Mennonite Brethren Herald August 2015

INTERVIEW:

Harold Froese

NEW BOOK:

Church in Mission

PRAYER

A U G U S T 2 0 15

WHO ANSWERS WHOM?

W W W. M B H E R A L D . C O M

Heraldues: contHiAnPTER AHEAD A NEW C

HANDY MINISTRY HOW TOs

Volume 54, No. 7 Publications mail registration number: 09648; Agreement number: 40009297

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circ. Dept., MB Herald, 1310 Taylor Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3M 3Z6

confession

ANGELINE SCHELLENBERG

PHOTO: ANTHONY SCHELLENBERG

I don’t pray much my words too blunt to pierce a divine ear my thoughts too heavy to fly in the face of gravity I don’t pray much

unless you count the reaching and resigning of my breast seventeen thousand times a day the testing and trusting under my feet in every forward, backward place

the way my eyelids close to the mess I cannot clear I make chaos disappear and in the morning dare to rise

again

Reprinted with permission from Rejoice!, (Vol. 48, No. 4). Published by Kindred Productions and MennoMedia. “Confession” is from Angeline’s first collection, forthcoming from Brick Books, fall 2016.

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August 2015 www.mbherald.com

FEATURES 10 How to love the foreigner among you Immigrants, refugees and Christian churches –Sam Reimer and Rich Janzen

11 Welcoming refugees: a picture of God’s kingdom Members open homes and hearts –Karla Braun

12 How to support the parents of a child with invisible disabilities –Lani Wiens

13 How to worship within and beyond the walls Five tips for missional worship –Gareth Goossen

14 How to ask better questions to gain clarity

CONNECT WITH US ONLINE DIGITAL EDITION issuu.com

Leaders improve their serve with L2L coaches –L2L

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/MBHerald

16 How to draw great stories from short-termers –Karla Braun, with files from MB Mission

TWITTER twitter.com/MB_Herald

18 Church planting in Canada: a life and death venture Church multiplication conference, May 12–13, 2015

WEBSITE mbherald.com

–Sandra Reimer

JOBS jobs.mbherald.com

COLUMNS 4 Executive leadership

PDF SUBSCRIPTION Email karla.braun@mbchurches.ca to subscribe via email

Executive board continues Herald, plans survey –Willy Reimer with the BFL and Executive Board

8 CCMBC profile Money hatches ministry –Angeline Schellenberg interviews Harold Froese

20 Testimony Four-foot-tall guides to the heart of God: Finding salvation in the inner-city –Aleah Isaak

21 Text Message

DEPARTMENTS 6

Letters

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Homepage

23 News Mark 8:27–9:1

Costly grace –Ryley Heppner

22 Viewpoint Prayer: Who answers whom?

24 Transitions, family news 25 Church anniversary 30 Finish lines [Obituaries] 32 Crosscurrents

–Andrew Dyck

34 Intersection of faith and life Go gentle into that good night –Bethany Mortelliti

COVER A 2012 participant in MB Mission’s six-week summer ACTION program in Brazil. Photo courtesy of MB Mission MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Executive board continues Herald, plans survey

I

t has been good to see the healthy engagement and conversation regarding the closure of the MB Herald and the launch of a new publication and web strategy.

The declining level of engagement with the Herald and the desire to have a denominational periodical that fully reflects the mission to which we are called as Canadian Mennonite Brethren have motivated changes to the editorial direction of the Herald in recent years. The decision to change to a new publication represents our desire to create a new forum for missional conversation that will engage the next generation of Mennonite Brethren readers.

Although strategic thinking about the Herald has been ongoing for several years, the public notice of change came suddenly and appeared hasty to some. Adding to the loss some feel with this decision, we didn’t announce what the new publication would look like.

We had originally intended to conduct a series of strategic planning meetings with our denominational partners, which would have allowed for more clarity about future plans before making any announcement about the Herald.

However, financial constraints accelerated the timeline for change.

Concern about government subsidy for the Herald, and the necessity to cut spending in the national conference budget meant that action was urgent, and we needed to inform staff of the results of coming changes. This made it impossible to prevent the news from spreading, and we wanted to ensure our

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constituency heard the information directly from us.

The following priorities guide our planning:

From the feedback we’ve received, it is clear we misread the sentiments associated with the Herald. We underestimated the feelings people had toward the Herald as a vehicle for creating community. We did not provide a mechanism that would invite participation in the process of moving from the Herald to a new publication and communication plan. It was wrong to assume that we as leaders had the support to execute such a change to fulfill the vision of our MB churches without constituency consultation. We apologize for taking action without more dialogue.

Strengthening theological identity and engagement. The periodical serving Canadian MB churches will be the voice for our theological identity as Mennonite Brethren, led by the thinking and writing of the Board of Faith and Life, and allowing for healthy engagement with important issues in light of the gospel. Many Herald readers assumed that whatever was printed in the magazine’s pages was the “official position of the conference,” which created joy and worry in equal amounts. While we need space for theological engagement, it is important to provide a forum that encourages conversation without creating theological confusion for readers.

Therefore, we will continue to publish the Herald until we do more process work. We will use focus groups and surveys to communicate with Herald readers, pastors and denominational leaders, in order to shape the publication and communication plan.

To start, we have commissioned a survey to gain feedback on the needs and interests of our constituency. We will present the survey results at our October AGM along with an opportunity to feed into the communication plan development process (see page 5).

It is our intention for the periodical of our Canadian MB churches to equip and inspire Mennonite Brethren as disciples of Jesus Christ. We strongly believe that we need new and proactive ways to cultivate discipleship among Canadian Christ followers, and a new periodical will be an important part of meeting this need.

Community building and inspiration. Canadian MB churches are not connected in the same way they once were. They have little way of knowing what is happening in other churches across the country.

It is very important that we tell the stories of God’s work in and through our churches and attendees.

Ministry equipping and communication. CCMBC has an approved ministry model that brings together our national ministries, programs, provincial conferences, MBBS Canada and MB Mission. It will be beneficial for our constituency to know what God is doing through these ministries, and to learn about the resources available to our members and leaders for their growth and ministry effectiveness.

Inspiration in faith and life. Our goal is inspirational writing with a

NOTICE CCMBC special meeting OCTOBER 21, 2015 The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches has called a special meeting on the morning of Oct. 21, 2015, prior to its Annual General Meeting and study conference in Winnipeg, Man., to conduct additional business. Detailed materials will be available on CCMBC’s website (www.mennonitebrethren.ca) on Sept. 9, 2015.

Morning breakout sessions will begin at 9:00 am and include conversations around CCMBC Legacy Fund Inc., C2C missional partnerships, and a Canadian MB communications strategy. Please consider arriving on the evening of Oct. 20 if you wish to attend these sessions.

Prayer and worship will take place at 1:30 pm before the AGM at 3:30 pm.

Meeting location:

AUGUST 2015 Mennonite Brethren Herald is published bi-monthly 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. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement.

Winner of Canadian Church Press and Evangelical Press Association awards for Writing, Design, and Illustration: 1996–2015.

Editorial office 1310 Taylor Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 3Z6 Phone: 204-669-6575 Fax: 204-654-1865 Toll-free in Canada: 888-669-6575 Email: mbherald@mbchurches.ca http://www.mbherald.com PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NUMBER: 4000929

Westwood Community Church, 401 Westwood Drive, Winnipeg, Man. Breakout options:

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: CIRCULATION DEPT., MB HERALD 1310 TAYLOR AVENUE WINNIPEG MB R3M 3Z6

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• CCMBC Legacy Fund Inc. plan and purpose • MB Herald and Canadian MB communications strategy • C2C missional partnerships Agenda: 9:00 – 9:30 am

Plenary session & prayer

9:30 – 10:30 am

Breakout sessions

10:30 – 11:00 am

Break (on-site)

11:00 – 12:00 pm

Breakout sessions

12:00 – 1:30 pm

Lunch (on-site)

1:30 – 3:00 pm

Concert of prayer

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Break (on-site)

3:30 – 5:00 pm

AGM

5:00 pm

Supper (on your own)

focus. We want to glorify God and his work among and through us by providing discipleship material to readers.

The CCMBC Executive Board and Board of Faith and Life have heard your concerns and are committed to working with you to accomplish our mission of multiplying Christ-centred churches to see Canada transformed by the good news of Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Copyright The articles printed in the Herald are owned by the Herald or by the author and may not be reprinted without permission. Unless noted, Scriptural quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Staff

CANADIAN Laura Kalmar CONFEReditor Karla Braun associate editor Audrey Plew designer Helga Kasdorf circulation + advertising Angeline Schellenberg copy editor Barrie McMaster B.C. regional correspondent

Volume 54, Number 7 • Copy run: 14,500 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD IS A PUBLICATION OF

Harold Froese, CCMBC Moderator Brian Cooper, BFL Chair Willy Reimer, Executive Director

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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GOD, SEX & CHURCH A THEOLOGY OF HEALTHY SEXUALITY

homepage Much to appreciate Re “The God-bearing life…of a magazine” (Editorial, June). I’m saddened by the recent news about the changes to the MB Herald. I look forward to it each month. It is a way of knowing what’s happening in the bigger picture on both the local, provincial, national and international level. It’s a way of communicating the good news of salvation. I like to be informed, and sometimes the local church doesn’t quite live up to what it should do re the bigger picture. I like to know what’s happening at our post-secondary institutions. Also, Finish Lines tells us of faith stories that we can identify with or be inspired by.

RICHARD KRAHN WINKLER, MAN.

The value of a magazine Re “The God-bearing life…of a magazine” (Editorial, June). How, if not through our publication, are we to communicate across miles, our differences or our roles in church life?

A denomination needs a visible means of communication to tell the church’s story and allow us to speak with one another and hold one another accountable. Through it, leaders address us all as a national community of believers, but by it people from the ranks can also speak to the leaders.

Being the church with one another is never clean or simple. It’s often messy. Being Christ followers to the world, joining in its mission, or facing issues and concerns, we need the contributions of many gifted people.

A periodical such as the Herald can help us maintain the linkages and facilitate the conversations that all of us need if we are truly to sense we are part of one another and share a common vision and identity. This is our periodical of record; this is where we can tell our ongoing story and maintain permanent record of our church’s story. This is where we nurture, encourage or teach one another.

HAROLD JANTZ WINNIPEG

A new direction?

Re “Unpacking the mission we all share” (Outfront, April). I read Willy Reimer’s article with interest. While I have no difficulty with the Great Commission and the missional theology it contains, I wonder if this purpose is new for the MB conference of Canada. Hasn’t missional theology always been part of the purposes of the conference?

JOHN FRIESEN VANCOUVER Letters to the editor Mennonite Brethren Herald welcomes your letters of 150–200 words on issues relevant to the Mennonite Brethren church, especially in response to material published in the Herald. Please include name, address and phone number, and keep your letters courteous and about one subject only. We will edit letters for length and clarity.

We will not publish letters sent anonymously, although we may withhold names from publication at the request of the letter writer and at our discretion. Publication is subject to space limitations. Letters also appear online.

Because the Letters column is a free forum for discussion, it should be understood that letters represent the position of the letter writer, not necessarily the position of the Herald or the Mennonite Brethren church. Send letters to: Letters, MB Herald, 1310 Taylor Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3M 3Z6, or by email to mbherald@mbchurches.ca.

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August 2015 www.mbherald.com

GOD, SEX & CHURCH A THEOLOGY OF HEALTHY SEXUALITY

The Board of Faith and Life is excited to extend a special young leader rate of $49 for registration to study conference.Photo Attendees fromwho thequalify MWC are under 25 years old and attend an MB church General Council meeting or are enrolled in an MB academic institution.

in 2012

To register, young leaders must submit the downloadable registration form with payment via email or fax.

Don’t miss this opportunity to study, worship and network with your faith family.

Mennonite October 21–23, 2015 World Conference Westwood Community Church Assembly Winnipeg, Manitoba

21-26 July 2015 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT STUDYCONFERENCE.MENNONITEBRETHREN.CA

A global family October 21–23, 2015 gathering Westwood Community Church

Winnipeg, Manitoba Following the 16th Mennonite World Conference Assembly, FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT July 21–26, 2015, visit our STUDYCONFERENCE.MENNONITEBRETHREN.CA website, Facebook and Twitter for updates and reports from the Pennsylvania event attended by members ofwww.mwc-cmm.org the global family of Anabaptist believers.

STAFF TRANSITION Karla Braun, associate editor of the MB Herald, began part-time work as writer and editor for Mennonite World Conference, July 15, 2015.

Karla will continue to edit and write for the MB Herald part-time.

