The Messenger Vol. 44 no. 13 July 5, 2006

Messenger The

eVANGeLICAL MeNNONITe CONFeReNCe VOLUMe 44 NUMBeR 13 JULy 5, 2006

transformation becomingwhomGodcreatedustobe

The

Messenger

An exploration that enriches

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EDITOR Terry M. Smith ASSISTANT EDITOR Rebecca Buhler THE MESSENGER is the 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 Unpublished material is not returned except by request.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.

THE MESSENGER is published twice a month (once a month in July and August) by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, Manitoba.

Subscriptions: $12 per year (Manitoba residents add 7% PST, total: $12.84). Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. In cooperation with the EMC Conference Council, members and adherents pay through their church.

THE MESSENGER is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.

Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.

PAP Registration #9914 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.

Mailing information: Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions, should be addressed to: 440 Main Street Steinbach, Manitoba R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: emcmessenger@mts.net or emcterry@mts.net On-line edition available at www.emconf.ca/Messenger

MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 15 – September 15 (copy due August 25)

editorials n the EMC we don’t have to choose between being Evangelical or Mennonite (Anabaptist), but we do need to carefully explore the relationship.

Evangelical and Mennonite (Anabaptist) explain what is involved in teaching and living as Christians. At their best they are mutually enriching adjectives, rather than competing and conflicting emphases. A large overlap is far more comfortable to me than defining them so that they rarely connect. A healthy interplay between Evangelical and Mennonite (Anabaptist) makes the EMC attractive.

In 1979 Dr. Ron Sider said that both Evangelicals and Mennonites affirm central, historic Christian doctrines; Scripture’s full authority; and our faith’s centre being a personal, living relationship with Jesus Christ (C. Norman Kraus, ed., Evangelicalism and Anabaptism, Herald Press, pp. 149–168).

Evangelicals need reminding that this

relationship with Jesus involves being part of Christ’s visible body, the new community, while Mennonites should not substitute community identity or a nonviolent lifestyle for that personal relationship, he said.

Sider said Evangelicals need to develop a more holistic gospel message, while Mennonites need to proclaim the gospel in speech, not just hide behind a lifestyle witness. Evangelicals and Mennonites are reminded that right teaching and right practice are both important.

Both are to be reminded of the need for a simple lifestyle, costly discipleship, and a concern for the poor. Both are to avoid letting society, rather than Scripture, shape our concern for the poor, he said.

Dr. Ron Sider is our 2006 convention speaker. How will he bring out the relationship between Evangelical and Mennonite (Anabaptist)? How will our T conference respond? M Terry M. Smith

Baptism is an act of membership

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s there a good reason to separate baptism and church membership?

I was baptized in a Baptist church without becoming a member, but have questioned that action for years. My counsel as a minister is that baptism and membership are integrally connected, almost synonymous. Baptism is an act of membership.

What are possible reasons for separating baptism and membership?

• Individualism. It’s as old as original sin: “I will do it my way.” Discipleship, however, involves more than individualism.

• Church pettiness. Within hundreds of denominations what unnecessary lines are drawn? Baptism isn’t a denominational act.

Sometimes inherited forms and practices become the wrong focus.

• Our mobile society. A person might attend one church and yet seek baptism within another (perhaps their home congregation) without membership.

But membership needs to happen somewhere.

• Church politics. Pastors, seeking to survive within the fragile dynamics of

some congregations, try to accommodate.

• Anti-denominationalism. We can, though, join a local church while retaining a far wider vision for the Kingdom of God! • Lack of accountability. Both baptism and membership involve a covenant with Christ and His Church. We can’t neatly separate the Head from the Body.

• Being unfit. Some people who reject membership aren’t ready for baptism.

What soldier wears a uniform only to desert their unit? What baseball player grabs a bat, but doesn’t want to identify with the team?

• Ignorance. Separating baptism and membership is similar to failing to connect a wedding ceremony with sharing a home.

If a bride wants to marry but not live with the groom, there’s a misunderstanding about marriage.

Churches do well to move past pettiness and work creatively, candidates benefit from healthy instruction, and pastors strengthen churches by keeping the connection between baptism and T membership. M Terry M. Smith THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

June 13

‘Giving and golfing’ at EMC Classic A record total of 156 golfers gathered on June 13, 2006, for the 12th annual EMC Golf Classic held at the Steinbach Fly-in Golf Course.

The Missions Auxiliary benefited.

The MA was organized in 1973 “to make Christ known to the global community” by “supporting EMC and affiliated mission agencies” (brochure). By 2005 it had raised over a million dollars, according to General Secretary Len Barkman at last year’s event.

Two projects were supported this year: In Winnipeg and Nicaragua.

ICYA director Kent Dueck said, “I just want to say a heartfelt thanks from Inner City Youth Alive,” a ministry in the north end of Winnipeg. ICYA started 20 years ago, he said, and “you folks have all been a part of helping us to…the place where we are at today.”

ICYA board member Wally Doerksen spoke of how “you can get the kids… but…they go back to their environment and if we can’t do anything about changing the environment, then we reduce the effectiveness…There’s lots to be done. There’s lots that has been done.”

Lester Olfert, recently returned from Nicaragua, spoke of the Gethsemane Orphanage there. “Children are close to the heart of God,” he said. Psalm 82 says to “defend the cause of the weak and fatherless (or the orphans); rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them from the hands of the wicked.”

Past funds contributed by the tournament have helped the orphanage move “a stage closer to having children,” he said. A kitchen/dining room building has been built and a playground developed. “Thank you very much for your participation in giving and golfing and in that way contributing to Gethsemane Orphanage in Nicaragua.”

Golf committee chairman Ron Penner again thanked golfers and sponsors for financially supporting the projects. “Be assured that the funds raised here go to very, very worthwhile projects,” he said.

Two teams earned scores of 59 in the Texas Scramble format. Commenting on the low scores, Penner said, “I can

vouch for these guys. They are about as honest and true as can be.”

On a “countback,” Ron Penner said Bob Friesen, Hub Blanchette, Conroy Wieler, and Cal Zacharias were awarded first prize. Tim Friesen, Luke Friesen, Cliff Dyck, and Brett Harris took second place.

Sandi Eidse and Matt Plett made the longest drives. Frank Rempel placed the shot closest to the pin. Many prizes were awarded to golf teams.

The total of funds raised was unavailable at press time.

Terry M. Smith

coming events July 12 Benefit concert and coffeehouse Jazz pianist Amy Rempel Singer Jon Plett Canadian Mennonite University Winnipeg, Man. Donation’s benefit Aberdeen Church’s refugee support work 877-231-4570

Choosing a prize

July 13–15 Voices of Resiliency: Hearing, Sharing, Learning with each other Schizophrenia Society of Canada 2006 National Conference Delta Hotel Winnipeg, Man. 204-786-1616 or chris@mss.mb.ca July 19 MCC Manitoba Golf Tournament Quarry Oaks Steinbach, Man. 204-667-6593 or 204-896-4680 September 29–30 A Good Life on God’s Good Earth: A Creation Care Conference Speakers: Gordon Zerbe, Peter Harris, Steven Bouma-Prediger, August Konkel Canadian Mennonite University Winnipeg, Man. 877-231-4570 October 4–6 Winnipeg Prophecy Conference Victoria Inn Winnipeg, Man. 204-853-7786 www.wpgpc.org

Lester Olfert, Kent Dueck, and Wally Doerksen spoke about where project funds will be used.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

transformation

becomingwhomGodcreatedustobe Gareth Brandt

Spiritual formation begins with the self and ends in community for the glory of God.

