The Messenger Vol. 45 No. 22 December 19, 2007

Messenger The

EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 45 NUMBER 22 DECEMBER 19, 2007

Christmas focuses on the coming of Jesus!

The

Messenger

The Question and Answer: Christ

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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 Unpublished material is not returned except by request.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. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents.

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MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 2 – January 23 (copy due January 12)

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editorials t Christmas, the question is Christ: Within that expectation is the hopeWho is he? What has he done? filled, gracious offer of healing, wholeness, Why should he matter to us? The forgiveness, reconciliation—eternal life. answer is also At Christmas we focus Christ: He has come to on our central joy: Christ’s For two thousand years, address the deepest needs coming for us and our of our lives, community, through his presence, life, salvation. It is a season and world. teachings, miracles, death, of special openness The Babe in the Manger by Canadians often and resurrection, Jesus was a problem to Herod, unaware of or indifferent has rightly expected a and a surprise to the to the Christian Church. shepherds and Magi response to his call to each Christmas is also a time (Matthew 2:2, Luke 2:20). when the Church needs to of us: “Come, follow Me!” be especially mindful of As a child he was a cause of amazement to listeners people whom it has hurt. in the temple courts (Luke 2:47-50), and The Christmas invitation comes to us later a challenge to the chief priests, from God the Crucified, who knows what scribes, and leaders who “were trying to it is to be rejected, abused, wounded, kill him” (Luke 19:47). and tortured. Such a deep divine-human For two thousand years, through sharing of our lives revolves around the his presence, life, teachings, miracles, wonder of Christ! death, and resurrection, Jesus has rightly Christmas is an occasion to respond to T expected a response to his call to each of Christ. Let us reply with joy in Him. M us: “Come, follow Me!” Terry M. Smith

The Magi and Us

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fter Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him’” (Matthew 2:1–2).

William Barclay, the Church of Scotland scholar, says that the Magi were from a class of men who once wanted political power; defeated, they became instructors of Persian kings. It’s possible they were Zoroastrian priests who believed in two equally powerful gods (one bad, one good) locked in struggle until a saviour comes.

How is God preparing those who have not yet heard a clear gospel message?

The Magi were from a far land, a strange culture, and a different religion—yet they came to worship the infant Jesus.

How is God preparing those who have not yet heard a clear gospel message?

As evangelical Christians, we are quite aware of God working through ancient Israel. The irony is that, through ancient Israel in Amos 9:7, we are told that God is also involved in the histories of the Cushites (Ethiopians), the Philistines (Palestinians), and the Arameans (Syrians).

God is involved within world history— and yet he has spoken ultimately in his Son, who is “the radiance of God’s being,” creator and sustainer of the universe, who “provided purification for sins” (Hebrews 1:2–3).

God spoke to the Magi so powerfully that they traveled far to worship Jesus.

Because these early representatives of the nations knelt at Jesus’ feet, we, from T many nations, dare bow there as well. M Terry M. Smith THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

letters Missionaries gave up much to reach the lost It is with tears I write this letter. Zack Beardy’s testimony on page 10 [Nov. 14, 2007] was encouraging truth, in sharp contrast to pages 7–9.

Scarcely 50 years ago Rev. Frank Reimer (Landmark, Man.) and my husband Cornie Loewen (Morris, Man.) were shot at in the village of Los Cerritos, Chihuahua State, Mexico, by Catholics who opposed the teaching that salvation is in Christ alone, not through church sacraments.

Throughout our ten-year ministry in Mexico, we, along with other missionaries from Rosenort and Blumenort, taught the love of Jesus through school, in our medical clinic, and church.

I am still alive to testify that I was stoned and shot at by those who opposed us. We were both loved and hated by many. We did not shoot back nor reply with stones, but continued to tell our Catholic friends and neighbours that salvation was completely free because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It was not found in works, hollow religious formality, intercession by a priest, worship of the saints, Mary, or the Pope, which many believed with fear and trembling. I have personally comforted weeping mothers who thought their children hell-bound since they died before Catholic baptism.

We, as a family, gave up all hope of financial stability by serving as EMC missionaries, and my oldest daughters realized that with the dangerous conditions we lived in and travelled through they might be fatherless or motherless in an instant.

Was it worth it? I ask myself this when reading The Messenger with dismay finding that so many of our leaders are confused and have broken trust with those of us who risked all to share the gospel.

If their teaching is true (no one can judge who is lost) apparently we can assume instead that all are saved! So much for our mission program—wasted money and time. We will lose our children and grandchildren if we seek peace by embracing false teaching.

Several years ago I met the grandson of a couple that we had led to the Lord in Mexico. Mentored by EMC missionaries, he is now an evangelical pastor trying

coming events desperately to reach the lost in his country. I wonder what he gave up for the cause of Christ? Has he faced persecution? If he had extra money would his priority be to visit the Pope?

I pray for our missionaries and realize the difficulties of reaching those who are lost (many caught in empty and hollow religions) made even tougher by our churches who fail to understand that there are many who have a form of godliness but lack the Spirit’s power.

What happened 500 years ago or 50 years ago will be dealt with by the Lord Himself. He alone has the power to save and He alone has the power to forgive.

I pray that those of us left in the EMC will repent and return to our first love— Jesus Christ—and to our main task—to seek and to save the lost.

Tina B. Loewen Rosenort, Man.

Mennonite oneness with the Church of Rome?

I am writing out of concern over recently published articles on the state of relations between Mennonites and the Roman Catholic Church (Nov. 14, 2007).

Ron Penner in his article My Trip to Rome mentions that the “repeated emphasis that they [the Roman Catholic Church] were basing their faith on Jesus Christ as foundation was perfectly in tune with our view.”

In answer to this statement, let me humbly make the following observations: We along with Holy Scripture proclaim that we are saved by faith alone in what Christ alone has done.

The Roman Catholic Church says that faith in Christ is necessary to be saved, but then adds the following as necessary for salvation as well: • the Roman Catholic Church (outside which there is no salvation) • the church liturgy (the “holy” rituals of the RC church) • the Roman Catholic priesthood, (who “continue” the work of redemption and sanctification of the church) • subjection to the Pope • partaking of the Eucharist (what we call Communion or The Lord’s Supper) • baptism • penance (which includes confession among other things) • obedience to biblical and church law

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

January 14, 2008 EMC Day of Prayer Local EMC congregations 204-326-6401 January 25–27 Break Forth Canada 2008 Shaw Conference Centre Edmonton, Alta. www.breakforthcanada.com February 6 MEDA Winnipeg Chapter Further to the Complex Life Speaker: Dr. Paul Doerksen Bergmann’s on Lombard Winnipeg, Man. Noon, $20 204-487-2328, ext. 221 www.meda.org

• our own good works • the good works and prayers of Mary, the saints and all other believers living on earth, in Heaven or in Purgatory • human suffering either in this life or in Purgatory (whereby we pay for our sins and earn the reward of heaven) • the obedience and faith of Mary (who lived a sinless life) • the suffering and merit of Mary, “the Mediator of all graces and CoRedeemer” (Mary is seen as having suffered as she saw her Son on the cross and thus took part in paying for our sins) • the prayers of Mary our Advocate for us in heaven • enduring till the end in faithful performance of good works This is taken primarily from Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) along with quotations from Popes Boniface VIII, Pius IX, Pius XI, John Paul II, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Our spiritual forefathers, along with Menno Simons, Martin Luther, Jan Huss, etc., broke away from the Roman Catholic Church over this very issue of how we obtain salvation. Salvation was accomplished for us by Christ’s once-forall sacrifice alone. And we receive that by trusting in Him alone.

I believe that Christ has called all believers to Christian unity. His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was that all believers would be one. But the Scripture also states that we cannot be one with those who are not believers. We live in the world, showing the love of Christ to all. But the idea of Christian oneness and unity is only possible for those who share in the life of the Lord Jesus. (letters continued page 9)

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A Christmas Song Of precious praise, sweet melody, this Christmas Day a song shall bring, of joyous heart, goodwill to men, for all God wrought that wondrous, silent night.

And deep into the shadows, where the sky above was truly very dark, the angels heralded all that this Heavenly Love from God had brought.

For in a manger far away, A baby boy that very day, With gentlest hands, His mother laid.

The star so richly shining bright would hold the world in heaven’s light.

For God had given to all on Earth, the greatest gift in Holy birth.

To wise men, shepherds, all who’d come, the glorious blessing of this night was sung.

Above the stall where all were there, the Star did rest upon the child fair.

For You are risen Lord and King, The Hope of all women and all men!

As angels sang, gave thanks, and praise, this night would hold the best in angel voices raised.

Born of a virgin, yet conceived by the Holy Ghost.

A woman of purity and grace, that through this Son, to save all from sin, the human race.

How I adore Thee, upon the hay where the little baby came on this Christmas Day. For you have filled my life with joyous song, the One to Whom my heart belongs.

Lord of Heav’n and Lord of Earth, this day we sing of Your Holy birth.

Christmas Song, of precious praise I sing, For all God wrought that silent night, And Jesus is Your Blessed Name.

Jesus, Lord at Your birth, I worship You, my Lord and risen King, Shepherd Who guides and shows me the way, Who gave me a new life that sweet, precious, Christmas Day!

Eleanor Lee Gustaw

With haste the shepherds left their herds, the wise men gathered treasures with great accord.

Before the manger all bowed down, Not knowing that this child would one day wear a crown.

The wise men laid their treasure store, gold, frankincense, and bitter myrrh.

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THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

GIVING THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

It all began in the heart of God Before the earth in its form emerged.

The Three-in-One from Eternity past Agreed, that though made from the sod, They would give to man the highest state: To be made in the image of God. Though Adam strayed from the course God planned, And became a fallen man, God, in his infinite knowledge and grace, Had still a more excellent plan.

He would give himself (Oh, precious thought!)

To the ones He had made from the start.

He would come as a Babe, and go on to the Cross.

What a pain to the Father’s own heart!

