PHILIP WIEBE IS RIGHT when he says in his article (page 4) that Christians are right to take God very seriously, but we shouldn't necessarily bestow the same honor upon ourselves. In that vein, we focus this month on a commonly ignored spiritual truth: We are the light of the world ... so lighten up, OK?
This first attempt at a "humor issue" is not so much a joke book as an encouragement to review how we see our life and our faith. It's about perspective. Philip Wiebe's aforementioned article is a great help in that regard.
Likewise, Wally Kroeker, a familiar name to long-time Leader readers, helps us recognize the lighter side of God as evidenced in the words and wisdom of Scripture. Wally's delightful article begins on page 8.
But, lest we take the topic of humor too seriously, we offer a couple of items just for fun. Believe it or not, the Leader has actually won awards for the humor we've published. One of our favorites begins on page 11, where Wilfred Martens confesses to a habit that might just hook the rest of us too. His article won a fifth-place award in 1985 from the Evangelical Press Association.
Finally, we want to introduce you more formally to an old friend of the Leader: Pontius the frog. More specifically, we'd like you to know more about the man who makes him, er, croak. You can meet Joel Kauffmann and spend some time in the "Puddle" on pages 14 and 15.
On a more serious note, the lead story in Bodylife (page 20) focuses on the difficult days of Southern District church planting. Our intent in running such an article is not to draw attention to disappointment and failure, but to call us all to prayer and mutual support.-DR
COMING
SEPTEMBER 26-28-General Conference consultation and Council of Boards, Fresno, Calif
OCTOBER 12-27-Southern District regional rallies:
Oct. 12-Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 13-Fairview, Okla.
Oct. 19-Cimarron, Kan.
Oct. 20-Buhler, Kan.
Oct. 21-Wichita, Kan.
Oct. 26-Denver, Colo.
Oct. 27-Topeka, Kan.
OCTOBER 25-26-Central District annual convention, Harvey, N.D.
NOVEMBER 8-9-Pacific District annual convention; hosted by Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif.
-JANUARY 6-12, 1997-India 97, Assembly 13 of Mennonite World Conference, Calcutta, India.
If Christians have the most to be joyful about, why are so many of us so humorless?
God's playful side comes through in the pages of his Holy Word-when we look for it.
Some habits are more biblical than others. Just ask a committed fisherman.
We can learn a lot about our own faith foibles from the misadventures of a frog. Meet the man who brings him to life.
• Having a nice trip
• Disunity in dual services
• The shrinking sermon
the Journey.
• 'Why do
• NEWS FEATURE: A church planting drought in the SOC 20
• Hispanic Assembly draws a large crowd 24
• MBBS manages a black fiscal year 24
• India 97 worship
• The faith game
ART CREDITS: Cover and pages 4, 6 and 11, Dynamic Graphics,' page 8, CLEO Photography; page 14, photo courtesy of Joel Kauffmann; pages 20-23, Leader file photos.
BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Noelle Dickinson (acting chair), 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 evangelicalj Anabaptist theological tradition.
EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions of our writers and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of The Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church. The editors invite free-lance article submissions, but ask that each submission be accompanied with a SASE. The editors reserve the right to edit, condense or refuse all copy submitted for publication; anonymous contributions will not be published.
READER PARTICIPATION: The editors encourage readers to interact with our articles through letters to the editor and essays to Forum, our op-ed column. Letters for What Readers Say must include the author's name and address. Forum is open to members or attenders of Mennonite Brethren churches. Essays to Forum can address any issue of relevance and interest to the faith and life of the Mennonite Brethren Church. The essay should be no longer than 800 words and should include the home church, occupation and a clear photo of the writer.
COMMUNICATION: All correspondence should be addressed to The Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Phone: (316) 947-5543. Fax: (316) 9473266.
ADVERTISING: Clearinghouse ads should be submitted in writing. Cost: $.40 per word. Send no advance payments. For display-ad rates, contact the editor.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Rates: $16 for one year, $30 for two years, and $42 for three years ($20, $38 and $54 in Canada); $1.50 per copy.
ADDRESS CHANGES: Send both old and new address to Circulation Secretary, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Allow up to one month for transition.
MEMBERSHIP: The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors.
PRINTING: The Christian Leader is printed on recyclable paper by Mennonite Press, Newton, Kansas.
POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to The Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Second-class postage paid at Hillsboro, Kansas.
Don Ratzlaff
Connie Faber
HELP FOR THE HUMOR IMPAI
by PHILl WIEBE
HEN MY HUMOR PIECE ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS of neW" parenthood appeared in a national filagazine a feW" years ago, there W"ere SOfile, W"ell, interesting responses to fily tongue-in-cheek reference to the choice betW"een "bottle and, uh, non-bottle feeding."
"The poor man is afraid to even mention the word 'breast-feed,'" someone wrote. "Breast-feeding," complained another, "is not a word that should cause embarrassment in fathers-to-be." And another: "Breast-feeding is not a dirty word!"
I never said it was. I was only trying to be funny!
My mistake. I forgot humorist Dave Barry's warnings about the "humor impaired" among usthose folks who consistently meet grins, winks and one-liners with a straight face. Or with letters to the editor. But before we smile too pityingly at those who never seem to get the joke, it's important to remember that humor impairment can strike all of us at times. Not long ago, for instance, I halted the car at an intersection and waited for what seemed like an eternity for the signal to proceed. Finally my wife inquired, "Are you waiting for this stop sign to turn green?"
As a matter of fact, I was. But at that moment I didn't share Kim's opinion that it was the funniest thing since Laurel and Hardy.
I'm not the only one who has trouble laughing at himself. A few years ago I read that retired baseball star Bill Buckner was moving out of New England to escape a single play from his long and productive career-a ground ball that rolled between his legs to lose the 1986 World Series for the Boston Red Sox. A rather comical moment, when you look at replays, but 10 years later neither Red Sox fans nor Buckner have been able to forgive nor forget. Maybe that fan wasn't kidding who claimed, "Red Sox baseball isn't life or death, it's more serious than that."
Today's world, it often seems, has become a place where minor flubs, foibles and failures are not life or death, they're more serious than that. And Christians, ironically, can seem as a group to be the least humorous people of all. We who take God very seriously are prone to bestowing the same honor on ourselves. We who have more reason to laugh at ourselves than anyone, being selfacknowledged screw-ups saved by grace, have a reputation for laughing the least.
But we're not alone. Author and humorist Russell Baker once reminisced that his Depression-era childhood was filled with "so much joking that my memory of the period hears laughter everywhere." Worries Baker about our current generation: "Our children will probably not, at ages 40 and 50, hear us laughing in their memories."
HUMOR
a dangerous and scary place, but also beautiful and benevolent, God's creative gift to his children. That hasn't changed, but how we view the world has. Danger and disaster broadcast into our living rooms from all over the world seem as if they're happening in our living rooms. It can scare us out of appreciating our world's bountiful beauties and pleasures.
It's a sad point to ponder. And one worthy of further consideration. Why is it that the post-Depres- We who have more sion rise in prosperity has coincided with a decline in mirth? What is it about our age that has banished laughter from real life to reel lifeto sitcoms and humorous movies and professional comedians? I see several trends that would test anyone's sense of humor:
1. The time deficit. In many ways life is less demanding than it used to be. I don't, for example, have to go into fields or mines or factories to wrest my living from heavy labor. Sitting here in my cushy office chair clicking computer keys is considerably less arduous than many occupations of the past.
reason to laugh at ourselves than anyone, being selfacknowledged screwups saved by grace, have a reputation for laughing the least.
Yet even while my life is less demanding, we have many more demands. The pace is faster, the information load larger, the schedule of appointments fuller. Who has time to laugh? While there is spontaneity in the act of laughing, a sense of humor develops with consideration, with taking time to look at things from the lighter side. During the heavy demands of our days, the light side isn't often a place we have time to visit.
2. The expectation gap. Along with prosperity has come a rise in expectations about what life owes us. My parents have said that as children in the 1930s, they were happy just to have food on the table and a roof over the food. Today those are hardly worth a smile. Our culture of affluence tempts us with the comfort, mobility, and gadgetry of the good life, creating a kind of' expectation gap" between desire and reality. Because reality rarely lives up to the perfection dangled in front of us by the advertising and entertainment industries, joy in what we have can be replaced by frustration for what we don't have. How much is enough? Always a little more.
3. The information glut. From the media we get the impression that the world is a dangerous and scary place. In fact, the world has always been
4. The fear factor. The
prophet Isaiah lived in a time fraught with rumor and fear and stress, a time when threats of violence and destitution threw the people into a state of paranoia and despair. "They will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness" (8:22). That was several thousand years ago. It could have been yesterday.
Yet God told Isaiah, "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy" (vv. 12,13).
More and more I'm convinced that an important and overlooked way to regard the Lord as holy is through a sense of humor. Has it escaped us how conspicuously Paul begins his list of godly character traits, "the fruit of the Spirit," with love and joy? (Gal. 5:22). "Rejoice in the Lord!" Paul emphasizes elsewhere"it is a safeguard for you" (phil. 3: 1).
Laughter, God's medicine
Being a "joyful Christian" sounds great in theory, but many of us struggle with it in practice. Fleshing out joy in a sense of humor, however, puts some muscles to it. Laugh muscles. In a sense of humor, joy meets everyday life.
In response to colossal mess-ups and muckups, people sometimes say, "All I could do was laugh." But in many situations laughing is the best thing we can do. SCripture shows us how a sense of humor, a spirit of joy, can strengthen our walk and witness, both individually and as a church.
• Laughter lends perspective. "Consider it pure joy," James wrote, "whenever you face trials of many kinds" (1:2). Sure, I can easily think, buck up, put on a happy face, and all that nonsense. What I can miss in thinking that I should smile in
trials, though, is why. "The testing of your faith develops perseverance" (v. 3). Trials are a thing of joy when we realize they lead right past the counterfeit happiness of instant gratification to the substantial satisfaction of being "mature and complete, not lacking anything" (v. 4).
In the impressive resume of the "woman of noble character" from Proverbs 31, an unusual quality stands out: "She can laugh at the days to come" (v. 25). That's the kind of perspective a spirit of joy can bring to our lives. Tomorrow's fears and tremblings fade the big picture of God's will and work in the world. "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with
DID YOU KNOW?
In 1900 the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches passed the following resolution:
NThat jesting and joking by our brethren, whether verbal or in writing, in conversation or in published periodicals, should be desisted from. N
Source: We Recommend.
joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (ps. 16: 11).
• Laughter spreads peace. One morning when my 5-year-old went on a personal quest to discover all the ways he could "accidentally" knock over his toddler sister, I found myself lecturing him sternly on being more considerate. At one point I described animatedly how, if he swung his arms wildly like this, then she'd go sprawling like that-and my flailing illustration got us both laughing. It was a kind of truce. When our adversarial discussion turned amicable, we could agree that more care needed to be taken around a wobbly l-year-old.
In all areas of life-in relationships, at church, in society-a little humor can go a long way. When we stop to consider how silly many of our rifts and divisions are, and how ridiculous our behavior can be even in serious disagreements, we would begin to smile together rather than fight each other. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul made a point of this: "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord." How? "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (4:2,4).
• Laughter promotes health. In recent years the health benefits of laughter have been well documented. Medical professionals and researchers have gathered substantial evidence that good humor is helpful for patient recovery, the reduction of stress and pain, and even the warding off of illness.
Such findings are nothing new. "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart," Solomon said millennia ago, "and good news gives health to the bones" (prov. 15:30). Even in Ecclesiastes, his extended lament that "everything is meaningless," Solomon could allow that "Wisdom makes one's face shine, and the hardness of one's countenance is changed ....
So I commend enjoyment, for there is nothing better for people under the sun than to eat, and drink, and enjoy themselves, for this will go with them in their toil through the days of life that God gives them" (8: 1, 15 NRSV)
• Laughter brings renewal. In Nehemiah, when exiles returned to rebuild Jerusalem, an entire generation heard "the Book of the Law of Moses" read for the first time. Cut to the
quick, "all the people [were] weeping as they listened to the words of the Law" (8:9).
"Do not mourn or weep," Nehemiah responded. "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (vv. 9,10). In their relief the people then went out "to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them" (v. 12).
When we truly understand God's word to uswe are redeemed, loved, cared for-even our messiest mistakes and most stressful of circumstances can finally give way to the strengthening spirit of laughter. "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (ps. 30:5)
• Laughter embodies good news. After years of wandering and testing made even more difficult by God's apparent withholding of the blessing of children, Abraham and Sarah received news that seemed hard to believe. "I will bless her," God said to Abraham regarding Sarah, "and will surely give you a son by her" (Gen. 17:16).
In their old age, was it possible? More doubt and distress followed. But finally God's amazing promise came true: "Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, 'God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?'" (21:5-7).
What a heartening illustration of God's good news for us. Who would have said that God, creator of the universe, would call us his children? Yet God "loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope" (2 Thes. 2:16). How else can we respond? "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."
In our gloomy age, a revived spirit of humor among God's people would be a powerful and timely witness. Just as the psalmist celebrated in his own people's release from physical and spiritual captivity, so we can proclaim in our salvation and freedom in Christ: "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy" (126:2,3) .•
In addition to writing his witty column, Ph'lip Side, for the Leader, Philip Wiebe is editor of Rejoice!, the inter-Mennonite devotional booklet. He lives in Salem, Ore., where he is a member of the Kingwood Bible Church.
twenty-four
by Lois A. Cheney
I was born with a need to laugh. Laughter cleanses me; laughter settles me; It stimulates me; and it fills me. I was born with a capacity for laughter.
One day, J had a 1J1aughing" day. Everything was a straight line Every situation had its funny side All dayl poked, and teased, and giggled and laughed And I had to work diligently to interrupt my laughing day with periods of more serious work but even they got jostled with humor, And I didn't care
I met laughing people that day People who giggled and reacted and joked. I looked into laughing eyes and a laughing face, And my heart was warmed and my soul swelled both giggling as they did so. Eventually, of course, things calmed down; they always do.