Don’t forget that you can comment online.

Join the conversation at mbherald.com.

PHOTO: ALISON RALPH

Reader responses

coming events CONFERENCE EVENTS: Sept. 18–19: AEFMQ pastors and workers retreat, Camp Péniel, Wentworth-Nord, Que. Sept. 18–19: Church Unity Project 4: Facilitating difficult conversations, Winnipeg.

Sept. 20: MB Mission Central Canada MUD café, CMU, Winnipeg.

Sept. 22–24: ABMB peer clusters.

Sept. 28–Oct. 1: C2C Network assessment centre, Calgary.

Oct. 4–6: ABMB pastor and spouse retreat.

Oct. 4–6: SKMB pastor and spouse retreat.

Oct. 6: C2C Network banquet, Montreal.

Oct. 15: C2C Network banquet, Winnipeg.

Oct. 16–18: AWAKE Edmonton.

Oct. 21–23: “God, Sex and Church” study conference, Winnipeg.

Nov. 5: C2C Network banquet, Winkler, Man. Nov. 6–8: AWAKE Winnipeg.

Nov. 13: Disciple Making International (DMI) Global Mission Banquet, King Road MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C. Nov. 5: C2C Network banquet, Toronto.

Nov. 19: C2C Network banquet, Calgary.

Nov. 20–23: AWAKE Fraser Valley, B.C. Nov. 23–26: C2C Network retreat.

PARTNER EVENTS: Aug. 10–21: CMU Blazers summer sports camps, Winnipeg.

Aug. 17–21: CMU Blazers summer sports camps, Winnipeg.

Sept. 4–7: Camp Evergreen family camp, Sundre, Alta.

Sept. 17–18: MinistryLift workshop: Personal Dimensions of Leadership Development.

Sept. 26–27: 50th anniversary celebration, Cariboo Bethel Church, Williams Lake, B.C. Oct. 2–3: Camp Evergreen Rise Up high school retreat, Sundre, Alta.

Oct. 10, 12: MinistryLift workshop: Nurturing the New Generation of Chinese Youth.

Oct. 23–25: Peace It Together: Hearing God in indigenous voices, CMU, Winnipeg.

View more events from churches, schools and agencies at mbherald.com/calendar.

GOD, SEX & CHURCH A THEOLOGY OF HEALTHY SEXUALITY GOD, SEX & CHURCH The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches will host the

Astudy THEOLOGY OF 21–23, HEALTHY SEXUALITY conference on October 2015, at Westwood Community Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The theme is God, Sex & Church: a theology of healthy sexuality.

Join us in Winnipeg where we’ll gather as Canadian Mennonite Brethren to gain a clearer vision of God’s design for human sexuality and of the church’s role in bearing witness to that vision.

The following workshops will provide participants with an opportunity to gain insights from two presenters with an intimate group setting for conversation and dialogue.

Thursday, October 22 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm: • “Sex and the City of God” with Justin Neufeld (Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Man.) • “The World Through the Eyes of a College Student” with Erin Thiessen (Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C.) and Terry Doerksen (Westwood Community Church, Winnipeg, Man.) • “Sex Offender Ministry: in the prison and in the church” with Carol Penner (Lendrum MB Church, Edmonton, Alta.)

• “Sexual Abuse: the effects and healing” with Elsie Goertzen (Mennonte Central Committee, Abbotsford, B.C.)

Friday, October 23 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm: • “How The Meeting House Engages the LGBTQ Community” with Bruxy Cavey (The Meeting House, Toronto, Ont.) • “Purity and Fidelity: principles that operate in the decisions and consequences of sex outside of marriage” with Paul Cumin (Pemberton Community MB Church, Pemberton, B.C.) • “Talking to Teens About Sexuality” with Janessa Giesbrecht (Fort Garry MB Church, Winnipeg, Man.)

Don’t miss this opportunity to study, worship and network with your faith family.

October 21–23, 2015 Westwood Community Church Winnipeg, Manitoba October 21–23, 2015 Westwood Community Church FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT Winnipeg, Manitoba STUDYCONFERENCE.MENNONITEBRETHREN.CA FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT STUDYCONFERENCE.MENNONITEBRETHREN.CA

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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CCMBC

profile

Moderator: money hatches ministry Angeline Schellenberg Harold Froese became moderator of the MB churches of Canada at Gathering 2014.

Harold is an egg farmer, a director on the Manitoba Egg Farmers’ board and a half-time farm loans account manager for Access Credit Union.

Although he served as the Manitoba conference moderator for five years prior, you may not have noticed this quiet businessman. MB Herald copy editor Angeline Schellenberg sat down with Harold to hear his heart for the church and the conference’s new mission statement: “CCMBC exists to multiply Christcentred churches to see Canada transformed by the good news of Jesus Christ.”

How did God prepare you to be a leader?

can’t find a reason not to do it, I often end up doing it.

How does the new mission statement resonate for you?

Looking back, God was at work in my life, sometimes in spite of me.

What drives you?

It resonates for me because it talks about growth. Sometimes we get hung up on numerical growth, but it’s about discipleship growth. The Bible tells us to keep growing as long as we’re on earth. I feel God calling us into many types of societies. Working with many more denominations across Canada.

People have mentored me. Since I was 10, I have been at Fort Garry MB Church, Winnipeg. In my teens, my life wasn’t going in a positive direction, but God didn’t give up on me.

I met my life partner, Jocelyn, who has been with me 41 years. Without her support, I wouldn’t have been able to do half of what I’ve been doing. She did a lot of the work managing the farm and raising our four children while I’ve travelled.

My dad was part of a group of 5,000 that got out of Russia under the wire in 1930; that instilled in me a gratitude for life in North America, how privileged we are to worship as we choose.

It was never on my bucket list to be on Manitoba or Canadian conference boards. I started in leadership roles at Fort Garry in my late 20s because people encouraged me. I fell in love with the role of supporting pastors, and that stayed with me.

I’m not the type of person who feels God calling them to do a certain thing.

I’m not wired that way. It’s often other people saying, “Why don’t you…?” If I

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The fact that we have a pension plan for our pastors – hundreds of pastors.

It’s a positive thing God is doing through us as the MB church in Canada. Many pastors in my generation don’t have adequate pension benefits. It bothers me because part of our responsibility is to look after our staff.

When I see a page of numbers, I see a page of ministry. To see a ministry flourish because we could finance their church is great.

On the Vancouver bus tour last year at Gathering 2014, I interacted with church planters who felt God leading them to parts of cities where I wouldn’t choose to live. That spoke to me: the fact that we as a denomination would be involved in supporting their work financially, through C2C, seminary and L2L resources.

It’s not about me, or the board; it’s about discerning the plans God has to enhance ministry on the ground. We’re trying to put more and more decisionmaking authority in the hands of the local church, regardless of where the money comes from. That excites me!

How do you see the MB church changing?

I sense an openness. It may be challenging for those of us who are used to doing things a certain way, but God’s mission is for everybody. I see only opportunities.

I was blessed by the fact that there are more Chinese MB churches in Canada than there are total MB churches in some of our provinces. The Board of Faith and Life is translating the confession of faith into Chinese languages.

At provincial conventions this year, there was more “we” language: not “national office,” or “provincial conference,” or “C2C,” but “we.”

We tended as a national board and provincial conferences to do our own things. Lots of good things were happening, but we came to the realization

Some things make sense for national to do; payroll for example. We work in background resourcing. We can use the strength of our resources to help.

For example, some 15 denominations are working with C2C. God has done such a great work that all those groups are coming to our small denomination for help.

What challenges are we facing?

The doors are opening quicker than financial resources are coming. The mission is catching on, but our financial support isn’t keeping up. That creates opportunities for how we communicate the message of what God is doing.

My parents’ generation, now in their 70s and 80s, give because they were taught to give, and the church is their first call. Successive generations give to projects they’re connected with.

We need to make people aware of good things the seminary and L2L are doing; for example, that a pastor in Alberta and a pastor in Ontario can support each other through L2L’s website.

What opportunities do you see?

The Legacy Investments Inc. fund we’re developing is a great opportunity because the demand for mortgage financing in Canada

continues to grow, and it’s difficult for churches and pastors to get good mortgage financing. Legacy is becoming as compliant as we can with new government regulations, which will make things a lot clearer for the constituency as well.

How can we as a conference work with each pastor to make their ministry better? We want to offer more human resource services for churches. When a pastor retires, what process do you set up to hire a new one? I’m a firm believer that the moment we hire a new pastor is when the relational support should start, so there’s a support group for each pastor where they can go in confidence.

I see continued growth in L2L because the pressures in society aren’t decreasing. Through L2L, we can resource churches through high points and low points, like the time between pastors.

The area of church planting is almost unlimited. I have yet to meet a planting pastor who isn’t enthusiastic. But they’re often solo pastoring, preaching every week – how do we support them? The seminary would be a logical place to get theological support.

PHOTO: LAURA KALMAR

that it’s better if we work together.

Rather than us as national saying a program is good and encouraging the provinces to do it, we’re asking the churches and provinces, “What are the needs on the ground?”

Harold Froese We’re planting in different cultures and communities – it’s an opportunity for teaching the Confession of Faith.

It’s good for seminary, good for planters, good for churches.

What is your dream for the future of the MB church?

It’s summed up in the mission statement: that we have churches right across Canada – and beyond through MB Mission – that are healthy and growing as disciples.

That we passionately follow Jesus.

Whether in our employment, or as pastor, teacher or conference worker, that our objective is to grow and to help others grow.

We are so fortunate for the ministry we have. We should never take it for granted. God’s not done with us yet; there’s so much more to do.

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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How to:

love the foreigner among you Immigrants, refugees and Christian churches RICH JANZEN AND SAM REIMER

S

hediac, N.B., is home to hundreds of migrant workers (mostly Filipino) who work in the local fish, crab and lobster plants. The community has no government services specifically for immigrants. So when Typhoon Haiyan devastated the far-away homes of these Filipino workers in 2013, it was Shediac churches who stepped in.

Local Baptist, Catholic, United and Anglican churches, along with a Gospel Hall, organized fundraisers for workers to send home to their families. They then cooperated to provide legal and medical services as well as food, better housing, furniture, clothing and transportation for Filipinos in their home community.

As Canada’s population grows through immigration from all over the world, our churches are also becoming more ethnically diverse. The Role of Churches in Immigrant Settlement and Integration study (see sidebar) shows that only eight percent of Mennonite Brethren churches have no ethnic minorities attending.

Since immigrants coming to Canada are on average more religiously devout than the Canadian-born, Christian churches are finding increasing numbers of immigrants and refugees in their pews, and many others in their neighbourhoods.

Denominations and churches sometimes struggle to adapt to and welcome these newcomers. Others are spurred to innovative responses.

In the Maritimes, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, our team of researchers studied the ways in which Christian congregations are supporting new immigrants and refugees.

Get involved First, we learned that many churches are actively welcoming newcomers, in keeping with the biblical mandate to love one’s neighbour and care for the foreigner (Leviticus 19:33–34). MBs, and many other denominations, have a long history of settling refugees (at least

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since the 1970s, when they helped Southeast Asian refugees after the Vietnam War).

Today, refugees still come from desperate circumstances of poverty and violence, with few economic resources and little knowledge of the culture or language. Churches are there to help them settle and transition into life in Canada. Some respondents told us stories of offering sanctuary to refugee claimants whom the government threatened to deport.

River of Life MB church in New Brunswick recently welcomed a refugee family from Tanzania, a process that took more than seven years. Partnering with a local Baptist church, they raised the needed funds within the first year. When the refugee family finally arrived, the churches donated items to furnish an apartment. The whole church was energized to help them settle. A year later, the family still regularly attends River of Life.

Lead the way Second, we learned that leadership is key.

The resources, passion and vision for immigrant support often comes from denominational and church leaders.

In some cases, churches are reactive, meeting needs of immigrants who come to them. Structures are then created to meet their needs, like the provision of English (or French) language classes. Other times, churches are proactive, adjusting their worship services, structures and resources to better integrate immigrants. Whichever the case, leaders (including immigrant leaders) are an important ingredient in determining how churches work with immigrants and refugees.

For example, in Montreal, a Congolese immigrant became the pastor of a church composed mostly of other immigrants from francophone Africa. He encourages his church members to offer their own immigrant experience as a way of accompanying newcomers to Canada. In his words, “Of the people that we helped, 80 percent will say ‘The same way you helped me, I will help others because of what I received when I had nothing, and you gave me something.’”

