August 1994

THE CHRISTIAN •

• AUGUST 1994

II Faith doesn't take the interstate / p4 II To be single minded / p7 II Sabbath: rest and revolution / pIO

THE PUBLICATION OF THE

U . s . CONFERENCE OF MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCHES

AUGUST 1994

FIRST WORDS

from the editor

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UMMER 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

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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 • ocrOBER 9- Eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas; host: Westport MB Church, Collinsville, Okla.

• 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

Pagel

• 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 IN DISCIPLESHIP JOURNAL ..

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AUGUST

1994 THE CHRISTIAN

E·A·D·E·R 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 .. . ...... . . ... .. . ... . .. . . by Mark Kistler 14 • Comfort in the midst of fear

Musings .. . ...... . ... . ... . .... . ..... by Jim Holm 15 • From sea to sea Bodylife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 • SPECIAL REPORT: Colorado Springs '94 16 • Awkward moments color Canadian convention 24 • Geddert to lead MBBS B.C program 24 • Typhoid epidemic in Zaire 25 • Near tragedy reveals God's power 25

Miscellanea ... . . .. . . . . ...... . ... . ... . .. . .. . . .. . 30 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Don Ratzlaff 32 • Breaking through the crust

EDITOR Don Ratzlaff

ASSISTANT EDITOR 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 inform 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.

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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

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AUGUST

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Faith doesn't take

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the interstate The divine fast-track is what we're after, but faith is only reached over the long road, the back way, the scenic route

by PIDUP WIEBE

HENEVER MY WIFE AND I HEAD OUT

the door on our way somewhere, our contrasting personality styles really come to the surface. When Kim is ready to go, she's ready to go. She booms out of the house like a human cannonball. I, however, am more like Heinz ketchup. I take my time.

You know, I have to take care of this, check out that, consider something else. By the time I finally make it to the car, Kim is ready to stomp her feet through the floorboards and race off Fred Flintstone-style.

I can understand that. Sometimes my slowpoke ways even drive me crazy. I feel like the guy with the stuck blinker driving 40 on the interstate: Why don't I move into the fast lane?

Why can't I get more focused, more straight-ahead about life?

Because life is no freeway.

In our fast-lane culture, it's hard to admit that living is largely a slow-lane experience. Sure, many of life's details call for Kim's task-tackling style (I'm trying, for instance, to get out the door faster); but life itself won't be tackled.

"Each day we go on making our plans, promises and predictions with little awareness of how inaccurate they so often prove to be," writes Business Ethics editor Marjorie Kelly: "We seem to believe each day anew that this time we'll get it all done, this time we'll make the hours conform to our wish-

es. Our faith in our ability to control the future might be touching if it weren't so absurd."

So, too, might be our faith in our ability to control our faith. The divine fast-track is what we're after: Seven Steps to Spiritual Maturity; Five Days to Deeper Relationships; Three Ways to Pray. We want our spiritual growth, and we want it now. After all, isn't the faith journey a "race"? Aren't we called to sprint the "straight and narrow"?

Well, yes and no. When Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to "run with endurance the race that is set before us," it's obvious the writer isn't talking about a 100-meter dash, but a marathon. When Jesus mentioned the narrow way-"small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life" (Mt. 7: 14)-he never described it as "straight." On the contrary: "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction" (7:13).

Faith doesn't take the interstate. It's only reached over the long road, the back way, the scenic route. "Now faith," begins Hebrews 11, "is being sure of what we hope for and certain AUGUST

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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) 6-THE

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just need to slow down. Relax the the better.

It's been said that humans tend to stride, ease the heart rate, breath deepoverestimate what can be accom- er, take in the view. Pace ourselves. plished in one year, and underestimate Expect a little less from us, and a lot what can be accomplished in ten. How more from God. When, in the 2 Chronicles account, true in matters of faith. Locked into the fast track, the quick plan, the con- King Jehoshaphat was told that "A vast densed version, we often fail to give army is coming against you from faith the time and space it needs to Edom," Jehoshaphat sprang not into develop. By expecting too much too his Emergency Strategic Defense Initiasoon, we settle for too little too late. tive, but onto his knees; he "resolved Not like Abraham. Even at a hundred, to inquire of the LORD" (20:3). After a he was still unclear about where he period of prayer and fasting, God's was headed. But not about where he strategy came throughJahaziel: was going: "He was looking forward to Do not be afraid or discouraged the city with foundations, whose archi- because of this vast army. For the battect and builder is God" (11: 10). tle is not yours, but God's .... You will not have to fight this battle. Take up Are we?

Sometimes it seems like we're look- your positions; stand firm and see the ing for the city whose architect and deliverance the LORD will give you .... builder is Disney, where everything is Do not be afraid; do not be discourfast and fun and there aren't any tech- aged. Go out to face them tomorrow nical glitches or littered landscapes. and the LORD will be with you.

That's the kind of faith we want- (20:15,17) quick, tidy and smooth. The kind that As we go out and face tomorrow, can be scheduled into planning books God will be with us. It isn't necessary and compiled into progress reports. to push the pace, go for broke, shoot The kind with easy access and wide- for the moon, dash for the world open straightaways and lots of fast- record. Only to walk faithfully . At times life will confound us with tricky food breaks along the way.

