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.
Digest
APR | MAY 2025 | VOLUME 64, NO. 02
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on March 7 and 8.
John Neufeld with wife Rose and MBCM moderator Gerald Dyck. Neufeld was installed as Manitoba’s Provincial Director at the MBCM Asssembly in Morden, Man.
From the editor
aught in a trade war with our closest ally and neighbour, the United States, Canadians feel the impact of rising prices for goods and services, crashing stock markets, increased tensions with America, and the patriotic call for a more assertive “elbows up” stance.
How can we, as Christians, be a non-anxious presence during this time of political and social upheaval? I fear I’m not the right person to answer that question; I have a Ph.D. in anxiety. But I know the Church is called to be an instrument of peace and justice. In this issue, we explore this subject in our QR Corner. “Our primary allegiance and our primary hope are not in any government or political leader but in Christ’s Kingdom. Our first passport is not Canadian or American but that of a Kingdom citizen,” writes Ken Esau, “No political leader should be seen as either a saviour to be worshipped nor as an enemy to be hated. We already have a Saviour. We already have a King. We already know where our hope lies.”
The cross is King Jesus’ most unexpected coronation; his crown is made of thorns. What a stark contrast to how we perceive power today. When focusing on today’s earthly powers and kingdoms, we feel fear and anxiety. But underneath all of this turmoil, the kingdom is coming. King Jesus is coming; on that day, all governments and world leaders will bow before the cross.
In her Easter devotional on page 10, Tabitha VandenEnden reminds us: “As finite human beings, we do not have the authority to say, ‘Do not be afraid.’ ...The good news is that Jesus, the resurrected Son of God, has the authority to calm our fears and speak these words of assurance.” King Jesus is coming.
We thank Tabitha, Mike Engbers and Phil Gunther for their Easter contributions to MB Herald . Additionally, we appreciate Traci Johnston for her lenten article to our website. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all our contributors, advertisers, and, of course, our readers for your continued support.
I want to extend my personal gratitude to the Communications team: Linda Fox and Michelle Madunatu have taken on the design and layout for this issue, as well as the previous two, while I was on sabbatical. Leanne Janzen has played a crucial role, handling editing, writing, and managing various behind-the-scenes tasks. She also contributes to our podcast. We have been busy recording episodes for the upcoming fifth season, and you can find links to our entire back catalog of podcast episodes right here!
With respect,
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.
You can listen to previouslyreleased episodes on Spotify or Apple. Watch for Season 5, airing in Spring 2025!
GLORIOUS DAY
What a glorious day.
It followed a Friday crucifixion, and then a silent sabbath.
Resurrection Sunday.
The great stone rolled aside, the dark grave vacant.
An angel declared, “He is risen.”
Who is risen?
Emmanuel
The Christ
The Son of Man
Jesus
What a glorious day.
Death was defeated.
Satan was defeated.
Sin was defeated.
What a glorious day.
A day of good news, a day of victory, a day of hope.
What a glorious day.
Philip
A. Gunther, Director of Ministry for the Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches.
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 particular question did not come from one individual but is a compilation of questions that I’ve heard from several individuals in our church circles recently.
How should Christians in Canada respond to the new presidency of Donald Trump? Is he God’s “chosen instrument” for this time or an “enemy”?
Our MB Confession of Faith Article 12: Society and State provides some helpful guidance as we address this question.
The State as Instituted by God
We believe that God instituted the state to promote the well-being of all people. Christians cooperate with others in society to defend the weak, care for the poor, and promote justice, righteousness, and truth. Believers witness against corruption, discrimination and injustice, exercise social responsibility, pay taxes, and obey all laws that do not conflict with the Word of God.
God has given governments authority to maintain law and order and to punish wrongdoers. Followers of Christ respect and pray for those in authority so that peaceful order may prevail. We deplore the loss of life in the exercise of state-sanctioned violence.
Christian Allegiance in Society
The primary allegiance of all Christians is to Christ’s kingdom, not the state or society. Because their citizenship is in heaven, Christians are called to resist the idolatrous temptation to give to the state the devotion that is owed to God. As ambassadors for Christ, Christians act as agents of reconciliation, and seek the well-being of all peoples.
There are a number of key principles here that should form the bedrock for our convictions and behaviours in relation to our Canadian and American political leaders.
First, our primary allegiance and our primary hope is not in any government or political leader but in Christ’s Kingdom (cf. Dan 7:13-14). Our first passport is not Canadian or American but that of a Kingdom citizen (Col 1:13-14). God alone is God over all the kingdoms of the earth (Isa 37:16). God in Jesus is the earth’s true King and the only one given “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt 28:18). God’s Kingdom is not simply a future spiritual entity with little impact on real events and communities today. God’s Kingdom is a reality that today is healing, restoring, and establishing God’s good purposes in the world. While governments and politicians can do things that contribute to God’s Kingdom, they are not the Kingdom. We do not worship them, bow down to them, or pledge unconditional allegiance to them. There will be times when we will have to proclaim that we will obey God rather than humans (Acts 5:29).
Second, the hope for the world is in Jesus alone— and in the body of Christ who as “God’s temple” (1 Cor 3:16-17) represents the heart of God’s Kingdom. The local church proclaims God’s Kingdom; models God’s Kingdom values, character, and mission; and seeks first God’s Kingdom by doing Kingdom work. It is the local church doing Kingdom work that embraces a love for God and neighbour that transforms hearts, homes, and communities. It is only this King and this Kingdom that can promise forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life. It is the faithful Kingdom-seeking church that attacks the gates of Hades who cannot prevail against it (Matt 16:18).
