SUMMER IS nearing its end, but it's never too late to reflect on the way we nurture or ignore our spirituality. In this issue we have three articles that address the area from a variety of angles.
First, Philip Wiebe, our regular Ph'lip Side columnist, expands his horizons to talk frankly about the slow side of faith; see page 4.
Ideas about nurturing spirituality in single people comes next. Nancy Siemens offers a list of tips that will help you and your church become more in tune with the needs and aspirations of single people.
Then Kenneth L. Gibble, a frequent contributor, follows with a probing look at the Sabbath, including its original intent and its present-day intent. You will fInd the two are much the same.
The big news in this issue is our coverage of Colorado Springs '94, the u.S. Conference biennial convention. The vast majority of you didn't attend-which was disappointing. But those who did fInd their way to the base of Pike's Peak were treated to a true mountaintop experience.
A fInal personal note before you indulge: My thanks to Deborah Penner, our assistant editor, who completes her stay with us this month. She has been a good coworker and a good friend. I will miss her contributions and wish her the very best in her endeavors.-DR
COMING
• Southern District Conference regional rallies:
• SEPTEMBER 25-Colorado; host: Garden Park Church and Belleview Acres Church, Denver
• OcrOBER 2- Western Oklahoma; host: Com MB Church
• OCTOBER 16-Central Kansas; host: Wichita First MB Church
• OcrOBER 23- Northwest Kansas and Missouri; host: Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan.
• OcrOBER 30-Western Kansas and Oklahoma Panhandle; host: Ulysses (Kan.) MB Church
• OCTOBER 28-30-Central District Conference convention, Rapid City, S.D.
• NOVEMBER 3-5-Paciftc District Conference convention, site to be named.
QUOTABLE
• "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. "-
HENRY DRUMMOND, QUOTED
VOLUME 57, NUMBER 8
FEATURES - Theme: Spirituality
4 Faith doesn't take the interstate
In an "instant" society like ours, it's harder to understand that when it comes to faith development, slow and sure do it best. BY
PHILIP WIEBE
7 To be single minded
Singles are often the neglected "minority" in our churches. Here are some practical things you and your congregation can do to make them part of the active majority. BY NANCY
SIEMENS
1o Sabbath: rest and revolution
Observing the sabbath means remembering God's creative activity and participating in his radical justice. The Sabbath was made for us. BY
KEN NTH l. GIBBLE
DEPARTMENTS
Inquiring Minds by Marvin Hein 12
• Anti-Christian government
• Family vs. church?
Ph'lip Side by Philip Wiebe 13
• Faithfulness 101
Pilgrimage .. .
• Comfort in the midst of fear
Musings
• From sea to sea
. by Mark Kistler 14
by Jim Holm 15
Bod y life. 16
• SPECIAL REPORT: Colorado Springs '94 16
• Awkward moments color Canadian convention 2 4
• Geddert to lead MBBS B.C program 24
• Typhoid epidemic in Zaire 25
• Near tragedy reveals God's power 25
M isce llane a 30
Edito r ia l by Don Ratzlaff 32
• Breaking through the crust
ART CREDITS: Cover and pages 4 and 7, Rohn Engh; page 8, Ed Wallowitch; page 10, Skjold Photography; pages 16-23, CL photos by Don Ratzlaff and Deborah Penner
Don Ratzlaff
Deborah Penner
BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS : Ron Braun, Noelle Dickinson, Jeanie Klaassen, Herb Schroeder, Kathy Heinrichs Wiest
MANDATE: THE CHRISTIAN LEADER (ISSN 00095149), organ of the U.S Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. is published monthly by the U.S. Conference Board of Communications, 315 S Lincoln, Hillsboro, KS 67063 The Christian Leader seeks to infor m Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activities, decisions, and issues of their denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialog so that they will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelical!Anabaptist theological tradition.
EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions of our writers and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of The Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church. The editors invite free-lance article submissions , but ask that each submission be accompanied with a SASE. The editors reserve the right to edit, condense or refuse all copy submitted for publication; anonymous contributions will not be published.
READER PARTICIPATION: The editors encourage readers to interact with our articles through letters to the editor and essays to Forum, our op-ed column. Letters for What Readers Say must include the author's name and address. Forum is open to members or attenders of Mennonite Brethren churches. Essays to Forum can address any issue of relevance and interest to the faith and life of the Mennonite Brethren Church. The essay should be no longer than BOO words and should include the home church, occupation and a dear photo of the writer.
COMMUNICATION: All correspondence should be addressed to The Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Phone : (316) 947-5543 Fax: (316) 9473266.
ADVERTISING: Clearinghouse ads should be submitted in writing Cost: $.25 per word Send no advance payments. For display-ad rates, contact the editor.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Rates : $16 for one year, $30 for two years , and $42 for three years ($20, $38 and $54 in Canada); $1.50 per copy
ADDRESS CHANGES: Send both old and new address to Circulation Secretary, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Allow up to six weeks for transition.
MEMBERSHIP: The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors
PRINTING: The Christian Leader is printed on recycled paper by Multi Business Press, Hillsboro, Kansas
POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to The Christian Leader, Box V. Hillsboro KS 67063 Second-class postage paid at Hillsboro. r<ansas
Faith doesn't take
am e tim es it seems like we're looking for the city whose architect and builder is Disney, where everything is fast and fun and there aren't any technical glitches or littered landscapes.
of what we do not see . This is what the ancients were commended for." And most commended was Abraham, whose spiritual walk was truly a whopper.
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going" (11 :8). A few particu· lars:
• "The LORD had said to Abraham, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you .' So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran" (Gen. 12:1,4);
• "By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents" (Heb. 11:9).
• "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise" (Heb. 11:11).
• "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. ... even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned'" (Heb. 11:17-18).
To be honest, this isn't the kind of faith journey we goal-oriented, success-minded types like to hear about . I mean, maybe Abraham should have taken a career-management course or something. Didn't know where he was going? Lived in a tent? Skipped retirement to raise more kids? Let go of the lone link to his great life goal? Talk about conflicts of faith! If Abraham were around today, I wonder if we'd tell him: "Grow up , get real, visit a job counselor, see a therapist " Ambiguity doesn't sit well with us ; we're big on sure things. The surer (and the sooner)
the better.
It's been said that humans tend to overestimate what can be accomplished in one year, and underestimate what can be accomplished in ten. How true in matters of faith. Locked into the fast track, the quick plan, the condensed version, we often fail to give faith the time and space it needs to develop By expecting too much too soon, we settle for too little too late. Not like Abraham. Even at a hundred, he was still unclear about where he was headed. But not about where he was going: "He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (11: 10).
Are we?
Sometimes it seems like we're looking for the city whose architect and builder is Disney, where everything is fast and fun and there aren't any technical glitches or littered landscapes. That's the kind of faith we wantquick, tidy and smooth. The kind that can be scheduled into planning books and compiled into progress reports . The kind with easy access and wideopen straightaways and lots of fastfood breaks along the way.
Hebrews trashes that plan in a hUrry. Along with Abraham, a "great cloud of witnesses"-Abel and Noah, Joseph and Moses, Rahab and a crowd of others-shows that "running with endurance" doesn't mean finishing first, but finishing strong. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, .. . Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart ... . Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons .. .. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:2,3, 7, 11)
Do we get frustrated with our faith? Impatient with our progress? Forever tapping God on the shoulder and asking, "Are we there yet?" H so, maybe we're expecting too much too soon, trying to go too far too fast. Maybe we
just need to slow down. Relax the stride, ease the heart rate, breath deeper, take in the view. Pace ourselves Expect a little less from us, and a lot more from God.
When, in the 2 Chronicles account, King Jehoshaphat was told that "A vast army is coming against you from Edom," Jehoshaphat sprang not into his Emergency Strategic Defense Initiative, but onto his knees; he "resolved to inquire of the LORD" (20 :3) After a period of prayer and fasting, God's strategy came throughJahaziel:
Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's .... You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the LORD will be with you. (20:15,17)
As we go out and face tomorrow, God will be with us. It isn't necessary to push the pace, go for broke, shoot for the moon, dash for the world record. Only to walk faithfully . At times life will confound us with tricky twists and turns, but no need to bolt for the exits : "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus" (Rev. 14:12).
When a clock was informed of its duty to tick 300 million times over the next 10 years, it nearly had a heart attack: "How am I ever going to manage that?"