Hebrews trashes that plan in a twists and turns, but no need to bolt hUrry. Along with Abraham, a "great for the exits: "This calls for patient cloud of witnesses"-Abel and Noah, endurance on the part of the saints Joseph and Moses, Rahab and a crowd who obey God's commandments and of others-shows that "running with remain faithful to Jesus" (Rev. 14:12). endurance" doesn't mean finishing When a clock was informed of its first, but finishing strong. "Let us fix duty to tick 300 million times over the our eyes on Jesus, the author and per- next 10 years, it nearly had a heart fector of our faith, who for the joy set attack: "How am I ever going to manbefore him endured the cross, ... Con- age that?" sider him who endured such opposiOne tick at a time. tion from sinful men, so that you will So goes our walk of faith: one step not grow weary and lose heart ... . at a time. Sometimes it may seem like Endure hardship as discipline; God is slogging through syrup, but years treating you as sons .... No discipline down the road, we'll gaze back seems pleasant at the time, but painful. amazed at how far we've come. tS2 Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" ,.------, Philip Wiebe, whose col(Heb. 12:2,3, 7, 11). umn Ph'lIp Side appears each month In the Leader, Do we get frustrated with our faith? works part-time as faciliImpatient with our progress? Forever ties coordinator at the tapping God on the shoulder and asking, "Are we there yet?" H so, maybe Kingwood Bible Church, we're expecting too much too soon, Salem, Ore. trying to go too far too fast. Maybe we LEADER

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, AUGUST

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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.

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• Identify needs and goals

• Implement tools for growth

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.

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.

It is a common misconception that singles are necessarily 2. Provide opportunities for ser- more lonely than vice that incorporate the use of married people. But just specific spiritual gifts and the freedoms and advantages of single- as individuals within a ness. Help each individual discover marriage must continue ways to become involved in the life of the church, ministering both to efforts to maintain believers and to those who do not intimacy, so must single know Christ. people reach out and 3. Offer specific means to spiri- make the effort to tual and personal growth. In addition to vibrant Sunday worship ser- initiate close, satisfying vices, these might include mentoring relationships. 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 bless62 ings.

Karen Siemens, a regiStered psychological assistant, is a member of the Laurelg/en Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif.

AUGUST

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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 ~TY"

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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."

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his 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. AUGUST

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It is my impression that gov-

ernment 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)

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Whatever 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."

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In our increased emphasis on the family, might we be reversing God's order ofpriOrity-forgetting that membership in the spiritual family is more important than membership in our physical families? (BRmSH COLUMBIA)

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ThiS 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.

l' . T H F C H R 1ST I A N LEA D E R

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? e2

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Faithfulness 101

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TEND TO THINK of faithfulness as graduate-school material-an advanced degree fruit of the Spirit and high-minded character trait. Faithfulness is what all those major martyrs and model missionaries had. Something we minor bench warmers can at least aspire to, if not quite achieve in these comfy times to the shimmering degree of our brilliantly faithful forebears.

Or so I've thought. Lately, though, I've been wondering if faithfulness has less to do with showing radiant character than with simply showing up. "Did you sign up to help?" I overheard someone ask someone else regarding a volunteer project. "I said I'd be there," came the reply, "but I guess we'll see if I make it. You know, 'Lord willing.'"

Hmm. If someone said they'd be there, wouldn't "Lord willing" mean being there? Of course it would. Which leads directly to a crucial observation.

Bummer.

While I've often been impatient with dubiously faithful folks, I haven't always done better myself. "It doesn't matter if we're late," I've told my wife. "We'll still get there before everyone else." About that, I've often been right. But I've always been wrong about the other. It does matter. As the wealthy master lauds in one of Jesus's parables: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things" (Mt. 25:21).

We can't be faithful in a big way without being faithful in small ways. That's tough to swallow for today's culture, which is captivated more by high concepts than low reality. Love my neighbor? Great idea: Let's organize a Lovea-thon and call in the media! But don't bug me with picky stuff like keeping commitments or common courtesy. If I don't show up when I agreed to, what's the big deal? If I don't follow through on little things, who'll really notice?

God will.

But God isn't the only one. I think we'd all like to behave more faithfully, but are often confounded by this speeded up, stressed out information age. For those of us who are daily kicked around by planning calendars on steroids, faithfulness seems less basic than basaltic-huge and hard to get hold of. Along the information superhighway, individual obli-

gations look more and more like a blur.

The good news is, Jesus provided a focus knob: "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'" (Mt. 5:37). This is faithfulness in a nutshell.

• LET YOUR YES BE YES. "It is a trap," Proverbs says, "for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows" (20:25). That's a heavy temptation in our instant-everything world, to hastily say yes before we've had a chance to think it out. Who has time to think? Often it seems easier on ourselves and others to just nod now, and deal with the consequences later: Bad idea. "We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts" (1 Thess. 2:4).

And God is not thrilled (nor are those who were momentarily pleased with our yes) when we say "Count me in," only to flake out. Like the guy Jesus mentioned who needed to count the cost of his tower project, we need to count the cost of each yes, to make sure we can complete it .

• LET YOUR NO BE NO. "No" is an underrated word in the Christian vocabulary, and it's easy to see why. We are to be people of love, of good deeds, of doing all things through Christ who strengthens us. Doesn't "yes" better reflect the spirit of our call? Not always. A vintner asked his sons to work in the vineyard. One said yes, but didn't show up; the other said no, but came anyway. "Which of the two," Jesus asked, "did what his father wanted?" (Mt. 21:31). The answer: The one who initially said "No." The point being, it's better to shake your head in the first place than nod and not mean it.

Saying no is OK. Not as a hedge against all involvement, but as a release for the right kinds of involvement.