He freely gave His life-giving blood As a payment for all who would come.

And he never shrank back from the shame and the pain Until the Great Work was done.

How could we give less than our all to Him, As we think where His giving began; As in the dim age of eternity past He laid the first “giving” plan.

Our all and our best is too little to bring To a God so full of great love!

Our time and our talents, our days and our years, Should be His till we meet Him above.

Bernardine Plett 5

Amazing

Love

How awesome is the God we serve, How mighty are His deeds!

Creator of the universe, Yet meets our earthly needs.

This is love: not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

(1 John 4:10–11)

His power is unlimited, His wisdom who can know?

From everlasting He is God And ever will be so!

He is the King and Lord of all, The one true God is He! His truth and justice will prevail For all eternity.

His faithfulness is ever sure, It reaches to the skies.

He knows all that is taking place, Naught takes him by surprise.

But what is most amazing is His sacrificial love That made Him give His Son to die So we could live above!

Each morn is His compassion new, His mercy lasts forever, His loving-kindness shall endure, His grace no one can measure.

He lavishes His love on us, Makes us creations new Who can love Him wholeheartedly And then love others too!

L. Marie Enns

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Rev. Henry Klassen

hristmas is noted for being a time of giving one of the teachers told me to only move my lips and and celebrations. Paul expressed the spirit of no sound should come from vocal chords. Here I was Christmas when he exclaimed, “Thanks be to teaching carols the students hadn’t sung before.

God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians We also rehearsed a short play and poems. The 9:15). This is a time of focusing on the gift God gave: “God people who came to listen were impressed with the lofty so loved the world that He gave his only Son” (John 3:16). singing of the carols, the play, and the poems. They were I will share a few reflections on my Christmas celebrating the Christmas season, the receiving of the experiences and how I experienced the giving and gift God gave so many years ago. celebrations of the season.

Some of the best Christmases I celebrated were in My early childhood I spent on a Belize where we lived ten years farm with eight siblings, and during the 1960s. We had a father who (because of no snow but hot humid multiple sclerosis) was weather. For a Christmas bedridden. My mother tree we had decorated worked very hard palm branches. I soon to feed, clothe, and realized it was not T M provide shelter for the the environment family. that gave you the Finances were Christmas spirit. always very tight. I The Belizean always looked forward Christmas dinner was to Christmas when fantastic. Typically it we would have some consisted of stewed Christmas goodies chicken in ricardo that usually came in sauce, rice and beans, the hampers that people fried plantain, cassava, brought to our home. and a cabbage salad with Then there was the gift we a dessert of white cake or received from our parents. Usually dark brown cake made from burnt this would be a pencil and a scribbler. We were excited sugar, or a pound cake made from cassava. because we realized our parents loved us.

On Christmas Day it was the custom to go from At school, a few days before Christmas, the pupils house to house to express a Christmas blessing. Usually would perform in a concert that the teacher had you were offered a soft drink and a piece of cake. On rehearsed with us. After the concert we excitedly Christmas Eve the church would gather to celebrate the received a small bag of goodies and a small gift. How coming of God’s gift. exciting Christmas was!

Then I remember the Christmas I almost spent in I remember the Christmas during my first year of Africa. I was in a missions delegation of five to South permit teaching after graduating from high school. The school was located in an outlying Some of the best Christmases I celebrated were in Belize area north of Hadashville, fifty miles northeast of Steinbach, Man. where we lived ten years during the 1960s. We had no Here I had 12 students in grades one to snow but hot humid weather. For a Christmas tree we eight. A month before Christmas we started to rehearse for the program to which the had decorated palm branches. I soon realized it was not community would be invited. I taught the the environment that gave you the Christmas spirit. students carols, even though I was not a singer. In fact, in my elementary school years

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Africa, Zaire (now Congo), and Burkina Faso in West Africa. We were slated to arrive at home on December 23, after six weeks in Africa.

I had jokingly told my wife when I left that I might not be home for Christmas. When we completed our visit in Burkina Faso we went to the airport to take our flight home. Coming to the check-in counter, we were informed that my name was not on the reservation list, even though we had confirmed this a few days before.

They put me on a wait list. When I realized the people were boarding and my colleagues had left the departure lounge and I still hadn’t received a boarding pass, I became extremely concerned. My repeated visits to the airline counter seemed futile. I finally decided to take action and demanded to see the manager. This was also denied.

I then walked behind the counter and into the manager’s office and emphatically requested action.

He consulted with other personnel, and then came to me and told me to follow him and make sure I took my suitcase with me.

We walked up to the plane, the door opened, and I walked up the ramp into the plane. Immediately the door closed after me. I was pointed to a seat and the plane started to move. I found out later that the airline was noted for removing confirmed passengers from the list and giving the seats to a friend or employee of the airline.

Many times my parting words to Ramona came to me as I anxiously waited to board the plane. What

The environment of snow, decorations, and Christmas tree may be important, but they are only symbols of the joy and celebrations of the coming of Christ. celebrations we had when I arrived in Winnipeg. I was home for Christmas!

As I ponder on my reflections on my past Christmases I realize the gifts at Christmas are not important for their dollar value or size, but they are a symbol or token of the love of the giver. The pencil and scribbler were just as important and appreciated by me as the digital camera I received one recent Christmas.

I also realize that the environment of snow, decorations, and Christmas tree may be important, but they are only symbols of the joy and celebrations of the coming of Christ.

It all focuses in on the coming of Jesus and what He means to us today. May each of you experience a truly T joyous and blessed Christmas season! M Within the EMC, Henry Klassen has served as General Secretary, missionary, and an ordained minister.

This article is based on a devotional given on November 29, 2007, at the staff banquet for Haven Group (Steinbach, Man.), where he is the interim CEO.

Christmas Greetings

from the EMC national office

EM Conference staff: (back) Terry Smith, Ken Zacharias, Ward Parkinson, (middle) Erica Fehr, Ruth Anne Peters, Tim Dyck, (front) David Thiessen, Wannetta Fast, Becky Buhler, (inset) Gerald Reimer

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THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

letters

continued

In light of the above, I would warn our readership of the dangers of sacrificing adherence to Biblical truth for unity with a system which is opposed to God’s Word.

Dave Field Sanford, Florida

What would Willms have imagined?

A fascinating photograph accompanied the article on the Mennonite delegation presenting concerns in Rome, namely, MWC president Nancy Heisey “presenting an image of Anabaptist martyr Dirk Willms to Pope Benedict XVI.” How ironic, and how the Pope must have smiled innocently at this twist in one of the original Reformation issues; and what would Dirk Willms have possibly imagined, had he known he would one day be the subject of a Mennonite icon presented to the Pope!

Walter Kruse Kola, Man.

Jesus-centred is about more than orthodoxy I read the reports of our Moderator’s excursion to the Vatican with excitement at what God is doing in His church. At the same time I want to recognize and respect the concerns of those who regard this trip with wary skepticism and even outright rejection.

However, after the discussion at Conference Council I think we need to think carefully about our response to this Catholic-Mennonite dialogue.

We were urged to be clear on our doctrine and theology, to remember that our fathers gave their lives as an expression of their fundamental divergence from the Catholic Church teachings, and that our historical position regarding salvation has been exclusivist rather than inclusivist or pluralist.

We were told that Jesus said those who are not for us are against us; there is no neutral ground. Then we were reminded that in fact Jesus said “whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40).

There were also comments in favor of dialogue, noting that the clearer we are on what we believe, the less threatening dialogue across even significant divergence need be.

What I found troubling about the dialogue was that it could be conducted at some length in an Anabaptist setting, placing significant emphasis on doctrine and theology, on maintaining distinctions between ourselves and others, with apparently very little need to ask how being disciples of Jesus Christ would impact everything related to such dialogue.

Clarity on doctrine, and understanding differences between us and others has merit, but defining ourselves by what we are not indicates a very shallow understanding of our heritage.

We have seen how crusading for clarity on doctrine without a profound interest in continually rereading such doctrine through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ has led to empty religion in every community except our own, but I suspect our failure to note this transgression in our own community is not necessarily due to its absence. Orthodoxy is a good thing, but it also makes a very satisfying idol.

In my view the primary strength of our Anabaptist heritage lies not in what are often recognized as Anabaptist distinctives, but in an insistence on making the life and teachings of Jesus Christ normative for our own life and doctrine.

The role of doctrine is not primarily that of maintaining (historical) interpretations of scripture, but of reflecting the truth of the God who is revealed in Jesus. Our access to this truth is in relationship with this God, and relationships are either dynamic and evolving or they are dead and dying.

Therefore I consider it imprudent to argue against dialogue on the basis of even broad and insurmountable disparity in doctrine without first considering very carefully how the life and teachings of Jesus impact our decision to reach across such disagreements, when God would not allow even the unspeakably onerous reality of sin to prevent His reaching out to us.

Henry Friesen Arborg, Man.

• In 1998–2003 MWC and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity [Catholic] did the same and issued Called Together to be Peacemakers.

• On June 26, 2004, there were significant steps of reconciliation between Anabaptists and Reformed members in Zurich, Switzerland. See the address by Dr. Larry Miller, MWC executive director, in The Messenger of January 26, 2005 (on-line at www.emconf.ca/Messenger).

• Currently MWC and the Lutheran World Federation are holding “conversations that focus on the condemnations of Anabaptists in Lutheran confessional writings and their applicability to MWC member churches” (Courier 2007/3).

CALLING ALL WOMEN: Lace up your skates, it’s hockey time!

You are invited to play in the 7th annual women’s EMCup Tentative date: February 15–16, 2008 St. Pierre Arena, in St. Pierre, Man. Organize the women from your church and form a team. Organized rec teams not eligible for this tournament.

Volunteers are needed, please call us! *Donations to the silent auction are gratefully accepted. (Proceeds to Ramona Reimer’s ongoing cancer treatment).

