The Messenger a publication of the
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Volume 60 No. 1 January 2021
t i r i p S e h t n i d n a e l g Sin
INSIDE:
Singleness: Finding Wholeness in the Midst of Disappointment page 6 My Life as a Single Person page 10 Making the Church a Safe Place for Singles page 14 ISTOCK
KLC and Bow Island Mark Official Openings as EMC Churches page 16 Transition Proposal, Three Per Cent Budget Increase Approved
page 18
Editorial
What If We Measure Interdependence?
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n her article on singleness (pp. 6–9), Stephanie Fast raises the issue of reciprocity. One of the challenges of being single, she says, can be asking others for help with practical matters, knowing the favour isn’t able to be returned. This requires a certain degree of vulnerability, making it easier at times to hire needed help rather than ask. While prizing authenticity, our society at the same time urges the pursuit of independence; these two seem incompatible. When true authenticity requires revealing our brokenness and need to each other, we cannot at the same time be lone rangers, completely in control of our own mess. The church, in order to be truly counter-cultural, needs to be a safe space for and a model of interdependence. It seems unlikely we’re making a move back to the Acts 2:44 sometimes-ideal of “everything in common.” However, it’s important to look for ways to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). It is, in fact, so important that Paul goes on to say, “in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 speaks of the blessings of companionship: “Two are better than one” (v. 9) and “a cord of
three strands is not easily broken” (v. 12). While at times used in the context of wedding ceremonies (the addition of the third cord is God, in a godly marriage), the blessings described by The Teacher in this passage wouldn’t have been unique to the marriage relationship. In fact, in Michael A. Easton’s commentary on Ecclesiastes, he says the move from two to three may “be a hint…that companionship may operate within larger numbers” (Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary, p. 95). “In some realms,” Easton says, “progress may be measured by increasing independence; in this realm spiritual stature is measured by growing interdependence.” Some people, rather than setting New Year’s resolutions (which often fail), set goals or intentions guided by one word (such as “Presence,” “Rest” or “Gratitude”). I haven’t yet adopted this practice, but I find it appealing. I’m wondering now how my life might look in a year’s time if I were to choose the word “interdependent” to guide the coming year. And then, what if each EMCer did the same? What would the EMC look like a year from now? – Rebecca Roman
While prizing authenticity, our society at the same time urges the pursuit of independence; these two seem incompatible.
••
Thanks to Departing Staff EMC is grateful for the dedication and service of Ken Zacharias, who has served as Foreign Secretary to the Board of Missions, and more recently as Director of Global Outreach. During his 16 years of service, Ken supervised the expansion of EMC Missions into Guadalajara, Mexico and ministry in Bolivia. He also spearheaded the more recent expansion efforts to south Spain. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ken and his wife Val and wish them joy as they enter retirement.
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EMC is grateful to Andrew Walker for his eight years of service on the national office team. Andrew has provided graphic design and video production expertise to the communications team. He also served as Assistant Editor of The Messenger. Andrew is returning to school for further training in graphic design. We extend our thanks and best wishes to Andrew and his wife Aubrey in this new phase of their lives. – EMC
Table of Contents Features
Columns
6
5
Singleness: Finding Wholeness in the Midst of Disappointment and Loss – Stephanie Fast
page
22
Focus On
Giving Tuesday: Canadian Church Planting – Gerald Reimer
10 My Life as a Single Person
21 A Path To Peace
14 Making the Church a Safe Place for Singles
34 His Light to My Path
16 KLC and Bow Island Mark Official Openings as EMC Churches
35 Further In and Higher Up
– Junia Plett
– Gerald Reimer
18 Transition Proposal, Three Per Cent Budget Increase Approved – Rebecca Roman
Separating Identity and Ideas – Kevin Wiebe
page
25
Growing in Wisdom – Karla Hein If I Died Today – Layton Friesen
36 Kids’ Corner
Is Your Brain Hungry? – Loreena Thiessen
Departments 2
Editorial
4
Letters and Notices
22
With Our Missionaries
25
With Our Churches
27
News
32
In Memory
33
Shoulder Tapping
page
28
page
26
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 3
The Messenger Volume 60 No. 1 January 2022
INTERIM EDITOR REBECCA ROMAN
ASSISTANT EDITOR ANDREW WALKER
PUBLICATION AND PURPOSE The Messenger is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly content for the faith. Phone: 204-326-6401 messenger@emconference.ca www.emcmessenger.ca www.issuu.com/emcmessenger ISSN: 0701-3299 Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362 Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, MB
COPYRIGHT The articles printed in The Messenger are owned by The Messenger or by the author and may not be reprinted without permission. Unless noted, Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. TM
SUBMISSIONS 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 considerence to carry editorial endorsement. Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcome. Submissions should be sent to messenger@emconference.ca.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Print subscriptions are free of charge to all members and adherents of EMC churches in Canada. For all others, print subscription rates are as follows: $20/year ($26 U.S.), Manitoba residents add 7% PST. To sign up for the email newsletter or submit an address change, email messenger@emconference.ca.
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 can be sent to messenger@emconference.ca.
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Letters and Notices Ministerial Hears From the Holy Spirit, Holds Women in Ministry Vote [June 2021 issue] The Aberdeen church need not be deeply concerned about the decision the EMC Ministerial has made regarding women in ministry. In my opinion, the ministerial should be applauded for upholding and basing their decision on God’s word. Reading Proverbs 31:8–9 in context, it has nothing to do with women in the church. The MacArthur Bible Commentary says, “The king’s duty was to uphold the case of the helpless in both physical and material cries. The monarch thus mediates the compassion of God.” Read the verses within the context. Letting each church decide for themselves is not leadership. This causes the dilemma within the
churches. Church leadership needs spiritually strong men standing firm on God’s Word. We are undermining God’s Word when think we can vote on what is written. In a quote I found on the Internet, Megan comments on Ephesians 5:22– 23: “As a woman, the further I get in my faith journey, the more beautiful I find these passages. I was taught to be a strong woman, and I believe it takes a strong woman to be gentle, quiet spirit with self-control. Women can often be argumentative and stubborn. I find myself to be the most at peace and close to God when I’m fulfilling the roles he sets out in the Bible.” – Edwin Reimer Morweena, Man.
Rolf Kruse Begins as EMC’s Interim DGO The Personnel Committee of the EMC General Board is very pleased to announce that Rolf Kruse will join EMC national office staff as the Interim Director of Global Outreach. Rolf begins his work in this role on January 4, 2022, in a term anticipated to be between nine and eighteen months. Rolf ’s primary responsibilities will be providing support and guidance for EMC missionaries, developing new outreach opportunities and assisting churches with their missions emphasis. Rolf comes to EMC with more than 20
years of experience working crossculturally, most of it together with his wife Angela. He speaks Amharic and greets in many languages including Arabic and Low German. He has a passion for sharing the gospel. Rolf enjoys recreational soccer especially barefoot in the rain. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Rolf as he begins his journey with EMC. You will be able to reach him at rkruse@emconference.ca or 204-326-6401. – EMC Personnel Committee
Note on discussion within The Messenger Every community will have a diversity of views and opinions, which provides opportunities for us to learn from each other, being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Our discussions are inevitably impacted by our own experiences, and the
experiences of people in our lives. These discussions should also reflect the reality that some groups and individuals have not always felt welcome in Christian communities. We welcome your responses to articles and topics discussed in The Messenger. – Board of Church Ministries
Column • Focus On
Giving Tuesday: Canadian Church Planting
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hank you for supporting church planting in Canada! EMC’s Giving Tuesday initiative allowed us to replenish our Seed and Growth Funds by nearly $30,000. We trust you enjoyed hearing from several church planters in the videos shared on EMC social media platforms. The Church Planting Task Force has been given a mandate by EMC delegates to plant churches across Canada, recognizing this takes substantial funding. And as you may have seen on the Giving Tuesday social media posts, our church planters are eternally grateful for the support they receive from the wider conference so they can evangelize, disciple, and establish new churches. Because of our mandate, we are constantly looking for new opportunities to recruit more church planters and to facilitate new church plants. For instance, many EMC students studying at Steinbach Bible College are looking to get involved in ministry, whether overseas missions, youth, pastoral or church planting, etc. In our conversations, many of them talk about how valuable it would be to connect up with a local EMC church, their own or another one, to develop their ministry skills. While this requires openness and intentionality from our churches, it facilitates future growth of the kingdom.
Cooperation with a local EMC church is a great way to not only develop new leaders, but can be a great asset to local ministries your church is engaged in, or would like to expand into. Yes, financial investment is required. But whether it happens at the local church level or on the wider conference level, the results are the same: new leaders engaged in new ministries that grow the church in Canada and beyond. However, if your church is hesitant to engage new workers, or doesn’t have any reasonable opportunities right now, then assisting the Task Force in our broader Canadian church planting ministry would be a tremendous asset. While many of our young adults are content to live and serve in their home communities, many are also excited to cross the country—or the globe—to engage in new opportunities according to God’s leading. For that, support of the wider conference is needed. Thank you for your ongoing support of church planting in Canada. May many people be brought into a new relationship with the living Lord this year!
The Church Planting Taskforce budget for 2022 is $409,000, of which $323,000 is General Fund, approved by the delegates, and $86,000, or 21 per cent, is Designated Funds, which is made up of tithes and offerings from new church plants, support from EMC churches related to specific church plants, and additional funds coming in from donors specifically for church planting. Around 70 per cent of these funds go towards personnel, including church planter and office staff salaries and benefits, and ministry expenses. Of the eight church planters and staff receiving salary, only one is at 100 per cent. The seven remaining staff either receive salary for other work they are involved in, or are engaged in tentmaking work with other jobs on the side. These workers receive anywhere between 20 per cent and 80 per cent of full-time salary, with three at 50 per cent. Another 15 per cent of our budget, or $56,000, goes toward church subsidies, operating on a declining scale for churches generally within their first 10 years. And the remaining 15 per cent goes toward church planting ministries, personnel formation, expansion and travel. – Gerald Reimer is EMC’s Director of Church Planting.
