The Messenger March 2019

The Messenger Polar Bear Marathon a publication of the

Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Volume 57  No. 2 March 2019

page 24

ALSO INSIDE:

ALBERT MARTENS

Hallowed Be Your Name page 6 Your Kingdom Come page 9 Who Am I Now? A Real Missonary Question of Identity page 12

Editorial

What Are EMCers Concerned About?

I

n my view, it’s following Christ, discipleship and ethin our lifestyles, in our relations with the poor and the disics, practical service, the hands and feet of serving advantaged, in our view of possessions, in our concern for others. As Christians, we care about body and soul, all of God’s creation and in response to global economic individual and community. As our vision statement says, injustice” (15). we seek to advance “Christ’s kingdom culture as we live, Surprised by any of this? Wally Doerksen (Good News, reach, gather, and teach.” That’s a challenging statement.

Steinbach) made remarks about some of this a few years When churches send news it’s our privilege to read of ago that caused me to take a fresh look at our constitution. their concerns and actions: for instance, Crestview holds In my view, our vision statement (2013) says what we want a movie night outreach, Pansy conto do, advance “Christ’s kingdom culstructs houses in Mexico, Fort Garry ture,” and our constitution (1994, 2017) helps families who live on a garbage reveals more of what this includes. dump near a resort area in Mexico, PorThe actions of EMCers show what tage holds a baptismal service—and this means on the ground. On this jourthese are only four churches from Maniney, our thanks go to our Triune God as toba. There is much happening with our a patient Teacher who gives us strength churches in B.C., Alta., Sask., Ont., and (Jer. 9:23-24; Zech. 4:6) in our aims and elsewhere in Man. actions.

Walk into any EMC church and we can see, likely on At least, that’s my take. Brad Brandt, EMC Board of a bulletin board, photos and letters of missionaries being Missions chair, shares his view of the EMC in this issue. supported. Many of our churches help youth groups and What’s your perspective? other members to go on short-term work teams and other – Terry M. Smith missions efforts.

This reflects the first stated purpose of the EMC: to “glorify God by building his kingdom.”

This is done, according to statements that EMCers adopted, by “proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ at home and abroad,” “ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of people,” and more (The Constitution, 31).

Christ’s call takes our members far beyond the shores and borders of Canada. Consider the many workers that we send as a conference or as individual churches: missionaries, MDS workers, MCC workers, and many more. Think of the funds, prayers, guidance, practical help, and other forms of support provided by members.

Years ago the EMC affirmed challenging statements, including: “We should do whatever we can to lessen human distress and suffering even at the risk of our own lives. In all relationships we should be peace makers and ministers of reconciliation” (11).

EMCers affirmed another statement: “We believe God owns and sustains his creation. He calls us, God’s people, to be trustworthy stewCANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY ards of creation. Stewardship is demonstrated

In my view, it’s following Christ, discipleship and ethics, practical service, the hands and feet of serving others.

University

2 The Messenger • March 2019

Table of Contents Features

Columns

6

Hallowed Be Your Name

15 A Reader's Viewpoint

9

Your Kingdom Come

– Pastor Ron Thiessen – Flo Friesen

On the Road – Betty Siemens Martens

22 Further In and Higher Up

God's Boomerang and Your Callings

12 Who Am I Now? A Real – Layton Friesen Missionary Question of Identity 25 Focus On

Why I'm Glad to be an EMCer – Brad Brandt

– Lois Thiessen

Departments

26 Poetry

2 Editorial

34 People Of Faith

3 Loaves and Fishsticks 4 Letters and Notices 16 With Our Churches 23 News 24 With Our Missionaries 28 In Memory 33 Shoulder Tapping

page

23

page

16

My Father Loved the Word!

– Betty Koop

35 Stewardship Today Cascading Generosity – Kevin Davidson

page

19

36 Kids’ Corner

Oh, The Places You Will Go! – Loreena Thiessen

page

24

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 3

The Messenger

Letters

Volume 57 No. 2 March 2019

Love Means Doing the Ordinary

EDITOR TERRY M. SMITH tsmith@emconference.ca

ASSISTANT EDITOR ANDREW WALKER awalker@emconference.ca

Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconference.ca.

The Messenger is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.

It is published 12 times per year, six in print (also online at www.issuu.com/emcmessenger) and six in a website format at www.emcmessenger.ca. To get the most out of The Messenger, viewing both versions is encouraged.

Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed.

Unpublished material is not returned except by request.

Views and opinions of writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement.

The Messenger is published by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St, Steinbach, Man., and is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.

Subscription rates (under review) 1 year print subscription $20 ($26 U.S.) Manitoba residents add 8% PST. Single print copy price: $2 Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents.

The Messenger is available for free to all online at: www.emcmessenger.ca If you wish to sign up for our email newsletter. Pleaase contact Andrew at: awalker@emconference.ca. Digital copies are free.

Change of address and subscriptions Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be addressed to: 440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: messenger@emconference.ca www.emconference.ca/messenger Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.

ISSN: 0701-3299 Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362 Advertising The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards, and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries should be sent to messenger@emconference.ca.

4 The Messenger • March 2019

Thank you, Adam Harris, for broaching the subject of loving one’s neighbour, regardless of who he is [Go And Do Likewise, Jan. 2019]. Part of our mandate as non-resisters is to reduce the suffering of others. So, yes, there is room for exceptional acts of kindness.

Unfortunately, many see Jesus’ command only in terms of exceptional acts of kindness illustrated by the photo accompanying the column of a man helping a lady start her car (or is it the other way around?). Jesus’ love is illustrated differently with his disciples—investment of his life in others and risk which sometimes backfires.

Love means doing the ordinary, like

Great Issue in January

Congratulations on the last Messenger [Jan.]. Front to back, great issue.

I was so inspired by Arden Thiessen’s article that I read The Messenger from cover to cover. I went back to reread Arden’s article and like his accuser found a singular expression that could be misinterpreted. Arden used the word “once” in reference to making a mistake. I know I couldn’t make

Purpose and Disclaimer The Messenger is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith. Views and opinions of writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors.

Board of Church Ministries

taking time on the street to chat with a neighbour not from our “circle,” visiting others at their home or inviting them to ours, or taking out the garbage for a disabled neighbour so she can stay in her home another year. For some this is a no-brainer; for others, it needs to be stated plainly.

Unexceptional acts are relatively high in cost (my precious time!) and offer no glory but we are often surprised by what we do receive— returned human warmth that is beyond price. Jesus said to cast your bread on the waters and it will return after a time.

– Ray Hill MacGregor, Man.

the claim of once I made a mistake.

It struck me as a point of irony that even in our defense we can be misunderstood in a different manner, and the cycle continues. Great job, Arden included, and I will say that more than once.

– Gordon Dyck Steinbach, Man.

Archives Volunteer Sought A volunteer is needed to describe and catalogue the EMC Archives collection at the Mennonite Heritage Archives in Winnipeg. The task is to prepare archival descriptions using the Rules for Archival Description (RAD). Training in using RAD will be provided by MHA staff.

Work would need to be done during Archives business hours (weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Contact the EMC National Office.

Letters and Notices Thoughts for the Easter Season

The season of Lent and Easter is a time of mystery and power. God is much more than a warm security blanket wrapping the earth. Bigger than the whole solar system.

In fact, it is not like God lives in some corner of the universe. Remember the song, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.”

Here we are, the Christian stream in the middle of all this. The Bible, especially the Gospels in the New Testament, is our guide in faith and life. Gatherings of believers and discerning the times are important.

Love the Lord your God. Love your neighbour as yourself. Be still and know that I am God Be a shepherd; bring people to green pasture and quiet waters. Walk with those in the shadows. Prepare tables

for enemies—love, kindness, and mercy. Beat swords into ploughshares. Learn war no more. Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God Those are all from the “Old Testament.” We say the New Testament calls us to more. Incarnation, salvation, resurrection, discipleship, reconciliation are powerful words. And, amazingly, Jesus invites us to address the Creator, the Lord God Almighty as Father. Listen, learn, share these things with gentleness.

We have more than enough teachings and examples to fill and use all of our hearts, minds, and strength as we try to follow the Jesus of the Gospels.

– Ray Hamm Altona, Man.

•• John Koop, a Colleague 1933–2019

We were saddened to learn that John Koop, our former colleague who served so well as EMC conference pastor from 1997-2000, struggled for a time with declining health

and then passed away on Jan. 15, 2019. Becky’s family has a long history with John because he officiated at her parents’ wedding. John and Terry met earlier through EMC national gatherings where John, a highly experienced pastor, sought to encourage a rookie pastor. John’s kind ways continued when they were colleagues with offices directly across a narrow hallway in the national office. His ministries would not have been possible without the support of his wife Clara. John will be missed. Our sympathies are extended to Clara and the Koop family.

– EMC National Office Staff

Martha Kroeker, a Colleague

BCM

1944 – 2019 We were saddened to learn that a former colleague, Martha Kroeker, had passed away on March 11, 2019. Martha was hired in 1976 to serve within the national office and the announcement appeared in the Dec. 24, 1976, issue.

Her role changed over the years even as her connection continued with The Messenger. She was honoured during convention 1997. Her paid work with the magazine ended with its issue of April 5, 2000. Later she served as the church reporter for Steinbach EMC. Martha was a careful secretary, copyeditor, and proof reader. Many staff members and the wider EMC are indebted to her. Both staff who did and did not directly work with Martha saw her faithfulness to the Lord shown in interactions outside of the office. Martha will be missed. Our sympathies are extended to the Kroeker family.

– EMC National Office Staff

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The Lord’s Prayer 2019

Hallowed Be Your Name

ISTOCK

By Pastor Ron Thiessen

6 The Messenger • March 2019

P

rayer has always been a mystery to me. I think it was a mystery to the early disciples as well because they seemed baffled by prayer in Luke 11:1 and said “Lord, teach us to pray.”

They recognized that when Jesus prayed it was rich and personal and intimate— unlike the religious leaders of their day.

It is no wonder that they tracked Jesus down and asked him to be their mentor when it came to prayer.

Were People Shocked, Offended?

The first phrase in the Lord’s Prayer is “Our Father.” Rather than addressing Him as some far-off deity, Jesus addresses him as His Daddy or Father.

I wonder how much that must have shocked those sitting in the crowd that day? I wonder if the religious people got offended that God would be addressed so personally and casually?

The second phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, “which art in heaven,” talks about the location or address of God. In other words, God’s oval office is in heaven; that is where He resides and where He does His business. When we remember our position in Him, we can enter His presence with confidence. Colossians 1 says that although Christ is in heaven, He is also in us by His Spirit!

He lives in heaven and yet He lives in us. What a mystery!

He alone is master of being in two places at once and yet, interestingly enough, we too live in two places at once: we are on earth and yet we are seated with Him right now in heavenly places.

