The Messenger September/October 2023

The Messenger

When Christians behave rightly

The Holy Spirit’s power in a quiet faithfulness

In Joshua Coutts’s article, “Good news in a secular age,” he points out how Christians behaving badly is an obstacle, even for Christians themselves, to believe in the good news of the gospel.

This is not a new problem.

In the Gospels, we see Jesus calling out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, going so far as to call them “child[ren] of hell” (Matthew 23:15). John, similarly, says, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness” (1 John 2:9). In other words, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

C. S. Lewis pointed out the problem this way: “If Christianity is true why are not all Christians obviously nicer than all non-Christians?” He addresses this question in depth in chapter 10, part IV, of his book Mere Christianity. I can’t do justice to his full argument here; I highly recommend you read it for yourself. (As the original text is now in the public domain in Canada, you can find a full pdf online at www.fadedpage.com.) In the end he concludes, “Mere improvement is not redemption, though redemption always improves people even here and now and will, in the end, improve them to a degree we cannot yet imagine. God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man.”

In our current online world, it’s not hard to find examples of Christians whose lives show little evidence of the name they claim. And, perhaps in part due to our tendency to a negativity bias, those examples can speak louder than the examples we find of the opposite. In my real life, I daily see examples of my Christian neighbours quietly living out their faith in everyday ways.

Because so often “good news” isn’t “news” it can tough to find stories in the mainstream media of Christians behaving in Christ-honouring ways. Are there other ways to elevate

some of these stories? I’d like to mention two I came across recently.

On her August 22, 2023, post on Instagram, Sarah Bessey mentions how, as a child, her teenaged babysitter bought the album “Bullfrogs and Butterflies” as gift for her and her sister. “It was her quiet way to share the Gospel with our family,” Bessey says. And as her mother listened, she experienced the Holy Spirit’s call. “That album was the start of so much for our family,” says Bessey. “We began to follow Jesus together.”

Another story of conversion following quiet faithfulness is that of David Suchet. Suchet, who played Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Poirot and the voice of Aslan in Focus on the Family’s audio production of the Narnia Chronicles, became a Christian in 1986 after reading Romans 8 in a hotel room. Presumably, the Bible (or New Testament) he read from was placed there by the Gideons, an organization of faithful donors who fund efforts to place Bibles and New Testaments in strategic locations, such as hotels and prisons.

While we need to reflect on and learn from instances of Christians behaving badly (the EMC Ministerial Misconduct Policy is one way we are doing that), we also need to amplify the stories of Christians behaving rightly, pointing to the power of the Holy Spirit to transform human hearts and minds into the likeness of Christ, to the glory of God!

– Rebecca Roman

Note on discussion within The Messenger

of people in our lives. These discussions should also reflect the reality that some groups and individuals have not always felt welcome in Christian communities. We welcome your responses to articles and topics discussed in The Messenger.

– Board of Church Ministries

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

In my real life, I daily see examples of my Christian neighbours quietly living out their faith in everyday ways.

Features

6 Good news in a secular age: Recovering joyful confidence in the gospel

– Joshua Coutts

11 Apocalypse rises: Are you ready to hear the apocalypse of Jesus?

– Layton Friesen

15 Hope for the next generation church

– Mo Friesen

Columns

19 The Journey of Christian Vocation

The power of vocation

– Calvin Tiessen

34 His Light to My Path

A bird’s view

– Karla Hein

35 Further In and Higher Up

Pedal to the metal love

– Layton Friesen

36 Kids’ Corner Are you ready to work?

– Loreena Thiessen

Letters and Notices

The Messenger

Volume 61 No. 5 September/October 2023

Evangelical Mennonite Conference Year to Date Financial Report

January–July

MANAGING EDITOR

ERICA FEHR

EDITOR

REBECCA ROMAN

PUBLICATION AND PURPOSE

The Messenger is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.

Phone: 204-326-6401

messenger@emconference.ca www.emcmessenger.ca www.issuu.com/emcmessenger

ISSN: 0701-3299

Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362

Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, MB

COPYRIGHT

The articles printed in The Messenger are owned by The Messenger or by the author and may not be reprinted without permission. Unless noted, Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

SUBMISSIONS

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

Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcome. Submissions should be sent to messenger@emconference.ca

CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

Print subscriptions are free of charge to all members and adherents of EMC churches in Canada. For those not associated with an EMC church we suggest a donation of $20.00/year.. To sign up for the email newsletter or submit an address change, email messenger@emconference.ca

ADVERTISING

The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries can be sent to messenger@emconference.ca

evangelical mennonite conference

We give thanks to God for the continued strong support of EMC ministries, and we acknowledge the contributions of EMC churches and individuals who give so generously.

- The Board of Trustees

*Income includes donations and transfers from other funds (e.g., estate funds).

Walking through deconstruction [July/Aug 2023 issue]

I’d like to add a twist to James Driedger’s good article on deconstruction in the church. Reformed evangelical Anabaptist Christians have been very good at deconstructing established (and perhaps complacent) older traditions. However, it is different and uncomfortable to be on the receiving end of the process as people deconstruct evangelical and Anabaptist belief and practice or perhaps Christianity itself. Driedger does a good job of helping see a possible path forward on this topic.

It’s worth noting that the point of deconstruction—whether the object is a piece of literature or culture or a church tradition—is neither to save it or destroy it. The purpose is to scrutinize it very carefully. If either saving or destroying is on the agenda from the start, then whatever is happening isn’t deconstruction. There is no pass or fail for deconstruction; the point is to examine in tremendous detail. If it turns out that whatever is being examined contains inconsistencies or artificiality, then so it does. If it turns out that the thing being examined is

simple, pure, authentic, and true, then so be it.

From the receiving end it’s not always fun or honouring to be examined in great detail. Not everyone is an expert—many of us have experienced taking something apart only to discover we don’t know how to put it back together. In the church we may fear that our traditions or beliefs won’t stand up to scrutiny, or that those claiming to deconstruct faith aren’t qualified and don’t understand what they’re getting into. We may wish people would skip the deconstruction and get on to the reconstructing part before they’re ready.

However, in the believers’ church tradition encouraging one another to look carefully at the details of our faith and organization as a group of Christian disciples is at the core of our faith practice. We’ve been doing this for many generations and should encourage one another to continue even if this current version of reformation is pointed at us rather than led by us.

– Jeff Thiessen Austin, Man.

When baptism becomes works righteousness [July/Aug 2023 issue]

I, too, have questions. Do we have a posture of humbly submitting to being Baptized? It is Jesus’s blood that washed our sins away, not the water. How can a person take a humble posture when being immersed? Are we afraid of submitting to having Jesus as our Lord?

I like the way Ron Penner explained it in his article in The Messenger from April 24, 2002. I gave it to a young person who felt she had missed out by being baptized by pouring. After she had read the article she was satisfied.

– Agatha Rempel Steinbach, Man.

Guidelines for letters

Letters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality, and taste. It can refuse publication.

Letters by regular mail and by fax must contain a handwritten signature with at least the writer’s first and last names and an address.

For letters by e-mail, the writer’s name and e-mail address are deemed to be an electronic signature. The writer’s regular postal address is to be included in e-mail correspondence.

The writer’s name and general address are to be published. In sensitive matters, names may be withheld. Letters to the editor are to be 250 words or less.

This is a balanced perspective with a heart for “first love” and the truth. “Progressive Christians who deify deconstruction and make it a sign of maturity, and conservative Christians who demonize deconstruction and leave no room for questioning, both miss the mark.” True.

– David Kruse

“Walking through deconstruction” pp. 6–10, July/Aug 2023 issue

Thank you! I really appreciated this article and the emphasis on paying attention to those who stayed while being ready to graciously welcome any who return after being gone.

– Donita Wiebe-Neufeld

“Why haven’t people returned to church post-COVID?” pp. 11–12, July/Aug 2023 issue

LA CRETE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS!

October 14–15, 2023

9704 – 111 St, La Crete, Alberta

Events include a supper, potluck lunch, special service with slide show, stories, music and more! A photo memory book will be available to purchase at the event. More details at https://lccfc.ca.

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: mcc.org/buckets

GOOD NEWS IN A SECULAR AGE

Recovering joyful confidence in the gospel

By Joshua Coutts

Is the good news really good? Many of us believers are feeling less confident about our faith—perhaps even embarrassed by aspects of it. Previous generations felt doubts over rational challenges to the faith, such as the historicity of the resurrection or the apparent contradictions in Scripture. However, these days we are plagued by moral embarrassments. On the one hand, many in our culture find the God of Scripture (especially the Old Testament) to be morally repugnant: he seems abusive, vindictive and unjust. On the other hand, there is the bad behaviour of Christians themselves. Think, for instance, of the seemingly endless string of church abuse scandals or indeed the countless ways that Jesus is used to make money or maintain power.

It is no wonder that many of us have lost confidence that what we believe and proclaim is truly good news for the world. Now, in no way do I wish to defend or downplay the tragedy of Christians behaving badly. My focus here is rather on the fact that we have internalized

significant doubts about the goodness of the good news itself.

Christianity in a secular age

Such feelings have been fostered by major shifts in our society, in which Christian faith is no longer at home.

In his book A Secular Age, Charles Taylor points out that, back in medieval Christendom, spiritual realities were taken for granted. So, if there was a housefire, people would have blamed it on demons or attributed it to divine judgment. By contrast, today Christians and nonbelievers alike will explain it in terms of poor wiring or human carelessness. We conduct the whole of our lives within a natural framework. It is permissible to add the transcendent realm into the explanation, but it often seems unnecessary or superficial.

Nevertheless, our societies increasingly find this natural framework to be inadequate. We are fascinated by the possibility that there may be “more” than the natural world, and we are hungry for our lives to have transcendent meaning. This is why recent years have witnessed the

explosion of interest in all kinds of “spirituality” and also why a recent Barna survey of teenagers worldwide characterized them as the “open” generation with regard to matters of faith (See https://www.barna.com/the-open-generation/). Thus, a door is opening for Christianity to be heard as good news once again.

