education reached the highest court of the United States. There, the seven Supreme Court Justices heard lawyers put the finishing touches to an argument that has ranged through courts in Iowa, Kansas, Virginia and Wis consin, to mention only the major locations. This time it was the State of Wisconsin, represented by Assistant Attorney General John W, Calhoun, seeking to overthrow the decision of his own state's highest court which, in January 1971, held that Wisconsin's Compulsory School Attendance law violated the religious freedom of the Amish. Calhoun held there was a “com pelling interest of state in the education of children," and that there was nothing inherently religious in the Amish ob jection. Defending three Amish parents, (Jonas Yoder, Adin Yutzy, and Wallace Miller) for the National Committee of Amish Religious Freedom, was Attorney William B. Ball, Harrisburg, Pa. Attorney Ball had fought for these same Amish in three separate Wisconsin courts. Ball drew on a rich reservoir of knowledge, not only of the law but also of Amish religious life, in claiming that the Amish concern about compulsory education above age 14 indeed is religious in nature. Ball asserted “we are talking about the con tinued existence of the Amish faith. It is a question of whether a state may destroy a 300-year-old society in the in terest of the state. At no time, " the at torney claimed, "have the Amish posed a danger to the interests of the state."

WORSHIP BOOKLETS for the March 3, 1972 World Day of Prayer are now available from the NAE national offices here, according to the office of Executive Director. Dr. Billy A. Melvin. Orders for this year's booklets are expected to run 30 percent above those of last year. The author of the new pro gram is Dr. Carl Lundquist, president of Bethel College and Seminary, and noted Bible scholar. The theme of the 1972 program is “Rivers of Living Water, " taken from the Gospel of John 7:37-39. The World Day of Prayer is a special occasion on the Protestant church calen dar each year, celebrated in a spirit of prayer on behalf of the world's needs. Foremost in the program is a call to self-renewal and a recognition of Jesus f’hrist a,s Lord and Savior on the part of Christians. Sample copies of the worship materials are available free of charge from the National Association of Evangelicals. P.O. Box 28. Wheaton, Ill. 60187. THE MESSENGER

V-.?-

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would have thought it to be. The other point of interest was the Acropolis in Athens, Greece “A city given wholly to Idolatry”. Acts 17:16 where the Apostle Paul had spoken to the people, presenting to them “The Unknown God” of whom they also had had an altar alongside the gods of Venus and Jupiter. The guide had clearly explained the situation some what as we find it in the Acts of the Apostles. The group was gone a little better than two weeks and found it difficult to tell us all they had seen, heard and experienced, however, we are very glad and happy that they have been able to go, and no doubt our church and Sunday School will reap a rich benefit because of their trip to the land where our dear Jesus was born, where He walked, where He died, and where He rose triumphantly.

Seen here, front, are Mr and Mrs Abe F. Penner (right) and Rev and Mrs F. D. Reimer, the two Prairie Rose couples who were on the Holy Land tour with Archie Penner.

To the Holy Land

by Harold Plett Our faithful mail carrier was busy sorting the mail one day, when he picked up a rather bulky letter, from his fellow colleague in the U.S.A., which really thrilled his heart, and yet caught him wondering — would it even be possible? Rev. Archie Penner was going on a tour to the Holy land with some 20 others in the latter part of November, and would there possibly be some from Prairie Rose (his homeland) in terested at the very special rate and opportunity. This immediately got our busy Pastor Rev. F.D. Reimer (the mail carrier) thinking, planning, and con sulting people who he thought would like to, — and be able to gq. Well he did get a car full all set and ready for the long desired trip. They were Mr and Mrs A.F. Penner (broth er to Rev. Archie Penner). Mrs Elizabeth Reimer, Steinbach (sister-in-law to Rev. F.D.R.), Mr Isaac K. Plett (our deacon and Sun day School teacher) and Rev.*^ and Mrs F.D. Reimer-Since-Mr-Reimer was a tour host (one who is in charge December 31. 1971

of five others) they could both go for the price of one. Plans were (and materialized) to motor to New York, park the car at a special long term parking lot, and join the touring group enroute to the Holy City Jerusalem. Some of the highlights of their trip, as Mr Reimer related, were the Jews praying (or wailing) at the wailing wall (now in Jewish possession) for the promised Redeemer to come, the Garden tomb and Golgatha. Here the (Christian) gardener had emphasiz ed the fact that the place wasn’t as im portant as what had happened for all of mankind. In the city of old Jerusa Tour leader, Archie Penner, Kidron, lem they had found many streets with Ohio, on Holy Land tour (foreground). steps as stairways. These of course, were being improved. Possibly some thing they’ll never forget was the actual marble floor or the Judgment Hall "Hereby perceive we the love of where Pilate was to have sentenced God, because he laid down his Jesus Christ to be crucified. In many cases a cathedral of mosque had been life for us: and we ought to lay built over a sacred place, known to be down our lives for the brethren." famous or important from the Gospels in the New Testament or the Old Testa I John 3:16 ment. This of course, didn’t make it quite as real or actual as one possibly Page 11

