The Messenger Vol. 52 No. 08 August 2014 by The Messenger

The Messenger Volume 52 No. 08 August 2014

Run with hope

page 10

ALSO INSIDE:

Who am I? page 6 Soul-searching leads pastor to take radical journey with Jesus page 13 Introspección lleva a pastor a emprender viaje radical con Jesús page 16 a publication of the Evangelical

Mennonite Conference

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Editorials

Non-prophetic predictions

s of April 25, here are my non-prophetic predictions about Convention 64 to be held on July 4 to 6 at the University of Manitoba campus in Winnipeg, Man.: • Attendance will be fine. Some people will come from far away and some who live close to the convention site will stay away. • Dr. Richard Showalter’s rich background will have been used to challenge us. • Months of prayer will reveal itself in a sense of the Lord’s presence, challenge, and blessing. • Some volunteers and some national office staff members were so busy they should have taken square-dancing lessons beforehand. • People will eat—some on campus, some off. • People will meet—a key part of the event. Acquaintances will be renewed, friendships strengthened, a

common faith reaffirmed. Reports will be shared and decisions made. Delegates will play key roles in decisions and some will report to their congregations. • It will be said that we need more missionaries as well as church planters in Canada. • Because of his photographic skills, assistant editor Andrew Walker will make people’s lives “flash” before their eyes—and we will be the better for it. People will say, “Anyone could predict that the staff and volunteers would work hard, the event would go well, and the Lord would bless it.” Ah, but can we actually predict this? Do we presume upon the Lord’s blessing, the hard work of others, and the event’s outcome? The Convention is an event based on grace and so is the common privilege of participating within it. – Terry M. Smith •

Do we presume upon the Lord’s blessing, the hard work of others, and the Convention’s outcome? The event is based on grace.

••

To discuss and to decide

hat has been learned about discussing since the creation articles were published in 2012? In May 2012 the Board of Church Ministries decided that publishing the series was within its mandate and reported this to conference council in July 2012. The board had two words of counsel for me. First, it would have been helpful if the initial series had presented more views of creation at the same time. Second, pastors were to be notified in advance of a controversial topic. (In two cases since, pastors were notified of an item, both of which also stayed within our Statement of Faith.) Why mention this? It’s because the BCM, its executive secretary, and the EMC’s official magazine are accountable to you, the wider EMC. We are to serve in ways helpful to EMC purposes.

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What have readers learned? Only they can say. When responses came to this office, they were sometimes expressed strongly, but fairly. Not all were fair. It’s the unfair responses that cause me concern. Our conference will, inevitably, engage in discussions in and beyond these pages. No denomination can avoid this. How effectively will we discuss, discern, and decide? As a committed evangelical minister, I hold some views strongly. From serving partly as an editor, I know that I’m far from alone in this within the EMC. Many of our members and ministers, including the quiet ones, have strong opinions. May the Lord give us wisdom to converse with conviction, dignity, and grace to hear, discern, decide, and move ahead. – Terry M. Smith

Our conference will engage in discussions in and beyond these pages. May we do so with conviction, dignity, and grace to hear, discern, decide, and move ahead.

Table of Contents Features

Columns

Who am I? Message one of four – Dr. Richard Showalter

A Reader's Viewpoint

10 'Run With Hope' across Paraguay a great success

19 An Education App

13 Soul-searching leads pastor to take radical journey with Jesus

23 Window on Missions

16 Introspección lleva a pastor a emprender viaje radical con Jesús

28 Further In and Higher Up

Departments

34 Here and Far Away

– Albert Martens

– Laurie Oswald Robinson

Editorials

Pontius’ Puddle

Letters and Notices

20 With Our Missionaries 24 With Our Churches 29 News 32 In Memory

page

A pastor's plea: learn from Rip Van Winkle – Glenn Loewen Will your church's voice be pivotal? – Terry M. Smith Associate Missions: part of the EMC team taking us farther – Tim Dyck You don't have to be special – Layton Friesen Don't get dehydrated! – Jocelyn R. Plett

35 Stewardship Today Digital estate planning – Mike Strathdee

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36 Kids’ Corner

The wise man's food – Loreena Thiessen

33 Shoulder Tapping

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www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 3

The Messenger Volume 52 No. 8 August 2014

EDITOR TERRY M. SMITH

ASSISTANT EDITOR ANDREW WALKER

Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca. The Messenger is the monthly publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith. Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed. Unpublished material is not returned except by request. Views and opinions of writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement. The Messenger is published by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St, Steinbach, Man., and is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press. Subscription rates 1 year $24 ($30 U.S., $45 foreign) 2 years $44 ($55 U.S., $85 foreign) 3 years $65 ($82 U.S., $125 foreign) Manitoba residents add 8% PST. Digital only subscriptions: $15 per year. Single copy price: $2 Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents. Change of address and subscriptions Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be addressed to: 440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: messenger@emconf.ca www.emconference.ca/messenger

Letters and Notices Incisive prose exposes chronic malaise Thanks to Jocelyn R. Plett for her fabulous recent piece (‘You Deserve It!’ May issue). With incisive prose she exposed a chronic malaise affecting our western culture, including the Church. The disparity she easily witnesses in her African setting exists everywhere, but in Canada we are experts at choosing to focus on our

More information on Sioux Valley Information has been received that Larry and Ruby Heppner were also involved in a leadership role at Sioux Valley (With Our Churches, May), though the date is unclear. Thank you.

Guidelines for letters Letters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality, and taste. It can refuse publication. Letters by regular mail and by fax must contain a handwritten signature with at least the writer’s first and last names and an address.

Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba. ISSN: 0701-3299 Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362 We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our publishing activities. Advertising The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards, and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca. THE MESSENGER schedule: No. 11– Nov. 2014 issue (copy due Sept. 08)

4 The Messenger • August 2014

EVENING COURSES Old Testament Prophets: Hosea - Malachi

Faith & Doubt

with Professor Gord Penner

with Professor Jared Hiebert

Sept 9 - Dec 9, 2014 Tuesdays 6:30-9:15pm

Sept 4 - Dec 11, 2014 Thursdays 6:30-9:15pm

FOR CREDIT OR AUDIT

now at SBCollege.ca eeee Register or call 204-326-6451

entitlements, rendering ourselves blind. As she powerfully points out, the gospel of grace in Christ turns our sense of just desserts on its ear. That gospel is our drumbeat; marching to another will kill us. Thanks again, Jocelyn! – Ward Parkinson Morris, Man.

Hear the news about SBC? The EMC Board of Church Ministries provides a subsidy for EMCers who study fulltime at SBC. Contact Gerald Reimer, conference youth minister, for details (204-3266401, greimer@emconf.ca).

For letters by e-mail, the writer’s name and e-mail address are deemed to be an electronic signature. The writer’s regular postal address is to be included in e-mail correspondence. The writer’s name and general address are to be published. In sensitive matters, names may be withheld. Letters to the editor are to be 250 words or less.

Columns • A Reader's Viewpoint

A pastor’s plea: learn from Rip Van Winkle

he old legend of Rip Van Winkle has a powerful prophetic warning for all of us. As the story goes, Rip leaves his hometown, comprised of strong British Loyalists and climbs up the Catskill Mountains only to bump into a group of mythical people. They give him a solution to drink that causes him to fall into a 20-year sleep. Rip wakes 20 years later sporting a long gray beard with his trusty rifle in rusty pieces beside him. His dog is long gone. He strolls down the mountain and saunters back into town loudly declaring his allegiances to the British throne. To his utter shock, he nearly gets “tarred and feathered” because of the total change in the political climate. Unbeknownst to him, his hometown had switched allegiances during his long sleep. Similarly, we in the Western Church have been sleeping soundly. The moral, theological, and social climate has been changing around us. What the Church held to for nearly 2,000 years is now disappearing quickly. Issues like the same-sex lifestyle, gender identity, and an assortment of biblical hermeneutics are quickly challenging what was once held to as clear Godinspired truth. The Church has been guilty of a serious lack of compassion to those wrestling with these powerful struggles, and now she’s guilty of quickly abandoning truth altogether. The waters of clarity and truth have been muddied, the fog

is upon us, and powerless dialogue is replacing the desperate cry for a heaven sent revival. What can we do? I recommend we follow Daniel in his groans for spiritual and moral transformation, as he called on God in deep, sustained intercessory prayer. It’s important to note that Daniel is not pointing any fingers, but is including himself in the nation’s disobedience: “Oh Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with all who love and obey His commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land” (Dan. 9:4-6). To contextualize Daniel’s cry we might say; “Oh Lord Jesus, wake us up. Please don’t let us sleep any longer. We repent of our lack of passion for your holy glory. We’ve been so slovenly and sluggish in our application of the powerful gospel. We’ve been pampered, loveless, coldhearted, and filled with sins of all kinds. “Now we’re quickly abandoning the faith once and forever handed down to us. Please, Lord Jesus, though we don’t deserve it, pour out a spirit of conviction and revelation. Give us a vision of Your supreme glory. We are in desperate need of repentance and an awakening. Lord, send us a revival of historic proportions.”

EMC Prayer Team Guadalajara, Mexico November 10-17, 2014

Contact:

Team Leader - Angel Infantes

Diana Peters dpeters@emconf.ca

$1,300 (depending on flight costs)

Gerald Reimer greimer@emconf.ca

by Glenn Loewen

Similarly to Rip Van Winkle, we in the Western Church have been sleeping soundly. It is time for revival.

Glenn Loewen is the pastor of Portage Evangelical Church in Portage la Prairie, Man. The article is reprinted from ChristianWeek (May 30, 2014) with permission.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 5

Message one of four

Who am I?

ANDREW WALKER

by Dr. Richard Showalter

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once had a teacher named Ivan Illich who said that missiology is the study of the Church as surprise (Bosch 1991, 493). Indeed, there is no question that God is a God of surprises. He comes from the edges, the margins of our lives and of the Church, bursting unexpectedly into the centre of our consciousness.

