Mennonite Brethren Herald Digest is digitally published bimonthly by the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, primarily for the use of its members, to build a Canadian MB community of faith. We seek to 1) share the life and story of the church by nurturing relationships among members and engaging in dialogue and reflection; 2) teach and equip for ministry by reflecting MB theology, values, and heritage, and by sharing the good news; 3) enable communication by serving conference ministries and informing our members about the church and the world. However, the opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the church as a whole.
George Bergen, President of The Bridge (left) and Greg Wiens, Manager of Operations (right) are members of Meadow Brook Church. They were part of the group that asked, “If our church ceased to exist, would our community even notice?”
Read the full story on page 15
AUG | SEPT 2024 | VOLUME 63, NO. 04
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SHOULD CHURCHES TITHE? CCMBC Legacy Fund
From the editor
"FAITH SAYS NOT, 'I SEE THAT IT IS GOOD FOR ME, SO GOD MUST HAVE SENT IT,' BUT 'GOD SENT IT AND SO IT MUST BE GOOD FOR ME.' PHILLIPS BROOKS
Reading Phil Gunther's cover story on wise counsel got me thinking about what words of wisdom have stuck with me over the years. The first is the somewhat bleak and depressing news my father broke when I was a boy: "Son, things aren't always going to go your way."
Well, that sucks. Still, over time, I saw that my Dad didn't mean to dampen my enthusiasm for a prosperous life, but rather, he was encouraging me to manage my expectations, preparing me for life's ups and downs.
The second piece of wise counsel I recall came years later. When I was a university fine arts student, my drawing instructor, Jeff, impressed upon me the importance of varied line widths. His advice was: "Using a constant line width flattens the composition; look at what happens when you contrast thick and thin lines—the piece has depth. It comes to life!"
That seemed logical, so I applied it to my work from that point forward. Today, I consider how these concepts work together. Just as thick and thin lines breathe life into a drawing, life's highs and lows paint a picture of life in Christ. Not all things I desire, even if they seem good, are from God. Yet all things from God— whether sweet or sorrowful—are good because they are of God. I know that's not an easy pill to swallow at times. Hurt still hurts. So I practice, not master, this attitude. I allow it to sit with me as I navigate life seasons.
Thanks, Phil, for prompting us to reflect on "the wise counsellors in [our] discipleship that speak the truth in love with courage and conviction." I add my voice to Phil's and encourage you to consider where you've been most impacted by well-placed wisdom.
As usual, this issue of the MB Herald Digest is packed with rich views and perspectives. Our MB family is ripe with an abundance of brilliant writers and storytellers. I encourage you to take your time with the August/September issue—sit with it and allow it to speak to you. Then, could you share it with a friend? As our advertisement says, things are better when they're shared— especially stories of hope and the good news of the gospel.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
"AND WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE." ROMANS 8:28
Carson
CARSON SAMSON Communications director
The MB Herald Podcast is all about telling stories that build up our MB church family. We invite guests on the show to highlight various ministries and initiatives, as well as talk about some of the pressing issues we face in our churches and communities.
NEW EPISODES COME OUT EVERY TWO WEEKS.
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UPCOMING EPISODES
August 1: Ministry to truckers with Darren Milley of PowerServe Ministries
August 15: Being a multi-ethnic church with Jennifer Choi from Winnipeg’s Portage Avenue Church
August 29: What is Freedom Session? With Ken Dyck, founder of Freedom Session International and Andrew Klassen of West Portal Church in Saskatoon, SK
September 12: Ministry in the downtown with Dave Ens (from One88 in Winnipeg, MB) and Joel Feddersen (from Metro Community in Kelowna, BC)
September 26: Celebrate Recovery with Tracy Lepp and Dave Bretzlaff (from South Point Community Church in Leamington, ON)
Share the news!
At CCMBC Legacy Fund, we provide high-quality financial services to facilitate Kingdom growth. This means that investing with us will help provide mortgages to MB churches and pastors that may otherwise be unavailable.
In the past, our investments program was only open to members of an MB church. Our restructuring in 2019 has made it possible for many more people to invest with us; the program is no longer restricted to members of MB churches.
If you’re looking to invest while making a difference, invest with us to help grow God’s Kingdom by supporting activities such as church planting, pastor leadership training and other church-led ministry efforts.
We are so excited to introduce Ademilola (Demi) Olafusi as the new Controller for CCMBC Legacy Fund. Demi has a CPA and MBA, and her professional background includes banking and finance, Christian non-profit, real estate, public accounts as well as the provincial government. She is looking forward to drawing from her experience and expertise expertise to support our MB churches and organizations She says, “It is a blessing to get to serve with a team that is supportive, collaborative, and dedicated to quality service for the people that we serve.”
We have also welcomed Romina Garcia to the role of Accounting Clerk, and Lucie Michaud has come on board to provide additional administrative support. It’s clear that each of these individuals exhibits a servant’s heart and we are happy to have them join the CCMBC Legacy family.
Thank you for your continued support of our mission to facilitate Kingdom growth together!
The Canadian Conference of MB Churches (CCMBC) and Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (MBCM) seek to hire a 1.0 FTE (0.6 for CCMBC and 0.4 for MBCM) Media design and marketing coordinator. This is a hybrid position. CCMBC and MBCM have their head offices in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
View the full job description here.
The Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies (CMBS) seeks to hire a part-time (0.6 FTE) Records and Archives Technician. This position assists the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (CCMBC) in preserving, describing, and making accessible its congregational and institutional records at the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
View the full job description here.
MB Herald Jobs posts ministryrelated positions in the North American evangelical Anabaptist community. It’s a place where churches or other non-profit organizations can advertise vacant roles. And it’s a place to come when looking for a ministry change. Find new postings or advertise now at jobs.mbherald.com
Q&R corner
Q&R corner provides responses to questions that readers may have about CCMBC and its work collaborating with provincial MB conferences in areas of spiritual health and theology, leadership development, mission, and organizational health in order to achieve the overall mission: “To cultivate a community and culture of healthy disciple-making churches and ministries, faithfully joining Jesus in his mission.” If you would like to contribute a question, please send it to questions@mbchurches.ca
Please note that we will not be using your name in the MB Herald Digest in order to respect those who prefer anonymity. There may not be space to respond to every question—and sometimes we might not really have the ability or authority to respond to some questions (for example, those that relate more directly to one of our provincial MB conferences or to a local church leadership). We apologize in advance if we are unable to publish a response to your specific question.
Note: This month’s Q&R Corner is not a response to one person’s question, but a presentation of one of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from Article 6 that the National Faith and Life Team has prepared and is now available for feedback. Click here for the full DRAFT of Article 6: Explanatory Notes and Living the Confession (FAQs).
With all the failure and hypocrisy in the history of the church, why is it so important for each and every Christian to become an active member of a local church congregation?
We must acknowledge that there is much failure and hypocrisy in the historical and global church and within each and every local church. While both failure and hypocrisy are part of all human reality until Jesus returns again to establish the fullness of his Kingdom, we want to confess these failures and by the power of the Holy Spirit, pray for greater faithfulness to our calling embodying God’s character and purposes before the watching world. But while we want to confess and repent of our failures, and embrace greater faithfulness, the New Testament does not focus on the failures and hypocrisy of the early church but on its incredible calling.
Despite all its failures, God has not given up on the church. God has taken a huge risk to identify himself so closely with the church called to incarnate his character and mission. One might assume that God would have been nothing but embarrassed by the Old Testament people of God. However, in reference to the Old Testament patriarchs, Hebrews 11:16 notes that
God was “not ashamed to be called their God.”
In the New Testament, Jesus also was well aware of all the weaknesses and failures of the disciples and yet this did not stop him from creating the church. The eleven disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane fell asleep when they should have been praying, fled when they should have stood with him, and betrayed him when they should have declared his name (cf. Matt 26; Mark 14). And yet the risen Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20) to these same eleven disciples. When Paul was persecuting and imprisoning Christians, Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus and said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). For Jesus, persecuting the church was the same as persecuting him. Ephesians 5:25 declares that “Christ loved the church and give himself up for her.” While church failures and hypocrisy today need to be confronted and repented of, these are not reasons for disciples of Jesus to abandon the body of Christ. Scripture demonstrates that we worship a God not
ashamed to identify with the church and a God who has not given up on the church.
This must motivate us to have the same attitude and commitment to the church that we see God having. Scripture reinforces this with numerous reasons for why the local church is important in God’s plans and mission:
The first reason for joining a local church is because, according to Scripture, God dwells among his people in a way unlike anywhere else in all creation. The church incarnates Christ’s body in the world (1 Cor 12:27; 4:11-13) and contains “the fullness of him [Christ] who fills everything in every way” (Eph 1:23). In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul describes the church in Corinth as “God’s temple” where God’s Spirit dwells (cf. 2 Cor 6:16; 1 Pet 2:5). He continues with a solemn warning: “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, you together are that temple” (v.17). The New Testament writers had a very high view of the importance of the local church.