However, the same environment has also induced people to place faith in their own intuition to discern what is right and wrong. Gone are days of “classic liberalism” in which we could respectfully debate ideas and values in the public square. In its place has arisen a strident confidence about a number of moral issues; those who dissent have no place in our society. Canadian scholar, John Stackhouse, calls this “the new moralism” (see https://www.faithtoday.ca/ Magazines/2020-Jul-Aug/The-new-moralism).

In this new environment, Christianity is often seen as behind the times at best, or at worst a social ill to be eradicated. Moreover, Christianity is part of the problem and therefore cannot be part of the solution. When combined with the various failures of the church and the suspicion that the Bible is out of touch with

When combined with the various failures of the church and the suspicion that the Bible is out of touch with morally progressive sensibilities, the goodness of Christianity seems to crumble.

morally progressive sensibilities, the goodness of Christianity seems to crumble. Young Christians often internalize such judgments deeply in high school and university classrooms. And the “deconstruction” of many prominent Christians over the last several years only serves to fuel our doubts.

What then should we do?

At such a time, it is tempting to look for ways to dress up our faith to appeal to the current palate, or else to retreat into enclaves where threat

and embarrassment may be avoided. Neither reaction is particularly Christian. More importantly, both overlook the one thing that I believe is most needed: a rediscovery of the basic goodness of the good news.

The Christian message has produced in the world an astonishing catalogue of goods such as hospitals, widespread literacy, modern science, the idea of human rights, the abolition of slavery, gender equality, and innumerable contributions to the arts, to name a few. Yet, many in our society want these fruits without the Christian root. Much could be said about this (Tom Holland’s recent book Dominion does so at length). But if such goods are to remain, I believe we must be recaptured by the basic goodness of the singular root which produced them.

The God of the good news

At the heart of the good news is an astonishing God who deserves far more of our meditation, fear, and adoration than the tokens we give him. Here is a God who delights in all things thriving and bearing fruit in the places he arranged for them. This God tethers himself to creatures who cause him untold grief, cheapen his gifts, and belligerently repel his interventions. He makes

covenants with such people and suffers long on their account. He is a God who is “longing to forgive,” a God who is coming for you to make you wholly alive.

In short, this is a profoundly good God. In Scripture, he is often associated with light, which is a metaphor for such goods as knowledge, truth, sight, beauty, holiness, and life-source. So, when the psalmist says, “the Lord is my light” (Psalm 27:1), he is proclaiming that God is pure essential goodness. Evidently, God is good news.

Yet a God who dwells in light is also a God of immense power—the power by which he calls forth the stars like sentinels, halts the proud waves of the sea, and fashions the mysterious depths of a human being, including our capacity to puzzle after him in his universe. Here is

Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal Son (excerpt) 1662–1669 (Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg)

At the heart of the good news is an astonishing God who … tethers himself to creatures who cause him untold grief, cheapen his gifts, and belligerently repel his interventions. He is a God who is “longing to forgive.”.

a God who does not answer to me or need to explain himself to me when his movements befuddle me. He is no one’s puppet and will not be reduced to what we find palatable. And he is coming to realign all things with himself. That “coming” will involve melting the mountains and vindicating the valleys, destroying the destroyers, and raising the righteous. Here is a God, in other words, who is unfathomably great, who warrants our worship—yes—and also our fear.

Surprisingly, this too is actually part of what makes him such good news for us. Let me explain. If God is only a figment of our wishes, we would of course always approve of him. But he would also be incapable of delivering us from anything that we can’t crack ourselves with our imaginations or techniques. And if he is real enough, but a small, insecure deity who is content to be a satellite orbiting our lives, then we are no better off. Because what we most need is deliverance from ourselves. Indeed, his greatest kindness is that he comes to thoroughly deconstruct and decentre us in order to rebuild us around himself.

This is the kind of God you need if you want something to be done about religious hypocrisy or the abuses of power conducted in Jesus’ name. The corrective to these ills is not to abandon the good news, but to be more deeply embedded in it.

This God also offers us gracious relief from the impossible pressure of being at the centre of our own lives, producing our own meaning. Our society proclaims that you are most truly yourself when you are free to define yourself. “You do

you.” “Live your truth.” But the gospel announces that we become more ourselves, not less, only when we are fashioned in the likeness of Christ who is the image of God.

So, the aspects of God that unsettle us and the events by which he demotes us are essential to his movement toward us in love.

The basic goodness of the good news God is pure goodness and absolute greatness. Both qualities are marvelous in their own right. But where these collide together—that is the white-hot centre of the good news. This God combines goodness and greatness so completely that the ultimate display of his power is his laying it down. He deals a death blow to all that mangles and destroys by receiving one himself. He looks Judas in the eye and … washes his feet. By marrying in himself power and weakness, glory and shame, he does the impossible—not to mention the unpredictable.

This is the essential persuasive beauty of Christianity. It’s why a first century instrument of execution now adorns our churches and our necks. And it is just as likely to be the sharp edge of good news in a secular age as in any other age. Indeed, in an age of corrupt political and religious leaders, we encounter in Jesus the very opposite of abusive, coercive, deceptive tyranny. And in an age drawn increasingly to measure greatness in terms of technological, military, or coercive power, the persuasive power of a crucified God which radically redefined the Roman world sparkles once again.

This is the God who moved the likes of the great 19th century Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky, to pondering:

I am a child of this age, a child of unfaith and scepticism, and probably (indeed I know it) shall remain so to the end of my life. How dreadfully has it tormented me (and torments me even now)—this longing for faith, which is all the stronger for the proofs I have against it. And yet … I believe that there is nothing lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic, more rational, more manly, and more perfect than

the Saviour; I say to myself with jealous love that not only is there no one else like Him, but that there could be no one. I would say even more: that if anyone could prove to me that Christ is outside the truth and that the truth really did exclude Christ, I should prefer to stay with Christ and not with truth.

A similar sentiment is expressed by the character Puddleglum in a memorable scene of The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis. The queen of the underworld is seeking to bewitch Puddleglum and his companions with the thought that her realm is the only world. She plants the thought in their minds that they have imagined an overworld with a “sun” and the lion “Aslan” only as an extrapolation from the real cats and hanging lamps they have seen in her world. In a memorable response that attests to the intrinsic beauty of the gospel, Puddleglum defiantly declares:

Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one … We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a playworld which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the playworld. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it.

These two excerpts reflect an awareness that Christ/Christianity may not in fact be true. In a secular age in which we are aware of other competing worldviews and moral systems, this is

Have you heard of ?

It’s a newsletter supplement to The Messenger online. Here’s an excerpt from the most recent issue:

These are our people

In June 2009, two men were caught breaking and entering a home on the Manitoba colony in Bolivia, and the series of rapes

to be expected. In fact, this situation generates what Charles Taylor calls “cross-pressures” for everyone: while believers are haunted by doubt, unbelievers are haunted by the possibility of a transcendent reality. Yet, Dostoevsky and Lewis also bear witness here to what we might call

the “pressure of the cross”—namely, a God who looks like Jesus on the cross is deeply compelling, persuasive, and inviting—even in a secular age.

It is time for us to rediscover the basic goodness of the good news. This will mean we are willing to be dismantled by a devastatingly great God. At the same time, we will be enthralled with a God who is, to put it quite simply, beautiful. Moreover, our wonder at this particular crucified God cannot stop at the theoretical level. It must lead us to be so wrapped around him that we cannot at the same time be selfrighteous or triumphalist. Rather, we will marry in ourselves both truth and love, humility and confidence. Rooted deeply in the goodness of the news entrusted to us, we will have a confidence that is as joyful as it is unshakable— not least because we proclaim a God who weaves even that which embarrasses us now into his beautiful story.

Dr. Joshua Coutts is Associate Professor of New Testament at Providence Theological Seminary, and has taught in theological institutions across Canada.

that had begun four years earlier appeared to end. According to a report by Ross Muir of the Canadian Mennonite, as many as 130 victims were identified. However, other sources state that more than 150 women and girls and possibly males as well were victims of men who used an animal tranquillizer to sedate victims before assaulting them in their own homes.

Read the rest by scanning the QR code or going to www.emcmessenger.ca/ growing-together

A God who looks like Jesus on the cross is deeply compelling, persuasive, and inviting.

Apocalypse rises

Are you ready to hear the apocalypse of Jesus?

By Layton Friesen

Do you ever feel a burning pressure inside to sing the visions in the book of Revelation? Strange question.

Every now and then events in history come together in the power of the Spirit and the apocalypse of Jesus explodes in the church with stunning power, and the expectation of Christ’s return is stoked again.

Apocalyptic expectation is spread unevenly in the Bible. It won’t appear for centuries while

Three immovable convictions

Apocalyptic visions happen whenever the Spirit hurls three unstoppable, fiery asteroids of reality into a mountain of three immovable convictions, detonating one blazing apocalyptic message (3+3+/=1=7, let the reader understand).

Why is it that eventually God’s people quit talking about who begat who and launch into tales of cosmic battles, wheels within wheels, many-headed beasts, dragons drooling flame, bloody moons and a third of stars crashing to earth?

God’s people concern themselves mostly with life on this side of the veil. But then, at the end of the Old Testament story apocalypse bursts out for Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah. Why is it that eventually God’s people quit talking about who begat who and launch into tales of cosmic battles, wheels within wheels, many-headed beasts, dragons drooling flame, bloody moons and a third of stars crashing to earth?

Some scholars have pointed out recently that the New Testament could be read as part of the outbreak of apocalyptic expectation in Judaism after the exile. And of course, the grand climax of the whole Bible is “the Apocalypse of Jesus.”