One tick at a time.
So goes our walk of faith : one step at a time. Sometimes it may seem like slogging through syrup, but years down the road, we'll gaze back amazed at how far we've come. tS2
,.------, Philip Wiebe, whose column Ph'lIp Side appears each month In the Leader, works part-time as facilities coordinator at the Kingwood Bible Church, Salem, Ore
To be single minded
In the process of meeting the needs of singles in our congregations, we should not overlook a primary goal: helping each member grow as a child of God-without labels of any kind.
by NANCY SIEMENS
AVE YOU EVER noticed the artificial but almost inevitable great divide between "marrieds" and "unmarrieds" in our churches? It seems that over the years we Christians have habitually reinforced the split, often to the point of mutual exclusion among the two groups. This becomes most apparent when we have prayer meetings, retreats, Bible studies,
We emphasize the distinction by stereotyping all single adults as being, among other things, "unmarried" the "un" , suggesting that something is missing or has not yet happened.
Sunday school classes, and other settings for each group exclusively, and rarely the twain shall meet.
More subtly, we emphasize the distinction by stereotyping all single adults as being, among other things, "unmarried," the "un" suggesting that something is missing or has not yet happened. This form of bias can alienate Christians who simply wish to fmd a place in the church family without regard to marital status.
Ministry and social opportunities that address the unique concerns of married and single people certainly have a place within the church. But
we need to be careful that in the process of meeting these needs we do not overlook a primary goal: helping each member grow as a child of God, without labels of any kind.
I would like to suggest a few ways the church can provide an atmosphere of opportunity and nurture in which this kind of growth can occur. Three keys are important: reducing the stigma, indentifying needs and goals, and implementing tools for growth.
• Reduce the stigma
1. Recognize stereotypes and work toward eliminating them. Remember that "singles" may be widowed, not-yet-married but hopeful, divorced, or simply contentedly unmarried. Further, they are not all immature and adolescent, although some might be, just as some married individuals might be.
2. Emphasize common ground among all church members. Find a balance between nurturing the body as a whole and meeting specific needs of individuals and families in their particular contexts I used to attend a church which had a Sunday school class called "All Ages and Stages," which enabled a wonderful interchange among Christians of various perspectives and levels of maturity. We have a lot to learn from each other.
3. Explore the unique advantages of singleness and encourage the joyful, impassioned use of time, freedom and energy. While not all singles are young and adventurous, or necessarily unfettered by obligations, they tend to have more options in the use of their time. This can afford a wonderful opportunity for ministry, as modeled by the Apostle Paul, since a single person might be freer to pursue opportunities here or abroad that would be logistically difficult for a married person .
• Identify needs and goals
Identify needs and goals
1. Develop avenues to increase spiritual and personal maturity. Whether Singleness is a stage or a permanent state for a given individual, an intimate, vibrant and real relationship with the Lord is a blessing and should be a continual pursuit. I have found in my own life that spending time with older, spiritually grounded believers has been inspiring and helpful in my growth as a Christian.
2. Encourage healthy relationships. It is a common misconception that singles are necessarily more lonely than married people. But just as individuals within a marriage must continue efforts to maintain emotional intimacy, so must single people reach out and make the effort to initiate and sustain close, satisfying relationships. A weekly Bible study, for instance, can be encouraging, since it provides an opportunity for the same group of people to develop increasingly deeper connections with each other. Several of us in my congregation have also formed prayer partnerships or small accountability groups in which many strong friendships have been developed and nurtured.
3. Foster the use of spiritual gifts for the advancement of the kingdom. It is vitally important that each person in the family of God discover his or her gifts and contribute accordingly. I believe this is not only a scriptural mandate as part of our calling, but a way that God allows each person to feel needed and special. Some churches, for example, have developed classes which offer help to individuals who want to discern their spiritual gifts.
• Implement tools for growth
1. Create an atmosphere . of acceptance and love with the church family. This means allowing for individual differences of all kinds (as allowed by Scripture), as well as affirming our common beliefs and personal/spiritual needs. Some of the most memorable moments for me as a believer have been in the context of relaxed events, such as church potlucks or even choir practices, when anything from food to prayer concerns to slapstick humor was shared.
2. Provide opportunities for service that incorporate the use of specific spiritual gifts and the freedoms and advantages of singleness. Help each individual discover ways to become involved in the life of the church, ministering both to believers and to those who do not know Christ.
3. Offer specific means to spiritual and personal growth. In addition to vibrant Sunday worship services, these might include mentoring relationships, Bible studies, social functions (both with other singles and with the entire church body) and accountability groups
Clearly, life as a single Christian can be extremely fulfilling. Its distinct freedoms, as well as its struggles, can contribute to the building of greater spiritual depth and character. I am convinced that by applying the suggestions above, the church can be of great encouragement in this process. As the church family learns to accept and appreciate each individual with more understanding, we all will reap lasting personal and spiritual blessings. 62
It is a common misconception that singles are necessarily more lonely than married people. But just as individuals within a marriage must continue efforts to maintain intimacy, so must single people reach out and make the effort to initiate close, satisfying relationships.
Karen Siemens, a regiStered psychological assistant, is a member of the Laurelg/en Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif.
SABBAT REST AND REVOLUTION
To observe sabbath is not only to affirm our need of rest and refreshment, it is also to say 'yes" to God's radical justice
by KENNETH L. GIBBLE
HE SABBATH-ISN'T IT MOSTLY AN OUTMODED custom that has lost all relevance to the complex, busy world we live in? Isn't it naive to expect people to set aside an entire day each week as a "day of rest"? It's true that a mist of nostalgic longing hovers over the faith tradition called sabbath. The words of the commandment
in Exodus run : "Remember the sabbath day. n This command to remember does not simply mean "don't forget to observe the sabbath. n It also is a reminder to recall what happened at creation : "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it" (Ex. 20: II, NRSV).
The Jewish tradition of sabbath intimates a kind of wistful yearning for a return to original creation. Sabbath is the way God intended life to be ordered, with a built-in rhythm of rest and refreshment. Yes, there is work to be done, but there is also, by God's grace, a respite from work, a day for rest, refreshment, renewal
Into the natural rhythm of creation of day and night, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, said the Hebrew people, God has introduced a rhythm of blessing, a holy rhythm called sabbath. The sabbath is a gift from God intended to benefit the human family.
The rhythm of modem life is all but isolated from the rhythm of the naturalorder. Night and day? We use electricity to create our own daylight with a flip of the switch. Seedtime and harvest? A backyard garden is about as close to it as most people get Modem transportation means the supermarket has every kind of food available regardless of the season Summer and winter? We escape summer heat and winter chill with central heating and air conditioning.
It wasn't too many years ago that sabbath laws, called "blue laws," ordered social life in nearly every community in North America. Many adults can remember growing up in churches and homes where the weight of restrictions of what they could do on the sabbath was so heavy that they rebelled (or would have if they could have) In such circumstances, the word of Jesus concerning the sabbath was liberating: "The sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the sabbath" (Mk. 2:27)
The situation has changed. Most of
us do not live in a rural or small-town setting. The blue laws are nearly all gone Shopping malls are not only open on the sabbath, they are crowded. Weekends get jammed with errands to run, social obligations and travel.
So many of us, myself included, don't seem to know how to rest anymore, to be still and at home in the presence of God In an attempt to escape from the work routine, we invest in the machinery of leisure: campers, skiing equipment, boats and bicycles The more money we spend on them, the more we feel obligated to use them to justify the expense. We become captives of what we consume Instead of being a means of refreshment, they tum into yet another obligation, one more thing to rob us of the genuine re-creation we so desperately long for
We have great need to hear the blessing in the words of the fourth commandment in Exodus: "Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy."
This sabbath commandment also appears in Deuteronomy, but there are subtle, yet important, differences between it and the Exodus version. In Deuteronomy, the reason for observing the sabbath is not, as in Exodus, the remembrance of God's resting after creation . Rather: "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out...with a mighty hand" (Deut.5:15)
Here the sabbath is understood as a remembrance and celebration of the Hebrew liberation day, the exodus, when the chains of slavery were broken by God's mighty hand This explains why the Deuteronomy version of the sabbath commandment puts special emphasis on the treatment of servants. True, the Exodus version also mentions that male and female servants , as well as cattle, shall participate in sabbath . But in Deuteronomy, this idea is underlined with the words "that your male and
female slaves may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave And Deuteronomy adds to the list of those who shall rest-two beasts of burden, the ox and the donkey. Even the work animals are blessed by sabbath!
