A mother faithfully prays that God will reach her 20-year-old son, Nick. When Nick joins his father and other men from The Bridge Bible Church for a weekend retreat , Lori can only imagine how the event will transform her son and her family.
12 THE GREATEST MOMENT
by
Pierre Gilbert
Jesus Christ is the first of a great company of men and women who will also rise from the dead, and who will live forever in a new world and with a body that will never be sick or grow old. For those of us who are followers of Christ , this promise must motivate us to unapologetically live each day in the service of our Lord as best we can
15 TAKING CURTIS' PLACE
by Laurie Oswald Robinson
Curtis Lautt was a young North Dakota cowboy who dreamed of serving as an agriculturalist and sharing the gospel in Mongolia. Curtis never made it to Mongolia, but others are taking his place in mission settings around the globe
17 THE MIRACLE CAR
by Kim West and Melissa Grube
Kim is a small business owner who one day hires Melissa who really needs a car. When God prompts Kim to find her new friend a car, both women learn amazing things about the power of prayer, faith in God and giving what you have, whether it's a lot or a little.
> FiRST WORDS
[from the editor]
THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATE THE DEATH AND RESURRECfION of Jesus Christ We rejoice in the transformation that comes when we accept Christ as our personal Savior and allow him to influence every aspect of our lives. In this issue you will read stories of men and women who have experienced this complete change. God calls us to share our faith stories, because when we do we participate in the process of transforming others, sometimes without even knowing it.
That happened this fall when Mennonite Brethren pastor Brian Classen, Papillion, Neb., spoke on the Tabor College campus Marcus Manny, a senior from greater Dallas, Texas, was in the audience that day. Brian's message challenged Marcus, a kicker on the football team, to consider if there was some part of himself that he had not yet given over to God. Brian illustrated his challenge with a personal story about his son and a bag of Skittles candy. The story stuck with Marcus, and to help him remember his new commitment, Marcus kept a bag of Skittles pinned to the bulletin board in his dorm room.
Marcus was killed February 23 when he lost control of his car while traveling back to campus after spending the weekend at home. When Marcus' parents came to campus to collect their son's possessions, his mom talked with President Jules Glanzer about the speaker who had so impressed her son. She was thankful for the "Skittles guy" who had prompted her son to make a significant commitment to Christ. "Marcus... made a commitment that resulted in change and is now with the one to whom he committed his life," wrote Glanzer on his blog. 'We do not have answers to the questions we all have, but we do have hope. Hope in the only one who has conquered death, Jesus Christ."
Marcus came to the Mennonite Brethren college looking for answers. Marcus' mends and teammates testified at a campus memorial service that Marcus found those answers People who knew Marcus well and a one-time chapel speaker all played a part in nurturing this young man's faith. Marcus' story reminds me that when I give wimess to my faith, I influence people I know well and those I encounter just briefly.
A postscript to Marcus' death is his parents' request that the college encourage students to be alert while driving. While the accident report indicates that Marcus was wearing his seat belt, the Manny family says their son was text messaging on his cell phone and might have been distracted at the time of the accident.
'The Mannys have asked me to address the student body, pleading with them to stop texting while driving," Glanzer says 'They see this as a way for some meaning to come from Marcus' death."
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> UP & COMING
• April 29-30- National Board of Faith and Life meeting. Fresno, Calif.
• May 1-3 - Leadership Board meeting. Bakersfield , Calif.
• July 14-19- MWC World Assembly, Asuncion, Paraguay
• Nov. 5-S-Central District Conference convention, Yale, SD
• Nov. 6-7 - Pacific District Conference convention, Visalia, Calif.
Connie Faber EDITOR
Myra Holmes ASSISTANT EDITOR
Shell ey Plett GRAPHIC DESIGNER
The Chris tian Leader ilSSN 000 9- 5149 1 is pub l ished mon t hly by the U S Confe r en ce of Men nonit e Bre t hren Ch urche s.
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Full throttle
What gets your adrenaline pumping?
W:en something in our ordinary lives ends up exactly like we think it should, that gets us going. The team gets shafted by a bad call on a game-turning play near halftime and then gets the game-winning lucky break in the last seconds. Alternatively, the driver who weaves past everyone else at Nascar speed as you dutifully stay within your spiritually acceptable 10 percent over the posted speed limit is spotted having a chat with
believes that Jesus and his message pull it all together and answer all the questions. Wright's book is a good read for a national spiritual family that has committed to having Jesus in the middle.
The other thing I'm hoping for is that we review how we tell the story of our personal commitment to a relationship with Jesus Christ. My chat with Mike on a recent flight illustrates what I mean.
"So, what do you do?" Mike asked.
As followers of Jesu s. we continue to tcll th e same timeless story, hut \ VC need to revicw the way \ve tell it. -
the officer who got him dead to rights on the radar gun. Justice issues have a way of getting into our adrenaline pumps.
It's like that with relationships too, and again it goes both ways. The incredibly deep fulfillment of a relationship in which love and trust are rock solid is nothing less than sublime. On the other hand, relational tension, unresolved conflict and brokenness also stir us up.
In a slightly different way, spirituality is a parallel reality. The pursuit of some sort of spiritual understanding and transcendence evidences itself in all human beings. That it gets us going is obvious. People evaluate, debate, judge, castigate and all too often do violence in the name of a preferred version of spirituality.
On a more personal level, we live with value convictions that sometimes lead to peace and other times to significant discontent. Relationships within common convictions are a context for peace, but interacting with those with whom we differ often becomes an occasion for tension. But we just can't not go there, right?
Our awareness of and alertness to beauty has similar power. After an encounter with something amazing that takes our breath away, we are left to wonder: How is it that we are so captivated and taken by this? How can a single look at something have this kind of power? Or alternately, how is it that we are so intuitively repulsed by something ugly? What is in us that takes us there?
Where am I going with this? I'm hoping for two things. I hope you will read Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by NI Wright. It's like a new version of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Although I do not agree with all of Wright's views I do recommend the book. Wright suggests that all people "hear" and are impacted by echoes of the melodies of originally designed meaning. Review the above paragraphs and youll get the picture.
We are all impacted by our awareness of and experiences with justice, relationships, spirituality and beauty. Our awareness and experience leaves huge, lingering questions. Wright clarifies why he
I could have said, "I am the executive director of the United States Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and I wonder if you going to heaven or hell when you die."
Both statements are true. But saying them would have increased my chances of getting some serious sleeping time on the flight. What I did say was that a long time ago I had decided to put God in the middle of my life, and that I have the privilege of meeting with local church families and their leaders to try to ramp up their positive spiritual impact.
That answer swung the door wide open. We talked about the disconcerting state of affairs in our world. We rambled on about justice, relationships, beauty and truth and even spirituality, including Mike's take on Jesus. That got us both going.
Now you know where I was going. As followers of Jesus, we continue to tell the same timeless story, but we need to review the way we tell it Starting with a question about how someone is finding meaning and purpose in their life usually works well: "So what is it that gives you reason to get up and go to work?"
A question about someone's take on spirituality works like a charm: "Do you think the God-factor is playing a role in our culture (or in your life) these days?"
A little shot at what kind of justice crooked financial fat cats might need to experience will likely get some action these days.
You might want to read Wright's book. And then you may want to consider changing how you tell the story of Jesus and your relationship with him. Who knows, you might end up giving your copy of Simply Christian away. I wish I had.
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Declaring the signi ficance of the cross
Today it is not just foreign missionaries who interact with people who have religious beliefs very different from ours. People speak 100 different languages in the city where I live. In this new proximity to various religions some Christians feel less comfortable affirming that Jesus is the way of salvation. Now, however, is a time we need more Jesus, not less.
For instance, in a multicultural setting we need to use more than just one explanation of how Jesus' death and resurrection provide salvation. We need to follow the example of the preachers and writers in the New Testament who, depending on the context, used different images to proclaim the saving significance of the cross.
The New Testament boldly proclaims salvation through the cross, but offers little explanation of the mechanics of how the cross saves. Theologians, however, have worked at the explanation for centuries . How does the cross save us? For the first thousand years of church history theologians commonly answered the question by explaining that on the cross Jesus entered into the depths of the devil's domain. Then the resurrection displayed that the devil was unable to keep Jesus in his grasp. The cross and resurrection were God's victory over death and the devil.
We can affirm this explanation. It is built on a strong biblical foundation. The main problem is that it does not say enough. We need more. It would be a wonderful explanation of the cross to share with someone who feared death or to proclaim in a cultural setting where people feared evil spirits. But it lacks a point of connection for a person ridden with guilt or carrying a burden of shame.
Rather than trying to squeeze the deep power and broad meaning of the cross into one single explanation we would do well to treat it like a many faceted diamond. Victory over the devil is one facet of God's saving act; other facets will display other realities and provide additional meaning. The New Testament takes this multifaceted approach. It uses multiple images to communicate that Jesus is the one way of salvation. Recent experiences remind me of the need for a multifaceted gospel. Tuesday I stood in the county jail
waiting for inmates to come to the weekly Bible study I lead. A man in a holding cell called to me and asked me to pray with him He explained that he had only seven days left in jail, but had just gotten in a fight with another inmate. I prayed for him, and continued talking with him through the crack in the door.
Knowing a guard might come any minute to move him I asked directly, "Do you feel guilty?" He said, "Yes." I
asked if he thought God would forgive him. He responded, "I don't know." I began talking to him about the cross, about how it was the worst thing humans could do to God-actually kill God incarnate, kill the Son of God. Had he done anything that bad? How had God responded at the cross?
I told him that on the cross Jesus said, "Father, forgive them." God would forgive him too. I told the inmate this was a prayer I could not pray for him. He needed to confess and ask God for forgiveness Just as I asked, "Would you like to pray now?" a guard came and took him away.
Last week a Japanese man told me that gospel presentations that talk about sin and guilt confuse and frustrate him. He does not understand them So knowing he was from a shame-based culture, I talked about the cross in terms of shame.
We talked about feeling rejected and disgraced because of ways we had fallen short of others' expectations and feeling that same alienation from God.
I then talked about how on the cross Jesus, in our place, bore the shame we deserved and how we can have a restored relationship with God free of shame. He not only understood the words, he drank them in like a thirsty plant.
As you talk with others about the cross and resurrection I invite you to join me in using the full richness of the multifaceted gospel. Today we need more Jesus, not less
Mark D. Baker is associate professor of mission and theology at MB Biblical Seminary's Fresno, Calif, campus His most recent book is Proclaiming the Scandal of the Cross: Contemporary Images of Atonement and was published by Baker Publishing Group in 2006
USC freezes spending
Publishing suspended, Mission USA ch urch projects on temporary hold
In an effort to avoid dipping into its reserves, the U.S. Conference has initiated a spending freeze, hoping that when the conference closes its books May 31 on the current fiscal year it will not have spent more money than it has taken in. The U.S. Conference went into the last quarter of its fiscal year March 1 with a negative balance of just under $46,000.
"Our hope is that because of continued aggressive fundraising and the spending freeze, we will climb out of that red ink," says Ed Boschman, U.S. Conference executive director. 'i\nd as we plan for next year, we are going to try to match realism and faith."
The U.S. Conference initiated a modified spending freeze in December and Boschman anticipates that the current three-month freeze will allow the conference to underspend its expense budget by about $100,000.
U.S. Conference staff members are actively reducing administrative and travel expenses, eliminating travel where feasible. Board of Faith and Life, Leadership Summit and Leadership Board meetings, scheduled for later this month in Fresno, Calif., have been intentionally planned to minimize lodging and meal costs.
The May issue of the Christian Leader will not be published, although editor Connie Faber says she anticipates posting news stories and new feature articles online (www.usmb.orglchristian-leader).
Some new Mission USA projects have been put on hold or are not being funded at the level anticipated, says Don Morris, director of the denomination's church planting and renewal ministry Additional savings will be realized as some Mission USA projects that included a financial subsidy have been completed. While Morris is not actively
pursuing as many church plant options as he had anticipated, he continues to review all prospects. '''This is an important time to plant churches, so each opportunity to continue to start new churches is being very carefully analyzed for viability," he says
In setting the 2008- 09 U.S. Conference budget at $902,973, conference leaders anticipated church conrributions would total $500,000 and additional fundraising would add $287,973- An annual $50,000 grant from MB Foundation plus interest income and Christian Leader advertising revenue was expected to add an additional $115,000. These funds support activities of the Leadership Board, Mission USA, Christian Leader, the Board of Faith and Life and various other Mennonite Brethren and affiliate ministries.
"We put together an aggressive budget to support a ministry dream that was in a growth mode," says Boschman 'We assumed a significant increase in fundraising and initiated a plan to invite additional churches to join our support team."
Boschman anticipates that church giving will total $400,000 for the fiscal year and that staff fundraising will fall short by $50,000. Church giving, budgeted at $41,666 per month, has lagged behind the monthly target for seven of the past nine months and totaled $311,140 at the end of March. Staff fundraising currently totals $198,930.
Boschman says that the economic downturn is prompting the U.S. Conference and other denominational ministries to review their revenue expectations. "It is much more difficult for most people to hold up their generosity and stewardship as they have in the past," says Boschman.- USC
FPU offers four-year grad guarantee
Beginning in January 2009, Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren-owned university headquartered in Fresno, Calif., is offering a four-year graduation guarantee . "In these difficult times, FPU's four-year guarantee and employment record will give students and families some assurance as they plan for the future," says Stephen Varvis, vice president of enrollment management.
Students who earn their bachelor's degree in four years get a head start toward entering top graduate schools or becoming leaders in their careers, communities and congregations, says Varvis. FPU
already has the highest four-year graduation rate in California's Central Valley, two or three times better than other area universities. The university will guarantee graduation within four years to qualified students entering the traditional undergraduate program. Students who fulfill their responsibilities and are not able to graduate in four years will receive the needed courses in the next semester at no cost in tuition or student fees. The guarantee is limited to basic graduation requirements for a single major with no minor. Transfer, degree completion and graduate students are not part of the guarantee. - FPU
Church plant relocates
Christ Community Church, a Mennonite Brethren church plant in Sioux Falls, SO, will settle into a new facility this month. Christ Community Church is a project of Mission USA, the church planting arm of the U.S. Conference, and the Central District Conference.
The congregation was meeting in a public elementary school under a lease that is ending due to school system limits, so a move was inevitable. The new facility is well suited to the growing congregation and comes with an affordable rent. The congregation will be able to expand ministry to youth, children and families, and "by God's grace we can focus energies on people over ministry costs," says pastor Rod Anderson
Anderson describes the new facility as "awesome." It includes an inviting worship center, coffee area, kid's chapel and nursery and toddler rooms. The children's areas are a particular plus, allowing the church to offer "safer and more appealing" childcare, says Anderson
Whereas the school was available only four hours per week, the congregation will be able to use the new facility full time. Rent for the increased space and increased availability will be significantly less. And because a church previously used the facility, it required less preparation before move-in
The congregation hoped to raise about $60,000 to cover improvements and furnishings. Some of that came from a fund established by Carson MB Church, Delft, Minn., when it closed. "God has been very gracious in providing," Anderson says.