Registration deadline January 26, 2008. Register your team by calling or emailing Marlene - 204-364-2346, marlene@rbmovers.net Barry - 204-364-3075 Laura - 204-475-1419, clthie@mts.net

Editor’s Note: MWC has been involved in various steps of dialogue and reconciliation: • In 1989–1992 the Mennonite World Conference and Baptist World Alliance engaged in Baptist-Mennonite Theological Conversations and issued a Final Report.

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November 30

Ministerial ponders role of Bible in Church About 80 members attended the EMC hard work to study Scripture; there needs ministerial meeting held on November 30, to be close reading (viewing every part 2007, at Braeside EMC (Winnipeg, Man.). as intentional) and use of every tool— Welcome was given by BLO chairman Art including a history of how the text has been Dueck and by Kim Stoesz, interim pastor received by the church. at Braeside. In her devotional, Stoesz said In discussion, he recognized that the that she’s observed that the EMC’s circle amount of time pastors can devote to of pastors fit in varied settings, but all that detailed preparation depends on the matters is God. setting, and that ministers are given the Layton Friesen, BLO member, introduced privilege of setting aside time for such the theme Pastoring on Holy Ground: The study, which non-ministers often don’t Kim Stoesz, Braeside EMC Bible in the Life of the Church. Cameron have.

McKenzie, a minister at Fort Garry EMC and a doctoral candidate who teaches Old Testament New members and reports at Providence College (Otterburne, Man.) spoke three New ministerial members were introduced. Church times. Throughout the day there were times of small planting coordinator Ward Parkinson led in a time of group discussion and general question periods. church reports and prayer.

In the first presentation The Bible in the Worship of The ministerial meeting was described within BLO the Church, McKenzie said that churches need to involve literature as “a leadership day for pastors, ministers, Scripture more within worship services. He said that youth and associate pastors, deacons, elders, churches that say they are not liturgical do, indeed, missionaries, church planters, their spouses” and have a liturgy, though it’s perhaps called an Order of “retired leadership people.”

Service.

Terry M. Smith Churches need to beware of thinking that just because they sing the words of Scripture that they are proclaiming the Word. Whether choruses or hymns, certain songs can remove Scripture from its context and, as a result, use it improperly, he said.

In The Bible in the Formation of Faith, McKenzie said that a study in the U.S. revealed that less than one-third of young people know enough of the Bible to benefit from it when treating it only as world literature; and that percentage did Peter Doerksen (La Crete Christian Fellowship) stands to ask a question. (photos by Becky Buhler) not change when only evangelical youth were examined.

Peace Sermons sought In some settings the If EMC pastors, ministers, or other leaders presented Peace Bible is placed over Sermons in 2007, possibly around Remembrance Day 2007, the church (common they are invited to forward them for possible inclusion in a evangelical), alongside Peace Sermons by EMCers 2008 CD. Older sermons are also the church (Roman acceptable. The payment is a copy Speaker Cameron McKenzie of the CD. Catholic), or within Send them to emcterry@mts. the church. He said that congregations should strive net or Terry Smith, 440 Main St., to be hospitable to the Word, being willing to hear Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5. uncomfortable passages and inviting others to listen Copies of Peace Sermons by together to it.

EMCers 2007 are still available.

In The Bible in the Life of the Pastor, he suggested Education Committee that pastors need to be generally well-read in world Board of Church Ministries literature, which helps them approach Scripture. It’s

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THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

December 1

Council approves record budget, greater coordination The EMC conference council approved a record budget and a constitutional change increasing delegate numbers, and agreed to investigate liability insurance.

These decisions were made on December 1, 2007, at St. Vital EM Church in Winnipeg, Man. Host pastor Jerry Plett drew upon Max Lucado’s thought that David’s five smooth stones can represent the past, prayer, priority, passion, and persistence. Plett encouraged the conference to be bold in pursuing our giants.

Board of Church Ministries Don Kroeker (Archives Committee) explained that an archivist is needed to organize EMC materials. Nathan Plett (National Youth Committee) said that TRU, its biennial national youth leaders retreat, strengthens leader-conference connections.

Kenton Penner (Evangelical Anabaptist Committee) said Don Kroeker the committee is preparing its recommendations. Terry Smith, executive secretary, said that a national DVD/VHS license allows churches to operate more within the law.

Board of Missions Ernie Loewen, chairman, returned from two weeks in Paraguay, spoke positively of its radio and HIV/AIDS ministries.

Peter Doerksen said the recent EMC-EMMC merger in Mexico moves toward BOM’s goal of developing autonomous churches. Alvira Friesen, a missionary in Mexico, said many Spanish churches are not large, but they are optimistic.

Lester Olfert spoke of the orphanage developing in Nicaragua. Wally Doerksen, chair of Project Builders (formerly EMC Missions Auxiliary, www.projectbuilders.ca),

sees potential in micro-financing (working with MEDA).

Evelyn Plett, retired after 40 years in Spain, said Bible camps, conferences and retreats, Spanish Bible materials, and Sunday School teacher training are major emphases in a country known as the graveyard of mission organizations.

Joe Reimer, with TEAM in South Africa, said while missions work with the reality of HIV/AIDS, churches don’t have such ministries, and he is “tearing out my hair over that.”

Board of Leadership and Outreach Church planting coordinator Ward Parkinson mentioned interests in Redcliff, Alta., and Chatham, Ont. Fifty EMCers attended a recent church planting congress. Cyndy Warkentin (Saturday Night Church, Landmark) said she became aware of “how individualism and consumerism has shaped not only our western culture as a whole but also seeped into our churches and our thinking as Christians.” Gary Herrfort (Church of Living Water, Tillsonburg) and Abe Bueckert (Picture Butte Cyndy Warkentin Mennonite Church) showed photos of church buildings under construction.

New goals include writing guidelines for constitutions, job descriptions, and employment agreements. David Thiessen is on sabbatical from February to May 2008.

General Board Moderator Ron Penner described the EMC as “a network of churches that seek to be there for each other.” The board’s top priorities are to give spiritually relevant, biblical direction; and to promote unity and growth as a conference.

Among missionaries reporting were Evelyn Plett, retired after 40 years in Spain; Joe and Olga Reimer, with TEAM in South Africa; and Beth and Loren Koehler, with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

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Questions Would the Board of Missions give a higher priority to the renewal of Old Colony churches rather than plant new ones?

If the EMC and EMMC have given birth to a baby in Mexico, why don’t they get married?

Why weren’t Spanish churches included in the Mexico merger? (Spanish Mennonites have had a conference for years, but German Mennonites declined to join it.)

Board of Trustees Chairman Gordon Reimer said that $500,802 needs to come in by year’s end; the conference received $474,352 in donations in December 2006.

The 2008 proposed budget of $2,056,200 is a “landmark number,” he said. One delegate reported his church had no problem with the budget except for the final number; it couldn’t commit itself to giving more than it does currently. The budget passed.

Mennonite World Conference Representative Ron Penner traveled to rural Kenya where he had held four days of meetings in churches in three villages; there’s an estimated 90 Mennonite “parishes” in the country. “That’s Mennonite World Conference,” he said. He urged delegates to strengthen MWC ties.

MCC Canada Michael Zwaagstra said it’s researching whether Ten Thousand Villages should become a separate legal entity.

Mennonite Foundation of Canada Erwin Warkentin and Edwin Friesen mentioned My Money Talks (a CD of songs about stewardship), First Things First (free), and Church Leaders’ Seminars to be held next year in Manitoba.

Steinbach Bible College President Rob Reimer said that SBC has 111 students,

Board of Trustees chairman Gordon Reimer presented the 2008 proposed budget; Anthony Reimer, administrative pastor, responds on behalf of Blumenort EMC. (photos by Becky Buhler)

“down a hair” from last year. There is a lower population of young people in Canada, which affects colleges in general.

However, the EMC enrollment is down from 66 (in 2001-2002) to 35 (2007-2008). He challenged pastors to encourage young people to come to SBC. If “you” have issues with SBC, he said, “I want to know.” Success is more than nickels and noses; it’s about ministry.

Liability Insurance Tim Dyck said a survey revealed that churches have varying levels of general liability, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and abuse coverage.

Anthony Reimer, an insurance agent, explained that insurance is needed because a church’s charitable status and the directors’ personal assets could be at risk if an awarded penalty cannot be covered by the organization. Insurance companies are getting to where they want to see a church’s prevention program before they agreed to coverage.

Tim Dyck encouraged standardized insurance with easier implementation, better rates, and conferencewide protection. If a church opts out and gets into trouble, it places the conference at risk, he said. A motion to investigate a group plan was approved.

One delegate said that the bottom line isn’t money or insurance, but to protect vulnerable people and those who work with them.

John Schlamp (Aberdeen), Gerhard Dyck (Mount Salem), and Harvey Plett (Prairie Rose) make comments.

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Convention Promotion Ed Peters, a planning committee member, said convention 2008 is geared for wider participation, a “value added approach.” Dr. Grant Richison, formerly of Grant Memorial Baptist Church THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

(Winnipeg, Man.), is the speaker. Andy Park will be guest musician/worship leader. There will be four workshops: Discovering New Leadership in Your Congregation, To Know You More, The Big Deal About Small Groups, and Wired for Discipleship.

Visioning Goals Ed Peters, General Board member, said church planting was identified as the top priority in 2004. New churches have since been planted, a coordinator hired, and churches are excited.

The 2007 Visioning Day saw leadership development gain the top spot. He asked where these leaders will come from, and said an integrated approach is needed.

Leadership issues to be addressed can be forwarded to the General Board.

Delegates In July a constitutional change was put forward to recognize a church’s board chair or equivalent as an additional delegate, to strengthen connections and information sharing. The motion carried.

Question Period The moderator opened two matters: His trip to Rome as part of MWCCatholic dialogue and A Common Word, an open letter to Christians from Muslim leaders (www. acommonword.com).

Delegates gave mixed responses to MWC’s trip to Rome. Some saw it as building bridges, while others were concerned that truth is being blurred and that young people Father Christmas makes attending EMC council meeting a priority in spite of his might misunderstand busy holiday schedule. Actually, it’s Erwin dialogue as agreement.

