a publication of the evangelical Mennonite conference Volume 60 No. 5 September/October 2022The Messenger ALSO INSIDE Is the Crisis Pregnancy Centre of Winnipeg dishonest? p. 11 May 24, 2022: A day like any other? p. 17KURNIAWAN/MEETINGHOUSEKRESNA fullsmallassemblyWorldbutofjoy p. 6
It’s very encouraging to know that God continues to be worshipped and obeyed in many places. And we need encouragement! It’s been disheartening to see the church in North America finding even more things to get angry about, rather than “grow[ing] in grace and knowledge” (2 Peter 3:18). After two thousand years of following Christ with a single shared text and one Holy Spirit to lead us, how could that be? It’s discouraging to see so many respected leaders fail and far too many people of every age walk away from the church bored, hurt or disgusted.
– Board of Church Ministries
Note on discussion within The Messenger
’m writing this editorial during the lead-up to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Like many of us, I’ve been around quite a while and never known another mon arch. And, like many of us, I’ve paid little attention to the British monarchy. But one of my childhood memories is asking my mother if the Queen was a Christian. I recall being very relieved when Mom said she was.
– Erica Fehr
Almost every writer in this issue talks about how they choose to relate to “neighbours.” Some could appro priately be called enemies, some are unexpected friends, some need help, and some Speakerscorrection.fromdifferent geo graphical regions talk about great relationships with Muslim neigh bours in one setting and the impact of the war in Ukraine on a longheld peace position in another, Paul Schrag reports in “World assembly small but full of joy. ”
Juergen Severloh’s feature is about the neighbours who’d like them shut down and the ones who need them to stay open. The “Responsible To vs Responsible For” counselling model their Crisis Pregnancy Centre uses is worth consideration for us as well as we walk alongside our neighbours, “mak[ing] disciples of every nation.” (Matthew 28:19)Of course, there’s much more than what I’ve men tioned! I hope you are as encouraged as I am to see the church in action on these pages.
We appropriately pay attention to those things, both mourning them and working hard to correct them. But it’s also appropriate to rest from that for a while and focus on the ways the church shines—which we’re doing with this issue.
I
Layton Friesen challenges neigh bours who are deconstructing, while Karla Hein is subscribing hers to her prayer list.
We didn’t set out in this Messenger to focus on a theme, but a theme has emerged. That’s not something you’d expect looking through the table of contents.
defending crisis pregnancy centres, a story about God’s protection, a column about subscriptions and another about deconstruction share that would be enough alike to be considered a theme?
I’ve only watched the first two and a half seasons of the Netflix show The Crown, but I’m fascinated by their portrayal of the Queen’s faith, her prayers, and her conversa tion about faith with Billy Graham. I’m ashamed to admit it but even after decades of being stretched, I’m often caught off guard when I find out there are Christians in this or that place, or that a form of Chris tianity I assumed to be an empty shell of religion is filled with believers who have a deep and vibrant faith in Christ Jesus and are living it out among their neighbours.
2 The Messenger • September/October 2022 Editorial
I didn’t expect that!
We didn’t set out in this Messenger to focus on a theme, but a theme has emerged. That’s not something you’d expect looking through the table of contents. What on earth would top ics as diverse as a Mennonite World Conference assembly report, a feature
of people in our lives. These dis cussions should also reflect the reality that some groups and individuals have not always felt welcome in Christian communi ties. We welcome your responses to articles and topics discussed in The Messenger.
Every community will have a diversity of views and opinions, which provides opportunities for us to learn from each other, being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Our discussions are inevitably impacted by our own experiences, and the experiences
–
really? – Kevin
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 3 Table of Contents 5ColumnsAPathTo Peace
34 His Light
My Path Prayer is beyond anti-spam legislation – Karla Hein 35 Further In and Higher Up Who is deconstructing your faith?
Mary Brandt 2Departments Editorial 4 Letters and Notices 19 Books (and More) 21 With Our Missionaries 23 With Our Churches 27 News 30 In Memory 32 Shoulder Tapping page22 page19 page6
Who are you, Wiebe to
Layton Friesen 36 Kids’ Corner Autumn brings change – Loreena Thiessen 6FeaturesWorldassembly small but full of joy – Paul Schrag 11 Is the Crisis Pregnancy Centre of dishonest?Winnipeg – Juergen Severloh 17 May 24, 2022: A day like any other?
–
– EMC Personnel Committee
Martha and Peter Doerksen
Phone: Publicationswww.issuu.com/emcmessengermessenger@emconference.ca204-326-6401www.emcmessenger.caISSN:0701-3299MailAgreementNumber:40017362Second-classpostagepaidatSteinbach,MB
Letters and Notices
COPYRIGHT
**Correction: The financial report in the July/August 2022 edition of The Messenger was published as January–April 2022; it should have been January–June 2022
The Messenger is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.
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Evangelical Mennonite Conference Year to Date Financial Report
The articles printed in The Messenger are owned by The Messenger or by the author and may not be reprinted without permission. Unless noted, Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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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.
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PUBLICATION AND PURPOSE
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after finishing their service at Vanderhoof.Pleasejoin us in extending a warm welcome to Peter as he tran sitions into this new responsibility at the EMC. Beginning in Octo ber, you will be able to reach him at pdoerksen@emconference.ca or 204-326-6401.
January–August 2022**
Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcome. Submissions should be sent to messenger@emconference.ca
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.
Income* 992,654 1,030,632
4 The Messenger • September/October 2022
FundGeneral2021
The Personnel Committee of the EMC General Board is very pleased to announce that Peter Doerksen has been hired to fill the role of EMC Western Ambassador. This appointment, effective October 1, 2022, is a new one-quarter-time position.Peter’s primary responsibili ties will be to serve as a goodwill ambassador to EMC churches in Regions 1 and 2. He will be avail able to represent EMC in church functions and to be an encourage ment to pastors and church leaders in Western Canada.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
- The Board of Trustees
The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries can be sent to messenger@emconference.ca.
The Messenger Volume 60 No. 5 September/October 2022
Peter has served as a pastor in various EMC churches in Region 1, most recently at Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship in B.C. He and his wife Martha also served as EMC missionaries in Chihuahua, Mexico, for several years. Peter and Martha will be moving to Grande Prairie, Alta., in September,
EMC hires Western Ambassador
EDITOR REBECCA ROMAN
*Income includes donations and transfers from other funds (e.g., estate funds).
LIGHTSTOCK
If we remember that nothing can shatter our true identity as being a beloved child of God, the Lord enables us to begin to live out that identity. Instead of covering up our faults, we are free to confess them and make restitution where necessary.
By Kevin Wiebe
find the things in life that hurt the most are often the things that challenge my identity in some way.
When I make a trivial mistake like proverbi ally tripping over my words, or maybe literally tripping over my two feet, it doesn’t cut very deep. But when I make a mistake that challenges the parts of my identity that I take pride in, it tends to hurt very much—like when I provide pastoral advice but communicate it so poorly that it ends up having the opposite effect of what is intended. Since I hope to be an effective and faithful pastor, when I don’t measure up to that goal, it hurts. When we as people strive to be a good spouse/parent/employee/whatever, and something happens that shatters our percep tion of ourselves, we tend to feel a tremendous amount of pain.
If we need to face our own failures but want to maintain some illusion around our identity as the perfect spouse/parent/employee/what ever, we may be tempted to lie about the truth of our failures, or else to distort or minimize it to try and save face. And when we face someone else’s failure that shatters our perception around something we have built our identity around (of having the perfect marriage/family, for example), we may be tempted to act out in ways that are hurtful to those who have failed instead of behaving in a more gracious and restorative manner.However,
We also are given the profound sense of eternity in our hearts that reminds us that this world is not truly our home, and “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor inthians 4:17).
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 5 Column • A PAth to Pe Ace
if we remember that nothing can shatter our true identity as being a beloved child of God, the Lord enables us to begin to live out that identity. Instead of covering up our faults, we are free to confess them and make restitution where necessary. Instead of lashing out against others, we seek their well-being alongside our own, despite the fact that they hurt us.
I
Time and again, however, I have witnessed people draw strength, courage and comfort from the timeless truth that our primary identity is that we are beloved children of almighty God. When we remember we never did anything to earn our salvation—and that when we fail, or others fail us, it does nothing to separate us from God’s love— we can begin to face whatever we need to face in the way that God wants us to face it.
Who are you, really?
ith its national motto of “unity in diversity,” Indonesia proved a fit ting host for the 17th assembly of Mennonite World Conference—downsized by COVID-19 restrictions but full of joy, beauty andInfellowship.anoutdoor venue at a Mennonite semi nary on a mountaintop in the city of Salatiga on the island of Java, Anabaptists from 44 countries gathered July 5–10, 2022, for the global church reunion that’s held every six years—or seven, in
6 The Messenger • September/October 2022
Anabaptists from 44 nations gather in Indonesia, confident that no barriers can stop them from following Jesus together
World assembly small but full of joy
The pandemic long ago dashed hopes to fill the Anabaptist megachurch. MWC capped attendance at 1,000 because “we didn’t see how
W
this case, after a postponement due to the coro navirus pandemic.
A Christian celebration in a nation that is 87 per cent Muslim, the event concluded with Sunday morning worship at the 12,000-seat Holy Stadium—home of JKI Injil Kerajaan, a Men nonite congregation that is one of Indonesia’s largest churches—in nearby Semarang.
By Paul Schrag
Even on site, conference-goers became livestream watchers. To involve four congrega tions in Central Java that had expected to host visitors, MWC arranged for them to host parts of four evening services. Projected on a screen behind the stage, speakers and musicians at the remote sites reached local audiences and the main conference crowd.
of a typical assembly—did not diminish the significance of getting a taste of what God is doing through about 107,000 Anabaptist Christians (from three synods: GKMI, GITJ and JKI) in a Muslim-dominant and diversity-affirming nation.Didik Hartono, pastor of the GKMI (Muria Christian Church of Indonesia) congregation in Winong Village, told how his church and a neighboring mosque live out Indonesia’s princi ple of religious harmony.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 7
we could follow all the government’s rules that came with over 1,000,” said Liesa Unger, MWC chief international events officer. “Our biggest fear was not COVID itself but being shut down by theOn-sitegovernment.”registration was 1,144—594 for the entire week and 550 for a day. Sixty-four came from the United States and 31 from Canada. At least 789 registered to watch the livestream indi vidually or in groups around the world.
“May we all keep on building the brother hood values and live in peace with everyone and also with ones who are not the same religion as us,” Hartono said.
