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ne in 10 Americans is addicted to alcohol," Mike Furches reports in "Breaking the Habit" (page 4).

"If our churches mirror the communities in which they exist and if we seek to save the lost in our communities, we must be prepared to assist those who have addictions."

That was one of the main reasons I wanted to put this issue together. As individuals and churches, we need to understand and be ready to respond to people's needs-and addiction is one few of us can escape. Many of us know someone who is an addict or someone who's life has been affected by an addict.

But the topic proved more difficult than I anticipated. I was ready to learn how I can help, but I wasn't prepared for how this would affect me at a personal level.

Addiction is devastating. As I read and listened to the stories and testimonies, I -encountered more suffering and pain than I expected. Addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex and other substances and behaviors works to destroy both the addict and his or her family. Most of the addicts I talked with or listened to experienced depths of despair I cannot begin to fathom. Attempting to share that pain can be excruciating.

Also, I was confronted by my own shortcomings. Addicts who have turned their lives over to God practice the discipline of daily admitting they cannot control their lives and need God desperately. I too know that I need God, but I find days go by when I'm giving this only lipservice rather than acknowledging it in my heart.

The articles in this issue are written mostly by those who have had firsthand experiences with addiction, either as an addict or as a family member. Their experiences are valuable to us both as individuals who may face these addictions or know people who do, as well as members of Christ's body who contemplate how best to meet their needs.

God bless. -CA

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COMING • AUGUST 3-5-Southern District Conference Convention, Branson, Missouri • SEPTEMBER 28-30-North Carolina District Convention, Laytown MB Church, Lenoir, NC • OCTOBER 26-28-Central District Conference Convention, Lincoln Hills Bible Church, Sioux Falls, SD • NOVEMBER 9-10-Pacific District Conference Convention, Reedley MB Church, Reedley, Calif.

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2001 CHRISTIAN

LEAnER VOLUME 64, NUMBER 4

FEATURES - Addiction 4 Breaking the habit Why do people become addicts? How do they quit?

BY MICHAEL A. FURCHES

6 The addiction no one wants to talk about Sexual addiction is one of the most prevalent addictions in churches today- but one of the least discussed. BY JOE SMITH

8 Helping to break the chains Profile of a ministry to addicts at Reedley (Calif.) MB Church.

BY CARMEN ANDRES

9 Notourson What can families do when they discover one of their own is an addict? Is there anything the church can do to help?

BY CLARE ANN RUTH-HEFFELBOWER

DEPARTMENTS What Readers Say .. . . . .. . . . . . . .... . . . .. ..... 14 Ph'lip Side .. . . . . . . . . . . . ... ..... . . by Philip Wiebe 16 •

Adrift on the Censor Ship

Inquiring Minds ... . ...... .. . . . .. .. by Marvin Hein 17 •

Worship teams and worship styles

On the Journey .. .. ... . . .. . .. . . . by Rose Buschman 18 •

Affecting public policy

People Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 •

Making the pitch for God

BodyLife . .... . . . .. . . . . .... . .. .. ... . .. ... . . ... 22 • Celebrating a centennial 22 • • • • • • •

Partnership sponsors evangelists 24 Evangelists spread gospel despite difficulty 25 MB couple to research HIVIAIDS 26 Educators lecture overseas 27 Engbrecht accepts district's call 28 Colleges fight hunger, poverty 29 Goal? Sell four million books 30

In Brief . .. .... . . . . .. . .... . . . . .. .. .. . ... . .. ... 31 Church News & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . . . . . . 33 Editorial .. .. .. ..... . . . ............ . . . . . .. . . . 36 •

The secret to life ART CREDITS: Pages 9 and 11-12, PhotoDisc.

Printing by Valley Offset Printing, Valley Center, Kansas.

EDITOR Carmen Andres

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Connie Faber

BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Kathy Heinrichs Wiest, chair; Peggy Goertzen, Harold Loewen, Phil Neufeld, Dalton Reimer.

The Christian Leader (lSSN 0009-5149) is published monthly by the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, 315 S. Lincoln, Hillsboro, KS 67063. The Christian Leader seeks to inform Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activities, decisions and issues of their denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialogue so members will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelicaVAnabaptist theological tradition. However, the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church.

The editors invite free-lance article submissions, essays to Forum and letters to the editor. Forum is open to members or attendees of Mennonite Brethren churches. The essays can address any issue of relevance and interest to the faith and life of the Mennonite Brethren Church and should be no longer than 800 words and include the home church and occupation of the writer. A SASE must accompany articles and forum essays.

The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors.

WESTERN OFFICE: Carmen Andres, Editor 7531 Delta Wind Dr. Sacramento, California 95831 Phone: (916) 424-5710 Fax: (253) 369-9423 E-mail: chleader@jps.net MIDWEST OFFICE: Connie Faber, Associate Editor Box V, 315 S. Lincoln Hillsboro, Kansas 67063 Phone: (620) 947-5543 Fax: (620) 947-3266 E-mail: chleader@southwind.net Subscription rates are $16 for one year, $30 for two years, and $42 for three years ($20, $38 and $54 in Canada); $1 .50 per copy. All subscription requests and address changes should be sent to the Circulation Secretary at the Midwest Office. All advertising inquiries should be made to the Western Office.

Postmaster: Send address changes to the Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063 . Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, Kansas.

APRI L

2001.3

I

ADDICTION BY

MICHAEL

A.

FURCHES

Why peop and how

Anthony was four years old when he became intoxicated for the first time. His stepfather gave him "screwdrivers"-vodka and orange juice-until he passed out.

As Anthony grew older, he stole alcohol from the family cabinets and contin-

ued to drink throughout most of high school. He'd bring whiskey mixed with milk to school in his thermos. He started using drugs-including marijuana, pills, glue and eventually heroin.

Anthony continued to abuse drugs and alcohol even when an uncle he was close to died of psoriasis of the liver, another died of a heroin overdose, his fourth stepfather died from complications related to alcoholism and numerous .....·n,...: died from drug related deaths-including overdose suicide while high.

Why, when he knew the COI1.Se'Quel ue to engage in such self-destructive

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ADDICTION

Building a habit In many ways, addictions are like bad habits .

Research shows that it takes approximately 21 days to develop a habit. Many people have worthwhile habits like praying, reading the Bible and exercise.

Others have habits like smoking, alcohol and drug use and overeating. Bad habits often become addictions.

Addictions like alcoholism and drug abuse are at epidemic levels. The National Institute of Health has identified that one in 10 Americans is addicted to alcohol. When looking at various drugs-including both illegal and legal, such as nicotine and over the counter prescriptions-that number increases to approximately one in six.

If our churches mirror the communities in which they exist and if we seek to save the lost in our communities, we must be prepared to assist those who have addictions.

Why can't they just quit?

Why does someone like Anthony choose to follow habits that are self-destructive? Can't they just quit?

While these are common questions we often ask when faced with addiction, they reveal a lack of understanding for what the addict is going through. Christians are guilty of this as well. We often place the blame on the individuals who face addictions and offer little or no help to overcome those addictions.

There are many reasons people follow their addictions. There is clear, indisputable evidence that many alcoholics have a predisposition to the disease, and heredity plays a factor as to why some become more easily addicted than others. The environment and community one lives in also have a major influence. Many are looking for a means of escape from the world around them, while others are influenced by peer pressure.

The physical and sexual abuse Anthony received as a child was one of the reasons he used alcohol and drugs, but the examples of his environment also taught him that his addictions could be used to cope with the lack of love and companionship in his life.

Addictions are strong and pervasive. Some individuals may use drugs, such as crack or heroin, only one time before developing a physical and/or psychological addiction. Others, who have previous addictions, can easily fall back into those addictions if they give into the temptation-even just once.

This is true for any addiction.

abuse substances because they are unaware of God's love for them. They don't have a full understanding of how God, through Christ and the Holy Spirit, is able to meet all of their needs.

Addicts know the destruction they are leading themselves into-and so did Jesus. He made an effort to reach out to, love and save those who lived in sin.

He was even accused of being a glutton and drunkard (Man. 11: 19)-in part because he loved the addicted so much that he spent a great deal of time with them, loving them, seeking relationship and ultimately dying for each person's sins.

The first Bible verse many people learn is John 3: 16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." The ultimate truth of God's love exemplified in this verse is as much for those facing addictions as those who have grown up in church. The lasting implications of that truth of salvation can't be lost-especially by those facing addictions.

For many addicts, it is a matter of someone looking them in the eye and saying, "I love you . Let me help." We need to constantly help them understand God's love for them.

Recovery programs often play an important role in an addict's recovery, and most effective programs have a core ingredient-reliance upon God . Most 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous were originally rooted not only in God but specifically in Jesus Christ.

While there is reward in approaching recovery by encouraging reliance on God-and these programs have helped many people-there is also a danger.

Many who have gone through 12-step programs believe that because of their involvement they have a relationship with God. Jesus points out that many who think they know him in reality do not. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast our demons, and in your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you ; depart from me you who practiced lawlessness'" (Matt. 7:21-23).

While recognition of God is vital and necessary for recovery, a belief in God doesn't mean that one has a relationship with him.

ORGAIIIZATIOIIS FOR ADDICTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS:

Alcoholic's ~,.......

"A fellowship of men and women who share their expe.... ence, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism" (M). Check loeallistIngs in your tel... phone book. visit www.alcohollc:s anonymous.erg or eall (212) 870-3400.

AI·Anon .

Helps -famiDes and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem dnnking of a relative or friend" (AI-Anon).

Check loeallistlngs in your telephone book, visit www.al-anon. org, ...mail WSOO al-anon.org or call (888) 4AL-ANON

AIataen: A "fellowship of young members. usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking" (Alateen). Check local iistlngs in your telephone book. visit www.al-anon.org/ alateen.html, ...mail WSooal-anon.org or call (888) 4AL-ANON continued next page

Choosing a new life Recovery through God I have worked with addicts for many years and have come to believe that many people use and

Addicts also need to understand that Christ chooses to give them life. Jesus says, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" Oohn 10:10).

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5

Slavery still exis ourselves a questic and addidio MOR.GAGS

AIIoa,......

-.rc.tIcs

·Reaches out to addicts in general regardless of substances used" (NA).

Check local listings in your telephone book, visit www.na. org, e-maillnfoO na.org or call (818) 713-9999

......Afton "Designed for the family memben or friends of the drug abuser· (Nar-Anon).

Check local listings in your telephone book. There is no official Web site.

You can reach the Nar-Anon Family Groups at (310) 547-5800. continued next page

Christ would choose that we have life in him. We don't have life while being controlled by substances or actions that take us away from our families, self-control, the church and ultimately Christ himself.

One of the traps addicts fall into is thinking that it is still possible to have a life in Christ while at the same time being trapped by their addiction. Numerous passages in Scripture tell us otherwise. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:1-5).

Slavery still exists, but we must ask ourselves a question: Are we slaves to our sins and addictions or are we free in Christ? Ifwe can't give up our addictions, even when we realize the destruction they bring into our lives, then we are not in the relationship Christ wants. If we do not have a relationship with Christ we are, simply put, a slave to sin.

In John 8, some of the descendants of Abraham

questioned this concept of being a slave to sin. Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed" Oohn 8:24-36). Those with addictions must decide if they really want to be free in Christ or if they want to be a slave to sin.

The rest of Anthony's story In his late teens, Anthony accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and decided to go to Tabor College, a Mennonite Brethren college in Kansas. But he still struggled with substance abuse habits he had developed in his life. While a freshman at Tabor, an English professor had to escort him back to his dorm room one night because he was intoxicated in the student center.

Eventually Anthony realized that he was tired of being a slave to his addictions. He wanted to be free in Christ and realize the full capacity of Christ's love and ability to deliver him from the bondage of slavery.

A number of things happened to help him transition to a life free from the habits of his addictions.

He was blessed with a wife who held him account-

The addictionno one HI, my name Is Joe, and I am a sex addict.

That Is how I Introduce myself In a recovery pr0gram meeting. I've used a similar greeting In other "anonymous" type programs (I.e., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, etc.) over the last 10 years. It Is a recognition that I have a pr0blem that I will have to deal with on some level for the rest of my life.

I am not alone. Sexual addiction Is one of the most prevalent addictions In churches today. The

6-THE

ahame and guilt can be overwhelming, leading pe0ple to keep their problem a

ular structure of opiates

secret. The lack of ade-

but are much more power·

quately trained counseIor$ In churches makes the addiction even more dlftl.. cult to address.

Understanding the addiction Is one of the first steps Christians can take In providing an environment where addl. can seek recovery from this terrible addiction. Sexual addiction Involves one of the most powerful qhemlcal addictions knOwn to man. The ~lcaIs pro-

CHRISTIAN

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dueed during sexual

arousal parallel the molecfuL In male addicts, sexual

activity Is used to medIcate the pain and lonelIness he feels when trying to deal with life. The behavior of an addict usual-

ly follows a certain pattern: self sexual gratification with soft pornographic reading then hard core pornographic reading and videos, sex with unmarried then multiple and married partners, other men and prostitutes. The addiCt

finally confines his behavIor to his home as the shame and guilt drive him to "secrecy."

My story Isn't much different. Until 10 years ago, my life was a series of downhill disasters. I grew up In a small midwestern town In the 19608. My father, though a good provider and heavily Involved In church, was distant and absent from home quite often. My mother was a preSCription drug addict who had atrange mood Swings. Uke my brother and sister, I got

twe must ask e we slaves to our sins

are we f ree in Christ? able for his actions. He became part of a church family who also held him accountable and helped him learn how to develop a stronger relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study and fellowshipping and forming relationships with believers.

Anthony began to realize the true freedom and deliverance that Christ brings.

I know Anthony's story well because I am Anthony. I write not just from the perspective of an outsider looking in but as one whom Christ has delivered from various addictions and sin.

I have not used illegal drugs for almost 23 years, but I still depend on Christ fighting my battles when I am tempted with alcohol or other addictions. I still live with the consequences of addictions and struggle with temptation. My mother is still an alcoholic, and I pray one day she will come to know the Lord and receive the freedom and deliverance that I have received. I pray one day to have a mother who is capable of understanding me because she has a relationship with Christ. I pray that the Lord will send a Christian to share with her, love her and develop a relationship with her that will motivate her to know Christ's freedom for all of eternity.

Into trouble to get attention from them. I also became a loner, hanging out In our basement quite a lot to avoid "dealing with mom."

Then, I developed a relationship In a Christian youth club with a man much older than I. He seemed really Interested In my life and I came to trust him and enjoy his company.

One day, when I was 10 years old, he molested me.

Afterwards, I felt hurt and didn't know where to tum.

I was scared I had done something wrong again. I had no positive authority figure to "mentor" me through this traumatic

event.

At 13, I gave my life to the Lord and was baptized,

Overcoming addletlon

MOREORGS

With the help of Jesus, close friends, a community of supporters and individual willpower, addicts can overcome their addictions.

If you are working with the addicted person-be they family or friends-love them. As part of that love, I encourage you not to provide a route of escape by making excuses for them. It is important that you love them fully, but that you also let them receive the consequences of their sin. For many it is only from living with, seeing and understanding that their sin has consequences that they are motivated to not repeat their sin.

If you have a problem with addiction, I encourage you to know this: there is a way to overcome addiction, and you can live in joy through a relationship with Christ.•

0Verc0IIIer'.

Michael Anthony Furches is executive director of Crossroads Clubhouse in Tulsa, Okla. He is also a nationally recognized speaker on issues rangingfrom mental health and addiction to church-related issues.

Furches is a member of Collinsville Westport MB Church in Tulsa.

but started running from him six months later for

over 30 years. I found a stash of pornographic magazines In the basement and' the cycle began. Along the way, I developed a number of other addictions, notably to alcohol and drugs. My life was In a downwatd spiral.

My life changed when a local video store closed and a friend from church took me Into his Bible study God started to heal me. I worked through recovery groups for alcohol and drugs and theQ tackled the sexual addiction.

God continues to ....1 me. Today, I am In semInary, gaining a theological and biblical background for the full-time work of servIng a forgiving God In the

crouP.

All...,......

"A Christ-centered program for recovery and support- where participants "find the extra care and encouragement necessary to grow beyond the wounds of life's batties, the difficulties in family relationships, the bondage of addictive habits and behaviors. and the isolation caused by shame" (OA). Check local listings in your telephone book, visit www. overcomersoutreach. org. e-mail infoO overcomersoutreach. org or call (800) 3103000• •

recovery field. I am also running an advanced recovery group for alcoholics and

addicts at a local rescue mission.