The phrase I want to tackle today, that follows “Our Father, which art in heaven,” is this one: “Hallowed be thy name.” I took the time to look up the word hallowed, since it is not a word we tend to use today. Webster says that hallowed means “to honor as holy, to make holy, to revere and respect.”

Holy Represents God’s Character

Jesus is describing the Father’s name as holy.

What does that mean? A person’s name in the Bible represents who that person is, their character. So what Jesus is saying here is that the Father is holy through and through. That is who He is.

Not only is the Father set apart by being in heaven, His personality and His entire being is holy. Reputation is what others say about us, but character is who we are. God’s character is holy, that is who He is. Sometimes we have a good name with some people and a bad name with others at the same time.

The Father, on the other hand, always has a good name for His name is always holy.

He lives in heaven and yet He lives in us. What a mystery!

God is Not Just a Buddy!

We tend to live in a Christian culture where the attribute that is most often given to God is that He is a God of love. Rarely do we hear about the fact that our God is holy. We can relate to love. We feel comfortable with love. This can lead to us thinking of God as just a friend or a buddy, but God is far more than that. Holiness

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different than human love. Man’s love is imperfect, but God’s love is not—because He is holy.

Not Just a Prayer to Memorize

is something that we tend to be uncomfortable with, and yet it is because God is holy that He stands apart and is worthy of our worship and our reverence. It is because He is holy that we should fear God, and fearing God always leads to obedience.

Did you know that there is only one attribute of God that is repeated three times in a row in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament? It is known that if something is repeated twice in a row in Scripture that the author is trying to make a point that he doesn’t want you to forget, but when something is repeated three times you know that it is something you should never forget. So what attribute is repeated not twice, but three times in two different places in the Bible? The three words are “Holy, Holy, Holy!” (Rev. 4:8, Isaiah 6:3).

Because He is Holy, We Can Trust Him

Why, of all the different ways to describe God the Father, would Jesus address His Father as holy? I think it is because Jesus knew something about holiness that we have either never known or have forgotten about over time. You see, it is because God is holy that we can trust God. God is not just love; He is holy. Therefore, His love is a holy love. That’s what makes His love so

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Jesus did not give these words to the disciples as just another prayer to memorize. Earlier in Matthew 6:5-8 Jesus railed against simply repeating religious sounding words to impress both man and God. It is rather ironic that many people have learned the Lord’s Prayer by memory. It is common to say this prayer in many churches; and what often happens is as they corporately say the words they once again fall into saying words that have no meaning.

I think that is what happens when we forget that the words Jesus uses here are to instruct us how to pray, not necessarily what to pray.

Prayer is God the Father and us, His children, communicating. It is not about getting what we want, but about getting God.

Did you know that there is only one attribute of God that is repeated three times in a row in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament?

May You, Jesus, Be Holy in Me!

Lord Jesus, hallowed (holy) be your name. In other words, may you be holy in both my personal and public life this day. I want to be more aware of what you say about me and think about me than what my friends think or say. May you be holy in me so that I am more concerned about my character than about my reputation. Amen.

Ron Thiessen is “married to my best friend Rita,” and they are blessed with three adult kids: Kendra, Jayden, and Myron.

He is the pastor of Community Bible Fellowship in Swan River, Man.

DREAMSTIME

The Lord’s Prayer 2019

Your Kingdom Come

By Flo Friesen

I

can still see and smell the setting where I first said the Lord’s Prayer. A two-room country school, oiled wooden floors, faded blackboards, and a high-mounted picture of King George VI keeping an eye on every student.

I don’t remember memorizing the prayer; it simply got cemented into our brains by listening to the 30 droning voices of Grades 1-4 students. An austere, yet sacred, daily routine! I’m thankful I was introduced to The Lord’s Prayer in public school. And I’m thankful it means so much more to me today than it did to a mumbling First Grader!

“Your Kingdom Come.”

Did my childish mind wonder how this heavenly “Kingdom” was connected to the King in the photo? Who is the real King, and what is the Kingdom? And how does this phrase impact my life as an ardent follower of Jesus today?

What is the Kingdom?

Jesus focused much of his teaching on the coming of the Kingdom of God and of Heaven.

Matthew alone records 50 of Jesus’ teachings on the Kingdom.

An Oxford definition of kingdom is “a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen.” By contrast, John Piper says the biblical definition of kingdom is, “God’s kingly rule - his reign, his action, his lordship, his sovereign governance” (desiringGod.org podcast, Sept.

8/17). In the first definition a kingdom is a territory or its people ruled by a monarch. In the spiritual kingdom it is the actual rule or authority of God in people’s individual hearts.

The Good News that Jesus brought was that He is the King who would establish His spiritual presence in people’s hearts, as opposed

“Your Kingdom Come.” Did my childish mind wonder how this heavenly “Kingdom” was connected to the King in the photo?

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to His physically reigning a particular territory. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated the opposing kingdom of Satan who was holding people captive to their sinful natures.

Through a new birth experience we are set free, and the heavenly kingdom is initiated into our hearts and we commit ourselves to the lordship of Christ. Jesus often said, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” It was, and still is, starting to happen—God’s “indwelling” in people’s hearts. But the Kingdom of Heaven is also future.

It will be fully completed at Jesus’ second coming when He will totally destroy the kingdom of Satan (Rev. 20:10). The war between the kingdoms will end and we will enjoy God’s rule and presence for all eternity.

Kingdom, present and future.

skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.

The Kingdom of Heaven ushers in a personal relationship with Jesus as my King, but also with Him as my BFF (Best Friend Forever). This thought gives me goose bumps and indescribable joy! Imagine! Jesus comes and sets up house in my life! He’s always available to listen, forgive, comfort, and teach me how to walk with Him. He is my King, but I am not afraid of His rule; I trust Him fully. He delights in me even more than I delight in Him (Zeph.3:17). What a treasure!

The Kingdom is a Treasure

The Kingdom Embraces Radical Principles

In both cases the person discovering the treasure sells everything to be the exclusive owner of this rare treasure.

ISTOCK

Jesus describes this Kingdom through parables (Matt. 13). In one, the kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of immeasurable price. In both cases the person discovering the treasure sells everything to be the exclusive owner of this rare treasure. Its superlative value cannot be calculated! So, it is with the Kingdom of Heaven; its value is beyond articulation. An old hymn says, Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the

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Besides being an indescribable treasure, God’s Kingdom is not “normal” as kingdoms go. It is characterized by extravagance (Matt. 13). A mustard seed, the tiniest of seedlings, grows into a huge tree, and a miniscule lump of yeast leavens an entire batch of freshly baked buns!

So also, Jesus’ teachings were extravagant, often defying human reason.

They were heavenly principles, often opposites such as: to save life you must lose it; in order to live in His Kingdom you must die to yourself; and to have treasures in heaven you must sell your earthly possessions.

God’s kingdom is also characterized by radical forgiveness. Jesus explained that accounts in His Kingdom are not settled by “an-eye-for-an-eye” standard, but rather through a “70 times 7” forgiveness principle (Matt. 18). Kingdom members receive mercy, unmerited release from deserved punishment,

and gracious favor lavished simply because we’re His children. No wonder Jesus tells us to “Seek first the kingdom of God”; this is the pearl of greatest price! God’s forgiveness is radical! Who doesn’t need forgiveness? We long for our ugly sins to be drowned in the seas. We are fully pardoned in the Kingdom of Heaven!

The Kingdom Translates into Practical Reality

As a seminarian I loved grappling with deep issues. As a more seasoned follower of Jesus, I now want practical guidance on how to live the abundant life that Jesus promised. How does the Kingdom of Heaven inform and impact my daily life?

In Matthew 18, Jesus holds up a little child as a picture of someone who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Why? Childlike humility and innocent faith—that’s what true greatness is!

Jesus exemplified humility by His servant heart.

His gentle spirit draws me to want to be with Him and be like Him. Even in the one “kingly act” of riding into Jerusalem before His death, He rode a lowly donkey. A week later He took a servant’s towel and washed his disciples’ feet.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Servanthood and implicit faith are radical characteristics of Jesus’ upsidedown Kingdom!

Yet the Kingdom of Heaven is not weak. Paul says (1 Cor. 4:20) that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power. Ephesians 1 and 2 remind us that with incomparably great power Jesus is seated with the Father in the heavenly realm with all kingdoms, including Satan’s, under His feet.

Amazingly, we as citizens of the Kingdom are seated with Him in this heavenly position, with all authority of the Kingdom available to us now!

Jesus promised us all power and authority to go and make disciples, assuring His presence to be with us always (Mt. 28:18-20). Today we walk in

Kingdom authority! Humility and authority are seeming opposites, but they co-exist in power for Kingdom citizens.

When I lived in Central Asia, my walks to the university became prayer walks. Looking up at the stark concrete apartments, I prayed, “Lord, may your Kingdom come to this country and people. Set them free from the bondage of Satan. May they hear your Good News and respond to your compelling love.” When we realize the immeasurable treasure we possess, we long to share that treasure with ones we love and with ones He loves, even if we’ve never met them.

Possessing the Kingdom of Heaven inspires me to bring others into His Kingdom. So we pray, “May your Kingdom come!”

Yet the Kingdom of Heaven is not weak. Paul says that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power.

Flo Friesen recently retired from full-time ministry. She has spent time in Ecuador, USA, Central Asia and Canada; in teaching, research, mobilization and leadership ministries with Reach Beyond and Frontiers; and finished the last decade in anti-human trafficking work in Central Asia.

She is a member of Kleefeld EMC and fellowships at Anchor Point Church, Winnipeg.

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ISTOCK

Who Am I Now? A Real Missionary Question of Identity

By Lois Thiessen

D

oes your job define you every moment of your life? Are you on duty when you’re shopping, on stage as you eat your supper, on trial for your kids’ behaviour, moving from world to world, ever wondering who you are now?

As a missionary you “are” your job. Always.

Everywhere. At the start you offer your “self ” to God, to the people, but you cannot truly prepare yourself for what that will turn out to mean. Missionary and missionary care expert Dr. Lois A. Dodds explains: Inherent in going across cultures is the need to adapt the self. Both deep and superficial aspects of the self must change in order to become effective in the new context. Changing most everything in one’s life simultaneously demands an overwhelming amount of adaptation, and adapting successfully means forging a new identity. This process is an exhausting one, requiring enormous energy (Dodds 2017).

Mental health for us all begins with a sense of security and belonging. We need to feel

loved, appreciated and affirmed in what we do, have a sense of meaning in our work, know we are important to someone and have significant roles in people’s lives. These are what give us our identity and sense of personhood and as such, are essential to a missionary candidate before departure for a chosen cross-cultural assignment. Essential, because assault on the missionary’s identity is imminent.

