THE
MESSENGER
a publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference
volume 47, number 12 June 24, 2009
Finding our place in
God’s story
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
www.emconf.ca/Messenger
editorials
Weather, job loss, and divine providence
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ords fail to describe the pain felt by hurting farmers, auto sector workers, oil patch and forestry workers, and other EMCers affected by weather patterns and the economic downturn. “People lived close to the elements on the frontier,” says historian Ross Phares of an earlier time. “Thus, their prayers were much about the elements, particularly rain. For, before the days of irrigation and cloud-seeding for rain making, the people could do no more than plant and trust in a benevolent
Providence for a harvest” (Bible in Pocket, God in Hand: The Story of Frontier Religion). Phares is right: technology has changed. However, our need to “plant and trust in a benevolent Providence for a harvest” remains (1 Cor. 1:6). He tells of an American rancher who said, “But after all our petitions, O God, we would not presume to dictate, but we would advise.” And of a drought sufferer turned flood victim who said, “Lord, Lord, stay thy hand! Enough! Art Thou goin’ to drown us out like woodchucks?” Divine providence can be ob-
scure. Unstable or changing weather patterns, economic downturns and job slowdown or losses, political upheavals near and far—these are realities we live with. How can we acknowledge each other’s painful, difficult experiences and yet trust in providence as revealed through God in Christ? Scripture does not provide easy answers (Heb. 11:1–40; 2 Cor. 11:23– 12:10). As a conference with nine regions, let us pray for, listen to, and help hurting sister congregations and T hurting members. M Terry M. Smith
What are your church’s marks?
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r. Don Posterski, who has served with World Vision and Tyndale Seminary, emphasizes that for “most people, effective churches are those which build on the strengths of four cornerstones: orthodoxy—in touch with the truth, community—in touch with personal needs, relevance—in touch with the times, outreach—in touch with the needs of others” (Where’s a Good Church? Wood Lake, 1993). In my view, two perspectives are implicit within these four cornerstones: a sense of history and
EDITOR Terry M. Smith tsmith@emconf.ca
ASSISTANT EDITOR Rebecca Buhler
rbuhler@emconf.ca
Address changes and submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 13 – July 22 (copy due July 3)
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a positive expectation of the future. But then again, “The antihistorical bias of many Evangelicals,” says Robert E. Webber, “has led to a prideful rejection of the past among some pastors and leaders” (Worship Old & New, Zondervan, 1982). Local churches are incomplete in themselves; each is tied to the Christian Church that spans centuries, cultures, and countries. We are part of a larger past and future, not just what we are now. Reformation leader John Calvin (1509–1564) identified the church by three marks: the Word “purely
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 St., Steinbach, Man. Subscriptions: Canadian subscriptions are $24 for one year, $44 for two years,
preached and heard,” the proper administration of the sacraments, and (by Anabaptist influence, it’s said) church discipline. Menno Simons (1496–1561) said there were six “true signs by which the Church of Christ may be known”: pure doctrine, a biblical use of “sacramental signs,” obedience to the Word, genuine love among members, a bold confession of God and Christ, and oppression and tribulation for the sake of the Lord’s Word. What marks are displayed within T your congregation? M Terry M. Smith
$65 for three years (Manitoba residents add 7% PST); U.S. subscriptions are $30 for one year, $55 for two years, $82 for three years; all other countries are $45 for one year, $85 for two years, $125 for three years . Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents. THE MESSENGER is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press. Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba. ISSN #0701-3299
THE
PAP Registration #9914 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362 We gratefully 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 St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401, Fax: 204-326-1613, E-mail: messenger@emconf.ca.
MESSENGER
On-line edition available at www.emconf.ca/Messenger
THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
letters Cover felt judgmental I thought Christine Longhurst’s article on corporate worship (May 27, 2009) was pretty good. I found myself agreeing with the overall content of the article. I believe the point she made about the importance of Christians worshipping together was biblically true. What I couldn’t believe was the choice of title for the article and cover of this particular edition of The Messenger Messenger. One Christian is no Christian!? !? Come on! Are you saying that a follower of Christ who is not going to church at the moment, but worships on their own, cannot actually be a Christian? Says who? Tertullian, I guess. I agree that, biblically the idea is for Christians to worship as a body, but to actually suggest that worshipping on one’s own, apart from the church, makes that person a non-believer is going way too far. Should I now suppose, according to your title and visual rendering of it, that my on-going salvation is assured only when I worship correctly? I also found the ghost-buster-like red circle with a slash through it slapped on the individual worshipper on your cover, frankly, offensive. It felt judgmental. Danny Plett Germany
Seeking book reviewers The Messenger receives, and asks for, book titles to be reviewed. Requirement: thoughtful, tightly written summary and response (400 words maximum). Payment: Keep the book. If interested, provide your areas of interest and background. Deadline: Negotiated. Important: Do the review. Contact the editors at messenger@emconf.ca.
Celebrate with us! The 50th anniversary of Island Gospel Fellowship October 9–11, 2009, Burns Lake, B.C. For more information visit www.islandgospelfellowship.com or contact Bill Bueckert at 250-692-3362 or Mike Watson at 250-692-3129
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts (Ps. 145:4). THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
Letters to the Editor Letters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. Letters by hand or fax require a handwritten signature. All letters require a name, an address and a phone number. Letters can be edited for length, clarity, legality, and taste. The focus of letters is to be on an issue, not a personality. The views and opinions expressed by the writers are their own, and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference. All publication of letters is subject to the policy approved January 2002 by the EMC Board of Church Ministries.
Resources to assist within conflict The Board of Leadership and Outreach mediation team’s dilemma about knowing when to insert themselves into a church crisis and when to wait for an invitation [report insert in May 27 issue] cannot be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. Prayer is always in order. So is an expressed desire to see God glorified and the gospel triumph. That perspective is very biblically taught in a bundle of resources now used in 107 countries in six languages. Sadly, too many professors of conflict resolution in Christian and secular universities have told me they’ve never heard of these. Sadly, I found none of these in the current EMC resources catalogue. At www.bookstore.peacemaker.net/ resources/index.php let me specially recommend: Ken Sande (2003) The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict (Baker). This third edition of a 12-chapter text by an evangelical lawyer addresses over 800 passages of Scripture. The questions at the end of each chapter have been very helpful in mediating conflicts. My students at Caronport, Hyderabad (India), and Steinbach (Sunday school and care group) love the real-life practical orientation concerning family, marriage, parenting, church, business, community, etc. by a veteran practi-
tioner (since 1984). Many care groups at church have run the DVD series since we used them in Sunday school two years ago. I also recommend: Alfred Poirier (2006), The Peacemaking Pastor: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Church Conflict (Baker) Corlette Sande (1997), The Young Peacemaker (Parent/Teacher Manual) and Young Peacemaker Student Activity Booklets (Shepherd) Ken Sande with Tom Raabe (2002), Peacemaking for Families: A Biblical Guide in Managing Conflict in Your Home (Tyndale); the Small Group Study Box (includes four DVDs with 12 Ken Sande 25-minute sessions and 12 drama sketches) The Team Peacemaker: Dealing with Conflict on a Short-Term Mission Team David Hoover, Transforming Workplace Disputes: The Vital Role of Christian Conciliation David Edling, Church Discipline: God’s Search and Rescue Plan. At the same site are many more goodies. Hopefully, many of these will show in the next EMC Resources Catalogue and the ministries of the Board of Leadership and Outreach’s mediation team. Al Hiebert Steinbach, Man.
