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Burkina Faso: The power of words
The power of words
fas o
In the village of Tin we made a habit of going to Father Drissa, the elder of our courtyard, to inform him when we were leaving the village for an overnight trip. He then gave us blessings: “May God bring you back safely” and “May God give you peace.”
One day we left to go to the city of Bobo-Dioulasso without informing him of our departure. A few days later when we came back home, I went to greet him. He said, “Where did you go? Why didn’t you tell me? That was a dangerous thing to do.”
“If you had told me that you were leaving, I would have sent you on your way with my blessings,” he explained. “Without such blessings you could have had an accident or other misfortune. The next time you go on a trip, be sure to let me know.”
On another occasion a friend of mine noticed some jugs of water in the back of my Peugot 404 pick-up truck. He asked me why I kept them there. I told him that this was drinking water—just a safety precaution in case our truck would break down in the middle of nowhere.
He was shocked and told me I should never talk like that. The words I had spoken—“in case our truck would break down”—were
Our Peugot 404 pick-up truck, stopping at a fast food restaurant along the road in Orodara.
dangerous words. Just saying them could cause our truck to break down.
He told me that to answer such a question I should instead say, “We might decide to make an unplanned visit along the way that would prolong our trip, in which case we would need some extra drinking water.” That would be a safer answer.
People in Burkina Faso believe that words have power.
The Bible also teaches us that words have power. God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light.
Jesus said to a deaf man, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened”) and the man’s ears were opened (Mark 7:34).
I have learned from my Muslim friends in Tin that giving blessings to people is important and necessary and valuable. Words do indeed have power when they are inspired by the Holy Spirit and empowered by Jesus Christ who indwells us.
We as God’s people should be more ready to say to those we meet, “May God bless you.” We should say to people who are sick, “May God make you well.” We should send people off on a journey by saying, “May God give you a safe trip.”
Blessings are prayers that are spoken to a person, accompanied by faith that our sovereign God is in control and that he wants to help us in all circumstances.
Words of blessing result in God’s power being released to accomplish His will, just as our prayers are effective in changing situations for the good. Paul Thiessen
Paul Thiessen (Blumenort) is a linguist and Bible translator who, though on North American assignment, has returned briefly to Burkina Faso.
The everyday life of missionaries
south africa
Kathy and I, on behalf of Blumenort EMC, recently had the opportunity to visit Joe and Olga Reimer in South Africa where they have served for over 30 years. The Blumenort church’s intent for our visit was to encourage the Reimers in their ministry, while learning how the home church might better support career missionaries.
TEAM’s objectives working with African, Coloured, Indian, and Muslim groups within South Africa include:training and evangelism among churches, ministry among HIV/AIDS groups, helping and encouraging the church to reach out to neighbouring countries, and preparing leaders of tomorrow.
The challenge for missions like TEAM is that frequently churches or church constituencies prefer to work more independently. Foreign missionaries, each with their own passions and faith tradition, also become part of this mosaic. Providing leadership to this situation are missionaries like Reimers. timony about God’s faithfulness to pastors, and such practical things as putting a roof on a church building.
Missionaries also treasure a connected but the missionary must be intentionally
Beyond spiritual realities, life it to be relevant. Ongoing prayer in a mission field like South Africa support groups for each career requires an incredible amount missionary along with mission(ary) of wisdom, upfront leg work and advocates within the home church ongoing vigilance, frequent and are essential. ongoing communication with a The reality of any missionary is variety of persons, and the ability that the day-to-day is not unlike our to live with much uncertainty and own. Christian lives involve personal disappointment. dedication to God through prayer, meditation on God’s Word, and The longing of the heart for each service. Missionaries seek to live this act of obedience. missionary is to live out what they However, day-to-day tasks of went out to do in the first place. just normal living require time. Missionaries, in fact, likely need to
The longing of the heart for each there may be fewer conveniences missionary is to live out what they available and financial resources may went out to do in the first place. Just be limited. like us, they set personal goals. For Joe and Olga continue to demonsome of us much gets done; others strate the value of career missions less so. So how is success measured in their relationship with the people on the mission field? Perhaps we of South Africa and beyond, their need to look at how things have connection with numerous missions progressed. Has our love for God and missionaries, and their rapport grown over time; and, then, how has with the home church. Their ongothis been lived out in reality? ing obedience to God in everyday life
Joe and Olga live out this love for underpins these efforts. God through their prayers, their tesDavid Driedger other, teaching leadership principles David Driedger (Blumenort) is the to pastors, supporting tent ministry, CEO at Rest Haven Nursing Home in providing resource material to Steinbach, Man.
