The Messenger a publication of the
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Volume 57  No. 3 May 2019
Discussion and Discernment I Am the Weaker Brother page 13 A Note About a Note page 16 ALSO INSIDE: The Fiery Furnace of Ordination
page 6
Great Significance in Obedience page 10
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SBC News pages 18 and 31
Editorial
A 1688 Protest Against Slavery with a ‘Mennonite-like Conscience’
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n Feb. 18, 1688, four leaders in Germantown, Pennsylvania, signed a petition against slavery and sent it to “the Monthly Meeting at Richard Warrels.” Drawing upon the analysis of J. H. Fretz, the petition had at least seven overlapping arguments: 1) slavery violates the Great Commandment; 2) it violates people’s will by forcing them into slavery); 3) it can involve theft; 4) it separates spouses, causing them to commit adultery; 5) it harms the witness of Quakers by offending some people; 6) slaves had the right to freedom (even to fight for it); and 7) Christians do not have the liberty to enslave. Fretz says “there can be no question that the Germantown Petition of 1688 was a protest against the slavery system, and that it was squarely directed toward those who held slaves” (his emphasis). What happened with the Petition? It went to the Monthly Meeting at Dublin, who found it too “weighty”
to “meddle with it here” and referred it to the Quarterly Meeting; the Quarterly Meeting for the same reason referred it to the Yearly Meeting. The Yearly Meeting on July 5, 1688, decided it was not “so proper for this Meeting to give a Positive Judgment in the Case….” Frenz said of the end result: “Too many Friends owned slaves. Too many Friends in ‘other parts’ (i.e., other colonies) lived off the labor of slaves.” Since Quakers, or Friends, sought at least “near unanimity” in decision-making, “they justified their silence on these grounds,” he said. There is a slight Anabaptist aspect to the Petition: three of the signers were of Mennonite background. Although some Mennonites want to claim this document as an early Anabaptist protest against slavery, it appears the signers had become Quakers prior to 1688. “The most Mennonites can claim is that three of the signers had once been Mennonites, and that no English Friend was among the signers,” says historian H. S. Bender. The Petition seems to be largely a discussion among Quakers, though Frenz suggests some were influenced by “Mennonite-like consciences.” Today women, children, and men are still physically enslaved. What social issues do we pursue today with our “Mennonite-like consciences”? How do we, as the EMC, go about making decisions? And how might some of our results be regarded 331 years from now? – Terry M. Smith
Today women, children, and men are still physically enslaved. What social issues do we pursue today with our “Mennonite-like consciences”?
Sources: J. Herbert Frenz, “Germantown Anti-Slavery Protest,” Mennonite Life (October 1958, 183-185) and H. S. Bender, “Society of Friends,” GAMEO (1959).
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Table of Contents Features 6
Columns
The Fiery Furnace of 5 Ordination – Layton Friesen
Further In and Higher Up
Without the Church, You're on Your Own – Layton Friesen
10 Great Significance in Obedience: 'Your Will be 29 Guest Column Done on Earth as it is in Just a Thought: Fear Heaven' – Desiree Krahn – Dr. Harvey Plett
13 I Am the Weaker Brother – Kevin Wiebe
His Mother Prayed Him Home – Betty Koop
35 Stewardship Today
18 Dr. Gus Konkel Addresses, 'How Long, O Lord?'
36 Kids’ Corner
– Janelle Waldner
Departments 2 Editorial 3 Loaves and Fishsticks
7
34 People Of Faith
16 A Note about a Note – BCM Executive
page
page
19
The Benefits of Donating Securities – Sherri Grosz Too Much Noise – Loreena Thiessen
page
31
4 Letters and Notices 20 With Our Missionaries 25 With Our Churches 30 News 32 In Memory 33 Shoulder Tapping
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 3
The Messenger
Letters and Notices
Volume 57 No. 3 May 2019
Archives Committee Members and Volunteers Sought
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.
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To help preserve and share the stories of Christ’s grace to us through history, the EMC is seeking volunteers to serve on its Archives Committee and other volunteers to assist in its efforts. The Archives Committee meets about three or four times a year to oversee the EMC Archives, preserve documents, and promote EMC history. Its members get involved in hands-on projects. An appreciation of church history is helpful. The ability to read German is not required, though helpful. Committee members from outside Manitoba could attend
meetings by computer or by phone and could assist in collecting materials from their areas to be donated to the EMC Archives. Volunteers are needed to help organize the archives’ materials in Winnipeg and Steinbach: photographs, file descriptions, filing. Translators (German to English) are very needed. They can be located anywhere. If this fits you or someone you know, please contact Terry Smith at 204-326-6401 or tsmith@emconference.ca. Thank you.
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Year to Date Financial Report From January – April
Income* Expenses Excess/Shortfall
General Fund 2019 438,796 615,382 -176,586
General Fund 2018 394,645 577,018 -182,373
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).
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
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.
Column • Further In and Higher Up
Without the Church, You're on Your Own
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by Layton Friesen Conference Pastor
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o I need to be a member of the church in order to be a disciple of Jesus? Can I be saved if I am not a part of the church? By church I don’t mean some invisible, “spiritual” church, but the real live congregation of believers that meets in Jesus’ name down the street. This is a live question today for many of us. Every age has its own reasons for doubting Jesus. People today will say, I can believe in God, but I cannot believe that somehow being baptized, or taking the Lord’s Supper, or joining the mission team, or chaperoning the youth group sleep-over, or joining in Sunday worship—I cannot believe that this is anything more than joining whatever other club or association we can think of. Yet it is hard to make a biblical case for separating being a Christian and being a member of the church. I can’t think of any passage of Scripture that would indicate that there is a meaningful division between those two things. Galatians 3:26-29 is a good example of how the New Testament talks generally. Being clothed with Christ is here deeply joined with being a part of the new community of baptism in which there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is no longer male nor female. Being in this community of new relations with my new brothers and sisters is one aspect of being clothed with Christ. Now someone will immediately ask, and properly so, does this mean that everyone who is not a part of a church cannot be saved? To say that no one who is not a part of a church can ever be saved is more than we should say. But let me give you an analogy to show you how this might work. If I as a newcomer to Manitoba, without a map and living in Winnipeg, asked you how I could get to Kenora, Ont., you would tell me,
“Take the No. 1 highway going east. Drive on the No. 1 and you will get to Kenora, and you don’t need a map. Signs will point you there once you are on the No. 1.” But if I said to myself, “Well, that’s what she says. I think I can get there by taking the No. 75 southbound,” I would be on my own. With a fair bit of luck and a lot of trial and error it may by chance be that I would eventually find myself by many wandering paths in Kenora. Yet that’s a foolish plan. God has given us a path of salvation and it includes being a part of the church, the body of Christ. It includes baptism and the Lord’s Supper, accountability to other members, gathering for worship, and serving my brothers and sisters in need. It includes learning the Scriptures from the people the church has chosen for that purpose. That is the No.1 highway to Kenora. If I choose to go it on my own, God in his unsearchable mystery may find a way of bringing me home, but it will likely involve a long and winding path back to the No. 1 somewhere and somehow. Why not follow the path that God has given us, the path that he has promised brings us to our home in him? Do you want to follow Jesus? Follow the church. God has appointed the humble, often fumbling church as the guide to salvation.
Do I need to be a member of the church in order to be a disciple of Jesus? Can I be saved if I am not a part of the church?
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 5
The Fiery Furnace of Ordination
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By Layton Friesen, Conference Pastor
6 The Messenger • May 2019
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rdination is a word in danger of losing its gist, like what happened to floppy disks and dungarees. You may have attended an ordination service and wondered what was really going on. “We already picked George to be our pastor and he has been serving for a year, but now we are ordaining him? Is this some new level in the video game of pastoring? Is George getting new powers? Or what?” Simply put, ordination is a set time of testing, discerning and anointing during which a Spirit-filled Church confirms the call of God on someone to be a minister of the gospel till death do us part.
Inner and Outer Dimensions
taken. Each one was told that in the providence of God their lives were now being commandeered for a mission on behalf of the people of God. In having their lives taken from them they found their own lives again, for the first time. Each one of these, even in the Old Testament, was called in Christ; their lives were now called to participate in some aspect of the calling by which the Father sent Jesus into the world by the Spirit. All these other call stories are ways in which humans join up with Jesus’ own call from his Father to redeem the world. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21).
Commandeering a Life
There is a story at the end of the gospel of John that shows how God points to one person and sets them aside, takes their life, and commandeers it in the direction of the new kingdom. After the resurrection, Jesus and Peter have an exchange on the beach over breakfast in which
PFC
Ordination has both an outer and an inner dimension. The outer part includes things like conversation with mentors, self-examination, study, examination before a conference committee and the laying on of hands by the church. But I will focus here on the inner dimension, what’s happening between God, the pastor and the church, in the Spirit. Scripture is full of call stories. Ordinary people were minding their own business when God interrupted their ambitions and said, “Stop that: your life is over now. Your life is being taken from you and my own life is being given you in its place.” Abram, Moses, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Esther, Jeremiah, Mary, the disciples, Paul, John; each one in their own unique way had their life
Scripture is full of call stories. Ordinary people were minding their own business when God interrupted their ambitions and said, “Stop that: your life is over now.