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Part one of a series
Finding our place in
God’s story Sid Koop
T
his past May I had the opportunity to speak to our students at Abundant Springs. What an honour! As many of you know, our theme was Finding our place in God’s story. I was very excited about the theme as it engaged the most important questions that we as human beings pursue answers for, questions like where did I come from, why am I here, why is my world the way it is, and where am I going when I die? These are all questions that Jesus Christ answers more coherently and consistently than any other worldview, all questions that are the very foundation and at the very heart of most every adolescent’s life journey. What a tremendous opportunity! In our first session we looked at Ephesians 2:10 to answer the question, “Why am I here?” In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he says: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (2:8–10).
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THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
We are God’s creation. We are made in His image and He loves us. Nothing can change that reality.
Essentially all of Ephesians 1 and 2, and perhaps verse 10 most clearly, tell us that the reason we are here is because God wants us here. Plain and simple. Ultimately, our lives are a part of God’s story. Paul gives us three ways that we can know this to be true. Created in his image First, we know we are here because God wants us here by the fact that God has created us. Paul says in verse 10 that we are God’s workmanship. This is tremendously great news because it is the foundation of the value that we as human beings possess, and it is the foundation of the love we receive from God. In Genesis 1:1 it says that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and then it goes on to explain the story of creation, the beginning of light and darkness, sky, water, land, vegetation, birds, stars, moon, sun, and livestock. As you read about creation, you see God making vegetation in its kind and birds in their kind and other living creatures in their kind and God calls his creation good. But when it comes to human beings, God does something very different. He makes humans in his kind—verse 27 specifically says “in his image.” Now there is a certain amount of mystery to what it exactly means to be made in the image of God, but, at the very least, it means that we possess many similar traits to God such as the ability to reason, to create, to relate, to control, and steward. Not perfectly as God, but certainly reflective of God. When God finished creating man, he didn’t just say that man was good, he said man was very good (verse 31). This is so important for our students to understand. We live in a culture that tells us our identity and our value comes from what we look like, what we wear, or what we own. It is a performance-based value. If we don’t measure up, THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
we are not loveable or acceptable. This kind of pressure is crushing! But this is not the pressure God places on us. His love for us has nothing to do with what we can do, what we look like, or what we own. His love for us is based on who we are. We are His creation. We are made in His image and He loves us. Nothing can change that reality. For significance The second reason we know we are here because God wants us here is that we have a purpose, a God-given purpose. Paul goes on to say that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Everyone of us has a desire to do something significant. When my boys play games, most of the time it has to do with something heroic, saving the world or destroying evil. It is reflective of the reality that God has created all of us to pursue significance. Now, how we define significance and how Christ defines significance are often two different things. This was one of the primary problems the disciples had as followers of Christ. They knew that following Christ was significant and they desperately wanted to be great in His Kingdom, but they defined significance primarily in terms of success, power, and control (see Mark 10:42). When Christ confronted them, He did not do so because of their desire to be great, but, rather, because of their definition of greatness. He corrected them, essentially, by letting them know significance is not found in success, but rather faithfulness in serving others, just as He came not to be served, but to serve. Here is the reality our students need to grasp. All of us are called to live eternally significant lives. Each one of us. And it has nothing to do with (continued on p. 6)
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When I realize that God has set my life up before time began, that tells me that nothing I have experienced is by accident.
whether the world sees us as successful or not, but, rather, everything to do with humbly serving those in the world. Christ calls such service “good works,” and none of us, by His grace, are disqualified from the opportunity to be a part of God’s “good works.” Through his plan Finally, we know we are here because God wants us to be here by the reality that He has prepared us, and this time, long before time began. Paul tells us that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. According to Ephesians 1:4, in advance means “before the world began.” That is some serious advance planning! When I realize that God has set my life up before time began, that tells me that nothing I have experienced is by accident (out of the ultimate control of God and therefore more powerful than God) and nothing I’ve experienced is wasted (even the plans of the evil one). Now certainly this truth creates certain questions we must all wrestle with, such as the problem of evil and an all-powerful, loving, wise God. But it also enables us to embrace the reality that “all things work out for good to those who love God.” This ultimately gives us hope, especially in the midst of crisis, because we know the crisis is not ultimate; and it gives us boldness, because we know 6
we are not functioning alone. God is with us, and He is ultimate! The foundation for finding our place in God’s story is to understand this reality: we are here because God wants us here. He has created us, He has called us, and He has prepared us. This is our T foundation for life. M Sid Koop, this year’s speaker at Abundant Springs, travels with Truth Matters Ministries and is parttime director of student ministries at the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge, Alta.
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with our missionaries 50 years in Paraguay
one of six
The Sanapaná: accepting the new without discarding the old We stand on the little knoll, La Esperanza, once known as the centre of activity, the hustle and bustle of EMC missions with the Sanapaná in the Paraguayan Chaco. Small mounds of eroded adobe bricks mark the locations of past dwellings, including our former house, the church, and the store. Garry Kroeker joins a group of Sanapaná workers (1963). Our conference’s mission in Paraguay was born in 1959 at Nue- ministries of La Esperanza to ISB. EMC va Esperanza (New Hope). Henry and retained the spiritual work, agreed to Tina Toews (Steinbach EMC), originally provide nurses for the clinic as long from Paraguay, were sent by the EMC to as possible, remained open to special start a mission work with the Lenguas, projects, and financially supported the a predominant tribe surrounding the Bible School at Yalwe Sanga. When EMC received its own legal Chaco German Mennonite Colonies. With strong financial backing and status in Paraguay, La Esperanza’s prayer, the Toews set up a mission property (approx. 16,875 acres) could be station with residences, clinic, church, transferred to the Sanapaná. That has not and school; there was also substantial gone easy, as the Sanapaná (with their arable acreage for communal-farming hunter-gatherer mentality and tradition) to provide employment and food for the preferred to depend on the mission and take little initiative in self-reliance. This Lengua. In 1962, an agreement was made for is evident to this day. In its early days the spiritual work with Menno Colony to continue to operate the Lengua ministry at Nueva Esperanza the Sanapaná (carried on in the Lengua while EMC would move to a new location language) seemed unusually successful, and work solely with the Sanapaná. with high numbers of baptisms. Today That year an adjacent tract of land was there is evidence that they were anxious purchased and La Esperanza (The Hope) to receive the new, but were not ready to was born. La Esperanza soon had more discard their animistic beliefs. The Sanapaná churches remain weak than 1,000 people. The Colonies, who themselves and stunted in numerical and spiritual experienced the distressing elements growth. Venancio Gonzalez, called and of the Chaco, saw the greater challenge ordained into ministry in March 1964, is for tribal groups to be truly self-reliant. Their idea was an attempt to settle them, make them independent, self-supporting, self-governing and self-propagating. Today there is evidence In the late 60s, with the help of MCC, that the Sanapaná they formed the Indian Settlement Board (ISB) and initiated an extensive were anxious to receive agricultural, educational and medical the new, but were not program still carried on today. The ready to discard their spiritual work was taken on by various smaller missions. animistic beliefs. In 1972 the EMC handed over the agricultural, educational, and medical
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Sanapaná family
the only original leader left; he struggles to conserve the church. We praise God for Dietrich and Tina Lepp who tirelessly carried on the spiritual ministry to the Sanapaná and to the Menno Indian Mission who picked up this ministry after EMC officially withdrew from their Chaco involvements in the mid-90s. ASCIM is thanked for their ongoing ministry overseeing the affairs of close to 30,000 natives (nine different tribes) today. Frank Kroeker Frank and Marge Kroeker (Rosenort EMC) served in Paraguay from 1963–1997 (and even more recently). Note: A longer version of this article is available from the Conference office.