Do fewer things – well Third, churches are often better at doing a few things well than trying to be all things to all immigrants. Most churches focus on short-term settlement needs, like

Welcoming refugees – a picture of God’s kingdom Members open homes and hearts

W

hen you follow God’s leading, he often “calls you to things you would never have imagined,” says Michelle Knowles. Members of Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church and Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon, have journeyed farther in discipleship by supporting refugee families.

Director of global outreach (GO) at WMB, Knowles was plunged into a deportation crisis on her first day. She was informed a family the church had been supporting had their refugee claim denied.

Knowles mobilized a prayer team and support, and worked with officials to bring the family back to Canada.

“God did a miracle! We celebrated with them this year as they were granted permanent residency.”

She’s continuing to learn how to equip the congregation “to take those first steps into areas of discomfort and see Jesus in that.”

“This is our life now” In Saskatoon, John Pearson had no idea what he was getting into.

Recently retired, his wife Rena and their small group responded when Forest Grove asked members to aid a refugee family. John expected to help, then “go on with the rest of our lives, but it’s not like that.”

Two years later, the family’s children call them grandma and grandpa and the Pearsons see their friends nearly every day. “This is our life now,” says John.

The Pearsons traversed the maze of bureaucracy and walked with the family through learning English, getting extensive dental work done, learning the bus system and the birth of a fourth child. “This practical way of being the ‘hands and feet of Jesus’ [to this Muslim family] has resulted in growing in dependence on him,” says Rena. “It has helped

us boldly step out for Jesus.”

Windows to speak about Christ Encouragement from members of their WMB small group catalyzed Mark and Kristen House to open their home to refugees in transition.

For two months, the House family lived with a Muslim woman from Africa and her two children.

Answering God’s call means sacrificing personal space, paying higher utility and food bills and learning to communicate and navigate parenting norms across cultures. But seeing “how my kids interacted with her kids,…instilling in [my two young sons] the hope and desire God has for us in doing this” was a huge highlight for Mark.

Kristen was blessed by having another adult around to help with babysitting, cooking and cleaning, but even more so by the opportunity to share the gospel using her gift of hospitality. The woman was flabbergasted by Kristen’s generosity in opening her home, “So that gave us a lot of windows to tell her ‘we do it because Christ called us to be like him and demonstrate hospitality to strangers just as we would to him.’

“It was easier for us to show the gospel that way than to try to crack the barriers between Islam [and Christianity],” she says.

Growing deeper in relationship “What are the steps God asks us to take in obedience to him, to grow with him in new ways and allow ourselves to be changed and impacted by the people he’s brought into our community?” Knowles asks her volunteers.

“We need to get to a place of mutuality and shared service and investment in each other,’” says Knowles.

“That’s what God calls us to because that’s what his kingdom looks like.”—Karla Braun

Continued on page 17

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

11

How to:

suppor t the parents of a child with invisible disabilities LANI WIENS

Y

ou’re trying to picture what your friend is telling you about how her child is struggling. But all you’ve ever seen is a charming, polite boy, whom you can’t image throwing anything other than a party. You want to believe her, even support her, but you just don’t see it.

It’s easy to understand when a child limps or wears hearing aids.

But many disabilities – such as autism, ADHD, anxiety or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder – are hidden.

As a mom of a child with invisible disabilities, I’d like to offer some ways to help.

1. Withhold judgment Don’t judge our parenting skills by our child’s behaviour. Much of the behaviour is beyond our control; in some cases, it’s beyond our child’s control too.

2. Avoid offering unsolicited advice Unless you have been asked for an opinion because of your training or experience, don’t offer a diagnosis or treatment. Our kids have been poked, prodded, researched and questioned beyond what many can imagine. We as parents have done plenty of research.

3. Believe us If you really want to know what’s going on with our family and I trust you enough to tell you, believe me. It’s hard work to get the help that our kids need because a lot of the time no one else sees it. Children tend to reserve the worst behaviour for at home where it’s safe to unravel.

4. Invite us over Close the doors you don’t want entered and put away your valuables; then, please, invite our family in. It’s isolating to have a child with issues. You may be nervous, but I can assure you:

12

August 2015 www.mbherald.com

we are even more so! If you can meet us at the door with open arms rather than a list of rules of conduct, that will make us cry with appreciation.

5. Laugh with us We need to release the tension that we constantly live in. If my kid took something of yours and I’m coming over to return it, could we joke about it a little?

6. Listen Reading blogs and articles like this helps. Ask questions and listen to the answers.

7. Offer respite Even when they are teenagers, our children need supervision. It’s not easy to find competent caregivers for a child with difficult behaviours. Take my kids for the weekend or come over and let us weary parents leave for a while.

8. Love our kids Accepting that my child has limitations and loving him anyway is your greatest gift to me. If I believe you actually care about my child enough to spend time with him, not so you can fix him, but because you like him, it heals more than you will ever know.

My child is my child: whether he’s adopted, biological or gained a place in my heart through foster care or some other arrangement. Don’t assume that because a child is difficult to deal with that we love him less. We chose to be his parents, and we will do everything in our power to love, protect and fight for him.

And we need all the support we can get.

Lani Wiens is a freelance writer who lives in Saskatoon with her husband and six children. A member of Hillside Christian Fellowship, Beechy, Sask., she blogs at allthiscrazygrace.com, where a version of this article first appeared.

worship within and beyond the walls GARETH GOOSSEN

W

orship and mission have always had an uneasy relationship in the church, as if they were somehow separated from each other. But the reality is that worship of God fuels mission and mission enlivens worship. The ultimate goal of any mission engagement is that people would come to recognize and worship God. As John Piper so succinctly reminds us, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”

Worship – giving worth to God – is much more than musical expression; it is also the focus of mission – inviting people to receive the good news of Jesus, God’s Son. When we fail to understand its missional component, worship can become self-seeking and self-serving rather than an expression of the expansiveness of God’s kingdom (Amos 5:21–24, Matthew 15: 1–11, John 4:23–24).

The musical expressions of our Sunday morning worship gatherings must be founded upon Jesus’ underlying mission (Luke 4:18– 19) and commission (Matthew 28:16–20). Without these foundations, we quickly forget that worship of God is for the believer, yes, but also for the unbeliever.

For the believer, worship is the opportunity and privilege, together with fellow followers of Jesus, to extent our gratitude, praise and love for him and for his ongoing work of redemption in us and relationship with us.

For the unbeliever, worship is the opportunity to experience a spiritually rich environment, observe devotion to God in action, encounter the spiritual reality of a God who loves them and calls them to receive that love and to hear God’s voice for themselves.

Tips for being missional in our worship:

1. Communicate clearly

One of the reasons we use familiar wording, expressions and instruments in our worship music is to provide a culturally relevant bridge for those who are exploring faith and Jesus.

Do you understand the words you sing or say on a Sunday morning? What does “hosanna” or “hallelujah” mean? Can we clearly explain phrases like, “Here I raise my Ebenezer”?

We can still use songs with those words and expressions in them – just make sure we know what they mean, and perhaps comment during (or after) the song or add an explanation on the PowerPoint slide to aid in understanding.

Practically speaking, “being real” means allowing people into our life. When we are filled with joy, we worship with delight. When we are grieving, we worship out of our pain. When we have made mistakes, sinned, fallen short of the best, we admit our weakness and our need for God’s grace.

No one is perfect; we are suspicious of people who pass themselves off as too put-together!

4. Be hospitable.

Create a worship space that is welcoming. We invite people to our homes not because of how great our decorating is, but for the opportunity to know them, and they us. Believers and unbelievers feel loved when we have an attitude that is open, friendly and welcoming – without being creepy!

There are also simple things we can do to make our worship space reflect warmth and hospitality. This can be as simple as wellplaced, easily readable signage, use of colour (paint, photography, banners) or as involved as changes to lighting, foyer layout and auditorium arrangement.

5. Create space for dialogue

To be missional in our worship is to be open for people to speak into what we do. We can’t explain everything in a song, on a PowerPoint slide or, for that matter, in a 30-minute sermon. But when we share a meal together, sit across a coffee table and look each other in the eye, we can begin a conversation that opens doorways of understanding and faith for others.

We invite Jesus to accomplish his purpose in us as we allow him to flow through us to reach others – our missional worship to him.

Gareth Goossen is worship & arts pastor at Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church. He has authored a book WorshipWalk: Where Worship and Life Intersect (Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for Essential Reading 2013), available in English and Spanish. For 21 years, he was executive director of Make Us Holy – a ministry to churches, mission agencies and discipleship schools in North, Central and South America.

2. Point to Jesus

Believers and people exploring faith need to see Jesus. Our songs, prayers, sermons and actions need to highlight the wonder and power of Jesus, his love for all his creation and his invitation to relationship with him.

3. Be authentic

We don’t encourage believers to live a two-faced existence and we don’t want to present that kind of attitude before unbelievers either.

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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How to:

ask better questions to gain clarity

C

hange can begin the moment we ask a question. Jesus was a master in the use of questions. In the Gospels, he often asks people, “What do you want?”

It has been said that behind every question is an assumption; asking a question can help to test and clarify that assumption for the one asking the question and the one responding.

A tense moment of • decision, • crisis, • confusion, • complexity.

Questions have the potential to open up a conversation and facilitate discovery. As people articulate their response, they greater awareness and clarity.

What does the person need to know in order to chart the course forward effectively?

What people discover, they tend to own and what they own, they implement. The key to getting the right answer is asking the right question.

Be curious, but for the questionee’s benefit

4 Questions

T ips

• Let him answer your questions without interrupting.

L2L has adopted these four questions from Tom Paterson’s life planning process:

E What’s right? Enhance

• Give her time to respond.

• Allow him to answer fully before you ask the next question.

• Don’t let the next question keep you from hearing the answer to the current question.

E What’s wrong? Change

• Stay positive.

E What’s confused? Clarify

• Remember, silence can mean different things.

E What’s missing? Add

• Listen attentively while she is talking.

Each of these questions invites increased ownership.

“What’s right?” assumes some things are working well.

We need to be reminded not to overlook the positives.

“What’s wrong?” asks the person to recognize what needs to be corrected.

“What’s confused?” identifies snarly issues that may be sapping energy and creativity.

“What’s missing?” implies something may enhance a leader’s ability to move forward.

14

When is the best time to ask these questions?

August 2015 www.mbherald.com

• Don’t talk while he is thinking.

—Taken from L2Lnet.org’s L2L Journey eNewsletter

Leaders improve their serve with L2L coaches Pete’s story

By the time I turned 45, I felt like I was driving with cruisecontrol. My marriage was stable, my church appreciated my leadership as associate pastor. I wasn’t exactly asleep at the wheel, but I was coasting, two fingers on the wheel.

Instead of taking risks, I’d begun to settle for getting the job done, relying on my skills and experience. I’d been avoiding conflict and initiatives that might have challenged my sense of competence and escaping into overeating and watching hockey.

But I began to realize, there has to be more to life than this.

I signed up for coaching with L2L and discovered I wasn’t alone: many pastors reach a leadership plateau. My coach led me through a process called APEX, which showed me that God had wired me for spiritual adventure.

I discovered that I had the gift of evangelism. With new clarity on God’s purposes for my life, I passed some of my “safe” administrative responsibilities to volunteers in the church, to free myself up for relationships. I started doing my sermon prep at the Korean café on my street, where I’m getting to know the owners. I asked my wife how I can serve her better; it wasn’t easy to hear how I’ve been distant. I’m tuning in through prayer to places Jesus is working and making the most of opportunities.

Now life feels like driving with Jesus through the mountains, and I’m curious what’s around the next curve.

Stephanie’s story

I was both exhilarated and scared: the pastoral job offer was what I had been hoping for, but I worried that I wasn’t ready. Like me, the church had a passion to serve the homeless. What if I wasn’t up to the challenge?

I reached out to an L2L coach for help with my decision. I told her I felt like a track runner in the starting blocks, waiting for the starter’s gun to go off, afraid of getting the timing wrong. I had Bible college training and volunteer experience at my church’s soup kitchen. So why was I afraid?

My coach walked me through personal ReFocusing. I realized God would be

there, even if I failed.

As I prayed with my coach, God replaced my fear with excitement for how this job opportunity fit with my passions.

My coach asked questions that challenged me to find and surrender the hurts from my previous church leadership experience that had built up layers around my heart.

I gained hope and courage to move forward.

My initial picture changed: I wasn’t in the starting blocks.

I was in a race that started when I accepted Jesus 10 years earlier in Sunday school. And with my coach for support and accountability, I had the assurance that I wasn’t running alone.

Jack’s story

I hated the word retirement. As I neared my 65th birthday, I felt days and months whipping by me – I was hanging on for dear life like when my brother and I would race soap box cars down the hill. But I dreaded the thought of stopping.