In addition to a prayer of dedication on their first Sunday in the facility, the congregation will celebrate their new home with an open house on Palm Sunday afternoon April 5. Friends from the community and area churches are invited Resurrection Sunday in the new facility, April 12, will feature services at 8:44 and 10:30 a.m. "If you are in the area, join us," Anderson says.-CCC
Life challenging for Gaza
Deaths and injuries inflicted by the 22-day war in the Gaza Strip, along with destruction of homes, schools and infrastructure, are taking a toll on families in the Palestinian territory. "The war is over but the suffering has not stopped," says Majeda AI Saqqa, program director for the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), a Mennonite Central Committee partner organization that provides cultural, health and educational programs for children, youth and women.
Children, AI Saqqa says, have been emotionally traumatized by the deaths of family members, classmates and friends. Some of the children have been physically hutt or have lost their homes and belongings.
In partnership with MCC's Global Family education sponsorship program, CFTA is expanding its programs to include a "Child to Child" program in the Khan Younis refugee camp. Activities include leadership training for children, remedial classes, field trips, creative writing, drama, arts and handcrafts and community outreach.
Khan Younis refugee camp was established in 1949 and now has a population of 180,000 people; about 50 percent are children. About 5,000 children will benefit from this new program. This new Global Family project builds on the success of another Global Family project in the Khan Younis refugee camp, the AI Shroq Wal Amal Children Center (Sunrise and Hope). Through the center, CFTA offers an innovative program of activities, trips, summer camps and projects for children in a safe and suppottive environment. MCC's Global Family program has been supporting this center since April 2004.
MCC also supports families in Gaza through the distribution of humanitarian aid. A March shipment of 3,910 blankets and 1,260 relief kits brings the monetary value of MCC's humanitarian response in Gaza in 2008 and 2009 to about $360,000 MCC is the global peace, relief and service agency supported by many Mennonite Brethren.-qladys J ericho'-(£) for M CC
AID TO KENYA
Mennonite Central Committee is sponsoring the distribution of 26 tons of corn flour to nearly 4,000 people in a drought-stricken area of southern Rift Valley Province, Kenya. Kenya is in the midst of a famine, and its government is appealing for aid. Kenya's president says that about 10 million people need food assistance because of shortages caused by drought, global economic problems and political violence in the country's breadbasket region. Most of the MCC aid recipients herd livestock and are members of the Maasai tribe living in the Kajiado district.-MCC
CHOICE BOOKS SETS RECORD
Choice Books, an inter- Anabaptist book evangelism ministry, set a new annual sales record by purchasing/selling over 5.5 million books in 2008, making 2008 the 23rd consecutive year of sales growth. Despite the smallest annual sales increase in recent years, Choice Books says the ministry feels "blessed" to celebrate a new sales record while religious book sales are down and the nation faces a recession. Choice Books operates through a network of eight regional distributors who work cooperatively with a central office in Harrisonburg, Va. The organization services more than 9,700 displays scattered across the continental U.S., Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Displays can be found in supermarkets, mass merchandise stores, airports, drug stores, travel centers, gift shops, army and air force bases and a variety of other retailers . For more information about Choice Books, visit www.choicebooks.org.-CB
t;r:rrherefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation lias come: The oZdhas gone, the new is ' hfre!" . 2
«I LOVE YOU," 1 SAID AS HE WALKED OUT THE door. He turned toward me and gave me the nod. "Later," he said. I watched him through the window until he was out of sight. It was the last time I would see my 20-year-old son.
Later that day I left for the coast with some of the women from our church, The Bridge Bible Church in Bakersfield, Calif , while the guys headed to M24, a men's retreat at a ranch in the hills just outside town. This was going to be a "manly retreat" with fishing, motorcycle riding and shooting guns. The men of our church were asked to invite any man, saved or not. In addition to the guy stuff, they were going up to the mountain to worship God and to reach out to each other with love and encouragement to live their lives as men of God. It was my husband's first retreat.
My husband, Bryant, had been transformed by the amazing grace of God just nine months earlier. For nearly 20 years Bryant had been held captive by the sin of anger and drugs. The wounds in our family were deep, but God's healing love was doing a mighty work in my husband and also in our children and me Natalie, our daughter, was being transformed by the power of forgiveness and our son, Nick, well, he was watching
Nick. .I loved him deeply and unconditionally. He had begun to walk down the same road his father had been down. My heart ached watching him feel so lost. I prayed for Nick faithfully and my hope never wavered that God would reach him someday. Nick's dad invited him to join him and our son-in-law, Rodney, at M24. Nick was drawn to his dad's walk with God, and followed him up to the mountain top.
Later I heard the stories of Nick's mountaintop experience. How my Nicky found peace, of the glow on his face as he felt forgiven and set free. How he sang praise to Jesus and that as he left for home on his motorcycle he said, "It was the best 24 hours of my life." This prodigal son once was lost but now was found!
My Nicky opened his heart to Jesus on the mountaintop and then met Jesus face to face on the way back down. He was in a motorcycle accident and died a few hours later.
Saturday, May 31, 2008, was the day Nick began the eternal chapter of his story. The next morning was Sunday. As I sat with my heart broken and my mind in shock, I asked Bryant, "What now?" My husband looked at me, paused only a moment and then stood and said wholeheartedly, "We go worship Jesus "
My husband who was once so lost himself had been found Bryant, now truly a man of God whose new life led his beloved son to the mountaintop where he found and worshipped Jesus, was now leading me in my sorrow to worship Jesus
The moment we walked into our church that morning. I knew that this was where God was going to pour out his comfort to our family Many of the men who had shared the experience with Nick on the mountaintop and the handful of men who had been on the accident scene with Bryant were there that morning. A special bond had formed between the men of our church.
Jeff spoke with the power of heaven, telling of the saving grace and love of Christ. Pastor Jeff lifted Jesus so high there was no heart that couldn't see him.
And then a miracle happened - not just one, not 20, not 50 miracles. As Pastor Jeff invited people to open their hearts to Jesus and find the same peace with God that our Nick found on that mountaintop, 100 people stood and came forward to receive Jesus.
The months that followed Nick's death have been filled with the ache of loss. There have been many tears, yet God is still God no matter what and bigger than the hurt We as a family and a church family have leamed the power of our transformed lives
My Nicky opened his heart to Jesus on the mountaintop and t hen met J esus face to face on the way back down.
Our pastor, Jeff Gowling. gave a powerful message that Sunday asking the question, "Is God still God no matter what?" It is a message I have listened to a dozen times, and each time the answer remains: Yes, even though he took my son, God is still God no matter what.
Pastor Jeff came to our home the following day and walked us through planning a memorial service. We knew Nick had many unsaved friends, and both Bryant and I wanted the gospel to be preached at his service. Our hope was that hearts would be opened through preaching the gospel. We prayed, "Please God, even ifit's just one."
The plan was to preach the gospel boldly, clearly and without compromise. The church made "salvation packets." At first they made 20 and then decided to have crazy faith and make 50, just in case
The memorial service for our Nick was amazing! It is a day that comes to me in bits and pieces-it is just too overwhelming as a whole Over 650 people gathered to honor Nick and comfort our family. As I watched the slide show of our precious son's life, a million memories flooded my heart a beautiful baby, a sweet brown-eyed little boy, a young man grown so tall and handsome. Our hearts grieved the loss of a son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.
And then we worshipped Jesus! Our entire worship band played at the service and we raised up holy hands and worshiped with our whole hearts, praising our Savior and King. Then Pastor
We've learned that the unsaved are watching and that living out our faith will draw people to our Savior, just as my husband's life drew Nick to the mountain. We have learned the power of preaching the gospel boldly and without compromise as Pastor Jeff did. And in telling of my Nicky being saved just hours before he went home, we are able to speak of the importance of being ready to meet Jesus face to face.
When my final chapter here on earth is written and I see Jesus face to face , my question there will not be 'What now?" for I am confident I will be worshiping Jesus eternally. Instead, my question will be, "Please, can I hold my baby boy now?"
Lori Astle is a florist and owner of Cinderella Flowers in Bakersfield, Calif, and the joyful grandmother of two-year old Emily and a grandson to be born this summer. Lori and her husband renewed their wedding vows in January 2009 on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary Readers interested in hearing the Sunday morning message Jeff Gowling preached at The Bridge Bible Church following Nick Astle's death can go to http://www.thebridgebiblechurch com/podcast/podpressJrac/web/ 1441016J oB %20Is God StiltGod No Matter WhatJeff Go wlingJofi·mp3·
-'eJ Post your comments at usmb.orglchristian -leader questions are available at usmb.orglchristian-leader
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE DON'T TALK MORE these days about Christian apologetics. In some circles, the very word causes the sort of embarrassment we would feel wearing bell-bottom jeans. It just isn't in keeping with the spirit of the times.
The notion of Christian "apologetics" derives from I Peter 3:15 and properly refers to a coherent presentation of the Christian faith: 'l\lways be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have . But do this with gentleness and respect."
Beyond the negative connotations the word "apologetics" may have, Christians should always be ready to explain why they are filled with hope even in the face of suffering and death. Followers of Christ too ofren forget that they have the only cure for the terminal illness that afflicts us all. Christians should indeed be the most joyful people on earth
But many who identify with the Christian faith increasingly apologize for that very same faith. Less than a year ago, Reverend Gretta Vosper, an emerging leader in the United Church of Canada,
published With or Without God, a book in which she argues that all references to Jesus and the resurrection should be excised from the Christian faith and replaced with what she considers to really be at the center of Christianity, i.e, a renewed sense of optimism and belief in the human spirit.
This is how an article entitled "Taking Christ Out of Christianity," published in the Canadian national paper Globe and Mail, puts it. 'That triumphal barnburner of an Easter hymn, Jesus Christ Has Risen Today - Hallelujah, this morning will rock the walls of Toronto's West Hill United Church as it will in most Christian churches across the country.
"But at West Hill on the faith's holiest day, it will be done with a huge difference. The words 'Jesus Christ' will be excised from what the congregation sings and replaced with 'Glorious hope:
"... Generally speaking, no divine anybody makes an appearance in West Hill's Sunday service liturgy No petitionary prayers ('Dear God, step into the world and do good things about global warming and the poor'). No miracles-performing magic Jesus given birth by a virgin and coming back to life. No references to salvation, Christianity's teaching of the final victory over death through belief in Jesus's death as an atonement for sin and the omnipotent love of God. For that matter, no omnipotent God, or god."
For those who make theology their business, there is nothing new here. Vosper is simply stating a little more loudly what many other church leaders in the United States, Canada and Europe have been saying for yeats. That there is a fundamental problem with the Christian faith and that problem is the biblical understanding of the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is embarrassing
But let me be candid. The Jesus of the New Testament is a tad embarrassing. He demands exclusive allegiance from his followers. He speaks a great deal about sin and judgment. He has much to say about truth. Not just your truth or my truth, as we so often do these days, but absolute and overwhelming truth. Truth that shines in your face and bums your eyeballs.
The Jesus of the Bible makes us cringe. He makes us feel uncomfortable the way a badly behaved child embarrasses his mother at the grocery store. And so we apologize. Sadly, but not unexpectedly, many reproduce today what
has been done in every generation since Jesus came to earth: We either try to change who Jesus claims to be, or we attempt to make him disappear altogether. Who Christ is has always been the major battlefield of the Christian faith. In comparison, everything else is small potatoes.
Those who are offended by the Jesus of the Gospels but still wish to retain some trace of Jesus increasingly present him as a beautiful composite painting: He is peaceful and gentle like Gandhi, green like AI Gore, friendly and cuddly like Barney. A Jesus fit for our times. I call him Teddy Bear Jesus.
Teddy Bear Jesus
You'd think Teddy Bear Jesus would be a good seller. That people would rush to churches where they preach him. Right? Wrong! Churches that preach Teddy Bear Jesus die, and their communities die with them. Overall and globally, churches that preach Jesus the redeemer thrive.
Who is Jesus? Is he the redeemer of the world before whom all knees will one day bow, or is he a cuddly and lovable version of Barney? Let me be blunt. There are two reasons why Teddy Bear Jesus, just like Barney, is and will always remain a fictitious character. The first is logical. The second is historical.
As for the logical objection, C. S. Lewis said it best: "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher but a lunatic, on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg" (Mere Christianity). "Either he (Jesus) was a raving lunatic of an unusually abominable type, or else he was, and is, precisely what he said. There is no middle way" (The Problem of Pain).
How can there be no middle way? Very simple. It has to do with what the historical records tell us about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. If the New Testament records are accurate and trustworthy, as they have been shown to be, it is impossible to reduce Jesus to a gentle teacher. Not because he was not in some sense just that, but because of the kind of claims he repeatedly makes about himself. claims that would sound utterly outrageous and preposterous in anybody else's mouth.
John 14:6 says, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
John 5:24-25 (NLT) says, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life . And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice-the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live:'
As Lewis says: 'There is no middle way. If the records make the first hypothesis unacceptable. you must submit to the second."
Ultimately. Teddy Bear Jesus must remain but a figment of an overactive postmodern imagination on account of a particular historical claim that points to the single most important event ever to occur in human history: the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately not everyone fully recognizes the earth-shaking significance of this claim. I was about 10 years old. and I was listen-
to one fraction of a second. only to let us fall back into the primordial stew never again to rise.
In spite of what secular ecologists might believe. death is not natural. We resent it. because deep down we know we were meant to live forever. But there is a way out. Jesus Christ is the first of a great company of men and women who will also rise from the dead and who will live forever in a new world and with a body that will never be sick or grow old.
If the New Testament records are accurate and trustworthy, as they have been shown to be, it is imposs ible to reduce Jesus to a gentle tea cher Not becau se he was not in s om e sense just that, but because of the kind of claims he repeatedly makes about himself. claims that would sound utterly outrageou s and preposterou s in anybody else's mouth.
ing to a radio talk show on Saturday morning just before Easter. The question was straightforward: Would it change anything to your faith if it could be proven that Jesus did not rise from the dead?
Most callers were adamant. The discovery that the whole thing was just an elaborate hoax would have no impact on their faith. Most people just could not see why anyone would hold such a minor thing against such a good man.
Frankly. this notion that the resurrection makes no difference to the Christian faith is as goofy as a Doberman sporting a ballerina outfit.
Foundational truth
While Christianity boasts a wonderful set of inspiring teachings. the resurrection of Christ has and will continue to be the absolute foundation of the Christian faith Whether it actually occurred or not makes all the difference in the world. As Paul writes. if Christ did not rise from the dead. then we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world (I Cor. I5:I9).