Third, the governments of the nations have been placed there by God and are accountable to God (Rom 13:1) “to promote the well-being of all people.” Governments are there to serve, promote justice, and maintain law and order “so that peaceful order may prevail.” This means that all governmental officials are ultimately answerable to God for their policies and for how these policies have impacted their citizens and those outside their borders. The biblical writers sometimes describe government quite positively (cf. Rom 13) but at other times warn that governments can become so corrupted and prideful that they are essentially a demonic empowered “Babylon” destined for ultimate destruction (cf. Rev 18).
Fourth, believers should cooperate with all positive actions by governments that “defend the weak, care for the poor, and promote justice, righteousness, and truth” while at the same time witnessing “against corruption, discrimination and injustice.” While believers can cooperate with everything good, they are not to be pawns of any political leader or political party. Believers are Kingdom citizens whose primary allegiance is to God’s Kingdom. Because of this primary allegiance, believers can be unafraid Kingdom
“While believers can cooperate with everything good, they are not to be pawns of any political leader or political party. Believers are Kingdom citizens whose primary allegiance is to God’s Kingdom.
”witnesses speaking against all that governments do that is not for the good of their citizens and/or goes beyond their God-given calling.
Fifth, no political leader should be seen as either a saviour to be worshipped nor as an enemy to be hated. We already have a Saviour. We already have a King. We already know where our hope lies. We also have an enemy and his name is Satan, Sin, and Death. While we care about our governments and their policies, and while we want good governments with principled leaders, our greatest hope is not found there, and neither is our greatest fear. We are not here to win a culture war with the weapons of power, contempt, and legal/political pressure. We are in a Kingdom war against spiritual forces of darkness (Eph 6:12). This battle is for the hearts and minds of people and can only be fought with prayer, love, and truth.
So what does all of this mean for us and our local churches in this moment with threats of tariffs or even annexation, and endless other surprising behaviours from Canada’s closest ally?
First, we must continue to proclaim that only Jesus is King and that God’s Kingdom is here because of Jesus. This is the heart of the gospel — and because of what King Jesus has done, everyone on the planet is invited to become a redeemed child of God, citizen of God’s Kingdom, and member of the body of Christ. While we do want to pray for our governmental officials, our message is much larger than about any earthly kingdom whose existence is temporary or any earthly ruler whose existence is even more temporary. We are focused on an eternal King and an eternal Kingdom — both present now and coming fully with the return of Jesus. Only this King and this eternal Kingdom can overcome the many obstacles that stand against God’s full Shalom purposes for the world. It is this King and this Kingdom that can overcome the roots of narcissism, violence, and vengeance. It is only this King and this Kingdom that can produce a world overflowing with self-sacrificing love, forgiveness, hospitality, and generosity.
Second, we celebrate everything good that governments do (in Canada and in the US), and we call to account everything that conflicts with justice, goodness, and truth (defined biblically of course).
DO NOT BE AFRAID
Jesus is going ahead of you
BY TABITHA VANDENENDEN
Matthew 28:1-10
LONGING FOR NORMALCY
The term “normalcy” first became popular in 1920, thanks to Warren G. Harding, who made “the return to normalcy” the central slogan of his presidential campaign. He hoped this mantra would resonate with Americans who were weary from the upheavals of World War 1.1 The word was so uncommon in Harding’s day that many reporters thought he made the term up. Yet, the idea of normalcy struck a chord with the American people. This word emerged after the crises of 9/11, again during the COVID pandemic, and features prominently in the latest Captain America movie. There is something comforting about the word “normalcy.”
I imagine this longing for normalcy would have resonated with Mary and Mary Magdalene as they stumbled towards the tomb in the grey light of early dawn. Why did they go? How long did they stand there keeping watch? What did they hope for? Can we relate to the grief of these first disciples? Have you found yourself in a similar state of bewilderment, fear, grief, loneliness, and uncertainty? Do you resonate with those two women who waited tearfully by the tomb, longing for a return to normalcy?
But what if hoping for a return to normalcy is not where hope is found?
1 Ben Zimmer, “How Normalcy Went from Misnomer to Safe Word,” The Atlantic (April 10, 2020), <https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/ archive/2020/04/how-normalcy-became-a-safe-word/609805/>, accessed March 15, 2025.
The surprise of Easter is that God has done a new thing. With the dawn of Easter morning comes the dawn of new creation. Easter is anything but the return to normalcy. After the women encountered the risen Christ, everything changed, and they suddenly found themselves on a mission. Why? Because Jesus was not merely resuscitated, he was resurrected. The resurrection of Jesus was not the flat continuation of what was before — Jesus did not come out of the tomb, burial linen draped around his body. But neither was the resurrection a vertical flight from creaturely existence. Jesus appears to the women in the flesh, they grab Jesus by the feet, and they bow down in worship.
This is the good news of Easter. Through the resurrection of Jesus, God is doing something radically new and different. We are called to leave normalcy behind as we follow the resurrected Jesus into new life in God’s kingdom. In Matthew’s re-telling of the resurrection story, Jesus gives us words of hope that help us navigate this new terrain: do not be afraid, I am going ahead of you.
DO NOT BE AFRAID
From a human point of view, the Easter morning story sounds terrifying. The earth shakes, lightning flashes, an angel rolls back a gigantic stone without breaking a sweat, Roman soldiers faint with fear. It sounds like something out of a Marvel movie. In this fearful moment, the angel speaks a word of comfort to the women, “Do not be afraid.” These four words seem to envelop the entire gospel in a warm embrace. At the very beginning of Matthew, we hear a story about a carpenter named Joseph who also met an angel. And
each time, beginning and end, the angel brings the same message, “Do not be afraid.” Understandably, the two women flee the scene, only to stumble upon Jesus who repeats the same refrain: “Do not be afraid.”
