NOTHING GIVES A TEACHER as much pleasure as seeing former students take a responsible place in the work of church and society. Brent Warkentin, pastor of the Buhler (Kan.) MB Church, a former student of mine in freshman English at Tabor College, brings us a timely Easter message. Wonder with him about the resurrection.
The topic of aging has occupied my thinking now for several years because I want to be actively involved in my own aging. Older adults are told that this is the time to be rather than to do. But what does it mean "to be," the phrase Shakespeare's Hamlet used when contemplating suicide. I have tried to look at being not as the alternative to death, but as the requisite for life.
Laurel B. Schunk talked to several older adults of First MB Church in Wichita, Kan., about their investment in volunteerism, one of the many options that face the older adult.
First MB Church in Wichita, of which I am a member, faces the challenges of growth in an urban setting (Bodylife). In future issues, we would like to bring you profJles of other congregations. Now find that cup of coffee and begin reading -KFW
COMING
• APRIL 7-8-Mid-Kansas MCC Relief Sale, Hutchinson, Kan.
• APRIL 7-8-West Coast MCC Relief Sale, Fresno, Calif.
• April 21-23-0Ider adult retreat for Kansas at Topeka (Kan.) MB Church. Resource person: Allen Guenther.
• JULY 6-9-60th convention of the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Fresno, Calif.
• JULY 25-30-]oint Mennonite Church/General Conference Mennonite Church convention, Wichita, Kan
• OCTOBER 27-29-Central and Southern districts meeting jointly for their annual convention; hosted by Tabor College.
QUOTABLE
• As a covenant community of believers, the church has the source of the ultimate meaning of life in the proclamation of the gospel. For Christians, the gospel should be the good news about aging; with its recreative power it confronts persons at whatever stage with a destiny and a purpose.-MELvIN A KIMBLE IN SECOND OPINION
INS IDE
VOLUME 58, NUMBER 4
FEATURES
4 I was just wondering
What was the first thing Jesus did after he rose from the dead? What did the angels in heaven do? Sing and dance? What were God's first thoughts? What about Satan? BY BRENT WARKENTIN
6 Can I grow after 65?
Children are expected to grow. Should we expect growth also of people at the other end of life? BY KATIE
FUNK WIEBE
11 After retirement, what next?
Meaningful volunteerism is the key to older adult service. New retirees prize time highly. They want to be involved in the creative end of the task, not just to be meaningless extensions of someone else's mind, hands and feet. BY
LAUREL B. SCHUNK
DEPARTMENTS
• Does God's justice come 'quickly?
• Did God love all people in the Old Testament? Ph'lip Side by Philip Wiebe 17
• Marginal thoughts
• Elizabeth Penner Musings
• The difference of a day Bodylife.
• Building bridges to growth, 21
• New Mission USA board sets nine 'action steps, , 24
• Tabor College connects with Denver church, 26
• Pastors make international visits, 28
• Lawrence church plant leaves conference, 28
• Plans set for 'MCC Sunday, , 29 Miscellanea.
• Older adults : tomorrow's church
ART CREDITS: Cover, Dynamic Graphics; page 4, Dore Bible Illustrations; pages 6 and 10, Ed Wallowitch; pages 11-13, by Laurel B. Schunk; pages 2124, Nancy Boothe; page 25, Leader staff photo ; page 27, Garden Park Church ;
BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS : Ron Braun (chair), Noelle Dickinson, Jeanie Klaassen, Herb Schroeder, Kathy Heinrichs Wiest
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THE CHRISTIAN
WAS JUST WONDERING
....
A host of people witnessed Jesus die and rise again, but their reactions differed greatly: When Jesus stepped out of the
• One of the thieves crucified next to Jesus believed, but the other didn't tomb on that Easter morning, what was he thinking? Was it a
• One soldier at seeing Jesus die on the cross proclaimed, "Surely this man was the Son of God. " Other soldiers who saw the same Jesus walked away unchanged triumphal "It's all been worth it! I've
• The disciples believed (although it took some convincing by Jesus), but the chief priests didn't. (They made up a story about the disciples stealing Jesus's body from the tomb .) won!"? Or a tender concern for his disCiples? And what did he do? Did he
stand outside the tomb, take a deep breath of fresh air and stretch his stiff muscles (after all, he hadn't moved in three days)? Or did he just stand there and smile? What did God do when Jesus stepped out of the tomb?
And I wonder
What did the angels in heaven do? What do angels do when they're happy, anyway? And if angels are always happy, what do they do when they're really happy? Did they sing the "Hallelujah Chorus"? Or did they jump for joy? Or if angels don't jump, what did they do?
There's another character whose reaction to Jesus's resurrection isn't recorded: Satan. Which sets me to wondering whenJesus rose from the dead, what did Satan do? And how did Satan fmd out about Jesus' resurrection?
Perhaps Satan was returning from his threeday weekend vacation and decided to stroll by the tomb and revel in his victory. Instead, the earthquake erupted, the stone rolled away, and Jesus stepped out ofthe tomb - alive!
When Satan fIrSt sawall this, did he scream in horror , anger and frustration? Or did he run and hide? Or did he pitchfork a few demons, blaming them for a plan gone bad? What did Satan do?
In this lifetime, we'll never know what Jesus did or thought when he first stepped out of the tomb . Or even what God thought . Or what the angels did . Or how Satan responded.
But we can be sure words can't describe the joy God and the angels felt to see Jesus alive again and the chagrin Satan felt at being defeated
All of my wondering causes me to think about the way people respond to Easter today. Just as heaven rejoiced at the Easter message and hell didn ' t, so some people rejoice while others remain indifferent and walk away.
I keep wondering why some people hear the Easter story and say, "Yes," while others say, "No." Why isn't the news of Jesus' death and resurrection met with approval from all who hear?
The reasons rest most in the state of the heart: some people ' s hearts and minds are hard and closed to the mind of God. Their sinful nature influences them to shut out the risen Christ. Other people's hearts and minds are supple and open to the heart and mind of God. What the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church is true of people today: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). The words of the writer to the Hebrews are also still true : "So, as the Holy Spirit says : 'Today, if you hear his VOice, do not harden your hearts'" (Heb. 3:7).
Easter comes alive only in pliable hearts and open minds responsive to God's Spirit. Hard hearts don't let the Savior in, soft ones do.
Our Easter prayer, then, should be for God's Spirit to soften the hearts of our families, neighbors, coworkers , and church members. Nothing quickens the work of the Spirit more than prayers cast at God's feet
I've been doing some wondering about many things. Do you ever wonder what would happen if all our prayers this Easter season were united at the foot of the throne of God, pleading for soft hearts and open minds? What would happen if we took advantage of the soft hearts God puts in our path and talked openly to them of Christ's death and resurrection?
Wonder no more. When that happened in New Testament times, the world was turned upside down and "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47) .
Why shouldn't we expect the same today? E2.
Brent Warkentin is pastor of the Buhler (Kan.)
Why isn't the news of Jesus'death andresurrection met with approval from all who hear?
Can I grow after 65?
by KATIE FUNK WIEBE
NLY RECENTIY, FIVE YEARS AFTER MY 65TH BIRTHDAY,
have I been able to utter a strong yes to the question: Can I grow after 65? I know now the warranty on the powertrain didn't run out at 65 with a limited warranty on a few moving parts after that. But, for a while, I believed that myth. I knew my little 2-year-old granddaughter would grow in the next 15
years. I knew my college-age grandson might not grow physically anymore (he's already 6 feet 3 inches), but would continue to grow mentally and spiritually.
I was less assured about some middle adults. Learning and growing didn't seem to be on their agenda. And my own growing after age 65 seemed beyond the realm of possibility. Society told me that in no uncertain terms. It gave me to understand that older adults are unproductive, uninteresting has-beens.
The church said so even more strongly by delegating older adults to the periphery of church life. And people like me, staggering unwillingly over the threshold age of 65, believed it. But only for a while. I don't mind admitting to my temporary shutdown
As I approached retirement age, I sensed that some people believed old age was a terminal disease caught by associating with other older adults. After all, anyone who joined this group eventually died.
People aged 40, 50, or even 60, didn't want to have much to do with anyone 75 and over. I sensed from them that adulthood was a plateau on which you coasted for several decades and then, at 65, you fell over the cliff-and onto a frantic merry-go-round of travel, volunteerism, eating out, playing golf, working at hobbies, visiting children, until you fell off, exhausted, into a
nursing home. And if you were smart, you were sure to buy long-term nursing care insurance.
Holden Caulfield in the 1960s novel Catcher in the Rye saw himself as a catcher, standing in a ryefield, preventing children from falling over the cliff into adulthood. For him, this time of life was smug, dull, phony and not worth pursuing
I felt the same about old age It was not worth pursuing. I worried about it. I saw people enter this period alive, vibrant, and growing, to emerge after a few years engaged primarily in keeping busy-filling their schedules-and saying, somewhat proudly, "I am so busy now that I don't know how I got everything done before I retired" as if being busy was the goal of life after 65.
Should I make my life mission preventing people from falling over the cliff into old age? It was a thought. But what was the alternative to keeping terribly busy once you gave up your eight-to-five job?
For years I studied everything I could lay my hands on regarding aging. I visited older adults, particularly older women, who thickly populate the aging scenery I was looking for the virus that had afflicted me and some people I knew, causing them to rush headlong into the last third or quarter of their lives as if chased by a rabid dog.
Surely there was some way to grow older that fitted into God 's plan, making this a time of
being as well as of doing, of growing, not just keeping the car wheels turning.
I think I've identified a few strains of this nameless virus that infects people on the underside of 60 and sometimes refuses to let go even after this time.
• The public image and meaning of an older person is not attractive, so older adults have to prove it is. To look your age is bad. Big cosmetic enterprises would go out of business if looking one's age was highly esteemed by SOCiety.
• To think of yourself as old means you also have to think of death approaching. Not a pleasant assignment in a society which sees every death, even of a 90-year-old with heart trouble and recurring cancer, as a defeat of medical science-and of God.
• There is a beauty to the aging process but also a terribleness. The terribleness, not the beauty and richness, usually gets first billing Whenever I used to ask my elderly father how he was, he would answer with Ecclesiastes 12: 1: "I fmd no pleasure in [these years]."
Yet aging is not all loss and deprivation, narrowing and dullness. Neither is it all sweetness and light, peace and stability. It is something of both. It requires adjustments.
Some people enjoy good mental, physical and emotional health to the final illness Others don't and live with severe diminishments for years. Yet they are encouraged to keep hoping that every problem, including death, will be overcome by modem technology.
Aging then becomes a disease and growing older a problem. And sometimes, not so subtle hints are spread abroad that it is the duty of the frail elderly to die quickly and get out of the way.
• Old age is seen as a lonely time. And sometimes it is. Nearly 20 years ago, I wrote Alone: A Widow's Search for Joy and included a chapter on growing old. Life was very lonely as a young widow with four children in a strange community and country. I feared that old age might be lonelier still because I knew several lonely older people, especially single ones.
• Being productive has become so important to our culture that anyone who is not bringing in an income is a person without an identity. What is a retired English professor? Or retired businessman? I had no answer. People whose entire identity is wrapped around their vocation suffer most when they leave it.
I've told countless groups that change of any kind is always an opportunity to open the doors to growth or to stagnation and decay. Decisions
are opportunities for God to enter our lives as well as for Satan to move in and take over.
Now I had to give myself that advice.
I let some great thinkers teach me. Swiss psychologist Paul Tournier writes: "If living means choosing, and if in adulthood this is true to an ever greater degree, then choosing becomes the supreme vocation of old age, when life has become privation and earthly treasures have lost their glitter."
But choose what? Work? Travel? Hobbies? The answer was slow in coming but I think I found it: choosing to continue to grow in Christ. Living in life's afternoon does not exclude you from inner growth
Older adults have shared with me the need to feel productive and appreciated It's a human need. Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead write in Christian Life Patterns: The challenges of aging are "establishing a sense of self-worth less dependent upon productivity or role; reaching a deeper acceptance of one's own life; and coming to terms with the diminishments and losses of aging. "
Rabbi Abraham J. Heschel adds a most encouraging statement: "One oUght to enter old age the way one enters the senior year at a university, in exciting anticipation of the summingup and consummation."