By Gerald Reimer Director of Canadian Church Planting
Thank you for your ongoing support of church planting in Canada.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 5
Singleness: Finding Wholeness in the Midst of Disappointment and Loss
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By Stephanie Fast
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Far from my ideal life
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grew up as a missionary kid in Pakistan. We had a jungle gym in our backyard and, very often, my sister and I would sit on the swings and play a game in which we would imagine we were grown up and living out the most ideal life we could think of: we were missionaries in the Peruvian jungle, with about 10 kids each. We homeschooled our kids and were, of course, the perfect missionary families.
My dream as a kid didn’t ever really change (other than the number of kids!). I wanted to be a missionary, have a family and homeschool my kids, just as my mom was doing. In my adulthood, I realized life is much more complex than I had expected. After Bible school, degrees in both nursing and education, and a year working overseas to teach missionary children, I began to realize pursuing my life’s goals was anything but straightforward. I found myself, in my early thirties, purchasing a house and “settling down” in Manitoba, working at a “normal” job, and single. It may sound hard to believe, but this was about as far from my ideal life as I could possibly imagine. It has been and continues to be a challenging road, learning to live life to the full when life has brought many disappointments. My experience of singleness, loneliness and disappointment is not unique nor is it more significant than another person’s story. I share my story here in the hopes that it will bring encouragement and, perhaps, even a challenge.
Answering awkward questions
One challenging aspect of being single is simply answering people’s questions about it. As a teacher I find that each new batch of students brings new questions or comments about my marital status. It can certainly be a bit humorous at times. One of my students once said: “Ms. Fast, you should get married!” “Why?” I asked. “Because
you might get a baby!” I so appreciated him looking out for my welfare and wanting to ensure that my children grow up with a father, but it wasn’t the time and place to explain that he had things a little backwards! Humorous at times, yes. But, for the most part, answering questions about my marital status is uncomfortable and awkward, and the conversations are not usually easy to navigate. There are some things about being single that can certainly be seen as positives. One has time and space to do things like travel the world on one’s summer holidays or spend uninterrupted time reading the Bible in the morning. However, this comes with its price as well. As much as I enjoy alone time, spending time alone when it’s your choice is very different from spending time alone when it’s not your choice.
Practical challenges and personal struggles
One significant day-to-day challenge that I have faced is that there isn’t another human on whom it is socially acceptable for me to depend in the same way that spouses depend on one another. I am never sure if it’s okay to ask people to help me with, say, a household project, because others are not going to depend on me for help in the same way; it feels like an unbalanced relationship. Paying a stranger to work in my yard rather than asking a friend for help often means I feel less vulnerable in front of others. This may not always be the best approach, but these are just
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some of my honest experiences as I’ve tried to figure out what it means to be independent. So, there are the practical challenges of life as a single person. But, even deeper, are the personal, emotional and spiritual struggles that I have faced. The most significant experiences for me have been dealing with feelings of shame and grief. Shame is the feeling that there is something wrong with me. I think we have all experienced that feeling in one way, shape or form. Our church culture places a strong emphasis on nuclear family life. This can lead, sometimes, to us thinking that our identity does have something to do with our marital and parental status because parenting and marriage are given such a high value. For me, this has contributed to feelings of shame about who I am as a person within the context of the church.
Welcoming Jesus into pain
The process of learning to live life as a single person has also involved recognizing I need to learn to live with loss. I have realized I need to grieve these losses. The question I have asked myself repeatedly over the past few years has been: how do I live this life that I never wanted to live and do it in a healthy, healed way? I am not sharing about my experiences because I have “gotten over” my losses, or perhaps ever will
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completely “get over” them. But I have definitely been in a process of learning what it means to live in the middle of it. One thing that I have come back to again and again is recognizing that, if God intended humans to live as husband and wife and bear children then, perhaps, he is more saddened than I at the losses I am experiencing. Jesus took our pain. Sometimes I fear that we have so emphasized how Jesus took our sin we forget he also bore our pain and suffering. Loneliness is not a new idea for him. Tears were part of his life too. For some reason, it is in Jesus sharing in our suffering that redemption and wholeness come. Welcoming Jesus into my pain is the only way I can ever experience that wholeness. Praying about this grief is still a learning process for me. Submitting to God in prayer often means that I simply say: “Dear Lord, I know that you understand pain and perhaps there are more tears in your eyes than there are in mine. I can’t stay silent on this. I need to let you in. I can’t do this alone.”
What it means to live in community
Experiencing loneliness and loss within the context of the church has caused me to think a lot about what it means to be the family of God. Although sometimes as a single person I have felt alone in my need for community, I recognize
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it isn’t just me. God created us not just to live in nuclear family groups or even just in extended biological family groups, but to live in community as sisters and brothers in the church. Galatians 3:27–29 (NLT) says, “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” In the Jewish context in which Paul was writing, there was a daily prayer that went something like this: “Thank you, God, that you have not made me a Gentile, a slave or a woman.” Paul was turning this prayer on its head as he urged the Galatian church to walk in their new identity in Christ. He was urging them to walk in new relationships to one another that would render previous social and cultural distinctions irrelevant. Although our social context is quite different, our culture has also placed greater value on certain ways of being. Being married and having children are aspects of our culture often given that type of value. Might Paul say, if he were speaking to our cultural context: “there is no longer single nor married, parent nor childless... you are one in Christ Jesus”?
Moving away from exclusion
It’s important for us to recognize the gifts God has given us are not just to bless those within our biological family, but to bless the whole community in which we live. God chose the
Israelites as his people—not so they would be exclusive and ignore the rest of the world—but so he could draw the Gentiles to himself through them. There is no exclusivity in the family of God, as Paul makes very clear in this passage. Doesn’t God want to work through our nuclear and extended biological families in the very same way? We tend to be comfortable putting people in categories such as: “men,” “women,” “married,” “single,” “youth,” “seniors,” “family” or “not family.” Connecting with those outside our comfortable boxes is one step on the path toward living as the family of Christ. Yes, it can be uncomfortable to do this, and there can be times of rejection where you reach out and it is not reciprocated—I have experienced that. But I believe when Paul described the family of God as there being no female and male, neither slave nor free, he really meant it. I have married friends who have welcomed me into their homes, allowing me into their space, blessing me as part of their lives in very genuine and deep ways, where I feel a part of their life and part of their family. In these relationships, I have experienced what it means to live as true brothers and sisters in Christ, where there are no distinctions that push us apart. This is the beginning of living together as an interdependent community, where we recognize that we do, indeed, need each other. Where we share each other’s burdens and walk together in oneness. Stephanie Fast lives in Steinbach and attends Blumenort Community Church (BCC). She currently teaches Grade 2 in Steinbach. At BCC, she enjoys serving on the global missions committee and co-leading a monthly theological discussion group. She loves to travel and has taught missionary children in Pakistan, Nepal and Bulgaria. She enjoys baking, playing piano and drinking tea with friends.
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My Life as a Single Person By Junia Plett Editor’s note: The story that follows is written from Junia (Loewen) Plett’s experiences and thoughts before she married five years ago at age 52.
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ife stories can be told in many ways. Come with me for a bit. I’ll take you through the chapters of my life, starting with my childhood. We could open the pages to my overseas volunteer work, to my process of choosing a career, to my decision to settle down for the first time as an adult at age 45, or to the pages describing my interests. But I would also need to include a chapter on singleness. This chapter cannot stand alone without the context of the whole—and the other segments of my life story can’t be told without the pages on singleness.
a pastor’s daughter, worked in a Muslim country, became a teacher, have a love for the outdoors and travel, and worked among the Dalits in India. More could be told. I wondered, should I include a section on singleness? Most of the chapters in my life I had planned, but I had not specifically chosen singleness. The chapter “Singleness” may be read and understood in various ways in different cultures and settings. For two years in my early 20s, I lived in a Muslim culture where marriage is expected and arranged. When I prepared to return to Canada I went to the homes of my friends to say goodbye. On one such visit, my friends pleaded for me to stay. Then I overheard someone in the room say that Junia’s family has asked her to return to get married. The pleading in the room stopped. I had their blessing to go. (I never did tell them that they had come to the wrong conclusion.) In the West, it is often assumed a single person has been previously married, has had children or has had a partner. Saying no to these
In the West, it is often assumed a single person has been previously married, has had children or has had a partner.
Singleness in different cultures
I was asked to share my life story with my colleagues. I would include the following chapters: I was born and raised in Blumenort, grew up as
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assumptions and being met with silence or being told, “Oh, so you are a real single,” puts one into yet another distinct category. In our church culture we seem to understand the uniqueness of the call for celibacy in singleness, yet that can bring uneasiness as well.
Independence and loneliness
This chapter might include the enjoyment of independence, the freedom to pack up one’s bags and change career or location, or the time available to invest in extended family and friends. It could also include the loneliness of singleness. There may be feelings of rejection from a broken relationship, or being abandoned, betrayed or feeling rejected because one has not had a relationship. It may include practical challenges of doing life alone. It may reveal feeling excluded in other chapters of life: dating, wedding plans, young marrieds, raising a family, kids marrying, empty nesting, becoming grandparents. A chapter on caring for aging parents is a stage of life singles are often a part of—and possibly go through it alone.