But without God, Jesus, the Holy spirit and the livIng Word In my life, I will never overcome this addiction completely. Moat pe0ple who don't come to 1cnow the Lord through the recovery process either fall back Into the old behavior patt.rns or pick up a new addiction. God has given me peace and comfort. He has given me healing and a fresh start. God has given back my life.

All praise, hOnor and glory to him who forgives even me. -by Joe Smith (This /s not the author's real name.)

APRIL

2001.7

Helping to break the chains WHAT ONE MB CHURCH IS DOING TO HELP ADDICTS

T

hirteen years ago, John and Florene Mendel, directors of Reedley MB's Substance Abuse Program, called the first Overcomer's Anonymous meeting to order at the small town, central California church. Today, the church ministry hosts six substance abuse group meetings--Overcomer's Anonymous, Alcoholic's Anonymous, AlAnon, Alateen, Narcotics Anonymous and Nar-Anon (see information on margins ofpages 4-7)-serving between 100-125 people each week.

All the programs use the 12-step approach and format. The meetings begin with a pre-amble, readings from Alcoholic's Anonymous material and of the 12 steps, recitation of the Serenity Prayer, introduction by first name only and a time for each member to share. Overcomer's Anonymous adds a Bible study and prayer into the format.

The anonymity is important, says Florene. "People need to feel safe to talk," she says, explaining each meeting has a policy of "who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here."

The format of the program-especially the 12-steps-is important, too, says John.

"A lot of times, people get scared of [the 12 steps] because they don't know what it is," he says.

John points out that the 12 steps were originally created by the Methodists and are all scripturally based. The Mendels prefer the Overcomer's program-a Christ-centered version of AA--over the others. While AA began as a Christian movement and still encourages participants to tum their lives over to a "higher power," AA added the phrase "as you understand it," says John.

"We love Overcomer's," says Florene, adding the program identifies Jesus as the higher power. "There's just a special power there. " But the Mendels believe offering a range of programs in addition to Overcomer's is important and fills a need

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in the community. The Mendels View SAP as an outreach program, adding that less than 10 percent of those attending are from the church. People struggling with addictions need to find meetings where they are comfortable, and meetings held in a church fit the bill for some of them, the Mendels say.

Each program runs independent of the others. "We oversee them, but we try to get them to be run by the individuals in the group," says Florene. The Mendels work to identify people in each group who have been sober for six months or longer and encourage them to take leadership roles in the groups. If the leader starts using substances or drinking again, the Mendels foster another member to take leadership.

Seeing people drink or use again is a reality, according to John. "If you can't work with a 90 percent failure factor, you're not going to be successful in the work," he says.

The Mendels point out that alcoholism and other addictions are hard for people to understand if they haven't been an addict themselves or had a close friend or family member who is an addict. For the Mendels, that person was John.

"I was very normal," says John, who grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ when he was 10. He took his first drink at 27 during a work-related celebration. He went from one drink a week to a couple of drinks after work every day. The disease- John adamantly affirms that alcoholism is a physical conditionprogressed to the point where the addiction affected his work and home life. "Alcohol was the only thing that counted," John remembers.

Eventually, John e nded up in a rehabilitation facility, where he painfully de-toxed and the n rededicated his life to the Lord.

"It is not a matter of will-power for the alcoholic," says John, exposing a common misconception held by those unfamiliar with the addiction. In fact, the first step of the 12 is

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to admit that you are powerless over alcohol, he points out. "Once that desire and push for alcohol is there, it is absolutely impossible not to drink .... you need the Lord's help to stay away from alcohol."

The Mendels strongly encourage churches to develop Overcomer's groups or host other 12-step programs. For those who are considering it, the Mendels offer a few suggestions: • Get the pastor's support. The program won't work without a pastor's support, says John, adding that Reedley MB's pastors through the years-Henry Dick, Jim Holm and Dennis Fast-have cooperated and fully supported their program.

• Make sure the person leading the ministry or group has experienced the effects of alcoholism or other addictions firsthand. It takes someone who's been there to lead an effective ministry, says John. ''You might have well meaning people," he says, "but there is no way they can lead a meeting."

• Stick to the 12-step format.

"It's a format that works," says Florene, adding that they have seen most programs that deviate from that format break apart very quickly. "For some reason, if you keep the format . . . the odds of the meeting being a success are greatly enhanced."

• Put the programs-and director's names and phone numbers-in the church bulletin each week.

"We have an average of one or two calls a day," says Florene.

• Educate yourself about addiction. "The thing that has hurt the people we work with the most .. . is a lack of understanding about what alcoholism is," says John, recalling instances of well-meaning Christians misdirecting or making hurtful remarks to addicts. While the Mendels recognize the power ofJesus to touch and heal the addict, they point out that the alcoholic or addict is facing a lifelong disease. Sobriety, says John, will disappear with one drink. --by Carmen Andres, Christian Leader editor

BY

CLARE

ANN

What can families do when they discover one of their own 10

IS an

addict?

How can the church help?

RUTH·HEFFELBOWER

Could it be true?

Our son-who had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at age six-was a prime candidate for drug abuse, but we'd done everything possible to steer him in a healthy direction. He learned of the dangers of drugs in educational programs at school. At home we reinforced those programs, taught him Christian values and provided a wholesome, Christian environment for him. He was actively involved in church, and we provided many opportunities for his enrichment. He received tutoring for his dyslexia (which commonly accompanies ADD) ahd occasional therapy to help him learn to compensate for the disabilities which come with ADD. We did everything we could do as parents.

But the signs were all there.

Our son was using drugs.

APR I L

RESOURCES to help on a spiritual journey with addiction:

The Twelve Steps for Christians

The Twelve StepsA Spiritual Journey 80th are published by Recovery Publications, which also has other resources available.

Publications by AkohoJics Anonymous, A/·Anon and other 12-step groups; while not coming from an explicitly Christian perspective, can provide spiritual help and insight as one seeks God's strength to live with the challenges of addiction.-CARH

Recognizing addiction Recognizing and naming addiction-to drugs, alcohol or another substance or behavior-is more difficult than one might think. Coping tools of denial, rationalization and minimization work overtime. Even though my husband and I had worked professionally with people struggling with addiction, we found ourselves saying, "This could not possibly be happening to our family" or "Sure, his temper got out of hand and he said some hurtful things-but everyone has a bad day now and again."

Addicts don't make it any easier to pin down their behavior. They are usually intelligent, clever people with winsome personalities who are naturally likeable. They use their positive character traits to maintain their addiction and manipulate their world, families and friends. Often the last to acknowledge the problem are those closest to the addict.

When a family does come to terms with the fact that someone they love dearly is an addict, their first and natural response is to want to do what they can to help. Unfortunately, our instinctive sense of what is helpful isn't always right. The line between helping and "enabling"-the technical term for making it possible for an addict to continue destructive behaviors-is not always easy to distinguish.

It is easy to become an enabler, even for families like ours who were familiar with the struggles associated with addiction. Enabling takes many formsproviding excuses for an addict's behavior to employers or schools or friends, paying a bill that an addict incurred to protect their credit record or doing something for an addict that he can and should do for himself. Any time family members fail to encourage addicts to take responsibility for their behavior, they are helping the addicts maintain their addiction.

One of the major challenges for families is to learn that usually the most compassionate and loving help they can do for addicts is to allow them to experience the consequences of their behavior. This will be extremely painful for families-especially for Christian families who are taught that it is our responsibility as Christians to do what we can to relieve suffering.

be crazy to put up with what you've been through."

I began to reflect. I remembered all the efforts we had made to help our son-a rehab program we put him in when he was still under 18, a 2a-day rehab program, a half-way house. I remembered how I'd scheduled my life around providing transportation for him before he could drive and the car we bought for him-which was totaled two days after he got his license. I thought of all the time and energy spent working with therapiSts, probation officers, schools and insurance companies. I remembered the cost of damaged property when his temper got out of control. I relived the tension of tantrums and threats. I remembered the lies and broken promises and the late nights wondering where he was or going out to look for him. I thought of the stress that had become part of our lives on a daily basis. I thought of how our own lives were becoming less than healthy. Finally I admitted the counselor was right-we were sick to have put up with all of that.

Getting help So, where can a family tum for help?

Often the usual resources one turns to--friends and family-aren't able to provide help. Addiction, while it is an increasingly common problem, is often misunderstood. Some still see it as a moral issue, even though it is now commonly understood as a disease. Well-meaning friends and extended family members don't know how to respond.

Twelve-step groups are one place where addicts and their families often find understanding and healing. The best-known family group is Al-Anon, a 12-step group for the families of alcoholics. NarAnon is a group for families of drug addicts.

While not specifically Christian, 12-step groups have a spiritual foundation. They understand addiction as essentially a spiritual problem. In fact, the first 12-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous, grew out of a founder's experience with the Oxford Movement, a Christian renewal movement in England. Christian 12-step groups have also been developed.

What the church can do The family needs help, too People who work with addictions recognize that addiction is a family disease. In some cases there is a history of family dysfunction. In others, the family has become part of the disease in response to the addict.

For us, this hit home when we were in a family group therapy session in one of several of our son's rehab programs. "You're all sick," said the rehab counselor to family members. "If you don't think so, think about all you've put up with. Anybody would

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The church can also be a place for understanding and healing, but most are unprepared to help the families of addicts. While some churches have addiction ministries, many of them are aimed at the addicts themselves.

The church is often at a loss to know how to respond to the family of an addict. Their experience is so far beyond the ordinary life experiences of other members. A family may hesitate to share their experiences out of shame or fear of judgment. They

A summary of the 12-steps from a Christian perspective might go like thisWe realize the extent to which we try to play god in our own lives and realize that without God's help we are lost. We turn our lives over to God through Jesus Christ and begin a life-long process of renewal and growth. This Includes recognizing and confessing our shortcomings to God, asking for forgiveness and doing what we can to make things right with other people.

We seek to strengthen our relationship with God and continue to seek God's will In our lives. We strive to love and serve others. Having found healing in our own lives, we share the good news with those around us. often are already experiencing high levels of guilt and don't want to add to that by comments or questions from fellow church members. Even in an open and accepting setting such as a small group, a family finds it hard to share their experiences.

We were part of a small group in the middle of some of our struggles. Each week we would share our latest experiences and concerns. The members were understanding and supportive, yet we felt like we were monopolizing the group. No other member's "crisis of the week" could top ours. Gradually we shared less and less. We didn't want to "bore" them with our seemingly never-ending problems.

Families of addicts, lacking people in the church who share and understand their experience, can find themselves feeling alone in the midst of a caring community.

In spite of the challenges, however, there are ways the church can support families of addicts.

• Give pennission to share experiences. It is important that the church gives people permission to share their experiences and struggles without feeling pitied or judged. Recently, a pastor interviewed a drug addict who was part of the congregation in a sermon, bringing the subject of addiction into the open. People were called to recognize that addicts are real people. The church was challenged to include them in the life and ministry of the church.

As the subject of addiction opened, sharing became easier for those who live with it on a daily basis.

• Make connections in the congregation_ When families of addicts talk about their struggles, they may find others in the congregation with similar experiences. Most sharing takes place in small groups or in one-on-one conversations. Sometimes a pastor or someone else aware of the pain of these families can help make connections between people who have walked a similar road. While not all people will understand the issues a family is dealing with, there will be some in the congregation who do. For some, addiction is part of their lives. Some may have worked professionally with persons with addictions. Other caring brothers and sisters are willing to listen and care even though they lack experience with addictions.

We received a great deal of support from people

in the church. Our small group, in spite of our fears of boring them, remained concerned and caring.

They adjusted their schedules to fit ours. The group met at our home when we felt we couldn't leave our house unattended. A friend who worked with troubled teenagers developed a relationship with our son and continues to relate to him as an adult. Several understanding friends attended court hearings when our son faced legal consequences for his actions. Support like this is greatly appreciated by families like ours.

• Intentional, long-tenn support. Addiction is like a chronic illness. Many people are willing to be supportive in a crisis si~ation but find it more difficult to provide care when the condition is ongoing. ' It is helpful if churches intentionally plan to provide support for the family of an addict on a longterm basis. Families may hesitate asking people to support them. People who are hurting often lack the energy or courage to ask for help, so it is often better if someone else in the congregation initiates identifying supportive people.

• Support groups. One possibility is forming a support group for the family. A structured group is more effective and more likely to provide long-term support than a spontaneous group. Such a group might begin meeting weekly with the family and then move into a monthly meeting schedule.

Between meetings, individual group members check in with the family. The family knows it can calion anyone in the group at any time or convene a meeting of the group if it feels a need. Such a group gives a family permission to ask for help, lessening the burden the family's struggles would place on a regular small group while helping them participate in regular fellowship.

The disease of addiction is spiritual as well as physical and emotional, so we must ultimately turn to spiritual resources to deal with it.

Taming to God The disease of addiction is spiritual as well as physical and emotional, so we must ultimately tum to spiritual resources to deal with it.

Twelve-step programs provide a model we can adapt to connect the gospel message with the real issues in our lives. A summary of the 12 suips from a Christian perspective might go like this: APRIL

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11

As Christians.

we readily admit that we are powerless and seek to t urn our live$ over to God. but in reality often we still hold onto the illusion of power in our hearts.

We realize the extent to which we try to play god in our own lives and realize that without God's help we are lost. We turn our lives over to God through Jesus Christ and begin a lifelong process of renewal and growth. This includes recognizing and confessing our shortcomings to God, askingfor forgiveness and doing what we can to make things right with other people. We seek to strengthen our relationship with God and continue to seek God's will in our liVes. We strive to love and serve otws. Havingfound healing in our own lives, we share the good news with those aroundU$.

As Christians we readUy admit that we are powerless and seek to turn our lives over to God, but in reality often we still hold onto the illusion of power in our hearts. We readily claim the promise, "My grace is suftlcient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakn~s" (2 Cor. 12:9) , but in our daily lives we work as hard as we can to deny our weakness and stay in control.

Facing a serious problem like addiction takes away our ability to pretend thai: we're in control. It prepares uS.to be more receptive to God's grace . • While this may not sound like good news when one is struggling, it ultimately is the only way we can find peace and healing.

In difticult and painful situations, another helpful avenue is praying with scriptures that name our experiences and our needs. When I feel desperate I cry out with the psalmist:

Listen to my prayer, 0 God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught. . . My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would flyaway and be at rest-I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm. " (psalm 55: 1,2,4-8)

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Lord Almighty is with US; the God ofJacob is our fortress (psalm 46:1-3,7).

Many psalms and other scriptures provide a voice for our experience. When we are at a loss for words to cry out in anguish or in need of reassurance, we can tum to them. (See also Psalm 25; Psalm 27; Isaiah 12:1-3; Isaiah 43:1-3; Matthew 11:28-30.)

A personal Joumey What has the journey with addiction meant for me?

When I first attended a Nar-Anon meeting I felt a bit out of place. I've long recognized that I am powerless and sought to tum my will and my life over to God. So what's new?

Then I read the first step of Nar-Anon-''We admit we are powerless over the addict, that our lives have become unmanageable"-and it hit me in a new way.

I realized just how unmanageable my life had become and how much I had been trying to bring healing to my son, something that only God can do.

As I reflected on my spiritual journey, I recognized the desire to control-myself, my environment, others-was something that I wanted to tum over to God. I had prayed about this and made small steps. But suddenly I realized that this was the opportunity for the growth I was seeking. God was inviting me to let go of my desire to control our son and his addiction. I began to loosen my grip and found new freedom. I found healing.

There are many lessons still to be learned. The temptation to take charge and try to fix things is always there. I am challenged to live with patience and trust God's wisdom and God's timing. We live with the possibility that our son may never choose to be the person God has created him to be. We live with the possibility that he may never use the many gifts God has given him in a life-giving way. We live with the possibility that we will never have "normal" family relationships. The prayer that has become the "official" prayer of 12-step groups is my prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

These words describe the experience of someone who lives with addiction. The pain becomes unbearable and many times ~e desire to escape can be very real.

Whe n I need reassurance, I affirm:

At the same time I never let go of hope. I know that God desires healing and wholeness for all his children. •

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. . . The

Clare Ann Ruth-Heffelbower is the Mennonite Central Committee country representative for Indonesia. She has served as a Mennonite conference minister and a pastor and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at MB Biblical Seminary and Fresno (Calif.) Pacific University, an MB university.

C H R 1ST I A N

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Dismayed by election reflections As a long-time nonconference sub-

scriber, I always read each publication and normally accept people's views, as expressed, to be reasonable. To the contrary, I was dismayed at the "Election Reflections" by Philip Wiebe (Ph'lip Side, January 2001). His silly, naive and rather ridiculous assertion that the November elections were of little consequence, made litde difference, did not reflect a divided nation and would not be important to Jesus couldn't be farther from fact.

