The Messenger Vol. 50 No. 11 November 2012 by The Messenger

The Messenger

50 years of uniting the EMC!

Volume 50 No. 11 November 2012

Younger and older people:

unite!

page 6

ALSO INSIDE:

Lost! page 9 | Celebrating our future page 11 Susanne Plett, a strong influence on EMC missions page 14 $2.00

Editorials

Beyond silence and easy dismissals

couple writes, saying they wonder yearly what will be said about Remembrance Day. Will their relative who served and died in the Second World War be respected? A member tells me of being a young man involved in the Battle of Britain. Another speaks of being under-aged when he served in the Canadian infantry during the Second World War. A church member tells me that he did not consider himself a Christian when he went to a C.O. camp. Evidently, though, he was exempted from military service because of his Mennonite faith. Might one wonder how this fits together? Just how were young men groomed by ministers to respond to a judge’s questions about conscientious objection? How often did they reflect their own thoughtful faith, and when did they, more simply, feel pressure to conform to their isolated cultural community? Rev. Dave K. Schellenberg, a C.O. of solid conviction during World War Two and after, knew that not all C.O.s did well at explaining their position.

It is both surprising and revealing that our conference often seems to struggle with expressing its pacifist stance. It is both surprising and revealing that our conference often seems to struggle with expressing its pacifist stance. The reasons go deeper than the convenient target of blaming wider evangelicalism. Perhaps our struggle reflects how we’re unsure whether pacifism is important or biblical. Our conference contains many people of pacifist and non-pacifist persuasion whose views cannot be casually dismissed. Scripture has final authority on peace and war, yes. But we are to engage and respond, not assume and dismiss. We are to treat Scripture and people fairly. – Terry M. Smith

••

Updating an average Christmas program

hepherds discuss when the Messiah will come. Shepherds and Wise Men together worship the Christ Child born on December 25 in a barn after an innkeeper turns away Joseph and Mary. Those who should have known better missed clearly messianic prophecies. How many of these added details in Christmas programs are familiar to us? Shepherds were sometimes considered thieves unworthy to testify in court. How likely were they to talk about the Messiah? Before Jesus came there were several, somewhat conflicting views of who the Messiah would be and what he would do. Messianic prophecies were not equally clear. Does this partly explain why some people did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah? Middle Eastern scholar Kenneth Bailey says no innkeeper was hard on Joseph and Mary.

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They would have sought to stay with relatives and, because of cramped space, rested near where the animals were taken in for the night within the family home (John Longhurst). Further, Jesus’ birth date is unknown. The Church later chose the date of Dec. 25 because of a prominent non-Christian festival held then. If people were going to worship, better to worship Jesus. The shepherds visited on the night Christ was born (Luke 2:16–17). The Wise Men came perhaps two years later (Matthew 2:7–9, 16). During Advent many people will visit our church services, bringing themselves and misunderstandings about Jesus. Will we teach about Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, without reinforcing their misconceptions? – Terry M. Smith

Table of Contents Features 6

page

Younger or older people difficult to get along with? Unite! How can we live together in harmony? – Andrew Krahn

9 Lost!

Caring for an aging parent – Betty Koop

11 Celebrating our future

A “wish list” for ten years from now – Ward Parkinson

14 Susanne Plett, a strong influence on EMC missions Served as a role model for others – Doris Penner

POETRY 15 Peter, Peter – Ray Hill

16 Bloodworth – Brigitte Toews

Columns 5

Moderator’s Musings

200 years: have we celebrated enough? – Richard Klassen

Departments 2

Editorials

Pontius’ Puddle

page

4 Letters 18 With Our Missionaries 20 With Our Churches 24 Births 25 Weddings 29 News 32 Calendar 33 Shoulder Tapping

page

17 Archives Alcove

The hard work that lies ahead – Terry M. Smith

34 Here and Far Away Uniting in Christ – Jocelyn R. Plett

35 Stewardship Today

A Bible full of stewardship – Dori Zerbe Cornelsen

36 Kids’ Corner

After the summer comes winter – Loreena Thiessen

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 3

The Messenger

Letters

Volume 50 No. 11 November 2012

The need for revival

EDITOR TERRY M. SMITH

ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA ROMAN

Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca. The Messenger is the monthly publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith. Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed. Unpublished material is not returned except by request. Views and opinions of writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement. The Messenger is published by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St, Steinbach, Man., and is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press. Subscription rates 1 year $24 ($30 U.S., $45 foreign) 2 years $44 ($55 U.S., $85 foreign) 3 years $65 ($82 U.S., $125 foreign) Manitoba residents add 7% PST. Digital only subscriptions: $15 per year. Single copy price: $2 Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents. Change of address and subscriptions Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be addressed to: 440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: messenger@emconf.ca www.emconference.ca/messenger Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba. ISSN: 0701-3299 Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362 We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our publishing activities. Advertising The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards, and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca. THE Messenger schedule: No. 12– December 2012 issue (copy due November 16)

4 The Messenger • November 2012

As I’ve been reading the last number of issues of The Messenger, I see so much discussion about issues that may be okay in themselves but take away so much from the issues that we need to be addressing. Oh how we need to address the need for revival in our land. Yes, there are great things happening in our youth who are so hungry for more of the Lord. The rest of our people should follow their example in wanting more Bible study and prayer. Wouldn’t we be better served by a call to prayer and seeking his face than all these other issues that are being brought forward? Oh how I would love to see a revival in our church that would bring priorities of seeking His face to the forefront. I think we would be better served in addressing this. May God give us grace, and may we make prayer meetings a priority. – Evelyn Rodgers MacGregor, Man.

A holy troublemaker

Thanks for the piece on Abraham Thiessen, my fifth cousin three times removed [Mennonite Revolutionary, July]. Holy troublemakers can be good for us sometimes. – Terry Tiessen Kleefeld, Man.

Subscribe to The Messenger electronically Prefer e-copy to hard copy? Issues of The Messenger are available electronically. You can sign up on-line at www.emconference.ca/messenger. For those who are not members or adherents of an EMC church, a $15 annual subscription fee applies; no additional fee applies if the full print subscription rate is paid.

Thanks, Paul!

I appreciated Paul Thiessen’s reflections in Calls to prayer in France and Burkina Faso in the September issue. Having lived in the Middle East for five years and returning there fairly frequently, I resonated with him that the Muslim call to prayer is a welcome reminder to pray. At one point I lived right next to a mosque. Many foreigners grumbled about the call waking them at night, but to me it was a warm reminder of God. Thanks, Paul, for reminding us that we can be blessed by the rituals of people of other faiths. – Joan Barkman Winnipeg, Man.

Guidelines for letters

Within a Conference comprised of various voices, the magazine is to encourage the “community hermeneutic” toward responsible Christian belief, teaching, and practice. Letters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality, and taste. Letters by regular mail and by fax must contain a handwritten signature with at least the writer’s first and last names and an address. For letters by e-mail, the writer’s name and e-mail address are deemed to be an electronic signature. The writer’s regular postal address is to be included in e-mail correspondence. The writer’s name and general address are to be published In sensitive matters, names may be withheld. Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less.

Columns • moderator’s musings

200 years: have we celebrated enough?

PHOTO: REBECCA ROMAN

verything can be done to excess, but true to our heritage it appears that we have kept our celebrations at a sensible level. We did not publicly dance or drink or do anything too radical.

Doris Penner cuts a celebratory cake at the July 6, 2012, coffeehouse, held during EMC Convention 2012.

Some of us got enthused and experienced a measure of exhilaration and blessing; others may not even have been aware that anything was going on. My own impression was that it was a good year for the EMC and that our celebrations did honour God and did create a greater appreciation for our heritage and did serve to draw us to a higher degree of unity. I sensed that there was a desire to repent of our failures and to attribute all glory to God for anything deserving of praise. Hopefully, we have been able to see ourselves for who we are. We are not a large multinational conference, and we should not assess ourselves by unreasonable standards. As has been pointed out, perhaps our mindset has been that we are a small (kleine) church. But it has been obvious that God has led

this group from its unpretentious beginnings to what we are today. In spite of our size God has been able to use us in significant ways in his kingdom. We have reached out to many others around the globe. And it does appear that God is not finished with us yet. There is still much to do and he is laying it on the hearts of people to be involved in that to which he calls us. What is the way forward? Definitely we face some huge challenges. All church bodies face challenges today in seeking to adapt to a new world. One challenge I often hear mentioned is that of finding the right balance between being conservative or liberal (whatever those words mean). Some fear we are “going liberal”; others feel we have not gone far enough. I have two concerns in response to this challenge. First of all, it seems to me that our conference has never sought to become more liberal in order to be liberal. Rather, if in any areas we can say we have become more liberal, it has always arisen out of our desire to reach out to the world around us and, as we did so, we found that some of our ways needed to change. Second, my concern is that while we are hashing out just how conservative or liberal to be, the world out there will not care. Indeed, our young people will not care. My hope is that we would not be like the church in 1917 Russia where it is said the leaders were debating the colours of their robes while the Russian Revolution was going on outside. We do need to debate significant issues and pay attention to true doctrine, but may it never distract us from our mission as a conference. God has been good to us and my prayer for our conference, as it is for each of us, is that we will all keep loving God and be faithful in what he gives us to do.

by Richard Klassen

We do need to debate significant issues and pay attention to true doctrine, but may it never distract us from our mission as a conference.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 5

Younger or older people difficult to get along with?

Unite!

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by Andrew Krahn

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.

nity is not the natural state of being for any community. The psalmist does not declare living together in unity to be good and pleasant because it is easy or simple. Neither is it good and pleasant because we find ourselves continually falling into unity by default. Unity is so good and pleasant because it is so uncommon and difficult. Unity is the sweet

6 The Messenger • November 2012

– Psalm 133 fruit we reap after hard work. It does not present itself to us on its own. Or to flip the metaphor, we might say, unity doesn’t grow on trees, you know! This is true for marriages, families, church committees and church foyers; and it is certainly true for multigenerational fellowship. We know that church communities ought to include the young and the old together. There’s

The dangers of desire

And so a conflict arises because both groups want the church to meet their desire for an emotionally satisfying worship experience.

For the sake of Christ

When we gather together to worship, to care for and be in fellowship with one another—when we come together as a church—we do it in the name of Christ and for his sake. Certainly, when we gather as a community in Christ’s name, we encounter his healing love and grace. Certainly as we worship together and care for one another, we may find that our spirits are

It is only through the work and person of Christ that we are a family and a body.