If Christ did not rise from the dead, everything we are and do as Christians is meaningless! Every church is just a huge and pointless waste of money. If Christ did not rise from the dead, it is the end of all things. It is the ultimate proof that this world is without purpose. A cruel joke perpetrated on humanity. A world without certainty. coherence and without rational explanation. A cosmic accident of infinite proportions .
If Christ did not rise from the dead. the universe is just one humongous tepid soup that inexplicably managed to grant us life, consciousness, love, friendship and beauty for what really amounts
For those of us who are followers of Christ. this promise must motivate us to live each day in the service of our Lord as best we can. Until the kingdom is ushered in. we are dying anyway We might as well live and die for something worthwhile, even if one day at a rime.
Over 30 years ago, on a cold Wednesday evening in a church basement. I decided to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was the most important decision I ever made. A decision I have never ever regretted. It changed my life in ways I can barely describe. and it will forever affect me in ways I can't even imagine yet. He is risen indeed!
"But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man. now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam. everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life" (I Cor. I5:20-22, NLT).
Pierre Gilbert, originally from Quebec City, is associate professor of Bible and theology at Canadian Mennonite University and MB Biblical Seminary. He and his wife, Monika.live in Winnipeg, Man., where they are members of Fort Garry MB Church. His academic interests focus on biblical theology. spiritual warfare and the problem of evil, and Gilbert regularly contributes articles to various journals and magazines, including the CL. He is the author of Demons, Lies & Shadows: A Plea for a Return to Text and Reason.
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Taking rtis' place
The young cowboy never made it to Mongolia, but others are ta king hi s place in mission settings around the globe.
C')N A FRIDAY EVENING IN SEPTEMBER >006, CURTIS
Lautt fell from his horse in Harvey, ND, and sustained a brain injury. That very morning, the tall, lanky cowboy had called the MBMS International regional office in Wichita, Kan., asking whether he could share the gospel in conjunction with agricultural work in Mongolia. A retiring agriculturist from Montana working in Mongolia had invited Curtis to take his place. And Curtis wanted the Mennonite Brethren mission agency to know he was available to serve in this dual role if such a niche came open.
But Curtis never made it to that remote mission field. The 26year-old died Sept. 21, 2006, six days after the fall. When he passed into heaven, Curtis was surrounded by family and friends who mourned his death. Since the tragedy, some of their grief is being transformed into joy.
Even amidst the "why" questions of some and the lingering sadness of many, Curtis' family and friends are discovering how many lives Curtis touched with Jesus' love-and how his death is inspiring others to share Christ in Mongolia and elsewhere.
Curtis' overriding desire was to humbly glorify God and the saving work of Jesus Christ without bringing attention to himself, say many people in his family and community. This unassuming attitude radiated from his love for people and a gift for communication in many settings.
He worked with farmers on the plains, studied at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., earned an agricultural education degree at Fargo, ND, served on short-term missions in Latin America and Russia, ministered as a youth pastor in his home congregation of Harvey MB Church and worked at Christian camps for kids. All the while, he built up God's kingdom without building up himself.
In fact, no one knew the extent of Curtis' influence until he could no longer speak of it. The week of his death and in weeks following, dozens of people from Harvey, throughout North America and around the world came forward through a Web site, e-mails, letters and calls to share Curtis' impact.
"God could have taken Curtis right after the fall out there in the field, but the six days he lived gave us all time to understand how many lives he impacted," says his grandmother, Delores Lautt, whose just-published book, Curtis: Beloved Servant, chronicles his life and death. 'When news of Curtis spread, so many people from so many places sent e-mails describing how he had impacted them But we never heard all this from Curtis. He didn't talk about how he served God. He only talked about the God he served."
Bryan Lautt says his son Curtis desired to be an anonymous tool in God's hands. "He had a degree in agricultural education and was approached by many schools asking him to teach agriculture," he says. "But he tumed them all down. His real passion was to be in ministry, and to do it behind the scenes. Once I introduced him to some folks as our congregation's youth pastor. He said, 'Don't do that anymore, Dad. I just want to be a regular person relating to regular people. I can get so much farther in sharing Christ with people when I don't have a title.'"
talked about, but what he did. He took a lot of time out of his day for me. Kindness and love were expressed in each of his actions.
'The ttue significance of this time didn't hit me until after he passed away. When we retumed to Harvey, Mr. Lautt took a day off to spend with me.... He talked to me about Curtis' dreams about Mongolia and told me that it was my job, and pe0ple like me, to do what Curtis was about to do."
Joshua continues, "In summer of 2011, I am going with MBMSI to Mongolia to tell the nomads about the love of
"(Curtis) didn't talk about how he served God. He only talked about th e God he served."
The irony is that while Curtis wanted to remain anonymous, the story of his tragic death has spread far and wide . Randy Friesen, MBMS International general director, says, 'When I first heard of Curtis' death, I said to God, 'This is not right: It is hard to get people to go to Mongolia, and here was a young man who was willing to go and who had gifts that fit so well with the needs there. Then I felt God asking, 'What are you going to do about it?' I knew right then I needed to invite others to take (Curtis') place."
In a heavenly twist of events, Curtis, asked to take someone else's place in Mongolia, is inspiring other young people to take the place he never occupied. For example, at a mission rally in Saskatoon, Sask., where Friesen issued this call to Mongolia, Katie Housek came forward, indicating she wanted to be one of those to take Curtis' place.
Katie, a horse trainer, joined the first "Nomad" short-term mission team to Mongolia in 2007. She returned to the nomadic people to lead a team in 2008. Katie, currently on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Olds (Alberta) College, plans to return to Mongolia with another team in July 2009.
"I was really hit hard by Curtis' death, and I prayed people would be raised up to go to Mongolia in his place," she says . "But as is often the case, when you pray for God to do something, you are the one he is calling to do it. Here I was, a young Canadian, who had no amazing skills but who felt called to go to a remote, near-impossible situation. But I've learned that God works his awesome miracles when we have nothing but him."
Joshua Nightingale, a r6-year-old living with his missionary parents in Brazil, is another young life Curtis deeply impacted. In a Feb. 26, 2009, e-mail sent ftom Brazil, he writes: "I met Curtis three years ago as we traveled around the Midwest to get support for starting a camp here in Brazil. While we were in Harvey, I went to his house a couple of times. He had me help with the training of his favorite horse. It wasn't so much what we
Christ.... I am not planning all of this in obligation of Curtis' father, but because it is what the Lord wants me to do. The Lautt family was the vehicle for his message. Curtis Lautt was a great man; I hope to be a lot like him, and I can't wait to see him in heaven."
Katie and Joshua and others are needed in missions, Friesen says. God needs people for whom missions is not a place but a way of life-an attitude modeled so well by Curtis. "We are currently praying for and mobilizing a long-term team in Mongolia," Friesen says. "I doubt if we would be mobilizing teams for Mongolia in the way that we are if it had not been for Curtis' passing. He refocused our attention on the cost of following Jesus to the least reached. Many others are taking up that call today."
Friesen prays this unfolding story encourages us to realize that God redeems everything we invest in his kingdom-including a mission call that seemed to end too soon.
"I most want the legacy of Curtis to cause people to ask, 'God, are you calling me to go?"' says Friesen. "God isn't looking for people with big' skills as much as he is looking for those who are willing to let him be a big God.
'When I first met Curtis during short-term mission trips, what impressed me most was that he was an ordinary person. He was sincere, thoughtful, faithful and personable but not flashy," says Friesen.
"He was an ordinary person who had a deep faith in an extraordinary God and his saving work in Jesus Christ."
lAurie Oswald Robinson is a freelance writer living in Newton, Kan.
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000
IT WAS CHRISTMASTIME, AND I WAS BUSY.
Busy with children, work, shopping for presents and memorizing music for choir. I love Christmas, but it is a demanding time of year. In the midst of this hectic time, my neighbor and fellow church member, Leon Gamber, asked if I needed help with my residential cleaning business.
Did I need help? Yes. Did I want to take the chance on a stranger? Not really. But as Leon told me about Melissa, something told me to give her a try. It wasn't what Leon said, but the look on his face. She was a good girl, Leon said, and she needed a break. I trusted him, so I told him to tell her to give me a call.
Melissa called the next day. 111 never forget her words: "I'm desperate." Desperate. Have I ever been desperate for money? I can honestly say no. We agreed to meet.
After getting to know each other over a Dr. Pepper, we decided to try working together for a couple of weeks. During the first week, Melissa either borrowed a car or was dropped off. I asked her about her car. "I don't have one," she said. "I did have a nice little
car. Paid cash for it. Then an uninsured driver hit me last May and totaled it."
She began to cry. "I need a car; I need a job. I can't get a car because I don't have a job; I can't get a job because I don't have a car." The tears flowed. She told me, "It seems like ever since my mom died a year ago, my life has fallen to pieces ."
How much can one person endure? A young mother of two, going through a divorce, her mom suddenly dies, uninsured driver totals her car. A little voice within said, "Someone needs to help her." But I didn't have the time. I was too busy.
The next morning, the radio DJ was asking, "What's your Christmas wish?" While others called in wishing for a Wii, a 1V or a new doll, I called asking for something huge: "I am wishing for a new car for my new friend Melissa." The radio station said that they would put it out there and see what happened.
A few minutes later, a woman named Shauny from another church in the community called the station to say that a car had been donated to their church Maybe we could make it work. I said
a quick, <Thank you, God, for hearing my prayer." When I met with Shauny and we talked about the car, reality hit. This car was 30 years old and had been sitting in a field for three years. Back to square one. "Don't give up." That little voice was a little louder. Maybe God had a different plan. Maybe God wanted me to work harder on this wish. I began to pray in earnest about it. Could I actually find a car for Melissa?
I had never done anything like this before This was huge. I didn't have the time to do this. I prayed more and listened to my heart. Melissa needed help. I recalled her words : "I'm desperate." I knew what I had to do: Give it to God.
With the help of Tom Voth, pastor of caregiving at my church, we contacted Sunday school classes to ask for help. I told everyone I met: people at First MB Church, neighbors, clients, even my dentist. If they couldn't give a monetary donation, would they please pray about it? Shauny was my encourager. She continued to help me and sought help from her church's benevolent committee The rest, as they say, is history.
Contributions began to pour in, some large, some small My motto was , "Not many of us have a lot of money, but a lot of us have a little. Give what you can." And give they did. Dozens of people donated
I also received suggestions for finding the car. I contacted Goodwill and a local car dealership. Nothing. Then I got word about a car that was a good possibility. The asking price was higher than I ever dreamed we would get. But it was such a nice car: a 2002 Ford Focus in good condition
Again, I gave it to God: "Lord, you know how much money we need I know that you have the perfect vehicle for Melissa. You know and see all. Please, just show me the way "
By Dec. 31, we had collected enough money to purchase that beautiful little car. And we had enough money left over to take care of tags, taxes and insurance, plus a gas card. Is God good? Does he hear our prayers? Yes!
I truly believe that God placed this young woman into my life for more than one reason . She needed me to restore her faith in humankind. But much more than that, she needed me to restore her faith in God This experience also has restored my faith that God truly hears our prayers. When we ask specifically, God takes care of our needs I could not have done this without God's leading and guiding.
When I told Melissa about the car, and she heard the whole story, all she could say was, "You bought me a car? Who does that? No one has ever done anything like this for me before. You bought me a car?"
I quickly told her, "No. I didn't buy you a car. God's people bought you a car I was just the foot soldier " Then, to say the least, we both cried.
Interestingly enough, through this whole story, I was still busy. This adventure took priority over everything else Still, I got everything done. Presents were purchased, music memorized, tree trimmed and work completed God gave me the strength and the energy to complete
my tasks and to fulfill a need for someone who had been a total stranger. This was, without a doubt, the best, busiest Christmas ever. '"
It was December. I was utterly depressed and in need of a miracle. The one-year anniversary of my mother's death was weeks away, and I didn't know how to face it. I was going through a divorce, trying to take care of my two children, ages six and nine. I was not sure at all how I was going to make it
To make matters worse, I had been without a car for eight months. A year ago, I had purchased the nicest car I had ever owned: a 1997 Chrysler. In May, an uninsured driver ran a red light and totaled my car. A car is such a simple thing we often take for granted. It was unbelievably hard getting back and forth to work, taking my kids to school, feeling as if I had no independence whatsoever. I felt I didn't have any place to tum.
God always seems to provide a way through my times of struggle and grief. I started working for Kim, an amazing woman who has her own cleaning service. Kim helped me every day without realizing it. I saw God's love in her. Her warmth and love lifted my spirits daily She always seemed to really listen, and she comforted me when I was down, like a mother. She kept saying, ''You need a car, girly!"
Then one day, Jan. 7, Kim called to say she would come and pick me up. We were not working that day so I was a bit confused, but I waited for her at my door. We drove to a home on the west side of Wichita and pulled into the driveway.
Kim parked the car and told me that it is such a pleasure to work with me. With tears streaming down her face, she said, ''You see that car over there? It's yours!" She dangled the keys in front of my face. "It's yours!"
I started crying immediately. <rue you serious? What? Why would you do this? For me? I don't understand "
I listened as she explained that she had organized donations and that the church family had reacted with generosity and love. I thank God every day for that love, generosity and compassion to help a single mother in need. God is good all the time
Kim West and her family attend First MB Church, Wichita, Kan . She says this experience has opened her eyes to God's goodness in other areas of life and inspired her to plan a summer volunteer experience
"I will never question that little voice again, nor will I put it on the back burner," she says. <'I'm not too busy to help someone "
Melissa Grube still works for Kim. What started as a two - week temporary job has turned into a regular part-time job and the two have become good friends "With this new car, I have a new beginning on life, " she says. She is enjoying her new independence and ability to "be there " for her family
Worth it
Vyacheslav Tsvirinko paid dearly for his faith and has no regrets
Tsvirinko can pinpoint the day his life changed: Aug. 24. 1974. That was the day he gave his life to Christ- a decision that cost him everything. But vr. as the Mennonite Brethren church leader is known in non-Russian-speaking circles. says he has no regrets.
''I'm one of those whose conversion was very dramatic," says vr, who 20 years ago emigrated from the former Soviet Union to the United States. "It was a very clear switch from a worldly life, sinful life. just life for earthly purposes and goals, to life for Christ, life in the church."
On that day, vr attended a youth meeting following a Saturday
service at a Christian church in the furtner Soviet Union. Some 30 or 40 young people had gathered after the service to worship, learn from Scripture and pray. vr came as a seeker, dissatisfied with his life and drawn by the God of the Bible. One young man preached from Acts about Saul's Damascus-road conversion. Then the young people knelt for an extended time of prayer.
While they prayed, God confronted vr in a dramatic way, not unlike Saul's Damascus road experience. vr heard two distinct voices. "I never heard it before and never heard it after," he says.