The lack of MWC’s usual throng—the aver age daily attendance of 700 was about 10 percent
Sidelined by COVID
KURNIAWAN/MEETINGHOUSEKRESNA
Representatives carry banners from their national churches in a parade on opening night.
Some conferencegoers got COVID and had to miss part of the assembly. Everyone took a rapid test upon arrival. About five percent tested posi tive, but no one got seriously ill, Unger said. Everyone was asked to wear a mask at all times.
César García, MWC general secretary, tested positive and had to quarantine for part of the week. Substitutes read the messages of two key note speakers, Salome Haldemann of France and Willi Hugo of Guatemala.
After more than two years of uncertainty and changing plans, organizers were relieved to pull the event off.
A video featured church and mosque mem bers describing their friendship and cooperation as an example of “the ideals of Indonesia.”
At times the assembly itself seemed in doubt, said Paulus Widjaja, who chairs MWC’s national advisory committee in Indonesia. He’s grate ful it wasn’t canceled, but downsizing was a disappointment.“Wewereplanning to have about 10,000 people,” Widjaja said. “We had hoped the president of Indonesia might come to the open ing ceremony. We believed that if we invited him, he would come. Then corona came, and everything—poof!”Ungersaid:“I’m happy that we moved it by a year, because last year was the worst COVID time. India was in the media, but Indonesia was suffering even more.”
8 The Messenger • September/October 2022
How can I celebrate?
Turning up the volume
“The Hong Kong I am now living in is not the Hong Kong I used to know,” he said. “Our challenge is this: how to be a peacemaker when others are violent.”
Jeremiah Choi, a pastor in Hong Kong, told of demonstrations and violence in recent years in response to the Chinese government’s crackdown on Hong Kong’s freedom.
Each of the four full days focused on a differ ent continent, and speakers addressed different aspects of what Anabaptists can do together: Europe, learning; Asia, living; Latin America, caring; Africa, celebrating. North America was featured in the opening service.
A canopy connects the GKMI Mennonite church (right) in Winong Village and a mosque across the street.
Singers from around the world contributed diverse styles. On opening night, the worship team from the 18,000-member Jakarta Praise Community Church—one of several JKI (Indo nesian Christian Congregation) congregations that are among the largest churches in all of Indonesia—brought high energy and rock-con certWorshippersvolume. heard two featured speakers each morning and two each evening, plus other stories and testimonies, building on the assem bly theme, “Following Jesus together across barriers.”
KURNIAWAN/MEETINGHOUSEKRESNA
Many speakers offered personal views of events and situations in their countries and described how Anabaptists are seeking to bring peace and ease suffering.
HARTONODIDIKOFCOURTESYKURNIAWAN/MEETINGHOUSEKRESNA
Didik Hartono, pastor of the GKMI (Muria Christian Church of Indone sia) congregation in Winong Village, described how members of his church and a neighbouring mosque live out Indonesia’s ideal of religious harmony.
On the assembly’s four full days, conferencegoers worshipped both morning and evening, with workshops and tours in the afternoon. An international ensemble led 45 minutes of singing to start the morning service and half an hour to open the evening meeting.
The Jakarta Praise Community Church worship band performs on opening night.
Salome Haldemann of France suggested Europeans needed to be trained in peacemaking by those in the global church with experi ence resisting war. She said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had shaken Western European Menno nites’ commitment to nonviolence.
row,” Choi said, “look up to God, and look to yourTigistcalling.”Tesfaye Gelagle, a young woman from Ethiopia, addressed the African theme of cele bration by asking how it was possible to celebrate amid the sins of war, hunger, racism, oppression of women and “when I am treated like a crimi nal at immigration in most countries. When I am treated as a terrorist. When I am at the mercy of my superiors. How can I dance and worship?”
“We affirmed nonviolence when our con text was peaceful, but in the face of war we see
Tigist Tesfaye Gelagle of Ethiopia: “I can forget my pain if I am significant to you.”
“If you are facing an unpredictable tomor-
Citing the tradition of calls to action at MWC assemblies, she noted that in 1967 in Amsterdam, U.S. civil rights leader Vincent Harding called on Mennonites to “come alongside Black sisters and brothers in the freedom struggle.”
Collapsing convictions?
nonviolent resistance as naive and unrealis tic,” said Haldemann, a graduate of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Anne Hansen of Germany read her address.
“But most of us have stayed on the sidelines where things are comfortable,” Halde mann said. “What does it look like to practice love of the enemy on a collective level in our time and “Maybeplace?Mennonites could prepare for war resistance with an anti-military service, like a nonviolent resistance boot camp. It might be time for us to create a widespread training for church people to learn and practice the basics of civil resistance.”
KURNIAWAN/MEETINGHOUSEKRESNA
“Today we are afraid that war may overtake Europe,” she said. “Suddenly our theology and beliefs feel obsolete. A storm took over Europe, and our convictions collapsed.”
“Unless we are significant to each other, there is no celebration of togetherness,” she said. “See ing significance in others crosses barriers. I can forget my pain if I am significant to you.”
In 1984 in Strasbourg, U.S. writer and professor Ron Sider encour aged starting a nonviolent peace force, which sparked the creation of Chris tian Peacemaker Teams, now known as Community Peacemaker Teams.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 9
Ebenezer Mondez of the Philippines cited per secution in India and political violence in Myanmar as places where Christians are suffer ing but getting less attention than Ukraine.
After praising Mennonites in Ukraine who are helping their neighbours through the hardships caused by Russia’s invasion— and commending those who have sent aid to Ukraine—he said: “I challenge us to do the same for our brothers and sisters in India and Myan mar. Let us learn more about their situation and how we can be the hands and feet of Christ in times of need.”
Celebration is possible, she said, when we treat each other as significant.
“In times of trouble, we are the extension of God’s hand,” Mondez said. “The miracles of God come through us. This is what living together in times of crisis looks like. We forget about our differences and disagreements, and we find our common goal for peace. Truly, crisis and hard ship bring out the best in us.”
Many people are leaving Hong Kong for the United Kingdom, including ten per cent of his congregation, Agape Mennonite Church, “to seek a place of freedom and hope,” Choi said. But he has vowed to stay, to build the church and work for peace.
Miracle makers
10 The Messenger • September/October 2022
At the closing ceremony, Henk Stenvers, the new MWC president, looked toward the future.
He said he would not need to tell others to “imitate the Mennonites in practicing and spreading peacefulness”—as Willems did “when he saw a person who harmed him fall into a puddle of ice [and did] not run away but instead reached out to help, even if in the end he sacri ficed his life”—because the principles of peace and truth are “embedded in every human soul.”
Children sing at the closing worship service.
“When there is bloodshed between coun tries, it is our duty to seek peace between them,” he said. “Whatever the reason for war, it can never be Pranowojustified.”cited a story many Anabaptists would recognize as the Martyrs Mirror account of 16th-century martyr Dirk Willems.
Past and future
Paul Schrag is editor of Anabaptist World. This article was written for Meetinghouse, a group of Mennonite publications.
Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, was seeking to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to stop the war.
In the week’s final message, Nindyo Sasonko, an Indonesian GKMI pastor who teaches at Fordham University and lives in Manhattan, N.Y., wrapped up the theme of crossing barri ers by linking it to the biblical story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who vowed to follow her Israel ite mother-in-law wherever she went.
KURNIAWAN/MEETINGHOUSEKRESNA
In her loyalty to Naomi, Ruth showed profound courage, breaking boundaries of nationality and religion, Sasonko said. When we follow Jesus across barriers, he said, we also fol low the example of Ruth.
“Now at the end of this great gathering, we look ahead with energy and hope,” he said. “In 2025 we hope to commemorate the birth of Anabaptism in Zurich and, God willing, in six years another assembly in Ethiopia. We all will work hard to make Mennonite World Conference an even stronger communion of faithful followers of Christ.”
“Reconciliation cannot be achieved when there is no commitment to cross boundaries,” he said.
At the closing worship service on Sunday morn ing at Holy Stadium, more than 1,000 attended, sitting in every other seat for social distancing. H. Ganjar Pranowo, governor of Central Java, a region of 36 million people, greeted the crowd with references to peacemaking and Anabaptist history.Hesaid
The transfer of the presidency to a Dutch man called to mind the historic connection between Indonesia and the Netherlands. The Dutch ruled the East Indies for more than 300 years until Indonesia declared independence in 1945.
“We have a shared history, as the Indonesia Mennonite church started with Dutch mission aries. For me it is wonderful to finally visit this country, which I’ve heard so much about, and to fellowship with the people here in our shared Mennonite faith.”
Stories of Dirk and Ruth
“Indonesia is an important part of Dutch consciousness,” said Leegte, a pastor of the Singelkerk congregation in Amsterdam. “It’s a part of our being—in literature, art, food. But Indonesians are not thinking about the past.
Remnants of Dutch culture remain. At the d’Emmerick Hotel, which features a 20-foottall replica windmill, Dutch pastor Henk Leegte reflected on the contrast between colonial oppression and the global Christian fellowship that MWC makes possible.
The presidency of MWC passed from J. Nelson Kraybill of the United States to Henk Stenvers of the Netherlands. A medical doctor, Stenvers has served on the MWC Deacons Commission for 10 years. Kraybill presented him with a shepherd’s staff, symbolic of leading the Anabaptist flock.
Desalegn Abebe, president of the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia—whose 370,000 members make it the world’s largest Anabap tist denomination—invited everyone to the next assembly, in Ethiopia in 2028.
counselling to women about their rights and about the options available to them at all stages of the pregnancy” [emphasis added].
Is the dishonest?WinnipegCentrePregnancyCrisisof
By Juergen Severloh
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 11
he honesty of crisis pregnancy centres was questioned during the September 2021 Canadian national election when the Liberal Party, in their “Forward. For Everyone.” platform, promised that if re-elected they would “no longer provide charity status to anti-abortion organizations (for example, Cri sis Pregnancy Centres) that provide dishonest
LIGHTSTOCK
Honesty is a reasonable expectation. All charities and all counselling should be truthful and honest. In fact, the government of Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) already have laws and policies that not only require such
T
”
We believe what we wrote on our website: “If a client of our Centre obtains an abortion, we love her. If she carries-to-term, we love her. If she releases the child in an adoption, we love her. If she grieves after her abortion, with zero judgment, we will mourn with her. If she is in need during parenting, we will care for her. If she struggles after the adoption, we will support
her.” We also believe what Paul says in the Bible, “Even if you can speak brilliantly, with great per suasion and eloquence, if what you say is not both true and also conveyed with deep love, then your words are meaningless” (1 Corinthi ans 13:1–5, my paraphrase).
“
12 The Messenger • September/October 2022
We value all life, without qualifiers. Regardless of who you are, or what you’ve done or will do, we truly love and respect you.