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oy equals Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last. I learned this formula as a child and it sounded good. Other language used to talk and sing about the spiritual life confirmed this theology: Deny yourself. Crucify the flesh. Kill the “old self.” Forget about yourself and concentrate on Him. Some of these lines come out of the Bible, but I’m not sure the emphasis was always particularly biblical. It led to selfflagellation as an expression of piety and self-hatred masquerading as humility.

It often paralyzed my spiritual growth rather than nurturing it.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

Our society tells us to do the opposite: Look out for number one. Look after yourself first.

I’m king of the world. I did it my way. The free market economy and the media bombard us with these messages on a daily basis.

We live in a society that trumpets the rights of the individual.

Western psychologists have told us that the highest good is self-actualization. Is this the only alternative, or can we find a path between self-deprecation and narcissism?

The caterpillar seems not to even resemble its former self when it spreads its wings as a butterfly, yet it is the same creature. It has become completely itself.

So it is for us, when we are transformed by the Spirit of Christ, we truly become ourselves, who we were created to be.

Why focus on self?

Spiritual formation begins with the self and ends in community for the glory of God. Why should spiritual formation begin by focusing on the self? To be “spiritually formed” we are formed into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10); that is our goal in the individual Christian life, but how does it begin?

The greatest commandment is to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:36–37). The human quest is to know God, to find ultimate meaning in life, a higher purpose for being.

Genesis 1:27 says that we are created in the image of God thus it follows that we get to know a small part of what God is like when we get to know our selves. Each one of us reflects one small dimension of the personality of God. Since we are created in the image of God, to know God and to love God is to love our selves, to accept ourselves the way God has made us to be.

The second commandment is to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). We cannot love our neighbour as ourselves unless we love ourselves first!

To get to know our selves and accept ourselves, we must also begin to discover who we are, who God has created us to be. This is a journey of self-discovery that takes some time. We are all

The best way to discover who God has made us to be is the process of reflection. Reflection can involve experimentation with various roles, prayer, journaling and times of silence and solitude as well as listening to mentors, family and friends. This reflection on the self may be heightened during our younger years but it is a process that continues throughout life.

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od has created us unique individuals with unique personalities, but we are never finished products. There’s a saying, “God loves us so much he accepts us just the way we are, but God loves us too much to leave us that way.” God has called us to change, not to change into someone we are not, but to become more and more who we really are, who God created and called us to be.

The Greek word translated transform in Romans 12:2 also gives us the word metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is an apt illustration for spiritual formation.

The caterpillar seems not to even resemble its former self when it spreads its wings as a butterfly, yet it is the same creature. It has become completely itself. So it is for us, when we are transformed by the Spirit of Christ, we truly become ourselves, who we were created to be.

I believe that there are too many people in

God has called us to change, not to change into someone we are not, but to become more and more who we really are, who God created and called us to be. different, but it is not how different we are or exactly how God has made us that matters most; it is what we do with what God has given us.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

To focus on our self does not mean we do so in isolation. We need each other. It is impossible to develop an individual identity alone. We need others to find out who we are.

our churches who have never come to terms with who they are, and therefore are unaware that they are unhealthily preoccupied with themselves in their relationships with God and others.

Because they have not learned to love themselves as image-bearers of God they are unable to genuinely love their neighbour. By facing our own selves along with our shadows and blemishes, by being honest with God and ourselves about who we are, we create opportunities for authentic relationships of depth and health.

This is sometimes a very difficult thing to do, but until we do, we will (often unconsciously) continue to be too preoccupied with ourselves. In other words, to get the focus off of our selves and onto others, we must begin by intentionally focusing on ourselves.

For the sake of Christ The focus on the self is not for the sake of the self; it is for the sake of God. Bernard of Clairvaux, a monk and spiritual leader of the 12th century, has helpfully listed four degrees of love: Love self for the sake of self, love God for the sake of self, love God for the sake of God and—the highest— love self for the sake of God. As we grow in our love for God we grow in love and acceptance of Gareth Brandt is professor of ourselves the way theology and spirituality at God has created Columbia Bible College and lives with his wife Cyndy and their us in love. This four children in Abbotsford, is not prideful or B.C. He is a graduate of SBC narcissistic; it is true (Diploma, 1982) and has served humility, seeing our as youth pastor at Mount Salem selves as God sees us EMC and Braeside EMC. in Christ.

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For the sake of others To focus on our self does not mean we do so in isolation. We need each other. It is impossible to develop an individual identity alone. We need others to find out who we are: To compare ourselves, to hear from others, to interact, to learn from each other, to be challenged by those who are different from us.

The purposes of God are not realized primarily through individual spiritual growth; they are realized through the in-breaking of God’s reign into our communities and our world.

Our personal formation is for the sake of God and others, which brings us back to where we started! True joy comes from beginning with your self in the context of community for the sake of God and others.

A

s Parker Palmer has said, “Self care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others. Anytime we can listen to the true self and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”

Spiritual formation begins by focusing on our self but it ends in joyful communion with God, others and creation. The goal of spiritual formation is not self fulfillment but harmonious relationship; its end is the embrace of the Other: God, our enemy, our family, our neighbour and T all of creation. M THE MESSENGER July 5, 006

with our missionaries DR Congo

The Komo project faces obstacles

As translation coordinator for Eastern Congo Group, Beth Koehler ensures that Congolese translators receive the training and consultant help they need.

To this end, she has been organizing a two-year workshop series on Genesis for seven languages.

The Komo language is one of these languages. The Genesis workshop series is scheduled to begin in March 2006 and will end in November 2007. Publication and distribution of Genesis in Komo will take place in 2008.

Beth has related to the funding organization underwriting the project, developed overall objectives for the series, and put together a staff of consultants and advisors from six countries and three continents.

It requires a team of many people with different skills to re-activate the Komo project.

By 2004 only one Komo translator remained in the project, but three were needed. Five candidates chosen by the Komo church were evaluated technically in February 2005 and the church selected two translators.

At the same time, a colleague was meeting with the Komo church to work out a plan for literacy and Scripture promotion.

In June 2005 the Komo team leaders attended an annual planning workshop in Uganda. Beth was part of the staff, helping teams come up with annual work plans.

During the workshop it became apparent that much needed to happen before the Komo team could participate in the Genesis workshop series. They need a computer and a solar power

Beth and Loren Koehler (Steinbach EMC) are involved in translation and administrative work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They live in Kenya. system to replace equipment lost in the war, an e-mail system for consultant help between workshops, roof repair before installing the equipment, and to learn the computer and software.

Loren Koehler’s job was to order the computer and install the software, including translation and linguistics software, and to give initial computer training to the team.

In October 2005 three Komo men traveled from DRC to Nairobi, Kenya, for three weeks of intensive training.

Unfortunately, travel difficulties reduced the time to a little over a week. The men left with the computer and more facts than they could assimilate.

We ask that you would pray for the Eastern Congo Group, the Komo church, and the Komo team.

Loren and Beth Koehler

Region 8 Women’s Day

Uncluttering our lives: The call to simplicity october 28, 2006 ridgewood eMC

a day for worship in music and listening to guest speaker deanna treadway. The day will also include a fashion show, MCC Thrift Store style. Plan to attend this special day and prepare yourself for the challenge of simplifying your life.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 006

Summer can be a time to read and to write!