Moses

In the story of Moses at the backside of the desert we have one of the most amazing conversations in the Bible and in all of human history (Ex. 3:1-14). God arrested Moses in the humdrum of daily, solitary life as a sheepherder by speaking from a burning bush that was not consumed by the flames. Then he initiated a conversation that Moses continued with a normal question. Any of us might ask it. Moses’ question in response to God’s apparently impossible commission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt was simply, “Who am I?” Who am I that I should be able to do this? Indeed, it is a common question for all of us. Who am I, anyway? What gifts do I have to offer the world? To answer, we take personality inventories such as DISC, Myers-Briggs, and Parker Team Player. Am I a leader, a follower, a visionary, a

designer, a developer? What are my strengths and weaknesses? How can I lead from my strengths? Given my gifts, what should my vocation be? As Christians, we explore the New Testament to identify and discover our spiritual gifts. Am I a servant, prophet, administrator, teacher, or encourager? My wife once took a spiritual inventory that showed that she has the gift of “martyrdom.” She still wonders what she should do in the meantime! This focus is valuable. It helps us understand who we are. It helps us know the gifts of others. Digging deeper, the who-am-I question is also the source of endless psychological, sociological, and historical inquiry. To whom do I belong? Where do I fit? What nation or people group do I come from? Thus, Moses’ question is also ours. It is the cry of the human heart. Who am I? God’s answer, however, is a big surprise. I would have expected God to mention Moses’ abilities or education in the household of Pharaoh. He might have talked about the faith of his mother who put him in a basket on the river. He might have stressed the importance of his long solitary years in the desert taking care of sheep. ➢

DESIGNPICS

To us, like Moses, God does not speak primarily of our qualifications but rather of his empowering presence. He is not looking for wealth, reputation, intellect, or any form of personal prowess or human strength.

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Yet God knows the one thing most important.

William Carey

I am amazed at the people God chooses for his greatest work. William Carey (1761-1834) is known in history as the father of the modern missionary movement. Yet he was born to a poor village weaver in the English midlands, and, though he loved nature, he could not work outside under the sun due to a skin disease. As a result, he was trained as a shoemaker. Yet these humble circumstances were scarcely low enough for God. As a teen-age apprentice Carey became acquainted with a young nonconformist Christian who eventually led him to Jesus. Like his English peers, Carey himself had disdained these radical, nonconformist Christians who were called “dissenters” by members of the official church. However, when he met Jesus, he was willing to identify with these cast-offs of the English church in the 1700s, and he became a lowly Baptist pastor. At that time the word “Baptist” denoted one who was unlearned, unworthy, and somewhat heretical—a member of the English unregistered church that was thought unrespectable by the majority of the population. Its members were treated as second-class citizens. They were the “Anabaptists” of England. In spite of all this, God was with Carey, and he chose this uneducated, rough-hewn village lad to light a missional fire that circled the globe. Carey began to learn as much as he could about peoples around the world who had no opportunity to know Jesus. Then he inspired his tiny Baptist association of village pastors to join him in creating a voluntary organization—the first of its kind—to send missionaries to other nations. He himself became one of their first missionaries to India in 1793.

In contrast, our society is immensely impressed with human qualifications. We lionize the wealthy, the powerful, the beautiful, the educated, and the intelligent.

But there was none of this. Rather, his answer was simply “I will be with you” (3:12). “I am with you!” To us, like Moses, God does not speak primarily of our qualifications but rather of his empowering presence. He is not looking for wealth, reputation, intellect, or any form of personal prowess or human strength. What freedom! What gracious abandon to live life to the full, whoever we are! What release from bondage to the expectations of others! In contrast, our society is immensely impressed with human qualifications. We lionize the wealthy, the powerful, the beautiful, the educated, and the intelligent. Our news and views are shaped by the glories of human achievement, whether in sports, politics, academia, or even religion.

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The rest is history. God used Carey to inspire the whole Western Church for mission. In the following decades, Christians from England, Europe, and the young United States formed dozens of other “mission boards” to send witnesses to every part of the world. It all started with someone with no qualifications, but God was with him.

Mary Carey

However, another hero by his side was someone with far fewer qualifications even than his. After Carey met Jesus, he led his sister Mary to Christ. She was bedridden, and for thirty-five years she could not even speak, yet her face so shone with the light of Christ that everyone who knew her was attracted to Jesus. And throughout her life she interceded for India, writing to her brother faithfully and praying for him and his fellowworkers in India.

That day I heard God speaking to me personally through that sister in a new way, and he has kept confirming the same word in countless ways in the months and years since. God had said to William Carey, “I am with you.” And God said to his bedridden sister, “I am with you.” With these two unlikely candidates, God launched a movement in mission that has done more to transform the lives of people around the world than the invention of the steam engine, the jet airplane, or the Internet.

A Personal Burning Bush

Some years ago I sat in a little circle of brothers and sisters who often met for prayer and counsel. Part way through our informal gathering, a sister sitting across from me looked at me and said, “Richard, God wants you to know that he is with you.” With that word she also shared a scripture of God’s promise. For me it was a burning bush. That day I heard God speaking to me personally through that sister in a new way, and he has kept confirming the same word in countless ways in the months and years since. It changed my life! I could not stand before you today without that word. I would not risk standing with brothers and sisters in difficult and sometimes dangerous situations around the world without it. But even more, I could not so joyfully wash dishes and change the diapers of grandchildren without it. There is as much joy in that as in any position I’ve ever had. It’s our identity. God is with us. Dr. Richard Showalter is an educator, leader, and bridgebuilder among cultures. This article is based on his Friday evening message at EMC Convention 2014.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 9

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY ALBERT MARTENS

‘Run With Hope’ across Paraguay a great success by Albert Martens

ecently I sensed thousands of prayers from around the world, including many from Canada and by EMCers, being answered during a run across Paraguay to help people in need. Three years ago I was asked whether I would be willing to run across Paraguay with the local organization Jesús Responde Del Mundo de Hoy (Jesus Responds In The World Today). Then in January 2014 there was more talk about this run between Athletes in Action and Jesús Responde. In February the director of Jesus Responde was in Steinbach and some key people and I met with him. Walter went back to Paraguay to encourage his team to get ready: “The runners are coming.” In a little over three months, Jesus Responde organized a fantastic running ministry event in Paraguay. The name Run with Hope was appropriate: its purpose was to give help and hope to children and youth in Paraguay. I had said yes to running, targeting 300 kms in two weeks. The purpose of this run was to raise funds

and awareness of the need for Nutrition Stations—helping and feeding needy children of Paraguay. Many nutrition stations had been established by Jesus Responde in cooperation with churches, providing a holistic approach to helping children. About three of four Paraguayans are under the age of 35. There are various reasons that create this need; often the fathers are in prison, leaving mothers to take care of the children. The nutrition stations help with dental work, food, education and teaching, and sports. The plan was for our team of national and international runners to run from May 10 to 25 from the cities of Encarnación to Asunción. The Run with Hope began in Encarnación combined with a bigger outdoor public ministry event by Jesus Responde. About 30 runners started with me in Encarnación for a five km run. Each day had a “Run-In” event in the city (three kms) with other community runners joining me. Each day we moved ahead along

Helping people and sharing my faith in Jesus is just so much deeper and sweeter than running many kms along a busy road. I’d do it again.

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Highway 1, 20 to 25 kms closer to Asunción. We had 20 to 50 youth and children run three kms each day at 3:30 p.m. ending up in a park or city square for my story telling time. The official Run with Hope runners were Cooper Davies (Calgary), Jon Cooper (Calgary), Horst (Holly) Bergen (Asunción), and myself from Steinbach. We were usually escorted each day by two police cars, a Jesus Responde vehicle, a crew vehicle, an ambulance with two paramedics, and occasionally with a fire truck.

Physical Challenges

Speaking added a huge emotional strain to my running, but then this was good; to share the Good News of Jesus was the main, deeper purpose of the Run with Hope.

We all had our physical challenges as we targeted 300 km in two weeks. Between the high humidity, unfamiliar diet, dangerous roads, new shoes, and heavy traffic we had our work cut out for us.

Emotional Challenges

stories to children and young people; reported in schools; gave reports to police, sports and school directors and pastors. Two schools got together to hear two Paraguayan professional soccer players, Ivan Torres (First Division League) and Julio Gonzalez (formerly of Italy’s First Division) and myself. I told stories about my Germany run, the German police helping me when I got lost, the Sahara Desert, scorpions, and polar bears. I had not known beforehand that I would be doing so much public speaking for the three weeks (possibly 60, 70, or more times)—interviews, stories, reports, and faith testimonies. The speaking added a huge emotional strain to my running, but then this was good; to share the Good News of Jesus was the main, deeper purpose of the Run with Hope. It actually took priority over my running. I found it tough to share with these cute and lovely children that surrounded me every day. They patiently waited for me to come to tell them some stories. Some sat next to me and some even on my lap. They listened attentively, watching my actions and expressions. Even though I could not speak Spanish, God communicated. Anja translated all my talks. ➢

This was the most challenging ministry run in my life. This was mostly because of all the media and public attention, the many speeches and interviews, the languages (Spanish and Guarani), and that there were many runners. Every day I was interviewed by a Christian TV station, the National SNT TV, the Tigot Sports TV, radio, or newspapers. I gave testimonies of my faith; told many

Albert Martens speaks, Anja translates.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 11

Community Events

Besides me sharing my faith in Jesus and telling stories, Jesus Responde organized four or five bigger community events along the running route. In one city several churches joined together to do a public outreach event. These churches had never worked together like this before. Schools were engaged in ministry events; a pastor showed me 350 signed cards of commitments by students.

A ‘Run-In’ With the Police

I told a story of a police officer in Germany helping me when I was injured some years back. The police came and helped me. Their motto was “My Friend and Helper.” They did help me find my way and gave me water. I shared this story to the children with the Paraguayan police standing nearby. As Anja translated, the police listened to my story intently. The children looked at the officers next to them. Then Anja told me that the police wanted to talk to me. I thought, “Oh, no! Now I am in trouble.” The senior officer of the two spoke to me privately, thanking me for what I had said. He was emotional as he spoke, nearly in tears because my words in the presence of the children had touched his heart.

The Final ‘Run In’

The final 5 kms run from the bus station to the Plaza Americas was well organized by the Asuncion Marathon Club President, Mr. Anival. Two ambulances, two police cars, a crew van, and six police motorbikes escorted us. We went fast, arriving at the finish where a band was playing. I held the hand of a wheelchair participant for the

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last two kms. At the finish I met our Canadian honorary consul representative, Jaun Speratti Rosi. Even our Canadian polar bear mascot (Billy Neufeld) showed up for the celebrations.