And what a poor example to young readers that elections mean little, particularly at the federal level. Hopefully in the future Wiebe will confine himself to topics where he may have at least some limited knowledge.

Ronald R. Esau Santa Cruz, Calif.

Supporting talks with CathoDes I have not prayed to Mary, nor interceded for the dead, nor kissed the Pope's ring, nor forsaken the truth that we are saved by grace through faith. But I have a friend who is a Roman Catholic cardinal, who believes by faith and not by works, that Jesus has redeemed him through his death and resurrection and whose biblical expositions and personal testimony have been humbling to me-an evangelical Anabaptist Christ-follower.

It seemed to me that the critics of the Mennonite/Catholic dialogue (What Reader's Say, January 2001) painted with too broad a brush. AU but one of the Mennonites involved in the dialogue (see "Bridging the gap with Catholics," October 2000) are personal friends of mine and I am confident they are not promoting antibiblical views held by the Vatican nor are they conceding that Mennoniteviewed biblical truths that differ from The Christian Leader welcomes brief letters on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church. All letters must be signed and will be edited for clarity and length.

Send letters to Christian Leader, 7531 Delta Wind Dr., Sacramento, CA 95831 (e-mail: chleader@jps.net).

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Catholicism are to be compromised.

Some of the "broad-brush strokes" possibly stem from experiences Mennonites have had with Catholics in South America and Latin Europe, where Mennonites are seen as a heretical sect, and persecution rather than dialogue has been our experience. But would you refuse to discuss with your Catholic (or Muslim or Hindu) next-door neighbor if he or she wanted to talk about faith matters?

In February, the Leader reported ("Catholic dialogue continues," February 2001) that Paul Gunawan, an Indonesian Mennonite leader and the object of intense persecution from Muslims, works with a Muslim village chief to build trust.

He is quoted: "[Church members) don't treat other people differently if they're not Christian . . . we are making an effort to get closer to the community and to bring peace to them, to be a friend to them." Would we comfortable Westerners fault such actions?

The writers in the January letters reveal some confusion between dialogue or serious conversation and unity. This is no attempt to promote organizational unity. It is in response to Catholics who have come to understand they were very un-Christian in their dealings with Mennonites in the 16th century and who also now are interested in understanding our views on non-violence. Are we so insecure that we would not enter into that dialogue? Would we object if they came to understand that Jesus is indeed the Prince of Peace in human relationships as well as in salvation (unity in at least one aspect)?

I would not suggest that the larget' Roman Catholic Church is becoming evangelical. I would, however, remind the "broad-brush painters" that there are many Catholics who have been spiritually rekindled by the charismatic renewal movement within their church. There is a wave of Bible study groups. My wife meets weekly in Women's Bible Study Fellowship groups with Catholics who love the Lord, have a voracious appetite for studying the Word and have chosen to remain in their church.

One Mennonite participant in the dialogue wrote to me that "these dialogues are not there to mislead God's people but L E A 0

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to make sure that we're able to tell the truth in love and 'get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander as well as all types of malicious behavior' (Eph. 4:31)." I am not ashamed to have representatives speaking in my behalf to serve that purpose.

MarvinHein Fresno, Calif.

Editor's Note: Marvin Hein is a columnist for the Leader. This letter is a personal response and not associated with his column or role with the Leader.

Memories of Texas I really appreciated the article in the February 2001 issue by Eliberto Mendoza on the La Grulla MB Church ("Texas church welcomes change"). I well remember the day in 1937 when I was in high school in Hillsboro, Kan., and the Harry Neufelds had their car heavily loaded, including baggage on their car top, ready to leave for our new "mission field" in South Texas. It was an exciting day. Later, they were joined by people like the Henry Thomases, Ruben Wedels and others. The Lord blessed their ministries and it's so good to see that the work there continues to flourish after these many years.

Harold Gaede Fresno, Calif.

Good issue on spiritual warfare I just received the latest issue of the Christian Leader (March 2001) and browsed to see what it is all about. Looks like a really great issue and I look forward to reading it carefully. Thank you so much for your work.

Ron Seibel Mountain Lake, Minn

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PH'UP SIDE BY

PHILIP

WIEBE

Adrift on the Censor Ship I wonder ifpeople today have the wrong impression of what

free speech really means.

I

It concerns me that some Christians seem to think this way. At times we act as if we miss the good old days of stringent censorship. When sincere questions are raised about the viability of Christian faith or the value of other religions, for instance, we tend to cover our ears and sing "Row Row Row Your Boat" rather than genuinely say, "Let's talk about it." Could it be that we see such inquiries as threat rather than opportunity because we don't know our own faith very well?

The point is, though some may wish for the days when little made it past the censor's stamp, we really don't want to go there again. The tables have often been turned, after all. Today it's the gospel that faces strict censorship in many parts of the world. And early Anabaptists suffered torture and death for their forbidden words about radical faith and Christlike service. Before that the message of the New Testament church met many censoring efforts. It's actually quite understandable. When the original believers spoke of death and resurrection and the body and blood of the Lord, the "establishment" naturally linked such images with magic, morbidity and even cannibalism. We easily forget, in a day of "sanitized" Christianity, how utterly strange and revolutionary the gospel message was and is.

What I'm trying to say is, any call for a censorship revival may merely bring the censor's stamp down harder on ourselves.

Having said that, however, I think many people defending free speech these days are altering the argument

came across an interesting article that highlighted the work of a government commission called the Vtrginia Division of Motion Picture Censorship. From 1922 through 1966 this state agency was "charged with regulating and protecting Virginians from entertainment industry inBuences" that could "corrupt morals or incite [persons] to crime." The piece presented the subject matter in a rather quaint and charming way, as if the division was of course merely a relic of an earlier age. I found myself snickering a little, I admit, at the thought of stem, tight-collared persons stamping CENSORED on film reels featuring, say, a tightsweatered Lana Turner or loinclothed Tarzan.

But right after reading this article, a click onto the CNN news web site immediately brought me up short. The top story that day covered a young teen's murder conviction for brutally snuffing the life of a 6-year-old playmate. Apparently the teen was copying moves learned from the staged violence of the World Wrestling Federation.

In that light, the Virginia Division of Motion Picture Censorship's charge to protect people from the entertainment industry suddenly didn't seem so hokey anymore.

Now, I'm not saying we need to start forming retra-style agencies such as the Oregon Censorship and Book Burning Department (which I'm only making up ... I think) . The whole area of censorship versus free speech is a treacherous one through which we must tread with care and wisdom. Unfortunately a lot of people these days do neither. In the debates that often go on, it begins to sound like what people really want is for "our side" to enjoy free speech while "their side" gets their lips sealed with duct tape.

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in a significant way. Awhile ago I heard a member of an infamously crass and degrading rock band say he hated those CD warning labels that caution about violent and explicit lyrics. How dare anyone hinder his freedom to write what he wanted. He added, "I don't want to be thinking about what I might have to leave out of my songs."

I was intrigued by that perspective.

Reflecting on the obscene, ultraviolent nature of much modem mUSiC, the thought occurred to me: "Too bad rock stars don't think more about what they put in their songs rather than what they might have to leave out."

And that's where I wonder if people nowadays get the wrong impression of what free speech really means.

Historically people fought for the free exchange of ideas in oppressive societies that vehemently worked to quell such notions. Today, by contrast, people just seem to want the freedom to say, see and listen to anything they jolly well please, no matter how injurious or destructive. As with most things, the argument has moved from notions of greater good to the mere pleasure and desire of the individual.

Into such an environment comes unassuming lawyer Paula Houston, who was recently appointed by the state of Utah as the nation's first "Obscenity and Pornography Complaints Ombudsman." In plainer terms, it's simply her job to fight pornography-though obviously the task will be anything but simple. Already the wails of "Censorship!" are being raised. In response Houston says, "It's going to be a balancing act. I know the importance of the First Amendment and privacy. I don't want anyone taking those rights away from me, either. But there needs to be some balance between that and the damage some of this pornography can do."

That seems to make sense in an age that's short on sense and long on selfishness.

INQUIHlNG MINDS BY

MARVIN

HEIN

This is the last offour columns focusing on worship styles in response to the September 2000 column askingfor reader comments about contemporary and traditional worship.

Q

A

Why "worship teams" and closed eyes?

"I am told the purpose of the Worship Team is to communicate with the congregation. How is this possible if so much of the time the "Team" has its eyes closed? If I were engaged in a conversation with you and you closed your eyes, I would think you were a little strange." Those sentiments reflect many traditionalists'views.

Why worship teams anyway? They "help lead the body in what are appropriate responses to God," says one. A perceptive collegian says: ..... for me to lead people into God's presence I also need to take care that I understand the people I'm leading. How will they respond? Will they understand my purposes?" While worship teams seem to be little more than a "fad" of current worship styles, they can be helpful in teaching congregations new songs. Because some congregations sing excellently without this form of leadership, teams do well to add variety in their leadership-special numbers (solos, duets and small ensembles). Then they serve both contemporaries and traditionalists.

A Nebraskan wrote: "The role of the Worship Leader is to: • to be engaged in worship himself ... model worship and then, while worshipping, • facilitate the congregation's entrance into worship-that is to become 'invisible' as the congregation begins to enter into the presence of the Lord and enjoy that presence. Becoming 'invisible' means that the leader needs to become as unobtrusive as possible. He must fade into the background as the focus of attention becomes the Lord. It is not a 'performance.' It is not a 'concert.'

It is not a professional 'act. ,,, Those are a pro-contemporary's word. I like that. But how to do that is still a mystery to me.

Back to closed eyes. An ardent contemporary pastor wrote: .... .leading with closed eyes seems to unhook the leaders

from leading." One writer, sympathetic to contemporary worship, nevertheless cautions: "I advocate open eyes, and most of the education I've received on the subject agrees. Many worship leaders close their eyes as a private act, not knowing that leadership means communication. Open eyes help the leader to direct the congregation .. ." A friend wrote: "I closed my eyes last Sunday to shut out visual distractions, but Frieda poked me to wake up and listen to the sermon."

Q

So what have you, Marvin Hein,

learned about worship styles?

A

I have learned that change is inevitable and unrelenting. "The toothpaste has been squeezed out of the tube; we won't be able to put it back." "Changers" and "changees" need mutual respect. Grumpiness among traditionalists and .. the recalcitrant nature of praise singing advocates" both require repentance.

I've learned why I find it difficult to change musically. Brian Wren in Praying Twice says we are "mentally wired" by our youthful experiences. Some of us oldsters will never learn to enjoy contemporary praise music. Many of those reared with the "beat" will rock and roll their way to the grave, says Wren. I've learned that contemporary worship, for me and many others, is like a foreign language. As it was with our grandparents switching from German to English, some of us will and some won't learn the new language. And it won't nearly always Simply be due to stubbornness.

I've learned that contemporary worship may be both an evangelical opportunity and obligation, the only cultural format in which unbelievers are likely to hear the good news. I've also learned that copying today's culture's music may be dangerous. Peter Moger suggests that "secular" music does not automatically shed its original meanings when trans-

Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue?

E-mail Marvin at mheinI@fresno.edu or send your question to "Inquiring Minds, .. c/o Marvin Hein, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, CA 93727.

ferred to the religious realm. It can distort or domesticate Christian faith.

I've learned we need desperately to critique our worship music-both traditional and contemporary, both music and lyrics. A pro-contemporary writes: "a lot of contemporary music is 'lite' in thought and heavy in style." Traditionalists have also pointed out glaring weaknesses in our hymnody. I've learned I must do more to respect the persons who love the modem music styles, even when I see some of those styles as trivial and more jovial than is my perception of true worship. I would hope, too, that contemporary-style worshipers would recognize that I can be deeply moved emotionally even while sitting quietly and that I won't be interpreted as being rigid and immovable and unfeeling in the absence of physically demonstrative behavior in worship.

I have learned that the gulfs between generations may increase rather than decrease. One pro-contemporary suggested there is music coming out now in religious communities that reflects more Gen-X and "next" generation flavor, also with a beat, but not pure rock and roll.

He suggests this will introduce still another genre of worship music. If we find it difficult to "blend" two styles of worship, what will we do with three or four or more? And when another generation or two passes, I have to ask: Will there be any worship music common to all so all of us can heartily indulge? I have learned that we do well to pray the words of a hymn by Thomas H. Troeger Pastor, lead our circle dance Which the Spirit has begun.

Help us hand in hand advance, Show us how to move as one.

Some demand a driving beat, Others ask to slow the pace.

Teach us how to bend and meet Our conflicted needs with grace.

(Borrowed Light, 1994 Oxford Press) CORRECTION NOTICEIn the February 2001 column, Vineyard praise song writer Brian Doerksen was incorrectly identified as Brian Goertzen.

APRIL

2 00 1 .

17

ON THE JOURNEY BY

ROSE

BUSCHMAN

Affecting public policy After a day of listening to the news of a recent wave of bombing in Iraq, I couldn't stand it any longer. So, I wrote the president a letter.

I

t was a sad day for me when I heard the news

try. I believe we are being fed a lot of propaganda just to support our policies. Please, please, stop can and British planes in Iraq. I got this sickthe bombing. It is not helping to-my-stomach feeling that would not go away. anyone. It is just hurting a lot of How many innocent victims were now dead or innocent people."

I sent copies of this letter to severely injured? How many mothers were crying Secretary of State Colin Powell, for their dead or injured children? By the end of the two senators from my state the day, I found that just listening to the news and the House representative from my district. With a sense of reports brought tears to my eyes. I listened to Penrelief that I had tried to do sometagon spokespeople justify the raids as necessary. I thing about this tragedy, I mailed heard the president's spokesperson insist that this the letters. was the right thing to do and that these attacks Just this morning I heard that maybe there is a crack in our were a nortnal part of our operations in the area. country's policy. Powell has Normal? Bombing is normal? made some comments to the Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer effect that we need to look at so I wrote the president a letter. "fine-tuning" the sanctions in Iraq to "Dear Mr. President, Yesterday when I allow for more humanitarian aid and supplies for civilians to get in. Hopefully, this heard the news report about the inis a first step to eventually reversing our creased bombing raids in Iraq I cried. Last night I lost a lot of sleep thinking about bombing position. the suffering they caused innocent vicAs I write this I have just returned tims. Today I am angry. Angry at my govfrom a study meeting held in conjunction ernment for its no-win policy with with the Mennonite Central Committee's regards to Iraq. Angry with the renewed U.S. Washington office where we learned and continued bombing which makes no about the importance of a witness by peosense. Angry that our military planes are ple of faith to our government leaders. It attempting to enforce a no-fly zone which is important that we call on governing is NOT included in the United Nations authorities to act justly for all people.

Sanctions. Angry that for 10 years we have One of the MCC handouts I was given followed a policy which is NOT working. states, "Communicating faith-based conThanks to our military efforts and the cerns about public policy to your consanctions we uphold, the infrastructure of gressperson-whether through letter, Iraq both in the areas of medicine and phone call or a visit-is an underused but education has been seriously damaged. powerful means of witness. It is estimated Thanks to our American policies, the sufthat only five percent of Americans comfering of innocent people continues. municate with their representatives in Many, including children, continue to die government. Of those, only one percent for lack of adequate medical care availcommunicates on matters going beyond able. That these air raids are necessary is self-interest to focus on the hurting peoopen to serious question. That our ple of our world. One letter from a conbombs only hit military targets is disputed stituent to a member of Congress is conby American NGO [nongovernment orgasidered to represent the views of 100 nization] relief aid workers in the counpeople. Congressional analysts have conreport of a recent wave of bombing by Ameri-

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sistently found that letters and phone calls from constituents are the most influential communications affecting congress members' positions. It is when there is a lack of constituent response that special interests are best able to fill the void."

This last statement motivates me all the more to write and voice my concerns.

Here are some tips MCC staffers gave us for effective letter writing: • Typewritten or neatly handwritten letters on personal stationary denote sincere, grassroots interest. Form letters, postcards or petitions do not receive the same attention. Sending a fax can be especially helpful when a vote is imminent and there is not enough time for a letter. E-mails are not treated with as much weight as a letter.

If you do use e-mail be sure to include your mailing address so it is clear that you reside in your member's district.

• Be brief. Keep the letter short (not more than one to two pages) and focus on one subject in anyone letter.

• Give reasons for your position.

Explain your concerns and how your Christian faith influences them.

• Be constructive. Threats, or "holierthan-thou" tones are not helpful. Let your member know why you feel strongly, but be constructive and not merely critical.

• Identify the bill or the issue you are writing about. Discussing current legislation receives more attention than general observations.

Send your letters to: • President George W. Bush The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 • Senator (name) United States Senate Washington, D. C. 20510 • Representative (name) House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20515 Since most letters focus on issues of self-interest, we were told that letters focusing on the justice concerns of others receive more attention.