Warkentin, general manager of MFC. (The Delegates were unsure caption is used with his permission.) how to approach A Common Word. A delegate suggested the EMC is so small that it falls below “the radar.” Should churches act locally? one delegate asked.

Terry M. Smith

with our missionaries Europe

Spirit-filled boots needed on the ground!

Most Europeans cannot envision that Europe needs missionaries.

Most non-Europeans can’t either.

Perception: Missions is what Europeans have taken to the rest of the world.

Reality: Europe is the least-evangelized continent by any measure; many nations have less than one percent believers.

The marriage of church and state, the scars of two world wars, post-modern philosophy—whatever the reasons, Europe presents believers with our greatest challenge. The biggest growth in churches is by the immigration of believers from Africa and Asia. Europe needs missionaries, and it needs them in a huge way right now.

The re-evangelization of this continent will not just “happen,” and definitely not with $30/month missionaries (not that such people exist anyway). It will not be done by North American TV broadcasts, nor only by local groups of believers in many of these barren lands.

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

The re-evangelization of this continent will not just “happen,” and definitely not with $30/month missionaries. It will be done by spirit-filled boots on the ground, as individuals and groups once again see Europe as desperately needing the gospel.

It will be done by spirit-filled boots on the ground, as individuals and groups once again see Europe as desperately needing the gospel. OM has these boots on the ground in many of these countries, but we wait (impatiently) for many more to join us. See www.om.org for ways to get involved.

Harvey Thiessen

Harvey Thiessen (Wymark) is the director of OM Canada. This article was reprinted with permission from bottomline (third quarter, 2007).

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Nicaragua

Remembering children at risk

Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me…

God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer (Psalm 66:16, 19).

We are excited and thankful to God for His moving on behalf of the orphanage and the children at risk in Nicaragua.

We were accepted as missionaries with Action International Ministries, and CINAG (Gethsemane Centre for Children at Risk) was approved as a ministry under the same organization.

For several years now we in Canada and our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua have prayed for God to open the door for a sponsorship program and “God has surely listened and heard our voices in prayer.” Praise His name.

CINAG website (www.cinag.org)

We have been newly challenged by the needs of the neglected and impoverished children of the world. God is giving us this beautiful opportunity to reflect His heart for the poor and orphaned.

The website for CINAG can be found at www.cinag.org or www.actionintl.org (open country and click on Canada).

There are four ways to become involved with ACTION in Nicaragua: prayer partners, sponsorships for children ($30/month), building projects, ministry funds (designated for personal expenses).

We have been newly challenged by the needs of the neglected and impoverished children of the world. God is giving us this beautiful opportunity to reflect His heart for the poor and orphaned by being involved with CINAG. At present 30 children are being cared for at the centre in a day program three days a week.

They are taught about self-esteem, how to express their emotions and feelings, how to protect and to take better care of themselves. Each day they are served the noon meal. For many that will be the only meal they will eat.

We are currently waiting for the final approval from Family Services of Nicaragua in order to proceed with resident children. Pray with us that this will soon become reality. Thank you for your continued interest in caring for God’s special people, the children.

Lester and Darlene Olfert

Darlene and Lester Olfert (Steinbach EFC) are leaving in January 2008 for four months in Nicaragua, where they previously served as career missionaries.

with our churches

Parents and children dedicated at Taber Taber, Alta.: It is nice to see more little children coming to the church. Our parent-child dedication was held on November 25. We are getting more people in our church; this is good to see because it means more people are getting the good news about the Lord Jesus our Saviour.

David Guenter

November 25 parent-child dedication: (back) George and Margaret Sawatzky with McKyle Patrick, John and Annie Neufeld with Xenia, Frank and Sarah Peters with Troy, Nick and Tina Schmitt with Savanah, Jake and Susie Quering with Marcos Kyran, (front) Jake and Nancy Heide with Cody James and Jashua Mathew, Willy and Linda Martens with Benjamin, Abe and Eva Klassen with Emma, Peter and MariAnne Neufeld with Isabella Hope, David and Anna Dyck with Sienna, and Pastor David and Audrey Wiebe.

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THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

In transition, but ministry continues Grande Prairie, Alta.: Mission Heights Community Church is in a period of transition at this time. We are currently without a senior pastor. Our senior pastor, Rick Hall, resigned in February.

This has not been an easy time. Through this we have realized that we are not perfect and that we needed to revisit the purpose of our existence. The Lord has been good; we have pulled together and have managed to continue our programs and services without too much trouble.

In the same breath we are happy to announce that we are looking forward to our new senior pastor who will be arriving in December. Dwight and Sherry Munn have accepted the position and are coming to us from New Brunswick.

September 15 we hosted a community Register early—before February 29, 2008 • $40/person after February 29, 2008 • $50/person group rate for 3 or more from one church • $30/person

Call Christal at SBC 1-204-326-6451 Register online at www.sbcollege.ca

Pastor Jared Schroeder, Jeff Goertzen, and Willie Goertzen at our annual baptism ceremony at Bear Lake Bible Camp.

Pancake Breakfast and Open House. We fed over 200 people and had a great time doing this. The children enjoyed jumping in the inflatable castle.

Our congregation hosts a church family camp each year. We rent the facilities at Bear Lake Bible Camp and enjoy a weekend filled with activity. We also have the Sunday service at the camp. This service includes a baptismal service. This year Kristal Siemens, Jeffery Goertzen, and Tim Friesen were baptized in the lake and accepted into our membership. We also accepted John and Marian Bueckert into membership through a transfer from La Crete Christian Fellowship.

October 21–23 we held our Fall Missions Conference. This event was well attended and we had a wonderful line-up of speakers. Our project this year was to get young girls off the street in developing countries. These young girls face many obstacles. They are often tricked into thinking that they are being offered a legitimate job and really they are being forced into prostitution. Our goal was to put 65 girls into a safe house

Pancake Breakfast

through Servants Anonymous. I am glad to tell you that we exceeded that goal.

Praise God! One of the new items on our schedule is monthly potlucks. The social committee has planned a different theme for every month. All I can say about that is, “Yum, yum.”

Our Youth are planning a spring mission trip to Costa Rica with Venture Teams International. There is a lot of preparation involved. Your prayers are appreciated.

Ruby Fehr

Register early—before February 29, 2008 • $40/person

after February 29, 2008 • $50/person group rate for 3 or more from one church • $30/person

Call Christal at SBC 1-204-326-6451 or register online at www.sbcollege.ca THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

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Five baptised at Kleefeld Kleefeld, Man.: On November 25 our church family was blessed to witness the baptism and acceptance of five new members. It was a joy to hear their testimonies.

Some of them shared how they had been led to the Lord at a very young age by their parents; others had been mentored more recently and accepted the Lord as their Saviour. We are pleased to accept them into the membership of our church and look forward to fellowshipping with them.

Louella Friesen

Rouvinez is pastor at IGF Burns Lake, B.C.: Island Gospel Fellowship’s new pastor is Francis Rouvinez. He accepted our call after candidating here in September, and he and his family (wife Alix and son Jeremy) moved from Abbotsford to Burns Lake at the end of October.

He assumed full duties effective November 1, 2007.

Our congregation is very pleased to have a full-time pastor once again, having been in “search mode” for eight months. Conference Pastor David Thiessen was very involved and helpful during our selection process.

We were blessed to have his input.

Cole Clifford Reporter: Anne Fehr

Baptised: (back) Justin Harder, Cora Kehler, (front) Calvin Kehler, Carol Kehler, Cynthia Russell

births JANSSEN – to Jon and Leah Janssen of Grande Prairie, Alta., a son, Jessie Garrett, on May 2, 2007.

SCHROEDER – to Jared and Jennifer Schroeder of Grande Prairie, Alta., a daughter, Jenaya Grace, on September 19, 2007.

VENTIMIGLIA – to Dave and Cori Beth Ventimiglia of Grande Prairie, Alta., a daughter, Gracia Elizabeth, on July 20, 2007.

BAIER – to Kevin and Ellen Baier of Grande Prairie, Alta., a daughter, Kaelyn Rianna Denise, on September 20, 2007.

SCHELLENBERG – to Dave and Sharon Schellenberg of La Crete, Alta., a son, Jed Carson, on August 15, 2007.

WIEBE – to David and Anita Wiebe of Grande Prairie, Alta., a daughter, Tracey Jolynn, on November 6, 2007.

FRIESEN – to Darryl and Trudy Friesen of La Crete, Alta., a son, Gavin Elijah, on August 15, 2007.

ZACHARIAS – to Julius and Sara Zacharias of Grande Prairie, Alta., a son, Kaelan Thomas, on November 11, 2007.

STEEVES – to Uriah and Norma Steeves of Grande Prairie, Alta., a daughter, Amy Elizabeth, on September 17, 2007.

STRYDHORST – to Tim and Karen Strydhorst of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Kaylee Marie, on November 21, 2007.

weddings PETERS – DRIEDGER: Wayne, son of Cornie and Liesa Peters of La Crete, Alta., and Tara, daughter of Peter and Martha Driedger of La Crete, were married on August 4, 2007, at La Crete Christian Fellowship with Peter Fehr of La Crete officiating. The couple lives in Edmonton, Alta.

ZACHARIAS – FROESE: James, son of Bob and Helen Zacharias of La Crete, Alta., and Kylie, daughter of Simon and Christine Froese of La Crete, were married on August 26, 2007, at La Crete Christian Fellowship with Peter Janzen of La Crete officiating. The couple lives in La Crete.

Pastor Francis Rouvinez

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FRIESEN – PETERS: Luke, son of Tim and Bonnie Friesen of Winnipeg, Man., and Tanya, daughter of Don and Elaine Peters of Winnipeg, Man., were married on September 9, 2007, at River East MB Church (Winnipeg) with Don Peters officiating. The couple lives in Winnipeg.

