This summer ESPN, the television sports network, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Last week our son was reading aloud ESPN trivia facts from the back of a limited edition sports drink bottle. One of the events listed caught my attention. In 1989, ESPN provided the first live, national coverage of the San Francisco earthquake. The quake took place during the World Series and interrupted the series for 10 days. I imagine providing play-by-play coverage of that earthquake was a career first for many of the sportscasters.
There is nothing quite like a first person account. Among other things, a first person story is filled with accurate and exciting details. It grabs our attention in a way that a third person account does not. Among other topics, this issue of the Leader focuses on the stories we know best-our own stories. Norman Thiesen invites us to think about our lives as stories we share with ourselves and tell to others. He challenges us to make our stories great first person accounts of God's goodness. He reminds us that when we have a healthy view of our own stories-our own lives-we encourage others. In keeping with Thiesen's emphasis, this issue contains contemporary faithbuilding stories from three Mennonite Brethren and a meditation on the biblical story of Ruth. In the first of two articles on Christ, Pierre Gilbert reminds us that how we MBs view Jesus Christ is critical to the ongoing health and vitality of our denomination. May we be people who eagerly share first person testimonies of God's grace and who personally understand the radical message of the cross.
The news section highlights Carson MB Church of Delft, Minn., and its celebration last month of 129 years of ministry. Among MBs, this rural congregation has the reputation of calling men and women into full-time ministry and for supporting those folks and others in prayer. We also celebrate the contributions of missiologist Paul G Hiebert, report on the successful funding of Southern District Conference ministries and highlight the contributions of Mennonite Central Committee in funding "nonformal" education worldwide. An urgent prayer request from the Mennonite Church in Vietnam and a report from the DR Congo are included and highlight the way in which members of the global church support one another.
May the stories told here remind us that our stories are part of God's great salvation story. May they inspire us to share our personal stories with someone who needs to meet Jesus and with those who call him Lord. -CF
• OCT. 28-31, 2004-Central District Conference convention, Harvey, N.D.
4 Faith flight
The pilot had made this trip so many times he was confident he could fly it blindfolded. Now thanks to the snow he is flying blind. BY ELMER E. GAEDE
7 Great stories, great lives
Our lives are stories and we are their authors. So what kind of story willi tell? A story that looks forward and involves relationships with other people? More importantly, will it be a story that continues God's great story of grace and salvation? BY NORMAN THIESEN
10 Stories that heal
Although neither Carmen Pefia or Jintanaa have been healed of her disease, God has miraculously intervened in both of their lives. Their stories tell of God's faithfulness as our Great Physician. Theirs are stories that heal. 10 Rescu i ng Jintan aa by Ka ren Sa nch ez 11 Carmen Pe ii a: Love for her Master
13 Lessons from Ruth
Because of one woman's simple obedience, the entire course of biblical history was changed. Ruth's story can teach us a lot about being a world-changer BY JANICE THOMPSON
15 A change of allegiance
It is easier today to present a sanitized Christ rather than the scandalous Jesus who calls us to radical discipleship . But what we think about Christ determines the health and vitality of the church. BY PIERRE GILBERT
The solid rock
We claim that Christians find their identity in Christ Jesus. In the face of a culture that prizes self-centeredness, we must not become careless with this truth. BY WAYNE M WARNER
' lip Side by Philip Wiebe
• Normal is strange Inquiring Min ds by Marvin Hein 19
• Reflections on the Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church fire On the Journey ......... . ........ by Rose Buschman 20
• Work of faith and labor of love Chuck 's Corner by Chuck Buller 21
• Loving
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by Elm e r E • Gaede
pte tJas sun only teased 35 degrees Fahrenheit on tli iS lat October day in 1982. Carefully I crammed lum¥r-and other building supplies into the Cessna 180 parked beside my homestead hangar. My destination, 150 miles-west, would lead me across the Cook Inlet , through the Alaskan Mountain Range and to Lake Clark via the 60·mile Lake Clark Pass Although the pass was frequently plagued by treacherous weather and its floor littered by numerous accidents, I felt confident. After all, I'd flown the Alaskan mountains for over 20 years and for the past several years had navigated through this pass 12 to 15 times annually. I figured I could fly it blindfolded.
In 1955, Ruby and I had ventured up the Alean Highway with our two young daughters, Naomi and Ruth For me, medical work and missionary work seemed to go hand·in·hand, so after graduating from Kansas University Medical School, I'd expected to leave the rolling wheat fields of Kansas. Originally I'd intend· ed to be a medical missionary in South America. When there were no openings with the Mennonite Brethren mission board, I'd made a differ· ent tum : north to Alaska.
After serving with Public Health in Anchorage and the village of Tanana, we found our way to the Kenai Peninsula. I set up a medical practice with another physician and our family homesteaded outside of Sol· dotna.
Today FAA weather briefing indicated 2,000·foot broken clouds with occasional snow squalls Mountain flying was seldom perfect. I climbed into my plane and took off from the grassy airstrip.
After climbing to 5,000 feet over the inlet, I called Kenai radio.
"This is Cessna 9762 Gulf Do you have any recent pilot reports through Lake Clark Pass?"
"Cessna 62 Gulf, a Cessna 180 came through from Port Alsworth an hour ago and reported marginal conditions," crackled the reply.
A second voice entered the conversation.
"Cessna 9762 Gulf: call me on 122.9."
I changed frequencies.
"Doc, this is Jack. It was rough, but I made it. It should be improving. I'm on my way back. Do you want to fly it together?"
"Sounds good," I replied.
Like long fingers, gray clouds reached across the SOOO-foot-high Alaska Range, ready to snatch planes that dared enter its inner sanctum. When I arrived at the entrance to the pass, the
accessible ceiling of 3,500 feet mocked my indecision.
"Doc, I'm about a mile behind you," Jack called over the radio.
"I'll go ahead and give it a try," I replied, accepting the challenge.
Flying several miles into the narrow east end, I turned left. Before me, a glacier crept across the center of the pass, accompanied by snow flurries. From this summit, a river flowed away, both to the east and west. The glacier had a bad reputation. In the winter, it often produced ''whiteout'' conditions which blinded planesplanes later found crashed.
I dropped to only 1,100 feet, gaining an uncomfortably close view of the treacherous blue creases, yet able to fly on past the glacier.
Suddenly, I was blinded! Quickly I made a IS0degree tum Enveloped in the snow flurries I groped for direction. My tumand-bank indicator told me I was not level even though I felt
level. Panicking, I realized I was flying vertically alongside the mountain, mistaking it for the floor of the Pass.
"Help me," I prayed.
Reorienting myself, I flew back over the glacier, where there was partial visibility. I checked for carburetor icing and the insidious wing icing, which destroys the lift necessary to carry a plane through the air
"Jack, it's bad in there," I called over the radio "I've turned back."
"Okay; Doc, I'll punch into it and give you myopinion. I've flown it so many times that I can easily pick out landmarks ."
Even with our rotating beacons, navigation lights and landing lights, I did not see Jack pass me.
"I'm past the glacier and over the lake now," he called after a few minutes. "It's pretty bad, but I can pick out some trees on my left. I think we'll be all right. I'll guide you through. Are you still over the glacier?"
The valley was obscured and the possibility of losing my way was great. Could I trust Jack? It was true that conditions could improve. On the other hand, the pass threaded between 6,000 to 8,POO-foot mountains . But, then, I'd known Jack for over 20 years-he was a good pilot. Deciding to trust him, I answered, ''Yes, Jack, I'm still here."
"Head down the middle of the valley. Watch your compass and stay on that heading-don't turn, no matter how wrong it feels." Jack seemed to know what he was talking about. "Keep your altimeter at 1,200 feet and airspeed at 150 mph."
With no sight of Jack's plane and only a voice to folloW; I tracked down the middle of the canyon
"Jack, I'm on the east edge of the lake . I can't see across."
"Doc, you're about a half mile behind me. You'll soon see a row of spruce trees to your left just after you cross the lake Don't look ahead. Trust your instruments. Trust me."
I had almost no forward visibility; but out my side window I did see the spruce trees lined up and pointing the way.
''You should see a line of trees on your right. Follow them. In another few seconds you'll see the edge of a hill on your right. Now make a slight correction with your compass heading to the right-onlya few degrees," I clung to Jack's words
My heart pounded. The landmarks didn't look familiar Was this the right direction? Maybe I should turn to my left. How had I gotten myself into this? Silently I shouted a prayer, "Oh God, I made a mistake
to enter this valley-will you help me anyway?" I felt wedged in between the snow and the unknown
My hands, damp inside my warm winter gloves, clung to the control stick. Carefully I maneuvered the plane. One wrong move and I'd be a statistic. Time seemed suspended even though the plane fought through the choking blanket of snow at two-and a-half miles a minute. Clearing my throat and wetting my lips, I radioed Jack.
"What now, Jack? Are you picking up any ice?"
"Well, Doc, there is some, but not more than a quarter-inch on the wings and struts . You should be over the little pond on your right."
''Yes .. .1 can see about a quarter mile ahead now. What comes next?" I needed to hear his voice
"In another minute you ' ll come to a branch in the river If you follow what appears to be the river it w.ill go to the right Don't go that way-it's deceiving and leads to a dead-end Remember the Beaver plane that cracked up in there last year? Instead, look at your compass and keep going straight, over the solid stand of trees You may not see the river for half a minute, but don't worry-by the way; did you see the big bull moose below you?"
Don't worry? I wiped my forehead and strained my eyes for the river Finally it appeared.
"Doc, it's looking better ahead ." Jack 's words kept me going .
Sure enough, within a couple of minutes the snow let up and I could see ahead two miles. "We made it!" I nearly yelled as I unclenched my jaws and relaxed my grip on the stick.