By writing letters calling for policies that move towards the biblical mandates of justice, peace and comp~ion for all people we can be effective witnesses to our faith.

Getting Ready

To Win Some!

Mission USA is committed to helping Individuals and churches get ready for harvest time ministry.

To encourage "winning some!" we are involved in intern training through apprenticeship programs . ~eettwo

interns who are getting ready for ministry.

God is Shaping Me

Virgil Reimer, church renewal intern at Northwest Community Church in Bakersfield CA says, "There continues to be joy and tension of faith [regarding my personal relationship to the Lord]. He is molding me; therefore there is

I Reimer says "I see myself new everyday because of the people I meet. God has created people different and all of them challenge me to serve."

Focusing on Christ

Serving as an apprentice at Shorelife Community Church, Capitola, CA, Kevin Hisey has become more convinced that, "God is calling me into both music ministry and youth ministry. The apprenticeship has given me a chance to get my focus where it needs to be, on Christ." Hisey plans and leads worship at Shorelife with Drew Lewis

Ed Boschman (Center) on a recent visit to one of the Mission USA partnership church plants.

pressure. I believe it is God shaping me." Reimer, a student at ~ennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary is getting experience at Northwest in the area of small group ministries. As he interacts with Pastor Jim Aiken and others,

as his mentor. "I have experienced so many things that will help me in the future and have already begun to shape me." Hisey will be involved as worship leader at Community Church of the Heart in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

PEOPLE PROFILE FAITH

AND

LIFE

Making the pitch for God 19-year-old professional pitcher Colby Miller may throw a baseball 91 mph from the mound, but he's grounded like a rock when it comes to his faith

F

BY SARA COOK

or 19-year-old Colby Miller, wheat fields mark the start of something new. Two months after Miller was born, he was out in the fields with his family who manages a custom harvesting operatiori near Weatherford, Okla. And it was in a wheat field 18 years later that Miller learned he would realize his childhood dream of playing professional baseball.

Miller, who signed a seven-year contract with the Minnesota Twins in June of 2000, is currently a pitcher for the Quad City River Bandits, a minor league team owned by the Twins and based out of Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island and Moline, lli. Miller began his second season of professional baseball last month.

The road to the Quad Cities was paved not in gold, but in gold trophies.

Miller helped the Weatherford Pee Wees and the Weatherford Midgets win two state little league championships.

That winning streak continued with two more state summer league championships. Miller was pitcher and played shortstop for the Weatherford Minors, a summer team consisting primarily of Miller's high school teammates. Miller was named Most Valuable Player.

But the championships and honors didn't stop there. Upon the recommendation of his high school coach, Miller became involved with the Amateur Athletic Union and was named MVP for both seasons. But an even more presti-

20 • THE

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gious honor was yet to come. After advancing to the AAU national tourney in Norman, Okla., not only did his team become the national champion, Colby was again named the tourney's MVP. Miller came to the attention of major league scouts during his senior year at Weatherford High School when the team for which he pitched gained a 41o record for the season and once again clinched the state championship.

The baseball diamond wasn't the only field on which Miller excelled. He was the quarterback for the football LEA D E R

team and a member of the basketball team, both of which advanced to the state level.

"I always wanted to be a profeSSional football or baseball player," says Miller, a 2000 graduate of Weatherford High and a member of Pine Acres Church in Weatherford. "Then after my junior year in high school, when some of the scouts started telling me that I had a chance to get drafted pretty high, I just sat back and thought it could become true."

OnJune 5,2000, Miller, who averages an 89-91 mph fastball, was drafted as the second pick in the third round, placing him nnd in the nation. The next day, a Twins scout was directed to a wheat field near Weatherford where he found Miller on a combine and it was there that the scout explained what Miller could expect as a rookie.

After signing with the Twins June 14, Miller found himself, in two days time, on a plane headed for the rookie league in Florida-an experience not forgotten by his father.

"Probably the most difficult experience of my life thus far was when I loaded my 18-year-old kid on the airplane and the plane took off headed toward Florida," Miller's father Rick says. "As a parent, your ftrst concern is, 'Will your kid adapt and make it OK?' Most of all, '[Will he] continue to hold to the Christian principles that he's been grounded in?'"

Miller admits there are temptations away from home, some of which have tested his faith.

"There's been a lot of different times that I could have gone away from the Lord and done things I said I was never going to do," says Miller. "But I read and prayed every night and always talked to the Lord asking that when people asked me to do stuff that I didn't feel was right, I'd say no."

Going to church every Sunday that first season-something Miller had grownup doing-wasn't possible anymore because some games were played on Sundays. Instead, a pastor would spend about 15-minutes with interested players in Bible discussion and prayer.

A Bible study open to anyone on the team was held Wednesday evenings, says Miller, and three to four players would attend on a regular basis.

"Colby has faith like a rock," says his mother Donna. "He's always been a good kid and he's living his dream. I

I I

1'1.01'11 I'I{OIIII

really think it's because he gave his life to the Lord. He's not perfect but he's a good role model, even for me."

Miller's brother Cory, age 15, also admires his brother. "I've always looked up to him," says Cory, who like his brother is also involved in football, basketball and baseball. "He's shown me a lot of things and helped me out."

Whether it's on the field or at home, those who know Miller say he is a silent leader.

"Colby understands the importance of keeping his spiritual life straight," says Hal Penner, Miller's former youth pastor. "He's always attributed all of his athletic abilities as a gift from God. He's never taken credit for any of it and he continues to do that. He's living a dream that just about every boy has but he's remaining close to God and giving him the credit for it all."

While Rick is impressed with his son's conduct and levelheadedness, he still finds himself being a dad.

"I still find myself trying to explain to him what kind of impact he has on people, especially those around Weatherford that still know him, the kids that look up to him, and the role model he can be," Rick says. "I hope he's given the impression that you can be a good Christian and still enjoy your life and have fun. " And that's what Miller is doing.

He says that although baseball can be physically demanding, he's having so much fun it doesn't bother him. His strength, he says, comes from God. "No matter what, [God)'s always there for me," Miller says.

"Ever since I was a freshman in high school, I have prayed hundreds of times asking him to help me. It seems like he's always there for me when I need him."

His faith was fostered throughout his childhood by his parents.

"My parents have been great Christian role models," says Miller.

"I could look at them and see how they reacted to a situation. The Lord was always in our house. We'd pray every night as a family."

And those prayers included the decision Miller would have to eventually make: Would he go to college or the minor leagues after

high school?

Donna confesses she was nervous about her son's future . ''You want him to go to college and do what everybody's supposed to do," she says, "but he's 18 and he has a dream. Now it's just exciting to see him live his dream."

The family has seen Miller play two games-one in Florida in the rookie league and the other in Davenport on the banks of the Mississippi River after Miller was transferred to the class A level of the minor league with the River Bandits to finish his first season.

Although she was there, Donna perhaps didn't see much of the game.

"I hardly ever watch him," she says, explaining that when her son was younger, she would bow her head and pray during games. "It's the same way

now.

Watching him on the mound, it's like it's not real. It's just really hard to imagine that he's a pro."

Rick's enthusiasm, however, is more like a hit out of the ballpark. Now that Miller has moved up a league, the family can listen to the Bandits' games over the Internet. But Rick's more comfortable leaming about the game from the traditional post-game phone call. "I just get all worked up," he admits. After listening to only one game on the Internet, "I told [Colby), 'I think it would be better if you'd call me after a game. I don't know if I like just listening.'"

The Twins may have drafted Miller but only time will tell if he'll continue to move up the ladder. There are still two more levels to pass before Miller is in the majors. He's already moved from the rookie league to Class A, which plays 40 games. Next comes Class AA with increased competition and 170 games. The final step is Class AAA that shares the same rules and competition as the majors. Miller estimates he should know within two to five seasons whether or not he will make it to a major league team.

"By my fifth season," he says, "I should be able to tell if I'm going to make it [to the majors) or if I'm going to stay in AA or AAA the rest of my life."

He will again be faced with another decision when that times comes-whether he will continue tlj> strive for the majors or go back tp school.

Before the draft, Miller had committed to the University of Oklahoma. Fortunately, Miller, and others like him drafted out of high school, will receive a full scholarship whenever he decides to return to school.

For now, Miller's advice to those with similar dreams is to "always pray to God and ask him to help you ." What else? "Work hard and practice." • APRIL

200 1

•

21

BODY LIFE MENNONITE BRETHREN NEWS

the Lord and the Okeene church family.

In an age when bigger is often seen as better, it's tempting to focus only on the I limitations its small size has placed on the Okeene congregation. Weekly church activities are limited to Sunday morning worship services preceded by an adult Sunday school class during which Peters emphasizes Bible teaching and preaching.

Although the annual harvest mission Sunday often scheduled for November continues to be an important annual event, other activities have been discontinued. Just recently midweek Bible classes for the children, held with a local North II American Baptist congregation, were discontinued due to a lack of volunteers.

BY CONNIE FABER i Summer vacation Bible schools sponsored by the congregation are a thing of the past. While Peters meets weekly with a small fits the character of the Okeene conhe Okeene (Okla.) MB gregation. 'We only have about 30 people," small group of men from his as well as Church will celebrate its another congregation, the women's group 100th anniversary Sunday, says pastor Bennet Peters, "so we decided and church choir are no longer active.

April 29. The celebration will to do one thing as well as we can."

The size of the congregation means Fellowship with one another is a be simple: a morning worthat Peters has been a bi-vocational pasship service followed by a noon fellowdefining feature of this church family. tor since coming to Okeene in 1982.

The congregation enjoys regular meals ship meal. Fonner pastors John Flaming, together. Most recently they met in a He's done a number of things to suppleHarold Janzen and Dewayn Isaac along ment his income: worked on fanns, as a local restaurant for a Valentine's Day with Southern District Conference ministeacher, in construction, as a truck driver party which was attended by almost 30 ter Roland Reimer have been invited to people. People used the Valentine's dinand even for the local mortuary. participate in the service that will also "It's been really good for me to do include a variety of musical numbers. ner as an opportunity to introduce thiS," says Peters. "I see lots and lots of unchurched neighbors and friends to The decision to keep their celebration

Celebrating a centennial Small 100 year-old Oklahoma church

bonds with other congregations to serve the Okeene community

T

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LEA 0

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COMMUNITY people. I know people in this town."

Members of the community appreciate Peters' willingness to minister to everyone and have described him as a pastor to the community. Families from other congregations have asked him to officiate at funerals because of his close ties with their family.

"I want to be willing to help anyone who needs the help," says Peters.

The opportunities he has as one of only a handful of MB bi-vocational pastors isn't the only thing Peters views optimistically. When Peters considers the congregation he has served for 19 years, he sees a church that has grown. ''When I came to Okeene, people here said the church would be dead in 10 years," says Peters. "I've buried 30 people since I came here but we still have an attendance each week between 35 and 38. So I'd say we've seen growth."

Okeene MB attenders are a variety of ages-ranging from one year to 85 years and include family units as well as widows and widowers, says Peters.

They are employed in a number of occupations such as bUSiness, agribusiness, education and agriculture. The willingness of the congregation to financially support its church has given and continues to give Okeene MB financial security.

While Peters and others in the congregation are thankful for the continued ministry of their church, it has been difficult to deal with local economic challenges. In the early 1930s, attendance was close to the 100 mark. But the lack of local industry growth, students attending college and finding jobs in other communities and recent trends in the farming industry have made it a struggle to maintain numerical growth.

Okeene MB is not the only local church facing these challenges. The Mennonite Brethren congregation is just one of 11 churches in Okeene, population 1300. Only four of these congregations number over 30, making most of them smaller than the MB group.

The various churches, representing almost as many different denominations, have banded together to serve the community. Peters is a member of the ministerial alliance and the church takes its turn providing a regular worship service at the community nursing home, participates in the community musical programs held each month that

has a fifth Sunday and this year hosted the city's World Day of Prayer service.

Peters is convinced the Okeene community needs his congregation.

"I feel like our church, even though it is small and can't do a lot of things, is to be a lighthouse to this community," says Peters. "Our church has a purpose in being here."

Peters' commitment to serving the Okeene MB Church and the community it calls home has prompted him and his family to put down roots deeper than what Peters and his wife Jamie expected.

When the family came to Okeene in 1982, Peters planned on staying for about five years. Up until then, Peters had made several career changes and he and his family had moved 13 times in as many years. Looking back, he sees that those various jobs "prepared me for what we're doing here."

When Peters felt called of God to enter full-time church ministry, he moved his family to Fresno, Calif., where he attended and graduated from MB Biblical Seminary. The family was ready to stay put for a while when Peters accepted the call to serve the Okeene congregation.

That five-year commitment has grown to almost 20 years and today Peters is willing to stay as "long as people are willing for us to stay."

Peters is the fourteenth pastor to serve the congregation, the first being Henry Rusch. The church traces its beginning to a nucleus of Christians that met southwest of Okeene. In 1892, the group, known as Brethren Church, built their first sanctuary of cedar logs .

Around the same time, evangelists from nearby Fairview, Okla., came to the area to hold evangelistic meetings.

A new congregation emerged and in 1901 this group, which included people from the Brethren Church, constructed a white framed building. In 1903, this group established a charter membership and became a Mennonite Brethren congregation. The charter still hangs in the church foyer.

The church building was moved in 1921 to the church 's present location of Broadway and First Street. In 1927 the framed building was again moved, this time just across the street, and a new red brick sanctuary was erected which remains as the congregation's house of worship . •

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APRIL

2001.

23

Bom iJI I.

Partnership sponsors evangelists I ~ MB global mission agency-~nd' I~'di;-MB Conference I

,. partner to bring Indians to Christ

W

hen Pastor K. Devadass began his first preaching assignment in an Indian village, no one would have blamed him if he had left and never returned.

"Most of the people mocked me," says Devadass. "Some threatened me, trying to get me to leave the village."

Devadass says it was by the grace of God and through the prayers of many saints, that he was able to remain strong. Soon a small group began meeting together. They built a thatched roof hut so they could gather for worship. But it wasn't long before some people in the village burned down the hut.

"In the heap of our hut's ashes we continued to pray and witness about the risen Lord," says Devadass. "Now there are 36 people who accepted Jesus Christ. Out of this number, four have committed their lives to full-time ministry."

Devadass is one of 80 Church Extension Workers commissioned by the MB Church of India to evangelize unreached people in their country.

As a child, Devadass worshiped more Hindu gods than he could count.

Then one day, while reading the first chapter of John, God revealed himself to Devadass in a great light. "In that moment, my life was changed," says Devadass.

Devadass sought out a Christian man of his same caste who helped him enroll in Bible school. Soon after graduation in 1991, Devadass became an MB evangelist.

Since its beginning 100 years ago, the Indian MB Church has been committed to mission. "The missionary vision in the Indian MB churches isn't a new phenomena," says Werner Kroeker, former volunteer in India. "It has been there from the birth of the church."

Today there are over 800 MB congregations in India, with more than 80,000 baptized members. Many of the new congregations began through the

24.THE

CHRISTIAN

_._________

ministry of evangelists-who have reached out to Hindus and Muslims in villages throughout their regionunder the Church Extension Worker program.

When the majority of MBMS International personnel left India in the early 1970s, 114 MB churches with over 43,000 members had been planted by Indians and North American missionaries. With the departure of most North American workers, the MB conferences in India, the United States and Canada wrestled with what it means to work together in mission. In response to MBMSl's vision to focus ministry among unreached peoples, the India conference proposed that the mission agency supplement Indian evangelists who would go as church planters in surrounding Indian villages

where there were no existing multiplying church movements.

"MBMSI is involved by subsidizing the evangelists because it is our mandate to share the gospel to unreached peoples," says Russell Schmidt, MBMSI program director for Asia. "Indian evangelists are much better equipped to do this than we are as Westerners. " With 35 evangelists in place by 1990, confusion arose about who should take ownership of the ministry LEADER

!

I

and oversee the workers. While the transition was not always smooth, in 1998 the Indian MB Conference appointed John Sankera Rao, professor of world religion at the India MB Centenary College in Shamshabad, to direct the program.

"We are currently reaching 395 unreached villages through the ministry of our 80 CEWs," says Sankara Rao. "We have identified an additional 382 villages without Christian witness in the districts surrounding the MB

church. Over 3,500 people have become Christians through this effort and we see that new doors continue to open, even in northern India."

Schmidt visited India in 1999 and witnessed the evangelism work firsthand.

"The highlight of my visit to India," he says, "was hearing the testimonies of CEWs. There were repeated testimonies of healings, conversions followed by baptism and persecution that

130m 1.111

later resulted in conversions."