Thus sabbath is not only a remembering of creation and our need for rest and refreshment, sabbath is al.so a celebration of God's power to free the captives On the sabbath there are no masters and slaves, only liberated people.
Do you catch the whiff of revolution in the sabbath air? Surely it was not accidental that Jesus seemed to make a point of healing people on the sabbath, of breaking a fossilized religious law to demonstrate that God desires health and salvation for all.
Is that why religious people have so often domesticated the sabbath? Are the implications of its true Significance too frightening? Perhaps Freedom, after all, can be a scary thing, especially the kind of freedom the Almighty desires for the human family. But every now and then the music of sabbath liberation rings in our ears; our minds and hearts sing its melody. And the Holy One breaks through the defenses we have erected against the liberating truth of freedom and justice.
To observe the sabbath is not only to afftrm our need of rest and refreshment, it is also to say "yes" to God's radical justice, where the barriers between rich and poor, male and female, parent and child, black and white all fall away . To take sabbath seriously is to participate in the rule of God that sets captives free. Worship on the sabbath thus becomes a revolutionary event, a celebration of the divine power that turns the world upside down! tf2
Kenneth L Gibble is a Church of the Brethren pastor and writer from Arlington, Va
A IN HE I N
QIt is my impression that government is increasingly becoming anti-Christian in its laws and judicial decrees. Am I a victim of some phobia, running scared or just getting old? (CAliFORNIA)
AWhatever the reason, I'm in your camp. Whatever the subject-abortion, health insurance, welfare reform, freedom of speech, church/state relationships, policies in Haiti or Bosnia-it strikes me that the present administration and government (in general) so often go against what I perceive to be the biblical pattern.
In some of my worst (or best?) moments, I've even thought maybe this is God's blessing Maybe we would all be better off as believers if the difference between Christians and non-Christians was so contrasting that there would be few doubts. Then we would have to choose between right and wrong. As it is, government in our land has been at least somewhat "Christianized" and we assume the law of the land will be pro-Christian. Moreover, the religious right would lead us to believe that we can force government to be pro-believer.
But what if things went from bad to worse and we lived under a government that was manifestly non-Christian? What if a Christian physician was forced to perform a surgery that violated his conscience? What if you had to choose between pulling the trigger and going to jail for refusing? I'm not begging for persecution, but in some ways the church would be cleansed and a lot of our hypocrisy would be revealed. We even might find more relevance in the New Testament than we do now.
But back to the question: Is government increasingly anti-Christian? Let me cite one example as a case in point. Bruce and Nancy Young of New Hope, Minn., ftled for bankruptcy. The Youngs had been members of a church for 20 years and, even after filing for bankruptcy, continued to contribute their tithes in the same pattern established years before . They
did not increase their contributions in anticipation of bankruptcy. Following the provisions of a new act of Congress that was applauded by the present administration, government lawyers have sued to recover funds given as a tithe to the church.
Ironically, the law provides that if the money had
been given for liquor, gambling or prostitution, it could not be recovered. Why? Because in the case of alcohol and betting and immoral sexual relationships, there is "value received" for the expenditure. Not so, it decrees, when you give to the church. The government's interpretation is that debtors (persons in bankruptcy) cannot contribute money to their church but they can pay for the services of a prostitute because it is presumed to "give reasonably eqUivalent value." If the Youngs had spent the money on wine, women and song, the federal government would have no hold on them.
At stake fmancially is $13,450. The Young's local Evangelical Free Church has spent more than $150,000 in legal fees to protect the principle involved. Are we "running scared" just because we're getting older? I think not! We may be traveling down a road that leads to confrontations which are even more serious. We do well to follow the biblical injunction to pray for those in authority and "for all people."
QIn our increased emphasis on the family, might we be reversing God's order of priOrity-forgetting that membership in the spiritual family is more important than membership in our physical families? (BRmSH COLUMBIA)
AThiS inquiry came to me in a conversation with a young pastor. He suggested that we Christians have become so conscious of our need for family solidarity that we will sacrifice our loyalty to the church for the sake of our biological family
Do you have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue? Send it to "Inquiring Minds, " c/o Marvin Hein, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, CA 93727.
God knows we need more fathers and mothers who are faithful to their children and each other. Certainly the church should foster such responsibilities. But my friend was asking: "Doesn't the New Testament teach that our relationship to Christ's family takes precedence over our biological families?" He said the New Testament usually speaks negatively about family relationships when compared to spiritual family relationships. Perhaps a local church is not equivalent to God's family (it comes close), but maybe this pastor has a point.
He raised the question because a convention speaker had stated, as we preachers often have, that God comes first, then the family and then the church. Is that really the way it works? My friend was suggesting that God reverses the latter two priorities. If one nuclear family dedicated to the Lord is valuable in God's eyes, is not a group of his families, covenanting together, even more critical in his program? If we constantly give priority to our immediate families in regard to time and resources, and the local congregation suffers with the lesser loyalties, is God pleased?
I realize it's risky even to raise such a question. But I've had similar thoughts long before this conversation took place. I'm not adamant about the matter. But I am exploring. I'm not about to suggest we should not promote and nurture and celebrate our biological families . I love family reunions more than most people do. But is it possible we have gone to seed on a very good thing-and minimized our devotion to God's family?
Comfort in the midst of fear
BY MARK KISTLER
IWAS NOT SUPPOSED to work that day, but I went to the store anyway. My wife worked at the same store too, but she was not working that day either.
I enjoyed my job as a security officer at a grocery store. People said I have a knack for spotting shoplifters before they even stole. When I saw two suspicious young men heading down an aisle to a liquor display, I followed them. I saw them hide a couple of bottles of liquor in their trousers.
As they walked out the door, I made my move to stop them One ran off, but I grabbed the other. I was trying to drag him back into the store, but my coworkers were standing on the mat which controls the automatic door. Their curiosity was not helpful. With their weight on the inside mat , the door would not open.
I never saw the suspect pull the knife out of his coat, and I never saw him thrust it into my side. But suddenly I felt a burning sensation. I fell to the ground, unable to speak. The suspect had plunged the knife into my side three times, collapsing my lung and cutting my kidney
I had not been to church much since I left home after high school. But in that moment I felt God's presence Without making a conscious decision to do so, I began to hum "Jesus Loves Me. "
A nurse who had been shopping gave me her hat and told me to press it against my wounded side. A coworker ran across the parking lot to a restaurant to tell our manager what had happened. Miraculously, two paramedics were on a meal break too. They came and gave me quick carewhich no doubt saved my life.
In minutes, they loaded me into the ambulance and drove me seven miles to an emergency room. I kept humming "Jesus Loves Me." I heard the paramedic talking, but I could not talk back I felt calm.
I was sure they were mistaken when the attending paramedic
radioed the hospital and said they would hurry because my heart was not beating. He gave me an injection and my heart started again.
We entered the emergency room. I was too weak to give the admitting nurse personal information, but I did spot the hospital priest in the room. I motioned him to go away. I felt God's peace, and did not think I was going to die. My coworkers were not so sure
At about that time, my wife came by the store and asked if anyone had seen me She thought they were joking when they told her I had been stabbed to death by a shoplifter. She rushed to the hospital. Needless to say, she was concerned to see me in such bad shape, but relieved to see me breathing.
I made it through that night-and those that followed. Eventually I recovered completely, but my life had changed. I now wanted a closer relationship with Jesus. That se n se of comfort and peace is something that meant more to me than I can describe I thought a lot about life after death too
As I recommitted myself to Jesus, I began to be concerned about my family. I spoke to the kids, telling them of the faith I learned about as a child and claimed as an adult. One by one, they prayed to receive Christ.
Weeks passed. I spoke to my wife about the changes in my life and in our family I told her that our family would someday be together in heaven, and we wanted to include her too . We were thrilled when all of the household were believers
My church attendance as a child had planted seeds in my life. I had experienced comfort during a frightening time in my life. I now wanted every child to get that exposure
Although we live in a rural area, we frequently bring two cars to church We fill them with neighborhood kids who would otherwise not attend
In more ways than one, the Lord has given me new life. Now it's my turn to share that life with others . ef2
Last November, Mark and Holly Kistler, together with their three children, joined the Reedley (Calif) MB Church.