Was there really life after work?

I requested a coach through L2L to guide me through the transition. We worked through a discovery process called Resonance to help me “finish well.”

At first, I didn’t like the sound of that; it reminded me of a terminal disease. But I began to see retirement was a page turn, not a book burning.

My coach and I reviewed the key turning points of my life: a mission trip where I discovered my gift for hospitality, the employer that encouraged me to start my own business, my marriage to my best friend, the day my oldest son died in a car crash, the family friend who led me back to church.

I began to see that true influence isn’t restricted to a formal role or position; it’s about character and relationship.

I started investing in and cheering on younger leaders at my church. Instead of white-knuckling for the finish line, I’m letting go and enjoying the ride, knowing that God is in control.

Due to the confidential nature of the coaching relationship, these stories are composites of participants’ experiences.

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

15

How to:

draw great stories from short-termers

Y

ou’ve probably been on both sides of this scenario. A person returns from a cross-cultural learning and ministry experience.

“Welcome back! How was your trip?”

“Great! It was fantastic. I had an amazing time.”

[Smiles, nods; conversation fizzles.]

Tools

• How did this experience deepen your passion for the ministries God has gifted you?

• What commitments did you make?

• What tools or practices were helpful in your preparation to go?

Maybe we get disappointing answers because we aren’t asking the best questions.

• How can we (church, small group, family) support you to continue to grow through this experience?

Here are some sample approaches to draw out better stories from your recently returned short-term missionaries.

• What temptations did you experience?

And those who have gone can give answers to these questions whether asked or not.

Relationships

• Who was the most interesting person you met?

• What were the strengths of working with a team? What were the challenges?

• Tell me about the people with whom you served.

PHOTO: MB MISSION

Perspectives

• What was the highest/lowest point?

• What is one thing you are “bringing home” with you?

• What did you find most remarkable/different/ surprising about the culture or the church there?

• How has your perspective on the church changed through this experience?

• Where did you witness God’s miraculous intervention?

• How did you lift high Jesus’ name?

• How did God use you to further his kingdom?

• How will you live differently now after what you’ve experienced?

A cross-cultural experience’s value is not only what the goer accomplishes on the field, but the work God does in his or her heart – and that work continues long after the volunteer returns home.

The sending church can participate in these benefits by engaging short-term service learning workers with good questions upon return.—Karla Braun with files from Lloyd & Carol Letkeman, MB Mission Central Canada

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August 2015 www.mbherald.com

Continued from page 11

PHOTO: MCC/MATTHEW SAWATZKY

Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon, worked with MCC Saskatchewan to sponsor the Fikak family (pictured left).

providing finances, food, housing, furniture, transportation and language skills. Also, most denominations (71 percent) are actively establishing congregations for newcomers.

Churches are less likely to be involved in long-term integration of immigrants at a societal level, like advocating to change policy and systemic issues, or community development projects that benefit immigrants.

According to recent immigrants we talked to, churches are best at providing relational and spiritual support, as many feel lost and alone in a new country. In fact, some focus group participants argued that this is an advantage that churches have over other government funded services. One said, “As a newcomer myself, I can tell you that without people around you to encourage you, to help you feel like you’re not lost, and to care about you, it’s a very long walk. And that’s the experience of people who come without church support.”

Partner with others Fourth, more and more churches are partnering with others.

Since a typical church cannot do everything, they often cooperate with other churches and agencies. We found many examples of churches working hand-in-hand with government agencies, non-profit organizations and churches of other denominations.

For example, in Vancouver, church groups collaborate with other community agencies to provide affordable and supportive housing for newly-arrived refugee claimants. Originally a ministry of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church in East Vancouver, today Kinbrace is a separate charitable organization that includes two houses in East Vancouver. It partners with a network of refugee services in Vancouver including healthcare, legal and a range of other faith-based and governmental services.

Use the Finding Our Way guide Research partners developed an interdenominational guide to action called Finding Our Way. This practical toolkit features

11 key strategies (“Wayfinding actions”) that church leaders can use in working with – and learning from – immigrants and refugees. Examples include organizing a book or Bible study, writing a formal statement to work with newcomers, inviting a newcomer for dinner at home, sponsoring a refugee family, hosting an intercultural workshop and initiating a communitybased arts project.

The guide also encourages individuals and groups to balance the “doing” of settlement and integration ministry with the “being” of a cultivated spirit of love, friendship and welcome.

Finding Our Way is a free resource available to MB churches as well. Download a copy (see website in sidebar), and start your own conversation in your church and in your community.

Rich Janzen is research director at the Centre for Community Based Research, and attends Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church.

Sam Reimer is professor of sociology at Crandall University, and member-at-large on the CCMBC executive board.

The Role of Churches in Immigrant Settlement and Integration is a national and interdenominational research partnership funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The partnership, led by Rich Janzen and the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR) in Waterloo, Ont., includes academic researches, church leaders and interdenominational networks such as the Canadian Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

Partners completed a national survey of 38 denominations (Evangelical, Mainline Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox), 18 key informant interviews with denominational and other leaders across Canada, and an extensive literature review.

Local researchers in the Maritimes, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver also completed focus group interviews with church leaders and case studies of churches who offer exemplary immigrant support. More information about the project and its reports is available on the CCBR website (www.communitybasedresearch.ca/Page/View/PDG).

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

17

multiply

Church Multiplication Conference

May 12 & 13, 2015 | Toronto, Ontario

Church planting in Canada: A life and death venture SANDRA REIMER

A

bout 10 years ago, The Metropolitan Ekk, former lead elder at South Hill Church Thinking about….

C2C Network Bible in Vancouver. South Hill was an amalgaStarting aChurch, new service?Ottawa, was healthy and “Helping Churches Multiply” Satellite ministry? growing, so they decided to start a conmation of two MB churches (historically C2C is actively planting new churches but is Thinking Planting a new church? About... committed toGermanic helping existing Vancouver churches realize MB and Pacific Daughtering congregation? gregation onaanother anewnearby campus. “How Then hard “Multiply” is for you.

Come be Starting service? their vision for multiplication.

“Multiply” Multi-site options? can Parish/Neighbourhood this be?” asked pastor Tim Auld and MB, comprised Conference Grace practically assist church leaders mostly of Canadianmodel? inspired by will Canadian pastors/leaders who Daughtering a new church? who are praying and dreaming about Funding partnerships? his leadership team. born Chinese).

Though multiplication in its many different forms. have navigated their churches through the 100 people still Transitioning existing church into mission?

Satellite an Ministry?

Urban / rural strategies? worshipped together weekly, the group challenges of multiplication.

Planting a church?

The Developing Met hired a planting greatcouples? speaker who, “Multiply” will expose you to leaders who are church gradually over its six-year committed tohad reaching the millions indeclined Canada Other creative ideas to multiply…

Multi-site options? together with his wife, tried to form a satelwho are unchurched. It will provide history. lite church among students on a nearbyopportunities to learn from and interact with various models of multiplication. It will inspire campus. “We failed miserably,” says Auld.

Interim pastor you as you lead your local church inAdam missional Wiggins suggested Registration “WeRegistration invested a lot and we ended up engagement.leaders talk to Brett and Alison Landry $99/person EARLY March 1) | $159/person (after Marchstarting 1) $159/person crushing the spirit ofBIRD this(until young [church who were an MB church in the Register here: www.c2cnetwork.ca/multiply Register here: www.c2cnetwork.ca/multiply planting] couple.”

South Hill neighbourhood. “From the very first meeting with Brett, I could tell he had Too old to give birth? great passion and vision,” says Ekk. • • • • • • • • • • •

Contact

Location

Phone: 604-746-2238 People’s The 82-year-old congregation feltChurch like the Email: info@c2cnetwork.ca 374 Sheppard Ave E, Web: www.c2cnetwork.ca/multiply Toronto, ON matriarch Sarah – too old to give birth.

Maybe they should be satisfied with a robust congregation of 2,200 and forget about planting.

Accommodation See list of recommended hotels on the event website!

“God kept challenging us to go after his promises,” says Auld, citing Genesis 18:14: “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Today, in partnership with the C2C Network (the church planting arm of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches), The Met is expecting.

C2C helped the church assess and discern planters Jeff and Ruth Scott, and is also training and mentoring the couple. If all goes well, by spring 2016, The Met will give birth to a daughter church in the Westboro neighbourhood of Ottawa.

“Church after church is closing [in Canada],” says Auld. However, “if we continue to turn to God and reach out to him in faith, no congregation is too old to begin again.”

Life comes out of death Yet, sometimes closing the doors is exactly what a congregation needs to do, as Brian Ekk discovered.

“We did not have a critical mass to do ministries and lacked a strong push forward.

We knew something had to change,” says 18

August 2015 www.mbherald.com

At first, the South Hill leadership team thought they could partner with the Landrys and City Church. But after much prayer and many discussions, they concluded God was directing them to close South Hill and give the building and the assets to City Church.

Hill congregation] to give away myself and my ministry?”

Brett is thankful for the mentoring and support C2C provides. Born and raised in Alberta in a non-Christian home, he came to Christ at 20 and attended Bible college shortly afterward. Even before they married 12 years ago, Brett and Alison sensed a call to one day plant a church in Vancouver. “C2C took seriously our call to plant and not just equipped us but resourced the call,” he says.

After being assessed and going through a discernment process with Alison, Brett was invited to meet monthly with a “cadre” of other church planters. “I was so excited because I had found a band of brothers.”

Preach Jesus

“That meant we had to give up our leadership positions, our friends and our community,” says Ekk. “We gave up control to God.”

Landry and Auld shared their stories at Church Multiplication Conference, a C2C gathering of church planters and Christian leaders from across Canada, May 12–13, 2015, at People’s Church, Toronto. (See online for speaker roster.)

After one-on-one discussions, prayer times and some painful meetings where people expressed anger and grief, a strong majority of South Hill’s congregation voted to let the church die to benefit God’s kingdom.

C2C national missiologist Bill Hogg encouraged those gathered not to shrink back from preaching that Jesus is Lord in Canada’s marketplace of religious pluralism, but to do so “energized by the breath of God.”

Two-year-old City Church has grown to some 250 attending two weekend services. It attracts people who have never believed in Jesus, Christians from other churches and people who have drifted from the church.

“Are you convinced that men and women and young people are lost without Jesus?” Hogg asked. For many, “lostness” is unpalatable and eternal punishment is under debate, yet “gospel proclamation is of utmost importance because it is of eternal consequence,” he said.

“Does the disturbing truth of eternal punishment have any impact on our lives?”

“We would never have dreamed of all the new friends we have met,” says Ekk, who now leads a City Church community group with his wife Jodi in their home. “I have seen a huge revival in my walk with God.” Brett was humbled by the gift of the building and South Hill’s assets. “Life comes out of death,” says Brett. “One day, the test will come for me. Will I have the humility that was modelled for us [by the South

The speakers told inspiring stories on a variety of topics like multicultural and street level ministries, rural strategies and urban missions, but there was not a lot of practical teaching that leaders could implement. Round-table discussions helped leaders to apply what they were

hearing and to learn from others. Times of passionate prayer and worship gave opportunity to respond on a heart level.

C2C staff and planters pray daily at 10:02 am and pm that the Lord of the harvest would send more workers into the fields (Luke 10:2). But they are careful not to try to make it happen on their own. “We don’t tap anybody on the shoulder [to become church planters].

We wait for them to come to us. We believe the Lord calls them,” says C2C national director Gord Fleming. Each couple who contacts C2C is asked to go into a season of prayer to listen for God’s confirmation of their call.

A safe place to communicate

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Church planting can take a toll on marriages. Recognizing it is critical to invest in these couples, C2C appointed Karolyn Burch to a half-time position of caring for the spouses of church planters. “We create a community of sisterhood and friendship among the planters’ wives,” she says. “They need a safe place to communicate with each other.”

These “amazing women” sometimes have jobs to support the family while the church gets going. They entertain people in their homes and fill in the gaps: teaching children, leading worship, or whatever is needed. “We want to help them be in it for the long haul,” says Burch.

To reach Canadians, the C2C team seeks to partner with Christ in all things, says Fleming; being, “dead to yourself, dead to your chequebook, dead to your schedule, and living like you don’t own anything.” C2C prioritizes prayer, reading the Bible and living by faith. “I trust God exorbitantly for things,” says Fleming.

“What God calls us to, he will fund. What God calls people to, he will equip them for.”

Sandra Reimer is a freelance writer who worships at Glencairn Church, Kitchener, Ont.