Going into a foreign culture, learning another language, and adjusting to the myriad stresses involved changes a person in profound ways– at the core. Though hidden and almost never acknowledged, the impact of change on the core self is huge, necessitating re-working one’s identity. One asks ‘Who am I now? I used to know myself. Now I don’t even know myself. Am I going crazy? How must I change to fit this new context?’… Adjusting one’s self and figuring out what must remain the same for a sense of integrity, and what must change in order to make one suitable in the new setting, is hard work (Dodds 2017).

As a missionary you “are” your job. Always. Everywhere.

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‘From the Inside Out’

Let us consider missionary Irene (her name means “peace”). She has bidden a tearful, but brave farewell to her family and friends and waved as cheerfully as she could from the far end of the airport security check. It was her last glimpse of all she holds so dear.

Now, 24 sleepless hours, miles of teeming corridors and three long flights later she stumbles down the airplane and steps into a dense blanket of heat. This is the air that will envelop her skin, fill her lungs, carry sound waves into her ears, gift her with germs and smells—and it will begin to change her into someone else “from the inside out.”

Mutely she hands her passport and entry form to the immigration officer and tries hard to follow his terse commands for fingerprinting. Clutching the returned passport tightly she scans the baggage arrivals and the eager porters with their carts. Those precious belongings, they’re all she has of her own in this frightening and implacable world. “O Lord, please let them be here! What would I wear if they didn’t come?”

Numb with tiredness, Irene still can’t sleep, the sweaty darkness stirred by a rattling ceiling fan, deadly mosquitoes buzzing outside her net and a night-guard stomping past her open window. There’s no way of knowing the time. What time would her body know?

Mutely she hands her passport and entry form to the immigration officer and tries hard to follow his terse commands for fingerprinting.

Food—you are what you eat, right? Here you can’t drink water from the tap, all fruits and vegetables have to be soaked in bleach water so you don’t get sick, and the sight of flies all over food and garbage makes you sick already. Irene hadn’t ever thought of herself as a fussy eater, but this diet is hard to stomach.

This week, it’s time to start going to the market and figuring out how to cook and keep house and take care of her needy self.

None of Those Roles Matter

A month has gone by and Irene has worked every day on language learning. But it’s a long and arduous task, filled with humbling experiences and feelings of inadequacy and incompetence. She has always been an articulate person, able to express herself well, write “A” papers and give persuasive speeches. Now she is a child again, not even as understandable as her neighbour boy, age three. At home she was a teacher, a creative artist, a trusted friend, a committee president, a caring daughter, a responsible church leader.

Here none of those roles matter.

She doesn’t know how to do

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Lois Thiessen recommends the resource used, a booklet by Dr. Lois A. Dodds, Am I Still Me? Challenges to Identity, and invites readers to check out other materials available at Heartstream Resources (heartstreamresources.org), a retreat centre for global workers located in Liverpool, Pennsylvania. anything that is valued in this culture. She can’t cook a huge pot of rice, she can’t carry wood home from the bush, she can’t buy or sell goods shrewdly in the market, she can’t fix a bicycle, hoe a garden, or nurse a baby. At home her friends and family admired her commitment and affirmed her goals, but here people have no idea why she even came. Who is she, anyway?

Irene considers what she values and how those values shape who she is. The things most important to her are her relationship with Jesus, God’s Word, honesty, gentle speech, quality time with family, healthy eating, sunsets, self-care, privacy, conversations with friends over a cup of coffee, clean hair, comfortable clothes.

But all of these things, from huge to small, are in question in this culture, not valued here, and not practically accessible to her. She receives very little affirmation of herself, being viewed by those surrounding her with curiosity, amusement, speculation, annoyance, suspicion or envy, as though she were from another planet.

Irene has lost her language, her community, her familiar roles, her friends, her affirmation and her self-esteem. She idealistically sacrificed home, family and comfort with the intention to make a difference here, but she wonders if that will ever happen. Her mental well-being is taking a scary dive, but she throws herself into the job of re-making herself to fit this new culture.

Then Adjustments—Again

And wonderfully, after several years of hard work and perseverance, Irene has succeeded.

She’s adjusted to the new culture, she’s made friends, she’s figured out how to get affirmation from those around her, she’s learned how to like many things, she has new clothes like others

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wear, she can talk, and she feels comfortable with the social customs. Now it is time to return to her home culture.

As Irene flips through fashion magazines on the return flight and visualizes how her new embroidered outfit will look to her welcoming party she starts to feel some tension in her shoulders, lines of worry round her eyes—she knows she’s not who she was.

When she returns to her home culture she will not fit; she will not be perceived or even loved in the same way as before. Going back to who she was is impossible. She finds, in the following weeks, that she has become a marginal person in both cultures, a bridge between cultures that will never essentially be brought together except within her.

How are those people “back home” who have been the senders, supporters and pray-ers to respond to their new Irene? Now it is their turn to minister. There needs to be interest and appreciation in large measure for the incredible effort she has invested in becoming part of another culture. And there needs to be open arms and minds to learn to know, love and support the new person she has become.

Sometimes the people back home have spoken resentfully, as if she should have known what she was getting into. And yet, how many of us know what it will cost to follow Jesus with our whole heart? Those that are senders now need to share the cost in all the ways they also are called.

Lois Thiessen is completing her MA (Counselling) at Providence Theological Seminary and hoping to focus on counselling MKs, missionaries, and people of different cultures. At age three she was part of the first mission team sent out from Blumenort EMC and has been on the mission field ever since in Mexico, Texas, Saskatchewan, France, and Burkina Faso. For now she’s at home in Blumenort.

Column • A Reader's Viewpoint

On the Road

T

by Betty Siemens Martens

ISTOCK

he young couple had been on the road a long time and were very tired and getting hungry. They were on their way to a family reunion. It was a cold blustery day.

The young man said, “According to the last GPS reading we should be there before supper. Maybe we should stop in the next town and have a snack and stretch our legs.”

Then it happened, the car sputtered and died. The gauge showed there was enough gas, so what was the problem?

They were going to call CAA for a tow, but there was no cell service and also the phone needed charging. Here they were in the middle of…. Where are we?

“I’m sorry, my dear. We will have to walk.

Maybe someone will come by to help us.” They set out and, indeed, there were others on the road, everyone seemingly in a hurry to get somewhere.

One car zipped past, kicking up snow. A car full of young people, having a good time, laughed at the couple having to walk on a cold day. Another person slowed down, wondering, “Who are these people? Don’t know them.” And off they sped, thankful for the comfort of their warm car.

Another couple had been out shopping, their car laden with bags and boxes. They had no room in their car, so they waved and went by. And so it went. No one had time to stop and help.

“I am so tired,” the young woman said. The young man replied, “We will slow down a bit, but we need to keep going. It should not be that far to the next town.”

When it felt that they could not take one more step, a gentleman stopped. He was on his way home from a difficult day on the job. He said, “You look tired and frozen. Get in the truck. It’s warm in here. I saw your car way back. You have walked a long way.” The usual questions followed as to where they were headed and so on.

The gentleman said, “There is a café down

the road. I will take you there and call CAA.” Then he changed his mind. “It is getting late. I will take you to my home. My wife will have supper ready. It is not a fancy house, but it will be warm. In the morning we will get your car going.

And we will get your phone charged.”

They were gladly welcomed by the gentleman’s wife and gladly shared their meal. After supper the couple was taken to the guest room with a warm, comfortable bed. The next morning as the older couple started making breakfast, they noticed the young couple was gone, having been able to reach a relative to come pick them up.

They had left a note on the table, thanking them for their kindness, and also: “And the King will say to them, I tell the truth, just as you did it for one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Matt. 25:40 NET).

Betty Siemens Martens has been connected with the EMC (Rosenort and Kola) for many years.

This fictional story mirrors her experience “many years ago. My friend and I were on our way to town on a busy, major two-lane highway. We had a flat tire. We proceeded to change the tire, hoping that someone would stop and help two women who were highly pregnant (seven and eight months). No one stopped! We were almost done when a local gas delivery trucker stopped to finish the job. No name—just a Good Samaritan.

Thank you, even now!”

“And the King will say to them, I tell the truth, just as you did it for one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Matt. 25:40 NET).

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 15

With Our Churches Rosenort EMC

ROSENORT, Man.—On Jan. 27, 2019, our church installed Spencer Koop as our youth pastor. Spencer recently graduated from SBC with his Youth Ministry degree. He most recently lived in Selkirk, Man. Spencer’s fiancé Chloe Alby and his parents, Pastor Scott and Natalie Koop from Portage Avenue Church, joined us.

Our church appreciates hosting almost monthly potlucks and a variety of sermon series. Our recent potluck on Feb. 10 honoured Rev. Larry and Sandi Eidse in their retirement from our ministerial. Larry served our church originally as our first youth minister, filled in as an interim lead pastor several times, and as Assistant Pastor for many terms. He also helped found and be commander of our community’s Awana Club. Throughout the years he was an effective Sunday School teacher. He and Sandi continue to be deeply missional in emphasis, having participated in a variety of outreaches.

Together they hosted hundreds of Bible studies and each taught Sunday School classes. Most of these activities Rev. Eidse led while serving as an educational leader locally as Principal of the Rosenort School where he also

REMC

Spencer Koop Installed, Eidses Honoured

Spencer Koop is supported in prayer.

supported the local ISCF student leadership. We are so thankful to both of them for their committed service.

Our latest sermon series is on hearing God. We continue to be encouraged with our missions Beyond Borders Faspas (meals) and seeing what the Lord is doing around the world.

Currently Daniella Kroeker is doing outreach in Greece. We praise God we continue to be a sending church.

– Anita Peters

••

Kleefeld EMC

Parent-Child Dedication Service Held

KEMC

KLEEFELD, Man.— Keesha with Rylee Nine couples Simard; William participated in and Caycie with Parent/Child DediLincoln Rogalsky; cation on Jan. 20, Justin and Kayla 2019, at the Kleefeld with Anora Reimer; EMC. Shown and hris and here with Pastor Ingrid with Owen Pete Ascough are Yaremkiwich.

Pastor Pete Ascough,Trevor and Jackie with Landon Unger; Caleb and Jen with Morgan Trevor and Jackie It is a real blesswith Landon Unger; Friesen; Silas and Chantelle with Colleen Bohren; Dustin and Rebekah with Leah Dueck; ing to see these new Caleb and Jen with Lyndol and Coralie with Finnley Fast; Stephen and Keesha with Rylee Simard; William and babies in our conCaycie with Lincoln Rogalsky; Justin and Kayla with Anora Reimer; Chris and Ingrid with Morgan Friesen; gregation, and as a Owen Yaremkiwich.

Silas and Chanchurch family we telle with Colleen Bohren; Dustin and Rebekah with Leah have promised to pray for and encourage these young parDueck; Lyndol and Coralie with Finnley Fast; Stephen and ents as they raise their children for the Lord.