home church. But r what does the relationship between the home church and the vid d r iedge a missionary look like d after 30-plus years? TESY This varies, of course, UR CO relationship with HOTOS the home church P dedicate more time to such because nurtured by both for David and Kathy Driedger, Joe and Olga Reimer
Interest in Christ has grown
Growing urban ministries are creating new opportunities to share Christ in China. For the past 30 years, outreach in rural China has flourished. Tom Henry with WorldServe Ministries says the opposite was true in urban areas: “The door was sorta closed in the city: people are materialist; they’re not interested in spiritual things.”
But in the last couple of years, interest in Christ has grown. Henry believes this is because “as more and more people migrate to the cities, more Christians migrate to
poetry
the cities, and they’ve been spreading the Gospel. I think also a new openness has developed among folks in all strata in the urban area. Intellectuals, business professions, and students are among these individuals” (Mission Network News, May 20, 2010).
Recently we watched an interview of urban pastors from China. They were pleading for English teachers to come and work on university campuses. Many graduating students
stay to work in the city. God loves the city and is doing a new thing in Chinese cities!
Please continue to pray for a team leader and 95 others who are preparing to go to teach Chinese teachers June 29 to August 7. Asia Worker
Cross Loss
A thought for you to ponder, when you next sit on the pew Does the church in which you visit have a cross within your view? For it seems to have gone missing, to where I cannot say Perhaps in modern churches, the cross is now passé.
No, wait, the cross is still current—for I see it’s now in use As fancy decoration on t-shirts and tattoos. And I wonder as I see it, on necklaces and rings, Perhaps the cross has now become just a fashion thing.
For up in front, for all to see, is where the cross had been, But it’s been discarded, or covered up by the PowerPoint big screen. And no longer a place of honour, do we the cross appoint Perhaps it’s lost its power or no longer has a point.
And now I fear there’ll come a day, whether in boasting or despair, The lost throughout the world will say, “Perhaps the cross was never there.” Allan G. Lie
The Lamp of God
One little ember glowing in the dark Two little embers ignites a tiny spark Three little embers trying to sustain Four little embers building up a flame Five little embers keeping up the fight Six little embers flickering in the night Seven little embers burning brighter still— Like a beacon in the darkness— Like a city on a hill
Among the seven embers Walks a brilliant shining light His eyes like blazing torches His robe the purest white With feet like burnished bronze And a sash of gold around His waist He comes to stoke the fire And replenish it in haste
Lord, let your oil of joy anoint us, And let your Spirit fan the flames Make us a Holy Lantern Ever blazing, never ashamed Shine your light into the darkness For all the world to see That the Lamp of God has come To your community! Brigitte Toews
Revelation 1:9-20, Revelation 2, Psalm 45:7, Matthew 5:14-16, Psalm 18:28, Ephesians 5:8-14, Revelation 21:23
Dedications occur, baptism happens
FORT GARRY EMC, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Our congregation celebrated new life several weeks ahead of Easter, during the baby dedication ceremony on February 7. There were six young families who formally introduced their new arrivals to the congregation.
While the parents pledged to raise their children to the best of their abilities, the church community pledged its support. The pastoral blessing, a potential minefield of awkward crying or even a memorable vomiting, proceeded without incident. Each blessing was unique in its substance but all were of roughly equal eloquence.