As adults we are not always comforted by the words, “Don’t be afraid.” We know that there are many things to fear, and when someone tells us not to worry, we grow suspicious. Imagine an airplane pilot interrupts your movie mid-flight to announce, “You may have noticed an unusual amount of turbulence, but rest assured, there is no cause for concern.” Despite the reassurance, you find yourself suddenly worried! We know that as finite human beings, we do not have the authority to say, “Do not be afraid.”
The good news is that Jesus, the resurrected Son of God, has the authority to calm our fears and speak these words of assurance. They are the same words Jesus frequently said to his disciples throughout his earthly ministry. Amid the storm and chaos, Jesus is there saying: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). This is not a feeble word of comfort. Rather, Jesus assures us that no matter what comes, whatever we might face, wherever the road may lead, we do not walk alone; the Risen Christ goes with us.
JESUS GOES AHEAD OF US
After receiving these words of assurance, the women are immediately given a mission. They have a message for the rest of the disciples: “Jesus has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.”
Galilee carries important theological freight in Matthew’s gospel. Galilee was the place where Jesus began his earthly ministry, where he called his first
disciples, where he taught the crowds, healed the sick, fed the multitudes, and blessed the children. Going ahead of his disciples into Galilee was also a fulfilment of the promise he made in Matthew 26:32. After predicting that his disciples would betray, deny, and abandon him, Jesus promised that he would gather his scattered sheep and meet them in Galilee.
But that is not the only theological point Matthew wants to make. As the “crossroads of the nations,” Galilee also represents salvation for all peoples (Matthew 4:13-16 The MSG). In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’ earthly ministry ends where it began. It is here in this place that the resurrected Messiah passes the baton to his disciples. He entrusts them with his mission: to bring the Good News of God’s coming Kingdom to all who are sitting in darkness.
When we are caught in times of despair, uncertainty, and fear, we often long for a return to normalcy. In these moments we need to hear Jesus’ words again: Do not be afraid — I am going ahead of you. Yes, there is much darkness, suffering, sin, and death in our world. But there is also hope. Jesus has promised, “you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end” (Matthew 28:20). Like Mary and Mary Magdalene, may we get up and get moving. We have good news to share — Jesus is Risen!
TABITHA VANDENENDEN is Co-Lead Pastor of Grantham MB Church in St. Catherines, ON.
Our CCMBC theme for 2025 is Pray First! Pray Always! and we want to embrace that in our monthly prayer columns. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is the foundation verse telling us to “pray continually.” For 2025 we want to deliberately and intentionally pray the Lord’s Prayer. We want to pray this prayer as part of devotional routines, as we commute, as we face both the pleasant and the challenging moments in our day, and as we lie in bed at the end of our day reflecting on all that we have experienced. Each month, we will focus on a phrase from the Lord’s Prayer so that we can more fully appreciate the depth and beauty of this prayer. Praying the Lord’s Prayer daily and thoughtfully is not a “vain repetition” (Matt 6:7 KJV), but an act of worship with the power to slowly transform disciples of Jesus (and the churches made up of these disciples) ever closer into the character and Kingdom mission of Jesus. It is also part of participating in God’s work of salvation in the world as God’s Kingdom comes to earth as it is in heaven. We are excited this year to welcome a variety of writers from our MB family across Canada as they share their own insights and guide us to pray more faithfully. May 2025 be a year of transformation and may the Lord’s Prayer be part of our commitment to Pray First! Pray Always!
The Lord’s Prayer (Part 3)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
(Note: the ending in italics is only found in later manuscripts. It is included in the KJV but not in most modern translations.)
Our April 2025 prayer guide is highlighting the somewhat archaic language of “hallowed be your name” that forms the second phrase in the Lord’s Prayer. What does it mean to “hallow” something — especially a name? I don’t think I have ever used or heard the word hallow in any context except for the Lord’s Prayer, so we are in strange territory here.
The Greek word behind hallow/holy is hagios (which translates the Hebrew word qadosh). The Bible Project provides a helpful video on what holiness means in the Bible (see here). Holy carries with it the idea of anything that is intended to be separate, set apart, or unique. In the Old Testament, the word can be used to describe anything considered separate, set apart, or unique even in pagan worship (e.g., a “cult [lit. separate/set apart] prostitute” [Gen 38:21-22; Deut 23:17]; a holy [lit. separate/set apart] worship assembly for Baal [2 Kgs 10:20]).
But because holy is most often associated with our holy God (Isa 5:16; 6:3; Rev 4:8), we connect the word holy with God’s unique love, goodness, purity, beauty, and life-giving Kingdom purposes. This is what we mean when we use the language of a Holy Bible; a Holy people (Exod 19:6); a Holy day (Gen 2:3; Exod 20:11); and a Holy place (Exod 15:13). These holy
things/people carry with them and communicate God’s unique character and purposes. Being holy in this sense involves more than simply being separate, set apart, or unique but involves being consistent with God’s holiness.
To make something holy involves something impure becoming a pure reflection of God’s beauty and life through the process of sanctification. God has sanctified his people (Exod 31:13; John 17:17; 1Thess 5:23; Heb 13:12) which means that God is rooting out everything that is in conflict with God’s love, goodness, purity, beauty, and life-giving Kingdom purposes.