Silence and shame
What if I want to hang onto this chapter in silence? Why is it difficult to talk about singleness? In Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity: Unlocking NT Culture, David deSilva describes several kinds of shame. One kind of shame is a “festering negative self-portrait” we feel we need to defend, shame about who we are. We want to hide that part of us, causing silence. What would happen if I would open this chapter and talk about it freely? Would I get a response, “It’s better to be single and wish you were married than to be married and wish you were single”? For the most part, we can understand and agree with the reasoning behind that statement. However, it can be misunderstood. A young woman finally shared with a married couple her desire to be married and was given this response. She replied, “Oh, I am so sorry. I will definitely pray for your marriage.” This wasn’t what the couple had meant to portray. Neither was their response the kind of marriage this young woman desired and had finally dared to share.
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What if I want to hang onto this chapter in silence? Why is it difficult to talk about singleness?
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A focus on using my gifts
How did I even get to this place of singleness in my 40s and early 50s? In Grade 12 we had a one-page English assignment to describe where we would be 10 years after graduation. All I remember about that assignment was that I’d be in Turkey, working with Muslim women. (I still have not made it to Turkey!) As a young adult my goals of heading overseas and keeping doors open for working cross-culturally were predominant. I made decisions accordingly even though some people challenged me to consider options that could provide opportunities to meet a potential husband. I had grown up understanding that not everyone gets married. I never felt pressure from my parents to marry. My father encouraged me to use my gifts in ministry for God’s kingdom. While I wished for marriage, I didn’t spend time focusing on it—I had too many other things I wanted to do in life. Then, in my late 30s and 40s, I found myself
needing to face the fact that I desired marriage. I didn’t want to be running after marriage, but neither should I deny my desire. I had to come to terms with the fact that it is all right to desire marriage and the desire did not show weakness. But coming to that point also meant I had to face the reality that I was not married; facing this fact could bring loneliness, pain and deep longing.
Living as a contented single person
In light of all this, what is the overall description of my life? I have been asked, “How do you live a life of contentment as a single person?” by several people, both male and female. To answer this question, I needed to articulate my thoughts on singleness and how to view and walk a road that many have not planned for. I reflected on my own teaching. What was I teaching my high school students in Winnipeg or my Bible school students in India? Their culture or life experiences do not define them.
I never felt pressure from my parents to marry. My father encouraged me to use my gifts in ministry for God’s kingdom.
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Jesus has come to redefine life for men and women in a shame-based culture, extending his favour and honour. Jesus, through the work on the cross, defines who we are. That definition is honour and favour. Herein is my answer. None of the chapters of my life, even the ones I had aspired to, give me my definition to life. Each chapter has shaped my life, yet the storyline is held together by another overall story. Apostle Paul begins to describe this in Ephesians 1, a prayer celebrating hope and faith in Jesus Christ. He is describing a larger story, but it is every believer’s story—and he gives a bird’seye view of the hope and glorious work through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). “Blessing” means commendation, a eulogy, a benediction. What is the spiritual blessing, the story, the speech, the eulogy he has written for all of us who believe? I have been predestined for adoption, have redemption and forgiveness through his blood, have been lavished upon, and have obtained an inheritance which is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (vv. 5–14). As I take time to reflect on these words, I can begin to understand God’s work in and through my life.
Redeeming the word “single”
Could it be that I would see God redeeming even the word “single” in my life? The word that one wants to keep hidden, can this be reclaimed
or regained? Instead of keeping it silenced, God may desire to bring it to the forefront and use that very word in my life to fulfill his plans. In places where I may feel that singleness is a disadvantage to the situation, I may begin to see meaningful purpose. Opening up these pages allows God’s story to infiltrate this chapter, bringing a clear definition to my life. Singleness, divorce, marriage, widowhood, childlessness, parenthood (the list could go on) are not the defining pages of life. We are defined by God’s words written over us. This is one story. The body of Christ is characterized by many unique stories which have shaped us but not defined us. Many of us hold onto unspoken stories of various kinds. We as the family of God, the church, have opportunities to bring deep healing. Let’s take time to see God at work in and through us in our personal stories and those of our brothers and sisters instead of hiding within ourselves. Hiding distances us from God’s heart of love and healing. All of us have blessings of adoption, redemption and inheritance written over us, giving us an honourable and favourable purpose in life. Junia Plett (nee Loewen) grew up near Steinbach, Man., and has worked in numerous places overseas and in Canada with a variety of ministries. She got married in 2016 and is living with her husband David near Mitchell, Man. They are part of Blumenort Community Church. Junia loves being back in her home area, gardening, hosting, partnering with her husband in his business and investing in the lives of family and friends.
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Making the Church a Safe Place for Singles An interview with a single man Editor’s note: This EMCer chose to respond to the interview questions anonymously. Q: To start with, can you share a bit about your experience as a single person in the church? As a man, do you perceive that your experience is different than a woman’s? A: I’ve had a very positive experience as a single person in church. I attend a church with a fairly small congregation. While there are only a handful of single people within the congregation, I’ve never felt anything but welcomed and loved. I do not feel my experience is different from a woman’s if I’m looking at the subject in broad strokes. We each have our own set of challenges, pressures and perceptions to navigate through.
men are expected to be the breadwinners, the “tough” ones, the silent ones when it comes to our feelings—these age-old stereotypes—these expectations make it difficult for a man to express how he’s feeling mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I think all three of these things are affected when we can’t or won’t express our feelings. Q: What’s your idea of a safe and welcoming space for single people? Does church fit that description? If not, where is it that you feel most welcome as a single person and how could churches become more like that place? A: A safe place would be a space without judgement, a space that emulates the unconditional love of Jesus. I feel I attend a church that does this. All churches should fit this description. But some churches are simply easier for a single person to feel at home and safe at. I think simply practicing the words of Jesus to “love your neighbour” can go a long way in making all churches feel like a safe space.
A safe place would be a space without judgement, a space that emulates the unconditional love of Jesus.
Q: It seems easier to find articles online written from a single woman’s perspective than a single man’s; is it your sense that it’s more difficult for men to speak about being single? If so, why? A: You’re right, it does seem easier. I think in society, especially in traditional societies where
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Q: As someone who has been single for several years, how have you seen views on singleness shift within the church and wider culture? Have your own views changed over time? If so, how? A: I can only speak to my own experiences, but it seems to me that there is more acceptance within the church community and society as a whole, especially when you look outside of your current geographical bubble. As a single person, I enjoy travelling, shopping, eating out, going to a movie and going to church. It took some getting used to but I feel it’s easier than ever to live the life you choose to live, or dream of living one day. Q: What is a challenge about being single that surprises you? A: At first it was being the “fifth wheel.” The vast majority of my friends and family are married. There were times in the past when I overthought my “singleness” when I’m sure others didn’t. But it’s human nature; being the only single one in a group of couples. That’s something that no longer bothers me. Something I still struggle with is there’s no one with me to keep me accountable. Having a loved one with you to help keep you strong in the midst of temptation, or when you’ve had a rough day would be nice. Q: How do you feel being single may have been an advantage in your life? A: I suppose I’m mostly just responsible to myself and no one else. I can travel where I want, eat what I want, watch what I want. I don’t need a big house; my costs are low—there are definitely some perks. Q: The incel movement seems mainly dominated by single men; what do you think is appealing about that movement for, at least, a certain segment of single men? How should the church be responding to this movement?
A: I have actually never heard this term before or heard about this movement. A quick Wikipedia search fixed that. This is a dangerous movement at first glance. Whether it’s loneliness or rejection that drew men to this line of thinking, it manifests itself into a hatred of women. This can spiral into dangerous behaviour and actions. Again, I don’t know a lot about this subject matter but if it’s growing and gaining in popularity, it clearly needs to be addressed. Q: Views on celibacy have changed within the broader culture and even, to some extent, within the church. For example, it is not uncommon for couples to cohabit before marriage. Do you think the church’s traditional stance on celibacy outside of marriage is unrealistic? If not, where then do you think the breakdown is happening between teaching and practice? A: I don’t think the church’s stance on celibacy outside of marriage is unrealistic at all. Having said that, temptation is a constant. And one of the downsides of being single is you get to spend a lot of time with your thoughts—way too much time. I think the breakdown between teaching and practice has to do with what and whom we choose to surround ourselves with when we aren’t being taught. It’s harder than ever to withstand temptation. That’s why the word of God and the teachings of Jesus are so important in this regard. When made a daily part of our life, a pre-marital celibate life can be so rewarding.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 15
RUTH BLOCK
KLC and Bow Island Mark Official Openings as EMC Churches By Gerald Reimer Editor’s Note: Some full names of Kingdom Life Church participants are not disclosed due to security concerns.
WINNIPEG, Man.
On October 17, 2021, Kingdom Life Church (KLC) members met together at St. Vital EMC in Winnipeg, Man., with whom they have established a formal partnership. This service marked the official opening of KLC as part of the EMC, under the leadership of I and P, workers supported by the EMC Church Planting Task Force. The service included greetings by Jerry Plett, minister of the St. Vital EMC, and other local ministers in the community. A dear friend of I and P’s from Southern Ontario led songs of worship. I had the privilege of sharing from the Word, which was translated into Arabic. I and P were then asked to respond to several covenant questions related to their commitment to lead this community, followed by prayers of blessing.
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The evening ended with food, accompanied by lots of wonderful fellowship. KLC seeks to serve the Arabic-speaking population of Winnipeg, with a desire to help welcome them into life in Canada, which can often seem overwhelming to many who may have recently immigrated. KLC members serve in everyday ways such as translation services, accompanying people to doctor’s appointments, helping to provide for their practical needs, and sharing the good news of hope in song, teaching, and discipleship. For more information about KLC, contact the conference office.
followed by prayers of blessing. After the service, a potluck lunch was served, and lots of encouragement was shared among the gathered group. The Bow Island EMC desires to faithfully welcome people who are hungry for a gospel that brings freedom and new life in Christ. The church hopes it can offer ministries that will nurture faith, and provide training and discipleship for the young and old alike, equipping people to live out their faith on a daily basis in their homes, schools and workplaces.