One voice urged. "It's your time. You have to accept the Lord and you have to repent."
As a Mennonite Brethren pastor who serves Slavic congregations in the Fresno, Calif. area, VT is currently studying the ways Slavic congregations fulfill the great commission for a doctoral thesis. He says these immigrant churches, like the German-speaking Mennonite Brethren churches 100 years ago, must transition from isolation to outreach in order to survive.
The second voice told VT to wait: "It's not your time. You're not ready. You haven't read the whole Bible yet."
So VT counted the cost
He knew that to become a Christian was to give up everything he knew. And by Soviet standards at that time, he had everything.
His young life in the former Soviet Union was picture-perfect. He had been accepted for university training as a nautical engineer-no small accomplishment, since the Soviet government allowed only a select few to pursue higher education. He had excelled at university, graduated with honors and been chosen as lead instructor at an engineering school-again, a rare and prestigious opportunity for one so young.
Simultaneously, he had been trained as a submarine officer for the Soviet navy. Then, in an unusually short time, he had been
invited to pursue graduate-level engineering education, an opportunity available only to a handful of the best and most competitive. At only 24 years old, he had interesting work and study and an apartment, all paid for by the government.
"Basically I was quite successful in my life," VT says.
But something was missing. "Even though from the ourside it looked like I was successful, inside in my soul I was being more and more disappointed."
He watched the people around him and saw a future that wasn't attractive: alcohol abuse, divorce and emptiness. "I didn't see the purpose of life," he says. "Just to live a number of years and then die?"
Then he remembered that his mother, a Christian, found meaning in a Bible. Curious, he borrowed his mother's Bible and began to read from the beginning, verse by verse, word by word, like a good student. "It was not very exciting to read," he admirs, "but at the same time, it did something in my heart."
God was drawing him, and his heart began to respond: "I found faith in God by reading this book."
But in the Soviet atheistic culture of that time, faith came at a high price. Atheism was "official," explains vr. "It was the way of thinking and approaching life, and it was not only the common worldview, it was required. It was the only worldview accepted in the society."
One of VT's two sisters, a student at another university, rejected that worldview and turned to Christ just one semester short of completing her degree.
The university administration asked VT, the model Soviet student, to come "influence" his sister, to keep her from "ruining her life."
Instead, she influenced him. She took him to meet her new friends in the underground church. The young Christians he met showed him a very different kind of life than the one he observed among his colleagues.
VT says, "They weren't allowed to obtain education higher than high school, they weren't allowed to go to university, they weren't allowed to work with positions with skill, but they were very happy people," he says.
'They were people of integrity. There were no problems with marriage, no problems with alcohol, no problems with many things that I was facing living in a secular society."
VT's sister did not renounce her faith in Christ. As a result, she paid the price; she was expelled from the university. His other sister also became a Christian, and both became janitorial workersthe only positions they were allowed to keep as part of the underground church . Both were rejected by their atheistic father .
When VT was a young man, Soviet propaganda painted Christians as old and uneducated. So when VT-a young bright up and coming student and naval officer-chose Christ, "it meant challenging the whole ideological system, " he says. "They considered me a dangerous person."
Meanwhile, while vr studied, "the work of God was going on in my heart." On his 25th birthday, vr asked God to "do something for me " To help him "either 100 percent love God or 100 percent be through with the church."
A few weeks later, he found himself on his knees debating between two voices.
"Fortunately," he says, "the youth were praying long enough for me to debate between these two voices. Eventually, I accepted the advice of the first one, and I prayed to accept the Lord and repented. I didn't even know well enough what I was doing and who I was accepting; I just knew I needed to repent. And I did. Like Saul, in the same way, I was told what to do and prayed.
"It was a changing point of my life. Since that time, I became a follower of Jesus."
It wasn't long before his faith cost him. When vr was called into the office of the university president-not a friendly invitation - he knew the price he was about to pay. There, in front of the university president, a vice president and a man vr assumes was a KGB agent, he was asked about his worldview: "Do you believe in God?"
"I said yes," vr remembers When pressed further, he fearlessly told them about the Bible and about Jesus-"what I knew at that point." He says that while walking into the meeting was "terrifying," once confronted he felt no fear. "Of course, it wasn't me; it was God's promise: 1 will give you words to say.'"
The next day, vr was expelled from the university and from his prestigious teaching position He lost his apartment and his permission to live in that city. "I found myself without study, without income, without apartment, without permission to stay." His father disowned him, so going home was not an option, either.
Several times in the years that followed, vr was pushed out of jobs, homes and cities because of his faith. He was arrested, interrogated and detained more than once, although only briefly-"just for one or two days, not years Somehow God decided that I don't deserve such kind of honor to suffer for him. But I paid in a different way, with my education, my future."
In time, he moved to Riga, Latvia, where a slightly more tolerant attitude toward Christianity prevailed "Still we experienced persecution, still our pastors were arrested and imprisoned, but it wasn't as severe as it was in other areas of the Soviet Union," vr explains . During 14 years there, vr became a leader in the church, was ordained as a deacon and pastor, met and married his wife, Nina, and had six sons.
When the door opened for Soviet Christians to leave the country in the late 1980S, vr and Nina reluctantly gave up their homeland and emigrated to the U.S. in order to provide more religious freedom for their sons, all now "grown young men serving God and humanity," vr says.
In the U.S., vr was able to learn English at Fresno Pacific University, then to study the Bible as deeply as he once studied engineering, earning his Master of Divinity degree from MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif., in 1995. Once an up -and-coming Soviet success story, he now finds joy in serving Christ and the church vr serves as one of the volunteer pastors at House of the Gospel Church, a Russianlanguage Mennonite Brethren congregation in Fresno, Calif., and he works as director of the Visalia Center for Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren-owned school in California, which gives him further opportunity to love people and witness. In addition, he is a member of the U.S. Conference Leadership Board and serves Slavic students and churches on the West Coast in countless ways
In spite of the high price he paid for his faith, vr says he has no regrets. 'The only one thing I ever regret is that I hadn't done it sooner, when I was younger. If I would be able to come back and start my life again, I would accept Christ as soon as I was able to understand," he says .
So for vr, Aug 24, 1974, is a day his life changed for the berter. Time has shown him that Christ was worth the cost.-Myra Holmes
Mennonites to converge on Paraguay
Hosts enthusiastic about hosting the global Christian community
Mennonites from around the world will converge this summer on Paraguay. a small. landlocked country in the heart of South America that is home to 32.000 Mennonites. for Mennonite World Conference's Assembly IS. an event that will bring together Christians from 217 national conferences in 75 countries on six continents that trace their beginning to the Anabaptist movement. MWC holds international gatherings every six years; the 2003 assembly in Zimbabwe drew 6.000 participants.
While registration numbers are climbing. global economic uncertainties have impacted the event. Assembly IS registration fees were set more than one year ago. before the economic crisis sent the Euro. Canadian dollar and Paraguayan Guarani into a downward spiral. reducing the value of registrations paid in those currencies. MWC officials anticipate that higher registration numbers will help compensate for these losses. Host conferences. colonies. cooperatives and business people in Paraguay are contributing generously to make the event possible and affordable.
Given the financial stress many MWC constituents are experiencing. MWC officials announced in late February that they are waiving the late registration fee. Registrants who have already paid the late fee may redirect the fee as a contribution to the Travel Fund or have the fee credited toward their final billing. Anyone interested in attending the global gathering can find registration information online at www.mwc-cmm.org
Paraguay 2009 will follow the two-part format of previous assemblies. Assembly Gathered. held July 14-19 in Asuncion. will feature times of corporate worship. workshops. service projects. recreation and local tours Assembly Scattered will give international guests the opportunity to visit Mennonite congregations and communities in the region before and after Assembly Gathered.
An indicator of the enthusiasm with which Mennonites in Paraguay and neighboring countries are anticipating the world assembly is the "unprecedented" number of invitations to participate in Assembly Scattered. says MWC's most recent Assembly 15 Update. International
visitors can take advantage of 30 tours. 13 prior to Assembly Gathered and 17 following. that will introduce them to Mennonites living in Argentina. Colombia. Brazil. Guatemala. Honduras. Mexico. Panama and Uruguay. as well as Paraguay. Most tours include home stays and church and community visits. as well as visits to historic sites and tourist attractions.
Paraguay is a fitting location for MWC's 15th Assembly because at least for Western Mennonites. Paraguay has a prominent place in the church's history. With dramatic accounts of refugees. rags-ta-riches accomplishments and inspiring acts of faith. the Paraguayan Mennonite story is a compelling one.
German-speaking Mennonites have been migrating to Paraguay since the 1920S. some seeking a place of isolation from the world. others see\dng a place to call home after fleeing Europe as refugees. The early immigrants who settled in western Paraguay's Gran Chaco endured unimaginable heat. lack of good drinking water. decimating diseases and the heavy physical labor necessary to literally build a new life out of a wild. isolated frontier.
Immigrant Mennonites and their descendents account for about haH of all Mennonites living in Paraguay. The other haH of this country's Mennonite population can trace their origins to the immigrants' missionary work among indigenous people and Spanish-speaking residents. Mennonite Brethren played a significant role in Paraguay's story. including initiating the Spanish-speaking outreach in Asuncion in 1955.
Almost 50 years later Paraguay's Mennonite community stepped into the political limelight when Nicanor Duarte Frutos was elected as president of Paraguay. (See related story. page 24.) His wife. Maria Gloria Penayo de Duarte. is a member of a Spanish-speaking Mennonite Brethren congregation in Asuncion.
Duarte has high hopes for what the MWC global assembly can do for her country.
For one thing. she hopes it will put to rest any preconceptions that all Mennonites are blonde-haired and blue-eyed.
"People will be looking at us and theyl1 see that being Mennonite is a faith issue," she said in a 2006 address at the Mennonite Economic Development Association annual convention.
"When I introduce myself as a Mennonite, people ask me if I speak German, if I was born in the Chaco," Duarte said. "People are often confused about this. The true evidence of being a Mennonite is the faith. 111 be so happy in 2009 because then people in Paraguay will understand. When all Mennonites gather, from different cultures, theyl1 understand the true concept of what it means to embrace the Mennonite faith."
Paraguay 2009 will also help the global Mennonite community understand and celebrate its past and present. "Mennonites in Paraguay represent a microcosm of the global Mennonite fellowship of the present," says MWC executive secretary Larry Miller. "Paraguay is the Mennonite place where the past meets the future. The historic and ethnic roots of Mennonite identity are there, but also the young emerging churches from the south out of the indigenous and Latino context."
Representatives of the eight Paraguayan Mennonite conferences, representing the three distinct cultural groups that comprise these conferences, have formed a national coordinating team for Assembly IS. Mennonite Brethren church leader and theologian Alfred Neufeld chairs the group.
The national coordinating team has selected Centro Familiar de Adoracion, a Pentecostal church facility built to accommodate 10,000, as the site for Assembly Gathered. The theme of the gathering, based on Philippians 2, combines the calls to unity and to service. Assembly Gathered will include daily services of prayer, singing, stories, drama, Bible study and sermons led by leaders from around the world that address the assembly theme, "Come together in the way of Jesus Christ." Congregational singing will be
led by an international group of musicians .
JThroughout Assembly Gathered, participants can browse the Global Church Village, exhibits clustered by continent where member conferences will give visitors a taste of life "back home" through artwork. pictures, artifacts, food, tools, music. story and drama.
Assembly IS participants will eat together artd enjoy recreational activities; special1d:ivities are planned for youth and children. Local tours will take visitoJStovisit cultural and and to see Mennonite life and work in the greater Asunclqn area.
The MWC General Council arid the organUottion's four commissions-Faith and Life Commission, Deacon Commission. Peace CommissiQn an d M ission Commission-wilbdsQ meet. Lynn Jost, currently interim president of MB Biblical Seminary, and J!d Boschtrutn.tr.S. Conference executive director, represent U.S. Mennonite n rethrenon tbeCeneral Courici1 A variety of by-invitation-only gatherings of various Mennonite groups will also be held in conj unction with Assembly IS.
Prior to Assembly Gathered, July 10-12, the Global Youth Summit will give young,adults .the > opportunity to meet for intercontinental discussions on faith and life issues relevant to young people, to do community service and for intercultural interaction. Participation in the Global Youth Summit is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 27; each MWC member conference is asked to appoint one delegate. Jessica Berg of Fresno, Calif., will represent U.S. Mennonite Brethren.
Next month CL Online (www.usmb .orglchristian-Ieader) will feature online-only pre-event coverage of Paraguay 2009. Posted articles will include a condensed history of Paraguayan Mennonites and an overview of Mennonite churches in the country.
News coverage of Assembly IS for North American Mennonites will be coordinated by Meetinghouse, the association of Canadian and U. S Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors. Meetinghouse stories from Assembly IS will be published in the September Christian Leader and will include reports from Canadian journalist Dora Dueck, who will be representing the Christian Leader and MB Herald on the Meetinghouse reporting team. Dueck is currently interim editor of the MB Herald, the Canadian Mennonite Brethren magazine.
Paraguay is home to home to 55 Mennonite Brethren congregations and 4,326 members. Victor Wall, general secretary for the International Community of Mennonite Brethren, is from Paraguay. ICOMB will be meeting in conjunction with Assembly Is .-Connie Faber, with reports fromMWC
When Nicanor Duarte Frutos, then president-elect of Paraguay, asked Ernst Bergen, a successful Mennonite Brethren entrepreneur, to join his Cabinet, Bergen was astounded.
"I replied quickly, without thinking much, 'You are completely crazy, Mr. President,'" Bergen says.
Duarte-whose wife is a member of a Spanish-language Mennonite Brethren church and friends with Bergen's wife, Lucythen spoke passionately about how Mennonites in Paraguay criticize the government and think they have better solutions.
Bergen agreed to reconsider the request, and, after consulting his family, business partners, ftiends and church, became minister of industry and commerce in August 2003, and then minister of finance in May 2005.
By the time he left office in July 2007, the Duarte administration had achieved many of its goals for Paraguay's economy, including increasing exports, reducing external debt and investing more in public works.
When Bergen joined the Paraguayan government, it was a new experience for Mennonites of the Fernheim Colony in the Chaco to have one of their own at a Cabinet-level position.
"Normally what had been done in those communities is to do what the Bible tells us, which is to pray for government," he says.
Yet, as Duarte pointed out, Mennonites criticize the government, so, "we must be willing to accept the challenge of public service," Bergen says.
Bergen felt the prayers of Mennonites as he and several other Mennonites served in top government positions Yet, for the community "it was also a lesson in humility, that not everything turns out right because Mennonites are in power," he says.