Theodidaktos: Journal for EMC theology and education invites essays, book reviews, and articles for consideration within its first issue.

Editor Darryl Klassen, senior pastor at Kleefeld EMC, can be contacted at 204-277-7443, kemc@mts.net, or Box 344, Kleefeld, MB R0A 0V0. Essay length is a maximum of 3,500 words.

The Journal is a way to see EMC discussion and education in print. The payment is to see EMCers listening to Scripture and to each other.

Theodidaktos means learning from God. The proposed publication date is late fall, and the project is under the authority of the Board of Church Ministries.

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Chihuahua state, Mexico

Mexico staff ponder holiness of God

During May 22 to 26, the Mexico Field Staff enjoyed a retreat at Seville’s Bible Camp in New Mexico, USA. R. C. Sproule spoke to us via a video series on The Holiness of God. We had great fellowship times, indoor and out. The setting at the camp was lovely, a little reminiscent of being somewhere in beautiful British Columbia.

The following comments will give you a bit of a glimpse into our week: What did we enjoy about this retreat?

Peter Doerksen: “It’s a great time of refreshing and relaxing.”

Where is the

road

leading you?

Evangelical Mennonite Conference Board of Missions www.emconf.ca

Arnold Thiessen: “Can I think about that?”

Lorna Wall: “To all be together in one building... and no cooking.”

John Wall: “I wanna’ win!”

Tina Thiessen: “Recently I’ve been saying that I’m gonna’ concentrate more on the holiness of God and now our sessions here are on the holiness of God and it’s so precious.”

Vanessa Bartsch: “I’m not particularly fond of climbing into culverts.”

Alvira Friesen: “I haven’t written a limerick in years!”

Arnold: “With the Lord, you’re on the winning side!”

S T E I N B A C H

B I B L E

C O L L E G E

Alvira: “The Holiness series is an excellent series and I heartily recommend it.”

The week included the Holiness series, singing, food, games (Frisbee Golf, hence the culvert adventure!), a day into Ruidoso, sharing and prayer.

Some verses shared with each other this week were: Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Elisa).

Psalm 63:2–3: “I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you” (Vanessa).

Psalm 111:1–2: “I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them” (Alvira).

Martha Doerksen

right here right now

Apply now for September 2006 call Michelle for info 1.800.230.8478 www.sbcollege.ca

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THE MESSENGER July 5, 006

with our churches

GNCC accepts missionary couple Good News (Steinbach, Man.): Imagine, half the population of Canada in one city! We want to share with you a challenging ministry opportunity God has presented to us. It will take us to the city of Manila (population: 17 million) in the Philippines.

We’ve been in St. Laurent, Man., serving as pastor of Lakeside Gospel Chapel (EMMC) for four years now. Our time here has been both challenging and exciting. We have fallen in love with many of the people here and will be leaving with many fond memories.

Clearly, God is at work in St. Laurent.

Pray for the people of Lakeside as they make decisions about the future of the church. Working with and getting to know people in the EMMC has also been a tremendous blessing to us.

Recently we were accepted to train and serve with Mercy in Action. The goal of Mercy in Action is to train midwives and mission medics to serve in the twothirds of our world where families live in extreme poverty.

Can you picture a pitifully malnourished woman? She’s living in the slums, has no money for the hospital and is about to give birth. Her baby will be born there, in the slums, and there will be no skilled birth attendant to help her. She doesn’t name her baby for days because so many babies die.

Before the existence of the Mercy in

Action free maternity clinic, most poor mothers had no other options. Now, over 900 women every year give birth at the centre with loving and skilled midwives providing free care to them and their babies.

Galatians 2:10 says “All they asked was that we should continue to

Veronica and Curtis Reimer and their family will spend a year in Manila, Philippines, where Veronica will serve as a midwife and Curtis will serve as a medic under Mercy in Action.

remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” We are eager to have the opportunity to show God’s love and mercy in a practical way to needy families.

Good News Community Church of Steinbach, a recent church plant of Ridgewood EMC, our former home church, is sending us as their missionaries. We are excited about their decision to be a partner with us in this new and exciting ministry.

In June we began three months of training and service began in Boise, Idaho. Curtis is to train and serve as a mission medic; Veronica is to train and serve as a midwife. We will go to Manila, Philippines, for one year.

We recognize that prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God’s leading in this work.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17–18).

Curtis and Veronica Reimer

Holiday Travel Clearspring Centre, 23-178 PTH 12N Steinbach, MB R5G 1T7 now booking tours to:

South America Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina November 1–18, 2006

Eastern Europe Heritage Ukraine and Crimea Kiev, Mennonite Colonies, Yalta, Odessa May 14–31, 2007 Heritage Ukraine/Historical Russia July 9–27, 2007 For tour information contact tour host Len Loeppky 204-326-2613, aloeppky@mts.net 14 Springwood Bay Steinbach, MB R5G 2E8 Registration/payment deadline 60 days prior to departure Mercy in Action trains midwives to serve in the two-thirds of the world where people live in extreme poverty.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

Seniors head to Argyle Steinbach EMC: Wednesday morning June 21 a chartered bus pulled out of the parking lot of Steinbach EMC. On it were a group of seniors headed for Argyle, Man. What’s at Argyle? This is where Pioneer Quest took place five or six years ago. Four modern day pioneers spent 11 months on an isolated homestead near that town.

A tour guide tells the story of how these two couples stepped back in time to the mid-1800s. With trees cut nearby and some lumber, they constructed a home and barn. Tim and Deanna Treadway from Kenora, Ont., were one couple who had experienced this adventure and they were also there to give us the tour.

This was only one place to be visited on this day trip. Other points of interest were a visit (including a chicken dinner) to a nearby Hutterite Colony, to an old church over 100 years old, and a visit to a school, which ended our tour. We arrived back in Steinbach at 6 p.m. with a not soon to be forgotten experience.

Dave Schellenberg

The final leg of the trip to the Homestead was by this horsedrawn wagon.

After our chicken dinner at New Haven Colony we were entertained by a choir, likely made up of the cooks and servers.

New members at Aberdeen

This is the cabin Treadways constructed for their home. We also saw the other couple’s home, but it was reconstructed because the original had burned down.

Aberdeen (Winnipeg, Man.): The membership transfer at Aberdeen church on May 7, 2006, included (back row) Leon Janzen transferring from La Crete Christian Fellowship, La Crete, Alta.; and Charlotte and Randy Gesell with their children (front row) Riana, Tanner, Kezia, and Westen transferring from United Church of Sante Fe, New Mexico.

Pastor Adam Robinson (back row, right) in his sermon stated that these people “are saying they are with us in our struggle to discern a future, and they are promising to dig deep with us in love.

We, in turn, are renewing our promise to do the same.”

Dave Schellenberg with Deanna Treadway

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Elizabeth Plett

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

Control Arms campaigners deliver photo petition demanding tougher arms controls Oxfam-Quebec, Oxfam Canada, Project Ploughshares and Amnesty International, in the company of Senator Romeo Dallaire, on June 7 delivered over 10,000 pictures of Canadians to Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay as part of their contribution to the world’s largest photo petition—the Million Faces Petition of the Control Arms Campaign (www.controlarms.com).