Pray for church plants GERALD REIMER
Serving in new church plants like these requires sacrifice. For KLC, one of the challenges they face is not only trying to meet the needs of first generation immigrants from the Middle East, but also to become a place where the second generation feels like their needs are met. For Bow Island, the sacrifice is perhaps more so for the those left behind at Gospel Light, a relatively new church plant in its own right, and now needing to refocus themselves in the life of the community. This is a bittersweet church plant for them, no doubt. So please continue to pray for these churches, that God would carry them, and that leadership would find their strength in Jesus!
BOW ISLAND, Alta.
On November 7, 2021, the Bow Island EMC church family met together at their new building, purchased earlier in the summer and subsequently renovated to accommodate their needs. The mother church, Gospel Light Fellowship in Redcliff, Alberta, was invited to attend to demonstrate their support and share in the celebration. A variety of people connected to the church brought greetings, including several local pastors. Church planters Abe and Anna Bueckert, now retired but willing to assist the new leadership team get the church off the ground, led worship in song and a children’s story. Abe also took time to share from their personal perspective what this journey has been like. I was again privileged to preach the Word, followed by inviting Abe and Anna to respond to several covenant questions related to their commitment to lead this congregation, and again
GERALD REIMER
“Every church contains the seed for other churches. The local church was meant to reproduce itself over and over again. As a healthy plant forms seeds that when planted bring forth other plants, so healthy churches form seeds that produce other churches. There is a price to be paid for planting of that seed. But there is a far greater price to pay if the seed is not planted.” – Keith Bailey (Church Planting Road Map, James R. Nikkel, 2004, p.189)
Gerald Reimer is Director of Canadian Church Planting.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 17
Transition Proposal, Three Per Cent Budget Increase Approved By Rebecca Roman
C
onference Council members met by Zoom on November 20, 2021, starting at 10 a.m. CT, to give opportunities for boards to report and make recommendations on the work of the Conference.
Opening
TRC
Moderator Abe Bergen opened by reading from 2 Corinthians 5:11–21, saying reconciliation is part of EMC’s mission. He noted how Mennonites who immigrated from Russia to Canada benefited from practices that harmed others. There is a need to make efforts at reconciliation and healing with Indigenous Peoples in Canada, he said.
On March 30, 2014, Mennonite leaders in Canada including EMC Executive Director Tim Dyck (centre) presented a joint Statement of Reconciliation at a Truth and Reconciliation Commission event held in Edmonton, Alta. At the November 2021 Conference Council meeting, EMC Moderator Abe Bergen said the General Board will be working to further reconciliation education efforts in EMC churches.
General Board
Moderator Abe Bergen reported. The way churches and the Conference currently define ministerial leadership has changed over the years and is no longer aligned with what is laid out in the EMC Constitution. The General Board (GB) has requested the Board of Leadership and Outreach (BLO) review and clarify the role and makeup of the EMC Ministerial. If changes to the Constitution are needed, the proposal will be brought to Conference Council. The GB has been approached with requests for exemptions to COVID-19 vaccines based on religion. While the GB will not be publishing a statement, Bergen says the Board has approved a response for direct inquiries.
Transition Consultant report and proposal Vice-Moderator Darren Plett introduced Don Peters, Transition Consultant. With the upcoming retirements of Director of Global Mission
18 The Messenger • January 2022
Ken Zacharias and Executive Director Tim Dyck, the GB hired Don Peters to review EMC’s current staff configuration and make recommendations. Don Peters began by thanking the EMC, saying he appreciated people’s openness and willingness to answer questions. He outlined key points in the proposal: • That the Executive Director take on a more visible role in championing the vision of the EMC (EMC already has a strong vision statement); • That the current Communications Coordinator become the Director of Communications; • That the expectation of travel be specified in the job descriptions for directors (an expectation exists, but the number of visits expected isn’t currently outlined); • That the EMC hire a director who will assist churches in reaching the next generation; • That the EMC further explore associations and partnership to accomplish our vision and
mission (we currently have associate missions, but this could be expanded to other areas of ministry); • That associate missionaries be administered by the Director of Global Outreach; • That each director liaise with a board and each board have a staff liaison. Some comments were made that the job description for a director to reach the next generation seems vague. Don Peters responded the focus needs to go beyond handing out pamphlets, towards advocacy. We need someone to assist the church in developing policies and vision to understand and include the next generation. The motion carried.
Budget and Trustees report
Andrew Kampen, Board of Trustees vice-chairman, introduced the proposed budget for 2022. For 2021, EMC reduced its budget by 10 per cent in anticipation of coming financial difficulties. Receipts did not drop as expected and disbursements were lower than expected. The receipt of government subsidies also assisted in replenishing reserves depleted from previous shortfalls. The 2022 budget includes an increase in spending of three per cent. It is hoped receipts
will overtake expenses by an additional three per cent (for a total of $1.8M), replenishing the reserve fund. The budget was approved. Kampen reported the BOT has updated the privacy policy and is working to develop a budget reserve policy.
Inspiring Partnership in Ministry (IPiM)
Communications Coordinator Erica Fehr, part of the IPiM task force, presented a summary of its recommendations. The task force recommends the Conference maintain a focus on what we have in common, name ministry truthfully (often women missionaries serve as pastors and church planters), and make Conference meetings welcoming and safe. Local churches are encouraged to include women as speakers, include both spouses in local pastor job contracts (where appropriate), give attention to ministries currently led by women, name church ministry honestly, consider adding a woman pastor to church staff in a role that fits the church’s theology, consider professional development to assist all-male pastoral teams in understanding women’s perspectives, and follow through on stated beliefs (often churches believe more leadership roles are open to women than they practice). To individuals the task force recommends continued learning; this is an ongoing challenge.
JAMIE LOEWEN
Board of Leadership and Outreach
Beyond planning events (such as Abundant Springs, above) and “handing out pamphlets,” a director for ministry to the next generation needs to assist churches and Conference in developing policies and vision to understand and include young people.
BLO chairman Andy Woodworth said ministerial met on the previous day via Zoom for a time of sharing and prayer. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the planned ministerial retreat was postponed. A major initiative of the BLO for 2022 is Come and See, a season of spiritual renewal. This is to run from the first Sunday of Advent 2021 until Pentecost of 2022.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 19
Board of Missions
The BLO is also working on rewriting the Ministerial Misconduct Policy. Conference Pastor Layton Friesen said the current policy was made 20 years ago.
Church Planting Task Force
Director of Canadian Church Planting Gerald Reimer said despite successes and failures, “the call is clear” to continue church planting. Two new church plants had opening services in fall of 2021: Kingdom Life in Winnipeg, Man., and Bow Island EMC in Alberta. Since Bow Island is a daughter church of Gospel Light in Redcliff, Alta., Gospel Light is left with vacancies in leadership—a challenge that requires prayer.
Board of Church Ministries
BCM chairwoman Kim Muehling summarized responses from delegates to the question at the June 2021 Council meeting asking about challenges and opportunities as we come out of the pandemic. Three main themes were the harmful level of conflict in churches, uncertainty about people returning, and the need to embrace new technology well. The BCM is looking at providing resources to help churches with these challenges. Ruth Block introduced Come and See resources developed for use in children’s ministry. There is a Facebook group for Come and See Kids (https://www.facebook. com/groups/emckidsmin). Jordan Doerksen reported on behalf of the National Youth Committee. Abundant Springs is planned for spring 2022, but a decision will be made in January if the event can go ahead.
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Antonio Pitta reported on his recent exploratory trip to Spain with his wife Esther and Rolf Kruse. The port of Algeciras brings North Africa to Europe. Moroccan people face racism from the Spanish people. The BOM passed a recommendation to send the Pittas to Spain for language learning as early as January. Conference Council will need to ratify the decision to accept Algeciras and the Campo of Gibraltar area as a new field at their next meeting. Outgoing Director of Global Mission Ken Zacharias reported the BOM recently signed an Associate Mission Agreement with Pioneer Missions. Two young women have been recently accepted by the BOM and Pioneers. Both young women (unnamed for security reasons) reported and requested prayer as they serve.
Closing
Moderator Abe Bergen closed with a summary of the day’s events and decisions. He reminded delegates of the need to “talk about [recommendations from the Inspiring Partnership in Ministry task force] in our churches.” Post-meeting a time was held to honour outgoing EMC staff members. Phil Hamm expressed gratitude for Ken Zacharias who will be retiring as Director of Global Mission at the end of November 2021. Another departing staff member is Andrew Walker, Communications Assistant, who will be leaving mid-January 2022 to pursue further education. Kim Muehling expressed thanks for his years of service.