Hyoun Jin (Simon) Yoon, Pelly
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 7
PRAIRIE ROSE
Peter has his life taken from him. The charcoal fire and the three-fold question, “Do you love more than these?” remind him of his denials just days before around another charcoal fire. As Peter painfully walks back those denials by three exclamations of his love for Jesus, Matt Plett, Prairie Rose he is told, “Feed my sheep.” back into the furnace of Peter’s own calling: “If Jesus tells Peter that this calling will finally it is my will that he remain until I come, what is be the death of him, both spiritually and literally. that to you? Follow me!” Each one of us lives by “But when you grow old, you will stretch out the will of our Lord Jesus. Each one is taken in your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt some way, but how that unfolds is finally up to around you and take you where you do not want Jesus. My work is to follow Jesus in the life that to go.” By giving Peter his life calling, Jesus is he is giving to me. indicating “the kind of death by which he would Peter was only being called to follow Jesus. glorify God” (John 21). Peter is not called to be a Big Shot in the church; But Peter is anxious to know if he is the only he is not given the gift of worldly power over one being called and he asks Jesus, “what about others. He is called to sheep-herding. him?” pointing to “the disciple whom Jesus Jesus himself has authority and power, loved”. Surely, Lord, your calling is the same for dominion and honour in so far as he utterly sureveryone? Surely you would not call one person renders it all in heroic submission as the Good to feed your sheep until death do us part, and Shepherd. As Jesus stooped to serve the least then give his brother some other work? in an obedience that literally took his life, he Jesus’ reply to Peter’s anxious question about is shown to be the Son of God, partaker of the the priesthood of all believers turns Peter’s gaze divine glory. This must then also be what apostolic power and authority consist of.
Surely, Lord, your calling is the same for everyone? Surely you would not call one person to feed your sheep until death do us part, and then give his brother some other work?
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One for the Sake of All
But how does Peter’s call relate to the calling by which every believer is called to serve God and the church. This too is the biblical witness, that all people of God are “a royal priesthood.” Why do we ordain pastors but not kindergarten teachers? “One for the sake of all”: this is a deep biblical pattern. Some lives are commandeered to dramatically portray and live out the call that God
MACGREGOR
Russell Doerksen, MacGregor
intends for each person. God has always used a few people to live their lives written large, with a tenderness, courage and persuasiveness with the Word of God that serves as a model for the church of submission to God. The few are called to feed, empower and create space for everyone’s call. This is the calling of Peter and it is the calling of those we ordain. To be ordained is to have your life taken away in a way that serves notice to the whole church that this is what God wants to finally do with everyone. To be ordained is thus a weighty calling that has serious repercussions for the rest of one’s life. Because it can be so expensive we need to be careful about throwing this call around willy nilly. Thus, the whole outer aspect of ordination, the period of study, testing, prayer, training and waiting before laying on our hands in partnership with the Holy Spirit.
Marinated in the Bible?
Is this person truly marinated in the Bible? Has this person suffered and shown in their suffering an endurance and inner strength? Does this person have the habit of regarding the whole congregation? The whole conference? Is this person clamouring and grasping for an anointing,
or are they approaching it with a holy fear and trembling? How confident are we that God is calling in this instance? If so, then let’s celebrate God’s mercy! Why do we find movies so compelling and stirring? Because for two hours we have our life taken from us. We are temporarily given a new life in the story of the movie. We stretch out our hands and someone fastens a belt around us and take us where we do not want to go. Watching a movie is a metaphor for being taken in ordination. This is why there are few lives as unexpected and nerve-wracking as the pastoral life, or as revealing of God’s utter grace that is available to everyone. To think that Layton of all people, vexed by all seven deadly sins, having heard the cock crow, should now have his life taken and set aside for fearless footwashing in the Kingdom of God as a servant-pastor—how can this be? Pastors are people whose lives were taken from them to serve the church and enable everyone else to be taken in. Your pastor was willing to let go of self-ambition and to say after Mary, “Let it be with me according to your word.” That had fierce consequences for Mary, as it will have for your pastor. Pray for, encourage, and love, but never pity your pastor.
Layton Friesen, PhD, is the EMC’s conference pastor. He has served as a youth pastor at Crestview Fellowship and as senior pastor at Fort Garry EMC.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 9
The Lord's Prayer 2019
Great Significance in Obedience: ‘Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven’
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By Dr. Harvey Plett
M
any of us memorized the Lord’s Prayer in grade school. The Manitoba Education Department prescribed daily Bible readings and a daily reciting of the Lord`s Prayer for the public schools. That has changed now, but many of us know the prayer from those days. As we look at the Lord’s Prayer it naturally divides into two parts. The first part is worship of God and recognizing who He is. He is our Father; His name is to be hallowed — honored; we pray for His Kingdom (rule) to come; and then we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This is followed by a number of requests for ourselves. Reading and reciting the prayer is good, but not very meaningful unless we understand what the prayer is saying. When have you heard an explanation of the phrase, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? So, think with me on the profound truth being prayed.
Creation
The first question that we face when praying this is, “What is God’s will?” One answer is, “It is what the Bible teaches.” When we pray that God’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we quickly think of the purpose of creation. We are also aware that God’s will shall not be fully done on earth until sin has been removed. God’s full will on earth will be done when the new heaven and the new earth are here. But until that happens, we are still to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In heaven there is no sin. Things work for a purpose. They were made and in all God is glorified. When we think of creation, we are aware God created it and set it in motion according to the laws He ordained. One example would be the seasons. Yet sin has warped creation and so we pray when we face storms, etc., remembering that the storms come from the ways nature runs
Reading and reciting the prayer is good, but not very meaningful unless we understand what the prayer is saying.
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its course and will continue until Christ returns and gives us a new heaven and a new earth. God’s will is also that we humans are to rule and have dominion over what God has created (Gen. 1:26-29). That includes using it wisely.
Relationships
There is another important dimension of God’s will and that is how humans live, relate, and behave. In the human relationships area humans are responsible to make them what God wants them to be. God has spoken to this area and also stands ready to help humans bring God’s will to this area as it is in heaven, but humans have to respond or it won’t happen. God’s will for human relationships is to live in loving caring relationships with one another. He says, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). Harmonious relationships are brought about when we love. It is the will of God that we “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself ” (Lk. 10:27-28, Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18). It is also the will of God for us here on earth to accept ourselves and use the abilities and gifts we have been given. So, as we pray for God’s will on earth as in heaven it involves accepting self and relating to others with love, respect, and care. As we pray this and become available to God we must accept we are made in the image of God. This means I have value, but it also tells
God’s will in human relationships is done on earth as humans live as outlined in the Scripture. us how to relate to others as fellow image bearers. We bring in God’s will as we are good image bearers and treat others as fellow image bearers. Then we love ourselves appropriately and also our neighbour. This also means that I accept the gender I am born with, male or female, and treat others according to their gender. Genesis 1:26-28 puts it this way. “And then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . . .’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God blessed them and said be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion . . . over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” By His grace God’s will is brought to earth when we obey Him. Thus, our prayer is asking for a process that will be completed when Christ returns.
Obedience
It is also important to note that as we pray for God’s will to come to earth as it is in heaven, we are aware that God expects humans to respond rather than that He does it arbitrarily Himself. God’s will in human relationships is done on earth as humans live as outlined in the Scripture. God does not force them on us. We as followers of Jesus, when we pray this, are asking God to help us live in harmony with the way He has created humans with the responsibility to live in good relationships, and so our prayer for God’s will in human relationships requires human response
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and obedience. As we obey God, His will is brought to earth in this area. God’s will on earth is done when we love our neighbour as our self. How do we do this? We must first of all have accepted Jesus into our lives as Saviour and Lord. To love my fellow humans includes returning good for evil, seeking the welfare of the other regardless of cost, forgive when wronged and forgo vengeance. Romans 12:14-21 gives us the will of God here on earth for human relations, and when we do that we are bringing God’s will to earth as it is in heaven and this prayer is being answered. As you read these verses, do you feel like throwing up your hands and saying how is that possible? It is possible for you and me to do this by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and our decision to follow Him. Following are a few truths from that passage. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, bless those who persecute you and do not curse them, repay no evil for evil but take thought of what is noble in the sight of all, leave vengeance to the wrath of God, do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good. It is the will of God that we feed the hungry, care for the sick and nurture the faith through Bible study, prayer, meeting with fellow believers. We are to bring the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him.