The second reason is that the New Testament has no category for Christians who want to follow Jesus independent from a local congregation. The New Testament use of the word church describes physical gatherings of disciples who worship together, fellowship together, participate in teaching and evangelism, and so on. The word church is always a team word which means it is incongruous to claim “membership” in the Church global or universal without pursuing active association with a local church. The New Testament metaphors for the Kingdom are corporate or group metaphors like banquet (cf. Matt 22; Luke 14) or Holy City (cf. Rev 21). Christians are called into communities of worship and mission.
The third reason is that the church has a central and indispensable role in God’s Kingdom mission. Throughout the Bible, God has been creating a new people for a missional purpose. God promised Abram that he would make him into a “great nation” (Gen 12:2) as many as the stars in the sky (15:5) and “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (12:3). This “people” was freed from Egypt (Exod 5:1) and became a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod 19:6). As Christopher Wright notes, God is “totally, covenantally and eternally committed to the mission of blessing the nations through the agency of the people of Abraham” (The Mission of God [IVP, 2018], 63).
The New Testament people of God (called the church) formed around Jesus is the extension and completion of this Old Testament Abrahamic people of God, and now carries the same missional purpose. The church pushes back the “gates of Hades [death]” (Matt 16:18) which cannot withstand this Spirit-empowered community.
“ ”One might assume that God would have been nothing but embarrassed by the Old Testament people of God. However, in reference to the Old Testament patriarchs, Hebrews 11:16 notes that God was “not ashamed to be called their God.”
Article 6: Note 1 makes several key points about the role of the church in God’s mission:
…it is hard to overemphasize the role of the church in God’s mission of bringing the Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven (Matt 4:23; 6:10; 10:7; 24:14; Luke 4:43). God’s Kingdom is what Jesus came to announce was now coming and present in his ministry. God’s Kingdom is where God reigns as Creator, Redeemer, and King over all creation and where the spiritual and physical powers in opposition to God’s Kingdom have been defeated. God’s Kingdom is where God reigns as Creator, Redeemer, and King in the midst of his people who respond to his grace and love with repentance, worship, and obedience. God’s Kingdom is most evident as his people model God’s character and purposes to the watching world….
God’s Kingdom has at its centre the creation of a Kingdom people from all nations saved by Jesus and indwelt with God’s presence through the Holy Spirit. This Kingdom people participates in God’s mission of bringing everything into subjection under Jesus’s feet. This is accomplished most directly by prayer and worship in honour of King Jesus; by seeking first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness (Matt 6:33); by embodying the values and priorities of the Kingdom; by doing good deeds in the world; and by inviting all people to salvation and discipleship in Jesus (Matt 16:17-20; 28:16-20)….
The faithful church worships and gives primary allegiance to a different King, lives by the ethics of a different Kingdom, and has a different hope for how the story will end. By these actions, the church challenges and dethrones the physical and spiritual structures and powers of this age (“the gates of Hades will not overcome it” [Matt 16:18]) and is a present witness to and embodiment of the future coming of the Kingdom of God in its fullness.
While God’s Kingdom is universally present across the cosmos and specifically across our world, it is not universally welcomed, acknowledged, and pursued. This is
The life of discipleship was never meant to be a solo journey. Jesus created a family of disciples, sent out disciples in groups, and when he prayed for his followers, he prayed that “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21).
why the people of God, Old Testament and then New Testament, are at the centre of God’s Kingdom because God’s people welcome, acknowledge, and pursue both King Jesus and the Kingdom that Jesus brought, is bringing, and will fully bring when he returns again. God’s Kingdom is larger than the church, but the Kingdom is most evidently present in the midst of his gathered people who worship, serve, and declare his name in the world.
The church is not a building or a human institution but the very “body of Christ” (Christ here means Messiah or King). As the body, the church is the only collection of people in the world called and empowered to embrace, declare in words, and embody these truths about God’s Kingdom. The church is symbolically the “firstfruits” of the new creation (2 Thess 2:13; Jas 1:18) displaying the nature and beauty of the future Kingdom in the present.
Scripture paints a highly exalted portrait of the nature and mission of the church in God’s Kingdom mission. The church is not an optional add-on for individual disciples of Jesus but is central to God’s Kingdom work in the world. When Jesus said that he would build his church (Matt 16:18), he was establishing the primary means through which God has chosen to model and embody his Kingdom in this world as God’s agent of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19).
In light of the New Testament exalted description of the role of the church in God’s mission, joining a local congregation is an act of obedience to Jesus (cf. Matt 28:16-20), an act of faith that God is active and working in the world when it is not always evident, and an act of hope that the church will ultimately be vindicated when the King returns to fully establish the Kingdom.
The fourth reason is that every believer needs a local church family for their discipleship journey and the local church needs believers to live out its mission. The local church family prays for, assists, equips, and holds accountable those who have joined the family. The life of discipleship was never meant to be a solo journey. Jesus created a family of disciples, sent out disciples in groups, and when he prayed for his followers, he prayed that “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). Jesus would not need to pray that individual believers become “one” unless he knew that these believers would form communities and these communities would be threatened by disunity and conflict.
The local church also needs disciples of Jesus or there will be no local church where God can dwell by his Spirit and no body to worship God together and embrace Kingdom mission. The New Testament assumes that believers will form church communities for mutual support and more effective mission. The Lord’s Supper is about disciples eating together in community. Baptism is about joining a community.
If believers refuse to form local church communities, there will be no local church witnessing to the diverse Kingdom community that Jesus is creating. There will be no local church community doing things together in the name of Jesus that are bigger than individual believers can accomplish. (The vast majority of Christian educational institutions, mission organizations, and local ministries have grown out of local church efforts [or groups of local churches] rather than from Christians not connected to a local church.) There will also be no local church encouraging, praying for, and holding believers accountable in their discipleship journeys.
Even with all the evident failures that we can see within the lives of local church congregations, these do not outweigh the many powerful reasons for why each and every Christian should become an active member of a local church congregation.
Forging a family identity
ICOMB Summit Report
The African crow was clearly trapped. Beating his enormous wings, he flew in circles around the high-ceilinged dining hall, veering away from the floor-to-ceiling windows, and occasionally landing on an unoccupied table to peck at the remains of someone’s lunch. He seemed fine. He was not. He was alone. Suddenly another crow — likewise huge and resplendent in his tuxedo black-and-white plumage — landed near a window outside the dining hall and began to squawk. Seeing him, the solitary crow trapped within, flew over to perch on a table on the other side of the glass, and there began a conversation about which one could only speculate.
“Caw! Caw! Come out!” Outside Crow seemed to insist.
Inside Crow looked perplexed. “What do you mean?” he seemed to ask, cocking his head. “What is ‘out’”?
No one is meant to be alone; we need family. That is what ICOMB is all about.
Malawi 2024
This year’s summit of the International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) took place in Malawi, hosted by the vibrant young conference that began in the Dzaleka refugee camp some 15 years ago. In attendance were delegates from 22 different countries, with divergent cultures and various languages, but with one thing in common: We are family.
From the effusive Latino embraces to the cheeky, ubiquitous headlocks of a certain Multiply global worker; from the vulnerable spontaneity of Thai prayer to the uproarious German mealtime pranks;
from the shared grief over absent Ukrainian brothers to the joyous celebration of three new MB conferences (Thailand, Uganda and the Philippines) being officially welcomed into membership; from the exuberant, rhythmic worship of local church members to the stiff-but-well-intentioned flexing of Western limbs in some semblance of dance — that sense of familial affection was everywhere. There, in a country known as the Warm Heart of Africa, we experienced the joy of long-lost brothers and sisters being reunited.
Connect, Strengthen & Expand
ICOMB serves to connect established and emergent global MB conferences, strengthen their local ministries and witness, and expand the reach of the Gospel all over the world. One of the ways in which this is achieved is through regular global summits, where national leaders and their associates can learn about and be inspired by what God is doing in and through MB churches all over the world. Even more, these gatherings are a chance for those who might otherwise feel isolated in ministry to experience, like Inside Crow, the life-giving support of family.
Biannual summits offer an opportunity for global conference leaders to report on the churches in their region, share their unique challenges, learn from and be encouraged by one another, and pray together. Delegates are also invited to hear various plenary speakers and be equipped through diverse workshops that offer opportunities to examine MB history, distinctives and theology, hear practical teaching on
“THE NEXT GENERATION BOTH WANTS AND NEEDS ICOMB TO TAKE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD, WITH A COLLECTIVE MISSION THAT REFLECTS THE REALITY OF BEING A COHESIVE FAMILY OF FAITH.”