The hours of anxiety dissolved into nine minutes of actual flying time-still long enough to allow for a fatal accident. I sighed a quick prayer, "Thanks, God, for flying with me in the white-darkness."
As we broke out of the canyon over Lake Clark, Jack indicated his own feelings of relief "Boy; Doc, that was worse than I've ever been through."
"I'm glad we made it," I replied . "Thanks for talking me through. "
The rest of the trip to Port Alsworth was in sharp contrast to those moments of terror. Before landing, I reflected on my relationsh ip to God. He was a constant companion who traveled through life's canyons and over life's rough waters I could trust him •
This story is adapted from Prescription for Adventure: Bush Pilot Adventure: Stories by Elmer E Gaede as told to his daughter Naomi Gaede Penner of Denver, Colo.
By Norman Thiesen
Greal slories, greallives
The story of my life is largely dete rmined by how I choose to tell it. H?w do I tell it to myself! How do I communicate it to others? What do I relate as the significant and important pieces of my life? Most important, how does my story intersect with God's story?
Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were three wishes-like in fairy-tale stories? What wo uld Yt0u ask for? What would you make different in your life? roughout my life I've played that mind game r iliou and times when day dreaming and have noticed that my wishes have changed as I have grown
older. In high school, I wished to be the star athlete. I wanted to be like Mike Gordan). In college , that wish changed to having musical talent. I wanted to be like Steve (Green). In graduate school, the wish evolved to having Significant intellectual faculties. I wanted to be like Francis (Schaeffer). When I entered ministry my wish
was to have great oratorical talent. I wanted to be like Chuck (Swindoll) Now that I have reached middle adulthood, I find my wishes have again changed significantly. I now want something much different.
Getting acquai nted
Telling your story is the basic ingredient in building a relationship or friendship. It is virtually impossible to establish a meaningful relationship with someone without storytelling occurring at multiple points in the relationship . As time unfolds and more and more of the story is told , we feel we come to "know" the other person.
Relating your life story to someone involves more than just relating facts about yourself Simply stating data and facts hardly tells anything meaningful about the real you . The story you relate would of necessity have to be a condensation of the events of your life . You cannot possibly relate everything about your life to someone else . You could only tell about certain aspects of your life. And these facts and events would need to be strung together in some meaningful way. So what you include and what you leave out of your life story and how you put it together would tell a lot about you . What is most meaningful in your life often rises to the top and that which is insignificant or peripheral remains forgotten or unspoken Ultimately, the events of your life are given meaning and Significance in how you interpret them in telling your story.
Yo u are the st oryteller
There are certain important facts about the stories
of our lives
First, we have no control over many of the givens of our story. None of us chose the times, place and family that we were born into. These become the givens of our lives. They make up the background and context of our life story. They are the unchangeables.
Second, your past does not control your life story. Without a doubt our past does have a significant influence in our lives But the past does not, in fact , have a controlling impact. Unfortunately, we have become a culture of victims, blaming virtually anything and everything negative about our present on our past. But our story is more than just what happened to us, it also incorporates our interpretation of these events. And how you interpret and what meaning you give to those events in your life is more important than the events themselves . All of us have had events in our lives for which their meaning or importance to us changed with the passage of time.
Third, you are the teller of your life story. No one can tell it for you How and what you tell determines your story. What if I ask you to tell your story as if it were a failure or a tragedy. Or I could ask you to tell your story as if you were on the verge of success. You could tell your story as if it was meaningless or you could tell it as if it had a great purpose and meaning. The "facts" of your story could be arranged to fit any of these story lines.
So the priority and Significance you grant the givens, how you arrange the facts and what meaning you give to those facts is all up to you, the storyteller. Thus the story of your life is largely determined by how you choose to tell it. First, and most importantly, is how you tell it to yourself What do you think and feel about your own story? How do you put it together in your own head? And second, how do you tell it to others? What do you relate as significant and important in your life? How do you express your story to others?
A healthy story
Stories can be evaluated on many dimensions One dimension is healthy vs unhealthy Healthy sto-
ries have certain defining characteristics.
Healthy stories are usually active stories. These stories are about people who make a sustained effort in the face of difficulties, a willingness to try and attempt. They have a "can do" attitude. Healthy stories do not wait for life passively but actively take on life. Healthy stories don't give up or check out when life gets difficult.
Healthy stories are integrated and holistic, rather than fragmented. Integrated stories make sense and are headed in a positive direction. Fragmented stories, on the other hand, seem to be leading nowhere or in a negative direction. These stories are often the result of broken lives. Interestingly, research indicates that writing about one's difficulties and traumas often proves very helpful and healing. Reflection helps the person integrate the events of his or her life into a more coherent story with meaning and purpose.
Healthy stories are also relational rather than isolationistic. Stories that incorporate meaningful personal relationships always end up healthier. James 5: 14, in fact, encourages us to tell our stories to one another and pray for one another-this leads to spiritual and psychological healing. Research has shown that people who have significant relationships experience less illness, depression and many other malaise of life.
Healthy stories are more forward looking than past focused Healthy stories anticipate and reach out to the future. Depression can to some degree be seen as someone unable to envision a positive future and obsessing about the negative past. Healthy stories are optimistic and envision a future worth living in.
Developing good stories
For a number of reasons, healthy stories seem to be less and less a part of our social landscape.
We no longer have the social and cultural structures that support healthy stories. There is no unified American experience or story any longer. Our contemporary cultural story is a preoccupation with the self and pleasure. This lack of a unifying story requires people to construct one without any basic structure. This proves too difficult for most. In fact, Americans today are 10 times more likely to experience depression than their great grandparents at the tum of the last century. And the age of onset of depression has dropped from the 20s at the tum of the 20th century to the early teens today. The loss of a unified story is one cause of this dramatic increase.
The fractured family in contemporary America causes more people to begin life with "hurtful" givens. They begin life with a fragmented development since the ingredients that make for an integrated life are missing. They have no family/clan story from which to draw mean-
ing and Significance or to which they proudly belong. They lack a solid foundation on which to build a healthy story.
With no helpful structures and the fractured families it is more difficult for young people today. They must construct their own life stories with little societal and family help. Many do not have the psychological and spiritual maturity to develop healthy stories on their own. Thus the stories they do construct are centered around the self and/or pleasure, and the self and pleasure were never meant to be the center of any meaningful story. Neither are big enough to give Significance and importance to a life.
The greatest story
The Bible is basically the story of God inviting us to participate in his great redemptive story. Many Christians know a lot about this story-the facts, history and theology-but unfortunately they never integrate his story into their story. His great story never really affects their personal story. Their self-image, attitudes, values or behaviors show little impact from participating in his great story. The great redemptive story never really becomes a core component of their own story.
When God's story is not adequately integrated into our stories we increase the likelihood of a crisis of belief when life hands us difficulties or tragedies We must find a meaningful story to attach ours to
You hold the story of your life in your hands. There may be givens to your life that you don't like. There may have been painful past events that have been incredibly hurtful. But the outcome of your story is largely determined by how you choose to tell it now.
Francis Schaeffer wrote a book a number of years ago entided No Little People. If I were to rewrite that book today I would rename it "No Insignificant Stories " There are no stories, when attached to a grander story, that are inSignificant. . At this stage of life my new desire is to tell great stories. I want to be like Paul (Harvey). Great stories inspire us to live great lives. My wish now is to help and inspire people to tell great stories All good stories have a beginning, middle and an end Those of us who are Christians will someday meet Christ. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear him say, "That was a great story of my grace and redemption! Welcome to your new story that will be full of peace and joy. The real, most exciting story of your life has just now begun!"
Norman Thiesen is a faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Ore., teaching in the counseling program.
JINTANAA WAS 15 MONTHS OLD when I first saw her, banging her head repeatedly against the bars of the crib , covered in her own filth and malnourished. She had a sore on her head , a terrible rash and rotten teeth . On the table beside her hospital bed there was nothing- no milk, no food , no diapers , no toys When I picked her up , she clung to me
I met Jintanaa while visiting my friend Naat and her son in the hospital Her son and Jintanaa were two of about 60 children in the ward I asked Naat why the other parents ignored Jintanaa The baby is HIY, said Naat , and Thais fear AIDS . HIY/AIDS is a modern day leprosy story in Thailand , she said Parents were also concerned for the care of their own children, said Naat. When you are poor being in a government hospital is a fearful thing.
WHEN ASKED TOEXPLAIN HER CREATIVE TALENTS, Carmen V Peiia of Mission, Tex., says, "I always try to do as much as I can to win souls for Christ. "
In addition to being the wife of Mennonite Brethren church planter and pastor Ricardo R. Pefla and mother to their six children, Pella is known as a poet and writer who uses her gifts to introduce people to Jesus Christ. She has written more than 150 poems, songs and programs, mosdy in Spanish, for churches where her husband served . Her talent as a poet was recognized when "The Love of My Master " was selected last summer as a semifinalist in the 2003 International library of Poetry contest. It went on to receive the Editor's Award and she was nominated for Poet of2004
Pella will be the first to tell you she has never been formally trained in the arts . In fact, she only has an eighthgrade education. "I grew up an orphan. 1 didn't have an education," she says. "My father did not believe in educating girls. I was pulled out of school when I was 11 years old to work. What I have learned in life and what I am today, God has been my teacher."
Pella credits God with her skills. ''When I want to write poems on my own, nothing comes out until 1 pray and seek
How parents behave affects their child ' s care. Even when you act "right " your child may not be treated well One time while Naat was gone , a nurse who gave her son a shot hit him for crying
As I held Jintanaa , God told me to intervene in her life I hesitated Poverty is something we see everyday in Chonburi and sometimes I feel helpless to make a difference But God insisted I humbly asked the nurses to change Jintanaa and the sheets They did so in a kind and helpful way. It was so sad The next day God told me to go and hold Jintanaa Again she was covered in diarrhea Thi s time I was angry and asked the nurses again to change her, this time more forcefully. After waiting 25 minutes , I asked again and 10 minutes later 1 handed Jintanaa to the nurse and insisted she be cleaned and bathed During her bath , God told me to use my position as a foreigner to help Jintanaa .
him. I don't give credit to myself for this talent, I give credit to my Lord because he is the one who gives me the words."