First, the conviction that God is the one and only Creator becomes a deep, immovable habit of thought (Revelation 4:11; 5:13; 10:5–6; 14:7). In Revelation the Creator is not just the One who made stuff. As Creator, God is like an honourable father, it’s on him to stop the chaos threatening the home. God’s honour as Creator is on the line in publicly establishing a safe home for his family.

Second, the conviction that God is utterly holy and cannot tolerate evil becomes a deep, immovable habit of thought (Revelation 2:16, 22–23; 11:17–18; and especially 18:1–24). People’s stomachs fill with the divine nausea at the trade in human lives that idolatry breeds. The honour of God must be far too exalted, the love of God for his little ones far too fierce for God to let these skulking beasts lie.

Third, the conviction that the death and resurrection of Jesus must have changed everything, becomes a deep, immovable habit of thought

GOD IS THE ONE AND ONLY CREATOR

JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION CHANGED EVERYTHING

GOD IS HOLY AND CANNOT TOLERATE EVIL

Thesaintshavenohumanpoweroverthesituation

reality of three fiery asteroids against this immoveable mountain of conviction, the collision detonates one blazing apocalyptic message.

Three fiery asteroids

The first fiery asteroid to hit is the reality that the saints find themselves in a world with almost no evidence that those convictions are true. All traces of the Creator God, his justice and redemptive work seem to have disappeared. For example, the exile made sense to Israel at first, since they deserved punishment. But centuries later, after godly worship had long been reestablished in Jerusalem, saints were still being martyred by the gentiles and they still lived as exiles in their own land. Absurd!

Likewise, Revelation was written for late first-century Christians wondering if they missed a memo somewhere. The apostles were dying off and still no sign of Christ’s return. Still no destruction of evil. Still no real-world evidence that God had won.

The second fiery asteroid crashes a moment later: the saints now realize that evil is not only bad deeds by individuals, but a towering mysterious power greater than any human. In a pre-apocalyptic world like that seen in Moses’ law, Satan doesn’t come up much and sin is what Israelites do in their everyday lives. It’s not particularly mysterious. But then a new, complex and darker world emerges after the exile. Sin is social and political, infesting realms far beyond the individual (Revelation 12:3; 13:1, 11). The saints of Israel and the church cannot escape living immersed in an economy run by empires, vast political ideologies, and institutions in the grip of formidable angelic beings.

damentally. Eternal life must have exploded into history when the Son of Man cracked the grave. It must have happened. Glorious promises hang in the air.

These three together make an immoveable mountain of conviction. But alone they are not enough to trigger apocalyptic visions in the saints. But when the Spirit hurls the unstoppable

The Roman empire was that kind of evil principality bigger than the humans involved. It’s not clear that this evil could be repented of like a person repenting of stealing his neighbor’s cow. The church is called to repent of her sins, for sure, but that repentance alone will not topple this dark empire. In this reality, the church can no longer blame herself for her suffering.

The impact of the third asteroid arrives a split second later: the saints realize they have zero human power to change their situation. They are little people with no access to political, economic, or military solutions. No organizing, educating, politicking, picketing, or arming will topple this demonic empire. This is why it’s

actually dangerous for Chris tians who still have political power to use Revelation. In the New Testament, apocalyptic spirituality is pacifist, non-resistant theol ogy. The only work possible is prayer, singing, and endur ance (Revelation 1:9; 6:11; 8:3; 13:10; 14:12).

When the Holy Spirit hurls these fiery asteroids into this immove able mountain at a certain moment in history, a stun ning apocalyptic message is detonated.

What is that message?

The white-hot point of detonation in the book of Revelation is the moment the slain Lamb is found worthy to take the scroll from the One seated on the throne and he begins to open the seals on the scroll (Revelation 5:7; 6:1ff). All the visions in Revelation are set off from that moment; first the seven seals, then the seven trumpets, then the seven bowls and on to the destruction of Babylon and the descent of New Jerusalem. Beasts rising from the sea, judgment unleashed on vast dominions of darkness, and infinite joy sung by choirs of saints are all triggered in the unveiling of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as a slaughtered Lamb. Thunderous singing erupts across creation. Revelation 5 is the most explosively joyful chapter in the Bible. If this is really who rules history, if this is really how God rules history, then despite all appearances, our Lord is the good Creator, evil is being destroyed, the Devil is already in a death rattle, the resurrection is after all the beginning of life, and the sorry situation of the saints is not what it seems. It now dawns on the saints that that their situation is exactly what should be expected if the Lion is a slaughtered Lamb. Joy unspeakable!

Inevitable victory

It’s happened many times already in history and it will happen big-time when Christ returns. At the moment of collision, the saints suddenly see that this victory was already folded into the cross 2,000 years ago.

This victory was already inevitable in the crucifixion of the Lamb. Evil is just the world retching to rid itself of this redemption by love.

rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8). Back on that afternoon of utter human weakness in absolute divine love, salvation was unveiled, justice was achieved and the City of God descending became an inevitable eventuality. The end of the world was embedded prophetically in the event of the cross.

Do you feel the apocalypse approaching? These asteroids of reality will eventually collide with this mountain of conviction, and then, look out! Perhaps we’re still too rich and powerful to hear this message. But that time will end, and the Apocalypse of Jesus will detonate. Let us watch and pray and then sing for joy!

Layton Friesen is currently Academic Dean at Steinbach Bible College. He lives in Winnipeg, Man., with his wife Glenda and they attend Fort Garry EMC. Layton has a PhD in theology from the University of St. Michaels College, Toronto. His book Secular Nonviolence and the Theo-Drama of Peace was published by T&T Clark in February 2022.

The white-hot point of detonation in the book of Revelation is the moment the slain Lamb is found

ISTOCK

HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION CHURCH

By Mo Friesen

When I share with people about my new work as the EMC Director of Next Generation, many people respond with some comment that indicates they are glad someone is doing this. They often say that this generation is facing more challenges being a follower of Jesus than at any time in history. Well, maybe they don’t say it exactly like that, but I do find that often the conversation turns to the challenges young people face today that those of us who are a little older didn’t face.

It is quite a change. When I was young, I was often reminded how much harder the previous

generation had to struggle through their childhood.

The conversation often continues and includes a bemoaning of the loss of Christian values in the wider community and the challenges the church is facing with the loss of Christian society.

At times these conversations leave me discouraged. What chance do my children and young grandchildren have for a meaningful relationship with Jesus? It is easy, if emotions are left unchecked, to spiral down into despair and lose hope.

However, that is not how I am choosing to respond. I am choosing hope, and I’d like to give you a few reasons why.

Intuitive understanding of culture

Having grown up in Generation X (birth years 1965–1980), I recognize that I straddle two distinct eras. I’ve experienced life before the internet, smartphones, video games and even colour TV. But I am also young enough that I grew up learning and beginning to integrate some of this technology as I was heading into the workforce.

I grew up in a time when, in small-town Canada, most everyone had some connection with the Christian faith; the church was a respected and trusted piece of the community. I now live in a time when I feel anxious if I leave my phone at home, the church is no longer assumed to be a trustworthy part of many communities, and there is a strong push to marginalize all faith in a growingly secular society.

Transition is difficult, and while many leaders in the EMC, my age or older, have been wrestling with this Christian to post-Christian societal change, there are generations of leaders growing up with their feet firmly planted in the secular or post-Christian society. The ministry styles, strategies and understandings that are challenging for me because they are outside of my first culture, will be intuitive for those growing up with both feet in this current societal structure.

I anticipate innovation in ministry practices and communication styles as emerging generations take more leadership within our conference. While this may mean significant change for people my age and older, my goal is to be a cheerleader and support for young leaders. I am excited to see how these emerging generations will use their cultural and sociological understanding to introduce people to Jesus. And so I have hope for what is to come.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

– Psalm 42:11

God is faithful, Jesus still transforms, and the Holy Spirit is moving

As secular society pushes back against religion and seeks to devalue religious affiliation,

it is natural for Christians to feel the need or compulsion to defend Christianity as worthwhile. We want to show the good that followers of Christianity have done in the world, and we debate the validity of the Christian social ethic. It is easy to get caught up in this defence to the point that we lose sight of an important piece of the story; God does not need our defence.

The God who has the power to create our universe and continues to create and control even the furthest stars and planets doesn’t need our social media posts in defence of Christianity. God will remain faithful; God is not dead. If we believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God, then we can rest in that knowledge and turn our focus from defending God to introducing people to this transforming, holy and loving God.

Introducing people to God means introducing them to Jesus, the human embodiment of the creator God. Jesus “who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6–8).

When Saul, soon to be Paul, encountered Jesus as a blinding light on the road to Damascus, the person of Jesus intersects with Saul, transforming Saul’s entire reason for living, his passion, and the focus of his work. Paul changed from a life focused on maintaining the purity of the Jewish religion to a life devoted to introducing people to this Jesus who changed him. It is not a surprise that Paul uses the term “in Christ” or “in him” 143 times in his letters to describe the relationship we are able to have with Jesus.

When we encounter the life-changing power of Jesus and the gospel, there is a meshing of relationship between the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God and our humanity. Change happens in us, and we are joined together with Jesus. That is still happening today. And I know this because I have witnessed people meeting Jesus and having had their motivations,

passions, and actions completely changed by that relationship.

Introducing people to God continues as we invite people to see the power and work of the Holy Spirit. We see this power in the supernatural ability of those walking through significant trials and suffering finding the strength to endure and raise a banner of praise to God over their situations. When gratitude and hope seem impossible, we see followers of Jesus experiencing this impossibility.

The power of the Holy Spirit is seen in the remarkable gifts that have been given to followers of Jesus. Gifts of language, hospitality, prophecy and exhortation, discipleship, pastoral leadership, prayer, and worship, remind us that the Holy Spirit is moving.

We see the Holy Spirit in each act of love, when we experience joy, when peace overflows, when patience is grown, in expressions of kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.