Frank Kroeker and Diedrich Lepp
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with our missionaries Nicaragua
‘I’m an Anabaptist’ I asked our Nicaraguan brother, who had so faithfully helped us out, “Why is it that you are such a servant?” His reply, “I’m an Anabaptist; that is what we do.” “I’m an Anabaptist.” That proclamation was heard a number of times as Ken Zacharias and I, on behalf of the Board of Missions, visited our fellow brothers and sisters in Guatemala and Nicaragua from February 24 to March 12. We started by attending a conference and graduation at SEMILLA, a Latin American Anabaptist Seminary in Guatemala City. It was a privilege for us to witness two of our Nicaraguan church leaders, Elizabeth Vado and Marí de los Santos, graduate. The conference’s theme was The Church, the Word and Proclamation in a Changing Society. Numerous lecturers, including a professor from Fuller Seminary professor and a former Guatemalan presidential candidate, challenged us. Anabaptists from all over Latin America (including nine Nicaraguan leaders) and representatives from Spain, Holland, and the U.S. attended the event. In Nicaragua Ken and I had opportunity to preach and share in church services. What a joy it was to fellowship together in a different culture and yet
Morazon church outreach
worship the same God! I was personally blessed when we travelled to an outreach started by the Morazan church in Managua. As we walked to the back of a little house, we turned the corner to see 80 children squeezed into a small area, praising and worshiping God. What a beautiful picture! Much of our time was spent in meetings with FIEMN church conference committees—evangelism, Christian education, ladies, peace and justice, youth, and camp. We spent considerable time with the National Council, which provides leadership for FIEMN; and with the Pastoral Council, sharing vision, sharing challenges, talking about financial and other issues.
Nicaraguan church leaders graduate from SEMILLA
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An impression for me was the willingness of our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters to learn and to grow as a conference. To see them passionate about the need for biblical training and to raise leaders was exciting. Their desire to reach out to the rest of the country and to plant churches, despite tough economic challenges, amazed me. One American pastor we met stated, “They do so much with so little, and we do so little with so much.” There is a lot of truth in this statement; the churches in Nicaragua grow even when faced with tough economic challenges. The FIEMN has 19 churches and 13 outreaches, and the vision is to plant more churches. One final impression is the one I began with, “I’m an Anabaptist; that is what we do!” Many times in conversations I was left with the impression that being an Anabaptist was an integral part of their faith. Seeing it lived out was wonderfully refreshing. Continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua that they will be fruitful in their labour for the Kingdom as they share the good news of Jesus Christ. Anthony Reimer Anthony Reimer (Blumenort) is a member of the EMC Board of Missions.
Anthony Reimer talks with Maynor Curtis, National Council member.
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with our missionaries Oaxaca, Mexico
Zapotec nouns can be fascinating The Zapotecs do not have a word for circumcision; they are not familiar with this practice. In translation when one comes to a word that is not known in the culture, one option is to translate it with a descriptive phrase. We do this for many words like rudder of a ship, disciple, deacon, and for circumcision. You can imagine my embarrassment as a young single woman, starting out in the language program, trying to explain this term in halting Zapotec to my male co-translator. But that’s another story. We were challenged when Paul, in Colossians 2:11, talks about “the circumcision of Christ,” which is a spiritual circumcision rather than a physical one. In this same verse “the body of flesh” is another phrase that isn’t easy to translate, because the Zapotecs, for the most part, are literalists. They use few words in a figurative way. It’s not that they’re not playful and creative when using their language, but this playfulness is expressed in a different way. If we translated body literally they would never understand this to be referring to one’s tendency to sin.
Colossians 2:11 in Zapotec reads: “Because of Christ, it is as if your bodies were cut to show that you belong to God. Only, it’s not your body that is cut like the Israel people cut their bodies, rather you, because you belong to Christ, for this reason when he removed the evil that you habitually did, it is as if he cut your body.” As we continued on in Colossians we came upon another aspect of Zapotec culture that affects translation. In chapter 3 Paul tells children to obey their parents. This should be a pretty straight forward phrase to translate one would think. Not so. The problem is that in Zapotec culture children are thought of as not having the ability to rationalize and make decisions; they are not responsible for their actions. The Zapotecs say that children do not have intelligence. Anyone under the age of 12 or so falls into this category. I think this helps explain why Zapotec parents tend to be so indulgent with their kids, but that too is another story. So how are we going to translate children in Colossians 3:20? One possible solution would be to say sons and
The Zapotecs use few words in a figurative way. If we translated body literally they would never understand this to be referring to one’s tendency to sin.
Manitoba’s Passion Play July 9, 10, 11, 12 7:30 PM Nightly
Oak Valley Outdoor Theatre La Riviere, MB Ph: 204-242-3160 www.passionplay.ca THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
$15 - Adult (Advance) $17 - Adult Gate $ 6 - Youth (<12) $13 - Groups (10 +)
daughters, which doesn’t refer to age, but in Zapotec one can’t talk about sons and daughters without saying whose children they are. Had Paul written verse 21 before verse 20, sons and daughters would have been a nice solution because, having mentioned parents in verse 21, one could now address their offspring in an easy and uncomplicated way. We ended up using the word youth which refers to someone 12 or older. Parents even talk about their adult children in this way. You can see that by choosing this word we have, from our way of thinking at least, missed a significant group of people. What would you have done? These are just a few of the things I get to think about each day. And it’s also why I say that Zapotec nouns are most interesting. Grace Thiessen
Grace Thiessen (Steinbach EMC) has served under Wycliffe Bible Translators since 1974 and among the Zapotecs since 1979.
Going to MWC assembly in Paraguay? If you are planning to attend the Mennonite World Conference in Paraguay please call the EMC national office to tell us of your plans. A gathering of all EMC people will take place during one day of the MWC with a planned tour of EMC involvements in the Asuncion area. More details will be given shortly. Please email kzacharias@emconf.ca with your travel plans. Ken Zacharias Foreign Secretary
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with our churches
LCCF’s purpose is to glorify God La Crete, Alta.: Lots has happened at La Crete Christian Fellowship throughout the past winter and spring. I could give you all the details of the church garage sale we held to raise money for MCC or the exciting winter carnival the youth group held as a fundraiser for their trip to Abundant Springs. I could go on to tell you about the new church building we are planning to start next spring because we’ve outgrown our current facility. There was also the Valentine’s movie night (showing Fireproof ), an evening of missions reporting by several people who have gone on missions recently, and parents who are dedicating their children to the Lord. The list of events could continue, but the question arises: What is the purpose of these events? We trust that these events and the regular home Bible studies during the week, the Sunday school program, and the Sunday morning worship service serve one purpose—to glorify God. Some people are turning their lives over to Christ, others are taking the step of baptism or membership transfer and still others are making decisions to follow God more fully in everyday life. Several people from our congregation have gone on mission trips over the winter. Willie and Jacquie Friesen spent five months serving with MDS this winter. They are excited about how God showed his faithfulness. Peter and Martha Fehr went to Fort Chipewyan for five weeks this winter while Arlyn and Anne van Enns were
keynote speaker: Pierre Gilbert, Ph.D.