In the Lord’s Prayer, we are praying that God would hallow his “name.” In the Bible, one’s name is not simply a word that we respond to. A name represents one’s life, identity, character, legacy, and purpose (Exod 9:16). A good or great name is not about how beautiful one’s name sounds, but about one’s reputation in the community (Gen 12:2; Prov 22:1). God’s name communicates that God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and sin…” (Exod 34:6-7). When we speak, exult, and praise God’s name (especially Yahweh or Jesus) in worship and praise, we are speaking more than a name. We are declaring that this God is uniquely good, loving, patient, faithful, and so on. We are declaring that God’s story and plan for the world is what we want for the world.
To sanctify God’s name (Isa 29:23) is not about God needing his identity, character, and purpose cleansed, but about making sure that his people who are called by his name (Num 6:27; 2 Chr 7:14; Acts 15:17) live out a true reflection of what God’s name means before the watching world (Ps 23:3; Ezek 20:14; Rev 3:8). To take the Lord’s name in vain (Exod 20:7) or profane God’s name (Lev 22:32) is about failing to image God’s character and purposes faithfully in the world.
In the Lord’s Prayer, the statement “hallowed be your name” is a prayer that God would make his name holy in the world — that God’s people called by his name would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out that name faithfully before the watching world — and that the world would come to know God’s love, goodness, purity, beauty, and life-giving Kingdom purposes.
So when we pray that God would hallow his name, this recentres everything. If I had my way, I would begin each day with this prayer: “God, help me today; make me successful today; remove my suffering today; and overcome all the Goliaths in my path today.” But the Lord’s Prayer begins with the
big picture, or we could say the big story. Everything begins with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” This prayer dethrones us and our wishes from the centre. This prayer means that…
First, as redeemed children of God who carry God’s name because of Jesus, the only truly faithful bearer of God’s name (Phil 2:9), we are submitting ourselves to the reality that God’s name is our true identity, our true hope, and our true life. Our identity does not come from our own names but from God’s name given to us through Jesus. The builders at Babel were wanting to make a name for themselves (Gen 11:4) rather than honour the name of their Creator God — and they ended up with the name Babel (confusion). Asking God to hallow his name involves our bowing in submission and surrendering our own name, our own glory, and our own will today to God.
Second, we are praying that God’s Kingdom purposes would become ever more a reality in the world today. We are asking God to make his name honoured in the world — make his love, goodness, purity, beauty, and life-giving Kingdom purposes famous! We are praying that God would draw people so that they would be saved by our God who is poised to forgive and redeem; sanctify and bless!
For the month of April, let us again pray the Lord’s Prayer daily with this recentering away from wanting our name and our will and hopes to become great — to wanting God’s name to be high and exalted in us, in the church, and in the world.
CONSIDER
˚ What comes to your mind when you pray “hallowed be your name”?
˚ What difference does it make for you to begin prayer with a focus on the name of God being magnified and exalted? (Ps 34:3; Isa 12:4)
˚ What difference could it make to your prayer life this month to highlight the words “hallowed be your name”
PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER: PART 3
Our Father in heaven — hallowed be your name. We praise you that because of your salvation through Jesus, we can bear your name today. Because of this we can pray with Isaiah: “O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (Isa 25:1). May we exalt and praise your name today!
Our Father in heaven — hallowed be your name. May we bow in worship before you and submit our own names today to your name — and may
your beauty, love, goodness, and life-giving Kingdom purposes be our focus and attention today!
Our Father in heaven — hallowed be your name. May we, your church, surrender our own name as a church to you. May everyone who sees us not become enamored by us but may they see only you and may they only worship and adore you. May they lift up your name and not ours!
Our Father in heaven — hallowed be your name. May your name become famous and honoured in our world today! May people hear your name; be saved because of your name; join your people; and live your disciple-making Kingdom purposes in the world!
Our Father in heaven — hallowed be your name. May your name and your love and peace become hallowed in the world so that people would choose peace rather than hostility and violence. May people in difficult marriages hallow your name and where possible seek reconciliation rather than separation and divorce. May members of your church who are in conflict hallow your name and where
possible seek reconciliation rather than hostility and brokenness. May those in our community and in government hallow your name and where possible seek reconciliation rather than violence and war. May your name be hallowed today!
SO NOW WE PRAY
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
Ken Esau, National Faith & Life Director
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus tells his disciples to pray for the kingdom to come. Why would we pray this? If the kingdom is near and God is currently bringing it and promising to bring it, why pray? The answer is, quite simply, that God establishes his kingdom through us. I continue to be amazed that he chooses to do it this way:
˚ “God created man in his image, both male and female” (Gen 1:27). We bear and reflect his image. We mirror him in this world.
˚ “…I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:1-3). This is the covenant established by God, with Abraham and with us!
˚ Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom (John 21:15-19).
˚ He confers (bestows) on the disciples the kingdom (Luke 22:29).
˚ Jesus sent the disciples out to preach the kingdom (Matt 10).
As we pray for God’s kingdom to come, we acknowledge that God is bringing his kingdom — and he includes us in this process. We are not simply spectators or bystanders to this work of unequalled importance. We don’t just sit by and watch the world go up in flames. We take our God-given place and join him in his work of establishing the reign of God. And it begins with this prayer.
My wife Deanna and I, along with our girls, spent some years living in Burundi, Africa. The country has a long history of conflict, which we experienced at different times and in different ways. In 2015, a civil uprising looked like burning barricades on the streets outside our house, shooting in the neighbourhood (bullets hitting our house), and young people being rounded up, some never to be seen again. How were we to respond? We could sit around and talk about the situation, giving updates, mongering fear and frustration. But we believed there was more. We believed we had an identity and a role to live into. So we gathered others and we prayed. And our prayers were not so much for our own safety and the safety of our friends and for the people of Burundi. We believed that as sons and daughters of the true King, we were called to pray for his kingdom, and all that it means — for peace, justice, righteousness, reconciliation, love, hope, sufficiency — to COME!