– Dennis and Louella Friesen 16 The Messenger • March 2019

With Our Churches Northern Fellowship Chapel

Blessed by Attendance, Gifts, and Wider EMC

NFC

CREIGHTON, Sask.—We have had a good year with our Helen Fehr and attendance on average of about 18 per Sunday. We conEvelyn Mitchtinue to learn from Pastor Randall Krahn and appreciate ell for your his keen mind, humbleness, insightfulness, and his abilcontribution. ity to glean words of wisdom from scripture. Faith Krahn Our Kids delights us with her music, and we have learned and appre- Club has ciated so many beautiful songs and also appreciate the old resumed. We hymns as well. have a six- or Lorne and Margaret Moorhead have had some strugseven-week gles this year, especially with Margaret’s declining health. session from She has lost weight and has had difficulty concentrating Oct.–Nov. and and is experiencing extreme fatigue. She has been hospital- another from ized, but they are now supported by more homecare. Their Jan.– Feb.; and daughter Becky and family have been their pillars. we have fourLorne continues to come to church when he can and teen children on even speaks occasionally in Cranberry Portage. What a our registry so trouper he is. Whenever we have had to fill the pulpit, we far. It is a busy have appreciated Lorne and speakers from Cornerstone hour with snack Evelyn Mitchell and Pastor Lorne Moorhead Community Church (with whom we share a pastor in Flin (Judy Schmidt), Flon): Joe Buie, Sandra Schroeder, and Deb Odegaard. craft (Janice and Fe), story/lesson (Randall); music (Faith), This year we said goodbye to a very dear friend and and game (Randall and Faith). We have a western theme pillar in our church: Lee Davis. Lee and Yvonne started this year so ropes, horses, and rodeos are mixed into the coming once the Presbyterian church closed, and Lee had crafts and music. been very involved in leadership there. We often sought his We usually have our annual meeting in January and advice and perspective and enjoyed his gift of guitar and we analyze our budget and make decisions about maintesong. Lee passed away in early June after six months of bat- nance and giving. We have a new roof (a necessity as rain tling cancer. We dearly miss him. was entering the building); and Our weekly service includes the improvement gave us all a lift. our greeters: Marg Cone (whenWe had hired Freedom Outreach ever she is able to come) and workers and the job they did was Evelyn Mitchell, age six; and a cofspeedy and excellent. fee time at 9:30 when we enjoy a Randall and Faith host the visit, coffee, and treats. Puppets mid-week men’s group and it has Froggie and Susie come every become a popular place to be. week and have conversation that In closing we want to thank is entertaining and sometimes our EM Conference for faithful even profound. They also sing and support. In some ways we seem we enjoy their voices. (Thanks, so removed geographically, but Kristen and Kevin, for puppetry we know you are there behind and also for accompanying Faith us. Thanks to Layton Friesen, our with music via voice or violin.) conference pastor, and to Region We encouraged our congregaThree for friendship over the tion to donate to the Operation years.

Christmas Child boxes. Thanks to Pastor Randall Krahn plays a game with Evelyn and Ollie – Janice Imrie Mitchell.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 17

With Our Churches Portage Evangelical Church

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man.— “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Rom. 6:3-4).

Three people were baptized on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. Our new members are Patricia Endall, Isabelle Plett, and Ashley Morrison.

– Catherine Epp

PEC

Three Baptized in February

Sharing a moment of joy: Pastor Glenn Loewen, Ashley Morrison, and Pastor Les Kroeker.

••

Pansy Chapel

Goal of 500 Shoeboxes Met

PANSY

PANSY, Man.—Christmas was a precious time. Not only did our younger classes present us with a very lovely concert, which is always treasured, we were also enabled to share it with others. Our goal of 500 boxes for Samaritan’s Purse seemed unreachable for a while but in the nick of time we made it—507 strong. Since some from among us have personally participated in the overseas distribution, and since Pastor Dylan Barkman is at the far back near the right side; Dennis Friesen at the right in we have had guests representing the front row. The picture, taken by REFUGE staff, also includes a few of their rescued girls as receivers and their changed lives, our passion for that mission goes unabated. well as both housebuilding teams that week, plus some of the receiving people.

We began the new year with a halFriesen. Is it the tenth year now, Dennis, or is it more lelujah praise item: the burning of our mortgages. Both of already? While the church pays for two of the houses our latest building ventures, the new main sanctuary and being built for seriously impoverished families, it’s the the new education wing on the north side, are now paid many hands that make the work light. What a blessing to in full. We are so grateful to God and to all the faithful par- see all the age groups represented in the builds and all ticipants who have been willing to give. the smiling faces as the receivers mingle with the givers.

Like usual our February highlight is the Ensenada One has to wonder in the end who is more blessed. mission endeavours spearheaded once more by Dennis – Betty Barkman 18 The Messenger • March 2019

With Our Churches Abbeydale Christian Fellowship

Membership Sunday: to Reflect on Our Commitment

ACF

CALGARY, Alta.: Once a year Abbeydale Christian Fellowship has Membership Sunday. Recently ACF welcomed Travis Diede, Rosanna Evans, Sterling Sloan, Judy Sloan, and Sandra Wamara to our community as members.

These wonderful folks first needed to fulfil the requirement of attending Christian Life Classes for a number of months where they learned about Christianity, Anabaptist Theology, and our EM Conference. Once the hard work of study is finished, there is Membership Sunday where the congregation celebrates their decision and witnesses their baptism—only if New members with supportive pastors: (front) Pastor Larry Nutbrown, Judy Sloan, Sterling the member has not yet taken this step. Sloan, Travis Diede, (back) Rosanna Evans, Pastor Chris Hughes, and Sandra Wamara.

They share their testimony.

The pastors ask the new members a series of questions about how they will conduct themselves in their spiritual lives and within our community. Then the pastors ask the congregation if we as a community will come alongside these new members and support them in their Christian journey. Of course, there is an emphatic,“Yes, we will” from an ancient faith to unite us now the congregation.

Membership Sunday is not only a joyful time, but is also a moment to reflect on our commitment to “bear with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2). We remember that, as the Ib Body of Christ, we are commanded to love each other and in eli e eve iev Jes in G bel o us h . I p i ri t, to treat one another with supreme care and understandC h r d , th e Fa ear t S d an is t , th er alm bor ight y, creator of he av en h is o H o ly n of th e , and n ly so d ed b y n, ou r Lord ing. As we all know, this is no easy task. Loving, forgiving, w a the Virg , who was con ce iv cified, die a i n ; s bu in Mar u g a as cr y, suffered under r ie ro s e d Pontius Pilate, w he a d , h e d n y he es ce s ce and caring for each other takes a great amount of work and ir d d a Father, a h e nded into nd ed to the dead. On the th e w il l e of th heaven , he is seated at the right hand v e in t h com li e H o ly e to ju dg tenacity grounded in God’s great love for us. e the living and the de ad . I b e io n o f S p ir it , th mun saints e ho ly Chr istian Churc h, th e co m of , the fo Membership Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on the ction re rg ur ive res ness of sins, the the b en. ody an d the life everlasting. Am commitment we are making to our new members, but it EMC Convention also invites us to remember the sacred commitment we have July 5–7, 2019 already made to one another. God has given each of us the Picture Butte, Alberta Speaker: Layton Friesen gift of one another. What an honour. Welcome to our ACF family, Travis, Rosanna, Sterling, Judy, and Sandra!

– Finnessa Adams

SIMPLY

CHRISTIAN

EMC Convention July 5–7, 2019 Picture Butte, Alberta Speaker: Layton Friesen

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 19

With Our Churches Crestview Fellowship

WINNIPEG, Man.— At the beginning of the month of February 2019, Crestview Fellowship Church experienced two prominent events. One of them brought the community, congregation, and youth group together to enjoy an evening full of fellowship on Feb.1, 2019. The event was held on a Friday night, starting at 6:30 p.m., where we were able to enjoy a tasty taco dinner before we settled in for a movie in the sanctuary.

I Can Only Imagine was the movie being viewed that evening, and it definitely brought some interest in from the community. Crestview Fellowship loves these events for reasons of outreach and, fortunately, God’s hand was at work again with another successful opportunity. Without the thought and time put in from the volunteers, these types of events would not be possible. The church is very thankful for the working hands and willing hearts within it, they truly go the extra mile.

The second event was on Feb. 3, 2019, where we celebrated with the Triskle family, as they committed their second baby to raising them in the love of Christ. The church is eager to watch baby Allistair Triskle grow in his faith, as we will be supporting him, whether that is through prayer or helping out with Sunday School. The future of Crestview Fellowship Church is continuing to strengthen as we watch our family grow and use their gifts to benefit our Lord’s kingdom.

CFC enjoyed many Christmas blessing and outreach

20 The Messenger • March 2019

CRESTVIEW

Outreach Events Held, Challenge Made

events during December 2018. Three of the many highlights this Christmas included Christmas hampers, the L.O.F.T. Christmas party, and the second annual Christmas Eve service and potluck.

This year Crestview blessed nine families with a Christmas hamper. The church was very generous and the hamper assembly and deliveries were able to run smoothly.

The L.O.F.T. stands for Living Our Faith Together, where youth from the church and around the community meet on Friday nights, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and study God’s Word and enjoy playing exciting games. The L.O.F.T. Christmas party consisted of delicious homemade pizza, surprising youth leader trivia, extreme white elephant gift exchange, tasty sugar cookie decorating, and a game of capture the flag in the dark. The youth that attend are grateful for an awesome and welcoming Friday night every week.

The Christmas Eve service and potluck was another year of outreach success with many smiles of members and visitors enjoying each other’s company and sharing in joy of our Saviour’s birth. The message was called, “Is He the One?” Our eyes were opened to seven of the many prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, in the Old Testament, being fulfilled many years later. We can all trust in God’s Word and celebrate His faithfulness this year. Pastor Darrel Guenther challenged everyone, “He is the One. Is He your Saviour?”

– Jenaya Groen

With Our Churches Stony Brook Fellowship

Special Service for Retiring Pastoral Couple

Abbeydale Christian Fellowship

STONEYBROOK

STEINBACH, Man.—On Jan. 27, 2019, SBF held a special service for Pastor Earl and Caroline Unger as they retire from serving at SBF. Pastor Earl has worked at SBF for 20 years and three months. We had an emotional and bittersweet kind of morning together as a congregation.

We celebrated them at a come and go retirement party on Sunday afternoon. We wish them very well in their future endeavours. SBF says a great big thank you for all your service, dedication and sacrifices you made for us!

– Lisa Bergen

Caroline and Earl Unger served SBF for more than 20 years. SBF said a big thank you on Jan. 27.

••

Annual Christmas Bash at ACF

ACF

CALGARY, Alta.—Every year, usually in December, ACF puts on a wonderful Christmas celebration in honour of the birth of Jesus.

Dennis Hoeppner shared a reflection.