According to Kroeker, CEWs often become evangelists at great personal cost.

Saji (original name withheld) was no exception.

"After a week of fasting and prayer, Saji felt called to join the CEW program," says Kroeker. "In response to this decision he carefully placed his mattress and pillow in storage."

Kroeker explains that Saji knew that conditions would be difficult as a village evangelist. So he began preparing himself by joyfully sleeping on the concrete floor, filled with anticipation of how the Spirit would move.

MBMSI continues to wrestle with what it means to share with Indian MB churches in evangelism. According to Tim Bergdahl, program director, the issue of funding the CEW program is complex. Currently India MB churches

and MBMSI work out how much each will contribute to support the evangelists. In addition to partial funds given through MBMSI, a small number of evangelists receive additional assistance from local MB churches.

"In business, there are several types of partners," observes a member of the Indian Governing Council. "The sleeping partner gets the benefit but does not interfere with the work. The working partner gets benefits proportionate to their involvement. But we are neither. We are the body of Christ. A true interdependence means that we sit down at the table to make decisions together."

Bergdahl suggests the day should come when the global MB family addresses how gifts and needs are shared in church planting.

"Today the North American and

Indian conferences relate with each other mainly through MBMSI," says Bergdahl. "However, our hope is that all MB conferences will sit as full partners at a common table. This is in fact happening with the formation and growth of the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren."

ICOMB was formed in 1990 to give leaders from MB conferences a space to work with each other. According to Bergdahl, ICOMB has experienced considerable growth, but it also has a long way to go to be an effective instrument for sharing the gifts of the global MB community in an equitable way.

"As globalization increases," says Bergdahl, "all members of the international MB family will have opportunities to freely share their gifts and needs with each other to further the kingdom of God." -MBMSI

Evangelists spread gospel despite difficulty A search for peace Is what led MB evangelist Raju to Jesus Chrlst_ Raju grew up In a fam!Iy where his mother used Hindu arts t o heal the sick and cast out demons. However, there was no peace at home, and his parents were always fighting.

"I was married at the age of 18," says Raju.

"Being extremely restless I began to read the Hindu scriptures to find peace and meaning In life. But no peace came to my heart."

While RaJu was In this unsettled state, a preacher came to his village and distributed evangelistic tracts. " Jesus' words, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,' caught my attention," says RaJu. "I understood then who Christ was and great joy filled my soul."

Despite his parents'

opposition, he was baptlzed and became an evangelist.

According to John Sankara Rao, dlrector ofthe Church Extension Worker program, Raju Is currently facing opposition from a fanatic Hindu group.

Last fall, a group of youth pulled him out of his house at night and threatened to burn down his house. He was beaten, but did not abandon the work of evangelism. The next morning members of

the group apologized to him.

In another village, youth came and threatened to burn Raju and his partner to death.

Somehow the viliag. chief found out about the threat and rescued them.

However, Raju was warned never to ~ enterthe .~ village with the gospel again.

Despite these condltlons, RaJu experlenees joy because the Holy SplrIt Is stirring the hearts of people like Sreenu.

S....nu had worshiped Idols since boyhood and wore a magic thread that was given to him by the Brahmin priests for protectlon from evil. However he says, "I could find no peace and was so rest-

less."

After hearing Raju share his testimony, S....nu accepted Christ as his personal savior.

Sreenu had been In the habit of buying toddy, -8 type of liquor, for himself and his friends. When he decided to follow Jesus his friends and relatives threatened to expel him from their community because he no longer brought them the toddy• "I told my friends and my parents that since Jesus has sevad and transformed me, I will never be the saroe again," says Sreenu. ". becaroe a new creation. Praise the

lordI" - MBMSI

APRIL

2001.25

80m Li I I

MB couple to research HIVj AIDS ~ Delores and J. Stanley Friesen to assist in

,. developing a long-term strategy in Africa

E

leven people each minute were infected worldwide with the HIV virus in 2000, according to the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS. Sub-Sahara Mrica continues to bear the brunt of these infections. At least 12 million Mricans have already died of AIDS-related conditions.

"MCC and the constituency have responded to many disaster~arth­ quakes, hurricanes, floods, armed conflicts," says Edgar Metzler, director of Mennonite Central Committee's inter-

national programs. "The scope of this disaster demands more."

Delores and J. Stanley Friesen of Fresno, Calif., have been asked by MCC to assist in developing a long-term strategy for responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Mrica. Delores is a faculty member at MB Biblical Seminary and Stanley has served as an MB pastor. The ! couple's current involvement in counseling, education and mission consulting will aid in their research.

MCC workers in some Mrican countries are already involved in HIV/AIDS

Whatdoy.,u think abe "

V

26 • THE

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I

education, prevention and treatment and in care for orphans who lost parents to the disease. Most of these work with Mrican faith-based organizations.

The Friesens, who left for Africa Feb. 19, will visit eight Mrican countries over three months including Botswana, South Mrica, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Upon completing their research, they will make recommendations to MCC. Many factors complicate how organizations like MCC and the larger Christian church discuss and respond to HIV/AIDS abroad and in their own communities.

Disaster response tends to evince "prejudices, issues of control and the way relationships are formed," says Stan.

"And the magnitude of this situation makes it difficult to partner North American values of effectiveness and efficiency with mutuality and affection," adds Delores.

"The disease spreads more rapidly by circumstances created by apartheid and colonialism," says Stan. "For example by migratory labor patterns, where families are broken up and men are forced to find work in mining camps far from their homes." The men may spend eight or more months in group camps where prostitution is prevalent. On brief trips home, they carry the virus back to their families.

The Friesens hope to find ways for people from North America to appropriately respond to the AIDS crisis.

The key to a Christian, and specifically Anabaptist response may lie in approaching it as a peace and justice issue, they say.

"Our peace belief speaks to the fact that violence destroys communities," says Stan. "AIDS is destroying the fabric offamilies and communities."

- Mennonite Central Committee press release

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LEA D E R

Bom '-II I

Educators lecture overseas ~ Exchange program invites all Mennonite Brethren

,. institutions to be givers and takers

M

ennonite Brethren educators looking for shortterm teaching assignments in another country may often wish they had a matchmaker to help them locate an assignment that complements their expertise.

That process can be simplified thanks to the International Teacher Exchange, a program that pairs interested Mennonite Brethren educators from around the world with Mennonite Brethren and other institutions looking for shortterm guest lecturers.

Elmer Martens, a retired seminary professor from Fresno, Calif., works with MBMS International to facilitate the exchange process.

Lynn Jost, of Hillsboro, Kan., and a Tabor College associate professor of biblical and religious studies, became interested in an assignment when E.D. Solomon, an educator in India, visited Jost's class at Tabor. Jost recently returned from a two-month teaching assignment at the MB Centenary Bible College in Shamshabad, India. Jost taught second- and third-year students on the Psalms. He also spent a week in Japan giving lectures on Anabaptist theology.

Jost traveled with his 16-year-old daughter Alisa.

This past summer, Dalton Reimer, director of the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies at Fresno Pacific University, taught intensive courses at the Instituto e Seminario Biblica Irmanos Menonitas (ISBIM), the MB Bible school in Curitiba, Brazil.

Reimer also participated in the third annual Conference on Christian Education in Asuncion. The conference focused on mediation and the transformation of conflict in schools. Mennonite Brethren prOvided the leadership in sponsoring this conference under the larger umbrella of the Evangelical

University of Paraguay, of which MB higher education schools in Asuncion are a part. Attendance exceeded expectations as more than 400 teachers from Christian schools and others participated in the conference.

"I came away from this experience with a deep appreciation for the very important role that Christian schools play

in these cultures," says Reimer. "In this regard, I find it exciting to see the Mennonite Brethren of Paraguay taking the lead in establishing a new school of education under the umbrella of the Evangelical University of Paraguay to train future teachers for the schools of Paraguay."

This fall, David Ewert, New Testament scholar and author of several books, spent three weeks teaching at St. Petersburg Christian University in Rl,lssia. In the past year, Abe Konrad, retired professor and administrator of higher education from the University of Alberta (Edmonton) and Alberta provincial conference minister, has made two trips to South America as a consultant to the emerging University of Paraguay.

John Faul and his wife Eloise visited India a year ago to offer input as a psychiatrist at the MB Centenary Bible Col-

lege and at the Medical Center in Jadcherla.

While recent exchanges have paired North Americans with schools around the globe, Martens hopes schools in Canada and the U.S. will invite educators from other countries to lecture on their campuses.

"Students would benefit enormously from exposure to a third world perspective," says Martens. "The agenda for Christian faith is different in those parts, and is likely to include suffering, poverty, justice, state and church relations and religious pluralism in ways quite different from the usual Western perspective. " Martens also says faculty members at North American schools would benefit from informal input by the visitors. He sites a recent study that concluded the Japanese teaching method, which is less teacher-interventionist, has considerable advantages over the culturally-determined American method.

Martens keeps detailed information about volunteers and institutions on file. The length of the teaching stint is usually negotiable-from three weeks to a year. Sometimes administrators s.tate a specific need and time frame and ask Martens to negotiate a placement.

Schools participating in the International Teacher Exchange are asked to arrange room and board and incountry transportation for the guest. The assignment can be initiated either by the host institution or the educator, but generally the institution offers an invitation to a lecturer and makes a proposal.

The exchange is part of MBMSl's Global Volunteer program. Ron Penner, MBMSI director of personnel services, processes educator's applications and appointments. The educator pays travel costs and receives no payinent for hislher teaching.

Martens prepares a regular newsletter for the international MB educational community. He can be contacted byemail at ea-martens@compuserve.com or by phone at 559-291-5904. -Adapted/rom an International Educator's Newsletter APRIL

2001.

27

130m 1.11 1

Engbrecht accepts district's call ~ South Dakota pastor w ill serve as district minister

,.. to the 25 churches of the Central District

RI

ger Engbrecht may have given up farming 28 years ago when he relocated his family rom Marion, S.D. to attend Bible college in Omaha, Neb. But he's never stopped sewing seeds and reaping a harvest.

"My greatest love and joy is soul-winning and nothing has given me as much inner joy as seeing a new soul won for the kingdom," says Engbrecht who has pastored Lincoln Hills Bible Church in Sioux Falls, S.D., since 1988.

Engbrecht's career move in 1973 shifted his focus from growing crops and raising dairy cattle to cultivating souls and next month he will make yet another shift: from growing his own congregation to nurturing the pastors and congregations of the Central District Conference. Engbrecht has accepted the call to serve as the CDC minister.

"Roger brings to us a wealth of experience in pastoring as well as church planting which should be an asset to both our older and younger churches and church plants," says CDC chair Ron Seibel. "We see him as very much a people person who will be appreciated across the district."

In his new role, Engbrecht will first of all be a pastor to the CDC pastors, says Ron Seibel, CDC chair, and will also serve as a resource person to the 25 CDC congregations.

Engbrecht says he and his wife Lucille plan to log many miles as they visit the MB churches in IllinOiS, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota that make up the Central District.

"I have a deep passion to be a pastor to the pastors and their wives," says Engbrecht. "Pastors are experiencing pressures and challenges far greater than ever before. It can be lonely at times. There are lots of demands and high expectations," he says.

Engbrecht says the Central District faces a two-fold challenge: ministry to rural congregations and planting new churches in urban settings. In both situations, bringing people to Christ is Eng2S-THE

CHRIS T IA N

" ... the population [in rural communities is decreasing and getting older. Yet as I look at ... these communities, there are still people who need to be reached with the gospel and nurtured."

- Roger Engbrecht, new CDC district minister

brecht's priority. "We must respond to the Great Commandment," he says.

"Rural churches are the backbone of our district," says Engbrecht. "They have a long history of supporting our ministry. But the population [in rural communities1is decreasing and getting older. Yet as I look at ... these communities, there are still people who need to be reached with the Gospel and nurtured."

Engbrecht has the same concern for urban communities and he encourages his district to "focus our prayers, finances and attention on church planting in population ce nters of the dis- . triet."

Engbrecht also brings to his new work a concern for immigrant people groups. He has seen Sioux Falls grow LEADER

from a predominantly single ethnic community into a city that is home to 12 or more different ethnie groups. He and his wife have personally been involved with families from Vietnam, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Armenia, and Ukraine.

"Foreign missions is no longer overseas," he says. "It is next door."

Citing the growing MB Slavic church in the Minneapolis-St Paul area, Engbrecht says, ''I'd like to see this multiplied many times over in our district."

Engbrecht also plans to encourage CDC congregations to continue supporting larger conference ministries, he says.

Engbrecht has served the CDC as a pastor for 18 years, the majority of those in a church planting situation. He has also served on various CDC boards including Faith and Life and Church Planting.

The Engbrechts were married in 1965 and a year later joined Silver Lake MB Church of Freeman, S.D. In the early 1970s, Engbrecht sensed God's call to fulltime ministry. He graduated from Omaha's Grace College of the Bible (now Grace University) in 1977.

His first pastorate was at Faith Evangelical Church in Radcliffe, Iowa. In 1982 Engbrecht accepted the pastorate of Mountain Lake (Minn.) MB Church.

In 1988, Engbrecht moved his family to South Dakota to pastor Sioux Falls Bible Fellowship, a small congregation that at the time numbered less than 30.

The CDC had planted this church in 1981 in the southeast quadrant of the city, an area that at that point was not served by an evangelical congregation.

Under Engbrecht's leadership, the congregation has grown and today numbers around 130. "We began our ministry here in a store front on West 12th Street and have since seen God provide for land, two building projects, as well as church growth," says Engbrecht.

"I have found fulfillment in being a proclaimer of the Word," says Engbrecht regarding his work as a pastor. "I enjoy preaching and teaching God's word."

Engbrecht is the first CDC district minister to be hired almost full-time.

While the CDC has recently estaplished a district office in the Lincoln Hills facility, Engbrecht will work out of his home. - CF

BOD) Li I I

Colleges fight hunger, poverty q• ."

J:~CPE, ~ Students given

,. oppo rtunity to serve

E

ducating young people about hunger and poverty and providing them with opportunities to serve local communities was at the heart of recent events hosted by the two U.S. Mennonite Brethren liberal arts colleges: Fresno Pacific University of Fresno, Calif., and Tabor College of Hillsboro, Kan. FPU hosted several hundred young people from the Fresno-Clovis area March 2-3 for the annual World Vision 30-Hour Famine, a national event involving thousands of students. Tim Neufeld, biblical and religious studies faculty member, coordinated the event.

Participants asked family, friends and neighbors to sponsor them with pledges as they went without food for 30 hours to identify with those who are hungry. Through videos, games, special events and local community service projects, students learned about hunger and what they can do to help others. The 300 teens spread out into the community to do service projects. These projects included food drives, cleaning up neighborhoods and individual homes, service in local agencies, visits to the elderly and prayer walks.

A week before the FPU world hunger awareness event, 138 Tabor College students fasted as part of the TC annual missions conference, the money saved from the fast supporting three Compassion International children.

This year the mission conference, held Feb. 18-24, featured Brenda Salter McNeil, rounder and president of Overflow Ministries, as its keynote speaker. In her messages, Salter McNeil emphasized breaking down barriers between people. Representatives from 27 mission organizations, seminaries and camping ministries gave students the opportunity to learn first-hand of the mission options and job opportunities available.