Over 100 days, Control Arms campaigners have increased their efforts to mobilize public support for efforts to control the proliferation and misuse of small arms. The campaign also calls for a global Arms Trade Treaty to curb the flow of weapons to human rights abusers and countries in conflict.

The petition was presented to the government ahead of a crucial United Nations conference on small arms and light weapons to take place in New York June 26 to July 7.

At the UN Conference campaigners hope to have a million or more faces. Over 960,000 people from 160 countries have added their photos and self-portraits with more faces added daily.

“I have seen how these weapons can spark, fuel, and prolong conflict,” said Senator Romeo Dallaire. “I join the thousands of Canadians who are asking the government to take leadership at the UN meeting on small arms, to ensure it results in strengthened efforts to effectively regulate arms trade, and eliminate gun violence.”

One thousand people are killed by

Senator Romeo Dallaire holds a book made up of pictures of Canadian Million Faces Petition supporters.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

guns every day around the world, and thousands more are injured. Over 600 million small arms (from handguns to AK47 assault rifles to shoulder-fired missiles) are in worldwide circulation. At present, there are no international rules to keep small arms from falling into the hands of criminals or abusive governments.

“Governments continue to transfer weapons and ammunition to countries with records of gross human rights abuses, and insufficient national arms control laws make easy work for global gun-runners,” said Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada.

“Many weapons traded legally end up in illicit markets with dire consequences.”

“The UN Conference must set global standards to prevent weapons from being transferred to places where they might fuel conflict, hinder development, or be used in human rights abuses,” said Robert

Fox, executive director of Oxfam Canada.

“Women are disproportionately affected by gun violence in poor countries.”

“There is a growing awareness of the global gun epidemic and a growing demand for governments to do more about it,” said Pierre Veronneau, Executive Director Oxfam-Quebec. “The upcoming UN Conference is a vital opportunity.

Canadians and people around the world are looking to their governments to work together to tackle this crisis.”

“The Government of Canada has the opportunity at the Conference to strengthen the leadership it has shown on the international control of small arms. The stakes are high. People’s lives are being lost each and every day even while a solution is in sight,” said John Siebert, Executive Director of Project Ploughshares.

Oxfam

Alumni catch-up, worship at SBC’s annual brunch A delectable meal, special music, sharing from former grads, rekindling of old relationships and the introduction of 2006 grads made for a truly inspirational SBC alumni brunch on April 29.

It was gratifying to see the old dining room at Steinbach Bible College fill to capacity as alumni members drifted in by twos and threes and made their way to the tables of friends—in some cases friends they had not seen for decades.

Over the meal of quiche and fresh fruit prepared by the SBC kitchen, there was a lot of catching up going on—certainly one of the reasons why the brunch is held in the first place.

For the class of ’56 this was a continuation of their 50-year reunion the day before when a good majority of their classmates got together in Steinbach to reminisce. It was also heart-warming to welcome 40 new graduates into the alumni association, many of whom attended the brunch.

Music has always been an important part of worship at SBC so it seemed appropriate for Free Servant from 1996 to lead in four or five numbers to focus our attention on Jesus. Danny Plett, a

student in the mid 80s and currently on home leave from his music ministry with Janz Team in Germany (together with his wife Sherri), presented a mini concert of songs which expressed the faithfulness of God in his life.

Two alumni members spoke about how SBC had prepared them for a life of service. Dan Wolfe from the ’56 class told the audience about his years as a missionary with GMU in Africa, as well as his later years as a pastor in British Columbia. Although his life has had its share of problems including ill health, he gave God the glory for guiding in even the most trying circumstances.

Grad of 1976, Patsi Harms recounted stories of her ministry with international students first in Thunder Bay, then Edmonton and now in Winnipeg. In their family, the flow of blessing had been both ways.

Credit goes to Minna Thiessen for much of the work in organizing the brunch and making contact with the alumni. It is definitely worthwhile to keep this type of function going.

Doris Penner

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CPT receives first Michael Sattler award In its 50th year of operation, the German Mennonite Peace Committee (DMFK) has founded the Michael Sattler Peace Award in memory of the reformation-era Anabaptist. Christian Peacemaker Teams received the first award at a ceremony in the Evangelical Church in Rottenburg / Neckar on May 20, 2006.

The award is supported by the Evangelical Church of Rottenburg, the Catholic Peace organization Pax Christi, and the City of Rottenburg.

Michael Sattler was burned at the stake on May 20, 1527, in Rottenburg, Germany.

Sattler, his wife and other members of the Anabaptist fellowship in Horb, Germany, were tried in Rottenburg because of their non-violent Christian faith.

“Christians are totally yielded and trust their Father in heaven without any outward earthly protection,” said Sattler.

As Sattler suggested, CPT members are unarmed. These trained, international teams offer alternatives in areas of armed conflict and support local efforts toward nonviolent peacemaking. Members are skilled at “getting in the way” of injustice through direct nonviolent intervention, public witness and reporting to the larger world community.

CPT members also engage congregations and support groups in meetings at home, inviting them to play advocacy roles with policy makers.

Currently there are CPT Teams in

Baghdad, Hebron, Palestine, Colombia and on the US-Mexico border. Teams have worked in Gaza, Haiti, Bosnia, Chechnya, Chiapas, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and in conflict situations between whites and First Nations in the US and Canada.

With the cooperation of Muslim human rights groups, CPT helped to found Muslim Peacemaker Teams.

CPT’s work in Iraq began before Coalition Forces entered the country. CPT workers helped to document the torture and other human rights violations in US military prisons and advocated for the release of all prisoners that were wrongly apprehended and held without trial.

Between November 2005 and March 2006 four CPTers were themselves kidnapped and held captive. American Quaker Tom Fox was murdered in captivity. The remaining three, two Canadians and a British citizen, were freed by Coalition Forces.

CPT was founded in 1986 based on a speech given by Ronald J. Sider at Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg, France, in 1984. Sider, from the US, called Christians to show bravery and self-sacrifice like soldiers. The three historic peace churches, Mennonites, Quakers and Church of the Brethren, developed the CPT concept out of this vision of a non-violent “peace army.”

Since then, volunteers and financial support has come from many different

CPTers accompany Palestinian children to school past illegal Israeli settlements near the Palestinian village of At-Tuwani. Settlers from these settlements have attacked and injured Palestinians while attending school, herding sheep, thus the Palestinian community requested international accompaniment. Settlers have also attacked and injured members of CPT. (Photo and caption information supplied by CPT.)

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Christian denominations. CPT has offices in Chicago (USA), Toronto (Canada) and London (England).

CPT calls churches to support the development and practical application of non-violent alternatives. For information: www.cpt.org.

MWC/DMFK

Lutherans and Mennonites explore relations Mennonite and Lutheran church representatives met in France on June 5–9, 2006, to explore modern relationships.

Lutheran confessional writings contain doctrinal condemnations which contributed directly to the persecution, torture and killing of Anabaptists during the 16th century Reformation.

These condemnations do not figure prominently among Lutherans today, except among scholars. They have, however, been deeply imbedded in the memory of Anabaptists.

The representatives are considering what it means for Lutherans to continue to have these condemnations within their confessional writing and to remove obstacles to good relations.

Last year representatives discussed papers on the historical meaning, purpose and effect of the condemnations of Anabaptists in Lutheran confessions. This year attention was given to baptism in Article 9 of the Augsburg Confession and civic affairs in Article 16. These articles contain serious theological differences between the two traditions.