A Great Success

Jesús Responde had done a great job of setting up this ministry event. News had spread far and wide by TV and radio. We met with the mayor of Encarnación, Paraguay’s national sports director Victor Manuel Pecci Balart, and the president of the Asunción Marathon club. Anja translated well and fast. She was a great support to me, a great crewing person and a caregiver. She ran out to the kids along the way to hand out colouring books. We had 1,000 colouring books printed with the gospel story of Jesus and the Good Coach as God. We ran out of books and had another 1,000 printed. The initial evaluation of this historic ministry run deems it a great success. It was tough and hard, but good and rewarding. Helping people and sharing my faith in Jesus is just so much deeper and sweeter than running many kms along a busy road. I’d do it again. Yes, I sensed thousands of prayers from across the world being answered. The Lord guided my feet and I thought they said, “Run!” An ultra-marathoner, Albert Martens (Steinbach EMC) has served with Athletes in Action since 2003. He and his wife Edna previously served with (then) Janz Team Ministries from 1977-2002 at the Black Forest Academy, Germany.

PHOTOS:THE MENNONITE

A younger Gilberto Flores with his children.

Soul-searching leads pastor to take radical journey with Jesus by Laurie Oswald Robinson

hen Gilberto Flores, a longtime leader in Mennonite Church USA, saw innocent people hanging dead in a Guatemalan jungle, he felt hate. Even before that day decades ago, Flores, a Mennonite-Anabaptist pastor in Guatemala at the time, had seen so much injustice evoked by the civil war that he questioned whether he was living out his faith. And then when he stumbled upon the bloodbath on that mountain, he knew for sure he had to change. “A pastor went with some of his members into the jungle to retrieve some cows that had fled their fields,” Flores said. “Once they got into the mountains, the people encountered the government’s army who accused this little group of being guerilla fighters. They had no weapons. They had only ropes to get those cows. But their innocence didn’t matter. “The army hung them to die. They had no trial, nothing. The group of us other pastors who had gone to the mountains to find them found about

two dozen corpses. It was the first time I can say I truly felt hate in my soul. I wanted to retaliate.”

Walking the Talk

Though passions ran high, he slowly gave his anger to the Lord. This decision was part of the realization that he must allow Jesus to reign in his heart and his hands to bring hope to all this horror. Committed to a more radical journey with Jesus, Flores embarked on working for peace and reconciliation rather than inciting more pain through retaliation. He could no longer only preach about Anabaptism—a perspective that integrates sharing Christ’s salvation for souls as well as working for peace and shalom for all people. Flores felt he must move beyond head knowledge to heart-felt practice. “The time had come for me to find out who I really was,” he said. “I needed to become clear about what my faith meant in practical ways that weren’t detached from reality and real-life suffering.” ➢

“The army hung them to die. They had no trial, nothing. The group of us other pastors who had gone to the mountains to find them found about two dozen corpses. It was the first time I can say I truly felt hate in my soul. I wanted to retaliate.”

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 13

He got many opportunities to practice a more radical faith, including when an indigenous group asked if he would help them keep their farmland in the mountains. Much of the civil war constellated around seizure of longheld land of indigenous people. After he worked on this issue with others for several months, the government returned the land to this group, Flores said. But his peace and justice activities had consequences. He became a target. “Some people in the government spied on me, threatened me over the phone, opened my mail and accused me of doing things against the government,” he said. “On several occasions, the government seized me and interrogated me to intimidate me into stopping. They told me they would kill me. But it didn’t work. I told them, ‘I am ready to die. Are you? Are you ready to face God, our judge?’” Flores’ questioning of his questioners didn’t intimidate them. They tried once more to seize him and almost beat him to death this time. He escaped with two broken ribs. Even after that near-fateful day, Flores continued to work for peace within ecumenical circles.

His efforts eventually won some reconciliation within the embittered and embattled land. But in the early 1990s, he and his wife, Rosa, decided it was time to move away from the intense pressure they constantly felt in Latin America. God brought them opportunities in North America, beginning in 1992. Then in 1996, they moved to Newton, Kansas, where the former General Conference Mennonite Church had invited Flores to give leadership to various Hispanic ministries. After Mennonite Church USA formed, he became a denominational minister and then director of Denominational Ministry and Missional Church for Executive Leadership. He later moved to Texas to serve as an associate conference minister for Western District Conference where many Latin Americans are part of Mennonite congregations.

“What does it mean,” Gilberto Flores asks, “for us as a people to call ourselves Anabaptist, but to not really practice what Anabaptism teaches?”

New Pressures in Kansas

A move to Kansas quelled some of the pressure, but it brought new pressures, Flores said. Though there was no war in the land, another battle waged beneath the surface. It was the struggle to walk on the radical edge with Jesus in a place where many Anabaptists were more

Daughter Fabiola, Gilberto Flores, wife Rosa, and granddaughter Camilla

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Gilberto Flores and Clarence Remple, Mennonite Church USA ministers

mainstream in their perspective and practices. Flores does not criticize this type of faith walk; knowing that much of it comes from the seeming absence of distress in daily living and from the hidden nature of the suffering that does occur in America. At the same time, Flores has worked to awaken more of a radical bent within the ministries and groups where he’s engaged. “When I first got here, I felt there were many people who didn’t care about the suffering of others, and I felt that they lived in very antiseptic and sheltered ways,” he said. “But increasingly, we are less sheltered in our denomination. People other than the middle-class, ethnic Mennonites are becoming part of us—including many Hispanics who have suffered in other lands. Once they get here, they continue to suffer, to be marginalized, to experience a lack of opportunities.” Flores strives to respond to injustices in ways that represent what it means to not close his eyes to the pain around him, nor comply with those who allow the pain to continue. “There are three responses believers can have to the world around them,” Flores said. “Number one, you can become indifferent to the social

context and use the church and Christian faith for a haven to hide from the challenges of the world. “Number two, you can accept the system as it is and become assimilated as you comply with it. “Or, number three, you can practice a holistic understanding of Christian faith and integrate all of life—including the individual, social and spiritual aspects of it—and then live that out with the grace of a prophetic witness in the name of Jesus Christ.” Flores believes that in this time and all times, the only response for Anabaptists-Mennonites is number three. His passion is to live and to encourage others to live a faith that is Anabaptist to the core of its heart, not just hovering on the periphery of one’s mind. God is calling and sending Mennonite Church USA into the world where God is already at work. “What does it mean,” Flores asks, “for us as a people to call ourselves Anabaptist, but to not really practice what Anabaptism teaches?”

Flores believes that in this time and all times, the only response for AnabaptistsMennonites is number three.

Laurie Oswald Robinson is a freelance writer from Newton, Kan. This article was published in The Mennonite (May 2009).

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 15

FOTOS:THE MENNONITE

El Pastor Gilberto Flores

Introspección lleva a pastor a emprender viaje radical con Jesús por Laurie Oswald Robinson

uando Gilberto Flores, un líder de la Iglesia Menonita USA de toda la vida, vio gente inocente ahorcada en una selva guatemalteca, sintió odio. Antes de ese día, varias décadas atrás, Flores, pastor menonita en Guatemala por aquella época, había visto tanta injusticia provocada por la guerra civil que se preguntó si acaso ponía en práctica su fe. Cuando luego se topó con el baño de sangre en la montaña, comprendió que algo tenía que cambiar. “Un pastor fue con algunos miembros a la selva para recuperar unas vacas que se escaparon de sus campos”, cuenta Flores. “Al llegar a las montañas, la gente encontró al ejército del gobierno, que acusaba a este pequeño grupo de ser guerrilleros. No tenían armas, sólo cuerdas para traer a las vacas. Pero su inocencia no importó.” “El ejército los ahorcó hasta matarlos. No hubo juicio ni nada. Cuando fuimos a buscarlos a las montañas con un grupo de pastores encontramos unas dos docenas de cadáveres. Fue la primera vez que realmente sentí odio en mi alma. Quería tomar represalias.”

16 The Messenger • August 2014

Del dicho al hecho

Aunque sus sentimientos eran fuertes, lentamente le entregó su ira al Señor. La decisión fue parte del proceso de darse cuenta de que debía dejar que Jesús reinara en su corazón y en sus manos para llevar esperanza en medio del horror. Flores se comprometió a emprender un viaje más radical con Jesús y se embarcó en el trabajo de la paz y la reconciliación en lugar de provocar más dolor mediante represalias. Ya no podía sólo predicar sobre el anabautismo –una perspectiva que integra el llamado a compartir la salvación del alma en Cristo con el de trabajar por la paz y el shalom para todos. Flores sentía que debía ir más allá del conocimiento que tuviera en la cabeza para llegar a una práctica que sintiera en el corazón. “Había llegado la hora de descubrir quién era en realidad,” dice Flores. “Necesitaba comprender claramente qué significaba mi fe en términos prácticos no separados de la realidad y el sufrimiento de la vida real.” Tuvo muchas oportunidades de poner en práctica una fe más radical, como cuando un grupo de indígenas le preguntó si los ayudaría

a conservar sus tierras de cultivo en las montañas. Gran parte de la guerra civil giraba en torno a la toma de tierras que los indígenas habitan desde larga data. Flores cuenta que luego de trabajar con otros sobre este asunto durante varios meses, el gobierno le devolvió la tierra a este grupo. Pero hubo consecuencias por sus actividades en pos de la paz y la justicia. Se convirtió en un blanco. “Había personas del gobierno que me espiaban, me amenazaban por teléfono, violaban mi correspondencia y me acusaban de actuar en contra del gobierno,” dice. “En más de una ocasión, el gobierno me detuvo y me interrogó, intimidándome para que dejara de hacer lo que hacía. Me decían que me matarían. Pero no les dio resultado. Yo les respondía: ‘Yo estoy preparado para morir. ¿Y ustedes? ¿Están preparados para comparecer ante Dios, nuestro juez?’” El cuestionamiento de Flores no intimidó a sus interrogadores. Una vez más intentaron detenerlo y casi lo mataron a golpes en esa oportunidad. Escapó con dos costillas rotas.

Aun luego de aquel día casi fatídico, Flores siguió trabajando por la paz en círculos ecuménicos. Sus esfuerzos lograron finalmente algo de reconciliación en la amargada y asediada tierra. Pero a comienzos de la década de 1990, su esposa Rosa y él entendieron que era hora de alejarse de la intensa presión que sentían constantemente en Latinoamérica. A partir de 1992, Dios les dio oportunidades en América del Norte. Más tarde, en 1996, se mudaron a Newton, Kansas, donde la ex Iglesia Menonita de la Conferencia General había invitado a Flores a dirigir diversos ministerios hispanos. Al formarse la Iglesia Menonita USA, fue nombrado ministro denominacional y luego director del Ministerio Denominacional y de la Iglesia Misional para el Liderazgo Ejecutivo. A comienzos de este año, se mudó a Texas para servir como ministro de conferencia adjunto para la Conferencia del Distrito del Oeste, donde muchos latinoamericanos participan de congregaciones menonitas.