Several weeks later, on March 14, the church witnessed the baptism of Cheri Reimer. She is a youth at Fort Garry, the second of five daughters, and started attending the church several years ago when her family moved from Paraguay. She shared her faith story with everyone present and made a public commitment to follow Christ.
The baby dedications and Cheri’s baptism show how our individual members and families continue to grow and develop; the same is true of our entire congregation.
One exciting development at Fort Garry is our plan to greatly expand ministry to students and young adults by hiring an associate pastor dedicated to this demographic. Fort Garry EMC is located just a block from the University of Manitoba campus and has always had a vision to expand its witness in that community.
Young adults and international students already make up a large segment of our congregation, and over a hundred EMC members are students at the U. of M., so this is a natural area of growth.
During our January Missions Month we focused on this initiative. One Sunday, U. of M. professor Gerry
Bowler came as a guest speaker to share his insight from his position on campus. Tragically, his inspiring and insightful message was overshadowed by one of the most emphatically delivered Freudian slips ever heard from an EMC pulpit. The precise transcript is not suitable for publication in The Messenger, but, at any rate, the wisdom about how to reach the university crowd was of more lasting value.
Students are often looking for a place to belong or make friends. Although hostility towards religion is present in academia, there are many people who are open to spiritual conversation, not to mention many Christian students in need of solid support.
Pastor Layton Friesen baptizes Cheri Reimer after she shared her faith story with the congregation and was welcomed by the Fort Garry congregation.
Parental pledging/baby dedication on February 7, 2010: Nathan and Cora Hoeppner with Luke, David and Sheila Kroeker with Kiahna, Ron and Arlana Vadnais with Carys, Jeremy and Erin Plett with Corrie, Waren and Susanne du Plooy with Johnannes, and Greg and Dana Wiebe with Hugo.
Furthermore, students at the university are not a monolithic group, and undergraduates, international students, graduate students, and students’ families could all be potential focus groups for the new ministry.
Without doubt, there would be a place for seven new associate pastors, though our plan is to begin with one. A search committee is actively engaged in defining the role of the new associate pastor and finding a candidate for the position. Paul Klassen
Looking forward to new pastoral couple
NORTHERN FELLOWSHIP CHAPEL, Creighton, Saskatchewan
Our church has been without a pastor since July 2009, but we are now looking forward to welcoming Randall and Faith Krahn and daughter Rebecca to our midst by July 1. They will move here from Swift Current. Our former pastoral couple Scott and Natalie Koop (Spencer and Marissa) moved to Selkirk, Man., last summer.
We have had interim speakers since then: Joe Buie, Deb Odgaard, Sandra Schroeder, and Lorne Moorhead. These four individuals have been generous with their
EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP CHURCH, Steinbach, Manitoba
As the congregation moved into its summer worship service schedule on June 6, 2010, co-superintendent Kevin Davis thanked the many people involved in its Sunday School teaching ministry. Here, slightly edited, is what he said.
“When I think back over the last year, I am thankful for many things. time, dedication and love to both Cornerstone Church (MB) in Flin Flon, Man., and Northern Fellowship Chapel (EMC) in Creighton. We have had other guest speakers, but these
I am thankful for parents, who bring their kids to S.S. and entrust us with teaching them the truths from God’s Word.
I am thankful for the Christian Ed Committee—Jenn Penner, Gerald Reimer, and Dalen Kroeker—that help out in any way they can, from brain storming for offering project ideas to helping with all the kids during teacher training times.
I am also thankful to cosuperintendent Brenda Reimer for helping with the leadership in the S.S. department. Thanks for all your hard work.
I am thankful for the kids and their enthusiasm. We enjoyed making the care packs for the missionary
four have been our “pillars” for this past year.