But we also see the Holy Spirit moving in new and exciting ways. Earlier this year, many of us watched with excitement, and some with skepticism, as a move of the Holy Spirit began at Asbury College in Kentucky. Students experienced a peace-filled time of prayer and worship that lasted for three weeks. It was an out-of-theordinary experience for those who participated.

At home in the EMC, there was evidence of the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of students and leaders at Abundant Springs. When given the opportunity to trust God with an aspect of their life, hundreds of students and leaders came forward to express their desire to put their trust in Jesus.

All of this reminds us that we are not alone, that God is still faithful, that Jesus still transforms, and that we still have access to the power of the Holy Spirit. And so, I have hope for what is to come.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

– Psalm 42:11

The church will remain Jesus looked at Peter and said, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18, emphasis added).

I am excited to see how these emerging generations will use their cultural and sociological understanding to introduce people to Jesus. And so I have hope for what is to come.

Ronald Reagan, in his inauguration as Governor of California on January 5, 1967, spoke about freedom by say ing, “Freedom is a fragile thing, and it’s never more than one gen eration away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.”

Over the years it has been easy for Christians to adapt this statement and use it to describe the church; the church is a fragile thing, and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. And there is some truth in this. We as followers of Jesus have a responsibility to pass on our faith to the generations that follow.

However, if we pin the sole responsibility of faith formation and development on us humans, we are forgetting that the church belongs to God and, as such, God is masterfully, creatively and with divine power building God’s church. Unlike Reagan’s view of freedom, the church is our inheritance. Rather than fighting to preserve it, the church is a gift given to all people of all generations to participate in and enjoy.

The church has survived two thousand-plus years of cultural shift, the industrial revolution, technological advances, theological challenges, repressive governments, in-fighting, false teachers, reformations, persecution, and wars. Rebecca McLaughlin, in Confronting Christianity, says, “By 2060, the latest projections suggest, Christianity will still be the largest global belief system, having increased slightly, from 31 percent to 32 percent of the world’s population.” Globally, Christianity continues to grow. McLaughlin continues, “In the US, while nominally religious people are more likely to declare themselves nonreligious if they are more educated, professing Christians with higher levels of education appear to be just as religious as those with less schooling. Indeed, highly educated Christians are more likely to be weekly churchgoers.” This is encouraging news for a Christian community that feels like it is continually losing ground.

This doesn’t mean that we sit idle, refusing to take active steps to pass on our faith, but it does

mean that we can shift from a scarcity mentality—circle the wagons and hold on to the precious few—to an abundance mentality—God is in control—joining together with the sustaining work of a transcendent God. What we may lose is our own ideas of what God’s church looks like. But we do not need to live in fear of the church becoming extinct. God is building the church, and we all have an opportunity to participate in that process with hope and excitement for the future. And so, I have hope for what is to come.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

– Psalm 42:11

When I look specifically at our conference, I have hope because of the fantastic, committed, Jesusloving leaders I have met in the last few months; leaders who are creatively, boldly, thoughtfully, and lovingly entering into lives of students in these emerging generations; leaders that see hope and a future for the church; leaders that love Jesus, rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, and seek to learn more about God; leaders that are engaged in the work of understanding the changing culture they minister in. They may make mistakes and at times struggle with new concerns and societal issues, but they are engaged.

Let’s fight the urge for doom and gloom and step into the joy and hope of trusting Jesus with our future.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

– Psalm 42:11

Mo Friesen has worked with youth and leaders for the last 27 years and currently serves as the Director of Next Generation in the EMC office. His role includes pastoral care, training and resourcing for youth and young adult ministry within the EMC.

The power of vocation

A series on 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12.

It was a moment of simple joy. You have likely experienced similar moments. Sitting on the grass in the cool shade of a tree, I bit into a fresh peach. It was perfectly ripe. I could smell its rich, fragrant aroma already, before I brought it to my mouth.

What a beautiful picture of the way God has designed every aspect of his creation. This peach had been designed in a particular way. So much effort had been made, starting with the years that the tree had put into growing so it could finally bear fruit. And now, how beautiful it was that I could enjoy the results.

As often happens, with me, my mind quickly drifted from my enjoyment of this peach to thoughts on vocation. Vocation is a powerful concept. It is, in fact, as we are told in 2 Thessalonians 1:11, a process driven intentionally and purposefully by the power of God.

The life we are called to live is deeply connected to the design we have been given, by him, to express. And this design as well as the calling which accompanies it, testifies to his powerful work from start to finish. It is God who brings the process to fruition. It is he who exerts the power that matters. Our role is to lean into his design and his calling. God’s power is in the

process, not just the final product. His “bringing to fruition” involves a growing fruitfulness inside us, not just through us.

I have found two practices to be particularly helpful for me as I have discovered and experienced the power of God’s calling on my life, as expressed through my vocation.

First, I have benefited greatly from a regular practice of thankfulness. It is easy for me to look at whatever fruit I see from my vocation and to begin to be proud of what “I” have accomplished. It is so important for me to keep a proper perspective. I have nothing to be proud of apart from what God has enabled me to do. At the heart of my enjoyment of who God made me to be there needs to be a constant recognition that it is not me who makes this possible. I must daily recognize and thank God for his generous work of power in my life.

Second, I continue to be challenged to maintain a spirit of contentment as God decides what fruitfulness needs to look like at various moments across my life. Contentment is foundational to the way a follower of Christ experiences vocation. We do not decide what the fruit of our vocation might be. God does. Our journey of vocation is a journey of surrender. And, in this surrender, we find peace.

May each of us experience both of these gifts today—the gift of gratefulness which provides a healthy perspective on our vocation and the gift of contentment which allows us to experience God’s powerful work in and through us as one of peace.

By Calvin Tiessen

I continue to be challenged to maintain a spirit of contentment as God decides what fruitfulness needs to look like at various moments across my life.

Sticky Faith Innovation: How Your Compassion, Creativity, and Courage Can Support Teenagers’ Lasting Faith

, by Steven Argue and Caleb Roose (Fuller Youth Institute, 2021). 270 pp. Reviewed by Mitchell Martens, associate pastor of youth at Blumenort Community Church.

I’ve been a youth pastor for a little while, and it can sometimes feel like I’m in a rut. Year after year goes by, and things more-or-less stay the same. For me, this is sometimes discouraging, but it can feel overwhelming to think about how we might change things up. How can we be sure that something new will actually work? How can we know our changes will do what we hope they will?

Sticky Faith Innovation guides youth ministry leaders through a holistic process to implement meaningful change to our programs to create the outcomes we desire. The book is set up to read more like a workbook with a short chapter and then space to reflect on some key questions and lots of practical tools on how to lead through various aspects of change. It is easy to read and would be great for a full-time pastor or a team of volunteers.

If you sense that your ministry culture needs to change but are unsure how to go about making it happen, then I would recommend reading this book! I would also recommend it for anyone in a ministry leadership role because the principles in this book can easily be adapted to various aspects of the church (not just youth ministry). Here are a few more specific things I loved about it:

1. Listen-first approach. The authors strongly encourage leaders to listen to the people we serve first before trying to make too many changes. By asking thoughtful and intentional questions, you show that you care, and you bring others into the process of change even before you know what changes you’ll be making. This is an important emphasis on humility and empathy that we as leaders sometimes bypass when we envision change.

2. Team-oriented visioning process. I love working in a team. But, as a youth pastor, I sometimes feel like program decisions are my job. As I read this book, I really felt

challenged to be more intentional in inviting other people into important leadership conversations. I’m most definitely not a superhero, and odds are you aren’t either, so we don’t need to do it alone! It is worth the effort of coordinating people to join you in the visioning and planning process.

3. Lots of practical tools and conversation guides. Even if you don’t feel like you want to commit to going through their entire process and how they lay it out, there are still so many good tools and leadership conversation guides. The book is worth having simply for these helpful charts and creative activities. These kinds of things actually make me excited to try this in a group setting to see what kinds of creative solutions we can come up with as a team!

All in all, I would highly recommend this book for ministry leaders of all sorts. Yes, this book has a youth ministry emphasis, but it is a great practical guide for leading the culture change that you’ve been longing for.

By asking thoughtful and intentional questions, you show that you care, and you bring others into the process of change even before you know what changes you’ll be making.

God is moving!

SOUTH SUDAN

The ministry began in South Sudan almost 20 years ago, but in recent years fighting and unrest have pushed us south over the border into Uganda. Northern Uganda hosts many refugee camps with over one million South Sudanese refugees.

Our main focus is a holistic church planting training developed with African partners. The training includes teaching and tips on self-sustainability. God is using the training to impact and change people, their families, and their communities!

In addition, Serving Christ (a ministry of Avant; find more information at servingchristorganization.org) just launched a discipleship program to help new believers and church plants to mature in faith and understanding of the whole Scripture story.

Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless [orphan]; plead the case of the widow.”

Two brothers were living on the street being taught how to kill and do the ‘dirty work’ for a local gang. One day Mama Peace met these boys in town. Mama Peace and her husband run a small local elementary school right on their family compound. They know God’s heart for the orphan and just can’t seem to stop reaching out with his love!

So, they took these two brothers to their compound and put them in school. The problem was these boys didn’t know true love and ran back to what was familiar to

them. Did Mama Peace give up on them? No, she did not! She retrieved them from town twice before they understood that love. Now they are comfortable with the family and the school and are very grateful for a safe place with the opportunity to go to school and to learn about Jesus.

On a recent visit to the school, the youngest brother, with much emotion told us that if it wasn’t for Mama Peace and her husband, he would be a murderer! This is a boy of about nine years old.

Through Serving Christ there are about 10 orphans being cared for and educated at Mama Peace’s school. In addition, about 16 orphans in regions across Uganda, most of them refugees, are being supported with education.

This is a big feat for a small ministry like Serving Christ. What you may not know is that parents have to pay for their children to go to school in Uganda—right from kindergarten to university! Averaging all the orphan tuition fees under the care of Serving Christ, the cost to support one orphan for one year of education is $1,200.