– CPC of Winnipeg mission statement
As the founding executive director of the Winni peg CPC, I have a deep commitment to working and caring for clients. I spent my formative years in social service at a locked residential treatment institution. After six years I transitioned to work directly with Child and Family Services in resi dential homes helping stabilize families.
The CPC of Winnipeg is a Christian-based char ity, which means we follow the biblical teachings about being truthful, being gentle and kind to those who are in distress, and loving your neigh bour—which, of course, means loving everyone. Because we believe that everyone has intrinsic worth, we are life-affirming. We value all life, without qualifiers. Regardless of who you are, or what you’ve done or will do, we truly love and respect you.
My entire social service career of 40-plus years has involved assisting vulnerable women and children—many of whom were in the worst possible situations. I learned it was important to be truthful and honest. Vulnerable people want to be heard. They want to be understood. They want the truth. I think everyone wants
“Our mission is to preserve and foster family life as the essential element of the community by creating a safe and secure environment for women, their children, and their partners. Assisting them in whatever way we can by encouraging healthy relationships and the nurturing of their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Our charity respects and serves every individual seeking our help—people of all races and ethnicity, women, men, non-binary, the young and elderly, indigenous, immigrant, secular, atheist, agnostic, and people of any religious faith. We honour single parents, non-nuclear families, and chosen families.”
Counselling and dishonesty
honesty, but severely penalize violators. Over the past 30 years the CRA has, due to their audit results, revoked over 500 registered charities, and although cri sis pregnancy centres have been audited during those 30 years, no centre has had its charity status revoked. In this article I would like to clearly address the question of honesty and truthfulness within the Winni peg CPC.
We love everyone
pro-life help pro-life family beautiful sanctity help trust i GodknowLovesMe heartbeat j y joy son from not a mistakechoose me help God person life loved care wanted child child tiny life life smile human girl excitement trusting promise
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 13
wombalive innocent created infant motherhood hope uniquebeginning specialheartbeat heartbeat child growth care boyblessing delivery loved valued person hope
The “Responsible To vs Responsible For” model acknowledges that clients have full agency in their decision-making. Consequently, the coun sellor has the freedom to love and care for the client regardless of what decisions they make.
this. Being dishonest or manip ulative is never helpful; it is always destructive. Our Centre is all about building relation ships. Not including hundreds of emails, texts, and phone calls, every year we have well over a thousand client visits, from six to eight per day, and our only wish is to love and care for those who come to us for help. Dishonesty would destroy those relationships.Duringour
One of the important aspects of the “Respon sible For vs Responsible To” model is how it demonstrates and encourages counsellors to create appropriate boundaries. It is, of course, essential that the counsellor is compassionately and engagingly concerned about their client. It is equally important that the counsellor does not carry the weight of the client’s perspec tive or actions. The counsellor needs to be able to rationally and emotionally release the client to their own future—regardless of whether the counsellor believes that the client’s decisions are ultimately helpful or harmful.
One of the mechanisms used by crisis pregnancy centres to determine the effectiveness of their counselling are client exit interviews. After their session is over, the client is left alone to fill out a simple half-page form titled “Helping Us Do Our Best.” It would not be surprising to perhaps find negative or dissatisfied reviews and comments; all human interaction has this possibility. No matter how much someone tries to do their best, there will usually be bad reviews.
Client exit interviews are overwhelmingly positive
Centre’s almost 40 years, we have always used a brilliant coun selling model called “Responsible For vs Responsible To.” Counselling often involves discussing very serious concerns, and the energy or impact of those discussions can be difficult for the counsellor to experience. This is true for all important counselling sessions, including life-altering situations such as divorce, abuse recovery, and complicated trauma. This can also be true for women who are experienc ing an unplanned pregnancy.
God loves meprecioushumanpurpose precious innocent adored babydream hope gift help helplessmade gift giftcreated cute chance preciouswonderfulgiftdependentsweet
dream fragile embryo purpose loved sanctity created unborn treasure baby LOVED JOY beautiful miraclebaby innocent daughter
Many of our clients make their decisions based on external pressures; in the middle of a crisis this is understandable. However, making decisions based on what someone else wants or thinks is a psychologically detrimental way of deciding important and life-changing decisions. These types of decisions need to be based on internal beliefs and reasons.
What has delighted us at the Centre is the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received over the years. Some 95 percent of all client reviews, including from those consider ing abortion, gave us the highest possible rating; and although we did get one neutral review, we didn’t receive even one bad review.
life womb
Crisis, by its very nature, creates a kind of intellectual and psychological tunnel vision which may create a heightened sense of urgency and panic, and important decisions should not be made in panic, without proper reflection.
do not give up birth girlpregnancy birth
humaninfant planbaby baby baby hope formedHisimage miracle wonderful life infant
Client release forms are required
In our own city, the Women’s Health Clinic
14 The Messenger • September/October 2022
I am aware of one so-called “pro-life” centre in New York City which, when a person would call and ask if that centre would provide them with an abortion, they would simply state how much an abortion costs, implying that their cen tre did perform abortions by giving that detail. This is an appalling ethical violation that is not only dishonest, but also manipulative and cruel. Why purposefully conceal the truth? The client will find out the falsehood as soon as she arrives at their centre.
I believe the vast majority of counsellors and professionals who work with pregnant clients in this country are individuals whose motives are wholesome and whose interactions are wellintentioned. But every so often there are people who overstep their boundaries and let the pas sion of their beliefs distort their professional duty-of-care. Unchecked, a counsellor’s strong convictions can be coercive and manipulating. This has happened in both the anti-abortion community and in the pro-choice community.
I have heard “pro-life” individuals tell women who were distressed about their pregnancy that they should carry-to-term because it would be easier than getting an abortion. This is a mis leading simplification. There are hardships that accompany all decisions surrounding pregnancy—whether you carry-to-term, have an abortion, or relinquish your child in adoption. In all these difficult pregnancy options there are women who have celebrated their decision and those who have regretted their decision.
Because of the potential for misunderstanding, especially in the middle of a crisis, all clients seeking services at our Centre are required to sign a Client Release Form explaining who we are, and what we do and don’t provide before they can speak with a counsellor. Here are a few excerpts from that form:
There are hardships that accompany all decisions surrounding pregnancy—whether you carry-to-term, have an abortion, or relinquish your child in adoption.
lor this disturbs me: “Sometimes lie a lit tle, weaseling around its infantile features until its clinging power slackens.” The nurse is purposefully mislead ing and manipulating (“We Do Abortions Here,” sionsonemeettalkmaketigateCentre,edu/staff/bellinger/abortion/tisdale.htmhttps://lib.tcu.).Atourwebelievethattheclientshouldinveseverythingsheneedsto,orwantsto,toaninformedchoice.Weencouragehertotopeople,toresearchheroptionsonline,towithtrustedfriendsandmentors.Thisisofthebiggestandmostconsequentialdecishewillevermake.
provides abortion services. Prior to the abortion this clinic will conduct an ultrasound with their pregnant patients but will not permit the patient to view the ultrasound. Why don’t they allow the woman to observe? It is her own body, it is her choice, and she needs all the accurate, honest information she can get to make this life-altering decision. The missing medical and ethical prin ciple here is informed consent.
Some overstep their boundaries
LIGHTSTOCK
It reminds me of Sallie Tisdale’s abortionaffirming article in Harper’s Magazine, “We Do Abortions Here: A Nurse’s Tale,” where the nurse has this exchange with a pregnant patient: “I am speaking in a matter-of-fact voice about ‘the tissue’ and ‘the contents’ when the woman suddenly catches my eye and asks, ‘How big is the baby now?’ These words suggest a quiet need for a definition of the boundaries being drawn. It isn’t so odd, after all, that she feels relief when I describe the growing bud’s bulbous shape, its miniature nature. Again I gauge, and sometimes lie a little, weaseling around its infantile features until its clinging power slackens.”Asa counsel
A link to this form is also prominently dis played on our website’s opening page so that people are fully informed about our services before coming to see us.
In the same way that we are openly transpar ent about the life affirming appreciation we have for the clients that we are privileged to serve, we have also always been open and transparent about who we are as a faith-based charity.
• “You will not be obliged to undergo a pregnancy test or view any material which you do not wish to.”
we have spent significant time and resources on purchasing materials and attending semi nars by recognized professionals in a variety of fields, including: Dr. Gabor Maté (stress and childhood trauma), Dr. Alan Wolfelt (loss and complicated grief), Tim Fletcher (addiction and complicated trauma), Klinic Community Health (suicide prevention), Dr. Todd Sellick (crisis intervention), Dr. Tim Keller (spiritual wellness),
and numerous individuals concerning how to address Indigenous and cross-cultural commu nity
• “Understanding the sensitive nature of your situation, we respectfully urge you to share only those aspects of your cir cumstances which you are comfortable disclosing to us.”
• “It is also important that you understand that we are not a ‘medical clinic.’”
• “Regardless of whether the results of your pregnancy test are positive, nega tive, or inconclusive, we recommend that you see a physician to confirm that result.”
Since our beginnings in the mid-1980s we have invited community social service agen cies to join us at our open house events. We feel an appropriately deep satisfaction about the amount of support and services that we provide to our clients and wish to network with other agencies in hopes of further benefiting those cli ents. We have always included pro-choice clinics and agencies in our invitations to these open house events. We believe that we can best dispel concerns about our Centre by having everyone view our facilities, read our materials, and hear about how we care for our clients.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 15
It has always been an objective of ours to con vey accurate and honest information to our clients. We constantly review and revise our client information and facilitate ongoing profes sional development for our staff. Over the years
We care about accuracy and honesty
• “We cannot offer you medical advice or counsel, and therefore cannot provide or assist in arranging abortions.”
We are open and transparent
We are members of Pregnancy Care Canada
Furthermore,concerns. to ensure that we were being accurate and up-to-date in discussing abortion with our clients, we had Dr. Richard Boroditsky educate our staff during a two-hour workshop. At the time, Dr. Boroditsky was a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba, was the president of Planned Parenthood Manitoba, and was the most recognized abortion-providing physician in Manitoba. Accuracy and honesty are integral to our Centre. It is the only way that we wish to serve our clients.
In the mid-1990s a number of crisis pregnancy centre directors, including myself as the Win nipeg CPC director, formed Pregnancy Care Canada (PCC). PCC is a national best-practice association of crisis pregnancy centres. From our beginning, one of the primary PCC objec tives was to ensure that every affiliated centre would perform their duties honourably, with honesty and with accuracy, using the “best
• “You may terminate your appointment at any time.”