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The created world is groaning for redemption which will come when Jesus returns. Humans groan as they live for God waiting for the redemption of their bodies (Rom 8:22-23). Meanwhile we bring God’s will into our relationships by loving, caring for others, preaching the Gospel and growing. So, I suggest to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” includes great significance in terms of our obedience to our Lord. Dr. Harvey Plett has long served the EMC and the wider Church in various capacities—as a minister, SBC professor and president, Board of Missions chair, a counsellor, and as EMC moderator. He and his wife Pearl are part of Prairie Rose EMC and live in Mitchell, Man.
Free for Sunday School! Contact info@emconf.ca or 204-3266401.
I Am the Weaker Brother
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By Kevin Wiebe
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hen you believe you are right about something, how do you behave? How do you treat those with whom you disagree? I’m not talking about issues of sin, here. There are a great many things the Bible very clearly defines as sin. So, what of disputable matters, issues that are not very clear? Sure, there are folks who try to make every kind of sin into a “disputable matter,” but like it or not, there are in fact some things that are not as clearcut in the Bible as we would like it to be. Romans 14 directly instructs the church not to quarrel over issues that are labeled as disputable matters (NIV), “doubtful disputations” (KJV), or a “quarrel over opinions” (ESV). This chapter then lists a few different hot-button topics of the day.
all people to refrain from condemning one another. Furthermore, in Romans 14:5 Paul goes on to say that, “Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” So, while Paul declares which of these stances on the various issues are stronger or weaker, he also encourages everyone, even those whose faith he calls weaker, to be fully convinced of their convictions on these matters. Paul isn’t trying to change their minds. It appears that Paul would rather see the two perspectives learn to live together in peace and unity rather than to change everyone for the sake of uniformity. This is where I get myself into trouble, and I suspect that you might as well. If I am fully convinced of my own convictions, as Paul instructs, I will naturally think that my position is stronger than that of those who hold differing convictions. What then becomes a temptation is to be condescending towards those of the opposing conviction. We may look down on them, criticize them, condemn them, or even call them names. Suddenly I feel the urge to mistreat others because of my “stronger” conviction.
I will naturally think that my position is stronger than that of those who hold differing convictions.
Stronger and Weaker
One interesting thing is that Paul talks about the people who hold a particular stance as having a stronger faith, and the people of the other position as having the weaker faith. What this can indicate to us is that there are some stances on disputable matters that are stronger and some that are weaker. Yet even in this, Paul instructs
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No matter which side of an issue you land on, both sides are to be convinced of their own position. Both sides think that they have the stronger position and the stronger faith—and all too often this leads to quarrels and infighting and a tremendous lack of unity.
Both Positions Can Glorify God
The thing about these disputable matters is that no matter which position you hold, neither is inherently sinful and both positions can be used to bring glory to God through our lives. Yet how we respond to others because of our convictions about such matters often becomes sin. We gossip and slander. We drive wedges in congregations or even families. We treat others with contempt and hate instead of with love. We take something that is not a sin issue, and we use it as an excuse to justify sinful behaviour.
A Question Came to Mind
Not Unprecedented
This kind of approach is not unprecedented in the Bible. In fact, in Mark 10:43 Jesus instructs his disciples that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” Even in the life and example of Jesus, we read in Philippians 2:7 that Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.” Another passage popular in Anabaptist circles is 1 Thessalonians 4:11, which tells us to “make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business” (NLT).
I will humbly seek to live in peace with them instead of pummeling them with my own convictions.
As I was pondering this, a question came to my mind: what if on every disputable issue I would choose to view myself as the one with a weaker faith, instead of viewing myself as the one with the stronger faith? Even while remaining fully convinced of my own convictions, how would that simple change of perspective change how I approach others in such situations?
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If I am the weaker brother, instead of flaunting my superior theology I will be asking for grace and patience from others to bear with me in my convictions, by which I do my best to bring glory to God. Instead of being condescending towards those with different beliefs, I will humbly seek to live in peace with them instead of pummeling them with my own convictions. Instead of continually trying to make others “see the light” of my position, I might simply ask for the freedom and space to live out my convictions peaceably.
For the Sake of Clarity
For the sake of clarity, let me say again that I am not referring to things that the Bible clearly and consistently defines as sin—that is an entirely
different conversation. Sadly, Romans 14 sometimes gets misapplied. Even still, there is this entire category of things that Paul refers to as disputable matter. In Galatians 5:15, Paul writes an interesting statement: “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” This seems like a redundant statement. If we devour each other, of course we will destroy one another. Yet how often do we forget this basic and simple truth?
A Weakness Can Show Strength
On these matters, there may very well be a stronger position or one that demonstrates a stronger faith. We typically think the stronger one is our own position—why else would we hold to it? Yet we have a choice. We can choose to view ourselves and behave as the stronger sister or brother, or as the weaker one. We must also remember that what our world considers strong is very different than the greatness described by Jesus. In behaving in ways our world would typically think of as weak, we are
more likely to demonstrate the hallmarks of a strong faith. Think about it this way: does viewing yourself as having the stronger faith or the weaker faith aid you in living out the fruits of the Spirit? Is it easier to demonstrate “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” if you view yourself as the superior one or if you view yourself as the weaker one (Gal. 5:22-23)? Which view of ourselves makes it easier for us to bite, devour, and destroy one another, to give into the works of the flesh like hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions” (Gal. 5:20)? Which view of ourselves helps us to better, “serve one another humbly in love” (Gal. 5:13)? So, I ask: how would your attitude, disposition, and approach to other believers change if you would view yourself as the one with the weaker faith? Even though you fully believe in your position, how would seeing yourself as the weaker sister or brother change how you treat others in these situations? Are you willing to view yourself as weak? If so, then you might just help the Church to be strong. Kevin Wiebe, BA, is the senior pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship that meets in Stevenson, Ont. A longer version of this article first appeared in Mennonite World Review in October 2018.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 15
A Note About a Note A BCM Initiative for Learning from One Another While Building Unity By the Executive of the Board of Church Ministries
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ANDREW WALKER
Y
ou and I are not the same person! Shocking, I know! And we both have different lives and opinions! Often times our opinions are shaped by our own experiences, and the experiences of people in our lives. Some of us have lots of opinions! Some of us share those opinions freely with others, while others keep our opinions more private. Living and worshiping together can sometimes be great! And sometimes it can be really hard, even painful. How do we figure out living and worshiping together when conversation is hard? How do we love each other when we disagree on difficult topics? How do we love our sister churches when they are so different from us and we don’t know the people in the pews? Or if they even have pews!
The Board of Church Ministries has been thinking and praying about these questions for many months. In the April 2016 survey, 64.7% of respondents felt that The Messenger is a suitable place to discuss controversial issues. “The opportunity to raise one’s voice” came out ahead of all other possible purposes for The Messenger. Since the survey, we’ve been thinking about how to go about this in a way that builds unity instead of division. This is not a new question by any means. Nor is there an easy answer. The BCM is not saying that we have one. But we do agree that it is important to think about. As the EMC we have a shared Statement of Faith which binds us together as it outlines our core beliefs. Discussions within and among churches should bring us together and help us to live out this Statement of Faith. We are a diverse and interesting conference of churches. Each church has gifts to share, as well as areas where more learning and a broader perspective is needed. Living together well is hard work. And being more open to a variety of opinions expressed in The Messenger will also be challenging. With God’s grace we can muddle our way through together, forgiving as we go and assuming each other’s best intentions. This is true both between the BCM and readers and between congregants. Even when opinion and experience differ, we can work to love each other well. The Messenger isn’t going to change overnight. The conversation on how to best do this
is ongoing, and indeed needs to be held more widely. We plan to run articles on how to build unity and how to encourage healthy discussion and discernment. Messenger readers can expect to see a wider variety of perspectives in columns, articles, and letters. You will probably agree with some and disagree with others. You may even want to comment online or write a letter! That would be great! We want to hear from you! All discussions about topics where we disagree need to first and foremost reflect that we are created in the image of God, we have inherent worth and dignity, and deserve to be treated with respect. We should
also seek to understand what others are saying in conversations, working to genuinely listen and not only focus on formulating a rebuttal. The reality is that there are many people who, for various reasons, have not always felt welcome in Christian communities. Through respectful discussion we have an opportunity to change that. To guide us in these conversations, this note will now appear in the print version of The Messenger and on the website:
All discussions about topics where we disagree need to first and foremost reflect that we are created in the image of God, we have inherent worth and dignity, and deserve to be treated with respect.
LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH Serving And Learning Together Commit a year to serve alongside others in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Latin America mcc.org/salt
International Volunteer Exchange Program
Open your home or workplace to an international volunteer mcc.org/ivep
Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ
Every community will have a diversity of views and opinions, which provides opportunities for us to learn from each other, being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Our discussions are inevitably impacted by our own experiences, and the experiences of people in our lives. These discussions should also reflect the reality that some groups and individuals have not always felt welcome in Christian communities. We welcome your responses to articles and topics discussed in The Messenger. We don’t have this all figured out. Indeed, our struggles in unity show us the “yet becoming” nature of Christ’s kingdom on earth. May God grow our love for one another as we walk with Him. The executive members of the BCM are Kimberly Muehling (Fort Garry), Cyndy Warkentin (Saturday Night) and Heidi DIrks (Aberdeen).
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 17
SBC Leadership Conference 2019
Dr. Gus Konkel Addresses, 'How Long, O Lord?' By Janelle Waldner
“H
ow long, O Lord?” is the endless cry of the characters in the Bible who faced suffering, as found in Scripture. This is also the cry of all of us today, as inevitable suffering enters each one of our lives. There is no need to convince anyone that all is not right in the world; all you need to do is turn on the Evening News to see the pain and suffering in the world. I remember when the realization first hit me that the world is broken. For me this happened as I began to be exposed to unexpected tragedies in lives of people I knew. Every child, at some point, comes face-to-face with this reality. And the older we get, the more brokenness we see and experience for ourselves. On March 15-16, Steinbach Bible College hosted the annual Leadership Conference on the relevant topic of suffering. The guest speaker, Dr. Gus Konkel, approached the subject by emphasizing the All-Powerful God and His interactions concerning the suffering of humanity.
The Character of God
SBC
Dr. Konkel, in the first session, walked us through the character of God seen in two of the Psalms of Creation (Psalms 74 and 104). Here we learned that God is outside of creation, beyond the disorder of the world. Then, as chaos surrounds His people, they take refuge in God by meditating on His might in creating creation. They exalt God who is “working salvation in the midst of the earth” (Psalm 74:12). This Psalmist knew that no suffering could stop God and the redemption He brings!
18 The Messenger • May 2019
While we do not have a clear explanation for where evil has come from, as Christians, we have something far more precious. We have a promise of victory. Suffering will not have the last word. Yet as we patiently wait, we wonder how we can cope with the pains that come and we ask the question why?
The Sufferings of Job
In session two, we discussed the sufferings of Job. From this study, we learned that no answer was given to Job’s question of why concerning his sufferings. Humans do not have access to the wisdom of God, as declared in the Lord’s declaration of Himself in chapters 38-41. The conclusion to Job’s life is that no one is exempt from suffering. Suffering cannot be avoided, even if you are in right standing before God like Job was described (Job 1:1).
God Walks with Us Now
However, suffering is never without meaning. For even redemption from suffering included suffering, as God entered into suffering through Jesus Christ. This was the focus of session three.
As Christians, we do not profess escape from suffering. Rather, we declare that God has so fully identified with us through Jesus. Christ is the One who demonstrates God’s presence and reconciliation. For God, who has walked with humans in the past, walks with us now. His reconciliation has made a way for relationship. Although God’s presence is not always clear in suffering, we leave an important legacy regarding how we respond to suffering. Job’s legacy was one of patience (James 5:10-11). Though Job does not seem patient in waiting for God to respond, Dr. Konkel pointed out that Job knew how to trust God. In the same way, David, who wrote Psalm 22, expressed his faith in God by simply coming to God in prayer in his trouble. Both Job and David exemplify that honest complaints and cries for justice speak of a deep faith in God, believing that He is in the business of redeeming. The words of Psalm 22:1 are echoed by Jesus on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). At that moment,
Dr. Gus konkel: We are secure.
the suffering sinless Saviour identified with all the suffering of all the sufferers of the world. As Christians, we do not profess escape Dr. Roger Gingerich talked about suffrom suffer- fering from a professional and personal ing. Rather, viewpoint. we declare that God has so fully identified with us through Jesus. And His work on the cross and in His resurrection affirms that there is victory over suffering!
We Are Secure!
In the final session, Dr. Konkel closed the conference by looking at Romans. Salvation, righteousness and redemption are available to those who have faith in God through Christ. In fact, we are adopted as children of God. We walk in His resurrection victory. We are secure! In our new identity as children, we are heirs with Christ of God: “For if we suffer with Christ, we will also be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:17). We will continue to suffer until God’s redemption will be complete someday as we join Him in heaven. Until that day, we can stand firm in confident hope that God will accomplish all that He intends. His victory is sure! As His children, He is on our side. He has conquered and nothing can stop His redemption. In the meantime, we rely on the grace He grants to empower us to endure until the end. Janelle Waldner (Rosenort EMC) is a second-year student at SBC (BA Christian Studies with a minor in Missions). She is from Lowe Farm, Man.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 19
With Our Missionaries
Reflections on Our Connection to the EMC WINNIPEG
It’s been close to 33 years since the first ministry initiative in what is now Inner City Youth Alive. I have fond recollections of the willingness of Fort Garry EMC to help launch this initiative. Many EMC churches got on board and soon EMMC and CMC churches. Those early days were hand to mouth. I often shielded my wife from just how desperate our financial needs were month to month. It was Sarah Reimer from Aberdeen EMC, our volunteer book keeper, who used to give me that heads up that things were dire in the bank account so off I would go as, what I often chided myself, Winnipeg’s biggest panhandler. Our connection to our many supporters in the TriConference (CMC, EMMC, and EMC) is one for which we are deeply appreciative. How many times I have been at my wits’ end with a problem in the community and have talked it through with a pastor from one of our supporting churches. This is vital in a ministry that can be lonely. Especially in those early years I made a promise to myself early on: when it got to the point that the world was looking on, I would not forget from where I came from. It was an overly ambitious thought 30-plus years ago.
Perhaps I had some prescient sense, though, that if we did this work and reached those amazing kids that society had forgotten, at some point Winnipeg would take note. Isaiah 58 talks about the true fast and how when one pours themselves out on behalf of the poor, clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, and seeks justice, something amazing happens. It says “then your light will shine forth like the dawn….” In my leadership, from the beginning it has been about both the youth and the fact that the mission to youth came with a biblical mandate. The temptation to do this work of justice could be something that stops with justice. It is possible, as many organizations bear out, to forget that the work that one is doing has been commissioned and blessed by the bride of Christ himself—the Church. We see ourselves as sent by the many wonderful churches that support us. I was recently asked a question from a dear atheist friend of mine who is a community activist fighting for the rights of the poor in our city. “What is wrong with your churches? They take so many hits in the media and are criticized every single day! You guys are like sheep to the slaughter. Why don’t you stand up for yourselves? As far as I am concerned; the only people I want to work with are Christians—you guys are the only ones getting anything done.” He is stirring for justice and is seeing that light that breaks forth like the dawn mentioned in Isaiah. I recently introduced him to a colleague as the atheist who deepens my faith in God. Go figure. Seriously, whether it is that group of women from Rosenort who made meals for kids every week, the youth groups from Niverville that come out and volunteer in the drop-in, the men from Pleasant Valley who have practically built our entire camp along with the amazing youth from Mitchell, or the many other people who get what it means to be Christ followers: Your light is shining! The world around us is taking note! Sing along with us: “This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine!” Thanks for helping ICYA be light in a dark place.
BOM
Kent Dueck is the director of Inner City Youth Alive in the north end of Winnipeg, Man.
Kent Dueck and family
20 The Messenger • May 2019
With Our Missionaries
Do You Ever Get Discouraged?
BOM
BOLIVIA/CANADA
Back in March one of the couples from Hacienda Verde decided to try again to visit their family in the colony. Earlier they had been told by their parents to never come again. This time they would go to Susan’s (name changed) sister’s house and hope that the parents wouldn’t be there or come join them. They received a heart-warming welcome and another sister came to join them. The host sister brought out a Low German song book that they had borrowed from someone, and asked if Susan could teach them some songs? And where would they be able to get a few more books so that they could sing when she and her sisters got together? There are four of Susan’s sisters living in that colony. They had a most wonderful time visiting and singing that night; even the nieces and nephews were delighted and joined in. The sisters had many questions and Susan was able to explain many things to them. Then a sister asked Susan, “Do you ever get discouraged?” “Oh yes,” Susan replied. “What do you do then?” asked the sisters. Susan answered with joy in her voice as she recalled the scene to me: “Oh, then I put on some music and I sing and dance in my house, or I go to the neighbour’s house and get some encouragement from them.” Susan could tell this brought a real longing in the hearts of her sisters. Susan was so excited to call me the next day. We had been encouraging them to go visit even if they were told not to and we were praying for them. It had been about a year since their last visit when they had been so discouraged. This couple seemed to have the gift of sharing Jesus’ love and grace, but, since their last unwelcome visit to the colony, had seemed to go into a slump in their Christian faith. To hear the great news about this visit was a huge answer to prayer. As Susan recalled her visit to me, my heart was racing at the goodness of our Heavenly Father. Just a week earlier we had some visitors at the centre, and they had donated some money so that we could either gift or discount Bibles to people who could not afford them or use at our discretion. When Susan mentioned that her sisters were asking for more songbooks—and I knew these families were very poor—I offered to her that we could give each sister a book. I packaged up the songbooks and added children’s devotionals (Jieda Dach mit Jesus by Dietrich and Nettie Friesen) for each family, and brought them to Susan. She was so thankful and so were her sisters.