In the dark of night, In the quiet of prayer, I saw Christ-
And his eyes were red with tears, And I felt sick, And I looked and looked at him, At his tear-reddened face
And I think I saw him squint And I saw that the tears were tears of laughter.
And his eyes danced and twinkled, And softly, And almost impiously, He chuckled.
And that night I took a step Toward the Christ
And J loved him as I never had Before.
And t would fotlow him Anywhere!
Reprinted with permission of the author from God Is No Fool (Abingdon, 1969).
IN THE WORD OF THE LORD
SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE DEMANDS A VERDICT: GOD CARES ABOUT FUN
by WALLY KROEKER
VER WONDERED WHICH sport is God's favorite? I think it's baseball. For one thing, it's the only filajor teafil sport without a clock. Theoretically, a gafile could go on forever, like an eternity. Moreover, there's something heavenly about a sport wrhere the goal is to "reach home."
I think God likes play. I think God has a sense of humor and wants us to have fun. That would be news to those who mistake dourness for diligence, who equate fun with frivolity. Does the Bible encourage play? Granted, it's not a major theme. David didn't compose a psalm to a favorite chariot racer. Paul didn't write an epistle to the Troas Trojans. Still, there's evidence that God cares about fun.
Ride the wind, frolic at sea
Psalm 104 suggests that our Maker had a good time creating the world: "He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the
wind" (v. 3). God created Leviathan "to sport, to frolic" in the seas (v.26).
Job shows us mountains "where all the wild animals play" (40:20).
In the perfect society-the city of Jerusalemone can hear "the voices of those who make merry" (Jer. 30:18-19).
Zechariah 8:5 says Jerusalem "shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets," possibly an
early reference to hockey.
In the movie "Chariots of Fire," future missionary Eric Liddell, competing as an Olympic track star, tells his sister, "I believe that God made me for a purpose-for China. But he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure." For Eric Liddell, running-play-was part of God's acceptable rhythm of life.
A barometer of life as God intended
When all is well, when life goes as God intended, there is joy, fun and laughter.
In Ecclesiastes, our work and our play are affirmed as gifts to be enjoyed.
The Song of Solomon speaks of lovers at play. Clearly, the knowledge of God goes beyond doctrine. It also involves interaction, communion, perhaps even the playful embrace of lovers. Imagine-theology masquerading as a love story!
This might surprise those commentators who have discounted the Wisdom books as the "irreligious orphans" of the Old Testament. What we get in the Wisdom literature isn't like the theology of Paul. Proverbs, for instance, gives its message as day-to-day advice, often with a humorous topspin. The lines aren't exactly knee-slappers, but you can imagine the picturesque language and use of hyperbole as bringing smiles to an ancient audience.
What parent or spouse hasn't sometimes wanted to say with the biblical writer, "How long will you lie there, 0 lazybones? When will you rise from your sleep?" (6:9, NRSV).
Lethargy is a favorite target of ridicule in Proverbs. "Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employer" (10:26). "The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth" (26:15).
The writer evidently knew a few things about strife, too. "Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife" (17: 1). "The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop the leak before the quarrel breaks out" (17:14).
How to avoid strife? "Do not associate with hotheads" (22:24). And stick to your own knitting. "Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another" (26: 17).
HUMOR
Speak softly, especially when others might be sleeping. "If you greet your neighbor loudly enough in the morning it will be taken as a
curse" (27:14). I had a neighbor like that once; his boisterous greetings as he picked up the morning paper would wake our sleeping children.
The writer's own home life apparently was not always free of disagreement. "Better to live in a corner of the housetop than share quarters with a contentious spouse," we read in 21:9. On second thought, forget the roof and "live in a desert land," the writer adds 10 verses later. Anything to get away from a quarrelsome spouse who is "like a constant dripping on a rainy day" (27:15).
Pity the poor souls whom the writer labels as "fools." Alas, he writes, possibly from experience, "The one who begets a fool gets trouble; the parent of a fool has no joy" (17:21). Stay away from people like that, we're told. "Better to meet a shebear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly" (17: 12).
Common sense is a virtue. Someone who is physically beautiful but lacks good sense, the writer quips, is "like a gold ring in a pig's snout" (11 :22).
None of life is beyond God's interest
In Proverbs, God expresses earthly-and earthy-concerns, often with a light touch. Look at Proverbs 14:4, a verse not destined for the Sunday morning line-up: "Where there are no oxen, the stable is clean. But from the strength of the ox comes a mighty harvest" (NRSV). With a hint of a smirk the writer tells us: "Yeah, you can have a clean barn, but what will that get you? No oxen, no manure. But if you want a harvest, you'll have to put up with some mess."
When all is well, when life goes as God intended, there is joy, fun and laughter.
Proverbial wisdom grew out of the daily lives, relationships and struggles of people like you and me. It shows the mundane parts of life as yet another place where divine and human meet. The spirituality here shows God at work in the nitty-gritty of daily life-the tears, the sweat and, yes, the laughter.
These books show us a God with both feet on the ground, a God who cares about our daily life. It tells us what it means to be human before God. And part of being human is to play.
Have you ever watched children play? Why do Lego blocks keep them absorbed for hours?
What exactly are they-or we-doing during play?
Play is done for its own sheer pleasure. It is done for its own sake, with no ulterior motives. It's honest and refreshing.
Play is immediate. You don't do it for the future, like canning pickles or painting the fence. You do it for now.
But play is not without structure. A lot of it has rules. The rules-the shared understanding of what we can or cannot do-help make it fun. Like no peeking in hide and seek, three strikes and you're out, or 10 yards for a first down.
Nearlyall people, given the choice, would rather laugh than cry. That must tell us something about God, in whose image we're made.
In tennis, Crazy Eights or Rummycube, you can't really enjoy the game unless you surrender to the rules. When someone breaks the rules, it stops being fun. That should tell us something about living in God's world.
Very funny, now get back to work
As editor of a magazine for Christians in business, I've seen that humor plays a big role in job satisfaction and effectiveness. People who see their jobs in terms of daily spirituality and discipleship also tend to be the most fun to be around.
Recent research shows that people who laugh a lot work better and faster. One study shows 84 percent of executives and personnel directors say employees with a sense of humor do better work.
Humor is said to improve decision-making and negotiating abilities. People who say they have fun at work are better able to meet the demands of the job and are less likely to be absent or late.
Humor is also good for health. Scientists say laughter and playful behavior can trigger beneficial chemical and physiological changes in the body.
"Everybody knows that stress and negative emotions can really make you sick," says Matt Weinstein, an educational psychologist. "The good news is that the flip side is also true, that laughter, playfulness and so-called positive emo-
tions can help people heal more quickly and lead to longer, more productive and healthier lives."
Laughter is said to reduce worker stress and boost productivity because it increases blood circulation, feeds oxygen to the brain and pumps out hormones that aid alertness. It also has been found to release the body's natural painkilling endorphins and enhance the immune system.
One researcher compares a good belly laugh to a mini-workout. Jan Marshall, founder of the International Humor Institute in Studio City, Calif., says we exercise every body part when we laugh.
"Laughter is like inner jogging," she says. "I picture little Adidas on my pancreas."
Peacemaking at the improv
Tensions can vaporize in the presence of humor. John Gerstner tells of the time he filled up at a highway truck stop. He and another customer arrived at the cashier's stall at the same time, both seemingly in a hurry. The cashier handled it well: "Which of you has the gas?" she asked innocently. After that, neither motorist minded who went first.
Maybe there's a lesson here for Christian peacemakers.
A California police officer was called to an apartment block to respond to a domestic dispute. As he approached the building, he heard yelling and the sound of shattering glass. He looked up to see a television set fly out of a second-floor window and crash to bits on the ground below. He raced upstairs and rang the doorbell.
"Who's there?" bellowed an angry voice inside.
"Television repair," the officer deadpanned. There was silence for a few seconds, and finally the door was opened and the situation was eventually resolved.
We can only imagine what domestic violence the quick-quipping officer helped avert. To paraphrase Proverbs 15:1, "A humorous answer turns away wrath .... "
Nearly all people, given the choice, would rather laugh than cry. That must tell us something about God, in whose image we're made. •
Wally Kroeker, editor of the Christian Leader from 1976-1985, now edits The Marketplace, published by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). He lives in Winnipeg, Man.
Con essions 0 the noble ishaholic
Fishing is not only a relaxing habit, er, hobby... it's also one of the most biblical
by WILFRED MARTENS
We may say of angling as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries: ((Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did;" and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling. -Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler
HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE: I have a habit. As I gaze froOl
Oly office windoW" and see and hear the signs of spring, I get sW"eaty palfils, Oly heart beats faster, I becofile restless-all signs of a fishaholic. Oh, don't filisunderstand file. My life is not in ruins; I'Ol not a total W"reck. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy fily addiction. Even W"orse, I think I can justify it.
For persons living in our complex, stressful society, it is important to develop constructive leisure activities in order to maintain a healthful balance in life. I'd like to demonstrate not only that leisure activities are important, but also that some activities are higher on the spiritual scale than others. An article in Pastoral Psychology journal states that "leisure behavior is mainly a function of how the religious questions of life are answered." But first, let me digress and explain how my habit developed.
Lured to be 'fishers of men'
One of the first tendencies of an addict is to try to fix blame on something or someone. I shall do that, too. It all began in Sunday school. That's right, Sunday school. I remember as a youngster those preclass sessions where we would all join together in a joyous chorus of "I will make you fishers of men," and we would do all those motions of casting out our fishing line and reeling it in. The motions became so ingrained that years later, long after I had quit singing the chorus, I was still doing the motions.
And then there were the flannel graphs in Sunday school. Noah in a big boat on a huge lake. All the animals were on board, all except the fish. Since the teacher never sang about or mentioned the fish (the lions, hippos and kangaroos always got top billing) I began to worry about them, week after week, then year after year. I still wonder why flannel graphs ignore God's little creatures.
evoke thoughts of fishing and can give direction to a young life. Fortunately, I don't ever recall hymns that encouraged football or basketball or chess or jogging.
Then baptism. No artificial inside baptistry for me. No, I was immersed in a river-all the way under, in real running water. My river baptism reinforced those early yearnings for the outdoors, rivers and fishing. Had I been baptized in a baptistry I most likely would have become interested in indoor activities such as bowling, racquetball or checkers.
What if the disciples had been playing volleyball on the beach of the Sea of Galilee instead offishing? Jesus would have lost the chance for a valuable lesson
offaith.
Then as a teenager active in the church I was reminded repeatedly of the significance of hydro-spiritual activities. For example, I participated in a Scripture memorization contest. It was sponsored by The Navigators.
And the hymns, those glorious songs about rivers and streams sung with enthusiasm by the congregation: "Shall We Gather at the River," "Like a River Glorious," "I Know of a River" and so on. Even hymns can
So you see, I hold the church partly responsible for my happy condition.
I blame my work, too. I teach literature. Some of the great pieces of literature are about-you guessed it-fishing. One of the great stories in the Bible is Jonah and the whale, the ultimate catch! In literature we have classics such as Moby Dick, The Old Man and the Sea, Thoreau's Walden and so on.
The biblical form of leisure
But trying to fix blame is less important than justifying fishing as one of the more spiritual of leisure activities. The Bible is filled with references, stories and comments about fishing. You'd have to work very hard to say the same about golfing, bicycling or tennis (although I will concede one reference to the latter: Joseph served in Pharaoh's court).
Consider the analogy in Habakkuk 1:14, "For Thou makest men like the fish of the sea ... " or the great send-off recorded in Jeremiah 16, "Behold, I am sending for many fishermen, says the Lord "
A number of references to the basic equipment of fishing are found throughout SCripture. Proverbs 13:24 states that "He who spares the rod hates his son" (Obviously an encouragement for fathers to take their sons fishing). Proverbs 29: 15 suggests a positive result, "The rod and reproof give wisdom."
Some references give good advice to those engaged in fishing. Isaiah 28: 10 is a reminder to avoid grouping too closely together lest you become entangled: "For it is .. .line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." Or consider the reward of finding the right spot: "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places" (ps. 16:6).
A number of stories and parables in the New Testament are supportive. Can you imagine the disappointment of the crowd of five thousand if someone hadn't gone fishing? The boy wouldn't have had that important lunch of five loaves and two fish. If someone hadn't caught those two fish we might have had an entirely different miracle.
HUMOR
first. He didn't go first to the doctor or the tax collector. He went to the fishermen. Can you imagine the response if they had been bowling at that moment? No, it had to be fishing. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
A long, rich tradition
Why is fishing better? Well, for one thing, it is noncompetitive. Unlike many other activities, there is no opponent; hence, there is no loser. It's more healthful and relaxing, less stressful. You don't have to be ob-sessed with defeating the other person or team.
For the early Christians, the sign of their faith was the fish, not a baseball or tennis racket.
And what if the disciples had been playing volleyball on the beach of the Sea of Galilee instead of fishing. Jesus would have lost the chance for a valuable lesson of faith. Because they were engaged in fishing and had caught nothing, the disciples could respond to Jesus's command to cast their nets on the other side. The result was a fisherman's dream: 153 huge fish! And a significant lesson for us also.
After his resurrection Jesus appeared to the gathered 10 disciples. Since some of them were fishermen, they were prepared when the Master asked, "Have you any meat here?" What a privilege to offer him his first meal in his new body-a fish dinner. Because they had been fishing they could respond to his request. What other leisure activity has such an honored history?