His thinking is that society underestimates the capacity and opportunities available for inner growth. Old age is a formative period, a learning time, "rich in possibilities to unlearn the follies of a lifetime, to see through inbred self-deceptions, to deepen understanding and compassion, to widen the horizon of honesty, to refine the sense of fairness." In other words, to become a better human being
The task is to learn to be rather than to do as one grows older. But how do you learn to be? Could I make this transition from productivity into learning to be? I was ready to try. I thOUght of a friend who told me that the older years are the proving ground of everything one has learned while younger Five years later I can openly affirm his statement. Aging is serious stuff.
Aging means one thing to the general public , another to the professionals in the field (many of whom are young and sympathetic, but who write about aging without having experienced it), and still another, to society at large .
As Sister Mary Helen Valentin writes in Aging in the Lord, "the personal meaning of aging is
most profoundly shaped by our direct experience of it " So I enrolled in this senior year university. I registered for no defined courses, expected no grading except by myself, and undertook only those homework assignments I gave myself. Without an 8-to-5 job, I enrolled in life. Here are a few of my learnings:
Retirement means Freedom, with a big Fbut Freedom for what? Not working outside the home means having about 2,000 additional discretionary hours each year. Retirement should mean that you are more conscious about who you are during this additional time. Virginia Wolff writes about her longing to have a room of her own. Retirement is fulfillment of the longing to have a time of your own
AJgrave danger for new retirees is to yield up this time too quickly and let someone else decide what fills these hours before aving reflected sufficiently on the meaning of growing older. Not having enough to do is a tremendous fear of some retirees. Retirement is the time to look into oneself, for thinking over the past, for looking ahead, for gathering up the fragments and putting life together into one grand whole.
Aging is a journey toward God, with emphasis on the integration of self, one's view of life and death and faith. Do we believe the Scripture that says the real basis for one's worth in God's sight goes beyond position, achievement and good works? Aging is a time to test that belief Growth is more than gaining more biblical knowledge. Older adults like me have listened to thousands of sermons and taken part in countless Bible studies. Now is the time to put this knowledge and wisdom to work in a self-discipliog process . Life is grounded in God's truth, power and grace. So it is important to walk into aging and embrace it rather than run from it.
I told myself very soon that I wanted to make age work for me, not against me. I didn't want to waste being old. My daughter's spiritual director once told her as she struggled with illness not to waste the pain . In other words, embrace it, enter into it, learn from it.
My own advice at this point would be the same for growing older Don't waste t he pain of aging, and there is some . Pain can always teach us something Recognize and confront potential crises with a belief that God's presence will sustain. Recognize this is the last chance to pass on to your children ideas and values you hold dear
I do not want attitudes toward aging held by society to have the last word about my life If I
A ging is a journey toward God. Age is one of the least revealing indicators of an adult's outlook on life.
accept them, that means death of the spirit through bitterness and discouragement. I am not always successful.
I have pondered often why older adults are stereotyped as cranky, inflexible, angry, grumpy, and much more. Negativity seems to be the prevailing mood of some, carelessness in relationships the norm.
I believe these are patterns of responses learned while younger. Add to that some of the trying circumstances of aging, such as isolation, ill health, pressures to make quick decisions about housing, and powerlessness that may accompany weakening health and decreasing finances and their negative attitudes are easier to understand. Someone has even suggested that we need stubborn old people to keep society from rushing too madly into modem trends.
But can older adults change or grow spiritually? Common sense says no, yet if we accept the truth of Scripture, even the oldest person can continue to bring beauty into inner and outer life . Human growth and development can go on throughout life. "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4:16)
Aging is a journey toward God Age is one of the least revealing indicators of an adult ' s outlook on life Age doesn't matter unless you're cheese
What do I want to be remembered for? Grumpiness? Holding grudges? A critical spirit? Former President Richard Nixon will be remembered more for the disappointing kind of a person he was in his last days in office than for his foreign political exploits. Jimmy Carter will go down in history as a peacemaker rather than as a great politician
I'd like to be remembered as a person who kept my face to the wind, who accepted new challenges, who never gave up being in love with life . I am learning that to be means learning to let go of things that occupy space and to look for riches elsewhere. It means stopping to enjoy
the sight of a fox streaking across the golf course across the road. It means telling myself when I feel snubbed it doesn't matter. That person must have had a rough day.
Learning to be means growing in personal strength and awareness of Christ's daily gift of grace and presence. It means having a peaceful sense of who I am-a loved sinner. It means making time my partner instead of my enemy on this last lap of the journey.
Learning to be means getting rid of resentments and grudges, jealousies and meanness. Inner purification is at least as important as learning new hobbies and jogging, if not more. It means taking time to celebrate life and love with friends and family. It means being free of competition.
Learning to be means walking toward death's door with hope Being helps me to welcome
aging as the natural progression of changes
But learning to be is hard for us workaholics. So I look to countless personal models in other older adults who have walked this path with dignity, grace, beauty and hope.
Yet we older adults need the church to help us. I am becoming bolder about this. I want the entire church to recognize my age group. Otherwise we are left alone to discern the meaning of aging. I want my pastor to preach freely about the life cycle, about death and dying. I want church leaders to keep inviting older adults into the center of church life.
With just this bit of learning about aging I have a new sense of belonging. This territory of growing older belongs to me. And instead of trying to prevent other older adults from falling over the precipice into old age, I can invite them to join me. tf2.
Church organizations for older adults
ANEW PHENOMENON OF OUR SOCIETY is the growing number of organizations developing to enlist the resources and potential of older adults. A number of Mennonite Brethren churches are developing programs for new retirees.
Christian Association of Primetimers (CAP) is similar to the American Association of Retired People (AARP), but has a Christian emphasis. CAP seeks to provide its members inspiration and encouragement, life-enriching opportunities for service, and significant savings on products and services that PrimeTimers would typically need. For more information about CAP, call 800-443-0227.
Mennonite Association of Retired Persons (MARP) seeks to develop an awareness of the resources and potential which older adults have to offer. It also works to promote positive attitudes about aging throughout the church. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 50. For more information write MARP, PO Box 1245, Elkhart IN 46515-1245
Retirees Exploring Added Challenge and Holiday (REACH CANADA) challenges and mobilizes Mennonite Brethren retirees to serve God and fellow Canadians by contributing their gifts and abilit ies through short-term ministry opportunities in emerging churches while experiencing a meaningful holiday. All trades and professions are needed. The program is sponsored by the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Board of Evangelism.
Service Opportunities for Older People (SOOP) is a short-term service program for older adults. It provides opportunities for o lder people to share their experience, skills, wisdom and love with needy people. Sponsored by MARP and the Mennon ite Board of Missions, Box 370, Elkhart IN 46515-0370.
Utilizing the Skills and Energies of Ready Volunteers (U-SERV) is a Mennonite Brethren Christian service opportunity to use skills, energies and ab ilities for the cause of evangelism, church planting and missions in the United States and abroad. Contact Loyal A. Funk, Director, 6501 Valleyview Drive, Bakersfield CA 93306.-KFW
Yes, I am old!
TERNAL WATCHER OF THE YOUNG AND OLD, today I see more clearly. Today I declare boldly; old age can have its new day as much as youth. Let the law of old ageyielding and reaching-be evident in my life. Help me to let go of the carefree independence of youth and accept with grace and dignity increasing dependence on others. Give me courage to yield to the limitations of my body but also boldness to explore the far reaches of the mind and spirit. Though my body keeps moving into a smaller and smaller world, keep my mind and spirit striding into the kingdom of your Spirit.
Though my feet move more unsteadily, my eyes see less clearly, and my ears hear less distinctly, may I walk more surely in your ways . May I see in vivid colors the richness of your love for me, and may I hear clearly even the faintest whispers of your encouragement
Free me from a sense of powerlessness and worthlessness Open my mind to accept the invitation of creativity. Though my body may be diminishing, my spirit can soar. When that happens, I can say boldly, "I am old."
Let this time of being old be a time to trust, not to doubt, a time to be gentle, not to stand in judgment, a time to walk unhurriedly, for God doesn't depend on me to save the world or even to run it.
Let me bring understanding and humor into any room, so people see in me the freedom of laughter.
Keep me from self-pity and grumpiness. My tongue speaks too quickly of my aches and pains Instead make me willing to listen to the pain of others.
Let me see that the real stains are not food drips on my clothes but bitterness, criticism, and gossip that make an indelible mark on the spirit.
Lord, teach me that this is not the time to clutch my possessions to myself but to let go of my attachment to everything made of wood, cloth, metal, paper and plastic. Give me grace to relinquish the pleasure of power and to hand the controls over to the next generation.
To make more room for you, root from my heart all things that uselessly take up space. May I never let go of a passion for love, truth, honesty, justice, joy, beauty, . peace . When death comes, may it be a stepping lightly over the threshold into the new life, unburdened by heavy thoughts of possessions.
Above all, Lord God, let me be the bearer of this news to those younger than I; being old means always moving toward the goal of maturity in Christ Jesus, not standing still. Old age is that great and glorious promised land where faith is fulfilled. -Katie Funk Wiebe from Prayers of an Omega: Facing the Transitions of Aging (Herald, 1994).
After retirement, WHAT'S NEXT?
These Mennonite Brethren retirees are finding fulfillment in meaningful volunteerism
by LAUREL B. SCHUNK
HE AMERICAN VIEW OF RETIREMENT IS THAT ONCE you hit 65, you're out the door. Here's a watch, a oneyear membership at the golf club, and thank you very much. But what if the retired worker is still healthy and fit? And most people are at 65. What if he wants to keep busy? What if she is ready to tackle new challenges? Retirees reared with an ethic that values work will not want to do nothing. They're freed from the necessity of earning a salary. They're free to do what they've always loved, without punching a time clock. They've got about 2,000 hours of discretionary time.
The Christian retiree wants to spend that extra gift of time meaningfully: Stuffing envelopes? Not just yet. Retirees at First MB Church, Wichita, Kan., find many ways to volun· teer with a purpose
• When Marvin Rink of Maize, Kan., retired his livestock, he considered himself retired from farming. He and his wife, Vivian, who is semi-retired from Boeing Aircraft, wanted to do something that mattered, but somewhere warm.
So, because of stories told them by friends, they volunteer in Tucson, Ariz., for Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona (CHRPA), a]C Penney Golden Rule Award finalist. The Winter Volunteer Service, for which the Rinks have worked for three years, is supported by the Mennonite Board of Missions, Elkhart, Ind. (formerly Mennonite Home Repair).
Marvin and Vivian Rink
CHRPA has six full-time workers and uses volunteers for one to three months, in onemonth increments. The organization owns two houses where three couples live. The Rinks value the fellowship they share with other volunteers. Rapport is quickly built in the houses,
500 hours on the construction of his or her new home, contributing "sweat equity" to the house. Ten percent of the buyer's payments go overseas, to Zaire, for example. A thousand homes have been or will be built overseas using United States payments.
Kroeker works on every aspect of the construction, from the ground up. He'll even go on the roof, if need be. He's worked on three houses so far. Habitat will build 20 houses in Wichita this year.
"I see this as the cutting edge of missionary work. You're not putting out if you just take in TV," he says . "I'm a German-Russian Mennonite who's set in his ways. I like to work with people, different kinds of people. I don't like labels. I work with Presbyterians, Baptists, Assembly of God people - all do a good job."
• LaVern Loewens is a retired pastor , presently working with senior adults at First MB Church. He has served in Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, California and Kansas.
About five years ago LaVern volunteered at HOOP (Helping Our Own People) through Prairie View, a mental health institution at Newton, Kan. He took nearly a full year of training to be ready to help persons with emotional problems. "Many of the people helped through HOOP are elderly."
When Loewens first called on John Taylor, he had six months to live. "How do you feel about that? " Loewens asked
"It ' s scary," John answered. "They tell me after you die, you go to a place of suffering and punishment to pay for your sins . The scary thing is you don't know how long you have to stay there or how bad it's going to get "
Loewens prayed, asking God how he could help the sick man. God directed him to a beautiful IS-inch crucifIX on the wall . He asked Taylor, "Why do you thinkJesus did that-died for us?"