The conference ended with Saturday service projects. Fifteen students volunteered at the Wichita Children's Home, the Union Rescue Mission of Wichita, Ronald McDonald House of Wichita and Main Street Ministries, Hillsboro. - from reports from FPU and TC

2001 Itinerary and Invitation

under the sponsorship of MBMS International, invites born-again Christians to serve as volunteers for its evangelism outreach to:

CAMPAIGN COUNTRY

CAMPAIGN CITY

CAMPAIGN DATES

DONATION REQUIRED OF EACH VOLUNTEER

ECUADOR ..... Cuenca ...... .. . .. ... . . May 4-20 . . .. . . . ... . . .. . . . 1,300 NICARAGUA . . . Chichigalpa . . . ... ... .. .. May 18-June 3 .. . .. ... . . . . 1,100 BOLIVIA . .. . . .. La Paz . ... .. . .. . ... .. . . May 18-June 3 . . . .... ... ... 1,400 UKRAINE . . .... Cherkassy Region & Poltava May 23-June 18 . ...... . . . .. 1,600 KAZAKHSTAN . Alma Ata (Mayak) . ... . . . . June 5-24 . ... .......... . .. 1,700 COSTA RICA . .. ..... . ... . . . . ......... June 7-24 . . ..... . .. .. . . . .. 1,000 PERU .. .. ..... Talara . . . . .. .. .. . . . .. .. June 9-26 .. . .. ...... . . . .. . 1,200 INDIA . ..... . . . . . . .... .. .... . .. . ... . .. June 13-July 1 .... . .. . . .. .. 1,700 NIGERIA ... . . . Benin . .. .. . ... . ... .. . . . June 26-July 15 ........ . . .. 1,800 FIJI ISLAND ... Suva .. .. ... .... . . . . . . . June 26-July 15 . . . .. . . . .. .. 1,400 PERU . ... . ... . Sojo ..... . . ... . . . .. .... June 3O-July 15 . . ... . . .. . .. 1,200 PERU .... . . . .. Chiciayo . . . ... . . . . . . .. . July 6-23 ... . . ........ . ... 1,200 PARAGUAy . . .. ....... . . .. .. . . ... .... July 10-29 . . ... .. . . . . .. . .. 1,500 NICARAGUA . . . Managua .. . . .. . . . . . . . .. July 20-Aug. 5 ... . . . . .... . . 1,100 PERU . . .. ... .. Andayualb . .. . .... . . .... Aug. 3-20 . .... . . ... . . . . . .. 1,200 PHILIPPINES . . Lucena & San Pablo .. . .. . Aug 14-Sep. 2 . . . . .. .. ..... 1,300 ZIMBABWE . . . Bulawayo .. ..... . .. .. .. Aug 15-Sep. 2 ... . . . . .... . . 1,800 ECUADOR . . .. . Quito . . . . . . . . ... ... . ... Aug 17-Sep. 2 . . ... .. . .. . .. 1,300 NICARAGUA . . . Puerto Sandi .. ...... . . . . Aug.17-Sep. 2 .. . . . . . . . . .. . 1,100 PERU . . . . . .. . . Iquitos . . . .. . .... . . . ... . Sep. 7-24 ... . .. ........ .. . 1,200 UKRAINE . .. . . . South (Crimea) . . ... . ... . Sep. 12-0ct. 7 .... .. ... . .. . 1,600 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Santo Domingo .. Sep. 12-30 . .. ... . ..... . ... 1,000 HONDURAS .. . . .... . . . . ... . . . . .... ... Sep. 21 -0ct. 7 .. .. ... . . .... 1,100 PERU . . . . ..... Uchiza .. .. . .... .. . . ... . Sep. 28-Oct. 15 ... .. .... .. . 1,200 ANGOLA . .. .. . Luanda . . . .. ... . . .... .. Oct. 10-29 . . .. . . . . .. .... . . 1,800 ECUADOR . . . .. Loja .... . . . . . ... ... .... Oct. 19-Nov. 4 . .. ........ .. 1,300 NICARAGUA . .. Estali . ... ... .. . .. .. . .. . Oct. 19-Nov. 4 .... . ... .. . .. 1,100 PERU ......... Lima South . .. . ... .. . ... Nov. 2-19 ..... . ...... . .. .. 1,200 INDIA . .. . . . .... . ... . .. . . . . .... . ..... . Nov. 6-Dec. 2 . .. ..... . . . .. . 1,700 COSTA RICA . . . .. ..... . . ... .. .. . . .... Nov. 16-Dec. 2 .... . . . . . ... . 1,000 EL SALVADOR . . . . . ... .. . . .. .. .. ... . . Dec. 7-23 . . .. ...... . ... . .. 1,200

NOTE: Dates may be subject to some changes, pending further confirmation of some campaigns.

• Team up with national Christians and witness for Christ door-to-door • Some knowledge of the language of the country is helpful • Between 800 and 2800 persons have prayed to accept Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord during a two-week CPE campaign. Come and be part of an enriching spiritual experience-discover what God can do through you .

For further information, contact: Church Partnership Evangelism office: telephonelfax: 604-864-3941 Peter Loewen (residence) fax: 604-853-6482 Church Partnership Evangelism is a "church-to-church" effort that involves all bornagain Christians in personal evangelism worldwide. Your application to participate will be forwarded to the CPE Executive Committee for processing.

PETER LOEWEN

HAROLD ENS

C PE Executive Director

MBMS International General Director

APRIL

2001

.

29

Bum 1.111

Goal? Sell four million books ~ MBs involved in West Coast expansion of 38-year-

,. old Anabaptist evangelism ministry Choice Books

M

Life is a journey not taken alone.

A beautiful video collage of words, music and images introducing the work of Mennonite Central Committee.

Order your free video from the MCC office nearest you.

Available in English, French, German and Spanish. (

"'Mennonite ~ Central ~ Committee

Mennonite Central Committee 21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501·0500 (717) 859·1151 or toll free (888) 563·4676

Mennonite Central Committee Canada 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9 (204) 261 ·6381 or toll free (888) 622·6337

www.mcc.org

30 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

any travelers, hospital visitors and supennarket, drug and discount store shoppers looking for "good clean reading" can take their pick thanks to Choice Books, the 38-year-old Anabaptist book evangelism ministry, The mission of Choice Books, says CEO John M. Bomberger, is "sharing the 'good news' of Jesus Christ in the secular marketplace through inspiring and wholesome reading materials. " A growing number of Mennonite Brethren are becoming involved in this expanding ministry. Jim Gaede of Reedley, Calif., and Albert Epp of Bakersfield, Calif., recently attended CB board meetings held in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Choice Books sold a record-breaking 3,444,270 books in 2000 by adding over 400 displays across the United States, increasing the total to almost 5,000 displays by yearend. The displays are scattered throughout 48 states and can be found on nearly 80 military bases.

Thanks to its expansion into more P~dies airport gift shops nationwide and with additional expansion in the Pacific Northwest, Choice Books hopes to sell 4 million books in 2001.

Choice Books now services 165 displays in 87 airports across the U.S. Sixtyfive of those are with Paradies. In 2000, Miami International Airport (Sirgany-Century) was the highest CB volume account, selling 30,434 books from 15 displays.

Choice Books operates through a network of eight regional not-for-profit disLEA 0

E R

I

tributors and 24 district offices that work cooperatively with a central office in Harrisonburg, Va. Thanks to strong local interest in Oregon, the Ohio Choice Books regional distributor agreed to develop an expansion effort in Oregon. The long-tenn goal is to help local people, churches and conferences fonn a not-for-profit distributor organization in the Northwest. An interMennonite advisory board is being fonned to develop plans and structures to develop the Oregon district into a separate Choice Books distributor organization.

Two MBs are serving on the nine member board: Janette Flaming of Dallas MB Church and Ken Becker of Kingwood Bible Church in Salem.

Additional growth of the Choice Books ministry on the West Coast is planned for 2001 as CB California District, currentlyowned and operated by Choice Books of Pennsylvania, is poised to become a new independent CB distributor organization. Started in 1997, CB California District has grown from servicing three displays to almost 50. The displays are clustered primarily in and around the Bakersfield/Los Angeles area.

District manager Albert Epp and his wife Joann, members of Laurelglen Bible Church in Bakersfield, have been the sole CB service representatives in California. An advisory board is being developed to guide the developing independent district and it includes Jim Gaede of Reedley MB Church, Don Loewen of Rosedale Bible Church and Herb Neufeld of Laurelglen Bible Church, both of Bakersfield. -Choice Books news release

IN BRIEF NEWS FROM THE MENNONITE BRETHREN WORLD

FORMER FPU GRAD WILL OVERSEE SOAR, ACTION AND TREK

'lWO PART-TIMERS BEGIN

Program director appointed for youth mission agency

MUSAhlr•• fund-ral••rs

M

BMS International recently announced that Andrew Stanley has been appointed as program director for Youth Mission International, the youth mission and disCipleship division of the global mission agency of MB churches in Canada and the United States.

Stanley will oversee YMI's SOAR, ACTION and TREK divisions, which provide short-term mission and discipleship opporturuties to Mennonite Brethren young adults in Canada and the United States. He will also speak in churches, schools and conferences throughout North America and provide direction to the spiritual nurture and equipping of YMI staff and participants.

Stanley is a 1996 graduate of Fresno Pacific University and has served as a pastor of student ministries for three years.

He is currently in the first year of a master's program in cross-cultural ministries

M Issfon USA, t he church planting

and renewal ministry of the U.S. C0nference, has hired two part-time dl. trIot development representatives.

at Associated Canadian Theological Seminaries in Langley, B.C. In other staffing news, Susanne Grogan, administrative assistant and trainer, resigned as of Feb. 28, 2001, to pursue further studies at Fuller Theological Seminary's extension program in Seattle, Wash. -MBMSI

Ron Newfield of BaketSfteld, Calif., will solicit funds In the Pacific District Conference and Jim Bartel from Hesston, Kan•• will cover the Southem and Central District Conferences.

"It 18 a huge answer to prayer to have field helpers." says Ed Boschman, MUSA executive director. "Our ministry Is growing and our needs are growing."

NewfIeld and Bartel will build the donor base, facilitate district events and Interface directly with constituents.

They join Art Enns,4lrector of deveto..ment, who Is employed by the U.s. C0nference on a paRollme basis. Newfteld and Bartel, who began March 1, will be accountable to Boschman while Inns will serve as a facilitator providing

resource and counsel. -CF

FOUR MBs SERVING TERMS WITH MCC

Stepping up IF I

our individuals from Mennonite I Brethren congregations have recently volunteered with Mennonite Central Comminee, the service, development and relief agency of North I American Mennonite MAKING STRAIGHT THE ROAD: Traveling to market Is easier for farmers In the rural Cambodian viland Brethren in Christ lage of Messang. The main dirt road was washed out churches. Each year following heavy floods In September 2000 (above). , some 250 people enter Mennonite Central Committee hired local contractors MCC assignments in to provide 12 culverts for a 12-111l1e stretch of the more than 50 counroad, giving nearby villages access to larger market tries, serving in assigntowns and the route to the country's capital. - MCC ments such as commu-

nity development, education, health, food production, emergency response and administration.

Nathan Elizondo of Sanger, Calif., began a two-year MCC assignment in Reedley, Calif., in June as material resource coordinator for the West Coast MCC region.

Frieda Walls of Reedley, Calif., began a two-year MCC assignment in Reedley in APRIL

September as the administrative secretary for the West Coast MCC office.

Marthinus (Ronnie) Van Wyk of Chilliwack, B.C., began a threeyear MCC asSignment in Abbotsford, B.C., in February where he is working as the employment development director.

Gil Melo of Curitiba, Brazil, began a two year MCC assignment in Akron, Pa., in November as the stock coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages.

-MCC 2001.31

hi BRII I

MEDA RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE LOW INCOME PROGRAMS

Helping programs get rewards

NEWS ~ Author to speak -Author Tom Sine was the resource speaker for a pastor's seminar April 2 at Tabor College In conjunction with Sine's campus lectures. His most recent book Is entitled "Mustard Seed vs. McWorld: Reinventing Life and Faith for the Future." Sine was the 2001 Staley Lecture Series speaker. -TC

~ Fellowships earned - Ten Fresno Pacific University teacher education students are among 250 students statewide to be awarded Governor's Teaching Fellowships In a new state scholarship program. The fellowship awards $20,000 to full time students preparing to teach In low perfOrmance schools In California for four years. The fellowship was designed to help recipients pay for education and livIng expenses.-FPU

~ Art therapy - Palestinian psychologists, along with child trauma experts from International organizations such as Save the Children, have noted a stark rise In trauma cases among Palestinian children since the uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank began last September. Children have trouble sleeping, cling to their parents, fear leaving their homes and wet their beds. Many know someone who has been killed or Injured and see dally TV reports of death. Often, children, along with their families, are trapped In their camps or villages, as Israeli troops place cement and dirt barriers across roads leading out of Palestinian population centers. Mennonite Central Committee sponsored nine art therapy sessions In January for kindergarten-age children In Palestinian refugee camps and Isolated villages. During the drawing sessions, fears were expressed visibly. The art therapy staff also talked with kindergarten teachers about recognizing trauma In children and suggested resources for addressing that trauma. - MCC

32 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

rrwo programs sup1. ported by Mennonite Economic Development Associates have been recognized for their innovative approaches to serving low income people.

MEDA's Community Bank Program in Haiti received an award from The Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) Pro-Poor Innovation Challenge for its innovative efforts to "provide a more equitable and sustainable basis to the development of community banks" in that country. The Community Bank program has been in operation since 1997;

it operates 22 banks in rural parts of Haiti.

CGAP is a consortium of 27 donor agencies that support microfinance programs around the world. CGAP gives the award, which is worth $50,000, to

groups that are "finding innovative ways to extend the frontier of poverty outreach and sustainable microfinance."

In Pennsylvania, ASSETS Lancaster was among 10 non-profit

organizations recognized as being the most innovative by the Central Penn Business Journal.

The award was given at the second annual NonProfit Innovation Awards luncheon in Harrisburg, Pa. The award included a prize of $2,500.

ASSETS Lancaster was established by MEDA in 1995 to assist low income entrepreneurs; over 75 percent of graduates who started a business with help from ASSETS Lancaster are still in business today.

To date, MEDA has helped start eight ASSETS-style business training programs in the U.S.-MEDA

MB VOLUNTEER JOINS AIMM TEAM TO AID MENNONITE CHURCH

Building a roof in the Congo of W 400

illard Dick of Mountain Lake (Minn.) MB Church was one of five work team members who worked alongside members of the Tshlanp Mennonite Church to c0nstruct a new roof for their church buildIng. Africa Inter-Mannonlte Mission sponsored the January work team.

FIve days before the assassination of

LEA D E R

President Kablla In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, the work

ing plans for the team and prompted some curfews, basic calm was main-

cation. ApproxImately pe0ple worshiped and praised God for their new church roof.

The Tshlanp congregation Is

one of about 22

team arrived In the city. Though events surroundIng the assassination necessItated some shift-

talned 1n the city and the work crew completed the ,roof In time for the planned January 28 dedI-

congregations In Kinshasa, a city of 6 million pe0ple, affiliated with the Mennonite Church of Congo. The congo Is alsO home to 84,000 Mennonite Brethren In apprOXimately 345 congregations. - AIMM

CHURCH NEWS

C H URCH Baptism/Membership FERNDALE. Wash. (Good News Fellowship)-Jean McMahon shared her testimony and was accepted into membership Feb. 25.

REEDLEY, Calif.-Flowers were placed on the altar Feb. 11 in honor of Irvin D. and Esther Wiens' sixtieth wedding anniversary.

Fellowship

INMAN. Kan. (Zoar MB)-Lauretta Byrd, Sara Crossman, Emerson Pankratz, Elmer and Nora Jane Schmidt, John Surshenko, David, Sandra and Lisa Williams, and Gene and Michelle Young were received into membership Feb. 25.

HILLSBORO, Kan.-Lynn Jost and his daughter Alisa will share of their experiences in India during the missions dinner April 22.

Youth pastor Rod Jost and the MBY will also share about their trip to Mexico this summer and children grades 1-6 will sing.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-Kara Haushalter, Jeff Loewen and Herb and Betty Smith were accepted into membership Feb. 18.

CLOVIS, Calif. (College Community)-A women's retreat was held March 16-18 at Bass Lake. A chili cookoff was held March 25.

LITTLETON, Colo. (Belleview Acres)-Ken Davis was baptized and received into membership Feb. 18. Barbara Davis was also welcomed into membership.

PHOENIX. Ariz. (Desert Valley Bible)-Marge Flood, Mary Kepil, Dottie Lachenauer, Sue Stanford and Benjamin Toews were baptized Feb. 18.

WICHITA. Kan. (First MB)-Dennis and Delaine Downes, Allyn and Linda Loewen and Brian Ward were welcomed into membership Feb. 18.

FREEMAN. S.D. (Silver Lake)Angela Water and Marissa Windish were baptized Feb. 4 and received into membership Feb. 11 .

WOLF POINT, Mont. (Gospel Fellowship)-Tammy Bartel, Wayne and Connie Bergen, Zach Delger, Mike Huber, Sandie Solheim, Bruce Thomas and Susan Wall were baptized Nov. 19, 2000. Dale Miller was baptized Dec. 10, 2000.

SALEM, Ore. (Kingwood Bible)Christina Andersen and Bob and Clara Sweet were received into membership in February.

Celebrations DINUBA. Calif.- Erv and Darlene Toews and Ivan and Jean Wohlgemuth were honored with flowers Feb. 11 in celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversaries.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)Nadine Friesen from Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church spoke on how to deepen intimacy with God during the women 's retreat Feb. 2325.

ENID, Okla.-Ushers and greeters met for a joint enrichment meeting and training video Feb. 18.

BUHLER, Kan.-Senior pastor Brent and wife Joan Warkentin along with others from the congregation visited their sister church, the Ethiopian MB church in Lenexa, Kan. MADERA. Calif. (Madera Avenue Bible)-A couples Bible study will be held Monday evenings for a time of fellowship, teaching and prayer.