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MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

19

TESTIMONY Four-foot-tall guides to the heart of God: Finding salvation in the inner-city Aleah Isaak

T

he kingdom of God is a mysterious thing, where wisdom speaks from the mouths of children, and those with the least money are the wealthiest in peace and love.

PHOTO: COURTESY MANITOBA HOUSE

For five years, I worked at an inner-city ministry called Manitoba House (a drop-in that provides after-school activities and a Saturday breakfast program for children).

While the staff, volunteers and I were the ones doing the “ministry,” I discovered that the children and the community also had a lot to teach me.

“I dreamed that God was real” I was at the park with a group of kids on a Saturday afternoon. While pushing Naveah* on the swing, I listened to her share a dream that she had the night before.

We worked with limited resources, as is the nature of not-for-profit work: I had to take risks and trust myself, the community and the other volunteers and staff. Our team put aside the need to quantify success by numbers. Instead success was when each child, staff and volunteer was treated with respect.

“You are in God’s hands,” he declared, a plastic dinosaur in his hands and chili on his face.

I discovered joy unrelated to the well-worn condition of our toys and games or the glitter permanently stuck between the floorboards.

In that moment, it was more important that I listen and accept what he had to teach me than to offer something in return.

We did a lot of dancing. We made dreamcatchers. We ate a lot of tacos (with more cheese than veggies).

The people I met graciously taught me about community, loyalty and putting family first. I learned to think about the difference between faith and culture and how to be respectful in the midst of it all.

Through the kids at Manitoba House, I encountered God. I learned that his love for me does not offer certainty but loyal commitment to walking with me. This is a gift that has the power to cross over the gaps of age, class, culture, gender, race and religion. When I spend time with people in this way, I discover that I am also being healed and saved.

“You are in God’s hands”

*Names have been changed.

I was saved from believing I can earn God’s love. At Manitoba House, I learned to ask for help: there was always more that I could be doing, and I could not accomplish the work on my own.

More than any specific action that I took, listening and being present with people were the most important things I had to offer. Often it was by letting the kids give to me that I gave: dignity, belonging and affirmation that they had something to offer.

I was saved from believing God sent his Son to die so that I could feel safe and secure.

Story time had just finished and Phoenix*, who was new to the drop-in, approached me.

Aleah Isaak attends McIvor Avenue MB Church, Winnipeg. She is a freelance writer and student at the University of Manitoba.

As program director at Manitoba House, she hosted MB youth on short-term mission with SOAR Heartland during spring break.

“I dreamed that God was real!” she exclaimed.

“In my dream, God was real and he was walking around my neighbourhood. He gave me a hug, and he gave my cousin a hug!”

Naveah was like most of our kids – fourfoot-tall bundles of energy, who didn’t like pancakes unless they were swimming in syrup. They may not attend church, yet these children understand spiritual truths in a way that adults may struggle to recognize.

The message I heard most often was that God is with us. Our Creator walks with us.

An everyday kind of salvation You could almost say that I was saved while working in the inner-city of Winnipeg.

Through the people I met, I learned that God is not as worried about my imperfections as I am.

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August 2015 www.mbherald.com

“So are you,” I replied, thinking, I’m supposed to explain that to him.

“No!” He insisted.

“You are in God’s hands.”

TEXT MESSAGE Costly grace

Ryley Heppner

MARK 8:27–9:1 The story “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:27–29).

Jesus and his disciples are journeying toward the outlying villages of Caesarea Philippi. As they are making their way, Jesus questions the twelve.

I wonder if in his two questions, Jesus is meaning to identify the disciples’ level of blindness? Has Jesus shown them yet whom they are following?

Or, like the crowds, do they speculate that Jesus may be John or Elijah or another prophet?

Whatever Jesus’ exact intention may be, Peter answers correctly. He has received enough revelation from the Father to rightly confess Jesus’ Messianic identity. In Matthew’s account of this same event, Peter’s answer invites a blessing from the teacher (Matthew 16:17). He has done well.

That being said, Peter’s Messianic understanding (and that of the rest of the twelve) is not complete. Peter’s answers have simply invited further teaching and further clarification.

And so, in Mark 8:31, Jesus presents his inner circle with the first explicit prediction of his death.

Upon hearing that the one he correctly identified as the Messiah is to be rejected and killed, Peter begins to reprimand Jesus. This time, his words invite no blessing but arguably the harshest rebuke in the Gospels (8:33).

Again, Peter’s words invite further teaching.

This time calling the crowds in as well, Jesus plainly lays out the demands of discipleship. In what I imagine as a firm tone, he states, “Whoever wants to

be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (8:34–35).

The argument I have spent a great deal of time in this passage through the years, usually focusing on Jesus’ explanation of discipleship. However, it occurred to me recently that each section of this passage contributes to the overall argument.

Consider its three parts with me.

First, Jesus reveals his identity through Peter’s good confession. He is indeed the Christ, the Messiah, the longawaited King God promised to Israel.

Second, Jesus reveals his Godordained path. Because he is the Christ (that is, God’s anointed One), he will follow the predetermined plan of his Father, in which the cross is a necessity.

Third, Jesus reveals the posture and path of his followers. A disciple is not above his or her teacher (Matthew 10:24), and therefore those who follow this Messiah will likewise have to leave everything and follow him through suffering and into victory.

Simply, Jesus’ identity determines his path, and his path determines the path of his disciples.

The point

greatest purposes in his Caesarea Philippi instruction is to say that there is only one way to follow him: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me” (8:34, NASB, emphasis added).

This followership logically begins with self-denial, for who can rightly follow anyone without first letting go of all that holds him/her back?

It then requires cross carrying, for that is the path determined by our Lord’s own course. The cross was a necessity for him and so our own Christian suffering is a necessity to our discipleship. Suffering is “the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship).

All that is left now is to move. To set our eyes upon Jesus and go forward, not knowing exactly where we are going.

I must admit that I often try to tweak those conditions – to avoid suffering and retain a grip on certain elements from my old life, and even to attain some level of personal greatness. In various ways, I attempt to save my life.

Yet Mark makes the way of the disciple quite clear, and there is no customizing of the call.

There is one way to follow; one way for all disciples; and one way to life.

Ryley Heppner is from Grand Forks, B.C., where he is a member of Gospel Chapel. He holds a BA in youth work from Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C., an MA in Christian studies from MBBS-ACTS Seminaries, Langley, B.C., and is working on an MTS with a major in New Testament studies. He is an itinerant minister and a contributor to www.TheExpositors. com.

As I reflect on this passage, I can’t help but think that one of Jesus’ MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

21

VIEWPOINT Prayer: Who answers whom?

Andrew Dyck

E

verywhere I’ve lived and travelled, Christians and congregations pray.

Yet many Christians tell me they struggle to pray. That prompts me to ask: Why do Christians pray? Do we have our reasons backwards?

Christians often say they pray because God answers prayer. In prayer meetings, church services and home groups, I’ve heard people tell each other their prayer requests, which are then addressed to God for God to answer.

I was once part of a group that kept a weekly prayer list with two columns. In one column, the prayer requests were recorded, one request per line. The lines in the second column were kept blank until someone could report to the group that God had answered a particular prayer request. The group used this exercise as a reminder that God answers prayer.

At the same time, I hear people questioning whether God answers prayer: Does God really stick his finger into our lives to change things? Why would God heal one hospitalized child, but not the child in the next bed, when both their families had prayed for healing? Why ask God if God already knows what we need? Because God is sovereign, what’s the point of interceding on behalf of others?

An ancient footing Although I don’t have ready answers to all these questions, I’ve been thinking about a fresh way to view prayer, and I’ve found that the Book of Psalms offers an ancient and solid footing.

Instead of starting with the premise that God answers prayer, the psalms begin with the premise that our prayers answer God. We dare to pray because God has already addressed us. Anything we pray – thanksgiving, request, even complaint – is a response to the God who has already spoken.

The first clue to this alternative perspective is in the structure of Psalms. The book itself is organized into five smaller books: Psalms 1–41, 42–72, 73–89, 90–106, and 107–150.

22

August 2015 www.mbherald.com

This five-part structure is an allusion to the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis to Deuteronomy) – the Jewish Torah. In other words, the diverse prayers that comprise Psalms are all offered as responses that echo God’s previous communication.

Response to God’s Word Praying in answer to God’s initial Word is also specifically spotlighted in the psalms.

Psalm 1, which introduces the entire psalter, highlights the happiness of people who delight in the Lord’s Torah and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:1–2).

answer to God. We cry out in our darkest nights of the soul (as in Psalm 88) as an answer to the God who once spoke but who now seems completely silent to us.

The entire psalter is therefore a response to God’s Torah, which provides not merely commandments but also stories teaching God’s people how to live in covenant relationship with God in this world.

God has spoken

Psalm 19 praises God’s stereophonic communication in both nature and Torah.

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem – eight couplets for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet – with all 176 verses highlighting the life-giving words of God. The message: all human speech and vocabulary is derived from God’s preceding communication to the world.

If prayer is first and foremost a way of answering God, it’s no surprise that many of the psalms are celebrative expressions of praise and thanksgiving to him. We thank God in answer to what he has given us.

In addition, the psalms that voice requests to God are framed as responses. The psalmists bring their requests in response to what they have previously learned from God: namely, that he is just, reliable, righteous, present, patient and kind. We offer our requests in answer to what we’ve come to know about God’s character.

Even the psalms of complaint and lament – the most common type of psalms – are addressed to God. They are not mere whistling in the dark, but are offered in

God has already spoken – through nature, events in history, Scripture and most clearly through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1–2). Anything we pray is, therefore, an answer to God. And when words fail us in prayer, the Holy Spirit is praying on our behalf (Romans 8:26). Once again, God’s words of prayer precede our own.

I suggest we reconceive our prayers as answers to God, not simply requests awaiting his response. What do we say to God both in light of his preceding communication and in light of our life experiences? Do we praise? Thank? Celebrate? Ask? Plead?

Lament? Complain?

In whatever way we respond, that is prayer – because prayer answers God. Andrew Dyck, PhD (cand.), is assistant professor of ministry studies for MBBS and CMU, Winnipeg. He has been a pastor for 16 years. Andrew and his wife Martha have three adult sons. This article is adapted with permission from www.bringinggifts.com. To learn more about this approach to praying, Andrew recommends Eugene Peterson’s book Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer.

ABBOTSFO R D, B.C .

Community and church rally to feed hungry kids

S

ome 400 children would go hungry in Abbotsford if not for school-based meal programs, estimates food bank director Dave Murray. What happens when there’s no school? “Dad, it’s up to you to do something about it,” said Murray’s adult daughter Sara Epp. And he did.

Murray spoke with Abbotsford Rotary Club, and members in turn contacted local congregations, which is how MB churches Northview, South Abbotsford, Mountain Park and Ross Road joined with other churches, businesses and schools to supply food to school-aged children when classes aren’t in session (summer and weekends).

Rotary has provided significant funding for the Starfish program, and church and corporate sponsors have contributed. A Save-On Foods supermarket provides groceries at cost. Volunteers from the churches pack the backpacks for distribution.

After just two years, 262 young students at 23 Abbotsford schools receive

backpacks regularly. The number is still short of the need, but Rotary’s Bruce Beck says growth continues as funds and volunteers are added in.

In April 2015, with the cooperation of Abbotsford Baptist Church, Starfish opened its first distribution depot to ensure that kids could be fed 12 months a year. Beck sees the depot as a significant move toward a stable, year-round system that families can depend on.

School officials say the meal programs make a dramatic impact on children’s school attendance and learning achievement.

Murray says a term-end meeting with the principals of participating schools was positive with good feedback.

He hopes to add a middle school to the list of elementary institution distribution centres this fall.

“Most of the kids we feed have parents who are working,” says Beck, “but because of low income levels, they cannot feed their families.”

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Similar programs have developed in other cities, but Murray believes Abbotsford’s execution is unique: it’s communitywide, involving faith communities, secular organizations, educational leaders and Northview volunteers stock business backpacks for Starfish. people.

“Almost every one of my staffers is a believer, yet the effort embraces a very broad spectrum of the community,” says Murray.

The Starfish Pack program has spread to nearby Aldergrove (where Ross Road got involved), and it’s expected to start in Chilliwack this autumn, where churches again are likely to be asked to help.—Barrie McMaster, B.C. correspondent

PHOTO: COURTESY NORTHVIEW

NE WS

Society aims to make history French MONTREAL

I

n spring 2015, the BFL released the Commentary and Pastoral Application of the Confession of Faith in French. Now it’s Mennonite history that is becoming French: La Société d’Histoire mennonite du Québec is pleased to announce the launch of its new website: www.histoiremennonite.quebec.