Staking a claim on the USA
ARTICLES
AND PHOTOS BY DON RATZLAFF AND DEBORAH PENNER
• With the potential to sink or swim, this national convention rose to the occasion by getting down on its knees
THIS ONE MAY have lived up to its billing after all. Planners had used the word "historic" to describe the potential impact of this summer's U.S. Conference convention, held July 23-26 in Colorado Springs, Colo. When the sessions adjourned Tuesday noon, planners and participants alike sensed that something significant had transpired. They had embraced a new vision for ministry and a new generation of leaders, but that was only the fruit of a more profound agenda: a turning of the heart.
"We may remember this convention as the crying convention," Dennis Fast, newly elected conference chair, remarked to the delegation just prior to adjournment. Tears were not uncommon as participants worshiped
together and were challenged in a variety of ways to examine their priorities and passions. In the end, many decided-literally on their knees-that they wanted to be part of a movement that would pursue God's priority and passion: bringing lost people into the kingdom of Christ.
Historic, indeed. Perhaps more historic than planners had even dared to hope. They were well aware that history-making also has a negative edge. Early indicators regarding this year's biennial gathering suggested the possibility for that outcome as well:
• The focal proposal of the convention-"Mission USA," a national outreach and renewal strategy long on concept and short on details-was receiving mixed reviews in the constituency. Even those who conceived
STARTING POINT: Several dozen delegates came to the stage after the Monday evening session to pray for a new compassion for lost people.
I
WHAT IS MISSION USA?
GOAL : To coordinate, motiva t e and equip th e chur ches , ag encies, in stituti o ns and di stri cts of th e U.S. Co nference around a co mm o n pri or i ty: evan g e li sm , c hur c h pl anting and renewa l.
ORGANIZATION: An in dependent board re s pon sibl e t o th e U S. Conf ere n ce, though link ed w ith th e Board of Church Mini strie s. Th e new boa rd w ould co nsis t of three peo pl e ap poi nted f ro m d is tr ic t home mi ss ion s board s, thr ee electe d from the districts, thr ee peo pl e electe d at large, one appointed by MB Mi ss io ns/ Services Option : up to fi ve additi o nal peo pl e could be appointed t o th e b oar d t o secure resource s or ex perti se.
BOARD MANDAT E: Pr o m o t e re newa l and prov id e human , financial and edu cati o nal res ource s; de ve lop a strategy f or reaching our nation w ith the gospel ; parti cipat e w ith the di stricts and local churches in new church plants both w ithin and beyond recognized di strict bound a ri es; netw or k w ith all appropriate in stituti o ns and agen ci es; develop adequat e st aff t o implement the visio n, by empl oy men t o r contract ; prom ot e th e ca lling o ut, t ra ining and placement of wo rke rs; deve lop a public relation s/comm uni ca ti ons pr og ram; ca ll church es to pr aye r and sup por t o f th e vision .
STAFF : An imm edi at e nee d f o r an executi ve dir ector ; po ss ibly w ithin t wo years, one or t w o additional st aff wo u ld be employed , ac co rding to perce ive d needs.
FINANCING : Suffi cien t funding would become a pri o rit y. Th e ta sk for ce suggested a " dream budg et " of $344,000 in the fir st yea r base d on th e following sources: U .S. Co nf e r e n ce, $127 , 000 ; MBM /S, $70 ,000 ; d istri ct conf erence s, $2 5,000; MB Fo undati on, $40 ,000 ; board member contribution s, $ 2 7, 000 ; fund -rai si ng by board and executi ve, $35 , 000; college s/sem inary (in kind) , $20,000
N EXT STEP : Th e Boa rd of Chur ch M i nistries w ill di sce rn a nd ap po int th e six ele cted memb ers; th e ot her f o ur w ill be appoint ed as outlin ed above.
and powerfully outlined five truths about the possibilities for Mennonite Brethren:
• U.S. Mennonite Brethren need renewal;
• the need for renewal is natural;
• renewal is difficult to find, but possible;
• God can bring renewal in any number of ways;
• renewal will not happen unless believers desire what God desires : for lost people to come to God
Birth of a movement
Jim Holm returned to the podium Monday morning to introduce Mission USA. He briefly recounted the events of the past 20 years, and specifically the last two years, which led to BCM's proposal to focus the energy and resources of the U.S. Conference on evangelism, church planting and renewal. The key difference that sets this thrust apart from past campaigns,
he noted, was the level of cooperation between Mennonite Brethren agencies, institutions and conferences . Most of the initial questions from the floor had to do with the makeup and tasks of t h e board envisioned to direct the new program. Noting an intent for board members to also contribute fmancially to Mission USA, Stuart Pederson, Onida, S.D., wondered whether only wealthy people could serve. (No, was the response, but board members need to be personally committed to the cause.)
Larry Martens, Fresno, Calif., encouraged the selection of an ethnically diverse board that would reflect the identity of both the nation and the denomination Larry Nikkel, Hesston, Kan., wondered how this national board would relate to district boards, while Nick Rempel, Buhler, stressed the importance of term lengths that would allow for continuity
Meanwhile, Kathleen Martens, Fres-
A Youth Mission International team pantomime the story of "Annie,· a youth who commits suicide because of loneliness and neglect. The drama is one of several performed in the inner cities of Canada and the United States.YMI is the summer ministry program for North American Mennonite Brethren youth.
no, pointed out the conference's track record of eliminating programs when finances got tough; she said sufficient funding must be in place to keep Mission USA moving.
Steve Schroeder, Bellingham, Wash., expressed his misgivings about what he felt was an effort to centralize church-planting authority in a national board when decentralization was the trend for most institutions.
Turning point
With the initial questions addressed, the proposal was tabled until Tuesday morning. In the meantime, though, Chuck Buller, pastor of the Neighborhood Church, Visalia, Calif., and a proponent of "seeker-sensitive" services, spoke on the topic "Reaching people" on Monday night. Focusing on Acts 15, Buller emphasized the conclusion of early church leaders who felt caught between the demands of tradition and the opportunities for outreach: "...we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God ."
He also emphasized the role of strong leaders in moving a church in the direction of outreach. He said until leaders were convinced that sometimes the product-bringing people to Christ-was more important than the process, a church or denomination could not be effective in reaching out.
In response to Buller's call for a renewed compassion for lost people in the hearts of leaders, several dozen participants came forward following adjournment for a time of repentance, prayer and mutual support. Arm in arm, kneeling on the floor, amid tears, they asked for a new work of the Spirit in their lives and congregations.
That spontaneous expression of emotion and desire may have been the turning point of the convention. "For me, Mission USA began last night on the floor when God renewed my compassion for lost people," said Harold Ens, Fresno, prior to Tuesday's vote on the proposal.
Others echoed a positive response to the recommendation while acknowledging the challenges that
In response to Buller's call for a renewed compassion for lost people in the hearts of leaders, several dozen participants came forward following adjournment for a time of repentance, prayer and mutual support.
Arm in arm, kneeling on the floor, amid tears, they asked for a new work of the Spirit in their lives and congregations.
Delegates opt for fund-raiser compromise, but debt lingers
BEYOND
MISSION USA, the other issue of major import-the guaranteed subsidy for MB Biblical Semi· nary-was all but settled even before the convention start· ed. The Board of Church Ministries , in consultation with the seminary and leaders from the General and Canadian conferences , revised its initial recommendation that would have unilaterally ended the guarantee in two years
Instead , BCM recommended a two·fold strategy:
• First , that representatives from the three entities review the entire arrangement for fmancially supporting the seminary. BCM suggested that the review, conducted under the direction of the General Conference , begin by January 1995 with a resolution to be proposed in time for the 1996 U.S Conference convention.
• Second, that the seminary and the U.S. Conference split the cost of hiring a fund·raiser to solicit the neces· sary funds at least through 1996; the U.S. Conference would provide up to $30 ,000 for that purpose .
Both components, handled separately, passed without dissent . But looking to the future was only half the battle. Still unresolved was how to address the debt of $134,000 that had been amassed over the past two years of shortfalls
"We 've talked about a lot of good things at this conference, " said Don Martens, Fairview, Okla , in his report as chair of the Board of Trustees . "But what about this
debt we're in? My dad taught me that when you have a debt, you figure out a way to get out of it Hiring a fund· raiser won't fix it overnight. "
Martens pointed out that based on current trends, the debt would increase to $164,000 by December and up to $200,000 a year from now. He said the Trustees had not developed a plan to payoff the debt , though it would likely fall under the domain of BCM and the Trustees to do so.