Bringing people into God's family has been a priority for Pella and her husband since they were married in 1953. Both were converted thanks to Southern District Conference home mission endeavors. Pefla served with her husband as home missionaries with the SDC and with the Latin American M B. Conference in South Texas for 38 years. The couple served MB congregations in La Joya, Chihuahua and Mission, Texas and also in Reynosa, Mexico.
Ricardo Pella was a tent-making minister most of his entire career, sometimes working both full and part-time jobs to help make ends meet at home and at church Carmen Pefla worked 35 years of her married life at the Suderman Clinic in Pharr, Tex. Founded by physicians Joe and Emery Suderman, the clinic was, according to some residents , the birthplace of a large percentage of the city's citizens . Pella began working at the clinic as a cleaning lady at age 37 Her duties shifted when the doctors called her to assist with the birth of a baby. From there she became a trained G.B. nurse, learned to be a receptionist , insurance
I first went to Dow, the hospital social worker, who was very kind but feared she would lose her job if she interfered . Then 1 wrote a letter to the head of the hospital imploring him to help Jintanaa and Dow helped me deliver it. 1 left , not knowing whether he would read it.
The next morning Naat told me that an hour after 1 left , the head of the hospital came into the children 's ward with five other administrators He lectured the head nurse and the others about Jintanaa ' s care and then went to see her himself The next day Jintanaa had milk on her table and clean clothes and sheets From then on Steph , a member of our team , and I took turns visiting Jintanaa and she started to smile a bit at us .
Meanwhile Avis Rideout , a Canadian missionary who founded an orphanage in northern Thailand for HN/AIDS children , agreed to take Jintanaa. But getting her out of the hospital seemed impossible . Dow
explained that Jintanaa ' s grandmother was required to personally sign Jintanaa out of the hospital and into my care . If she did , the hospital would tum a blind eye and 1 could take Jintanaa to Agape House Dow and I wrote a letter in Thai to the grandmother and mailed it on a Friday. We told her that if she would just come , Ricky and I would pay the fare for the 12 to 14 hour bus trip and she could sleep at our house. We prayed that weekend for a miracle . Monday the grandmother called our house She said she wouldn ' t come unless we paid her $6 ,000 Baht ($150) , much more than the cost of a $300 Baht ($8) bus ticket . It felt like it was all slipping away, but God as s ured me he would open a way At the end of the week a Thai pastor from Chonburi agreed to call the grandmother. Pastor Boo is a very straightforward man , and he simply told the grandmother that Jintanaa had an opportunity for a great
claim clerk and also to do the payroll. With the blessing of the two Christian physicians for whom she worked, Pefla used her position at the clinic to witness to the patients. Using poetry and a sense of humor, she tried to catch the attention of those who crossed her path.
"I always give a comment, anything that will break the ice and make them a friend," Pefla says. Her commitment to sharing Jesus with others is one reason Pefla put off retiring. "I wanted to present Christ to everyone 1 came in contact with," says Pefla. "I'd talk to them about the Lord. That's what 1 wanted most of all As long as God gives me breath, 1 will continue to share the Gospel to everyone 1 meet, no matter where the Lord puts me, whether it be at a hospital, an elevator or even a store."
At age 72, she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment. The illness forced an early retirement from the Suderman Clinic, just a few months before it closed, and introduced Pefla to Dolly Litman, a cancer doctor. Pefla witnessed and shared "The Love of My Master" with Litman who then submitted the poem to the international contest.
Since her retirement just over a year ago, Pefla has been busy cataloging the poems she has written in hopes of compiling them into a book. "I had this talent all my life. Before 1 die 1 have to do something about it because 1 will have to give account to the Lord someday for the gift he gave me," says Pefla.
-by Connie Faber with reports from The McAllen Monitor newspaper andJesseJ Medina ofPharr
life That she needed to take responsibility for this child and come right away. He said he would see her Tuesday at 10 a.m We prayed all weekend
Tuesday morning Pastor Boo called to say the grandmother was at the hospital and that he would go with us to see her That morning was an emotional roller coaster. The grandmother had a government official from Bangkok with her who seemed angry and suspicious. For two hours we processed paperwork. One minute it looked like Jintanaa could go to Agape House, the next minute there would be some important paper missing and it seemed like there was no chance Ricky and 1 said little and instead interceded for Jintanaa As we prayed , we watched the government man slowly soften . Dow kept adding papers to the manila envelope that held Jin -
The Love of my Master
When I was in sin, condemned and despised, I heard of a man that was loving and wise. He could pay my penalty with his blood's sacrifice, He bought a bondservant by payingfull price.
The love of the Master was seen in his face, I accepted his love and his marvelous grace.
Tenderness in his arms and a loving embrace Reassured me of his love, now I give him praise.
My great love for him, my heart could not stand, Enjoying the peace, made me serve this man. He gave me a home and I'm in his hands, Saved me from bondage, wrote my name in his plan.
I give him my time, while he leads the way, I love myJesus and I praise him all day.
The closer we walk, less danger to stray, When I get to heaven he'll welcome my stay.
I serve my Master, reverence for him I bold, For the Lamb of God as a sacrifice behold. His blood cleansed my heart and I was made whole, He is not only my Redeemer but the lover of my soul.
tanaa ' s birth certificate Finally she handed me the envelope and said , "All finished ." 1 was speechless. Before we left the hospital with Jintanaa , her doctor went over her medical history and medications. Avis had warned me to have all the papers in order before takingJintanaa because there was the possibility she could die during our trip 1 had thought that was an unnecessary precaution , but as I read Jintanaa ' s history it was clear that Avi s knew exactly what we were dealing with Since Jintanaa was so ill , we decided to drive to Bangkok and then take the one-hour flight to Chiang Mai. When Avis met us at the airport 1 just wanted to sit and cry as Avis immediately took Jintanaa and began trying to make her laugh. The 43 kids at the home call Avis "mother" in Thai. As 1 saw her interact with Jintanaa and the other chil-
dren , I saw why. Jintanaa had a great sleep at Agape House and laughed for the first time since I met her. She inhaled bottle after bottle of milk and seemed to gain weight before my eyes. After a teary goodbye , we flew home.
This was one of those experiences that change your life You know the kind-God speaks , you hear and things happen It 's a story that has so many miraculous details that telling it could fill a book. Every time 1 share it , 1 am again amazed at God 's love for people and his power Please pray with Ricky and me that we will know how to integrate this experience into our ministry here in Thailand .•
Karen Hurbert-Sanchez and her husband Ricky Sanchez are MBMSInternational missionaries in Thailand with Team 2 000
Carmen V. Pefia
By
Janice Thompson
Jgssons
From the lineage of a Moabitess comes the Savior of the world. ..
I have loved the story of Ruth ever since I came to know Christ as my redeemer and friend. This beautiful story propels me unlike any other in the Bible-in part btcause I am a woman and in part because I understand so clearly how terrified young Ruth must have been as she followed Naomi into a new life, new culture and new religion
Just to recap, the story begins with a famine in the land of Judah. Out of fear and practicality, Elimelech takes his wife and sons and leaves Judah, opting to move to the land of Moab. Never mind the fact that God had strictly forbidden this. I'm sure Elimelech felt he was making an educated move and didn't take the time to think of the spiritual implications. While in Moab, he dies as do his sons. This leaves Naomi and daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth facing a terrible dilemma-stay put or return to Judah.
Naomi, now a bitter woman, chooses to return to Bethlehem in Judah and encourages her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab. However Ruth is not swayed. She speaks the words that have been quoted over the years: "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me" (Ruth 1:16-17).
Naomi realizes the level of Ruth's commitment and the two of them travel to Judah. When they arrive, the women who had known Naomi from years gone by hardly recognize her The pain of the years in Moab must have
been clearly etched upon her face. When they call her "Naomi" she cries out, "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter" (1:20).
Naomi and Ruth's return coincides with the beginning of barley harvest. They have no source of income and no one to look after them . Out of practicality, Naomi sends Ruth to glean the fields of a near-kinsman, Boaz . Ruth goes willingly and works hard. There, in the fields, she finds favor in the sight of this kind-hearted man.
Now Naomi instructs Ruth to go to Boaz in the night while he sleeps on the threshing floor. She shall uncover his feet, lie down and wait until he awakes. Imagine how frightened Ruth must have been. But she never wavers She goes to the threshing floor, finds Boaz asleep and does what Naomi instructs. When Boaz awakes, he is quite startled to find this young woman at his feet. Ruth qUickly puts him at ease with her words, "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer" (3:9).
His response? "The LORD bless you, my daughter," he replies. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character" (3:10-11).
Boaz qUickly goes and settles the matter with the man who has a "nearer" claim. When all is said and done, Boaz takes Ruth as his wife and cares for her-and Naomi-for the rest of their days Because of her faithfulness, God blesses Ruth with a son named abed, who in
turn fathers a son named Jesse, who then fathers David Had Ruth not followed Naomi back to Judah, she would never have made it into the lineage of David and ultimately into the lineage of Christ . Because of her love and dedication to Naomi, her name is written among so many others at the beginning of the gospels-a tribute to all who played a role in the heritage of the Savior.
There are so many lessons to be learned from the story of Ruth. Each time I read through it, I learn more. Here are just a few of the messages the Lord has shown me through this beautifully illustrated tale of love, grace and legacy:
Don't fear times of famine. Trust God to provide and don't look for ways to fix things yourself Had Elimelech trusted God, he would never have left Judah in the first place.