CONSIDER
˚ What does it mean for you to repent and believe the good news of the kingdom?
˚ What might it look like for God’s kingdom to come to where you are?
˚ What are the bold prayers King Jesus would have you pray today?
PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our father in heaven — your kingdom come. Jesus, you are the King. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to you. I bow and submit and yield to you, and you alone.
Our father in heaven — your kingdom come. King Jesus, I acknowledge all that your kingdom is. Every good thing we desire is found in you and your kingdom.
Our father in heaven — your kingdom come. Father, I long to see your kingdom in all its fullness. Come, King Jesus, and establish your reign. Reign in my life. Reign in my family. Reign in the church. Reign in my community, our country, and our world. Reign in my school, in my work, in my thoughts, and in my activities. Reign in the hard things in my life and reign in the troubling circumstances in our world. Eradicate the kingdom of darkness. Reign King Jesus!
Our father in heaven — your kingdom come. Father, King, may my life reflect you and your kingdom. May I be your image bearer, your aroma, your salt, and your light. Answer my prayer for your kingdom through our lives.
SO NOW WE PRAY
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
DOUG HIEBERT
serves with Multiply as the Regional Team Leader for Sub-Saharan Africa. He also serves on Multiply’s Global Lead Team. He and his wife Deanna are based in Niagara-on-the-Lake and attend Cornerstone Community Church.
From grief to hope
Easter’s emotional rollercoaster
BY MIKE ENGBERS
Ten years ago, my wife and I took our young family on a longplanned and saved-for trip to Disney World. We were not seasoned amusement park riders but eventually worked our way up to roller coasters. My oldest daughter and I decided to ride the Seven Mines Dwarf Train. My daughter entered the line with paralyzing anxiety, and as the line inched forward, her anxiety shifted to overwhelming fear.
Yet, she climbed aboard, holding my hand tight. Once the ride began, I saw her fear subside; a smile emerged…for two whole seconds. When the coaster reached the top of its climb and began to plummet, her smile morphed into screams of sheer terror. Then she went silent, which I took as a bad sign, until I heard her giggles. She let go of my hand, and as I looked over, worried I had mistaken sobbing for laughter, I saw a big smile on her face.
The ride slowed and stopped. My daughter looked at me and asked, “Can we go again?” I realized I had been so focused on her that I had not paid attention to the ride itself. Yet, in that moment, I somehow felt I had experienced a better rollercoaster than anyone else — maybe not physically, but certainly emotionally!
I can think of only two experiences that surpass the emotional rollercoaster ride I went on that day: the first is experiencing profound grief over the loss of a loved one, and the other is Easter.
Most of us can relate to the emotions surrounding loss. But why would a yearly holiday, celebrating the greatest hope the world has ever known be an emotional rollercoaster? When I engage with the whole Easter story, when I truly allow myself to experience its highest of highs and lowest of lows, it helps me discover a path to deal with that profound grief I mentioned above. Celebrating Easter, year after year, leads me through a transformative journey that isn’t shiny or polished, yet ultimately leads to a renewed life through hope.
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
The Easter narrative is larger than Resurrection Morning. The church has often referred to the week leading up to Easter as Passion Week. Passion Week begins with celebration and shouts of “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” This is a high point in the Gospels and, I suspect, in the disciples’ journey. People were celebrating Jesus as the coming Messiah. People were proclaiming what the disciples had come to know — that Jesus had arrived and was the Messiah. Grief is rooted in these moments of celebration and the quieter moments of life. It begins where we nurture the value of our relationships and where memories are rooted. We only grieve what we value and cherish.
I wonder if the disciples, as the crowds celebrated Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, had in the back of their minds what Jesus had told them — that he was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die. We know amid our celebrations that they will not last forever. Although we may push these thoughts from our minds, we know that what we celebrate is a moment in time, and we should value these moments because there will be suffering ahead.
A WEEK OF PREPARATION
In the Gospel of Matthew’s account, Jesus’ Passion Week is one of intense teachings, prophecies of the temple’s destruction, and teachings on the End Times. It reminds me of a line in the song “Non-Stop” from the musical Hamilton: “Why do you write like you’re running out of time?” We see something similar in the intensity of Jesus’ teaching after Palm Sunday, culminating in Jesus speaking to his disciples, saying, “As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified” (Matt 26:2).
Then Matthew’s tone changes. He describes the events of those final days: the Last Supper, Jesus being betrayed, Jesus’ predictions of his followers’ denials, and Jesus being arrested. Many of us have these more intense memories from the days, weeks, and even months before we lost a loved one. `Watching someone deteriorate in health, journeying alongside someone going through cancer treatment, or spending hours in an emergency room are all examples of those intense memories. When my best friend died at the age of 22, I clearly remember those last two days of his life as he was in the hospital: sitting by the phone, waiting for updates from his family as I continued to pray, until I got the final call he had passed. In many ways, these moments are the memories that define our initial grief as we process what has happened. To grieve well, we need to journey through these memories as we begin to understand the grief we carry.
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We would never dream of getting off a rollercoaster while it’s in the middle of the ride; likewise we should not try to avoid our grief.
GOD’S FRIDAY
The Passion Week comes to its initial climax when Jesus dies on the cross, and our grief reaches its fullest. Often, grief is overwhelming, mixed with emotions of disbelief or even denial of our loss — sometimes, we even want to run away and hide. It seems that’s what the disciples did.
Others wish to remain in that climactic moment, trying to hold onto what has been lost. We see the women at the cross with Jesus, undeterred and resolute in their determination to stay with him for as long as possible.