Bergen made a rule of not appointing any fellow Mennonites to government roles. "I didn't want to give the signal that Mennonites thought they would reform or take over any segment of government," he says. "On the contrary, my goal was always to be as close as possible to the general Paraguayan population."
Remembering the kindness the Paraguayan people had shown to
Challenges, rewards of public • service
Former
adviser to Paraguay's
president tells of four years as Cabinet official
Mennonite immigrants coming from Canada and Russia in the 1920S and '30S, Bergen says, "God showed me clearly that I was a person who had the privilege now to give back something to the Paraguayan people by means of serving in this role," he says.
While none of the Mennonites in the Duarte administration had been involved with political parties, Bergen says that the cooperative structure in Mennonites colonies is a political system. However, Bergen says he would "be very hesitant" to take part in any military actions.
"I am profoundly convinced that human beings do not have the right to take away or terminate another human life," says Bergen, who also opposes the death penalty and abortion.
Yet his time in government led Bergen to better understand members of the military. "They have different convictions than I do," he says. "I, for my part, had the joy of discovering it is not my duty to judge others."
Bergen also learned that lesson through the prison ministry of his congregation, Concordia Mennonite Brethren Church in Asuncion. During visits to the prison, he found many of the prisoners no different in nature than he.
"Many of them were there because they committed an error at one moment of their life suddenly, under stress, and we in society condemn them and harm them greatly," Bergen says. "God showed me that I, too, could commit errors and be there."
Bergen brought that lesson to his work in government. "One of the experiences that has formed much of my thinking is the deep awareness that I am not perfect," he says.
The apostle Paul has been a model of leadership for Bergen. "He talks about his weaknesses, but nevertheless he continues to strive ahead," Bergen says "The important thing is that our mistakes do not distance or separate us from the heart of God."
Bergen believes God provided him with coworkers in government who had strengths where he had weaknesses. They exceeded him in public speaking ability and had extensive academic study while he has what he considers to be little. He studied business administration at Columbia University in Asuncion and has a techni-
Although he had no interest in politics, Mennonite Brethren businessman Ernst Bergen, shown here in a 2003 photo signing a document certifying that he is mini st er of industry and commerce for the government of Paraguay, served in his country's Cabinet for four years. Bergen served at the request of President Nicanor Duarte Frutos, seated second from left.
cian degree in agromechanics.
Despite what he names as his weaknesses, Bergen's success in his businesses, including one that supplies most of Paraguay's electric engines and motors, has made him one of the wealthiest people in his country.
Bergen does not think it is wrong for a business owner to earn a great deal of money. Yet he believes growth for all parties involved is key, while "not growing excessively at the cost of others, not in the sense of seeking to destroy the competition."
A top principle for him has always been to question the reasons one is earning money. "Every family has to find their journey before God, and also in relation to the church," he says. "If one has excessive ambitions and one sacrifices principles because of those ambitions, one is on a wrong path.
''Whereas one who has healthy ambitions, simple ambitions and can live by Christian principles, for me what is important is why one wants to gain more," says Bergen.
Bergen questions how society defines success. "People who three months ago were considered successful on the global level, today we see them differently, and they have to see themselves differently," he says. "Some of what we consider success might in God's eyes be loss."
Bergen also shares an observation for the United States. 'l\fter elections and facing an economic crisis," he says, "my advice would be to rediscover some of the transcendence of a relationship with God and understanding of God's will for public life and public responsibility." -Celeste KennelShank, a reporter for Mennonite Weekly Review, for Meetinghouse publications.
Meetinghouse is an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ publications. Translation for the phone interview with Bergen was provided by Alfred Neufeld. The story of Bergen's time in government is told in the book Jumping Into Empty Space written by Phyllis Pellman Good based on interviews with Bergen.
Cultivating food, not coca
MCC - funded program aids 100 Colombi a n families
Manuel Mosquera, a tall man in a black rain cape, stands on the path separating two fish ponds. Mosquera, pastor of the Istrnina MB Church and coordinator of the "Food not Coca" agriculture program in the region, is pleased with what he sees.
Carrying a small container of fish food, he tosses the pellets into the water as Camilo, a young son of the pond owners, looks on with interest as the fish jostle for the food. 'We have bought ten thousand fry so far, and in the next day or so we are expecting a shipment of three thousand more," Mosquera says, noting that they are raising three different varieties of fish: tilapia, cachama (pacu), and bocachico.
These fish ponds are one of many small-scale agriculture projects supponed by the Mennonite Brethren "Food not Coca" program in the region of Choco, in the Pacific Region of Colombia. The program, now in its second year and funded by Mennonite Central Committee, provides complimentary suppon to the agricultural efforts of over 100 families.
A key component of the program is preventing the cultivation of coca, an illicit crop whose leaves are processed to create cocaine. 'There is definitely a temptation to grow coca, especially in rural communities," says Mosquera. "Farmers are finding it harder and harder to make a living with traditional food crops; planting coca is a sure way to make good money."
Call for Papers
A conference exploring 150 years of the Mennonite Brethren Church will be held In immediately preceeding Celebration 2010 the joint gathering of the u.s and Canadian MB Conferences in British
In 1860 the Mennonite Brethren Church emerged within the context of religious and social ferment In the Ukraine During the first few decades of its existence , the movement struggled with integrating Anabaptist, Pietist and Baptist influences into a distinctive identity within the larger Mennonite church body Subsequent emigrations moved the center of the church from itS birthplace to North and South America while mission efforts expanded ethnic boundaries Mennonite continU81td wrestle with their Identity amidst the push and pull of various reJIQlOU$ movements and within their diverse r-eglonaJ. cui· tural contexts The 0 iiMSSulng a call for paP.8rs to be prest)nted at th send us a one-page summary Of the the yduwish to eXplore. TIle general theme, may be ad ftQm theological, SOCiological, hIStorical orrelated 4
taUlld • .,. 1IIIIIRI8IY of OW tIIemt ot<a paper WillI tll6ttaetal tIIeIi1e 1lIIY lie addreatd from , ••lllIlal !pIgIca1. II",,", __ fGt Mmllsl 1a "' 18, •.
Or email: reddig@mbconf.,dj
Coca has only been present in the area for less than four years, having moved into the region following massive aerial fumigation coca eradication campaigns supported by Plan Colombia in southern Colombia. But it has quickly become the most lucrative crop, causing a mass shift from production of traditional food crops to the cultivation of coca
The production of coca in the area has brought many changes, both demographic and economic. As the coca economy inflates local prices, area farmers find that their traditional crops now no longer create enough income to sustain themselves and their families, thus the allure of coca cultivation. The coca trade is entirely controlled by the illegally armed groups who have moved into the region, bringing with them a rash of violence, displacements and massacres as they fight to control the fertile land and the crops grown therein.
Families from each of the 14 communities where Mennonite Brethren churches are located participate in the program. While the first group of participants is also church members, new participants from the community have been added to the program this year. Pastors in each community help select the families that meet the basic criteria to join the program.
Participants are chosen based on need, and the type of agriculture project initiated depends on their previous experience. If they have raised pigs in the past, then pigs would be the project of choice for that family or community. Current endeavors include raising pigs and chickens, fish ponds, beekeeping for the production of honey and cultivating plantain, yucca, a starchy root crop, and fruit such as papaya.
The project does not provide participants with money, but rather with the materials needed to start, be it seed for crops or animals such as piglets, chicks or fry. If participants already have land planted with specific crops, assistance in the form of fertilizer and labor for maintenance is provided.
Jesus Alfredo Benitez inherited several plots of land from his father, but the rainforest was encroaching and yield had been down
"The support made a big difference for my farm," says Benitez. "Without maintenance it would be a jungle."
Fertilizer brought non-producing plants back into production, and Benitez has been able to bring regular harvests of guava, com, plantain and yucca into town to sell.
Education on sustainable practices is an essential element of the project. Mosquera encourages natural methods of farming, with a focus on maintaining healthy soil and the production of a quality product Rather than using chemicals that deplete the soil to kill unwanted underbrush, maintenance is done by hand with machetes, allowing the leaves of weeds to fall on the ground and decompose, adding nutrition to the soil.
Mosquera says at first some families planted yucca and plantain to feed to their pigs. "I had to educate them to use the food to sell in their community and to collect the waste, such as plantain peels, for their animals," he says. 'The first to eat must be the family, and second the pigs. How can we have families going hungry and pigs eating the food intended for human consumption?"
Four of the church communities have formed cooperatives involving all the families in the congregation, to raise pigs or chickens "Production is still not enough to enjoy the benefits" says Mosquera, "but they are learning how to work together, how to share responsibilities."
The MB church in the town of Pie de Pepe, located in an active conflict zone, is one such congregation: 10 families from the church and two from the community have formed a cooperative to raise chickens. Unemployment is a problem as many people cannot go to work in their fields because of the presence of illegal armed groups.
'The chicken project has been a great blessing," says Aurelina Borga, pastor of the Pie de Pepe MB church. 'We are the only people in town who are in the chicken business, and we have been able to sell a lot of chickens. The people from the community are happy that we have started this business."
An added benefit of the chicken project for the members of the cooperative is the availability of chickens not only to sell, but to bring home to their families to eat on occasion 'f\lthough we had experience in raising free range chickens before, large scale chicken produCtion was new to us," says Borga, '1\t first 35 of our first 100 chickens died."
Manuel Mosquera, Mennonite Brethren pastor and coordinator of the "Food not Coca" agricultural project, surveys one of three fish ponds owned by a local farmer, Ereberto.
After improving their technique they enjoyed more success. until recently when 30 chickens were stolen. Nonetheless. the community has high hopes for the future of their agriculture project. "Right now. instead of dividing the earnings from chicken sales between co-op members. we plan to reinvest the money in more chickens." Borga says. 'We are thinking of buying a pig one day when we have enough money in our budget to do so."
While the families who participate in the program are not able to live off of the results of the program. this is not the goal of the program. "Our vision is to improve the living standards of the participants. to help them keep farming food crops and keep them from getting involved in the production of coca." says Mosquera.
At first the farmers may not see large returns for their hard work. but the hope is that over time. people like the families involved in the Pie de Pepe chicken cooperative. with a steadily increasing number of animals. will be able to provide for their families and improve their living situation. without being tempted to plant coca.
Mosquera continues to dream up new ideas. He is planning on encouraging people without plots of land for large-scale cultivation-those living in towns-to begin small urban gardens in their own yards.
"It will involve more education." says Mosquera. 'We need to help people realize that if they can provide their own green onions. tomatoes. cucumbers and squash. that will have a significant impact on their daily costs. Even if they aren't able to earn money by selling what their gardens produce. they can save money and use it on something else."
Mosquera continues. 'J\n integral part of our identity as Anabaptists is service. and that is why we see this kind of community project as part of our mission as a church. While Jesus was on earth he spent his life serving the people. He is no longer physically here." says Mosquera. "and has left us with the command to continue serving those in need in our communities. We can serve in many areas-in health. in agriculture." - Shalom Wiebe. Mennonite Central Committee service worker
Jesus Alfredo Benitez receives support in the form of land maintenance and fertilizer from the "Food not Coca" agriculture project. Benitez grows corn, guavas, plantain and yucca and travels to his land by river daily whenever one of his crops is in the harvest season. He sells his produce in the town of Istmina.
Wichita church breaks ground
First MB Church. Wichita. Kan .• broke ground on a new $5.9 million. 775-seat worship center Feb 22. The project also includes renovation work. including a revamped nursery area. and will be joined to the current building.
A worship center was part of the church's master plan when the current facility was built some 20 years ago. Ironically, the right time to build coincided with a national economic downturn: The launch Sunday for the congregation's capital campaign was scheduled for the same week in October that the stock market took a nosedive.
But pastor Brent Warkentin says the economy really has nothing to do with God's purpose for the church. "Do you think God is ever surprised? Do you think this caught him off guard?" Warkentin asks. So the congregation moved ahead with plans to build. As if in confirmation. giving at First MB has remained strong, even surpassing previous records.
The current sanctuary. what Warkentin describes as "a big. flat floor." houses three full services for this congregation that looks to grow. "Heaven's not full yet." Warkentin says.
The new worship center will enable them to move to two services and teach and motivate more people to go out and bring others to Christ. Warkentin says. but "we're not going to become a buildingcentered church." The current space will be used in a variety of ways-youth, recreation. potlucks. receptions and classes-once the congregation moves into the new space.
Groundbreaking was celebrated during each of the three Sunday services. with intergenerational groups of 12 people at each service turning shovels. Guests included Tim Sullivan. district minister for the Southern District Conference. and Jon Wiebe. CEO of MB Foundation. as well as representatives from the construction company and architect. Project completion is expected in spring 20Io.-Myra Holmes
by Paul Bartel
Recession-proof living
Are we preoccupied with money?
In the wake of the Sept. n, 2001, terrorist attacks, Florida Governor Jeb Bush encouraged Americans and Floridians to do their part to help America: 'We need to respond quickly so people regain confidence and consider it their patriotic duty to go shopping, go to a restaurant, take a cruise, travel with their family. Frankly, the terrorists win if Americans don't go back to normalcy." Only two weeks after 9/n, Governor Bush understood civil responsibility as spending.
Eight years later, in response to a worldwide economic crisis, many Americans are suggesting quite the opposite. On a Today Show segment, a couple that is under foreclosure and
the subsequent budget or the spending habits of the
Sometimes we are quick to call out the CALl"V;""".llI ish spender as sinful, while we ourselves have money to take over Jesus' previous reign as Lord of our In our denomination, I often wonder if I-''''''''''\..UI money has become the largest economic sin we us Mennonites pride ourselves in saving money spenders and simple livers. Meanwhile, our remain on money. Just like accumulation can allow over as lord, so can the obsession with saving.
Just like the purchase of things can be a way of can obsessive
[] \ Vhil e what we do with our moncy is impol1ant, our econom ic stewa rds hip be gin s in our heart s ;.lnd minds .
struggling financially is asked what they should have done differently. Their response is simple-we should have saved money. What do we do in a struggling economy: spend or save? That's the question. Or is it?
As Christians, our relationship to money and the economy is different from the world's. Jesus reminds us that money and wealth can be the thing that most distracts us from God and the kingdom values that Jesus promotes. How can we forget Matthew 19:23-24 where Jesus compares a rich man entering God's kingdom to a camel going through a needle's eye?
Our Confession of Faith (Article 15) puts it bluntly: "To confess Jesus as Lord transforms values. Jesus warns that we cannot serve both God and wealth. Preoccupation with money and possessions, self-indulgent living and eagerness to accumulate wealth for personal advantage are not in keeping with the teaching of Scripture."
So what is the value difference between God's kingdom and the world's?
It seems that Jesus' radical statements about wealth have more to do with our focus, our motivation, than they do with our account balance. While what we do with our money is important, our economic stewardship begins first in our hearts and minds.