When we struggle with seniors, the youth, or middle agers within our church communities, the root of the problem, as in most conflicts, come from wrong desires. James says, “For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.” Shortly after, he continues, “Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?” (3:16, 4:1). Too often we want our church community to meet our emotional needs, our own cravings. We can see this in the common struggle over worship music. Seniors want to sing the songs that have sustained them over the years and repeated at Christmas, Easter, baptisms and funerals—songs sung during the heights and depths of life. But to the youth of the information age where trends and fashions go out of date as fast as last year’s iPhone, these hymns seem archaic. Youth go to youth conventions and experience loud music that envelopes them, and they feel overwhelmed by the presence and love of God. Seniors, when introduced to such music, feel overwhelmed also—overwhelmed with noise.

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something uncomfortable about a congregation that only has people in their 20s or young families—it lacks depth and history. There’s something sad about a congregation that only holds senior citizens—its future here on earth is limited. Knowing that we ought to worship and be in fellowship with people who are 30, 40, 50 or more years older or younger from us, however, does not make it easier to be in community with them. To those who find other generations difficult to get along with, take heart, you are right. Younger or older people can be difficult to get along with. They do, in fact, tend to be selfish and want things done their way. Their way of life, the way they respond to technology, their preferred volume of music is uncomfortably different. However, just because we’re “right”—whatever our generation— does not mean we’re off the hook. We are called to unity, and unity begins with us.

lifted and our needs are looked after. But when these things become the end— when our desires become more important than worshiping and serving Christ and loving our neighbour—then we have ceased to be a community of truth and degenerated into a community of desire. The Good News is, however, just as Christ mediates between us and God, Christ is a mediator between us as brothers and sisters in the faith. It is only through the work and person of Christ that we are a family and a body. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “We have one another only through Christ, but through Christ we really do have one another. We have one another completely and for all eternity” (Life Together, 34).

Christ can speak through us all

If we are a family together in Christ, then Christ  www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 7

 can speak through us all. Anabaptists have held

to this from the beginning. We listen for the leading of God not through the ordained leader alone, but through the discernment of the body. This is the way we read the Bible as well. We say that the Bible was written for all people through all time; and what that means in practice is that we have a lot to learn about the Bible from other people. When the Word speaks to an aging person nearing death, a middle-aged person contemplating a vocational shift, a teenager dealing with the pressures of public high school, and a young child who is as of yet undaunted by the concerns of this world—then we have something to learn from each of them about the Bible and God. And so, the biblical scholar has something to learn from a child, the tech-savvy teenager has something to discover from a retired farmer, and the middle-aged professional has something to learn from them all. What is beautiful about the Body of Christ? It is that Christ is as present in an infant’s cry as he is in the preacher’s sermon. Christ is as present in the lock-ins, car washes, and game nights of the youth group as he is in the midweek prayer service attended by seniors. Christ is as present in the janitor’s work as he is when the four-year-old stains the carpet with their snack. The work of Christ manifests itself both in the six-year-old and the sixty-year-old.

The biblical scholar has something to learn from a child, the tech-savvy teenager has something to discover from a retired farmer, and the middle-aged professional has something to learn from them all. Certainly it can be difficult to love the unique expressions of both the teenager and the octogenarian. The blessing, though, is that we are not called to love those expressions specifically. We are called to love Christ in our brother or sister. If we can love Christ’s presence in the lives of the people around us, the beauty of Christ at work through all generations together will become clearly evident. For where the love of Christ is present for all, there the Lord has ordained his blessing, life forevermore. Andrew Krahn, BA, MDiv student, is the Youth/ Associate Pastor at Fort Garry EMC in Winnipeg, Man. He is 27 and married to Melissa. They have a son Judah.

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8 The Messenger • November 2012

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LOST! by Betty Koop

DESIGNPICS.COM

Where was her home anyway?

e sat in the car, my mother and I, outside the front door of Rest Haven Nursing Home. Mom had been over for supper and a visit and now I was taking her back to her home in Steinbach, Man. But she was adamant that this was not her home and it was much too late to go in and visit the elderly people who lived there; they would be in bed by now. She simply refused to get out of the car. Then I noticed that there was a look of near panic in her eyes. Where was her home anyway? Somehow in the mists of her dementia she knew that she no longer lived in the house in nearby Landmark; she had blocked out her husband’s death and insisted that she lived with him, wherever he was. I felt so sorry for her, but didn’t know what to do.

‘This is where I live!’

Finally I persuaded her that I would go in with her. If there were no room for her, no bed for the night, then I would take her back to my home. I would not desert her, but check things out carefully. We rode up the elevator to the second floor where the nurses at the desk greeted her warmly. I said, “We’re just checking to make sure my Mom has a room here.” Mom gave me a look that said, “Are you crazy? Of course I have a room here. This is where I live!” We entered the door that had her name on it and she was home. Since she was tired, I didn’t stay long and quickly left before she could change her mind and decide she needed to come with me again to look for her home.

A dream

Several years later, I had a very strange dream. 

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 9

 I was in the parking lot of a building, which

I entered. As I walked down a long hallway, I wondered where it would take me. And as I walked, it seemed to shift and curve and bend, till I was totally confused. I couldn’t even turn around to go back, because everything seemed to change all the time. Eventually even the building seemed to shape-shift into something else. I kept on walking, but I was so, so tired. I wished I could find my home so I could lie down and rest. When I awoke, I wondered: was this how Mom had felt a lot of the time? Confused as to where home was, she still had a longing to be home. As soon as she was outside the nursing home door, she knew that finally she was going home.

She seemed to feel that she was imposing on my sister and her family. Whenever they had friends drop in, Mom would go to her room, so as not to be in the way. Not a happy situation. Eventually, our family found a place for her in Rest Haven Nursing Home where she was well cared for, for the last eight years of her life. She did not have classic Alzheimer’s disease, but was able to take care of herself until a stroke made her bedridden. It was her short-term

Could I have been more understanding? Or was there simply no way to penetrate the fog of dementia to make things easier for her? But home didn’t seem to be anywhere. Elizabeth Toews Unger, with her husband Rev. Abe Unger, on Everything had changed and kept on changthe occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, May 1982. ing. The old homestead, to where we tried to take her on one ride, caused her to panic: “No, memory loss that caused the problems; and, no, don’t drive in there, someone else lives there even then, she serenely beat us at Scrabble many now…,” so that wasn’t home either. The house in a time. Landmark caused the same panicked reaction. I am thankful for the staff and thank God for Could I have been more understanding? Or putting his love into their hearts, as they care for was there simply no way to penetrate the fog of some of the most vulnerable in our society. May dementia to make things easier for her? God reward each one of you! It is so good to know that now Mom is home in heaven—with Dad, where she so much longed A current need to be. We hear often of the need for more personal care home spaces, especially as our population An earlier generation ages. What should or could be our part in seeing My mom, Elizabeth Toews Unger, took care of this need met? her own mother for some time when grandma first exhibited signs of dementia. And this was in Betty Koop (EFC Steinbach) the days when farmhouses did not have all the has served within the Hanconveniences that they have today. over School Division and When it became apparent that Mom was get- with her husband Glen in ting confused and it was no longer safe for her pastoral ministry. to live alone, one of my sisters welcomed Mom into their home. But there, we soon noticed, she was not at home. 10 The Messenger • November 2012

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Convention 2012

Message four of four

emc

Celebrating

1812 ~ 2012

our future by Ward Parkinson

s our Conference celebrates 200 years, talking about past and present, I think I may have the easiest part of the job: talking about the future.

I feel a little like the weatherman on TV. I could make all

sorts of predictions and be wrong, but life would go on. No one would be too upset. So rather than make bold predictions, let me offer a few items from my Wish List for the EMC, as I gaze into the future ten years hence. • Growth is on my wish list, because people need the Lord. We’ll have a net gain of at least 15 churches. • We will still have small town churches and country churches, but as our country continues its urbanization, most new churches will be in cities.

PHOTO: REBECCA ROMAN

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• We will increase the percentage of our young adults getting ministry training for leadership in our churches. 

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• We will continue to welcome other nationalities, reflecting the diversity of Canada, as God brings people to our shores. • Our missions program will be shaped by a new generation of missionaries in new fields. • We’ll seek to talk about matters theological and strategic in a spirit of love and mutual respect. We will trust each other. • We will still be strong in Low German ministry, with new and growing churches. • We will still love getting together, working hard and maintaining connections across the country. And it will get harder as we get bigger. In Luke 13 our Lord Jesus presents two examples, a small seed and yeast, in two parallel descriptions of the Kingdom of God. Both convey the same basic theme: something that is quite small can have great impact. The seed image is common in Scripture, and it’s likely that Jesus here is echoing Ezekiel 17, where God plants a twig of cedar, representing a restored Israel. The twig takes root, grows, and birds of every kind find shelter there. For Ezekiel these birds are all the nations. That is what the followers of the Way, the first Christians, in the early chapters of Acts discovered: that salvation, this coming of the Kingdom was not just for the Jews but for the Gentiles, too. Jesus was serious when he talked of the ends of the earth! But a seed so small is unimpressive. What could come of it? A twig so small certainly offers no threat to a mighty cedar of Lebanon. A kingdom like a mustard seed? A kingdom like a pinch of yeast? What king would march into battle with a mustard seed emblazoned on his banner? What powerful football team would intimidate their opponents with a yeast logo on their helmets? The Kingdom of heaven takes our usual metaphors and categories and transforms them. Or to use Donald Kraybill’s words, the Kingdom of Heaven turns things upside down. Achieving any advance in the Kingdom of God will require a certain posture, following and responding to God’s direction that leaves

12 The Messenger • November 2012

no doubt that it is a supernatural work. So as we look at this seed that gets planted and grows, I will refer to the Apostle Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 4. Let me say four things about our future work as churches.

We have a bold purpose

In our future work we have a bold purpose. In each of these tiny parables there are active agents. A man plants the seed and a woman mixes the yeast into the flour. Each one is intentional about what they’re doing. The seed is specifically placed where it can grow. In Jesus’ view, the kingdom of God is not haphazard. It is orchestrated to unfold according to God’s plan. When God plants seeds, he expects them to grow and be productive. What is true for creation is true for the New Creation: God plants his seed, the church, to

When God plants seeds, he expects them to grow and be productive.