Flores sentía que debía ir más allá del conocimiento que tuviera en la cabeza para llegar a una práctica que sintiera en el corazón.

Un joven Gilberto Flores

Nuevas presiones en Kansas

Cuenta Flores que si bien su mudanza a Kansas sofocó parte de la presión, trajo otras nuevas. Aunque no había una guerra en la región, se había desatado otra por debajo de la superficie. Era la lucha por caminar con Jesús de un modo radical en un lugar donde muchos anabautistas tenían perspectivas y prácticas de la corriente dominante. Flores no critica este tipo de caminar en la fe; sabe que gran parte de ello se debe a la aparente ausencia de aflicciones en la vida diaria y a la naturaleza oculta del sufrimiento que de hecho existe en Estados Unidos. Al mismo tiempo, Flores trabajó para despertar una tendencia más radical dentro de los ministerios y grupos en los que participa. “Cuando llegué a este lugar sentí que a muchas personas no les importaba el ➢

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 17

Gilberto Flores con su mamá

sufrimiento de otros y que vivían de un modo muy antiséptico y protegido”, dice. “Estamos cada vez menos protegidos en nuestra denominación. Se nos está uniendo gente que no es de la etnia menonita ni de clase media, como muchos hispanos que han sufrido en otras tierras. Una vez que llegan aquí siguen sufriendo, siguen siendo marginados y siguen padeciendo la falta de oportunidades.” Flores se esfuerza por responder a la injusticia de maneras que representen lo que significa no cerrar los ojos ante el dolor que lo rodea ni condescender con los que permiten que otros sigan sufriendo. “Los creyentes pueden responder de tres maneras al mundo que los rodea”, dice Flores. “La primera consiste en ser indiferentes al contexto social y usar la iglesia y la fe cristiana como un refugio para esconderse de los desafíos del mundo.” “La segunda consiste en aceptar el sistema tal como es y asimilarse cediendo a él.” “La tercera respuesta consiste en practicar una fe cristiana holística e integrar toda la vida –incluyendo sus aspectos individuales, sociales y espiritual– para vivirla con la gracia del testimonio profético en el nombre de Jesucristo.” Flores cree que en esta época y todas las demás, para los anabautistas menonitas la única respuesta posible es la tercera. Su pasión es vivir una fe anabautista que surge de lo profundo del corazón y no sólo de la periferia de la mente, y animar a otros a hacer lo mismo. Dios está

llamando a la Iglesia Menonita USA y está enviándola al mundo, donde él ya está actuando. Flores pregunta: “¿Qué sentido tiene que como pueblo nos llamemos anabautistas, si no practicamos realmente lo que el anabautismo enseña?”

‘Yo estoy preparado para morir. ¿Y ustedes? ¿Están preparados para comparecer ante Dios, nuestro juez?’

Laurie Oswald Robinson es una escritora independiente de Newton, Kansas. Este artículo fue publicado en The Mennonite (Mayo 2009).

TRU2014 Train Refresh Unite EMC National Youth Leaders’ Retreat Dates:

October 17-19, 2014

Location:

Wilderness Edge Resort Pinawa, Manitoba

Speaker:

Dr. Ed Neufeld, Professor at Providence Theological Seminary Pastor of Kleefeld Christian Community Contact: greimer@emconf.ca

18 The Messenger • August 2014

Columns • An Education App

Will your church’s voice be pivotal?

by Terry M. Smith

EMC ARCHIVES

n our churches, we educate from what we believe. The day is long gone when our conference could isolate itself as a faith-cultural community content that its way was right and to look upon other Christians with suspicion. As a result, we are a rich mixture of once-, twice-, and thrice-blessed people. Some of us were raised in Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic or United churches; they introduced us to congregational life, the Bible, and stories of Jesus. Some of us were raised in or began to move in Evangelical circles. There is no way to adequately convey our indebtedness to Evangelicalism’s focus on Scripture and on the person and work of Christ. Some of us were privileged to be raised in or to later learn of Evangelical Anabaptism. Historical, cultural and kinship ties are key for some of us; for others, we are in the EMC because of its Evangelical or Anabaptist theology, local church proximity, an opportunity to serve, relationships, and other reasons. Surely there are reasons to be grateful for the Anabaptist church around the world— perhaps two million members. May it grow exponentially! At the same time, Anabaptists are but a tiny fraction of the global Christian Church. As revealed by the EMC’s formal relationships with mission agencies and other organizations within the broader Church, we cannot limit ourselves even to global Anabaptist circles. As the EMC, we are deeply indebted to and connected with the entire Christian Church. Christ and his common grace unite us. Yet we are not a “generic” church, whatever that is. In going through a review of our Statement of Faith, the EMC depends on the Spirit-guided discernment of its congregations. Compared to those of other denominations, the EMC’s articles of faith might be broad, narrow, or both. Local EMC churches vary on which parts of the Statement of Faith are upheld, highlighted, set aside or ignored—as happens in other denominations.

Inset: Royden Loewen

Still, the EMC is a conservative Evangelical Anabaptist body, and I think it will remain so after the review process. Our churches will, I anticipate, endorse most of our current Statement of Faith. In holding a review, the Board of Leadership and Outreach is listening to churches, not predetermining its outcome. How is your congregation showing that it is involved in the process? No local EMC church can properly be indifferent to it or uninvolved in it. Will one congregation’s view again prove to be pivotal? In the early 1990s when a revised Statement of Faith was presented to conference council for a decision, I saw Royden Loewen, a delegate from Blumenort, read several concerns about the shifting approach of the new statement. Blumenort, through Loewen, asked the council to instruct the revision committee to approach its work differently. Significantly, the council did so and the committee went back to work. The Statement of Faith later approved is the one we use now. What if Blumenort had decided not to show up?

Encourage your church to play its role in the Statement of Faith review. In the past, what if Blumenort had decided not to show up?

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 19

With Our Missionaries

Thanks be to God!

Gesses, northwestern Ethiopia

20 The Messenger • August 2014

KARISSA KRUSE

ETHIOPIA

Coming to the decision to live in Ethiopia for six months was the start of a new journey in my life, and the unknown gave me much excitement and anticipation. As a graduate of high school, and a niece of Rolf and Angela Kruse, I was asked if I would consider living with them for half a year to assist with homeschooling and childcare. Feeling led by the Lord to go, I raised support, purchased plane tickets, got the shots needed, and looked forward to what awaited me in Africa. I boarded the plane and headed for Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa, on Oct. 4, 2013. The Kruse family has lived in Ethiopia for several years. Within the past few years, they’ve been ministering to the Gumuz tribe in the area of Gesses, in northwestern Ethiopia. Their work is mainly helping disciple leaders of an established church and writing Bible songs. The Gumuz communicate best through singing, rather than storytelling, so new songs were being written every month. I loved being part of life with them. While we were in Gesses, I helped my aunt home-school my five cousins on weekday mornings. It was a great teaching experience. In the afternoons we would climb mango trees, chase goats, play volleyball, find animals to keep as pets, drink smoothies to cool off—and the list could go on. It was special to get to know this family of mine better. I also really enjoyed my interaction with the Gumuz people. It was so interesting to see their way of life and how they managed to survive with so little. On occasion we were invited to a family’s hut in a nearby village. There we were served hospitably, with stools always placed beneath us and food or drink to fill us.

Carrying water is a daily task for the Gumuz.

In the last couple of months of my time there, the nearby wells from which the Gumuz collect their water were either broken or had a “service fee.” For either reason, several people decided to walk through our compound, pass our kitchen window, and head down the mountainside to the spring at the bottom. I had the urge to see what this daily task entailed. A few times, I got that chance. My favourite instance was when I helped carry a young girl’s water back to her hut. That time I didn’t actually go down and up the steep, rocky mountainside, but rather saw her sitting and resting her sore back and shoulders in the shade of our fig tree. After she rested for a while, I picked up her water jugs, and started walking. She must have been extremely confused, but the group of girls (as this is a chore that only women and girls do) slowly started to make their way to the collection of filled jerry cans, picked up their own, and walked alongside me. We headed out of the compound and into one of the nearby villages. What a privilege it was to carry her load. Jesus is the One who supplies life-giving water. May we thirst for Him and walk alongside our neighbours that need to know the refreshment and life He brings. Thanks be to God! – Karissa Kruse Karissa Kruse (MacGregor) served in Ethiopia for six months.

With Our Missionaries

Children eager to learn in new school

SUPPLIED BY CAROLINE KRAHN

BOLIVIA

Peter and Anna Banman and their family live on the Nueva Esperanza colony. This is a strict Old Colony settlement; when the father and mother have been excommunicated from the church, the children cannot attend the colony school. The Banmans have been excommunicated for many years. The Banmans moved away some years ago wishing for an easier life, but, after living outside of the colony for some time, they were invited to move back to Nueva Esperanza by the colony leaders. Peter said that if he would move back, it would be under the condition that he would bring along a school for his children, a church, and a youth pastor. The Banmans returned and the family started to pray for a way that their children could learn Spanish and have a good education. There were still only the colony schools, which the colony did not allow them to attend and nor did they want to. The family invited the MEM (Mision Evangelica Menonita) and asked if it was possible for the mission to open a new school for their four children. The MEM responded and Bill and Martha Kehler said that they would search for a teacher, even if only their four children would attend. Isaak and David are the sons of Peter and Anna Banman. They started school by attending the Old Colony School when they were six years old. They were taught basic math (adding and subtracting) and reading in High German. When the Banmans were excommunicated, Isaak and David could not attend the colony school anymore. For four years they stayed home and attended no school. They were excited when they received the news that the Kehlers were working on opening a new school. In August of 2013 the MEM school officially started with one teacher, Aganetha Buhler, and 14 children. This was an exciting day for Isaak and David, their parents,

Karen and Daniel Rivera with family, Jacobo Wiebe

and the families of the other children, as well as the teachers and the MEM. At this new school, Isaak and David are learning a lot more. They are learning to speak, write, and read in Spanish and Low German. Spanish is important to them because they live in a land where it is the main language. They can now understand what they are reading in Low German. They really enjoy it. When they were asked about how they compare this school to the other school they attended before, they said: “We have more friends here. We learn more and we feel at home. “ This year there are 30 students in the school, which has classes from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. till 1 p.m. There are three teachers who live in the colony on the Banmans’ yard. Daniel and Karen Rivera, a Bolivian couple, are teaching in Spanish and Jacobo Wiebe, from Mexico, is teaching in Low German. We are thankful for this opportunity to have a school like this on the colony, where the children can learn to read and write and have the opportunity to learn to speak Spanish. Above all, we are thankful to God for allowing us to be here and to have the opportunity to teach these children the foundation of the Christian life throughout the courses. We also thank the MEM for their vision and hard work in making this happen. – Jacobo Wiebe Submitted by Caroline Krahn Jacobo Wiebe is a schoolteacher in Bolivia. Caroline and Henry Krahn (Picture Butte) are workers under EMC Missions.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 21