Faithfulness 10 1: In these flaky times we could all stand to go back to school on that one.

I once heard a chronically tardy person say, "I can be on time if it's important." That statement had the facts, but they were askew. The truth is, "It's important to be on time"-and to keep commitments, and follow through on small stuff, and so on.

As a wise person said, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man" (prov. 3:3-4). ef2 AUGUST

Who has time to think? Often it seems easier on ourselves and others to just nod now, and deal with the consequences later.

Philip Wiebe lives in Salem, Ore. 1994

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Comfort in the midst of fear

BY MARK KISTLER

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WAS 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 111

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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 nse of comfort and peace is something that meant more to me than I can describe . I thought a lot about life after death too.

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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.

o{{usings

From sea to sea

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I WRITE TInS, the destiny of Mission USA is uncertain. By the time you read 't, that future will in all likelihood have been decided. Mission USA is the title given to a proposal made at the U.S. Mennonite Brethren convention this summer. Whether or not that proposal is adopted, the notion behind it is worth conSidering.

That notion is based on a phrase in Psalm 72:8: "He will rule from sea to sea .... " Though the psalm speaks of King Solomon, many think it has messianic overtones. The King James version is more poetic: "He shall have dominion from sea unto the sea." Even if Psalm 72 does not speak of the Messiah, Zechariah 9: 10 clearly does: "He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His rule will extend from sea to sea .... " The words "from sea to sea" strike a responsive chord with Americans because we so often think of our nation as having those same boundaries. Our patriotic songs speak of it: " ... from California to the New York Islands ... ," or " ... from the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam .... " A favorite is, "America, America, God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea" (my italics).

These songs and the words of Scripture have an inviting parallel. If Jesus wishes to "have dominion from sea unto sea," and if this country stretches "from sea to shining sea," then it is easy to make the connection that Jesus might want to have dominion over America from one shore to the other.

This is where the Mennonite Brethren and Mission USA come in. We have always believed in the importance of the church. We have held firmly to the conviction that God builds his kingdom through the church. This conviction has spawned a magnificent vision. We have established and supported a creative missionary enterprise, phenomenal for a denomination of our size. The undertaking has been so productive, in fact, that today Mennonite Brethren conferences in other parts of the world are much larger than ours.

Our vision has also encompassed education.

With a total national membership of about 18,000 people in the United States, we sustain two four-year colleges, own half a seminary and

operate several other private schools. We have Have we ever been serious about the mandate of Christ.

But have we ever claimed our nation for believed that Christ? Have we ever believed that Jesus wanted to use the Mennonite Brethren Church in Jesus wanted this country to be a part of establishing his dominion from sea unto sea? The dream of Mis- to use the sion USA is that Mennonite Brethren will lift Mennonite their eyes and have a national viSion, that they will see this country as a target for church Brethren renewal, church planting and evangelism.

I know it sounds a little ingenuous to suggest Church in this that a group of fewer than 18,000 can capture a nation of more than 250 million for the Lord. country to be But did it not seem foolish for Gideon, with an army of 300, to take on an enemy of thousands? a part of Did it not seem foolish for the Apostle Paul, with a small boatload of supporters, to sail to establishing Europe and establish a beachhead for the his dominion church there?

Does it not seem foolish that a tiny denomination like ours should attempt to keep open from sea two four-year liberal arts colleges and share unto sea? ownership in a seminary?

Does it not seem foolish to think that we can maintain a mission force (in cooperation with the Canadians) that spans the entire world?

Of course these things are foolish, but they are happening. In fact, the foolishness of Mission USA is a foolishness to which I wish we all could aspire.

Claim a country for Christ. Can it be done?

Think of it this way. Is it Christ's intention to rule from sea to sea? Did not Amos write that people would stagger from sea to sea looking for some word from the Lord? (Amos 8:11-12).

Is that not what is happening in America today?

Who will bring that word from the Lord to people?

Our denomination is not the only one which wants to make an impact for Christ in this country. But we should do whatever it takes, by all possible means, to win some.

Mission USA, however it may proceed, is a vision. It challenges each of us to see this nation as a place where Jesus wants to rule. Perhaps someday we will be able to sing in chorus and in truth: "America, America, God shed his grace on thee, his kingdom come, his will be done, Jim Holm Is from e€ from sea to shining sea. " Reedley, Calif.

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STARTING POINT: Several dozen delegates came to the stage after the Monday evening session to pray for a new compassion for lost people.

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

COLORADO SPRINGS '94 16·

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HIS 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 LEA D E R

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

BODYLIFE

it, though convinced of the direction, were unsure if it could reach its intended end. If it couldn't, some speculated, the future of the national conference itself might be at risk.

• A preliminary recommendation from the Board of Church Ministries (BCM) to no longer guarantee a specific subsidy amount for the MB Biblical Seminary had generated considerable concern from MBBS and leaders of the General and Canadian conferences.

• The program hadn't come together as originally planned. To help generate interest in the convention, Joe Aldrich, nationally known expert on lifestyle evangelism, had been the intended guest speaker. When illness forced him to withdraw, the planning team went to Option B: five speakers from within the denomination.

• Preconvention registration indicated a continuing decline in convention participants (see box). In the end, only 58 of the 135 congregations bothered to send representatives; of those, 18 sent only their pastor or pastoral couple.

Given the uncertainty, planners realized the outcome of this convention was beyond their ability to control. It would take some heavenly help for delegates to embrace the convention theme: "Mission USA: Claiming this land for Christ. " And maybe that wasn't such a bad poSition to be in.