There is something about Christmas that draws us to spend time with those we love and to share that warmth with those that may be lonely during the Christmas season.

At ACF we are a community that is very interested in people. We care deeply for those that we see every Sunday, but we also make a point to include those that use our Community Cupboard Program to join us in dressing up, eating lots, laughing heartily, singing delightedly, and genuinely enjoying watching our children re-tell the story of Jesus’ birth. It’s a tradition that showcases who we are at ACF: loving.

In 2018 Linda Pigeault and Ellie Olsen were the Christmas Bash dream team. They organized all the bits and pieces to make sure the evening went well. Of course, any big event takes a lot of people doing many different jobs in order for a big dinner to run smoothly. And like many

years past, we all had a fun time wishing one another a “Merry Christmas” while we rolled up our sparkly sleeves to set up tables and chairs, refill a friend’s juice, and clean a few dishes at the end of the night.

I think the cleaning up part is my favourite. There is something about cleaning that invites people to joke with one another, show our care for those that have taken the time to prep and organize the event, and it also is a relaxed way to spend time together. If you haven’t had the privilege of cleaning up after a church event, you may want to try it and see for yourself what fun it is. But I digress.

After dinner we all sat expectantly watching our Sunday School kids perform a Christmas Play organized by the Denise Esau and Lydia Zentner; they did such a nice job planning, organizing, and helping those children to be their radiant selves on the big day.

Dennis Hoeppner shared a Christmas reflection that was both intelligent and uncomplicated. Wes Dick lead us in singing Christmas hymns. Rachel Dick Huges, Marleen Hoeppner and her daughter-in-law sang a few beautiful songs for us. And Ken Burant presented a moving talk about his personal experience meeting with God. It was quite a night with about 115 people attending our ACF Christmas Bash this year. It’s such a delight enjoying one another at Christmas time—both with our ACF community and those ACF serves.

– Finnessa Adams www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 21

Column • Further In and Higher Up

God’s Boomerang and Your Callings

T

by Layton Friesen Conference Pastor

ISTOCK

The creation call and the redemption call are invitations to partner in how God is bringing his creation home to its rest in God.

his past weekend I attended an excellent workshop at the EMC Young Adult Retreat taught by Glenda Friesen, a noted EMCer. Her topic was the calling of the Christian into the world of work.

As we talked together on the drive home, we lit on the thought that calling could nicely fit with the exitus reditus theme in the Church’s tradition.

This is the idea that when God created the world he spun the cosmos out into freedom, and then seeks to bring it all back in, home to its rest in God. The cosmos goes out in freedom from God, and God lures it all back home through his fetching glory and his redemptive acts.

We could think of our personal callings from two angles. Each of us has a creation call and a redemption call. The creation call is there for all people, unbelievers included. We are all called

by God to take His creation and make something of it.

Here come the callings to construction, farming, engineering, governing, gardening, writing software, composing symphonies, homemaking and much more. This is all human work that takes the stuff of the world, shapes it and uses it, for the benefit of God’s creatures. We create meaning, beauty, harmony and culture through the gifts God has given us.

But creation cannot come home to God through the strength of creation alone, no matter how skilfully we shape it. This is partly because of sin, but even an sinless creation would not have its own power to reach the supernatural. The calling of redemption takes creation and, with the power of the Spirit, lifts the world higher than it can naturally go. Here might be the callings to lead worship, preach sermons, evangelize our world, plant churches, or pray for our children. The calling of redemption does not negate the calling of creation, but it takes it further, by grace into God’s realm.

For some Christians, most of their time will be spent on a

22 The Messenger • March 2019

creation calling; others will spend more of their time working in a redemption calling. Both are important and part of what God wants for the world. Parenting is an example of how both callings blend into one life. Feeding the kids, and teaching them to tie their shoes, treat elders with respect, clean their room and contribute to the family is important work in a creation call. Teaching children to pray, involving them in church, and showing them how to follow Jesus are aspects of the redemption calling in parenting.

The creation call and the redemption call are invitations to partner in how God is bringing his creation home to its rest in God. By the creation call God takes his creation part way home.

Healthy cities, loving family, artistic beauty, and good governance are all ways in which the world is made to resemble the community we will have in the Kingdom of Heaven.

In this work we get an appetite for the more that Heaven will be. But this creation work only gets us part way. To get all the way home, we need the power of God’s grace, the forgiveness of our sins, and the guidance of the church. So embrace your callings and blend them if you can. Don’t worry if they are quite distinct in your specific life; both are a call from God to bring creation to its final rest in the New Heaven and New Earth.

News

Two countries, one mission: MCC’s efforts to support all people on the Korean Peninsula Cober Bauman: ‘Deep importance of ongoing peacemaking’

MCC

It’s been more than 60 years since the ceasefire that ended the Korean War, but to this day the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) do not have an official peace and the divide remains great.

In the last months of 2018, MCC Canada Executive Director Rick Cober Bauman and MCC U.S. Executive Director Ron Byler visited North Korea and South Korea respectively as part of MCC’s ongoing work in the region. AccordRon Byler, MCC U.S. executive director (right), attended a Korean Anabaptist Conference in Chuncheon, ing to Cober Bauman, it was South Korea, along with three South Korean church leaders (from left): Bock KI Kim, SeongHan Kim and when he returned to CanSunJu Moon — all graduates of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. Byler travelled ada that he realized the deep to South Korea in November 2018 to visit MCC program and partner organizations. importance of the ongoing peacemaking work being done there. in 1951, after the beginning of the Korean War, and “There’s a consistent response I get,” says Cober Bauconcluded in 1971. It wasn’t until 2002 that the Korea Anaman. “‘You mean they let you out of North Korea?’ And I baptist Center invited MCC back into the area to provide have to stop and remind myself that we get almost daily global exchange opportunities for young adults. messages in the West about why we shouldn’t like and “Today, MCC is back in South Korea and its minisshouldn’t trust the people of North Korea.” try focuses on providing peace education in the northeast False messages like this are damaging to MCC’s objecAsia region, being a reconciliatory presence within the two tive of peace and reconciliation in the two countries.

Koreas and providing exchange opportunities for young Current MCC projects in North Korea include providadults from Korea, northeast Asia and North America to ing relief in the form of canned meat and clean water to learn more about what it means to follow Jesus,” wrote three children’s hospitals, working with agricultural sciByler in a blog post about his trip. ence experts on conservation agriculture and advocacy to In 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the U.S. government for policies that address the concerns North Korean leader Chairman Kim Jong-un held a series of both parties through dialogue, diplomacy and mutual of summits to discuss how to move their nations forrespect. ward into peace, stability and reconciliation. As citizens of “A wise colleague at MCC said that, like all walls, evenboth countries await the finalization and implementation tually the wall that divides North Korea from South Korea of such agreements, MCC will continue its program and will come down,” said Cober Bauman. “And when it does, advocacy efforts that support the people of North Korea MCC wants to have friends on both sides.” and South Korea.

MCC’s initial involvement in South Korea began – Jason Dueck, MCC

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 23

With Our Missionaries

The 2018 Polar Bear Marathon Held CHURCHILL

ALBERT MARTENS

On Nov. 24, 2018, we held our 7th Polar Bear Marathon with 17 runners from Churchill, Tadoule Lake, elsewhere in Manitoba, B.C., Ontario, Arkansas, Alaska, and North Carolina. One lady had run 250 ultra- and full marathons, another lady had run 382 full marathons, and our oldest runner was 72.

My friend Gord had told me one time that we had been fortunate to run the marathon in basically “good” weather and someday, “You will receive and taste the real Churchill weather.” Now we faced the “What if?” It was stormy outside. I asked the Churchill people who makes the call about what to do if the weather becomes worse.

They said, “You do.”

We discussed running three km loops around Churchill with four checkpoints; however, these ultra-runners paid to have an Ultra-Challenge. At least the bears were gone to a better life of eating seals after the Hudson Bay was frozen.

The next morning the weather was a bit worse. Someone tipped the sound system’s speaker off a ledge, where it broke, so no “O Canada.” At least I got my prayer in before the bear cracker gun went off and then a loud real gunshot.

The runners started suddenly with a bit of a scare into the harsh cold wind. Each runner had an escort vehicle serving as a mobile aid station (safety, food and drink).

I was an extra vehicle driver, a rover, and I had the Polar Bear Mascot suit; when my promised “bear” person did not show, I got into it.

The running was tough; the side wind was not any fun.

A team of ladies, from Windsor and Darlingford, were smiling. Martin Peters, from Steinbach and our youngest runner at 18, was first for the Half Marathon; and Simon

Cutlip from Tadoule Lake was first in the full marathon. The full marathon runners finished the 42.195 km in wind that gusted up to 68 km/h.

One lady suffered in the full marathon.

When runners come around a bend approaching Churchill, an elevator that looks a kilometer away is actually five km and there’s a strong side wind. She weighed only about 45 kg (100 lbs) and was blown off the road. She hung onto the back of the truck, still having fun. Several runners had frostbite, their mark of the honourable battle.

What was special was that the first freight train arrived in the evening of our Awards Dinner. Mayor Mike Spence spoke at our dinner and mentioned this. The awards dinner was a highlight. I introduced the runners, had them introduce themselves, gave them the carved Alabaster polar bear, the medal and a jacket, and other things. Louise Lawrie, on behalf of the Churchill Ladies Club, presented each runner with a meal gift certificate to use at the Seaport Hotel. I shared my faith and the love of God and how it affects my life.

We flew back one night early, and this savings of about $1,000 was given by the runners to the kids’ food and toy hampers. Forty Christmas hampers were being prepared by Danica Village, named after a six-year-old girl who had drowned. What a meaningful angle to the marathon.

Several people indicated they intend to run in 2019. Thank you for all your support, to the many sponsors, for prayer, and help on the ground.

– Albert Martens Albert Martens (Steinbach EMC) serves with Athletes in Action.

24 The Messenger • March 2019

Column • Focus On

ANDREW WALKER

Why I’m Glad to be an EMCer

I

think the EMC has a rich history and a solid present reality that we need to talk about.

In terms of diversity, we have members who speak Spanish, Mandarin, or Tagalog as well as English, Low German or High German. Numerous EMC churches work with Indigenous people on neighbouring reserves. We have churches that range from being quite conservative in practice and worship to those who would be less conservative and more contemporary in worship. We have a conference that works together in relative unity within that diversity of culture and language.

The EMC has wrestled with numerous controversial issues and we seem to have been able to disagree on certain areas of practice and yet hold to the common bonds that we agree upon.

Unlike many other conferences, we have not had a significant split at the conference level.

We have had splits in some of our churches, but often both continue to be a part of the EMC. To me this speaks of the fact that we hold to some vital truths that form the foundation of our faith and we agree on what those truths are.

We have pastors within the EMC that come from a variety of cultural and theological backgrounds. Again, within that diversity we seem to be able to hold to the basics that we all believe in and allow for differences of practice while continuing to work together.