Parent/child dedication on September 14, 2008: Martha and Henry Froese with foster daughters Lacey and Trinity, Martha and Peter Fehr with Natalie, and Vaness and Fred Wiebe with Penelope and Damian (Penelope was dedicated earlier).
on medical furlough. The need there is great; Fehrs have an incredible burden for these people. Mike Janzen travelled with YWAM for six months to South America, spreading the message of the cross. Henry Froese with his two children Jayden and Candace spent some time at the CINAG orphanage in Nicaragua this spring. It is also exciting to hear of Cayla Schlamp’s plans to travel with Venture Teams International for nine months starting later this summer. People are on fire for the Lord; it is exciting to see what God is doing within the congregation. Brenda Wiebe
59th annual emc convention 2009
July 3, 4, 5 riverton recreation centre riverton manitoba
radical discipleship increasing the kingdom’s footprint in our world 10
births DOERKSEN – to Chris and Stephanie Doerksen of La Crete, Alta., a son, Tyler Jacob, on November 8, 2008. DRIEDGER – to Ed and Lyvelle Driedger of La Crete, Alta., a daughter, Layla Judith Love, on January 12, 2009. DOERKSEN – to Andy and Corrina Doerksen of La Crete, Alta., a daughter, Ella Winter, on January 17, 2009. NEUFELD – to Larry and Sandra Neufeld of La Crete, Alta., a daughter, Lynae Grace, on February 14, 2009. WIEBE – to Peter and Eva Wiebe of Iron Springs, Alta., a son, Jonathan Joshua, on March 19, 2009. DRIEDGER – to Abe and Kristiana Driedger of La Crete, Alta., a son, Jackson Drew, on March 28, 2009. GIESBRECHT – to Dave and Maria Giesbrecht of Taber, Alta., a son, Justin, on April 15, 2009. STEEVES – to Jonathan and Meagan Steeves of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Mila Diem, on April 17, 2009. MARTENS – to Henry and Leah Martens of La Crete, Alta., a son, Chayce Jayden, on May 5, 2009. PLETT – to Jeremy and Erin Plett of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Corrie Lorene, on May 15, 2009. SAWATSKY – to Henry and Helena Sawatsky of Coaldale, Alta., a son, Jayden Randy, on May 15, 2009.
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with our churches
‘Friendships deepened’ at Abundant Springs Lorette, Man.: Xenia Gallardo, a youth in our church, wrote this about Abundant Springs: Though it took the Prairie Grove Fellowship youth about eight hours to reach Caronport, Sask., the EMC Abundant Springs youth event was worth it! During the May long weekend EMC youth groups learned about finding our place in God’s story, which was the theme for Abundant Springs this year. Sid Koop spoke more on His story
Breeze and Xenia pose for a picture while exploring the campus.
during sessions throughout the weekend. The weekend also featured artists like Amanda Falk and Article One as well as a mime show performed by Daniel Julian. In the talent show Saturday evening, five Prairie Grove youth participated. Kyla Plett and Rosie Neufeld surprised the audience by demonstrating Kyla’s amazing gift of speaking and translating backwards. Jesse Plett and Alex Reimer played a homemade video about working for the Lord.
The Wide Game played Sunday in the afternoon connected with the theme of the weekend. Called His Story, the game required teams to journey through time to see what God has begun since creation. The game caused the teams to face challenges the followers of Jesus had to face throughout history. Friendships deepened with people as well as with God in the sessions, worship, games, and seminars. Jolyn Braun
Alex, Kyla, and Carina find ways to pass the time as they wait in the food line.
Vanderhoof witnesses five baptized Vanderhoof, B.C.: On March 22, 2009, Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship attendees saw five people become members by baptism and heard their testimonies. Neil Braun’s testimony: I grew up in a small community called Prespatou, in a Christian home with loving parents, Henry and Sarah, three brothers and two sisters. On Sunday, we attended the German Old Colony church. During the week we were taught wrong from right, and were always aware that Christ lived in our home. In July 1999, when I was 12 years old, we went on holiday to Dad’s school reunion in Grassy Plains, Burns Lake. There was a speaker who asked if there was anyone who felt the need to pray with him. That day I accepted the Lord into my heart and knew that I was now a child of God and wanted to live for him. Since that day, there have been many difficult situations and I have not always
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made the right choices. But through God’s amazing grace, I know that he forgives and lets me carry on. A couple of verses that have always helped and comforted me are 1 Corinthians 10:13 and 1 John 1:9. Another thing that helps me regroup
is awareness of the sheer vastness and beauty of God’s creation. When I’m on the top of the mountain with my snowmobile, or sitting in the trees watching an elk pass by, the peace I feel is a reassurance that there is a God and he is very real. Stephanie Peters
March 22, 2009, baptismal service: Neil Braun, Pastor Brad Schneck, Sasha Thiessen, Clinton Thiessen, Carlene Giesbrecht, and Ernie Giesbrecht.
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a reader’s viewpoint
Education and the Church’s future Thousands of Canadian Christian youth are graduating from high school this month. Many of them will be going on to further studies in September. I wonder: How many of them were encouraged to attend a Christian college or university? Surveys at Canadian Mennonite University, where I used to work, routinely show that friends, family, and church are the greatest influencers when it comes to choosing a college. I understand the key role played by parents. And who wouldn’t want to study at the same school as friends? But what role can church members play? Church members played an important role in my case. After I graduated from high school, Christian colleges were not on my radar. But then some older adults at my church asked me: “Have you considered going to Bible college?” Actually, no, I hadn’t. It wasn’t until these people I admired mentioned it that the thought entered my mind. As a result of their prompting, I decided to give Mennonite Brethren Bible College a try. It was the best decision I ever made. Not only did give me an excellent education, it set me on my life’s course, providing me with a strong and abiding faith. Does that sort of thing still happen today? I hope so. I know I try to suggest it to youth at my church. So far, not
one has ever suggested it’s none of my business. They may not be headed for a Christian college or university, but they don’t seem to mind if someone takes an interest in their decision. And it is a big—and important— decision. In his book The Fabric of Faithfulness, Steven Garber notes that the college years are extremely formative for youth. During those years decisions are made “that are determinative for the rest of life. In the modern world, the years between 18 and 25 are a time for the settling of one’s convictions about meaning and morality: Why do I get up in the morning? What do I do after I get up in the morning? One then settles into life with those convictions as the shaping presuppositions and principles of one’s entire life.” But the decisions young people make about where to study aren’t just important for them—they are important for the future of the Church. The fact is, I’m worried about the future of the Church. I’m worried that it won’t be relevant or respected if its members aren’t able to thoughtfully, biblically, and Christianly participate in the great issues of our time. And where will the members of tomorrow’s Church learn to engage their world as Christians? At Christian universities and colleges, that’s where. It’s there they can begin to discover what it means to follow Christ as a
Encourage youth to consider studies at Christian colleges and universities—places like Steinbach Bible College or Canadian Mennonite University.