"I don't know," John answered.
"To atone for our sins, the Bible says. If he paid for our sins, we don't have to. We just need to believe and accept. "
On subsequent visits Loewens directed the conversation to the crucifIX. Once he told Taylor, "Why don ' t you, sometime when you're alone , come to this crucifIX and say, 'Jesus, I thank you that you paid for my sins, and that I won't have to pay for them again after I die ' ?"
The next time Loewens visited , he asked John how he felt about dying soon. John replied, "When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there."
Loewens visited him for about two years. At John's funeral he shared this story His purpose as a volunteer wasn't to evangelize, but John's problem was spiritual.
Loewens said he learned new techniques of helping others from his HOOP training . He learned to listen, to empathize, to reframe what the person said to show he understood the person's feelings He said, "I feel for people who suffer. I want to feel useful." His volunteering in meaningful work helped him meet those goals.
Other older adults at First MB volunteer in other areas: Hospice, Botanica, Window to the World (an international not-for-profit gift shop), visitation of sick and shut-ins, driving persons to medical appointments, and much more The only limitations are time and energy i2.
Laurel B Schunk is a free-lance writer from Wichita, Kan , and a member of First MB Church.
laVern Loewens
God's VORP invitation
I commend The Christian Leader for the article "Waging Peace Against Crime" (January 1995) It is a powerful witness for an alternative to the secular justice system.
What the information concerning the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) did not mention is the letter sent to every offender and victim expressing appreciation for their willingness to accept the mediation and pointing them to the reconciling grace of God.
The letter also gives the list of all sponsoring churches and their pastors expressing their openness to give further assistance in sharing the good news of a reconciling God in Christ Jesus. An invitation is extended in the letter to the offender and victim to consider reconciliation with God through the redemption of Jesus Christ.
JB Toews Fresno, Calif.
b I support the ministries of victim-offender reconciliation programs and affirm the ideas expressed in the special January 1995 issue on crime However, there is something quite anomalous about the theme of "wag· ing peace against crime." I can't imagine us talking about "waging peace against hunger" for example. I hope we are not like the one who cried "peace, peace" when there is no peace.
Is it significant that the only article in the issue to explicitly address crime "prevention" was geared to the individual and family rather than to the
Pontius' Puddle
society? If we settle for an ounce of prevention, we'll get an ounce of cure. We need Christians involved in a "big-picture" approach to crime prevention. Crime prevention begins with economic justice and radical truth-telling and accountability encouraged by our media (which are largely failing us in their fIXation with sensational events, which are then quickly elevated to trends).
Even more to the pOint, I believe that an increasing amount of crime is directly or indirectly attributable to one problem in particular-international drug trafficking and the corruption of our national social and flnancial institutions that it has spawned. I think particularly about the rampant use of superficially legitimate businesses for money laundering, and the problems associated not necessarily with the drug abuse and dependency but with trafficking turf battles.
The drug trade is not simply a problem in Medellin or Mexico or the Gold Triangle, not simply a problem of users and street dealers, not simply a problem for social workers and addictive personalities, but a problem for all of us which we can no longer afford to ignore. Not only crime, but other social ills such as spiraling medical costs and many large-scale military conflicts are related to this "first cause."
I hope for the day when we as a church will be more intentional about addressing the crime problem systematically rather than just in local and individual terms, important as those efforts are, just as we as a church (e g. through MCC) try to work at both aid
and justice issues in addressing the problems of poverty and hunger.
Bruce Leichty Fresno, Calif.
Loss of a giant
D. Edmond Hiebert preached the sermon at my ordination in 1959. He was my teacher, then my parishioner, then my seminary colleague. At one point he graded my performance in Greek class. Many years later I presided at his retirement and recently preached his funeral sermon.
D. Edmond Hiebert, in myestimation, was a giant Christian . The triumph of the grace of God in his life was nothing short of remarkable, or in today's lingo, "awesome." Despite his total hearing loss in the mid 1940s, he was consistently cheerful; he seemed always to be upbeat. The power of God was strong in his life.
I knew him as a man of prayer. Seldom, if ever, did he miss the church's 6 a.m. prayer meeting when I was his pastor. He prayed earnestly, fervently, reverently. It seemed he had easy access to God's audience chamber; he and God were very close. One of the booklets he gave me was James McConkey's The Spiritjilled Life . The last booklet I received from him was by the same author and titled, The Surrendered Life .
He was my inspiration for the writing of articles and books. I admired his discipline. He was a plodder, a productive plodder. He published 17 books in his lifetime. I met people in England and elsewhere who praised his works highly. Still, for any little publication that came from my hand, he would congratulate me often with the words, "More power to you!" Sometimes he even sent me a note
He was a good teacher, a mighty good teacher. I am one of many over the course of his more than 30 years of teaching who were drilled in precision. He was unequivocably committed to a high view of Scripture . He knew the Bible well. He treated it with reverence and modeled his life after it.
D. Edmond's commitment to mis·
FAeEO WrfM POV£RTV. OItUG- ABuSE. ICo\IIoIV.NeE AND OOQ. W'E: MUS"'MOVE
sion may not be so well known After his stroke in the fall of 1994, I offered to assist him with his backlog of mail. I was amazed at the large volume of diverse mission interests that he followed.
The death of dear ones brings lumps to one's throat, not once but often. The Christian world has lost a valiant resource; the Mennonite world has said good-bye to one of its most prolific writers. I have lost a dear friend , and again I push back that rising lump. Elmer Martens Fresno, Calif.
A line in the sand
I am very concerned about the content of the Sunday school lesson of Feb. 26 in the MB Bible Study Guide, "The church at sonrise" (Lk . 23 :4424:53). The treatment of the resurrection appears quite superficial. It gives considerable attention to the problems that scholars have with the resurrection and little attention to the centrality of the death and resurrection of Jesus to our salvation. It implies that the various accounts of the resurrection were assembled over several centuries and are inaccurate by today's standard. This seems to indicate that the Holy Spirit failed to protect the accuracy of the record, but that just knowing he arose is not affected by the inaccuracies that crept in. To me this is blasphemy.
The last paragraph indicates that we are living in the dawn of a new and different kind of society. Well, perhaps. We are still all born sinners and need the death and resurrection and grace of Jesus Christ to save us from sin . The non-Christian religions around us may differ slightly, but we have no place embracing their beliefs in our churches . Such inclusions have led to false gods in the worship of Jehovah for several millennia.
I feel it is time to draw a line in the sand and confess that the Bible is truth and that its message does not change with the whims of the society that surrounds us.
John C. Hayward Reedley, Calif.
Calling aU Karaoke?
From "Palm Glen MB Church" to "Desert Valley Community Church" (March) is more than a mere name change . Does "Desert Valley" tell us anything about this group more significant than "Mennonite Brethren"? In
a children's section.
scuttling the good name of our founder, Menno Simons, are the tenets of the faith he taught and lived also being forsaken in the name of innocuous anonymity?
Regarding the invitation of the pastor for musically talented people to move to Phoenix, is he looking for a few Karaoke singers with mikes (March), or perhaps several acoustic guitars and a set of traps. Perhaps then he can "do church" properly.
George Nachtigall Buhler, Kan .
One time is enough
I thoroughly agree with Don Buller in the March issue. Ever since I started attending Buhler MB Church we sang hymns . Today I still enjoy singing hymns instead of choruses, which are sung over and over and over again. I feel like J .B. Toews once said, "God hears you the fIrst time ."
Gladys Ashworth Fresno, Calif.
Side Movement mania
FOR YEARS I'VE been intrigued by the movements of movements, those cultural surges that get us flowing this way or that toward real or imagined greener pastures. My interest undoubtedly stems from my Jesus Movement days, which left me with a lingering case of mixed emotions. While the Jesus Movement certainly flamed new passion for God-given grace and God-centered worship, it also seemed to open new venues for cheap grace and the worship of entertainment. It didn't quite tum out to be the Pre-Second Coming World Revival some of us envisioned.
But that's the usual way with movements, which have the drawback of being peopled with human beings. Nowhere is this more evident than in one of the original movements, Israel's Exodus from Egypt. Having recently escaped slavery via the wondrously parted Red Sea, Israel expressed ingratitude in very human terms. "The people grumbled" (Ex . 15:24). And grumbled, and grumbled ...which threw a sizeable detour into the movement. God finally moved Israel into their promised land, but not in the quick and orderly fashion they might have preferred . God still moves through movements, but not always as neatly and predictably as we'd like. Something struck me recently about another seminal movement, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. I used to think Pentecost was some sort of "Holy Spirit Rally." Now I understand that the early Christians gathered on Pente- , cost not to get the Spirit, but for something entirely more pedestrian: to celebrate the traditional Feast of Weeks. They knew the Spirit was coming, but not exactly when. God moved in God's time, through an event of ordinary life.
In a day when people seem bored and impatient with ordinary life, the passion and focus of movements can be especially attractive. As they seek hope through the movements of our day, then it's also important to discern the hype :
A movement can be a wake-up call, but not a cure-all. Whenever a movement promotes healthy cultural progress, there's a tendency to get a bit overzealous about outcomes . Because women's movements have fostered many positive changes in how society relates and functions, for instance, we sometimes hear it declared, "If women were in charge, all our problems would be solved!"
It would be nice to think so, but of course the more realistic among us understand that
human flaws and failures are not gender-biased.
Men's movements, likewise, have recently been doing great service to men needing revitalized relationships and rebalanced lives. But claiming, as some have, that this is the great cure-all for culture and church is simple overstatement. The only successful once-and-for-all solution I've ever heard of happened on Calvary. Human tendency is to say, "This is the thing that finally gets us 'there'!" How easily we forget that life is "here." Movements can alert us to needful things, but they can't cure all need. Nor should they. Life is a condition to be lived, not cured.
The only good movement is not "our" movement. While discussing an upcoming election, I once expressed doubts to someone about the character of a particular candidate. "Who cares?" the person replied. "You have to vote for the party, not the person!"
I don't think so. One of the troublesome stumbling blocks in our current political pathway is misplaced loyalty, claiming "our" move· ment as "the" movement, and all others as folly. Such claims only reveal folly in our own thinking. I still remember with a cringe my unbridled arrogance as a freshly converted Jesus Person, thanking God I wasn't like all those spiritual slackers taking up traditional pew space. Fortunately God knocked me soundly back to earth, where I could see God's widely ranging movements more clearly.
God moves among us, but not only among us. Once, when the disciples wondered where someone outside their group got off claiming God's power, Jesus said, "Do not stop him ...for whoever is not against us is for us" (Mk. 9:39,40) . We, too, need divine perspective to see God's vast and various work in the world.
A movement is a means, not an end. "As workers for God," writes Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest, "we have to learn to make room for God-to give God 'elbow room.' We cal· culate and estimate, and say this and that will hap· pen, and we forget to make room for God to come as He chooses Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but lookfor Him "
God's goal in any spiritual movement is that people would not come to the movement but to God . When a movement becomes a kind of "virtu· al spirituality "- an artificial substitute for daily devotion-it's time to return to real life. Real life, after all, is where God moves most powerfully . i2
BY PHILIP WIEBE
Movements can alert us to needful things, but they can't cure all need. Nor should they. Life is a condition to be lived, not cured.
Philip Wiebe lives in Salem,
Ore
Grandchildren without limits
HER REFRIGERATOR door is covered with children's art and Sunday school crafts She shows off pictures of young children like any bragging grandparent. She wore a corsage and sat with the family of the bride at a wedding - listed as grandmother One young Southern District pastor unrelated to her calls her "Granny."
One Christmas she made 14 fake fur coats for Cabbage Patch dolls. Another Christmas she gift-wrapped dollar bills to give to her "grandchildren." Some get spending money for a trip.
Elizabeth Penner of First MB Church, Wichita, Kan . , has never had children of her own. Yet she has found a way to have both children and grandchildren in greater number than many biological grandparents. She invites children and their parents into her heart and home, especially those without family members nearby. Her invitation is a simple "If you need a babysitter, bring the children over."