But the real clincher is the account in the Gospels where Jesus calls his disciples. He must have traveled far and wide, wondering whom he might call to follow him. Then he saw two brothers on the Sea of Galilee. They were fishing. He must have realized that Peter and Andrew were doing something significant, for he invited them
It's also an activity with a long, rich tradition of symbols. For the early Christians, the sign of their faith was the fish, not a baseball or tennis racket. The fish symbol is still popular today. The boat, a symbol of the church, was also used in early art forms and is still used today. Fishing also provides us with some useful analogies. It is often used as an illustration of outreach, for example. In order to get the attention of the fish, the fishermen must use the right lure or fly or bait. That's even more important than the rod or reel. And a fisherman must be prepared to move. In a stream or river I try a few casts, and if there is no action, I move on to another place and try another technique. The odds are against you if you sit and wait for the fish to come to you.
Because fishing is given so much attention in the Bible, and because it's such a positive and healthful activity, it should not surprise anyone that it rates so highly as a leisure activity. Therefore I don't feel too badly about my habit. I enjoy it. Why should I give up such a noble activity?
For those of you that are still skeptics let me remind you that the last chapter in the Bible describes a beautiful river in Paradise, flowing from the throne of God. Some day, that's where I'll be, singing praises to God with a golden rod in my hand. •
On the days he isn Jt fishing, Wilfred Martens teaches at Fresno Pacific College. He is a member of the College Community Church in Clovis, Calif. His award-winning article was first published in the Leader in 1984.
----JOEL KAUFFMANN----
He pokes at truth
"I'MCONVINCED MORE AND MORE THAT JESUS had a tremendous sense of humor," says Mennonite cartoonist Joel Kauffmann, creator of the strip "Pontius' Puddle." In 1983, Christian Leader readers first met Pontius, the loud and boisterous frog who, according to Kauffmann, is basically good-hearted but wrong 99 percent of the time.
"Humor is the one avenue that people have for really exploring difficult issues," says Kauffmann, who lives in Goshen, Ind. "If you would take some of my cartoons and write them out in prescriptive form, I think a lot of people would be offended. Humor creates an openness to think about an alternative stand or to rethink your own position in a way that an editorial or an opinion statement doesn't."
Kauffmann describes "Pontius' Puddle" as pew humor aimed at bridging the gap between issues of faith and day-to-day issues that shape society and the world. "Cartoons should be about things on the intense level of our feelings as opposed to things that maybe we care about and maybe we don't."
Kauffmann prides himself in not being mean-spirited as he takes aim at common shortcomings. "If I poke fun at myself, then I've hit my target audience because we're all struggling with the same things. A cartoon strip should be advocating the true nature of faith and God and what Jesus called us to-reconciliation."
Kauffmann introduced "Pontius' Puddle" in 1982 hoping to create a cartoon strip with appeal beyond the Mennonite community. The strip currently appears in about 220 magazines including Christianity Today, World Vision a nd the Ch u rch of England weekly newspaper, where it often shares page space with pictures of the British royal family. Kauffmann's first cartoon strip, "Sisters and Brothers," ran for about three years in Mennonite and related periodicals, including the Leader.
- Connie Faber
Joel Kauffmann: At the intense level.
ar if the churcJ 'eW 0 Afrogs-eye vt
0A RETIe ORTWO.
BOT 'lOUR TROE ""SS'ON, SttOOLD VOO CI(OOS£ TO J; ACC-EPr l-r; 'S SIMPLV "' TO LOVI: OTl-(ERS AS I: .) HAVE'" LOVEO YOO. TO ,) DfrMCNSTRATE tl\V M£RCV ANO
HUMOR
RE"AL
RELI(3.tON TA\<ES ALL THE FUN OUT" OF 8£INCTIN
Hlf I poke fun at then I've hit my target audience because we're all struggling with the same things. H
-Joel Kauffmann
Attitude is what counts
Thanks to Ron Klassen and John Koessler for their splendid article, "Small Can Be Beautiful, Too" Guly). I have worshiped on Sunday mornings in large churches of 1,000 and 2,000 members where you are just a number. I have also worshiped in small churches of 10-15 members where you felt that your presence was really appreciated.
It is true that large churches with great programs seem to get more publicity than smaller churches that struggle for existence, but it is the attitude in which you worship God that truly counts.
Menno L. Kliewer
Reedley,
Calif.
Why so few?
In response to your question "Why so few?" (April), I would like to tell you about our Mennonite Brethren church.
Our son died of cancer in May. During his last few months on earth, not one person from the pastoral staff called or came to see us.
We had a couple of calls from a fellow member who was also dealing with cancer, but no pastor came by. We have been members of this church since 1961.
Even now, three weeks after our son's death and funeral, we have not received one pastoral call or visit. Would you want to remain members of a church like that?
Meanwhile, our son and family attended a Baptist church in their community. During the three months we spent with them before our son died, not a single day went by that both of the pastors from the church weren't over-and often three or four times a day! Also, for several months members of the congregation provided a meal every other day.
I do volunteer work in a local hospital and receive much more love and support from friends and fellow employees there than I have ever received from our church.
Think about it.
WHAT READERS SAY
Name withheld
JlJJ I would like to respond to your question "Why so few?" out of my own experience.
I have a Catholic background, but I appreciated the Bible teaching and grew spiritually while attending a Mennonite church and Sunday school.
Our Sunday school group grew close over the years and learned to care and pray for each other. We yearned for a deeper relationship with God, so we started meeting for Bible study and prayer.
During that time, we each gave control of our lives to God and so the desire grew to be obedient to him. We would study and pray for four to five hours and it never seemed long.
We were totally surprised how God responded. God touched each of us; I began to see changes in others and in myself as God dealt with our flaws. God began showing us through his Holy Spirit how joyful our lives could be.
I found out the more we yield to God, the more God allows us to experience spiritual blessings. Many of those blessings came in the form of spiritual gifts and new experiences. We were not prepared for the resistance we started to get from the church. Many seminaries teach that the spiritual gifts died when the apostles died, that we no longer need them because we have Jesus and the Bible.
I don't understand that. Who and what changed? Don't we still have so many needs?
Why are we so afraid of a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit? I know I was once prejudiced in this area. All I ever heard about were the abuses. I learned caution and fear. Caution is still in order because there are abuses-but not so much caution that we miss the blessings God intends for us.
It was very painful for me and the others who saw no other alternative but to leave the church we were attending. We did not fully understand where or why God was leading us. All we knew is that we could never back up, rewrap our gifts and blessings and
put them on a shelf and never talk about our wonderful relationship with God in order to coexist in the church.
Once God touches your life and becomes so real and takes you on a spiritual adventure, you will not settle for anything less.
Marion Bartz Anamoore, N.D.
Something for the Lord
When I was a pastor, I sometimes found it difficult to assign tasks to lay people who desired to do something special for the Lord. Since then, I have discovered several such tasks. Let me give you one example.
About six months ago, Jackie Balakian, one of our young women, came to the church office and asked how she might "do something for the Lord."
Together with the pastors, she decided that she could deliver homecooked meals to people in the church who found it hard to cook for themselves. She chose several people who had such a need. Because my wife had recently passed away, they also thought of me. Since then, she has delivered a wonderful, complete meal to my home at least once a month.
You may say that is not very much. But if you need such help, you would be astonished what a joy and blessing such a gesture is. This woman manages a lovely farm home and is busy with three little children, but she finds time to serve a number of us in this manner.
I don't know how many meals she delivers, but I know there are several, mostly to people with disabilities and those who have lost spouses. What an exciting experience!
The Lord has promised to reward the person who shares even a cup of cold water in his name. How much more reward for a steaming hot meal! Maybe there are many more ways, ways we have yet to discover, to serve the Lord. In doing so, we will remind others that we truly are missionary minded.
Dan Friesen Reedley, Calif.
PH'LIP SIDE
BY PHILIP WIEBE
Having a nice trip
In our jet-set, Internet age, there was something pleasingly slow and inefficient about traveling cross country by car.
HEN WE MENTIONED we were
going to pack the car, load up the kids (or maybe the other way around) and embark on a road trip from Oregon to Nebraska and back, it amazed me how many people responded with shock and dismay. "There are such things as airplanes you know," they'd inform us. "They probably even have an airport in Omaha by now."
Probably so, but I liked the idea of driving through the wide-open West like we did every summer in my own childhood, making our way to the homes of Midwestern relatives for the privilege of being scared sleepless by apocalyptic thunderstorms various cousins kept insisting were "just a drizzle." I wanted, of course, to pass along such wonderful memories to my own kids.
"OK," people would say when they got used to the idea, "so you're doing a road trip. How quaint. Where'd you say you were going again?"
"Nebraska. "
"Nebraska? Why Nebraska?"
"Actually," I'd reply, "Nebraska isn't just corn and tractors. It really has some beautiful and diverse scenery for those willing to venture off the beaten path."
People would mull that over a moment, then say, "Right. Now what's the real reason you're going to Nebraska?"
"Er, family reunion."
So, with the smug looks of airplane-traveling Nebraska-avoiders lingering in our minds, we set off one June morning with the kids
buckled in and the trunk packed within an inch of its life, hoping none of the above would go SPROING before we made it out of town.
About 20 miles east of Salem, as we ascended into the scenic Cascade Mountains, we got our first real taste of the Classic Summer Road Trip. From the back seat, 5-year-old Seth uttered those cherished words: "Are we there yet?"
And we thought that was just a cliche.
Fortunately, Seth got a little more creative as the trip went along:
Seth: Are we there yet?
Us: Not yet.
Seth: Are we almost there?
Us: Not yet.
Seth: Are we halfway there?
Us: Not yet, but we're halfway to halfway.
Good thing Seth didn't know his fractions yet, or we might have spent our entire trip hearing, "Are we a third way there? Are we a fourth way there? Are we a fifth way there? .. "
Other than that, the kids traveled pretty well. But then, we never saw the trip as a trial to conquer, as some people seemed to, but as family time to be savored. At the end of two weeks, in fact, we were ready to go two weeks more. At least I was. Even listening to Seth ask "Are we there yet?" several hundred times seemed preferable to tackling the surly piles of work I knew would be waiting for me back home.
It was reassuring how little some
places had changed since my earlier traveling days as a child and later as a touring musician. Southern Wyoming was still desolate, the Colorado Rockies still majestic. All four presidential profiles still gazed from Mount Rushmore and the sprawling old hot springs resort at Glenwood Springs still looked pretty much like it did 20 years ago and probably even 70 years ago. Flaming Gorge was still flaming, Old Faithful Geyser was still faithful, and Craters of the Moon still looked like the moon. Nebraska still had plenty of corn and tractors, but also lots of other beautiful and diverse scenery for those willing to venture off the beaten path.
In a world moving faster than a speeding computer chip, it was refreshing to step out of time, leave the To Do lists and planning calendars at home, and enjoy whatever scenes or situations the road would bring us that day. In our jet-set, Internet age, there was something pleasingly slow and inefficient about traveling cross country by car.
Back here in the office, I find myself thinking I could use more slowness and inefficiency in my life. As one who's always trying to figure out how to do more stuff in less time, it was relaxing and renewing to spend a couple of weeks doing less stuff in more time. In theory I know I should do that regularlyGod's whole idea behind Sabbath is that we would take breaks from our human strivings to "be still and know that I am God" -but like so many people these days, I find doing less to be more and more difficult.
Kim and I are talking about making the Classic Summer Road Trip an annual event, though, in which case I may be able to do less stuff in more time for at least a couple of weeks a year. So if you someday happen to spot a gray Honda Accord idling through your town with a couple of bouncy kids and a trunk looking like it might go SPROING at any moment, be sure to wave.
INQUIRING MINDS
BY MARVIN HEIN
QAre we being unbiblical by fostering division when we have multiple services, one ((traditional" and another ((contemporary"? (CALIFORNIA)
AI almost accused this inquirer, who came to my office to ask this question, of wanting to end my career as a writer. To speak about styles of worship or debate the validity of seeker-sensitive services is to invite all kinds of responses. But the inquirer was serious-and had an interesting case to make from the Scriptures. So allow me to pursue this question.
The Book of the Acts tells us about a church that appealed to a wide range of persons. Worshiping together were rich and powerful, landowners and the poor and disenfranchised slaves. In those congregations were blue-blood Jewish Christians with centuries of ethnic history, and Gentiles who probably could not trace their ancestry beyond their parents. The church included people who loved the carefree, charismatic style of worship that led to speaking in tongues (and, at least in Paul's view, to some excesses) and no doubt others who wanted a form of worship that appealed more to the intellect than the emotions.
These differences did cause trouble in the early church. The first chapters of 1 Corinthians provide ample evidence that division erupted because believers had strong convictions about these matters. My inquirer was quick to point out that Paul never suggested that these congregations divide into two churches or devise two worship services, so that each group could worship in a manner appropriate to their natural inclinations. Rather, they were counseled to be of one mind and heart.
Obviously it is dangerous to argue anything on the basis of what isn't said in the Bible. But is it possible
we are promoting disunity by devising two formats of service? On the other hand, some would probably say we are enhancing the possibility of oneness by dividing into groups where people are comfortable in the way they worship.
While thinking about this matter, I ran across an article in the Navigators' Current Thoughts and Trends Guly 1996) where writer Gerrit Gustafsonsuggests the 1 Corinthians 3 model is a biblical directive requiring cultural flexibility so we can enjoy a variety of worship expressions. In other words, he argues for the contemporary and the traditional in the same service. The reviewer closes by saying: "In the past we've solved this dilemma by offering two kinds of services, segmenting the congregation. The psalms-hymnsspiritual songs paradigm, however, moves us to a new solution: unity within diversity."
Just this week, while attending a Brethren in Christ convention, I heard a stirring testimony from a young pastor who talked about his congregation growing from about 60 to almost 300. He indicated they used the "blended service" approach rather than dividing into traditional and contemporary groups. I recall his closing words: "People told us we couldn't grow with that approach, but we didn't know any better."