The Study Commission is sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation and the Mennonite World Conference.

National Lutheran-Mennonite dialogues have been conducted in France (1981–1984), in Germany (1989–1992), and in the USA (2001–2004).

MWC

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

stewardship today Mike Strathdee

Altruism and society

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recent study of toddlers suggests that kindness toward others starts early in life.

Psychology researcher Felix Warneken’s simple experiments remind me of the contrast between the way God made us and the way our world leads us. Warneken did a series of little tasks in front of toddlers.

He hung towels with clothespins and stacked books.

Whenever he “accidentally” dropped pins or knocked over books, each of the 24 toddlers in his study quickly offered help. He never asked for assistance or said thank you, to avoid encouraging their actions.

People need to hear alternatives to our society’s hyperconsumption and overspending, alternatives that include sharing and saving.

Helpfulness or altruism requires the ability to understand other people’s goals and what Warneken called “pro-social motivation,” a desire to be part of their community. Unfortunately, the overwhelming weight of the messages that children receive in our North American society run directly counter to our inborn desire to contribute.

Children in the U.S. are now taking in an average of 8.5 hours a day of screen time—television, computers, video games, “instructional videos” at school that include commercials promoting fast food sponsors, and messages on cell phones, author Nathan Dungan says. The children are being bombarded with as many as 3,000 advertising messages a day, messages screaming out Spend! and It’s all about me.

Dungan believes Christians should be worried about this, as the people who tell the stories define the culture.

“The economic, social and spiritual implications of the tsunami of spending messages are incomprehensible,” he says.

How can we respond? Part of the answer lies in understanding, as Jesus did, the importance of telling stories. The church can make a difference, by holding up alternate views that speak to the way God intends us to think and live. Research on trends in giving patterns shows that appeals to institutional loyalty aren’t relevant to younger generations. Relationships are key.

People need to hear alternatives to our society’s hyper-consumption and overspending, alternatives that include sharing and saving. They need to hear the stories of peers, parents, and neighbours, for the sake of their

THE MESSENGER July 5, 006

spiritual growth. Generating support as people respond joyfully is a helpful byproduct.

When we look to Scripture for examples of modeling, King David’s example in 1 Chronicles 29 stands out.

David donated his fortune for building a temple, then put out the challenge, “And now, what about you? Who among you is ready and willing to join in the giving?”

Because David acted before asking, leading by example, the response was great. And the people were full of a sense of celebration—all that giving! And all given willingly, freely” (from The Message).

A poll done in the U.S. following the 2004 national election asked about the top values crisis facing Americans. The response: Greed and materialism.

Modelling generosity, and the living-within-your-means required for people to have room to be generous, may be one of the least recognized missional challenges of this decade. But people are hungry for lifestyle examples that don’t come from advertisers. Testimonies, money autobiographies, and group studies are helpful tools to T show us a better way. M For stewardship education and services, contact your nearest Mennonite Foundation of Canada office. Abbotsford – Dave Kroeker, 888-212-8608; Calgary – Gary Sawatzky, 877-717-0708; Niagara – Darren Pries-Klassen, 888-212-8731; Kitchener – Mike Strathdee, 888-212-7759; Winnipeg – Edwin Friesen, 800-772-3257.

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CBS celebrates 1804 Mohawk Gospel of John Hollywood could not have come up with a better story. A First-Nations boy snatched out of his burning village by a Scottish soldier in 1760. Raised in Scotland by the soldier who saved his life, he had his own child, John Norton, who would make his way to Canada as a soldier. There Norton was attracted to the ways of the First Nations people he encountered and left the army to become Teyoninhokarawen—a First Nations warrior who led his Six Nations people as allies to the British, fighting against the Americans in the War of 1812.

But that’s not all he did.

One of Teyoninhokarawen’s most lasting legacies was re-enacted and celebrated on June 25 at Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks in Brantford, Ont. In 1804 this First Nations leader and war hero translated the Bible’s Gospel of John into Mohawk.

His gift to his people was the Gospel of John. His gift to the world was the first ever foreign translation of the Bible Society—a movement that would sweep the globe publishing, translating and distributing the Scriptures.

In Canada, that movement lives on in 2006, as the Canadian Bible Society celebrates 100 years of translating, publishing, distributing and encouraging the use of the Bible in Canada.

The June 25 commemoration included a re-enactment of the arrival of the first

500 copies of the Gospel of John in Mohawk at the very spot where this special delivery took place 200 years ago.

The ceremony also marked the release of a children’s book about Norton’s life and a Norton commemorative edition of the New Testament.

The highlight of the ceremony was a reading from one of the original translations of the Gospel of John (only two are known to still exist) that Norton created for his people.

CBS

A First Nations dancer performs at the June 25 Norton celebration of Canadian Bible Society.

First Nations members re-enact the 1806 delivery of the Mohawk Gospel of John during the Norton celebration at Mohawk Chapel, Brantford, Ont.

Bible Society celebrates centennial For 100 years, the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) has been translating, publishing, distributing and encouraging the use of the Bible in Canada.

Founded in 1904 and chartered in 1906, the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) formed when 14 regional auxiliaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Canada (dating as far back as 1807) joined together. In the century since, the CBS has distributed hundreds of millions of Scriptures.

“The Bible is such an integral part of Western civilization that it is considered a literary classic,” says Phyllis Nesbitt, CBS’s national director.

“It has been studied and quoted as a spiritual and moral authority—and also simply for its poetic and beautiful writing—for centuries.

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“But it is the conviction that the Bible can change hearts and transform lives that motivates our work,” she adds. “The Canadian Bible Society has always operated with one dominant purpose; to make the Bible available to all who want to read it, without added commentary or interpretation.

“Our ministry is unique in that countless traditions support our work including Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Mainline Protestant and Evangelical Christian groups from across the denominational spectrum.”

Canadian Bible Society is a member of the United Bible Societies, a fellowship of more than 140 national Bible societies around the globe.

CBS

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

by the way Dave K. Schellenberg

SHOUT It! O

ur youth pastor Chris Derksen tackled an interesting subject in his sermon the other Sunday. The title was The Morning Hour 24: A Day with God. The first of four points was

Shout It. What did he mean by that? Maybe the other three points help shed some light on this: Feel It, Hide It and Say It. However, according to the Scriptures cited for each day of the week, the shouting would likely be interpreted as praise, blessing or singing.

According to Chris Derksen this shouting can happen either internally or externally. In other words, it can be the expression of an attitude.

“A shout of joy can take different forms of utterance,” says Sherwood E. Wirt in his book Jesus, Man of Joy.

We in the EMC were certainly not brought up to use shouting as a response. But then the EMC is only a very tiny part of the Church.

“It can be a song sung loudly” he says, “an acclamation or a proclamation, or simply an ecstatic crying out. ‘Hosanna’ and ‘Hallelujah’ were expressed as shouts in the Bible. They are occasionally heard in conventional worship services today, but usually in hymns and songs.”

I would go along with this. But in addition to this, there are what appears to be audible shouts recorded in the Bible. And maybe even commands!

What should be done about this? We in the EMC were certainly not brought up to use shouting as a response.

But then the EMC is only a very tiny part of the Church.

Elina Ciptadi of Indonesia said she likes to move THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

and shout when she worships: “I have never seen in Mennonite teaching that we only worship a certain way” (Canadian Mennonite, April 17, 2006).