— ICOMB GLOBAL DIRECTOR ELTON DASILVA
church growth and health, engage in current issues facing the global Church, and strategize together as to how best to address these issues in their different cultural contexts.
A Five-Fold Vision
High on this year’s agenda was the clarification of ICOMB’s mission, and the proposed launch of a new five-fold vision.
“There is a need for ICOMB to be more than what it has been,” said new Global Director Elton DaSilva. “The next generation both wants and needs ICOMB to take a significant step forward, with a collective mission that reflects the reality of being a cohesive family of faith.”
Forging a family identity, DaSilva continued, requires that vision be corporately discerned and owned, building both mutual trust as well as a mechanism for accountability. “It is not about the West imposing its views on everyone else. It is about a mission and vision that emanate from all of us, to all of us.”
Over the five days of meetings, delegates had an opportunity to speak into that vision — discussing, modifying, praying and voting to affirm several newly articulated tenets that related to strengthening family dynamics, resourcing leadership development, facilitating holistic mission, sharing foundational theological convictions and nurturing global Church and conference health.
On the issue of forging and strengthening family dynamics, there was unanimous enthusiasm. The proposed alternating of global gatherings with regional summits was embraced, with inter-conference relationships to be additionally strengthened through web-based gatherings for prayer and teaching and the promotion of peer-to-peer conference partnerships.
“Each conference has something unique to offer,” explained DaSilva. “Our goal is to identify and make those resources accessible for all conferences.”
Missional Leadership Training (MLT) was one resource highlighted as an effective leadership
development tool, while recognizing the need to supplement academic training with intentional mentorship, opportunities for short-term mission experiences and internships. There was near-unanimous voicing of the urgency to focus on the younger generation of emerging leaders. In some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, this can mean teenagers — or even younger — given the low life expectancy and the median age of the population.
There was widespread agreement that a holistic presentation of the Gospel, ministering in both Word and deed, is more crucial than ever. In this, as with missional reach, partnership is key. Where there is critical need for systems and structures to support both human and economic development, church planting may also mean garden planting. ICOMB remains committed to resourcing global churches toward vocational self-sustainability, helping to support both pastors and their communities. Ministering in “deed” is opening even more hearts to the ministry of the Word and, in this, there was strong consensus that our teaching must align clearly with the ICOMB Confession of Faith (COF). Ongoing translation and promotion of the COF has led to plans for a theological council to be established which will also oversee teaching workshops at the biannual summits and address various contemporary issues as they arise.
As delegates discussed and voted on the facets of this five-fold vision, there was a disarming frankness in tackling tricky topics with controversial perspectives. Despite strong opinions expressed — even disagreements — no one left the table. It was, in fact, exactly what one would expect at a family gathering. This sense of solidarity experienced by delegates was also reflected in DaSilva’s newly forged leadership team. As this team expands, he said, it will reflect ICOMB’s value of diversity, including plural and multi-generational leadership. ICOMB is no solitary crow.
Back in the dining hall, Outside Crow’s persuasion eventually bore fruit. Inside Crow seemed to realize that he was on the wrong side of the window, and somehow found his way to a nearby door. A few short hops, and he was outside at last. As the two birds finally flew off together, nearby summit attendees were moved to tears, identifying with this small drama on a deep level.
No one should feel alone in the Body of Christ. In June of 2024 in Malawi, no one did.
SUBMITTED BY ICOMB. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT ICOMB.ORG
2024 MONTHLY PRAYER FOCUS
Intercession Prayer (Part 3)
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (Ps 24:1-2)
“[God] set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved…. He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax…. How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all…. All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things…. May the glory of the LORD endure forever…. (Ps 104:5, 10-18, 24, 27-28, 31)
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ … God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Gen 1:26-31)
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Gen 2:15)
REFLECTIONS
Our August 2024 Contending in Prayer Guide is part three in our four-part series on Intercession Prayer. This month our focus is on intercession for our relationship with the physical creation. As I write, a catastrophic hurricane is producing what one leader called “apocalyptic damage” to an island country in its path. There are numerous deaths and much human suffering from the damage and displacement. These sorts of events (viz., wildfires, floods, blizzards, droughts, tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, atmospheric rivers, etc.) seem to be in the news almost weekly producing untold suffering.
Scripture tells us that the real cause behind our situation is because we have a broken relationship with creation. As Genesis 3:17-19 says: “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
This broken relationship is about more than simply thorns and thistles and painful toil, but about natural disasters that produce human and creational suffering. It is also about humans failing to “rule” and “guard” creation well as royal image bearers caring for the world as God intended for them (Gen 1:28; 2:15).
For Christians, creation care is based on three foundational truths: 1) The whole earth belongs to God (Ps 24:1-2) who clearly and obviously cares deeply for the earth, the animals, the plants, and humans in a way that shows God’s love and good intentions for the physical world (Ps 104). 2) Human beings are created as “image bearers of God” which involves acting as faithful representatives of God’s own care for creation (Gen 1:26-31). 3) Human image bearers are tasked with the job of “guarding” and “taking care” of the physical world in a way that protects it and stewards it for the well-being of the human and non-human creation going forward (Gen 2:15). All three of these are foundational to our prayers of intercession.
Our intercession prayers for healing with creation have four interconnected parts:
1. We begin by handing over the whole situation to God — our Creator, Redeemer, and King — trusting in his sustaining grace for the future preservation of the physical world. We know that God loves and cares deeply about all parts of what we call the creation. We pray that God would hold back and/or lessen the impact
of floods, fires, hurricanes — knowing that we have no way of participating in this prayer in the immediate situation. In a sense, we are asking Jesus to calm the storm (Mark 4:35-41).
2. We also intercede to God that we might live wisely in light of our brokenness with creation — as much as possible taking precautions that lessen the possibilities of death and catastrophic destruction to us and others (cf. Matt 7:24-27).
3. We intercede to God that the Holy Spirit would prompt all humans to respond with compassion and generosity toward those suffering from these natural disasters. (We could specifically pray for some of our affiliated agencies like Mennonite Disaster Service, MCC and Multiply who often are part of responding to these situations.)
4. We also intercede to God for ourselves and all humans that we might be better stewards of God’s good earth for the ultimate good of all. We know that one day there will be a new creation (or our present creation will become “new”) where there will be no death or disease-producing environmental disasters — and where humans will once again be people of peace with creation. Our intercession prayers today are part of the “May your kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven” prayer — as we look forward to that day. Interceding to God for the creation and for humans to steward creation well is certainly Kingdom prayer!
CONSIDER
˚ What natural disaster is going on right now that is producing creational and human suffering? (How can you pray into this situation?)
˚ What human actions do you see happening right now that conflict with our roles as stewards of God’s good creation? (How can you pray into this situation?)
˚ Are there any actions you feel called to that would represent living at greater peace with creation?
INTERCESSION PRAYER: PRAYING IN RESPONSE TO PSALM 104
Psalm 104 declares truths that are behind our intercession prayers for reconciliation with creation. Read this section of the biblical verses from Psalm 104 and then add your own prayer for what you believe is key in the reconciliation process. After you have prayed these prayers of intercession, be attentive to God’s Spirit through the next hours and days. God may be speaking to you about how you can participate in the prayer toward great reconciliation with creation.
PRAY THESE WORDS OUT LOUD
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.
He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate — bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.
The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers.
The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.
You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens.
Then people go out to their work, to their labour until evening.
How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number — living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works—he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
God, I thank you and glorify your name that you created the world, and that you sustain creation with your life-giving Spirit, giving us water, food and seasons. I pray now for reconciliation of us as humans with creation. I pray that you would protect us from natural disasters that produce so much suffering and destruction. I pray today specifically about that you would “calm the storm” and protect people and possessions caught in its path.
God, I pray that you would help me and all humans to live wisely as we are able so that these natural events do not produce so much death and destruction. And when death and destruction do occur, may we have mercy, generosity, and love for all those affected — doing what we can to be of help. We pray for all those stepping in to help that you would protect and bless them as they embody your love in that moment.
I pray also that you would help us all be better stewards of creation. May we care about the physical world like you care about it. May we guard it and protect it out of love for you and for all the present and future generations who will call this earth their home.
May your Kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven. Amen!
(Ken Esau, National Faith & Life Director)
Intercession Prayer (Part 4)
“A heart at peace gives life to the body….” (Prov 14:30)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ…. ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (2 Cor 10:3-5, 12, 17)
REFLECTIONS
Our September 2024 Contending in Prayer Guide is the final part in our four-part series on Intercession Prayer. This month our focus is on intercession for the internal brokenness of humans and their own selves. While this may seem complex or vague, this intercession is for humans to experience peace (or shalom) between their own body, mind, heart, and soul.