Spiritual preparation The convention schedule lent itself to that possibility. The first evening and the entire following day were devoted to worship, inspiration and relaxation. By the time BCM formally introduced the Mission USA proposill on Monday morning, three of the five speakers had already had a chance to expound on the spiritual and motivational issues behind it (see page 22 for highlights).

On Saturday evening, Jim Holm, vice chair of the conference and chair of the Mission USA task force, addressed the theme "Focusing the Vision" by first recounting the denomination's "remarkable accomplishments" in overseas missions and education. He then challenged the delegation to consider what miracles God might want to accomplish through Mennonite Brethren to reach their own country "from sea to sea. "

The worship team of (right to left) Randy Janzen, Sharon Janzen, Lori Walsh and James Epp led the delegation in spirited singing.

"Would it be possible, · though it sounds ridiculous for a church our size, to claim a land for Christ?" he asked. He then outlined the Mission USA concept, admitted the challenges of seeing it come to fruition, but urged his listeners to consider God's achievements in history against all human odds.

The following morning, Roger Poppen, pastor of the Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif., the fastestgrowing congregation in the conference, took up the challenge of "Living in touch with God." He sketched the declining moral terrain of the United States, but added, "To live in touch with God is not to be in a panic mode."

Poppen said that although God would eventually reign, God's timetable is secret and may include judgment of the land. In the meantime, Poppen said, the church should move forward with God's mission of redemption and reclamation.

Following an afternoon devoted to free time, Brent Warkentin, pastor of the Buhler (Kan.) MB Church, spoke on "Renewing the church" during the Sunday evening session. He clearly

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EGISTRATION totals for the four biennial conferences held on the campus of Colorado College since 1986. (The 1990 convention was held in Wichita, Kan., as a business-only lead-in to the triennial General Conference convention in nearby Hillsboro.)

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1986

455

87

1988

371

42

1992

288

29

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235

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WHAT IS MISSION USA? GOAL: To coordinate, motivate and equip the churches, agencies, institutions and districts of the U.S. Conference around a co mm o n pri ority: evan geli sm, church planting and renewal.

ORGANIZATION: An independent board re spon sibl e t o th e U.S. Confere nce, though linked w ith the Board of Church Ministries. The new board would consist of three people ap pointed f rom district home missions boards, three elected from the districts, three people elected at large, one appointed by MB Missions/ Services.

Option: up to five additional people could be appointed t o th e board t o secure resources or expertise.

BOARD MANDATE: Promot e re newa l and provide human, financial and educational resources; develop a strategy for reaching our nation w ith the gospel; participate with the districts and local churches in new church plants both within and beyond recognized district boundari es; network with all appropriate institutions and agencies; develop adequate staff to implement the vision, by employment or contract; promote the calling out, training and placement of workers; develop a public relations/communications prog ram; call church es to praye r and sup port of th e vision.

STAFF: An immediate need for an executive director; possibly w ithin two years, one or tw o additional st aff wo uld be employed, according to perceived needs.

FINANCING: Sufficient funding would become a priority. The task force suggested a "dream budget" of $344,000 in the first yea r based on the following sources: U.S. Co nference, $127 ,000 ; MBM/S, $70,000; district conferences, $2 5,000; MB Foundation, $40,000; board member contributions, $27,000; fund-raising by board and executive, $35 ,000; colleges/seminary (in kind), $20,000.

NEXT STEP: The Boa rd of Church Ministries w ill disce rn and ap point th e six elected members; the other four w ill be appointed as outlined above.

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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.

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, LEA D E R

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 the 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-

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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

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EYOND 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 AUGUST

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"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

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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.

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ITH 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

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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.

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

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

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 An ensemble of students from the Slavic Bible Institute In congregation affiliated Tulsa sang and played musical Instruments AUGUST

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Words of challenge, a call to action

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ONVENTION 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.

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. "

(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:

Holm: From sea to sea.

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• "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

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• "If we're not doing what 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. "

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.

BODYLIFE

• "Do you believe that it's possible in your church to start seeing adult conversions like you've never seen them before? Do you really believe that? That people who have never wanted to come to your church will be won for Christ? Do you believe feuds in your church can be healed?"

to care about the people Sitting next to us and care about our non-Christian neighbors who are dying and going to hell, we have to go to preach, teach, live and breathe the love of God, for we stand in the presence of the Savior."

• "Was Jesus out to lunch when he said that with GQd all things are possible?"

• "'It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God' [Acts 15:19]. How I wish that was the banner at the front of every Mennonite Brethren church in the United States of America."

ior-in our personal lives. in our churches. in our leadership and in our homes. " • "If we are to claim our land for Christ, then the main thing for Mission USA is prayer."

CHUCK BULLER: Buller: Remove obstacles.

• "GQd can bring renewal however he wantsthrough a sermon, a song, a crisis, prayer and confession, even through confrontation of sin. " • "What is it that churches and denominations which don't need renewal have?

What do they have that we don't? They have a burning passion and desire and motivation to see lives changed for Jesus Christ. " • "How passionate are people about lost souls? We have a lot more passion about kitchen policies. We have stronger opinions about choruses and hymns than we do about people dying and going to hell."

• "Our hearts must be broken with the things that break the heart of God, and nothing breaks the heart of God more than people not giving their lives to him. " • "Renewal comes when we begin to have a passion to see lives changed for Jesus Christ and we are not satisfied until we see that happen."