A friend of mine, who used to live in the Congo with her missionary parents, remarks at the spirited singing of the Congolese, “They about raise the roof when they sing.”

At our church picnic recently I would like to think that the loud singing of a chorus saying Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah/Your love makes me sing, might already qualify for shouting. When Wirt classifies a shout as “a song sung loudly,” I believe it would pass.

Maybe this is also what our Sunday morning speaker had in mind when the first point of his sermon was Shout it—the praises of God. In Psalm 65:1–2 we read, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands. Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.”

Here singing and praising are both mentioned.

The thought that maybe this shouting can be expressed in song has influenced my own singing during the worship service in church or here at Woodhaven Manor. In fact, it has revitalized my singing so that I feel it can be more likened to praises in the Psalms.

And I think that we could stand a revival in more enthusiastically taking part in our singing in church. I would, of course, think twice before shouting or raising my voice in church. But in song, I risk doing it and consider that it is a good substitute. Why don’t you try it next time you sing?

Then, of course, I can sing as loud as I am inclined to when singing during my private devotions in my apartment even if it is heard in the hallway outside my door.

I wonder if maybe for too long, we as EMCers have not given sufficient emphasis to the many times that praise, T praises, sing, and even shout are used in the Bible. M 15

generations

Gerald Reimer Conference Youth Minister emcger@mts.net

Youth workers are unsung heroes!

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leader is a person with Godgiven capacity and God-given responsibility who influences a group of followers towards God’s purposes for the group (Robert Clinton’s The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development, Navpress, 1988).

As I was reading Clinton’s book, my thoughts returned repeatedly to the amazing responsibilities of youth workers within our Conference.

Certainly, the high profile work of senior pastors is a key to the ongoing spiritual growth within our congregations. However, our obscure paid and volunteer youth workers deserve more attention and support than they typically receive.

Senior pastors shepherd a group of mature adults who have chosen to make a particular church their home, though often frustrating the pastor with their expert bench-warming techniques. By comparison, youth workers largely work with students who are often obliged to attend youth group, are going through puberty, are targets of secular media and advertising, and face peer pressures unimagined 20 years ago.

Youth workers have a unique God-given capacity to relate to, encourage, and empower our students for Christ.

Work within God’s Kingdom is a specific calling with a God-given authority. It requires huge accountability to God and his bride, the Church. I reflect with pride and joy on hundreds of youth workers in our churches— young and old, male and female—called by God to enter into students’ lives and walk beside them during the transitionary teen years.

In Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers (Oxford, 2005), Christian Smith discovered that while only 24 percent of adolescents aged 13 to 17 attend a weekly religious 16

service, 38 percent attend a religious youth group.

Among Conservative Protestants, 33 percent maybe or definitely believe in reincarnation, 33 percent believe in astrology, 31 percent in communicating with the dead, and 21 percent in psychics and fortune-tellers.

Christian Smith says these numbers are shocking for a tradition that has so strongly emphasized the Bible’s infallibility, the exclusive claims of conservative Christianity, and the need for a personal commitment of one’s life to Christ.

There is no more crucial time when solid leadership and support is required to help teens come through, not just unscathed, but to truly equip them to thrive and live a life of excellence to make a difference in their world. Beyond their parents, caring youth workers have a prominent role to play in this joint effort.

Youth workers have a unique God-given capacity to relate to, encourage, and empower our students for Christ.

This comes with responsibility that can easily be misused if their leadership skills are not developed over time.

To combat pessimists in our churches who think today’s teens are lost beyond hope, talk to your youth worker and listen to stories of hope, renewal, transformation and spiritual maturing among students.

Better yet, step in as a volunteer and see firsthand how God is working in their lives. Stories are emerging of how a revival is taking place in the hearts and lives of students.

And for youth workers who feel at your wits’ end, creatively challenged, tired and spiritually dry, take time this fall to be trained, refreshed and united with fellow workers from across the country.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 006

Leaders do not just happen; they are a work in progress that the Lord Almighty performs. You have an opportunity to influence your students for something positive. How about taking time to be equipped and understand God’s purposes for students in your group, church and community?

On October 13–15, 2006, plan on attending our EMC youth leadership conference called TRU06 (TrainRefresh-Unite 2006). Marv Penner, professor of youth and family ministry at Briercrest Bible College and Seminary, will be our guest speaker.

TRU06 is an incredible opportunity for quality training, times of refreshing, and building of unity within your leadership team and, more broadly, across T our Conference. M



youth leaders with practical skills, tips and ideas for leading youth

October 13–15, 2006 Wilderness Edge, Pinawa, Man.



and inspire youth leaders in their walk with Jesus and for service



as a Conference and as individual church leadership teams

Speaker: Marv Penner, Professor at Briercrest

a womanʼs journey of faith Betty Koop

Susie: Pictures from the Past

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listened, fascinated, to Susie telling of her In the morning, a German soldier quietly suggests experiences as a fleeing refugee during and after they re-cross the river. The dead from the battle have World War Two. Time after time it seemed the Lord yet not been removed—a horrible sight. But again she intervened on their behalf, even though many feels safe with her father nearby… others did not escape death.

The bridge was blown up She said, “Many times when right behind them. The Germans deliverance came, I couldn’t help but advanced to Stalingrad and wonder, why us and not others?” That Mennonites lived more or less in is one of the many why questions to peace for another two years. Then which there don’t seem to be answers the Russians returned, following the down here. retreating Germans.

I’d love to share all her stories but need to limit myself to just a few of Susie said, “Many times when her pictures from the past. deliverance came, I couldn’t At a Mennonite Colony in Ukraine, eight-year-old Susie watches with help but wonder, why us and not excitement as families rush about, others?” packing. The German army is advancing fast and all residents are ordered to evacuate. Their heavy The German army put them on a wagons pound across the big bridge train, five families to a cattle car. To over the Dnieper River. a 10-year-old, this was an adventure.

They stop in a big sandpit. With Many friends were with them, so it bullets flying, Susie’s father quickly was fun! digs a cave into the bank to shelter Next we see them in Danzig, her mother, the two-month-old baby Poland, where they live in a twoSusie’s passport photo, 1948 and a severely handicapped threestorey house with seven families. year-old son. Susie takes refuge in the nearby bush with Susie’s dad and uncles are away, forced into the army; Father. Even with bullets flying in all directions, she isn’t grandpa is the only male left with them. (continued next page) afraid—she trusts her father completely.

THE MESSENGER July 5, 006

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Again they must leave, with the Russian army threatening. Susie helps mother get their few things together. Suddenly Father appears, still in his uniform, and takes leadership. Somehow he finds wagons and horses. Maybe the uniform helps?

It is January, snowy, cold and icy. The horses stumble, a wagon overturns and people are killed. Many people freeze their feet. But Susie’s family is kept safe again.

Now little Susie is in Czechoslovakia. Hunger and fear are almost constant. When an air raid siren goes, Susie is terrified of being separated from her parents in the swarms of people rushing to the bunkers. And she shivers, wondering what awful things are happening out there.

Then we see them as they begin walking to Germany, to keep ahead of the Russian army. Grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts and children plod on wearily.

Sometimes grandmother sits down and says, “I can go no farther.” Her son pleads with her and they stumble on.