I'm also aware that Paul said he was willing to become all things to all people, so he might win some. I'm not sure what that might mean in our current debate on styles of worship. But maybe my inquiring friend had a point. We would do well to think about what long-range influences may result from our present practice of separating congregations into smaller, more cohesive groups. The immediate results seem to be positive. Are there long-term implications we will discover only
Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue? Send it to Minds, n c/o Marvin Hein, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, CA 93727.
when "the chickens come home to roost"?
QWith new forms of worship that emphasize audience participation, longer periods of praise music, testimonies, special music and (jJromotions" that used to be reserved for evening services (missionary reports, youth projects, etc.), are sermons becoming shorter?
(CALIFORNIA)
AYes and no. In some instances, as in the congregation with whom I worship, the length of the services has simply been extended-not much, but usually at least 10 minutes. The only alternative, if you prefer the worship style described above, is to shorten the sermon.
Having visited many churches, I am inclined to think sermons are shorter than they were 10 or 20 years ago. Repeatedly, as a guest speaker, I have found that by the time I am to preach I have about 12 to 20 minutes. I would ordinarily prefer 25 to 30 minutes.
But I would not want to indict all seeker-sensitive, contemporary services. I understand, for instance, that in the Willow Creek Church near Chicago, the sermons are almost an hour long. They have purposely resisted sacrificing sermon time. That, of course, means their services are considerably longer than an hour. And that is no sin!
The question is somewhat akin to another: Does the removal of the pulpit from the stage indicate that preaching is deemphasized? Yes and no. In some instances drama and other forms of communication have displaced the preaching from behind a pulpit. In other cases, a strong emphasis on preaching remains but it is done without benefit of the pulpit. In terms of long-term effect, it may be legitimate to ask whether these supposed "attacks" on preaching will result in less attention to the proclamation of the Word. If so, then we need to be on guard.
'Why do you
ON THE]OURNEY
BY ROSE BUSCHMAN
teach?'
stayed in teaching because God has called me to be a missionary in the classroom.
HY DO YOU teach when you could make so much more " money if you worked somewhere else?" Tony asked me. Startled, I looked at him, trying to figure out what might have prompted him to ask. I quickly realized it was a serious question on his part, so I didn't respond flippantly. But the question was unexpected and I didn't know how to answer him. With two weeks of school left in the current
year, all I could think of was how to finish what had to be done and to survive to the end.
Tony was a student in one of my ninth-grade algebra classes. What he didn't know was that I had been struggling for several months with whether I should stay in teaching and, if I did, at what grade level. Teaching teenagers was becoming more difficult for me. With 30 years to my credit, I decided I had paid my debt to society and it was time for a change.
Just that week I had made the decision to leave my high school math position and move to a local private school where I would teach math and science to fifth and sixth graders. In fact, I had signed a contract just the night before, but had not yet handed in my resignation to my high school principal. One of the issues I had to deal with in making this change was a significant reduction in salary. Instead of switching to a position that made more money, I was moving down the salary scale. How could I explain that to Tony? I finally told him that not all jobs are measured by the amount of salary
they generate. Other factors are often more important. I told him teaching students like him was one of the reasons I stayed in the classroom. He gave me a big smile and went back to his work.
I've thought a lot about that question this summer. Why do I stay in teaching? I can look back to a number of key turning points in my life when I consciously renewed my commitment to teach even though I was encouraged by others to go into administration, or computers, or even to open one of those ritzy restaurants where a meal costs a fortune and eating it is considered a "dining experience."
I've stayed in teaching because God has called me to be a missionary in the classroom. I believe Christian teachers are missionaries, whether they teach in a public or private school, in this country or overseas. By their daily example they exemplify the life of Christ to impressionable students.
This is August and right now I'm on vacation. That means I don't have to be somewhere by 8 every morning and I don't have to meet hourly deadlines all day long when a different group of students comes in and expects me to be ready to teach them. It means I don't have to deal with serious discipline problems or call parents to tell them their child is not doing the assigned homework. Being on vacation, however, does not mean I don't think about school or that I don't plan for the coming
year. I'm doing both, especially since I will be changing grade levels and subject areas.
In most parts of the country, school will soon begin. Students already wonder who their teacher will be or if they will like him or her. Somealready know and either are excited about or dread the coming year. Will school be fun or boring or confusing?
Will their friends be in their class?
Parents wonder if this will be a good year for their children and if they will learn as they should. Will their children be influenced in a positive or negative manner by their peers? In some areas parents wonder if their children will be safe.
While students and their parents have beginning-of-the-year jitters, so do teachers. I used to think that I was the only teacher who hardly slept the night before the first day of school. Then I talked to some of my colleagues. I now know I'm not alone. Will I have good classes? Will my students have the necessary prerequisites for the courses I am assigned to teach or will I have to do a lot of remedial work with them? Will I have students with severe learning disabilities or behavior problems and will I be able to deal with these? Will parents support me as a teacher? Will we be able to work together as a team to provide the best possible learning environment for all students?
Recently, I saw this unattributed quote on the wall in a school office: "A hundred years from now .. .it will not matter what my bank account was or the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."
Tony, that's why I teach.
Withering heights in the Southern Dist.
BY CONNIE FABER
II Once blossoming with church plants, the SOC agonizes over a crop failure
DURING THE 1980s, the Southern District Conference appeared to be a fertile seedbed for planting new churches. The district's home missions board, called the Church Extension and Evangelism Commission (CEEC), had set a lofty goal in 1980 of starting 25 new congregations during the decade.
And it seemed possible. By the mid'80s, 10 projects, including five on the Front Range of the Rockies, had taken root. Several other sites showed potential. The district seemed on the verge of a bumper crop.
But it didn't happen. In fact, the promise that once blossomed has since withered. This spring, the last of those 10 church plants was formally closed; none of the other potential
sites on CEEC's list even germinated. Today's seemingly barren fields have left district leaders disappointed, frustrated and looking for answers.
"It's natural to reproduce," says David Froese, current SDC chair and past chair of CEEC (pronounced "seek"). "We should take great joy in reproducing. These are dark years, there isn't any doubt about it, and I don't see the light yet. We aren't going to be out of the dark until we have a successful church plant."
But Colorado showed the most promise of all, with new congregations emerging in Denver, Aurora, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs and Greeley.
"These are dark years, and I don't see the light yet. We aren't going to be out of the dark until we have a successful church plant."
-DAVID FROESE, SDC CHAIR
A blossoming start CEEC's ambitious plan in 1980 to plant 25 churches in 10 years sprouted quickly. The list of viable church starts stretched from Houston, Texas, to Norman, Okla., to Halstead, Peabody and Wichita, Kan.
In addition, the district was exploring potential sites in the Colorado Springs area; in Salina, McPherson and Dodge City, Kan.; in Barren Hollow, Ark., and in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. Church planting among ethnic groupsespecially hispanics and Asians-was also being considered.
In addition to starting new churches, CEEC was also busy helping small or young congregations in Amarillo, Texas, Marshall and Siloam Springs, Ark., Littleton and Burlington, Colo.; Clinton and Edmond, Okla.; and Hays, Hesston, Manhattan and Olathe, Kan.
CEEC had its hands full of promise.
Lessons learned, changes made When the Houston plant faltered in 1985 after just two years, the setback raised serious concerns among district leaders. But before these concerns could be addressed in detail, several of the church plants in the Front Range were lost and workers left the district. Aurora Faith Fellowship and New Hope in Greeley closed in 1987; the work in Colorado Springs was discontinued a year later.
Meanwhile, the church plants in Peabody and Norman chose not to affiliate with the Mennonite Brethren. Adding to the district's sense of loss was the closure of established churches in Amarillo, Burlington and ]oes, Colo., Wichita (Open Bible) and Clinton, which had become too small to continue.
In response, CEEC began to change its church-planting strategies. The commission adopted a more deliberate and careful process for selecting church planters and began focusing
on church plants located closer to existing congregations. It also developed a team approach to church-plant leadership, and began concentrating district resources on fewer projects.
"We had our fingers in a lot of different stuff," says Froese of the '80s. "Lynn Jost, who was CEEC chair at the time, said, 'Let's stop putting a drip (of funds) here and a drip therelet's soak down a place."
Declaration of 'bankrnptcy'
In spite of the changes, new congregations did not emerge. A frustrated CEEC came to the 1989 convention with a blunt analysis of district church planting: the church growth storehouse was bankrupt and the commission was suffering from a "paralysis of mission vision."
"Why have we been so spectacu-
larly unsuccessful at church planting, especially in larger cities?" asked Jost, who was CEEC chair at the time.
Believing the goal of planting new churches had come at the expense of
Topeka congregation on 'target' for growth
THE GOAL of the Topeka (Kan.) MB Church is to double in size and then plant new churches from that base. Because the 120member congregation recently became a Mission USA target church, pastor Rick Eshbaugh believes they have the resources to succeed.
"We could continue to grow at our present rate, but it would be another five or six years before we would be able to do the type of things we're doing now through the targetchurch program," Eshbaugh says. He credits Topeka's growth to the willingness of the congregation to change.
The congregation caught a new vision for outreach in 1989 when Eshbaugh
arrived as their pastor. At that time, the group of about 60 met in a facility on a somewhat isolated cuI de sac. Improving their facilities was the most pressing need. A new building located in a busy, developing urban area was completed inJune 1994.
Fostering people who have an evangelistic outlook on life and who minister to their neighbors is a primary goal of congregationalleaders.
"Evangelism is a vital part of our life as Christians and as a church," says Dellis Birkey, who chairs the coordinating council. "As the level of accountability and discipleship within our small groups improves, sharing our faith with others will be a natural by-
product."
encouraging local church evangelism, CEEC and other district leaders called for a three-year plan of prayer, evangelism and growth.
The declaration seemed to help. By
The church has been evaluated by two consultants as part of the targetchurch program. At their recommendation, the congregation is reevaluating its organizational structure and programing. Leaders hope to make changes that will add to the infusion of energy, help and expertise already contributed by new staff members.
James Mason, a graduate of Denver Theological Semi-
nary, was installed July 14 as associate pastor with responsibilities for adult ministries. Kevin Friesen, a graphic artist by occupation, had been working with the youth on a volunteer basis. He was recently hired as part-time minister of youth ministries. This summer he is being assisted by Tabor College sophomore Drew Roberts. Roberts is a summer youth intern working primarily with junior highers.-CF
Pastor Rick Eshbaugh poses in front of Topeka's new facility during its construction in 1993. The congregation has sinced moved i-n and looks for a surge of growth with the help of Mission USA.
CEEC, World Impact link arms in Wichita
N· ECESSI'fY has spawned creativity when it comes to starting success ful church plants in the Southern District.
A year ago, the district entered into a churchplanting partnership with World Impact, a nondenominational inner-city ministry. The goal is to plant a multicultural church in Wichita, Kan.
World Impact has provided the church planter: Fred Stoesz, who helped to start a similar church in Los Angeles. The SDC has
provided the facility: a building used by the former Open Bible congregation. The district also committed financial assistance for utilities, programs and supplemental salary support for Stoesz, a Mennonite Brethren from Canada.
"World Impact felt their work was incomplete if they could not incorporate the people they were working with into a body of believers," says Rick Eshbaugh, chair of the Church Extension and Evangelism Commission (CEEC). Rather
the 1991 convention, CEEC had received word of numerous evangelism seminars, outreach activities and spiritual conversions as a result of the emphases. The commission reported "with joy" the start of an emerging fellowship in Lawrence, Kan. In 1992, it reported an initiative begun in Lee's Summit, Mo.
Southern District leaders entered the 1990s encouraged, even though
than establish another de .. nomination, World Impact works with existing denominations to plant multicultural churches.
The church plant will be nondenominational until the end of a two-year period. At that time, it will be asked to affiliate with a denomination.
DUring these two years, the church is a fraternal member of the SDC and will receive assistance from Mennonite Brethren programs. Youth Mission In-ternational, the denomi-
only four of the church plants initiated in the 1980s had survived.
But the optimism was short-lived. Castle Rock Faith Fellowship, a Front Range church organized in 1983, closed in 1991. In 1994, after almost 10 years of ministry, both Koinonia Christian Fellowship in north Denver and East Wichita (Kan.) Fellowship closed.
Then this past May, the district lost
nation's short-term missions organization, played a large part in gathering a starting nucleus.
"The risk for us is that the congregation will not select the Mennonite Brethren denomination," says Eshbaugh. "The value for us is that we are participants in establishing a multicultural church in an area (of Wichita) that is losing churches. We also have the opportunity to work alongside an organization that has been successful in planting churches." -CF
its only remaining congregation with roots in the ambitious '80s when Community Bible Church closed its doors in Halstead, Kan.
Meanwhile, the church plant in Lawrence became nondenominational in 1995 and eventually disbanded. District funding for Summit Church in Lee's Summit, Mo., expired, prompting the pastor to become a tent-making leader for the struggling group of believers there.
Only two new congregations have been added in recent years; both were "adopted" as existing ethnic churches: Korean Mustard Seed Church of Denver, and Slavic Missionary Church in Broken Arrow, Okla.
Corporate vision needed
The failures of the past continue to concern current SDC leaders like Froese and Rick Eshbaugh, CEEC chair.
"We made some corrective measures during my term with CEEC, but we didn't really see progress," Froese says now. "You can only be as effective in church planting as the churches are. Our churches generally speaking aren't reaching people and yet we expect a conference to give birth to churches. Renewing our hearts is key."
Eshbaugh says the district needs a
corporate church-planting vision. "It is very easy for us to focus our energy on our local church or city," he says. "It is harder to get excited about a corporate venture."
SDC leaders hope Mission USA, the newly formed national church-planting and renewal thrust, will renew that vision and be a source for practical help in future ventures. "Practical help" would take the form of expertise, funding and management.
• Expertise. "One of the things we are frustrated with in church planting is that we don't have the needed expertise," says Froese. "We need someone to come alongside a church planter for a week to give ideas, resources and feed back. Mission USA can provide that kind of resource."