• "If we want the passion

• "What is the church going to expect seekers-those chasing down GQd-to do?

Are we going to ask the fish to get cleaned up before we catch them? Or are we just going to catch them, and then watch the sanctification process begin? Is baptism a Sign of maturity or is it an initiation rite?"

• "Is the church prepared to accept people with different backgrounds, ethics and attitudes as they're coming to Christ .... The critical basis to becoming a seeker-sensitive person is whether or not we want clean fish-that is a fundamental change of God's work in [my] heart. " • "We will have to beg GQd for one gift, the gift of leadership .... We are a processoriented people.... But in the final analysis, whether a person burns for eternity in hell or not is more important than whether we feel good about the process of Mission USA.... The product

is more important than the process."

• "Leaders never forget how they got there-they were appointed .... Leaders make decisions because someone asked them to make the hard deciSions, not because they showed up and demanded that they had the ability to make them....

You know what we are here in Colorado Springs? We are the official 'permissiongivers' for Mission USA leaders to make some decisions on our behalf."

• "Jesus came to deal with sick people, not the well.

He loved them."

HENRY SCHMIDT: • "The main thing is to keep the main thing as the main thing."

• "Etched on every page in the book of Acts are prayers, prayers for people being delivered from prison. who needed to be converted, who needed demons cast out. who were sick and needed hope."

• "The staying power, the thing that's going to keep us from 'compassion fatigue' is prayer. Yes, and I know prayer is warfare."

• "Satan's tool for the world is to keep people blind and bound; and Satan's tool with Christians is to keep us busy with all kinds of things so that we never get around to sharing and ministering to others. whether that ministry is speaking or in prayer."

• "Mission USA. claiming our land for Christ will happen if there's a prayer base.

If there isn't a prayer base, it isn't going to be Mission anywhere, its going to be business as usual. n

• "I am reminded of the words of William Temple, who said, 'The church is the only social institution in all the world that exists more for the benefit of nonmembers than for members.'"

• "The real test of our vote on Mission USA will be whether we can put together belief and behav-

Schmidt: Prayer is essential.

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GATHERINGS

Awkward moments color Canadian convention • Leaders apologize for premature announcement

I

T 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 International (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 adminis~ration 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

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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.

BODYLIFE

• 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

P

WITNESS

Near tragedy reveals God's power • Miraculous recovery boosts fledgling church

M

EMBERS 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 has been a powerful evidence of the power of God for us," 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

AKISA 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 persons were dying Twenty to daily, most under age 12. More than 1,000 30 persons have died since the first are dying of outbreak. typhoid Tshimika, who is also daily, most coordinator of health underage 12 and development for the Zairian MB Church, asked MBMjS, Mennonite Central Committee and UNICEF for $5,000 each to buy syringes and medicines, • CHURCH NOTES and to bring a health team on site.

The MBMjS administrative council LITTLETON, Colo_ (Belleview Acres)• Baptism/Membership approved the request June 29. North Men of the church met for an "all sons" American churches, through the mis- SALEM, Ore_ (Kingwood Bible)-Jeff retreat July 15-16 at Geneva Park CampSion, have donated $80,000 to Zaire Paschall, Shawn Jones and Aaron Williams ground. since late 1991, when military vio- were baptized recently. John and Betty lence and looting caused economic King, Boyd and Viva Morningstar, Jeff and CORDELL, Okla_ (Bible)-The senior citiSharon Paschall, John Toews and Jeremy zen's choir from the Corn (Okla.) MB chaos in that country.

Turner were received into membership.

Church presented a program at the July 31 At meetings of the International evening service. Refreshments were served Committee of Mennonite Brethren, following the service .... Harvest Crew, a • Teaching/Nurture held in Bielefeld, Gennany in May, the traveling music and drama team from Japan MB Conference presented rep- YALE, SoD. (Bethel)-David and Dawn Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan., presented a resentatives of the Zairian MB Church Lysaker and family of Hancock, Minn., who concert Aug. 2. have formed the "Faith Puppeteers" minwith a check for $12,000 to assist istry, presented a program at a July morn- BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Heritage Bible)with food and medicine.-Gary Hard- ing worship service and at the Sunday James Cecy presented a one-day seminar away,MBM/S

school picnic which followed.

Aug. 13 on the topic "Building Personal AUG U S T

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Purity: Christian Living in an Immoral World."

GETTYSBURG, S.D. (Grace Bible)-The congregation is planning a family camp out at West Whitlock State Recreation Area Aug. 12-14.

• Ministry ULYSSES, Kan.-Byron and Lucy Neufeld, mission workers in Russia, shared about their ministry there. They hope to return this fall.

HIll.SBORO, Kan. (Ebenfeid)-Mark and Nancy Rogers, returning missions workers to Guinea, were honored at a sending service July 17.

• Celebrations ONIDA, S.D. (Emmanuel)-The congregation celebrated its 75th anniversary July 16-17. Henry Schmidt, former pastor and current MB Biblical Seminary preSident, was the keynote speaker. Activities included a supper on Saturday, then services on Sunday morning, afternoon and evening.

SALEM, Ore. (Kingwood Bible)-The church recently hosted a 50th wedding

anniversary celebration for Arno and Linda Wiebe . The program included family songs, a slide presentation and reflections from attenders.

FRESNO, Calif. (North Fresno)-Janice Porter was installed as half-time pastor of children and family ministries Aug. 7.

Porter began her ministry in July.