Column • A Path To Peace
Separating Identity and Ideas
“I
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don’t have many friends because most people think I’m a jerk.” I was a bit taken aback by the surprisingly blunt way my new neighbour introduced himself. I casually but curiously responded by saying, “Oh? Why is that?” “It’s because I separate ideas and identity. Most people get offended when you critique their ideas because they tie their identity to their ideas. I don’t do that, so when I tear apart someone’s idea, I’m not saying they’re a terrible person, just that I think their idea is terrible. But most people just think I’m being a jerk.” “Good to know,” I responded, and truly it was. This person became a good friend in the months and years that followed, and I came to greatly respect and appreciate his brutal honesty about ideas. It truly helped form me into someone who thinks more carefully. Indeed, it seems building our identity upon our own ideas surely is problematic, because when those ideas are challenged, or our ideas prove to have some blind spots, it becomes a challenge to the very fabric of the identity we have built instead of an opportunity to grow or make our ideas better. One of the profound things about Christianity is that it invites us to build our identities upon the truth that we are made in God’s image, and on the sufficiency of the work of Jesus— both unshakeable truths. We can count on these
By Kevin Wiebe
My Id
eas
truths to be true no matter how inaccurate our other ideas may be. It can be profoundly liberating to be given this as the foundation for our identity. Yet, as my new friend so bluntly demonstrated, completely disregarding the tendency of people to connect their ideas and identities can be an incredibly lonely practice. Yes, I believe my friend is right—we need to have a better foundation for our identity than the sufficiency of our own ideas. This allows us freedom to improve our ways of thinking, and opens our minds to the possibility we might be wrong on some things—and it’s okay to be on a journey in this regard and not be perfect yet. I also believe, however, that we are not obligated to confront every idea we disagree with, and sometimes maintaining a friendship with someone we disagree with is more important than convincing them of a particular idea. Even when the idea is the unshakeable truth of the gospel, we will lose all opportunities to walk with them if we push them away. I am still learning how to do this well, but it is a pursuit that I believe is well worth the time and effort.
Yes, I believe my friend is right— we need to have a better foundation for our identity than the sufficiency of our own ideas.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 21
With Our Missionaries
Come Along on a Typical Sunday
BOM
PARAGUAY What does a typical Sunday look like for us? On the mission field, we don’t deal with a lot of typical or sameness in ministry; flexibility and change can be expected. Let us take you along on a Sunday like this last one. On this particular day, we had arranged to counsel a church couple at our Minga Guazú church for 9 a.m. We leave home a bit too late, around 8 a.m., having our máte and prayer time on the road. Fifteen minutes later, we pick up Mirta, a 10-year-old who wants to go along to visit her grandma in Minga Guazú for the day. After dropping Mirta off, we head to church. After some small talk, we start dealing with the couple’s bitterness that comes out of emotional pain and the Sometimes Chris and Revita share a meal, like this time at Melanio and pressure they put on each other. It’s a challenge to keep Gladys’s. their playing boy out of earshot, and we aren’t always successful. The husband confesses his sin that caused her When we get back to our room, Belen is ready to follow to become bitter against him and asks for her forgiveness. in prayer to forgive her mom. It’s now almost 6 p.m., time After leading the wife in prayer to Jesus’ room of grace and for her to go to church with Travis and others for music to forgive some of the people who had hurt her, they both practice. Revita and I quickly eat supper, shower to get feel like they can breathe again. They will both need more ready, and pack up the car. counselling, but by now it is lunch time. The partly finished roof and walls of our church help to Rosey delivers the lunch we bought as a fundraiser for keep it from getting as hot but do nothing to keep out the their neighbour. As the weather heats up, we share the meal noise of the cicadas and the music in the neighborhood. together with the family under the avocado shade at church. We try not to be too disappointed that the families we visAfter a restful siesta in our room, we have terere with ited today didn’t show up for the service, nor too distracted Belen, helping her work through her memories of her by some of the toddlers running around. dominant mom. She needs a bit more time to deal with After a lot of singing and sharing, the small kids and and pray things through by herself, so we have time to go pre-adolescents go with their teachers, Revita and Eliza. make a visit in the church neighborhood in the meantime. The rest of us make a circle for the lesson Travis presents Melanio and Gladys are both home, so we visit them for and leads, with participation from the group. The lesson is an hour, talking about his physical health issues which have on the return of Christ, and the importance of being prekept him from working, as well as her emotional/spiritual pared. Travis gives us notes and questions to take home in health. We pray for them. order to study other passages on this topic. After cleaning everything up and visiting with those who stay longer, we say good-byes and head over to Mirta’s grandma. A used portable wash machine is put in the trunk to take along for Mirta’s mom. We drop off our cargo at Fransisco and Mirian’s, visit with them a little, then continue our trip. By the time we’re home, it’s well past 10 p.m. We catch up with Stefan, our son living with us, then get ready for bed. It’s been a good Sunday, with some positive results from our visits. God is good! – Chris Kroeker Belen went along with Chris and Revita on a visit to Modesta.
22 The Messenger • January 2022
Chris and Revita Kroeker (Rosenort EMC) have served with EMC Missions in East Paraguay since 1991.
With Our Missionaries
God Is Working in the North! MANITOBA
KYLA PLETT
In the last few years life and ministry has been very different for all of us. Things in Northern Manitoba are slowly getting back to normal, and God is working! Here are some areas I have seen him move recently. The Serving And Leadership Training (SALT) youth group in Split Lake has gone through some changes. For most of the fall we struggled to find a place to meet. We met outside as long as we could and then moved to having our study in the vehicle. A building we have used in the past and were hoping to make use of again burned down! But God has provided us with a new option. There are a few Christian teachers in the school that have been allowing us to use their classThe SALT youth group met outdoors for as long as possible in the fall of 2021. rooms. It has been good having them there as well. It is good for the youth to have regular interactions with other adult Christians in the Going for drives has been a huge part of ministry community. recently too. I don’t know what it is about the North, but There have been many significant tragedies recently. I driving around is enjoyed by so many. A few weeks ago, I know at least three families that have lost a parent in the picked up supper with a girl and then we went for a long last few months as well as many losses due to suicide this (80 km) drive while we ate. We went to my house for a bit year. The tragedy weighing most heavily on my mind is a after and then she asked to go for another drive! We went car accident at the end of October that claimed the lives around town looking at Christmas lights for a while. I of the mother, uncle and brother-in-law of some regular enjoy these times too. It provides an opportunity to listen SALT attendees. Their sister was in this accident as well. to the music they like, listen when they choose to speak She is stable but still in the hospital. Please pray for them— and, often, I have the chance to share what God has been especially with Christmas coming. Pray that God would fill teaching me or speak truth into their situations. them with hope, strength, peace and joy and that I would God is working in the North! I know of many young know how to best be a support. people striving to put God first and follow him. Please pray for our team to have wisdom and unity. Pray that God would bring us more staff and volunteers as there is always more that could be done. Pray for Midway Bible Camp as we hope to have camp this next summer; it is hard to know how to plan with ever-changing restrictions. And finally, pray that I would remain faithful and obedient to Christ. Thank you for your prayers! – Kyla Plett Kyla Plett (Prairie Grove Fellowship Chapel) works in Northern Manitoba with InterAct Ministries Canada and Midway Bible Camp. www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 23
With Our Missionaries
A Dream Come True BURKINA FASO
SIAKA TRAORÉ
Our existence is made of interactions with others. When we arrived in BoboDioulasso in 2006, our constant prayer was that God would send us to those who want to hear from him, those who are thirsty and hungry for him, or that God would send them to us. Our life here on earth is full of adventures. The life of our Lord Jesus Christ was also full of adventures. His encounter with Zacchaeus is a good example. Jesus, going from place to place announcing the good news, encountered an adult who had climbed a tree. He invited himself to Zacchaeus’s home, ignored the criticism of public opinion, and the result was a life completely transformed. Jesus dared. We must dare for the Lord. We must dare to share the good news of the kingdom of God. Thus, Muslims and Catholics came to us as evangelical Christians to help them acquire a hearse, a need they had not been able to meet for 30 years. Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, as soon as we shared this need with you, you supported our witness, our ministry to our Muslim and Catholic neighbors, not only them, but also to other evangelical Christians in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso for a good approach to relationships between Christians and Muslims.
After a long journey, the hearse is here, available and functional. The journey was long, but we arrived at our destination. At this point, we want to say thank you to God who is the source of the desire and will to act in each of you. The dream has become reality. Our plan to buy a hearse at the request of the neighbourhood where the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Bobo-Dioulasso is located has become a reality. Thank you to each of you who gave. Donations and our local contributions have BRIEF FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE HEARSE PROJECT more than covered our needs for the hearse. AMOUNTS RECEIVED: May the grace and peace of God be your UNITED STATES & CANADA $9,640 strength. – Siaka Traoré MUSLIM AND CATHOLIC COMMUNITY $2,000 Siaka Traore is a long MENNONITE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY $540 serving minister of the Evangelical Mennonite TOTAL $12,180 Church in Burkina Faso. He has served in leadership roles in the church, the AIMM Partnership Council, EXPENSES $9,680 and the AIMM International Council. He currently serves the evangelical churches of Burkina Faso as a REMAINDER $2,500 coach, mentor and encourager.