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multiply and fill the earth. He wants his yeast to permeate the dough. As churches we must see ourselves within God’s purposes. We do not exist for ourselves. The Apostle Paul understood this firsthand. In 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 he describes why he can be bold with the gospel, not worrying about his image or status: it was God’s work.

two areas where we must risk more as a conference: reputation and failure. When God draws a sinner into the light, a lot of mess gets exposed. Galatians tells us to help restore such a one. We won’t do that very well if we’re worried about our reputation. Have you ever noticed the kind of names Jesus was called? Glutton, drunkard, demon-

A sanitized Jesus proclaimed by a sanitized church will never make inroads into the enemy’s territory. EMC churches will not thrive because we tap into the latest techniques or strategies. We will not thrive if we focus solely on our status. We will thrive and produce fruit as we simply bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus. As Paul puts it, the light that has shone in our hearts is the Light of the world. It’s the glory of God. We can be bold.

We die in order to live

In another place Jesus describes what happens when one plants a seed. Unless a kernel of wheat goes into the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But when it gives up its life, so to speak, allowing the plant to grow, it produces many more. Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 4:7–12 shows he understood this in a personal way. N.T. Wright has written “if we want to see resurrection power at work in our churches, we must be prepared to see crucifixion at work as well.” In this way we must embrace a posture that is antithetical to our current culture. Let’s face it. Our society seeks to avoid suffering at all costs. But ironically, because of sin, the more we try to avoid it the more we find it or cause it. As Christians we must not think blessing comes only in pain-free packages. Jesus more often says the opposite. In your life, in your church, what needs to die so that people may see in you the life of Jesus?

We must risk

If our gospel message is the light and glory of God that emboldens us, and yet our vulnerability as cracked jars of clay serves to better display that glory, then we can risk it all. Let me suggest

possessed, crazy. He touched lepers; he allowed immoral women to come way too close; he broke the Sabbath; he not only liked parties, but he brought the wine. He was directed by divine purpose, not concern for reputation. A sanitized Jesus proclaimed by a sanitized church will never make inroads into the enemy’s territory. Secondly, we must be ready to risk failure. I’m so excited to have Charlie Koop come on board as director of EMC church planting. I think he’s going to bring us a big boost. Does it mean spending more money? You bet. Does it mean taking more risks in new church ventures? You bet. Could we invest in some church plants that don’t survive? You bet. Will it be worth it? You bet. Now, I’m not advocating unwise planning, but we must be ready to risk failure, ready to step out in faith. Maybe that water will only part when we get our feet wet.

We stand on hope

This seed will grow. God puts his word on it. Hope forms the bedrock of our faith. Looking at our future as a conference is a bit like using a flashlight to walk down a pathway on a dark night. But the sun is coming up! Soon a light will shine that will banish the flashlight from our minds (2 Cor. 4:13–14, 16–17). That is the ultimate future we celebrate. Ward Parkinson, BA, MDiv, is EMC conference pastor. He spoke at the 2012 convention on Sunday afternoon.

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Susanne Plett, a strong influence on EMC missions

emc 1812 ~ 2012

by Doris Penner

he first missionary from the EMC (then KG) to go to a foreign field was Susanne Plett. After serving only two terms, she died in 1956 following a brief illness and is buried on the Isana River in the rainforests of Brazil. Plett was a “trailblazer” for missions in the conference, serving as a role model for missionaries who later went out to fields around the world. It is likely she influenced many others who were inspired by her courage to move far away from home at a time when it was uncommon to travel beyond one’s country, and further, to become involved in foreign missions almost a decade prior to the formation of the Board of Missions to “send” and support her. Susanne was born in 1911 to Peter and Sara Plett of Prairie Rose (now Landmark). It is clear she felt the call of God on her life at an early age—in her teens she started a Sunday School at a time when that was a new concept, and at the age of 21, she enrolled at Winnipeg Bible Institute where she graduated with a diploma in 1943. Standing firm against a barrage of criticism—it was, after all, unseemly for a young woman to go out “preaching”—she was sent to Bolivia in 1945 by New Tribes Mission. After a furlough in 1949–1950, she was reassigned to western Brazil to work with the Marubo tribe in the Amazon. Her courage and firm resolve to carry out what she believed God had called her to are, indeed, much to be admired. Susanne lived in thatched-roof house, slept in a hammock, dealt with unusual breeds of insects, and struggled to learn a foreign language. While she faced a myriad of cultural and religious customs found in the tribes steeped in animism, the one that surfaces again and again in her letters is the deep inbred fear of the spirit world, an all-pervasive dread of impending calamity that created despair and hopelessness. On her furlough she spoke in several churches which, no doubt, motivated some to enter missionary service. One example is Henry Loewen, who writes in his book God in

the Rainforest, “It was Susanne who had given us the final challenge to enter mission work.” On the same furlough, one of Susanne’s nephews, a young boy at the time, recalls Susanne “sitting in the living room with tears streaming down her face, telling stories of the savage people (as she called them)....” Family members say there is no doubt Susanne had a positive influence on their lives. Evelyn Plett, retired from service in Spain, notes around 14 or 15 of her cousins have entered missionary service, with more in full-time Christian work. “She had a strong influence—we held her in high esteem,” says Plett. In addition to the people she influenced to move out as missionaries are the large numbers who will be spending eternity in heaven because of Susanne Plett’s life and ministry.

14 The Messenger • November 2012

PHOTO: EMC ARCHIVES

Susanne Plett was a “trailblazer” for missions in the conference, serving as a role model for missionaries who later went out to fields around the world.

Peter, Peter The wind and waves began to rise; Foam was stinging face and eyes. Tired and wet; cold to the bone How he wished they’d stayed at home!

Peter stepped out on the lake. How many steps did Peter take? One, then two, then three, then four Then the wind began to roar.

Peter, Peter, in the boat Peter, Peter, will it float? Peter rowed with all his might And hoped they’d make it through the night.

Peter, oh where are your eyes, On sea and wind and rain and skies? Peter turned to find the boat, Too far away to help him float!

What’s that in the rain and mist? Peter cried, “Is it a ghost?” Then a voice came, firm and calm, “I’ll protect you all from harm.”

Down he went to knees, then chin. Suddenly the waves closed in Like Jonah sinking in the sea. He shouted to the Lord, “Save me!”

They were safe, Peter knew. Lord, tell me to walk to you. Peter, Peter, do not doubt Peter, Peter, step right out.

Peter, Peter, hold my hand I’ll lift you up and help you stand. The wind and waves obey my voice But you, dear Peter, have a choice. Will you trust just what you see, Or will you put your faith in me? Peter learned to stand that night Not on his feet but in God’s might.

DESIGNPICS.COM

– Ray Hill

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 15

Bloodworth The blood of Abel speaks from the grave, The first fruits of the fall are jealousy and rage When the blood of man defiles the land Justice cries out: “Pay the price I demand!” So who could count the cost of a life, When only blood for blood would suffice? Then whose blood could redeem the curse of Cain, Who was sent to the wilderness to wander in vain? The Avenger’s sword was sheathed that time And the mark of life would barter for Cain’s crime Though as hard a life as it would be, God would reveal his greatest mystery For a son was given to take Abel’s place— And through him, a redeemer for the whole human race, He would offer His body as a curse on the tree To be The Kinsman Redeemer who could set debtors free Just one drop of His blood could cleanse the whole land, A priceless commodity for the salvation of man. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Lord Would pay the ultimate price no one else could afford. His sprinkled blood speaks a far better word Than the cry from the dust that we’ve already heard For His mercy cost Him everything at the cross So He could purchase the dead and rescue the lost

– Brigitte Toews

Scriptures: Gen. 4, Luke 3:38, Psalm 49:6-8, Gen. 9:5-6, Num. 35:30-31, Deut. 21:23, Gal. 3:12-14, Acts 10:39, Is. 52 and 53, Heb. 12:24, Matt. 27:19-26, Rev. 5:9-12

DREAMSTIME.COM

Note: Kinsmen Redeemer and The Avenger of Blood are the same word in Hebrew: Goel.

16 The Messenger • November 2012

Columns • archives alcove

The hard work that lies ahead

ustice Murray Sinclair said recently on CBC The Indian Act does need to go. It is much radio in Winnipeg that he had asked univereasier, though, to offer an apology to First sity students how many would want to trade Nations people and to hold the Truth and places with him. About half declined. When Reconciliation Commission than to change our asked why, they said that they weren’t prepared structures in Canada. to be Aboriginal. The ending of the Act and changing our Sinclair told of actor Chris Rock, a milstructures in Canada have been resisted or nelionaire, who asked people if they would want to glected, but they need to be done. Such work is trade places with him. People declined because complex, but that is no proper reason to avoid it. it meant being black. The cramped, restricted experience of As controversy swirls around colonialism and Mennonites in Poland and Prussia; the Anathe residential school period, some Mennonite baptist history of persecution; the valuing of churches seem content to say, “It was the govlanguage and culture among Dutch-German ernment and those other churches”—Anglican, Mennonites—all might offer some common Catholic, Presbyterian, and United. But is it so understanding and experience with First Nations simple? people. Yet how often have they been used in Immigration to Canada involved Mennonite this way within Mennonite circles? conferences in the tangled history of colonialism The EMC’s Social Concerns Committee has and First Nations people who were displaced produced a useful discussion booklet: Becoming when others thought they needed the land. Neighbours: Three Conversations on Bridges Some Mennonites taught in residential Between Aboriginals and EMC Churches. How is schools and our workers served on reserves your church using the materials? Is it using the during the residential school period. Did they materials? address social justice concerns? In general, the Our conference could hold a summit of EMC wider Mennonite church (the EMC among it) First Nations workers and workers with First seemed unaware and unconcerned; it benefitted Nations peoples, the EMC Church Planting Task from government policies. Force needs to include the spiritual needs of In our ministries within First Nations circles First Nations communities, and Sioux Valley’s since the 1940s spiritual concern and hard work congregation requires money and other help to have been displayed. Yet the EMC has move ahead. repeated some mistakes made within the All of these longer history of the wider Church in are appropriate, Becoming Neighbours: Canada. but they are not Three Conversations on Bridges between Aboriginals and EMC Churches If we care about effective missions, enough. we need to care about justice. However, seeking justice is no mere strategy for evangelism. The love of evangelism does not cover a multitude of sins, not when Scripture speaks often of justice. A motion was recently tabled in the House of Commons to end the Indian Act. It was a proper, courageous move. Dr. Stan Mackay, Cree, former United Church of Canada moderator, minister and university lecturer, said to me earlier that the Indian Act had to go.

by Terry M. Smith

If we care about effective missions, we need to care about justice. However, seeking justice is no mere strategy for evangelism.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 17

With Our Missionaries

MEXICO

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Sunday, September 23, was our first baptism here in Guadalajara. What a day of celebration! We celebrate the new faith of these friends. We celebrate the work God has done and is continuing to do in their lives. We celebrate the faithfulness of God that our team has seen since we began working in Guadalajara. We celebrate that whole households were baptized. We have permission to tell their stories. Juan and Ana, and their children Paulina and Fer, had been on a journey towards God for many years. They looked in other places, but knew that they did not know the one, true God. The house God gave us to live in was just down the street from them,

Baptismal candidates and church planting team on September 23, 2012.