HIll.SBORO, Kan.-Ed and Helen Fadenrecht celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a program and open house at the church July 10.

COLLINSVIU.E, Okla. (Westport)-Brad Schoeppy, outgoing minister of music, and his wife, Kris, were honored at a farewell reception July 17.

SHAFIER, Calif.-Abe and Susie Isaac celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary June 30.

LODI, Calif. (Vinewood Community)Interim youth pastor Kelly Thomas was installed July 17; he and his wife, Karena, were honored with a pantry shower that evening .... A send-off potluck lunch honored outgoing youth pastor Tim Franz, his wife, Laurie, and children Lindsay and Courtney July 24.

BUHLER, Kan.-The congregation recently purchased a house across the street from the church. On July 10, the congregation dedicated the property as a Christian education annex, to be used for extra Sunday school space. An open house with refreshments followed the service .

• Workers BLAINE, Wash. (Birch BaY)-Jim and Toyann Totzke were installed as the pastoral couple July 10. Henry Dick, Pacific District minister, and local leaders Harold Fast and Rod Pankratz officiated the ceremony.

Totzke was the pastor of the Cornerstone Community Church of the Brethren in Reedley, Calif.

Hational Mennonite Brethren Youth Conference Esles Park. Colorado March 25 - 2B. m5

• Youth ENID, Okla.-Fifteen youth and sponsors traveled to Denver, Colo., July 11-17 for a mission immersion emphasis led by Bob Pankratz, outreach coordinator of the Garden Park MB Church. The group visited different city-wide ministries each day, and were involved in several service projects.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)-Thirteen youth and four adults traveled to Baja California in June to minister in the Mexican town of Trece de Mayo. The team worked closely with Nicholas and Carmen Hernandez, who lead a house church there.

COLLINSVILLE, Okla. (Westport)-The youth group traveled to Chicago, Ill. , July 9-17 to staff a vacation Bible school in the area. During the evenings, the group was involved in jail visitation and feeding homeless people.

MOUNTAIN LAKE, Minn.-A number of high school youth left July 25 to attend the DC '94 event in Washington, D.C. VISALIA, Calif. (Neighborhood)-The third, fourth and ftfth-grade Sunday school classes sold baked goods to raise funds for junior camp.

Call Intercristo toll free at ESTES

26 • THE

1·800·426-1342

·95

C H R 1ST I A N

or (206) 546-7330

LEA 0 E R

BODYLIFE

. 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.

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.

GOERTZEN~ ANNA ROSE, Henderson,

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,

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-

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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.

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Send resumes to: Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary Attn: Executive Administrator 4824 E. Butler Ave.• Fresno, CA 93727 MBBS provides equolopportvnity for employment without regord to IOce, color, notionolorigin, sex, oge Of physicol hondicap.

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COMPASSION

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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.

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, residen-

75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Madera Avenue Bible Church, Mennonite Brethren

tial care and independent living accommodations.

For more information, call DAVID REIMER

EXECUTIVE DIRECIDR

(209) 658-6955

PALM VILLAG E RETIREM ENT

COMMU N ITY

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

Lie. # 100404809 701 W. HERBERT P.O. BOX 1028 REEDLEY CA 93654-1028

28·

T HE

CHRISTIAN

Phone: (209) 673-0611

LEADER

Fax: (209) 674-5533

BOD

Y

L I

FE

20, 1982, she was married to Ben Ratzlaff, who predeceased her in 1993. She is survived by three sons, Carl and wife Mona of Alexandra, Ark., Ray and wife Veronica of Elko, Nev., and and Mark and wife Lena of Waukomis, Okla.; one daughter, Ilene Langhurst of King, N.C.; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-Iaw, Sophie Cornelsen of Fairview.

REGIER, LYDIA KLAASSEN, Buhler, Kan., a member of the Buhler MB Church, was born Mar. 23, 1921, to Isaac D. and Anna Ediger Klaassen near Hillsboro, Kan., and died Mar. 31, 1994, at the age of 73.

On Sept. 23 , 1945, she was married to Wilbert Regier, who survives. She is also survived by two daughters, Cheryl and husband David Collins of Kennard, Neb., and Naomi and husband Lester Bartel of Madison, Ala.; two brothers, Art of Myrtle Creek, Ore., and Harold of Leonardville, Kan.; one sister, Esther Schroeder of Buhler, Kan.; and three grandchildren.

REIMER, ELIZABETH FRANZ, Corn, Okla., a member of the Corn MB Church, was born Apr. 23, 1910, to Henry and Agnes Franz in Hooker, Okla., and died May II, 1994, at the age of 84. On Nov. 27, 1932, she was married to Jake Reimer, who predeceased her. She is survived by two daughters, Bernice and husband A.B.P. Schmidt, and LoRita and husband Bob Holman; one brother, Jake Franz of Wichita, Kan.; six grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren; seven step-grandchildren and 14 step-great-grandchildren.

SAWATZKY, SELMA OLGA GRUNAU, Corn, Okla., a member of the Corn MB Church, was born July 19, 1907, to, Cornelius C. and Sarah Kroeker Grunau, and died June 11, 1994, at the age of 86. On Nov. 30, 1947, she was married to David Sawatzky, who survives. She is also survived by one son, Jim and wife Sandy of Corn; two brothers, c.J. Grunau of Fairview, Okla., and Henry Grunau of Owasso, Okla.; two sisters, Sarah Gronau of Fairview, and Mary Braun of Reedley, Calif.; and two grandchildren.