Martens noted that almost half of the churches of the conference had not contributed anything toward their U.S. Conference norms ; only seven had completed their full financial obligation.
He urged that when delegates returned home , they should "report not only the exciting things , but also the [fmancial] situation we fmd ourselves in. " He added: "We need a new commitment to our fmancial obligations to the conference. "
Several delegates took up the cause of the debt when it came time to consider the U.S. Conference operating budget for the coming year. Ernie Friesen , Hesston, Kan., was concerned that the delegation did not seem to be taking ownership of the situation. "Are we just going to rele· gate it to the clouds?"
In the end , with no specific plans emerging from the floor , the matter was relegated to BCM and BOT.-DR
"Let's
not expect Mission USA will be an instant success and that Mission USA will go 'sea to sea' in one year. Let's see it as starting in a new direction, "
-Harold Enns
would lie ahead "We definitely as pastors have to be on board with this concept," said Garvie Schmidt, a pastor and BCM member from Henderson, Neb "Local leadership must be a pillar in Mission USA."
When one delegate pointed out how few people were part of this convention and expressed his concern that Mission USA was not the passion of the churches, Henry Schmidt, Fresno, emphasized the value of even a few leaders who exercise their influence. "How many matches does it take to start a forest fire? " he asked rhetorically.
Citing the long history of the conference's schools and missions program, Harold Enns, Reedley, Calif. , cautioned delegates from thinking the fire would take off overnight. "Let's not expect Mission USA will be an instant success and that Mission USA will go 'sea to sea' in one year. Let's see it as starting in a new direction."
In an emotional statement of support for Mission USA, Steve Toews, Sacramento, Calif., said the issue ultimately was not organization or board structures, "but the deepest passion of our hearts " Rather than contemplating the implications of Mission USA if
It's 'boomer or bust' for Mission USA and the U.S. Conference
WITH THE NEW MISSION USA strategy comes a new leadership team- a new generation of leaders , in fact-to guide it. Rarely has the "changing of the guard " been so evident and dramatic at a Mennonite Brethren convention as it was at Colorado Springs ' 94
The first indication of change was the choice of speakers. Three of the five-Jim Holm , whose track record of conference involvement is already long , and relative newcomers Brent Warkentin of Buhler, Kan ., and Chuck Buller of Visalia, Calif.-qualify as bona fide baby boomers . A fourth , Roger Poppen , is pastor of a fast -growing congregation of mostly boomers in Bakersfield , Calif.
But it was the fifth and final speaker , the "elder " Henry Schmidt , president of MB Biblical Seminary , who noted the generational transition in his convention-ending address . "One of the greatest joys of coming to this conference is to see the next generation of leaders coming forward ," Schmidt said For him , he added , it was the fulfillment of a vow he had made several years earlier that "I would live and die for the next generation "
The fonnal empowering of that generation happened by ballot It isn ' t often that convention elections make headlines , but this year' s selection of U.S. Conference leaders and board members was unique and telling .
The delegation elected the youngest executive in recent denominational history. The average age of the three officers- chainnan Dennis Fast of Hillsboro, Kan ., vice-chairman David Reimer of Reedley, Calif., and secretary Stuart Pederson of Onida, S.D.-is under 40. The same was true of the average age of the four new members elected to the five -member Board of Communications
The contributions of the boomer generation to Colorado Springs '94 was widely, if perhaps not unanimously , acclaimed . Said outgoing chairman Bob Vogt: "I am more optimistic than I have been in years that God is raising up a group of new leaders who will lead us to the bottom line [of impacting people for Christ] "-DR
TRANSITION : The outgoing U S Conference executive (standing, left to right) of Bob Vogt, Dewayn Isaac and Jim Holm commission the new generation of leaders: (left to right, kneeling) David Reimer, Stuart Pederson and Dennis Fast
it failed, he said delegates should ask themselves if they were prepared for it to succeed-even beyond the most optimistic of numerical goals. "What if God gave us what we asked for?"
Finally, after the final floor comment, Bob Vogt, conference chair, called for the vote. Those in favor stood to their feet; no one stood in opposition. It was deemed a unanimousvote.
Two related recommendations passed in similar measure. The first gave BCM the authority to appoint the flrst members of the new board rather than have the convention elect them from the floor; BCM had requested the move to facilitate a discernment process that would select the strongest board possible. The second recommendation temporarily gives the mandate of the now-defunct Board of Evangelism/Christian Service to BCM until the new Mission USA board is up and running.
In need of prayer
Discernment and organization aside, prayer was repeatedly underlined as the prime directive for the development and success of Mission USA. In his convention-ending message, Henry Schmidt, president of MB Biblical Seminary, emphasized the
importance of having a commitment to prayer. "If there is a prayer base, Mission USA will happen," he said. "If there isn't a prayer base, it won't be Mission anywhere. It will only be business as usual."
Schmidt also emphasized the importance of being committed to a clear message of love and forgiveness, unity within the church, and the development of leadership gifts within the ranks. He affirmed the emergence of younger leaders during this convention (see sidebar, page 23), and challenged the delegation to employ the gifts of the new guard. "We simply can't keep rotating the same people on the same boards if we're going to reach the new generation of people," he said.
In other matters, the delegation:
• formally received the Slavic Full Gospel Church of Parma, Ohio, as an emerging congregation affiliated
with the U.S. Conference; the congregation of about 450 adults is affiliating with the national conference because it lies beyond the boundaries of the flve traditional districts;
• heard from two members of the Slavic Missionary Church, a potential Mennonite Brethren congregation from Tulsa, Okla., as well as a musical group from a Slavic Bible institute located there;
• listened as Wilson Koppula, pastor of an emerging congregation of East Indian believers in Santa Clara, Calif., described how a Hindu woman recently came to Christ through his ministry;
• thanked Deborah Penner for her three years of service as assistant editor of the Christian Leader; she will conclude her work Aug . 31.
• approved an operating budget of $318,700 for the 1994-95 flscal year; the figure includes $30,000 for the U.S. Conference's share of the costs of hiring a fund-raiser to generate the guaranteed subsidy for MB Biblical Seminary;
• was heartened to realize the fruit of Mission USA during the past two years; the statistical report indicated that the membership of the U.S. Conference grew by 13 percent last year, from 16,982 to 19,218. About 2,000 of the 4,499 people who joined the churches of the conferences last year (net gain was 2,236) were from Slavic congregations.-DR
With Loyal Funk. U.S. director of church planting. and representatives from the Slavic congregation in Tulsa looking on. Wilson Koppula describes his work among East Indians in Santa Clara.
An ensemble of students from the Slavic Bible Institute In Tulsa sang and played musical Instruments
Words of challenge, a call to action
CONVENTION SPEAKERS , all leaders within the U.S. Conference , brought attenders to tears- and repentance-with powerful and prophetic teaching from God 's Word Following are highlights from their messages. (Compiled by Deborah Penner)
JIM HOLM:
• "Psalm 72 says 'He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends ofthe earth' .... In Zechariah 9 , we read 'He will proclaim peace to the nations His rule will extend from sea to sea ' We have prided ourselves on being a country which stretches from one sea to another.... The Scripture says that Jesus shall rule from sea to sea, his dominion shall be from sea to sea Jesus wants to rule our land. "
• "Our nation is more like the nation described in Amos 8 , 'The days are coming , declares the sovereign Lord , when I will send a famine through the landnot a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord Men will stagger from sea to sea ... searching for the word of the Lord , but they will not find it .'"
• "Because of our belief in spreading the Word of the Lord , we have begun , for a denomination of our size , one of the most enterprising missionary operations in the history of the church. A small handful of people in the U.S. and Canada has sent missionaries literally around the world . In India and Zaire , the members of the MB Church outnumber those of us in North America. Our vision has been phenomenal. "
• "We have had a magnificent vision for missions and education, but have we ever, in the history of our time as Mennonite Brethren , claimed this nation for Jesus Christ?