KORNELSEN – LOEWEN: Evan, son of Brad and Debbie Kornelsen, and Renita, daughter of Peter and Rosanna Loewen, were married on September 29, 2007, in Morweena, Man. The couple lives in Riverton, Man. WIEBE – FROESE: Shawn, son of Henry and Eva Wiebe of High Level, Alta., and Myranda, daughter of Henry and Martha Froese of La Crete, Alta., were married on October 6, 2007, at La Crete Christian Fellowship with Peter Fehr of La Crete officiating. The couple lives in High Level.

BUECKERT – HIRSH: Alvin, son of Abe and Anna Bueckert of Picture Butte, Alta., and Mandy, daughter of Norris and Christine Hirsh of Bow Island, Alta., were married on October 6, 2007, at Temple Baptist Church in Medicine Hat, Alta., with Pastor Abe Bueckert officiating. The couple lives in Three Hills, Alta.

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

Christian Fellowship Church: More STRENGTHS than CHALLENGES

I

n west-central Manitoba, Christian Fellowship Church is located in Birch River, Man., less than a half-hour from Swan River. The Swan Valley area is an area of small and large businesses, farms, and logging operations; and for hunters it’s a game-rich location.

History The congregation at Birch River began meeting there in 1970, with an earlier history in Mafeking, about 20 miles farther north (The Messenger, July 27, 1984). The original farming families are fewer now, but their descendents exist in the area—though some have moved elsewhere.

Sunday attendance fluctuates at Christian Fellowship Church, but it averages about 40 people, says Wayne Reimer, a church elder.

Ferlin Abrahamson ended a 17-year pastorate at the end of July 2007. The congregation is “very much” looking forward to the coming of an interim pastoral couple, Glenn and Betty Koop, in January 2008 for a year. Reimer says it’s good to again have pastoral leadership, and he’s heard good things about Koops.

Strengths What are the strengths of Christian Fellowship Church?

It’s “hospitable, and has “a very caring attitude,” Wayne replies. It’s welcoming and accepting, he and his wife Marilyn say.

What would they want the rest of the EMC to know about Birch River church? “Our main mission outreach” is through Steeprock Bay Bible Camp, mostly to native children, Wayne replies. The camp is located a bit north of Birch River.

Harold Thiessen leads an adult class.

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

CFC has six Sunday School classes.

They talk positively about a vibrant youth group with a “60-year-old” leader Bernie Thiessen. Reimers say Bernie sometimes thinks he’s a bit old for the role, but “everybody” loves him and wants him. He “very young at heart,” Marilyn says.

Later Bernie Thiessen confirms the youth group’s activity: Fourteen to 17 young people come, half of them not established within a congregation. He says he made “23 calls” the previous week to connect with youth.

The group meets every other week, and its activities can include riding quads or snowmobiles, but there’s a short devotional so they know it’s more than a social club, Bernie explains.

Challenges What challenges does the church have? Like many rural churches, it faces a changing economy. The local rail line has closed and its tracks removed, and some businesses have closed and relocated to Swan River, Wayne says. In a small church, sometimes a young person doesn’t have a friend their own age, Marilyn adds. It’s fairly common that filling church positions can be a challenge in a small church.

Service and Sunday School The service of December 9, 2007, begins, as usual, at about 10 a.m. Wayne Reimer welcomes people and leads in prayer. Harold Thiessen, elder board chairman, leads in congregational singing. Announcements are made and an offering is taken. Kids’ Korner is held next, with Tammi Thiessen telling a story.

Wayne Reimer reads Scriptures related to the message.

Michelle Hamilton provides special music—a recorded Christmas song by Randy Travis, with the words projected onto a screen. I have the privilege of preaching, and then

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“We rock!”

“We want to be a light in this community.”

“We love people.”

“It’s about people more than programs.”

Bernie Thiessen leads choir practice.

Wayne Reimer dismisses the service.

Sunday school follows. There are two adult classes: Wayne Reimer leads in a study of Christ’s parables, while Harold Thiessen moves through the Gospel of Mark. There are four children’s classes.

Choir practice Then, because of a Christmas choir practice that early afternoon, some adults gather downstairs for lunch.

When I ask again what should the EMC understand about Birch River congregation, Angela Thiessen answers, “We rock!” She’s a teacher, a university student, a sometimes director of Steeprock Bay Bible Camp, and on the elder board.

“We want to be a light in this community,” Laura Thiessen says. “We love people,” says Harold Thiessen.

“It’s about people more than programs.” Angela says many

of the members are involved in “grassroots” missions work.

Challenges? Harold says the church has to rethink what it’s here for. Marilyn adds that members need to have a heart for children who feel left out.

Choir practice begins, with adults lending their varied voices into a rich mixture that praises Christ in Christmas music. Bernie Thiessen directs the choir, commenting on awkward points in a musical score and, through his own singing, demonstrating what he intends.

During a hymn, Angela Thiessen leads out in a solo part. I listen to the choir, knowing I won’t be there when it performs.

The practice continues. I leave mindful of how, like many rural churches, Christian Fellowship Church faces T challenges. But, to me, its strengths are even more visible. M Terry M. Smith

Why it’s good to gossip Why is it good to gossip? It’s positive gossip. It’s a very effective way to communicate. It goes in one ear and comes out in the coffee shop, and then soon many people hear and can repeat it. The coffee culture we live in brings many opportunities to connect and to gossip.

Unfortunately, most of us have experienced the hurt of negative gossip; it has hurt and destroyed a lot of people.

One of the most hurtful types of gossip is when young people try to get involved in service and get hurt.

How then can gossip be positive?

Instead of fault finding, let’s look for the good in other people. At the coffee shop pass it around. (Even the clock in your basement—the clock that doesn’t work—is right twice a day.) Positive gossip can be so encouraging.

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How can we start our positive gossip? Friendliness and a smile that’s genuine. A Hurt and handshake that makes you stressed, King feel like you’re genuinely David wrote welcome.

Psalm 32:1–21: What is more “Blessed is encouraging than telling he whose people what you genuinely transgressions appreciate about them are forgiven, (without flattery)? “Perfume whose sins are Marilyn and Wayne Reimer and incense bring joy to covered. Blessed the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s is the man whose sin the Lord does not friend springs from his own earnest count against him, and in whose spirit is counsel” (Proverbs 27:9). no deceit.”

I challenge all of us this week before Failing and wounded in spirit, David you go to coffee or a visit to gossip calls out of his need for a refuge—in positively.

Hebrew, a place of safety, of security.

Wayne Reimer God became his refuge. We all need a shelter, a listener, someone who Wayne Reimer is an elder at Christian Felunderstands. That is God. May we also lowship Church in Birch River, Man. This be a protector of people when negative article is adapted from a devotional shared gossip starts! there.

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

pictures of God

Joanna Plett

Our Healer among us

I

t had been raining all day when I arrived in the Anatolian village that chilly December night. Disoriented and surrounded by almost complete strangers, I sloshed through the mud to the door.

I was welcomed into the sitting room, lit by flickering candles, and, sporadically, by electric light. The outhouse smelled of sheep, and a barrel of rainwater served as a sink. I had entered a different world.

Later that night as I ducked out of the rain into the sheep hold, all romantic pictures of cosy candlelit stables disappeared.

Two parallel concrete-block rooms housed a flock of sheep and newborn lambs. The animals provided the room’s warmth, and its earthy smells wafting from the hay- and dung-lined floor were strong, but not unpleasant.

Sitting in the corner of that stable just days before Christmas, holding a newborn lamb as unintelligible conversation flowed around me, I felt a strong—though vastly unequal—connection to Jesus’ cultural leap from Heaven to Judea. How could he do it? And why?

As I interacted with my host family those weeks, glimpses of their internal conflicts revealed both the heart of Jesus and the state of the world he entered.

From the outside, I could see their conflicts as products of the world around them, the generations before them, and their own attempts to compensate—to survive. My heart broke for them even as I saw myself as the product of the same forces.

“The sins of the fathers,” I concluded, do not fall on their children (see Exodus 34:6–7) as a curse or punishment from God, but rather as the natural result of sin and the consequential attempts of each succeeding generation to compensate for the pain they experienced, and, in so doing, often inflict the same or a new pain on the next generation.

This does not negate personal responsibility, but it provides a glimpse into the constant cycle of wounded wounders that God sought to break into.

In reading the Gospels, I began to see that Jesus did not come so much to reform the world as to redeem it.

He came not to fix people’s actions with new and better

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

Through our own healing, we can recognize the source of pain in others, offer grace, and direct them towards the ultimate healer, Jesus Christ. laws, but to heal their wounds, which would, in turn, free them to love and heal others with the Jesus love they had received.

So who are we?

The wounded—people seeking to find meaning, love, and identity despite our own pain.

The wounders—in our self-protection attempts, we end up hurting others.

The healed—through the sacrifice and grace of Jesus, we can discover and forgive our past hurts, and through the Holy Spirit, we can confess and overcome our present survival mechanisms.

The healers—through our own healing, we can recognize the source of pain in others, offer grace, and direct them towards the ultimate healer, Jesus Christ.

And so he crept into our muddied existence to heal our wounds, to show us the way to freedom, and to break T the self-perpetuating cycle of pain with his sacrifice. M

World Fellowship Sunday Jan. 27 Anabaptists world-wide are invited to celebrate World Fellowship Sunday on January 27, 2008.

MWC asks Anabaptist-related churches to remember our common roots and our Koinonia on a Sunday near January 21, when in 1525 the first Anabaptist baptism took place in Zurich, Switzerland.

The theme Worship and serve the Lord your God focuses on how to worship the Lord our God in spirit and in truth calls us into action and service.

WFS materials are on line at www.mwc-cmm.org in English, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese. They include suggestions for worship, prayer requests, sermon prompts, and a story.

Each year Anabaptists from a different continental region prepare the materials. This year it is Africa’s turn, and it introduces the Mennonite Church in Tanzania.