SCHMIDT, LINDA MAE ENNS, Bloomfield, N.M, a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Farmington, N.M., was born Jan. 24, 1928, to Henry H. and Katy Balzer Enns in Hooker, Okla., and died Apr. 23, 1994, at the age of 66. On June 2, 1950, she was married to Kenneth R. Schmidt, who survives. She is also survived by one son, Ian Schmidt of Mukilteo, Wash.; two daughters, Lore! Caldwell of Tucson, Ariz., and Janet Miller of Lebanon, Ore.; three sisters, Elizabeth Enns and Edna Cosby of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Esther Ediger of Reedley, Calif.; four brothers, Henry Enns of Toutle, Wash., Pete Enns of Ferndale, Wash., Ernest Enns and John Enns, both of Hooker, Okla.; and tf2 seven grandchildren.

The U.S. Conference Board of Church Ministries welcomes names of people you would recommend for appointment to the newly created Board of Mission USA. We're looking for people with: • The gift of evangelism • A passion for church growth and renewal • Administrative skills • A heart of love for lost people • A capacity for generosity • A vision for reaching our nation for Christ • A lifestyle based on prayer Submit names to your pastor, or to The Board of Church Ministries, c/o Lyn Becker or Dennis Fast, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063; Ph: (316) 947-3151; Fax: (316) 947-3266.

50th Anniversary Celebration

EDEN June 30 - July 2, 1995 Niagara-on-the lake • Friday p.m. - Family barbecue featuring Eden talent • Saturday BreakfastlBrunch - Class Reunions • Saturday p.m. - Banquet, Entertainment, Speaker • Sunday p.m. - Praise & Worship Service

DON'T MISS IT! MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND Further details and registration to follow in early 1995

ASSINIBOINE TRAVEL SERVICE * * * presents * * * MENNONITE HERITAGE TOUR TO THE FORMER USSR (Poland, Russia & the Ukraine) October 16 - November 4,1994 Hosts: William Schroeder & Rudy Friesen Travel to the former USSR with cartologist William Schroeder and architect Rudy Friesen.

See the cities of Yalta, Zaporozhye, Moscow, Orenburg, St. Petersburg and Gdansk.

Revisit the villages of your forefathers in the Chortitza, Molotschna, Zagradowka and Crimean regions.

For further information, please contact: John Schroeder or Micheline Hay, ASSINIBOINE TRAVEL SERVICE 1517A Portage Avenne, Winnipeg, Manitoba R5G OV5 Tel: (204) 775-0271

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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

fering, 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.

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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

Reporter)

INTRODUCTIONS

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f hanging out in church singles groups hasn't helped you meet Mr. or Ms. Right yet, maybe you're going about it wrong. Paul Lintern, a lutheran pastor and humorist, recently shared his top 10 pick-up lines w ith USA Today: 10. Hi, is this pew taken?

9. My prayers are answered.

8. W hat' s a charismatic like you doing in a mainline place like this?

7. How about w e go over to my place for a little devotional?

6. Hi, angel !

5. Don't worry, I'm attracted to you in a purely spiritua l way.

4. I' m Episcopalian. W hat's your sign ?

3. I t hink you' re sitting on my Bible.

2. Read any good Bible passages lately ?

And Lintern's number one pick-up line: So, w orship here often? (EP)

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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

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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)

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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)

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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

MISCELLANEA

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"inspired word of God, " including 71 percent of college graduates. (EP)

CONTROL OVE(Z OVIN(T tA.OSi" RES'IN T,",E I-\ANt>S \ OF THE PATIEN, .

fEINC:r 6-00. T"EV

rr's NOi E~SY

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USED TO 6L"t'\E" fo\E FOR DEA,.",,--

Treasurer on earth?

NOW ,...EY WANT TO BE IN C""ARG-E!

number of religious radio stations has increased by one-third since 1980. (EP)

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Scoring on the court At age 30, basketball star A.C. Green is still a virgin, and proud of it.

Green, a bachelor who encourages young people to practice sexual abstinence before marriage, told Charisma magazine he believes his celebrity status gives him an opportunity to be a godly example for young people. "I know kids need a role model," he said. "I'm reluctant to put myself on a pedestal, but I'm not ashamed to take a stand for Christ." Professional athletes face temptation, admits Green. "I hear the locker room talk about the latest sexual conquests, but I don't let that weaken my resolve to remain sexually pure," he said. "I have chosen to follow God's standard, and I've communicated my stand to my teammates." (EP)

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Giving and getting . Unchurched people often complain that churches are always asking for money. That gave the leaders of Frederick (Md.) Christian Fellowship Church an idea. In a spe-

cial promotion, the first 125 adults to show up at a service were given $10 bills. "We thought, why not be bold and give them money?" explained Kim Kesecker, assistant director of ministries. The promotion had the desired effect-the service drew about 125 people more than usual. Only 32 of the 125 people kept the money; the rest put it in the offering plate. (EP)

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Cut that out ..

And you thought caning was a tough punishment ....

Recent sentences handed down by a Gaza Strip religious arbiter included gouging out an eye and fming a man $2,500 for winking at a woman and saying, "Hey, beautiful." For rape, the accused must ride an oiled camel from his home to the home of the victim.

When he arrives, he must have any part of his body with oil on it cut off. Many Gazans boycott the Israelirun court system, choosing private arbitration. (EP)

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In God we trust?

The United States is still a profoundly religious nation, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll.