We have always included pro-choice clinics and agencies in our invitations to these open house events. We believe that we can best dispel concerns about our Centre by having everyone view our facilities, read our materials, and hear about how we care for our clients.
16 The Messenger • September/October 2022
We offer services at no cost to clients
practices” model as their guide. We recog nized there were a few rogue pregnancy centres in North America and we did not want to be associated with them, either relationally or by perception. Therefore, the PCC affiliation mem bership process is rigorous in its criteria and expectation.PCChas always proactively ensured that all our affiliated centres have policies and prac tices that are legal, trustworthy, informative, and compassionate. Furthermore, the infor mation PCC provides to its affiliated centres is critically reviewed by specialized practitio ners across Canada, including a wide scope of recognized perinatal nurses, family physicians, obstetricians, gynaecologists, medical ethi cists, specialist physicians, doctors of genetics and pharmacology, nurses, therapists, lawyers, accountants, pastors, social workers, teachers, and entrepreneurs involved with our Centre’s development and programming. All of whom are above reproach and none of whom would tolerate dishonesty.
Our Centre has, for over thirty years, been an affiliate with the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities, a national oversight organization that gives professional guidance to charities which then ensures that its affiliates perform in an “exemplary, healthy, and effective way.”
The information PCC provides to its affiliated centres is critically reviewed by specialized practitioners across Canada,
Last year crisis pregnancy centres across Canada served 6,500 new clients, and cared for 5,160 clients who received material support such as diapers, baby formula, baby clothing, maternity clothing and food. Collectively we had almost 32,000 client visits, most of which included providing material necessities and emotional support. We offer an amazing amount of ser vices performed by volunteers and staff, and at no cost to either the clients we serve or the com munity
Juergen Severloh has been married to his wonderful wife Janni since September 20, 1980. Together they share two amazing children: Michael and Sarah. Juergen is the executive director of the Crisis Pregnancy Centre of Winnipeg, Man. A Christian life-affirming inner-city ministry, the CPC addresses the relevant issues which encom pass Benedict’sAlbrightminister;Juergenanding,post-birthabortion,adoption,pregnancy—includingabortion,post-infantloss,support,parentspiritual-awareness,healthysexuality.isanordainedheattendsbothChurchandSt.Table.
Finally,taxpayers.asIhave explained throughout this article, regardless of how many women seek our help, we will always treat our clients with respect, honesty, integrity, and grace. Why wouldn’t we? We think people are awesome. Our client guests deserve an abundance of love, com passionate care and resources.
The day began like any other day. Barbara and I had breakfast together. (We live in the same block of apartments.) Every Tuesday, Barbara goes to a patients’ club in Tuttlingen, about 30 kilometers from where we live. The club provides activities for individuals suffering from neurolog ical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes or brain injuries. The purpose of these meetings is to provide the patients with entertainment, while also helping them improve key skills. Barbara always looks forward to these meetings.
That’s strange, I thought. She’s never been diagnosed with diabetes. “Do you have your keys on you?” I asked.
By Mary Brandt
“But “Becausewhy?”my sugar level is either very high or very low!”
Barbara in her car
e all have our familiar rituals in our everyday lives. These pre dictable patterns give us a sense of security. But sometimes, these patterns are broken, and that sense of security is shattered by the unexpected. No, I’m not referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine at this time, but to what happened to my foster daughter Barbara on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
SUPPLIEDPHOTO
May 24, 2022: A day like any other?
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 17
W
On the 24th, after the meeting, Barbara said her goodbyes and departed, expecting to be home at her usual time, around seven in the evening. I had supper ready and waiting. I was expecting her any minute but, as the minutes ticked by, my concern began to grow. I listened for her key in the door, but she didn’t come. Suddenly, the phone rang. When I answered, Barbara was at the other end of the line. I hardly recognized her voice; she sounded terribly strained.“Where are you?” I asked.
“I’m in an ambulance on the way to hospital,” she said, half crying.
What made Barbara head toward Koenigsfeld continues to puzzle her. She remembers turning
When the medics got to Barbara’s car and began talking to her, they quickly noticed something was seriously wrong.
SUPPLIEDPHOTO
Was Barbara’s life a succession of unfortunate events? Born with a handicap, left at the hospital after birth, then transferred to orphan age. That was Barbara’s start in life. At age four, Barbara came to the children’s home for desperately needed medical attention and more personal care. Barbara was placed in my family unit. (See photo above: Elisabeth Reimer handing Barbara over to me on the day of her arrival in the children’s Withhome.)apair of lifeno!ofSo,centre.part-timepension,reasons,fieldhousekeeper,AfterBarbarahospitalDuringfosterme,youngYouthdren’scouldcustom-madeorthopaedicallyshoes,Barbarasoonwalk.WhenIleftthechilhomeforanewjobwithforChrist,Barbara(tootobeonherown)leftwithandIraisedherasasingleparent.thistime,atwo-weekstayafterasurgeryforturnedintofourmonths.school,Barbaratrainedasaandworkedinthisfor35years.DuetohealthsheisnowondisabilitybutcontinuestoworkataChristianretreathasBarbara’slifebeenaseriesunfortunateevents?ThankGod,Rather,ithasbeenanunusualwithunusualmiracles.
me.I didn’t want to prolong the conversation, as Barbara seemed too weak to talk. Later, I would be sorry that I hadn’t asked to speak to one of the paramedics about what had occurred.
Barbara: a brief biography
This episode took Barbara by complete surprise. She had enjoyed her time with the patient group, began to head home, and then suf fered a sudden drop in blood sugar. In other words, severe hypoglyce mia with impaired consciousness. The doctors are still not sure why this happened, but while they work on this mystery, Barbara is barred from getting behind the wheel again for the next 30 days.
After I hung up, I phoned the hospital for more details. Unbe lievably, the hospital was unable to connect me with the emer gency wing, as their telephone system was out of order! They told me to try again later. Around midnight—after phoning the hos pital a number of times in vain—I phoned the police station. Had there been an accident perhaps? Thankfully, they were very friendly and ready to help. They checked; there was no trace of an accident in the whole area. I sighed with relief. Something had gone wrong, but it wasn’t serious enough to warrant police involvement—a good sign.
When the medics got to her car and began talking to her, they quickly noticed something was seriously wrong. Barbara didn’t know where she was or how she got there. They helped her out of the car and into the ambulance. Suspecting that her blood sugar level might be low, they tested it and immediately gave her a glucose infusion. This slowly roused her to consciousness, which was when they had her call me.
– Mary Brandt
I needed to know where her keys were in case she was admitted to hospital. “I don’t know where they went,” she said, her voice tight with anxiety. I tried to calm her down.She didn’t know where her keys were or even where her car was or whether it was locked. This worried her, and she began to panic. Immediately a paramedic reassured her that it had all been taken care of. Her car was locked and her belong ings were all safely stored away in her bag by her side. He explained they had searched her bag for ID and possible medical information. They had found her cell phone in her bag, as well as my phone num ber, which they’d dialed and then given her the phone to speak to
Eventually, I pieced together what had happened. Barbara had been on her way home, only five kilometers to go, but had driven right by our exit. She drove along the highway to the town of Moenchweiler, and then on towards Koenigsfeld, where her car finally came to a stop at a roundabout. Here she was found slumped over the wheel of her car, with the engine still running.
18 The Messenger • September/October 2022
His two originals boast lyrics that are entirely bibli cal. “Blessed,” based almost exclusively on the beatitudes, includes a groovy bass line and an off-beat rhythm with a touch of scat-like vocalizations; you may find it difficult not to tap your toe. “Thankful” has a more folky vibe and includes some impressive guitar riffs and atypical har monic progressions in the phrase endings. Toward the end the electric guitar features some harder rock riffs, and the female background vocalist presents some melodic phrases that are more of an R&B style; perhaps Jon is attempting a multi-genre fusion in this track, but these interjections may be seen as a bit too eclectic. Regardless, he offers some diverse and impressive styles through this piece that showcase a high level of musicianship.
Books (and More)
This all seems like a bad dream, like a fairytale with a good ending. A perfectly normal day turned upside down without warning. Guardian angels must have been sent to watch over her. She caused no accident! She did not get hurt, nor did she hurt anyone else. She did not even damage her car. Incredibly lucky? No, miracu lously protected. We are ever so thankful! Praise the Lord God with us!
Come Awake, Jon Buller. $10 (MP3) at www.jonbuller.com. Reviewed by Adrienne Funk, EMC Communications Assistant.
Buller’s use of intricate guitar and bass riffs show him quite proficient and impressive on these instruments.
onto Highway B33—so far, so good—but after that, a complete blackout. She drove in a “faint ing condition” for about 20 kilometers. Thank God that the car came to a stop when it did! As the ambulance driver later told Barbara, if she had driven any further in that state, the car could’ve easily rolled over.
The covers contain some pleasant surprises in the way of melodic variations and harmonic structures that, while they are unexpected, work to provide added tension and uniqueness to his renditions. All of Buller’s recordings on this album are devoid of traditional drum kit, instead relying on a rhythmic pulse primarily from piano and gui tar and, occasionally, hand drums. While the piano parts tend to be rather simplistic, Buller’s use of intricate guitar and bass riffs show him quite proficient and impressive on these instruments.
Overall, if you’re looking for some biblically based wor ship-style music with some unique renditions of familiar songs, as well as something brand new to introduce to your worship sets, this album is a great purchase.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 19
Jon Buller has been in the Chris tian worship music industry for over twenty years, but until COVID-19 he was more focused on pastoring and shepherding a congregation in Vernon, B.C. The pandemic provided a time for him to get back into a musical focus and we find him releasing a new album “with an intentional heart towards hope and encouragement for Christians and the Church in Canada.” Jon’s new album Come Awake includes a varied collection of some well-known and lesser-known covers of contemporary Christian songs, as well as two original recordings.
In April 1963, Mary Brandt left familiarity behind in Manitoba for a year of voluntary service in a chil dren’s home in Germany. Her many years of min istry in Germany included the children’s home, Youth for Christ and a Bible col lege. Now, at 83 years old, nearly sixty years after first arriving, she still lives in Germany, in the Black For est, in the same block as her foster daughter Barbara.
20 The Messenger • September/October 2022
Will he really go there? Is it possible to portray a dutiful Nazi sympathetically?soldier
On the surface this is a simple com ing of age adventure story told through the eyes of the protagonist in his later years. The cast of characters is large but not overwhelming, the story line is compelling, the action moves quickly, and historical context is provided. The for mat of extended journal entries breaks the text up into manageable blocks without using formal chapter divisions and allows natural transition between the narrator’s mem ory, events in the present, and his inner thought process as he attempts to explain his own past to himself and others.