Stay out of Moab. God dearly instructs the children of Israel to have nothing to do with the Moabites and even commands them not to seek their peace or prosperity.
If you do find yourself in Moab, don't linger there. If you find yourself in Moab-symbolic of the worlddon't linger. Be ready to make an abrupt turn back to the will of God.
Those who see God in us will be drawn to us. Just as Ruth was drawn to Naomi, people in the world will be drawn to us if we reflect the light of Christ in our lives.
Be willing to take a leap of faith like Ruth did . You never know where that leap might take you. When Ruth and Naomi set out for Bethlehem, the eventual birth place of the Messiah, Ruth had no idea her journey would place her into the history books!
Don't give up on people when life doesn't go like you expect. "Whither thou goest " became Ruth's motto. She dung to Naomi, in good times and in bad.
Return to Judah. Don't be afraid to do a 180 and head back to God.
Leave your bitterness, broken hearts and skeletons behind Upon returning to Judah, Naomi refuses to be called by her real name. Instead, she instructs the women to call her "Mara" (meaning bitter) because the Lord had dealt bitterly with her. Unlike Naomi, we should let go of all bitterness when we turn to the Lord, for He is gracious enough to offer us new beginnings. Unfortunately, Naomi also had to leave behind the bones of her husband and both sons. Pretty high sacrifice for going to a land they should never have gone to. When you return to Christ after spending time in Moab , remember to leave your broken heart and any skeletons behind.
Like Ruth, be ready to work even harder when times are tough. Don't give up. This dedicated young woman went to work in the fields, never complaining about the workload. Her work paid off when Boaz entered the picture.
Boaz encouraged Ruth in her task by making sure she was "exceptionally blessed." Boaz went above and beyond the call of duty, just as Christ does when we turn to Him He makes provision for us and protects us at every turn
We can ' t be afraid to approach our kinsmanredeemer. Though she was a Moabitess, Ruth approached her kinsman-redeemer and lay at his feet. There , she found her answers. In the same way, we are instructed by the scriptures to approach the throne of God boldly. He's waiting on us to make a move in His direction.
Our redeemer covers us and purchased us. Ruth asked Boaz to "cover" her with the hem of his garment, which he willingly did. She was saying, "I belong to you " In the same way, we lay ourselves down at the feet of Jesus, and He covers us. Just as Boaz redeemed Ruth, so has Christ redeemed us. He has set us free from the curse of sin and death and has "bOUght us back" with his sacrifice on Calvary.
We are the bride of the redeemer. Just as Ruth became the wife of Boaz, we become the bride of Christ when we enter into relationship with him. Because of this relationship, we join a royal lineage and leave behind an amazing legacy.
Moabites can come to the Lord and can change the course of history. We must be effective witnesses because many that are now in the world could come to know the Lord through our example and go on to do great things for the Kingdom of God
Imagine what might have happened if Ruth had chosen to stay in Moab and not travel with Naomi to Bethlehem. Instead , she followed her heart and it led to the arms of a man who could offer her new life. Because of one woman's simple obedience, the entire course of biblical history was changed.
Like Ruth, we can be world-changers, but we must start by running to the throne of Jesus, our kinsmanredeemer. Don ' t wait a moment longer. He longs to cover you today.
For your Maker is your husband-the Lord Almighty is his name-the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth" (Isa. 54:5) •
Janice Thompson is a freelance writer from the Houston area This spring she led a Bible study on the book of Ruth and used that material to develop this article.
By Pierre
Who is this Christ we claim to follow?
o Chris t? This question, which h as bee n on the back burner for some time, is making a . comeback, particularly as a result of Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ Whether one likes the movie or agrees with its reconstruction ofJesus' final hours, the fact remains that this movie,
more than anything else in recent history, has put the issue of who Jesus Christ is back in the public sphere.
The Christology question has always been, and still represents, a watershed issue for the church . What we believe about Jesus Christ tends to determine the health and vitality of the church. The reason is remarkably simple Fundamentally the church of Christ is composed of those men and women who have recognized their desperate natural condition as human beings, have chosen to believe in the living Christ as the answer for their need and have been transformed by his power.
The church is an organism brought together and maintained by the supernatural action of the Holy Spirit. Without a clear recognition and affirmation of these truths, churches will inexorably dwindle into mere human institutions or to put it mildly, religious social clubs. These "social clubs" are only viable to the extent that they appeal to a broad spectrum of people and fulfill some sort of social function in the community Needless to say; in an increasingly secular and pluralistic society; religious clubs will not do well
The tragic demise of the mainline churches in Canada and the u.S. is a prime example of what happens when a religiOUS intellectual elite opts for and actively promotes an understanding of Christ and of the Christian faith that strips it of its vertical dimension and its absolute claims on what constitutes ultimate reality. Although church historians often define the issues that were at stake during the fundamentalist liberal controversy in the early 20s in terms of the conflict between those who promoted caring for the person, the so-called social Gospel, and those who were described as caring only for the soul, essentially the debate really centered on the nature of Christ. Rudolph Bultmann, one of the great 20th century New Testament scholars, focused the matter when he proposed demytholOgizing the New Testament
and gave us a Gospel devoid of all supernatural elements and a Christ, drained of his deity.
To think that we are somehow immunized against this threat is a delusion . The kind of Christ we hold on to and preach will, above and beyond any other issue, ultimately determine the fate of our churches in the coming generation Not only will evangelicals have to face the challenge of maintaining and communicating a sound view of Jesus Christ in an increasingly secular and pluralistic society that has little stomach for religious absolutes, even Mennonites will have to answer the question of what is most central about the person of Jesus Christ.
Right now, I am willing to wager that the debate will probably reveal itself in our definition of sin and missions. If sin, as is often the case in Anabaptist circles, is reduced to the construct: violence/use of force /conflict and nothing more, then it follows that redemption will be defined in terms of conflict resolution and social peace. In such a case, then Christ will ultimately be presented not as the person who demands a change of allegiance but primarily as a peacemaker. In such a model, Christ logically becomes no more than a glorified Gandhi.
Not too long ago I had a conversation with Gordon Nickel a graduate of MB Biblical Seminary and a former Mennonite Brethren missionary who teaches missions at the ACTS seminary consortium in Langley, B.c. Nickel participated last October in an Anabaptist consultation on Islam. His comments were very interesting in terms of getting a picture of where Mennonites are on missions and the nature of Christ.
Nickel observed that Mennonites are divided into two groups in regards to what it means to do missions. On the one hand, there are some who say that the missionary enterprise is essentially a dialogue exercise designed to help those with whom we interact discover the Gospel of peace in their own culture They reason that peaceful co-existence and "reconciliation" are the most important needs of humanity. They suggest that this can be achieved by somehow showing that aU religions have a peace teaching and by trying to coax it out. As Nickel pointed out to me, this approach is often condescending and paternalistic since not all religions encompass peace as a basic value
Those on the other side of the divide state that, while dialogue is certainly an intrinsic part of the missionary enterprise, ultimately the missionary's most basic task is to present the person of Christ as the answer to human sin . In this case, the fundamental mandate is not simply to help someone discover those peace elements that might be compatible with the Gospel. The central focus
of the proclamation of the Gospel is a call to help men and women recognize their desperate condition without Christ and to tum to him for personal redemption . While I do not deny the importance of engaging in meaningful and sensitive dialogue, evangelism cannot be reduced to interfaith dialogue; that would be confuSing strategy and substance, approach and objective. Whereas dialogue and cultural sensitivity must be intrinsic to the communication of the Gospel, the missionary enterprise will always entail a call to commit oneself to the person ofJesus Christ. It will always call for a change of allegiance! This is the scandal of the cross.
Unfortunately, whether we like to admit it or not, we don't all see it this way. In this day and age it is too often much easier and more socially acceptable to present a sanitized Christ, a politically correct Jesus, who by his example will teach us to get along with one another.
A missionary enterprise that is essentially reduced to showing others how good and virtuous we are as human beings, in the hope that those who see us will be impressed by our goodness and move away from their violent ways, is ultimately a powerless and futile enterprise. I know from experience that friendly dialogue will never, in and of itself; truly displace hatred. As a French Canadian teenager who took great delight in hating the "English," as I used to call them, it took more than exhortations of tolerance to change my heart Only a radical conversion to the person of Jesus Christ could and did accomplish that.
Violence is certainly a tragic expression of human sin, and as a peaceful church we must seek to promote peace and reconciliation wherever we can. However this is not the whole story. There is more to sin than violence and social conflict, and there is much more to redemption than conflict resolution. Sin is a terminal cancer that is rooted in the deepest recesses of the human soul. The only cure for that terrible ailment is redemption in Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this is the only true source of reconciliation with God, the only source of real peace. Anything else is nothing short of offering sugar pills to a dying man.
Gordon Nickel says, "I certainly don't need to choose between peace and Christ. But I need to choose between a peace that is independent of Jesus and a peace which comes only from his shed blood." •
Pierre Gilbert is associate professor of Old Testament studies at MB Biblical Seminary's Winnipeg campus If you'd like to dialogue with Pierre on this topic, e-mail him at pgilbert @cmu.ca.
By Wayne M. Warner
The solid rock
We Mennonite Brethren have long claimed that Christians find their identity in Christ jesus. In the face of a culture that prizes self-centeredness, we must not become careless with this truth. ·..
A GROUP OF 19TH CENTURY RUSSIAN
Christians found spiritual r e newal under the charismatic personality and fiery preaching of Edwuard Wuest. Although he died before his fledgling revival could coalesce into a strong body, this Lutheran Pietist united a spiritual liberation movement Derisively called "brethren " by some and "saints " by others , these believers formed a house movement and eventually brought a vigorous heritage of reformation Christianity to North America , practiced from Reformation days until today. They combined a vision of reforma· tion with the believing-community vision of Menno Simons and the pietistic devo · tion of Wuest's personal discipleship . Focusing on Jesus as the revealed truth , they emphasized purity of lifestyle , lifting up the unity of loving believers more than their doctrinal specifics .