The poll of 1,014 Americans found that 59 percent

say religion is very important in their lives and 29 percent call religion "fair-' ly" important; only 11 percent called religion unimportant. The poll also found that 70 percent belong to a church or synagogue, and 66 percent attend services at least once a month.

A U.S. News poll found similar results: 95 percent of Americans say they believe in God and 65 percent regularly attend religious services. Also, more than 80 percent of Americans believe the Bible is the .

A life of poverty and service is fme, but would be better with $5 million to spend. That seems to be the aim of two former Benedictine monks who claim they arranged the music on a top-selling CD and are entitled to royalties. The album, The Best of Gregorian Chants, topped American classical charts and made it to number 10 on the pop chart. The collection of medieval Latin recordings, made by monks in a Benedictine monastery in Spain, has sold more than 3 million copies. Music company officials say the chants are public domain and-far from being arranged-are merely what monks have sung daily for centuries. (EP)

SEXUALITY

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder

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NEW SURVEY commissioned by the Family Research Council (FRC) found that sexual satisfaction is strongly and positively linked to marriage and traditional sexual ethics.

The FRC poll found that the people most likely to report that they are very satisfied with their current sex life are married people who believe that sex outside of marriage is wrong.

The poll found that 72 percent of these married "traditionalists" report high sexual satisfaction - 31 percentage points higher than unmarried "non-traditionalists" and 13 percentage points higher than married non-traditionalists.

The findings are consistent with a major sex survey commissioned by Redbook magazine during the 1970s and a 1992 survey of Christianity Today readers. Both surveys found a link between premarital abstinence and sexual satisfaction in marriage.

Meanwhile, a recent poll by Roper Starch Worldwide, Inc., found that 54 percent of sexually active high school students say they should have waited longer to become sexually active.

While 71 percent of the girls surveyed said they were in love with their most recent sexual partner, only 45 percent of boys said the same. (EP) AUG U S T

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HE RUSH OF WIND you felt sweeping down It will take changed hearts to carry it ahead successfully, from the Rocky Mountains in late July was prob- hearts that are willing to answer some tough questions ably the collective sigh of relief emanating from that were asked at Colorado Springs-and answer them the Board of Church Ministries and other U.S. Confer- honestly. Questions like these, for starters: ence leaders upon the successful conclusion of Col• Do I care about the destiny of people who don't orado Springs '94. "Successful" may not be the best know Christ? And if I don't, do I even want to? And if I word for describing the end result of the four-day bien- don't want to, what does that say about the condition of my heart? Without a passion for people, evangelism is nial gathering. Try "miraculous." (See report, page 16.)

This convention was a question mark from the nothing more than fraudulent salesmanship; it profiteth beginning. Much time, energy and resources had been us nothing.

• Can I see further than the end invested in what became the primary of my nose? If I can't-if all I care agenda of the week: A proposal to about is what happens in my. church, energize evangelism, church plantmy house, my neighborhood-what ing and renewal in the conference does that say about my spiritual called "Mission USA." And yet, .Without a passion vision? Some things we must do enough doubts were being heard together because we are unable to about the proposal to keep even the accomplish them alone. most dedicated optimist on edge. for people, What's more, registrations con• Am I willing to take directions anyone other than my own cirtinued their downward slide since evangelism is nothing from the first Colorado Springs convencle of cronies? The line is not always clear between strong, effective leadtion in 1986 (fewer than half the more than fraudulent ership and pushy, disruptive authorinumber participated this year as did tarianism. Right now, in this point in in 1986). The all-time low numbers our denominational history, we need seemed to be one more indication salesmanship; it leaders who are willing to step into that the interest level of the churchthe battle with boldness and creativies in anything denominational was profiteth us nothing. ty. Maybe more than that, we need on a low, low ebb.

So, when the word "historic" is followers who won't shoot their leadstill used to describe an event after it ers in the back from the trenchesand will even take their marching has concluded, you have to believe orders into the fray. something pretty special happened there.

Well, believe it about Colorado Springs '94. What • Will we let our history determine our future? happened there was more significant than the passage Sure, we've had our share of false starts, mistakes and of a speculative proposal. It was even more significant hot air when it comes to evangelism. But we can never stop taking risks and trying new things simply because than the rise of a new baby-boomer leadership team.

No, what happened at Colorado Springs was that they haven't jelled in the past. The only thing more the Holy Spirit may have broken through a crust of debilitating than the fear of failure is the fear of success. skepticism and tradition and begun a new thing among Indeed, what if God would give us what we ask for by Mennonite Brethren in the United States. And Lord way of spiritual impact? Are we prepared for that? knows, we could use a new thing around here. The old • Do we really want to grow? Some people are thing-high rhetoric, low effectiveness and even lower obsessed with statistical growth, others abhor the obsession and so shy away from anything resembling goal-setconviction-has grown wearisome.

Frankly, I don't know if tears and high emotion ting. But beyond statistics is a more important question always accompany a new thing, or even if their pres- about growth: Are we prepared to let go of the luxury of ence always indicates a new thing has indeed begun. being big fish in a small pond? Will we share our power, But I hope they do, because both were in good supply prestige and influence with those who have entered our pond? during this convention.

Those of us encrusted with skepticism and tradition For some, the display of such emotion was merely a way of manipulating Mission USA from proposal to pro- have a hard time answering questions like these in a way gram. Even if that were true, mere emotion won't carry we feel good about. Maybe we could use a few more miracles-DR Mission USA more than a stone's throw into the future.

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