• Funding. Eshbaugh believes limited finances and a slow start-up process have hindered church plants like Lee's Summit. Planting urban churches requires planning and resourcing for rapid growth within the first year, says Eshbaugh.
are pure. But I am not sure that we have the experience or the time to adequately guide church plants."
Flickers of growth
Today, concern for the health of district churches has prompted a new CEEC emphasis on assisting established congregations.
"You can only be as effective in church planting as the churches are. Our churches generally speaking aren't reaching people and yet we expect a conference to give birth to churches."
-RICK ESHBAUGH, CEEC CHAIR
He dreams of being able to supply a new church plant with a team of workers and having the financial resources to meet facility, advertisement and program needs.
"People in the urban setting have many churches from which to choose and are unlikely to stay with a church that takes too long to develop," says Eshbaugh.
• Management. Froese, Eshbaugh and other district leaders see the composition of the all-volunteer CEEC board as another handicap. Ten years ago, CEEC began looking for a fulltime church-planting specialist. With the birth of Mission USA, CEEC was encouraged to continue relying on its volunteers.
"None of us on the commission has actually planted a church, so our experience is limited," says Eshbaugh. "Our hearts are good. Our intentions
Church-growth grants were initiated about 10 years ago to strengthen smaller urban churches in the hope that they could someday grow and give birth to daughter churches. While the program has had positive results, growth in these churches has been slow.
CEEC has also begun an intern program with Tabor College in an effort to provide students with opportunities for practical ministry experience.
The district is working on the "target church" concept in cooperation with Mission USA. The purpose of this new program is to help existing churches grow by identifying specific needs and then developing solutions to barriers preventing growth.
The Topeka (Kan.) MB Church is the first target church. Parkside MB Church of Tulsa, Okla., and Pine Acres MB Church of Weatherford, Okla., are in the process of becoming target churches.
While leaders admit to being discouraged, they also find bright spots.
"Because of our presence in Houston and Lawrence, people came to know Jesus," says Froese. "That's happened in Lee's Summit, too. Mark and Sonya Fuller at Koinonia ministered to a lot of people.
"Our purpose in going to these places was to plant a church that would continue to reproduce-but that didn't happen. We've not produced churches very well but we have reproduced lives of people.
"There are good things happening in the Southern District," Froese says. "There are bright lights where people have a renewed passion for the Lordbut it still flickers."
IN BRIEF
• TRANSITION: Ron Penner, interim dean atMB Biblical Seminary, has resigned his position to become academic dean at Columbia Bible College in Clearbrook, B.C. His resignation is effective in June 1997. Penner served MBBS as student dean from 1986 Penner to 1995 and was associate professor of church and family ministries. This past year he has covered both the student dean and academic dean offices. (MBBS)
• APPOINTED: John Olfert was been appointed MB Missions/Services secretary for finance in the Winnipeg, Man., office. Olfert, who recently finished the required training to be a certified general accountant, just completed a twoyear commitment as controller with Youth For Christ in Winnipeg. At 27, Olfert becomes the youngest administrator on the MBM/S team. He and his wife, Brenda, are members of the Mcivor Avenue MB Church in Winnipeg. (MBMjS)
• SPEAKER: Winnie Bartel of Shafter (Calif.) MB Church was the speaker for the annual British Columbia Women's Conference. Bartel shared her experiences from the United Nations Women's Conference in Beijing last fall and challenged the women to be godly influences. The one-day conference was held at the WHlingdon Church in Burnaby. (MB Herald)
• COORDINATOR: Lynn Jast, professor of biblical and religious studies at Tabor College, will serve as Youth Missions International midwest representative for its college missions in addition to his teaching position. Tabor hopes YMI will be a ble to offe r Jost internships to students majoring in Christian ministry. Jost will also serve students after they have participated in YMI service opportunities. (rC)
IN BRIEF
• FUNDING: The Southern District Women's Missionary Service (WMS) recently disbursed more than $9,750 received from offerings and donations. Increased giving this past year allowed SDC ministries} MB Biblical Seminary, MBMissions/Services and Tabor College to receive additional funds. Among the projects supported were scholarships for MBBS students from the district, Lithuanian Christian College, chapel chairs for Tabor College and the trip made by Roland and Lois Reimer, district minister couple, to MBM/S missionaries in Mexico. (SDC)
• STARTING: Terry Sawatsky has begun work as Mennonite Central Committee co-secretary for Africa. Sawatsky and his wife, Cathy Hodder, previously served as MCC country representatives to Chad and Zaire. They were part of the Mennonite team that ministered to Rwandan refugees who poured into Zaire in 1994. Sawatsky spent his childhood in Zaire, where his parents were Mennonite Brethren missionaries. He is a member of Bateta MB Church in Kinshasa, Zaire, and of L'Egfise Evangelique Chretienne de Lorraine in Quebec. (MCC)
• LOSS: The Mennonite Brethren Church of India lost a valuable leader July 7 when Karuna Shri Joel died of injuries suffered in a traffic accident. She was the executive secretary of the Women's Conference of the India MB Church, editor of their conference magazine and taught preaching at the MB Centenary Bible College at Shamshabad. She also served on the Governing Council of the India Conference. Joel and her eightmonth-old daughter were killed when they were hit by a vehicle while riding a scooter from Shamshabad to Hyderabad. Her husband, P. Menno Joel, and their two older children escaped serious injury. The Joe's were known to many people in the United States and Canada as a result of their tour of churches in 1990. (MBMjS)
Hispanic Assembly draws 780 people to Reedley, Calif.
II Participants from Mexico churches join poe members for weekend of worship, growth
WHAT'S THE largest gathering of Mennonite Brethren in the United States? Next to the national youth convention, which draws more than 1,000 participants, the answer may surprise you: It's the annual Hispanic Assembly.
Hispanic churches in the Pacific District Conference (PDC) gathered on Memorial Day weekend in Reedley, Calif., for their sixth annual praise festival. The assembly drew 780 participants from churches as far away as Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash. This was the first year a delegation from Mennonite Brethren churches in Mexico attended the two-day event; around 10 pastors and leaders from Mexico participated.
The theme for the festival, held May 25 and 26, was taken from Isaiah 40:31. Eight Saturday afternoon workshops were offered on topics such as church planting, care groups, family issues and marriage. The evening banquet was attended by about 400 people and highlighted the ministry of Juan Martinez, who is serving as rector of the Anabaptist seminary in Guatemala through MB Missions/Services.
Joel
On Sunday morning, assembly guests attended area worship services with their host families. The Reedley area is home to nine hispanic churches. In the afternoon, a worship and praise service was followed by a light meal.
The Hispanic Assembly was first held in Bakersfield, Calif., and was hosted by Heritage Bible Church and then Laurelglen Church. This year, leaders moved the gathering to Reedley, which is more centrally located.
Unlike its anglo counterpart, the hispanic churches have traditionally separated business from worship. The annual business meeting will be held Aug. 3 at Heritage Bible Church. Hispanic church activities are coordinated by a 10-person executive council
chaired by Sam Resendez of Del Rey, Calif. Resendez is also the hispanic representative on the PDC executive committee.
The 26 hispanic churches in the district are involved in several churchplanting ventures. New projects are being planned for the Los Angeles area and in Portland, Ore.-Connie Faber
MBBS finishes fiscal year in black despite revenue shortfalls
II u.s. sources fell $45,000 short of subsidy and unrestricted goals
MB Biblical Seminary finished the 1995-96 fiscal year "in the black," showing a year-end balance of $2,300 according to Linda Bowman, executive administrator.
From U.S. sources, MBBS received $271,004 in guaranteed church subsidy, plus $260,500 in unrestricted donations. The U.S. church subsidy goal was $287,500 and MBBS's unrestricted goal was $ 289 ,000.
From Canadian sources, MBBS received $347,500 (U.S. dollars) in guaranteed church subsidy plus $233,309 (U.S.) in unrestricted donations from individual and corporate donors. The Canadian unrestricted goal was $253,000 (U.S.).
"We were able to finish in the black in spite of not reaching all our fund-raising goals because of B.C. Centre startup funds, budgeted salaries that were not spent due to mid-year faculty and academic dean transitions and Linda's good internal management," says Henry Schmidt, MBBS president.
The fund-raising goals also included some nonbudget items, Schmidt explains, such as additional B.C. Centre reserve funds, student aid and $40,000 to cover the anticipated shortfall in the U.S. Conference subsidy. The shortfall turned out to be $16,496.
"I give praise to God and thanks to many generous people for an increased financial support base to MBBS over the past years," says Schmidt. -Kent Gaston, MBBS
India
97
to feature varied international worship experiences
II North Fresno pastor will lead convention Bible study on North America Day
A GROUP of seven people from rtacross Canada and the United States have been busy planning North America Day at Mennonite World Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1997. Assembly 13 of Mennonite World Conference takes place Jan. 6-12 in Calcutta, India.
The committee is cochaired by the two North Americans on the MWC executive committee, Phyllis Pellman Good and Vern Preheim.
Martens
The committee includes Mennonite Brethren representative Ed Boschman, moderator of the General Conference, and representatives from the Mennonite Church, General Conference Mennonite Church and Brethren in Christ Church.
Program planning for MWC is being done on five continents by continental planning committees. Each day at "Assembly Gathered" will begin and end with worship. The morning worship will have a spirit of confession; the evening worship a tone of celebration.
"Our opening morning service will invite extensive audience participationfrom singing to Scripture reading to a time of prolonged prayers," says Good. "We will break in the middle of the service for a brief sermon and a story, each reflecting upon God's call to us to be faithful."
Stories of faithfulness will frame the evening worship time. Three stories of God's faithfulness and three responses-each about an example of answering God's call by living faithfully-will be presented. Scripture reading, a liturgical dance, songs of faith and a prayer of the peoples will be included as well.
Storytellers, musicians, speakers and presenters are being selected now that a more complete list of registrants for India 1997 is available. Since there is no budget to bring special speakers or choirs to Calcutta, North American presenters will be invited from the pool of registrants.
The planning committee is also developing ideas for the North America tent in the Global Church Village. Designed as a setting for visiting and conversation about common interests and concerns, the Global Church Village will be a cluster of tents, with each continent being given a tent to furnish and staff.
North American churches are invited to provide "symbols or artifacts that represent their life together as part of the setting and atmosphere of our tent," says Good.
About 20 young adults from five continents will be chosen to work as "youth stewards" at India 97.
North American churches are invited to provide Ilsymbols or artifacts that represent their life together... as part of the setting and atmosphere. II
Mennonite Brethren participants will include Larry Martens, pastor of the North Fresno (Calif.) MB Church and assistant moderator of the General Conference, who will lead the Bible study which follows morning tea.
The program is sponsored by a grant from the DeFehr Foundation, Winnipeg, Man., and provides travel subsidies to India 97 for persons aged 18-30 representing MWC member churches.
The goal of the program is to help foster understanding and appreciation for the international, intercultural reality of the global Anabaptist-Mennonite family.
Ten youth stewards will be sent from India churches; the rest will come from churches in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.
The youth stewards will arrive in Calcutta in mid-December, to help prepare the Global Church Village.
Applications for North Americans interested in the youth steward program are available from MWC, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener, Ont., N2G 3Rl. The deadline for receiving applications is Sept. 30. (MWC)
IN BRIEF
• VOLUNTEER: Lourdes Lopez is serving her community for 10 weeks this summer as part of Mennonite Central Committee's Summer Service Program. Lopez is teaching English as a second language with EOC and her home congregation, Orange Cove (Calif.) MB Church. Lopez is a graduate of Reedley (Calif.) High School. (MCC)
• CREDENTIALS: Fresno Pacific College received word in June that the Western Association of Schools and Colleges has approved FPC's proposal to offer an advanced credential and a master of arts with an emphasis in administrative services through its Bakersfield center. (FPC)
• FIELD TEST: Thirty-two Mennonite Brethren, Mennonite Church and General Conference congregations in the United States and Canada have agreed to help field-test a church conflict resolution self-test and study guide created by six Mennonite mediators. The project is being coordinated by Marlin Thomas, a former Mennonite Brethren pastor who is founder and director of Resources For Living in Colorado Springs, Colo.
• ASSISTANCE: Colony Mennonites in north central Mexico have been helping their neighbors during the recent drought. But because their food stores are also low, the colonies have requested help from Mennonite Central Committee. MCC will provide $4,500 to purchase beans and tortilla flour to distribute at schools. Colony Mennonites will purchase the food focatly and deliver it. (MCC)
• SUPPORT: A conference to be held Oct. 5 at Akron, Pa., is designed to gather people with mental illness, their families, pastors, church leaders and mental health professionals. The keynote speaker is Mennonite Brethren educator John Toews, professor of psychiatry and associate dean of continuing medical education at the University of Calgary in Alberta. The oneday event is sponsored by a number of Mennonite agencies including Mennonite Mutual Aid and Mennonite Central Committee.
• CHURCH NOTES
• Baptism/Membership
EDMOND, Okla.-Don Groff was baptized and welcomed into membership May 19. Alvin and Kristin Friesen and Doyle and Donna Orrell also became members.
BUHLER, Kan.-Mike Lorett was welcomed into membership April 14. Henry and Alma Behrends were accepted as members June 2.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Heritage Bible)Jason Armistead, Kevin, Gloria and Danielle Baker, Kevin Dickey, Peter Dolton, Crystal Henderson, Carmela Morales Schwartz, David Schwartz and Seth Winter were baptized June 9.
HILLSBORO, Kan.-Jennifer Hagen, Naila Kunantaev and Shelly Weibert were baptizedJune 16.
FAIRVIEW, Okla.-Jim Warkentin, Shari Rowe, Eldon and Carol Nickel, Melvena Ewald, LaVonda White, Scott and Natalie Church, Edith Thiessen, JoAnn Wieler, and Justin and Jodi Hurst were received as new members June 23.
FREEMAN, S.D. (Silver Lake)-Kari Adri-
an, Kim Adrian, Cam Becker, John Deckert, Jessica Ortman, Derrick Walter, and Dustin Walter were baptized and received into membership June 30.