A significant part of the organization’s work has been writing articles for the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO): gameo.org. The articles on Mennonite work in Quebec include histories of Mennonite churches in Quebec and biographies of significant leaders, e.g., Église Chrétienne de Saint-Jérôme, Église Chrétienne de SaintLaurent, Église Chrétienne Évangélique de Saint-Eustache, Église Chrétienne Évangélique de Saint-Thérèse, Wingender, Éric (1956–2011)

by Zacharie Leclair; Église de la Persévérance, Shannon, Clyde A. (1912–2000) by Zacharie Leclair and Richard Lougheed; Église Évangélique Mennonite de Rouyn-Noranda by Richard Lougheed; La Maison de l’Amitié by Lucille Marr.

Translation work is in process to fulfill the SHMQ goal of making all articles on Mennonites in Quebec available in both English and French.—Lucille Marr, president, Mennonite Historical Society of Canada MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

23

FAMILY news BIRTHS BRAUN – to Trevor & Sheila (Rempel) of Landmark, Man., a daughter, Shantelle Teanne, May 11, 2015.

DEDECKER – to Matthew & Olivia of Langton, Ont., a daughter, Scarlett Elizabeth Anne, May 6, 2015.

DOBSON – to James & Vanessa (Neufeld) of Saskatoon , a son, Finley Frederick, June 1, 2015.

DUCK – to Jeffrey & Kelsey of Edmonton, a son, Samuel Felix, May 14, 2015.

DYCK – to Shawn & Katelyn (Bergen) of Warman, Sask., a daughter, Lux Jolene, May 14, 2015.

DYCK – to Tyler & Megan (Emann) of Warman, Sask., a son, Logan Liam, Apr. 4, 2015.

EPP – to Grant & Pam (Guenter) of Saskatoon, a daughter, Eleanor Jane, May 27, 2015.

FALK – to Mike & Paula of Steinbach, Man., a daughter, Paisley June, May 14, 2015.

HILDEBRAND – to Elliott & Nancy (Schroeder) of Saskatoon, a son, Matthew Wyatt, May 20, 2015.

NG – to Wayne & Beth (McAleer) of Saskatoon, a son, Kai Jeffrey, May 28, 2015.

PENNER – to Chad & Gillian of Killarney, Man., a son, Andrew Jacob, May 23, 2015.

RICHARDS – to Mike & Michelle (Wollf) of Warman, Sask., a son, Hayden Jacob, June 1, 2015.

SCHIERBECKER – to Jonas & Kristina of Delta, B.C., a son, Milo, Nov. 10, 2014.

SIEMENS – to Jeff & Jennifer (Block) of Saskatoon, a daughter, Jada Brielle, May 22, 2015.

TOMAN – to Rick & Tracy of Guernsey, Sask., a daughter, Callie Anna, Apr. 9, 2015.

ANNIVER SARIES TOEWS : Bruno & Helen (Dueck) Toews celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 30, 2015, at Coaldale (Alta.) MB, where they were married, with a program of music and sharing led by their children.

WALL : George & Jessie Wall of Vauxhall, Alta., celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in November 2014 with family and friends, thanking God for his faithfulness. They were married Sept. 19, 1954.

24

August 2015 www.mbherald.com

TRANSITIONS The 110-year-old Mennonite Brethren congregation in Herbert, Sask., changed its name in 2015 from Herbert MB Church to Grace Community Church.

The members are motivated for the name to reflect “a family of love and caring.”

On July 2, 2015, the congregation welcomed Lyndon Epp as pastor. He has a BA in Christian ministry from Briercrest College, Caronport, Sask., and previously served 4 years as youth pastor at Rosenort (Man.) Fellowship Chapel.

Lyndon and Candace have 2 children.

MBBS Canada welcomes Keith Reed as associate director of extended learning effective Sept.

1, 2015. In this new role, Keith will facilitate the development and delivery of non-formal, life-long learning resources and training opportunities.

MBBS believes these capacity-building initiatives will help people to love God more deeply and serve him more effectively. Keith recently served as associate pastor at Jericho Ridge Community Church in Langley, B.C., where his primary responsibilities included discipleship, pastoral care and administration. He has a BA in communications from Trinity Western University and an MA in Christian studies from Trinity Western Seminary. Keith and Melissa and their 2 preschool-aged children live in the Langley community. Adding Keith to the team in this role will help MBBS take important steps toward reaching Canada and the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

MB Mission welcomed Doug Penner to their lead team as a resource person to global program and operations June 1, 2015. Doug comes to MB Mission with a servant heart and a strong background in strategic and operational leadership, and will be working closely with MB Mission’s regional team leaders. Originally from Westwood MB Church, Prince George, B.C., he has served as executive director of Every Nation Ministries (2003–2007), and CEO of Impact Nations (2009–2012), and in 2012 founded Vookani, a task communication app for remote project leaders. Doug and Heather have 4 children.

Cam Stuart begins as lead pastor at Sardis Community Church, Chilliwack, B.C., Sept. 1, 2015.

Since the death of Sardis lead pastor Hugo Reimer in 2014, L2L transition pastor Dan Unrau served as interim pastor. Cam was pastor of

adult ministries at Mountain Park Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., for 17 years, concluding in July 2015. He has a BA from Briercrest College, Caronport, Sask., an MA from Regent College, Vancouver, and is currently pursuing a DMin with Carey Theological College, Vancouver. Cam and Michelle have 4 children.

Ray Harms-Wiebe began as preaching pastor at Willingdon Church, Burnaby, B.C., Nov. 1, 2014. Ray has an MDiv from FPU Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Cal., and has previously served with MB Mission, for 10 years as lead team member in the Abbotsford office and for 18 years on the field in Brazil before that. Ray and Judy have 3 adult daughters.

With the transition of Northside Community Church, Mission, B.C., into an off-site campus of Northview Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., the latter has changes in their pastoral staff.

Ezra Okoti, pastor of prayer and discipleship since 2010 has become campus pastor for the Mission congregation.

Moving into the discipleship portfolio is Kyle Meeker, pastor of high school ministries since 2011. Kyle has a BA in world religions, University of Rochester, N.Y.; a ThM in New Testament and systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, Texas; and recently completed a DMin at Talbot School of Theology, L.A., Cal. Kyle and Rebekah have 2 children: Kaden, Karis. Ron Friesen, director of youth work at Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, since 2006 and Northview youth pastor before that, returns to the church to serve in youth ministry. He has an MA in youth ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill. Ron and Nancy have 4 children.

Reid Cooke began as lead pastor at Orchard Park Bible Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., March 2015. He studied at Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale), Toronto; Mount Allison University and University of Waterloo. Reid served in pastoral ministry for decades, most recently at Redeemer Bible Church, Niagara Falls, Ont., and as a chaplain. He continues to serve as a chaplain and teaches periodically at Torchbearers school in Greece. Reid and Esther have 2 adult children. Pastor since 2005, Jim Evans concluded his ministry at Orchard Park in December 2014. He is pursuing other ministry opportunities.

Kevin Carrigan completes 3.5 years as pastor of young adults and worship at Culloden MB Church, Vancouver, in August 2015. Kevin and Melanie will be participating in MB Mission’s 10-month TREK program.

After 9 years at Ross Road Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., Craig Thiessen will conclude as associate pastor of student ministries on Sept. 3, 2015. Craig’s trajectory at Ross Road began as a volunteer, followed by 2 years as an intern, then 6 years on full-time staff. He will be completing MA studies at ACTS and seeking God’s direction for future ministry.

Long-time church planter, pastor, regional director and ministry mentor, Dwayne Barkman concluded his work as regional director of the C2C Network in Saskatchewan May 31, 2015.

From 2008 to 2011, Dwayne served as director of Harvest Saskatchewan (to inspire churches to multiply disciples, leaders and churches) and ReFocusing facilitator; he transitioned to the role of C2C regional director in 2012. He previously served as pastor of West Portal Church, Saskatoon, (1989-2008) where he shepherded the planting of Living Hope (2001) and Faith River (2005). Dwayne and Irma also planted Millwoods MB Church (now Sunrise Community Church), Edmonton, under the coaching of Marvin and Eunice Schmidt, in 1979.

Planted in 2000 largely by members of Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church with a vision to incarnate church in the multicultural, multi-economic Victoria Hills neighbourhood of Kitchener, Ont., The Dwelling Place officially closed in

2015. However, the outreach activities of the church – including English conversation classes, family fun events, an annual soccer summer camp and pastoral prayer and care – continue under Waterloo MB’s Barnabas Ministries, where TDP community pastor Mary Ellen Tierney now serves as director of Barnabas Ministries, Victoria Hills. A bi-monthly Sunday evening gathering (with food and discussion on the intersection of faith and life) in the Victoria Hills Community Centre was launched “to bridge people into a worshipping community,” says former TDP leader Rich Janzen.

New Hope Community Church, Calgary, held its last service Feb. 28, 2015. Officially accepted in the Alberta conference in 2003, the church was planted as part of Key Cities Initiative with Kevin Carruthers commissioned as church planter in 2001. By 2011, attendance was more than 200 and the meeting place was changed from Sundays at a school in Bridlewood to Saturday nights at Covenant Church in Millrise.

In January 2015, Kevin resigned, and after processing and discussion, the congregation voted to close the church. The celebration service Feb. 28, 2015, included baptisms and the telling of faith stories extolling God’s goodness.

Pastoral staff Derek Field and Steph Haskey are seeking new ministry opportunities.

“We want to make possible life-long learning opportunities in order to ensure effective life-long mission.”

BRUCE L. GUENTHER, PhD President, MBBS Canada

CHURCH ANNIVER SARY The “mother” of Ontario MB churches, Kitchener MB Church celebrated its 90th anniversary in May 2015. The first MB services in Ontario began in 1924; the church was formally organized in St. Jacobs under pastor Jacob P. Friesen and leaders J.W. Reimer and J.P. Wiens, then moved to Kitchener. From 1955–1964, KMB housed Ontario MB Bible School. The major transition from German-language services to English occurred in the 1960s when the congregation was also involved in church planting: Zion MB in 1961 and Waterloo MB (an outgrowth of a multi-year Sunday school outreach) in 1967. “Daughter” church Glencairn MB began services in 1988. In 2002, the church purchased a neighbouring decommissioned fire hall. Youth for Christ used the facility for 6 years; now Solid Ground Bible Ministries occupies the space. Currently, Vidya Narimalla serves as lead pastor, Alex Suderman as associate pastor and Mark Beach as youth pastor of the congregation of around 300 members.

May 24, 2015, the congregation marked its anniversary by remembering the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) and accepting a dozen people into membership, including two literal anabaptisms of individuals in their 60s.

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Board of Faith & Life Study Guide A Study Guide (including discussion guide) is available for all groups and individuals who would like to learn more about human sexuality. An electronic copy has been sent to every MB church in Canada. To receive a printed copy, please contact kindred@mbchurches.ca.

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CHURCH STAFF Lead Pastor

Grace MB Church, Kitchener, Ont., is prayerfully seeking a full-time pastor with gifts in preaching, relationship building and leadership. We are a small, friendly and caring congregation. Our traditional services are enriched by hymns and other inspirational songs. Our mission is to model the good news of Christ within our congregation and build bridges with our community. To learn more about Grace visit our website at www. gracemb.org. Inquiries or resumes including references may be sent to the search committee chair, pdurksen@sympatico.ca.

Pastor

Zion Mennonite Church, Swift Current, Sask. is seeking a full or part-time pastor or pastoral couple. We are a church of approximately 70 attenders, most over the age of 50 in a city of 17,000 in the southwest part of our province. We are in need of leadership focused on outreach with a view to revitalize and build the church into the future. The current pastor will retire no later than Apr. 1, 2016. We will consider all applications and options related to our mission within the next 12 months. Please contact search committee member Grace Funk at the church office: Mail address: 78 – 6 Ave. NE, Swift Current, SK S9H 2L7; Email: zion@ sasktel.net; Telephone: 306-773-4770. Website: zionmennonite.ca.

Executive Director Executive Director Are you passionate about missions to Are you passionate about missions to peopeople living in unreached regions? ple living in unreached regions? Do you Do you have a heart for serving those have a heart for serving those who have who have chosen to commit their chosen to commit their lives to long-term lives to long-term missionary service? missionary Mission to Canadianservice?

MissionCanadian to Unreached Unreached Peoples Society (CMUPS) is Peoples Society (CMUPS) is looking looking for a gifted, experienced Christian for a gifted, experienced Christian leader to to serve as Executive Director. leader serve as Executive Director.