24 The Messenger • January 2022
With Our Churches Abbeydale Christian Fellowship
ABBEYDALE
‘You Feed Them’ of soup home for a physically scattered lunch, although united in spirit. Nevertheless, perhaps the youth identified with Jesus’ words, “You feed them.” Government mandates and restrictions currently make gatherings such as banquets or potlucks difficult to plan and partake in as one way to celebrate his birth. Christ has already blessed by providing food. As disciples, we are expected to effectively find a way to unite the scattered faithful through delivering what he has already provided. A group prepares for ACF’s weekly Community Cupboard. Simple, but somewhat complicated by the times we are living in. CALGARY, Alta.—Food, one of the necessities of life, is We are not the scattered who, together, sat on rocks unfortunately not always available to everyone. However, or a grassy hillside chomping on hand-delivered loaves it is often incorrectly assumed those in one’s local vicinity and fishes in the presence of he who made all things, but certainly have an adequately supplied pantry. who would leave them soon. We are the scattered who can In Mark 6, the disciples assumed that the hungry be united by simultaneously sitting in the presence of his crowd of scattered people could be dismissed to go home omnipresent Holy Spirit in our own homes, enjoying a disto prepare their own supper—or maybe pick up a burger ciple-delivered blessing. at a drive-through on the way home? But Jesus said, “You This year, ACFers were encouraged to deliver either feed them!” (Matthew 14:16 NLT). The command stands homemade or purchased yummy edibles, cards, a phone regardless of an absence of requests for food, perceived call, offer of a helpful gesture or maybe a creative coupon level of hunger or possibly the impracticality and inconveto another church family on a given day to celebrate the nience of delivering that blessing to others. birth of Christ. Whether empanadas, turkey, cookies, rice Jesus blessed by providing food. The faithful disciples and beans or an altogether different sort of blessing was united their efforts and delivered the food to the faithful, delivered to the door, each gift served to unify the scatscattered crowd. It was delivered to them right where they tered and fulfill Jesus’ “You feed them” command. were at. That is something worth emulating. Jesus expects us, his disciples, to deliver the necessities Abbeydale Christian Fellowship (ACF) supplies and of life he has provided to the scattered when he comserves a meal to hundreds of hungry people several times manded, “You feed them.” a year at Calgary’s Mustard Seed. ACF disciples of Christ – Ivy Plett unite to bake, cook, serve and share Christ’s love because he said, “You feed them!” Community Cupboard (an ACF outreach) prepares food hampers weekly to distribute to families from the surrounding community. About 40 local families are fed and blessed by the faithful work of a dozen or so disciples because Christ said, “You feed them!” ACF’s youth group serves a soup and bun (Abundant Springs) fundraiser in the church building annually after a Sunday service. This year, the crowd toted their choice Part of ACF’s Mustard Seed serving crew, ready with aprons and smiles.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 25
With Our Churches Crestview Fellowship Church
Sleeper Drive Held to Assist Young Parents
CRESTVIEW
WINNIPEG, Man.—Do you like PJs? Well, babies do too! Throughout November and December of 2021, a Sleeper Drive was held at Crestview Fellowship Church to support Youth for Christ (YFC) and Cheyenne Lewycky, the Young Parents Outreach Program Coordinator. Pastor Darrel Guenther believed it was time to do a project again to get the church involved, as COVID restrictions have caused separation. What better way to unite the church than to work together to support a great cause? The Young Parents Program helps young parents, ages 15–25, take care of their families and themselves, while providing spiritual guidance. Cheyenne is actively involved in the many events and activities taking
place through the program. Some of the outreach activities include devotional evenings, BBQs and care packages. The congregation was asked to help support these young families by collecting sleepers for them during this season. Through this project, Cheyenne reminded Crestview Fellowship Church that, through the abundance God gave each of us, we can bless the young parents at YFC. Fortunately, Crestview Fellowship Church collected so many sleepers that they were able to be displayed on the wall! The church looks forward to and is praying for the smiles that these sleepers will bring. Crestview Fellowship Church hopes that these sleepers will share God’s love with each of the special families. – Jenaya Groen
•• Stony Brook Fellowship
Ordination, Dedications, Baptisms
STONY BROOK
STEINBACH, Man.—What a busy fall it was at Stony Brook Fellowship in 2021! On September 19, we held an ordination service for Pastor Andrew Dyck. On September 26, we held a parent-child dedication service for three families in our church. October 3, we had two baptisms and four new members. We praise God for all he has done during the last year. We continue to look forward to what he will do in and through us this coming year. Stony Brook leaders Roger Harder, Wendy Barkman, Emery Plett, Joe – Lisa Bergen Thiessen and EMC Conference Pastor Layton Friesen pray over Karen and Andrew Dyck during part of the ordination service held on September 19, 2021.
26 The Messenger • January 2022
News
SHANTI NEPAL PHOTO/SHANTI CHEPANG
Super flour saves the day for children in Nepal There’s a jar on a kitchen shelf in Sumitra Chepang’s kitchen that has a secret identity. By all outward appearances, it may appear to be just a jar of mild-mannered flour, but under the lid is something much more spectacular— super flour! And while this super flour isn’t wearing a cape, it is changing the lives of thousands of young children in Nepal. Chepang lives in a rural village called Syammaidada not far from the capital city, Kathmandu. Her family’s regular income came from selling produce, but pandemic restrictions have eliminated their ability to bring it to market. Without that regular income, her family—Chepang, her husband and their six children—often didn’t have enough to eat. Food insecurity is a major issue in Nepal, especially the rural areas, with nearly 40 per cent of Sumitra Chepang feeds a spoonful of super porridge to her 10-month-old daughter kids under five having their growth stunted due Promisa in their home in the village of Syammaidada, Nepal. to malnutrition. But Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) donors have flour to ensure her children were getting the nutriempowered an MCC partner, Shanti Nepal, to help. ents they need to grow healthily. But it’s more than just Through MCC’s account at Canadian Foodgrains a delivery service. Shanti Nepal also taught her how to Bank, Chepang was given a supply of pre-made super make super flour herself. “I used to make simple rice flour to feed my young children,” says Chepang. “I was not aware about eating a balanced diet, but now I learned about eating three food groups in a meal. I also learned to make super flour, kitchen gardening and healthy behaviours.” Super flour is a catch-all term for a blend of flours from grains, pulses and proteins. It’s loaded with the calories, protein, calcium and iron that young children need and it’s easy to make, store and prepare. The super flour Chepang makes is a combination of corn, wheat and soybean that she roasts and grinds herself before storing. If she adds water—or heated milk for her older kids—to the super flour, she can easily make a tasty super porridge that doesn’t require any additional cooking. She says her kids love the super porridge because it’s so versatile and her Sumitra Chepang prepares a small batch of super porridge to feed to some of her younger children in the village of Syammaidada, Nepal.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 27
News and availability. Promisa wants to change the taste often.” Super flour’s adaptability and ease of storage has helped thousands of children in Nepal achieve healthy growth and a nutritional balance they might not have achieved without it. SHANTI NEPAL PHOTO/SHANTI CHEPANG
Shanti Nepal’s recipe for super flour
Sumitra Chepang feeds a spoonful of super porridge to her 10-monthold daughter Promisa in their home in the village of Syammaidada, Nepal, while one of her other daughters, Ritu Chepang, watches.
10-month-old Promisa has been eating it since she turned six months old. “It tastes mild without adding other flavour,” says Chepang, 35. “But I make it in different tastes adding sugar or salt and leafy vegetables or fruits based on the season
2 parts soybeans 1 part wheat 1 part rice (or maize, depending on availability) Dry roast (no butter or oil) each ingredient separately then grind to make a fine flour. Mix all three types of flour together well and store in a clean jar with a tight lid on it. Preparing super porridge: Mix the super flour in water that’s been boiled and has cooled slightly, stirring it so that it becomes fine porridge. For slightly older children, use milk if available instead of water and it can be eaten instantly. Add sugar or salt as preferred by the child. Fruit chunks or garden vegetables can be added if available and preferred. – Jason Dueck Jason Dueck is a communications generalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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MWC Assembly 2022: Attend virtually or in person! Staying true to God’s word. Witnessing to a changing world. Pursuing peace and justice. Building bridges. Becoming better stewards. Finding unity in diversity. Whatever our reality, we are called to follow Jesus across barriers. More than 1.5 million believers in 58 countries belong to the Anabaptist tradition. Mennonite World Conference (MWC) exists to facilitate relationships between Anabaptist-related churches worldwide and relate to other Christian organizations. Every six years, MWC hosts a global Assembly. For one week, thousands of
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Anabaptists-Mennonites will worship and pray as one, share our experience, build relationships, and serve together. The next Assembly will be in Semarang, Indonesia, in 2022. Assembly offers a truly global experience for all ages. From workshops to tours, exhibitions to cultural performances, service opportunities to games, there is something for everyone! Make plans to come in person or virtually! July 5–10, 2022, Semarang, Indonesia. For more information and to register, go to: mwc-cmm.org. – MWC
News
Menno Office Distributes Care Packages ‘Mind, Body and Spirit’ items to provide tangible support
IMCA
WINNIPEG, Man.—University of Manitoba students who gather online for peer support, topical discussion and spiritual guidance in the E-Menno Office received a surprise during the fall term. Students were recipients of care packages delivered to their homes by Menno Office Chaplain Mark Von Kampen. The care packages, based on the theme “Mind, Body and Spirit” are filled with a variety of comfort items like dried soup mix in a jar, cake mix in a mug, favourite snacks, grocery gift card, hand-written note of encouragement and more. “It is a tangible way for churches, our board members and the people who support us to show students we love them and care about them,” says Von Kampen. “It is also a good opportunity for me to meet personally with students From left IMCA board members Helen Wang and Susan Reynar and Menno Office Chaplain during this time of remote learning.” Mark Von Kampen pack “Mind, Body and Spirit” care packages for U of M students who conAmid the ongoing uncertainties of nect with Von Kampen through the E-Menno Office. the COVID-19 pandemic, the added stress of the 35-day strike at the U of M and new challenges of transitioning back to classes following the strike, learning. The U of M is planning to resume in-perMenno Office continues to focus on building and mainson classes for the winter term and work is underway to taining a strong and vibrant campus ministry that supports develop a space on the fifth floor of the University Centre students from all walks of life. for spiritual care services. During the 2021 spring term, students participated in Whether the Menno Office operates in a physical space a video to talk about how the E-Menno Office is making a or virtual space, Von Kampen strives to offer students an difference in their lives. “What they appreciate is relationinviting place where they can find a sense of belonging, ships,” says Von Kampen. “They talk about Menno Office support and care. being a place to make friends and describe it as a place of Menno Office is supported by Inter-Mennonite Chaprefuge and sanctuary. We know that university campuses laincy Association (IMCA), a partnership of Evangelical can be lonely places for students. It is a privilege for me to Mennonite Conference, Evangelical Mennonite Mission journey alongside students and offer hope and encourageConference and Mennonite Church Manitoba, variment in a Christian context.” ous church congregations, Menno Office alumni and Pre-COVID, Menno Office and other chaplaincy minindividuals. istries operated out of a space on the main floor of the Visit mennooffice.ca for links to videos and the University Centre but these offices sustained fire damE-Menno Office on Discord. age a few days before the university transitioned to remote – Gladys Terichow