Henry and Caroline Krahn
Since then the sisters and her parents have made multiple visits to them at Hacienda Verde. Susan says that her mom is now pleasant to visit with. They are softening towards discussing the Word of God. We praise our Heavenly Father. This has been our prayer: That we can equip the young Christian families in their faith and that they, not the missionaries, do the reaching out to their brothers and sisters. Their witness and voices speak much louder than ours. – Caroline Krahn Caroline and Henry Krahn (Picture Butte) have served under MEM in Bolivia, assisting people on Mennonite colonies. They have returned to Canada.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 21
With Our Missionaries
Called to Serve: ‘This is Where My Heart Is’
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22 The Messenger • May 2019
BOM
MARITIMES
Venus Cote grew up with her grandparents on the Cote Reserve in east-central Saskatchewan after her mother passed away. She remembers, right from the start, being surrounded by alcoholism. “It was the only life I knew,” she recalls. “It was how my family dealt with hurts and losses.” In spite of all this, Venus doesn’t regret her childhood. “My grandmother did the best she could … there were many good times, too.” Venus is thankful for the values taught at home, and that, because her grandmother never spoke English, she learned her Native Saulteaux language. Venus first heard the Gospel at age 14 and in the following years the Lord brought several Christians into her life. Unfortunately, she was most often turning to alcohol to deal with her inner struggles. In fact, she drank very heavily; and she recalls the occasion when, after checking into a hospital, the doctor told her that he was surprised she didn’t have liver damage from alcohol poisoning. “I lay in that hospital bed thinking about my life,” recalls Venus. “Twenty-four years old and nothing to show for it … The Lord brought back to my memory everyone who shared the Gospel with me.” All by herself she prayed to receive Christ. That was January 1985 and there’s been no turning back. It was while attending Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute that Venus not only became better grounded in God’s Word, but she got excited about her many
opportunities to minister. She assisted missionaries and shared her testimony in prisons, churches, and schools. Most significant, she says, was her summer spent on the East Coast with the Northern Missionary Training Course missions program. In her final year at KBI Venus felt called to serve the Lord full-time among her own people. In 1989 she applied and was accepted by two missions. As she prayed for direction, she chose Northern Canada Evangelical Mission, but remembers it as “a tough decision.” The other option would have enabled her to work solely with children and young people, something she had wanted to do. Her intentions were to serve somewhere in the West, and she thought she had specified “Central-Field” on her NCEM application form. So, she was surprised to be assigned to the East. “But because of respect for authority and obedience to God, I didn’t say a thing,” reveals Venus. “But this is home now,” she says. “This is where my heart is … I’m a transplanted Maritimer! The Lord has given me a genuine love for the Maliseet people of New Brunswick,” says Venus. “I have found great opportunities to serve among them. I would give my all for them … do whatever I can to help them. I’ve made some good friends [and] they have adopted me into their families. They even call to check up on me.” – Northern Lights Venus Cote (RFC, Sioux Valley) lives in New Brunswick. This article first appeared in issue 474 of Northern Lights, the periodical of NCEM. It is used with the permission of Venus and NCEM.
With Our Missionaries
Queen, a ‘Hands Up’ Mentality, and a Holistic Gospel
GORDON SKOPNIK
UGANDA
Sharon Skopnick and Queen
refugees in the camp are living with a “hands out” mentality, but people like Queen are helping them understand a “hands up” mentality lifting them out of extreme poverty. The group meets together to plan, to save, and to learn the Bible and pray together. There is transformation that takes place both within the group and their families, but also within the community. The transformation is not only social and economical, but spiritual as well. Community members are hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and people are submitting themselves to the Lordship of Christ. All of this is happening because of one person, Queen. She is an ambassador for the kingdom of God, leading in her community and the surrounding district. God is using her to impact more people than she could ever imagine. Please pray that God would raise up more leaders like Queen, to impact their families, churches, and communities with the holistic Gospel of Jesus Christ. – Gordon Skopnik
Queen is an outstanding and very capable community leader in one of the refugee camps of northern Uganda. Tall and slender, she has a presence and confidence that matches her name. Gordon Skopnik (Wymark) serves with Avant Ministries. Growing up Catholic, she knew religion and some of The story is used with permission. the traditions of the church, but then something unexpected happened. After watching the Jesus film she actually encountered the presence of the Spirit of God for the first time and she gave her life over to the lordship of Jesus Christ. The local pastor, who is one of the team leaders with Serving South Sudan, has been investing into Queen’s life and leadership as a woman of God. God has really used Queen to bring hope and transformation in her local district through a small community based banking program. Group members contribute a minimum of 5,000 Ugandan Schillings each week (less than $2 a week). The group has about 30 members, mostly refugees. With loans given out and fees incurred, the group makes up to $2000 US a year. With this kind of income, the livelihoods of the members are completely changed. After the first year, Queen’s group was able to get their own deep well drilled, so as to provide water, not just for group members, but for the whole community. This last year they planned to buy a cow for each family unit within their group, moving CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY the group toward self-sustainability. Most of the
University
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 23
With Our Missionaries
‘Knock, Knock’
TARA WIEBE
MEXICO
Someone knocking on our door, or ringing the doorbell, usually sends all five of our kids into a frenzy. One will look out the window to see who it is, two will rush to open the door, one will run up the stairs to put a shirt or pants on, and one will yell for Mom and Dad to come. This is our house. The thing that I love most about this house is that the windows from the kitchen and the living room are looking right out onto the street. I love seeing what the neighbors are doing and I love being able to look outside as I wash the dishes. For the most part, we enjoy the community aspect of living so close to our neighbours. The houses in our neighborhood are attached to one another, similar to a town house style, and this means that we have a lot of opportunity to live out Jesus’ life as part of our daily life. Here are just some examples of those that knocked on our door in the past little while. 1. A family from India had just moved into our neighborhood and had heard that there were English-speaking people living here. They knocked on our door to introduce themselves. 2. A young adult girl had heard that we were Canadian and wondered if we knew French, as she was looking for someone to tutor her in French in preparation for moving to France (we don’t!). 3. Several young kids were wondering if we wanted to buy a pencil or sharpener from them, as they were wanting to make some money. I’m always a sucker and always buy something. 4. A 10-year-old boy wanted to buy a peanut butter cookie from us. Our boys had once gone door-to-door selling cookies to make some money.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have any peanut butter cookies when the boy came. 5. An older widowed neighbor lady asked Dallas to come help her change her flat tire. 6. Our neighbour kids knock on the door at least a few times a week asking the boys to come outside and play with them, which they do. 7. Our next door neighbor comes to tell us that we left one of our van doors open, or that our cat is on the upstairs balcony, or other random helpful things. 8. A man knocks each Monday asking if he can clean our van for us, which he does. People here love their clean vehicles! 9. The propane truck pulls up to fill the tank on the top of our house, which we use to heat our water and light our oven and stove. 10. The administrative lady in our neighborhood knocks at least once a week asking Dallas to sign cheques and send her a bank statement, as he is the treasurer for our neighborhood community. 11. Friends and church members coming for Bible studies in our home two to three days a week knock before coming in with exuberant greetings. Friends also come for coffee, play date, and mentoring times. So, we have a bit of a revolving door around here! We always love having people in our home and love that others feel welcome here. - Tara Wiebe Tara and Dallas Wiebe (Kleefeld) are part of the church planting team in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico.
24 The Messenger • May 2019
With Our Churches Kola EMC
Growth Physically and Spiritually
KEMC
KOLA, Man.—Kola EMC is going through a period of growth both physically and spiritually. A building project has been started and four babies have been born this year with more to come. This past fall we began the third stage of Kola EMC’s building is going through extensive renovations. a building project. Two stages were finished some time ago but with so many younger families, we felt more babies before summer. the need to continue. Stage Three will add a multi-function On March 22, twenty-nine people ranging in age from fellowship hall, kitchen and bathrooms on ground level to two to mid-60s left for a mission trip to Harlan, Kentucky. facilitate large groups (our basement is very crowded for Most were from our church, though some were friends or such) and accessibility for those who have trouble with relatives. During the ten days they were away, they renstairs. It will also give the younger set a place to burn off ovated a cabin and dug out rocks for a sidewalk at the some energy. SWAP (Serving With Appalachian People) camp, worked On March 10, we had a baby dedication in which two on a small renovation job at a church, sorted clothes, built couples committed to raising their children in such a way a room and helped cook at Christ’s Hands (a community as to hopefully come to love and honour God as they grow. outreach), tinned a roof of a private home and installed a Between Feb. 20 and March 21, we had four baby girls join floor and repaired the roof of a private home. It was a time our church family! We look forward to welcoming two of growth for many who served in these ways. – Caroline Friesen
LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH
Open your home or workplace to an international volunteer ivep.mcc.org
Parent-child dedication: Eddy and Abi Hiebert with their daughter Macy and Aaron and Kim Doerksen and their son Gibson.