18 The Messenger • November 2012

We celebrate the faithfulness of God that our team has seen since we began working in Guadalajara.

and when they saw us working in children’s ministry in the neighbourhood, they began to understand what we were teaching. They immediately began joining us for Bible study and for our church service and shortly after made a decision to follow Christ. We are so thankful for this family and for their friendship and love for God that we share. David and Fanny were also baptized. We first met them a year ago, when our children started school and their son Leo was in their same grade. They became wonderful friends to our team and we prayed for their salvation often. David was being drawn by God and he asked to study the Bible with us, making the decision to follow Christ shortly after. His wife Fanny also studied, but was hesitant in making the decision until just a week before the baptism. What an answer to prayer to see her join with him in their new faith.

When the Prayer Team was here in February this last year, they prayed that God would bring to us the people that were searching for him—that people would come to us, asking about God. And we are humbled and awed to see that God has done exactly that with these two families. It is God who has done and is doing the work in the lives of his people. We ask for your prayers for these families, as they continue to know God more and as they stand as lights to those around them. – Tara and Dallas Wiebe Tara and Dallas Wiebe (Kleefeld) are part of a church planting team in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico.

PHOTO COURTESY TARA WIEBE

Celebrating faith and baptism

With Our Missionaries

Happy to be back for fourth term!

with a year at SBC and then the great unknown. Our girls are excited to reLESOTHO turn to Rift Valley Academy in Kenya Another furlough has come and and Japheth is happy to be reunited gone and we find ourselves back in with his friends at the American Lesotho—after 14,000 kms in the school here in Maseru. car, 12 different beds, nine airports, It’s an answer to prayer: MAF three fishing/camping trips and many Lesotho has received official approval wonderful hours spent with amazing from the Ministry of Health and the friends and family in just under three Ministry of Defense to build a new months. hangar at the military airbase where We are happy to be beginning we operate. While there are still our fourth term with MAF. We are some details to be worked out, we are looking forward to getting back to our excited that this important goal has familiar routines and hoping that we been reached. have gained some fresh insight, inspiThe Lesotho program outgrew ration and energy to continue with the its present hangar some time ago, so work that MAF is doing in Lesotho. the new facility will really improve Matthew is eagerly anticipating operations. Phase One of the project his adventure into adulthood starting will be to install fuel tanks that will hold 46,000 litres of aviation gas. This will allow us to purchase fuel in bulk as opposed to the fuel drums we have been using up until this time. The tanks are ready to go and we are now waiting on the pumps to be Fuel tanks were installed as Phase One of the new hangar project. installed and the

fuel lines and connectors to be put in place. While we were in Canada many people mentioned their desire to come and visit. Please accept this as an open invitation to all friends and family to come and see us in Lesotho. We can organize for you to see some of the sights and sounds of southern Africa as well as experience what MAF does in Lesotho. Lesotho is known for its mild climate and breath-taking vistas in all seasons; therefore, any time is a good time to come for a visit. You are more than welcome. Thanks again for making it possible for us to be here because of Christ. – Melvin and Kari Peters Melvin and Kari Peters (La Crete) recently returned to Lesotho, in southern Africa, to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship.

project builders EMC Project Builders

PHOTOS COURTESY KARI PETERS

annual general meeting

The Peters family spent time travelling throughout Canada on a recent furlough.

Monday, November 26, 2012 7:30 p.m. at Kleefeld EMC Kleefeld, Man. For all Project Builders membership and open to anyone interested. www.projectbuilders.ca

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 19

With Our Churches Pelly Fellowship Chapel

Summer activities at Pelly PHOTO: TWYLA JOHNSON

Pelly, Sask.

PHOTO: TWYLA JOHNSON

PHOTO: VIVIAN ANFINSON

Baby Dedication: Daniel and Twyla Johnson (holding son Jacob) with pastoral couple Helen and John Froese.

August 2012 Vacation Bible School

A renovation project on the manse included insulation, new siding, and the addition of a porch.

•• Pleasant Valley EMC

Rosenort, Man.—Darren and Pearl Plett were honoured by their children Danae and Kyle Parkinson, Tara, Kari and Dion with a surprise celebration of their 25th anniversary on September 16, 2012. Their home was filled with many well-wishers. An open house took place for Carl and Lisa Loewen with their four sons in their newly purchased home in Mitchell, Above: An open house was held for Carl and Lisa Loewen. Man., on August 12, 2012. Right: Surprised pastoral couple Pearl and Darren Plett – Marilyn Kornelsen

20 The Messenger • November 2012

PHOTOS: MARILYN KORNELSEN

Big surprise for pastoral couple

With Our Churches Kleefeld EMC

Ed and Kathy Friesen commissioned as deacons Kleefeld, Man.—On September 16, 2012, a new deacon couple, Ed and Kathy Friesen, was commissioned at Kleefeld EMC. Ed and Kathy are owners of a dairy farm in the community and have been fellowshipping and serving in our church for the past 16 years. They have been a special blessing in the areas of music, ushering, and building committee. We appreciate their willingness to serve as deacons and wish them the Lord’s blessings as they take

on this leadership role. Dennis and Sarah Thiessen were elected as deacons in 2003 and have retired from this role. Special thanks for serving in this capacity for the last nine years. God bless! – Louella Friesen Ed and Kathy Friesen were commissioned as deacons on Sept. 16, 2012.

••

Radical Followers of Jesus

Mennville EMC

Two Matts: one pastor, one editor Mennville, Man.—We are happy to have Matt and Jordan Giesbrecht join our church family. Matt is the new youth pastor for our Riverton Gospel Chapel/Mennville joint youth group. They are leading a senior youth group as well as one for junior youth. Matt will also be presenting some messages Sunday mornings. They have come with lots of enthusiasm and we are blessed to have them investing in our kids’ lives. We also welcomed Matthew McGee into our membership on Oct 7. He has worshipped with us for some time now and we have come to love and appreciate him and his talents. He has taken on the position of bulletin editor. Welcome as a member, Matthew! – Luella Brandt

John Huss, Felix Manz, Michael Sattler,  Elizabeth Dirks, Menno Simons, the Hutterites, Johannes Reimer, Siegfried Bartel, and Sam Martin—all Radical Followers of Jesus. This DVD series, produced by the Evangelical Anabaptist Fellowship, is available from the EMC office ($11.20 each, plus mailing). To order, call 204-326-6401 or e-mail rroman@emconf.ca.

Jordan and Matt Giesbrecht are leading junior and senior youth for the Riverton Gospel Chapel/ Mennville joint youth group.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 21

With Our Churches Picture Butte Mennonite Church

Transition, baptisms, and jamboree

PHOTOS: CAROLINE KRAHN

Picture Butte, Alta.—On We were so thankful that February 4, 2012, at a memberthe children were inside ship meeting Pastor Abe and the church entertained in a Anna Bueckert informed the children’s session so they were membership that they would safe. Everyone made it into the be resigning as of July of this church safely and we praise year to start a church plant in God that no one was hurt. Redcliff, Alberta. Much of that The main tent and the evening was spent reminiscing sound system were ruined. and blessing the Bueckerts. What do we do now? We had Many shared of how they to improvise and move everywere grateful that Bueckerts Pastoral couple Abe and Anna Bueckert stand with those thing inside the church. moved to Picture Butte to share baptized: (back) Frank Martens, Frank Bueckert, Abe MarThis changed the atmothe gospel with them; and, tens, Abe Wall, (front) Evelyn Dyck, Elizabeth Martens, Judy sphere of the weekend and put though they are sad to see them Wiebe, Henry Fehr. a damper on the outreach as leave, they know that there the people whom we wanted are many more who need to hear the for the many weddings that took place to minister to do not feel comfortable good news so they too can have the this summer, ladies held a tablecloth coming into our church building. But same experience—invite Jesus into sewing night. Many ladies came out; the sanctuary still filled up and the their hearts. In July we held a farewell the tablecloths were finished plus weekend was a tremendous blessing. meal with Bueckerts and all who some blankets quilted and tied for Please keep us in your prayers as wanted to could gather round them as MCC. we seek to continue growing in Christ we prayed a blessing upon their new In July we held our second Jamboduring this time of transition. We work in Redcliff. ree as an outreach and fundraiser for are thankful to the pastors who have We were excited to celebrate with Gospel for Asia. It was a lot of hard come and are giving their time to eight candidates as they were baptized work to get everything set up and minister to us on Sunday mornings; in June. Two of the candidates chose ready. some of them have travelled long to be baptized by immersion at our Friday night started off wonderdistances. local lake. This was such an awesome fully, a nice turnout of people, and Pray that God would send us a event as many of our congregation then a mini-twister came through as pastor and that provisions would fall had never witnessed it before. the evening was winding down. Both into place for the interim. Many exciting happenings are tak- the food tent and the main tent came – Caroline Krahn ing place all the time. In preparation crashing down.

Ladies’ sewing night: many tablecloths were finished and blankets were made for MCC.

22 The Messenger • November 2012

The congregation prayed for and blessed Abe and Anna Bueckert as they move to church planting in Redcliff, Alta.

With Our Churches Prairie Grove Fellowship Chapel

Lorette, Man.—This last summer has been full of growing experiences for us at Prairie Grove. For the third year in a row, our youth group has gone up past Thompson, Man., to Midway Bible Camp to reach out to kids living in that area. We also had a wonderful church campout where we grew closer together as a church family. Finally, we have been inspired once again by seeing some younger members of the church being baptized. Waking up extra early on Sunday morning is not everyone’s ideal, but with the anticipation of going up north to reach out to kids, the youth of our church were excited to get up. Fourteen young teens and the youth pastor’s family went up to Midway where some counseled while others worked as maintenance staff and assistant cooks. It was a growing experience as they had to work around challenges such as campers getting into fights. The mama bear and cubs that hung about during the weekend gave the kids a scare at first; thankfully they didn’t bother anyone and the kids calmed down.