Serving Christ also supports widows toward sustainability, but that will have to be a story for another time.

Thank you to all our EMC partners who help make this ministry possible—and especially the prayer warriors!

Ride Walk Run is a fall fundraiser for Serving Christ. Interested? Ask us for more details.

– Sharon Skopnik

Sharon and Gordon Skopnik (Wymark EMC) work with South Sudanese refugees through Serving Christ (a ministry of Avant).

These boys didn’t know true love and ran back to what was familiar to them. Did Mama Peace give up on them? No, she did not!

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Mama Peace (far right) and her husband (far left) run a school and reach out to orphans with the love of Christ.

Students eagerly partake in church planting training; this training is impacting people, families and communities.

Moving beyond trauma to healing and reconciliation

WINNIPEG, MAN.

Living and working in the North End of Winnipeg for the last 18 years, I have learned it is easy to get consumed in the pain, trauma, loss and tragedy, and to lose track of gifts and strengths. But it is important to me to have an appreciative inquiry lens in the work I do in the North End community.

Appreciative inquiry is a term used in community development and in ministry with marginalized communities. Basically, it means seeing, listening, and looking for the gifts and strengths of a community and the people in a community. And then coming alongside those folks to support community empowerment and transformation. I would like to share with you some of the people in our community who are making a difference.

Lyle Blackbird has done a lot of healing work in his life from the generational trauma he grew up with. He has been a key part of our Tuesday men’s group for over 10 years, coleading with me for the last five. As of this past April, Lyle is leading the group fully on his own as I step back to focus on other ministry areas. Lyle was also hired three years ago as the pastor of a local church, Bethlehem Aboriginal Fellowship. His openness with his healing journey, along with his gentle way and his passion for reconciliation, makes him a vital leader in our community today!

would be able to work at ICYA.” Once he could see and experience his gifts and abilities, and had the right opportunities, he was able to live his dream and serve and lead other young men in this way.

At one point Jonas asked if he could volunteer with me in my work, so he has joined me as we mentor and support a vulnerable youth and his family in the community. This connects well with ICYA’s goals of hiring local and Indigenous staff. Some of our current full-time staff who grew up in our community include Terry Melquist (Community Minister), Rosemary Ellis (Community Minister), Kamara Turner (Engage Education), Sheena Girouard (Engage Education), John Vasili (Bridge Drop-In), Serena Charette (Bridge Drop-In), Justine Flett (Bridge Drop-In), Autumn Charette Keenan (Gem Lake Camp), and Carl Makowsky (Gem Lake Camp). Feel free to find out more about these community staff at icya. ca/staffteam.

Lyle’s openness with his healing journey, along with his gentle way and his passion for reconciliation, makes him a vital leader in our community today!

Lyle Blackbird

Jonas Mitchell Simard persevered in his goals of finishing high school and getting his carpentry training at age 25 at R. B. Russell high school in our neighbourhood. After working for three years in carpentry, he was able to join ICYA’s Step Up Construction as a team leader where he now teaches and encourages other young men from our community. Jonas recently said to me, “I never thought I

My prayer is that we may see, know, and affirm the transforming work of God that is at work in and through our community today and into the future.

– Jeremy Zehr

Jeremy Zehr is a community minister with Inner City Youth Alive in Winnipeg, Man. He lives in the North End with his wife Teresa.

Jonas Mitchell Simard (right) teaches a youth some guitar chords.

Seminars focus on building healthy churches in India

NORTH INDIA

We are grateful to God for his unwavering guidance, which often exceeds our own plans and expectations. The year began with the establishment of new connections and partnerships, enabling us to train previously untrained leaders in unexplored locations and territories.

Our vision to reach out to untrained pastors and leaders in Himachal Pradesh is gradually becoming a reality. Himachal Pradesh, located in North India, has a population of 7,316,708 (7.32 million) residing in 12 districts and 20,690 villages.

The commitment

One of the pastors we work with is among the many persecuted pastors in the area. He has faced attacks by an anti-Christ group consisting of around 70 people. However, these challenges have not deterred him from fulfilling God’s calling. He sees our presence in their land as part of God’s plan to assist and train untrained local leaders and pastors, strengthening the churches and enhancing their effectiveness in evangelism. He is fully prepared for the training and leadership seminars scheduled to take place in different districts of the state over a period of three years, starting in 2023.

The churches in this state have limited opportunities to develop their leader’s biblical and theological knowledge. There is not even one theological seminary available in this state, and most pastors and leaders lack the means to support their studies. In this anti-Christ-dominated state, we can become a beacon of light for these churches.

During our recent visit to Himachal Pradesh, we organized multiple vision casting and leadership seminars focused on fostering healthy churches and Christ-like leadership in mission. The response was overwhelmingly positive; hundreds of Christian leaders from over 30 denominations and from more than 25 villages received training. Leaders are eagerly anticipating future programs.

We are currently praying about organizing additional leadership seminars in the coming months, particularly in challenging locations. These places are difficult to reach

due to the lack of convenient transportation options. Hiring a taxi is expensive due to the hilly terrain, and most attendees travel from remote and interior areas. Some even have to walk for miles in hilly off-road areas to reach a point where they can access limited local bus services. Consequently, they often have to stay overnight in order to catch transportation the following day, leading to additional expenses for accommodation and food.

These attendees are first-generation believers who have never had the opportunity to pursue theological studies. However, their passion to serve the Lord is unwavering. They are eager to learn, receive training, and equip themselves for more fruitful and effective ministry. Therefore, the provision of training and seminars is essential for these leaders. We are truly motivated to embark on this remarkable journey in these challenging places, and we eagerly anticipate the transformative impact of our mission’s leadership programs and seminars on the lives of individuals, churches, and communities alike.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5).

– Written by Amit M., BSc.

This three-year programme is sponsored by Mennonite/ Baptist churches through MMF; and mentored by EMC theologian, Arlyn V.

In remote areas of North India, seminars provide needed biblical and theological training to Christian leaders.

With Our Churches

Abbeydale Christian Fellowship

Psalm 145 / 21 = 14

CALGARY, Alta.—The math of Psalm 145 according to Abbeydale Christian Fellowship may leave some readers perplexed … but like the Ethiopian eunuch’s confusion, it can be explained. Apparently, Calgary is home to people of 240 different ethnic origins, speaking 120 different languages. ACF is home to at least 17 different ethnic origins, and at least 30 different languages. Dividing the 21 verses of Psalm 145 amongst 14 of ACF’s various language speakers, each reading a few verses on our Multicultural Sunday, held on June 25, accounts for our unusual but correct math equation (according to ACF demographics).

Psalm 145:13b–14

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

The Lord upholds all who fall And lifts up all who are bowed down.

Planned by the missions committee, Multicultural Sunday began with a short travelogue of the EMC’s various churches/church plants representing or serving other cultures and a quick review of ACF’s supported outreach and missions efforts. A highlight of the morning was meeting the Christian Afghani refugee family (via video) for whom ACF is diligently raising funds to sponsor and bring to Calgary.

The diversity potluck following the service was a culinary trip around the world. Appropriately representing Canada, complete with flags, were Tim Horton’s doughnuts. Cultural attire, regularly visible at ACF, added to the colourful celebration.

The take-home: People of other cultures who need to hear of Jesus are coming to Canada, to communities in Calgary and to ACF. Like Phillip with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26–40, Christians need to be ready to explain the Word of God to those who cannot understand.

To experience a little taste of what heaven will be like when people from around the world worship the Lamb together, readers can watch the June 25, 2023, service on Abbeydale Christian Fellowship’s YouTube channel.

Long weekends and lanterns

Two young ACF moms, seeing a need and recognizing opportunity, teamed up with a few volunteers from Child

Above: Feelain Leung (inset) reads Psalm 145:13b–14 in Burmese.

Left: Israel Kabymera (Congo) sings “Nasema Asante” [I’m Saying Thank You].

Evangelism Fellowship to provide a fantastic five-day club fun for children ages five to 12 during the week of July 31–August 4. The children were challenged in many ways and grew spiritually through games, crafts, memory verses, stories and songs.

May their crafted lanterns remind them that Jesus is the light of the world and the soft sound of their bamboo wind chimes tinkling in the breeze remind them to be sensitive to the gentle sound of the Spirit.

A poll conducted amongst a small group of the attendees revealed their scoring of crafts, snacks, games, Bible lessons and songs to be an approximate average of nine out

PHOTOS: YOUTUBE.COM/@ABBEYDALECHRISTIANFELLOWSHIP

of ten overall. The children who were polled had daily been anxiously ready to leave home for club much earlier than necessary.

Fortunately, the children of ACF and the surrounding community will not need to wait until next summer for another opportunity to gather again and mature with their peers in a similar manner. Beginning in September, after several years of not conducting a planned weekly children’s club ministry, there will be a new ACF children’s club ministry start-up which aims to bless and give spiritual guidance to each child who attends.

– Ivy Plett

Stony Brook Fellowship

Summer provides points of connection

STEINBACH, Man.—Church camp is a highlight for many people at Stony Brook Fellowship. We enjoyed being together and connecting as a church family during this event held June 9–11, 2023. This year involved much outside time as the weather was fantastic. We played a field game, had a ladderball tournament, swam and were challenged in our knowledge in a trivia game. The four sessions included music, a guest speaker, and kids programming. The food was provided by Gil Drolet and crew which was fantastic as always!

Over the summer months, many regular activities pause. This year our church had a slow pitch team in the local church league, providing some great connecting

opportunities. The young adults hosted a summer barbeque, and the youth hosted a swim night.

We reflect on the goodness of God in this season of church ministry and are always looking forward to what God is going to do in the next!

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:21–25).

– Lisa Bergen

Stony Brook campers gather for a group photo on their final day at Roseau River Bible Camp, June 11, 2023.