Witt the churches VANDERHOOF On Sept. 15 we were surprized by a visit from Rev. and Mrs Henry Kornelsen, Ridgewood, Man. and Mr and Mrs Ben Penner, Ridgewood. They both spoke to us at a midweek service. We were also blessed by a visit from the John K. Penners, Maryfield and John Koops, Kola, Man. We experienced a real spiritual up lift by the meetings with Rev. Corny Plett from Winnipeg. We were also richly blessed by the results of Rev. and Mrs John Harms attending the Campus Crusade at Banff, Alberta. On Oct. 17 weekend, we enjoyed a visit by Rev. Henry F. Klassen, Mary field, Sask. He spoke to us at a Sunday morning service. We praise the Lord for a number of souls that have accepted the Lord as their Saviour. On Nov. 27 we enjoyed the wedding of Jake Wiens and Esther Martens. Over 200 were out to witness the occasion. We have .been really blessed and challenged by reports from three breth ren from our church who attended the Campus Crusade at Harrison Hot Springs this fall. Dan Wiebe, Isaac Thiessen, and Henry Martens. We praise the Lord for a wonderful couple with a family of seven children who have become members of our church, the Dan Wiebes. On Oct. 10 we had communion service where we felt the Lord's presence and good fellowship one with another. The John Harms and Dave Pletts and Ron Penners are all making plans on going to Manitoba for Christmas.

PRAIRIE ROSE

He was a stranger to practically all of us. He had served in Brazil as a missionary under the West Indies Mis sion, invited to Prairie Rose by Rev, Harvey Plett. He spoke rather softly the first evening. He could even captivate his audience in low German. When his sermon was completed, everyone, it seemed, had gotten the message. Why have we arranged for a series of meetings? Do we want dynamic Christianity throughout the year? — or just for a week or so? He rather wanted to think of revival meetings as an emphasis that would remain and help us in time to come. The concluding two or three services were directed towards our grave respon sibilities in carrying out the command Page 12

the MESSENGER

that Jesus left us — to “seek first the kingdom of God” Many young people responded to the call of rededication and the step of obedi ence in baptism. A full auditorium echoed “Take my life and let it be” on Sunday, Dec. 19, as seven sisters and three brethern followed the Lord in baptism with Rev. F.D. Reimer officiating. Our prayer is — Lord may they (and we) burn out for Thee, and please do continue to make Jerry Hildebrand (our guest speaker) a blessing wherever he goes, even in Brazil where You again are calling him and his family.

ARDEN On Monday, Oct. 11, we enjoyed a TTianksgiving supper in the church base ment. After the supper we had a short service, with Rev, G. Harder from Austin EMMC as special speaker. Andy and Betty Penner made a trip to B.C. the latter part of October. They went to see his Dad who was quite sick at the time. A few of our friends had some mishaps this fall. Abe Neufeld lost part of one finger while combining. Peter Funk was seen with a wrapped up hand too. He sawed into one of his hands while operating a chain saw. Mervin Unger was making his way around on crutches for a few weeks. He fell off a trailer, while hauling bales and the trailer passed over one foot. In October, we had evening services with Rev. Elmer Hamm, from Wymark, Sask. He gave a report of his field trip to South America with two other mission board members. Then he opened the Word and gave heartsearching messages on how we could deepen our spiritual life, and the importance of our family training. It was a time of blessing. On Nov. 7 Rev. Thomas from Unevan-

gelized Fields’ Missions was with us to report of his work. He showed a film of how the Congo church has grown after the Congo revolution. Nov. 7 was a day we experienced real blessings. In the morning worship ser vice seven members were received into membership. They are Mrs Maria Remple, Margaret Rempel, Magdelene ,Remple, Neil Remple, Mr and Mrs Andy Penner and Mrs Cecile Plett. In the after noon we had communion service. On the following Friday, Elmer and Tina Bark man were also received as members into our fellowship. Good News Clubs have been started in Arden and in Gladstone. Teaching in Arden are Mrs Maria Remple and Mrs Margaret Plett. They have an enrollment of 19. Teaching in Gladstone are Mrs Tina Toews and Mrs Emily Remple with an enrollment of 11. TOBATI (EAST PARAGUAY) “Brethern, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” We were blessed with a visit by Rev. John K. Reimer who came for the mis sionary conference. On Sunday night we had a farewell gathering and fellowship lunch. Mrs Gertrude Corkell and her girls Nancy and Katherine had their sale on Nov. 20 and left for the U.S.A, on the 26th. May the Lord bless you and don’t forget Paraguay! The Jash Friesens bought Gertrude’s lot and moved there last week. Now Diana Plett has left us after nine months of teaching, to be with her mother. Diana has been a blessing here and we wish her a happy reunion with her mother and other loved ones. The Rev. Frank Kroekers and Johnny Janzens took the children of the three higher school grades with the teachers to Curitiba and Paranagua, Brazil for sight seeing. They also spent two days at the At lantic Ocean.

Calendar

December 31 - January 2: Mission conference at Steinbach with Dr. H. Wilbert Norton, dean Wheaton Graduate school and former mis sionary, main speaker. January 2-9. Revival meetings at Morris Fellowship Chapel with Har vey G. Plett of the Steinbach Bible Institute. January 14-15: MCC (Canada) annual meeting in Steinbach. February 12: MCC (Manitoba) annual meeting in the Portage Avenue M.B. church in Winnipeg.

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