A Midway camper is ready to eat spaghetti with a pot lid.

Everyone had fun swimming and playing in Moak Lake. Many of the staff were encouraged to see kids decide to follow Christ. There were many skills that the kids could participate in: canoeing, crafts, swimming, archery, BB guns, fishing, and more. For some youth, this was their third time going to the camp. Lots of the kids were familiar from other years. Some previous campers were now a part of the staff, and it was a great inspiration to see them taking initiative. The way God worked in everyone’s life affected all who were there, and for many it was a highlight of the summer. Our church campout was held at Bird’s Hill Park. The kids enjoyed swimming and playing games while the adults sat around the campfire singing songs or visiting together. It was a wonderful time for building unity and trust. Gord Penner, a professor at Steinbach Bible College, spoke on Sunday morning about how the lows in life are the best times for growing closer to God. We welcomed two members into

PHOTOS: NAOMI PLETT

Summer full of growing experiences

Rochelle Braun, with Leonard Barkman and Jason Dueck, goes into the creek to be baptized.

our church this last year. Ryan Horton made his proclamation of faith by getting baptized on Easter Sunday. He shared his testimony of deciding to follow Christ and some of the hardships that led to it. A potluck lunch followed. Rochelle Braun, a woman who grew up in our church, had her baptism in her grandparent’s creek in Pansy. She shared her zeal for Christ with her close friends and family and how as a child she learned how God was her father, friend, leader, and lover all in one. After her grandfather Leonard Barkman and youth pastor Jason Dueck baptized her in the creek, there was food to be had, games being played, and singing of worship songs. – Naomi Plett

Eager youth are ready to serve at Midway Bible Camp.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 23

With Our Churches MacGregor EMC

Busyness, baptisms, and babies MacGregor, Man.—As we have just finished celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, it makes me wonder how many people only think about giving thanks on that one day. God gives us something to be thankful for every day, and if we are able to see that during a particularly busy or stressful time, we will realize that Thanksgiving can be every day, not just a holiday in October. A couple of events that we are so very thankful for this year: the large group of youth that were baptized in April, and two of our young couples who dedicated themselves and their babies to the Lord in September. Our youth are always busy with activities, but one of their highlights for the year was spending their spring

break from school participating in an outreach program at City Church in Winnipeg. They organized and ran a VBS program during the morning and served at various venues, such as Union Gospel Mission, Winnipeg Harvest and Love Lives Here, in the afternoons. As well, in May the BAM youth group took a trip to Beaver Lake Bible Camp at Denare Beach, Sask. We were also pleased to be able to host The Browns for a fund raising concert for Valley View Bible Camp. In our church, we have many people who are able to be missionaries to others, not only locally, but in other cities, provinces and countries. We also take an interest in supporting

Baptism: (front) Dawson Sawatzky, Haley L’Heureux, Mackenzie Giesbrecht, Karissa Kruse, (back) Noah Wieler, Linden Guenther, Bethany Kruse, Selena Delorme and Kiran Hodges with Pastor David Kruse.

missionaries in other areas, as well. One such missionary family is Dave and Kim Field who serve at the New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin, USA. We were able to use Skype to visit with them and their boys during our service on April 15, and it was really nice to be able to ask them questions about their work. As our weather becomes colder and the days shorter, we might not all be so thankful for that, but we can look forward to the Christmas season. It is once again time to think about filling shoeboxes and preparing for Sunday School concerts. – Kim Bueckert

Births McCASKELL – to Stephen and Samantha McCaskell of MacGregor, Man., a son, Micah Haddon, on Mar. 5, 2012. WIEBE – to Mike and Joanne Wiebe of MacGregor, Man., a son, Ezekiel Ross, on Apr. 6, 2012. VION – to Garth and Angela Vion of Grande Prairie, Alta., a son, Noah Edward, on Apr. 26, 2012. DOERKSEN – to Chris and Steph Doerksen of Grande Prairie, Alta., a son, Evan Paul, on June 3, 2012.

PHOTOS: KIM BUECKERT

SCHROEDER – to Jared and Jen Schroeder of Grande Prairie, Alta., a daughter, Hannah Joy, on June 8, 2012.

24 The Messenger • November 2012

Child dedication: John and Sarah Moore with Edith Sara Marie and Stephen and Samantha McCaskell with Micah Haddon, flanked by pastoral couple Tammy and David Kruse.

STUART – to Cam and Christa Stuart of Grande Prairie, Alta., a daughter, Keiandra Janet, on June 28, 2012. KUNTZ – to John and Alaina Kuntz of Grande Prairie, Alta., a son, Carter Daniel, on Aug. 8, 2012. PENNER – to Colin and Lori Penner of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Lawrence Jon, on Oct. 20, 2012. WIEBE – to Greg and Dana Wiebe of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Petra Grace, on Oct. 20, 2012.

With Our Churches La Crete Christian Fellowship

Doors open to outreach and discussion La Crete, Alta.—It has been just over a year since LCCF moved into our new church building. The space in the sanctuary has been so appreciated. As a church body, we anticipated some new attendees after the move and were surprised to find some growing pains as well. A new building opens doors for outreach into the

community, which is very good, but deciding what we will and won’t do has taken some time and discussion. LCCF has been growing in many ways. We have welcomed new members and new babies. Praise Jesus! This summer a dedicated team of volunteers took flight with the kids of VBS. Sky was the theme and the love of Christ was shared with the children. Also this summer seven deacon couples were commissioned. Please pray for these families as they adjust to their new role. Prayer and Martha and Peter Doerksen stand with baptismal candidates Ed sharing is a regular and Driedger, Darryl Krahn, Kevin Neufeld, Anna Neudorf, and part of Sunday Taryn Driedger on Dec. 4, 2011. morning worship, and care groups and Bible study all help the members to grow together and develop relationships. Through our journey we shall remember that the Lord our Dec. 11, 2011, membership transfer: Michelle and David Sandford, God led us all the Bill and Martha Hiebert, Barb Dyck, and Susie Wiebe. way (Deut. 8:2). – Tena Doerksen

REIMER – FEHR: Richard, son of Elizabeth Reimer of Lethbridge, Alta., and Susie, daughter of John and Eva Fehr of Mexico, were married on May 12, 2012, at Picture Butte Mennonite Church with Pastor Abe Bueckert offiating. The couple lives in Lethbridge. DYCK – BOUCHER: Rob Dyck and Krista Boucher were married on May 26, 2012, at Westpointe Community Church with Pastor Dwight Munn officiating. The couple lives in Grande Prairie, Alta. DYCK – MUNN: Glenn, son of Daniel and Margaret Dyck, and Anita, daughter of Dwight and Sherry Munn, were married on June 8, 2012, at Westpointe Community Church with Russell Peters and Pastor Dwight Munn officating. The couple lives in Grande Prairie, Alta. TYMBURSKI – KLASSEN: Jared, son of Calvin and Anita Tymburski, and Julianna, daughter of Peter and Trudy Klassen, both of Lethbridge, Alta., were married on June 23, 2012, at Victory Christian Fellowship. The couple lives in Lethbridge, Alta. FEHR – WIEBE: Dave Fehr, son of Phil and Helena Wiebe, and Susie, daughter of John and Anne Wiebe, were married on July 7, 2012, at Westpointe Community Church with Pastor Paul Little of Wymark, Sask., officiating. The couple lives in Grande Prairie, Alta. PETERSON – WALL: James, son of Eric and Pamela Peterson of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Agatha, daughter of Henry and Anna Wall of Nobleford, Alta., were married on Aug. 4, 2012, at Picture Butte Mennonite Church with Pastor James Wyatt officiating. The couple lives in Bozeman, Montana. PENNER – BUECKERT: Abraham, son of Wilhelm and Tina Penner of Carmangay, Alta., and Karalyn, daughter of Pastor Abe and Anna Bueckert of Picture Butte, Alta., were married on Aug. 18, 2012, at Picture Butte Mennonite Church with Pastor Abe Bueckert officiating. The couple lives in Three Hills, Alta. ANDERSON – NEUDORF: Oliver, son of Colonal and Fiona Anderson, and Darlene, daughter of Abe and Lisa Neudorf, were married on Aug. 25, 2012, at Westpoine Community Church with Pastor Dwight Munn officiating. The couple lives in Grande Prairie, Alta.

PHOTOS: TENA DOERKSEN

June 3, 2012, membership transfer: Jake and Anne Teichroeb, Darryl and Twila Olson.

Weddings

Membership transfer: Henry and Agnes Wiebe, Dustin Unruh, Paul Bersketis.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 25

With Our Churches Westpointe Community Church

Grande Prairie, Alta.—Westpointe Community Church is proud of our associate pastor Jared Schroeder for placing 29th out of 369 solo runners in the Great Canadian Death Race. He used his passion for running to support and raise funds for Legacy Water Foundation (LWF), which is directed by his friend Cam Clarke who moved from Grande Prairie to Edmonton, Alta., to start it up. LWF assists a small non-governmental organization, Lifeline Haiti. They are looking to build the first water bottling station in Jacmel, Haiti, which will provide jobs for locals. They are hoping to give them a hand in looking after themselves and

providing local revenue. If successful they may look to start more water bottling stations. The Death Race takes place every August long weekend in the mining town of Grande Cache, Alta., about 200 kms south of Grande Prairie. This is the first time Jared has participated in the Death Race. It is considered one of Canada’s toughest marathons. The 125-kilometre course begins and ends up a 1,280-metre plateau, passes three mountain summits, and includes over 5,000 metres of elevation change. Way to run the race, Pastor Jared! – Katelyn Tarnowski

PHOTOS:COURTESY PHOTO LORENA PENNER KATELYN TARNOWSKI

Pastor Jared runs to assist Haitians

WCC associate pastor Jared Schroeder finished 29th out of 369 solo runners in the Great Canadian Death Race.

•• Good News Community Church

Re:Connect deals with people who’ve fallen between the cracks Steinbach, Man.—Depression, teen depression, bullying, spousal abuse, child abuse, spiritual abuse, separation and divorce, addiction, sexual identity, gender identity, suicidal thoughts and threats, suicide attempts, abuse by spiritual leaders, families who haven’t spoken to each other for years, cutting, burning (and other forms of self-harm), police stations, court rooms, crime, gangs, violent threats at schools…. These aren’t “issues”’ or “topics” to me. Each word has a face and a story behind it, someone I’ve been walking with, someone I feel privileged to know. These are the situations and conversations that make up my weekly schedule. I see people who seem to 26 The Messenger • November 2012

have fallen through all the cracks and are alone, broken, scared, or numbed. Some have all but given up. It’s hard. It’s bloody hard. But it gets harder: the words above are not isolated parts of people’s lives—where you find one, you will almost always find one or more of the others. Further, every aspect of a life is affected: physical, social, emotional, spiritual. This all gets quite complex, it’s messy, and it resists a quick mop-up. The people I meet with are, for the most part, people with few options or resources. They have lost the support of their families, some of them have no church connection, and many of them (for one reason or another, usually stigma) are currently alienated from their church.