Fun and games made Bible memorization easy for the children who attended five-day club July 31–August 4.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

PHOTO SUPPLIED

With Our Churches

Straffordville EMC

Children’s choir comes to town

Straffordville, Ont.—On June 9, 2023, Straffordville EMC was privileged to host the Watoto Children’s Choir. The choir tours various countries to share stories of God’s hope and healing among the most vulnerable in Uganda and South Sudan, particularly women and children.

– Margaret Berg

Above: SEAN (Bible training courses) graduates in April 2023 are Jake and Lisa Peters, Jake and Tina Penner, Erica Penner, Jeremy Blatz, Sara Loewen, Eva Blatz, Helen and Henry Thiessen, with teachers Dave and Aggie Blatz.

Right: Participating in a deacon commission service on March 5, 2023, are Margaret and Pastor Abe Berg, Maria and Pastor Ike Froese, Tina and Pastor Willy Siemens; kneeling: Linda and Dave Wall, Helen and Henry Thiessen.

MacGregor EMC

Baptismal candidates welcomed

MacGREGOR, Man.—On July 16, 2023, MacGregor EMC was pleased to baptize and welcome into membership Sara Thiessen (above left) and Isabelle Toews (above centre), pictured with Pastor Russell Doerksen. – Donna Thiessen

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

The Watoto Children’s Choir in full action on June 9, 2023.

Long-time treasurer retires from campus chaplaincy board

WINNIPEG, Man.—For almost three decades, students have found a sense of community, peer support, pastoral care, counselling and more at Menno Office on the University of Manitoba campus.

Menno Office. a campus ministry supported by the Inter Mennonite Chaplaincy Association (IMCA), is a shared ministry of Mennonite church conferences that appoint members to serve on the board. Shortly after the IMCA was formed in 1995, Len Loewen was appointed to the board and served as IMCA’s treasurer from May 1996 until his retirement in May 2023.

“Len’s decades of service on the IMCA board have borne witness to his belief in the value of the ministry that we offer at U of M,” says IMCA Chaplain Mark von Kampen. “His skills, deep and quiet wisdom and good humour have been a gift.”

Loewen, a retired accountant and member of Morrow Gospel Church in Winnipeg, was appointed by the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC). Loewen’s long-time service and outstanding contributions were recognized by Morrow Gospel Church during a Sunday morning worship service in June.

“Len has been an incredible force behind the IMCA, keeping the wheels turning and always looking for ways to help the organization,” said IMCA chair Allison Janzen in her tribute message. “Len will be missed, and I hope he enjoys his more retired retirement.”

EMMC executive director Lyn Dyck said in his tribute message that finding faithful people who are passionate about ministry and involvement is a special blessing. “Len has demonstrated commitment to the IMCA campus ministry as it has changed and grown over the years,” he said. “Len has been a stable leader through challenging times and committed to the ministry and the guiding board.”

During his 27 years of service, Loewen served with eight different board chairs and three different chaplains. In his remarks Loewen said it had been a privilege for him to use his accounting skills to strengthen a ministry that provides a welcoming place of refuge for students on a multi-faith campus.

“I have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful Christian people,” he said. The appointment of von Kampen as chaplain in 2003, he noted, “brought consistency, stability and great spiritual and moral impact to our students.”

Loewen also acknowledged the contributions of volunteer board members and the ongoing financial and prayer support from the church conferences and the IMCA’s network of supporters.

Currently, the IMCA’s modest budget is met through the financial support of three church conferences (EMMC, Evangelical Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church Manitoba) along with fundraising events and financial contributions from congregations and individuals.

“Please continue to encourage and support this important ministry—our university students need us!” said Loewen.

Learn more about this ministry through visiting mennooffice.ca

– Gladys Terichow

PHOTO BY GLADYS TERICHOW

Len Loewen and IMCA Chaplain Mark von Kampen at Morrow Gospel Church.

“Len has been an incredible force behind the IMCA, keeping the wheels turning and always looking for ways to help the organization,” said IMCA chair Allison Janzen in her tribute message.

Witnessing in Hong Kong and beyond Agape

Mennonite Church unites people through technology

Church members gather in a school auditorium, singing worship songs in both Cantonese (the mother tongue for most people in Hong Kong) and Mandarin. The Chinese languages share a script that contains thousands of characters. Through the internet and the globalization of church music, people who can’t read the script can now find a translated version of the songs to understand and sing along.

While many churches in the region abandoned online services as pandemic restrictions eased, Agape Mennonite

Church in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, continues to record and stream their services on Facebook.

“Some of our members have moved overseas in recent years. Sometimes they join our Sunday services so they could worship in their own language, and they join our Zoom Bible study too,” says Esther Choi, Global Youth Summit delegate from Hong Kong.

As the population of Hong Kong ages, the church is also affected: some church members are not physically able to come to church. “Making our worship services available to them is our way to let them know that we remember them and are praying for them,” says Jeremiah Choi, the congregation’s pastor and MWC regional representative for Northeast Asia.

“He made no distinction between us and them,” says youth pastor Leung Tak Kwan, preacher of the day, quoting Acts 15:9. While the passage counsels not to discriminate against the Gentiles (who have received Christ but not followed the Jewish traditions), the same advice pertains to who are those too ill to take public transport to church, are in hospital or simply miss their friends after leaving Hong Kong.

Regardless of location or physical challenges, with virtual services, the Word of God and the fellowship continue.

The Conference of Mennonite Churches in Hong Kong consists of three Mennonite congregations in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China that is home to 7 million people. Following Mennonite Central Committee relief work with mainland Chinese refugees in the 1950s and North America mission workers starting in the 1960s, the church was officially established in 1985.

Hong Kong is facing a challenging period: government restrictions on religious activities may increase; an exodus from the working population leaves some industries with staff shortages; and church members are divided regarding politics.

But those at Agape Mennonite take comfort from lyrics they sang that morning, “Won’t Give Up”: Afflictions may come, we won’t grow weary.  Wasting away, we will not lose heart  All these troubles one day soon will pass

Eternal glory will be our reward

– Mennonite World Conference

PHOTO BY ELINA CIPTADI

About MWC national member church: the Conference of Mennonite Churches in Hong Kong

Agape Mennonite Church in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, gathers in person and online.

For Amanda McDougall-Merrill, Mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, volunteers with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada did more than repair homes damaged by Hurricane Fiona in Cape Breton.

“You brought hope and love to the community,” she told about 90 people gathered August 24 at the Sydney River United Protestant Church for a closing celebration of MDS’s involvement in the region.

After the storm, which struck on September 24, 2022, people “felt alone and hopeless,” she said.

“You did more than build walls and fix houses. You brought love here,” she said, presenting a plaque to MDS on behalf of herself and Council that expressed appreciation to the volunteers from across Canada who came to “rebuild homes and restore hope.”

Her words were echoed by Fred Tilley, Member of the Nova Scotia Assembly for Northside-Westmount, one of the areas where MDS volunteers served.

“You gave hope to our community when there was none,” he said, presenting a flag of Nova Scotia to representatives from MDS. “You now are in the hearts of thousands of Cape Bretoners,” he added.

A total of 458 volunteers from across Canada provided over 32,000 hours of service for 272 families and community organizations in fall 2022, and then again from March to August this year. This included repairs to 44 houses, 28 new roofs or roof repairs, and 179 tree-cutting and clean up jobs.

Lynne McCarron is Executive Director of the United Way of Cape Breton, MDS Canada’s partner in the region.

“I didn’t know where to go after the storm hit, I didn’t know where to turn,” she said. “I don’t know what we would have done without MDS. We were lucky to have you in our community.”

In his comments, Nova Scotia Response Coordinator Roman Heuft said “many deserve thanks for what has been accomplished here, but most of all God. MDS was here for His glory, not our own.”

He went on to express appreciation to the volunteers; to the United Way of Cape Breton; to Camp Bretondean and the United Protestant Church of Sydney River, both of which hosted MDS while in Cape Breton; to local building inspectors who “streamlined the building permit process;” to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which provided a grant of $100,000 for the response; and to Air Canada for offering discount airfares to Cape Breton. He also thanked his wife Charlene back in B.C. who “always encouraged me to use my abilities to serve our Lord.”

In closing, he quoted MDS volunteer Peter Thiessen, who served as a project director in Grand Forks, B.C. in 2019.

“MDS is here for a season,” Heuft said, speaking to Cape Bretoners at the celebration. “Our season is now over. We pass the baton to you to carry on the work of helping those in need.”

– John Longhurst, MDS Canada Communications

‘You brought hope and love to the community’ MDS Canada closes response in Cape Breton

Nova Scotia MLA Fred Tilley (second from left) presents a flag of Nova Scotia to Ross Penner, MDS Canada Executive Director; Ike Epp, Project Director; and Roman Heuft, Cape Breton Response Coordinator.

Bailey Karrell (right) of the United Way of Cape Breton presents a thank-you gift to volunteer Hannah Cober of Kitchener at the August 24 closing celebration for MDS’s work in Cape Breton. Looking on are Abe and Norma Wiebe from Winkler, Man.

MCC Seek program helps young adults explore faith and culture

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) invites applications for Seek, its newest young adult program for 18- to 20-year-olds who want to do six months of service, discipleship training and cross-cultural sharing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Starting in January 2024, Seek participants from around the world will stay in the Southeast Asian country, considering together what it means to live, love and serve like Jesus. Seek is firmly rooted in an Anabaptist reading of Scripture and involves Bible study, individual prayer, lectures and conversation.

Seek participants will live in a gender-divided dormitory with Cambodian Christian youth, an arrangement that lends itself to cross-cultural dialogue and worship. The Seek cohort will be a group of six to 10 international participants.

Charles Conklin, MCC representative for Cambodia, believes that such experiences are invaluable to young adults’ spiritual development.

“On graduating from high school, young adults are faced with the decision of ‘What next?’” he says. “Seek offers the opportunity to prepare for that decision by taking a pause and centering on Jesus by engaging in intentional discipleship among the global church.”