While this area of brokenness is not isolated from other key dimensions of our relationships (viz., with God, others, and creation), “a heart at peace gives life to the body” (Prov 14:30). While the ultimate causes of self-harm, depression, addiction, suicide, and mental illness are certainly multi-factorial, there is always a component of internal brokenness between body, mind, heart, and soul. Sometimes this shows itself through a self-hatred about one’s own body or one’s personality or one’s perceived mental limitations. It may also manifest itself through anxiety, envy, bitterness, negative selftalk, etc. (often exacerbated by unhealthy levels of screen time, indoor time, and/or solitary time).
People’s broken relationships with their own selves is a real consequence of the power of sin in our world — sometimes their own sin, but often sin as a power wreaking havoc from generation to generation and resisting treatments like counselling, anti-depressants, and even the best-intentioned love of family and friends.
So we contend in prayer to God — our Creator, Redeemer and King — asking for healing for ourselves, for our loved ones, for our neighbours, and for all those suffering in this way. This internal
brokenness has become a worldwide pandemic with death-producing consequences — causing widespread ripples of heartache and suffering throughout families and communities.
We pray first of all for healing from all the myriad of causes (e.g., spiritual, mental, social, physical, emotional, relational, experiential) that produce this internal brokenness within people’s hearts and minds. This brokenness can result from unhealthy comparison with others (cf. 2 Cor 10:12), from unhealthy patterns inherited through genetics or family histories, or from traumatic events that make us want to withdraw from life (or even to die like Elijah desired [cf. 1 Kings 19:4]). We pray to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5) so that through God’s power, we, and those we pray for, might have “divine power to demolish strongholds” (v.4).
We pray also for all the family and friends who are surrounding those suffering from this brokenness most directly. May they be able to love well and wisely in the way of Jesus.
We know that one day there will be a new creation where there will be no death and disease-producing effects of mental, spiritual, and physical brokenness between people’s bodies, hearts, minds, and souls. We look forward to that day, but for today we continue to pray and weep for healing. These types of intercession prayers are part of the “May your kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven” prayer. Interceding to God for the internal healing of humans with themselves is certainly Kingdom prayer!
CONSIDER
˚ Who in your circle is struggling with this sort of brokenness — manifested in negative selftalk, depression, anxiety, self-harm, or even suicide ideation? (How can you pray for healing in this situation?)
˚ Are there any actions you feel called to today that could encourage and bless someone living with this brokenness?
˚ Are there any thoughts that you need to take captive today to make them obedient to Christ?
INTERCESSION PRAYER: PRAYING IN RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE
Our key biblical texts today declare truths that are behind our intercession prayers for internal reconciliation of humans with their own selves. Read these verses and then add your own prayers for those God brings to your mind. After you have prayed these prayers of intercession, be attentive to God’s Spirit through the next hours and days. God may be speaking to you about how you can participate in the prayer and be part of God’s healing.
PRAY THESE WORDS OUT LOUD
“A heart at peace gives life to the body….” (Prov 14:30)
“ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ…. ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (2 Cor 10:3-5, 12, 17)
Lord, I specifically pray today for myself. I pray that my heart would be at peace and that you would guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus — so I could have your internal peace. Keep my mind and heart from anxious thoughts, from envy and comparison, and help me “take captive every thought” and “make it obedient to Christ.”
Lord, I also pray specifically for I pray that you would grant them a heart at peace and that you would guard their heart and mind in Christ Jesus — so they could have your internal peace. Keep their mind and heart from anxious thoughts, from envy and comparison, and help them “take captive every thought” and “make it obedient to Christ.”
Lord, I also pray for ’s family and community — for grace, patience, wisdom, and ongoing love for them in their suffering. I pray that you would give me wisdom about how I might be able to be a blessing and a help as you enable me.
May your Kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven. Amen!
(Ken Esau, National Faith & Life Director)
Bridging the gap in Leamington, Ontario
How members of Meadow Brook Church listened to God’s call to support the youth in their community
LEANNE JANZEN
“[The Bridge] has kept me from being homeless and connected me to a welcoming church. It has impacted me about how I feel about life and has given me fresh hope to keep going.”
“I am excited to live an independent life not only with support from resources [from The Bridge] but also to have and keep growing my relationship with God.”
“What excites me about my future is that I don’t know what it holds for me. Although it may be scary, it excites me.”
These are just a few of the countless stories of hope, safety and acceptance coming out of The Bridge, a youth resource centre located in Leamington, Ontario. The Bridge’s vision is to see every youth reach their potential.
Since opening its doors in 2017, the organization has provided a safe environment to youth between 14 and 24, giving participants access to food, showers, laundry, computers, recreational activities and social interaction. The Bridge also partners with other agencies to provide emergency
Eighteen different roofing companies worked together to install a steel roof on The Bridge facility, covering all labour and material costs.
housing, support services for youth in transition, as well as educational and career development programs.
The organization currently has 10 units of transitional housing with supports for youth. It has also just completed construction of 12 housing units — four of which were built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada and were the first 3D printed multi-unit fourplex constructed in North America. The Bridge’s future plans include the construction of 38 tiny home units to provide more housing in the community while generating income to support their operational costs.
Greg Wiens, Manager of Operations at The Bridge, says it all started in 2014 when he, along with several other members at Meadow Brook Church asked the question, “If our church ceased to exist, would our community even notice?”
“The hard answer to that question is, they probably would not know that we were gone. Life would carry on as normal,” Wiens says. “So we decided that we wanted to be more engaged in our community.”
After visiting a few other churches and agencies and doing some research in the community, God directed their hearts toward youth. At the time, there were limited services available to support the homeless youth in Leamington, in addition to those living in unstable and dangerous housing situations. The supports for young people that were currently available in Leamington were scattered across the community. A huge gap was identified; an organization was needed to centralize services, so that youth could be supported more effectively and holistically.
George Bergen, President of The Bridge, was also serving in leadership at Meadow Brook at the time.
“I came all excited back to the board, and we had this big vision, this big dream,” says Bergen. “We had come up with a vision of maybe supporting the youth of our community with a beginning budget and capital investment of a million dollars — and you can imagine adding a million dollars to a church’s budget! I think that really got the board’s attention.”
Upon much prayerful reflection, and though the board at Meadow Brook wholeheartedly supported the vision for The Bridge, it was decided the project was too big for their church.
Though Bergen and Wiens say they were initially disappointed with this decision, they quickly realized how being a separate charity could allow for countless more opportunities to partner with all levels of governments, other agencies and churches. “We get funding not only from many local churches, but a lot of the local businesses. We’ve had provincial funding, federal funding, municipal funding,” says Bergen.
“We’ve been blessed at all angles.”
Meadow Brook Church continues to play a key role in operations at The Bridge. Many board members, staff members and volunteers at The Bridge attend Meadow Brook, and the church is a substantial donor to the organization. Though it looks different than initially imagined, Wiens says, “We are, as a church, living out our faith in our community.”
God has continued to open doors for the organization. Churches from all denominations in Leamington are working together, business competitors are uniting on building projects and those who initially opposed The Bridge now are among its fiercest advocates.
Additionally, out of a connection with one of the sponsors at The Bridge, another charity has recently launched called Leamington Community Hope Centre. It’s a place of connection, support and basic needs services for people of all ages experiencing homelessness and addiction in Leamington. “We’re excited about what God is going to do, [things] that we don’t even know yet,” says Bergen.
For more information on The Bridge Youth Resource Centre, visit their website.
JANZEN lives in Saskatoon, SK and is a member of Faith River Christian Fellowship.
LEANNE
The Bridge offers educational, social and arts programs, and activities for youth.
BY LEANNE JANZEN
Women in ministry
ERICA BOSCHMAN
ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF CARE, RIVER WEST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (EDMONTON, AB)
Thank you for taking the time to talk about your experience as a woman in ministry.
Thank you! It is good to talk with you about this. Though I worry about being the “token” woman because that has been an experience I’ve had. But I also know that visibility leads to possibility. A lot of women with leadership skills don’t think they could potentially enter into pastoral ministry because they’ve never seen it modelled.
What has been your journey into ministry?
How did God call you?
I was brought up in a home that would identify as Christian but wasn’t faith-based. We started going to church randomly when I was five. And someone made sure I got to go to Bible camp, which was great. And I went every summer, in some capacity, from the time I was five until I got married at 27.
I came to know Jesus there. I was discipled, I had opportunities to lead. I was one of the only Christians in my tiny little town in southern Saskatchewan. My pastor at the time said, “Listen, if you’re interested in doing [ministry], do it.”
I didn’t have any stigma, or I didn’t understand the potential barriers for women in ministry. My goal was to go to Bethany [College] — well, to go to a Bible college — but Briercrest was too close to home (because I could get called home to help with harvest). And so Bethany was a good size for a little country bumpkin like myself.