These Mennonite Brethren found that Jesus revealed the truth about the Bible, mankind and judgment, and they believed he proved his truthfulness through his death and resurrection . Approved by God and revealed in Scripture, Jesus became the yardstick of truth and their resurrected Lord.
Paul told Titus that God broUght his word to light through the preaching God entrusted to him "by the command of God our Savior." He identified himSelf as both a servant of God and an apostle of ) 6SUS, and identified Titus as a true spiritual son in "our common faith" (Titus 1:3-4).
Contrary to the self-centeredness of the current secular society, our relationship with Christ identifies u s as believe rs and integrates u s into the fagilly of God. J t makes us brothers , Sisters, so and
daughters- part of the family of God It deepens our affections for one another, improves our character, enhances our personalities , deepens our relationships and solidifies our hopes
When we fail to recognize our mutual responsibilities , Christ encourages us to stand firm and share this truth As believers , we are to study this Word rather than waiting to be spoon -fed We are to take courage in sharing Christ and confidently grow more consistent as we live by his word We are responsible to understand and practice this truth , being as responsible for delivering this entrusted truth as does the mailman when we drop a letter in the local mailbox ,
A preacher 's wife asked her husbaqd to stop on his way home and pick up the box of cookies she had ordered The preacher had never met the cookie-lad 0 she asked if he was the preacher.
"Yes , I am ," he res ponded.
"I know; " she said , adding that she listened to his sermons weekly on the ra io and compliine ntiJl.g him for preaching the truth without fear or favor. He became so e ngrossed ," n the conversation that he failed to-no tice the $1 2.50 marked on the box and left without paying.
Calling back later, he apologized and admitted he forgot to pay her. That 's all right, she said. "I've heard you preach en6ugh that I kne w you 'd call back."
The world has listened to us long enough to know whether or not to expec us to call back.
Unfortunately, it is all too e asy to b ecome careless with the truth that w e have. Bob Russell tells of a group of sol-
diers camping near a farmhouse one cold night during the American Revolutionary War The commanding officer saw a rail fence nearby but wanted to keep the farmer 's good will , although he knew they needed firewood . After some though , h e agreed that his men could take only the top rung of the fence. When he awoke e following morning, however, the fence .had completely - disappeared Yet , not one soldier had disobeyed th tiJ command as eacti man had carefully removed only the top rung. ill similar circumsta ces , we balance our different perspectives being s ure to lose no more than the top ng of the fence. Neve rtheless , later on a lot of fence shows up missing.
When dward Mote (1 797-1874) read the go pel of Matthew; he learned that everyone who hears <l:hrisfs words and puts them into practice becomes like the wise man that builds his house on the solid rock (7:24). Pursuing that thought, Mote penned this personal declaration: My hope is built on othing less ThanJesus' blood and righteou sn ess: I dare not trust the sweetest frame, ut wholly..lean on Jesus' name 9n Christ, the solid rock, I stand ; All other ground is sinking sand other ground is sinking sand. Jesus., as revealed trutH, brings purpose to life. Our challenge is to stand firm in him. To preach his truth ractice his fellowship lovingly and live a godl¥ life b3Sed upon ou lt etemal hope. All else becomes sinKing saq"d.•
M. Warner is a freelance writer from Battle Creek, Mich.
BY PHILIP WIEBE
Normal is strange
I always thought I had a pretty good sense of what was nonnal and what was strange, but lately I have been wondering I've been seeing all kinds of things that make me think nonnal has become strange, and strange has become nonnal.
Nonnal: Employees dress with the professionalism necessary for a working environment, and students dress with basic decency suitable to a learning atmosphere.
Strange: Employees and students wear revealing attire more suited to the beach or a nightclub.
Silly me . Apparently showing skin has become normal and showing respect has become strange. I read an article reporting that a Russian regional government was trying to crack down on the wearing of miniskirts and other provocative fashions in their offices. That made sense to me, but wouldn't you know it, the effort met with sneers and criticism. Some woman who would have been affected even feigned-expressed-shock that their show of flesh could distract male colleagues. Presumably these women said this right before they rushed out to the club to catch the eyes of eligible bachelors.
In a similar article, I saw that a high school in my state was initiating a stricter dress code to halt the continued shrinkage of clothing that appeared (or rather disappeared) on student bodies. Again, affected female students claimed ignorance. You mean our jeans down to there and tops up to here might bring us an unusual amount of attention from the male students around us? We never thought of that!
It all seems strange to me, but I guess it's become normal. Fortunately, I read another piece recently that shouted "Skin is out , modesty is in!" It appears students are starting to revolt against revealing
attire, prompting the fashion moguls to come up with more modest clothing lines. That is a relie£ And we all know, given the longevity of cultural trends, that the modesty fad could last at least six or seven months.
Nonnal: Teenagers are encouraged to pursue healthy friendships with the opposite sex through group dating, fun activities and safe places to gather.
Strange : Teens get wrapped up in unhealthy relationships that involve sexual activity, drinking and drugs, and they gather in places that encourage such activities
Most people would probably say it should be nonnal for youth to participate in honorable relationships and activities, but I keep seeing signs that this has become unusual rather than the nonn. For instance, our newspaper carried an article about a local teen club that is nonalcoholic. The club allows no suggestive dancing and plays music with clean lyrics. While the newspaper piece was supportive of the club, it gave the distinct impression this gathering place was odd and oldfashioned Again, something you would think would be considered nonnal has now become strange by the current cultural standards And teen activities that used to seem strange and shocking have now become the nonn.
Nonnal: Young men present themselves as pleasing and attractive to young women by cultivating courteousness, intelligence and the pursuit of praiseworthy goals .
Strange: In an attempt to attract young women, young men start a rumor that they are planning to carry out a killing spree at their school.
"We were making it up to impress girls" was actually the defense of two male students who were arrested when their alleged scheme was discovered It is the
ultimate strangeness, in my mind, that boys would think their proposed intentions to kill could be attractive to girls But is it really so hard to believe these days? All over the media-in movies, music, television, sports-rebels and wrongdoers have been raised as the new heroes. Another strange thing that now is nonnal
Nonnal : Every Christian is a disciple of Jesus, following him closely and continuing to grow in Christlike character and habits.
Strange: Churchgoers treat their faith as just another compartment in their lives, and a very small compartment at that.
I find it interesting that discipleship is being touted as the "new thing" in various church realms. Because of course it isn't new. After his resurrection Jesus spoke the Great Commission to his followers, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).
Yet in recent years discipleship has been relegated to part of the church ministry, rather than all of it. It's for the supercommitted and those who really want to grow in their faith As if one can be a true believer without being supercommitted and really wanting to grow in one's faith . Jesus said, who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matt 10 :37). Ouch. We could add many other loves of this world that threaten to dominate our priorities.
The current spiritual atmosphere allows that Christians can give leftover time and energy, if any, to the body of Christ, and can tune into God ' s will, if they feel like it, at their convenience. If this is the case, then biblically speaking what should be nonnal has indeed become strange, and what once was considered strange has truly become normal.
INQUIRING MINDS
BY MARVIN HEIN
Questions about faith Be life
Reflections on the Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church fire
QAfter serving the Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church congregation for more than two decades, w hat were your feelings when you learned t he facilities had burned to the ground? (Everywhere)
AThis question , in one fonn or another, was asked everywhere I met people after March 7 The question came from people I knew very well and from some I had never met. One kind response originated in Phoenix, Ariz ., from a person I do not know but who, upon learning the news of the fire , associated me with Hillsboro and sent an e-mail message Another message came from Minneapolis, Minn ., where a fonner Tabor College student who had never become very involved in the church wrote: "I thought of you often this week as I read newspaper accounts of the Hillsboro church fire. Although you have been long gone, you put as much as anyone into that church, and it must have hit you hard. "
Yes, the impact was considerable. After returning from an afternoon viewing of "The Passion of the Christ" and then leading a small group Bible study, my wife and I certainly were not prepared for what we would learn when we walked into our home Seventeen messages awaited us on our telephone answering machine. Hillsboro friends, along with Fresno friends who had heard the news, all gave the same shocking message: "The Hillsboro church has burned!"
We stood in our kitchen dumb-
founded. It was unbelievable. Not just some of the buildings , but the whole thing? Soon we were infonned that photos were available on the Internet Viewing the graphic display of fire and ruins was more than enough to bring reality to our minds . In those first hours, what were my thoughts?
I thought about the 1,500 sennons I had preached from behind that massive pulpit that some disliked but I loved. I thOUght about the 400 or so baptisms I had conducted in that now destroyed baptistery. I thOUght about the 300 weddings it was my pleasure to perfonn there-and 300 funerals. I thOUght about the huge, cumbersome communion table and the pipe organ I had been instrumental in placing into the sanctuary and which so often had thrilled my soul. I recalled the funeral service at which I preached just months before the fire I thOUght about the day I helped nail the last huge cedar decking beam of the roof on the east end of the sanctuary-ve ry near the place where the fire appare ntly began. I thOUght about the pains and anguish of hundreds of people who still live in Hillsboro and feel the loss perhaps more keenly than I do .
As the night wore on and I lay in bed , unable to sleep comfortably as a variety of thoughts floated through my mind, I had questions Was the entire library of books destroyed? Were there records in the office that had been rescued? Was the insurance on the buildings updated? Did the priceless woodcarvings by Jonah Kliewer survive the fire?