At present four young families have a close relationship with Penner. She cares for their children whenever she
BY KATIE FUNK WIEBE
a close relationship with Penner for about five years.
She is Loewen's Courage-builder, a program which teams an older woman with a younger woman for moral and spiritual support. "I can call her up and hear a cheerful voice,"
trust and respect the older generation. Three-year-old Brittany has learned to love her to pieces," said Hofer. All the parents admit she is easy to hug. "She is the ongoing link to the older generation since the children's grandparents aren't around," said Hofer.
Elizabeth Penner, 82, and her husband, Menno, were disappointed when they learned they could not have children.
They tried to adopt for a while, and, when that didn't work out, supported an orphan for World Vision for about 20 years, receiving pictures and letters from their adopted orphan. When they retired they stopped that.
During the earlier years, she taught Sunday school for about 15 years and learned to know many children in the congregation. Often her and Menno's involvement with a family began with an offer of their services as generic grandparents.
Her child care is not your usual business arrangement. Payment for her care cannot be put into a bank account. It is less tangible.
Elizabeth Penner with two of her "grandchildren." Sarah and Joanna Loewen
"It is hard to know what we can do for her," said Loewen. Rototilling her garden, mowing her lawn, taking her out to eat are just a few paybacks. When her husband died , Doug and Elaine Fast took her to their house so she wouldn't be alone . Menno had taken Doug fishing as a young boy. is needed However, her history of involvement with children at FMBC goes back a long way. Talk to any of the early members of the church and the list of children that she and her husband Menno took care of keeps growing.
Many of her former charges are now grown-up and have children of their own. Gary Reiswig is one of the children she took care of when he was a youngster. He and his wife, Robin, now bring their children to Penner's home just like his mother brought him.
What has she given these families besides childcare? "Support," said Naomi Loewen, who together with her husband, James, have maintained
said Loewen. "I try to model her. Watching her has inspired me to have a goal for when I am her age."
Sometimes she and Penner do crafts together or the older woman helps with baking cookies for an event. "A lot of kids see her as a friend," said Loewen.
Suzanne and Tim Hofer have parents in South Dakota but not in Wichita. Their relationship with Penner started when their daughter was born and Penner kept their son overnight. "She cares for our family," said Suzanne Hofer "She always tells us to bring the kids over. It helps her to pass the time. What she is doing is good for her and good for us. "
"Because of her I have learned to
"What 1 like is that these parents never just pick up the kids and go home. They stay and spend some time Visiting. They do a lot more for me than I can ever do for them," says Penner . "They give me a different view of life and keep me younger."
Being stuck with a single age group is not Penner's problem-not as long as there are families with young children and she has strength and health. The refrigerator door still has a few empty comers. ef2
The difference of a day
WHAT A DIFFERENCE a day makes!
That thought always occurs to me when I think of Easter. A day can make a lot of difference in an attitude or in the way a problem looks. Someone is alive one day and dead the next, working one day and unemployed the next, healthy one day and sick the next. What a difference a day makes.
How many strong leaders have died, before their time, seemingly leaving their work unfmished: Lincoln, Gandhi, Kennedy, Sadat, King? One day they were vigorous, pursuing their goals. The next day they were gone, forever What a difference a day makes.
Jesus's followers also thought he had been cut off in his prime. Just at the apex of his mission, when crowds thundered his name, he was dead. Gone. Buried, a group of women coming to anoint his scarred body.
But what a difference a day makes. The tomb was empty. Among all the stories connected with the empty tomb on the first Easter, I'm especially intrigued by the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. Their story begins in Luke 24: 13.
What do you do when your leader dies? You go home to pick up the pieces of your life, abandoned during the excitement of following the Messiah. You reflect, you try to start again.
These two men are walking, discussing. In my mind, they are playing the "what if' game. What if Jesus had not come to Jerusalem? What if he had not been in the garden that night? What if he had not answered Pilate the way he did? What if what if ?
But like all "what if' questions, these have no answers. So the two continue in despair. Then, Jesus, appears, walking beside them. They are kept from recognizing him. I think God wanted to teach them something they couldn't learn if they knew he was Jesus. They would be too overcome to listen
Jesus begins to work on these two disciples. "What has been happening in Jerusalem?" he asks After their initial incredulity at this traveler's ignorance, they tell him about the "prophet who was" (v 19, my italics). As they talk about Jesus, they speak in the past tense. He was powerful in word and deed. He was the one who made the Scriptures burn in their hearts He was the one who was going to
redeem Israel. He was a great man.
They tell Jesus about his arrest, his trial, his crucifixion-always in the past tense. He was, he was, he was. He almost made it. He came close, but, unfortunately, he was.
They talk about their shattered dreams (v. 21). Finally, they speak about the empty tomb (vv. 22-24). They cry over the empty tomb. We, who live later, have learned to praise God over that empty tomb, but they cry over it.
The incognito Jesus listens to these disciples, trapped in their own blindness, grief and unbelief. Then he talks to them. He lifts their eyes to a higher spiritual plane . He exposes them anew to the truth written by the prophets concerning the Messiah's suffering and glory. The day is beginning to make a difference.
The Lord rebukes them for their unbelief. They had read the parts about the Messiah's suffering, but skipped over them to get right to the glory. So Jesus tells them of the suffering From the Old Testament, using book after book to point out the Messiah as the Lamb, as the Sacrifice, as the Prince of Peace, as the Hope, he teaches them.
When they arrive at their village, the day is nearly spent. The hope which death had crushed is beginning to come to life . The day is making a difference. When they recognize Christ, and he disappears, they race back to Jerusalem to report the good news, realizing that their hearts had burned in them while he talked with them.
What a difference this day made . It had begun in gloom and despair, and it ended in rejoicing and excited conversation mingled with deep prayer. Indeed, what a difference the day of resurrection has made ever since in the lives of all who have learned to know the risen Lord, the Jesus who came to life on Easter. He is not the prophet who was, but the Savior and Lord who is.
What difference will Easter make in my life now-or in yours? Can we shed the shame and fear and guilt and powerlessness which so frequently mark our spiritual pilgrimages? Can we live with exuberance, joy and anticipation to see what Jesus will do in our church, in us, this Easter?
A day makes a lot of difference . My prayer is that this one will be exceptional. f12
What a difference the day of resurrection has made... in the lives of all who have learned to know the risen Lord, the Jesus who came to life on Easter.
Jim Holm
is from
Reedley, Calif.
Churchgoing: Upbeat in Wichita
• Wichita's First MB Church aims to be biblical, relevant and a fun place to be
HALF-TIME! It's not what you think. People push in through the front door, pick up a worship folder from a greeter and move toward the auditorium-if they don't get sidetracked frrst by a friend . Other people mill around in the foyer and halls waiting for Sunday school to start. Coffee is available in the kitchen for diehards. The noise level is comfortably loud.
Ushers hang over the information booth checking attendance records of the first service. People pick up whatever fills their mailbox this particular morning . There's usually a fistful of paper. On many a Sunday morning someone is sitting behind a table soliciting sign-ups for some activity.
In one of the educational wings, children's choirs are practising. Sunday school teachers rush to the resource room to return or pick up baskets of materials. Parents unload infants and toddlers at the nursery door.
The atmosphere is comfortable, joyous. These people obviously like coming together.
HALF-Time at First MB Church in Wichita, Kan , is transition time. About half the congregation shifts from the 9: 15 worship to Sunday school and the other half moves from Sunday school to 10:45 worship. Children's classes are duplicated each session.
This dual worship/Sunday school pattern is in its second year, and despite some apprehension when it was initiated, seems to be working The congre gation had no alternative . Christian education space is at a premium with no room for electives or experimentation. OutSide, on the parking lot, if you come late , you wish you could hang your car from a sky hook.
The sanctuary, holding about 500
people, doubles as a gymnasium/fellowship hall. This growing congregation has hopes of worshiping in an enlarged facility in a few years. They have committed themselves to building a worship center having about 1,150 seats and 10 additional classrooms. The project budget, which includes fixed costs for parking , waterline, remodeling, and so forth, totals $2.7 million.
Leaders are aware that architecture determines ministry They don't want to make the mistake of building too small. Ten acres has been available since 1987, when the congregation moved from Gow and 17th streets to the west side of town. Here the population is booming.
Attendance hovers around the 630 to 640 mark with about 80 percent in Sunday school. The congregation has grown since the move about six percent per year. Children enrolled under the age of 12 number 264 .
John Warkentin, a graduate of MB Biblical Seminary and former associate pastor at First Baptist Church (American Baptist) in Fresno , Calif., is the pastor of this growing c ongregation .
He is supported by assistant Mark Willems; Jo Schrock, children's ministries; Jana Hildebrandt, administrative assistant; laVern Loewens, senior adults ; Cathy Faszer, music; and Neil Bontrager, youth
The worship service combines contemporary and traditional aspects. The pace never lags. A worship team leads the energetic "gathering" music accompanied by a group of instrumentalists. The congregation rarely sings "off the wall."
When worship beg ins, the quick switch to hymns from the Worship Hymnal is unapologetic and unannounced. An adult choir and/or one of the children's choirs usually sings.
A 20-minute sermon, which Warkentin describes as expositional, biblical and relevant, concludes the service. Both services are nearly identical.
Biblical and relevant
To what does Warkentin attribute this steady growth? "Some churche s are very biblical but totally irrelevant , and some churches are very relevant but not biblical. We build a bridge between these two worlds That has
Pastor John Warkentin leads the ambitious ministry vision of First MB Church in Wichita.
vices staffed by both paid and volunteer workers. The budget for paid staff for the five nurseries is $12,000 per year. The Little Lambs preschool has 123 children enrolled and a waiting list.
The challenge of an effective large church is not to simply become a large gathering of people once a week with a few other activities added, but to give people opportunities for faceto-face encounters and service opportunites, Warkentin says.
"If there is an optimum size for a church, I would guess it to be somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000. If you go beyond that size, there are diminishing returns, and the church becomes inefficient at different levels."
When the congregation has reached a viable size, Warkentin would like to plant another church designed to grow in Wichita with a minimum of 150 to 200 people. Pastor and a church growth director would be recruited beforehand. "You can't take 200 people out of a group of 400 members, but you can take 200 out of 900 or 1,200," said Warkentin.
Offer a challenging theology
He admits he is in love with his congregation and with the pastoral ministry. He is sold on Mennonite/ Anabaptist theology and the Mennonite Brethren Church. "We have a theology that is neglected or overlooked-or maybe even too demanding for the run-of-the mill evangelical church. I do not want to lose that. I hope that the way I preach and teach includes that, but I want people to grow into that theology. I don't like to hit them in the face with it."
The church holds membership classes for six weeks each quar-
ter, usually in a different time slot. The present class has about 22 to 24 participants coming from a variety of backgrounds Most are fairly new Christians, Christians from other church traditions, or "dropout" Christians, looking for spiritual direction.
The diversity of the group is the biggest challenge. "How do I embrace other church traditions without compromising what I think is important to a New Testament understanding of church,
which we make synonymous with an Anabaptist understanding of it?" asks Warkentin.
He includes history and theology in membership classes. Many new members coming from a nonethnic Mennonite background are intrigued by it. Part of one session is devoted to understanding the Significance of the church and what it means to Mennonite Brethren.
He works through the biblical material on baptism, trying to get the class members to come to a similar understanding and be willing to submit to the ordinance of baptism.
According to Warkentin, the key has been to not disparage infant baptism, but to acknowledge it was a significant event in the lives of the class members' parents and probably had Significance for their upbringing. Yet believers' baptism has significance for Mennonite Brethren.
Sometimes he asks himself if it is really important to rebaptize believers. "That's just me," he says, "because I know it is important in terms of our understanding of baptism. We don't want to make it too easy or too hard, but we do want to maintain biblical integrity. "
Committed to transformation
Where would Warkentin like to see change in the congregation? "Mostly to a greater commitment to transformational change. Transfer growth is fairly easy here. Biological growth is a key factor in the church's growth."
He would like to see greater programming directed to helping people come to faith for the first time. "I sometimes describe our group as being outward looking, that our faces
UIY7 W e have a theology that is
neglected or overlooked-or maybe even too demanding for the run-of-the-mill evangelical church. I do not want to lose that.... "
are turned to the outside, but we haven't quite committed ourselves to completely turning around and being a church for others. In the sense of mission, we've been very foreign missions minded but not so local."