Wiens uses icons and iconoclasm as a thread through out the story, alternating between the veneration and subversion of image and presentation. As the narrator struggles to come to terms with his own past he tries on various different presentations of his story and how he might explain it to himself, his daughter, his grand-daugh ter, and others. Those presentations range from iconic veneration to propaganda poster reduction to the defac ing of presented versions. As a reader it is sometimes uncomfortable to realize that you have gone along with the narrator in an effort to explain or justify his own past in a reductive way and then find yourself caught up short with him when the justification seems inadequate. The narrator has a complex relationship with a mentor figure to whom the journal entries are addressed. That mentor, Antoine, seems to avoid all the reductive obsession with presentation that is held up for critique through the rest of the novel but is himself flawed in ways that are difficult to reconcile.
To Antoine: a novel, E. J. Wiens (Gelassenheit Publications, 2022). 388 pp. $25.69 (paperback). ISBN 9780988099333. Reviewed by Jeff Thiessen, a member of Mac Gregor (Man.) EMC.
E. J. Wiens’ historical novel To Antoine is about a Menno nite boy from Ukraine who fights on the side of the Nazis in the Second World War. He then makes a quiet life for himself in Paraguay and, later, Canada only to have his involvement in the war come to public attention in his old age. The history of Mennonite interaction with the German military during the Nazi era remains difficult to discuss sev eral generations after the fact and Wiens is willing to tackle it head-on.
Books (and More)
It’s clear from the first few pages how the story ends; the narrative tension or urge to keep reading comes from the twists and turns developing toward that conclusion. There are a handful of fully developed characters and a satisfying set of carefully sketched stock actors—the scatterbrained but wise Uncle Knalz, Groote Graete over bearing and benevolent, Eva the beautiful partisan fighter, Ohm Isaac the blind seer, and others. There are two plot twists at the end and enough unresolved questions to keep you thinking about the story after you’ve finished reading.
At some points the book reads as the author’s response to a dare or a creative writing prompt. Will he really go there? Is it possible to portray a dutiful Nazi soldier sym pathetically? How do you write about losing a war or a way of life? Will his character really fall back on rationalizing tropes in his elder years? Surely he will be definitive about either the role of Anabaptist Christian faith or the Russian Mennonite cultural tradition at some point? Wiens is coy to the end on many of these questions although his narra tor spends pages exploring ways to justify one reaction or another.
To Antoine is a worthwhile read, highly recommended whether you’re looking for a think-piece, an adventure story, Mennonite cultural history, or a probing thematic exploration.
BLOCKRUTH
STEINBACH, MAN.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 21
The success of this tournament is not measured in low scores, but in the lives impacted by the support for ministries of EMC missionaries serving globally. Special thanks to the Project Builders golf committee for planning the event, and to the many donors who supported the tourna ment with generous financial contributions.
Henry Penner conducted an auction for some memorabilia such as signed hockey jerseys and hockey sticks. These items helped to raise additional funds for the event.
Thank you, golfers and donors!
Right: Flo Friesen and Evelyn Barkman watch at the 18th hole.
On June 16, 2022, EMC Project Builders held their 28th annual golf tournament, and it would be fair to say that their prayers were answered. The weather was good, the cama raderie was excellent and, best of all, nearly $40,000 was raised to support several minis try Teamsprojects.played a Texas Scramble (best ball) style, so there were many excellent scores. Participants then gathered for a meal, and reports on the projects that were being sup ported. Kent Dueck thanked golfers and
Africa.Auctioneer
With Our Missionaries
Above: Jason Heide (left) and Brian Koop (right) watch as John Ban man’s ball heads toward the flag.
– Tim Dyck, EMC Executive Director
A famous preacher once said that the only times his prayers were not answered was on the golf course. Some golfers are very seri ous about their game and are always looking to improve their score—seeking that long, straight drive, or that spectacular putt to secure a birdie. Others treat the game as a leisurely way to spend a morning, with little regard for the score.
EMC Project Builders raises nearly $40,000
donors for their generous support to upgrade the basket ball court at ICYA, serving the inner city of Winnipeg. Arley Loewen reported that funds from the golf tourna ment would help to support the discipleship ministry of Afghan refugees scattered throughout the globe. Phil Peters described how the funds for Open Schools World wide would benefit the many volunteer tutors who provide basic education to some of the most vulnerable children in
SUPPLIEDPHOTOS
22 The Messenger • September/October 2022
With Our Missionaries
That said, we also don’t feel ready to leave Mexico, but as we’ve been telling our kids, being sad and grieving something is a sign that you loved the place or the per son. So, feel the sadness, grieve it, process it, and trust God through the change. Our kids are doing well with this process—as well as could be expected. They are sad to go but I am so proud of the way they are making sure they say their goodbyes well, doing all the “lasts,” and allowing themselves to go through the Inprocess.terms
Tara says goodbye to a friend.
Left: Tara and Dallas Wiebe in 2009, just before arriving in Mexico; right: their family now in 2022.
– Tara Wiebe
We are so, so thankful for our 13 years in Mexico. It’s amazing to look back on all the ups and downs of our time here and be able to say that God has been faithful. He has not left our side and has only grown us and brought us closer to himself. He has given us lifelong friends and family, people we will continue to connect with in the future. He has built a church, people that have come to know Christ for the first time and others who have grown in their faith. What a privilege to have been part of this. Yesterday our church had a farewell service and party for us; it just cemented again how blessed we are to have known thisWhengroup!is the right time to leave the mission field? That’s the $100 ques tion every missionary asks at some point in their lives. We didn’t know if or when we would leave, and even though it’s some thing we’ve been praying about for some time, it’s taken us a little by surprise that we’re actually leaving. That sounds confusing since we’re the ones that made the decision. But it has felt like God prompting us to go to Canada now before Carter (our oldest) is finished high school. We feel that it’s important for him and all of our kids to still be liv ing with us when they make the transition to Canada, a new culture to live in for them, as they’ve lived their whole lives in Mexico! We also would like to be more present for our parents and families.
When is the right time to leave?
Pray for us and our kids as we say our final good-byes and close this chapter of our lives. Pray as we transition to Canada: for our kids as they start school, make new friends and sort through all the cultural aspects and feelings of being new, and for Dallas as he looks for a job (he hopes to use his counselling degree). Pray for our church here, Camino de Vida, as they transition to us not being here and that they would see more and more of the great things God will do in Guadalajara!
of the church and minis try, we have been so blessed to have been able to work with our mission ary co-workers Angel and Blanca Infantes and with our national lead ership couples. There will be a time of adjustment for them as well, as there always is with change, but we are excited to see what God will continue to do in and through the church he is building.
MEXICO
Our Come and See finale included a 20-mile pilgrimage done by 15 people who trekked from our neighbour hood in downtown Winnipeg to a farm outside the city where we had a baptism and renewed our church covenant together.Wehave enjoyed the journey together through this sea son of spiritual renewal.
WINNIPEG, Man.—The Many Rooms Church Commu nity seized the opportunity to participate in Come and See, a season of spiritual renewal for our conference.
Dallas Kornelsen baptizes Airo Enns.
For this special season Many Rooms held several miniretreats. Our retreats focused on the following themes: Advent, prayer and fasting, worship and songwriting, spiri tual direction, and prayer for children. We also enjoyed being in God’s beautiful creation and being together with each other in person!
Members of MRCC retreat at the Boreal Ecology Centre during the Advent season.
– Jen Kornelsen
Many Rooms Church Community
SUPPLIEDPHOTOS
Just before Pentecost we participated in a week-long prayer room in our neighbourhood that ended with a cre ative neighbourhood worship service on Pentecost Sunday.
Retreats, study, prayer included in season of renewal
A couple of study groups formed during the six weeks of Lent. One group followed a Lenten devotional and another group met to read and discuss the book Leading a Church in a Time of Sexual Questioning.
Hikers participate in a 20-mile pilgrimage toward a covenant cel ebration outside the city.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 23 With Our Churches
Pastor Ward Parkinson stands with baptismal candidates Eliza Friesen, Jonathan Loewen, Christopher Peters and Denver Reimer.
HCC surrounds the Hakimi family during a time of prayer.
– Ward Parkinson
The Sunday after their arrival the family was introduced to the church and given a hearty welcome. It is a special blessing to see the family connect with the church and enjoy the fellowship of believers.
Baptism gives opportunity to celebrate
– Len Barkman
The Majid Hakimi family left Afghanistan in fear of their lives. After many months of moving from one coun try to another, they found their way to the refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece. Here they met Christian NGO workers and were introduced to the Christian faith. They embraced their walk with God and were active in helping minis ter to needs within the camp. It was here Arley and Janice Loewen met the family through a discipleship training program.When we at HCC expressed interest in sponsoring a Christian Afghan family, the Hakimi family was suggested. Moving their application through all the proper immigra tion channels was a challenge made more difficult during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and was also affected by the emergency rush of Ukrainian refugees this summer. The application was processed through the Men nonite Central Committee who helped guide us through the numerous forms and documents required.
Rosenort EMC
With Our Churches
Each candidate shared powerful words of testimony to what Jesus has done and is continuing to do in their lives. The significance of baptism and making this public profession of faith in Christ is no small thing. We as a con gregation rejoice in what the Spirit will do in the lives of these young adults. Glory to God.
Afghan refugee family finds safety in Landmark
Heartland Community Church
24 The Messenger • September/October 2022
ROSENORT, Man.—A baptismal service is an opportu nity for the whole church to celebrate what God is doing in our midst. On Sunday, June 26, 2022, Rosenort EMC congregants witnessed four young people take this step of obedience in following Jesus.
LANDMARK, Man.—July 21, 2022, was a very special day for the Refugee Sponsorship Committee from Heartland Community Church (HCC). On that day, after over a year of processing, an Afghan refugee family of five arrived in Winnipeg and was settled in their new home in Landmark.
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SUPPLIEDPHOTOS
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 25 With Our Churches
Over the last couple of years, we have said goodbye to some very special people in our community. They were all greatly loved and will be missed, leaving behind a legacy of love and service. Willie Dueck, Matilda Plett, Syd Reimer and Henry Friesen have all gone on to be with Jesus in heaven.The last few years have been a time of review and restructuring in our church. Through this process, we have restructured our leadership team, added some boards, and have gone through a visioning process. We have appreci ated the help of Layton Friesen, Terry Dueck, Ben Dueck and Abe Bergen as we struggled (at times) throughout this process. We are grateful to God for his faithfulness to us through this time of growth and we look forward to what he has in store for us.
to make events and caregiving happen in our church through challenging circumstances.