Our intention in meeting here these days is to say 'Is it possible for our denomination in the U.S. to see this country as our mission field? ' And to say before God , 'We claim the United States of America as a place where Jesus shall rule from sea to shining sea. '"
ROGER POPPEN:
• "How do you feel about the growing disregard for the Judeo-Christian ethic , growing disrespect for The 10 Commandments , for prayer in public places , for human life? How do you
Poppen : God 's timetable.
feel about what seems to be the growth of evil and the demise of righteousness in our land? "
• " In Psalm 2 the writer asks in great frustration , 'Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One . "Let us break their chains , " they say, "and throw off their fetters ."' ... David looks around and sees defiance against the Lord , and that 's what we see in our nation ."
• "I fully support Mission USA, I want revival to spread from sea to sea But God may choose to precede reclaiming the land with judgment. According to Habakkuk , 'Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails yet I will rejoice in the Lord.' To live in touch with God is to see what is going on around us, but also having a trusting faith in the sovereignty of God. "
BRENT WARKENTIN :
• "Renewal is a wake-up call I don 't want to scare you , but I want to give us all a wake-up call , because God knows the Mennonite Brethren Church needs renewal. "
• " If we ' re not doing what God wants us to do , then we need renewal. God put us on planet Earth to change lives for Jesus Christ If we are not seeing a satisfying number of conversions , and if we are not seeing Christians grow to maturity, then we need renewal.. Christians aren 't growing in most of our churches."
• "It' s a good thing to need renewal because it is a natural thing . We shouldn 't expect to fmd renewal and then never need it again ."
• "One reason renewal is difficult is that what is renewal for one person isn 't renewal for another There's a quote that says that in renewal in the church people either run to the well or into the desert ."
Warkentin: Renewal needed
Holm : From sea to sea.
GATHERINGS
Awkward moments color Canadian convention
• Leaders apologize for premature announcement
IT WAS OUT with the old and in with the new at the 82nd convention of the Canadian MB Conference, which met July 7-10 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton_
"Out" are one conference board, several senior employees, a would-be conference minister and a long -serving board member "In» are a new conference board, the need for search committees, an interim conference minister, two new stewardship representatives, a new program for retirees, a new ownership agreement for
Youth Mission I nternational (YMI) , and five new congregations _
The official theme, "Renewing family life, " was addressed in a number of ways related to nuclear families But it was unclear whether the family of Canadian churches felt renewed by the event. The convention produced a couple of awkward moments that left lingering uneasiness about the conference leadership
The first occurred opening night when moderator Abe Konrad apologized, on behalf of himself and the Board of Faith and Life chair John Redekop, for the announcement in a recent MB Herald that Harry Heidebrecht was the candidate for the executive secretary/conference minister position being vacated by Ike Bergen.
Evidently, Heidebrecht's candidacy had been approved by Konrad, Redekop and a search committee. The Executive Board had raised a number of concerns and had objected that the full board had not been informed
Geddert to lead MBBS B.C. program
• Herald editor to begin new assignment Jan. 1
D ON GEDDERT , editor of the Mennonite Brethren Herald , has been .!'-aPPointed director of the new Distance Learning Program of MB Biblical Seminary , effective Jan. 1, 1995. The pilot program is headquartered on the campus of Columbia Bible College, Clearbrook , B.C.
Henry Schmidt, MBBS president , says Geddert "brings gifts of creativity, vision and to this new model of seminary education He is a .-- --, credible denominational leader and team player. He is a churchman with both staff and lay leadership experience and has a commitment to church-based theological training ."
Geddert holds a master ' s and doctorate degree in human geography from the University of Saskatchewan. He has also studied one year at MBBS He also holds a diploma from Bethany Bible Institute In addition to five years as Herald editor, he has been a university lecturer, a Geddert college and career minister for 10 years, and a church elder for four years . He also has worked in the construction field. Geddert and his wife , Joy , are members of The Meeting Place , a Mennonite Brethren congregation in Winnipeg . They have three children.
The Distance Learning Program is a church-based training model initiated by MBBS in cooperation with ACTS Seminary and Regent College in British Columbia. The program includes two years of classes at the Canadian site (one year under the seminary ; one year selected from ACTS or Regent) , supervised internships in local churches , and a year of residency at the MBBS campus in Fresno , Calif. The program will begin Sept. I -from a MBBS news release
before the candidacy was announced. As a result, Heidebrecht withdrew his candidacy.
The other awkward moment came during elections . As the ballots were being collected , a discussion began from the floor about the interpretation of the ballot. The Board of Communications, created when a conference restructuring plan was approved, was the only one which had enough candidates to require an election.
Some delegates assumed that all other candidates would simply be elected by acclamation, as was prac· ticed in the past. However, since delegates had been instructed to fill in the full ballot, others assumed that the ballot constituted a vote of confidence for those running unopposed, including the conference executive. In the end, the balloting committee reported that all candidates had received substantial support.
Between incidents, the convention produced a litany of changes during its business sessions:
• A restructuring proposal was approved which created the Board of Communications It will take responsibility for periodicals and new areas of communication from the Board of Faith and Life The Board of Higher Education was cut and its responsibilities divided among other boards.
• The Executive Board acknowledged the work of Ike Bergen, outgoing executive secretary/conference minister, and the need to find a replacement . In the meantime, John B. Epp of Winnipeg was named as an interim, part-time appointee.
• The Board of Life announced the surprise resignation of Ron Geddert, editor of the MB Herald and executive editor of the four conference periodicals. Geddert has accepted an invitation to be director of the new Distance Learning Center program of the MB Biblical Seminary (see sidebar).
• John Redekop was feted upon his completion of 25 years of continuous conference leadership Through those years, he had served on several boards and as assistant moderator and moderator
• The Board of Management announced two new stewardship representatives: Ross Hardy and Paul Woods
• The Board of Evangelism announced a new volunteer program for retirees called REACH Canada, and the realigned ownership of YMI.
• The conference welcomed five new congregations, including four from British Columbia: Fraser Heights Community Church and Arabic Evangelical Church, both of Surrey; Boundary Community Church, Midway; and Deaf Community Christian Church, Burnaby. The fifth congregation, Hope Fellowship Church, is located in Saskatoon, Sask.-from MB Herald reports
HEALTH CRISIS
Typhoid epidemic in Zaire prompts call for assistance
• Funds needed for syringes, medicine and
health team
PAKISA
TSHIMIKA, MB Missionsj Services regional secretary for Africa, issued a call in late June for help in fighting a typhoid epidemic in the Kehemba area of northern Zaire.
Tshimika reported that 20 to 30 Twenty to 30 persons are dying of typhoid daily, most underage 12 persons were dying daily, most under age 12. More than 1,000 have died since the first outbreak.
Tshimika, who is also coordinator of health and development for the Zairian MB Church, asked MBMjS, Mennonite Central Committee and UNICEF for $5,000 each to buy syringes and medicines, and to bring a health team on site.
The MBMjS administrative council approved the request June 29. North American churches, through the misSion, have donated $80,000 to Zaire since late 1991, when military violence and looting caused economic chaos in that country.
At meetings of the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren, held in Bielefeld, Gennany in May, the Japan MB Conference presented representatives of the Zairian MB Church with a check for $12,000 to assist with food and medicine.-Gary Hardaway,MBM/S
WITNESS
Near tragedy reveals God's power
• Miraculous recovery boosts fledgling church
MEMBERS OF THE Roseville Oaks Community Church , a Mennonite Brethren church plant in Roseville , Calif., witnessed the evidence of God ' s power as they gathered for a baptism June 26 around the pool of church attenders Mike and Tammy McGivern
As the McGiverns prepared for the meeting , Kailey , their 3 -year-old daughter , wandered away When Mike Ezor, Kailey 's uncle , arrived he found the child floating in the water She was not breathing and was turning blue.
According to pastor Brad Schmidt , emergency workers estimated she had been underwater for at least 10 and possibly up to 20 minutes. They took her to the nearest hospital , where she was admitted in serious condition Church members arriving on the scene held a quick prayer meeting for the child
Schmidt and his wife , Terri , were on their way to the baptismal service when they were notifted of the tragedy. They went directly to the hospital emergency room , where they were allowed to pray for Kailey Her condition dramatically began to improve. She spoke her first words to her father later that afternoon , and was released in good health the next day
"This ha s been a powerful evidence of the power of God for u s," Schmidt says. "It has been a boost to everyone in the church."
Schmidt adds that Kailey's maternal grandmother is now attending services. According to Schmidt, she made a pact with the Lord that if Kailey were restored to health , she would return to church.