In these moments, we begin to move from shock and numbness to overwhelming loss and grief. Our emotional rollercoaster has gone from the high of cherished, joyful memories, plummeting down to overwhelming loss.
When we are grieving, we may try to hide our grief in any number of ways — staying busy, avoiding people, engaging in unhealthy activities, or even pretending everything is fine. We would never dream of getting off a rollercoaster while it’s in the middle of the ride; likewise we should not try to avoid our grief. We should endure it, live in it, accept it, and hold onto the memories it reminds us of. If we try to exit the emotional rollercoaster of grief, the emotional damage we incur is far worse than any pain we would endure otherwise.
Jesus died on what we call Good Friday, a name that originally was “God’s Friday”. I prefer the latter name, as it shows us that God was not absent on that horrible day. He was in the middle of it, enduring the
grief of a son crucified, experiencing the heartache of knowing sin was at the root of Jesus’ death. But God was there — just as God is there with us as a comforting and strengthening presence in our grief.
A HOLY DAY IN BETWEEN
The day after a loss can seem surreal. You can wake up feeling like the previous day was a horrible dream, only to realize it is your new reality. We call that day in the Easter weekend Holy Saturday. What an interesting name for the “in-between” of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It’s called holy because it is the day when God was at work. While all the followers of Jesus were in despair, God was working.
I wonder if some of the disciples, during their grief, reflected on Jesus’ promise that he would rise from the grave. I wonder how often they asked the question, “Is there still more to come?” In the days after a loved one passes away, we are busy adjusting to the grief we carry. We occupy ourselves by making plans to remember our loved one. But we also begin looking forward, wondering what life will be like now. In some ways, the days and weeks after a loved one passes away are our “Holy Saturday” — a time when God is working, when we have one foot in the past, remembering the one we lost, and one foot in the future, starting to process our new normal.
This time of grief is vital. It is not something to be rushed, but to be fully journeyed in. It is in this space when our grief transitions from shock to a new reality. We often want things to happen instantly. We don’t like hard work, just the result. But these moments are a time of healing as we accept our loss and begin integrating that loss into what the future holds.
THE RESURRECTION DAY
As we do this, we will come to a time where we look forward with hope. We may find ourselves dreaming of something or facing a new opportunity. This is Easter Sunday, when hope was miraculously and unexpectedly born anew — Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive!
For the women, hope dawned as they encountered the empty tomb. Their denial and further grief over fear that something had happened to Jesus’ body turned into a newfound hope — a hope they wanted, but a hope that was hard to embrace until the truth literally stared them in the face. Hope lives! There is a future! Life will move forward! God was and is at work! Those moments of hope are not a disservice to those we have lost — they are born out of the loss. The loss of a loved one shapes us, our grief transforms us. In that change God has worked in our lives, we find hope dawning. That hope does not remove our grief, but it does show us a renewed life. In your grief, are
you willing to embrace the opportunities before you? Are you willing to take a step forward into hope? God can bring a new hope out of grief when we allow it.
But we are still left with grief — of course we are. God’s sending of his son Jesus was born from his grief over our sin. Do you think with the resurrection, God stopped grieving the sins of humanity? I don’t think so; I do think God delights in those who accept his forgiveness, so there is hope born from God’s grief over sin.
A NEW BEGINNING
Will grief in our world ever end? Well, that’s the completion of the Easter story. But Easter doesn’t end when Jesus is raised again. Easter doesn’t even end with Jesus ascending to heaven. The story of Easter will reach its completion on the day Christ returns, when all that is broken is made new. That is when grief will be no more. We read this promise in Revelation 24:4:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Rev 21:4, NLT)
Our journey through grief begins with what we value, is transformed through loss, endures the waiting, and leads to a renewed life through hope. Finding that hope is a journey, but for those grieving, that hope is in front of you as you grieve who or what you have lost.
Ultimately, we will experience some healing through God’s faithful work and promise, but we must journey forward through our grief. When Christ returns and makes everything new, our world will finally exit the emotional rollercoaster of grief. That is our hope, and that is the promise of a faithful God.
MIKE ENGBERS is the Lead Pastor at Parliament Community Church in Regina, SK.
MB Seminary President Mark Wessner leading an MB Seminary Tour in Greece.
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Thank you for joining us in our mission and ministry, and I am excited about 2025 and beyond!
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The importance of context, visualized
How the Metzger Collection serves a unique role at Columbia Bible College and beyond
BY GREG THIESSEN
nyone who has had their own words taken out of context knows acutely the importance of context. This importance of context is widely applicable, but it is especially so in biblical interpretation. Great error and, indeed, harm can be done by proof-texting — pulling out passages of Scripture to support an argumentative point without any regard for the surrounding context of those passages. Instead, we need to read a passage in the light of surrounding verses, the whole chapter, the whole book, and, ultimately, the whole Bible. There are several layers of context we might consider, but I want to focus on historical context. And that’s where the Metzger Collection comes in.
For the past 10 years I have had the privilege of managing the Metzger Collection, a museum owned and operated by Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, BC. The museum seeks to highlight the biblical story within the broader context of human history
(metzgercollection.org). The collection was largely the work of Rev. Dr. Fred Metzger, a Presbyterian minister originally from Hungary. He caught a vision for collecting replicas of artifacts. Over the course of almost 50 years, regular trips to Israel, and travels around the world, he had amassed a significant collection indeed, but one that didn’t have a permanent home for public display. He ended up donating the collection to Columbia Bible College to carry on his vision and legacy. The Metzger Collection has now been on display at CBC for 10 years.