MORWEENA, Man.—It has been some time since there’s been a report from our church. Navigating pandemic restrictions over the last couple of years has been difficult. Like everyone else, we’re happy to be meeting together again.In
In both the summers of 2020 and 2021, Morweena was able to host two weeks of day camp for Beaver Creek Bible Camp (BCBC) as an alternative to overnight camp. It was good to see churches and communities come together in creative ways to keep BCBC going during the pandemic.
Morweena EMC
Morweena Christian School (K to grade 12) continues to thrive with an attendance of approximately 170 students. To cap off the 2021–22 school year, MCS put on a won derful, outdoor high school production of Little Women Principal Tim Reimer and the staff team have modelled perseverance and positivity throughout the pandemic.
Families had a great time at our church picnic on June 5, 2022.
– Amanda Plett
August 2020, we celebrated as Christian Dyck was baptized. On August 1, 2021, we celebrated as seven youth were baptized: Natasha Dyck, Maya Friesen, Jayden Loewen, Christopher Penner, Steven Penner, Ethan Plett, and Johnny Von Gunten. Later in August 2021, we had a Rocky Railway themed VBS for kids K to grade 4. About 30 children attended.
This spring we celebrated the ten-year anniversary of Eric and Jen Isaac becoming the pastoral couple at MEMC. We are grateful to them for their commitment to each other and to our church and community. Eric has provided our church with solid biblical teaching, excellent senior visitation care, and a passion for kids’ ministry. Eric and Jen and their family have become an integral part of our community and we appreciate them very much. To cel ebrate, we enjoyed a delicious barbeque lunch on May 15, put on by our food committee.
Eric and Jen Isaac with their children James, Clara and Emily
Highlights of ministry amid the pandemic
Highlights from the past year include some renova tions, a men’s golf day, a New Year’s fireworks party, kid’s club evenings, a women’s spring tea, a 55-plus spring brunch, and a family church picnic. We are thankful to all the committees and individuals who have pulled together
– Anna Bueckert
BOW ISLAND, Alta.—As a church, we are very thank ful for the many ways God has led, guided, and helped us here in Bow Island, Alta. Much prayer went into this church plant. After receiving many “green lights” we moved forward, bought a building and opened our doors in November 2021. There is always a lot of work in starting a new church, but God has been so good and helped us. We are so thank ful to the EMC for the support we have received and to other churches and individuals who have been there for us.
26 The Messenger • September/October 2022
As we continue to look forward prayerfully to see what God has planned for this church, we are so thankful that as we trust him and commit our ways to him, he will direct the way in which we should walk (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Sponsor a refugee family through your local EMC church or donate to the project fund.
Bow Island EMC hosted a gospel jamboree event for the community in July 2022.
Six young people are baptized and received into membership at Bow Island EMC.
Afghan Christian Refugee Project
Through God’s hand, our doors are open
With Our Churches
Toward the end of May 2022, after going through The Christian Life booklet, we had a chartering service where 19 people became the first members. Then a week later we were blessed as six young people were baptized and received into membership. What wonderful, blessed times and we give God all the glory!
children’s activities, fellowship, and of course some good food. It seemed the people in Bow Island were excited to have this event in their town—apparently, they used to have jamborees but had not had anything like this for quite a while.The weekend following the busy jamboree event we did our first church campout. It was so much fun just relaxing, playing volleyball, having water fights, singing and shar ing—a great way of unwinding after a busy season.
Bow Island EMC
SUPPLIEDPHOTOS
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On the first weekend in July (a long weekend due to Canada Day falling on Friday) our church put on their first Gospel Music Jamboree, hoping and trusting that God would use this outreach event. So many people were encouraged in their faith walk through music, testimonies,
When he looks in the rear-view mirror at the fire, Reimer sees “God at work.” This includes how the expe rience is helping him empathize more with those MDS helps—people like Alicia, a woman in Elkhorn, Man., who also lost her home to a fire. Reimer is directing an MDS project to rebuild her house.
She looked outside the window and saw a vehicle on fire. After calling 911, they evacuated the house, hoping they could put it out themselves. But the fire was too big, soon jumping to the garage and then to the house itself.
The fire at his house also opened doors to help him find volunteers and contractors in nearby Kola, about a 15-min ute drive from Elkhorn. In mid-July he was invited to share about his experience at the Sunday morning service of the Kola Evangelical Mennonite Church.
Jim and Marlene Reimer lost everything “but we’re okay.”
– John Longhurst, MDS Canada Communications
After he shared, members of the church offered to help MDS assist Alicia, and also passed along contact informa tion for others who could be of assistance to complete the project.Atthe same time, the fire also helps him empathize with Alicia better. “It’s definitely given me a deeper understanding of what she has gone through,” he said.
STEINBACH, Man.—As a project director with Menno nite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada, Jim Reimer knows it can be stressful for a homeowner to cope with the loss of their house. He just never expected to experience it first-hand.That’swhat happened July 6, 2022, when, late at night, he was awakened from a deep sleep by his wife, Marlene, who heard their dog barking.
Fortunately, the couple, who are part of Steinbach’s Evangelical Mennonite Church, were able to recover some personal items from less damaged parts of the house. This included their precious photo albums, which didn’t even suffer water damage.
As for the fire itself, Reimer doesn’t try to understand why it happened. “I just know God is using our experience for his Kingdom. The Lord has blessed us. Now I can pass that blessing on to Alicia and others through MDS.”
Unlike his situation, Alicia doesn’t have the same kind of supportive community, resources and insurance to help her recover from the fire. “That’s where MDS comes in,” he said. “We can be those things to her.”
House fire helps MDS volunteer empathize with disaster survivors
The fire began in the early morning hours of July 6, 2022.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 27 SUPPLIEDPHOTOS News
In addition to the damage to the house, Reimer—who owns and operates a plumbing and heating business—lost all his tools, inventory, company vehicles and equipment. “We lost virtually everything, but we’re okay,” he said.
The local fire department put out the fire, but the house—their home in Steinbach, Man., since 1983—is likely a total loss. The fire most likely started in a pinched extension cord plugged in from their camper to the garage. “It was just an accident,” Reimer said. “One of those things thatWhathappen.”isn’t accidental is how people have responded to help Jim and Marlene, parents of four grown children.
“We’ve experienced a lot of positive things in the aftermath of the fire,” he said. “The generosity of people is incredible.”
A: Ukraine is a major food producer, particularly for
Nyawar and her siblings were forced to flee their home due to vio lence, finding safety in a displaced persons camp in South Sudan. An MCC partner helped by distributing monthly food rations to families living in the camp. But then the floodwaters came. The surging water destroyed their small home. They waded bare foot through the camp, surveying their waterlogged possessions. For Nyawar, it was loss upon loss, grief upon grief. Basic supplies became even more difficult to access.
The complex realities of a global hunger crisis
SANTONINOPHOTO/TADEOMCC
To help us better understand this hunger crisis, we sat down with MCC’s disaster response director, Bruce Guenther, and asked him a few questions.
28 The Messenger • September/October 2022 News
Q: What does the conflict in Ukraine have to do with global hunger?
Nyawar Mapieny Gathoul’s baby and siblings are hungry. The father of Nyawar’s six-month-old isn’t around to help and, at just 17, the young mother also cares for her seven sib lings because their parents have died. Nyawar is strong, resilient and hard working. But the family has only enough food for one meal a day.
Nyawar Mapieny Gathoul, 17, holds her six-month-old son, Zoal Mapiny Gai. Nyawar stands with some of her younger brothers and sisters, for whom she also cares because their parents have died. They live on monthly food distributions from MCC partner SSUDRA. They also buy small amounts of food with money they make by gathering wood. The young fam ily lives in Rubkona informal settlement camp in Unity State, South Sudan.
Q: Are there other factors that contribute to the crisis?
A: Absolutely. We are seeing other factors come into play, such as changing weather patterns. In areas like South Sudan, for example, devasting flooding is wiping out crops and creating even higher need for humanitarian response.
Q: What is happening with the global food supply right now?
The factors that contribute to the family’s lack of food are complex and varied. Nyawar’s story is just a snapshot of the hunger crisis raging throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
A: Right now, ten percent of the world goes to bed hun gry. Of those, around 50 million people are at crisis levels of hunger, teetering on the edge of famine. That’s up from 27 million in 2019 before the pandemic began. This hunger crisis has been triggered by several factors. Conflict, disaster and rising food prices are the main things that disrupt people’s ability to access food.
sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Ukraine exports goods like wheat, maize (corn), barley and sunflower oil. The conflict in Ukraine is having a direct impact on global food supplies, with ports being closed and goods unable to leave the country. This means food prices are rising around the world. In Syria, for example, the cost of MCC food assistance programs has increased by approximately 22 percent.
Conflict disrupts every one of those. People may lose their regular jobs when conflict breaks out. Or they might be displaced from their land. Essential goods become more expensive, and people sell assets. And, logistically, emergency food distribution is much more challenging in conflict settings.
Henk Stenvers of the Netherlands, incoming MWC president, talks with H. Ganjar Pranowo, governor of Central Java, at the July 10, 2022, closing worship service of MWC Assembly 17.
– Mennonite World Conference
Q: What is MCC doing to respond?
A: We are scaling up our humanitarian response globally, including significant responses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan and Zimbabwe. We also have our largest emergency food assistance programs in Syria and Lebanon. The reality is we need more resources to con tinue to provide the same level of assistance to people we were already supporting.
KURNIAWAN/MEETINGHOUSEKRESNA
Q: How does conflict make global hunger worse?
A: Partners tell us this crisis is severely impacting peo ple’s everyday lives. Food prices are too high for many families to afford what they need (and we know the same is true for many Canadian and U.S. families). Costs are also higher for MCC to buy food locally and to provide food assistance for people who were already vulnerable because of conflict or drought. This just pushes more and more people into poverty and desperate situations.
A: There are four main ways someone accesses food. The first one is to produce it yourself. The second is through labour—you work and earn a wage, then buy food with that money. Third, you trade for it; maybe you raise goats, then trade those goats for chickens or eggs. Fourth, you access food through transfers, such as social safety nets like emergency food assistance.
Incoming president Henk Stenvers has served a decade as Deacons Commission secre tary, during which time he pioneered Online Prayer Hour and has served Algemene Doopsgezind Societeit (the Dutch Mennonite church) and the European Mennonites for almost 20 years. “Henk’s experience as a church leader
in the Netherlands and his knowledge of the world church will be a great blessing in the years to come,” Garcia added. “It will be a privilege to work with him.”
– Jason Dueck, Mennonite Central Committee
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 29
Q: What is MCC hearing from our partners about the hunger crisis?