Our church held Vacation Bible School last summer, and we resumed Kids’ Club for the winter. Lorne told the stories based on God’s love for children. We also had a great Ten Thousand Villages sale in November and our sales totaled more than $3,000. The sale is handled by Northern Fellowship Chapel, but we rely heavily on support from Cornerstone Church and it has been a team effort. Our Christmas program theme was The Lord is my Shepherd. r ie Our local fishermen are nice im now waiting patiently (?) for the ice to drift away and for ja : the fishing season to open HOTO once again. There’s nothing P like fresh fried fish!
NFC is involved in ministry to children through VBS and Kids’ Club.
Teachers appreciated at EFC
Janice Imrie families in our church and supporting the orphanage in Nicaragua, CINAG.
Our last offering project went towards relief kits for Haiti. It was exciting to see the kids bringing in their own money and bringing some of the supplies. Thanks to the grade 5 class for helping put the kits together last week.
I am thankful that we had enough teachers come forward to run the S.S. program again, even though there were a number of vacancies in the beginning. Without you we would not be able to run this great program. Thank you for a job well done.”
As a thank you each teacher, sub, helper, and singing leader received a floral gift. Kevin Davis
Surprise dinner guests the men of our church and to be a
On the dark gloomy, rainy morning of Good Friday, we did something different. The congregation was sent to various locations throughout the church to witness re-enactments of various scenes from the crucifixion story (Stations of the Cross).
What stood out in particular was the narrow hallway we were
In another hallway we were surrock wall. There were a lot of people standing around crying. As we were standing there, we were brushed aside by two men carrying a body wrapped in a dirty white sheet. blessing to those who would benefit and new members from it. He said that the ladies have their Beth Moore Bible studies and BLUMENORT EMC, Manitoba Thankfully, Sunday was a whole lot much in the way of men’s fellowship. more cheerful. On April 18, four people
Who’s coming for dinner? On On May 1, about a dozen men, transferred their memberships to March 28 we were expecting a ranging in age from young boys to Blumenort EMC from Niverville family of six for supper. We did not those almost retired, showed up at churches. They are Sam Murray, know who they were until their van the home of Ken and Katie Plett to Theodor and Jolene Friesen, and pulled up in our driveway. reshingle their roof and to do other Colleen Hiebert.
This event was initiated by the odd jobs. On May 2, Oscar Reimer, and Rey Caring Team. People in the church Pastor Barry Plett is hoping that and Heather Kroeker were received could sign up to host or to visit we would be able to this men’s work as members of Blumenort EMC someone else. We opted to host. day on a monthly basis as a way of On May 16, we welcomed six new
When our guests arrived we were having informal fellowship among members through baptism. They pleasantly surprised. It was a family are Shaelyn Wiebe, Ebony Kampen, that we don’t normally get together with. We enjoyed a great time of On Good Friday, the Alicia Martens, Luke Reimer, Cole Reimer, and Jackson Loewen fellowship, and, although there was congregation was sent to We also welcomed Dale Martens a big difference in age between our children and theirs, they all manvarious locations throughout (husband of Alicia Martens) who transferred his membership to aged to enjoy themselves. I would the church to witness reBlumenort EMC. strongly encourage the Caring Team to do this again. This would also be enactments of various scenes I wish you all a good summer. May God make you a blessing whergood if we took the initiative to do from the crucifixion story. ever you go and in whatever you do! this on our own. Martin Penner
crammed into while a man with a big wooden cross was forced by Roman enne r p guards to pass by, followed by the tin sound of weeping women. Mar :
rounding what looked like a hole in a P HOTO their Ladies Teas, but there wasn’t
They carried the body into the Administrative Pastor Anthony Reimer (back left) stands with new members by baptism or transfer: Luke hole in the rock. After this we were Reimer, Cole Reimer, Jackson Loewen; (front) Dale Martens (transfer), Alicia Martens, Ebony Kampen, ushered back into the sanctuary. and Shaelyn Wiebe.