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 29
News
Dr. Rob Reimer Steps Down as President of Steinbach Bible College
SBC
STEINBACH, Man.—Steinbach Bible College has announced recently that Dr. Rob Reimer informed the Board of Directors that the 2021–22 school year will be his last year serving as president of SBC, concluding his service on April 30, 2022. Dr. Reimer joined SBC in 2007 after serving in various churches and ministries across North America. He has served in this role for the past 15 years, making him the third-longest serving president in the history of the college. His wife, Myrna, has also served at SBC since 2014 as an adjunct faculty member leading the Children’s Ministry focus area. “The past 15 years have been the most amazing ministry experience of my life,” Reimer recalled. “I am so thankful for all those who have been part of the SBC family. You have made my time at SBC so special. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at SBC and will miss the many people who make this place so special.” Under Reimer’s leadership, the college refocused on a mission for “empowering servant leaders to follow Jesus, serve the church, and engage the world” within an evangelical Anabaptist perspective. The student population has become more diverse, both internationally and
30 The Messenger • January 2022
denominationally, and has seen consistent student enrollment each year. A women’s dorm residence facility was constructed and opened on campus in 2013, and SBC legally separated from Steinbach Christian School in 2019 to become two distinct institutions. Dr. Reimer’s stable presence has also helped guide the college through the past 20 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Rob has been a blessing to not only the college, he’s been blessing to the community,” SBC Board Chair Trevor Arsenault stated. “We wish him blessings as he explores the next chapter of his life.” The board has organized a presidential search committee, who are currently moving forward with the hiring the next president of SBC for the 2022-23 academic year. “As a Board, we want to ensure our students, staff, alumni, and supporters that we are in the process of determining the next steps of obtaining a new president who will continue to keep the vision and mission of SBC,” Arsenault said. “I invite our community to keep the college in your prayers, and to pray for our students, faculty, and staff as we all seek to be faithful to God’s calling in our life,” Reimer concluded. Applications are being accepted for the upcoming vacancy. Go to sbcollege.ca/president-position-opportunity to view the full job description. – SBC
News
EFC Launches Faith Trends Podcast Initiative is to better connect research and ministry RICHMOND HILL, Ont.—The Canadian Christian podcast landscape has a new show that features conversations that connect research and ministry. The Faith Trends Podcast launched in November 2021 as an initiative of the research department of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), to better connect research with its ministry implications for the church in Canada. “Faith Trends will highlight Canadian Christian researchers, both established and emerging, and provide a platform for their work,” says Rick Hiemstra, EFC’s director of research and co-host of Faith Trends, along with researcher Lindsay Callaway. “We want to help build a bridge connecting researchers to ministry practitioners who might benefit from their work.” Listeners can anticipate monthly releases about topics like Alpha Canada’s new research on the state of evangelism in Canada, a deep dive into research on clergy wellness and how that impacts the church, insights on how Canadian religious people are numbered by the government, and how religious polling works.
“Often the outworking of a research project is motivated by a deeply personal desire to know and love God and his people more,” says Hiemstra. “We’ve seen this in the interviews we’ve done so far in the PhD work of a pastoral spouse who wanted to learn how pastors develop resilience in ministry and the research on Gen-Z and evangelism that flowed from an impassioned desire for the next generation to know Jesus.” Research doesn’t exist to benefit just the researcher, but to benefit the wider research population and community. Faith Trends provides a glimpse into the heart and community behind research that is happening for the Church in Canada. “The Canadian church is often exposed to research and literature that is written from an American perspective that doesn’t acknowledge the many cultural and regional distinctives in Canada,” says Lindsay Callaway. “We will highlight researchers and the research that helps us understand who we are as Canadians and the Canadian church.” Each monthly episode will include a 30–40-minute conversation with a researcher, followed by a debrief with Hiemstra and Callaway about their impressions and the takeaways. Listeners can enjoy the podcast on all the normal podcast platforms and also find it at www.TheEFC.ca/ podcasts. – EFC
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 31
In Memory
1st Anniversary ARTHUR D. CORNELSEN May 1, 1939 –Dec 22, 2020
The following is an excerpt of a testimony written by Art: “I was born into a Christian loving family in Rosenort, Man. I was the second youngest of seven. I liked wrestling and playing sports with my brothers and friends. I looked up to positive, strong, ambitious people like my father. My philosophy was ‘when others give up, I start’ and ‘if there is no river, we’ll make one’ (Diefenbaker). “I attended the Rosenort and Gretna MCI Schools, Steinbach Bible School and Uof M for Agriculture. I married beautiful Rose when I was 18. We were blessed with three children. I was active in community life, farming and construction. My dad passed away when I was 30 and I took S over the family farm. I had several jobs, farming, driving bus, a hog barn, and carpentry. I served on committees. God revealed to me not to take life for granted. I praise God for getting me through those dark valleys with
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the loss of our daughter and daughterin-law and Rose’s cancer. “1 Peter says, ‘But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed’ (4:13); ‘Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example’ (2:21). He has given me a new strong faith. My desire is to be a blessing because life is short.” Art loved life, family, friends and his community. He enjoyed travelling, games, fishing and golfing. Art’s legacy includes his determination, strong work ethic, giving back, leadership and a quick wit. In addition to farming he built many quonsets, barns, the local churches/additions, and assisted with the Rosenort School expansion. He also owned an apartment block. He served/chaired on boards: RCU, RFC, MB MDS, Rosenort Housing; and was a trustee in the school division. Art and Rose volunteered with SIM in Florida for 26 years. Rose passed Sept 2019 after 60 years of marriage. This, together with ongoing isolation, caused Art’s health to begin to deteriorate. On Dec 22, 2020, Art peacefully died at 81. Art is missed by Cameron Cornelsen (Pamela), Arlene Klassen (Nelson), grandchildren and great
grandchildren and brother Jake Cornelsen. Arthur was predeceased by his beloved wife Rose Cornelsen, daughter Lynette, and daughter-in-law Janet; parents, Isaac and Justina Cornelsen and his five siblings. – His Family
Remembering Me
When there was a river that couldn’t be crossed, I would build a bridge to help in the cause. But then came an ocean and I finally let go. God took over and built one and it lead me Home. In my quiet space of isolation, God journeyed with me and gave me comfort and inspiration. In my last days, Jesus was with me and an angel held my hand. I heard Heaven’s choir and next, I felt my feet in Heaven’s warm sand. With gratitude I completed an amazing full life. My Heavenly home is perfect, with loved ones and my wife. You have the gift of memories and we are never far apart. Be strong and hold joy and love in your heart. I’m better than ever and His promises are true. I’ll be here with arms open wide, waiting for you. – A. K.
Shoulder Tapping Where are position ads to be sent? Please send all position ads, including pastoral search ads, to messenger@emconference.ca. All ads are to be 150 words or less. All ads can be edited. Please advise us when it is no longer needed.
Additional EMC Openings Often there are more churches looking for senior, associate, youth, and interim pastors than are identified on this page. For information on additional openings, contact Conference Pastor Layton Friesen (lfriesen@emconference.ca) and Director of Canadian Church Planting Gerald D. Reimer (greimer@emconference.ca). The national office phone number is 204-326-6401. Speak with Erica Fehr, Church leadership assistant to the BLO, to request a cell number for a particular person.
EMC Positions* The EMC national office is seeking an individual with a passion for Christ, the church and missions to fill the position of Executive Director, starting in summer 2022. The role of the Executive Director (ED) is to champion the vision of the EMC in the constituency and to lead the executive team to support and enhance all ministries and boards of the EMC. The ED will have a specific focus on the ministry of the General Board and the Board of Trustees, relating also to all EMC boards in areas of strategic planning and goal setting. Qualifications include a degree in theology, missiology or Christian ministry; senior leadership and administrative experience in a church or mission agency; strong interpersonal, communication and financial management skills. This position requires Canadian and international travel. It offers equitable pay and benefits with opportunity for professional development. For more information on this position and how to apply, go to our website http://www.emconference.ca/serve/. Applications will be accepted at applications@emconference.ca until March 21, 2022, or until the position is filled. The St. Vital EMC Church is seeking to hire a parttime youth pastor who will lead and disciple our youth aged 15–18 years old. We are an established and friendly church in south Winnipeg with approximately 120 congregants who aspire to love God and live as Jesus Christ lived. The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for Christ through their vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus. Demonstrable leadership and influence among youth will mark this person’s character on a consistent basis as well as the ability
to discern truth and obey God’s calling within the broader scope of the church’s ministry. The person taking this role needs to demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively on a small ministry team. Previous applicable experience working with youth is essential. The position will require approximately 16 hours of time per week. A resume, with cover letter, can be sent to: Oswald at ozzy_wald@ hotmail.com. The ConneXion in Arborg, Man., is seeking a pastor with a love for Jesus, emotional intelligence, spiritual discernment, and the ability to capture and carry out the vision of our church. The ConneXion is a diverse group of people that are seeking to make Jesus the center of all we do. We lean into the BELLS acronym discussed by Michael Frost in his book Exiles. Please reach out to 1-204-250-5534 or email theconnexion@hotmail.com if interested.