I love the word our Confession uses: preoccupation. Preoccupation with wealth can occur no matter where our money lies. Preoccupation with money is a sin committed in many realms. It occurs when we're saving for the boat or the bigger house. It occurs when we're paralyzed by fear instilled in us by the media, and we bury our money as a response. It occurs when we give generously to the church, only to respond by seeking to manipulate
recession, the the church
economy is the same. This selfishness weakens our desire to give to the poor, to practice mutual aid and to give generously and sacrificially to the church and other ministries. Because we are part of God's economy, we do not fall into the sin of selfishness where both spending and saving can potentially lead us.
Recently I was talking with a friend who owns a small business. He said that during a time of prayer, he asked God what to do about the recession. He heard God saying, "Don't participate." Don't participate? Now we can take that to mean many different things, but I think my friend is exactly right. As followers of Christ, we do not participate in the economy in the same way as others
If we are people who are not preoccupied with money, we are not driven by the same fear that drives others. Instead, we live with Jesus as Lord, and he says not to worry about what you will eat or drink or wear (Matt 6:25). As people who put our trust in God rather than money, our emotions no longer ride on the Wall Street rollercoaster. As people who look at everything we have as God's, we are no longer living within the world's economy, but God's.
This month, may we choose not to participate in the recession. May we give more generously than ever before, without fear. May we not fall into sinful and selfish traps on either end of the spending/saving spectrum. And may we experience shalom because we have made Jesus Lord rather than money.
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Reading The Shack
A bestseller prompts us to rethink Go d
The Shack has been *1 on the New York Times bestseller list since last June. You can buy the book at most bookstores including Borders and Barnes & Noble, even at Wal-Mart and Costco. Current estimates are that the book has sold over one million copies.
William P. Young, the author, is the son of Canadian missionaries who lived and worked on the island of New Guinea. He was raised among a Stone Age tribe where he never seemed to fit in Young suffered serious trauma as a child at boarding school and felt disconnected from his parents, who had no clue what he was experiencing. Then as a young adult Young self-inflicted more damage. It took him II years to work through the destruction and hurt he felt. This book is Young's attempt to explain the process of healing and of finding forgiveness.
The Shack is a work of fiction. The story revolves around a father named Mack whose youngest daughter goes missing during
high with copies and bought several to take back home with me.
Yes, in one sense the book is controversial. During my first reading I came to sections where I would say, "Oh-oh, some people aren't going to like this!" I've decided this book is not for people who have all their theological ducks in a certain order and therefore are not open to being challenged by new ways of thinking about God.
For example, some people object to God being portrayed as a black woman. When asked why he did this, Young says that he wants people to reconsider
D I've decided this book is not for people who have all their theological ducks in a certain order and theretore are not open to b eing ch;;lllenged by new way s of thinkin g ;about God.
their preconceptions of God. It certainly made me do that. Now sometimes when I think of God, the image of Ethel Waters comes to mind, and I a family camping trip. Evidence in a wilderness shack points to the possibility of a brutal murder, but there is no body For four years Mack struggles with this "great darkness ." Then one day he receives a note from God asking him to come back to that awful shack for a weekend. Reluctantly, he does so and walks back into a world of nightmares and deep anxiety. However, Mack's experiences as he encounters God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit change his world forever.
Early attempts to have the book published by an established publishing company were not successful. Christian publishers found it too controversial, "too edgy." Secular publishers thought it was too Christian, "too much Jesus" Together with several friends, Young self-published the book.
I first came across The Shack while visiting family in Canada.
My sister-in-law told me that the book had been extremely helpful as she came to terms with her brother's sudden and unexpected death. When I picked up the book, I was impressed by Eugene Petersen's endorsement on the front cover: 'This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his It's that good!" Since I had time, I began to read and found the book hard to put down Later that week I found a local Christian bookstore that had a table piled
remember her singing, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he cares for me," at a Billy Graham crusade
At another level, I keep wondering why so many people find the book to be so helpful. Obviously it strikes a chord, a deep need, for many. I've read The Shack several times. Each time it gives me a new understanding of how God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit work together in helping us get through the tough times in our lives. It is reassuring to know that we have such a caring and loving support system available to us at all times. It is comforting to know that when we experience darkness, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
When asked what the shack in the story represents, Young answers: "It is a metaphor, really, for the decrepit house of the soul that we build over time. It's where we hide our pain, our lostness, our secrets and our addictions. Our lies are the fabric that holds the house together and we decorate it with the that we want other people to see."
The book brings the message that God loves us in spite of our shortcomings and failures. God cares for and invites us to come into his presence to experience the power of his forgiveness, healing and restoration. Maybe that's why the book is so popular.
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BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP
Edmond, Okla. (Memorial Roadl - Ryan Haas was baptized and received as a member March 15. Leslie and Tabitha Haas, Mackenzie Haftman and Barbara Wolf were baptized and received as members March 8 Tracy and Tamra Hartman and Andrew and Lynsey Janzen were also received as members.
Newton, Kan. (Koerner Heightsl-Andrea and Kaylee Schale were baptized March 8.
Hesston, Kan -Aaron Kroeker, Amelia Kroeker, Rebecca Reimer and Melissa Reimer were baptized March 1.
Blaine, Wash. (Birch Bay Biblel-Jeff, Jennifer and Jessica Wheeler, Tifany Clark, Lori Jo Allison and Kristi Martin were baptized and received as members Feb. 22. Paige Warkentin, Steve Martin and Jason Clark were also received as members
Clovis, Calif. (College Communityl-Sean O'Neil and Robert Cover were baptized and received as members Feb. 22 Joungmin Sur was received as an associate member.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl-Jennifer Ayres, Pam Bradford, Moriah Dickerhoof, Mercy Dickerhoof, Rebekah Dickerhoof and Jennifer Hubbard were baptized the weekend of Feb. 14- 15
Kingsburg, Calif. (Iglesia Agua Vival-Two people were recently baptized.
Cordell, Okla. (BibleI-Bud and Linda Nelson were received as members Feb. 1.
Enid, Okla.-Roger and Wendi Betz were baptized and received as members Feb 1.
FELLOWSHIP
Clovis, Calif. (College Communityl-A small group met March 9 to paint eggs and make cards Cards were sold at the West Coast MCC Relief Sale and given to female prisoners to encourage them.
Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl-A game night was held March 8.
Littleton, Colo. (Belleview Communityl-A new men's ministry will be hosting quarterly men 's breakfasts beginning March 7, Huron, SD (Bethesdal-A one-day men's retreat March 7 included explosives, an archery expert, fire truck, taxiderm ist, broom ball , carpet pool and ping pong
West Jordan, Utah (Shadow Mountainl-An "'ronman Chili Dinner" March 7 provided a way for men to "experience God in a manly way."
Bakersfield, Calif. (Heritage Biblel - Men held a "Winter Sports Retreat" March 6-8.
Gettysburg, SD (Grace Biblel-Adults went bowling March 6.
Wichita, Kan. (Firstl- March 4 was a talent night at the church, one of a series of church family nights Seniors gathered to watch the movie Flywheel Feb. 19.
Hesston, Kan.-Families went bowling Feb 28.
Grant, Neb. (New Life Fellowshipl-Men held a cook-off Feb. 22
Freeman, SD (Salemi-Church women hosted a "Family Fun Night" potluck and games Feb. 22
Meno, Okla. (New Hopedalel-A sweetheart banquet Feb. 15 featured comedian Bob Smiley. A 60s-themed Valentine supper was held Feb. 8.
Hillsboro, Kan.-A family movie event Feb 8 featured two new Veggie Tales movies.
MINISTRY
Hesston, Kan.-A "Christian Rock and Worship" concert at the church March 28 raised funds for the local homeless shelter.
Huron, SD (Bethesclal-Youth pastor Dirk Helmling led a group of 23 from churches in Huron, Gettysburg and Sioux Falls, SD, on a mission trip to Liberia March 27 -April 1. The team worked at a crusade to train pastors, volunteered at a children's home and provided vacation Bible school and soccer tournaments
Kingsburg, CaUf.-Youth spent spring break in Traver, Calif., on a short-term mission trip. They did work projects and helped the MB church there, Templo de Oracion, with vacation Bible school.
Hillsboro, Kan.-"Cinderella's Closet" made donated prom formals available to girls March 21 Nineteen youth and adults participated in a mission trip to inner-city Dallas, Texas, the week of March 14.
Minot, ND (Bible Fellowshipl-Volunteers are helping with a Good News Club, a Bible club for children, at a local elemen tary school.
PROCLAMATION
Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl-Some 150 volunteers worked to produce an Easter pageant, "Three Days Later: with performances April 4 and 5 Henderson, Neb.-Don Morris, director of Mission USA, is the scheduled speaker April 5. Ken Ediger, pastor of North Oak Community Church, Hays, Kan., was the guest speaker for a spring Bible conference Feb 22 -23.
Harvey, ND- Al Whittinghill, from Ambassadors for Christ, was the guest speaker for a three-day Spiritual Awakening Gathering March 27 -29.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl-March 7-15 was a mission emphasis. Larry Walker, missionary to Guatemala, spoke on the theme, "Unfinished: Completing the Task of Global Mission " New missionaries preparing to go to Portugal, Hungary and Kenya were honored at a dinner March 15, as were those who have served faithfully for many years.
TEACHING/NURTURE
Edmond, Okla, (Memorial Roadl-A women's health workshop March 30 presented ways to reduce the risks of heart disease, Clovis, Calif. (College Communityl-An adult education option, "Extending the Sermon," gives opportunity to discuss the morning 's sermon , Newton, Kan. (Koerner Heightsl-A new prayer group meets monthly to pray for friends who don't know Christ, for those persecuted for their faith and for local ministries.
WORKERS
Edmond, Okla. (Memorial Roadl-Pastoral couple Paul and Gladys Klassen were officially "sent" on sabbatical March 15.
Reedley, Calif.-Milt Friesen is serving as interim choir director, as of March 1
Gettysburg, SD (Grace Biblel - Dick Nickel, former pastor of Bible Fellowship Church, Rapid City, SD, has agreed to serve as interim pastor.
Ferndale, Wash. (Good News Fellowshipl-Eric Young is the new director of youth ministries. His wife is Savannah.
WORSHIP
Lenoir, NC (Bushtownl- The women 's missionary circle hosted a 'Women of Praise" service March 29. Women brought donations in the amount of their shoe size.
Lustre, Mont,-During a "Seed Dedication Service" this spring, farmers will bring samples of the seeds they will plant, and the congregation will pray for a good harvest. High school graduates will also be dedicated as "seeds" planted in the world.
YOUTH
Freeman, SD (Salemi-Beautiful Unique Girls held a beach party at the church for teen girls March 8.
Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl-Beautiful Unique Girls held an event for teen girls March 3.
Cordell, Okla. (Biblel- Teen girls attended a Beautiful Unique Girls beach party March 2
Rapid City, SD (Bible Fellowshipl - Middle and high school guys went to a hockey game Feb 27
Hays, Kan. (North Oak)- The church hosted Beautiful Un ique Girl eve nts for middle and high school girls Feb 23-24
Newton, Kan. (Koerner Heights)- Youth hosted a "Global Gala" fundra iser Feb 21, with dinner, a variety show and silent auction Guests were invited to wear international cloth ing from mission trips or other travel.
Reedley, CaUf.-Junior hig h guys had an overnigh t video game night Feb 6-7, whi le j un ior hig h girls had a pajama sleepover
Deaths
BISEl, JUHREE GAYLE PIEl, Okeene, Okla., of Okeene MB Church, was born March 14, 1939, to Ewalt H and Chloris Bettie Sargent Piel, and died Dec. 2, 2008, at the age of 69 On Oct. 23, 1975, she marr ied George W Bisel, who survives She is also survived by stepchi ldren, Theresa and husband Mike Wigge ns of Tulsa, Okla , Kelly and wife, Karen Bisel of Chandler, Okla , and Neal and wife, Leigh Anne Bisel of Okeene ; one brother, Larry Piel, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter
BOWE, RUBY, Reedley, California, member of the Dinuba (Calif.) MB Church, was born Sept. 19, 1922, to W. W and Kathrine Thiesen near Reedley and died Feb 12, 2009, at the age of 86. In 1951, she married John E Bowe, who predeceased her. She is survived by two brothers, John Suderman of Reedley, and Dave Thiesen and wife Eve lyn of Arizona; one sister, Annie and husband Jake Enns of Dinuba; one sister- in-law, Mary Thiesen of Reedley, and 18 nieces and nephews
BURCHFIELD, JEAN, Wichita , Kan , of First MB Church, Wichita, was born July 13, 1950, in Dodge City, Kan , and died Dec 28, 2008, at the age of 58 On July 12, 1986, she married Samuel Burchfield, who survives She is also survived by two daughters, Eve Plummer and Deborah Blessent; one brother, William Willis ; three sisters, Mary Bucher, Helen McDonald and Wilma Moore, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild
DUERKSEN, MARTHA LOVISA WIEN S, Hillsboro, Kan., member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Feb. 7, 1924, to Peter J. and Mary Eitzen Wiens near Ingalls, Kan., and died Jan. 15, 2009, at the age of 84 On Oct. 15, 1943, she married Wesley Duerksen, who predeceased her Dec. 28, 1997. She is survived by three sons, Ron and wife Fran of Lehigh, Kan ., Pete and wife Caro l of Lindsborg, Kan., and Dean and wife Michelle of Newton, Kan ; one daughter, Jan and husband Herman Franz of Wichita; one sister, Edna Kroeker; one sisterin -law, Ethel Bartel; one brother- in-law, Paul Heier, 14 grandch ildren and 11 great-grandchildren
FRIESEN, MILDRED, Hillsboro, Kan , member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Oct. 6, 1911, to Andrew and Julia Batthauer Heinze in Dorrance, Kan , and died Jan. 20, 2009, at the age of 97. On Oct. 2, 1932, she married Herbert Friesen, who predeceased her She is survived by two daughters, Donna and husband Francis Richert of Lane, Kan., and Carol Stevens of Chimayo, NM; two brothers, Paul and Robert; two sisters, Ju ne and Norma; one sister- in-law, Barbara, nine grandc hildren, six great-grandch ildren and one greatgrea t grandchild
GREGORY, MARCUS LEON, Buh ler, Kan , member of Buh ler MB Church , was bo rn Feb 9, 1929, to Cla ir and
Mabe l Hi ll Gregory in Barnsda ll, Okla , and died Feb. 2, 2009, at the age of 79. On Nov 22, 1950, he marri ed Dorothy Scott, who survives He is also survived by four sons, Mark and wife Valerie of Buh ler, Tim and wife Elaine of Springfield, Mo , Jonat han of Li ncol n, Neb , and David and wife Be th of Cornelius, NC; one daughter, Sara h and husba nd Todd Kuykenda ll of En id, Okla ; two brothers, Clair, Jr. , of Barnsda ll, Okla , and Ted of Bartlesville, Okla ; one sister, Joy Kuhn of Bartlesville, 12 grandchi ldren and two great-grandc hildren
JACOBSON MATILDA EDNA, Kingsburg , Calif , me mbe r of Kingsb urg MB Churc h, was bo rn Sept. 3, 1923, to John and An na Pen ner in Aurora , Neb , and died Feb. 28,2009, at the age of 86 On June 30, 1956, she married Roy Jacobson, who survives She is also survived by nephews John and Ken Penner, step-nephew Charles Lewis, and step - nieces Roletta Stark and Patty Brehm.