There are churches that have decided to join the EMC. We must be doing something right if they pick the EMC as the conference they want

to align with. In a time in which many churches and conferences see a decline, the EMC is adding churches; in the past decade there have been several plants that are now functioning as churches.

We have a rich history of missions. EMC missionaries helped start several churches in Nicaragua. These churches have grown in numbers, formed an independent conference, and have a vision to plant many more churches. In Paraguay, the EMC was involved in starting a radio station and an HIV/AIDS centre that are now operating on their own. EMC missionaries helped to plant several churches that are now operating as an independent conference, and we still have several missionaries church planting in Paraguay.

In northern Mexico, the EMC has helped plant several Spanish-speaking congregations that are functioning well independently and with a vision to plant more churches. Also in northern Mexico, the EMC has been involved with several Low German churches that are now doing well on their own. The EMC has two couples doing church planting in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico. We have several people working among Low German-speaking people in Bolivia. Beyond these fields, the EMC has about 80 people working with associate missions organizations in many different countries.

I gladly wear the EMC name. Let’s talk about what God is doing through the EMC. Brad Brandt (Blumenort) is a husband, a father of three children, and a recent grandfather.

He operates a grain and poultry farm near Blumenort, Man., and serves as chair of the EMC Board of Missions.

by Brad Brandt Chair, EMC Board of Missions

We have a conference that works together in relative unity within that diversity of culture and language. I gladly wear the EMC name. Let’s talk about what God is doing through the EMC.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 25

Column • Poetry

Easter’s Song

By Eleanor Lee Gustaw Easter joy has come today, And the song of love has come to stay.

With it seasons change again To flowers, birds, and seeding grain.

Of sunrise gold or streaked in blue, Of gurgling brooks and water cool.

To buds that fell upon the trees, Each gift God metes so rich and free!

Their voices rise on lilting song When the dark of night fades into dawn.

The gifts of life anew appear To all God gives in wonders near.

But of His blessings greatest be Is His gift of love to you and me.

And it is ours to have and stay When Easter lives in hearts each day!

An Alphabet Prayer

••

Abide with us, O Lord!

Be with us day and night.

Constantly be our companion.

Do not ever leave or forsake us.

Evermore walk with us.

For we cannot find our way alone.

Go before us in each new venture.

Help us follow you step by step.

In You alone is our trust for the future.

Just as You have guided past generations.

Keep us in your paths as well.

Let not our footsteps slip from Your way, May we never cease following You. Never let us succumb to despair.

Open our hearts to hear You, and our lips to Praise You for Your presence!

Quickly may we obey You and Remember all Your faithfulness in the past.

Stay with us now and always.

Teach us the awareness of Your presence.

Until at least, when we see You face to face,

26 The Messenger • March 2019

ISTOCK

By L. Marie Enns

Victorious over sin and sorrow, We will be forever with You, eXempt from this world’s limitations.

Yes, Lord, how wonderful it will be in Zion city at last!

Column • Poetry

Pathway of Pain If my days were untroubled And my heart always light, Would I seek that fair land Where there is no night?

If I never grew weary With the weight of my load, Would I search for God’s peace At the end of the road?

If I walked not with sorrow And lived without loss, Would my soul seek sweet solace At the foot of the cross?

If all I desired Was mine day by day, Would I kneel before God And earnestly pray?

ISTOCK

If I never knew sickness And never felt pain Would I search for a hand To help and sustain?

If God sent no winter To freeze me with fear, Would I yearn for the warmth Of Spring every year?

I ask myself this And the answer is plain, If my life were all pleasure And I never knew pain, I’d seek God less often And need him much less, For God is sought more often In times of distress.

And no one knows God Or sees Him as plain, As those who have met Him On the “Highway of Pain.”

– Often attributed to Helen Steiner Rice Katherine Unger (Steinbach EMC) faced difficulties in life and passed away in 2000. She found helpful this poem from Back to the Bible.

It is shared on her behalf by her two daughters, Sarah Barkman and Kathy Kroeker (both Steinbach EMC).

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 27

In Memory

Martha Kroeker 1944-2019

Martha was born on April 10, 1944, and grew up in Rosenort, Man. Her growing up and school years were spent in the same area. She was the seventh child of Peter and Anna Kroeker. Being part of a family of 12 she took pleasure in looking after her younger siblings, more so than doing household chores. The younger children of the family were fond of playing school with Martha as the teacher.

She continued to have this interest, and, after two years of training at Teacher’s College, became a teacher.

She taught in various schools in southern Manitoba. Later she spent some time in Mexico teaching missionary children with the EMC Board of Missions. Following this she worked in the EMC office in Steinbach doing secretarial work and proofreading The Messenger. Afterwards she took a position at Life Light Ministries. Later she spent time volunteering in various ministries around Steinbach.

She accepted Jesus as her Saviour at a young age and became a member of the Rosenort EMC. Later after moving to Steinbach she fellowshipped at the Steinbach EMC. It was part of her spiritual make-up to read her Bible regularly. She was very faithful also in sending birthday cards to her nieces and nephews, siblings and their spouses over the years. Neighbours and friends were often blessed with flowers or some delicious baking.

Martha loved flowers. She planted many around her apartment and delighted in looking for lady’s slippers every spring. She also enjoyed hiking in places like Pinawa, Clear Lake, and Kenora. Traveling was another

Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Quarterly Financial Report From January – February

Income* Expenses Excess/Shortfall

General Fund 2019 173,216 301,986 -128,770

General Fund 2018 155,275 286,005 -130,730

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).

28 The Messenger • March 2019

highlight. One memorable trip was to Paraguay with Melvin Klassen and her brother Ron to visit her sister Elsie and family.

Nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles were important to her and she kept in contact with them whether they went to Mexico, Paraguay, or other places. A bus tour to the Maritimes with Bertha in the fall of 2016 was a dream come true.

In general Martha found change difficult. An example of this is her difficulty in changing over to computers when they came along. She was meticulous in her work. The results of her proofreading were unequaled.

Martha passed away on March 11, 2019. She is survived by her sisters, Elsie (Ernest) and Erna (Hank); brothers, Menno (Dorothy), Ed (Annie), Peter (Anne), Lorne (Helen), Ron (Wendy); and sisters-in-law, Eva and Bertha. She was predeceased by her parents, Peter and Anna Kroeker; by her brothers, Henry, Jake, and Willie; and by her sister, Mary.

– Her Family

Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one, I’d like to leave an afterglow Of smiles when life is done I’d like to leave an echo Whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times And bright sunny days, I’d like the tears of those who grieve To dry before the sun Of happy memories that I’ve left Now my life is done.

In Memory

Steven Derek Thiessen 1977-2019

Steven Derek Thiessen, aged 41, of Winnipeg, passed away with family at his side on Jan. 19, 2019, after a nine-month battle with bladder cancer. Steve is survived by his loving wife Fiona and their four children— Nadia (13), Ezra (11), Simon (9) and Ember (4). Steve is also survived by his parents Harold and Laura Thiessen, and brothers Chuck (Laura) and Kenton (Kira); his fatherin-law Ron Plett; and siblings-in-law Danny, Ivan (Sherry), Janice Barrate (Lance).

Steve was born in Arborg, Man., on Feb. 26, 1977, but grew up on a family farm near Bowsman, Man. Steve loved farm life and also worked with his father as a carpenter. In summers he volunteered as a counsellor at

Steeprock Bay Bible Camp and loved having fun with the campers who attended from northern Manitoba. At one point, Steve served with MDS in Puerto Rico.

After high school, Steve attended SBC for two years before studying International Development at the University of Winnipeg. Steve paid for his studies by planting trees in northern Ontario and, over six summers, planted nearly half a million saplings. While at university Steve moved into Winnipeg’s West End as part of an intentional community of friends interested in serving that neighbourhood.

During this time he met Fiona, whom he married on March 23, 2002.

Steve and Fiona enjoyed a wonderful,

The teachings of Jesus guided Steve for both the mundane decisions of each day and his all-encompassing life path choices. Steve loved his family dearly.

loving marriage, and Fiona loved Steve’s dry sense of humour. Steve pursued a teaching degree after they were married and, since 2006, worked as a junior high math and science teacher.

Steve and Fiona became caretakers in a church run rooming house in the West End and ministered to the community with New Life Ministries, for whom Steve worked on a construction crew renovating derelict houses. They purchased one of these renovated homes, and then a second a short distance away, and together grew their roots deep into the community right up until Steve’s death.

The teachings of Jesus guided Steve for both the mundane decisions of each day and his all-encompassing life path choices. Even during his painful struggle with cancer, Steve was not bitter but exuded serenity, and made sure to communicate to those around him that, “God is good.” Steve and Fiona and their children lived out their faith in the Many Rooms Church Community in the West End together with a supportive, like-minded community of fellow sojourners. Steve’s faith was defined by social justice; he invited into his life people of many backgrounds and economic status and had a very soft heart for those struggling in life.

Steve loved his family dearly. Steve was a dedicated father, and perhaps his greatest work was his children.

Steve loved to play in the water, read stories, have nerf and laser fights, and invented his infamous candy salad for them. The demands of packing six people for camping excursions were taken in stride by Steve. Steve loved Nadia, Ezra, Simon and Ember dearly and daily connected with each one in meaningful ways.

– His Family

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 29

In Memory

Pastor John Koop

1933-2019 Dad was born on Oct. 20, 1933, in Ste. Anne, Man., the first of 17 children born to Jacob and Gertrude Koop. He married Clara Fast on Sept. 12, 1954.

They spent over 64 years together and had nine children: Marvin, Elaine, Audrey, Karen, Darrel, Lucille, Waldon, Sylvia, and Reynold.

Dad had fond memories of being a cheesemaker in Kleefeld and Grunthal. He told stories of working at a sawmill and in the bush. Dad worked at Schellenberg’s store prior to and while attending Steinbach Bible Institute. He felt a calling to be a pastor and had a passion for learning. It was during this time that their infant Karen passed away.

Following Dad’s graduation in 1959, a teacher suggested he and Mom move west to help with a small church. They took this advice and travelled to Canora, Sask. Their prayer was if Dad found a job, it would be affirmation of God’s leading. Dad was offered a job that day. Mom said, “It was overwhelming, but we had prayed and God answered.” They stayed a year and then moved to Kamsack to pastor the EMC church for five years. It was in Kamsack that Dad was ordained into the ministry.

30 The Messenger • March 2019

Our family then moved to MacGregor, Man. For most of the ten years in MacGregor, Dad worked half time in construction. He was also elected as EMC Moderator. Dad enjoyed the community and felt very positive about his work. MacGregor became our home. A vote of confidence for them was held. Mom and Dad both thought the vote would go well. It did not. They and we as children were devastated. The church leadership was also surprised and asked Dad if he would continue for another year. It was hard, but Dad agreed. Years later Dad would say, “It was good we stayed another year. We did not break relationships and continue to have friends there.”