They have lost their support systems altogether. That’s where Re:Connect comes in. Re:Connect wants to stand in the gaps. We offer counseling, spiritual support, networking with other agencies as needed, along with other forms of support services at rates that vulnerable people might be able to afford. For the most vulnerable, who can’t afford anything at all, we offer subsidized support. We don’t want anyone turned away and going without help exactly when they need it the most. We’re always interested in people learning about Re:Connect and how they might assist us. – Corey Herlevsen, Community Chaplain

With Our Churches Evangelical Fellowship Church (Steinbach)

Hispanic Ministry developing within EFC Steinbach, Man.—When the political renting at the south side of Niverville, situation changed in Bolivia, South the phone rang and it was Lester. America, we considered the option to I got my first invitation to preach finish our training in Canada when our American coordinators had to leave the country. When my wife Silvia, my daughter Anna, and I came from Bolivia we had no clear idea about what our lives would be like in Manitoba, Canada. Being alone in a foreign country made life a little complicated for us until we found support in the Hispanic group that gathers in Steinbach EFC. Cross-cultural Iraí and Silvia Rodrigues Dominguez, with chilshock and social adjustment are dren Samuel and Anna aspects of being immigrants. My family and I found relief in in a church in what would become a the midst of the stress that cultural temporary service during the summer adjustments bring about. There’s 2011, and later a part-time position nothing like listening to a sermon in a to serve the Hispanic community in language that touches your heart. Steinbach area. The Latino heart Lester and DarNow, from an informal monthly lene Olfert brought when they retired service we accepted the challenge to from being missionaries in Nicaragua establish a long-term plan of integratled to their deciding to serve and ing the Latino community to EFC. preach the gospel to the Hispanic Considering that a cultural integration population in Steinbach. As a result, is a lifelong process, we kept three full many families have been blessed since activities in the Spanish language: a around 1998. monthly Hispanic service on the secWhat I never imagined was that ond Saturday of each month, a weekly God had planned to include us in this Bible study on Wednesdays, and a strategy to bless Latino immigrant fami- ladies meeting twice monthly. lies in the southeast of Manitoba. After Recognizing that we are called by frustrations and questions about our the gospel, we have been serving as stay in Canada, a crisis hit our family. a bridge to integration. Therefore we I tore my Achilles tendon during established two ESL Sunday School a soccer game in Winnipeg’s third classes during Sunday mornings, one division league. During that season we Sunday School class in English with a were expecting Samuel, and not being Latino teacher, assistance to Mexican able to work and support my family seasonal workers, and settlement asincreased immensely our crisis. sistance to newcomers. Nevertheless, the potter’s hand was Since last winter we developed a in action and leading us towards his partnership with Eastman immigrant will. During one evening when I was services and Steinbach EMC to start sitting in the basement suite we were a soccer program for the fathers of

immigrant families to help them deal with the stress of adjustments and develop social nets to facilitate their cultural-social integration. We are still dreaming and working as we serve and as the Latino community increases. Building community is a task for everyone. God will do what we cannot do, but he will not do what we need to do. – Iraí and Silvia Rodrigues Dominguez

NOVEMBER 17–18

One Mission, Many Fields Global Connections 2012 Steinbach EMC 422 Main St, Steinbach, Man. Speaker: Dr. Sam Owusu Session 1: Nov. 17, 9 a.m. (brunch provided) Session 2: Nov. 18, 10:45 a.m. Session 3: Nov. 18, 7 a.m. Mission-centred teaching and activities for children will take place during all sessions. Notify the Steinbach EMC (204-326-6572) if you plan to attend the brunch session on Nov. 17.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 27

With Our Churches Portage Evangelical Church

Kroeker involved in PVBC’s music ministry My time at camp included activities such as helping run programming for school and rental groups, organizing and leading music teams, leading music for chapel EDGE (Every Day

PHOTO COURTESY JESSICA KROEKER

Portage la Prairie, Man.—This past spring and summer I had the blessing of returning to Pembina Valley Bible Camp as the worship leader for another season of camp ministry.

PVBC worship team: Gabby Wolfe, Jessica Kroeker, Paige Bergman, and Laura Friesen.

•• Wymark EMC

2012 Missions Conference Chortitz, Sask.—Our annual Missions Conference was held at the Evangelical Mennonite Church on Oct. 19–21, 2012. The speaker cannot be identified for security reasons. Bill is a young engaging orator with a wealth of experience in Central Asia, working with indigenous people groups. He gave us numerous examples of Asian cultural concepts of shame versus our western concept of guilt. He shared his vision of EMC 28 The Messenger • November 2012

Christians caring for God’s people and for God’s earth. The company he works under is looking for global solutions that can be transplanted to address local problems in Asia. The men’s quartet Exodus blessed everyone with several musical numbers on Friday night. Our locally talented Friesen sisters, Paula and Mandy, accompanied by Andrea Neustaeter, sang on Saturday evening. (continued p. 29)

God Experience) times, and leading MMT—a two week youth music ministry team training program. There are two main aspects of the MMT program. First, it involves developing leadership skills. This includes team building and growth as a band, glorifying God through gifts in ministry. The second aspect is really digging into the depth of worship. What does worship mean and how do you live that out? There were many highlights of MMT. It was amazing witnessing the growth and building of unity within the team as a whole. They shared their testimonies and prayed for one another, overcame challenges during practices and team development activities, and took leadership in service opportunities such as playing at a coffee house and leading worship at Winkler Bible Camp. Even though it is huge blessing having many youth signed up for camp programming, God showed me that it can also be a huge blessing having a smaller group to work with. As I got to know each of the girls in MMT this year, any existing doubts in running the program were quickly eliminated. God reminded me that it’s not about numbers (as much as we desire to influence as many people as possible) but, rather, trusting that he has a plan. We need to have willing hearts to serve in whatever form that looks like within that plan. God’s hand was evidently at work throughout MMT in so many ways, and I look forward to seeing how God continues to work in each of the campers’ lives. – Jessica Kroeker

With Our Churches

PHOTOS COURTESY KATRINA NEUFELD

(continued from p. 28)

Peter Enns, missions committee chair, gives a few thoughts and introduces the speaker.

Paula and Mandy Friesen provided music during the second session.

On Saturday morning our speaker met with the Cornerstone Fellowship Church (Swift Current) for a breakfast meeting focusing on his vision of caring for our planet. Sunday morning our church sanctuary was full as our speaker spoke to our combined Sunday School classes and later during the morning worship service. He inspired everyone with God’s plan for families. The worship service was followed by a potluck lunch, giving a happy ending to an inspirational weekend. – Marvin Allan

•• News

MWC’s peace audit shows commitment and challenges EMC’s response included in audit results “How is your church doing in its desire to be a Peace Church?” The results reveal a mixture of commitment and challenges, according to a survey of the 100 member bodies of Mennonite World Conference. The report evaluates responses received from 21 member bodies—six from Asia and the Pacific, six from Latin America and the Caribbean, three from Europe, six from North America (including EMC), but none from Africa. At a basic level, the bodies desire to be a Peace Church, seek creatively to strengthen that identity, point to official statements of identity, indicate a gap between the official statements and conference and local church life, and report significant and varied challenges in being a peace church. The understanding of peace is migrating from a reactive mode (do no harm to others) to an active mode (do good for others). All respondents need more resources. Among the challenges: there is a gradual process

of acculturation into dominant context, the influence of non-pacifist evangelicalism, church growth among people unfamiliar with the peace church tradition, pastors recruited without a clear commitment to foundational beliefs in peace, and the absence of contemporary stories of peacemaking and nonviolence. The full report is available at www.mwc-cmm.org. MWC is a global community of Christian churches rooted in the 16th-century Radical Reformation in Europe, particularly in the Anabaptist movement. Today, more than 1,600,000 believers belong to this faith family; more than 60 percent are African, Asian, or Latin American. MWC represents 100 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national churches from 57 countries on six continents. – From MWC materials

The understanding of peace is migrating from a reactive mode (do no harm to others) to an active mode (do good for others). All respondents need more resources.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 29

News

AIMM celebrates 100 years of service LANDMARK, Man.—One hundred years ago a new mission developed because of a fresh understanding of the Scriptures, believers acted in simple faith, and cooperation occurred among various Mennonite groups. So said EMC general secretary Tim Dyck at a celebration of Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission’s centenary held on Sept. 28, 2012, at Heartland Community Church in Landmark, Man. With the fresh understanding of Scripture, mission “naturally” follows, he said, and simple rural people “without a lot of degrees” went far away to an unknown country of the Congo in a joint endeavour. The focus on Scripture, simple faith, and cooperation still permeate AIMM today, said Dyck. After welcoming those present, he introduced two international guests: Pastor Benjamin Mubenga Wa Kabanga from the Church in Congo and Pastor Siaka Traore, representing the church in Burkina Faso. After dinner, the Namwira Folks Music Group presented songs of praise in French, Swahili, and a third language. Tim Dyck then said, “You might be a missionary if…” and suggested various indicators: for example, if you’re asked which country you’re from and you don’t know. People chuckled. AIMM’s cooperative reality was displayed when past and present missionaries from various Mennonite conferences were recognized. It was a powerful moment when about two dozen people spoke of their times and places of service, with workers from the 1950s and later present. To represent workers, two missionaries were highlighted. Henry Klassen, former EMC general secretary, introduced Ben Eidse (EMC) who served in the Congo; and Hippolyto Tshimanga introduced Tany Warkentin (MC Canada) who served in Burkina Faso. Eidse spoke of being an Tim Dyck advocate for the underdog. 30 The Messenger • November 2012