I've had many thoughts since. As Pas-
Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue? E-mail Marvin at mheinl @fresno .edu or send your question to "Inquiring Minds, " c/o Marvin Hein, 3036 East Magill Avenue, Fresno, CA 93710
tor Bruce Porter told the congregation the next Sunday, "The building burned, but we're still here-and so is God " My thoughts? The people I baptized are not "un-baptized." The couples I married are not "un-United." The sennons I preached did not bum, but still linger and bum like live embers in some people's hearts. The courage of the people and the will to rebuild did not go up in smoke As valuable as were the pipe organ and the library books and the kitchen contents , nothing really important burned!
Some things are indestructible. A simple but amazing experience recently reminded me of that. While the rubble and remains of the buildings were being hauled away (700 truckloads, I understand) a ne ighbor across the street found two letters that had floated onto he r lawn. She sent them to me. One was addressed to fonner Pastor Waldo Hiebert and the other to me. They were both from Mrs . Herb Hodel of Peabody, Kan. One was written in 1967 and th e other in 1971 Where had they been? How did they survive? And why did I leave a box of personal cancelled checks (1961ff.) in the vault that was rescued?
More important things than two le tters and several hundred cancelled checks survived. Memories! Thousands of them! All sorts and sizes! Recently I received an UPS parcel containing a small Texas limestone rock, retrieved from the front of the sanctuary. On its edge a good friend had carved in large letters "HEIN." That stone is worthless to almost anyone else in the world. It is precious to mebecause it will tell me over and over again that the fire didn ' t destroy the things that are important. The fire cannot destroy the good memories of 24 years of service .
BY ROSE BUSCHMAN
Work of faith and labor of love
Providing housing is one way we help the poor in our communities
I RECENTLY SPENT AN EVENING
with Juana who is a Habitat for Humanity homeowner in our city. She exemplifies what is good, exciting and wonderful about the program.
Juana took me into her backyard and showed me all the plants, flowers and trees growing there. I was amazed at what she had accomplished in the year-and-ahalf that she has lived there. I remembered how my husband was part of a volunteer crew from the local horticulture club that spent one Saturday helping her with the layout and design of her yard. She told me how she had found some small perennial plants at a local discount store that were now two feet high. Some of the fast growing trees at the back of her lot are already 10 feet high and will provide welcome shade from the late afternoon summer sun. Juana said a neighbor recently marveled at what she had accomplished in her short time there and said it was more than he had done in 13 years on his property nearby. As we walked around, I too was impressed with what her hard work had produced. When she stooped to pick two zucchini squash from plants innocently sandwiched among more exotic species, I laughed. Nearby the grapes, salvaged in spite of the construction, showed many clusters, getting ready for a nice juicy harvest in a month's time.
Juana hugged me and said, "I never dreamed I would have such a nice house and a yard where I can grow flowers and grapes. I feel so special."
''You feel like a queen, don't you?" I asked.
''Yes, oh yes," she beamed.
I told her I could identify with that feeling . I remembered what it was like to move into my first home It had approximately 1,000 square feet with an attached carport and laundry room. We had very
--. --_.
little furniture but I found a garage sale where I bought several pieces, including a washer and a dryer. After many years of using a commercial laundromat I was finally able do my laundry at home. I felt like a queen. Now I shared Juana's excitement.
Our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity worked with Juana to design and build her modest home. Half of the main floor is divided between a living room and dine-in kitchen. The other half has two bedrooms and a bathroom with a laundry. Since we are in the Kansas tornado belt, we have permission to build our houses with basements for safety reasons-Habitat for Humanity does not normally encourage basements . Because of the size of her family, we finished out two bedrooms and a bathroom in the basement.
Her country kitchen is light and airy, with white cabinets and new matching appliances. The Whirlpool Corporation donated the matching refrigerator and gas range. It is not a fancy house, but it is nice. As we stood in her kitchen, she hugged me again and said, "I never dreamed I would have such a nice house. Never. Never "
When I think of where she was living before I am so thankful that now she has her new home. The small mobile home was dilapidated with sagging floors and ceilings. Consequently some of the doors and windows did not close properly, causing unpleasant drafts in the winter time. It was not air conditioned, so you can imagine the stifling heat during frequent tOO-pIus summer days. The furnace had a hole in its side which made for dangerous operation when in use. Conditions were extremely crowded for the six people living in that single-wide mobile home . Neighborhood safety is also much improved in her new location.
Juana comes out of an abusive, volatile marriage and is now a single mom with five of her seven children still living at home. She works as a custodian at a local church and speaks limited English. Because of her personal circumstances she would never be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage Under the Habitat for Humanity no-interest-mortgage plan we were able to set up a monthly payment, including taxes and insurance, that she can afford.
Research shows that children who move into decent and affordable housing do better in school and are less frequently known to local police officers. Their self-esteem is improved and they are no longer embarrassed to invite friends over to their house. They have the security of knOwing they have a save place to sleep and often even have their own room. They no longer have to sleep on a mattress in a living room somewhere or move from place to place during the week.
The Bible has numerous references outlining our responsibility as Christians to help the poor. Juana is an excellent example of why I'm involved with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. I'm not a builder, but I sometimes paint and/or clean up the mess left by the construction crews I also do some of the paper work necessary to keep the organization going and help with our chapter's fundraising activities.
You, too, can share this blessing. Your community may have an organization such as Habitat for Humanity or Mennonite Housing that helps provide decent housing for the poor. Get involved. The Apostle Paul calls this "a work of faith and a labor of love" (I Thess. 1:3 NAS) Furthermore,Jesus said when we do things like this we are doing them for him (Matt. 25:40)
CHUCK'S CORNER
BY CHUCK BULLER U.S CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Loving the Lord of the work
Why doing the Lord's work is easier than loving the ___
Ibis message was delivered Saturday, July 24 2004, at the final service of the 2004 U.S. Conference convention.
Now and then I think of something unique. We preachers are scavengers at heart borrOwing, re-quoting and paraphrasing to make our points week after week after week Four years ago, in a final sermon at my church, I said that one of the factors contributing to my decision to take a break from pastoral ministry was my feeling that I had grown to "love the work of the Lord, more than the Lord of the work" A great line, I thought, and true! Being a "professional Christian" often contains the peril of forfeiting one's soul as you seek to reach others. You can imagine my surprise then, when I was sitting at the Canadian MB Conference convention last weekend and a guest speaker used exactly the same phrase! It dawned on me that while it wasn't an original thought after all, it was no less true.
The reality is that loving to do the Lord's work is in some ways the easier of the two options. First of all, it's less mysterious. Whether it involves sitting at a board meeting, taking a casserole to a sick neighbor or writing out a check for a ministry, there is something satisfyingly simple about doing the Lord's work Maybe that is why no fewer than six times in Romans 16 the apostle Paul commends people who ''worked hard in the Lord" (or some variation of that phrase). Jesus modeled for us that being a ''working servant" has the kingdom brand stamped all over it.
Second, doing the Lord's work allows for changing seasons of spiritual Vibrancy. Even when prayer seems elusive or our spiritual fires seem to grow
dim, we can always love someone on behalf of Jesus and suddenly feel refreshed. Third, it is quantifiable. When MCC hosts their annual sale each spring in Central California there is an actual dollar amount raised to help meet the needs of people. Something about quantifying spiritual success just feels good. It's often the reason pastors seem happier when the attendance at church goes up. For all these reasons and more it is remarkably easy to serve God, do the work of a church or denomination, build the kingdom and not do the one thing that God requires, which is to "love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength."
We do well to remember that for all the decisions made this weekend, for the ministry we initiated and for the direction set, we are invited to place in front of that activity a simple command by Jesus to love God and neighbor as self. I think the reason this is difficult is equally simple. Loving God is mysterious. It's so comprehensive. Jesus said this love should engage our heart, our mind, our soul, even requiring all of our strength. Somehow the spiritual disciplines have the same feel as the requirements for going on a diet. And many of us can attest to how successful we have been at that!
There also seems to be so many opinions about how to love God. In our current culture we too easily exchange the notion of worshipping God with loving him. Rom. 12:1-2 defines worship as the spiritual sacrifice of our whole being. Which is precisely why it is just plain easier to serve on a board or committee Last but not least, it requires a sizeable leap of faith. Hebrews 11 tells us that it is
impossible to please God without faith. I assume that pleasing God and loving God are related. I also accept the Hebrews definition of faith as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see " Which pretty much confirms what I have been saying here. Loving God is difficult and yet required for learning to live in God's favor.
Recently, I was reading about Mennonite history from P.M. Friesens' classic Ibe Mennonite Brotherhood in Russia It dawned on me that the earliest expressions of the Mennonite Brethren church found an almost perfect blend of loving our Lord and loving to do our Lord's work And how God blessed this faithfulness. From a handful of new house churches on the plains of the Ukraine, which met for worship, baptized upon confession of faith and committed anew to holy living sprang a missionary movement. A movement that has resulted today, some 140 years later, in a church in India of 100,000 MBs, another 100,000 in the Congo and thousands of other MBs in North and South America, including you and me.
So I have committed myself to this theme for the U.S. Mennonite Brethren church for this biennium I want to emulate our spiritual forebear's and love the Lord while I love doing his work It will not be easy. At times we will mistake activity for spirituality and spirituality for godly action. But the command seems non-negotiable and so rewarding to those who accept the assignment. I want to be part of a denomination that knows God's blessings in the future as he has blessed us in the past. And so I am committed to this challenge. Will you join me?
Thank you, Henry Schmidt
In the May 2004 issue, Marvin Hein addresses questions concerning Mennonite Brethren and their peace witness (Inquiring Minds). We ciated his candid answers to the questions raised It's true that the peace position is not presently taught in our churches to the extent that it was in earlier periods of our church history. During times of heightened military conquests, as is the case presently in Iraq, the issue is addressed even less for all the reasons stated by Marvin Hein.