In Phnom Penh, Seekers will also learn what it is like to belong to the country’s Christian minority.

Cambodian Christians were one of many groups persecuted by the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s. Many Christians were killed or left the country. Until 1990, churches in the primarily Buddhist nation had to worship in secret.

Through visits to an array of Anabaptist, Catholic and evangelical churches, Seekers will come to understand how

The first Seek team of 2023 joins other MCC staff at an Easter morning sunrise service on the Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem, Palestine.

the church provided healing and hope in the aftermath of atrocity.

In early 2023, the nine participants from Canada and the U.S. who participated in the first Seek cohort experienced the cross-cultural benefits of the program in Palestine, where they were accompanied by four Christian young adults from the area.

Conklin hopes that the 2024 Seekers “come away from the experience with a deepened faith, a sense of purpose and calling, and a clearer understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.”

“Stepping away from the pressures and priorities of one’s home culture to learn and serve in a foreign one has been a transformative experience for many,” Conklin says.

Young adults who want to participate in the 2024 Cambodia program can apply between Aug. 7 and Sept. 30. While Seekers must cover preliminary expenses like visa fees, MCC pays all in-country costs and provides participants with a small monthly stipend. To learn more, please visit mcc.org/get-involved/serve/volunteer/seek .

– Sienna Malik, MCC U.S.

Seek participants will benefit from MCC Cambodia’s deep experience of working with young adults who participate in a variety of MCC’s Global Service Learning programs. In 2023, young adults from Cambodia and those who served in Cambodia met with each other to learn and to talk about their experiences. Pictured here are Sheper Sona from India, left, and Minear Mak and Tith Kunthea from Cambodia.

MCC PHOTO/CHARLES CONKLIN

HENRY KLASSEN 1933–2023

Henry was born on April 6, 1933, to John U. and Maria Klassen (nee Friesen) in the rural municipality of Hanover. The fifth of eight children, Henry had to work hard on the family farm, especially since his father was wheelchair-bound and later bedridden with multiple sclerosis. He struggled to receive consent from his mother and the church to attend high school in the town of Steinbach. Permission was finally granted when Henry promised to become a teacher.

Coming from the farm and being shy by nature, it was difficult for Henry to attend grade 11 classes with the town children, but he was determined and finished top of the class. Henry fulfilled his promise to his mother and received his teaching certificate, teaching in different towns in Manitoba. He also attended Steinbach Bible Institute in preparation for his career in church missions.

Henry married Ramona Loewen in September 1954. The two of them bonded over their shared faith and their dream of travelling as missionaries. Their first three children were born in Canada: Phillip in Steinbach, Terry in Wynyard, and Ladine in Flin Flon. During these years, Henry and Ramona prepared for a call to the mission field. In 1962, Henry loaded up their belongings and headed off to Belize where the family served under the Gospel Missionary Union for nine years. Christine, their youngest, was

born during this time. One of Henry’s proudest achievements was establishing King’s College, a high school which is still going strong today.

Back in Canada Henry continued to be involved in missions by serving on the AIMM board and was Executive Secretary of the EMC Board of Missions for many years. These positions had Henry travel to many countries, on various continents, with Ramona accompanying him on a few of these trips.

Henry also volunteered on the church board of the Steinbach Evangelical Mennonite Church where his knowledge of protocols and familiarity with Mennonite history were gifts he shared with the church.

Henry retired from the Board of Missions in 2001. Although retirement brought a more relaxed routine, he continued to be actively involved in his church and various missionary organizations. In 2007, at the age of 74, Henry accepted the position as interim CEO of HavenGroup in Steinbach at a pivotal time for the organization. This was a position Henry greatly enjoyed and when his term was over, he accepted a position as chair of the HavenGroup board.

Henry’s involvement in various organizations gradually waned, but he remained committed to staying active and spending time with family. He and Ramona continued living independently, even as his health faded in the last year of his life.

Henry is survived by his wife of 68 years, Ramona (nee Loewen); his children Phillip (Lori) Klassen, Terry Klassen (Grace Dueck), Ladine Klassen, and Christine (Jake) Unger; his grandchildren, Lisa (Robert) Heinrichs, Jeff Klassen (Romain Chareyron), Natasha Klassen (Andrew Hector), Jacquelyn Klassen (Christian Lacko), Bright (Gabriel) Thorsteinson, Robert Klassen, Riley Unger (Crimson Childs), Hannah Hart (Alex Adams),

and Kiera Hart. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Luke, Peter, Jack, and Bethany Heinrichs.

– The Family

DAVID DEAN SHARP 1943–2023

David Dean Sharp of Sanford, Florida, passed into the arms of Jesus on August 4, 2023. Dave was born on October 25, 1943, to Lyle and Lila Sharp of Bloomington, Illinois. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute in 1965, he went on to prepare for missionary service with New Tribes Mission. In 1968 Dave married the love of his life, Laura Kroeker. They served as missionaries in Brazil for 28 years and later at New Tribes Mission headquarters in Sanford, Florida. They served the Lord side by side for all their 55 years of married life.

Dave was predeceased by his parents, Lyle and Lila Sharp. He is survived by his wife Laura; daughter Kim, her husband Dave, and their sons Reece and Clark; and also by daughter Vicki, her husband Jesse, and their sons Liam, Owen, and Asher.

Dave’s passion was to see everyone enter a right relationship with God by trusting in the death of Jesus Christ as the only sufficient sacrifice for their sins. He now sees Christ face to face.

Dave’s memorial was held on August 18, 2023, at the Homes of Ethnos 360, Sanford, Florida.

– The Family

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

Often there are more churches looking for staff than are identified on this page. For information on additional openings, contact Conference Pastor Andy Woodworth (awoodworth@emconference.ca or phone 204-326-6401).

EMC Positions

Senior Pastor: Taber (Alta.) Evangelical Church

Taber Evangelical Church is actively searching for the senior pastor whom God has chosen to lead us into the future. Taber EMC is a unique, growing, familyoriented church. Our regular Sunday attendance is about 250. If you feel the Lord leading you in this direction please email taberemcpsc2@gmail.com or contact Bram Klassen at 403-331-9563.

Pastor: Coaldale Mennonite Church (Coaldale, Alta.)

Rooted in Jesus, Growing in Grace, Connected in Community, Branching into the World is the mission statement of Coaldale Mennonite Church (CMC), in Coaldale, Alberta. We are seeking fulltime pastoral leadership to collaborate with and inspire ministry volunteers, church leadership and staff to bring energy and a sense of renewal to our church body through ministry and outreach opportunities. We are followers of Jesus; an Anabaptist multi-generational church that is community minded. The candidate(s) will work to equip CMC for ministry and provide direction, insight

and counsel through a godly walk and Bible-based, Christ-centered ministry. Please forward any questions and employment information in confidence to cmchurch@telusplanet.net.

Pastor: Anola (Man.) Fellowship Chapel

Anola Fellowship Chapel is in the RM of Springfield at 58006 Monominto Road, 5 miles southeast of the community of Anola and 35 minutes east of Winnipeg. Our mission is to love God, love our neighbours, and make disciples. We have a full Sunday program and both children and youth programs. We are active in various community events. We are actively seeking a full-time pastor: a spiritually mature man; an engaging, enthusiastic individual who demonstrates sound biblical teaching and in depth preaching as well as vision. Contact Landon Elhard at afcpastorsearch@gmail. com for more information and/or full job description. Check out our website at anolachapel.com.

Pastor: Morris (Man.) Fellowship Chapel

Morris Fellowship Chapel is a Christfollowing, Bible-believing, family-friendly 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 building community in our church. This would include preaching on Sundays, teaching midweek Bible studies, personal visits and church community events. Contact Cliff Reimer, Pastoral Search Committee Chairman: cliff0955@gmail.com.

Senior Pastor: New Life Christian Fellowship (Coatsworth, Ont.)

New Life Christian Fellowship is a small country church with approximately 65–85 that gather every Sunday. New Life is compiled mostly of young families with lots of little ones. Many families have a Plautdietsch (Low German) background which is often heard during times of

fellowship. We are looking for a full time senior pastor who has a passion to preach, and teach from the Scriptures, and has a heart for ministry and people in and outside the church. Our church vision is Reach Up, Reach Over & Reach Out. We would require that you agree with the EMC Statement of Faith. For more information, please contact board@nlcfchurch.org.

Pastor (part-time): The Church of Living Water (Tillsonburg, Ont.)

The Church of Living Water is currently seeking a half-time pastor for a small family oriented congregation in the rapidly growing town of Tillsonburg Ontario. We are seeking a highly motivated male applicant who is called to lead a closely knit church, and will embrace a vision to to facilitate new Christians to join us in worship. Success in this initiative could lead to an elevated time allotment up to full time. We are primarily seeking applicants with a Bible college degree and/ or extensive pastoral experience. For more information or to submit a resume, contact the chairman of our search committee at randymoyle@sympatico.ca

Senior Pastor: Vanderhoof (B.C.) Christian Fellowship

Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship is in Vanderhoof, located on the banks of the Nechako River in the heart of B.C. Our mission is to love God, love our neighbour, and make disciples. We have a full Sunday program and both junior and senior youth programs, an active weekly seniors Bible study and weekly youth Bible studies. We participate in various community events. We are seeking a full-time senior pastor: a spiritually mature, engaging and enthusiastic individual who demonstrates sound biblical teaching and in-depth preaching as well as vision. Counselling skills are an asset. Contact Bernie Klassen at bande@hwy16.com for more information. Check out our website at vcfemc. com.