FRESNO, Calif. (North)-Jim Chow, Bettie Wilmoth and John Wood were baptized and received as members June 30. Jayne Chow, Steve and Connie Freeland, Doug and Shelley Halverson, Heidi Halverson, Greg and Val Quiring, Steve Regier, and Lue and Mary Verharr also joined.
REEDLEY, Calif.-Sheryl Doerksen, Kim Friesen, Josiah Grauman, Anna Grunau, Dustin Pauls and Karen Pauls were baptized and welcomed into membership in June. Brian Griffin, Anne Marie Rosenfeld, and Lois Rosenfeld were also accepted into membership.
• Celebrations
DINUBA, Calif.-Flowers were placed in the sanctuary June 2 in honor of the 50th wedding anniversary of Donald and Lillian Thiesen.
REEDLEY, Calif.-Sanctuary flowers were placed June 9 in honor of the 50th wedding anniversary of Henry and Erica Dick; on June 2, flowers in the sanctuary marked the 50th wedding anniversary of Henry and Elizabeth Thiesen.
CHURCH PARTNERSHIP EVANGELISM (CPE)
Invitation:
TO: Born-again Christians; FROM: Evangelical churches
King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., is seeking volunteers for its Church Partnership Evangelism outreach to
1. UKRAINE.
2. ZAIRE, AFRICA, Kikwit .
3. INDIA, Hyderabad & Jongoan
4. PHILIPPINES.
5. NICARAGUA
NOTE: Dates may be subject to change.
Sept. 9-29 / 96
Oct. 13-31 /96
Nov. 10-28 /96
Jan. 13-30 /97
Feb. 10-27 / 97
• Team up with national Christians and witness for Christ door to door.
• Some knowledge of the country's language is helpful.
Cost /person*
$1,500
$1,500
$1,500
$1,000
$1,000
*Canadian dollars
• Similar campaigns have resulted in 200 to 400 conversions. Come and be part of an enriching spiritual experience, discover what GOD can do through you.
For moreinformation, contact: Evelyn Unruh, 604-852-5744 or CPE 604-864-3941
Peter Loewen, 604-853-3173 or FAX 604-853-6482
Maybe you are interested in one, two or more campaigns. Please let us know if you find this to be valuable work for the Lord. I would ask you to bring this information to your friends and churches. We will need many volunteers in 1996.
Peter Huebert Missions Committee President
Peter Loewen Promoter
CORN, Okla.-The children of Marion and Irene Penner hosted a reception June 9 in honor of their parents' 50th wedding anniversary. The family of Pete and Luella Pauls hosted a reception in honor of the 50th wedding anniversary of their parents June 16.
BRIDGEWATER, S.D. (Salem)-Andrew and Mary Glanzer celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary June 16.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-Flowers were placed in the sanctuary June 23 in honor of the 60th wedding anniversary of Henry and Adeline Karber.
INMAN, Kan. (Zoar)-Wes and Martha Epp furnished sanctuary flowers July 7 to mark their 50th wedding anniversary.
• Fellowship
ENID, Okla.-Ken and Marilyn Fast, MB Missions/Services missionaries to Brazil, spoke about their work at the June 23 evening service Mothers and children are meeting for lunch at the church each Wednesday during the summer months for informal fellowship.
NEW HOPE, Minn.-Choir members and their families enjoyed a barbecue June 5.
MINOT, N.D. (Bible Fellowship)-Adults participated in a progressive supper sponsored by the Women's Missionary Society to raise funds for MB Missions/Services workers Russell and Elizabeth Schmidt.
EDMOND, Okla.-The kick-off event of the men's ministry was a June 15 breakfast at a local restaurant followed by a workday at the new church site An all-church swimming party was held at the home of Perry and Jeanie Klaassen June 30.
CORDELL, Okla. (Bible)-The Corn MB Church was invited to attend the June 16 showing of the film "The Reluctant Prophet: The Charles Colson Story" The family of A.B.P. Schmidt led the morning service July 14 as part of their family reunion.
YALE, S.D. (Bethel)-The congregation held their morning worship service June 23 at Lake Byron and were joined by permanent and summer lake residents.
FREEMAN, S.D. (Silver Lake)-The annual Silver Lake/Salem MB (Bridgewater) picnic was held July 7.
DINUBA, Calif.-Fourteen people participated in the family backpacking trip June 21-23. A men's trip took place July 12-14.
HESSTON, Kan.-The Christian Education Committee sponsored a pancake breakfast and softball games July 4.
REEDLEY, Calif.-The congregation rented the entire Fresno Chaffee Zoo July 17 for an all-church fun night.
DENVER, Colo.- The Garden Park MB Church and Belleview Acres Church of Littleton met for a joint worship service July 21 at Deer Creek Camp. During the afternoon they toured the camp and played games.
FRESNO, Calif. (Fig Garden)-Women from the church participated in a backpacking trip July 26-28.
FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News)Women from the congregation hiked to Fragrance Lake July 27.
HILLSBORO, Kan. (parkview)-The MBY and adult volunteers completed a variety of projects at World Impact Ranch in Florence, Kan., May 30-]une 1.
NEW HOPE, Minn.-Ten volunteers from the church distributed flyers inviting people to visit the church and to attend the Billy Graham crusade June 19-23 in Minneapolis.
REEDLEY, Calif.-The church's fellowship hall is open to area youth as a summer recreation center every other Wednesday night.
BUHLER, Kan.-The MBY went to Denver in late June to work with two inner-city ministries, Brother's Redevelopment and Neighborhood Ministries.
HESSTON, Kan.-Richard and Rosemary Prieb were commissioned July 7 for a missions trip to Lithuania and the MBY was commissioned for their mission trip to Denver, Colo.
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 25-26, 1996
Come participate in defining the roles of legislation and the church in restorative justice.
HILLSBORO, Kan. (Ebenfeld)-Jamie Loewen and Shannon Unruh were commissioned for ministry with Youth Mission International July 7.
FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News)-A seeker service with a western touch was held July 14. Afternoon activities included a barbecue lunch, games, and horse rides for children.
HENDERSON, Neb.-MBY members were commissioned July 14 for their trip to Chicago where they taught Bible school in an inner-city church July 20-27.
MOUNTAIN LAKE, Minn.-The MBY traveled to Minneapolis, Minn., in late July to work at Mary's Place, a shelter for homeless families.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen) Bev Wiens, counselor and San Jose Christian College professor, was the guest speaker June 16.
BRIDGEWATER, S.D. (Salem)-Larry Horner, president of Freeman Academy, was the guest speaker June 23.
INMAN, Kan. (Zoar)-Dennis and Susan Nicholls, directors of World Impact Ranch near Florence, Kan., and two of their students, Manuel Contreras and Mike Zuniga, shared their testimonies June 23 .... The congregation held their all-church picnic July 14 at World Impact Ranch.
HENDERSON, Neb.-The church hosted 12 youth from Central District churches for a discipleship retreat June 28-29.
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Desert Valley)-A Mennonite Central Committee drama group presented a program on racism June 30.
Workers
LODI, Calif. (Vinewood)-Darren Rempel was installed June 2 as associate pastor of music and worship.
DINUBA, Calif.-Sharon Leppke, church office manager for over 21 years, and her husband, Allen, were honored with a farewellJune 16.
EUGENE, Ore. (North Park)-A farewell for Sid and Christine Harms, pastoral couple, was held June 23.
MINOT, N.D.-Pastor Dennis Webber and his family were honored with a farewell meal June 30 Bob and Wanda Kroeker will be interim pastoral couple for nine months beginning in early September.
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (pine Acres)-Hal J. Penner was commissioned as youth pastor July 7.
TOPEKA, Kan.-James Mason was installed as pastor of adult ministries July 14. He and his wife, Kelly, and their son moved from Denver, Colo.
TOUR MAGINATION
Our Leader Cal Redekop will introduce you to:
* German-Speaking Mennonite Settlements in Chihuahua
* Spectacular Copper Canyon via the Chihuahua-Pacific Railway
* Tarahumara Indians, Paquime Ruins
* Spanish-Speaking Mennonites in Sinaloa
ANDERSON, HERBERT, Gettysburg, S.D., a member of Grace Bible Church in Gettysburg, was born Oct. 23, 1912, near Avon Springs, S.D., to Primus and August Nelson Anderson and died June 9, 1996, at the age of 83. On Sept. 12, 1937, he was married to Evelyn Todd, who survives. He is also survived by one son, Kenneth and wife Corrine of Bedford, Texas; one sister, Lucille Anderson of Gettysburg; and four grandchildren and their spouses.
BLOOMQUIST, ROSE, Minneapolis, Kan., a member of Harvey MB Church, Harvey, N.D., was born Feb. 20, 1907, to Frederich and Magdelena Faul in Pony Gulch Township and died Jan. 31, 1996, at the age of 89. She is survived by two daughters, Betty Bloomquist of Minneapolis and Verna Porter of Portland, Ore.; one brother, David Faul of Harvey; one sister, Bertha Lorz of Harvey; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
BRAUN, AGNES WILLEMS, Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Sept. 19, 1904, to Abraham and Suzanne Neufeld Willems at Inman,
DUERKSON, WALLACE, Clovis, Calif., a member of Butler MB Church, Fresno, Calif., was born Feb. 10, 1918, at Orienta, Okla., and died June 26, 1996, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Leona; two sons, Kerwin and Terry; a daughter, Marva Duerkson, all of Fresno; two sisters, Irene Duerkson and Alice Just, both of Oklahoma; two grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren and one step great-grandchild.
ENNS, HERMAN H., Buhler, Kan., a member of Buhler MB Church, was born March 1, 1897, at Shoenau, Ukraine, to Herman H. and Maria Woelk Enns and died July 1, 1996, at the age of 99. He is survived by his children Margaret, Harry, Elsie and Ramona; one brother, John of San Diego; nine grandchildren and eight great -grandchildren. Kan., and died June 10, 1996, at the age of 91. On Dec. 14, 1928, she was married to John Braun, who survives. She is also survived by two sons, Donald and Wesley, and their spouses; one daughter, Elaine, and her spouse; one brother, three sisters, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild.
Intercristo serves up-to-date job leads matched to your background and experience. Let Intercristo's Christian Placement Network show you where your job skills are needed in Christian service throughout the United States and overseas opportunities you might never find on your own!
Network.
I I I I I I
ESAU, MARTIN M. Buhler, Kan., a member of the Buhler MB Church, was born May 22, 1901, near BuWer to Martin and Justina Pauls Esau and died July 10, 1996, at the age of 95. On May 6, 1923, he was married to Selma Schroeder, who predeceased him in 1977. He is survived by a son, LeRoy and wife Jo Ann Esau of Hutchinson, Kan., three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
FROESE, JUSTINA ESAU, Phoenix, AriZ., was born Aug. 27, 1923, to Jacob and Helena Esau at Orenburg, Russia, and died Feb. 28, 1996, at the age of 73. In 1944 she was married to Jacob Froese, who survives. They pastored Mennonite Brethren churches in Minnesota, Kansas and Arizona. She is also survived by two sons, Leonard and wife Marlene of Phoenix, and David and wife Susan of Owasso, Okla.; one daughter, Viola and husband Jim Smith of Glendale, AriZ.; one brother, Isaac and wife Elsie Esau of Chilliwack, B. C.; four sisters in-law and six grandsons.
HEINRICHS, SAMUEL LUCAS, Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Aug. 27, 1908, at Gotebo, Okla., to Frank B. and Nettie Richert Heinrichs and died June 19, 1996, at the age of 87. On May 28, 1932, he was married to Lola Eitzen who survives. He is also survived by one daughter, Joyce, and her family.
ISAAC, AGNES V., Turpin, Okla., a member of Adams (Okla.) MB Church, was born June 6, 1904, in McPherson County, Kan., to John T. and Maria Wiebe Siebert and died June 6, 1996, at the age of 92. On Dec. 9, 1926, she was married to Abram A. Isaac, who survives. She is also survived by two sons, Harold and wife Karen Isaac of Adams, and Vernon and wife Karen Isaac of Edson, Kan.; two daughters, Emmalene and husband Ronald Thomas of Bartlesville, Okla., and Josephine and husband Joelle Balzer of Prairieville, La.; nine grandchildren and 11 great -grandchildren.
KARBER, ROY, Perryton, Texas, a member of Balko (Okla.) MB Church, was born Sept. 30, 1915, in Beaver County, Okla., and died April 25, 1996, at the age of 80. On July 18, 1937, he was married to Eunice Patzkowsky, who survives. He is also survived by one son, Braden Karber of Perryton; one daughter, Karen Mills of Beaver, Okla.; three brothers, Herb Unruh of Newton, Kan., Clarence Karber of Fairview, Okla., and Bill Karber of Marlow, Okla.; one sister, Clara Loewen of Dodge City, Kan.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
KLIEWER, HENRY A., Reedley, Calif., was born Nov. 22, 1909, in Keddo County, Okla., to Henry E. and Margaret Gunther Kliewer and died June 21, 1996, at the age of 87. On June 30, 1938, he was
Roots are unseen, but they find their expression in the light of da)':
Same with living your beliefs, such as investing your hard-earned retirement money according to your values.
That's the reason for MMA Praxis Mutual Funds. With MMA Praxis, you can get an IRA that invests in enterprises that enhance peace, justice, and the quality of human life. An IRA that can really express your values.
Contact an MMA counselor today or call 1·800·9·PRAXIS
Available in most states.
For more complete information including charges and expenses, see your investment representative to receive a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. MMA Praxis Mutual Ftmds are distributed by BISYS Ftmd Services.
married to Hannah Nikkel, who predeceased him. He is survived by two sisters, Lydia Balzer and Margaret and husband Henry Isaac, all of Reedley; one brother, John and his wife Ruth Kliewer of Reedley.