Margokerto was one of the first colonies founded by Mennonite missionary P.A. Jansz for the evangelization of the region. The church hosted a dozen MWC guests for four days dur ing Assembly 17 and broadcast the plenary speaker from this satellite location to the main stage at STT Sangkakala in Salatiga on July 8, 2022.“Our global church is deeply grateful for the ministry of Nelson Kraybill during these seven years,” said César García, MWC’s general sec retary. “We will miss his pastoral heart, wisdom and willingness to serve unconditionally.”
The presidency of Mennonite World Confer ence (MWC) transferred from J. Nelson Kraybill (2015 to 2022) to president-elect Henk Stenvers (2022 to 2028) at GITJ Margokerto, Indonesia, as part of Assembly 17.
A new shepherd for MWC
Then we look at the transportation costs involved in get ting food to families who need it — the soaring price of oil has a huge impact on food supply. It’s a lot of things all happening at once and the effects are really adding up.
Yet Hannah continued to live with hope and love, spreading her light and joy to everyone around her.
Our precious daughter and sister, Hannah Penner, left us too young and too soon on May 21, 2022.
In the fall of 2020, Hannah’s Crohn’s intensified and she was con sidering the possibility of another surgery when Tim died suddenly at home in Virden on Nov. 11, 2020. Less than a year later, she suffered another heartbreak when her dad, Earl Penner (Sharon Hillis) of Mid land, Texas, died on Aug. 9, 2021, fromSheCOVID-19.nevertruly recovered from these losses, and her health required more full-time care. She entered Res ton Health Centre on Mar. 30, 2021, then the West-Man Personal Care Home on Nov. 1, 2021. As her pain increased, Hannah began to yearn for
In 2015, Hannah met her soul mate, Tim Palanuik, and they con nected over a love of acting: Tim had been an actor in L.A. Tim was the light of her life and a wonderful com panion to Hannah, and they created a beautiful life together.
– The Family
Give buckets full of This Thanksgiving, show your gratitude and provide hope to those in need by filling a Bucket of Thanks with relief supplies for people affected by disaster or conflict around the world. Learn more at: mccbuckets.ca
Hannah read extensively—her book collection rivaled those of her preacher grandfathers! She also pur sued, but due to ill health was unable to finish, a Business Administration diploma through Assiniboine Com munity College.
heaven and being reunited with those she loved, leaning into her faith and personal belief in God as a source of strength. Reading her Bible and listen ing to hymns were a great comfort to her during these dark times.
The funeral was held at Kola EMC on May 30, 2022.
She performed in high school plays and local theatre productions with the Virden Phoenix Players. She even got to perform in New York City while touring with Covenant Players in 2005.Hannah’s life was marked by numerous and lengthy hospital stays, endless doctor appointments, tests, surgeries and medications, first due to a Crohn’s disease diagnosis at the ten der age of 14, then a bipolar disorder diagnosis at age 28.
HANNAH1984–2022PENNER
We know Hannah is finally free from the intense pain and suffering that threaded through her life. Yet we will deeply miss her unique person ality and perspectives, her infectious laugh, her humorous quips, her texts telling us “Hope ure having a great day” and every other part of her spe cialHannahbeing. is survived by her mom, Florence Klassen (Harold) of Kola, Man.; sister Hazel Rankovic (Nenad), nephew Julius, of Winnipeg, Man.; sister Rachel Penner of Victoria, B.C.; brother Jonas Penner of Winnipeg, Man.; as well as grandma Minna Plett of Steinbach, Man., and numerous aunties, uncles and cousins.
Hannah was baptized on June 4, 2001, by her grandfather, Archie Penner, in the Kola Evangelical Mennonite Church.
30 The Messenger • September/October 2022 In Memory
Hannah was born on July 25, 1984, the third child to Earl and Florence Penner of Kola, Man. She was cre ative and artistic, writing and making art prolifically throughout her adult years, as well as singing and playing piano. Her dream was to inspire oth ers through her story, whether in a book or on the big screen.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff at the Lodge who helped care for Harry from December 2021 until his passing.Harry was predeceased by his par ents Jacob and Gertrude Koop, three brothers and one sister. He is survived by five brothers and eight sisters.
On April 15, 2022, at the Red River Valley Lodge in Morris, Manitoba, Harry Koop passed away peacefully, with his wife Norma and daughter Vanessa at his side.
Harry’s first teaching job was in Pauingassi, a small settlement twelve miles from Little Grand Rapids.
HARRY1935–2022KOOP
Harry was a man of adventure and in 1971, began to make plans to move the family to Brazil to become a missionary teacher with New Tribes Mission (renamed Ethnos Canada in 2017). He committed to teach for one year but stayed for almost four.
Kenora, Ont., on a budget of one hun dredAtdollars.timesit was hard to make ends meet as Harry worked several jobs while attending Teachers College in Winnipeg. By now two children were added to the family, Vanessa (1961) and Lyle (1962). A third, Jeannine, would arrive in 1969.
Upon returning to Canada, he relocated to Rosenort, Man., where he continued his career as a teacher and principal.
Harry resigned in 1990 and began a second career with Eden Foundation in Winkler, Man. He enjoyed organising fundraising golf tournaments for Recovery of Hope.
– The Family
Harry and Norma enjoyed retire ment years (1995–2017) in Sebring, Florida. For twenty-three winters they would travel to Florida, often stop ping in Branson, Missouri, to attend shows together with friends who often joinedHarrythem.was able to work and play at the SIM missionary retirement vil lage as a maintenance man. He very much enjoyed reshingling the villag ers’Harryhomes.Koop suffered a life-altering stroke in the spring of 2019. Norma went on to care for him until Decem ber Harry2021. influenced many lives over his years as a teacher and adminis trator and often was recognised as a favourite to many of his former stu dents. His legacy for all who knew Harry, I’m sure, would agree that he loved God, he loved his family, and he loved others.
He leaves to mourn his wife Norma and their children, Vanessa (Reynald), Lyle (Herschelle) and Jean nineHe(Harv).willbe greatly missed by his grandchildren: Kristen (Jensen), Mat thew, Bryce (Victoria), David (Karen), Tyler (Farren), Michelle (Jeremy), Kelsey (Cameron), Quinton (Kate) and Aylia (Zach), and great-grand children Harper, Oakland, Margo, Lawson, Hadley, Kenton, Milo, Emilia andHarryLucas.was born in Ile Des Chenes, Man., on October 30, 1935. He com mitted his life to the Lord as a young man and attended Steinbach Bible College where he would begin dating his future wife. Harry married Norma Loewen in the summer of 1959, on August 7. The honeymoon was in
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 31 In Memory
Harry would move on to take a teaching job in Winnipeg and take a leave of absence to attend Univer sity of Manitoba. He graduated in the spring of 1970 with a Bachelor of Sci ence, majoring in mathematics.
Shoulder Tapping
Please send all position ads (150 words or less), including pastoral search ads, to messenger@emconference.ca. Ads may be edited. Please advise us when it is no longer needed.
Additional EMC Openings
For more information or to submit a resume, please contact Isaac Thiessen, Chair of Leadership, at 403-308-5093 or by email: isaact@genicadev.com.
The EMC national office is seeking an individual with a passion for Christ and the church to fill the position of Conference Pastor.
Picture Butte Mennonite Church (Picture Butte, Alta.): Pastor of MinistryGerman-Speaking
Morris Fellowship Chapel is a Christfollowing, Bible-believing, family-friendly
Picture Butte Mennonite Church (Picture Butte, Alta.) is prayerfully seeking to hire a full-time pastor to oversee our German-speaking ministry. PBMC cur rently holds an English and a Low German service each Sunday morning which both connects us to our cultural heritage and gives us a unique outreach opportunity to more traditional, Low German-speaking communities.Wearelooking for a man that is expe rienced in ministry with a strong ability to shepherd in preaching and teaching from the Scriptures in Low German as well as an ability to relate to and care for members of the Mennonite community. This pastor will also meet the biblical requirements for leadership in the church as laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9.
EMC Positions
Thisskills.position requires frequent travel to locations across Canada. It offers equitable pay and benefits with opportunity for professional development.Toseeafuller job description and apply go to our website http://www. emconference.ca/serve/ or apply di rectly to applications@emconference. ca. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found.
Taber EMC is actively searching for the senior pastor whom God has chosen to lead us into the future. Taber EMC is a unique, growing, family-oriented church. Our regular Sunday attendance is about 250. If you feel the Lord leading you in this direction please send to: taberemcpsc@ gmail.com.
and shepherd of the congregation. This ministry is accomplished by studying and teaching, praying and preaching, and visiting and visioning on the basis of the Word.Ridgewood members strive to be a people that minister to the whole family, worshipping God together, sharing the gospel of Jesus in love, responding to the needs around us, and cultivating a culture of Biblical discipleship, prayer and fellow ship—all for the glory of God.
Ridgewood Church is looking for a full-time senior pastor to begin in the new year. This multigenerational, family-oriented church is part of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Ridgewood is a rural church located north-east of Steinbach, Man., with over 200 in attendance on Sunday mornings. The senior pastor is the spiritual overseer
church of around 130 people in the small rural town of Morris, Manitoba. People of all ages are a part of Morris Fellowship, including children, young adults, adults and seniors. We are looking for a pastor to help with preaching, teaching, and build ing community in our church. This would include preaching on Sundays, teaching
Taber EMC (Taber, Alta): Senior Pastor
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 Director of Canadian Church Planting Gerald D. Reimer (greimer@em conference.ca). The national office phone number is 204-326-6401.
Applications along with cover letter should be sent to Stan Hamm: shamm@ escape.ca.
EMC national office (Steinbach, Man.): Conference Pastor
Morris Fellowship Chapel (Morris, Man.): Pastor
32 The Messenger • September/October 2022
The Conference Pastor will develop and cultivate strong rela tionships with leadership of EMC churches, providing pastoral care for the pastors and leaders throughout the churches of the EMC as well as making presentations, attending meetings, or preaching as requested to equip the Qualificationschurch.include a degree in theology or Christian ministry (graduate degree preferred), pastoral experience, strong interpersonal, communication and conflict resolu tions
Ridgewood Church (Giroux, Man.): Senior Pastor
Shoulder Tapping
Other Positions
Manitou Christian Fellowship (Manitou, Man.): Lead Pastor
St. Vital EMC Church is seeking to hire a part-time youth pastor who will lead and disciple our youth aged 15–18 years old. We are an established and friendly church in south Winnipeg with approxi mately 120 congregants who aspire to love God and live as Jesus Christ lived.