[Shortly after I graduated from Bethany] I got a phone call from a church saying that I had been shortlisted for a youth pastor position. And would I like to come in? And I said, “Pardon me? I don’t know who you are!”
My pastor from the church I grew up in had mentioned my name to another church without telling me. Anyway, that’s how I got into [church ministry]. I worked there for a year. And then my home church had some conflict and needed time to recover from a mutually unhealthy pastoral-congregation relationship. And so I was there, solo pastoring for a year at 23. This was my first experience of burnout.
[After that] I worked for MB Mission for two years. Then I got hired at Bethany to do pastoral care as Associate Dean of Women.
From there, I got married and [my husband and I] moved to Edmonton. I volunteered at our church, River West, for 20 hours a week (at least) for almost
THE MB HERALD INTERVIEW
Erica Boschman has been in ministry leadership for the past 19 years.
two years. Then I got hired in January 2013 as Associate Pastor. My primary responsibilities were youth and small groups and “other duties as assigned.”
The lead pastor at the time [Kerry Dyck] was so supportive. He gave me lots of [leadership] opportunities. My position is now Associate Pastor of Care.
What are you the most passionate about in your ministry?
Oh, it’s always the people. Like a million times over! It’s always God’s people. In my early 20s, I was at some sort of conference and they [asked us to] come up with a mandate for yourself. And so like a dutiful student, I did: To be a safe person who creates safe places where people can grow closer to Jesus.
It’s a holy privilege. I went into palliative [care] just two days ago with this wonderful human who I’ve known for years, and who is dying. I sat with him — he’s not really communicative. I held his hand and I spent two hours listening to his wife. And then I drove home and I went right into marriage prep. There’s something wonderful about it. It feels like honest air. And so I love that. I love the people.
How do people respond to you as a woman in leadership?
I think it’s changed over the [past] 19 years. I have had some strange experiences. When I first started, I couldn’t tell who was for me or against me. And if I was just a token [woman]. There have been some side comments along the way, and you have to navigate things like objectification.
There were instances where I would preach and people would leave the room. But to be honest, God protected me, as I often didn’t see [the people who left] because I get really into it when I preach. I respect the fact that this is a process for people. I was more sensitive to it when I was younger, especially at conference events, because [the subject of women in church leadership] would be debated. It was really hard for me to see that people were debating the issue and not actually calling me a heretic. There were lots of subtle woundings that weren’t intentional, but that I absorbed. And yet, I’ve been really empowered. People put me into leadership roles. People have supported me and mentored me.
How do you think the MB conference could better support women leaders?
In our credentialing process, we allow space for someone to disagree with [women in leadership]. If you’re credentialing me and at the same time you’re also credentialing someone who actually disagrees with the fact that I’m here — that has always been a hard wrestling for me.
I understand it’s nuanced because there are churches that don’t support women in ministry. It’s tricky to navigate because it’s an ongoing process. But we’ve been in this for decades now. It would be beneficial if there was a clearer perspective and a clearer expectation of those who are MB.
What would you say to someone who feels the Lord calling them into leadership and ministry? How would you encourage that person?
I would encourage the female the same as I would encourage the male: lean into it! Explore it! Does it align with your understanding of Scripture? Does it align with your community? Does it align with the Holy Spirit within you? And then start seeking out authentic mentorship.
Take the risk and jump in and do something. Don’t spend your whole time going through college and seminary without having taken a risk or spent some time with a kid or with a senior. I really like theology with dirt on it — to walk around in it, for it to be close enough to the average person that the dust rises up and taints it. If we keep it so shiny and so pristine, it doesn’t serve us. [Theology is] for learning about God and his work — and it is for everyone.
What are some of the ways that you recharge?
Saturday is my Sabbath. I don’t do church work or coursework on it, it’s family time. (I have always been bad at rest. I know this about myself.) It is so refreshing to experience Sabbath after a long period of choosing to not engage in rest. I also have health concerns that are forcing me to think about how stress impacts me. “For he grants sleep to those he loves.” [Psalm 127:2] is a favourite verse of mine!
How can we pray for you?
You can pray for me as I navigate the tail end of my master’s degree in counselling, that I would finish well.
You can also pray for River West. Our church has been growing. Growth is great, but now we have to learn how to be that church. Pray for us as a pastoral team, to navigate and authentically care for the growing needs of our church family.
Faith and Finance
SHOULD CHURCHES TITHE?
BY CCMBC LEGACY FUND
Giving generously is a beautiful act of worship. Tithing reorients our perspective away from ourselves to the One who gives us life. It helps us remember that all the stuff in our lives — our wealth, talents, health, time, and the things we surround ourselves with — ultimately belongs to God.
As Christians, we are urged to give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7) and with abandon (Matthew 26:6-13).
But what about the church? Should a church set aside a portion of their budget to give outside of its own internal ministries, programs, and congregants?
In 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Paul praises the Macedonian church for their radical generosity. Though individuals in the church were themselves poor, this didn’t stop the church from giving to other poor Christians in other parts of the world: “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.”
Paul goes on to encourage the church in Corinth to give as enthusiastically as the Macedonian church.
The church in Macedonia could easily have decided their own needs took priority; there were plenty of people in their own congregation that could have used ongoing provision and support. But as we just read, “they urgently pleaded” to help others, to look outside themselves and serve those in need.
Paul says this kind of giving is not a command, but it is an expression of grace-filled, earnest love for the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:8). In Scripture, there are no set rules for churches on where to give or how much to give. But we gather from this passage and others (1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 6:1-3, Acts 2:44-46) that giving with humility and sincerity enriches our spiritual lives and models Kingdom values to others.
Churches whose leadership makes giving a priority in its budget — to missions, outreach, or other relief organizations — model financial stewardship to its members. Giving as a church body demonstrates the reality that everything belongs to God, even the money the church collects. Resources are to be held with open hands, exemplifying sacrificial giving to those belonging to the church. Alternatively, when churches cease to give in times of sparsity, it sends a message to its
attendees to handle their own budgets in a similar way.
Leadership, at its essence, means being an example for others to follow. If a church asks its individual attendees to give from their personal budgets to support the mission of the church, in a similar way church leadership should lead by example: to give sacrificially from its budget to support the larger mission to go and make disciples of all nations. The church is not the mission, but the mission includes the church.
Let’s not forget that most churches exist because they began as missions outreaches — God called a group of people together to commit to give sacrificially of their time and resources so that the gospel could be made known in a neighbourhood or community.
And God’s call continues! When churches can look beyond themselves to take part in what the Holy Spirit is doing elsewhere — across the street, in other parts of our country and around the world — it’s such a gift. It allows congregations to feel and experience being part of something bigger, that they can have an impact.
Supporting their denomination is another way churches can take part in what the Holy Spirit is doing elsewhere. By giving denominationally, churches can partner together in God’s work within their larger church family. Giving in this way goes beyond supporting “the institution” and the benefits they receive — such as shared costs, insurance, benefits and administrative support —but also supports the broader church family. When chu rches participate in denominational giving, they support and help one another through trials, join in mission together and collectively celebrate God at work in and amongst their broader church family.
So how does a church decide where to give? It all comes down to what is important to its congregation. All church budgets are value statements. Is the church passionate about missions, looking to spread the gospel beyond its walls? Is the church looking to support other churches in their times of trial and celebration? These are important questions for all church members to ask; if a church only financially supports its own ministries, it can miss out on receiving the blessing of giving, of partnering with others in doing God’s work across our communities, country and world. Because, as Paul writes of the Macedonians, what a privilege it is to share in service to the Lord’s people!
God is still in the business of providing
BY HOLLY HANNIGAN
any of our churches experienced a dispersing of congregations during the pandemic and felt the uncertainty of how many people would come back as things reopened. We feared the empty pews and vacant rooms, but what happens when your congregation returns full-force and you no longer have a building to welcome them to?
This was the predicament Willow Park Church faced as one of their three locations across Kelowna was told their rental arrangement would be coming to an end.
“We have an amazing church family and we are so, so grateful [the congregation returned],” said Pastor Glenn Madden. “But we were looking at being homeless. Over 200 people regularly meeting and we were going to have no building.”
Willow Park Church runs three physical church locations and this particular location had been renting a building from the school district for the last 20 years. As the city began to reopen after the
pandemic, the school district wanted to return the use of the building to a functional elementary school.
The church was allowed to temporarily set up on Sunday mornings as a “pop-up” church but the congregation would need to find another place to meet.
“I have a newfound appreciation for people who turn up at 7 a.m. and start making church in a blank box,” beamed Madden. “It’s an amazing ministry, but the school district made it clear this wasn’t going to be an ongoing situation.”
The church leadership looked at every option for relocating, from wineries to horse training domes, but nothing was working out — until they came across a church building for sale by First Mennonite Church.