Facilities PAPILLION, Neb. (Rolling Hills)Ground was broken and construction began for the new multipurpose worship center. Construction is scheduled to be completed this summer and July 22 has been set for a dedication service.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (Russian Evangelical)-Footings were recently poured for a new worship center that will seat 800 people.

Ministry BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (Community Church of the Heart)-The

NEWS FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

church plant is scheduled to launch Sept. 9 following "Core Celebrations" in March, Saturday evening and Sunday mornings from May to July and preview services in August.

WICHITA, Kan. (First MB)-A task force is planning events for hands-on, strategic evangelism ministries called Reach Out: Wichita from April 22-29. Possible events include a mime and illusion show, a children's bicycle safety and maintenance clinic and an evening BBQ to wind up the week.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)A free CD sampler featuring vocal and instrumental selections from the choirs, ensembles and soloists will be given away April 15 to introduce newcomers to the congregation's favorite music.

BUHLER. Kan.-Women attending a work night March 13 put together care packages for 22 college students, completed an MCC project and heard a devotional.

HILLSBORO, Kan.-Coordinators added a twist to the standard MCC Relief Sale Fellowship Meals Sunday Feb. 25. Instead of traveling to another church for home meals, church members could enjoy a meal in the church fellowship hall served by the local MCC contact couples. Proceeds from the meal went to MCC. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-Rachel Sturm, an International Teams missionary preparing to work with refugees, was commissioned Feb. 25.

FRESNO, Calif. (Bethany)-This year's Easter mission trip will be local April 7-11 as the youth serve at the West Coast MCC sale, experience urban San Francisco and do other local ministry.

OMAHA. Neb. (Millard Bible)MBC youth pastor Jason Petty will be going to Israel in May to study and work at the Bethsaida archeological dig for three weeks. In May, Jason's wife Colleen will be taking her Grace University women 's basketball team to Venezuela.

SALEM, Ore. (Kingwood Bible)Pastor Gordon Bergman and family traveled to Brazil Dec. 28Jan .l0 to speak at a missionary retreat . Bergman then gave a report to the church Jan . 21 with a light supper afterwards featuring Brazilian food .

Proclamation CLOVIS, Calif. (College Community)-Lenten services were held beginning Feb. 28. The half-hour service included silence, prayer and singing.

NEWTON. Kan. (Koerner Heights)-The Tabor College choir performed March 11. The concert was co-sponsored with Hesston (Kan.) MB Church.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-Vern Heidebrecht, pastor of Northview Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., gave the message during the annual mission conference March 4. Mission agencies were represented and missionaries shared their experiences.

WICHITA. Kan. (First MB)Author and TREK director Steve Klassen spoke of the adventure of following Jesus during the morning service Feb. 18. TREK is the year-long cross-cultural ministry and leadership training mission of YMI and MBMS International.

Teaching/Nurture FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News Fellowship)-Gary Dixon, a Christian education consultant for David C. Cook Sunday school curriculum, held a parentlteacher enrichment seminar Feb. 27. Chil dren's Sunday school teachers and parents were encouraged to attend.

Workers BETHANY, Okla. (Western Oaks)-Rick and DiAnn Nichols began serving the congregation as interim pastoral couple.

ENID, Okla.- Chris and Gina Regier were installed Feb. 11 as the full-time associate pastoral couple of worship and church

APR I L

2001·33

CiIUI{( II NI'\\ S

family care.

MARSHAll, Ark. (Martin Box)Wilmer Thiessen began serving as interim pastor March 1.

OMAHA. Neb. (Faith Bible)John Schnell began serving as pastor in January. He most recently worked as a pastoral counselor at the Open Door Mission.

HENDERSON, Neb.- J. and Lisa Epp, pastoral couple from Luster, Mont., have accepted the call to serve the congregation as senior pastor beginning in mid-July.

OMAHA. Neb. (Millard Bible)Senior pastor and former church planter Leonard Reimer has announced his resignation.

Reimer previously served Faith Bible Church in Omaha. He and his wife Darlene plan to remain in the Omaha area .

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Lincoln Hills Bible)-Pastor Roger Engbrecht resigned March 31 as pastor after 13 years of ministry. He has accepted the call to serve as Central District minister.

Youth ENID, Okla.-The congregation spent a week in prayer Feb. 18-25 seeking wisdom, direction and strength in their search for a youth pastor.

SALEM, Ore. (Kingwood Bible)Youth Sunday was celebrated Feb. 4 as youth pastor Travis Schmidt and high school students led worship and presented a drama skit. The service ended with a fund-raising spaghetti dinner for their upcoming youth mission trip.

MINOT, N.D. (Bible Fellowship)In celebration of National Pioneer Clubs Week, the Club kids provided special music. Members of the youth group sold discounted tickets for the movie Left Behind.

Deaths BECKER, AARON, a member of Reedley MB Church, Reedley, Calif., was born Jan. 24, 1914, to Jacob B. and Elizabeth Unruh Becker at Marion, S.D., and died Feb. 10, 2001, at the age of 87. On April 19, 1940, he was married to Hilda Nickel who predeceased him.

On July 5, 1969, he was married to Katherine Hiebert who predeceased him. On May 15, 1993, he was married to Jessie Thompson who also predeceased him .

EDIGER, EDNA MARIE, Buhler, Kan., a member of Buhler MB Church, was born June 6, 1911, to

34·THE

Jacob J. and Agatha Thiessen Klassen near Inman, Kan., and died Jan. 27, 2001, at the age of 89. On Oct. 21, 1934, she was married to David S. Ediger who predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, David of Squaw Valley, Calif., and Myron of Aurora, Mo.; two daughters, Karen Gerbrandt of Broomfield, Colo., and Jenell Fast of Hutchinson, Kan.; 15 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

FAST, HAROLD, Bellingham, Wash., a member of Birch Bay Bible Community Church, Blaine, Wash., was born May 19,1929, to Dave and Susie Fast at Corn, Okla., and died Jan . 18,2001, at the age of 71. On July 6, 1951, he was married to Elizabeth Reimer who survives. He is also survived by one son, Steve and wife Alissa of Ferndale, Wash.; two daughters, Linda and husband Scott Grant of Anchorage, Alaska, and Janet and husband Rod Pankratz of Ferndale; two sisters, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

FUNK, ORLANDO JAMES, Corn, Okla., a member of Corn MB Church, was born April 6, 1934, to Cornelius and Lydia Schmidt Funk near Corn, and died Feb. 5, 2001, at the age of 66. He is survived by three brothers, John and 'wife Viola of Corn, Paul and wife Rosella of Inman, Kan., and Dannie and wife Wanda of Olathe, Kan .; one sister, Leona Funk of Corn; one sister-in-law, Rose Funk of Wichita, Kan.; one brother-inlaw, Alvin Dalke of Newton, Kan.; nine nieces and nine nephews.

HIEBERT, ALBERT, Corn, Okla., of Corn MB Church, was born July 9, 1921, to Frank F. and Anna Kliewer Hiebert near Colony, Okla ., and died Jan. 30, 2001, at the age of 79. On June 12, 1942, he was married to Frieda Schlichting who survives. He is also survived by one son, Ron and wife Diane of Flagstaff, Ariz.; three daughters, Roma Jean and husband Ralph Earles of Baldwin City, Kan., Marcia and husband Richard Gerbrandt of Enid, Okla., and Linda and husband Kevin Harms of Madrid, Neb.; five sisters, 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

KLIEWER. JOHN LEROY, Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Sept. 7, 1920, to Harry and Emma Duerksen Kliewer at Lac Jac, Calif., and died Feb. 23,2001, at the age of 80. On July 24, 1941, he was married to Betty Jane Unruh who predeceased him.

CHRISTIAN

LEADER

In 1987, he was married to Josephine Hofer who survives. He is also survived by one son, John of Seattle, Wash.; three daughters, Joyce and husband Larry Brandt of Kingsburg, Calif., Harriet and husband John Friesen and Emajane and husband Jay Mendel, both of Reedley; two stepsons, Richard Hofer of Huron, S.D., and Ron Hofer and wife Karen of Redding, Calif.; one stepdaughter, Gayle Hofer of Huron; one brother, Ron and wife Rachel; two sisters, Evelyn and husband Dave Thiesen and Lu and husband Herk Klassen; 14 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

KLiPPENSTEIN, MARY, a member of Reedley MB Church, Reedley, Calif., was born Feb. 23, 1908, to Nicholas and Elizabeth Peters Kroeker in south Russia, and died Feb. 6, 2001, at the age of 92. On Aug. 26,1934, she was married to Henry Klippenstein who predeceased her. She is survived by one son, Erich; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

KOOP, HARLEY, Hillsboro, Kan., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Dec. 17, 1920, to Henry and Anna Koop near Hillsboro, and died Feb. 9, 2001, at the age of 80. On July 4, 1948, he was married to Alice Klassen who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Roger and wife Lila of Shawnee, Kan., and Murray and wife Coleen of Hillsboro; and two grandchildren.

Kan.; one daughter, Patricia and husband Steve Shaw of Overland Park, Kan.; one brother, Lawrence Carter of San Diego, Calif.; two brothers-in-law, Walter McFerrin of Sterling, Kan., and Ted Regier of Aurora, Neb.; one sister-in-law, Martha Regier of Henderson, Neb.; and two grandchildren.

RICHERT, HILDA. Corn, Okla., a member of Corn MB Church, was born Sept. 30, 1914, to Herman and Katrina Bergman Friesen at Corn, and died Feb. 19,2001, at the age of 86. On July 26, 1938, she was married to Paul Richert who predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, Jim and wife Lynda of Clinton, Okla., and Steve and wife Lisa of Hallettsville, Texas; one daughter, Ruth and husband Dennis Heinrichs, Great Bend, Kan.; one sister, Helen and husband Harrison Pankratz of Hillsboro, Kan.; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

WARKENTIN, ANNA MARIE, Okeene, Okla., a member of Fairview MB Church, was born Jan. 1, 1926, to George and Anna Nightengale Wahl at Fairview, and died Feb. 22, 2001, at the age of 75. In June of 1943, she was married to Victor Warkentin who survives. She is also survived by two sons, Roger and wife Carol of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Ron and wife Mary of Wylie, Texas; three sisters, Janie Cravens of Fairview, Rosella Brakhage of Lahoma, Okla., and Clara Ratzlaff of Angel Fire, N.M.; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren .•

PAULS, ARTHUR N., Buhler, Kan., a member of Buhler MB Church, was born Dec.18, 1912, to David E. and Tena Adrian Pauls and died Feb. 4, 2001, at the age of 88. On Sept. 3, w.lnted. for th,e 1933, he was married Scott St. M.B. Churdl to Viola Toews who in St. catharines, ON predeceased him. He is survived by one sister, Ethel and husThis congregation of over band Frank Janzen of 400 people needs a pastor Buhler; one niece and one nephew.

Senior Pastor

fOr

REGIER, THELMA. Hillsboro, Kan., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born May 17, 1913, to Ben M. and Stella L. Carter at Hale, Mo., and died Feb. 24,2001,atthe age of 87. On Dec. 24, 1941, she was married to Dick D. Regier who predeceased her. She is survived by one son, Gary W. and wife Kathryn of Halstead,

• preaching & teaching • shepherding & counseliQg1 • developing leadership • setting goals & strategies R; .

Please send your profile to: Pastoral Search Committee 339 Scott St. St. Catharines. ON ~H 1J7 Phone (905) 937"'.

Fax (905)937-6434

'" , &-maif5cottstCk~••n.

Clearinghouse Have a ~osition to fill? Looking for a.new employ~e.nt or ministry opportunity? Have a gathering or celebration to promote? Reach u.s.

Me~no~lte. Breth~en throu~h ~ CI~arlnghouse classified ad. The charge is 46 cents per word, with a $1S minimum. Withhold payment until an inVOice IS re.celved. MB In~tltutlon~ advertising vacancies or position announcements may be eligible for a no-cost announcement.

Contact the editor for more information.

EMPLOYMENT-tHURCH

EMPLOYMENT-EDUCATION

Associate Pastor for Youth and Worship The Memorial Road Mennonite Brethren Church is seeking an associate pastor for a full-time position serving with youth and worship. Mrmbc is a vibrant, growing congregation with 105 members and an average Sunday attendance of 135. This suburban church, with a new facility ideally located between Oklahoma City and Edmond, is making a growing impact for Christ in the surrounding neighborhoods and the greater metro area. The candidate should have the ability to develop, implement and evaluate programs, specifically in the area of youth and worship. The candidate should have a bachelor's degree or a minimum of three years experience in a related position .

Direct all inquiries to Pastoral Search Committee, Memorial Road Mennonite Brethren Church, 4201 E. Memorial Road, Edmond, Okla. 73013; phone (405) 478-1652. Application review will begin April 30.

Athletic Trainer Br Physical Ed Instructor Tabor College is seeking a full-time Head Athletic Trainer and Physical Education instructor. Responsible for training services for all sports and for providing leadership (including teaching one course per semester) for the Athletic Training concentration within the PE major. Master's degree, NATA certification, and one year of supervising student trainers required. Must understand and support the mission of an evangelical Christian college (refer to www .tabor . edu) and be able to articulate a personal Christian commitment. Send letter of application, vita, official transcripts and names of three references to Dr . Karol Hunt (karolh@tabor.edu), Physical Education Department Chair, Tabor College, Hillsboro KS 67063. Position open until filled.

Pastor Mennonite Brethren Church in Harvey, N.D. is looking for a pastor. Please contact Perry Faul, moderator, at (701) 693-2369 or e-mail pgfual@ndak.net or send resume to 2281 Highway 52, Martin, ND 58758.

Pastor The Mennonite Brethren Church of Pharr, Tex., needs an English-speaking pastor to "bind us together." He needs to have part of his support. Our membership has increased from four to nine in the last month . A member has a one bedroom furnished house available for several months.

Please write to: Joe Suderman, 420 North Palm Dr., Pharr, Tex. 78577-3516; or call (956) 781-1930.

Youth pastor Youth Pastor position open in an exciting, growing church . Enid Mennonite Brethren Church, Enid, OK, is seeking a Youth Pastor who will be responsible for organizing and coordinating the ministries to junior high, senior high, and college/career young adults. For a complete job description contact the church at: enidlTib@enid. com; ca II (580) 234-1698; fax resume to (580)234-3625; or send resume to Enid Mennonite Brethren Church, 2500 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK, 73701 .

Leadership Studies MBBS, a partner in the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS), invites applications for a full-time faculty position in Leadership Studies. The position is available August 1, 2001 . The successful candidate will coordinate the Leadership Studies seminars and courses at ACTS and teach leadership and ministry courses. Expertise in some of the following areas is required: teambuilding, conflict resolution, mentoring, spiritual direction, vision building and planning, leading through change, cross-cultural leadership, a "systems" understanding of organizations and behavior, personal and professional ethics. Preference will be given to candidates who are committed to evangelical-Anabaptist theology as expressed in the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith; have pastoral experience and a completed doctoral degree in this teaching area; demonstrate a biblical understanding of leadership. Resumes and inquiries should be directed to: Dr. James Pancratz, Academic Dean, MBBS, Frosmark Center, 7600 Glover Road, Langley, Be V2Y 1Y1 (e-mail mbbsbc@twu .ca); or 4824 E. Butler, Fresno, Calif. 93727 (e-mail mbseminary@aol.com).

EMPLOYMENT-MINISTRY ORGANIZATIONS Area Directors MBMS International announces openings for two full-time Area Directors, to serve out of its Winnipeg and Wichita offices. The Area Director will facilitate partnerships between churches and the agency, assisting churches,

pastors and other constituents in building and enacting their mission vision. The position involves a high degree of initiative and decision-making. Applicants should be members of an MB church, and have church related experience. Some experience in cross cultural mission and/or studies in mission also preferred. Resumes will be accepted until both positions are filled. Projected starting dates are negotiable but preferred for early summer 2001 . If you are interested, please submit a resume by fax or email prior to April 19, when the selection process will begin, to: Harold Ens, General Director MBMS International, email mbmsi@ mbmsinternational.org, fax (559) 251-8041, phone (559) 456-4600.

Graphic and Web Designer MBMS International is looking for a fUll-time graphic and Web designer to help raise awareness of a variety of long-term and short-term ministries, educate about mission issues, and help tell stories of mission around the world. Responsibilities include: designing a range of projects including a variety of brochures, four magazines per year, video covers, posters and several Web sites. The ideal candidate would have: aptitude and some experience in graphic/web design (formal graphics educationltraining a bonus); desire to be involved in ministry (interest in global mission a bonus); knowledge of design software including PhotoShop, Corel Draw, Page Maker and PowerPoint; ability to program in FLASH also a bonus. If you are interested, please submit a resume by fax or e-mail to Brad Thiessen, MBMS International, e-mail bradth@mbmsinternational.org , fax (559) 251-8041; phone (559) 456-4600.