We applaud the courage of our past seminary president, Henry Schmidt, in addreSSing the issue of how our churches should respond following the attack on America. His advice, although not heeded by our government, was sound teaching fromJesus' Sermon on the Mount. The warning that violence begets violence is vindicated in news from Iraq nearly every day. Sympathy received from the world community following the attack has been replaced by Islamic world hatred that is unprecedented in modem history. One can only speculate how different the world
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would be today if our country had pursued peace and justice with the intensity that war has been waged in Iraq.
Thank you, Henry Schmidt, for your wise counsel and the guts to say it in a world that is prone to seek revenge.
Wes and Elaine Kroeker Bingham Lake, Minnesota Molotschna celebrations
Many Mennonite historians and dignitaries came to Molotschna in early June to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Dutch Mennonites settling there. The culmination service of worship was held June 6 at Molonchansk.
In May the Christian Union of Mennonite Churches in Ukraine was formed to coordinate spiritual and cultural concerns. Jacob Tiessen, present pastor of the Kutuzovka church, is the chair. In May Disciple Making International sent 14 teams to the Molotschna area. Each member had a Ukrainian partner. In three weeks we conducted an evangelism blitz with door-todoor visits in about 20 villages. Over 700 received Christ as their Savior. The Kutuzovka and Balkovo congregations and local Baptist churches are doing extensive followup to integrate the new converts into a daughter church in Dolina. At Rueckenau, Margareta Pankratz, age 85, is rejoicing to have a church to attend after 70 years.
For three weeks we experienced "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that bring Good News." My feet got so tired trekking house-to-house. It is exciting to personally witness lives transformed and lifestyles changed. Jesus said, "I will build my church" and he is doing just that in the Molotschna area. Praise the Lord
George Schroeder Steinbach, Man.
Carson MB Church homecoming celebrates 129 years of ministry
remember Carson as nurturing, sending church
homecoming celebration and reunion in Delft, Minn., July 2-4 continued a Carson MB Church tradition dating back to 1887. Originally an annual July 4 missions festival and sale, this summer the congregation celebrated its 129th anniversary as one of the oldest u.s. Mennonite Brethren churches.
Approximately 200 former members accepted the invitation to "come home to Carson" and shared their memories during sessions in which guests were invited to "be the program." Programs included audiovisual presentations, including film clips from the early 1900s, stories of church life and ministry and a musical evening.
Unique aspects of Carson's history were remembered. As was the practice in earlier days, two messages were preached Sunday morning: one by former pastor Loyal Martin of Hillsboro, Kan., and the other by Paul Klassen, pastor at Edmund (Okla.) MB Church who grew up in the Carson church. A traditional semiannual meeting meal of bologna sausage, cheese, zwieback and cake was served. A volunteer men's chorus sang, reminiscent of the
men's chorus organized in 1928 that, under the direction of]acob D. Wiebe, broadcast a half-hour weekly radio program for more than 30 years. In keeping with the many July 4 weekend mission sales organized by the Carson and Mountain Lake congregations, a quilted wall hanging was auctioned with the proceeds donated to missions. Tours of the original country church and cemetary were offered.
"Coming home" to Carson can be traced to the origin of two neighboring MB congregations: Carson MB Church and the MB congregation in Mountain Lake, now known as Community Bible Church. When Russian immigrants settled in Carson Township in 1875, two congregations eventually emerged and although separate meetinghouses were constructed, the groups worshipped and ministered under the leadership of Heinrich Voth as one body meeting in two places. To maintain unity, the congregations held quarterly mission services in the forenoon and communion services in the afternoon and met together the first Sunday of the month to observe the Lord's Supper and foot washing. This continued until 1918 when the
two congregations called separate pastors. Eleven pastors, five of whom were represented at the 2004 reunion, have served the Carson congregation. Today Carson MB Church and Mountain Lake MB Church continue to share a special sisterchurch relationship and gather annualy for a joint mission harvest festival
Several themes surfaced repeatedly during the reunion. Gratitude for God's faithfulness and for the church's influence on the spiritual development of its young people was one. Although most people left the small community after age 18, many spoke with emotion and intensity about what they experienced at Carson.
"I remember feeling very valued at a young age." said former member Delores Flaming. "Nurture came from everyone in the church, not just the pastor," said Steve Ewert. Rene Wiebe said, "This church is a place to meet Christ and then to grow. Every other church I've attended, I've measured up to this one."
Guests also recalled the positive influence the congregation had on them as adults. Emma Friesen, daughter of Carson's first pastor and at age 95 one of the oldest previous members in attendance,
expressed gratitude for "the prayers and support given when my husband died and I was left with two young daughters and a business to run. I will always be grateful for the support I received at a time when I needed it most. "
In his Sunday message, Martin, who came to Carson as a fresh MB Biblical Seminary graduate, referred to the congregation as people who were "lavish with affirmation and encouragement " and quick to help train up new leaders like himself.
A second theme was service, both in terms of mutual aid within the congregation and support of ministries that reached beyond their small, rural town "Carson wasn't and isn't a church of Sunday spectators, " said Klassen in his Sunday message . "It's made up of people who serve. "
In 1982 Martin researched the reasons behind the large number of pastors, missionaries and other full-time Christian workers who hail from either the Carson or Mountain Lake' churches At that time at least 35 missionaries and 55 pastors and pastors ' wives came from these congregations; those numbers have increased in the subsequent 22 years Martin's research
suggested that the service mentality was nurtured through an emphasis on missions by pastoral leadership, women's groups and VBS projects and congregational affirmation of those who left to serve Encouragement by individuals and families was also identified as being key along with the freedom of young people to participate in many aspects of church ministry
Martin's research, published in the February 1982 issue of the Christian Leader, was confirmed by participants at the July reunion kids, we weren't the church of the future ," said a former member who has served in church ministry. "We were the church of today, with encouragement to grow and serve at the same time " One former Carsonite is quoted by Martin as saying, "It was never a question of if God would call someone but whom God would call I can remember my primary Sunday school teacher saying, 'When some of you are missionaries you will need to know this verse . '"
In addition to modeling a life of service, current pastor John Klassen says the Carson congregation gives young people
the opportunity to participate. "In a small church like ours children and young people can get involved in developing their gifts in worship services much more so than in a larger church .It may not always be as polished as in a larger church, but I believe it significantly prepares them for future ministry as they develop their gifts and abilities and gain confidence with more and more involvement."
Enthusiasm for ministry is evident in Carson's present as well as its past. Several references were made during the weekend to former Carson folks who helped initiate and organize the four-year-old MCC sale in the Twin Cities . Central District Conference minister Roger Engbrecht affirmed the congregation 's support of recent CDC church planting and adoption projects including an Ethiopian congregation, a Hispanic church and three Slavic churches.
With membership at about 50, attendance around 40 and a declining population in a town of approximately 50 residents, the congregation faces decisions regarding their future Reunion coordinator Bob Ewert says, "We know we can't continue indefinitely as a church of approximately 40 people. We deliberately decided to celebrate our 129 years of history before moving on to the issue of what is next. We will be dealing with the issues related to our future life and ministry in the coming year. While the format may change, we want to continue to serve ."
Klassen says, "Though I know we are in some measure impacting people in our surrounding community, probably our greatest influence is in shaping lives for a ministry away from home," he says
In his closing words Sunday morning, Ewert reflected the congregation's longstanding desire to grow the family of God. "We are a servant people . We extend to all of you an invitation to another reunion that is coming soon-in heaven. Get ready; bring your family. If you have some neighbors and friends you'd like to have there, bring them too-that would be great . See you there. "-by Nadine Friesen
III can be something"
aids " nonformal" , education programs
Through tight alleyways off the crowded main streets of central Calcutta, past the school where Arshi Ali has begun to study her letters, the three-year-old beckons to her mother, eager to show off her new skills. Arshi holds a slate up, waiting for her mother, Sabana Khatoon, to praise the chalk letters she has written.
Like many other families in this quarter of maidservants, factory workers, mechanics and other laborers, Arshi's parents cannot afford to send her to government-supported schools
Mennonite Central Committee supports a nonformal schooling effort that allows Arshi and other students from ages three to 14 to begin the learning so valued in Indian society. MCC is involved in "nonformal" education programs around the world. A nonformal education program is one that is not funded or run by the national government.
Mass Welfare Society conducts classes for 135 pupils in a community clubhouse Organization officials prepare students to move from nonformal to formal schools, help parents find ways to afford schooling and have lobbied employers to let child workers off for classes. Once children have begun formal schools, teachers will help tutor them through the transition .
On a spring day, Sanjit Purkait, a former student who with Mass Welfare's help was able to get into a boarding school, has come back to visit. He grins as he explains in English he will be attending class five . "Coming here to school has really given me skills to go for higher classes and
to do well," Sanjit says. "I want to study more because I want to become something in my life. I want to prove that I can be something. "
That desire and success is exactly what Mass Welfare founder Samiran Mullick hopes for. "This is our satisfaction," he says
Mullick, who grew up in this area, in the 80s began a sports club, which became an educational effort. Mass Welfare Society was formally recognized as an organization in 1983
Spurred by training from MCC, the organization began a savings and microcredit program that helps parents save money for items such as textbooks for their children The organization offers a vocational training program that helps young women no longer in school learn skills such as sewing and embroidery. Staff have attended conflict resolution training
In a community clubhouse, the school holds two sessions per day, one for younger and one for older students. Pupils place their shoes in a pile outside the door and then come in to sit together on the floor They use bottle tops on a string to count and study pictures of animals, fruits
and numbers. MCC has also provided training and material on how teachers can use low-cost educational aids such as the bottle tops to help students grasp the material.
For parents, the school proVides an education they didn't dream they could give their children .