Warkentin was born in Hillsboro, Kan ., to John and Kaethe Warkentin His mother was a European refugee after World War 2 who found her way to Paraguay with other Mennonites with the help of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). His father met her there on an assignment to assist the newcomers to this land His parents modeled for him a pattern of church service.
After being sidetracked in agribusiness for a while, Warkentin attended MB Biblical Seminary, followed by two years of full-time ministry with First Baptist Church. Here he had the privilege of being mentored for four years by a man who lived what he preached and had integrity with his role as pastor. Although he had opportunity to continue with this denomination, he never gave it serious thOUght.
An urban ministry was his goal. He knew he was not a church planter, but believed he could take a group of people from where they were to becoming a significant force in an urban setting.
Personal integrity, having a functional family, and building a cultureimpacting church are his goals. He faults no pastor whose children go astray, but believes there must be some correlation between a functional family and pastoral integrity. "I think it is a worthy goal to give leadership to a functional family."
With the exception of God coming first, family and church don't have a hierarchy with him. "I put God, family and church into a whole," he says, "and I work at them as a whole. Some days I do better at balancing them than on others."
He likes the "mess" of pastoral work because mess, using Eugene Peterson ' s term, is the precondition to creativity. "Mess always holds potential for some· thing new, something creative. To be involved in the mess from day to day and see resurrection coming out of some of these experiences is an unusual privi· lege.
"I am always somewhere within the circle of life. I like to be at those junctures where life is formed: birth, death, doubt, faith, joy, pain-these are on no one's agenda-but I often get to be there by virtue of the fact that I am a pastor. It's an incredible privilege. "
He doesn't go outside the church for spiritual mentors. "My spiritual mentors are lay leaders, men and women. I love them at a profound level. They care about me. I can be transparent with them knowing I won't be judged and that what I tell them won't be shared with other people."
Spiritual director or program director
He struggles with maintaining personal integrity as a spiritual director of the congregation rather than as its program director. "It is easy to give up the former because the forces that push pastors into being a program director are so powerful that we all but give up our role to lead people in their spiritual journey." He fmds this tension hard to articulate or to get people to understand.
A year ago a significant change took place when several long-time leaders stepped aside, allowing younger men and women to assume key leadership positions. That kind of change heralds another less percepti-
ble change, says Warkentin. Today's young professionals are time poor. He recognizes that as older adults step aside, the level of volunteerism may decrease and require more staff.
Adult ministries
The congregation adopted an Adult Ministries Proposal in February. A search committee is looking for a fulltime person responsible to oversee all adult ministries. The church has a staff person for each of children, youth, and music ministries. Women's, men's and older adult ministries are either in place or in the process, with a team of persons giving direction.
The adult ministries proposal includes programming for small groups, intentional education for adults that extends beyond Sunday school, assimilation of newcomers, and a young adult ministry.
This proposal, which a task force worked on for about a year, is a key piece in the future of the church, according to Warkentin, because it provides strategies and vehicles to provide the small church experience.
"Somewhere along the way we're going to pay a price if we don't put this into place. There are not now enough ways to incorporate new people into the life of the church in small studies and groups.
"We have given attention to a children's ministry, youth ministry, but not to adults. The adult experience becomes the key to holding children and youth, for once the children are gone, adults with no close ties will drift off to something more relevant."
The congregation was formed in the early 1940s with a core group of 19 members, which met at Second and Millwood . A new facility was built at 17th and Gow in 1959.
In 1987, FMBC moved into the 30,000-square-foot facility at 8000 West 21st Street. The facility cost around $1.4 million This first phase consisted of an auditorium/gymnasium/ worship center, offices, education wing and kitchen area
The church feels it is now ready for the second phase of
MINISTRY
New Mission USA board sets nine 'action steps'
• YMI, schools to be key pieces of renewal puzzle
HOUSE REPUBLICANS led by Newt Gingrich and the Mission USA board chaired by Chuck Buller share something in common: a mandate to lead in a new direction. While Republicans have their "Contract with America" for their first 100 days in office, the Mission USA board has nine "action steps" guiding their first six months of existence.
The Mission USA board met for the frrst time during the annual jOint meeting of U S. Conference boards held Feb. 23-24 in Dinuba, Calif.
"Expectations are really high and really low in our denomination regarding Mission USA," admitted Buller in his opening statement to the joint boards.
Key action steps presented by Buller at the fmal meeting included:
• formalizing the participation of Youth Mission International in Mission USA. "YMI represents our most significant opportunity to train leaders," said Buller. YMI is the Mennonite Brethren missions program for young adults.
• talking with Tabor College, Fresno Pacific College and MB Biblical Seminary about adding church renewal and church planting programs to their curriculum.
• identifying locations for interns to serve in established churches and church plants.
Other action steps focus on communicating with local churches and conference agencies regarding the mission and goals of Mission USA District ministers have been invited to serve as ex officio members of the board. Part -time staff will be hired during the next six months to help with communication.
The final action step listed by Buller was that Mission USA be put "at the top" of people's prayer lists. Mission USA board members committed
Leaders lay hands on John and Julie Warkentin during a sending service for a short-term missions assignment in Europe with MB Missions/Services.
Fred Leonard, Mission USA board member from Clovis, Calif., listens carefully during one of the joint
locating church planters, providing resources, and serving as consultants upon request. Mission USA wants to help districts avoid "reinventing the wheel" when it comes to starting new churches.
Mission USA hopes to establish partnerships between existing congregations and church plants and planters in other locations. The board will also encourage those churches to plant new congregations from within. Training church planters, providing internships and working with YMI are also Mission USA churchplanting goals. sessions.
themselves to praying for each U.S. Mennonite Brethren church as part of their personal commitment to church renewal.
The board's six·month action steps are first steps toward achieving the long-term purpose and goals established by the board.
In the area of church growth and renewal, the Mission USA board is challenging all existing churches to grow by 5 percent per year, moving toward the growth goal of 26,000 attenders by the year 2000.
The board proposes to help churches meet the goal by targeting one or two churches each year for renewal. In addition to having a fulltime director, the board expects to hire several part-time staff to serve as resource persons.
Buller said the board will strongly emphasize networking local churches, district agencies and the U.S. conference agencies to promote church renewal and growth. The board will also emphasize calling out and training church leaders.
Mission USA will not be planting national churches from a central office, Buller said. Church-planting efforts will be kept close to the districts. The board expects to help district church-planting boards to work in areas in which the district boards don't want to "go it alone," Buller says. Specifically, the board hopes to help the church-planting boards of the Central, Pacific and Southern districts each plant one church in 1995 and 1996.
The role of the board in those ven· tures will include help in fund-raising,
The Mission USA board will meet again Oct. 27-29 in conjunction with the joint Southern and Central District Conferences in Hillsboro, Kan. Mission USA will be a major emphasis of the joint event.
Funding the new thrust will require a 34 percent increase in the U.S. Conference budget for 1995-96. Dale Regier, U.S. treasurer, projected that church contributions and interest and earnings income will generate about $273,500 of the new budget goal of $428,060-leaving almost $155,000 to be raised for Mission USA projects by special appeals and contributions from MB Foundation, MB Missions/Services, and the Pacific, Central and Southern districts.
"We believe there is a new vision, a mandate with regard to Mission USA," said Dennis Fast, U.S. Conference moderator. The group agreed that Mission USA is still an "unknown" in the constituency, but stepped out in faith and approved the budget.
At the onset of the joint sessions, Fast challenged members of the four boards to take risks, even if it meant making mistakes . The encouragement was timely since many participants21 out of 35-were new to u.S. Conference board work.
To free the Mission USA board to chart a path into the future, oversight of the expanding Slavic ministries and related budget money was transferred to the Board of Church Ministries BCM also discussed the location of the 1996 U.S. Conference biennial convention, including the possibility of moving it away from the campus of Colorado College in Colorado Springs , Colo -Connie Faber
IN BRIEF
AWARDED: Jean Janzen, a member of the College Community Church, Clovis, Calif., received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, one of 37 literature grants in 1995. She was awarded the Creative Writing Fellowship in Poetry on the basis of 10 pages of poetry without the writer's name Janzen is considering living in The Netherlands for a time to "absorb people and the culture." She is an adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific College and poet-in-residence at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va.
LICENSED: J. Lorne Peachey was licensed to minister as editor of Gospel Herald Jan. 15 at Kingsview Mennonite Church, Scottdale, Pa. Performing the licensing ceremony were overseer David Hostetler and Allegheny conference minister Dale Stoltzfus. (Gospel Herald)
COMMUNICATION: Mennonite Board of Missions is mailing a new booklet, Making Church Language Culturally Inclusive, to all Mennonite churches and conference leaders. The booklet aims to help congregations take a look at all print materia ls to determine if they are inadvertently communicating messages that hinder a witness to people of various cultural groups and hearing-impaired persons. Copies are available from Mennonite Media Ministries, 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, Va., 22801-2497 or call 1-800-999-3534. (MBM)
NAME CHANGE: The Christian College Coalition board has changed the organization's name to Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities effective March 1, 1995 The change was made to reflect growth and changes in strategy. It allows for affiliate memberships for two-year, fouryear and graduate schools who desire some membership benefits . It also wants to eliminate confusion with the political organization that has no connection to this academic organization. Tabor College and Fresno Pacific College are members of the coalition .
IN BRIEF
PURCHASED: A Minolta microfilm reader-printer has been acquired for use in the Center for MB Studies at Tabor College. This is the second such machine in Marion County and provides readable copies from both positive and negative 35mm and 16mm microfilm The Orlando Harms memorial, a portion of the Georgina Johnson memorial and individual gifts were used to fund the purchase of the reader-printer. (TC)
ACCREDITED: The National Association of Schools of Music has voted to accept the renewal accreditation request from Tabor College for its bachelor degrees in music and education. The accreditation renewal is valid for 10 years. (TC)
PUBLISHED: Border Crossing: A Spiritual Journey (Herald Press) is the title of Katie Funk Wiebe 's 12th book. To be released in April, the book speaks "honestly, faithfully, and movingly about the transition to retirement and how it compares with life's earlier 'border crossings.'" (HP)
RESIGNED: Tabor College has received the resignation of Stanley Clark, vicepresident of academic affairs and dean of the faculty, and his wife, Susan, director of foundation/corporate relations The Clarks have accepted positions with the newly created Russian American Christian University in Moscow. Stanley Clark has spent 14 years w ith Tabor and has helped introduce new programs and improve student services. During her six years with the college, Susan Clark has helped obtain more than half a million dollars in corporate gifts and grants. (TC)
REACHING OUT: A new Spanish radio program ca ll ed Encuentro (Encounter), hosted by Winnipeg pastor Ernesto Pi no and produced by MB Communications, began airing on a Winnipeg radio station on Jan. 2. The weekly half-hour program features hispanic music and gospel meditations targeting a genera l audience. (MBC)
VISION
Tabor/Denver mission connection gives students a new Rocky Mountain high
• Urban ministry exposure could aid Mission USA
WHAT BETTER place for a college seeking to give students a vision for urban ministry but hampered by its location on the plains of Kansas to go to for help but "Mile High" Denver, Colo.
Leadership training is one facet of Mission USA in which the denominational colleges and seminary can be involved, says Dennis Fast, moderator of the U.S. Conference of MB Churches.
TC Bible faculty view their association with Garden Park MB Church of Denver as a way to broaden the college's opportunities in this area.
This winter, Tabor's Bible, religion and philosophy department continued an experiment with Garden Park in providing an urban practical experience for interested students. To date the venture has included a summer internship and January interterm courses for Tabor students under the direction of the Garden Park pastor Charles Goertz and assistant pastor Bob Pankratz. There is also hope of having a semester practicum in place for students in Denver by the 1996 spring semester.
"Our practical theology courses in the past have focused on suburban and rural ministries," says David Faber, chair of the college's Bible, religion and philosophy department. "But this arrangement with Garden Park provides an on-site experience focused on urban ministry.