Straffordville Evangelical Mission Church is seeking an associate pastor. SEMC is a rural church in a growing community with a congregation of about 160 people. We are a multigenerational congregation and have great existing ministries. We work hard at developing relationships in the community.Weare looking for male applicants who have a clear sense of calling and love for the body of Christ, to serve and equip her for works of service, stemming from a growing relationship with Christ. This person must be able to preach, teach and show pastoral care.
For more information and to apply, please contact Traci Johnston at 204-8764617 or by email at 24johnston@gmail. com. See our website at www.manitou christianfellowship.com.
Contact Cliff Reimer, Pastoral Search Committee Chairman: cliff0955@gmail.com
The ConneXion (Arborg, Man.): Pastor
It is important for us to be bibli cally centred. We welcome people from all backgrounds to join us in learning and growing together in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We aim to have a positive impact on people’s lives and advance the cause of Christ. Our people are generally involved in local community events and in developing relationships outside of the church family.
Pastorville,ChurchEvangelicalStraffordvilleMission(StraffordOnt.):Associate
The Manitou Christian Fellowship, a multigenerational, rural church in south-central Manitoba, seeks to glorify God by helping people find and follow Jesus. We are look ing for a lead pastor who is relational, a gifted teacher, and has a heart for evange lism and discipleship.
The successful candidate will demon strate a passion for Christ through their vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus. Demonstrable leadership and influ ence among youth will mark this person’s character on a consistent basis as well as the ability to discern truth and obey God’s calling within the broader scope of the church’s ministry. The person taking this role needs to demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively on a small ministry team.Previous applicable experience work ing with youth is essential. The position will require approximately 16 hours of time per week. A resume, with cover let ter, can be sent to: Oswald at ozzy_wald@ hotmail.com.
The ConneXion in Arborg, Man., is seeking a pastor with a love for Jesus, emotional intelligence, spiritual discernment, and the ability to capture and carry out the vision of our church. The ConneXion is a diverse group of people that are seeking to make Jesus the center of all we do. We lean into the BELLS acronym discussed by Michael Frost in his book Exiles. Please reach out to 204-250-5534 or email the connexion@hotmail.com if interested.
The successful applicant will work alongside the senior pastor and lay min isters in preaching, teaching, care-giving, and providing resources and support to the other volunteer-based ministries in the church, according to his strengths and abilities.Applicants must agree with the EMC Statement of Faith and display an under standing and general agreement with our Anabaptist theological background. Contact psc@straffordvilleemc.ca.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 33
midweek Bible studies, personal visits and church community events.
St. Vital EMC (Winnipeg, Man.): Youth Pastor (part-time)
Perhaps the grace of God will extend even to those on your prayer list defiant to Christ “for that is what some of you were” (1 Corinthians 6:11)! I wonder if subscribing those who perse cute you is a version of heaping coals upon an enemy’s head because the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective (Matthew 5:44; Proverbs 25:22; James 5:16).
No one can unsubscribe themselves from my prayer list. In fact, most people don’t even know they’ve been signed up.
S
everal years ago, I attended a workshop on time management. The presenter had participants compare the number of emails clogging up their inboxes. Thankfully, my work life was relatively organized at that time!
Prayer is beyond anti-spam legislation ISTOCK
34 The Messenger • September/October 2022
Before I hit delete on an email (which surprisingly even I do on occasion), I first look for the unsubscribe link. Can ada’s anti-spam legislation proved that it wasn’t just me with an e-mail prolif eration problem. As I’ve considered my predicament, I’ve thought about how prayer is beyond legislation. No one can unsubscribe themselves from my prayer list. In fact, most people don’t even know they’ve been signed up, like that one guy fromLastTelus.winter, my phone bill had an unex pected long-distance charge. I didn’t remember how I incurred it and thought I could plead for a reduction based on my naivety. The customer service representative was a friendly fellow. As the ordeal dragged on, we began discussing goal setting and New Year’s resolutions.
By Karla Hein
“In prayer we must not look to the merit of man, but to the grace of God” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible). Even in the action of prayer, I am dependent on God to do his will and not my own (Luke 22:42). My prayer list is open to subscribers for I know God works “to will and to act in order to fulfill his good pur pose” (Philippians 2:12–13).
Column his Light to My PAth
“I can relate to what you’re saying because I have a March birthday too” he commented. He went on to explain our personalities based on an astrological sign. I disagreed.
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I once downloaded an app with the sole purpose of unsubscribing from unnecessary mailing lists. Yet somehow, the number grows on. Sneaky websites request an email prior to download ing the perfect printable for next week’s Sunday school class. A political party’s membership kindles a steady stream of incoming promises and financial pleas.
I sometimes wonder what Mr. Telus thought. Did he add a note to my account? Another crazy woman from rural Alberta! I like to imagine that I reminded him of a different Christian influence that had shared truth with him. Regardless, Mr. Telus was added to a prayer list he couldn’t opt out of. He was stuck there along with some mis cellaneous ambulance drivers who drove past with sirens blazing.
But I admit that I feel a little guilty now search ing through my 20,000-plus email “filing cabinet.” I hadn’t meant for my personal emails to get completely out of hand.
“As a Christian, I believe in the Bible and there’s a verse that says, ‘A man makes his plans, but the Lord directs his steps.’” My husband gave me a funny look from across the room. “Are you still on the phone with Telus?” I admit that I’m not normally a telephone evangelist.
This trend has a long backstory. In 1799 the theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher wrote On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despis ers. He meant this to provide a defense of faith to his friends and colleagues who thought we were beyond religion now. But it ended up being a defense of those bits of Christianity which Schleiermacher thought might still connect to modern personal experience which wasn’t a lot.
By Layton Friesen
This desire to deconstruct faith is a good thing, if I could insist on one key distinction. Remember when the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up with his glory filling the temple? It severely deconstructed him and he cried, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). Or remember the blind persecutor Saul picking himself off the
road to Damascus after being thrown by a vision of Christ. He is now completely deconstructed (ActsThe9:1–17).important difference between Isaiah or Saul, on the one hand, and Schleiermacher or some modern deconstructionists on the other, is who is doing the deconstructing. In the modern age it often seems like it’s the modern Self doing the work. It’s me creating a faith that makes sense within my categories.
S
ISTOCK
Who is deconstructing your faith?
ometimes I hear someone say, “I am deconstructing my faith these days.” What this usually means is that they’re tak ing apart their faith, inspecting it, and putting it back together again, hopefully for the better. But what makes some of us cynical about this “deconstruction” trend is that what emerges can often be predicted: it’s what culture now finds digestible about Christianity—which isn’t much.
Schleiermacher is called the father of mod ern Protestant theology for good reason. Compared to our ancestors before the modern age, we have a much greater belief that our faith is something we create, shape and construct, rather than something we receive, discover and absorb
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This. has taken different forms. Some peo ple try too hard to shape the church to be an awesome personal experience. Some expres sions of Pentecostalism, evangelicalism and the seeker sensitive church movement have tenden cies in this direction. Others sift out all the parts of Christianity that no longer seem relevant to modern people like themselves. That’s the more liberal approach. What they both have in com mon is the assumption that it’s my duty to make the faith compelling to me and people like me.
But in the Bible deconstruction happened through a vision of God, a shattering encounter with the living Lord of hosts. Our pitiful idols, delusions and carefully coiffed appearances are shattered by the glory revealed before our eyes. That’s holy deconstruction.
Column Further in A nd higher uP
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 35
One sign of a holy notaftersionateengaged,tionHolyIsaiahlikerificialturnsitstructiondeconiswhenimmediatelytoself-sacmission,itdidforandSaul.deconstrucresultsinpas-peopleall.Butit’s
about me; it’s about being taken into the greater mission of God through the church.
In the modern age it often seems like it’s the modern Self doing the work. It’s me creating a faith that makes sense within my categories.
So, for an “Isaiah 6” deconstruction, instead of asking what sort of faith your “cultured” friends might find attractive, or asking what sort of faith might impress your grandchildren who have left the church (not that those are always bad questions), ask yourself, what deeper teach ing of Scripture have we missed? What aspects of the glorious life of Jesus have we neglected? Where is the Spirit exploding into the world now, and how can we join up?
as in summer, and nights are cool. The changes you see and feel bring about change in your actions. You need to prepare for the coming
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The returning seasons, a cycle that does not end, shows God is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and into the future.
These are changes you see. You also feel change. Because the sun is no longer directly overhead, it now feels pleasantly warm, not burning hot
Autum brings change
Conference
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ake a look in your garden. Seeds you planted in spring have grown into sturdy plants. You may be eating fresh tomatoes and carrots, or juicy apples. Pumpkins are turning orange.
Grass is growing slowly and needs cut ting less often. Certain flowers, like tulips and daffodils have finished blooming. Others, like geraniums, black-eyed Susans and bleed ing hearts bloom long into fall if temperatures
Trees begin to change. Green leaves turn yel low, brown and red. The change in colour comes as the sun appears lower in the sky and its rays are weaker. There are fewer sunlight hours as days grow shorter. With less sun light the amount of chlorophyl (the chemical in leaves that produces their green colour) becomes
emerge and take over. These colours, too, are caused by flavonoids, carot, the same that give carrots and egg
Evangelical Mennonite 440 Main St., Steinbach,
Fruits and vegetables are harvested and stored or canned. You check for warm clothes. Will your jacket, boots, and mitts keep out the cold? Do they still fit? You put away beach toys and warm weather clothing until next sum mer. You begin a new school year. You shop for supplies. You anticipate new experiences, new teachers, new friends, and seeing old ones Animalsagain.sense change too.
Do: take a fall walk in the park, your neighbourhood or back yard. Notice new changes. What do you see? What do you feel? What can you find?
And so, they change. Some ani mals, such as hares and weasels, change colour from summer gray/ brown to winter white. Squirrels collect and hide their food supply for the winter. They bury nuts, acorns and pinecones in loose dirt in gardens, or under thick piles of branches or leaves. They fill their nests with natural or found items, like paper or pieces of cloth to keep out winter’s cold. Instinct tells them to prepare.
Seasons give us hope. Something to look forward to. In spring we wait for the coming warmth, new growth, returning colours, and new activities. In fall we can rest from the hot summer. Winter is a quieter indoor time.
Activity: fall hunt
Column • K ids’ c orner 36 The Messenger • September/October 2022 The Messenger
God created seasons to show us more of his character, who he is. In nature and with seasons, he created beauty, variety, and contrast. The diversity of animals and plants show his delight in variety.
Draw, take photos or collect items that show change. Write or express how you feel. Share your findings.
ISTOCK
Need: notebook, pen/pencil, camera, bag or bucket for collectibles.
God gives us this promise. Read James 1:17; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Genesis 8:22.