The museum features replicas of artifacts and artwork that covers much of the scope of human history — from pre-history to the early Modern period. As I frequently tell field trip groups from Christian middle and high schools (which comprise the largest demographic of visitors to the Metzger Collection), it’s sometimes easy to consider what we learn through Social Studies curriculum of ancient civilizations as
completely separate from what we read about in the Bible. It is helpful to recognize, however, that in fact this is a shared history. Ancient civilizations from Mesopotamia through Rome form the background of the biblical story. And in the words of Ken Esau, Faculty Emeritus at CBC and National Faith and Life Director for CCMBC, speaking of the artifacts that make up the Metzger Collection, “providing this kind of background is like a background to a play; it provides colour and music, and just helps the story sing.”1
The recognition of context and the archaeological artifacts that provide background not only help us read the Bible better, they also hold apologetic value. Such pieces help us connect the dots and recognize that the people and places the Bible talks about are actual historical people and places. The Bible recounts true history, not just mythical literature.
Just one example of an artifact among many I could draw on is the Cyrus Cylinder. In the 6th century BC, upon defeat of the Babylonians, Cyrus king of Persia issued the Cyrus Cylinder. The decree permitted
1 “Metzger Collection Biblical Content and Background,” posted March 16, 2018, by Metzger Collection, YouTube, 4 min., 33 sec, https://youtu.be/ufD3Mrv3t20?si=W1Kdka9YvGLl0hcF.
displaced people from under the Babylonians to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This clearly corroborates what we read of Cyrus’ decree in the opening of Ezra (1:1-4), and the subsequent return of a remnant of Jews from exile in Babylon to the Promised Land, where they would, accordingly, rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
Replicas of significant artifacts like these (and especially the 3D object rather than just a digital image as shown here), help bring the biblical history to life. The Metzger Collection’s over 3,000 artifacts and artworks, drawing from over eighteen museums from around the world, make it the only place in the world to see all these pieces under one roof.
A REPLICA OF THE CYRUS CYLINDER, WHICH IS ON DISPLAY IN THE METZGER COLLECTION. THE ORIGINAL IS HOUSED IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM IN LONDON.
While the biblical history remains the primary focus of the Metzger Collection, the museum continues well beyond the biblical history. Historical context and the reality of nearly 2,000 years helps us realize that we cannot simply jump from the end of the book of Acts to the church of today. Furthermore, paying attention to context helps us read the history of Christianity with both the complexity and relevance that it holds. That is especially witnessed in the Metzger Collection’s current feature exhibit, 1525: Reform & Revolution, “an exhibit to mark the 500-year anniversary of the Anabaptist movement in its historical context.”
It was specifically on January 21, 1525 that the Anabaptist movement was born. As the last issue of the MB Herald highlighted, this event has particular relevance for Mennonite Brethren. You probably already anticipate my next point: it also has context. The intent of the 1525 exhibit is to not only highlight
the emergence of the Anabaptist movement, but to situate this event within the context of a momentous and tumultuous year. The year 1525 witnessed the escalation of revolutionary fervour within the 16th-century Reformation as theology pushed to challenge the status-quo of European Christendom. The same year that saw the emergence of Anabaptism, saw its first martyr burned to death, saw the rise and demise of the Peasant Revolt, saw eschatological fervor reach a fever pitch, heard wedding bells harken a shifting spiritual ideal of vocation, saw the first printing of William Tyndale’s English New Testament get shut down, and the list goes on.
Context helps us see the interconnected web of Reformation currents at the outset of Anabaptism. So too, as Mennonite Brethren, we have a context. Part of that context, as Stephanie Christianson articulated in the last issue of the MB Herald, is “the deep spiritual heritage present in Anabaptism,” and being part
of the larger Body of Christ — “the Church that spans denomination, time, and space.”2
The Metzger Collection serves a unique role at Columbia Bible College and for the wider community: to help us to visualize and recognize the reality of and importance of context so that we might better understand God’s Word, his mission, and our place within his story in our own context. Admittedly, the longterm stability, let alone advancement, of the Metzger Collection is in a state of uncertainty. We welcome any who are interested in partnering with the Metzger Collection to help ensure a thriving future of continuing to bring the biblical history to life. (metzgercollection.org/donate)
is Metzger Collection Manager and Faculty/ Assistant Registrar at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, BC. He teaches History of Christianity and Anabaptist History & Thought at the College. He attends Ross Road Community Church with his wife, Aften, and their three young kids.