PANKRATZ, DOROTHY, Hil lsboro, Ka n , member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born June 13, 1931, to Herman J and Sara B Eitzen Funk in Hillsboro and died Feb 4, 2009, at the age of 77. On May 27,1952, she married Allen W. Pankratz, who survives She is also survived by one son, Jere l of Hillsboro; two daughters, Barbara and husband Lonnie Th iessen of Wichita, Kan , and Krista and husband Max He inrichs of Hi llsboro; two sisters, Ruby Graumann of Hillsboro, and Lue lla Gunther of Reedley, Ca li f , eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
PATZKOWSKY, MARLYSS, Okeene, Okla., member of the Okeene MB Church, was born Nov 20, 1921, to John C. and Martha Wahl Neu feld and died Ja n 10, 2009, at the age of 87 On Dec 13, 1941, she married · Arlo Patzkowsky, who survives She is also survived by one son, Rudy and wife Verla of Okeene ; one daughter, Jana and husband Ted Schultz of Okee ne, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
SCHROEDER, ARTHUR D., Buhler, Kan., member of Buhler MB Church, was born June 28, 1945, to Arthur and Pearl Koop Schroeder in Hillsboro, Kan , and died Jan 26, 2009, at the age of 63 On May 11 , 1974, he married Elva Crawford, who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Gary and wife Jennifer of Buhler, and Doug and wife Gayle of Hutchinson, Kan.; three daughters, Glenda and husband Jaime Mills of Riesel, Texas, Jill and husband Ty Anneler of Broken Arrow, Okla , and Bonnie and husband Ben Bai ley of Buhler; two brothers, Arlyss and Richard; three sisters, Gloria Friesen, Eldene Schroeder and Sylvia Walters, and 10 grandch ildren.
UNRUH, MARSHA RUTH, Wichita, Kan., of First MB Church, Wichita , was born Sept. 9, 1921, to Roy and Nellie Baldwin Chism in Buffalo, Okla , and died Dec. 9, 2008, at the age of 87. On Sept. 18, 1948, she married LaVurne Unruh, who survives She is also survived by one son, Bradley and wife Maxine of Wichita ; one daughter, Janice and husband J Craig Davidson of Mississ ippi; one brother, Roy Jr. (Bud] of Idaho , and 11 grandch ildren.
WALL, WI LMA CATHARINE DICK, Kingsburg, Cali f., member of Kingsburg MB Church, was born May 28, 1926, to missionaries John and Ti na Dick in Shang hang , Ch ina, and died Jan. 19,2 00 9, at the age of 82 On Ja n 2, 1948, she married David G Wa ll, who survives She is also survived by t hree da ughters, Judi and hu sband Don Wilkins on , Jea n and husband Ed
Re ime r, and Margie and husband Rick Kuffel; one sister, Verna Ric hert Ens, eight grandchildren and four great-grandCh ildren
YOUNT, OLA MARIE, Leno ir, NC, of West End MB Church, Lenoir, was born Sept. 21, 1933, to Dewitt and Mildred Danner Ramsey in Catawba County, NC, and died Oct. 30, 2008, at the age of 75. She married Earl Yount, who survives She is also survived by one son, Earl, Jr.; two daughters, Kathy Yount and Cynthia Mitche ll, and one grandson
.. " C Lea rin gH OUSE
Senior Pastor: Senio r Pastor: Salem MB Church of rural Bridgewater, SO, is seek i ng a Senior Pastor. The pastor is to provide spiritual and pastoral leadership to a group of approximately 60 believers The pastor must have a heart to reach out into the rural community and be aware of the challenges of this ministry. Located 45 minutes southwest of Sioux Falls, SO, the church is situated in a vibrant farming community. A job description is available upon request. Send res ume or inquiry to the chairman of the search committee : Richard Walter, 26865 433rd Ave , Bridgewater, SO 57319 or e-ma il rwalterlilunitelsd com 13/3)
Lead Pastor: Hillsboro MB Church, a congregation of 400+, is see king a lead pastor with a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. The successful candidate is expected to bring spiritua l vision and direction for the church's m ission and programs, have positive re l ational skills and a strong preaching/teachi ng ministry. The lead pastor is one who desires to lead, develop and partner with other members of the pastoral staff and lay leadership team This intergenerational church is located in a progressive college town Seminary graduate preferred. Please send resume to Pastoral Search Committee, Hillsboro MB Church, 300 Prairie Pointe, Hillsboro, KS 67063 or e-mail inquiries to: hmbcsearchlilyahoo com.112/12)
Faculty: Faculty position opening soon in the Marriage, Fam ily & Ch ild Counseling department at MB Biblical Seminary Jo in the team at MB Biblical Seminary's campus in Fresno, Calif., a community rooted in the Anabaptist and evangelical traditions This pos ition will be at the assistant or associate professor level. In add it ion to a strong emphasis on the integration of counseling and the Christian faith, the seminary's MFCC program includes a pri ority of helping students grow in a wide range of areas not l im ited to academic achievement and counseling skills Teaching and mentoring are prioritized but research is encouraged MFCC faculty functions as part of an interdisciplinary team with Bible, Theology and Miss ions faculty For complete details and res ume information, visit www mbseminary.edu/ employment. 18/11)
The Mennonite Heritage Cruise and its international resource team, including historian Paul Toews and genealogist Alan Peters, invites you to join the 15th annual cr uise in Ukraine on the Dnieper River and Bl ack Sea in late September 2009. This has been the ultimate 15-day roots discovery experience for 2,500 descendants of Russ ian Mennoni tes For deta i ls of the cruise Google " Mennonite Heri tage Cru ise " or phone Marina Unger 1-800387 - 1488 , ext. 2827 14/5)
by Ph lip Wiebe
What I say about me
What my cell phone ringtone says about me
to an article I read, people's cell phone ringtones say something about them. One woman set her ingtone as a love song that calls to mind her wonderful husband. Someone else got his ringtone from Clint Eastwood's movie, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, because the famous theme song amuses his friends. Another guy created several Barack Obama ringtones for the noble purpose of "annoying his mostly Republican coworkers."
You can tell that the woman's ringtone reflecrs her loving personality, the movie guy's ringtone expresses his sense of humor and the Obama man's ringtone acl)ieves his life-goal of irritating people. That's what their ringtones say about them.
This makes me wonder: What does my ringtone say about me? It's a pleasant arpeggio of chimes. Does this say I'm a courteous sort who doesn't feel the cultural compulsion to annoy people? Or does it say I'm boring because I don't have some signature ring like, Play that Funky Music White Boy? Perhaps it reveals something deeper, such as, "I spent eight seconds picking a tone because all 1 really want my ringtone to say is, My Phone is Ringing."
I'd heard there are other things that say something about me. My car, for example. The one who drives a Lexus says that
=--,
who dresses in casual khaki or denim says, "I work hard but also take time to relate and reflect." What 1say as 1step out the door and head to my office is, "Thank goodness 1 remembered to wear pants!" That's not a cheap joke about old guys; it's a cheap joke about me. I've had nightmares about leaving the house with no pants since second grade.
The way 1 express my faith says something about me . This has changed over the years. 1 showed my faith as a kid by wearing short pants, wing-tipped shoes and a skinny tie, which said, ''I'm a total church nerd who attends four services a week." As a teen during the Jesus Movement, 1 wore big hair, bell-bottomed jeans and carried a large Bible with a fuzzy cover. This said, "I don't know what the deal is with the fuzzy Bible cover either, so don't ask."
During my early 20S 1 went through a period when 1 told everyone how they should practice their faith, because at the time 1 was fortunate enough to know everything. What this said
(:\ly ringtonc) j" a plc;;lsant arpeggio of chime s . Do es thi s sa y I'm ..1 courteollS "oft who doc)n't tee! the cultur..l1 compulsion to annoy people?
he is a classy person who appreciates quality and comfort. The owner of a giant pickup with balloon tires declares she is an outdoorsy type who might flatten your Prius. Similarly, what 1 say by driving a generic silver Honda Accord is, "I am driving a generic silver Honda Accord, because 1 couldn't afford both a Lexus and a house so 1 chose the house."
Which reminds me, my house also says something about me. The owners of a beach house say, 'We need a second home that's twice as big and fancy as your main house to show we can get away from our hectic urban lifestyle even though we won't." The owners of a country villa say, 'We want to be close to the land and have enough space to ride our horses through the fields and in our giant master bathroom ." What my house says is, "Creak Squeak. Paint me. Wait 'till 1 surprise you with the next big thing youl1 have to fix " 1 really do like my house, but sometimes 1 wish it would keep quiet.
My clothes say something about me. The one who comes to work wearing crisp slacks and a blazer declares. "I am a professional and will give 100 percent effort to every task." Someone
about me was, ''I'm so obnoxious 1 even annoy myself, but 111 be better once 1 get married and stop knowing everything."
These days 1 don't wear wingtips or big hair, and 1 no longer carry a fuzzy Bible. And since 1 know less than 1 ever did, 1 try to avoid telling people how to live. Thank goodness There are lots of new Christian accessories 1 could wear or display and plenty of ways 1 could tell people what to do without actually doing it myself. But what those things would say about me might not be so great.
1 want to be a guy someone can talk to rather than some dude with a cool ringtone. 1 want my good attitude and thoughtful words to say more about me than how I dress. I'd prefer that my courteous driving would display more about my faith than a fish symbol on the bumper.
Because when you look beneath the outward stuff, it's me who really says the most about me.
-'el Comment on this column by going to usmb.orglchristian-Ieader
Budget busters
When the difference between what we say and what we
do matters
W:say that our congregations should financially support the denomination. At least that's wh at 87 percent of Mennonite Brethren churchgoers said who responded to a conference-wide survey conducted by Les Stahlke. Stahlke carried out the survey in 2006 as part of his work as a consultant to the Leadership Board as they drafted the current U.S. Conference bylaws. If congregations would contribute the requested amount per member, the U.S. Conference, district conferences and denominational ministries would be on financially solid ground.
But when it comes right down to it, Mennonite Brethren congregations don't financially support the denomination. The most recent Church Giving Report, released at the end of February and covering the first nine months of the current U.S. Conference fiscal year, shows that only 65 of the 200 U.S. Mennonite Brethren congregations have contributed something to the U.S. Conference. My guess is that church giving to our denominational agencies- MB Biblical Seminary, MBMS International, Tabor College and Fresno Pacific University-follows a similar pattern.
I've attended enough church business meetings to know why congregations struggle to contribute their fair share to the denomination and its ministries . The needs of the local congregation are right
will need to under spend its budget by about $100,000.
The news story on page seven outlines how conference leaders anticipate making these cuts. The two U.S. Conference ministries that account for a significant portion of the budget-almost 60 percent-are the Christian Leader. the monthly magazine you are reading right now that is sent to members and attendees of U.S. Mennonite Brethren churches. and Mission USA. the
. 1\ext month you will not receiv e a Chri stian L(!ader.
The ;\·by isslle has been cancel1ed as a cost-savi ng
church planting and church renewal ministry of the conference. So it's natural that cuts will be made in these
two areas.
Don Morris. Mission USA director. says that savings will be realized as some partnership projects are concluding and as some new projects will not be funded at the level first anticipated and as others are delayed. measure. before us-paying the heating and cooling bills. replacing old or inadequate facilities. purchasing Sunday school curriculum and appropriately compensating pastors. The needs of our community are staring us in the face-unemployment. poverty. single-parent families and people who don't yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The needs of the denomination seem far away. so we first take care of our congregation's needs and budget for local outreach projects Then we divvy out the remaining money to conference ministries.
This giving pattern has dogged U.S. Mennonite Brethren ministries for a long time and conference leaders have addressed the situation in a variety of ways. But the trend continues-most of us don't send money to fund denominational ministries and those congregations that do donate send less than we are asked to contribute.
This creates an annual funding problem that has been magnified this year by the current recession . In early March. U.S . Conference leaders determined that even if church contributions remain consistent for the last three months of the fiscal year (March. April and May) and other fundraising is successful, the conference
Next month you will not receive a Christian Leader The May issue has been cancelled as a cost-saving measure. This decision has a domino effect. It involves the printer and design firm with which we do business. It impacts ministries that highlight their work through advertisements. I appreciate the gracious understanding of these folks regarding this decision.
We look forward to publishing in a future issue the essays and articles commissioned for the May focus on the sanctity of human life. Although there will not be a print magazine, we do plan on posting new news stories and feature essays at CL Onlinewww.usmb.orglchristian-leader
Cutting budgets-at home, at work and at church-is never fun. The things we plan to do are good and worthy of our time, energy and dollars In spite of the budget challenges congregations may be facing, I encourage churches to support the U.S Conference and the ministries of our denomination. The motto that Kim West adopted when she raised funds to buy a car for her ftiend would serve local congregations well as we think about whether or not to contribute to the U.S Conference: "Not many of us have a lot of money. but a lot of us have a little. Give what you can " - Connie Faber
Mennonite Brethren Loan Fund offers Term Certificates for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA)! A partnership with GoldStar Trust Company allows the investor to set up a Traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA and instruct GoldStar to invest in a MB Loan Fund certificate.
We
On average, a person spends more than forty years accumulating assets, ten years conservin g what has been earned, but not even two hou rs planning for the distribution of those assets.
The chaos that often occurs following the death of a loved one can be burdensome. This heavy load can be eased, however, through the implementation of an estate plan including a will and possibly even a trust. MB Foundation can help!
Table of Contents
___Beauty
MBMS International Spring 2009
Editor In ChIef
Managing Editor Natalie Binder
Graphic Design Mark Klassen
-J1ohnEnnn
PauIOyck
Olivla Friesen
MBMS INTERNATIONAL VISION Holistic church planting that transforms communities among the least reached.