With Our Missionaries

Sin, poverty, and judging WINNIPEG

“Thriftlessness, mismanagement, unemployment due to incompetence, intemperance [alcohol abuse], and immorality.” No, this explanation for poverty in Winnipeg’s North End did not come from a recent letter to the editor, political speech or blog posting. It was written 100 years ago in a 1912 report of the Associated Charities Bureau. Another 1912 publication described North End residents, most of whom were Ukrainian, Jewish, German, Scandinavian and Polish immigrants, as “not of desirable character.” When I came across these statements, I was struck with how familiar they sounded and how they reflected attitudes that many people today have toward the Aboriginal residents of the North End and communities like it. There seems to be a historical pattern of judging the “other,” of blaming them for their own suffering. Often those in poverty internalize this judgement, believing that they are inferior and concluding that their struggles are punishments from God. As we try to understand why communities in urban poverty experience so much hardship, it can be easy to conclude that this is a result of the unwise and sinful choices of the individuals who make up the community. On the other hand, when we become aware of sinful patterns and structures in the wider society we could conclude that people in poverty are only innocent victims of injustice. The truth is, poverty is much more complex than this. Do inner city residents make sinful choices that have destructive consequences? Yes, no one can deny this. However, the consequences faced by our friends in the North End are often much more extreme and destructive than the consequences faced by those of us from more privileged backgrounds or communities. For example, let’s consider the sins of “thriftlessness and mismanagement” from the quotation at the beginning of the article. If we are honest, all of us would acknowledge that we have sometimes been guilty of poor financial management. Yet for those of insulated by privilege, how often has this resulted in us becoming homeless or unable to feed our family? Many of our friends in the inner city who live

on social assistance or a low wage income and have no access to credit or a family with resources are often one bad decision away from homelessness or hunger. Every teenager is looking for a sense of belonging, protection, identity, adventure and a way to earn money. In their quest for these things most teens make some poor choices. However, it is rare that a teen from a privileged family will end up in jail, beaten, stabbed or shot as a result of their poor choices. Most of the teenage boys we visit in jail would not be there if gang involvement and the drug trade with its accompanying violence were not some of the only viable options for Aboriginal boys growing up poor in the inner city. I could give many more examples of the way our friends in the North End face huge negative consequences for sinful choices that we all make. It would take many pages to describe the “perfect storm” of colonization, intergenerational trauma, economic forces, political decisions, disinvestments and social exclusion that are responsible for the brokenness of communities like the North End. As those of us from backgrounds of privilege begin to grasp the complexity of poverty, we are often overwhelmed. It is hard to know how to respond. One step we can take is to recognize the common humanity that we share with those in poverty. We can acknowledge that just because we experience less hardship, does not mean that we are any less sinful. This will draw us nearer to Jesus, who came near to sinners, forgiving them and challenging the accusers to examine their own lives before they throw stones at someone else. How might our communities be transformed if we let go of the need to judge and embraced our common need for God’s healing from sin in both our lives and our social relationships? – Andrew Reimer

How might our communities be transformed if we let go of the need to judge and embraced our common need for God’s healing from sin in both our lives and our social relationships?

22 The Messenger • August 2014

Andrew Reimer (Steinbach EMC) is a community minister serving with Inner City Youth Alive.

Columns â&#x20AC;˘ Window on Missions

Associate Missions: part of the EMC team taking us farther

by Tim Dyck General Secretary

DESIGNPICS

hen you hear EMC Missions, what comes to mind? Do you think of the ministries that we conduct in Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua, and most recently Bolivia? Is this the full reach of EMC Missions? Do you also include the missionaries serving in over 20 countries with more than 15 partner agencies that we refer to as EMC Associate Missions? I hope it is the latter. The Missions Board recently reviewed our policies related to Associate Missions, to evaluate the effectiveness of this program. In preparation for the evaluation, we sent survey questions to our Associate Missionaries to get a sense of how they assess the connection with EMC. Here are some of the conclusions that the board reached. First, the board wants to reinforce the idea that our associate workers are considered EMC missionaries in the fullest sense of the term. We are not comfortable with a two-tier status for our workers, even though there are differences in logistical and financial arrangements. All workers are part of the EMC missionary family. Second, we desire an increased level of accountability and responsibility with our associate workers. We recognize that the primary responsibility is to the partner agency with which they serve, yet we sense that there could be more opportunities for building relationships with associate workers. We acknowledge that our global perspective is greatly enhanced by the ministry of our associate workers. Third, we want to ensure that the workers with partner agencies are fully aware of the many services and opportunities available to them under EMC Missions. Embracing these opportunities strengthens the missions vision of our churches. These include opportunities for reporting, participation in projects, shortterm ministry ventures, and participation in Conference-sponsored events. Fourth, the board recognizes that the financial support provided to EMC Associate workers

has not increased for many years. It is our desire to increase this amount, as it is possible, over the next several years. This will represent a huge challenge for the board, but we believe that it is important to demonstrate the value that we place on these ministries. The board has carefully chosen to partner with agencies that have a global perspective and are intentionally empowering the local church for outreach. These organizations are evaluated in areas of theology, practice, financial structure, and administrative structure and principles. They are organizations that are a good fit with the EMC vision and practices of ministry. This is the global ministry that we are doing together as churches of the EMC, so we take great care in connecting with our churches to ensure that we are in step with the mission and vision of the local church. It also makes sense that the churches would desire to support this joint ministry financially, prayerfully, and with personnel. As your church is sending missionaries, short-term teams, and supporting projects, we want to encourage you to consider, first, the EMC-administered fields and the partner agencies that we are working with. After all, we can accomplish much more in our ministry when we work together.

As your church is sending missionaries, we encourage you to consider, first, the EMCadministered fields and the partner agencies that we are working with.

www.emconference.ca/messenger â&#x20AC;˘ The Messengerâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;23

With Our Churches Steinbach EMC

Custodians appreciated, members received

JOHN AND MARLENE FRIESEN

STEINBACH EMC

STEINBACH, Man.—Sunday morning is always special—when we gather with other believers for fellowship, worship, praying together, and listening to God’s Word. But a Sunday morning is even more special when we have the joy of welcoming new people into our church family. We celebrated this event on May 25 when five people were baptized and seven others were accepted by membership transfer. It was interesting to hear, through the testimonies of the baptismal candidates, how God used a variety of ways to draw them to Himself and to help them in their spiritual growth—Christian parents, Bible camp, mission trips, Christian New members at Steinbach EMC: (back) Adolf Doerksen (transfer), Bud and Ginger Penner neighbours, Abundant Springs and (transfer), Nicxon Dueck (baptism), Ron and Joanne Dyck (transfer), Harold Thiessen (transfer), other youth activities. Let’s allow God to use us to influence the lives of (front) Nordfried Schulze (baptism), Tanner Klassen (baptism), Julie and Matt Reimer Fehr (baptism), Laura Thiessen (transfer). those who do not know Him. When is the last time you thanked a custodian for all the hard work he or she does? Or maybe So much of a custodian’s work is done behind the you never have. Too often when we enter the church scenes and often goes unnoticed. John and Marlene Fribuilding on Sunday morning, we take for granted the clean esen have done a great job of looking after our facilities facilities, the neatly arranged Sunday School rooms, the for almost nine years, and on April 27 we took time in the sparkling clean washrooms, the tidy youth room, and many morning service to show them our appreciation. John and other little details. Marlene also served as deacons and their dedication in this ministry will also be missed. Now God has called them to a new ministry. They will be moving to East Braintree (east of Steinbach), where they will serve at the Focus on the Family retreat centre. We are thankful that Nordfried Schulze has accepted the position as maintenance man. Nordfried, his wife Karoline, and their two children moved to Canada from Paraguay a few years ago. Let’s show our custodians that we appreciate all the work they do to make the Lord’s house an attractive place where He will be honoured, and let’s all do our part to keep it that way. – Martha Kroeker John and Marlene Friesen

24 The Messenger • August 2014

With Our Churches Many Rooms Church Community

WINNIPEG, Man.— We’ve had some changes in leadership. Our little community blessed Heather and Leon Wieler to step down as leaders of their house church. The Wieler family continues to bless our socks off as members of one of our other churches. We’ve also been invigorated by the addition of Sieg and Elvira Hiebert to the leadership team of MRCC. The Hieberts have established several meaningful relationships in their apartment building and are a huge encouragement to their neighbours. We continue to discuss and debate what leadership structures should look like in our somewhat unique situation. I think it’s been more challenging of a task than we had initially thought it would be. Our individual house churches still enjoy meeting on Sunday mornings or evenings. All four churches meet together on the last Sunday of each month for what we’ve come to call our “Large Group Gathering.” Some summer fun in 2014 will hopefully include: a few street parties, our Ultimate Frisbee team (along with a few MRCC wannabees) repeating as league champions, our annual covenanting service, an amazing church weekend at Beaver Creek Bible Camp, a whole lot of connecting with people now that the weather is warm, and seeking God’s

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Revealed! What people enjoy about MRCC

MRCC’s Ulitmate Frisbee team

guidance in advancing His kingdom here in the West End. Here’s what a few people from our group have enjoyed about MRCC lately: Emily (age 3): Singing the butterfly song. Sieg and Elvira (ages not disclosed): We get to be friends with many wonderful folks who are much younger than ourselves. This helps us to maintain our delusion that we are not as old as we really are. Debra: There’s lots of stuff. Everybody is so supportive, loving and caring. House church just has such a warm and welcoming feeling for me. Church camp is a real highlight too. Alyssa: My friends. Little Dave: I appreciate the different levels of connectedness between our accountability groups, individual churches, and the larger church group. Simon: I like having story time. Ang: I love camp as well as the regular accountability meetings with the girls from the church. Wiesner: Uh, the Bible studies. Yup, the Bible studies are really good. Terry: I feel that church just let’s me be me, whoever the real me is. Ezra: Seeing my friend Airo. I also like eating the breakfast ’cuz it’s very, very good. And, finally, I want to acknowledge that church and living in community is not always easy. Despite the joy represented in the preceding quotes, parts of this last year have been tough for some and even tougher for others. My hope and prayer is that God is not only present in the joy, but in the tough stuff as well. – Dallas Kornelsen