Finish lines
HEINZ NEUFELD
Heinz was born in Lustigstal, Molotschna, Ukraine, to Heinrich and Margaret (Enns) Neufeld. Heinz was the oldest child, followed two years later by his sister Lilli. War separated them from their father. Heinz, Lilli, and their mother Margaret fled to Germany. They immigrated to Paraguay. There a sister, Lore, joined the family. Hoping for a better life, the family moved to Brazil. During Heinz’s teens, Henry Loewen played an important role. Heinz married his beloved Annie. Hermann, Heidi, and Ingrid were born in Brazil. Dairy farming, milk sales, milk delivery, and truck driving consumed Heinz’s time. Plans were made to join Heinz’s mother and sisters in Canada. Heinz and family arrived in Kitchener, Ont., in 1960. Monica was born in 1961. Heinz worked in factories, delivering heating oil and finally with the City of Kitchener natural gas department. In Kitchener, Heinz committed his life to God and was baptized into Zion MB Church. With God’s grace and direction, Heinz worked hard for his family. In 1976, Heinz, Annie, Ingrid, and Monica moved to Abbotsford, B.C., joining Heidi and Phil, while Hermann remained in Ontario. Annie’s Friesen cousins welcomed them with open arms. At 44, Heinz again started over in a new location, delivering furniture and repairing furnaces. In 1977, Heinz established Neufeld Heating Service,
MARGARET HEINRICHS
Margaret was born in Randolph, Man., to Gerhard and Elisabeth Wiebe. She was the sixth child of eight. In 1939, her mother died and her older sister married soon afterward. This left Margaret as the woman of the house at 15. When Margaret was 17, she accepted Jesus as Saviour and the Lord gave her much joy. When Margaret was 18, her dad moved the family to Spencer; it was a happy move for Margaret as they now had Christian neighbours. There she met Peter Heinrichs and they married Oct. 8, 1944. God blessed their marriage and gave them 75 years together. They adopted Calvin (1951) and
thankful to God for helping him build a successful business. Hermann and Donna came to B.C. in 1983 to join the business. Heinz retired in 1996 to travel, fish at Canim Lake, and enjoy grandchildren. At South Abbotsford Church, he served as usher with his welcoming smile, handshakes, and pocket full of candy for children. Family, friends, and church were important to Heinz and Annie. From 2006 to 2022, great-grandchildren were added to the family, bringing joy to Heinz and Annie. Heinz’s mini stroke started a journey with dementia. This changed life but did not stop him. He greeted everyone with an enthusiastic “Welcome!” Heinz frequently told friends and strangers of his gratitude to God for “helping him, guiding him, forgiving him.” When asked how his day was going, his answer was “Fantastic” and “nothing to complain about.” Heinz’s prayers often concluded, “Come, Lord Jesus, in your precious name. Amen.” After Annie’s death in 2022, Heinz missed her dearly.
Birth: September 6, 1931 Birthplace: Lustigstal, Molotschna, Ukraine Death: February 21, 2025
Parents: Heinrich & Margaret (Enns) Neufeld Married: Annie
Family: children Hermann (Donna), Heidi (Phil) Giesbrecht, Ingrid (George) Sly, Monica Dowedoff; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren Church: Clearbrook MB, Abbotsford, B.C.
Cheralyn (1956) and welcomed 5 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Margaret died at 100 years old. Her life was so full; she showed God’s love everywhere she went. She has left all who were blessed to know her with an imprint on our hearts. Margaret is survived by her loving family and will be greatly missed.
Birth: April 30, 1924 Birthplace: Randolph, Man. Death: January 19, 2025 Parents: Gerhard & Elisabeth Wiebe Married: Peter Heinrichs, Oct. 8, 1944 Family: children Calvin, Cheralyn; 5 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-greatgrandchild Church: Clearbrook MB, Abbotsford, B.C.
LEONARD NORMAN DOERKSEN
Leonard Norman Doerksen was born to Jacob and Anna Doerksen, May 15, 1936, in Herbert, Sask. He was the older brother of Betty, Ruth, Esther, and Dan. Len met Esther Epp at Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford, B.C., in Grade 9 and they were married in 1957. They knew an ardent, long, and faithful love. After Esther died in 2023, Len said, “Getting older is knowing what loss, grief, and pain are all about. My love for you is stronger and deeper than ever before. As long as I’m living, your Lenny I’ll be.” Len and Esther welcomed 5 children: Dorothy, Paul, Charles, Joyce, and Donald. Their family flourished and grew to more than 50 members. Visiting family and friends enjoyed meals made from the bountiful produce of the gardens and fruit trees Len tended. Children went for rides on his John Deere tractor, entertained by his funny faces and silly jokes. Len sure loved his “wheels.” From his teenaged years on, he drove truck for Lepps, Duecks, and Rempel Bros. Concrete. Len could have paraded his official credentials – he was the Rev. Leonard Doerksen, B.Th., B.A., M.A. – but Len valued heart and relationship and preferred to be known simply as Len, L.D., Pastor Len, or Lenny. He was a teacher at Winkler Bible Institute and (what is now) Columbia Bible College. Later, together with Esther, they served as pastor couple at Greendale MB, Chilliwack,
B.C.; Hepburn (Sask.) MB; and Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship, Coquitlam, B.C. After retiring, Len and Esther travelled the world as official “Pastors @ Sea,” ran Mountain Acres B&B on their beautifully forested land on Sumas Mountain, and revelled in life with their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Len’s family held his hand as he entered that life-after-life in the early hours of Feb. 7, to be reunited with his parents, wife Esther, brother Dan Doerksen, brother-in-law Ben Loewen, and grandson Matthew Peters. He is remembered by his earthly family: sisters Betty (John) Kampen, Esther (Cliff) Loewen-Hiebert, and Ruth (Peter) Klassen; children Dorothy (Greg) Peters, Paul, Charles (Debbie), Joyce (Brian), and Donald; 17 grandchildren Dorolen (Chris), Jonathan, David (Alanna), Chris (Virginia), Nicole (Brian), Daniel (Alyssa), Kathryn (Chris), Sarah (Will), Hannah (Jimmy), JJ (Bethany), Nick, Rachel (Luke), Esther, Benjamin, Joy, Mercy, and Isaiah; and 19 great-grandchildren Livia, Matthew, Nathan, Jackson, Silas, Emmy, Olive, Boston, Rhys, Forrest, Romeo, Griffyn, Kira, Christian, Everest, Carter, Gwyneth, Emmerson, and Macsen.
Birth: May 15, 1936 Birthplace: Herbert, Sask. Death: February 7, 2025 Parents: Jacob & Anna Doerksen Married: Esther Epp, 1957 [d. 2023] Family: children Dorothy (Greg) Peters, Paul, Charles (Debbie), Joyce (Brian), Donald; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters Church: Clearbrook MB, Abbotsford, B.C.
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