John Longhurst lawyer, doctor, teacher, scientist, businessperson, engineer or any other profession. It’s where they will learn how Christians should deal with thorny ethical and moral issues, or how Jesus would have them respond to a world filled with war, violence, hunger, sickness, and pain. For some, Christian colleges aren’t an option—they might not be able to take the courses they want. But even just a year spent learning in a Christian environment can help prepare them for future studies, and to know how to give a good answer for their faith in the classroom and beyond. Then there’s the issue of empty pulpits. Over the next 10 to 15 years thousands of Canadian pastors are set to retire. Where will their replacements come from? Pastors don’t drop magically out of the air and into pulpits; they have to be trained and prepared for ministry. A Christian college or university education is an important first step in that process. Are you concerned about the future of the Church? Do you want to be part of the effort to call people to pastoral ministry? If yes, there are at least three things you can do. First, you can encourage youth to consider studies at Christian colleges and universities—places like Steinbach Bible College or Canadian Mennonite University. Second, you can encourage your church to help pay the tuition of students who choose to attend a Christian college or university. Third, you can give to Christian colleges and universities. They will especially appreciate your help during these trying economic times. Do you care about the future of the Church? If the answer is yes, what better way to show it than encouraging young people to study at a Christian college or university? John Longhurst directs sales and marketing for Mennonite Publishing Network; he previously directed communications and marketing at CMU.
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THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
EMC and
Statement of Faith Church Practices A 25-part series
Ernest Funk
The Board of Leadership and Outreach has invited EMC pastors and other leaders to reflect on the meaning of our Statement of Faith and Church Practices. These writings are intended to inform and to invite conversation. In the end, this 25-part series might be published as a booklet. Have you heard a sermon on these articles? Encourage the preacher to forward the material to The Messenger.
3. THE CHRISTIAN HOME We believe in the importance of Christian homes. A Christian home is where Christians reside. Both the celibate single and the heterosexual married life are honourable and respectable in the sight of God. In the Christian home, the lordship of Christ is recognized and people worship regularly. It is a place of security and peace; a place to learn to work, play and plan together. In the home, members are to regard one another as equals before the Lord, while recognizing God-given roles (Genesis 1:27; 2:18, 24; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Malachi 2:13–16; Matthew 5:31–32; 19:4–12; Mark 10:1–12; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; 7:7–9; 32–38; 2 Corinthians 6:14–16; Ephesians 5:21–6:4).
Church Practices Article 3: The Christian Home
T
he article is made up of four short paragraphs. The first paragraph affirms that as a Conference we believe in Christian homes. It states that there are two types, namely: the single celibate and the heterosexual married. Both are equally acceptable and honourable. It then describes or defines the home as a place in which Christians reside, where Jesus Christ is recognized as Lord, and where God is worshipped on a regular basis. It is, further, a safe haven for each of its members where they learn to live and work and play together. The members of a home respect each other as equals and recognize each other’s God-given roles. In going on to the following three paragraphs, it comes as somewhat of a surprise that they deal with marriage; only the first actually deals with the stated topic. Now marriage and home by the article’s own definition are not the same. You may have a perfectly respectable home as a single person. For the home of a married couple, however, it is hard to
This article seems to assume that the single celibate home unit has no problems and faces no threats. In a possible future revision, perhaps this should be treated in more detail. THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
imagine anything more problematic and harmful than a marriage breakup. Now this was written in a Canadian context in which marriage breakups were and are still on the increase. One would, therefore, see this as a statement of the importance of the Christian home, plus an attempt to shore up faltering marriages. In doing this, another statement of conviction is enunciated. In effect this article goes on to say, “We believe that marriage has been instituted by God. It is the union of one man and one woman. It is to be lifelong. Hence, care should be exercised in forming a marriage and, once formed, divorce should not be seen as a solution to marriage difficulties. If they do develop, the church as a community needs to play an active role in counseling, helping, and healing.” Some general observations about this statement of conviction: This article states patently that both the single celibate home unit and the heterosexual (one man, one woman) unit are honourable and respectable in the sight of God. Latently it states that heterosexual plurality of partners type units and homosexual units are not what is intended. This article seems to assume that the single celibate home unit has no problems and faces no threats. In a possible future revision, perhaps this should be treated in more detail as well, especially in the face of the larger number of marriage failures and the resultant increasing number T of single-parent homes. M Ernest Funk is an EMC minister and a long-time missionary. 13
news
MCC’s structure to move toward global equality During Mennonite Central Committee’s most extensive review in 30 years, leaders asked questions such as, “Who is the keeper of the MCC soul?” It convened 60 meetings, involving more than 2,000 people from 50 countries over 18 months. The result was a plan for change in a “beloved” program. The changes—approved by the MCC binational board, which met June 5-6 in Kansas, aim to clarify MCC’s vision, simplify its structures, and make it a closer partner with Anabaptist churches around the world. The meeting brought near to an end a process MCC called New Wine, New Wineskins—a review to prescribe a structure (“wineskin”) and define a vision (“wine”) for emerging global equality rather than North American domination. The plan calls for restructuring MCC into a system of interdependent national or multinational agencies, redefining it as a “worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches” rather than a ministry of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Canada and the U.S. The plan calls for ending MCC binational, the part of MCC that administers a $36.7 million budget for ministries in 65 countries. International programs would be transferred to MCC U.S., MCC Canada, and Anabaptist service agencies in other countries.
Replacing MCC binational would be a central office to lead the system of MCC organizations— which currently include the U.S. and Canadian national MCCs, four U.S. regions, and five Canadian provinces. Arli Klassen estimated a new central office, probably not in the United States, could be established in three to five years. She said participants did not discuss locations. Ron Flaming, MCC director of international program: “The conversations The goal is for national have led us to a clearer sense of the church being front and centre.” or multinational entities to manage programs within their own region. The vision for making MCC a more global entity includes building a closer relationship with Mennonite World Conference. The Wineskins document identifies MCC’s priorities as justice and peacebuilding, disaster relief, and sustainable community development. And the soul of MCC? It’s “the people who are making quilts, canning meat, volunteering at thrift shops,” said Phil Rush, resource generation director. A task force meets in September to work out details of the plan and submit it to the 12 MCC boards. Paul Schrag MCC executive director Arli Klassen (right) and
MCC budget goes from surplus to cuts A year ago MCC looked for ways to spend a surplus. The global economic recession has turned that into a fond memory. The MCC binational board on June 5 approved a 10 per cent cut in the international program budget for 2009-10. Expenses are projected to be $36.7 million, down from $41 million in 2008-09. Helping to achieve the cuts are reductions in program spending, a freeze on some hiring, travel reductions, and salary cuts. Despite the belt-tightening, spending in Sudan is increased by $200,000 and in Congo by $80,000. Phil Rush, resource generation director, praised the constituency’s generosity.
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“We have an awful lot to be thankful for,” he said. “Compared to many churchrelated nonprofit agencies, we find ourselves in a position that is envied by some others.” In the past year, Ron Flaming, director of international program, said MCC had: • provided food aid worth $15.2 million, a 33 per cent increase over the previous year, much of that in Africa • completed a $22 million tsunami response in Asia, the largest response to a disaster in MCC’s history • seen an 18 per cent increase in international service personnel, from 353 to 417. Paul Schrag, Meetinghouse
Marguerite Jack, Mennonite Church Canada representative on the MCC binational board, enjoy a lighter moment during the board meeting.
Theodidaktos Journal for EMC theology and education
Copies of the April 2009 Journal are still available (at no cost). To receive a copy, call the Conference office at 204-326-6401 or e-mail rbuhler@emconf.ca.
THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
news
CMU receives funding for chemistry lab Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg, Man., has received funding from the federal and provincial government to build a chemistry lab. Steven Fletcher, MP Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia, and Diane McGifford, Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, announced a $302,000 investment from the Federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program on Friday, May 22. Manitoba will contribute an additional $150,000, which CMU will match. The university will use the cost-shared investment to develop a chemistry teaching and research laboratory, with storage, preparation and office space to accommodate 24 students.