From 1978 to 1985 Dad pastored the EMC Church in Vanderhoof, B.C. In 1985 they moved to Winnipeg; Dad attended seminary and graduated with a Master of Arts degree. Following graduation Dad pastored the Kleefeld EMC. He felt very affirmed as a pastor in this church. He told us about a congregation meeting where his work could be discussed. When they were invited to come in, they received a standing ovation. This was an incredible blessing for both of them.

In January 1995, we lost our dear Elaine. This was a very difficult challenge for our family.

Shortly after Dad took the position of EMC conference pastor; Dad thrived on visiting many churches and people.

In 2001, Mom and Dad moved to Oasis, Mexico, to help with a new EMC church plant. Dad took on the challenge to read and preach in Low German. Dad’s early symptoms of Alzheimer’s were noticed. It was also here that Mom had a brain aneurysm. Dad’s

love for Mom was evident as he supported her through her recovery.

Mom and Dad retired in Kleefeld.

Alzheimer’s continued to rob him of his memory. One of his favourite lines was, “My forgetter is getting better.”

Woodhaven in Steinbach became their new home in 2012. Three years later Dad was moved to Rest Haven.

The first year was very hard for him as he just wanted to be with Mom. It has been painful as we watched his health and quality of life deteriorate. To the end, Dad’s faith was steadfast. His love for his sweetheart and his God was evident.

Dad passed away on Jan. 15, 2019.

He leaves to mourn his wife Clara, seven children, 27 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren, eight brothers, eight sisters, and a large extended family.

We as a family wish to express our gratitude to the Rest Haven staff.

Thank you for caring for our Dad in your wonderful and unique ways.

– His Family

GOT SKILLS AND TIME TO SHARE? Volunteer to be a leader — project directors, cooks, crew leaders, office managers needed

JOIN THE TEAM

mds.mennonite.net/projectleaders 717-735-3536

In Memory

Olga Nahnybida (nee Broder)

1925-2019 Olga Nahnybida passed away at the age of 93 years on Jan. 10, 2019, at the Norquay Health Centre in Norquay, Sask. She was born to Metro and Cassie (Bugera) Broder on Oct. 3, 1925, north of Arran, Sask. The family moved to Arran when she was two years old. She was educated and graduated at Arran School. In 1945 she married Paul Nahnybida at the Pelly United Church. They lived on

Helen Friesen (nee Brandt) 1929-2018

Mom was born on Jan. 7, 1929, to Peter and Agnes Brandt and grew up in the Rosenort, Man., area. She and Dad (Bill Friesen) were married in 1952 and moved to their farm in the Pleasant Valley district. They resided on the farm for the next 45 years and during this time they raised their four sons there.

They were active in their community and in the life of the Pleasant

an acreage north of Arran until 1960, then moved to a farm northwest of Arran in the Padolia District.

She loved the farm and all nature.

They always had a lot of company, so she was very busy with cooking and baking. Some of her favourite pastimes were sewing, reading, music and singing, and planting a very large garden. She learned to play guitar and accordion. When her husband passed away in 1973, she moved to Arran to be close to her mother because her father passed away in 1974. That is when she became involved in her Christian walk and in the church. She remained living in Arran a few years after her mother passed away in 1983.

In 1987 she moved to a low rental apartment in Pelly. While there she had an opportunity to lead a small group of women in a Bible study for a few years.

She loved to travel to visit her children and grandchildren. Life was satisfying

to her. Her most precious possession was her Bible, which she studied and memorized many verses.

She was predeceased by her husband Paul in 1973, her father Metro in 1974, her mother Katherine in 1983, a grandson Desmond Nahnybida in 2002, and son Leon Nahnybida in 2016.

She is leaving behind her sister Natalie Stauff of Detroit, Michigan; children, Gerry Nahnybida of Pelly, Paulette (Marvin) Middleton of Yorkton, Debbie (Gil) Holland who farms at Arran, and Cindy Marchuk of Harris (all in Sask.); as well as 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and various relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, from the Happy Hearts Drop In Centre in Pelly, Sask., with Pastor Frankie Kim officiating. If friends so desire, donations in Olga’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

– Her Family

Valley EM Church, which was a focal point of their activities. Mom gave unselfishly of her time to serving in many capacities. Through the years, she continually used her gift of sewing expertise to bless many people from both near and far.

Retirement to Rosenort in 1997 brought many changes which Mom embraced enthusiastically. A further change was moving into the local seniors’ housing complex where Mom both gave and received much love. Her biggest change came in 2013 when Dad passed away, but Mom faced this change courageously with the unshaken faith that God would continue to meet her needs. To her last days, she focused on the needs of others and sought to encourage and bless them. She modeled a daily walk with God that served as an example to each of her family. We knew we were in her prayers every day.

Mom passed away in Morris on

Dec. 29, 2018. Mourning her passing but also celebrating all that she meant to us are her four sons and their families: Glenn (wife Sue), Brian (wife Luella), Terry (wife Sheila), Randall (wife Karen); eight grandchildren and their spouses; and thirteen greatgrandchildren. She is also survived by one brother and four sisters. She was predeceased by her husband Bill.

Mom’s funeral service was held on Jan. 3, 2019. Donations in her memory may be made to Pleasant Valley EMC. We want to thank the staff at Rosenort Heritage Centre for their care for Mom over the past number of years; thanks to the nursing staff and doctors at Morris General Hospital for their care for Mom during her last days; thanks to Morris Funeral Home for attending to our needs at this time.

Also, thanks to Pastor Darren Plett for his comfort and encouragement to our family.

– Her Family

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 31

In Memory

Anna Barkman 1955-2018

Anna Barkman, age 63, from Calgary, Alta., and formerly of Riverton, Man., passed away on Aug. 20, 2018, at Dulcina Hospice at St. Marguerite Manor, Calgary.

She was predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Anna Barkman,; sister Adeline Brandt; and brothers, Abe, Melvin, and Werner; sister-in-law Caroline and brother-in-law Arnold.

She is survived by three brothers, Ben (Phyllis), Cornie (Erna), Jake (Ruby); four sisters, Elma Reimer (Pete), Tina Thiessen, Margaret Reimer (Neil), Orla Loeppky (Martin); and many

nieces, nephews, and friends.

Ann was born on Feb. 20, 1955.

She grew up in a Christian home in Mennville, Man., where she spent her time with family in her younger years.

She attended school, church, Sunday School, and was baptized upon her confession of faith.

God’s creation and beauty was very much part of her life. She liked to travel even if meant to go alone. She did a lot of hiking in the mountains during the summer months. During the winter she would go walking on trails on Nose Hill close to where she lived, or in parks closer to the mountains. She loved to take photos which she often shared with her sisters in Manitoba. She would walk up to 24 kilometers just to keep fit and healthy.

Keeping fit and eating healthy were some of her priorities as a health professional, but smoky barbecues were also definitely allowed.

She was well known to many of her friends in the medical field. A special friend, Dene Botham, joined her in some of her travels. Many of these friends were her strength and joy till the end of her life’s journey.

Anna was employed at the Foothills Hospital till she obtained her Master of Nursing with a major in

cardiology. She then taught nursing students at Mount Royal University.

To fulfil her passion for fair trade, Anna volunteered and served on the board of Ten Thousand Villages.

Two years ago Anna was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which took a sudden turn in events in her life.

She struggled hard to beat the odds of surviving. She remained very positive throughout her cancer journey even after treatments were not effective.

Many staff at Dulcina expressed that it was a joy to come into Anna’s room as they were always greeted with a smile and appreciation for their service. Many thanks go to Dr. Sharma, the nursing staff, chaplain DeAne, and the volunteers at the hospice. Last but not least, many thanks to Dene, her health care provider; the nieces in Calgary; and sister Margaret who spent the last weeks caring for all of Anna’s needs.

– Her Family

Calendar Manitoba April 26 Conflict Mediation Training 1

May 4 Conflict Mediation Training 2

Alberta May 17-20

Church Planter needed for Windsor, Ontario Is this person you?

If you are interested in learning more, call or email Charlie Koop at 403-874-1759 or ckoop@emconference.ca

32 The Messenger • March 2019

Abundant Springs Caronport, Sask.

July 5-17 EMC Convention PIcture Butte, Alta

Shoulder Tapping With any applications for EMC church pastoral positions, candidates are expected to also register a Ministry Information Profile with the EMC Board of Leadership and Outreach, which can be obtained through Erica Fehr, BLO Administrative Assistant, at efehr@emconference.ca or 204-326-6401.

attendees and we are seeking to reach farther into our church’s surroundings with the message of Christ.

If you are interested in applying for the position or need further initial information, please contact the Search Committee in care of jwarrenkroeker@gmail. com.

Additional EMC Openings

Fort Garry EMC is seeking a full-time senior pastor for an established, dynamic congregation. We are an inter-generational, ethnically diverse congregation, located in Winnipeg, Man., near the University of Manitoba, with a strong ministry to English-language learners. Working out of their own commitment to the Lordship of Christ, the ideal candidate is a gifted speaker who would lead and collaborate with the pastoral team, discerning and pursuing God’s purpose in our church. They possess a reputable theological education at the graduate level and are committed to a theology shaped by Anabaptist tradition. Submit queries and résumés to the Pastoral Search Committee at fgemcpastoral2018@gmail. com. Further info: fortgarryemc.radiantwebtools. com/about/careers/

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); Director of Youth and Discipleship Gerald D. Reimer (greimer@emconference.ca); and Director of Church Planting Charles Koop (ckoop@emconference.ca). The national office phone number is 204-326-6401. Talk with Erica Fehr, Church leadership assistant to the BLO, to request a cell number for a particular person.

EMC Positions* Roseisle EMC is currently in search of a full-time pastor. Roseisle EMC is located 100 kilometers southwest of Winnipeg in a small rural town. We are a small church with many young families in our congregation and an average attendance of 60. We are looking for a pastor who has been called to ministry and has a desire to serve God within the church and local community.

For more information, interested applicants should contact the pastoral search committee chair, Pete Dyck, at 204-435-2068 or through the church email listed below. Please send resumes to Roseisle EMC, Box 29, Roseisle MB R0G 1V0, ATTN: “Pastoral Search Committee” or email them to roseisleemchurch@gmail.com.

The Evangelical Fellowship Church in Steinbach, Man., is seeking a full-time lead pastor. We are a medium-sized congregation that desires to be challenged to grow deeper in faith. Areas of emphasis are prayer, Seniors, Youth and Spanish ministries.

The candidate should have a Bible college degree. Experience is an asset. Responsibilities include preaching, teaching, discipleship, and care-giving.

The candidate should be prepared to work as part of a team with the Associate Pastor and the Elder board.

Those who are interested can send questions and resumes to efcpastoralsearch@gmail.com.