The first Sunday service of this fledgling church was held in Schmidts' home Jan . 30. They have since been meeting publicly at a local school. Attendance has grown steadily from 30 in May to a high of 53 attenders in July.
"Things are happening ," Schmidt says . "We have had four or five conversions and several relationships healed recently "
A key area of the church 's ministry is one-on-one discipleship , which Schmidt says is important in resisting the spiritual attacks that some members have come under in recent months . He says that about 20 members have taken training in this kind of one-on-one ministry
"We feel that God is literally pouring his Spirit out in our group, and there are incredible stories to be told , in addition to Kailey 's," Schmidt says.Deborah Penner
• CHURCH NOTES
• Baptism/Membership
SALEM, Ore_ (Kingwood Bible)-Jeff Paschall, Shawn Jones and Aaron Williams were baptized recently John and Betty King, Boyd and Viva Morningstar, Jeff and Sharon Paschall, John Toews and Jeremy Turner were received into membership.
• Teaching/Nurture
YALE, SoD. (Bethel)-David and Dawn Lysaker and family of Hancock, Minn., who have formed the "Faith Puppeteers" ministry, presented a program at a July morning worship service and at the Sunday school picnic which followed
LITTLETON, Colo_ (Belleview Acres)Men of the church met for an "all sons" retreat July 15-16 at Geneva Park Campground
CORDELL, Okla_ (Bible)-The senior citizen's choir from the Corn (Okla.) MB Church presented a program at the July 31 evening service Refreshments were served following the service Harvest Crew, a traveling music and drama team from Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan , presented a concert Aug 2
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Heritage Bible)James Cecy presented a one-day seminar Aug. 13 on the topic "Building Personal
. DEATHS
BAKER, BEVERLY MARCEIJ..E, Ferndale, Wash., a member of the Birch Bay MB Church, Blaine, Wash., was born Feb. 18, 1930, to Tillie and Clifford Harland Cue in Milwaukee, Wis., and died June 21, 1994, at the age of 64. On Nov. 7, 1953, she was married to].c. Baker, who survives. She is also survived by four sons, Mike and wife Sonia of Bellingham, Wash., Gary and wife Diana of Spanaway, Wash., Steve and wife Heiki of Mt. Vernon, Wash., and Dean and wife Robin of Ferndale; one daughter, Julie Morrison of Ferndale; her mother, Tillie Cue; one brother, one sister, and eight grandchildren.
FLAMING, EMMA GRACE, Enid, Okla., a member of the Enid MB Church, was born Dec. 28, 1903, to Henry and Anna Hom Hinz near Cordell, Okla., and died June 19, 1994, at the age of 90. On Feb. 27, 1927, she was married to Menno Flaming, who predeceased her in 1991. She is survived by two sons, Joe and wife Arlene, and Jim and wife Betty; two daughters, Frances and husband Paul Hiebert, and Jackie Baker; one sister, Tillie; and 13 grandchildren.
GLECKLER, HELEN, Houghton, Mich., a
member of the Shafter (Calif.) MB Church, was born Sept. 30, 1909, to Peter P. and Tina Fast Wiens in Lugoswk, Russia, and died June 19, 1994, at the age of 85. On Nov. 22, 1946, she was married to Lawrence Gleckler, who predeceased her in 1984. She is survived by two daughters, Donna and husband Don Findlay of Milton, Ont., and Ruth Gleckler of Houghton; and three grandchildren.
ANNA ROSE, Henderson, Neb., former missionary to Zaire and a member of the Henderson MB Church, was born Sept. 15, 1910, to Isaac and Tina Regier Goertzen near Kremlin, Okla., and died July 11,1994, at the age of 83. She is survived by one brother, Isaac R. Goertzen and wife Irene; one brother-in-law, Abe Willems; and one sister-in-law, Doris Folger.
GOERTZEN, MILDRED GUSTAFSON, Bradshaw, Neb., a member of the Henderson (Neb.) MB Church, was born Mar. 22, 1913, to Emil and Alma Sundberg Gustafson near Aurora, Neb., and died June 10, 1994, at the age of 81. On Oct. 11, 1935, she was married to Herman Goertzen, who survives. She is also survived by two sons, Clyde and wife Lenora, and John and wife Charlene, all of Brad-
Money Talk$!
If you're seeking investments in enterprises that help to improve - rather than destroy - the world around you, MMA Praxis Mutual Funds were created for you. With MMA Praxis, your money will be invested in companies that seek to enhance Christian values of peace, justice, and the quality of human life. So for a mutual fund that talks the same language you do, you need to hear more about MMA Praxis.
shaw; one daughter, Margie and husband Robert Arnold of McPherson, Kan.; two sisters, her twin Marie and husband Art KIawonn, and Alma and husband Ben L. Wall; one brother, William Bister and wife Jean; one brother-in-law Eddie Goertzen and wife Roselyn; two sisters-in-law, Clara Murbach and husband Ed, and Doris and husband Dale Plummer; and eight grandchildren.
HOLZWORTH, LYDIA, Huron, S.D., a member of Bethesda MB Church of Huron, was born July 30, 1908, to William and Eva Richert Schmidt in Dolton, S.D., and died June 18, 1994, at the age of 85. On June 12, 1927, she was married to Tobias Berg,
Director of Information Services
The Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary is seeking a Director of Information Services to carry out all phases of public information
Qualifications:
Christian commitment and lifestyle consistent with the theological orientation of MBBS. 3-5 years experience in information services (graphics and journalism). Excellent oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of MBBS.
Desired: Alumni of MBBS. Membership in a Mennonite Brethren or other Believer's church.
Compensation:
This is a three-quarter to full-time position. Salary commensurate with experience.
Secretary to the President
MBBS is seeking a secretary to provide support to the President and Executive Administrator.
Qualifications:
Christian commitment and lifestyle consistent with the theological orientation of MBBS. 3-5 years secretarial experience. Knowledge of and work experience using Word Perfect, Lotus 123, Windows (Word), and other software packages. Good oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of the Mennonite Brethren Constituency helpful.
Compensation:
This is a full-time position. Salary commensurate with experience.
At Palm Village Retirement Community. compassion and caring are our watch words. For more than 50 years, we've committed ourselves to caring for the generation who cared for us. Today, we serve more than 250 residents in nursing, residential care and independent living accommodations. For more information, call
REIMER EXECUTIVE DIRECIDR (209) 658-6955
who predeceased her in 1939. In 1945, she was married to Fred Holzwarth, who pre· deceased her in 1953. She is survived by one son, Elton Berg and wife Ella of Huron; one step-son, Melvin Holzwarth and wife Helen of Youngtown, Ariz.; one stepdaughter, Dorothy Holzwarth; one brother, Dan Schmidt of Glendive, Mont.; one sister, Adina Janke of Watford City, N.D.; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
NIKKEL, CLEO EARL "BD.L," Com, Okla., a member of the Com MB Church, was born Feb. 26, 1926, to Isaac and Marie Rogalsky Nikkel in Com, and died July 8 , 1994, at the age of 68. On Aug. 27, 1949, he was married to Regina Eva Richert, who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Gene Nikkel and wife Carol of Hesston, Kan., and Robert Nikkel and wife Lanita of Weatherford, Okla.; one daughter, Vicki and husband Dennis Andres of Hesston, Kan.; one sister, Oleta and husband W.H. "Bill" Isbell of Rogers, Ark.; and four grandchildren
PREHEIM, ARDEN, Freeman, S.D., a member of the Salem MB Church, was born July 15, 1943, to Harry and Ada Preheim in
Freeman, and died Mar. 26, 1994, at the age of 50. On Oct. 20, 1962, he was married to Lavonne Tieszen, who survives. He is also survived by his parents; one daughter, Lorie and husband Ron Luke of Sioux Falls, S.D.; two sons, Reynold and wife Debbie of Belvedere, Ill., and Ryan of Freeman; one brother, Garris and wife Pearl of Houston, Mo.; and two grandchildren.
RAGlAND, LEOA "CARMON," Marshall, Ark , a regular attender of the Martin Box MB Church, was born Nov. 9, 1913, to Samuel and Ida Ragland at Martin Box, and died Jan. 5, 1994, at the age of 80 He is survived by wife Mary Durham Ragland; one son, Jack of California; and one daughter, Betty Trammel of Branson, Mo.; two sisters, Esther Young of Marshall, and Laura Miller of Flint, Mich., and five grandchildren.