NIKKEL, RUTH LAU, Corn, Okla., a member of Corn MB Church, was born Sept. 19, 1910, to Michael and Bertha Kiehn Lau near Bessie, Okla., and died July 1, 1996, at the age of 85. On March 6, 1930, she was married to Walter M. Nikkel, who predeceased her in 1992. She is survived by her daughter, Ruth and husband Troy Kight; two sons, Ron and wife Elfrige and Jerry and wife Mary Ann; one daughter-inlaw, Myrna Nikkel; two sisters, Elsie Kroeker of Milwaukee, Wisc., and Martha Reimer of Bakersfield, Calif.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchidren.
PAULS, CURT W., Adams, Okla., a member of Adams MB Church, was born April 9, 1935, near Buhler, Kan., to Frank F. and Mary Nachtigal Pauls and died June 22, 1996, at the age of 83. On Oct. 27, 1935, he was married to Frances Gerband, who survives. He is also survived by two sons,
Gary Pauls of Tulsa, Okla., Randy and wife Tricia Pauls of Hooker, Okla.; one daughter, Carol and husband Glenn Suderman of Garden City, Kan.; one sister, Lillian Kroeker of Buhler, Kan.; four grandchildren, two step grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren.
PENNER, HELEN, Hillsboro, Kan., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born April 16, 1919, to John J. and Helena Groening Siebert near Hillsboro, and died July 13, 1996, at the age of 77. On May 20, 1941, she was married to Lloyd C. Penner, who predeceased her in 1983. They served as pastoral couple at several churches, including Adams (Okla.) MB Church and Bethel MB Church of Balko, Okla. She is survived by her children, Linda and husband Doug Buster of Colleyville, Texas, Paul and wife Deborah Penner of Hillsboro, Marilyn and Martin Johnson of Festus, Mo., and Loraine and husband Doyle Prier of Campbellville, Ont.; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.
REIMER, MARGIE, Hillsboro, Kan., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born
MCC Resource Catalog
Lists free-loan audiovisuals and printed materials about the mission of MCC, care of creation, lifestyle, peace and justice issues, hunger and other topics. Includes a children's section. Yours free from:
Sept. 27, 1927, at Hillsboro, Kan., to Albert F. and Anna Penner Bartel and died July 10, 1996, at the age of 68. On June 14, 1949, she was married to Aaron Reimer, who survives. She is also survived by two daughters, Darla and husband Richard Klassen of Manitowoc, Wis., and Delora and husband Kim Kaufman of Hillsboro; one son, Cameron and wife Brenda of Marion, Kan.; two brothers, Vernon and wife Vida Bartel and Larry and wife Yolanda Bartel, both of Hillsboro; two sisters, Ruth Bartel of Hillsboro and Eunice and husband Harold Nachtigal of Aurora, Neb.; and seven grandchildren.
REIMER, RUBY M., Reedley, Calif., was born Jan. 4, 1916, and died June 24, 1996, at the age of 80.
ROBERTS, JULIANNA, Fairview, Okla., was born Nov. 20, 1912, near Orienta, Okla., to Aaron A. and Mary Kasper Penner and died June 28, 1996, at the age of 83. On Sept. 3, 1939, she was married to Elmer Roberts, who predeceased her in 1992. She is survived by five sons, David and wife Elizabeth of Fairview, George and wife Jeanette of Bethany, Okla., Ronald of Oklahoma City, Okla., Loyal and wife Hazel of Fairview, and Gordon and wife Lynetta of Oklahoma City; three brothers, Edd Penner of Orienta, Neal Penner of Enid, Okla., and Dan Penner of Medora, Kan.; two sisters, Eunice Isaak of Fairview and Lois Peters of Enid; 10 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.
SCHROEDER, MATHILDA "TILLIE," Inman, Kan., a member of Buhler (Kan.) MB Church, was born June 10, 1916, to John S. and Lizzie Esau Schroeder near Inman and died July 11, 1996, at the age of 80. She is survived by five sisters, Elsie Dirks, Helen and husband Arnold Loepp, Adina and husband Alden Kliewer, Sue Ann and husband Vernon Plenert, and Frances Schroeder; and one brother, John and wife Doris Schroeder.
SEIBEL, MARTHA M., Fort Collins, Colo., was born Dec. 25, 1909, to Gottfried and Magdalena Nee Adam Schimke at Martin, N.D., and died June 4, 1996, at the age of 86. On July 26, 1931, she was married to Elmer Seibel who survives. She is also survived by three daughters, Marlene Ratzlaff of Denver, Colo., Phyllis Peterson and Lucenda Schultz, both of Fort Collins; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
TOEWS, JOHNNY HENRY, Dinuba, Calif., former MB Missions/Services missionary to Peru, was born Aug. 6, 1927, in Alexanderkron, Siberia, to Henry J. and Elizabeth Friesen Toews and died April 10, 1996, at the age of 69. On June 14, 1949, he was married to Harriet Hofer, who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Randall and wife Ronda and David and wife Julie, all of
Dinuba, Calif., and Douglas and wife Jerri of Kingsburg, Calif.; two daughters, Dawn and husband Keith Erickson and Becky and husband Alan Lyvere, all of Hayword, Calif.; sister Betty and husband Bob Bradford of Washington; one brother, Ervin and wife Darlene of Dinuba; and 17 grandchildren.
UNRUH, DAVID, Dinuba, Calif., a founding member of Dinuba MB Church, was born Feb. 16, 1909, to David J. and Judith Kroeker Unruh at Omtk, Siberia, and died May 10, 1996, at the age of 87. He was married to Elizabeth Harms, who predeceased him in 1955, then to Bertha Ella Kroeker, who predeceased him in 1973. In 1973, he was married to Luella Toews, who survives. He is also survived by three sons, David and wife Nancy of Fresno, Neil and wife Frances of Dinuba, and Frank and wife Shirley of Fresno; six daughters, Elizabeth Barnes of Dinuba, Anna Marie and husband Clifford Davis of Lodi, Calif., Lillian and husband Stephen Schwartz of Sanger, Calif., Linda and husband Marty Bloom of Clovis, Calif., Sharon and husband Don Klassen of Reedley, and Marcy and husband Sidney Unruh of Bakersfield, Calif.; four brothers, two sisters, 26 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
UNRUH, HAROLD A., Fresno, Calif., a member of Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, was born Feb. 7, 1913, at Fairview, Okla., to Adolph H. and Adaline Becker Unruh and died in April at the age of 83. On June 13, 1937, he was married to Alice Klassen, who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Jerry and wife Lois of Los Osos, Calif., Stan and wife Grace of Fresno; and Ron of Truckee, Calif.; two brothers, Walter of Exeter, Calif. and Raymond of Visalia, Calif; two sisters, Luella Willems of Everett, Wash., and Doris Hofer of Reedley; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
WALTER, VERDA E., a member of Silver Lake MB Church, Freeman, S.D., was born Feb. 14, 1922, to Isaac and Maggie Adrian Smith at Marion, S.D., and died Jan. 14,
1996, at the age of 73. On Nov. 7, 1948, she was married to Andrew I. Walter. She is survived by one son, Richard and wife Priscilla of Bridgewater, S.D.; one brother, Harry and wife Leone Smith of Freeman; two brothers-in-law, Isaac Unruh of Freeman, and Robert Duerksen of Marion; one sister-in-law, Hulda and husband Paul Stahl of Bridgewater; one brother-in-law, Aaron and wife Laura Walker of Norfolk, Neb.; and three grandchildren.
WARKENTIN, ERNEST L., Orland, Calif., a member of Country Bible Church, Orland, was born Aug. 13, 1914, at Kremlin, Okla., to Bernard and Marie Warkentin and died April 22, 1996, at the age of 81. On Dec. 27, 1952, he was married to Genevieve Cline, who survives. He is also survived by his brothers, Waldo of Fresno, Calif., and Melvin of Enid, Okla.
WARKENTIN, MARY MARTENS, a member of Reedley MB Church, was born June 1, 1916, at Henderson, Neb., to Frank J. and Agnes Cornelson Martens and died Dec. 20, 1995, at the age of 80. She was married to Pete Regier, who predeceased her in 1961. On Jan. 26, 1991, she was married to Leo Warkentin, who survives. She is also survived by one son, Dennis and wife Marilyn of Reedley; two daughters, Phyllis and husband Syd Flieshaur of Sandy, Ore., and Betty Sturdevent of Chino, Calif.; one brother, John Martens of Henderson, Neb.; two sisters, Helen Quiring of Henderson, and Tina and husband Jake Regier of Grand Island, Neb.; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
WARKENTIN, SARA D., Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Dec. 4, 1912, to Dietrich and Sara Balzer Enns at Hooker, Okla., and died June 15, 1996, at the age of 83. On Feb. 2, 1936, she was married to Elmo H. Warkentin, who predeceased her. They served as pastor couple, conference Christian education resource persons and church planters of seven churches. She is survived by two sons, Dale and wife Joyce of Fresno, Calif., and Mark and wife Victoria of Sunland,
Time is running out ...
Tours to Mennonite World Conference are being finalized. For a MB Missions/ Services-sponsored tour January 1-20 that includes Thailand, Calcutta, Hyderabad and New Delhi (price $3,250) contact Dr. Elmer Martens, (209) 291-5904. Fax: (209) 251-7212.
Calif.; nine brothers and sisters, Olga Wall of Scotts Valley, Calif., Herman Enns of Chico, Calif., Mary Riffel of Auburn, Calif., Katie Ewert of Reedley, Orlando Enns of Castor Valley, Calif., Walton Enns of Concord, Calif, Adina Fort of Salinas, Calif., Rosella Isgrigg of Dinuba, Calif., and Victor Enns of Dinuba; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
WICHERT, CARL C., of Fairview, Okla., a member of Fairview MB Church, was born Oct. 20, 1907, to C.A. and Agnes Cornelsen Wichert. On June 3, 1934, he was married to Florence Schwalk, who survives. He is also survived by his daughter, Joyce and husband Richard Franz; a son, Sherrill and wife JoAnn; two sisters, Elda Neufeld of San Jose, Calif., and Abnis Janzen of Bakersfield, Calif.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
CORRECTION: Louise Braun Fast, Reedley, Calif., died May 1, 1996, at the age of 77.
CLEARINGHOUSE
Have a position to fill? Looking for a new employment or ministry opportunity? Have a gathering or celebration to promote? Need to sell or acquire property? Reach U.S. Mennonite Brethren through a Clearinghouse classified ad. The charge is 40 cents per word, with a $15 minimum. Withhold payment until an invoice is received. Clearinghouse copy must be received by the 15th of the month prior to the desired month of publication. The editors reserve the right to turn down inappropriate material. For display (boxed) ad rates, please call us.
POSITION AVAILABLE
CAMPUS PASTOR-Search reopened. Seeking qualified administrative faculty member to serve as campus pastor. Reporting half-time to dean of student life in the role of strengthening the Christian character and worship life of the college, withprimary focus on undergraduate students; reporting half-time to the academic vice president in the role of directing College Hour, a twice-weekly gathering of the undergraduate campus community for worship, biblical instruction and enhancing wholistic Christian thinking and action in all areas of life. Must possess an M.A. or M.Div., doctorate preferred; mature Christian faith; ministry experience; preference for some experience in a Christian liberal arts college. Fresno Pacific is a dynamic Christian liberal arts college of the Mennonite Brethren Church. All candidates must share the college's Christian commitment. Review of applications will begin Aug. 1 and appointment will be made as soon thereafter as a suitable candidate is secured. For full description and application form, write or phone: Sue Kliewer, Personnel Director, Fresno Pacific College, 1717 S. Chestnut, Fresno, CA 93702; (209) 453-2245; e-mail skliewer@fresno.edu.
ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR-Tabor College has an opening for a new position based in Colorado. Qualifications include a self-motivated individual who is comfortable communicating with all age groups. Must be detail oriented and willing to travel. Send cover letter, resume and the name and addresses of three references to Lynn Jackson, Associate Director of Admissions, 400 S. Jefferson, Hillsboro, KS 67063.
PHILANTHROPY
It's the thought that counts, right?
Although church attendance is at its lowest level in 15 years, Americans remain active-if not generous-financial contributors to local churches and religious centers. That's one of several conclusions reached by a nationwide survey conducted by the Barna Research Group. The data show:
• Nearly half of all Americans (45 percent) donate money to a church or other place of worship in a typical month.
• In a typical month 41 percent of adults donate to a nonprofit organization other than a church, while
23 percent give to both a church and to other types of nonprofit organizations.
• In relation to their total household income, most Americans give away only a small percentage of their money. Three-quarters of adults (75 percent) gave less than $500 to nonprofit organizations, including churches, in 1995. Only 25 percent said they had given $500 or more to all types of nonprofits combined in 1995. Of that group, only 10 percent donated up to $1 ,000 for the entire year and just 3 percent gave away $3,000 or more.
• Of the 41 percent of Americans contributing to a nonprofit organization other than a church or place of worship, one-third gave to a Christian organiza-
Eyeing the last slice.
tion. This number (34 percent) represents nearly 15 million households supporting parachurch ministry efforts.
• Contrary to popular stereotypes, television and radio ministries are not taking the lion's share of parachurch donations. The parachurch ministries which had the highest proportion of donors last year were missionaries or missions groups that work overseas (61 percent of those who give to religious nonchurch ministries) and youth ministries (45 percent). Social welfare ministries (38 percent), discipleship agencies (33 percent), Christian schools, colleges or other education ministries (32 percent), Christian-based child spon-
sorship (32 percent) and evangelistic organizations (29 percent) received higher support than did radio ministries (17 percent), television ministry (15 percent), and ministry focused on public policy or legal matters (11 percent).
• In a related study, Barna found that donors to churches or religious centers are more likely to consider themselves to be politically conservative (57 percent) than moderate (42 percent) or liberal (27 percent).