SBCollege.ca

This person responsible for daythe This person willwill be be responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Mission to-day activities of the Mission with the with the advancing purpose of purpose advancingofthe Mission’sthe vision Mission’s vision and goals, well as and goals, as well as providing as excellent providing excellent support and care support and care of the Mission’s overseas of the Mission’s overseas and home and home missionary staff. missionary staff.

e Biblical Instruction e Life-on-Life Mentoring e Experiential Learning

q r

AA fullfull jobjob description is available on request, description is available you may apply by sending a cover letter and on request, you may apply by sendresume to Ben Born, Search Committee ing a cover letter and resume to Chair bb.cmups@gmail.com.

Ben-Born, Search Committee Chair bb.cmups@gmail.com.

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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Finish lines

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.—2 Timothy 4:7 Johan (John) Heier

Oct. 19, 1931–Jan. 7, 2015

Florence Kathrine Heier

Mar. 6, 1935–Feb. 17, 2015

John

BIRTHPLACE: Steinbach, Manitoba PARENTS: Franz & Anna (Harms) Heier MARRIAGE: Florence Redekop, Aug. 17, 1957 CHURCH: Fairview MB, St. Catharines, Ont. FAMILY: Florence; children Kathryn (Ken) Siemens, Lori (Brian) Hooper, Wes (Kimberly); 10 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 1 great-greatgrandchild; 6 siblings

John told God if God would allow him to attend Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute, that he would accept him as Saviour. Bible school was the start of John’s spiritual pilgrimage, where he realized he wanted to teach. On a summer assignment with MCC in London, Ont., John met Florence. They moved to northern Ontario for 2 years when John took his first principal/teaching position. After relocating to St. Catharines, John completed his university degree by extension while working as a principal/teacher in the Niagara area. John and Florence enjoyed travelling together. John had a servant’s heart and loved to work with his hands.

He volunteered at Fairview MB Church, Camp Cherith, a women’s shelter, Meals on Wheels, as a Big Brother and on short-term mission trips.

John believed God glorifies himself through our strengths and weaknesses. He lived the motto: “What we do in this life echoes in eternity.”

MARRIAGE: Dave Mathies, 1942 [d. August 1994] BAPTISM: in her 20s CHURCH: Green Farm MB, Morse, Sask.; Herbert MB FAMILY: children Billy [stillborn], Roy (Lydia), Cliff (Gina), Betty (Corny) Andres, Ron (Cindy), Herb (Marilynne), Harvey (Karon), Hank (Brenda), Colleen (Bob) Leslie, Bob, Ken (Colleen), Don (Esther); 30 grandchildren [d. Cory Mathies]; 47 great-grandchildren; 2 siblings

Katie accepted Jesus as Saviour. She made friendships in school that lasted into the care home. As a teen, Katie shared a room with her grandmother and took responsibility for her care. Katie and Dave started farm life with a cow and a few pigs.

Katie managed the household of 11 children well, but was willing to stop any task if a child needed her. She raised chickens, grew vegetables and separated milk. Often ill in her youth, Katie claimed she grew stronger with each baby.

She sewed clothing from scraps or her wedding dress, stretching the family allowance so her children always looked respectable. She enjoyed oil and acrylic painting. Katie was a loving Sunday school teacher. Her Christmases were magical.

Her children and grandchildren were constantly aware of her prayers and desire for each one to have a relationship with Jesus. She rejoiced in her “reward,” her home at Herbert Heritage Manor, “where staff do everything for me.”

Menno Siemens July 29, 1930–Jan. 21, 2015

Florence

BIRTHPLACE: Sardis, B.C. PARENTS: Abram & Katherine (Unruh) Redekop MARRIAGE: Johan Heier, Aug. 17, 1957 CHURCH: Fairview MB, St. Catharines, Ont. FAMILY: children Kathryn (Ken) Siemens, Lori (Brian) Hooper, Wes (Kimberly); 10 grandchildren; 7 greatgrandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; 3 siblings

Florence accepted Christ as Saviour at 10 and was baptized 2 years later by her father. After high school, Florence did an MCC summer assignment in London, Ont., where she met John. Their relationship blossomed over her 4 years of nurse’s training. Florence and John travelled as long as their health allowed. She always wanted to be a nurse. Florence worked in hospitals and as director of nursing at Tabor Manor for 16 years. She found satisfaction in her work and learned much by interacting with staff and seniors. Florence volunteered at church, Meals on Wheels and Camp Cherith. She felt richly blessed.

Katie Mathies Aug. 19, 1918–Jan. 11, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Herbert, Sask.

PARENTS: Cornelius & Susan (Klassen) Gerbrandt

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BIRTHPLACE: Main Centre, Sask.

PARENTS: Jacob & Anna Siemens MARRIAGE: Lottie Schellenberg, 1952 BAPTISM: South Saskatchewan River, 1946 CHURCH: Main Centre MB; Herbert (Sask.) MB FAMILY: Lottie; children Beverley (Harvey) Schulz, Marilynne (Herb) Mathies, Gregory (Sheryl), Russell (Jacqueline), Valerie [d.] (Allan) Jahnke; daughterin-law Crystal [d.]; 14 grandchildren; 17 greatgrandchildren

Menno accepted Jesus as Saviour in his youth.

He met Lottie at Main Centre (Sask.) High School.

After farming 5 years, in 1957, Menno attended teacher’s college in Moose Jaw, Sask. He taught at Rockside, then Main Centre Public School, where he became principal. He was principal of Herbert (Sask.) Elementary, until his retirement in 1987. Menno was known for his sense of humour, particularly at school events. Menno also served Herbert’s town council, and the credit union, hospital and Ferry Regional Park boards. In retirement, Menno continued farming the Siemens homestead with joy. He liked farm auction sales.

Winters, Menno and Lottie enjoyed living among family in Abbotsford, B.C. In 1999, they lost daughter Valerie and daughter-in-law Crystal to cancer, but with a strong trust in God’s love and sovereignty, the family grew stronger.

Betty Martens May 27, 1922–Feb. 11, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: South Siberia, Russia PARENTS: John & Helen Jantzen MARRIAGE: Walter Martens, Nov. 10, 1945 BAPTISM: Yarrow (B.C.) MB, age 17 CHURCH: Bakerview MB, Abbotsford, B.C. FAMILY: Walter; children Eleanor (Carl) Penner, Pat (Fred) Scheuermann, Harv (Janet), Lorraine (Carl) Schreoder, Sylvia (Larry) Friesen; 10 grandchildren [d. Kenton Penner]; 9 great-grandchildren; 3 stepgreat-grandchildren; 1 step-great-great-grandchild

When Betty was 3 months, her family moved to Crimea, Ukraine, and when she was 3, they immigrated to Canada, settling in Grunthal, Man. At 13, Betty memorized 500 Bible verses to go to camp, where she accepted Jesus as Saviour. Two years later, her family moved to Yarrow, B.C. Betty enjoyed singing in Yarrow MB Church’s youth choir and attending Bible School in Yarrow. She married Walter, and after he returned from alternative service on a dairy farm, they moved to a 2-room house in Arnold, B.C. When raspberry prices plummeted, they moved to Richmond, B.C., for 35 years, then to Langley, White Rock, and finally Abbotsford, B.C. Betty loved gardening, baking and cooking.

She raised 5 children and showed hospitality to hundreds. She volunteered for Union Gospel Mission, at the MCC thrift store and on the MCC relief sale committee. Betty left a legacy of faith and love.

Paul Henry Girard Nov. 15, 1977–Feb. 14, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Espanola, Ont. PARENTS: Arthur (Ann) Girard & Dianne (Chris) Borutski MARRIAGE: Shannon Stewart, June 29, 2002 CHURCH: Community Fellowship, Newton, Man. FAMILY: Shannon; sons Isaiah, Paul Jr., Declan; parents; 2 siblings

Paul grew up in Espanola, Elliot Lake and Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. He met Shannon in 2000. Paul graduated from Business Insurance at Fanshawe College in 2005. He took pride in being a father.

His favourite Bible verses were 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Philippians 1:21–24. Despite health struggles, Paul was determined to be positive, building up those around him. His sense of humour and ability to see the best was a testimony. Paul passionately promoted organ donation. He died at Toronto General Hospital. Paul loved Jesus above all, and his journey touched many.

Abe Heidebrecht June 30, 1930–Feb. 16, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Winnipeg PARENTS: John & Maria Heidebrecht MARRIAGE: Ursula Grenzberg, May 27, 1950 [d. 2009] BAPTISM: Lake Ontario CHURCH: Grantham MB, St. Catharines, Ont. FAMILY: children Pat, Danny, Diane, Mark, Beccy, Susan, Tim; 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren

Abe’s family often had little to eat. He worked in the family business, Heidebrecht and Sons Painting and Decorating. Abe’s oldest brother influenced Abe’s lifelong passion for classical music. Abe grew up in a God-fearing family and became a Christian at a young age. He attended Bible School in 1949 in Virgil. Abe’s faith in God impacted his daily living. Abe met Ursula at 15 at a band concert in Montebello Park. Long bike rides to Niagara Falls ensued, and they married 4 years later. Abe and Ursula raised 7 children in St. Catharines, Ont. In the early years, jobs were scarce. This changed when Abe was hired by the Lincoln County Board of Education. He worked as a painter until his retirement in 1992. Abe played hockey, fastball, golf, shinny and card games.

He enjoyed taking his children fishing. He loved to laugh. Abe and Ursula lived their married life in the same home, except for 1976, while it was being rebuilt after a fire. Resilient, no matter what curves life threw, they saw the fire as an opportunity to add space. When the bank account was empty, Abe still gave to the less fortunate.

Thanks to Ursula’s frugality, they retired early and enjoyed travelling, singing together in the church choir and taking picnics with family and friends.

Abe’s grandchildren meant everything to him.

in Chilliwack, where Ernie worked as an electrician. In 1973, Ernie and Irene felt called to prepare for ministry. Ernie enrolled in Pacific College and MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Cal., graduating with a BRS. He pastored 4 MB churches over 34 years. Though Ernie grew tired in pastoring, he never tired of pastoring. God was faithful. Ernie and Irene retired in 2012, taking a missions trip to Mexico, serving 2 MDS projects in McLeod, Alta., and Minot, N.D. Ernie loved God, family, church, fishing, sports, people and a good laugh.

Betty Reimer

Nettie Schroeder

Apr. 9, 1930–Feb. 27, 2015

Jan 30, 1925–Feb. 26, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Moore Park, Man. PARENTS: Jacob & Elizabeth Heinrichs MARRIAGE: Henry Reimer, June 17, 1950 CHURCH: Port Rowan (Ont.) MB FAMILY: Henry; children Irene (Walter) Block, Len (Lori), Gary (Sandy), Charlene (Jeff) Neuman, Gerald [d. 1957]; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren

BIRTHPLACE: Tiege, Russia PARENTS: Jacob & Helen Lepp MARRIAGE: Helmut Schroeder, July 12, 1949 CHURCH: Alexander (Man.) MB; Hillside, Beechy, Sask.

FAMILY: Helmut; children Judith (Douglas) Schroeder-Tabah, Janet (Gerald) Schellenberg, Raymond (Angela); 13 grandchildren [d. Tanya Schellenberg, Lena Schroeder-Tabah]; 10 greatgrandchildren; 4 siblings

Nettie’s family immigrated to Canada in 1926, settling near Hepburn, Sask. She accepted Jesus as Saviour at 8 and was baptized at 15. Nettie attended normal school, and after teaching several years, she married Helmut. Nettie and Helmut taught 9 years in First Nations schools in Northern B.C. When they felt called to pastoral ministry, they moved to Winnipeg, where Helmut took training. They pastored Alexander (Man.) MB; Woodrow, Sask.; Hillside Community, Beechy, Sask.; and Saskatoon churches. Nettie devoted her time to serving the church and supporting her family with her prayers and quiet presence. When her health began to fail, she and Helmut moved to Bow Island, B.C.

Ernest Frederick Bergen Nov. 2, 1944–Feb. 20, 2015

Martha Peters Aug. 26, 1922–Feb. 26, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Chilliwack, B.C. PARENTS: Jacob & Agnes Bergen MARRIAGE: Irene Giesbrecht, Nov. 10, 1967 BAPTISM: Greendale MB, Chilliwack CHURCH: Lakeview MB, Killarney, Man.; Neighbourhood Life, The Pas, Man.; Philadelphia MB, Watrous, Sask.; Foothills, Pincher Creek, Alta.

FAMILY: Irene; children Tammy (Calvin) Antonation, Mark (Dana), Rachel (Chris) Hordyk; 5 grandchildren; 4 siblings

BIRTHPLACE: Langham, Sask.