PHOTOS: TERRY M. SMITH

Scripture, simple faith, and cooperation

Namwira Folks Music Group

In introducing Tany, Tshimanga was impressed that she spoke of “our church” in Burkina Faso. He also said he was glad that the Mennonite church sought to bring together evangelism and a teaching on peace. Tany said she had learned from the Burkinabe to value relationships and to be more present with people; and from their strength, resilience and reliance upon God, which helped when her husband Jeff died suddenly. Former board members were also recognized. They stood to say when and under which conference they had served. Rod Hollinger-Janzen then introduced three fundraising projects for the evening: small business training and loans, a guesthouse for the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Congo, and assistance to two church plants in Bobo Dioulasso with the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso. The Namwira Folks Music Group provided further music. Pastors Benjamin Mubenga and Siaka Traore presented challenges to those present. Traore encouraged young people to carry on, following the example of a previous generation, Tim Dyck said. Henry Klassen closed in prayer. The EMC has been a partner with AIMM (formerly Congo Inland Mission) since 1953 when Ben and Helen Eidse were sent to the Congo. Other EMC workers who have served under AIMM include Harvey and Avril Barkman (Congo), Elvira Hamm (Burkina Faso), Brian and Patricia Reimer (Lesotho), and John and Charity Schellenberg (Burkina Faso). Other people of EMC background have also served, including Jeannette Thiessen with her husband Elmer (Burkina Faso). Paul and Lois Thiessen currently serve in Burkina Faso. – Terry M. Smith

News

DYMP: If you weren’t there, you missed a good one! GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta.—What an amazing weekend! Not knowing what we were in for, with mixed emotions we decided to go to the Discover Your Ministry Potential conference. It had the perfect mixture of instructional information, group interaction, and reflection time. It allowed individuals or couples to uncover the spiritual gifts God has given us, while showing where they can best be utilized, taking into account the individual’s personality strengths. Furthermore, by the conference’s end all participants went away challenged to experiment more in the body of Christ with the gifts that God has given us. The conference started with Pastor John Dyck (Hillside) sharing on Spiritual Gifts. He reminded us that “we are not necessarily called to do something or to go somewhere, but we are called to someone.” He guided us through the book called The 3 Colors of Ministry. It revealed our personality in comparison to that of a Bible figure, while also describing the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of that figure; it also looked at our spiritual gifts. This was not only helpful in revealing

these gifts to each individual, it pointed out where these gifts might often be utilized in the different areas in the Church. Charles Koop, EMC church planting director, talked about Biblical Qualities of Ministry. He talked about coming alongside people, being accepting of them and where they are at. As followers of Christ, our life is to point people to Jesus. Koop reminded us that if we want to be leaders, we have to become more of a servant like Jesus. Ward Parkinson, conference pastor, shared about different personality types and how we need all of them in the Church. It was just good to see how God made us different. Pastoral couple Brad and Cathie Schneck (Vanderhoof ) shared about different Obstacles and Expectations in ministry. They talked of what to expect and is helpful to others wanting to start in the ministry—and how God carried them through. Staff from the national office shared about different ministry opportunities within the EMC, in Canada and beyond, and how we can become part of these ministries. Pastor Dwight Munn (Westpointe) ended the weekend by sharing a message on Responding to the Call. He challenged the congregation and asked, “Are we ready if God asks? Are we willing to go where he calls us?” We left the conference feeling like we were on a spiritual high. Different things were revealed to different people. Some went away with more of an understanding of where God is possibly leading them in leadership and ministry, while others went away being affirmed in the areas of life and ministry they are in currently. People that missed this conference really missed a good one. Thank you to the EM Conference for putting this weekend together. – Cheryl Braun

PHOTO: GERALD REIMER

We left the conference feeling like we were on a spiritual high. Different things were revealed to different people.

A number of participants and EMC staff members attended DYMP, including Canadian Church Planting Coordinator Charlie Koop and wife Lorraine (front).

Note: The DYMP event was held on Sept. 21–23, 2012, at Westpointe Community Church (Grande Prairie, Alta.). The event’s regional location rotates and it is desired that the event be held annually. www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 31

News

Calendar

EMC office staff receives delegation

Manitoba

Visitors arrive from Congo, Burkina Faso, and U.S.

Nov. 17

PHOTO: REBECCA ROMAN

STEINBACH, Man.—On Sept. 26, Mubenga said, “even though our per2012, EMC office staff received a spectives can be different.” delegation of international visitors: Traoré said, “The breath, the life, of Siaka Traoré, leader in the Evangelical the church is mission.” The Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso; Mennonite Church in Burkina Faso Benjamin Mubenga Wa Kabanga, is grateful for EMC’s 30-year involveleader in the Evangelical Mennonite ment in Burkina Faso through AIMM Church of Congo; and Rod Hollingermissionaries Paul and Lois Thiessen Janzen, executive coordinator of (Blumenort EMC) and their children. Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission The church is thinking about how (AIMM) International (U.S). Traoré to reach out to other ethnic groups, and Mubenga spoke in French and particularly a group that spans the Hollinger-Janzen translated. borders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Benjamin Mubenga described the Cote d’Ivoire. Youth are trained as origins of the conference he serves. entrepreneurs so they can “better supWhen intertribal violence caused refport the church,” Traoré said. Through ugees to leave the West Kasai region “business we’re also accomplishing of Congo, they were separated from mission,” since the church doesn’t the mother church, the Mennonite have the means to support full-time Church of Congo. Different groups of evangelists. Mennonite refugees were scattered A “real challenge” is that a number and not aware of other groups nearby. of people are interested in becoming AIMM missionary Archie Graber leaders, but “don’t know how to read assisted in bringing Mennonite refuand write.” The church sees the need gees together. According to Hollinger- to start a literacy program for those Janzen, “our missionaries at the time” who want to become church leaders. were slow to recognize that “it was In church life “the men are more very difficult for this church politically visible, but actually it’s often the to stay connected to the old church” women who are doing most of the due to distance and tribal tension. work.” Traoré gives credit to his wife From early on, the church used Claire for many of his ideas. education as a mission strategy, estabThe visit ended with prayer by lishing primary and secondary schools. EMC General Secretary Tim Dyck. Mubenga himself, he says, is “one of the – Rebecca Roman fruits of this work.” There are three Mennonite churches in DRC: Mennonite Church of Congo, Evangelical Mennonite Church of Congo, and the Mennonite Brethren. “Relationships are good” between the conferences. “We are in the same family,” Siaka Traoré, Rod Hollinger-Janzen, and Benjamin Mubenga 32 The Messenger • November 2012

Chosen: SPLAT 2012 junior high discipleship event 1:00–9:00 p.m. Steinbach Bible College 50 PTH 12 N, Steinbach 204-326-6451, www.sbcollege.ca

Nov. 17–18 Global Connections 2012 Speaker: Dr. Sam Owusu Steinbach EMC 422 Main St, Steinbach 204-326-6572, semconline.com

Nov. 23 EMC Ministerial Meeting 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.) Evangelical Fellowship Church 200 Woodhaven Ave, Steinbach 204-326-6401, www.emconference.ca

Nov. 24 EMC Conference Council Meeting 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.) Ridgewood EMC 37015 PR 311, near Giroux 204-326-6401, www.emconference.ca

Nov. 26 EMC Project Builders annual general meeting 7:30 p.m. Kleefeld EMC, Kleefeld 204-326-6401, www.emconference.ca www.projectbuilders.ca

Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 Festival of Christmas Praise Christmas concert RW Affleck Chapel Providence University College Otterburne 204-433-7488, www.providenceuc.ca

Shoulder Tapping Pastoral positions Crestview Fellowship (www.crestviewfellowship.ca), an Evangelical Mennonite Conference church located in Winnipeg, Man., is prayerfully seeking applications for a senior pastor. If you feel God calling you to this position or if you have any questions about the position, please call Alex Wiebe at 204-837-2516 or send resume and references either electronically to the Pastoral Search Committee, Attn: Alex Wiebe (alex@flyinglow.ca) or by mail to Pastoral Search Committee c/o Crestview Fellowship, 271 Hamilton Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2Y 0H3. Picture Butte Mennonite Church, a young congregation of about 200 people, seeks a full-time pastor to begin as soon as possible. Picture Butte is a small town in Southern Alberta approximately twenty minutes north of Lethbridge, the closest city centre. As our congregation consists largely of Mennonites who have settled here from Mexico, the successful applicant must be able to speak and present their messages in both the English and Low German languages. Please forward resumes with references and all other inquiries to: Henry Krahn, Box 891, Picture Butte, AB T0K 1V0; 403-732-5994 or krahn21@telus.net La Crete Christian Fellowship Church (EMC) seeks a full-time associate pastor. La Crete, located in NW Alberta, offers rural lifestyle and a progressive outlook. With a range of family-oriented amenities, it’s a great place to raise a family. LCCFC is a vibrant church of approximately 500 regular attendees who desire to spread the Word through a variety of ministries. The associate pastor will provide direction to our care giving and outreach ministries as well as work closely with the pastoral team to strengthen the parishioners’ personal connection and commitment to Jesus Christ. The applicant should be committed to a personal Christian faith, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a willing and teachable leader, and a person whose love for the Lord is reflected in their ability to work well with others. If the Holy Spirit seems to be inviting you to pursue this further, please contact Bill Neudorf at 780814-1439, neudorfs@telus.net, or www.lccfc.ca. First Mennonite Church, Burns Lake, a small body of believers in northern BC, is looking for a part-time or full-time servant leader pastor. We desire to find a person who shares our vision and will work with us to fulfill it. Our ideal candidate will have an exceptional ability to inspire discipleship, outreach, and a desire to embrace our community, while holding firm to sound biblical doctrine. Our candidate will agree with the Confession of Faith in the Mennonite Perspective. Please send your resume to FMC c/o Wilf Dueck wedueck@telus.net, phone 250-692-3455 or (cell) 250-692-6454.