MWC

19

The Messenger index 2007

ARCHIVES Translation ad Lost without translation Historic message sought

Oct. 17, Nov. 1, Nov. 14 Nov. 14 Dec. 3

A READER’S VIEWPOINT Moving beyond the language of ‘confirmed kills,’ Esther Epp-Tiessen Sept. 19 Poor lady? No, poor boys! Bettie Kehler Oct. 3 Low pay for extra work, John Longhurst Nov. 1 ARTICLES The Spiritual Litmus Test…, Ernie Koop Jan. 10 The King Will Reply, Jerry Plett Jan. 24 When the wedding host is snubbed, Ernie Koop Feb. 7 Giving Room for Sorrow’s Cry, Alicia Buhler Feb. 21 Is Your Testimony Worth Sharing?

Rolf Kruse March 7 Comforted by doubts and faith at Easter, Terry M. Smith March 21 Goodbyes are not the end, Bill McCaskell March 21 Finding forgiveness in the depths of sorrow, Wilma Derksen April 4 Thinking through the notion of hell, Dr. Pierre Gilbert April 18 Will our children have faith?

Abe Bergen April 18 Choices Made, Margaret D. Reimer May 2 Healed though the illness remains, Darren Plett May 23 A breadth of images explain the cross, J. Nelson Kraybill May 23 Traveling the road through cancerland, Dale Dueck June 6 Hands of Time, Christopher Lewis June 20 As the tears flowed…, Wilma Derksen June 20 Depression on the job, Elaine Banman July 4 Sewing lives into friendships, Kerry Fast July 4 Speaking Swahili: Jesus’ Journey into the world, Dr. Arley Loewen Aug. 15 The friendship blessing of convention, Clara Koop Aug. 15 Three Journeys: Jesus’ Journey to the Cross, Dr. Arley Loewen Sept. 5 Changing Culture? Jesus’ journey to resurrected life, Dr. Arley Loewen Sept. 19 Beyond Barriers, Jesus’ journey through the Church, Dr. Arley Loewen Oct. 03 What difference does Evangelical Anabaptism make? Rev. Terry M. Smith Oct. 17 Janelle’s Story, Joyce and Jake Fehr Nov. 01 Dear Editor, Wally Kroeker Nov. 01 Praying in the Valley of Tzel-Maweth, David Funk Nov. 14 Christmas and the Quieted Heart, Jeff Plett Dec. 3 Don’t think that drinking won’t be a problem for you, Cory Kovacs Dec. 3 The perspective of a pastor, Mel Koop Dec. 3

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Christmas focuses on the coming of Jesus, Henry Klassen Dec. 19 BACK PAGE Reflecting on the blessings of China, Irma Janzen Feb. 7 A Modern Modest Proposal, Jonathan Smith March 7 If water’s dirty at the top…?

Dr. Arley Loewen April 4 Thinking on-the-spot in Dari, Dr. Arley Loewen May 2 Two women at the gate, Kirsten Penner Krymusa July 4 Missions Auxiliary is now Project Builders, Wally Doerksen Aug. 15 Taste and See the Lord is good, Trevor Esau Nov. 14 BIRTHS Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7, Feb. 21, April 4, April 18, May 2, May 23, July 4, Oct. 3, Nov. 1, Dec. 5, Dec. 19

BY THE WAY We need to pray!

Jan. 24 Proclaim God’s power to all generations! June 6 Dealing with Guilt Sept. 5 Being the aroma of Christ Sept. 19 CHURCH NEWS Abbeydale Aberdeen Anola Blumenort Braeside

June 20, Aug. 15, Oct. 17 June 6 July 4, Nov. 14 April 4, Oct. 17 June 6 (Spanish and English), June 20, Oct. 17 Brandon Jan. 24 Buffalo Head Prairie July 4 Burns Lake Jan. 10, Dec. 19 Creighton Feb. 21, June 6, Sept. 19 Crestview March 7 Fish Creek March 21 Fort Frances Jan. 10, Feb. 7 Fort Garry Feb. 21, Sept. 19 Good News Sept. 5 Grande Prairie April 4, Dec. 19 High Level April 4 Kleefeld Jan. 24, July 4, Aug. 15, Oct. 3, Dec. 19 Kola March 7 La Crete March 21 Prairie Rose April 4, July 4, Nov. 14 Leamington Feb. 7 Lorette Jan. 24, April 18, June 6, Sept. 5, Oct. 17 MacGregor Jan. 24, July 4 Mennville Jan. 10, May 2, June 20 Morris July 4 Morweena Feb. 7 Mount Salem April 4 Pansy May 23, Aug. 15 Pelly Feb. 7, Sept. 5, Dec. 5 Pleasant Valley Sept. 5 Picture Butte June 20

Portage

Feb. 7, Feb. 21, May 23, July 4, Sept. 5, Dec. 5 Ridgewood June 6 Riverton Feb. 21, July 4 Roseisle Jan. 10, March 21, June 20, Sept. 5, Oct. 3 Rosenort Feb. 21, March 7, Nov. 14, Dec. 3 Rosenort Fellowship March 21, Oct. 3 St. Vital Dec. 5 Steinbach Jan. 24, May 23 (two reports), Sept. 5 (two reports), Sept. 19, Nov. 1 (two reports) Steinbach EFC Sept. 5 Stony Brook Aug. 15 Straffordville Jan. 10, Aug. 15 Swan River Jan. 10, Oct. 17 Taber Dec. 19 Tillsonburg Feb. 21 (two reports), March 7 Treesbank March 21, Sept. 19 Vanderhoof July 4 CHURCH PROFILE Tilbury Community Church gets new building The pastoral couple and Fort Chipewyan Birch River

April 18 May 23 May 23 Dec. 19

EDITORIALS ‘Furthering our work together’ Jan. 10 Honouring our frail elderly Jan. 10 What would we have done?

Jan. 24 Table Talk and dead Anabaptists Jan. 24 Jesus, a risk worth taking Feb. 7 Suicide bombings and Samson Feb. 7 Suicides, survivors, and stories Feb. 21 John Wesley and doing good Feb. 21 The deceptiveness of decency March 7 Polity and practice March 7 What do we envision in Christ?

March 21 Young people and EMC March 21 What does it mean to be Anabaptist?

April 4 Cautioned and chided April 4 Why discuss hell?

April 18 Being a global faith community April 18 A Word to God May 2 The Value of Gathering May 2 The real news May 23 What churches will we become?

May 23 Evaluating the General Secretary position June 6 General Board acts like a private June 6 Expensive, but worth it June 20 Pentecostal pacifism June 20 Encountered by Jesus Christ July 4 An honourable calling, indeed July 4 Sorry, no new angle this year Aug. 15 Jesus, the centre of our faith Aug. 15 Christ’s grace and generations Sept. 5 Street ministries and shingles Sept. 5 Movie stars and faith critics Sept. 19 9/11 and Dawson College Sept. 19 Sioux Valley needs a pastor!

Oct. 3 Thanksgiving and balance Oct. 3 The privilege of holding Scripture Oct. 17

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

The necessity of doctrine Flying solo Acting in a time of war The shape of new churches A novel approach isn’t always novel Advent, a time of hope The Christ Child still lives!

The Question and Answer: Christ The Magi and Us

Oct. 17 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 14 Nov. 14 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 19 Dec. 19

FAITH IN ACTION Is there a MANSION waiting? Terry Smith No Room in the Inn, Wally Doerksen What’s your style? Monica Goertzen Food justice: obesity and malnutrition, Jennifer Neufeld GENERATIONS Can Hollywood evangelize this generation?

KIDS’ CORNER Happy New Year Talking Turkey What is your treasure?

Skipping to the beat S is for Spring Butterfly Math Io and Ganymede What is Real?

The Baby in the manger Christmas traditions

Jan. 10 Jan. 24 April 4

Seek to avoid unnecessary offence, Terry Tiessen EMC’s 200th anniversary is ahead, Royden Loewen Missionaries gave up much to reach the lost, Tina B. Loewen Mennonite oneness with the Church of Rome? Dave Field What would Willms have imagined?

Walter Kruse Jesus-centred is about more than orthodoxy, Henry Friesen MISSIONAL AND MULTIPLYING Giving yourself away at Imagine 2007

Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 19 Dec. 19 Dec. 19 Dec. 19

Dec. 5

May 23

May 23

Jan. 24 Feb. 21 March 21 April 18 May 23 June 20 Sept. 19 Oct. 17 Dec. 5 Dec. 19

LETTERS JOY formula still important, Evelyn Rodgers Jan. 10 Vision in a changing conference, Dave K. Schellenberg Jan. 24 More churches needed, Dave K. Schellenberg March 21 Highlight restorative justice in Canada, John Schlamp June 20 Loved article on food justice, Henry Dyck June 20 Confession of sins needed, Helen Teichroeb June 20 Why not publish a guilt-free cookbook?

Peter Hall July 4 Eden history, Dave Schellenberg Aug. 15 Uncommon and special, Arlyn van Enns Aug. 15 Times have changed, Jaimee Loewen Aug. 15 Reflections on healing article, Henry Hiebert Aug. 15 Variety of subjects appreciated, Janice Imrie Sept. 19 Pictures of the Spirit appreciated, Darnell Plett Sept. 19 Holy Spirit movement is welcome, Dale Loewen Sept. 19 We welcome letters!