MBMS INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY Mobilizing churches through intentional discipleship in experiential mission that contributes to holistic church planting
ORGANlZA1l0NAl VALUES
• Unreached People
• Holistic Church Planting
• MB Theology and Family
• Prayer
• The Word of God
• The Great Commission &. the Great
OFFICE LOCATIONS
INTERPERSONAl VAlUES
• Dependency on Jesus
• Risk-taking Obedience
• Transforming Community
• ReIatIonallntegrlty
• Celebration
WESTERN CANADA (INTERNATIONAL OFFICE)
302-32025 George Ferguson Way. Abbotsford BC V2T 2K7
CHURCH PLANTING TEAMS: Ray Harms-Wiebe [rayhw@mbmsLorgl
GIVING: Gayle Doerksen [gayled @mbmsi.orgl
DAILY PRAYER GUIDE: Ann Zauner [annz@mbmsi.orgl
MISSIONARY APPLICATIONS: AI Stobbe [als@mbmsLorgl
HOUSmC INmATIVES: Jamie Munday ijamiem@mbmsi orgl
SHORT TERM MISSION: Sam Dick [samd@mbmsi orgl
TREK: Luke Haidle [lukeh @mbm si.orgl
the sex "industry." A mixture of spirit appeasement, occult practices, and Buddhist beliefs strangle the spiritual aspirations of 98% of the population. Do we see signs of the Kingdom of Heaven coming to Thai earth?
When the lepers of Thai society, orphans with HIV/ AIDS, are embraced by the church and taught to dance by Team 2000 in Chonburi, the Kingdom of God has come. When the slum-dwellers in Chachoengsao, Burmese refugees , and carriers of HIV/AIDS discover the Father who loves them and offers them a new home at the Bethel Church, the Kingdom has come.
Are the captives freed and the blind given sight? When the i nhabitants of South Thailand entreat the spirits to possess them during the Chinese Vegetarian Festival, and Operation 2nd Wave missionaries stand on the public squares of Phuket City and pray "Thy Kingdom come!" the glory of God has already moved into the neighborhood. And the kingdom of hell will not prevail against this wave of the Spirit
Are the oppressed shown the way to liberty? Is the year of God's favor proclaimed? The Khmu people have suffered from centuries of ethnic prejudice. Displaced from their native territories , occupying the hills, they live marginalized by the dominant societies of Southeast Asia. In the face of this reality, our missionaries have chosen to value their history and culture, welcome them into the family of God as equals, and equip them to embrace the 21st century with dignity. Local church communities are empowered through education, leadership development, and micro-enterprise. Has the Kingdom come in its fullness? No. But, a new Kingdom has taken root.
Jesus said the Kingdom would begin like the smallest of seeds, but then grow to become a tree, so that even the birds would have a place to rest. He said it would be like leaven, hidden in the flour, permeating to impact all the dough (Matthew 13:31-33). As Jesus was seed and leaven among the Jewish neighborhoods of first century Palestine , so our missionaries are planting the DNA of the Kingdom of God, under the anointing of that same Spirit, in the neighborhoods of Phuket , Chonburi , Angsila, Chachoengsao, Huay Yen, Huay lan, and Huay Chaw.
Pray with them, "THY KINGDOM COME!" • Visit www.mbmsi.org/thailand to learn more about the missionary teams, ministry projects, and stories of transformation from Thailand
Just a few miles outside of Chonburi, 10,000 inhabit a poor fishing community called Ang member of The Life Center, a house mom at the Abun Life Home, and a native of Ang Sila, P'Ganiga (see image above) has a vision to reach her own people with the. hope of Jesus Karen Huebert- Sanchez of Team 2000 has come alongside P'Ganiga, and in God's power they have formed the Ang Sila Church. In the following interview, P'Ganiga shares her heart for the Thai, her vision to reach this fishing village, and her own story of transformation.
When Phone Keo was in his early 20s his life was radically transformed by God. After refusing to fight for communism in the Vietnam War, the Laos native was sent to a concentration camp. One night Phone Keo fell into a deep sleep When he awoke 12 hours later his body was prepared for the grave. He had died. In this death, he encountered life. Jesus revealed Himself to Phone Keo in a vivid dream , and when he awoke he chose to live for Christ
God has called Phone Keo to reach his own people - an indigenous group called the Khmu. He and his wife Chansone work with Butler MB Church in Fresno, California and MBMS International in North Thailand and Laos to develop leadership training courses and seminars for the Khmu. Phone Keo explains the need for Khmu churches in Laos to adopt a sound doctrine and how the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith has become their own.
In 2001 I translated the MB Confession of Faith into the Laotian language. The reason was very simple: Khmu churches did not have a statement of beliefs. The Bible was their only guideline, and beliefs were largely influenced by Khmu culture. There was nothing to provide a framework for things such as family, evangelism, baptism, and money The churches had no mission and no ministries apart from Sunday morning worship.
After I translated the MB Confession of Faith I brought it to 12 Khmu pastors to train them to understand MB doctrine. I never demanded these pastors to believe what I believe. I encouraged them to study and explore the Confession, to ask me any questions they had, and to decide individually if they were in agreement with this doctrine.
The pastors spent two years studying the doctrine and sharing it with other pastors In 2004, 40 pastors officially accepted the MB Confession of Faith as the foundation of the church. It was important for them to
not only understand the Confession, but to apply it to their churches within the context of Khmu culture.
On my lasttripto Laos I meta pastor named Soukphaseuth Chalern. He told me that he had been praying for 20 years to bring some sort of structure to his church of 1200 members . Now he has accepted the MB Confession of Faith. He is so thankful to the Mennonite Brethren for allowing them to explore the confession, learn from it, and adopt it to make the church work
Today, . 42 churches in Laos have adopted the MB Confession of Faith. Ministries are in place and churches have goals and vision Now the Khmu church stands united with a clear understanding of their beliefs, allowing them to work together to bring glory to God!
To support MBMSI missionaries as they train and equip Khmu leaders, donate to MBMSI under Project C0028
Phone Keo teaching in a training session with Khmu Leaders in North Thailand
Forever
By Louise Sinclair-Peters
Faithful
To the widow, the fatherless, the poor, and the HIV positive, God has shown Himself faithful Last year the village of Khlong Luang Phaeng in the province of Chachoengsao, Thailand had only one adult believer. Today there are over 40 Christ followers and the church is growing by the week! Read how God's spirit is moving at the Bethel Church plant where Bob & Chris Davis and Dave & Louise Sinclair-Peters are serving
May was pregnant with their third baby when her husband left her for another woman. She was forced to haul concrete while pregnant so that she could feed her family. When I first met May, her baby only drank condensed milk and her three children ate one meal a day. May helped take care of her mother and fatherin-law and in turn, they allowed her to sleep in their leaky tin shack. I'll never forget the day our Thai pastor Naat and I drove into the village and saw May sitting on a mat on the road. She was talking to Aunt Lek, the only believer in the village. I jumped out of the van with excitement and asked, "Does anyone here want a job as a housekeeper for a new missionary family?" With tears in her eyes she looked up at me and said, "1 would!" May continued, "You'll never believe this, but today I talked to your God and asked Him to help me find a way to send my children to school this year!"
Six months later we have seen May grow by leaps and bounds in her love for Jesus! May and Naat have led May's mother and father-in-law and many of their neighbors to Christ Last September the Bethel church planting team was excitedly preparing for our first baptism at the local open market when May's husband returned home out of the blue. We began to share Christ's love and forgiveness with this man He listened intently and worked hard alongside us to help build Maya new house.
One week before May's baptism a woman drove into the village She swore at May and said loudly to May's husband, "You need to leave right now and come with me!" May's children started crying. Without hesitation he turned and walked away from his family. They were devastated. We wondered how she would react to this incredible pain. Would she leave her new faith? We cried and prayed with May for many days. But God's spirit
hearts on the day of May's baptism prevailed May said to us, "My father abandoned me as a child. My mother remarried and abandoned me, too. Finally, my husband has abandoned me But the Bible says that God loves me with an everlasting love! I know that Jesus is the only one who has never left me. He promises to never throw me away!"
"I will betroth you to me forever ; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness , and you will acknowledge the LORD." Hosea 2:19-20
On the day of her baptism, May thanked God that she is loved and accepted by Christ. He has forgiven all her sins. God is helping her forgive those who have hurt her. We are so proud of May and her courage to fight on! We also thank God for being a husband to the husband less •
Joyful
In 2006 Operation 2nd Wave (02W) was formed and has since been sharing the love of Jesus with a city that was devastated by the 2004 tsunami. As God's hope attracts broken hearts, various ministries are building bridges that form strong relationships Here are just a few of the ways that 02W is serving the city of Phuket.
Prison Ministry
Greg and Becky Ouellette, along with Cynthia Friesen, have been part of an English class and a Bible study in the local women's prison every Friday morning, where they are responsible for teaching English lessons and a few Thai/English songs. Becky has taken on the role of creating the English program and a local Christian woman is teaching the Bible class. Most of the women at this minimum security prison are in jail for selling drugs - in many cases because of their boyfriends or husbands. The day is spent in a small open courtyard until the guards let them back into their cells, where they are locked in from 4PM until the next morning. "The English lessons are fun," say the Ouellettes, "but the real joy is to see the women listen and respond to
the Bible teaching." Though the doors to this ministry opportunity have recently closed, 02W invites you to pray that they would be able to re - enter the prison to continue to share the love of Jesus.
Hockey Camp
When a church team came to Phuket to minister alongside 02W, they brought hockey sticks, hockey balls, a few nets, and a lot of enthusiasm. Over 70 kids turned up each day! Hockey was just one of the tools used to show the love of God and talk about Jesus.
When the church team returned home they left behind the beginning of a new ministry! Once a week 02W missionaries Kevin and Karlene Klassen and Greg and Becky Ouellette play street hockey with a group of the local kids and tell a story from the life of Jesus during half time. "What we are really praying is that the seeds of the Kingdom that were planted will sprout, grow and produce a harvest of 30,60 or even 100 times," say the Klassens. Join them in prayer!
Griffioen House Church
Rob and Judy Griffioen meet with friends and neighbors Sunday evenings to worship and talk about God. These meetings are drawing many curious members of the community and God is using them to orchestrate divine appointments. A non-believer was in attendance one evening when in walked one of the Thai pastors, who proceeded to get to know Sanai and share the Gospel with her. Sanai wanted to pray to receive Jesus, but before she did she unpinned the expensive amulet inside of her shirt -a Buddhist idol - and handed it over to the pastor for him to destroy. When Sanai returned home to her little village in North Central Thailand, the first thing she did was get rid of her idols - she didn't need them anymore! She shared with her neighbors that she met Jesus, and three of her friends expressed a desire to know this same God. Praise the Lord for the fruit of this house church!
Kids' Club
On Saturdays Thai neighborhood kids gather around Amber and Amanda Griffioen to learn English, and when Sunday afternoon rolls around more than a dozen return to learn about God. The sisters have encountered an incredible amount of openness in the children, and for many of them, it is their first time ever hearing about Jesus. Amber and Amanda are not only teaching these children that their God is different from Buddha, they
Pray thatthis faith would grow and these chilaren would become the future church of Phuket!
are showing them the way to Him by teaching them how to pray. In their childlike faith these kids are calling upon the God of the universe. "We praise God that He loves children and that He longs to draw them to Himself," say the sisters. Pray that this faith would grow and these children would become the future church of Phuket!.
Holistic Development Coordinator
Ipicture Karen Huebert-Sanchez sitting at the end of a long table. Around it is an assortment of Chonburi's finest -a pediatrician, a social worker, a businesswoman, a principal. They are the board members of the Abundant Life Home (ALH) in Thailand. After years of scraping by in an overcrowded government orphanage and then a tiny townhouse, the ALH orphans - children born under the sentence of HIV - will have a properfacility -a place to grow, to play, and have their needs cared for.
"You will achieve so much merit for yourself," the pediatrician suggests to Karen, who along with her husband Ricky began the orphanage in 2006.
"This is a common reaction to the work we are doing," Karen tells me. From a Buddhi st worldview, this is the only rationale that would explain the devotion of her family to this unwanted group of cast-offs While the government does its best to protect the rights of children, there is a tremendous stigma around HIV/ AIDS. Karen cites deep undercurrents of secrecy and shame within Thai society that may prevent people from dealing with this issue in a more constructive way
"Let me tell you about grace," Karen responds to the pediatrician with characteristic boldness.
Not brazen or insensitive, I get the impression Karen's forthrightness has come by her honestly. Adopted as an infant, she has come to understand the idea of grace in a tangible way There were challenges that came with being adopted - and Karen is clear on that - but an air of gratitude comes across as a far more enduring impact. "God impressed something on me at a very young age," she says. "'You've been given so much, I want you to give back.'"
"Let me tell you about grace "
There is a relaxed authenticity in her words, even as she repeats the story to me weeks after the fact. I'm intrigued, so I press in further, "Does the orphanage provide all sorts of opportunities to evangelize?" I'm curious to understand the Sanchez's holistic view of ministry - and wondering specifically how the orpha nage relates to their ultimate goal of church planting. Karen indulges me with a couple stories of evangelism, but I sense there is something deeper at work
I take a step back in my inquiry and ask , "What was your purpose in starting the orphanage?" I assumed it was a strategic effort to engage the community and share the Gospel.
" Certainly we wanted to plant a church in Chonburi," Karen tells me, "but the orphanage just happened." She then speaks of a chance encounter only a couple of years after arriving in the city. "I met Jinthanna in the hospital and I was filled with compassion. She was just lying there quietly, covered in feces, and dying. None of the staff would touch her." As Karen plucked Jinthanna from her bed, a familiar refrain was impressed upon her: "You've been given so much. I want you to give back."
As Karen engages the pediatrician in spiritual conversation, she marvels at what God has done. While the orphanage was not established primarily as a tool for church-planting, it has become a locus of God's love and activity in the neighborhood - and a complement to the work of the newly planted church. "Instead of trying to make opportunities to insertthe Gospel into everything we are being invited to share everywhere we go. "
At this point I realize I ' ve been probing for something too concrete - a church planting technique, a transferable concept, or some strategic guideline that might direct their actions. As I question in straight, black lines, Karen responds in colorful tangents - revealing a patchwork of vibrant people and stories stitched together by God's grace. These narratives reveal something of Karen's approach to missions.
For her, the orphanage is more than a strategic tool, and more than a social outreach. It is fundamentally an expression of God's grace - a spontaneous and organiC movement of the Spirit which is but one small part of God's work in Chonburi.
Undoubtedly, ALH has been strategic. Recounting her conversation with the pediatrician, Karen concedes that for many people she talks to, her family's work at the orphanage gives a level of credibility to their church Nonetheless, I'm left with the overwhelming sense that ALH is God's work, and for Karen Huebert - Sanchez, much less about strategy as it is an outworking of compassion - a natural and spontaneous response to the call of God, and the touch of grace on her life .•
The Abundant Life Home is raising funds to purchase a property so several homes can be built to raise children in a family environment. If you would like to support the ALH you can donate to MBMSI under Project (0438
(Above): Some of the orphans from the Abundant Life Home on the site of the planned future development (Below): Karen Huebert-Sanchez of Team 2000 with Bing Bing, one of the girls at the ALH