International Volunteer Exchange Program
Commit a year to serve alongside others in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Latin America salt.mcc.org Serving And Learning Together
Programs of Mennonite Central Committee
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 25
With Our Churches Taber EMC
Ministerial Elected, Parents-Children Dedicated at Taber TABER, Alta.—This past year has brought some exciting changes to our church. We began the search for a senior pastor uncertain of what our future would like, but certain in the fact that God had big plans for our congregation. God answered our prayers and with that came the conviction that we were headed in the right direction. On Jan. 20, 2019 our congregation elected our new senior pastor couple, Jim and Janice Crawford. On this same day we also re-elected associate pastor couples Abe and Eva Klassen and Dave and Audrey Wiebe along with deacons George and Margaret Sawatzky. Our deacon couple Dave and Agatha Reimer continue to faithfully serve alongside with our newly elected ministerial. We held our pastor Installation service on Feb. 24, 2019, in front of family and friends in that came out in support. Our church leadership continues to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit as we work to meet the needs of the people in our church, and community. On April 28 we held a parent-child dedication with many families dedicating their children to the Lord. It is a time of public and personal commitment, where parents make a promise to teach their kids about building a relationship with Jesus Christ. And then we as a congregation commit to supporting these parents as they raise their children to know, love, and follow Jesus Christ. God is good. – Tina Dyck
Taber’s ministerial: deacons George and Margaret Sawatzky, associate pastor couple Abe and Eva Klassen, senior pastor couple Jim and Janice Crawford, associate pastor couple Dave and Audrey Wiebe, deacons Dave and Agatha Reimer.
The 25th Anniversary
EMC
PROJECT BUILDERS
Golf Classic
June 13, 2019
TEMC
Steinbach Fly-In Golf Course Parent-child dedication: (middle/front rows) John and Tina Dyck, Bient and Cristy Thiessen, Irma Rempel, John and Elizabeth Banman, Lyle and Ellie Ruggles, Jake and Eva Koethler, Dave and Melissa Dyck, Jake and Susie Quiring, (back) associate pastor couple Abe and Eva Klassen, deacons Dave and Agatha Reimer, deacons George and Margaret Sawatzky, associate pastor couple Dave and Audrey Wiebe, Senior pastor couple Jim and Janice Crawford.
26 The Messenger • May 2019
To register, contact Diana Peters: 204-326-6401 or dpeters@emconference.ca Details to come www.emconference.ca (under events).
With Our Churches Crestview Fellowship
CRESTVIEW
Joint Good Friday Service Held
Ghanaian singers from Crestivew Park Free Methodist Church provided their special feature of worship at the Good Friday service.
WINNIPEG, Man.—“From every nation, tribe, people, and language” (Rev. 7:9). This verse perfectly suits the coming together of neighbouring churches on April 19, 2019, for another lively Good Friday service, which was hosted by Crestview Fellowship Church this year. For many years now it has been the Crestview Park Free Methodist Church
and the Crestview Fellowship Church’s pleasure to enjoy an annual event, where we reflect and praise our Saviour on this prominent Friday. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice and what better way to rejoice in this reflection than with our faithfully neighbouring Crestview Park Free Methodist Church. We can be forever thankful for our Saviour and it is incredibly uplifting to worship with fellow believers in the area. This service began at 10:30 a.m. and following the service the two churches were able enjoy fellowship and some yummy Easter treats. The highlight of this event has to hear the Ghanaian singers from Crestview Park rejoice and worship in their language and culture. The cultural singing is so encouraging and enthusiastic, it’s hard not to start clapping and join in with their energy as they worship Jesus. Our churches cannot wait until next year’s Good Friday service at Crestview Park, or just maybe we’ll be fortunate enough to gather together in our Saviour’s name more than once this year! – Jenaya Groen
•• Pelly Fellowship Chapel
Hyoun Jin Yoon is Ordained Pastor Friesen then had the board members, elders, Pastor (Frankie) Hyoungjin and Minju Kim lay hands on the couple, and then the Kims and Layton Friesen prayed over them. A worship dance was performed by Soonim Park, Pastor Hyoun Jin Yoon’s mother. The dance was enjoyed by all. It was a meaningful and joyful time. After the ordination service, the ladies served a lovely lunch in the lower hall. There was an open mic and a number of people gave encourageNewly ordained pastor Hyoun Jin (Simon) Yoon ment to Pastor Simon and Joy. Pastor stands with his wife Jinhee (Joy) Yang, and his Yoon sang a solo and also a duet with mother Soonim (Soon) Park, Joy’s sister Eunsook Pastor Kim. It was a very joyful day. (Ann) Hwang and brother-in-law Inyoon (Paul) – Rhonda Brodeur
PFC
PELLY, Sask.—Jan. 29, 2019, was a special day for the members and adherents of Pelly Fellowship Chapel, as it was the ordination day for Pastor (Simon) Hyoun Jin Yoon, supported by his wife (Joy) Jinhee Yang. People came from Winnipeg, Calgary, Norquay, Sturgis, Pelly, and much farther. Very pleasing for the Yoon couple was that Pastor Yoon’s mother Soonim Park from South Korea was able to be present. Layton Friesen, EMC conference pastor, led the ordination service. Pastor Friesen gave a short message on understanding what it means to lay on hands for Hyoun Jin, Jinhee Yang, and the congregation. He then conducted the ordination service.
Hwang also attended the service.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 27
With Our Churches Crestview Fellowship
WINNIPEG, Man.—This March, Crestview Fellowship Church celebrated with Cheyenne Leweky as she was baptized. Cheyenne was baptized on March 24, 2019, but she gave her heart to Jesus when she was younger, growing up in a Christian home. She decided to show this outward sign of inward change as she shared her meaningful testimony that describes how she faithfully submitted herself to Jesus. Cheyenne’s testimony exemplified Jesus working in her life and her decision to respond to her Father’s call in her life. Cheyenne’s journey is ongoing and continues to grow deeper with our Lord and Saviour. Cheyenne’s faithful influences of her family, friends, and the church made this day incredibly special as we all rejoiced with this step further into her faith’s journey. Crestview Fellowship Church is encouraged as we watch Cheyenne’s heart overflow with joy from her loving Father (Matt. 3:17). On Tuesday, April 2, a ladies’ night was held at Crestview Fellowship Church. The Easter-themed evening began with a Seder (Jewish Passover) meal. Audrey Guenther led us through this traditional Jewish meal that is full of
CRESTVIEW
Cheyenne’s Baptism Celebrated, Lent Explored
Before being baptized, Cheyenne Leweky gave her testimony of faith and experience with Pastor Darrel Guenther nearby.
symbolism, remembrance, and celebration of the deliverance of God’s people. Following this, our speaker, Janine Wieler, described her journey and experiences through Lent. Both parts of the evening were very meaningful and enlightening to all of the ladies that took part. – Jenaya Groen
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28 The Messenger • May 2019
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Column • Guest Column
Just a Thought: Fear
L
By Desiree Krahn
ISTOCK
ast summer I went hiking for the first time. Despite being convinced that I was going to hate it, I made sure I was prepared. I stocked my most dependable backpack with healthy snacks, water, sunscreen, bug spray, and even extra socks. Plus, I had friends accompanying me whose overwhelming enthusiasm for the day’s activity was enough to overshadow my own skepticism. I was prepared physically, but I had no idea how climbing up the side of that mountain would play with my emotions that day. As far as hikes go, or so I’m told, this one was short and easy—a round trip totaling about 5.2 kilometers with a “moderately consistent incline.” Well, let me tell you, when you are an inexperienced trail hiker, the words “consistent incline” are bad! When it came right down to it, I was not prepared. I realized halfway up the steeply sloped side of the trail that I had been holding my breath. It wasn’t the spectacular view taking my breath away—it was my fear of heights. Hyperventilation, tears, and a break inevitably followed. God is not a God of fear. I know this. I believe this. Yet, I’ve come to the conclusion that as long as I am human and I am alive, overcoming feelings of fear is a struggle I will constantly face. What I’ve learned is that my response in those fearful times is what is most important. They say preparation is key. I had everything I needed that day for my physical well-being, which did help the situation some. Yet, even though that incline was tough, it wasn’t my physical strength that was being tested. God didn’t send that strike of fear into my heart, but in my humanness it came nonetheless. Now, what was I going to do about it? Give in and give up, or overcome and keep going?