Nov. 1 The Messenger policy on Letters to the Editor Nov. 1

MISSIONS Grand Rapids: Fred and Stella Neff Paraguay: Dave and Judy Schmidt Mexico: SBC Nicaragua: Darlene Olfert Mexico: Grace Thiessen Central Asia: Flo Friesen Silk Road: A Follower of Jesus Northern Manitoba: Bill and Anna Penner Brazil: Dwayne and Shannon Klassen Sudan: Gordon Skopnik Winnipeg: Kirsten Kroeker Mexico: Elma Janzen Mexico: Elma Janzen Nicaragua: Elvin Reimer Northern Manitoba: Debbie Thiessen Fort Chipewyan: Terry M. Smith Paraguay: Dave and Judy Schmidt Madagascar: Josh Plett Paraguay: Revita Kroeker Central Asia: A follower of Jesus Russia: Dave Field Asia: A follower of Jesus Oaxaca: Grace Thiessen Madagascar: Jocelyn R. Plett Winnipeg: Kent Dueck Grand Rapids: Fred and Stella Neff Pauingassi: Albert Martens Northern Manitoba: Anna Penner Tadoule Lake: Albert Martens Mexico: Don Thiessen, John Wall Paraguay: David and Judy Schmidt Mexico: Gerald Reimer Your Muslim Friend (booklet) Eidses honoured for compassion, sensitivity Northern Manitoba: Zack Beardy, Anna Penner ‘Remarkable’ and ‘gutsy’ women honoured, Terry Smith Northern Manitoba: Albert Martens Lesotho: Kari Peters Canada: Harvey Thiessen Europe: Harvey Thiessen Nicaragua: Lester and Darlene Olfert

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

Feb. 7 Feb. 21 Feb. 21 March 7 March 7 March 7 March 7 March 21 March 21 March 21 April 4 April 4 April 18 May 2 May 23 May 23 June 6 June 6 June 6 June 6 June 20 July 4 Aug. 15 Aug. 15 Sept. 19 Sept. 19 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 17 Oct. 17 Oct. 17 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 14 Nov. 14 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 19 Dec. 19

NEWS ITEMS Council was quiet, thoughtful Jan. 10 Landmark vote sets new policy at MKC assembly Jan. 10 Church responds to HIV in Ukraine Jan. 24 Dr. Ron Sider to speak at Steinbach EMC on March 9 to 10 Feb. 7 A note to untapped writers Feb. 7 European leaders face challenges in 2007 Feb. 7 Lost citizenship concerns continue to surface Feb. 21 Advance Prayer for Convention Feb. 21 Journey of Loss, Discovery of Hope DVD and grief support training guide available Feb. 21 DE BRIGJ 105.9 FM meets Low German need Feb. 21 MDS couple motivated by love Feb. 21 Dr. Al Hiebert heads CHEC March 7 CMU introduces new Master of Arts in theological studies March 21 MCC blanket project comforts women in prison April 4 Heads shaved for AIDS fund-raiser April 18 MWC appeals for change in Zimbabwe crisis April 18 Swiss remember Anabaptists in year of special events April 18 Follow the Lamb: Revelation and Worship May 2 Mexico centre helps men overcome addiction May 2 The eyes and ears of Jesus on Toronto’s streets May 2 Human rights a part of Mennonite history May 2 Restorative justice taking root in Ukraine May 23 Correction: Swiss remember Anabaptists June 6 A note to untapped writers June 6 Eden to honour Dr. Archie Penner June 6 A Weekend with the Anointed June 20 Anola notes on Abundant Springs June 20 MWC officials visit Baptist colleagues June 20 Dr. Archie Penner honoured during Eden celebration July 4 Tim Dyck appointed as General Secretary Aug. 15 Ministerial treads on dangerous ground Aug. 15 Council meets briefly Aug. 15 Announcement Aug. 15 Conference council elections Aug. 15 Youth event was a ‘pretty good’ day!

Aug. 15 Convention project offerings Aug. 15 Church must teach peace, Burkina Faso leader says Aug. 15 Convention photos Aug. 15 Missions Auxiliary is now Project Builders Sept. 5 Gingerich is CMDS executive director Sept. 5 MFC appoints consultants Sept. 5 Generations benefit from each other at Rest Haven Sept. 5 CMU professor receives grant Sept. 5 Newspaper unites German Mennonites Sept. 5 (continued on page 22)

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Unprepared faith groups have ‘no excuse’ during next pandemic Sept. 5 CFGB supplies one millionth tonne of food Sept. 19 The Flood of the Century commemorated decade later Sept. 19 German Mennonite Conference offers hope Sept. 19 Restorative Justice Week is November 18–25 Sept. 19 Dread not, for God is with you!

Sept. 19 Hope and understanding in Pauingassi Oct. 3 MWC delegation sees crisis, hope in Zimbabwe Oct. 3 Iranian Muslim students eager to study Mennonite history Oct. 3 Arli Klassen appointed overall director of MCC Oct. 3 Dr. John Roth to address Mennonite identity Oct. 3 Barkman and Eidse honoured for conference-wide work Oct. 3 Das EMC Archivkomitee Oct. 17 Ron Penner enters MWC talks with Catholic Church Oct. 17 Peace Sunday resources Oct. 17 Vietnam to recognize Mennonite Church Oct. 17 Siberian church marks 100 years Oct. 17 Heard of Global Youth Summit and AMIGOS? Oct. 17 Victim befriends offenders Nov. 1 FASD is often misunderstood Nov. 1 The people that MDS helps Nov. 1 EMCers address missiologists’ conference Nov. 14 My trip to Rome Nov. 14 Looking at the Dialogue Nov. 14 Mennonite delegation presented concerns Nov. 14 Historic message sought Dec. 5 Peace Sermons CD available Dec. 5 Peace Sermons sought Dec. 5 MEDA delegates challenged about ‘non-negotiables’ Dec. 5 Ministerial ponders role of the Bible Dec. 19 Council approves record budget, greater coordination Dec. 19 World Fellowship Sunday Jan. 27 Dec. 19 OBITUARIES Clara Doerksen, 1922–2006 Edward John Doerksen, 1948–2006 Jessie Harms Plett, 1917–2006 Ben Thiessen (tribute) Andrew Siemens (tribute) Randall Peter Loewen (tribute) George and Annie Kehler (tribute) Elizabeth Reimer, 1917–2007 Correction: Randall Peter Loewen (tribute) Correction: George and Annie Kehler (tribute) Rev. Peter L. Friesen (tribute) Katharina Lepp, 1924–2007

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Jan. 10 Jan. 10 Jan. 10 Jan. 24 Jan. 24 Jan. 24 Jan. 24 Jan. 24

Ben H. Klassen, 1924–2006 Myrna Friesen (tribute) Sherry Diana Plett (nee Epp), 1959–2007 Henry (Heinz) K. Dueck, 1924–2007 Katherine (Tina) Penner, 1915–2007 Lena (nee Enns) Kehler, 1924–2007 Anton Kehler, 1920–2007 Cornelius Dueck, 1920–2007 George A. Rempel, 1922–2007 Susanna (Susie) Friesen, 1918–2007 Katharine (Tina) Penner, 1915–2007 (tribute) Dennis Kroeker, 1948–2007 Aganetha Barkman Reimer, 1863–1938 (tribute) George F. Eidse, 1934–2002 (tribute) Tina Eidse Siemens, 1922–2005 (tribute) Aganetha Barkman Reimer, 1863–2002 (correction) Nancy Olga Peters, 1942–2007 Mary (Harms) Dueck, 1916–2007 Peter R. Barkman, 1916–2006 Rev. Ben Friesen, 1928–2007 Mary Eidse, 1922–2007 Graham Mackenzie Cole Siemens, 1998–2007 Cornelius W. Friesen, 1925–2007 PEOPLE MOVEMENT Travis and Rosey Zacharias (BOM) Gerald and Sandy Reimer (BOM) CMI appointments Peter and Margaret Goertzen (MDS)

PICTURES OF GOD An early flight to heaven?

The child on my lap God doing His thing For the lonely What I really believe about God Pictures of the Holy Spirit Confronted with His glory Towards a Stronger Weakness Reawakening Relationship Our Healer among us POEMS Gethsemane, Bill Neudorf The Hope that Came, Eleanor Lee Gustaw Friday, Neil Friesen Freedom, Laura Plett Siemens The Image Bearers, Brigitte Toews A Christmas Song, Eleanor Lee Gustaw Giving, Bernardine Plett Amazing Love, L. Marie Enns

Feb. 7 Feb. 21 Feb. 21 Feb. 21 March 7 March 7 March 7 April 4 April 4 April 4 May 2 May 2 May 2 May 2 May 2 May 23 June 20 June 20 July 4 Aug. 15 Sept. 19 Nov. 14 Dec. 5

Aug. 15 Aug. 15 Oct. 17 Dec. 5

Feb. 21 March 21 April 18 May 23 June 20 Aug. 15 Sept. 19 Oct. 17 Dec. 5 Dec. 19

March 21 March 21 July 4 Sept. 19 Nov. 14 Dec. 19 Dec. 19 Dec. 19

REGIONAL EVENTS Region 6

Dec. 5

SHOULDER TAPPING All issues

STEINBACH BIBLE COLLEGE The Spiritual Litmus Test…, Ernie Koop

Jan. 10

Feb. 7 Feb. 7 Feb. 7 Feb. 7

When the Wedding Host is Snubbed, Ernie Koop Mexico: SBC’s Mission Xposure has an impact!

Fundraising Faspa (ad) Northern Manitoba: Bill and Anna Penner Rob Reimer appointed SBC president Follow the Lamb: Revelation and Worship SBC grads reminded ‘these are not your best days’ MissionX and Oxford House SBC’s Don Thiessen retires Four new staff at SBC SBC offers class on Eating Disorders John Stackhouse to speak at SBC Leadership Conference Micro-Church Youth Ministry (ad) STEWARDSHIP TODAY Home Ownership Credit Card Bondage Mutual Aid is not an option How many balls are enough?

How do we view giving?

Margins Death Stinks!

Money and Marriage To fail to plan is to plan to fail Gambling: Fun, a problem, or a lack of hope?

Succession You want the bread knife?

The Gift VIDEOS SHARED The DNA of Relationships, Gary and Michael Smalley Journey of Loss…Discovery of Hope, David C. Bojorquez and Keith G. Myers

Feb. 7 Feb. 21 Feb. 21 March 21 March 21 May 2 May 23 May 23 July 4 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Dec. 5 Dec. 5

Jan. 10 Jan. 24 Feb. 7 Feb. 21 March 7 March 21 April 18 May 2 July 4 Sept. 19 Oct. 17 Nov. 1 Nov. 14

Sept. 19

Nov. 14

WEDDINGS Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7, April 4, April 18, May 2, May 23, July 4, Oct. 3, Nov. 1, Dec. 5, Dec. 19 WINDOW ON MISSIONS GMF and the compelling love of God A God-honouring legacy?