MARTIN P. PENNER 1915–2006

Martin Penner was born in Giroux on July 4, 1915, to John and Sarah Penner. He was number nine in a family of 13, ten of whom were boys. As you can imagine, his growing up years were very lively.

Dad accepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized as a young adult and became a member of the Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Church.

When World War II came along Dad registered as a conscientious objector, but never went to CO camp. He was given permission by the government to stay at home and run his farm instead.

Dad married Justina Reimer on his 28th birthday, and they spent more than 54 years together. Mom and Dad had nine children, four sons and five daughters.

Two of the sons died in infancy.

Dad, together with Mom and his family farmed half a mile north of the Ridgewood Church. Most of his farming life he ran a mixed farm, a few cows, pigs, turkeys and land, but the last years of his farming career he had a hog operation.

Dad very much enjoyed traveling together with Mom. They made numerous trips to Indiana, a trip to Paraguay and

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They must scrounge food in whatever way possible.

Susie takes her baby brother in her arms, goes to a nearby farm and begs for milk for the baby. The kind farm family shares of their meager supply…

Eventually we find Susie and her family in a displaced persons camp to await emigration to Canada. Here, for the first time, Susie hears the good news that she can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Although her family had always read the Bible and prayed, it had not had much meaning for her personally.

Not many weeks later a sponsor is found and they depart for Canada.

At 15, Susie is baptized in Blumenort Kleine Gemeinde church (now EMC), rejoicing in her newfound faith and home!

The family, full of thanksgiving, could say with the Psalmist: “We went through fire and water, but you T brought us to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:12). M

Belize, Texas and Mexico as well as a number of trips to B.C. Mom and Dad were elected and became ordained deacons when Dad was approximately 51 years old. They served in this capacity in the church until they retired. They spent a lot of time visiting the elderly, the sick and the bereaved.

When Dad was 70 years old, Mom and Dad moved off the farm to a house in Blumenort. When this became too difficult for them to look after they moved to Woodhaven Seniors Apartments in Steinbach. During the time that they were living there, Mom passed away. This was a very hard time for Dad. He missed Mom intensely, in spite of being thankful that Mom was relieved of her suffering.

When Mother died, Dad told us that he thought that he would live to be 90.

None of us believed at that time that this would actually happen. But last summer we celebrated his 90th birthday. We had a birthday party for him and he really enjoyed that and felt honored that so many people came out to celebrate with him.

Dad lived at the Rest Haven Nursing Home for a little over three years.

During this time his health gradually declined, but he kept on enjoying life.

Last fall it looked like Dad might not make it another Christmas, but he did and enjoyed the family Christmas gathering very much. Since then it seemed that he was steadily getting weaker and was often a little confused.

On March 18 the nursing home called the family to let us know that Dad was not doing well. He passed away peacefully with some family members at his side at a quarter to two in the afternoon. He is now safe in the arms of Jesus and we are

thankful that God took him before he had to suffer too much.

We would like to thank all the staff at the Rest Haven Nursing Home who cared for Dad so lovingly and with so much compassion. We would also like to thank Dr. Krahn for the care that he gave to Dad. We will miss Dad a lot, especially his good sense of humour, his bright smile and his twinkling eyes.

Left to cherish Dad’s memory are two sons: Elden and Annie of Ridgewood, Roland and Connie of Ridgewood and five daughters, Jessie and Menno Plett of Ridgewood, Edna and Reuben Plett of Steinbach, Ann and Abe Suderman of Niverville, Elfrieda and David Hildebrandt of Landmark and Florence and Bernie Dupas of Langley, BC. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren, numerous grandchildren-in-law and 30 great-grandchildren, one brother Ben (and Elda), one sister Helen and Ben Thiessen and sister-in-law Helen Penner.

Dad was predeceased by his wife Justina, two sons in infancy, two grandchildren, Casey Penner and Erin Hildebrandt, one great-grandchild Cody Reimer, parents John and Sarah Penner, brothers Abraham, John, Peter, Jacob, Klass, Cornelius, Isaac and Frank, and sisters Gertrude Janzen and Margaret Reimer.

The funeral service for Martin P. Penner was held Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at 11 a.m. in Ridgewood EMC with burial in the church cemetery.

If friends so desire donations may be made to Canadian Foodgrains Bank, 400–280 Smith St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 1K2.

Arrangements by Birchwood Funeral Chapel.

His Family

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

shoulder tapping La Crete Christian Fellowship in La Crete, Alberta, seeks a youth pastor for a new position as part of our pastoral team. LCCF is a forwardlooking church of about 400 regular attendees. The youth pastor will have a primary role in developing programs and working closely with youth and youth leaders. LCCF’s service to God is based on the core values of a commitment to teaching God’s Word and outreach to the community.

Send a resume with references to lccfc@telus. net or LCCFC, Box 385, La Crete, AB T0H 2H0 Attention: Pastor Frank Winsor.

seeks a lead pastor. Are you an energetic person with a passion for the waking church? Are you a person that relates easily to a mult-generational church family? Do you have a strong commitment to an Evangelical Anabaptist understanding? Do you have strong teaching, preaching and organizational skills?

If this describes you, we invite you to pray and consider this opportunity.

Contact Henry Klassen, 63 Donald Ave., Steinbach, MB R5G 2B5; phone 204-326-6068; email henryk2@mts.net.

Steinbach Bible College invites applications for admissions counsellor. This opportunity includes connecting with potential students from across Canada and internationally. If you are excited about your relationship with God and would love to tell others what He is doing at SBC, consider joining our team of men and women committed to training people to serve in kingdom ministry.

The successful candidate must be willing to travel and work some evenings and weekends.

SBC alumni are encouraged to apply. Applications accepted until July 31.

Submit applications, resume and cover letter to: Steinbach Bible College, Attn. Gord Penner, 50 PTH 12 N, Steinbach, MB R5G 1T4; ph. 204-3266451 ext. 235; e-mail gpenner@sbcollege.ca.

Could we be looking for you? The Evangelical Mennonite Church at 422 Main St., Steinbach, Man.,

Mennville Church (EMC) seeks a part- or full-time pastor. Experience and education expectations are flexible. Mennville Church is a congregation of about 100, located in the Interlake area of Manitoba and close to Hecla Island, in a predominantly agricultural area. Contact Wes Barkman at 204-378-2778 (wbbarkmn@mts.net) or Roland Friesen at 204-378-2907 (rfriesen@riv. mb.ca). Conference pastor David Thiessen can also be contacted at the EMC national office (204326-6401).

Exposure and Encouragement Trip to Central Asia Men in square hats, women in colourful Central Asian silk, lamb kebabs, nan bread, noodle soup of high calibre, a desert oasis, an ancient city dating back to Noah’s day, mosques and minarets, and everyday life depicting people of Muslim faith.

This and more awaits the Exposure and Encouragement Team going to Central Asia this fall. The tentative dates are October 11– 23, 2006. Wouldn’t you like to go?

We will see Christian workers in action and hear their heart for the people God has called them to. Since 2000 the EMC and Frontiers have been concerned about planting an indigenous church in Central Asia. God is prospering their ministry. We will see what God is doing, encourage workers, and visit partner ministries through Women and Children at Risk in Central Asia project. There will be opportunity for hands on helping of our workers.

Most time will be spent in the city, but we will see out-of-town tourist areas and ministry in other areas.

Perhaps you would like to explore ministry possibilities or simply go in order to pray, give and mobilize better.