In his book Through the Eyes of a Lion, Levi Lusko encourages the reader to run towards fear in faith when it comes: “True bravery isn’t feeling no fear—it’s being afraid and moving forward anyway.” Any step of faith includes elements of the unknown. It has to. And the good news is that God is always prepared. He doesn’t leave us floundering in those moments where we are afraid and unsure if we are willing to move forward. He is there wanting to help and guide, if only we would cry out to Him. The Spirit of God does not make us timid, but has given us power (2 Tim. 1:7). If God had a backpack, it would probably work like Mary Poppins’ carpet bag: anything you could ever need and more—endlessly. That day I made the decision I needed to make. By God’s strength within me and the loving hands of those around me, I finished that hike. Fear was defeated as soon as I realized I was going to face it. I conquered a spiritual mountain that day and that achievement was awesome.
He doesn’t leave us floundering in those moments where we are afraid and unsure if we are willing to move forward.
Desiree Krahn, BA, is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge and an alumna of Steinbach Bible College. She is a born and raised EMCer and currently an active member at Picture Butte Mennonite Church in Picture Butte, Alta. She enjoys time with her family, books, travel, music, and coffee shop conversations with friends.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 29
News
EMC Resources and Books About or by EMC People A Child of the Dawn (2010), Agatha Grant. Dedicated “to the wounded children all around us,” it continues the story of Gretchen, Darkness to Dawn. $15.95. A Dash Between the Dates on Their Tombstones (2012), Betty Barkman. ISBN 9781624198991. Very real people, true stories, and lessons on God’s grace. $10. Annie . . . Through It All (2008), Betty Barkman. The story of Annie Reimer told “with great honesty on why things turned out as they did” (Doris Penner). $10. Celebrating 50+ Years of Good Community Memories: A Collection of Recipes by Riverton Gospel Chapel 2018. Memories, appetizers and beverages, main dishes, desserts, and more. $15 (coil paperback). Christian Life Book: A Practical Study Guide (reprinted 2019). A 13-lesson guide to prepare for baptism, membership, or membership transfer. $5. (coil paperback) Follow Me: Exploring More of Our Calling as Christians (2006). ISBN 978098604915. A 13-lesson guide exploring biblical social justice. (coil paperback). Free. Food for Fun and Fellowship: Favourite Recipes of the Canadian Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Melanie Frayle (2006). Nearly every EMC church is represented in favourites used to serve family and entertain guests. $16 (coil paperback). Holy Wanderings: A Guide to Deeper Discipleship (2019). After people have joined the church, what then? This 13-lesson guide is one answer. ISBN 978098680491. $5 (coil paperback). The Biblical Case for Equality (2002) $8. Good News for a Broken World: Studies in Romans (2007). $8. Keeping in Step with the God of Peace (2008). $15. Hope for
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Tough Times: the Letters of Peter (2009) $8. The Grace and the Glory: John’s Gospel (2015). $10. Twenty Big Questions (2016). $10. In Praise of Altruism (2017) $10. All by Arden Thiessen. Living in God’s Kingdom: A Practical Study Guide on the Christian Life (2016). A six-unit guide to prepare for baptism, membership, or membership transfer. $5. ISBN 9780986804953. Leader’s guide $4. Sequoia: Exploring Life, Faith & Beauty in the Everyday. (Spring 2019). $18. (67-page paper journal) The Gentleman (2012), Jacob Enns. On a hunting trip, Jeff Nolan, a widower and a pacifist, encounters a serial killer. How does he respond? ISBN 9781460202418. $15 (paperback). The Stranger: A Story of Romance and Intrigue (2017), Eleanor Lee Gustaw. Romance and intrigue follow two detectives as they discover God’s plan and redefine their calling. ISBN 9781512776874. $27.95 (paperback). Upholding the Old, Embracing the New: The Life of P J B Reimer, Teacher, Minister, and Mennonite Historian (2014), Dianne Hildebrand. 9780987678065 $20 (paperback). Titles are available from the EMC national office or the authors. Prices do not include mailing costs.
News
SBC Graduates 50 Ministry Focused Students
EMC degree graduates: Paulina Vargas Arroyo (Mexico), Chelsea Barkman (Riverton, MB), Salina Blatz (Aylmer, ON), Emily Penner (Leamington, ON), Braden Plett (Mitchell, MB), James Parkinson (Morris, MB), Alysia Thiessen (Hadashville, MB), Steven Warthe (Portage la Prairie, MB)
SBC
Class of 2019
Valedictorian Tristan Klassen
Need a Study Guide? After baptism and membership, what might be studied? Consider Holy Wanderings: A Guide to Deeper Discipleship. Its 13 lessons look at Bible and authority, Bible and interpretation, faith and culture, conflict, vocation, everyday evangelism, stewardship and simple living, the local church, leadership, worship, devotional life, continuing to believe, and pilgrimage. Copies are subsidized at $5. Contact the national office.
A TRI-CONFERENCE STUDY GUIDE
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HOLY WANDERINGS A Guide to Deeper Discipleship
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www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 31
In Memory
Cornie Friesen 1941- 2018
Peacefully with his family by his side, Cornelius W. Friesen passed away on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach, Man., at the age of 76. He will be forever missed by his wife Mary. Also left to cherish his memory are his children: Tom (Candace), Mark, Kathy, Mary Jane (Cory), Emilyn (Andrew) and Kurt (Liz); along with 11 grandchildren,
Isaiah, Jade, Elijah, Julius, Luke, Jasmine, Titus, Ethan, Cameron, Owen and Jordon. Also, his siblings: Helen, Ed (Anne), Paul (Tina), and Albert (Anne). He was predeceased by his brother Abe and his brother-in-law Dick. Cornie was born to Cornelius M. and Maria Friesen on Dec. 10, 1941, in the RM of Hanover, where he grew up and attended New Bothwell School District and helped with chores on the family farm. As the school days came to an end he explored a few different job opportunities such as construction, the seed cleaning plant and also worked as a lumber jack. In 1967, Cornie bought the family farm and soon after he married the love of his life Mary Reimer in 1972. Cornie got baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ on Dec 14, 1975, at the EMC church in Steinbach, Man. Over the years, they raised their children and continued farming. He really enjoyed taking his children to
their sports events, especially hockey. Hockey was one of his favourite past times; he could often be found cheering on his favourite team, the Montreal Canadians. In 2003, they moved to Steinbach and he enjoyed his retirement. Another favourite pastime was fishing. He loved to take the family out to the Whiteshell. Many family camping trips were spent there. Cornie also enjoyed taking trips together with Mary to Paraguay and California. Cornie struggled with many health problems in the later years of his life and was able to deal with them through prayer and by believing the best in his circumstances. A special thanks to the Vita Personal Home Care and more recently the Bethesda Regional Health Centre for their compassion and care. Also, thank you to those who took the time to come and visit Dad and encourage him through their presence and prayers. – His Family
Calendar Manitoba June 13 EMC Project Builders Golf Classic Steinbach, Man
Church Planter needed for Windsor, Ontario Is this person you?
Alberta July 5-17
If you are interested in learning more, call or email Charlie Koop at 403-874-1759 or ckoop@emconference.ca
32 The Messenger • May 2019
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.
our Mennonite church. This position would primarily focus on the English ministry. This candidate needs to be a team player as he will be working alongside the existing leadership team as well as the senior pastor. For information, contact Isaac Thiessen, 403308-5093 or isaact@genicadev.com
Additional EMC Openings
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.
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* Picture Butte Mennonite Church, a Low Germanand English-speaking church with 200-plus people attending dual Sunday morning services, is seeking an associate pastor. The ideal candidate should be characterized by an attitude of servant leadership and personal integrity in a close walk with Jesus. The candidate needs to have an openness and sensitivity to the diverse cultural differences within
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/ Pineridge Fellowship Chapel of Hudson Bay, Sask., a logging and farming community, seeks a full-time senior pastor to begin serving in 2019. PFC, linked to the EMC, is the evangelical community church, stable and with a good reputation, that serves the community of about 1,300 people and surrounding rural area. With an attendance of 40 to 50, PFC has a mix of people of various backgrounds and nationalities. The congregation is largely older yet has several younger families and a good foundation to build on. Outreach is welcomed. Our current pastor is retiring this summer after 20 years. Hudson Bay has basic services, yet
is somewhat isolated from a larger centre and travelling is involved to connect to the wider community. We ask that you prayerfully consider whether this might be a place of ministry to which you are called. Contact PFC at: Dennis Reimer, church board chair, 1-306-865-3618 or dreamer@xplornet.ca; or PFC, Box 13, Hudson Bay, SK S0E 0Y0, pfch@sasktel.net, 306-865-2623. 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
Other Openings Youth for Christ Portage has various full-time ministry positions open, including summer staff, drop-in director and staff, skate park director and staff, north end director, campus life staff. The positions involve working with school-age youth in various settings. Some of the areas include after school programs, Bible study programs, high school drop-in programs, sports programs, and one-on-one mentoring. YFC Portage is located in Portage la Prairie, Man. For information or to apply for a position, please contact their office: info@yfcportage.com or 204-239-6763. You can also visit www.yfcportage.com. 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.