"We don't want to forget that our denomination has rural ties and people need to prepare for ministry in that setting," Faber adds. "This can happen from our main campus.
"However a college education prepares students for living in the city. We at Tabor want to support urban Mennonite Brethren churches. I hope contacts such as this one with Garden Park will encourage students to affiliate with Mennonite Brethren churches when they relocate following graduation."
This January Tabor offered its Discipleship and Evangelism course as a joint TC/Denver effort. The ten Tabor students enrolled in the course split the month between Hillsboro and Denver. Pankratz from Garden Park teamed up with Glenn Balzer, of Belleview Acres MB Church in Littleton, Colo., to teach the course. Both men are recent MB Biblical Seminary graduates.
Balzer is director of DOOR (an acronym for Denver Opportunity for Outreach and Reflection), a joint service program of the Mennonite community in Denver.
Balzer and Pankratz share a multifaceted dream. They want to address the needs of people living in America's cities and train young people in the practical aspects of putting one's faith into practice. Toss in their desire to link Mennonite Brethren higher education, Mission USA and their Denver
Fresno PacifiC College, Tabor College and MB Biblical Seminary are currently involved in experiments-but not of the scientific variety. These experiments focus on the disadvantaged residents of our cities in an effort to address the church planting and renewal mandate of Mission USA.
This month the Leader offers readers a look at Tabor's recent experiment aimed at training students in inner-city ministry using the real-life "laboratory" of Denver, Colo. In a future issue, the effort of FPC,
mMB Biblical Seminary and Butler Avenue MB Church in U • S • A addressing issues faCing the disadvantaged in their Fresno, Calif, neighborhood will be explored.
Corky Guy receives some help in peddling from a young boy at Champa House. a home for abused mothers and their children. while Sarah Diller and Jason Priest look on. Tabor students studying in Denver during January found themselves grabbing a paint brush to assist one organization committed to refurbishing homes for the elderly and underprivileged. peeling "just a lot of potatoes n at a food bank. and playing with homeless children at a shelter for abused women.
in pairs to take a street-person out to lunch
Balzer and Pankratz developed their course around the person of Christ, prayer and Bible reading. They exposed the college students to a variety of service models for inner-city work and introduced them to members of the various ethnic groups living in Denver.
Pankratz and Balzer hope to someday plant a church in the center city of Denver. They want to help move Mennonite Brethren into the urban setting. They see college students and teams from Youth Mission International, the Mennonite Brethren missions program for young adults, as helping to lay the groundwork for a church plant reducing the need for district or conference funds for demographic studies and canvassing projects.
IN BRIEF
MULTILINGUAL: Twenty-two Mennonite Brethren churches in British Columbia have multiple worship services, some up to four. with the additional services often in another language. They include Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Cantonese, HindiPunjabi and Korean. Only one of the 22 churches does not own its own building. (MB Herald)
SERMONS WANTED: Not for preaching, but for doctoral dissertation research. Lynn Jost, on doctoral leave from Tabor College, is looking for manuscripts of sermons preached in Mennonite Brethren churches from texts in 1 Kings 3-11. They may be from files or current preaching. His address is 2001 21st Ave S, D-2, Nash ville TN 37212
For now the two men are enthusiastic about providing an opportunity for Tabor College students to combine home base and you have a Mennonite Brethren dream team!
That dream caught hold in the lives of the Tabor students this winter Talking with the students one notices their hesitancy to dwell on the events of their 10-day stay in inner-city Denver. However, they eagerly talk about their visit in terms of an experience with Christ.
"I forgot this was a class," says senior Corky Guy from Moore, Okla. "To me it became an encounter with Jesus."
Meeting the person of Jesus in a new way was one of the goals Balzer set for the course. "I want the students to focus not on the high of the experience but to give them Jesus, " he says.
Balzer and Pankratz encouraged the students to view the people they met on the Denver streets not as homeless individuals or strangers but rather as Jesus They also challenged the students to remember the cliche : "I'm the only Bible someone else might read."
The lessons hit home for several students one noon when they set out
classroom knowledge with practical wisdom.
"We want to encourage young people to rearrange their priorities: Jesus fIrst," says Balzer. "Why go to school? People need to know it' s not to get a higher paying job but to train for ministry. "
These 1 0 students believe their futures have been changed by their time in Denver "I have given up my own plans for the future and am ready to accept God's leading in my life, " says one female student.
Another student gained a new understanding of her own gifts . Several found a "heart for inner city people" and one male student now considers inner-city work as an option for his future
Group members have also committed themselves to caring for and encouraging their fellow students. In describing how his Denver experience will affect the remainder of his school year , senior Glenn Krispense from Marion, Kan , said, "Maybe it isn't so much that Christ wasn't around (us before) but that we opened our eyes." -Connie Faber
LECTURING: Os Guinness, noted scholar. author and speaker will deliver four lectures during the annual Tabor College Staley Lecture. Apr. 1718. Guinness is the author of numerous books dealing with religion and popular culture He is known for his ability to address academic issues in an accessible and practical way. (TC)
STORYTELLING: Fresno Pacific College and MB Biblical Seminary hosted the biannual Believer's Church Lecture Series March 13-15. Presentations by Mennonite Central Committee storytellers Earl Martin and Susan Classen addressed the theme of peacemaking around the world Kabiru Kinyanjui from the International Development Research Centre in Nairobi, Kenya also delivered a lecture (FPC/MBBS)
GRANTS: Mennon ite Brethren congregations benefited from more than $64,000 in fraternal benefits from Mennonite Mutual Aid in 1994 Most of it came in the form of grants which matched funds raised in local congregations . The grants were part of $1,183,680 in MMA fraternal benefits distributed nationally in the Anabaptist community . Most of the grants were distributed through Sharing Fund programs where MMA matched $1,083,973 nationally. (MMA)
CASE LOAD: Mennonite Brethren eye surgeon Herb Friesen has been busy since his arrival in Mazar, Afghanistan The Mazar Ophthalmic Center he directs is the second of four satellite eye hospitals envisioned for Afghanistan. The first hospital is located in the capital city of Kabul. The 25bed Mazar Ophthalmic Center serves the 4 million people of war-torn, poverty-stricken and disease-ridden northern Afghanistan. Friesen and the 21 center employees have seen about 8,000 patients and performed more than 400 operations since the hospital opened in September 1994. The center's waiting list for surgery runs three months ahead and will probably get out of hand in the spring, says Friesen. He and his wife, Ruth, recently returned to Afghanistan after directing an eye hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.
PERMISSION: I ndonesian church planters John and Ida Crismanto have received official authorization from the government to lead the Muria Mennonite Church in Singapore. Permission for ministry is often difficult to obtain in this tightly governed nation. Three persons are preparing for baptism. Membership of the infant congregation numbers about 20. Muria Mennonite Church was planted by the Muria Mennonite Indonesian mission board, PIPKA. PIPKA has launched many church plants throughout Indonesia but this is the first such project to go beyond the borders of Indonesia. MB Missions/Services funds help to support the work of PIPKA. (MBMS)
BROADCAST: Mennonite Brethren funds and resource persons in Central Asia help produce a Christian radio program broadcast by the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company Since it began a little over a year ago, about 700 letters from five countries have requested resource materials. Reportedly, one group of 20 Muslim men in an iso lated Central Asian village gather around their radios to listen. They regu l arly write for more information and have received portions of Scripture, messages on cassette and personal answers to their questions. (MBMjS)
ORIENTATION
Six North American pastors make global treks for MBMj S
• Gaining MBMjS mission perspective is trips' goal
FIVE MENNONITE Brethren pastors from the United States and one from Canada recently returned from visits to Mennonite Brethren churches in other countries as part of MB Missions/Services Pastors Overseas Program.
Recent POP participants include Jim Aiken of Bethany in Fresno, Calif., who traveled to Brazil; Jim Parris of Westport in Collinsville, Okla., to Mexico; Stan and Delores Friesen of College Community, Clovis, Calif., to Botswana; John Warkentin of Wichita First, Wichita, Kan , to Austria and Lithuania; Merv Boschman of Fraser Heights Community Church in Surrey, B.C., to Peru, and Garvie Schmidt from Henderson, Neb ., to Colombia.
The MBM/S Pastors Overseas Program sends eight to 10 pastors per year to minister to mission teams, gain a perspective on the Mennonite Brethren global scene, and promote mission involvement in their home communities.
Each participant is asked to share a report with three or four congregations beyond the home church.
Garvie Schmidt returned from Colombia impressed with the attitude of tranquillity exhibited by the Mennonite Brethren missionaries living in an environment of ever-present violence.
In recent years MBM/S missionaries in Colombia have been robbed and mugged . One family experienced the bombing of a house next door which killed their neighbors.
Since 1992 five missionaries from other agencies in Colombia and nearby Panama have been kidnapped, allegedly by Colombian terrorists. Their eventually safe return is questionable
Schmidt served as the primary pastor for the MBM/S Colombian team retreat in Cali. In addition to providing
biblical messages, he met one-on-one with missionaries.
Schmidt also participated in the national convention of the Colombian MB Conference. He describes the conference as "strong, committed to Jesus Christ, focused on spiritual things and having a clear vision of church planting. "
He found evidence that the Colombian conference owns the church and its mission. He noted that a day and a half elapsed at the convention in Cali before a missionary spoke on the convention floor.-MBM/S
WITHDRAWAL
Lawrence pastor resigns, group departs with him
• Church-plant now a 'nondenominational' effort
T MNG HOPE CHURCH, a MennoLrute Brethren church-planting venture in Lawrence, Kan , has requested their association with the denomination be tenninated effective Apr. 6.
The group reached this decision following the resignation of the pastor, Mike Wolford. In a letter sent to all Southern District pastors, Rick Eshbaugh, chair of the SDC Church Extension and Evangelism Commission, wrote that Wolford resigned because of a "heartfelt conviction that denominationalism is divisive to the Body of Christ and a hindrance in attempting to plant a church in Lawrence "
Wolford intends to continue living in Lawrence and to plant a church without denominational affiliation. The emerging congregation has responded to his decision by retaining Wolford as their nondenominational church planter.
Roland Reimer, district minister, said the conference accepted the group ' s request "With deep regret."
In his letter of reSignation, Wolford wrote , "I am very grateful to the Southern District churches who have made it possible through prayers and giving for us to share the gospel with
many people in Lawrence, Kan. We leave our present partnership without bitterness, judgment or resentment Our sole intention is to be obedient to the Word of God.»
This church plant began March 1991 as a weekly Bible study led by Wilmer Thiessen of Hillsboro, Kan. The small group, known as Kaw Valley MB Church, began searching for a full-time church planter in 1992.
Mike and Lana Wolford and their two sons arrived as the pastoral family in April 1993. The church changed its name to Living Hope Church and the eight participating households focused their efforts on developing cell groups The group's goal was to plant a church by developing a series of cell groups tied to one another.Connie Faber
ANNIVERSARY
MCC pegs Sept. 24 as 'MCC Sunday' celebration time
• Idea packets to be sent to participating churches
Mennonite Central Committee invites its supporting churches to set aside Sept. 24, 1995, to celebrate MCC's 75th anniversary. An "MCC Sunday" packet containing a litany, a children's story and sermon suggestions, will be sent to congregations this spring.
The development and relief agency is celebrating its anniversary by making available to churches a number of resources telling the MCC story.
Through New Eyes, a 23-minute video with study guide, focuses on five chapters in MCC's history: the 1920s, World War 2, Teachers Abroad Program in Africa, work in Vietnam and work in Central America.
The MCC anniversary speakers' bureau includes 44 people who are available to tell MCC stories in church services and at special events in 1995 . A special storytelling tour across Canada and the United States featuring long -time MCC workers Peter and Elfrieda Dyck was cut short when
Elfrieda suffered a serious stroke last November. Peter resumed traveling for MCC in early 1995.
Regional MCC offices can make arrangements for a free loan of the video and supply information concerning speakers.
Work began in 1989 on a commemorative book of photographs and quotes titled A Dry Roof and a Cow: Dreams and Portraits of Our Neighbors. It features stories and portraits of MCC's colleagues from around the world and is available at bookstores and SELFHELP Crafts of the World shops.