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 25

With Our Churches Blumenort EMC

Kids’ clubs, Thompson visit were successes

BLUMENORT EMC

BLUMENORT, Man.—Many events have gone on this past year here in which God has been moving. Our church went through a week of fasting and prayer in Jan. 11-16. During this time every evening 50 or more church members showed up, spending time praying into where God is leading our church: focusing on three aspects, community, connectedness and leadership development. Church members were encouraged to listen to God, pray into different ideas and tell the leadership team. Currently our church has been pinpointing a number of different practiThis group went to Thompson, Man., during Spring break: (back) Mark Brandt, cal ideas to implement in the coming years. Weston Loewen, Tyrell Harder, Katrina Reimer, Shaelyn Wiebe, Davis Loewen, After much prayerful consideration a Landon Plett, (front) Ebony Kampen, Myka Plett, Auriette Reimer, Robyn Kampen, number of goals have been agreed upon. Some Mavis Kehler, and youth pastor Vince Kehler. of these include establishing new small groups, leaders from our church headed to Thompson, Man., to creating teams dedicated to reaching out in assist the Thompson Bible Chapel with a variety of projects, the community and having leaders mentor “apprentice” including painting, cleaning up junk, and other odd jobs. leaders. It is exciting to see the desire to move on and go Our youth group has sent a group to help the Thompdeeper within the church. son Bible Chapel for the past six years. It was exciting for On June 15 there were three baptisms in our church. them to see people they had met in years past. Auriette Reimer, Ernie Falk, and Ezra Doerksen shared They also travelled to two nearby reserves in which they their testimonies of how they became believers and were performed with puppets, sang songs, played with kids, did baptized and became members of our church. crafts, and encouraged believers. Some of the highlights Our church has been involved in a clubs program. from the trip included doing a service at an old folks’ home There are two programs: Burst (for grades 5-6) and Club in Thompson and playing and sharing God’s love with the DJ (for grades 1-4). We had 150 kids register. Of these, exuberant kids. about 60 are from within our church, 60 from other – Ebony Kampen churches in the area, and 30 unchurched. For Club DJ some of the highlights were making crafts such as creating the nativity and Easter scenes. They also loved singing with their favourite song: “God is bigger than big!” The kids learned a lot of verses and did mailbox club lessons to earn a ton of points that they later got to redeem for prizes. Not only did the kids have a good time but also those who volunteered. There were about 30 volunteers ranging in age from ages 12 to 80-plus. It was exciting for them to see kids growing in their faith and having a fun time during it. This past Spring Break a group of 11 youth and two

26 The Messenger • August 2014

With Our Churches Pelly Fellowship Chapel

PELLY, Sask.—The Pelly congregation is an older church within the EMC and the oldest work of the Western Gospel Mission in active fellowship within the EMC. The Western Gospel Mission (1946-1961) was an outreach in Man., Sask., and NW Ont. by people, including EMCers, who wanted to minister in communities beyond traditional Dutch-German Mennonite boundaries. Ben Eidse, later a long-term missionary on the continent of Africa and the president of Steinbach Bible College, came to Pelly in 1950. He worked as an evangelist, holding services, teaching in schools, and travelling far by bicycle. He married Helen Reimer and together they served till 1953, when they left for Africa. Many pastors, and other leaders, have since served the PFC congregation. Much has happened over the years, including a merger with a congregation from Arabella. Lewis and Vivian Anfinson became the congregation’s

TWYLA JOHNSON

65 years in 2015

A gathering of PFC ladies, with Vivian Anfinson front left.

first deacon couple, in 1967, and continue to be active in ministry. Next year it will be 65 years since the Pelly congregation began to form. What does this mean? It means that generations of people have been raised within PFC—with a witness for Christ being shared in the area. – Terry M. Smith

••

Ladies Bible study assists HLCF building project HIGH LEVEL, Alta.— To give is to bring joy in the North! “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). High Level Christian Fellowship, located in northern Alberta, has demonstrated just that. On June 13 and 14, 2014, the Ladies Bible Study, with a serving heart, was lead to give to the church. The HLCF is in the midst of construction on a new church building. With the nearing the end of the project and the funds depleting, some of the stress was increasing. The goal of the Ladies Bible Study was to give with a joyful heart that would bless and ease some of the needs of the building construction. The week leading up to the garage sale the congregation was asked to donate items.

HLCF

High Level Christian Fellowship

Smiles greeted the people who particpated in the garage sale.

There was such an atmosphere of thanksgiving and awe over the response for items of all sorts: household goods, outdoor tools, sport equipment, games, movies, electronics, and clothing were given. In addition, fresh baking of cupcakes, bread, and other delicious treats were also given to be sold. God blessed the event with a huge turn out from the High Level community. As the event came to a successful end, the Ladies Bible Study group was filled with joy: the funds raised will assist in covering the cost of the kitchen cabinets. – Jacey Arnold

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 27

Columns • Further In and Higher Up

You don’t have to be special

E by Layton Friesen

The most worldly and mainstream thing to be now is to be countercultural. So let’s give up being radical and rather be baptized.

very Tom, Dick, and Harriet now tries to be counter-cultural. The most worldly and mainstream thing to do now is to be counter-cultural. Almost all movies and commercials are about being special, unique, a maverick, going against the herd, standing against the tradition, the lone free-thinker against the village, blah, blah, blah. Buying an SUV apparently says, “There is a wild man who refuses to take the safe road. Everyone else is a mindless lemming stuck in traffic.” This is what fuels consumerism. As soon as the masses buy the same gadget or discover my eco-travel destination, I have to find a new one to get away from the Jones. Refusing to “keep up with the Joneses” is exactly what drives consumerism. The Church is no exception. To make your brand of church stand out you have to seem like a radical alternative, not conformed to the same-old mindless institutional church. Pastors try to outdo one another in their blunt, provocative attacks on “religion.” Every church now tries to be “the church for those who don’t like church.” But notice that this is not just about being a weirdo. It’s about being counter-cultural in the precise way our culture admires. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana did this perfectly. He genuinely loathed mainstream music and much of his work was an attempt to condemn the herd. But the masses loved being hated in that way and they made him very rich. Miley Cyrus discovered this more recently. You have to offend society in just the correct, precisely calibrated way, and society will adore you, making you special and rich. It’s not hard to see that only a society with memories of Christianity would come up with this sort of nonsense. It’s the spirituality of martyrdom purged of its core and put to work in the marketplace. The blood of the martyrs being the seed of the church has become the scandalous pariah of the mainstream being the seed of the economy.

28 The Messenger • August 2014

So let’s give up being radical and rather be baptized. Through baptism with all it represents, we are freed of the oppressive, consumerist need to be special, and to distinguish ourselves from our neighbour. To be baptized into Christ is to assume his manner: Jesus had no concern to be a special person. He loved the masses and submersed himself in their lives, hoping they wouldn’t realize who was with them before the resurrection. He identified so closely with the sin and hypocrisy of the herd that he became guilty by association. He was concerned only with seeking out the face of his Father, listening to his voice, and shouldering his mission. The baptized are submersed in Christ—we have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God. What makes us special is a secret even we ourselves must take on faith and surely can’t advertise. Today we are not special—the only thing that distinguishes us is our quiet way of identifying with the village and being the imperceptible difference. Unless the resurrection happens, no one will ever know we mattered. “I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals” (Eccl. 3:18). With debts to Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter, The Rebel Sell: why the culture can’t be jammed (Capstone, 2005).

News

Foodgrains Bank welcomes $3.5B for maternal and child health WINNIPEG, Man.—Canadian Foodgrains Bank is pleased Canada is continuing its global leadership in improving maternal, newborn, and child health with the generous announcement of $3.5 billion in spending between 2015 and 2020. The new funding announcement was made on June 2 as part of the Canadian government’s Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach Summit in Toronto. It builds on the G8 Muskoka Initiative, Canada’s previous commitment to improve maternal and child health, which was launched in 2010.   CFGB is pleased that nutrition has been named as one of the key program priority areas for the new funding. It shares Canada’s deep concern for children not receiving enough high quality food to be properly nourished.

This announcement follows Canada’s commitment last year at the Nutrition for Growth meeting of $145 million in new nutrition programming. Of this funding, $40 million will support nutrition-sensitive agriculture to increase access to nutritious food in lower-income countries.  Every year, three million children die because they are not well-nourished enough to fight off disease. As well, children who receive proper nutrition are more likely to stay in school and reach their full potential.   Combined with Canada’s commitment to food security, including helping small-scale farmers grow more and better food, the CFGB believes this commitment to nutrition has the opportunity to create lasting change for some of the world’s most vulnerable people. – Amanda Thorsteinsson

••

SBC hosts successful 4th annual golf tournament STEINBACH, Man.—After rain on the previous day, Tuesday, June 3, turned into a sunny day to host SBC’s 4th Annual Golf Tournament held at the Steinbach Fly-in Golf Course. A total of 133 golfers of all skill levels participated in this year’s event. One golfer stated it was the “best golf tournament I’ve been a part of!” The incredible generosity of the community’s businesses and people is what really drives this event, and this year was no exception. We are so thankful for the 42 tournament sponsors who financially supported the event and for the 19 businesses that graciously donated prizes for the silent auction and other gifts. We also want to thank the three companies that donated towards the meals, which provided our golfers with energy in the morning and a steak dinner to follow a day on the course. Through all of the support, SBC was able to raise $51,000 toward its General Fund to be used where it is

SBC

$51,000 raised for General Fund

SBC’s tournament saw 133 golfers in action.

most needed. With the first year cap of 60 students nearing capacity for the 2014-15 year, we are excited for the opportunities provided through this generosity. We have found this tournament to be a great occasion for people to come together and meet others within the community in a fun environment. As one person noted, it is a “great time to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in a while.” And, lastly, we thank all of the golfers who came out and enjoyed the beautiful day with us. – SBC

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 29

DANIELA SÁNCHEZ

News

Worship at the Quito (Ecuador) Mennonite Church.

The Worship Service: A Latin Anabaptist Perspective by César Moya

lant a new church? Yes, but what style of worship service will we follow? This was the question asked by several people twelve years ago, when we became interested in starting the Quito Mennonite Church. These people came from different traditions of faith and so the question was one that required real reflection.