Other Positions Straffordville (Ont.) Evangelical Mission Church is seeking an associate pastor. SEMC is a rural church in a growing community with a congregation of about 160 people. We are a multigenerational congregation and have great existing ministries. We work hard at developing relationships in the community. We are looking for male applicants who have a clear sense of calling and love for the body of Christ, to serve and equip her for works of service, stemming from a growing relationship with Christ. This person must be able to preach, teach and show pastoral care. The successful applicant will work alongside the senior pastor and lay ministers in preaching, teaching, care giving, and providing resources and support to the other volunteer-based ministries in the church according to his strengths and abilities. Applicants must agree with the EMC Statement of Faith and display an understanding and general agreement with our Anabaptist theological background.
At Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) our mission is to bring hope through Christ, and we’re seeking to fill ministry positions serving kids, youth and families in Winnipeg’s inner city neighbourhood. Available positions include ministry and administrative roles. Our diverse team members are both local leaders and from outside our neighbourhood. As a faith-based ministry we hold all staff to our lifestyle and morality commitments, and core values. ICYA and our staff are supported by generous individuals and churches from across Canada. To view full job descriptions, visit: www.icya.ca/careers or message Karen Jolly, director of programs, at karen@icya.ca. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church is hiring for the role of worship director. This is a two-year term position at 0.75 FTE. FGMB is a healthy, diverse intergenerational congregation of 400-plus located in the suburbs of southwest Winnipeg, Man. We believe that worship is an essential part of equipping the body for fellowship and belonging, faith formation and mission engagement. The worship director needs to be a creative and engaging person who is passionate and growing in faith. The applicant should also be gifted in leading and inviting others into meaningful worship, work well in a collaborative team environment and connect well with people across generations, and should be familiar with the video editing and digital media skills needed for production of livestreamed services. For a longer job description see fgmb.ca/jobopportunities. Email cover letter and resume to info@fgmb.ca by May 30, 2021.
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Year to Date Financial Report January-November 2021
Income* Expenses Excess/Shortfall
General Fund 2021 1,431,413 1,386,793 44,620
General Fund 2020 1,588,881 1,480,190 108,691
We give thanks to God for the continued strong support of EMC ministries, and we acknowledge the contributions of EMC churches and individuals who give so generously. - The Board of Trustees *Income includes donations and transfers from other funds (e.g., estate funds).
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 33
Column • His Light to My Path
Growing in Wisdom
“T
How do I determine between truth and error as I seek to grow in wisdom?
34 The Messenger • January 2022
ISTOCK
By Karla Hein
he testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7b NASB). For months, these words have swirled around in my heart. Comforting assurance that even I can progress from simplicity to wisdom! I’ve been disappointed recently by popular scholars and preachers who have not accurately handled “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). If those esteemed as experts lead astray, then what is a little sheep like me to do in a world of savage wolves, seeking to destroy Christ’s testimony? Then the words echo back in my heart. Even a simple sheep like me can gain wisdom! “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6). According to 2 Timothy 3:14-17, the Word is how I become equipped. If I believe that the Bible is God-breathed and living, then it follows that I must place it as a higher authority than any cleverly devised words from a theologian or teacher. Yet Scripture also warns that in the multitude of advisers there is wisdom (Proverbs 11:14). How do I determine between truth and error as I seek to grow in wisdom? “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus…so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14–17). Wycliffe and Tyndale, early translators of the Bible, were both martyred. One of Wycliffe’s primary beliefs was that “he had come to regard the scriptures as the only reliable guide to the truth
about God and maintained that all Christians should rely on the Bible rather than the unreliable and frequently self-serving teachings of popes and clerics” (Cavendish, 2015). Centuries ago, Christians in England did not have easy access to the Scriptures in the English language. If they managed to secure a copy and were discovered, they were severely punished. If we revert willingly to biblical illiteracy, we ridicule the privilege of reading God’s words for ourselves. “Teacher, tell me what the Bible says. Tickle my ears (2 Timothy 4:3). I don’t feel like looking up the Scriptures today. An inspirational podcast, message, or song is enough spiritual nourishment for me.” As we enter the cyber realm of Christian popularity, it is crucial to exercise caution. “They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6–7). I never want that to be said of me—that I am always learning, but too hard hearted to be sanctified by truth (John 17:17). Let’s pray together that God will “open [our] eyes that [we] may see wonderful things in [his] law.” (Psalm 119:18).
Column • Further In and Higher Up
If I Died Today
I
By Layton Friesen Conference Pastor
ISTOCK
recently had my 50th birthday. Before I got out of bed that morning, I thought of something. I imagined to myself that before I ever existed, God had a conversation with my non-existent self and said, “Mr. Nobody, I have an offer for you—take it or leave it. On the one hand, I could leave you in non-existence eternally. Forever you would go on being nothing. I know, Mr. Nobody, eternal nonexistence is not a lot. But with this choice you have zero chance of any misery. There will be no possibility of anxiety, hemorrhoids, necrotizing fasciitis, or slowly suffocating from COVID-19. You will never love and thus never have to lose love. Your non-existence will be perfectly pain-free. “On the other hand—and this is your only other choice—I have an opening coming up in a real-live family from 1971–2021. You will have exactly 50 years on a very good but very fallen earth. It will be 50 years of laughter, challenging work, and friendship. You will have a 27-year marriage to the most wondrous woman I have created, and together you will be gifted with two delightful children. And to spice it up, I will throw in two days at the Iguazu Falls in South America, complete with Brazilian BBQ for lunch. “But there will also be many days of weeping, stinging hurt, and regular attendance at gut-wrenching funerals. Existence will mean the constant risk of depression, exhaustion, cancer, heartbreak and acne. Those are real possibilities if you accept my offer. “And here’s the kicker: on your 50th birthday the clock will strike and you will die. You only get 50 years with this offer.” Let’s stop there and ask: if God made you that offer, would you take it? What if the offer were reduced to 25 years? What if it was only five years? What if God offered you only three beautiful months in the womb? Is existence better than non-existence?
But then the offer continues, and God says, “There is something more. Mr. Non-Existent, when the clock strikes and you die, you will be awakened by the crystal blast of a trumpet. In that moment you will rise and run through a gate, into a city-garden so beautiful it will make Iguazu Falls look like a leaking sewer pipe. There you will meet me, and our days together will be endless and bottomless.” Now what would you choose? Non-existence or existence? I would call that a bargain, the best I ever had. Something like this is close to the Christian understanding of creation. For Christians, existence itself is a mind-bending gift. We did not have to be, but God gave us existence and, with that, the possibility of joy eternally. That whole offer gets no less exhilarating if you shorten the days on earth, or if you add to the pain of those days. Existence, plus eternal life, is the lottery win to the power of a lottery win. The more we reflect on this incredible offer God has given us by bidding us to be born, the more we are able to suffer, love with great pain, and give our lives to situations in the world where thanks is not forthcoming. This is our joy unspeakable and full of glory. We get all this and heaven too. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
Now what would you choose? Nonexistence or existence? I would call that a bargain, the best I ever had.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 35
Column • Kids’ Corner
Is Your Brain Hungry?
By Loreena Thiessen
You can choose. By choosing foods that build muscles and grow strong bones, you will help your brain too.
ISTOCK
A
New Year has begun. It’s 2022, a good time for a great beginning. Have you heard the saying “you are what you eat?” What is your favourite food? Burgers? Yogurt? Chocolate? Whatever it is, you eat it because it tastes good. You also eat because you’re hungry and your body needs food as fuel for energy. What does it mean, you are what you eat? Everything you eat has nutrients: substances or elements your body needs to live. Your body digests and absorbs the nutrients which travel all over your body by the blood stream. What you put in are the building blocks for your organs, muscles and bones. The food you eat builds you. Do you sometimes feel tired at school, maybe just before lunch, or in the middle of the afternoon? Your brain is a very hungry organ. It is the first to absorb nutrients from the food you eat. Eating healthy foods will help your brain function well. If you feast on junk foods, your brain will not work as well as it could. Certain foods help your brain more than other foods. These are sometimes called superfoods. One superfood is salmon. Your brain is mostly made of fat. Salmon has good fats, fatty acids named DHA and EPA. Good fats help your brain develop and function well. Another superfood is eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein. The yolks have choline, an element that boosts your memory. Eggs are good anytime: for breakfast, or in a salad or sandwich. Peanut butter is another superfood. Peanut butter has vitamin E. Vitamin E helps your brain produce energy. Put peanut butter on waffles, on
crackers for a snack, or in a sandwich with slices of banana. Whole grains are also superfoods. Whole grains have fibre and B vitamins. Oats are a good source of energy for the brain; just what you need to start the day. Add fruit to breakfast oatmeal; add oats to a smoothie, or in a pancake, muffin, or waffle recipe. Another brain food is berries: strawberries, cherries, blueberries, or blackberries. The deeper the colour, the more nutrition they have. Beans are brain food too. Beans have protein and complex carbohydrates. They provide energy and fibre, plus lots of vitamins and minerals. Chili and tacos are tasty with beans. Eating healthy foods helps your brain work at its best. Thinking and creating activities like painting, sewing, listening to music and hanging out with your friends and family all help your brain. So does physical activity. Working on puzzles, reading and learning a new lanActivity: Make a fun, different fruit sandwich. guage also give your brain a workout. All of these keep your brain healthy and working at Need: 1 cup peanut butter, ½ cup honey, 1 cup dry oats, ½ cup dry its best. milk powder. Mixing bowl. Apple or pear slices. You can choose. By choosing foods that build muscles and grow strong bones, you Do: Mix peanut butter, honey, dry oats and dry milk powder using will help your brain too. Read Proverbs 3:5–8 your hands so the ingredients stick together. Then put a tablespoon of to learn what other wise choices can “bring the mixture between 2 apple slices or 2 pear slices. Eat and enjoy. health to your body.”
36 The Messenger • January 2022
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