RATZLAFF, LETA KEHN, Fairview, Okla., a member of the Fairview MB Church, was born Aug. 12, 1917, to David and Anna Comelsen in Fairview, and died May 6, 1994, at the age of 76. On Sept. 4, 1937, she was married to Archie]. Kehn, who predeceased her in 1978. On Feb.
75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Madera Avenue Bible Church, Mennonite Brethren
The Madera Avenue Bible Church, Mennonite Brethren, wishes to invite our friends and former members to a reunion and celebration of our 75th anniversary. The dates will be Friday, October 28, to Sunday, October 30, 1994. Having you with us to help celebrate would be special for our current membership.
This is also a request for historical information, documents, or photographs about our church. Please contact Sam Wall at (209) 674-5533, or our church at (209) 673-0611. We look forward to hearing from you.
Madera Avenue Bible Church, Mennonite Brethren 124 Walnut Street Madera, CA 93638
Phone: (209) 673-0611 Fax: (209) 674-5533
Areforming message
Two Mennonite medical organizations, convening in Laurelville, Pa., have called for a "universal and just health care system" for the United States. The Mennonite Medical Association and the Mennonite Nurses Association, along with nine other Mennonite health and church organizations, are signatories of a letter sent to U.S. senators and representatives regarding the direction away from universal coverage of health care legislation. In part the letter reads: "We urge you to seize this historic opportunity to enact comprehensive legislation and avoid the temptation to settle for incremental change Central to our faith tradition is the biblical
Ifcall to alleviate human suffering, with particular attention to helping those who are most vulnerable."
The letter identifies four principles as essential to health-care reform legislation in 1994: universal coverage, comprehensive basic benefits, fair and equitable fmancing, and real cost containment.
Just friends
A tri-conference convention in Winnipeg, Man., July 1-3 emphasized similarities between the Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC), the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC), and the Chortitzer Mennonite Conference (CMC), but leaders denied that the gathering was anything more than
INTRODUCTIONS
hanging out in church sing les groups h asn ' t help ed you meet Mr or Ms Ri ght yet , ma y be you ' re going ab o ut i t wrong . Paul Lintern , a lutheran pastor and humori st , recentl y shared his top 10 pick-up lines w i th USA To d ay:
10 Hi, is this pew taken?
9 My pra y ers are an sw ered
8 W hat' s a charismatic like you do i ng in a main li n e p lace like this?
7 How ab out w e go over to m y place for a litt l e de v ot i onal?
6 Hi , angel !
5 Do n ' t worry , I ' m attracted to yo u i n a pure ly spiritua l wa y
4 I ' m Episcopa li an W hat' s your sign ?
3 I t hink y ou ' re sitti ng on my Bible
2 Re ad an y g o od Bi bl e pas sages latel y ?
A n d Lintern ' s number one pick-up line : So, w or ship here oft e n? (EP )
continued cooperation that began nearly a decade ago.
"We are not ready to amalgamate, but this weekend is raising enthUSiasm, .. said David Penner, EMMC moderator. "It is dreaming together, but I would be cautious to make a statement about moving in a direction [of merger] "
A Mennonite Brethren, John Redekop, was the convention speaker. But leaders denied that his appearance signaled the beginning of cooperation with the Mennonite Brethren. "MBs join with us? No," said Penner.
The EMC has about 6,200 members in 49 congregations; the EMMC has 3,500 in 26 congregations; the CMC has about 2,500 members in 14 congregations. Mennonite Brethren in Canada have around 26,000 members in 184 congregations. (Mennonite Reporter)
He's a new man
PTL television ministry founder Jim Bakker was released from prison July 1, after serving nearly five years for fraud convictions stemming from his handling of ministry funds . Bakker will work at a business in Asheville, N.C., and live at a Salvation Army halfway house for several months, then live with his son, Jamie Charles. Attorney Jim Toms said Bakker has received job offers, and is interested in taking a social service position in which he could help Native Americans, hispanics and blacks. (EP)
Market of hIessings
Thanks in part to sophisticated marketing strategies, Christian bookstores are growing faster than the retail industry in general, according to Bill Anderson, president of the Christian Booksellers Association. Of the thousands of Christian bookstores in the United States, more than 90 have gross sales in excess of $1 million, and 18 of those have sales exceeding $2 million. (EP)
Bringing joy?
A Swedish pastor wanting to please his parish managed to obtain Mercedes limousines at cheap prices for 30 people in his congregation. Asked whether his activities were reconcilable with his Christian responsibilities, he replied that "a man ofthe church should bring joy into the hearts of his parishioners." The public prosecutor saw things differently, reported Ecumenical Press Service. The pastor has been charged with currency offenses, tax evasion and smuggling. (EP)
God on the air
Religious programming is the third most common radio format in the United States, according to The New York Times Only adult contemporary music and country music formats are more common The
Breaking through the crust
THE RUSH OF WIND you felt sweeping down from the Rocky Mountains in late July was probably the collective sigh of relief emanating from the Board of Church Ministries and other U.S. Conference leaders upon the successful conclusion of Colorado Springs '94. "Successful" may not be the best word for describing the end result of the four-day biennial gathering. Try "miraculous." (See report, page 16.)
This convention was a question mark from the beginning. Much time, energy and resources had been invested in what became the primary agenda of the week: A proposal to energize evangelism, church plant-
It will take changed hearts to carry it ahead successfully, hearts that are willing to answer some tough questions that were asked at Colorado Springs-and answer them honestly. Questions like these, for starters:
• Do I care about the destiny of people who don't know Christ? And if I don't, do I even want to? And if I don't want to, what does that say about the condition of my heart? Without a passion for people, evangelism is nothing more than fraudulent salesmanship; it profiteth us nothing.
.Without a passion
• Can I see further than the end of my nose? If I can't-if all I care about is what happens in my. church, ing and renewal in the conference called "Mission USA." And yet, enough doubts were being heard about the proposal to keep even the most dedicated optimist on edge.
What's more, registrations continued their downward slide since the first Colorado Springs convention in 1986 (fewer than half the number participated this year as did in 1986). The all-time low numbers seemed to be one more indication that the interest level of the churches in anything denominational was on a low, low ebb.
So, when the word "historic" is still used to describe an event after it has concluded, you have to believe something pretty special happened there.
for people,
evangelism is nothing
more than fraudulent salesmanship; it
profiteth us nothing.
Well, believe it about Colorado Springs '94. What happened there was more significant than the passage of a speculative proposal. It was even more significant than the rise of a new baby-boomer leadership team.
No, what happened at Colorado Springs was that the Holy Spirit may have broken through a crust of skepticism and tradition and begun a new thing among Mennonite Brethren in the United States. And Lord knows, we could use a new thing around here. The old thing-high rhetoric, low effectiveness and even lower conviction-has grown wearisome.
Frankly, I don't know if tears and high emotion always accompany a new thing, or even if their presence always indicates a new thing has indeed begun. But I hope they do, because both were in good supply during this convention
For some, the display of such emotion was merely a way of manipulating Mission USA from proposal to program. Even if that were true, mere emotion won't carry Mission USA more than a stone's throw into the future.
my house, my neighborhood-what does that say about my spiritual vision? Some things we must do together because we are unable to accomplish them alone .
• Am I willing to take directions
from anyone other than my own circle of cronies? The line is not always clear between strong, effective leadership and pushy, disruptive authoritarianism. Right now, in this point in our denominational history, we need leaders who are willing to step into the battle with boldness and creativity. Maybe more than that, we need
followers who won't shoot their leaders in the back from the trenchesand will even take their marching orders into the fray.
• Will we let our history determine our future? Sure, we've had our share of false starts, mistakes and hot air when it comes to evangelism. But we can never stop taking risks and trying new things simply because they haven't jelled in the past. The only thing more debilitating than the fear of failure is the fear of success. Indeed, what if God would give us what we ask for by way of spiritual impact? Are we prepared for that?
• Do we really want to grow? Some people are obsessed with statistical growth, others abhor the obsession and so shy away from anything resembling goal-setting. But beyond statistics is a more important question about growth: Are we prepared to let go of the luxury of being big fish in a small pond? Will we share our power, prestige and influence with those who have entered our pond?
Those of us encrusted with skepticism and tradition have a hard time answering questions like these in a way we feel good about. Maybe we could use a few more miracles-DR