Madden’s team spoke to CCMBC Legacy Fund about obtaining a mortgage for this building and things seemed to look positive, but Willow Park Church had been debtfree for many years and leadership wanted to ensure they considered every factor before taking on such a large loan.
“We prayerfully went through what it might look like for us financially, given the cost of the building and some renovations.” explained Madden. “We gave a figure to First Mennonite Church and they accepted that, and that’s where the fun began.”
The board of elders gave Madden and his team two criteria to meet if they were going to move forward with the purchase of this building. The first was to raise $400,000 for a down payment, and the second was to increase the church’s annual donor income by 10 percent, which at the time amounted to about $200,000.
These were pretty hefty goals for the church and they only had about a month to achieve them, but Madden was confident and hit the ground running.
Madden described the congregation as a good-size but quite diverse when it comes to generational ages. He saw this wide age range as one of the biggest challenges to increasing their annual giving.
“I’m so grateful to our seniors and our Gen Xers who are committed to giving and tithing every month, but the Gen Z and Millennials have a different viewpoint when it comes to giving,” Madden said. “One that I’m realizing more and more that the church needs to appreciate and understand, rather than do drive-by guiltings just to try to get them to tithe.”
Madden and his team came up with a game plan that included a big marketing push leading up to their request to the congregation, and an idea they called “micro-decisions" or "micro-pledges." The large financial goals were broken down into manageable amounts and presented to the congregation in a way that clearly communicated what that would look like for the individual. If enough people committed to these small amounts, then the church could reach their goal.
And by the end of their one-month deadline the church had not only met their goals but surpassed them.
“It was amazing and humbling,” said Madden. “There was such an excitement. We literally saw this money rolling in. I know that sounds hyperbolic but that’s what it felt like.”
There were many in the
congregation that increased their regular giving, but more importantly there were many who started giving for the first time.
The congregation raised over $400,000 in one-time gifts and the church has seen an increase of about $270,000 in regular giving across the year. This was well beyond the amounts they needed to feel confident about acquiring a mortgage through CCMBC Legacy Fund.
“The brevity of this [conversation] makes it very difficult for me to give you all the steps, because there were many,” Madden said. “The momentum was really important. We used social media, websites, video, PDFs. We used a lot of enthusiasm, really high vision-casting and communication. And it was just so humbling to see how God’s family stepped up.”
The Willow Park Church congregation has now been in this building for one year and their ministry is thriving in the downtown location.
“God is still in the business of providing in remarkable ways, and with some different perspective on how people give and a little structuring around how to do it, it’s more than possible.”
“We used social media, websites, video, PDFs. We used a lot of enthusiasm, really high vision-casting and communication. And it was just so humbling to see how God’s family stepped up.”
THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY! CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON VIMEO!
— Willow Park executive pastor, Glenn Madden
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOU GOT TO WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR PASTORAL JOURNEY:
I studied at Briercrest, and then went on to pastor as an Associate Pastor in Yorkton, SK, and then up to Melfort, SK. I did a lot of youth roles there and associate roles. I’d seen a lot of programs. I saw the church through that Sunday-centric lens and the programs.
While we were in Melfort, SK [my wife and I] felt a call to plant a church. I think I was influenced by The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren, and the conferences he would put on. As well as some others. Expressions like Peter Wagner out of Fuller, “it’s easier to give birth than raise the dead.” So yeah let’s give birth. Let’s start a new church.
Went to church-planting school and all of that. We were looking to plant in either Red Deer or Calgary. We ended up going to Calgary and did a church restart situation. Again, influenced by the church growth movement. Little Cree, Saddleback, Andy Stanley, and others. This idea of drawing a crowd.
So we drew a crowd. And then we tried to get them involved in small groups or one-on-one discipleship. We quickly learned that people see that as optional, that Sunday is the main thing and if I have time or it’s the right season then I’ll get involved in one of these next things.
A BIGGER VISION THAN SUNDAY MORNING
Cam Stuart, CCMBC National Director, recently sat down with Rick Bayer, pastor at Grace Point Community Church, to talk about what disciple-making is and how Bayer is making changes in his church function to facilitate better disciple-making practices.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF DISCIPLESHIP/DISCIPLE-MAKING IN YOUR CHURCH?
I think all of us as pastors, we’re very concerned with discipleship and disciple-making. We know what it’s about. We probably preach on the Great Commission at least once a year, if not more. We know it’s very important to go and make disciples. But like I said, we’ve all been influenced by the church growth movement because we have a certain form of church now that exists in North America, as a result of that.
It’s basically all I’ve known in my lifetime for people to come through the doors on Sunday morning and for us to assimilate them into the church. We have events. We have small groups. We have serving opportunities, in order to assimilate people. To bring them along in a funnel. And that’s all we’ve really known the last few decades in North America. And we can’t deny how that has influenced us in terms of how we see disciple-making and discipleship. The challenge becomes, like in our culture now, we don’t have non-Christians coming through the doors of the church. We don’t have that in our context here for certain, and I’m betting that in most contexts across our country that is also true. The people that generally come through our church doors, that aren’t part of our church community yet, are people
who are “church shopping.” That’s not making a disciple-making movement if we’re just trying to appeal to those Christian shoppers. It’s not enough for us just to attract and keep already Christians. Is what we are currently doing, is it producing people who look like Jesus?
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE A HEALTHY DISCIPLE-MAKING CHURCH?
I would look into the Gospels, the example of Jesus. An so I think of passages that have formed my thinking on this, like Luke 6. Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray, he spends the night in prayer. Then he comes down the mountain and he chooses, amongst the dozens and dozens of disciples, he chooses 12 who will be with him. And then he and those 12 go out and they teach and they set people free and they heal people and live on mission.
Acts 2:42-47, I would summarize it as the “up” life. The church took communion together, they praised God together, they prayed together, and they did life together. They met for teaching and fellowship and then they were on mission. The Lord added to their number daily. There were signs and wonders that happened. I see that balance, when you ask about healthy disciple-making happening, that balance of the “up”, “in”, and “out”. That all three of those components are happening.
WHAT IS YOUR CONGREGATION DOING TO SHIFT HOW YOU APPROACH DISCIPLE-MAKING?
We’re missing what we eventually called “Core groups”, triads or quads, where people can have high accountability and high vulnerability. And then also I thought we’re missing a mid-size gathering. There’s something that happens when we gather in circles, rather than rows.
We are trying to create some space for those things to happen. We have chosen to take our Sunday morning gathering and we have chosen to disperse it, on the occasional Sundays, out into clubhouses rather than meeting at the church. It’s a gathering of 20-50 people and it’s not led by any of the staff.
WHAT ARE THE CORE THINGS YOU ARE AFTER WITH THESE GROUPS?
We’re looking to produce greater connection amongst people. The gathering is different than a Sunday morning. It’s participatory. It’s relational building. We’ve designed these clubhouse gatherings as being neighbourhood-based, and so the desire is they will meet people from their neighbourhood.
For example, in the Delta location there’s all sorts of food scarcity issues. Perhaps that's something that this mid-size gathering of 40-50 people could address in shared mission. At the moment, we’re about a year and a half into this, so still tweaking some things, but we’re creating some of those relational connections. People know each other, expect to see each other and then we an go on mission together. That’s a lot easier to do when you’re from the same neighbourhood.
WHAT’S GONE WELL AND WHAT ARE THE FAILURE POINTS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM?
Attendance-wise, it’s gone pretty good. We’re happy with that in terms of 70 percent [of the congregation participating] and we’re working on the remaining 30 percent. We take a hit in terms of our offering those weeks of course. But that’s okay. We’re not going to let the dollars determine things.
We now do a meal at each of our gatherings, it’s a potluck. We didn’t do that initially and I wish we would have done that to start. So that’s been a good thing.
One of the other things we haven’t done that well is communicating the “why” behind things. I’m one who instinctively kind of knows the why. I’m good to go. Other people are like, “Hmm I’m not sure”. So we’ve learned we’ve got to keep casting and recasting the vision of why we are doing this.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR GRACEPOINT COMMUNITY CHURCH, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON?
I think in terms of equipping [the congregation] and believing in them. Saying, “you can do it” and then trying it and continuing to walk with them and work that leadership square with them.
Also to keep the disciple-making in front of people because it’s easy to get lost in what else is going on. To say, “We like what’s happening Sunday and it’s good. But there’s a far bigger vision here.”
WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
LOOK FOR THE ENTIRE VIDEO INTERVIEW BETWEEN CAM STUART AND RICK BAYER ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS SOON.
By Philip A. Gunther
“Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!”