Jan. 24 Nov. 1

WRITINGS SHARED Diaspora in the Countryside: Two Mennonite Communities and Mid-Twentieth-Century Rural Disjuncture, Royden Loewen Jan. 24 Living with a Killer, Erna Dueck Feb. 21 Who’s Grace? and Desolation Highway, James Coggins March 21 Blessed are the Pacifists, Thomas Trzyna April 18 Stories: How Mennonites Came to Be, John D. Roth June 6 Politics Under God, John H. Redekop Oct. 17 A Star for Christmas, Trisha Romance Dec. 5

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

shoulder tapping The EMC wishes to hire a full-time Archivist for a one-year term position (preferably starting in early January 2008) at the Conference Office in Steinbach, Man. The archivist will work with the Conference’s archival collection, about 300 boxes of materials, and periodicals and books. The main goal of the year is to prepare the collection for transfer to a suitable archival facility.

The duties and responsibilities are: Organizing and describing archival holdings according to standard archival principles; determining status of collections donated or loaned to the EMC Archives; preparing finding aids to improve access to the records; identifying records that need special preservation and making recommendations on proper preservation practices and techniques; supervising volunteers; working with Conference staff, boards and committees to ensure that archival records are properly identified and proper measures are taken to ensure their long-term preservation; preparing an archival display for the EMC Convention in July 2008.

Qualifications and attributes: A graduate degree in Archival or Information Studies or an acceptable equivalent of education and experience; at least one year of experience working in an archival or research setting; familiarity with the Microsoft Office suite of applications; strong self-motivation and the ability to work independently with little or no supervision; good interpersonal skills for dealing with Conference staff, boards and committees, and archival donors and volunteers; a familiarity with Canadian Mennonite history in general and the EM Conference in particular would be an asset; a working reading knowledge of German, including the Gothic script, would be a strong asset.

The archivist is to be committed to a personal Christian faith and work well within a denominational office setting. Salary details are available upon request. Interviews for the position will continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Please contact Executive Secretary Terry Smith at emcterry@mts.net or 204-236-6401.

Endeavour Fellowship Chapel in east-central Saskatchewan, is currently looking for a pastor.

We have a fairly young congregation consisting of 18–20 families, with about 16 children in Sunday School. Contact Tom Treen (Elders’ Chairman) at 306-547-3383 or tdpromise@sasktel.net.

Are you an enthusiastic couple called by God to serve in full-time ministry? Hillside Christian Fellowship (EMC) seeks a pastor to serve in full-time ministry with a part-time emphasis on youth. We are a family oriented rural church located in the heart of a farming community 20 minutes south of La Crete, Alta. Our average attendance is about 60 people.

Musical ability is an asset. Contact Johnny Wieler at 780-928-3880 or email AVLL@siscanada.ca.

Pelly Fellowship Chapel (EMC) seeks a youth worker or couple to develop a program for youth and junior youth. PFC is a small church in the village of Pelly, located in central Sask., close to the Manitoba border. Applicants need to have a strong personal commitment to Jesus Christ

and a sense of God’s call on their life. He/she will need to be flexible, have strong communication, organizational, relational and leadership skills, as well as being self-motivated. Music skills would be an asset. Submit resume to Pastor John Froese, Box 70, Pelly, SK S0A 2Z0. Phone 306-595-2074. E-mail pastor@pellyfellowship.com.

Fish Creek Christian Fellowship (a nine-year-old EMC congregation meeting in South Calgary) is seeking a bi-vocational senior pastor to begin this summer or fall. We currently have about 40 people attending, and our aim is to reach the lost in our area.

We are looking for an organized, self-motivated candidate with a strong pulpit ministry and gifts in evangelism, discipleship and visionary leadership for church re-planting.

For details and discussion please contact Dean Buhler, 1452 Lake Sylvan Dr SE, Calgary, AB T2J 3C8. Phone 403-271-5171 or e-mail kbuhler1@ telus.net.

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 church planting coordinator Ward Parkinson, 204-326-6401, e-mail: emcward@mts.net.

Steinbach EMC (www.emchurch.com) in Steinbach, Man., is looking for a motivated, creative and energetic person to fill the position of pastor of youth ministries. The applicant would be involved in the coordination of all youth programs and activities.

Deadline for resume submission is January 1, 2008. Please forward your resume either by email or mail to: Randy Martens, Pastor of Youth Ministries Search Committee, Box 3212, Steinbach, MB R5G 1P5, phone: 204-326-3608, e-mail: randymartens@ hotmail.com or erniefro@mts.net.

Brightwood Ranch, a Christian camp providing a summer camp experience for underprivileged children from Edmonton Alta., seeks summer camp staff for 2008.

Summer positions are paid and include: counselors, program director, tipi village program director, training team leaders, head wrangler, maintenance assistant, head cook, assistant cooks/ kitchen help, assistant wranglers, and nurse.

Also needed are volunteers: junior counselors, kitchen staff, maintenance person and camp grandparent(s) for a week or more.

Email: brightwood@hopemission.com.

Hodgson Christian Academy seeks a full-time classroom teacher. HCA is approximately two hours north of Winnipeg on Highway #17, just south of Peguis and Fisher River reserves in central

THE MESSENGER December 19, 2007

Manitoba.

HCA, a grade 1-12 school for natives, opened in 2003 and has 18 students. The teacher position opening is for a class of 10 junior high students.

Certification is not a requirement, but applicants with experience in Christian education will be given preference.

Please contact Principal Tim Reimer at 204-364-2466 or treimer@juno.com.

Camp Assiniboia, Headingley, Man., requires a manager, beginning in April 2008. Key attributes being sought include energy, effective communication and operational know-how. There is also an open­ing for a guest group coordinator (0.5). Direct inquiries to: Director of Camping Ministries, Mennonite Church Manitoba, 200-600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 2J1, E-mail: camps@mennochurch.mb.ca, Ph. 204-895-2267.

Mennonite Foundation of Canada is accepting applications for a receptionist in the Winnipeg, Man., office.

This person will be responsible for front desk and telephone reception, processing incoming and outgoing mail including deposits and receipting, word processing and various other clerical duties.

Experience in a computerized office environment, specifically using Microsoft Office software with proficiency in Word is desired. Applicants should enjoy interacting with the public and possess strong interpersonal and telephone skills.

MFC offers a competitive salary and benefits package. A complete job description is available upon request. Processing of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Interested persons should send their resume to Assistant Manager, Mennonite Foundation of Canada, 12-1325 Markham Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3T 4J6, Ph. 204-488-1985, Fax 204-488-1986, E-mail: rbjanzen@mennofoundation.ca.

Eden Foundation, based in Winkler, Man., seeks a director of development. Eden Foundation supports the programs of Eden Health Care Services, which provides acute and community mental health recovery services in collaboration with faith constituencies, local communities, and Regional and Manitoba Health Authorities.

The director of development works collaboratively with the CEO and staff and is responsible to the Foundation board. Duties include church and constituency reporting, public relations, fundraising and all aspects of fund development.

Qualifications include a related university degree or equivalent training or experience, strong communications skills, demonstrated project or event management experience and familiarity with the Manitoba church constituency. The Board is seeking an individual who exhibits a strong understanding and affirmation of Anabaptist faith and values.

Submit resumes to: Director of Development Search, Eden Foundation, Box 129, Winkler, MB R6W 4A4, Fax 204-325-8742, E-mail: edencare@ valleycable.com. Applications will be received until position is filled.

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KIDS’

corner Loreena Thiessen

Christmas Traditions

C

olourful lights twinkle everywhere, in windows, on trees indoors and out. Even the stars shine brighter in a dark winter sky.

It was the stars that amazed Martin Luther one night in Germany over 400 years ago. As he walked home that night the entire forest sparkled with points of light as the stars twinkled and danced between the branches of the trees.

It was so beautiful he wanted to re-create that sight for his family. He spotted a perfect fir tree, cut it down and brought it home. He placed candles on its branches to dance and twinkle like the stars. That was the first Christmas tree.

In Germany, those early years, trees were decorated with bread and apples. It reminded them of the Tree of Life and the Tree of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. It was a tree of hope; in the long dark winter nights they knew spring would soon arrive.

Long before evergreen branches were used to decorate, it was holly and ivy. For Christians the red holly berries represented Jesus’ blood, and the sharp points of its leaves reminded them of the crown of thorns Jesus wore as he was crucified.

The ivy stands for everlasting life.

Did you enjoy a Christmas orange this season?

Oranges do not grow in northern countries. Long ago they were rare and costly. Only wealthy families could buy them. Those that could would pile them high in a pyramid shape as a centre piece for the table. If the pyramid of oranges was very tall the guests knew the host was a wealthy man. Oranges are another Christmas tradition.

Is there a wreath on your door? The wreath is a Roman tradition that celebrates victory. Athletes received a wreath of leaves placed on their heads as the first prize. Today it’s a gold medal.

Long before evergreen branches were used to decorate, it was holly and ivy. For Christians the red holly berries represented Jesus’ blood, and the sharp points of its leaves reminded them of the crown of thorns Jesus wore as he was crucified.

The ivy stands for everlasting life. Ivy has been used traditionally to decorate halls on festive occasions for hundreds of years in many countries.

Traditional decorations are both a celebration and a reminder. With them we celebrate new life and hope. At the same time we are reminded of who it is we are celebrating. It is Jesus. Because Jesus was born we have hope. Because he died we will live forever.

T Read Luke 2:10–11 and John 14:19. M

Activity: Look around and make a list of the traditions you and your family follow at Christmas time.

Ask your parents why you follow them.

Draw and colour one of your favourite Christmas traditions.

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