Reflecting U.S. Influence

The answer to this question was a challenge for several reasons. One is that in Ecuador, like in the rest of Latin America, the typical worship service of evangelical churches reflects the influence of the “movement of worship and praise” brought from the United States during the 1980s. Aspects of this worship service include professional musicians, classical instruments, songs that start on the same note with which the one before ended, a designated “time to praise” for soft-rhythm songs, prophetic songs called the “new song,” Hebrew dance, the use of flags, shouts of

30 The Messenger • August 2014

joy (like warriors who have won a battle) and warmongering songs, among others. We did not want to replicate this kind of service entirely, as some of its aspects are not consistent with our Anabaptist principles.

Rescuing Latin American Rhythms

A second reason why the question was challenging is that churches of historical origin—Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Presbyterian—follow a worship service that was not flexible for improvisation. The people who came to the new Quito church appreciated the Anabaptist tradition and, even though they came from different origins, wished for the Latin American identity to be reflected in the worship service. Because of all of these considerations, the church of Quito rescued the Latin American rhythms, including son cubano (Cuba), chamame and tango (Argentina), sanjuanitos and pasillos (Ecuador) and guabinas and cumbias (Colombia).

News These rhythms are accompanied by local instruments: acoustic guitar, charango (part of the lute family), bombo (big drum), maracas (shakers) and a rain stick. Of course, the music of the songs is not all that matters; it is also important that the words to the songs do not contradict the gospel.

The Importance of Symbols

Symbols are another aspect of the worship service, and an element to which we gave thought in starting our church. For Latin American peoples, the empty cross is both an expression of identifying with those who suffer and a symbol of hope. The cross is a reminder of the confrontation of Jesus and the powers; it is also a reminder that we are Christ-centred. Other symbols are also important. The liturgical colours are ones that come from Ecuadorian indigenous fabrics. These fabrics are placed on a table, so that people may meditate and reflect on the value and beauty of diversity in a world that is surrounded by homogenizing imperial models. The peace candle reminds us that we are the light and are committed to the peace of Christ. The chairs are organized in the shape of a semi-circle and there is no platform or stage; both of these elements symbolize an intentional push against the current of a religious context that relates holiness with being closer to the pulpit.

this confession is expressed in a litany inspired in biblical texts that correspond to the liturgical calendar. Such an approach helps us to know that we are walking in the footprints of our Teacher, and it invites those who are involved in armed groups to follow Christ and the way of peace. The confession is not a recitation or a mea culpa; it is a confrontation with the gospel of peace. This part of the service ends in a song of peace and a time for all attendants to greet each other. The reading of Old and New Testament Scriptures is another part of the service at the Quito church. In this way, we follow the Anabaptist principle in which scripture interprets itself. This part of the service ends with community hermeneutics, where other interpretations and life experiences are shared. At the end of the service, we all bless each other with a verbal commitment to announce the gospel of peace and serve in each of our contexts. The Quito Mennonite Church understands that the worship service integrates all areas of life; these are presented to God and our neighbours, especially those who are in the most need.

Symbols are another aspect of the worship service, and an element to which we gave thought in starting our church.

The Confession, a Confrontation

César Moya co-pastors the Quito Mennonite Church in Ecuador with his wife, Patricia Urueña. This article was used with permission from the October 2013 issue of Courier/Correo/Courrier, Mennonite World Conference.

Another aspect of the worship service is the revision of the life of those who are worshipping—in other words, the confession. At Quito,

RESPONDING REBUILDING RESTORING

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A bursary has been created for students from the Evangelical Mennonite Conference who are preparing for pastoral ministry, missions or Christian service in a graduate studies program at CMU. The bursary will cover half of the tuition costs for eligible students. For more information contact Mitch Krohn at mkrohn@cmu.ca.

cmu.ca/gstm CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 31

In Memory

Mary Klassen Kroeker 1940 – 2013

Mary Klassen Kroeker was born to Peter and Annie Kroeker of Rosenort, Man., on Aug. 30, 1940. Mary studied in Rosenort through grade 11; at MCI, Gretna, for Grade 12; Manitoba Teachers College; Steinbach Bible College; RGBI in Edinburg, Texas; and University of Manitoba. She was employed by the Garden Valley School Division as Resource Teacher where her passion became helping students overcome their learning problems and succeeding in school, by preparing suitable materials and helping teachers implement strategies uniquely suited to each student. She stayed with the school division until 1995 when she retired from full-time work, and took on the Recreation directorship for the Community Choices program at Eden Health Centre in Winkler, Man. In July and August of 1996 Mary taught English at Lithuania Christian College and toured Russia. Back in Winkler she taught English to immigrants newly arrived from Europe, Mexico, and South America until 2008. Throughout her life in Winkler, Mary enjoyed Bible studies with her friends, time spent with her craft group, creative quilting and sewing, and photography. She delighted in flowers, especially crocuses and pink tulips that adorned her home. Often

32 The Messenger • August 2014

she took us to Crocus Hill close to La her parents; and her older brother Riviere to take pictures. Jake less than four months earlier. On Aug. 23, 2011, Mary’s doctor She is survived by nine siblings, and found a tumour in one of her lungs 32 nephews and nieces and their and on Dec. 12 the surgeon removed children. it. She seemed to recover slowly, and We are deeply grateful for the joined us for the annual Kroeker New tender care she received from DocYear’s gathering on Jan. 2. She had a tors Welk and Homes, nurses, and hard time eating anything because she volunteers, at Boundary Trails, Health felt so nauseous. At Boundary Trails Sciences, and in her Rosenort aparthospital a brain tumour was discovment, and for the many people who ered and treated in Winnipeg. She visited and showed her love. recovered some, moved to Rosenort, – Her Family and was able to be at last year’s New Year’s family gathering. Mary learned that to live in the presence of God is to be at peace with God, with others, and with herselves, even in her turbulent world. During Manitoba her cancer journey it was evident that God’s peace was in her and September 25-27 surrounded her. Without disputing, Winnipeg Prophecy Conference she yielded to Him. Her nurses and Victoria Inn volunteers sensed that peace in her. 1808 Wellington Ave. On Sunday, July 28, 2013, Mary Winnipeg, MB. was weak and it was hard to under204-783-8376 stand what she was saying. At one www.wpgpc.org point her face lit up with joy and with a surge of energy she said something like, ”We will leap to glory!” The following Tuesday, the family had all been by her side, and sisters Martha and Erna stayed back to be with Featuring: her through the night. The Gilbert Reimer Story At 5 in the morning, Aug. 2, they called that by Dr. Jean Barsness Mary had won the race. She had peacefully October 30, 2014 stopped breathing. She at 7:00 p.m. had made that leap to glory. She is now The event will take basking in His amazing place at Steinbach grace. Bible College Mary was predeThere will be a free ceased by her brother will offering taken Willie, next older to her, at the age of three;

Calendar

Rest Haven

Legacy Event

Shoulder Tapping *With any applications for EMC church pastoral positions, candidates are expected to also register a Ministry Information Profile with the EMC Board of Leadership and Outreach, which can be obtained through Erica Fehr, BLO Administrative Assistant, at efehr@emconf.ca or 204-326-6401.

EMC Positions The ConneXion church in Arborg, Man, a community of one thousand, is currently seeking a half-time pastor. Arborg is in the heart of Manitoba’s Interlake, one hour north of Winnipeg’s perimeter. The church of 25 to 50 adherents is affiliated with the EMC. We practice the values of “BELLS” as we build our community; we seek to bless, eat, listen, learn and send. There is significant opportunity for other part-time employment in the community. Interested applicants should contact the pastoral search committee chair or submit a resume to peter.dueck@vidir.com. We are seeking a faithful Jesus follower with proven leadership skills. Taber EMC is seeking a full-time youth/associate pastor. Candidate should have the ability to plan and oversee a comprehensive youth ministry and oversee associate pastor ministries as arranged by the church leadership. Valuable assets would be skills in sports and music. Contact church board chair Abe Klassen at 403-223-0588 or 403-331-9563. Send resumes to Taber EMC, Box 4348, Taber, AB T1G 2C7 or taberemc@ yahoo.ca.

Hillside Christian Fellowship is looking for a fulltime or interim pastor. Previous experience is preferred and housing is available. Hillside Christian Fellowship is a rural church located on Highway 697 in the Buffalo Head Prairie area, about 25 kms from La Crete in northern Alberta. The industries that drive our community are farming and logging. We have about 50 to 60 people attending on average each Sunday. For information contact Jim Friesen at valley@sis.net or call (work) 780-928-3880 or (cell) 780-926-7717. La Crete Christian Fellowship is seeking candidates to fill the role of senior pastor. LCCF is located in a beautiful, prosperous farming and logging community in northern Alberta. We are a multi-generational congregation with a strong commitment to missions. Our average Sunday attendance is 450. The senior pastor would be a team member working with and providing general oversight to the associate pastor, youth pastor, office staff, lay minister and a large, supportive ministerial. He would have appropriate Bible college education and preferably a number of years of pastoral experience. He would agree with the EMC Statement of Faith and Church Practices. Duties include, but are not limited to, preaching, teaching, some administration and officiating at various church functions.

Information can be found at www.lccfc.ca. Please contact Darryl Olson at darrylwolson@gmail. com or 780-821-0287 if you can serve together with us in this capacity. Roseisle EMC is currently in search of a full-time pastor with a supportive and involved family. Located 100 kms southwest of Winnipeg in a small, rural town, we are a church with many young families and an average attendance of 75. We are looking for a pastor that is passionate about his faith and has lots of energy and contagious excitement to work within the church and the local community of Roseisle. Responsibilities would include practical Bible based preaching/teaching, visitation, local community visibility/involvement, and encouraging the spiritual growth of the church. We are seeking a dynamic leader who loves Jesus, and embraces small church and small town living. Housing is provided. Interested applicants should contact the pastoral search committee chair, Pam Dyck, at 204435-2778 or through email. Please send resumes to Pastoral Search Committee, Roseisle EMC, Box 29, Roseisle MB R0G 1V0 or remcsearch@gmail.com. Island Gospel Fellowship, in Burns Lake, BC, is a seeking a full-time youth pastor/outreach worker to build on a growing ministry to youth in the Burns Lake area. Currently there is a group of 50-60 youth attending weekly youth events. Many of these youth are from the community and do not attend any church. A successful candidate should have a passion for outreach and a strong desire to share the love of Jesus; an ability to communicate biblical truths to youth in a relevant way; strong relational skills to connect with youth and work with others; the ability to organize events and involve volunteers; a willingness to partner with camp ministry. For further information or to send us your resume, please contact the search committee at igf@ telus.net or phone 250-692-7551. The Church of Living Water in Tillsonburg, Ont., is seeking a full-time senior pastor. We are a young church with attendance ranging from 70-100. We have a growing children and youth ministry. CLW is seeking a pastoral couple who will live among us to guide and direct the church to deeper and greater ministry in our community. We believe the senior pastor role to be that of a shepherd who guides his congregation, needs to be a strong encourager and a pastor who has passion for God and his people. This is best accomplished by studying and teaching, praying and preaching, and visiting and visioning, all based on God’s Word. Previous pastoral experience is preferred, and candidate must be in agreement with our EMC Constitution and Statement of Faith. Applications or resumes should be sent to the CLW Board of Elders: Abe Neufeld (chair)

abeneufeld@bell.net and David Dyck (vice chair) daviddyck@hotmail.com. Rosenort Fellowship Chapel is seeking a full-time senior pastor starting any time after August 1 to care for and lead a congregation of about 120 people. Rosenort is a small community located 60 kms south of Winnipeg. Please contact Brent Friesen if you would like more information: 204-746-6974 or brent_friesen@yahoo.ca.