Proverbs 4:7a NLT
There are particular people God allows to cross our path of discipleship, fellow sojourners who change the trajectory of our spiritual formation. I remember the good word given to me by Haldane Rowan, director of Capernwray Torchbearers Australia. His good word came to me when I was a 22-year-old student at Capernwray and, at best, a lukewarm disciple of Jesus. I needed to choose between a “Philocentric” life and a Christocentric one. I was not behaving at the school in a manner that would match my testimony. Simply put, I was foolish and immature. I would describe myself then as being at the crossroads of significant discipleship decisions. The battle was on for who would sit on the throne of my life — me or King Jesus. Would I bow to Jesus as my lord and respond wholeheartedly to his call upon my life? With a posture of kindness, Haldane said, “God has called you for his purposes; the time to serve him is now.” His good word changed the trajectory of my life.
“Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others,” are words attributed to King Solomon (Prov 12:15). These words have shaped my discipleship for many years. I am blessed to have good counsellors, godly folk who speak the truth in love. On my discipleship journey I often cross paths with believers who possess keen insight into matters of life and faith. These Christians have my ear. We need such advisors for a healthy, vibrant, and growing spiritual formation. The best of these counsellors are people of courage and conviction, followers of Jesus who listen well and are slow to speak. They are meek people who possess great humility and consciously seek to build others up. Wise
counsellors have a depth of life experiences that inform them, experiences that comprise both hard lessons and hallelujah moments. Who are the wise counsellors in your life? Who are the godly people bringing a good word to you as a disciple of Jesus?
I understand the Apostle Paul to be a godly character, seasoned in the gospel, fervent in faith and mission. He is a person of wisdom and good counsel. The pastoral letters (1 and 2 Timothy) give witness to his good words for the young Timothy serving as a teacher and preacher in the Ephesian church. Consider the following wisdom he passes along to this young leader whom he calls his son in the faith:
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ̒Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17 NLT
Who is like the Apostle Paul in your life? As I reflected upon this question, I was reminded of all the faithful believers who have spoken a good word to me as I followed Jesus. It was then that the Holy Spirit nudged me to reach out to some of these wise counsellors and ask them a simple question:
What is the most life-transforming wisdom you now possess and wish you had known much earlier in your discipleship?
I believe the purpose of this gentle prodding by the Holy Spirit was so that I might share with others,
“Who is a wise man? He who learns of all men.”
The Talmud
like those of you who read this piece, the responses I received. And so, this is my attempt to do just that. The following nuggets of wise insight are for your edification and encouragement. All these folks I petitioned have over 25 years of discipleship experience; most have served in significant leadership roles or are doing so now. As you read their words, take time to soak in what is being shared and reflect on how it might help to inspire your discipleship.
“The Father makes no mistakes.”
Peter, pastor and farmer
“As disciples, we play the long game.”
Bernie, seminary professor and denominational leader
“Spirit-inspired humility transforms.”
Rita Mae, missionary and spiritual director
“Be faithful where you are.”
Mark, lead pastor and seminary president
“In all aspects of our life, God is the primary shaper of our transformation into Christlikeness.”
Cam, pastor and denominational leader
“Do life with Jesus, not for Jesus.”
Ron, church planting network leader
“Memorizing Scripture has been the most lifetransforming practice in my discipleship.”
Ralph, pastor and denominational leader
“To become like Christ is my core responsibility.”
Mike, pastor and rancher
“Moving from Jesus as my friend who wants to help me overcome all my Goliaths — to Jesus as my KING building his ultimate Kingdom changes everything for followers of Jesus.”
Ken, Bible college professor and denominational leader
“Nothing is as vital and significant as the relationships we cultivate.”
Harry, pastor and seminary professor
“Do what you do for the glory of God.”
Jeromey, Bible college and seminary president
“Continuously ask, ‘What is Jesus saying to me at this time and place?’”
Michael, pastor and denominational leader
“Learn how Jesus discipled and then imitate it.”
Paul, pastor and denominational leader
“Pay attention to people; God does.”
Rob, pastor and denominational leader
“A deep and dynamic awareness of God’s love is foundational for my discipleship.”
Rick, pastor, Bible college president and denominational leader
Who are the people speaking a good word into your life? Who are the wise counsellors in your discipleship that speak the truth in love with courage and conviction? As I said earlier, God brings such people into your life to change its trajectory for the good. Look for them. Listen to their advice, even if it is hard to receive at the time. Journal their good word for future reflection and thanksgiving. Such people and their sage wisdom are God’s gift to you.
“How good is a timely word.”
Proverbs 15:23b
REV. PHILIP A GUNTHER is director of ministry for the Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches
BOOK REVEIW FIRST NATIONS VERSION: AN INDIGENOUS TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT . 483 PAGES. PUBLISHED BY INTERVARSITY PRESS, DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS, 2021.
Reviewed by Randy Klassen, former Bible teacher at Bethany College, Hepburn SK, and currently Indigenous Neighbours coordinator for MCC Saskatchewan, and adjunct instructor in Anabaptist history and theology, Horizon College, Saskatoon. He has written earlier for the MB Herald on Bible translations (Apr 2012, Mar 2015) and Indigenous theology (Jan 2013, Mar 2016, Feb 2020). He is a member of Lakeview Church in Saskatoon SK, in the heart of Treaty 6 territory.
I am drawn to the FNV for several important biblical and theological reasons. (1) It successfully recreates the feel of communal story-telling, and thus reflects the original experience of hearing the Word better than the private book-reading more commonly practiced by modern North American Christians. The rhythms and cadences of the FNV’s voice tends to slow down the story. This slower tempo lends itself to a more meditative reading, and a deeper experience of the Word. Occasionally, the FNV adds a phrase or sentence to build a narrative connection or emphasize a cultural nuance. These notes are clearly marked as additions by the use of italics (a technique borrowed from the KJV) and sidebars.
(2) The FNV works hard to communicate key theological concepts in language that breaks through defenses. For First Nations people, those defenses are often erected to protect against the horrendous legacy of Indian Residential Schools, where Christianity was enforced and abusive. But for non-Indigenous folks who haven’t suffered those historic abuses, the gentle cadences of this version seem able to penetrate other defenses, like a tired or cynical faith that senses a disconnect between Jesus and contemporary North American Christianity.
Some examples of the FNV’s translation strategy: The gospel is “the Good Story.” No surprises there. “Messiah” and “Christ” become “the Chosen One.” Also easily understood. “Church” becomes “sacred family” — something which resonates strongly with Mennonite Brethren theology.
The First Nations Version (FNV) is a recent translation of Scripture that many are discovering as a beautiful and important voice for the church’s worship and discipleship. It arose out of the work of Rain Ministries, a Native American organization founded by Terry and Darlene Wildman. The translation is now helping Christians of many backgrounds encounter God’s Word in fresh and powerful ways.
I first met the precursor to this version while teaching at Bethany College. In 2008 Rain Ministries produced a CD entitled The Great Story from the Sacred Book. This spoken word album presents the founding stories of the Old Testament and the core of the Gospel story, in a traditional oral narrative style that is culturally aimed at Indigenous listeners. That album became a seed that grew into a book, Walking the Good Road: The Gospels and Acts, with Ephesians (2017), supported by a translation council and partners such as Wycliffe Associates. The entire New Testament was published in 2021. (Plans for Psalms and Proverbs are in process; an audio book and an animation based on the text are also available, in partnership with Cru and The Jesus Film project.)
More startling is the FNV’s transposition of Jesus’ favourite self-designation: “Son of Man” (thus KJV, NIV, NLT, NRSV; even The Message doesn’t tweak this phrase). In the FNV we hear Jesus talk about “the True Human Being.” It takes some getting used to, but this is indeed good biblical theology.
So also is the FNV’s take on “Kingdom of God,” the centre of Jesus’ teaching and ministry. The English term “kingdom” rings with overtones of territory ruled, more than the power and influence of the ruler. And in the history of European Christendom, the emphasis on territory (and its conquest) has been a common practice and fatal flaw. The FNV avoids territorial language by linking the concept of God’s Reign more clearly to discipleship, i.e. following Jesus, via the biblical image of the path: “God’s Kingdom” becomes the “Good Road.”
One of the ways that the FNV carefully dismantles defenses is by honouring Indigenous ways of naming God. It will surprise most readers (and probably bother some) that the word “God” is not used, in favour of “Creator”, “the Great Spirit”, “the Great Mystery”, and so on. Yet these are theologically sound terms, which remind all readers of essential biblical aspects
ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT TIME STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES KNOWS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF NAMING. THE FNV MAKES THESE CONNECTIONS BEAUTIFULLY CLEAR, IN WAYS THAT ARE THEOLOGICALLY SMART AND WELL-GROUNDED.
of the Deity. And — unlike “God” or “Jesus” or any variation on all things “holy” — I have never heard “Creator” used as an expletive. I find it refreshing to hear these untainted names for God.