Also, upgrades to existing lab space will support upper-level biology courses. These facilities will permit expansion of chemistry and biology programs and support faculty research in which undergraduate students will participate. Central to CMU’s mission is preparing students to serve others, to make a difference for good in the world, said President Gerald Gerbrandt. CMU does not offer professional programs in helping professions like medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy. But by offering courses in biology and chemistry, president Gerbrandt said, CMU offers a setting in which people will receive “technical
knowledge and skills…where they also will be inspired to serve their fellow humans” made in God’s image. “CMU provides just such a huge contribution to the community,” MP Fletcher said. “In a short amount of time, you have created a national institution that is recognized internationally.” The government investment is part of a two-year, $2 billion plan to expand and repair research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities. Chartered by Manitoba in 1998, CMU opened its doors in 2000. This past fall, the university was admitted into the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. CMU
near Rosenort. Her elementary education was in Greenbank School. Liesbet accepted Christ at an early age, was baptized, and became a life-long EMC member. She lived a life dedicated to her Lord and was an example of service, inspiration and obedience to her family and a worldwide host of observers. She finished high school in Morris and proceeded to teacher’s college in Winnipeg. She started her career in a one-room school in Barkfield, Man. Then she branched into special education classes, training other teachers, and ESL at home and foreign fields. Liesbet taught in numerous local schools in Manitoba, in isolated northern areas, and in foreign fields—the first being in St. Kitts, West Indies. For a change, Liesbet served under Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church and went to Hungary for three years, and then to Ukraine for two years. Under Wycliffe Translators, she went to Indonesia for three or four years. She also went to Australia many times to visit her brother and family. In between, she attended two World Conferences in Africa and Asia. Liesbet was a world traveler. She could say, “Been there, done that.” In Spring 2008 she planned one more trip to Hungary, but admitted her health concerns did not allow it and sorrowfully cancelled everything. When she knew her condition, she accepted short stints in teaching English closer to home.
She had breast cancer 20 years earlier, which had gone into remission; it came back as bone cancer four years ago. When her health deteriorated, Liesbet moved into Rosenort Heritage for seniors in June 2008 where she could receive more services and provisions for her condition. She entered Morris General Hospital on September 29, 2008, where she stayed until she passed away. She went into a coma the night of January 13 and had her prayers answered the next day. Liesbet was predeceased by one sister in young adulthood, her parents, one sister-in-law, and an infant niece and nephew. She will be lovingly remembered by six siblings: John (Elenor), Helen (Abe Kroeker), Levi (Rosaline), Bertha (Len Friesen), Alvin (Diana), and Lorne. Seventeen nieces and nephews with their families mourn her passing. Thank you for the visits, gifts and prayers; it gave us great support and encouragement. May the Lord bless you! A special thank you to the hospital staff and Dr. Fraser for the compassionate, loving, and devoted care Liesbet received in the last months. Funeral services were held on January 18, 2009, in Rosenort Fellowship Chapel, with burial in the local cemetery. Her Family
in memory
ELIZABETH REMPEL 1926–2009
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them that also love His appearing (1 Timothy 4:7–8). Elizabeth passed away peacefully on January 14, 2009, in Morris General Hospital with family members by her side after a long, hard, and courageous battle with cancer. She reached the age of 82 years, three weeks, two days. Elizabeth (or Liesbet as she’s always been called) was born in December 1926 to Jacob and Helen Rempel of Rosenort, Man., as the oldest of eight children. She spent her childhood on the family farm
THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
(in memory continued on p. 18) 15
leaves from the emc album Walter Kruse
C
An old man, a cane, and some nickels
lose to 50 years ago construction began on the new EM Church on Main Street in Steinbach, Man., to replace the one destroyed by fire. One hot and windy afternoon it was time to pour the basement walls; mostly shovel and wheelbarrow work with a few electric drum mixers. Wheeling ramps and planks led around the forms built with boards. This was slow, heavy work; and discouraging, too, at times because a wheelbarrow of concrete seems to disappear without a trace and you wonder if it’s running out somewhere. After 10 or 12 batches, one of the workers saw an old gentleman approaching. “Oh no,” he said. “Just what we don’t need. The sidewalk foreman is here and now he’ll just talk and keep us from working.” The portly gentleman was a widower in a suit and hat, with a silver watch chain on his vest, and a walking stick. (He didn’t call it his cane; he walked well enough without a cane.) He did, indeed, like to talk and sometimes did keep people from their work, but today was different. Today he kept his distance, spoke to no one, and just watched the mixers and the empty cement bags blowing across the yard and onto the street. After a few minutes he turned and walked downtown to the bank where he bought five rolls of nickels.
He did, indeed, like to talk and sometimes did keep people from their work, but today was different.
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Out on the street again he talked to some children with no plans who followed him to the building site where he set them gathering cement bags for a nickel apiece. He gave one boy five cents. “Get me a book of matches,” he said, “and keep the change.” With his stick the gentleman rolled a rusty barrel out of someone’s hedge and set it upright in an open spot. The children gathered bags from the four winds and the nickel man burned them in the barrel, poking them down with his walking stick. By quitting time the forms were full and leveled, the tools washed, the neighbourhood tidy, and the fire out. The children were in the candy store and the old man was in his empty house again. Behind the drywall and paneling of the church basement these cement walls still show the thin lines of the board forming and the wavy layers of hand-wheeled concrete. No smell of burning paper lingers, though; and the old man is gone, whoever he was, as are many of the others. What their hands found to do, they did T (Ecclesiastes 9:10). M Walter Kruse (Kola) is a man who wears many hats. Note: With the passing of Rev. Dave K. Schellenberg in November 2008, his columns Pages from the Past and By the Way have been discontinued (except where unused writings of his might be discovered). However, the need continues to reflect on EMC’s history, presence, and future, and on inter-generational contact. Various writers will be asked to assist us with this.
THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
pictures of God Joanna Plett
A
Unseasonal joy
few months ago I made the unfortunate mistake of buying a pair of shoes with Velcro closures. After serving me well for some time, the Velcro on one of the shoes began to give way, starting at once or twice a day and escalating until it would come undone every three or four steps. Since I do a lot of walking, this was a major inconvenience and annoyance to me. At first I tried to find new ways to fasten it, but eventually just developed a gimpy walk to compensate for my flapping shoe. My mantra those days was “Stupid shoe.” Sometimes life just sets us up for frustration and anxiety. Just a few weeks ago I wrote my last exam in what has been a very long and challenging school year. During exam and essay time, I tend to shut down any non-essentials in my life, including cleaning and cooking real meals. That is not all I shut down, though. I find that during these busy times in my life, I allow myself a certain quota of stress to push me through to the end and excuse me from other responsibilities I may have. What
Finding little joys in the midst of pain and frustration offers strength to endure dark seasons with hope.