New Life Christian Fellowship in Stevenson, Ont., seeks a senior pastor who has a heart for people and loves the Lord. We are an evangelical church located in Stevenson, Ontario. The church is mostly young families with average attendance between 80 and 100 people. The majority of the people attending have a Low German-speaking background. We seek a pastor who has the heart of a shepherd and a desire to see our church grow. He should have strong preaching and teaching skills and ability to develop leaders. Pastoral experience is preferred. He must be in agreement with our constitution and statement of faith. Anyone who possesses these qualifications and is interested in this position can forward their resume to nlcf@ciaccess.com. Rosenort EMC, in southern Manitoba, seeks a senior pastor who will prepare and preach sermons that inspire, challenge and convict, emphasizing spiritual development. He will equip members, teaching and modelling local evangelism and missions and oversee the Leader-In-Training program. His ministry team includes a full-time youth pastor, lay ministers, deacons, and 250 members. He will be a servant leader, modelling faithfulness and love for the Lord, caring for those with needs while guiding, directing, correcting and unifying the church with sound Biblical teaching. He views the Bible as the inspired and true Word of God, the authority for faith and action. Having a deep personal faith, strong convictions, and valuing family highly, he is a warm and loving person. He relates to us as a listener; not afraid to reveal personal pain and struggles; a compassionate and godly man. See www.rosenortemc.com for full ad. Contact: Arlin Scharfenberg, ascharfenberg@xplornet.ca, 204746-6154. Ridgewood EMC is looking for a full-time senior pastor. This multi-generational family oriented rural church is located north-east of Steinbach, Man., with over 200 in attendance on Sunday mornings. As the spiritual overseer, the senior pastor is the shepherd and guardian of the congregation. This ministry is accomplished by studying and teaching, praying and preaching, and visiting and visioning on the basis of the Word. Ridgewood EMC members strive to be a people that minister to the whole family, worshipping God together, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in love, responding to needs around, and cultivating a culture of Biblical discipleship, prayer and fellowship—all for the glory of God. Applications along with a cover letter should be sent to Stan Hamm, stan.hamm@prov.ca, or Stan Hamm, Box 140, Blumenort, MB R0A 0C0. Do you enjoy fishing? How about quiet community living? If you are God-fearing with a deep personal faith and seeking a full-time pastoral position, Treesbank Community Church (EMC) could be the place for you. We are a small country church located

in southwestern Manitoba, between the Souris and Assiniboine Rivers. If you are interested in this position, please contact Leonard Plett at 204-824-2475 or at lplett@mts.net.

Other opportunities Camp Cedarwood is currently seeking to fill the position of a full-time prep cook. The year round ministry of Camp Cedarwood is a division of Youth For Christ which facilitates ministry retreats, youth group events, and outdoor educational experiences in our 31,450 sq foot lodge and 35 acres of forest and lake front property. Our site and facilities are located an hour and a half north west of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada in the pristine Canadian shield territory. The candidate will be responsible for assisting the head cook by preparing food. They will work with a team of 3 other kitchen staff to also set and clean the dining room. We are looking for a person with a heart for ministry, experience in the food industry, joy for cooking and ability to work and live in a close community. If you feel that God is calling you into this support based position of ministry, please contact Scott Kelusky, Director of Cedarwood for more details at 204.345.8529 or email: cedarwood.campsite.director@gmail.com.

A Rocha Canada is an international Christian organization that, inspired by God’s love, engages in scientific research, environmental education and community-based conservation projects. We are seeking applications for the position of offsite director to lead the work of A Rocha Prairie Canada. A member of its national leadership team, this individual will provide leadership for all Prairie and Pembina Valley Interpretive Centre initiatives, including fundraising. For a full description of this opportunity, please see our website at http://www. arocha.ca/ARPC-director-search. If you are interested in this opportunity, please forward a brief cover letter, résumé, and the names of three references in confidence to the Search Committee co-chair, Antoinette van Kuik at avk@ mymts.net. The position will remain open until it is filled, but the processing of resumes will begin November 25, 2012.

The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards and ministries; interMennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads are not to be for monetary benefit. To place an ad (150 words or less), e-mail messenger@emconf.ca or call 204-3266401 and ask for Rebecca Roman or Terry Smith. Ads will run twice unless other arrangements are made.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 33

Columns • here and far away

Uniting in Christ

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

ne of the greatest gifts God gives us nutritionists, American marines, South African living overseas is a new family, combusinessmen, Swiss helicopter pilots, Malagasy prised of peoples from varied cultures teachers, beggars, beauty salon owners, French and denominations. missionaries, and on and on it goes. The varied Jesus tells us in Mark that “no one who nature of our family is a vibrant picture of the has left home or brothers or sisters or mother abundance and creativity of our God. or father or children or fields for me and the We sing with one voice: My chains are gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as gone, I’ve been set free, My God my Saviour has much in this present age: homes, brothers, ransomed me, and like a flood, His mercy reigns, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with unending love, amazing grace! The fact that such persecutions—and in the age to come eternal a diverse church family can sing with confidence life” (10:29–30). those words, praising the same God who died I can say with confidence that we have for all of us and loves us all equally, despite our experienced this here in Madagascar. But it differences, has blown open my understanding is challenging, no doubt about it! I admit that of the Prince of Peace. interacting with people of certain cultures is The book of Acts and Paul’s epistles tell of incredibly difficult for me. a significant cultural difference the Jews and While in Canada we grow up learning generGreeks faced as the family of Christ grew to enally similar concepts of what is socially acceptcompass those whose spiritual practices did not able in any given situation, what is coninclude the laws of circumcision. Undoubtedly, sidered polite and what is definitely rude, there were many heated conversations on that peoples of other cultures are learning topic, much dissent, and offense taken. their own set of behaviour and cultural In that momentous period of change, those values. Sometimes it’s inconsequential church leaders laid themselves aside and took differences like whether coffee is served up Christ. “Christ must become greater [in me], with dessert or afterwards. I must become less” (John 3:30). More Kingdom In other respects, however, cultural culture and less human culture is at play when differences can become a minefield of “Christ himself is our Peace” (Ephesians 2:14–18). offense. In Madagascar, for example, if It is awe-inspiring that God enables his you beckon someone towards you with people to overcome barriers, huge cultural and your palm facing upwards, you would be making denominational differences, to unite in Christ. an inappropriate gesture. For North Americans, punctuality is often a show of respect for the person you are meeting, time being one of our highly prized “possessions.” In Africa it is common to wait for hours for a scheduled appointment, and no one considers this rude. Our church family is built with representatives from many countries. As I worship the Almighty God in song, I am surrounded by Korean

Enjoying fellowship across cultures—Canadian, Malagasy and South African brothers in Christ.

34 The Messenger • November 2012

PHOTO: JOCELYN R PLETT

The varied nature of our family is a vibrant picture of the abundance and creativity of our God.

Columns • stewardship today

A Bible full of stewardship Bible, not just select passages at convenient times? Such lenses might reveal that a “great pattern of Scripture revolves around God’s generosity and human stewardship of the gifts God has given,” as Lutheran scholar Craig Nessan puts it. God’s generosity and human stewardship (both good and bad) are revealed throughout the pages of the Bible from creation, covenant and on to the exodus and law; through the monarchy and sages tumbling into psalms, the prophets and exile; throughout the incarnation, pas-

by Dori Zerbe Cornelsen

God’s generosity and human stewardship (both good and bad) are revealed throughout the pages of the Bible from creation, covenant and on to the exodus and law. sion and resurrection; then within the early church and beyond to the fulfillment of time. We have a Bible full of stewardship! We can try on progressive stewardship lenses when reading the Bible by considering questions such as: How is God’s generosity expressed in this text? What human tendency is revealed in the text (accumulating, hoarding, sharing)? Is there a disconnect in this text between God’s generous nature and human activity? Does this text communicate a specific stewardship teaching? When I consider this text alongside my interaction with money and the material world, how does it make me feel? Read this way, we discover that the Bible is not just a book that contains stewardship texts. Instead, the whole of it contains the revelation of God’s generosity that invites a human response of appropriate stewardship in all of life. DESIGNPICS.COM

have been fortunate not to have to wear glasses to correct my vision for most of my life. But like many others who have reached a certain age, I need glasses in order to read or see anything up close. For a time, I was managing to get by with a few pairs of inexpensive reading glasses kept in strategic locations for me to pick up and use when needed. Reading glasses are great for reading and stationary tasks but not for walking away from the desk or especially going down a set of stairs. And, even with multiple pairs in various locations, reading glasses are not always within reach in the moment of need. Given this, I recently took the plunge and acquired a set of glasses with progressive lenses. While progressives have their own issues, when I wear these glasses, they do allow me to see all distances quite clearly. In the church, we sometimes tend to view stewardship as a topic of select verses in the scriptures, which can be used as the basis of a fundraising campaign. Based on what the church needs, we may quote Bible verses that are meant to encourage everyone to step up and meet those needs. Thus, stewardship is reduced to a sporadic topic for specific occasions. It’s as if we put on stewardship lenses like reading glasses that are lying around to be used only when necessary. But what if our stewardship lenses were progressives through which we viewed the whole

Dori Zerbe Cornelsen is a stewardship consultant at the Winnipeg, Man., office of Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC). For stewardship education and estate and charitable gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit Mennofoundation.ca.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 35

Columns • kids’ corner

After the summer comes winter

by Loreena Thiessen

Activity: Look around; what changes do you see? 1. You need: drawing paper, crayons and pencil or pencil crayons. Do: draw a picture of something that shows change. 2. Do you know someone who is facing difficulty? Think of something you can do: • Share a book or invite them to join an activity with you. • Draw a card or a picture to give to them. • Talk to them; be a friend.

36 The Messenger • November 2012

DESIGNPICS.COM

fter the last warm day a sudden change comes over the land. In the evening the wind picks up and blows stronger through the night. Your bike parked in the yard falls over. The lawn chairs slither across the deck and crash into the railing. Your soccer ball rolls over the lawn and across the street. It hits the curb on the other side and waits for morning. Trees sway and bend. Leaves are torn from their branches, swirl and float and then pile up against the house. By morning the temperature has fallen. “It’s time for a toque and mitts,” your mother says. You pull them on and zip up your parka. On your way to school the wind feels sharp; it spits stinging rain into your face. You pull the hood over your head and bend into the wind. At the mall a shopping cart, pushed by the wind, races across the lot and slams into a parked car. You hear a sharp cracking sound as it hits the metal. On a tree a robin clings to a branch. Its feathers ruffle. What will it eat? All the worms are gone. The flies and bugs have crawled into holes in the ground or in trees. Hundreds of geese and ducks gather on the pond. Their fat bodies will keep them warm until they fly south for the winter.

Rabbits are eating the last green grasses and plants. Soon the plants will freeze and snow will cover them. The rabbit will have to eat small branches of shrubs he finds above the snow. Squirrels and chipmunks have stores of seeds and nuts in nearby trees they will dig out throughout the cold winter. Just as you hurry into your school the rain turns into snow. Winter has come. Change happens. A change of seasons brings different weather conditions. There are other changes too. In many lands there are troubles. Children and their families face difficulties. They may not feel safe. They may not have enough food. What can you do? One thing you can do is remember God’s promises. In Genesis 8:22 God says, “While the earth remains Seedtime and harvest Cold and heat Winter and summer And day and night Shall not cease.” Another promise is in Psalm 31:3–5. God says he is your rock whom you can trust.

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