(3) One specific dimension of the FNV’s Indigenous communication style that will strike the reader/ hearer most strongly is its practice of translating all names. This is, I believe, unique among English Bible translations. It is also one of the facets of the FNV that brings it closer to the experience of the original audiences than any other modern translation. Anyone who has spent time studying the Scriptures knows of the importance of naming. The FNV makes these connections beautifully clear, in ways that are theologically smart and well-grounded. Abraham is “Father of Many Nations”, Isaac is “He Made Us Laugh”; reading the gospel genealogies thus becomes quite a new adventure! But it is instructive to be reminded, for example, that God’s people is named “Wrestles With Creator” — as many Christians increasingly resonate with this dimension of the spiritual life. And most beautiful, in my estimation, is the One we come to know at the heart
of the Good Story: Jesus is “Creator Sets Free” expressing the Hebrew “Yahweh saves” (Mt 1.21).
I said at the outset that the FNV is beautiful and important. I have spoken mostly of its beauty, as a vehicle of divine truth. But it is also important because it is, I suspect, the only English Bible that directly confronts its non-Indigenous readers in a way that Jesus also confronted his audience: with a challenge to hear and repent. The FNV’s dedication page includes this sentence: “We pray the FNV will bring healing to those who have suffered under the dominance of colonial governments who, with the help of churches and missionary organizations, often took our land, our languages, our cultures, and even our children.” It would be disingenuous for one to read the FNV without wrestling with this hard historical truth. I hope that the FNV might become a tool of renewal for Canadian churches, as we are called to practice the kind of repentance we regularly preach. And as the fruit of repentance, may we lean into the kind of reconciliation envisioned by our Master and Wisdom-keeper, and on that good road discover new ways that Creator sets us all free.
by Phili P A. Gunther
Finish lines
JOHN RATZLAFF
John Ratzlaff died Dec. 31, 2023, at the age of 96. He was a man who made time for others. He taught at the Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford, B.C., from 1954 to 1988. As a teacher, he loved taking students on hikes and field trips, leading choirs, and making time for persons around him. The students he taught in his later years were the children of many of his former students. Many students have remarked on the lasting impression he made on their lives. After his retirement, he and his wife Helen spent time in China teaching English to speakers of other languages until the revolution in 1989 cut short their stay. John then spent time teaching inmates in the local prisons till he lost his eyesight in 2001. John and Helen’s house was always open, and students and visitors were always welcome. He always had time for his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and took a great interest in their aspirations and achievements even in his last days. While his family is saddened by their loss, they know their dad had a very full and joyful life and many happy and adventurous years with Helen. John leaves behind Johnathan (Lorraine) Ratzlaff, David (Ruth) Ratzlaff, Mitzi Payie, Carol (Terry) Sawatsky; many grandchildren; and many, many great grandchildren.
Birth: April 23, 1927 Death: December 31, 2023 Family: children Johnathan (Lorraine), David (Ruth), Mitzi Payie, Carol (Terry) Sawatsky; grandchildren; great-grandchildren Church: Highland, Abbotsford, B.C.
JOHN BERGEN
Along with his mother and three siblings, John arrived in Canada as a refugee in 1947 and settled in Winnipeg. His childhood experiences became bedtime stories filled with hope for the next three generations.
As an adult, John became an accomplished tinsmith, a career he loved and excelled in. It was on his way to work that John took notice of Shirley, the woman who would become his beloved wife. In 1963, John started his own company, Aircond Installations, and enacted the slogan he always lived by: “If it can be done, we can do it!” The family relocated to Brandon in 1970. A natural leader, John became involved in his faith community and was instrumental in planning and building Richmond Park MB Church’s new building, which still stands on 26th Street in Brandon. Travel was always a part of John’s life, both through work and family time. Family road trips were made regularly throughout Canada, from P.E.I. to B.C. The couple celebrated their 25th anniversary by taking part in a mission trip to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In retirement, John and Shirley continued their adventures with road trips to visit their children and grandchildren from coast to coast. John and Shirley spent their retirement in Winnipeg and transitioned to Buhler Active Living Centre in Winkler in 2022. John was known to always have a wise word to offer, often in the form of a rhyme, and to prefer sitting at the kids’ table. He started and ended every day with a prayer to protect his family, listing everyone from east to west, and then west to east, so no one was ever forgotten. John taught his children and grandchildren to be resilient and self-sufficient. He will be remembered by the lessons he lived by: don’t forget to bring a jacket and boots when you are driving on the highway, you can accomplish anything if you aren’t worried who gets the credit, and always make turnips with Sunday roast.
Birth: July 24, 1933 Birthplace: Gnadenthal, Ukraine Death: February 26, 2024 Parents: Abram & Susanna (Loewen) Bergen Married: Shirley Penner, Apr. 2, 1960 Family: Shirley; children Carol, Marjorie (Martin), Donna (Andrew), Nancy (Steve), Richard (Nancy); 12 grandchildren; 6 greatgrandchildren Church: Fort Garry MB, Winnipeg; Richmond Park MB, Brandon, Man.; Portage Avenue, Maranatha Evangelical Free, Winnipeg Baptism: 1948
MARILYN (HALBE) BRAMWELL
Mary was born in the village of Karatal, Russia, Apr. 14, 1928, to Aaron and Maria Enns, and she immigrated with her family, due to political unrest, to Canada in 1929, settling in Glenbush, Sask. In 1946, the family moved to Elm Creek, Man., where Mary grew up on the farm. Mary attended Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute, prior to finishing her high school, where she met the love of her life for the next 69 years, Nick. They were married in 1955. They lived in Winnipeg for a short while before moving to Rosenort and later Morden, Man., where they raised their three children, Laureen, Ron, and Marvin. Mary has always been involved in caring for others in her community or through her church. It was never too much to help out someone in need. She loved to garden, travel, watch baseball games, and spend time with friends and family. Family reunions seemed to light her up as she, along with siblings and in-laws, would spend time sharing food and stories. Games were also a big part of her life, either playing Scrabble with family or Skip-Bo with children, granddaughters, and grandsons. She was always engaged with people, in either serving through the community or the church she loved. Nick and Mary moved to Winnipeg upon retirement in 2002 and spent the last 22 years living in the Lindenwood Estates community. They attended Portage Avenue Church where they grew reacquainted with old friends and made new ones.
Birth: April 14, 1928 Birthplace: Karatal, Russia
Death: July 11, 2024 Parents: Aaron & Maria Enns Married: Nick Poetker, July 9, 1955 Family: Nick; children Laureen Brookes (Geoff), Ron (Pat), Marvin (Rhonda); grandchildren Jamie Hodgmann (Kyle), Joshua (Kassia), Ali, Drew (Trisha), Breanne Locke (Joe), Nick, Courtney Brookes, Hillary Brookes, Sean Brookes; great-grandchildren Keira Locke, Levi Locke, Emma, Armando Campbell, Nora, Sophia BrookesWoods; siblings Marg Matthies, Hilda Hamm (Henry), Neil Enns (Bernice), John Enns; predeceased by siblings Wally, Nick, Pete, Aaron, Ann Church: Portage Avenue, Winnipeg
OBITUARIES HAVE LONG BEEN A VALUED PART OF THE MB HERALD . FROM THE FUNERAL BULLETINS, EULOGIES, AND NEWSPAPER OBITUARIES YOU SEND, OUR EDITORS CRAFT LIFE STORIES OF OUR MEMBERS TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE OUR READERS, CREATING A MEMORIAL OF MB SAINTS. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN OBITUARY
A moment in time
TOWERS, ALBERTA 1994
Teachers Henry Peters (left) and Henry Walde (right) with Daily Vacation Bible School students at Towers, Alberta.
Courtesy of the Mennonite Archival Information Database
In case you missed it!
We regularly publish website-exclusive stories on mbherald.com. Here are a few articles we’ve posted online in the last few months.
Cam Stuart unanimously affirmed as National Director: A summary of CCMBC’s 2024 National Assembly (AGM)
A summary of CCMBC’s National Assembly on June 13. It was an enriching time of commissioning for Cam Stuart, making decisions as a national body, and hearing updates from various national teams.
Founding MCC Ottawa Office Director Bill Janzen honoured with the Order of Canada
William (Bill) Janzen, former director of MCC Canada’s Ottawa Office, has been appointed to the Order of Canada this July for his contributions to government policy, refugee resettlement, citizenship, development aid and peacebuilding.
Facing the death penalty in North Africa: pray for Multiply’s partners facing persecution
Conversion to Christianity is illegal in some countries in North Africa. If someone converts from Islam, they may face the death penalty. Read about God’s faithfulness through persecution and how you can pray for Multiply’s partners in North Africa.
In the image of God: a journey into the Genesis creation account (part 8)
Pierre Gilbert continues his series on Genesis. In part 8, he writes on our intrinsic value as humans; each of us has been made in the image of God.
One body with many faces
Read an update from the Mennonite World Conference.
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