Noted author and theologian Henri Nouwen wrote the introductory essay. Katie Funk Wiebe, interim editor of the Christian Leader, and Christine R. Wiebe, a mother-daughter team, wrote a closing essay.
MCC will sell or auction a number of commemorative items at 1995 relief sales, including 500 miniature Fordson tractors featuring the current MCC logo and the words "MCC 19201995 "
In 1922 MCC moved from relief to development when it sent 50 Fordson tractors to the former Soviet Union. A limited number of pewter plates, models of the winross canner trucks and 300 N-scale MCC boxcars will be available at sales.
Fay Kliewer of Aurora, Neb , pieced together 1,755 two-inchsquare fabric blocks to create an MCC anniversary quilt.
The unique watercolor qUilt designed with fabric from around the world was presented to the MCC board at its recent annual meeting in Fresno, Calif. The quilt will travel to relief sales in the United States and Canada where it will be "auctioned" for donations.
Reproduced signatures of MCC leaders since 1920 and the MCC logo are at the quilts' heart. Current board members also signed their names.
MCC was born Sept. 27, 1920, when seven relief groups and church conferences joined together to assist famine victims in Russia and the Ukraine. Today, thousands of congregations throughout Canada and the United States support MCC, enabling more than 900 volunteers to minister in some 50 countries around the world.-MCC News Service
IN BRIEF
ORDINATION: The Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkino Faso ordained its first pastors Oct. 30, 1994. The Orodara Mennonite Church gathered to ordain Siaka Traore and Abdias Coulibaly to the ministry, affirming their work as pastors. Abdias has assumed the pastoral duties of the Orodara Church while Siaka began working with the other four churches that comprise the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso. Africa InterMennonite Mission workers Pau l Thiessen and Gerald Neufeld were asked to officiate the ordination service. (AIMM)
BUDGET: The Mennonite Central Committee U.S. board approved a 1995 expense budget of $4.22 million at its Feb. 16 annual meeting in Fresno, Calif. This budget represents a 5.8 percent increase over actual expenditures in 1994. The largest budget increase is in the Community Ministries program, which currently consists of the summer service and internship programs for youth of non-Anglo backgrounds, service programs in six locations and SWAP, an acronym for Sharing with Appalachian People. (MCC)
RESPONSIBILITY: The MCC U.S. board, at its Feb. 16 annual meeting, called on the u.s . government to not abandon its "moral responsibility to protect the interests of those who are marginalized by a free-enterprise economy." Their statement asks the federal government to create an economic environment in which the basic needs of all people are protected and all are given adequate opportunities to assume a productive role. It also asks the government to support the work of charitable organizations that work with the poor, and to provide direct assistance to the most vulnerable members of society. The statement challenges U.S church members to make lifestyle changes "as an aid to better identification with those in poverty." Initiating a regular fast, eliminating a costly recreational activity, reducing restaurant dining and foregoing a wardrobe addition were suggested changes. "The savings can be contributed to the needs of the poor
• Baptisms/membership
CLOVIS, Calif. (Mountain View)-Randy Garcia was baptized Jan. 22. He received Christ at the church Sept. 18, 1994.
CORN, Okla.-Matilda Siemens and Lori Gossen joined the church membership Feb. 26.
BAKERSFIELD, Okla. (Laurelglen)-Thir· ty-five people were accepted into membership Feb. 26: Ray and Karen Bartnicke, Wally Bench, Catherine Brannen, Bud and Denise Jones, Jim King, Eric and Shawn Kramer, Keith and Kate Laird, Larry and M.}. Lighthiser, Julie Loo, Thomas and Linda Marshall, Brian Wynn, Sean and Pamela McEnulty, Neal and Jodi Olsen, Patrick and Naomi Parker, Clark and Jana Peters, Brynn and Yvonne Powers, Carl and Susan Tomlinson, Jim and Debbie Torbert, JoAnn VanHorn, Dalva Willis, BeauThomas Woodward, and Gabriel Woodward.
OMAHA, Neb. (Agua Viva)-Jaime Cazares, Karina Cazares and Franco Morales were recently baptized.
FAIRVIEW, Okla.-New members Clarence and Rena Karber were received into membership Feb. 26 .
FRESNO, Calif. (Butler)-Forty-two new members were welcomed Feb. 26, including 12 who were baptized. Joining by baptism were: (Spanish congregation) Jessica Cortes, Simone Cores, Antonio Gomez, Teresa Gomez, Angelina Rivera and Scott Widaman; (traditional/contemporary congregation) Blanca Aguirre, Allison Cockerham, Jana Fleming, Jill Martens, Bobby Sandoval, Jesica Noonkester. Joining by transfer or testimony were: (Spanish congregation) Victoria Altamira, Susan Donnelly, Baltazar Garcia, Gloria Garcia, Catherine Garcia, Milinda Garcia, Adelida Hernandez, Felipe Lemus, Marbella Lemus, Maria Lopez, Angel Medrano, Karla Medrano, Lili Medrano, Agustina Melchor, Regina Mendez, Sue Nylander, Ramona Rivera, Diann Widaman, Mario Zapata; (traditional/contemporary) Julie Sandoval, Robert Leal, Tina Leal, Danna Alemania, and Heather Yates. Kim Rucker, Karin Wiebe, Andrew Cook, Nicole Cook, Jodie Kalamen and Jennifer Tjepkema became associate members. Butler Church is composed of four congregations: traditional worship, contemporary worship, Spanish and Khmu-Lao.
YALE, S.D. (Bethel)-Bob and Joyce Glanzer were received into membership March 5.
• Ministry
WICIUTA, Kan. (First)-Nine individuals from the congregation spent a week at Martin Box MB Church, Marshall, Ark., assisting the congregation in cleaning and restoring the church parsonage.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Terrace Bible)Spanish pastor Rufino Escalante reports that about 50 people received Christ through home meetings during a recent trip to Mexico.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (Roseville Oaks Community)-A grand opening for this emerging church was held during March. Attendance is about 45 with 140 people attending a Christmas service, an elder board has been affirmed and the church was recently incorporated.
• Fellowship
SALEM, Ore. (Kingwood Bible)-A joint worship service with their sister Slavic congregation in January included congregational singing in both languages, music and testimonies followed by a light meal
60th General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
July 6-9, 1995 - Fresno, California
orne to worship, work and fellowship in Fresno this summer at our 60th Convention. Sessions begin at the People's Church Thursday at 7 p.m. and conclude Sunday morning. A confirmation will be sent to those whose registrations we receive by June 21. Convention reports and detailed schedule will appear in next month's Christian Leader.
Seminary
40th Anniversary Party
IFlrllESNO
Historical Tour
(Thursday -1- 5:30PM)
For early arri vals, a Thursday afternoon bus tour will 'A Firm take in selected sites of interest to local Mennonite history, plus at.the MCC fruit drying project For a Changing ' and a large fruIt packing company. Cost: $5.00. DeFuture' , parture from the Seminary Campus. Prepayment reo quired .
Everyone's invited to Saturday's dinner, to be held on the Seminary campus in conjunction with the Seminary's 40th Anniversary Party.
Kid's Conference
An unsupervised nursery area is available for parents to be with the youngest of the children. For ages 3 - grade 6, an Action-Oriented Day Camp is scheduled from 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday with the theme of "God is Alive in 95." Activities at People's Church campus and intown locations (Fresno Zoo, Water Carnival at Fresno Pacific College pool). Cost: $8.oo/day. Contact Janice Porter at (209) 431-0333 (days).
Youth Day Camp
A Day Camp is offered for Grades 7-12 by area churches and Fresno Pacific College. Activities include fun group activities, swimming, and introduction to Fresno urban culture. Cost: $15.oo/day (includes program, lunches, and transportation. Contact: Brian Henderer at (209) 255-6505 (eves).
Convention Hotels
Special rates: (shuttles provided):
• Piccadilly Airport - $67.00 single or double. (209) 251-6000;
• Chateau- $56.00 single or double, (209) 456-1418;
• Holiday Inn (Airport)-$65.00 single or double, (209) 252-3611. Prices do not include tax. The cutoff date for rates is June 21.
RV Park
The recommended RV Park is Yosemite Trailer Park on 6494 North Blackstone Ave., Fresno. (209) 439-1123. Rates: $15.oo/night.
Fresno and California Tourism Contacts
The Sierra Nevada mountains and beautiful Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks are about an hour's drive away. And you all know about Disneyland, Sea World, Knotts Berry Farm, and Universal Studios. For more information, contact the California Division of Tourism at 1-800- 862-2543, or Fresno Convention and Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-788-0836.
For more information about the convention program, call Marvin Hein at (209) 452·1716. For more information about housing and registration call the Reedley Church at (209 638·8123.
Tell us about it!
NEARLY EVERY year you have the opportunity to attend at least one or more Mennonite Brethren convent ions. District conferences are usually slat ed for every year, the United States Conference convenes every other year, and the General Conference has upped its sessions now also t o every other year. Their next convention is on the horizon, July 6-9, 1995.
For some people, attending conventions is a powerful shot in the arm, giving them a boost that keeps them airborne for some months. For other people, conference involvement at any time is a bother, something l ike a pesky fly that won't go away but doesn't do any harm or any good.
If you are planning to attend the Gene ral Co nference convention in Fresno, Ca lif ., th is summer, jot down a few lines te llin g us why you are going. If you're a stay-at-home person, tell us why you'd rather mind the store. If you don't want your name mentioned, let us know. But all letters must be signed. We'd like your response by April 30 or sooner. Send it to Katie Funk Wiebe, 836 Amidon, Wichita, KS 67203-3112.
The congregation participated in a joint community service March 26 The purpose of the joint gathering featuring Bob Cryder of International Renewal Ministries was to call for a city-wide spiritual revival.
DELFf, Minn. (Carson)-The church family enjoyed a Winter Picnic Feb. 9 at a local school.
KINGSBURG, CaIH.-A "We love our tnissionaries dinner" Feb. 12 included a meal followed by a panel discussion involving several missionaries .
BRIDGEWATER, S.D. (Salem)-The congregation hosted the Silver Lake MB Church, Freeman, S.D., for a gym night Feb. 26.
SHAFTER, Calif.-The Ladies Fellowship Circle bosted a children'S talent show March 7 with 10 children participating in speaking, singing and musical numbers.
HENDERSON, Neb.-The men's quartet provided music for the Millard Bible Church, Omaha, Neb., March 12. Women from the congregation also fixed verenike for Millard's fellowship meal that noon.
LODI, Calif. (Vinewood)-Study sessions led by Mary Grace Wetmore highlighted the women's retreat March 10-12.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)-A women's retreat held March 17-19 at Camp Hammer featured speaker judy Corum on the topic "Be anxious for nothing."
... Big Ben and the sights of London, English countryside, highlands and moors of Scotland and much, much more
For more information on this tour or other tours, please write or call April 18 - May 1 Henry D. Landes, Pieter & Martha Gotwa\s Postma Lands of the Bible May 9 - 22 Ken & Kass Seitz
European Anabaptist Heritage July 5 - 21 John Ruth & Ruth Jantzi
European PAX July 10 - 26 Cal Redekop & Henry D. Landes
England/Scotland August 9 - 24 Wilmer Martin & Mary Rittenhouse Schwartrzentruber
Mexico Nov. 15 - 30 Cal Redekop
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-The 1995 women's retreat was held March 31April 2 at Camp Sugar Pine.
NEWTON, Kan. (Koerner Heights)-Area women were invited to a April 1 luncheon featuring Holly Phillips, wife of Promise Keepers president Randy Phillips.
ENID, Okla.-Potter Maxelin Wiebe was the guest speaker at a spring luncheon for women April 1. She and her husband, Gary, are church planters with Summit Church, a Southern District church-planting effort in Lee's Sumtnit , Mo
DENVER, Colo. (Garden Park)-April retreat weekends at Id-Ra-Ha-je Christian Camp are planned for adults of the congregation The men will gather April 21-22 to hear from Protnise Keepers speaker James W. May m and the women will meet April 28-29 to learn from Navigators speaker Jeanie McGilchrist.
• Proclamation
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Rosedale Bible)Ron and Fran Penner, pastoral resource tnissionaries to Mexico, were Spring Missions Sunday speakers March 19.