Other Positions Winkler EMMC seeks a pastor of congregational care to join its pastoral staff. You will assist in fulfilling the church’s purpose according to our philosophy of ministry and develop a comprehensive care ministry to the congregation. To learn more, visit www.winkleremmc.com; wemmc.search@gmail.com; contact Henry Krahn at 204-325-8405; or write Winkler EMMC, Attn: Henry Krahn, 600 Southview Dr., Winkler, MB R6W 2P7. Bergfeld Mennonite Church (EMMC) is looking for a full-time pastor. Applications are invited for a pastor with a vibrant love for the Word of God and for sharing it in teaching and in life. Contact us for details or to provide a resume: Bergfeld Mennonite Church, Pastoral Search Committee, Box 1478, Altona, MB R0G 0B0; abereg@mts.net; 204-324-8283. Mid-Way Christian Leadership, based in Thompson Man., is looking for a general director to start Feb. 1, 2015. This is a support/fund-raised missionary position with some of the compensation subsidized from our general funds. We are looking for someone who is willing to take this step of faith. Please email generaldirector.mcl@gmail.com for a full job description or inquiries. Morweena Christian School (MCS) is looking for two high school teachers. Candidates with strengths in math and science will be given preference. MCS is a rural school 90 minutes north of Winnipeg, Man., serving about 130 students. The two-grade split classes range in size from 15-26 students. MCS was founded in 1966 by families of Morweena EMC. Candidates need to be certifiable in the province of Manitoba, embrace the EMC Statement of Faith, and be active in congregational life. Send resume to Tim Reimer, principal, timr@morweenaschool.org.

Where are position ads to be sent? Ministry-related position ads are welcome. Please send all position ads, including pastoral search ads, to messenger@emconf.ca. All ads are to be 150 words or less. All ads can be edited.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 33

Columns • here and far away

Don’t get dehydrated!

O by Jocelyn R. Plett www.writewhatyousee. wordpress.com

DESIGNPICS

My mind awakens to the realization that I have been spiritually dehydrated for the Lifegiving, soulquenching draught of the Word.

nce your body begins to tell you that you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. This means that your body needs water regularly even when you don’t feel like you need a drink. I also have learned through experience the health care adage, “You’re not sick, you’re just thirsty,” which is to say that many of the things we may suffer from physically could be remedied simply by drinking more water. Indeed, in a warm climate proper hydration is a serious concern. Going into isolated regions of the country where there isn’t ready access to clean and safe drinking water is, frankly, dangerous. We are in danger not only of suffering from severe dehydration in such instances, but if we mistakenly ingest water that looks clear but hosts all manner of pollutants we could become dangerously sick. There are people groups in remote areas of Madagascar who suffer from an illness known as bilharzia. It enters your body simply through

34 The Messenger • August 2014

standing in stagnant water. Left untreated it causes one’s urine to turn red. Eventually it will kill you. People who have had bilharzia long-term are sure that something is greatly wrong with them when, after receiving treatment and their bodies are restored, their urine is no longer red, but yellow. They had lived with ill-health for so long that they saw it as normal. When I have put off soaking in the Word of God because of all manner of other priorities—a sleepless baby, illness, a busy household to manage—I may not feel thirsty for the Living Water; but as I stand in the church meeting and hear the Scripture I sense my soul gasp with relief. My mind awakens to the realization that I have been spiritually dehydrated for the Lifegiving, soul-quenching draught of the Word. I listen in rapt attention and realize anew that the Word is so amazing in its scope and depth—so utterly perfect to address any and every situation in my life. It’s evident again how a long and steady drink from the Word on a regular basis would be an effective preventative measure for many of my life’s spiritual, emotional and relational ailments. And it tastes amazing! But like my water drinking habits, I tend to become distracted by baking bread and screaming children. On my way to the water filter I’m sidetracked by the shoes that need putting away and the dishes that need washing. At the end of the day my body feels parched and I try to remember how many glasses of water I drank that day. Not enough. It shows in my lethargy and my aching head. In the same way my unintentional fast from the Word of God shows up in the speed at which I become angry and the difficulty with which I practice patience and love. Lord, grant me the discipline to drink regularly throughout the day from your Word, from which flows freely the grace I need to face life in good health.

Columns • stewardship today

Digital Estate Planning accounts. There have been lawsuits in the U.S. over these policies. Shoppers Drug Mart won’t allow the transfer of rewards points from a deceased person, but will allow the estate to donate them to certain charities. One Kitchener lawyer is now asking clients to do beneficiary designations for Air Miles points. A handful of U.S. states have passed laws to impose some order. Nothing of the sort is in place anywhere in Canada. An easy and important step for estate trustees to take concerning electronic assets is to notify credit agencies about the deceased’s passing. Identity fraud is on the rise, and the risks increase with the amount of online activity. If the potential complications of all this make your head spin, you are not alone. Please pass the Aspirin. All the more reason to think twice when you are asked to serve as an estate trustee. Turning the job over to professionals and letting them worry about navigating these complications could be money well spent. To help you keep track of a wide range of accounts and assets, MFC offers a free, downloadable Personal Information Directory at mennofoundation.ca/PID. Mike Strathdee is a stewardship consultant in the Kitchener, Ont., office of Mennonite Foundation of Canada. For information on impulsive generosity, stewardship education, and estate and charitable gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit MennoFoundation.ca.

by Mike Strathdee

What happens to digital assets— anything stored in electronic form—is becoming a hot topic for lawyers and trust officers. Please pass the Aspirin.

DESIGNPICS

he most surprising “friend” request I ever received on Facebook came from someone I knew only slightly. That may not seem unusual, except the person was dead. When I clicked the Facebook page, which has since been taken down, I found an unusual memorial. It spoke of being glad to be free of pain and cancer, missing family and so on. This memorial, a digital legacy, is becoming common. That incident may seem silly to those of us who didn’t come of age in the computer era. But the question of what happens to digital assets— anything stored in electronic form—is becoming a hot topic for lawyers, trust officers and anyone who helps people do end-of-life planning. Some people’s digital assets may be worth more than their cars. The list of things that qualify as digital assets and often don’t get mentioned in a will is huge: text documents, photos, multimedia, user licences and profiles for online accounts (Facebook, LinkedIn) and subscriptions. In some cases—accounts at financial institutions and rewards programs—substantial amounts of money are at stake. Or someone just may want an account or pictures taken offline. Changes in technology are way ahead of how we think about changes we need to make in estate planning. Soon we will need to add “tech savvy” to the list of qualities we want our estate trustee to have. Issues we need to consider include making a list of our online accounts, passwords and security questions, and where the information that will allow someone to access these is stored—computers, mobile devices, flash drives or websites. “Normal” rules of how trustees get access to information when someone dies don’t apply to the digital world, complicating this new list of things to think about. Each company has different regulations on how they handle the situation, and standards are mostly lacking. Google may require a U.S. court order before it will disclose any information. Yahoo allows no right of survivorship or transferability on

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 35

Columns • kids’ corner

The wise man’s food

DESIGNPICS

by Loreena Thiessen

ave you eaten a banana today? If you have you are considered wise. Why are you wise if you eat bananas? First, the word banana means “the wise man’s food.” People everywhere eat a lot of bananas. You may have one as a snack or for breakfast, or in a muffin. In the country of Uganda bananas are a staple food. This means that most of the people’s diet is bananas. Each person eats more than 400 kilograms of bananas each year. Most of their energy and nutrition comes from bananas. Bananas have vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as minerals, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and calcium. Vitamins keep you healthy and help you think and feel better. Minerals help grow strong bones and healthy skin. If you eat a banana or two before a soccer game or before you write a test, you will think and play better. Bananas have other uses too. If you rub the inside of the banana peel on a mosquito bite, it will not itch or get inflamed. It will soothe

a burn. Mashed bananas can be used as hair conditioner. Can you imagine your hair sticky with mashed bananas? (Caution: don’t do this on your own.) Bananas are good for the garden as fertilizer; just bury them, or the peel, in the soil. They will rot and feed the plants. The inside of the banana peel can shine up indoor plant leaves, or your shoes if you polish them with it. The banana tree is in the family of lilies, orchids and palms. It can grow over eight meters tall. Its roots can be hundreds of years old. Bananas are actually the berries of the banana tree. A cluster of bananas is called a “hand,” and each banana is a “finger.” Each banana clusActivity: Make a traditional banana split ter has from 10 to 20 fingers. So, to be wise, eat a banana. Try soothing Need: a mosquito bite with the inside of its peel. 1 banana, split lengthwise Did it work? 1 scoop each: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry ice-cream Food is important. Food gives us energy 2 tablespoons sliced strawberries and healthy bodies. Food makes us feel 2 tablespoons pineapple chunks good. 2 tablespoons whipped cream When Jesus lived on earth he used ex1 tablespoon chopped peanuts amples from food to teach truths he wanted 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup the people to know. In Luke 8: 5–15 he com2 maraschino cherries with stems pares seeds to his words. Seeds, like words, must be rooted to produce good outcomes. Do: He understood that people grow tired Place the peeled split banana in a long dessert bowl. and hungry and so he fed them (Matthew Place the 3 scoops of ice-cream in between the two halves of banana. 15: 32–36). On many occasions he joined Decorate with the rest of the ingredients. his friends and shared food with them. Read Enjoy eating it; share it with family or a friend. Luke 19: 2–6 and Luke 24: 30, 41–43.

Try soothing a mosquito bite with the inside of a banana peel. Did it work?

36 The Messenger • August 2014

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