I discovered, though, is that the stress stayed with me even after exams were over, and it transferred over to my next season of life—work. A few weeks ago, we were discussing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 in Bible study. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Weighted down by work and school, it was a hard teaching to absorb at the time. The next day I continued to consider this as I flapped along the street with my rebellious shoe on my way to school, worrying about the pressures of university and life. I wondered how I could be joyful and thankful always in the midst of legitimate difficulties. But as I thought about it, I realized again how much I have to be thankful for. I began to think about what I have, rather than what I do not have. “Stupid shoe” became “I have shoes!” Similarly, instead of worrying about my job and university, I realized once again how blessed I am to have a job in this economy and to be able to attend university. Living with myself these 24 years, I have discovered that I can always find something to worry about, to complain about, to be stressed about. My quotas of stress and complaining serve not to limit my negativity, but to justify its transferral from one situation to the next. God had a reason, I think, for not making joy and thankfulness seasonal. He knew that we could always find reasons why this would not apply to a particular situation, and we would end up spiralling into negativity and despair. Unseasonal joy and thankfulness become attitudes adopted in every season as a means of pushing through the hard times rather than saved as a response to the good times. Finding little joys in the midst of pain and frustration offers strength to endure dark seasons with hope. (Footnote: I have since discovered that Crazy Glue is more effective than Velcro, T so the flapping has finally ended.) M
THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
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in memory
Helen Martens and Hazel Bell
Hazel Bell (born Aug. 10, 1933) went to be with the Lord on May 14, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. She leaves to mourn her husband Reg, their six children and their families, and many relatives and friends. Her funeral service was held on May 19 at the Hall on the Pipestone Reserve.
My Tribute for My Friend Hazel
For years I have thanked the Lord for my dearest friend, Hazel Bell. She was caring, unselfish, compassionate, praying, and encouraging. Hazel was a prayer warrior. Her prayers are still before God’s throne—many answered, many yet to be. Her prayers were full of praise and thanksgiving to God, even when she was so sick with cancer. To be with Hazel was to see into her heart. The Lord’s joy was in her talk, her smile, her heart. I got to know Hazel when she taught school in Virden. On Tuesdays I would pick her up and we went for lunch. Just lately, in her hospital dorm we reminisced about our times together and how we learned from one another. Often Hazel said, “Thank you for not giving up on me.” I’m grateful our Heavenly Father never gives up on any of us. Hazel was baptised at Reserve Fellowship Chapel on Sioux Valley, Man. This was her personal decision. She said after she had accepted Jesus everything changed—the grass was greener, the sky was bluer; she saw beautiful, colourful flowers in the meadow she had never noticed before. Hazel gave her testimony in churches where RFC was invited to minister. She said even as a teenager in Residential School she had thought she would become a minister one day! She laughed when she said this. She has been a minister for the
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Lord by reading and sharing God’s Word and poetry with many people. Hazel did not miss Bible study at the Chapel. In one study we were to write how we could serve the Lord in the Church. She committed to reading a poem at every worship service. She did this faithfully, a blessing beyond description. Hazel loved attending conferences held by the Native Evangelical Fellowship and the EMC. She loved nature and beauty, so evident in our travels. And we sang. How we sang! About a week before she passed away, my husband Jake and I sang to Hazel a favourite song of hers, Lord, I Want to Be a Christian. She said, “Sing the last verse.” It was her favourite: “Lord, I want to be more like Jesus.” This was a reality in her life and it shone out from her. Hazel was a lady, artistic, loved to laugh, and was fun to be with. She wrote many pages of her prayers and blessings from God’s Word. Romans 15:14 was one of Hazel’s favourite verses, with the emphasis on hope, joy, and peace. Another was Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.” Hazel, you are in that strong tower. You are at home in God’s Kingdom now. You are safe! Farewell, my dear friend, for now. I will see you again. Helen Martens
coming events July 3–5 EMC Annual Convention Radical Discipleship: Increasing the Kingdom’s footprint in our world Speaker: Dr. Pierre Gilbert Riverton Recreation Centre Riverton, Man. 204-326-6401 www.emconf.ca
July 25 2nd Annual Tractor Trek Parade of tractors 40 years and older Villages south of Winkler, Man. 204-325-5355 www.edenhealth.mb.ca
August 8 Cornstock Music Festival To support MCC Ontario Willowgrove Stouffville, Ont. 416-423-9229 cornstock@mennonitecc.on.ca www.myspace.com/cornstock2009
September 16–18 Winnipeg Prophecy Conference Victoria Inn Winnipeg, Man. 204-832-4627 www.wpgpc.org
Summer reading for EMCers Barkman, Betty. Annie: Through it all (2008) $10.95 Barkman, Betty. Laina (2006) $13 Mary Blondina Barkman, Contending for the Faith: A biography of Dr. Archie Penner, with excerpts from his writings (2002) Postage only Dueck, Erna. Living with a Killer: Survivor of three primary cancers tells her story (2007) $22.95 Enns, L. Marie. Preacher’s Kids on the Homestead (2005) $13 Janz, Aganetha. Gretchen, Darkness to Dawn (2007) $15.95 Kroeker, Frank P. My Dad, Mr. Peter T. Kroeker as I remember him (2002) $7.50 Penner, Archie. The New Testament, The Christian, and the State (1959; reprinted 2000) $10 Penner, Archie. Scientific Creationism in Perspective (2001) $10
Penner, Archie. The Divine Covenants: Conflict or Harmony (rev. 2002) $10 Penner, Archie. The Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and Believers: A Trinitarian Perspective (2006) $10 Penner, Archie. The Gospel Revisited: The Good News and Radical Salvation (2007) $10 Peters, Doreen. One Who Dared: Life Story of Ben D. Reimer, 1909-1994 (2005) $5 Thiessen, Arden. Good News for a Broken World: Reflections on the Message of Romans (2007) $8 Thiessen, Arden. Keeping in Step with the God of Peace (2008) $15 Thiessen, Arden. The Biblical Case for Equality (2002) $12 Thiessen, Arden. The Church that Christ Builds: Reflections on the Letter to the Ephesians (2006) $8 Postage extra
THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
shoulder tapping Wymark EMC, a country church located 20 miles southeast of Swift Current, Sask., is accepting applications for lead pastor. We aim to be a friendly, family-welcoming church body of 70 to 90 people, and seek a pastor who can encourage us by word and example to grow to maturity in Christ. Enquiries can be directed to the Pastoral Search Committee at 306-773-9089 (leave a message) or funkfarm@gmail.com (Paul Funk). Morris Fellowship Chapel (EMC), located in Morris, Man., is looking for a full-time pastor for a congregation of about 120. Previous pastoral experience and leadership abilities are assets. For job description and information, please call Brian Klassen at 204-746-8102. 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. Submit resume to Pastor John Froese, Box 70, Pelly, SK S0A 2Z0. Phone 306595-2074. E-mail pastor@pellyfellowship.com. Kola EMC, a country church located 20 miles west of Virden, Man., and two miles east of the Sask. border, is inviting applications for senior pastor. For information and to send resumes, contact Adam Bajus at 204-556-2209 or littlecreek@rfnow.com. La Crete Christian Fellowship is looking for a fulltime youth pastor to be a part of our pastoral team. La Crete, located in the northwest corner of Alberta, offers a unique blend of a friendly rural lifestyle and a progressive outlook. It is a young and energetic population with potential for an exciting youth ministry. La Crete is a great place to raise a family, even if we are just off the edge of most maps! LCCF’s service to God is based on core values: a commitment to worship, discipleship, teaching of God’s Word, and reaching our community and world with the gospel. We are a vibrant church of about 350 regular attendees who desire to spread the Word through a variety of ministries. The youth pastor will direct the youth leadership team in implementing our vision of helping our youth establish and strengthen their personal connection to Jesus Christ. Applicants are to be committed to a personal Christian faith, a disciple of Jesus Christ who is a willing and teachable leader; a person whose love for the Lord is reflected in their ability to work well with others. If the Holy Spirit is inviting you to pursue this further, contact us for more details: Call Mike Schellenberg at 780-841-9376 or e-mail lccfc@ telus.net. RAinbow Christian School is a growing K–8 Christian professional learning community in Vanderhoof, B.C. It is classified as a Group 1 independent school. RCS currently has a staff of six and an enrollment of about 80 students, but is experiencing continued growth. Full-time teaching positions in all grade levels are being accepted at this time for the 2009–2010 school year. The successful candidate is a committed Christian and possesses the ability to work closely with other staff members, the school’s