• Youth
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Rosedale Bible)"The Great Artageous Adventure" was presented by the youth choir March 12.
. DEATHS
WARKENTIN, ALBERT K., Hillsboro, Kan., a member of the Hillsboro MB Church, was born March 29, 1913, to Gerhard and Lena Klassen Warkentin near Lehigh, Kan., and died Jan. 27, 1995, at the age of 81. On March 5, 1946, he was married to Elma Schultz , who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Ronald and wife Clarice Warkentin of Hillsboro, Robert and wife Coleen Warkentin of Salina, Kan ; brothers and sisters, Katherine Crabb of Berkeley, Calif., Lydia and Terence McDonald of Tulsa, Okla. , Helen and Ike Thiessen of Lehigh, Kan., Adeline Dixon of Goessel, Kan., Rubena Bishop of Wichita, Kan . , Ruth and Norman Wenger and Mary and jake Thiessen all of Hillsboro; and five grandchildren.
WARKENTIN, SARAH L. HARMS, Reedley, Calif., a member of the Reedley MB Church, was born Feb. 12, 1903, to Peter T and Matilda Lepp Harms at Henderson, Neb , and died Jan. 9, 1995, at the age of 92 On june 6, 1922, she was married to Peter Bier Warkentin, who predeceased her in 1981. She is survived by her daughter , Mildred Ewy of Parlier , Calif., six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Tulip Tune in Holland
WEDEL, KATHERINE, Collinsville, Okla., a member of Westport MB Church , Collinsville , Okla., was born June 1, 1909, to Gerhard and Anna Braun Hildebrandt at Buhler, Kan., and died Jan. 7, 1995, at the age of 85. OnJune 20, 1926, she was married to George Thiesen Wedel, who predeceased her in 1982. She is survived by two daughters, Dorothy and husband John Buller of Collinsville, and Nora and husband Harvey Nikkel of Elizabeth, Colo.; three sons, George T. Jr. and wife Luella of Tulsa, Okla., Benjamin and wife Frances of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and Edwin of Collinsville; two brothers, Dave Hildebrandt of Hutchinson, Kan., and John Hildebrandt of Junction City, Ore.; two sisters, Agnes Gates of Miami, Okla., and Betty Woelk of Newport, Wash.; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and one step great-great-grandchild
WENZ, ARTHUR MARTIN, Hesston, Kan., a charter member of the Hesston MB Church, was born April 30, 1911, to Jacob and Phillipina Leno Wentz near Dodge, N D., and died Jan 20, 1995, at the age of 83 years. On Aug . 19, 1946, he was married to Dorothy Benell, who survives. He is also survived by two daughters; Judi Kennel of McHenry , Ill., and Jo Zehr of Hesston, Kan.; three brothers, Emil of Stayton, Ore., Herbert of Bismark , N D., and John of Dickinson, N.D .; and five grandchildren.
WIEBE, RENATE KROEKER, Reedley, Calif., a member of the Reedley MB Church, Reedley, Calif., was born June 16, 1905 to Jacob and Pauline Glaesman Kroeker in Oklahoma, and died Jan 4 , 1995, at the age of 89. On March 31,1932, she was married to William Wiebe, who predeceased her in 1986. She is survived by one brother, George and wife Susan; one sister, Clara Braun; and one sister-inlaw, Martha; all of Reedley. E2
CLEA RING HO USE
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE is accepting applications for SELFHELP Crafts computer services manager. Qualifications: Christian faith commitment, church membership, and commitment to nonviolent peacemaking; college degree or equivalent experience in systems analysis and design; four years experience with FoxPro and another computer language ; understanding of business and administration; leadership and teamwork ability. Salaried position which provides administration, systems analysis and programming for SELFHELP Crafts. Responsible for network of 50 pc computers in office, warehouse and store settings Interested persons contact Goldie Kuhns,21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501 -0500, phone (717) 859-1151. Applications due April 17, 1995.
"1 walked todalJ where Jesus walked in dalJs of long ago ... "
can be your experience. loin Ken and Kass Seitz, May 9 to 22, 1995 for a journey to the Lands of the Bible. Write or call for information about this tour or our other tours.
Tulip Time in Holland April 18 - May 1 Henry D. Landes, Pieter & Martha GotwaJs Posbna
European Anabaptist Heritage July 5 - 21 John Ruth & Ruth Jantzi
European PAX July 10 · 26 Cal Redekop & Henry D. Landes
England/Scotland August 9 - 24 Wilmer Martin & Mary Rittenhouse Schwartrzentruber Mexico
November 15 - 30 Cal Redekop
ToUR MAGI NATION
22 King Street South, Suite 401 1011 Cathill Road Waterloo, ON N2J IN8 (Reg.'l567624) Sellersville, PA 18960
Tel. 1-800-565-0451 (U.S. & Canada)
CHURCH PARTNERSHIP EVANGELIS M (CPE) INVITAT ION
King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., is seeking volunteers for its Church Partnership Evangelism outreach to
• Team up with national Christians and witness for Ch ri st door to door.
• Some knowledge of the country's language is helpful.
• Each participant must raise or contribute half of the cost: $1,500.
• Similar campaigns have resulted in 200 to 400 conversions.
• Come and be part of an enriching spiritual experience, discover what GOD can do through you
For further information, contact: Evelyn Unruh, 604-852 -5744 or CPE 604 -864 -3941
Peter Loewen, 604-883-3173 or FAX 604 -853-6482
Peter Huebert
Missions Committee President
Peter Loewen Promoter
ABORTION
Missing the mark
overestimate the number of abortions, according to a new survey. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, about 28 percent of pregnancies end in artificially induced abortion . But a poll of 2,000 adults conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Lou Harris found that 43 percent overestimated abortion by 10 percent or more, including 32 percent who think half of all pregnancies end in abortion The poll also found that 22 percent underestimate the abortion rate by 10 percent or more , while 35 percent come within 20 points either way. And while teens account for 26 percent of all abortions , 60 percent of those polled think that at least half of all abortions involve teens (EP)
MIS c E LLANEA
Pontius' Puddle
AS LOOK A&.\EAO TO 'N£ A'RE. RE.M\NOE.O THAT WE G-A1NEO $0 /{f l".HR\S'MAS, W£ t-I\OS"T NOW" LOSE wrn.., AND AtJe,o\S,", .
Not a New Ager
Despite a claim by Esquire magazine that she has formed a friendship with New Age guru anne Williamson, Hillary Rodham Clinton insists she has not become a New Age devotee "I have no 'gurus , ' spiritual advisors or any other New Age alternative to my faith and traditiOns ," Clinton wrote to Esquire She said reports that she was consulting New Age gurus are
CON FLiCT
being orchestrated by people who "want to marginalize my expression of faith as a Christian. " (EP)
EVANGELISM
Gospel alliance
The international radio ministry of Trans World Radio (fWR) and the ministries of Peter Deyneka Russian have joined forces in the former Soviet Union . Both groups have a history of working to assist the indigenous church of the former USSR.
'Fighting by the rules' depends on who rules
ALL CHURCHES don't fight the same way_ New research reports significant differences between Asian American and Anglo-American congregations_ Persons seeking new paradigms for understanding today's church and conducting its mission in a multicultural society cannot assume Western or Anglo-American standards of behavior or perspective_ In researching how Asian North Americans interact in conflict situations, the Action Research Team of the Alban Institute
discovered several startling differences that illustrate these shifts. For example, "Ioss of face" factors outweigh the Anglo-American approach to addressing conflicts face-to-face. Asian Americans tolerate, even desire, a level of ambiguity that to Anglo-Americans may be intolerable confusion. And living in the tension of conflict (solidarity) is more acceptable to Asian Americans whereas resolving conflict (unity) is highly sought by Anglo-Americans (Alban Institute)
The agreement will involve TWR assuming responsibility for a Center originally planned as part of the portfolio of ministry activities in CIS.
MORALITY
Moral change ahead?
Author and speaker Cal Thomas says the nation is poised on the brink of "real and substantive" change. "I'm talking about moral and spiritual kind of change. people are awakening to the fact that our most pressing problems are not economic and political, but are moral and spiritual. If people were basically good, by now we would have created a utopian society. The only way to change people's behavior is by giving them a new nature, and the only to do that is by giving them Jesus ." (EP)
GROWTH
Cambodian comeback
Churches are emerging in the war-tom Southeast Asian nation of Cambodiayears after the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot destroyed the dreams and lives of thousands of people
Older adults: tomorrow's church
FOR SEVERAL DECADES, society has worshiped at the fountain of youth. Their vitality and zest for life are admired and imitated. As their numbers increased, business industries and the media catered to their whims and wishes. Youthful fashion, music and language trends set the pattern for adults
The church saw youth as the church of tomorrow, because in 20 to 30 years, they would be the leaders, their vision would direct the church It was important that they be nurtured well. That goal should never change.
However, the view that youth are the church of tomorrow and that the older adults will pass from the scene is no longer true. The dominant group in the future will be the older adults. Middle-aged people alive today will probably still be alive tomorrow. The land-
Am writes in Catch the Age Wave that the older adult ministry should be in the "mainstream of the church's life and flow, not in some backwater." The church without an intentional ministry for people over the age of 50 that goes beyond visitation of the sick and shut-ins is guilty of ageism, he writes. The largest pool of potential members in a matter of years may be among the older adults. No group is more receptive to religion, according to Gallup Polls.
The time has come for "rocking chair" theology to go, because three out of four people 65 to 74 consider their health to be good or excellent. In the 85-plus group, the fastest growing segment of this age group, almost one in four lives in nursing homes. So programs offering them care must be continued.
What is the task of the church to prepare for this burgeoning group of older adults? scape will look snowy-gray in the 21st century.
In the 1930s, when Social Security began, the number of adults living beyond age 65 was minimal. Few people were expected to receive Social Security for any length of time. In 1992 the over-65 population numbered about 32 3 million or 12 7 percent of the pop-
ulation. Eight in 10 people today live to
be over 65 At least three of 10 Ameri-
cans now living will mark their 85th birthdays, the Census Bureau says America's elderly population is expected to grow most dramatically in
The dominant age group in the future will be older adults.... The
landscape will
look snowy-gray in the 21st century. the years 2010 to 2030. That's when those born from 1946 to 1964 join the 50 and above group The projections for tomorrow, the year 2030, is that the over-65 group will number 53.3 million, or 17 3 percent of the population.
This "graying of society" is being termed one of the most far-reaching social changes to hit America. Futurists predict a time of adjustment as society and institutions change to cope with this dramatic shift in the makeup of America's population, states an Evangelical Press release.
Many congregations today already have 10 to 12 percent more older adults than in general society. It could well be that in the church of tomorrow at least one in four people will be over 65 (25 percent).
The message is clear: Get ready! The older adult is an important new frontier Business and industry have already taken note Forty cents of every dollar spent on consumer goods is spent by people over age 50 . Previously tried stratagems for older adult ministries are now inadequate as this group keeps increasing Win
• To work together with them to develop a richer, more positive shared understanding of aging. People reaching retirement age need to be assured that life as one grows older continues to make sense even though death is closer. A positive image of aging enables each older person to walk into this gift of years with confidence and joy
• To provide leadership and structure for developing an effective older-adult ministry. That includes teaching that incorporates an understanding of human mortality, of the life cycle as God-
ordained, and that inner freedom comes only through acceptance of whatever limitations life imposes
Win Am recommends that churches provide opportunity for using the retirement years more Significantly. This means arranging for a different kind of volunteerism that is short-term but meaningful. The idea once was that volunteers became the extension of someone else's arms and feet to do assigned tasks . Today's older adults ask for opportunities to use their talents and skills in a creative way, not as robots.
• To continue caring for older adults' total needs. It includes intentional spiritual nurture of every older adult beginning at age 50 until he or she dies .
• To point out the older adult's moral and social obligations as mentor, modeler, encourager, and especially to leave the world in the best possible condition for the next generation. A weak area now that may trip us up in the future is lack of intergenerational interaction.
The answers the church has now for the meaning of aging will have an enormous impact on church life in years to come. Let's be ready.-KFW