Senior Vice President of Marketing Mennonite Mutual Aid (MMA) is seeking a Senior Vice President of Marketing. The person in this position will be responsible for all sales and marketing functions of MMA. Qualified candidates will have proven marketing and sales management skills; at least 5-10 years of experience, with a preference in financial services; commitment to Anabaptist values; a willingness to relocate to northern Indiana; and the ability to travel. MMA is a church-affiliated insurance and financial services organization. We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a non-smoking work environment.Send resume and cover letter to: MMA, Human Resources Dept., PO Box 483, Goshen, Ind. 46527 ; fax (219) 537 -6635; e-mail to hr@mma-online.org .•

APR I L

200 1 .

35

E

The secret to life

veryone needs a way to get through life. Everyone longs for peace, fulfillment and happiness. Everyone searches for the secret to life-the reason to go through the struggles we do.

Some try to find it in their career or wealth. Others seek it in family or friends. Still others search for it in a ministry or church. Then there are those who seek it in drugs and alcohol.

All of these offer false promises of comfort, peace and fulfillment.

But God has revealed the answer. The secret to life is found in becoming and living as disciples of Jesus, the living Son of the living God. But many Christians-myself included-still find the peace and contentment promised in Scripture illusive or short-lived.

Why is that?

For me, it comes down to control.

I often find I live by the motto "prepare for the worst, hope for the best"-with emphasis on the preparing for the worst. It's a practical philosophy that has served me well as an editor. I always have a backup plan in case a writer or advertiser doesn't come through, and that preparation has filled blank pages more than once. It also comes in handy as a mother. I carry around mental backup lists for everything from child care and baby-sitters to doctors and hospitals.

In someone else's hands, this motto might work well. But I've realized that the underlying reason I embrace this motto is that I like to be in control. I want to be prepared for anything so that I can be in control when it happens. I want to run my own life, my own "personal kingdom," as Dallas Willard says in Divine Conspiracy.

But the natural by-product of this mentality is that Jesus becomes a part of my life rather than my whole life. Instead of being his disciple, I become like the rich young ruler who can't leave his kingdom behind (Luke 18:18-30).

I recently heard Willard say that every human being is "a spiritual being on an eternal journey." We are not meant to function on our own. It is only when we are in interaction and in a relationship with God, Willard says, that we can really begin to function-to be the way God designed us to be.

The bottom line is that we are never truly at peace, truly fulfilled or truly happy unless we are follOwing and longing after jesus-this is what we were designed to do. Being a disciple of Jesus must be the most important and allconsuming purpose of our lives.

As I've listened to alcoholics and their families share their stories over the last few months, I've come to believe they know this much better than I do. Like many of us, they sought a way to cope or make it through life under the illusion of being in control. Then, they each came to a point when they realized that they were powerless to run their own life and that God was the only one who could.

36 •

THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA 0

E R

In "Not My Son" (page 9), Clare Ann Ruth Heffelbower says, "Facing a serious problem like addiction takes away our ability to pretend that we're in control. It prepares us to be more receptive to God's grace."

For it is by grace that fulfillment, peace and joy come.

Richard Foster, author of numerous books including Celebration ofDiscipline and Prayer, says grace goes beyond forgiveness and salvation. Grace, says Foster, is "the action of God bringing to pass in our lives good things which we neither deserve or can accomplish on our own."

Grace is a gift we don't deserve-and it comes with power.

God's grace empowers us to live as disciples ofJesus. God's grace transforms us. We begin to react like Jesus and think like Jesus.

How do we tap into God's grace? For me, it's a slippery concept. We can't earn or will ourselves into grace. The only thing we can do is turn our "personal kingdoms" over to God's rule.

We must relinquish our lives to God and seek him by doing the very things Jesus did himself-praying, meditating on and studying God's word, fasting, finding time for solitude, serving, worshiping, living in community. We must pick up our crosses daily and follow Jesus (Luke 9 :23) . We must become living, breathing sacrifices (Rom. 12:1) .

Being a living sacrifice is not easy. Foster says the problem with living sacrifices is that they're always trying to crawl off the altar. That, he adds, is why this transformation takes a lifetime.

In other words, we never really "arrive." We can never become the perfect disciples ofJesus in this lifetime. Daily, sometimes by the minute, we need to crawl back onto the altar.

Again, alcoholics understand this at a deep level.. They know they will struggle with their addiction for the rest of their lives.

And they know that they will need to depend on God every day-even every minute. There's no self-deception or rationalization. They know that they cannot control their lives. Only God has the power to do that. And we aren't any different.

But here's the good news. Peace, contentment and fulfillment are natural by-products of that continuing journey. If Jesus is the only one we are seeking-as he becomes our reason for living and getting up in the morning-we will begin to experience them at a greater and greater level.

A few Sundays ago, my pastor told our congregation that as we begin to treasure Jesus more and more, the time we spent chaSing happiness will begin to free up. The things we thought were important will begin to fade . Instead, our transforming hearts will begin to focus on others-just as Jesus did.

God wants a people like this. He wants a people filled with joy and peace. He desires a people who turn their hearts from themselves to him. He wants a people who spill over with his love for others. He wants a people who bring him glory. This is his purpose for our lives. This is the key to life. This is what Jesus died for-and this is what we were born for. -CA

A PUBLICATION OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN BIBLICAL SEMINARY· SPRING, 2001

Fvo-tn/ thlv Pv~¥ Vei!v Lord, Make it Happen Through MB Pastors!

A

He turned a splintered, ins much as we'd love everything ward-focused congregation of to be black and white, the Chris250 in 1967 to 4000 in 1991 by tian life and leadership training has focusing evangelism, discipling always involved walking some fine '-------' lines. This is especially true in a and "equipping the saints." Obviously it is a story ofboth God's post-modern culture where 'Christ-like grace and strategic leadership. straight lines and predictability are leaders The second lesson explains in short supply. For example, produce Christ-followers and churches are ''why'' and "how" that happened: Christ-like leaders produce other other called to be "in the world, but not Christ-like leaders, and this repof the world."

And while most of Henry Schmidt Christ-like lication ofleadership is the most the high-proftle theological disleaders, important role ofpastoral leadership. Other putes in church history certainly involved critical and this issues of truth and falsehood, some of them important tasks for the church automatically fall in place if Christ-like leadership is conreplication have centered on theological distinctions that sistentlyemerging. could be considered quite subtle. of leaderThis sounds like a corollary lesson many One ofthese fine-line questions for Menship is of us leamed from a best-selling author who nonite Brethren and MBBS historically has the most been, "How much influence should we seek happens to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Stephen important from other church traditions?" The pendulum Covey, in his incredibly popular "Seven Habswings from the more pietistic and separatist role of its of Highly Successful People," taught us traditions to the more evangelistic and inclupastoral how easy it is to pursue the urgent at the sive connections. leadership.' expense ofthe important.

Fortunately, in all this there are times when Bill Yeager, fumly ensconced in Covey's someone from outside our tradition hands us crucial Quadrant 2 (prioritizing the impora lesson we dare not neglect. In a recent lunch tant over the urgent) long before Covey had with Dr. Bill Yaeger, at his initiative, I learned thought of Quadrant 2. He first became intwo important lessons. Lesson one didn't volved with MB Biblical Seminary in the come from a high profile international church early '70s to develop a church-based semileader but from a godly, humble California nary and internship program at the First Baptist, who pastored the same church for Baptist Church of Modesto, a small city 100 twenty-four years.

Please see President's Desk, p. 2

president's DESK continued

Henry J. Schmidt

(Continuedfromp.l)

miles north of Fresno. He had, and still has, a powerful, simple vision for leadership training.

For Yaeger, it was not about fancy programs or slick marketing campaigns. It's all about:

'For me the difficult reality was looking around and asking 'Lord could this happen through anMB pastor?'

1) Strategically reaching out and discipling ofnew people.

2) Tapping potential leaders on the shoulder who appeared to have the vision, heart, and gifts for shepherding God's people.

3) Recruiting a strong staffof specialists in youth, preaching, children's ministries,singles,music,administration, pastoral care and developing an internal internship program for potential leaders, as well as an Institute of Church Imperatives for other church leaders.

4) Carefully screening potential leaders for godly character, giftedness and skills. They were shaped and honed by mentors in a combination of theological and pragmatic training. Seminary training was indispensable in their fonnation for ministIy. 5) Recognizing that training leaders was an important and expensive investment. For Yaeger, provding $300 or $500 per semester for seminary work was not enough.

First Baptist paid the full tuition of interns they had "called out, tested and approved.

The church not only sent students to classes in Fresno, but also worked with MBBS to bring classes to their facility. The result? 103 leaders were called out and trained during his tenure of 24 years in Modesto.

I MBBS

1-- - - - - - - - - - -

• In Touch

This is the untold story about how a church not only grew from 250 to 4000 members, but produced 103 leaders who today serve at Modesto and in many churches beyond.

For me, the difficult reality was looking around and asking, "Lord, could this happen through an MB pastor?" "Where are the Mennonite Brethren pastors and other church leaders who have an intentional commitment and successful track record ofmultiplying leaders?"

In reality, Yaeger's impact was even greater, since the accrediting agency essentially shut down the Modesto program six years before he left Modesto in 1991. It turned out that the program was ahead of its time.

The Association of Theological Schools insisted that programs operated in satellite programs have to replicate what was done on campus. Today of course the standard for extensions has thankfully been changed to contextualization (e.g. the training has to fit the context).

The genius of Yaeger's legacy lays in its simplicity and its impact, not its admittedly impressive numbers. VIrtually all ofthe great and small mistakes ofthe church can be attributed to the errors or moral failure ofleaders. Havingjust read Dante's Divine Comedy, I understand why his most scathing critique ofthe church is directed to leaders who failed to be faithful shepherds and character mentors.

Mennonite Brethren today are agreed that there is a serious leadership shortage, and that we need to produce more Anabaptist!

Evangelical pastors. It should be just as clear that there are urgent, and there are important, answers to this leadership shortage.

The vital lesson we should learn from the Please see President's Desk, p. 4

------------------------------------------....••

ne~s AROUND MBBS

...

New Administrative Staff Changes

• • •• • •• •

l[tjl =~s

andfonner students, at theconclu0 ruce Kinabrew, a 1992 tions, Kent Gaston.

Kent's faithful work over the sion of another year of MBBS M Div. graduate, has Jim Holm joined MBBS as the new Direc- years has been a wonderful as- Seminary life. We are tor of Public Relations and set to MBBS. Kent has taken a looking fOIWard to another twenty-four features editor position with the people joining our growing list of Leadership Development. His Fresno Bee. • graduates, involved in ministry and focus will be primarily in the service, like you, all over the world.

Fresno area recruiting and fund Tim Geddert's Nine ofthese anticipated graduates are development.

'MARK' Commentary women, sixteen are members ofthe Published Mennonite Brethren Church. Eleven E;"";I are going into pastoral ministries, seven " imothy J. Geddert, Associwill graduate with counseling degrees, ate Professor ofNew Testament four will continue as laypersons in their at MBBS' California campus, local church, and two will head offvery just published his commentary • soon to further graduate studies. It has on MARK. been a privilege for us to know these people while they were students here and it is a further privilege to wish them Bruce Kinabrew God's richness as they head offin a Bruce has most recently new direction. We bless them. come from Fresno City Hall AdNow a word to you who ministration where he served as already are graduates ofMB seminary. the Admin Asst. to Councilman • All our methods ofmeasurement Ken Steitz. He also is a college continue to show that you are the best Timothy Geddert pastor at New Covenant Comrecruiters ofnew students that we munity Church. His newly cre(Believers Church Bible Comhave. Many prospective students say ated position is in partial re- mentary) with Herald Press, that one ofthe key factors in their sponse to the departure oflongScottdale, PA 200l. decision to come to this seminary was time Director of CommunicaCongratulations Tim! the encouragement they received from a graduate or former student. Obviously, we appreciate and desire your • help. Please keep praying that God will show you those who should come SPRING, 2001 and that you will encourage them to be British Columbia: MBBS-BC at ACTS In Touch is a publication of the Mennonite here.

(Peter Enns) 7600 Glover Rd. , Brethren Biblical Seminary, Henry J. You may also know that we Schmidt, president.

Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1 1-888-687-ACTS • petere@twu.ca California: 4824 E. Butler Ave., have changed our Alumni Reward for

In Touch

Fresno, CA 93727-5097 559-251-8628 OR 1-800-251-MBBS mbseminary@aol.com

Manitoba: Contact Pierre Gilbert at Canadian Mennonite University: (204) 888-8761 • pierreg@cmu.ca

Please see Campus Connections, p. 4 Jim Holm is Director of Constituency Relations and Dean of Students at MBBS.

MBBS • In Touch

3

President's Desk (continued from p. 2)

r

-=~!.Ji:.~~ ~~.:...=~. J~N~ June, July and August listings as specifically noted.

Faculty

Time, Dav

Units

Geddert

8:30-11 :30 a.m. M-F June 4-15

1 unit

Miracles of Jesus Geddert

6-9 p.m. June 4,6,11,13

1 unit

Elem. Greek I

Geddert

8:30-11 :30 a.m. June 11-29

3 units

Elem. Greek II

Geddert

8:30-11 :30 a.m. July 9-2

3 units

Biblical Interpretation 2

Geddert

1-4 p.m. June 18-29

3 units

Course

Bible Psalms

Church Ministry/Mission Conflict Management

8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. August 6-10 Classen and Reimer

Violence and Nonviolence Rempel

2 units

1 - 4 p.m. June 4-15

2-3 units

6-9 p. m. June 25-28

2 units

Psychopharmocology Hierholzer 8:30 a. m. - 4:30 p.m.

1 unit

Counseling Grief Counseling

Introduction to Counseling

Friesen

6-8 p. m. July 30,31 Aug.2,6,7,9 Shamshoian 1 unit

Call1·800·251·MBBS For more information on MBBS programs, ask for Jim Holm or Bruce Kinabrew To register for any of these courses, ask for Lori James

MAY 31,2001: MEETING OUR S2 MILLION BUDGET o It is i"Io·I'utinin • i"I·to see the imestmcnt of' chm'chcs ulUl indhidilnl donOl's in Jemlel'ship h'nining ut "InnS OWl' the pust 45 ~·cm's. tOl' 2000·2001, the gonl is to I~,ise 8405,000 tirc')m U.S. d0110l'S mul 8440,000 (Cnd) fi'C')nl Cnmulinn donOl·s. As onlm'Ch 15, 8231,000 hnd bt'Cn 1'L,<-'Cin.~'(1 in lhe Unitt'(l Stntes, ;nul 8]S5,000 (Cnd.) in Cnnmlu. rnumlis tOl' ~·oUl' hell) inl'uisi ng the ncc(led 8174,000 in the United Stnh.'s, nnd 8255,000 (Cnd) in Cmmdn h~ lIaJ 3], 2()01

4

MBBS • In Touch

Bill Yeagers ofthe larger church is that the urgent paths will leave us still in a state of urgency 10 years from now. Doing what's important, not just urgent, in calling out and training leaders in local churches will give a far more permanent solution to our current shortage. Will you join me in prayer, hope and action, "Lord, make it happen through MB pastors!"

Campus Connections (continued from p. 3)

graduates who refer students to us. We used to give away free books, but we found out you had enough books. So now we give money, $20 to be exact. When a student lists your name on the application, and enrolls here, we send you money.

It is our small way of telling you "Thanks for continuing to remember the seminary and its mission."

One more note. It is possible that you have not signed on to be on our weekly email update on MBBS, called The Weekly Word. This occasional publication goes out irregularly on Fridays and attempts to keep you posted on life at MBBS. To sign up to receive this, just send your request to iimholm@fresno.edu, and we'll see that you get on the list.

Finally, we continue to value our graduates and we thank God for the faithful ministry which you have. You are the mark of success ofthis institution. God bless you. lim Holm

Personnel Searches and Transitions Faculty Appointment at MBBS-BC/ACTS effective Fall, 2001 in area ofleadership.

Director of Financial Aid, Fresno: June 1,2001.

Doris Goertz resigned to accept a six year assignment with the MB Church in Japan.

Donor Development in Canada: Full-time or two half-time positions beginning August 1. Herb Neufeld (B.C. and Alberta) resigned Dec. 31 to accept the pastorate of the Ross Road Community Church, B.C. Fred Wien's resignation is effective May 31, 2001 as he moves to full retirement.