PARENTS: Dietrich & Marie Peters MARRIAGE: Dan Peters, June 15, 1951 [d. 1993] BAPTISM: 1937 CHURCH: West Portal, Saskatoon FAMILY: children Elroy (Marthanne), Alvin (Glenda), Penney; 4 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 8 brothers

Ernie accepted Jesus as Saviour as a child and enjoyed youth group and helping with Sunday school, VBS and tract distribution. He attended Briercrest Bible College, Caronport, Sask., where he met Irene. Ernie and Irene began life together in Vancouver, followed by a year of volunteer service with MCC in Washington, D.C. They settled

Martha confessed Jesus as Saviour in 1937. She worked at the Saskatoon Convalescent Home.

Martha and Dan began married life on Dan’s parents’ farm, then in 1952, moved to their own dairy farm in the Sandhills. They moved to Langham, Sask., in 1956, to Osler, Sask., in 1960, and to Saskatoon in 1967. Martha and Dan

experienced spiritual renewal through the ministry of the Sutera Twins at the 1971 Saskatoon Revival. Martha enjoyed family vacation to St Louis, Mo., in 1975, and Disneyland in 1989.

After Dan’s death, Martha found the empty house overwhelming, and moved to West Portal (Sask.) Manor Condos in 1997. Hardworking and supportive, Martha’s greatest joy was serving her family by washing walls, doing dishes, hosting gatherings or praying.

Betty loved life. As a teen, she accepted Jesus as Saviour and was baptized. After her father’s death, the family moved to Ontario, where Betty met and married Henry. Although she was busy on the farm, Betty found time to serve the church’s Sunday school, choir, Pioneer Girls and committees and volunteer in the community.

She had a bubbly personality. Her family was her joy, especially as they cared for her through failing health in her last year.

Sharon Bergen June 16, 1960–Mar. 5, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Simcoe, Ont. PARENTS: John & Helen Heinrichs MARRIAGE: Steve Bergen, May 7, 1985 CHURCH: Port Rowan (Ont.) MB FAMILY: Steve; children Jeff, Brittany, Nicholas [d. Oct. 8, 2000]; parents

Sharon received Jesus at an early age. She attended Bethany Bible College, Hepburn, Sask. As she lived with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, she witnessed the power of God in her life. In Saskatoon, she met Steve. Sharon’s children were a source of joy and pride. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. She was Aunty Sharon to many neighbourhood children. She shared her faith at the hockey arena, dance studio, post office. Sharon served as pastoral secretary, girls’ club leader and Sunday school teacher. She loved Jesus wholeheartedly and opened her heart and home to all. With the diagnosis of cancer in 2014, Sharon stayed strong in her faith and hope in Jesus.

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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The

Church Mission

in

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Borehenisto occulla borepres debis arum a simolorem ressunt harior maximus essim voluptas mo oditibusam ipsunt laut quae nobisitam nobissi untio eosandis

Manual for mission from everywhere to everywhere

“I

t’s a new day in global mission,” says Victor Wiens, mission capacity building coordinator for MB Mission. “There’s a whole new pool of workers from the Global South engaging in cross-cultural mission.”

Whereas the 1967 anthology by the same name (ed. A.J. Klassen) was directed toward a North American audience, the 2015 text is “truly a global text using global resources,” says Wiens.

Of the 47 contributors, many are from the Global South.

Though Wiens’ original idea was to include only texts from 21st century writers for the 21st century audience, as the book came together, he realized “all of us who are writing about and engaged in mission stand on the shoulders of giants.” So he reprinted journal articles by select MB voices of the past (including anthropologists Jacob Loewen and Paul Hiebert, and Wiens’ mentor, missiologist Hans Kasdorf) – whose wisdom is timeless.

Many areas have a strong receptivity to the gospel, says Wiens, “but it reaches a mile wide and an inch deep.” As global Mennonite Brethren, we bring “our historical focus on discipleship that reaches deep – not just transforming outward behaviour – but hearts, worldviews, even communities,” says Wiens, “to be true to who God has called us to be: a community of renewal and mission.”

Cross-cultural training and support A major concern the volume addresses is cross-cultural sensitivity. For centuries, Western missionaries have enjoyed the mobility to intersect with various cultures. More and more, previously isolated cultures are also sending missionaries. The Church in Mission offers wisdom from Global South churches for the universal challenge of engaging culture without compromising the gospel.

Wiens gives the example of the Zuluagas from Colombia working with Wounaan and

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The Church in Mission also confronts the need for ongoing care of workers.

According to a World Evangelical Alliance study, many non-western missionaries return from the field before the end of their first term because they don’t have the care and financial backing needed to continue.

Strengthened by strategy ICOMB and MB Mission hope the book will “strengthen the mission capacity of the MB conferences” by “raising vision and providing tools for workers serving within and beyond their culture to plant churches that will transform communities,” says Wiens. They plan to translate

the text into Portuguese, Spanish, French and Telugu.

The

Church Mission

in

Perspectives of Global Mennonite Brethren on Mission in the 21st Century

The 45 chapters are grouped by historical, biblical, cultural and strategic perspectives.

Some contain deep theological reflection, while others offer inspirational stories and basic tools for sharing one’s faith, to engage a broad range of readers.

Edited by Victor Wiens

Wiens is the editor of a new 700-page mission manual that launched July 10, 2015 – in time for Mennonite World Conference in Harrisburg, Pa. Published by Kindred Productions, The Church in Mission is a joint labour of love by MB Mission and the International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) to provide a deep and wide foundation for new workers in the global MB family.

Emberá indigenous people in Panama.

“The Zuluagas have worked hard at not coming in with a Colombian-style evangelism,” says Wiens. They have moved into the remote area, learned the peoples’ heart language and offered radio programs that build up the community and retain their culture.

The Church in Mission

Deep and wide:

Edited by Victor Wiens Foreword by Elmer A. Martens

The weight is on the practical – a reflection of the volume’s editor: “Though I have an academic background, I am more of a practitioner at heart, and I work for an agency that serves mission workers,” says Wiens. “The Church in Mission is not just for the library; we want it to be used on the ground.”

Kindred Productions

Global Mission Media www.kindredproductions.com 1-800-545-7322

New “Don’t be fooled—this is not just a family history or a devoted daughter’s tribute to her father.

This is Mennonite drama at its best, deftly and vibrantly told by one of its most cherished writers.”

—Wally Kroeker

New Release Price

$20.00

Facing forces and fields If there’s a chapter Wiens wishes he could have read before entering cross-cultural ministry, it’s “Equipping principles for spiritual warfare” by MB Mission general director Randy Friesen. When Wiens was a long-term mission worker in Brazil, “we frequently built relationships with people who dabbled, or dove, into spiritism,” he says. “It’s really important for new workers to understand that mission is going into battle, not just in a demonic encounter sense, but as a battle with spiritual and cultural forces trying to bring down hearts, families, communities.”

Now Available

The Church in Mission Perspectives of Global Mennonite Brethren on Mission in the 21st Century

Order your copy today! www.kindredproductions.com • 1-800-545-7322

Central in The Church in Mission is ICOMB and MB Mission’s “desire for our global community to understand that, before it’s an organization or institution, the church is a family,” says Wiens.

The articles about history are meant to help Mennonite Brethren “appreciate how many years it took to sow the seeds in certain fields, and only now, many decades later, are we seeing the harvest.”

“As we become aware of unchurched people groups, we need to remember that it may take time before we can reap a harvest,” says Wiens. “But we do need to sow.”—Angeline Schellenberg

CURRENT book California Mennonites

BRIAN FROESE Johns Hopkins University Press

C

alifornia Mennonites is an engaging story of both cultural embrace and cultural resistance – Mennonite style.

Brian Froese, associate professor of History at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, has completely reworked his doctoral dissertation (Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California) in this book, narrating the Mennonite experience in California from the gold-rush days of the “Forty-Niners” (1849) to 1975. There are several reasons Canadian MBs will find lessons for themselves from Froese’s insightful and witty analysis (see online).

For anyone desiring to better understand how religious transformations occur within a particular cultural context, this book will not disappoint.—Jon Isaak, CMBS, Winnipeg Read the full-length review online under Arts & Culture at www.mbherald.com

Kindred Productions

Hear the Story experience advent differently this year Coming for Advent 2015

ADVENT HEAR THE STORY

A new devotional book from MBBS Experience Advent differently this year through individual study or with family and friends!

Electronic copies will be available at no cost Hard copies are available by pre-order only for $2.50 each (plus shipping/taxes) Preorder your copy by October 9!

Kindred Productions

1-800-545-7322 kindred@mbchurches.ca www.kindredproductions.com

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

33

Intersection

of faith & life

Go gentle into that good night BETHANY MORTELLITI

T

he intricacies of science fiction movies tend to make my brain short-circuit. Interstellar was one such film for me. However, what caught my attention wasn’t the space stations or the action, but a poem. Spoken several times throughout the film, it goes like this: Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

(Dylan Thomas) Interstellar is a movie set in the future, where the Earth has been devastated by drought and famine, and humans need to find other planets to inhabit.

The poem’s “rag[ing] against the dying of the light” is essentially the premise of the space mission on which the main characters embark to save the human race.

Yet, I wonder if this rage, though a platform for courage, also represents an unwillingness to accept the inevitable. It’s not only the characters in the movie; I don’t think our culture – including the church – deals with the fact that death is a part of human existence.

The cultural narrative of aging and death Ads for exercise programs and anti-wrinkle procedures aimed at retaining youthfulness pervade the media; a New York Times article reports that the number of people over 60 who are getting facelifts, foreheads lifts and breast augmentation is increasing.

We’ve become convinced that our adolescent years are our most valuable, and it’s not hard to see why.

When old age is represented as a vapid period of mere enduring or a desperate attempt to hold on to every last vestige of youth, we believe that our teens and twenties are our only years of true vitality.

Indeed, “rage” has largely been our culture’s suggested response to death, creating young people who are spending themselves in the pursuit of bulky resumes, believing that every minute contains the possibility of lifelong impact.

I’ve personally suffered a lot of grief in this culture.

Performance-driven, and nearly hysterical, I regularly crammed my calendar with appointments, service and volunteering commitments until I recognized the truth of the matter.

The scriptural narrative of aging and death In reality, age and decay are inescapable – both Interstellar and the scriptural narrative agree. And yet, according to the Christian story, God is in the work of redeeming every part of human life. Quite 34

August 2015 www.mbherald.com

wonderfully, all human life – spent in health or illness, disability or trained athleticism, infancy or frailty of age – bears his image.

In other words, we go in quite the wrong direction when we define the worthiness of life by what we can do and be with our energies in the limited period of youth.

In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul reminds us that “[God’s] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) – an insistence that defies our culture’s glorification of vitality and productivity.

Because of sin, we have to grapple with the weakness imparted by a body which declines and a mind that deteriorates. Yet the hope of the biblical story is that we live within this deterioration cruciformly; that is, we live in the pattern of the cross, a model of weakness, as we long for the day when Jesus will conquer death once and for all (1 Corinthians 15:26).

Our culture backs away from degeneration with fear, but Christians have been given the power to accept all seasons and expressions of life as a gift from the One who is Lord.

And so, knowing that I am going to slow down eventually – and still have the exact same worth as a human being – means I don’t burn myself out right now.

Knowing that I am not going to be able to perform strength- or mind-demanding tasks in the same way forever – yet my existence still has value – means I won’t view my 20s as my only time of contribution to the world.

Knowing that I am not responsible to capitalize on my youth now – because old age will have opportunities of its own – means I look forward to maturing as part of the cycle of life.

And as a Christian, knowing that God alone is the One who is making everything new means I can “go gentle into that good night.”

Bethany Mortelliti is an aspiring editor from Vancouver who also loves to write. She thinks a lot about mortality and aging through her work as an administrative assistant at a nonprofit that serves seniors. She graduated with her diploma of Christian studies from Regent College, Vancouver, where she met her husband Matteo – at a bus stop! Together they worship with Christ City Church, a new MB plant in South Vancouver where he serves on staff.

MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD August 2015

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GOD, SEX & CHURCH A THEOLOGY OF HEALTHY SEXUALITY

October 21-23, 2015 Westwood Community Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba Join us in Winnipeg where we’ll gather as Canadian Mennonite Brethren to gain a clearer vision of God’s design for human sexuality and of the church’s role in bearing witness to that vision.

STUDYCONFERENCE.MENNONITEBRETHREN.CA

Study Conference & Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches 36

August 2015 www.mbherald.com

1.888.669.6575

SPECIAL MEETING ADDED

see page 5