THE MESSENGER June 24, 2009
Full text of ads available at www.emconf.ca/service.htm administration, and parents and students. The person is also passionate about growing a culture of faith and academic excellence. RCS is also accepting applications for principal. This is a full-time position, with 60 percent administration duties and 40 percent teaching responsibilities. The successful applicatant should be certified to teach in B.C., demonstrate leadership skills and the ability to serve, demonstrate current understanding of the curriculum, be a strong promoter of Christian education, have at least five years teaching experience, and be willing to teach varied classes. Applications should include a resume, three references (including a pastor’s), transcripts, BCCT certificate, statement of faith, and philosophy of education. Submissions should be sent to Rainbow Christian School Search Committee, Box 710, 2994 Burrard Ave., Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0; Ph. 250567-3127; Fax 250-567-3167; E-mail rcschool@ telus.net. Only applicants to be interviewed will be contacted. Morweena Christian School (MCS) is inviting applications for teaching positions in junior and senior high school classes. MCS is operated by the Morweena Mennonite Church. It is situated 25 kms northwest of Arborg, Man. MCS is dedicated to providing a K-12 education in an environment which holds a high respect for biblical values. Please send resume and pastor’s reference to Tim Reimer, Principal, Fax 204-364-3117 or timr@ morweenaschool.org. CBF Christian School, a Jr. K–grade 8 school located in Swan River, Man., seeks a term teacher for multi grades 5–8 homeroom (September 2009 to June 2010). Must hold a Manitoba Teacher’s Certificate, be born again, and provide pastoral references. Send resume to CBFCS, Box 1630, Swan River, MB R0L 1Z0. For further information, call 204-734-2174 (weekdays) or 204-734-5702 (after hours). Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Continental Mission in Thompson, Man., is looking for a director and a treasurer. Contact board chairman Ruben Goertzen (rgoertz@mts. net) for job descriptions, or call Bill Penner 204679-1005 for information. An evangelical ministry, Continental Mission (started in the 1940s) is involved in evangelism, church planting, camping, and drop-in ministries among First Nations people, mostly in northern Manitoba. The Hodgson Christian Academy (HCA) is seeking applicants for the position of classroom teacher. HCA is approximately two hours north of Winnipeg on Hwy #17, just south of Peguis and Fisher River Reserves. HCA, a grade 1-12 school, opened in 2003 upon the request of several Native families attending the local Wesleyan church. It has 18 students. The school operates under the direction of two on-Reserve churches and two other supporting churches. Board members are selected from all four congregations. The teacher position opening is for a class of 10 junior and senior high students. Manitoba Teaching Certification is not a requirement, but applicants
with experience in Christian education will be given preference. HCA is a satellite school of the Morweena Christian School. Please contact Principal Tim Reimer 204-364-2466 or timr@morweenaschool. org. Mennonite Foundation, a donor-advised charitable foundation (est. 1973) with 17 employees and an operating budget of $1.9 million, seeks an executive director. The director is responsible to the board and will provide strategic leadership, directing and managing the overall operation. The candidate must be a church member in one of MFC’s six supporting conferences. MFC promotes financial stewardship from a Christian perspective, creates opportunities for people to be generous with their financial resources, provides stewardship education for churches and members, is committed to socially responsible investing, and provides loans to constituent churches and related charities. We are a growing and dynamic organization with over $100 million under management. The head office is in Winnipeg, Man., with four other offices across Canada. A director will have demonstrated success in leading and managing a growing organization, possess excellent communication skills, be experienced in directing and guiding staff to accomplish goals, possess excellent administrative and organizational skills, and be fully aligned with MFC’s values and the faith-based constituency we serve. MFC offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Resumes should be submitted by August 31, 2009, to Personnel Committee, MFC, 12-1325 Markham Road, Winnipeg, MB R3& 4J6; edsearch@ mennofoundation.ca. Further information can be found at Mennofoundation.ca. MFC also has an opening in our Winnipeg office for a receptionist as a maternity leave replacement from August 1, 2009 to April 15, 2010. 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 MS 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. Interested persons should send their resume to: Assistant Manager, Mennonite Foundation of Canada, 12-1325 Markham Road, Winnipeg MB R3T 4J6, Ph. 204-488-1985, fax 204488-1986, email rbjanzen@mennofoundation.ca. Camp Assiniboia, near Winnipeg, Man., requires a full-time custodian/maintenance assistant. Camp Assiniboia is one of three camps operated by Mennonite Church Manitoba. Skills required: building cleaning; grounds, barn/ corral, equipment maintenance; snow removal; tractor operation; minor repair; group hosting. Position available fall 2009. Applicants must affirm Mennonite faith statement. On site housing and benefits package available. Contact 204-895-2267 or camps@mennochurch.mb.ca. Further information at www.campswithmeaning.org.
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kids’ corner Loreena Thiessen
C
Celebrating Canada
anada is a country of great diversity, or variety; variety is a collection of things that are different but belong together. Canada covers a great distance from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. This vast area includes many different land forms, yet many areas are similar. The east has a rugged rocky coastline where many people fish. Newfoundland, because it is so rocky is sometimes called “the Rock.” The rock that covers much of Newfoundland is called the Canadian Shield. This particular landform stretches across northern Quebec, Ontario and parts of eastern Manitoba. This rock is deep and towering where trees grow but it is not land for farming. You can see the rocky Canadian Shield along the highway through Whiteshell Provincial Park and east past Kenora, Ontario. Other landforms shared by Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba are tundra, forests and lakes, and plains. Tundra is a treeless area in the northern parts of these provinces where the ground remains partly frozen year round. All three provinces are covered by vast forests and lakes where early voyageurs trapped for furs, mapped rivers and lakes, and developed the fur trade as an important market that strengthened Canada’s connection to Europe. And each province has fertile plains in the south for farming. Saskatchewan is mostly open plains that are famous for growing grains that are shipped to all parts of the world. Alberta and British Columbia share the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia’s coast and interior lakes are great places for fishing.
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The first settlers to Canada were from France, England, and other European countries. More recently there are many more people who have come to Canada from parts of Asia, like China, the Philippines, and India. And so Canada is a country of diversity; its land is varied and the people who have settled here and made it their home are varied. What happens in a country this varied? Each person experiences a variety of cultures, different ways of thinking and eating and learns about the others’ values. We learn from each other about each other. You may have a close friend or a family member from another part of the world. What have you learned from them? God is the author of difference. Read Genesis 1:11, 21, T 22, 24, 25, and Geneses 2:7, 21, 22. M
Activity to celebrate Canada: 1. Choose a friend, neighbor, or relative who is different from you. • Find something you share. • Find something different. 2. Choose a food from another part of the world, for example, pizza, spaghetti, or chili. • What is it made of? • Where is it from? 3. Choose an activity or a game, such as kite flying, paper cutting, soccer, baseball, skating, or hockey. • Where did each one originate? • Do these activities connect you to others?
THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362 PAP Registration #9914