Associate Pastor: Rosenort (Man.) Fellowship Chapel

Rosenort Fellowship Chapel (RFC) is seeking an associate pastor whose primary task will be youth ministry. Our vision is to build a junior youth ministry (grades 7–9) while assisting in community senior youth programs. The applicant loves Jesus Christ and aspires to help others know Christ. This person wants to make an impact among youth with his/her own dedication to Christ. The applicant will have some Bible college and skills in communicating biblical truths. RFC is a multigenerational congregation of 100 persons. We are Anabaptists who long to Radically follow Jesus, Further the gospel, and Care for the community. Email applications to Cam Cornelsen at cam. rfcleadership@gmail.com.

seeking to hire a full-time pastor to oversee our German-speaking ministry PBMC currently holds an English and a Low German service each Sunday morning. We are looking for a man experienced 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. 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.

Associate Pastor: Evangelical Fellowship Church (Steinbach, Man.)

volunteer team of young adult and youth leaders. Applicants must be in agreement with the EMC Statement of Faith and Anabaptist theology. For more information contact: info@lemchurch.ca.

Associate Pastor:

Straffordville (Ont.)

Evangelical Mission Church

Youth Pastor (part-time): St. Vital EMC (Winnipeg, Man.)

St. Vital EMC Church is seeking to hire a part-time youth pastor (about 16 hours per week) who will lead and disciple our youth aged 15–18 years old. We are an established and friendly church in south Winnipeg with approximately 120 congregants who aspire to love God and live as Jesus Christ lived. The successful candidate will demonstrate a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus. Demonstrable leadership and influence among youth will mark this person’s character on a consistent basis as well as the ability to discern truth. Previous experience working with youth is essential. A resume, with cover letter, can be sent to: Oswald at ozzy_wald@hotmail.com.

Pastor of GermanSpeaking Ministry: Picture Butte (Alta.)

Mennonite Church

Picture Butte Mennonite

Church (Picture Butte, Alta.) is prayerfully

Evangelical Fellowship Church (EFC) in Steinbach, Man., is seeking to hire a fulltime associate pastor. Our vision is to: Worship God, Love Neighbours, Make Disciples, Grow Young. To that end, we are looking for an individual who will place a strong emphasis on discipleship. This individual must also agree with the EMC Statement of Faith. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. For a detailed description of the position and how to apply, please email your inquiry to pastoralsearch@efchurch. ca. Check out our website at www.efchurch.ca

Discipleship Pastor: Leamington (Ont.)

Evangelical Mennonite Church

Leamington Evangelical Mennonite Church is a growing church located in Southern Ontario in the town of Leamington. The makeup of our congregation is a mix of young families, singles, middle age and some older couples, with the majority of the congregation being relatively young. LEMC is seeking a discipleship pastor. The job description involves organizing and giving leadership to small group ministries in the church with a focus on family discipleship, and he will also lead a

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 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. Applicants must agree with the EMC Statement of Faith and display an understanding and general agreement with our Anabaptist theological background. Contact psc@ straffordvilleemc.ca.

Youth Pastor: Steinbach (Man.) EMC

The Steinbach EMC is seeking to hire a full-time youth pastor to lead and disciple our youth and young adults. We are an established and welcoming Anabaptist congregation on Main Street in Steinbach and are part of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for Christ, and have leadership and influence among youth. The person taking this role needs to demonstrate the ability to manage the programming while working collaboratively with others. Previous experience working with youth is essential. Bible and theological training are preferred. Contact us at youthpastorsearch@semconline.com. More information about Steinbach EMC can be found at semconline.com.

By Karla Hein

A bird’s view

Confession: I’m suspicious of most rodents and fowl. I know that my birdwatching friends will be exasperated that I lumped the predator with the prey. I’m not an ornithologist (that’s someone who studies birds … I looked it up), but I do find both species rather erratic. They silently stare at you, then start darting or fluttering at an alarming, instinctual rate.

While humans have developed hygienic systems to deal with their pets’ digestive offerings, fowls and rodents have little regard for your cleanliness. Their audacious droppings confirm where they’ve been or what perch they’ve loved.

When my son was seven, he developed a fascination for owls (obviously not due to my genetics). He had a calendar of severe owl faces hanging in his room, and I acquired an eclectic repertoire of owl trivia. I admit owls are complex and fascinating birds, but I’m grateful they prefer a nocturnal habit.

Surprisingly, I’ve been enjoying the incessant music of songbirds this summer. Trilling and chirping is the relaxing soundtrack in my garden plot, on the sunny patio, and through our open bedroom window. How can a bird’s song not point to its’ Creator? I remember a tune from my

The birdies in the treetops sing their song; The angels chant their chorus all day long The flowers in the meadow blend their hue So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you Praise Him too?

(Traditional children’s chorus, as sung by Cedarmont Kids, 1995)

I suspect one of the reasons that birds can soar and swoop with ease is because of their simple trust in their Maker’s provision. As Jesus said, the birds need not worry about their food supply because their heavenly Father feeds them (Matthew 6:26). A childlike faith produces a songbird joy that breaks out in praise! It reminds me of my favorite bird call from the black-capped chickadee. Most people think the chickadee chirps, “Hey, Sweetie.” But I’ve always thought it sounds more like, “He did it. He did it.” For me, chickadees have always pointed to the Creator of the world, the author of our salvation—the one who did it all for our salvation and holds all things by his sustaining word (Hebrews 1:3).

I thought about this while reading Romans 4 about Abraham who “did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God,” and whose faith was “credited to him as righteousness” (vv. 20, 22). Abraham, a hero of our faith

For me, chickadees have always pointed to the Creator of the world, the author of our salvation.

Pedal to the metal Love

Do you realize how unusual God’s love is? If I could really hold this in the depths of my soul, I would be a joyfilled person. This is it: God loves naturally.

Here is what I mean. You and I can be good, in our better moments. According to Scripture we can even share in the goodness of God (2 Peter 1:3–4). But for us goodness is something we occasionally attain to, something we arrive at inch by inch as God’s grace empowers us through decades of repentance and sanctification. But all along, we can easily not be good. Goodness is never natural to us, at least in this life.

What is natural to us? Being human. We don’t have to strive to be human. Nobody grits their teeth and determines to be a human today rather than a sofa; that’s ridiculous—we are just human by nature. We can’t not be human.

But that is love in God’s life! Just like you are human, God is love. God does not try to love. He does not need to remind himself to choose love. He does not deliberate about what a loving path might be today. If God were not loving, he would cease to be God.

For this reason, it is not so much that God has love. Rather, God is love. Love is not some attitude he adopts depending on the situation. God simply is love. Love is what constitutes his inner being. To put it crassly, love is what God is made of.

It should not be said that on some occasions God is more loving and others more just or righteous. For God to be love by nature means that at every moment God’s love is infinitely actualized. God’s love is always full-speed, pedal to the metal, fully operating at every moment. There is no potential in God to love more.

Knowing this truth in a deep and experiential way makes us joyful people who are capable of incredible suffering for the sake of love. What

you believe reality consists of sets your posture toward life. If I am greedy, grasping and anxious, it’s because I must believe that deep down God is a stingy miser. I must believe that God may be loving in some parts of his being, but in other parts, who knows?

But according to the Scriptures, we live suspended in the ocean of love that is God (Ephesians 3:17–19). We are held by the God whose name is Love. Whatever he will do to the end of our days, even what he does behind the scenes that no one ever knows, will always be the fullspeed action of infinite love. This is just God doing what comes naturally.

By Layton Friesen

It should not be said that on some occasions God is more loving and others more just or righteous. For God to be love by nature means that at every moment

God’s love is infinitely actualized. God’s love is always full-speed, pedal to the metal.

And we should never qualify or balance the love of God with some other apparently less loving quality. Sure, God is righteous and hates evil. But that is not in tension with the love of God. Anger is the form God’s natural love takes when his love is blocked and threatened by hatred and evil, either human or angelic. God’s anger is pedal to the metal love.

When we say God is love, let us never, ever, ever follow by saying “Yes, but on the other hand God is …”

This article is inspired by a wonderful sermon on God’s character I heard recently by Ernie Koop at Evangelical Fellowship Church in Steinbach, Man.

By Loreena Thiessen

Are you ready to work?

You’ve just begun a new school year. In math you may work on number sentences, number patterns, and 3D objects.

In science you investigate and observe. Are there plants in your classroom? How are they the same? Or different? Do they do better in sunlight or in shade? Can light shine through a leaf?

Do you know that when you practice your music you also help your skills in math, science and language? Playing music or singing together helps you connect with others. Your hearing becomes more fine-tuned.

Gym class, physical activity, strengthens your bones and muscles. You can play or run longer. It relaxes your brain, and your physical skills help you feel more confident, more sure of yourself.

Reading builds vocabulary. You learn expressive language, how words work, and how to use

Activity: Build a fruit parfait

Need:

• one cup size parfait cup or bowl

• ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt

• ¼ cup crushed graham crackers

• blueberries, strawberries, banana, peaches, apple, cut in bite-sized pieces

• chocolate chips, mini marshmallows for topping

Do:

1. Cover the bottom of fruit cup with ¼ cup crushed graham crackers

2. Add 2–3 tablespoons of yogurt

3. Add one layer of your choice of cut fruit

4. Repeat layers of fruit and yogurt until your cup is full

5. Add toppings of your choice

6. Enjoy!

them. Reading helps you better understand other people and their cultures. All these skills help you grow and develop. But to be successful you need several other skills. One is to be able to listen and follow simple instructions. To do a task well you must be able to follow instructions.

Another important skill is to communicate what you need or feel. What do you do when you don’t understand something? What if you feel unwell? You must be able to ask for help. To be able to communicate what you need helps you become more independent, and more in tune with yourself.

A third important skill is to be able to ask questions. If you’re curious about something or want more information, being able to ask a question will help you. More information, or further explanation, will help you understand something better.

Your work right now is to learn. Work began with God. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. He created the Garden of Eden as a perfect nature park. In it he placed Adam and Eve. Their job was to take care of the garden and the animals in it. This was their work. Their work would benefit them, all that was in the garden, and future generations.

Read Genesis 1:26–31.

Your work right now is to learn. Work began with God. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it.

LIGHTSTOCK