• The study also found that the amount donated to nonprofit organizations increased as the donor's level of religious involvement increased. Religious involvement was measured through 10 items of religious activity. Those respondents whose religious activity was high (defined as involvement in six or more of the 10 possible types of religious involvements) were significantly more likely to donate $1,000 or more to churches and charities than were those with lower levels of religious involvement. (EP)
SEX EDUCATION
New guidelines promote character
It's being touted as a "new sexual revolution" that will result in fewer teen pregnancies, lower infertility rates, fewer sexually transmitted diseases, and healthier, more fulfilling sexual lives for Americans.
The catalyst for this intended revolution is a new set of National Guide-
MB Circles ... by Lorlie Barkman
lines for Sexuality and Character Education, released by the Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MISH), a nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas.
The new guidelines are written to provide teachers and parents with a framework on which to build sexuality education curriculum. The idea is to not only teach students to make medically based decisions on what constitutes "safe sex" but also to teach character skills to abide by those decisions.
MISH warns that the predominant sex education programs of the past 10-15 years have been ineffective in curbing the epidemic proportions of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
As an alternative to existing programs, the new guidelines urge character building education in early grades, combined with honest information about the benefits of sexual abstinence in later grades.
The guidelines suggest teaching early elementary students to deal effectively with negative peer pressure. Upper elementary students are urged to learn to set standards to achieve
short-term and long-term goals, and to develop firm standards of right and wrong. Junior high and high school students are given health information. Junior high students are to be taught about the rate of condom failure and the high rate of sexually transmitted disease among teenagers. High school students are to be taught that contraceptive use will not prevent emotional problems associated with uncommitted sexual relationships.
"Teenagers can no more be abstinent unless they have developed the character traits to be abstinent," MISH founder Joe S. McIlhaney Jr., told the Austin American-Statesman. "And that takes a strong ability to put off for the future something that would feel good today ... respect for the other person responsibility for your health. These are traits they have to be taught."
MISH was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit medical and educational organization that provides researchbased sexual health information in order to facilitate healthy and life-affirming sexual choices. McIlhaney is a gynecologist. (EP)
The bare essentials of faith ...
NOTING THAT Adam and Eve covered their nakedness only after sinning, a group of Christian nudists is returning to the fashions of Eden for an annual retreat at the Whispering Pines family nudist resort.
The resort owners-a Methodist and a Baptist-say they hope that Christian involvement will help make nudism 'Iwholesome, family-oriented fun." The retreat includes seminars on how Christians can spread their influence in the nudist community. (EP)
Mennonites are named after him, but what do we really know about Menno Simons, the 16th century reformer? To mark the 500th anniversary year of his birth, we decided to interview him. Posthumously. These are his actual words. Really. We'll
(1Y'
No matter how much we may talk or argue about the Scriptures, this rule will remain firm and can never be broken: If you live after the flesh, you will die.
All, therefore, who live in pomp and splendor, in eating and drinking, in adultery, fornication and avarice, hatred, envy, gluttony, fraud, and such sins; who defame the Lord's holy and high name, Word, will, and also his church; who slander their neighbors, deprive them of their honor, name, welfare, body and goods; who curse and swear by the Lord's sufferings are unbelieving heathen and not believing Christians.
This is as clear as the light of day. For their fruits testify before the whole world that they are not the true olive tree and vine from which we may pluck or gather the true, ripe fruits.
And what would you include as the "fruits" of the truly believing Christian?
(1Y' In this it is evident that where sincere and true faith exists, the faith which avails before God and is a gift of God, which comes from hearing the holy Word, there through the blossoming tree of life all manner of precious fruits of righteousness are present, such as the fear and love of God, mercy, friendship, chastity, temperance, humility, confidence, truth, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For where a sincere, evangelical, pious faith is, there also are the genuine evangelical fruits in keeping with the Gospels.
I say evangelical fruits. For the strange fruits, such as infant baptism, masses, vespers, caps, crucifixes, altars, bells, etc., the Gospel knows not. For God has not commanded them, neither through Christ his Son, nor through the apostles and prophets.
The true evangelical faith sees and considers only the doctrine, ceremonies, commands, prohibitions, and the perfect example of Christ and strives to conform thereto with all its power.
Next: More on "true faith"
SOURCE' The Complete Writings of Menno Simons
RACISM
Can the vandalism be vanquished?
As arson attacks on churches continue to mount, both the public and private sector are working to combat the crimes and rebuild the victimized churches.
President Clinton has designated $6 million to be used by local police to combat church burnings in 12 states, primarily in the South.
A unanimous Congress sent Clinton a bill June 27 that doubles federal penalties for burning a church, gives the federal government greater jurisdiction in
such cases and provides federal loan guarantees for rebuilding projects.
The Christian Coalition has issued an apology for past failings on civil rights issues and has offered a reward for information leading to convictions in the arsons. The coalition has also established a fund to help churches install security devices and sponsored racial reconciliation Sundays July 14 and 21. Civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have said they are not ready to accept the apology and offer for help.
Promise Keepers has pledged $1 million and "thousand of man-hours of labor" to help rebuild black
$50 covers KVI's costs for program supplies, literature, first aid supplies and sports equipment for one youth between the ages of 11-17 to attend camp for 12 days. 100 camps expected in 1996. Camps, individuals, families, Sunday Schools and Youth groups are invited to be sponsors. '01,. Tax deductible receipt will be sent.
Make check payable to: Lay Christian Association I KVI P.o. Box 914 Travelers Rest SC 29690
churches in the South that have been victimized by arsonists.
Several organizations have established funds for rebuilding efforts including World Relief, The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, National Council of Churches and Mennonite Central Committee.
MCC U.S. and Mennonite Disaster Service are coordinating a Ribbon of Hope campaign to express support for the AfricanAmerican and other congregations whose churches were destroyed by arsonists. Resources are available from MCC U.S. by phoning (717) 859-3889. Funds are also needed for the MDS church rebuilding efforts.
Although fires at black churches are getting most of the publicity, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) records show that white churches are burning as well. Since January 1995, the bureau has investigated 59 church fires-30 at black churches and 29 at white. But white churches greatly outnumber black churches, so the roughly equal number of arson attacks can be seen as disproportionately affecting black churches. (MCG, EP)
GATHERINGS
PK for women, too
Two organizations have been founded to bring the "Promise Keepers" experience to women.
Heritage Keepers will hold its first conference Aug. 10 in Wichita, Kan., The new organization has been swamped with registration requests; more than 8,000 applications had been received by June 1 for the conference, which has a capacity of 3,000.
Pastor Bob Beckler of Wichita's Central Commu-
nity Church, co-created the conference with his wife, Lori. Heritage Keepers will feature both men and women speakers including author Florence Littauer, counselor Marge Caldwell, and John Trent, who is a frequent speaker at Promise Keepers meetings. Organizers say they have included both male and female speakers to avoid the appearance of being a feminist movement.
Meanwhile, Deborah Tyler of Morristown, Tenn., has organized "Keys for Abundant Living: A Promise Keepers Counterpart" meetings in Birmingham, Dallas, Little Rock and Nashville, each drawing about 1,000 women. Speakers included Gloria Gaither and Luci Swindoll. Seven conferences are planned for next year. (EP)
LANGUAGE Parody parables
CapitaliZing on the success of a secular series of satirical books that recast familiar fables and fairy tales in politically correct terms, a United Methodist minister from Connecticut has created a volume of Politically Correct Parables.
In these retellings, the prodigal son is seen as the "negative-attention-getting son." The foolish bridesmaids are "cerebrally challenged bridespersons." And the parable of the vineyard workers who all receive the same pay regardless of hours worked becomes the story of "the differently waged persons. "
Robert Martin Walker, author of the book, notes that in the language of politically correctness,everyone is a victim and no one is responsible for his or her actions. (EP)
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT
A GUIDE FOR GROUP INTERACTION
SESSION 1: Humor and play in Scripture
Based on "At Play in the Word of the Lord" (page 8).
GET READY-Getting started
• Share an example of a recent enjoyable play experience.
GET SET-Examining the issues
1. Skim several chapters of Proverbs to locate verses that suggest biblical humor.
2. How does Kroeker describe the purpose and effect of play?
3. Do you agree with the following statement: "When all is well, when life goes as God intended, there is joy, fun and laughter"? Why or why not?
GO-Applying ideas to the way we live
1. Why is it important for the church to show the world how to play?
2. Does your life need more or less play? How could you move toward making the necessary changes?
3. Identify a tense relationship that could be helped by godly humor.
SESSION 2: Laughing at ourselves
Based on "Faith in the Puddle" (page 14).
GET READY-Getting started
• When is the last time you laughed so hard that you cried?
GET SET-Examining the issues
1. What do you think is the key point to each of the "Pontius' Puddle" cartoons?
2. Why is the point/message easier to accept in cartoon form than when it is stated directly?
3. How can one use humor to highlight truth without being "mean spirited"?
GO-Applying ideas to the way we live
1. What would a cartoon look like that depicted a challenge in your Christian life or your church?
2. What part, if any, should the church play in encouraging humor?
3. How would you like to mature or change in your use of humor?
4. How does humor impact your perception of life and God?
SESSION
3:
The pace of our lives "Having a Nice Trip," Ph'lip Side, page 17.
GET READY-Getting started
• What connections do you have with Nebraska?
GET SET-Examining the issues
1. What were the positive aspects of the Wiebes' road trip?
2. Look through the Gospels and identify meaningful experiences and encounters Jesus had on his II roa d trips."
3. What are the spiritual, emotional and physical consequences of not taking time to IIbe still and know that I am God ll ?
GO-Applying ideas to the way we live
1. In what ways can we as disciples of Christ help each other experience more "slowness and inefficiency" in our lives?
2. Identify specific things you could do to ensure times of slower pace andquietness if that's needed in your life.
3. Does your church life encourage IJleisurely trips to Nebraska" or is it "moving faster than a speeding computer chip/?
SESSION 4: Unity in worship
Based on the first question of Inquiring Minds, page 18
GET READY-Getting started
• Would you describe your preference of worship style as being more "traditional" or "contemporary"?
GET SET-Examining the issues
1. Review the differences represented by worshipers in the New Testament.
2. What instructions were given for dealing with those differences?
3. For what reasons do some churches have two different types of services?
4. What evidence of a "blended service" do you experience in your congregation?
GO-Applying ideas to the way we live
1. In what ways can the possibly negative "long-term implications" of separate services be avoided?
2. How would you or your discussion group define the essentials of worship?
3. Does your congregation need greater unity in worship? If so, how could that unity be nurtured?
The faith game
.NND AS I SLEPT, a vision came to me, a vision filled with shining light and the applause of an ·nvisible choir. In the very center of the brightness stood three creatures behind a single altar. Their faces shone with confidence-and with a strangely familiar countenance, I might add. As I peered more intently, I read the names that were written before them: Me, Myself and I.
Then came a voice from a near distance, a voice imbued with authority and confidence. And I looked, and there before me stood a man whose voice and countenance I did recognize, for they are familiar to all who walk the earth. I trembled with excitement, for I knew I was in the presence of greatness. And then he spoke:
"Hello, friends, I'm Alex Trebek and welcome to 'Faith in Jeopardy.'
Today's categories are Excuses, Prooftexts, Cliches and Common Sense. Me, please select the first category."
"I'll take Excuses for $100, Alex," said Me.
ing 'Faith in Jeopardy.' Choose the next category." "Thanks, Alex. Let's go with Common Sense for $100."
The host sounded forth: "Give me the correct question to this answer: He said to his followers, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. '"
I rang in first: "Who is Yogi Berra?" "Sorry."
Myself answered next: "Who is Mr. Rogers?" "Wrong."
It was up to Me: "Who is Hennie Youngman?" "That's incorrect as well," said Alex sadly. "The right answer is, Who is Jesus Christ?"
((V .I. ou seem to have
Choose the next a natural inclination
for playing llaith
category. " in]eopardy. '
The rather heavenly host read with a clear voice: "In the parable of the sheep and the goats, this response would have kept the goats out of trouble for ignoring the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked and the prisoner."
I rang in with confidence. "Alex," I said, "what is, Let's form a committee to assess the need?"
"Correct!" said the host. "You may choose the next category."
I was thrilled. "Alex, let's try Prooftexts for $200, please."
"Very well," said the host, and he read: "This verse would justify buying the family a new RV while the missions board is forced to cut its operating budget."
I rang in ahead of Myself. "Alex," I said confidently, "what is Philippians 4:19: 'And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus'?"
The host grimaced. "Close, but not quite Myself, you were next."
"Alex," said Myself, "I'd go with an Old Testament response. What is Psalm 37:4: 'Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart'?" "Correct!" the host exclaimed. "I'm impressed with Myself. You seem to have a natural inclination for play36· THE CHR 1ST IAN LEA DER
A collective groan rose from the three contestants. In the heat of competition, they had forgotten.
The host turned to Myself: "We're back to you. Choose another category, please."
"I'll try to redeem Myself with a Cliche-for $200, please."
"Here's your clue: A helpful thing a sincere Christian says when bad things happen to good people."
I surprised Myself by ringing in first. "What is, Bill Clinton is the AntiChrist?"
"Sorry," said Alex, "that's a common response, but not the one we're looking for this time. Myself, you were next."
"What is: Smile, God loves you?"
"Sorry, Myself. That's not quite right either."
It was up to Me: " " Buzzzzz.
"That correct!" said Alex. "Most Christians don't say anything helpful!"
And so it went. The competition was fierce. When it came to matters of faith, I knew every Cliche in the book and was well versed in Common Sense. Coming up with Prooftexts was no problem for Myself. And as for Me, Excuses came easily.
Then came the final round. The game was on the line. Then the rather heavenly host read the contestants their final clue: "This person is good enough, wise enough, sincere enough to save himself."
Immediately, panic crossed the faces of the contestants. They could not think of a single person. And in that moment of revelation, they smiled. They knew the game was truly won.-DR