Estimated trip costs per person are $4,000–$4,250 Canadian. Tax receipts can be issued through Frontiers. Trip details are being worked on. Contact Flo Friesen at 204233-8067 or Len Barkman at 204-326-6401.

A trip like this could change you forever!

THE MESSENGER July 5, 2006

Steinbach Bible College seeks a president. SBC is an Evangelical Anabaptist college drawing students from Canada, USA, Mexico, Belize and overseas. The college is operated by a board of directors called from the constituencies of the EMC, EMMC, and CMC. We seek a candidate who has a passion for equipping leaders for ministry and can help our institution move to the next level of excellence in post-secondary Christian education.

The president is responsible to the board of directors for implementation of institutional objectives through executive direction and leadership. Key areas of responsibility include: Oversight of the ministry, communication with constituency, long-term strategic planning, budget preparation, coordination of donor development. A suitable candidate will also have opportunities for classroom instruction.

Qualities: Demonstrated excellence in educational or ministry leadership; graduate degree in a relevant ministry, theological, or educational field; strong commitment to an Evangelical Anabaptist understanding; mature faith and excellent spiritual character; exceptional communication and organizational skills; proven ability in effective teamwork.

Position to begin prior to 2006–2007 school year. Forward applications to Presidential Search Committee, Steinbach Bible College, 50 PTH 12 N, Steinbach, MB R5G 1T4.

Mennonite Disaster Service is seeking to fill important roles for the summer months. If you are a skilled carpenter and can serve as a crew leader for one of our units, please contact Karla Amstutz at 717-859-2210. Also our Point Aux Chenes, Louisiana, site has openings for some skilled weekly volunteers. If you would like more information about these openings, please contact the location at 985-594-3946.

In addition, there is another opportunity in the Gulf Coast Region. While not an MDS project, it is one we encourage people to consider Gulf Haven

Mennonite Church in Gulfport, MS, suffered damage to its building during the hurricane, as did many attendees and community people.

Currently the church is looking for skilled carpenters, plumbers and electricians to help in the rebuilding efforts. If you are interested in this effort, please contact Pastor Nelson Roth at 228-669-8260.

Reserve Fellowship Chapel (EMC), located in Sioux Valley (west-central Man.), seeks a fulltime pastoral couple to serve the church and to develop long-term relationships with people of the community.

The smaller 50-year-old congregation is part of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, a community that has a Christian history going back to 1879. The congregation is located about 45 minutes from Virden and Brandon.

A strong sense of God’s call and a love for people are required. Direct inquiries to David Pashe, 204730-0409, e-mail: pashed@westman.wave.ca; or to Len Barkman, 204-326-6401, e-mail: emclen@mts.net.

Endeavour Fellowship Chapel in east-central Saskatchewan, with a congregation of about 50, is currently looking for a pastor. Contact Tom Treen (Elders’ Chairman) at 306-547-3383 or tdpromise@ sasktel.net.

Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship (EMC) in north-central British Columbia seeks a halftime associate pastor of youth with a love for God and heart for youth. The leader will give mature leadership, work with church in moulding youth, guide them into becoming faithful followers of Jesus Christ, and work within the EMC statement of faith. Our Sunday morning attendance is 100.

Our youth group (without a youth pastor for some time) is rebuilding, currently 12 to 20 people, with an average age of 14. There is potential for growth.

Contact VCF, Box 377, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0; phone 250-567-9198; fax 250-567-2064; vcfemc@ telus.net.

Morris Fellowship Chapel, a church of 100 members located in the town of Morris, Man., is looking for a senior pastor. Starting date is August 1. Contact Ernie Siemens at 204-746-8342 or e-mail siemensj@mts.net.

Fish Creek Christian Fellowship (EMC) seeks a full-time pastor, with position open May 2006.

Experience and education expected are flexible.

The church, started in south Calgary in 1998, is currently meeting in a rural setting outside of Calgary; it hopes to return to Calgary shortly.

Fish Creek has about 50 people attending. Contact Garry Kornelsen, board chair, at 403-281-3747; or 55 Woodford Cres., SW, Calgary AB T2W 4C6; email: gskornelsen@shaw.ca.

Midway Bible Camp, in northern Manitoba, requires a lifeguard and girls’ counsellors for camps to run from July 5 to August 19. For information, contact Continental Mission at cmi@ mts.net or 204-778-4491.

19

Laina: a woman of mystery and of faith

A

faint hint of mystery clung to the air around her at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Steinbach, Man. Who was this woman?

Year after year of struggling (and losing out) with Alzheimer’s, eventually during that final stage of communication, she had only one thing left to say: Three words—“I love you”—over and over again.

Neighbours had asked questions much earlier. What possible illness could so effectively stunt Laina’s normalcy or prevent her from socializing with others?

And why would her teenage sons pray that she, the mother they loved with absolute devotion, might be able to die?

Adventures on the new farm add up one after the other. Sometimes the challenges are gigantic, but the spirit of optimism and joy prevails, quickly overshadowing the hard times.

As a seven-year-old in 1919, Laina is excited about the family’s big move to the west, all the way from well established Blumenhof to the raw, untamed Prairie Rose. Living in the well house and learning to milk a cow that summer is only the beginning.

Adventures on the new farm add up one after the other. Sometimes the challenges are gigantic, but the spirit of optimism and joy (with the family’s own blend of whistling and singing) prevails, quickly overshadowing the hard times. Laina is close, very close to her Pa. There is no one she loves or respects more.

The way Pa so purposely and lovingly surprises the family one day by being among the first in the community to purchase a car, a brand new Model T (he had received the appropriate permission), is only one example of the man he is, even

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Betty Barkman

though horses are still his first love.

By early 1930 the tide is beginning to turn. Then, that fall an unprecedented crisis, like an epidemic hits their household, followed shortly by a double tragedy—two deaths in one night, her Pa and her closest sister—while she herself and many of her siblings are still deathly ill. Her grandfather Plett keeps a very detailed diary of this tumultuous time.

How will Laina handle the heartbreaking grief? They, after all, like everyone else, are heading smack into the heart of the Dirty Thirties, and as the oldest child of a widow she carries a heavy load. Will the coping skills she acquires, midst her fledgling faith, do her justice?

With tears, sweat and blood, tenacious determination, occasional miracles and gracious neighbors notwithstanding, the family of ten survives. So much so that when a few years later Abram starts courting her, she quickly falls in love, not only with him but also with life itself. She envisions nothing less than a long and love-filled happy future.

Little does she know! Mind you, she gets the length of life and the love all right, but the unforeseen and crushing breakdown of her health that comes with the arrival of her first baby is quite something else. And it refuses to leave.

Will she ever understand why? Likely not here.

Will her faith see her through? Absolutely, very strongly.

The mystery woman had a long history.

She was a woman of faith.

Laina was my husband’s mother and my mother-in-law. She died in 2002, entering the T Lord’s presence. M Laina Barkman is the mother of Leonard Barkman (minister at Pansy Chapel in Manitoba) and mother-in-law to Betty. A book called Laina is coming out soon. Betty Barkman writes of the years 1919 to mid-1940s.

Two-year-old Laina (middle) with her parents David K. and Lees (Elizabeth) Plett. Standing is John Esau, Lees’ father.

Laina and Abram Barkman, about 1979.

THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362 PAP Registration #9914