Braeside EMC, located on Munroe Avenue in East Kildonan, Winnipeg, Man., is launching a search for a full-time senior pastor. Our congregation strives to make and be disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Braeside is largely made up of multicultural

Taber EMC, in southern Alberta, seeks a full-time senior pastor to lead our congregation. We are a church with an average attendance of 200 people.

Our congregation consists primarily of young Mennonite families who are fluent in Low German and English. Our services are being held in English.

The ability to speak Low German is helpful. Relevant education and experience are assets. For more information, call 403-634-9389. Resumes can be sent to taberemcpsc@gmail.com.

Evangelical Fellowship Church of Fort Frances, Ont., seeks a pastor to come alongside the congregation as we minister to each other and our community. We are open to the options of a part- or full-time pastor. We are a diverse congregation and this we see as a strength. If you have a heart for the lost, a clear understanding of God’s Word, leadership experience, and would enjoy working with our Church Board and Elders, contact us. Fort Frances is an area of great opportunity for “letting your light shine.” This may be where your next big adventure for God is waiting.

Please send your resume to johanneslgerber@gmail. com or leave a message at 807-274-2328.

Stony Brook Fellowship, a multi-generational EMC congregation in Steinbach, Man., is seeking a fulltime pastor. Our pastor is retiring and we need a pastor to come alongside us as we minister to each other and our community. SBF is a church of about 100 attendees. Successful candidates will join us in accomplishing our purpose statement: to worship God and study His Word in the context of discipleship and nurturing fellowship while introducing and

reintroducing others to a relationship with God. Our goal is to reach the over-churched and the underchurched. Contact Emery Plett emery.plett@gmail. com Kola EMC, a rural congregation, is seeking a full-time senior pastor. Our beloved pastor will be retiring this spring and we are in need of a new shepherd.

Kola EMC is a church of about 100 attendees with many young families and children. This closely knit community is located just south of Highway One on the Man./Sask. border. Successful candidates will preach regularly, visit and support individuals in the congregation, advise ministerial boards, lead or organize small groups, initiate growth and development and outreach. Please submit your resume or questions regarding the position to Adam Bajus at littlecreek@hotmail.ca or to Kola EMC, c/o chairman, Box 2, Kola, MB R0M 1B0

Other Openings Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) is a faith-based charity with a mission to bring hope and a future through Christ to youth and their families in the inner city.

ICYA provides a safe, active and nurturing environment for children and youth in Winnipeg, Man., many of whom experience poverty, abuse, and neglect.

We are in need of new team members to help fill various program and administration positions. If you feel called to work with inner city families or know someone who may be interested, please visit www. icya.ca/careers-volunteering. Questions? Contact us: 204-582-8779 or karen@icya.ca Interested in writing as a columnist for The Messenger? We are seeking someone to provide at least six columns of 500 words. Topics are quite but not totally open. Please provide three samples of work, information on background and education, and describe active church connection. Information and questions can be directed to the editors at messenger@emconference.ca and 204-326-6401.

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.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 33

Column • People Of Faith

My Father Loved the Word!

T This love for the Scriptures, and his emphasis on accuracy when teaching or preaching stayed with him all his life.

Where are we when it comes to loving and reading and living God’s Word?

34 The Messenger • March 2019

ISTOCK

by Betty Koop with Glen

here he sat!

Around him his children were playing noisily, hungry for supper, but he sat at the table, totally absorbed in what he was reading. That was my father, Abe P. Unger, reading his Bible.

After a long, hard day at work, on his feet for most of the day, he was finally able to sit down.

And what better way to find peace than in the Word; no doubt he was hungry for his supper, but he was even hungrier to see what his Lord had to say.

Today we would say: why didn’t he go and help his wife in the kitchen instead of sitting there, waiting for supper to appear? Well, in my Dad’s case, that might have been a disaster, since he was “cooking-challenged”! I’m sure Mom was quite happy for him to stay out of her way.

That is one of my most vivid memories of my childhood. Oh yes, he also got down on the floor and we’d ride around on his back as he played with us; or he’d reach deep down into the pocket of his outdoor jacket and find a small bag of candy to share. But his love for the Word is indelibly imprinted in my memory.

Another game he played with us was getting us to challenge him on his memorization of the Gospel of John. He had painstakingly printed all of the verses of this gospel on little square cards.

These he took to work with him every day.

My Dad worked as a cheese maker and won many red ribbons and trophies for the excellent product that the Landmark Cheese Factory produced during his tenure as manager. But he didn’t spend much time sitting behind a desk.

One of his duties was stirring the milk in the huge rectangular vats as it was turned into cheese with the precise addition of the curdling agent; when it thickened, he began cutting it into long slivers. This was after he’d tastetested the milk brought by the farmers to make sure none had an unpleasant taste from certain weeds the cows might have ingested.

This operation entailed a lot of walking, back and forth, around and around. To occupy his mind, he decided to memorize the Gospel of John. Cards were placed at each end of the vat, and he kept repeating them, noting the exact reference. One sister remembers a Bible on a nearby table.

A game he played with us was to ask us to pick any card, call out the reference and then check if he was reciting it correctly. I don’t remember ever tripping him up, although it may have happened.

This love for the Scriptures, and his emphasis on accuracy when teaching or preaching stayed with him all his life. He influenced many with his way of bringing the Bible stories to life when he spoke. People actually listened and remembered!

Where are we when it comes to loving and reading and living God’s Word?

Column • Stewardship Today

Cascading Generosity

M

any of us have experienced the way generosity seems to grow when we pay it forward. This phenomenon is backed up by scientific research,1 which suggests that just witnessing acts of generosity can inspire people to be more generous in their own lives. One of the most exciting aspects of my job at Abundance Canada is seeing firsthand the way generosity grows in the hearts and homes of our clients. Their stories never fail to inspire me to stretch a little further out of my own generosity comfort zone.

Ryan and Elizabeth Smith (names changed) experienced different upbringings. From an early age, Elizabeth saw her parents give their time and money to the church and various other charities, and she learned early on to deeply value generosity. Ryan didn’t grow up with that kind of influence. As newlyweds, the Smiths’ early years were punctuated by differences of opinion on how to manage the household finances. This disconnection was especially strong when it came to charitable giving. As their family grew, Elizabeth was eager to model the same object lessons in generosity she had learned from her parents. Over time, Ryan’s generosity grew as charitable giving became a regular part of life in the Smith household.

Years later, the Smiths received a generous gift of private company shares in the family farm. Grateful as they were, neither they nor their grown children were interested in farming, so they discussed the idea of selling their shares back to the farming corporation. They hadn’t given much thought to what they would do with the proceeds of the sale, so Elizabeth’s mother suggested they meet with her wealth advisor.

During that meeting, the advisor introduced the idea of gifting private company shares to charity.

The Smiths decided to donate 25 percent of the sale proceeds to charity. They went home feeling good about their decision.

While reading the Bible one day, Ryan and Elizabeth came across Acts 4:36-37. It read, “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and

brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet” (NIV). The next time the Smiths met with their wealth advisor, he challenged them to consider donating more, if not all, of the proceeds to charity. Reflecting further on the Scripture and after a short discussion, they agreed to donate all the money.

During this time, the Smiths’ wealth advisor introduced them to me and we discussed how Abundance Canada could facilitate the donation of private company shares. As a result, the Smiths donated all $500k of their private company shares to Abundance Canada, and the farm corporation subsequently purchased the shares from Abundance Canada.

The Smiths received a $500k charitable receipt from Abundance Canada and the $500k proceeds from the sale of the shares were added to their gifting account. Today, Ryan and Elizabeth and their children are enjoying the convenience and flexibility of being able to choose when and how much they wish to donate to the charities they care about. Seeing their joy reminds me of Paul’s assurance to the Corinthians that “He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely” (2 Cor 9:11).

The Smiths’ story is a wonderful example of generosity cascading from generation to generation, touching the hearts of an entire family.

In turn, many people have benefitted from the Smith’s generosity. Perhaps even in reading this account of the Smiths’ experience, you have caught a little of the generosity bug yourself. If you have, I hope you will pass it right along.

by Kevin Davidson Consultant

Abundance Canada is seeing firsthand the way generosity grows in the hearts and homes of our clients.

Kevin Davidson is a Gift Planning Consultant with Abundance Canada, serving generous people in Calgary and across Alberta. Visit abundance.ca to learn more or call today 1.800.772.3257 to arrange to meet with a Gift Planning Consultant in your area. _________________

Fowler, J. H., and Christakis, N. A. (2010).

Cooperative behaviour cascades in human social networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107.

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www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 35

Column • Kids’ Corner

Oh, The Places You Will Go!

W

ISTOCK

by Loreena Thiessen

hat do you like to read? Why do you read?

There are many different kinds of reading. Your reasons for choosing what to read will be different.

One big reason for you to read is to get information. You may be working on a science project, how a volcano is formed or what is a comet. You may need instructions on how to build a kite or a rocket. Or you want biographical information on a favourite singer or a historical figure. Reading up on a topic gives you facts and details.

You understand things better. It makes you more knowledgeable.

Or, you may choose to read something purely for enjoyment. A story or a novel is set in a specific place and at a certain time. The place may be another country, somewhere you haven’t been. The time could be somewhere in the past, or in the imaginary future. As you read you can travel there in your mind. The words on the page help you imagine it. The character in the story may be one you can relate to; you imagine you are her, and live her experiences along with her. Your imagination is at work. Reading can develop your imagination.

Reading can inspire you; it can give you an idea or a push to try something similar. For example, reading Anne Frank’s diary of her everyday life while cooped up in the attic and facing constant and real danger can inspire you to write about your life and thoughts. It can

Reading can inspire you; it can give you an idea or a push to try something similar.

Reading can develop your imagination.

Activity: Keep a reading diary.

Need: Notebook or lined loose leaf pages; your choice of books to read.

Do. Divide your page into three horizontal parts: Title Reason for reading: What I learned or enjoyed

36 The Messenger • March 2019

inspire you to be brave or help someone else in need. Your experiences will not be the same, but reading about her may help you think of what you can do. You can learn from others by reading about them.

God gave the Bible for us to learn from; its words give us hope. Read Romans 15:4. Reading God’s words will help us walk in the right path.

See Psalm 119:10-11.

But for a long time the common people could not read the Bible; it was not written in their language. Only the priests were allowed to read it. For everyone else reading the Bible was a crime. At the same time there were educated men who believed that all people should be able to read it so they could know the truth for themselves.

Two of these men were Mr. Wycliffe and Mr. Tyndale from England. In spite of the danger to their own lives they translated the Bible into English, the language of the people, for the first time. That was five hundred years ago. Now the people were able to read Jesus’ words in John 8:31-32 for themselves:“If you abide in my word, you are my disciples…you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” This promise and all the promises in the Bible are as true today as they were so long ago.

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