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
His Mother Prayed Him Home
by Betty Koop with Glen
Abe's thoughts were interrupted by an announcement: the westbound train would be an hour late. He hopped on the east-bound one. She had prayed him home!
34 The Messenger • May 2019
BETTY KOOP
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be was hiding from the railroad cops near a rail yard in southern Alberta, debating which freight train to hop next. It had been more than five years since he left home. Maybe it was time to go back to see his family. He decided he would take the train that came first: if it went West, more adventures; if East, home. After enquiring, he was told that the west-bound train was due first. Good! As he waited, memories of his last five years flashed by: drudgery in a Butte, Montana, copper mine, where he worked 12-hour shifts in over 100 degree temperatures; ranch work in Idaho; harvesting in season; barber school; the horror of seeing a man shot dead in a bar. But the most vivid memory involved his previous Christmas. A package from Manitoba had arrived at his boarding house. Wondrous treasures met his eyes as he opened it in the privacy of his room. There were letters from siblings, which he read over and over again. These were followed by delicious cookies covered with icing and coconut which he planned to savour over many days, but somehow they just disappeared. As he says in his memoirs, the boarding house menu was not that exciting, consisting of macaroni for lunch and liver and onions for supper one week; then, for variety, switched to liver and onions for lunch with macaroni for supper! The cookies added wonderful variety. Then, at the bottom of the box, was an English New Testament. He writes, “If the letters touched my mind and the cookies my stomach, this touched my heart. It reminded me vividly of mother—her tears and pleading. I felt certain this was mother’s contribution…I imagined mother’s prayer as she put it in….” His thoughts were interrupted by an announcement: the west-bound train would be an hour late. He hopped on the east-bound one. It was good to be home, but the Depression was still in full swing and work was scarce. The one bright spot was a beautiful young woman who been on his mind during his wanderings. She seemed happy to see him. But after one evening visit she told Abe that she had decided
A young Abe in Montana in the 1920s
to give her life to Christ and be baptized in the Spring; did he want to join the group of 80 who were doing the same? That night, during his walk home, he knelt in the dust of the road and surrendered to Christ. It was a whole-hearted commitment and he served faithfully throughout the rest of his time on earth. Abe (who was my father, Abe Unger) was convinced that his mother’s prayers had delayed the one train. Her tearful prayers had followed him throughout his years of wandering. She had prayed him home! We celebrate Mother’s Day in May. What better resolution can we mothers make than to covenant to pray for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren so that they, too, will “find their way home”?
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Column • Stewardship Today
The Benefits of Donating Securities
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any donations made to charities are in the form of cash. However, savvy donors see the benefits of donating publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds or mutual funds) as a more tax effective way to donate versus giving a cash gift. If you own publicly traded securities, outside of a registered account (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA), that have increased in value since you purchased them, and you donate them in-kind to charity, you’ll realize even more tax savings than you would with a cash gift. When you sell the securities and donate cash, 50% of the capital gain becomes taxable income. However, if you donate the securities in-kind, the taxable capital gain is avoided, and you will receive a charitable receipt for the market value of the securities. Abundance Canada, a public foundation, has extensive knowledge and experience in assisting individuals with these types of charitable donations. Unlike other Foundations, who will usually provide a charitable receipt on the day the funds arrive in their accounts, Abundance Canada will date the charitable receipt on the day you sign the paper work and initiate the transfer. In addition, you do not need to complete separate security transfers with each charity you want to benefit. This means less paperwork and hassle for you. At tax time, you only have one donation receipt to process and that one donation has benefited multiple charities. For example, a donor has 1,000 shares of Royal Bank to donate to four charities. The fair market value of the shares is about $100,000. Each charity is to receive $25,000. If the donor chooses to use Abundance Canada to process the gift of securities, they complete one transfer form for the 1,000 shares and they will receive one donation receipt from Abundance Canada. If the donor does not use Abundance Canada to process the gift-in-kind, they will need to send each charity 250 shares of Royal Bank, which means four transfer processes and four donation receipts.
Which securities should I donate for maximum tax savings?
You should donate securities that are held in a non-registered investment account. Investments held in a registered account, such as an RRSP or RRIF, do not qualify for these tax savings. Consult with your tax advisor or professional advisor on which stocks, bonds or mutual funds present the best gifting opportunity. Donate the securities that have the largest capital gain to maximize the tax savings for zero capital gains inclusion for the donated securities. Capital gains on investments held in a taxfree savings account (TFSA) are already tax exempt. Donating these investments will not generate the same tax savings as donating securities held in a taxable investment account.
What if my charity of choice cannot accept donations of publicly traded securities? Many charities don’t have brokerage accounts or the expertise to process donations of securities. Abundance Canada will process the donation of securities, sell them and distribute the proceeds to the charities you wish to support. You can disburse the proceeds immediately or over a period of years. This works well if you want to receive the tax benefit in one year but fulfill a longer-term pledge. Even if one of the charities you want to support is willing and able to process these types of donations, using Abundance Canada means that with one transaction you can distribute the proceeds to multiple charities.
Talk to our team
Abundance Canada makes the process of donating publicly traded securities easy! Charitable giving via gifts of publicly traded securities is a wonderful way to support your favourite charities plus realize additional tax savings over donating cash. To learn more, visit abundance.ca or call 1.800.772.3257 to meet with a gift planning consultant for a confidential meeting, at no cost to you and with no obligation.
by Sherri Grosz Consultant
Abundance Canada makes the process of donating publicly traded securities easy!
Sherri Grosz is a gift planning consultant with Abundance Canada. Since 1974, we have helped individuals with their charitable giving in their lifetime and estate through our donoradvised model.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 35
Column • Kids’ Corner
Too Much Noise
by Loreena Thiessen
Silence is calming; it settles you down and helps you relax. Jesus needed quiet times too.
Activity: Listening for different sounds. Need: notebook; indoor sounds; outdoor sounds; a recording device if you have one. Do: Find an indoor space where you hear different sounds. Make a list of the sounds. Find an outdoor space where you hear different sounds. Make a list of those. Some sounds are harsh, like sirens, and some are pleasant, like bird song. The tiny wren is especially delightful. If you record sounds you like you can replay them later to enjoy again. Make sure you tell an adult about your activity and stay only in safe places. 36 The Messenger • May 2019
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as anyone ever said to you, “You are making too much noise”? Your teacher may have said it. Or your mother: “Quiet, please! Don’t wake the baby!” Noise is all around you. Some noise you can control. For example, in the classroom if you are too loud you may miss something important because you didn’t hear everything. So you work more quietly. The library has rules: No talking! So that’s what you do; you read quietly. At home you can create quiet times. You can turn off the noise from the TV, your IPad, and your games. Instead you can share news from your day. Supper time with your family will be more relaxing. You may learn something new from each other, too, rather than stare at a screen. Doing your homework in a quiet spot is better too. Without noise you can focus completely on your assignment. Once you have finished your task, playing a game or listening to music can be your reward and you are free to enjoy it. There is outside noise too, noise in our environment which you cannot control. The noise of car and truck motors, sirens, construction machines, and airplanes overhead fill the air all day long; you can’t get away from it.
Even in the ocean there is too much noise. Large ships moving their cargo to another part of the world create noise with their motors and propellers and horns. All this noise disturbs the development of small fish. They stop growing and to get away from the noise they drift away from their natural place in the ocean. Now big fish and whales can’t find enough food for themselves. Mother whales need quiet spots to rest with their babies so they can nurse and grow. Ocean noise makes quiet places harder to find. It damages both, the sea animals and their environment. In order to survive, ocean creatures need less noise in their environment. Less noise is good for you too. Silence is calming; it settles you down and helps you relax. When all is quiet you can hear better; you will have better ideas, be more creative, and make better decisions. Studies show that silence is good for your brain. In a silent atmosphere your brain can grow more cells. This will help your memory, how you feel about something, and it will help you learn better. Jesus needed quiet times too. He came to earth to teach people who God is. He taught them a new way, how to love each other, how to live honest lives and how to pray. He also healed them of their diseases. This is just what the people needed and crowds followed him. Yet Jesus also had to rest. He needed quiet to pray. He prayed in the desert, on mountain tops and in gardens away from the crowds. He needed the quiet times to talk to God and to renew his strength. Read Mark 1:21-35. The Messenger Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362