"I am illiterate," says Hamida Khatoon, whose two daughters attend classes "I send my daughters to the school so they can learn something."
Arshi's mother, Sabana, attended school through class seven. Her husband works in a small leather shop and cannot afford to pay for schooling But through Mass Welfare's efforts, Arshi walks around the family's home with her small slate and chalk, constantly practicing her letters She comes home repeating the lessons of the day, the first steps on what her mother hopes will be a long road of learning. -by Marla Pierson Lester for MCC Communications
Isolated Ethiopians educated thanks to Mennonites
META ROBIIS AN ISOLATED VALLEY IN WESTcentral Ethiopia accessible only by foot and home to some 44,000 people Education was out of reach until 1999 when the Meserete Kristos Church's Relief and Development Association opened the valley's first schools Funded in part by Mennonite Central Committee, these 10 "nonformal" schools are giving thousands of children an opportunity to learn. A school is considered nonformal if it is not operated or funded by the government
Attendance at the schools is now at 2,200 per year. Nearly all of the 576 students who have completed the schools' three-year course have gone on to further education outside the valley.
Each of the schools offers grades one through three in morning and afternoon shifts, maximizing the number of children who can attend. The material is accelerated so that children who complete all three years are ready to enter grade five if they transfer to government schools outside the valley. They learn reading, writing (in both English and Oromo, the local language), arithmetic and environmental science. In the evenings, the same subjects are offered for adults.
Students range in age from 8 to 18 Some walk as far as three hours each way. The dropout rate, which was more than 50 percent during the school's second year due to drought and hunger, has decreased to 30 percent. Most children who drop out do so because their help is needed at home.
Most students have had litde contact with life outside their valley. "The student are not exposed even to urban Ethiopians, let alone foreigners," says MCC worker Holly Blosser Yoder who recently visited the valley. "When we first arrived at the compound a little girl came bolting out of the gates and ran down the path away from us, screaming in terror" at the unfamiliar faces.
The urgent need for education in the valley first became apparent when evangelists from the Meserete Kristos Church, a Mennonite World Conference-affiliated church, began outreach activities and found that few people could read the Bible. A 1997 RDA survey put the literacy rate at only two percent.
RDA's goal is to make the schools self-sustaining by using income from a grain -grinding machine to pay teachers' salaries. Parents also provide food to supplement the salaries. RDA plans to tum the schools over to the local government in 2006.-MCC
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Team sees God at work in Congo
attend celebration of MB mission work in Africa
Members of a short-tenn MBMS International ministry team witnessed God at work in the Democratic Republic of Congo during their June visit. AJune 10 coup attempt and escalating violence in the country altered travel plans for some team members and forced others to cancel their participation Some team members were in DR Congo prior to the coup attempt. Nzash Lumeya, MBMSI program director for Africa, was able to leave June 11. He along with four team members proceeded with their itinerary but returned earlier than planned.
The team saw the hand of God in the DR Congo in a number of areas, says Lumeya. 1Wo events highlight God's lordship in the political realm, he says . After two years of applying and waiting for visas for South Africa, visas for Congolese missionaries Baudouin and Marie-Brigette Nsulunka were received and the family was scheduled to fly to Durban, South Africa July 18. The family already has housing in Durban. "It was so great to see the Holy Spirit moving," says Lumeya. 'Mer two years of trying, I can hardly believe these visas are finally approved."
Lumeya and team member John Redekop of Abbotsford, B.C., spent time with various government officials. The men were given a 30-minute appointment June 19 to visit with 100 politicians. "The Lord had other plans and this meeting was expanded to two hours," says Lumeya. As a result of this visit, they were given time with one of the vice-presidents of Congo and this meeting was covered by local1V stations. Lumeya and Redekop also taught basic principles of understanding and responding to government in MB churches.
The team also saw the hand of God in generational reconciliation There have been hurt feelings among the church members over taking care of older ministers, says Lumeya. Breaking away from family members when they became Christians in effect cut off one's retirement support system. As these ministers have
become older and are facing physical difficulties, the Congolese MB church has not had an effective support system. Healing has recently taken place in this area and plans have been made to support retired and retiring ministers.
The prayer and praise service June 19 was another sign of God's work. This service celebrated MB missions in Africa and included prayer for God's direction in further mission work. Six countries-Canada, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast-as well as a MBMSI Disciple Makers International team were represented. Lumeya's invitation to Congolese to become involved in mission outreach was well received. Funds were collected to buy bicycles for the mission work in India and to aid a Congolese
missionary couple to Angola and pledges were received for Congolese women who make soap to send their products to the Darfur refugees in Sudan.
Progress in the area of job creation was additional evidence of God's hand. Nine out of 10 Congolese MBs are unemployed placing a large burden on the church. Charlotte Djimbo, granddaughter of the first MB Congolese pastor Timothy Djimbo, has established a non governmental organization that provides seed money for women to start their own businesses which allows them to finanCially support their church and its mission efforts.
Lumeya says, ''We invite your prayers as the fruit of these labors begins to bear witness to other African countries."-Joanna Felts for MBMSI
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MWC appeals for release of pastors
Five Mennonite pastors detained in Vietnam
Mennonites around the world are appealing to God and man for the release of five Mennonite church leaders in Vietnam arrested over the last six months. The Mennonite Church in Vietnam issued an urgent appeal in June for prayer on behalf of the men and the national church Mennonite World Conference and other church leaders have contacted Vietnamese government officials in Switzerland, Canada, the u.S. and Vietnam requesting the release of the men.
As reported in the June Leader, four evangelists were arrested March 2 when they attempted to report to local authorities the motorcycle license number of two undercover agents who had been watching and threatening them . No charges have been filed against them. Vietnamese Mennonite Church leaders and MWC responded to the arrests with a letter of protest to the government.
June 8 security police in Ho Chi Minh City arrested Pastor Quang, vice president and secretary general of the Mennonite Church Vietnam. Reports indicated that he was charged with "instigating people to obstruct officials from carrying out their duties." Quang and his wife have three young children.
Family members have not been permitted to visit the men. Where Quang and the other four are being detained is not clear.
Larry Miller, executive secretary of Mennonite World Conference, along with Markus Rediger, MWC European executive committee member and past president of the Swiss Mennonite Conference, and Dan Nighswan-
der, Mennonite Church Canada general secretary, were received June 25 at the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. In the absence of the Vietnamese ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative Truong Trieu Duong met with the MWC delegation along with an associate responsible for human rights questions.
The delegation presented a letter addressed to the ambassador calling for the release of the church leaders. It also recalled Mennonite medical, educational, agricultural development and income generation programs and assistance for displaced persons in Vietnam over the past 50 years. The letter described the global Mennonite church and affirmed Vietnam's policy of freedom of religion as guaranteed in the constitution, not only for the Mennonite community but for all established religious faiths.
It also provided credible evidence that Christian ethnic minorities, particularly in the central highlands, are suffering under local authorities. The letter cited the destruction of a Mennonite home, signatures on false accusations obtained by force, beatings and imprisonment without charges being filed .
'We request that the government continue to speak with the leaders of the Mennonite Church in Vietnam to resolve these and other pertinent issues so that they are able to practice their religious beliefs, " stated the letter, signed by Miller and Nancy Heisey, MWC president.
Truong promised to report the delega-
tion's concerns to the government of Vietnam and the government's response to his inquiries.
Mennonite Church Canada has sent a letter to the Canadian ambassador to Vietnam requesting his assistance in securing the release of Quang and other leaders and the return of church property confiscated when Quang was arrested. On behalf of the Mennonite Church in Vietnam, Pastor and President Nguyen Quang Trung sent a letter to local authorities in Ho Chi Minh City.
While the June 25 letter delivered in Geneva highlighted the June 8 arrest of Pastor Quang and contained more explicit requests for government action, a letter otherwise similar was hand-delivered in New York on Apri120 to I.e Luong Minh, ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam . The letter was signed by Miller and Heisey who hoped to arrange for a delegation to meet with the ambassador. Such a meeting is still pending.
June 16 MWC circulated an appeal for prayer from Mennonite Church Vietnam. Citing the imprisonment of the five leaders, the letter said the MCV is currently under "severe repression."
'We are distressed that our leader has been arrested," said the letter 'We urgently call on evangelical congregations in Vietnam, the Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite churches in all countries to pray for us during this emergency. We ask the Lord to protect us from the calamity facing his church."-Perne Burkhardt for MWC
MWC president goes to Washington to talk to Vietnamese officials
NANCY HEISEY, PRESIDENT OF MennO'nite WO'rld CO'nference , and several O'ther MennO'nites met June 16 with NgO' Yen Thi , leader O'f a delegatiO'n O'fVietnamese O'fficials whO' visited the u.s . capitO'IJune 14-17 Eight days earlier, Pastor Nguyen HO'ng Quang, general secretary O'f the Mennonite Church in
Vietnam , had been arrested by security police in Ho Chi Minh City. After hearing a request for the release of Quang , Thi said that the charges against Quang will be investigated If the evidence is not seriO'us , he will be released ; if it is seriO'us , he will have to face the charges in court .
Thi said that the Vietnamese government has given official status to six religiO'ns, including the Evangelical Church of Vietnam Several O'ther religious organizations active in Vietnam, including Baptists, MennO'nites, Assemblies of God and JehOyah Witnesses, operate normally but with no O'fficial recognition. He
said that the government is working at a new plan for these groups . Thi said that some religiO'US organizations working in Vietnam priDr to' 1975 were engaged in politIcal activities and that the government is concerned that religiO'US DrganizatiO'ns be involved in religiO'US activity Dnly.-,MWC
Paul Hiebert honored with conference recognized for impact on "thousands of lives"
Paul G. Hiebert, former Mennonite Brethren missionary to India, educator and internationally recognized missiologist, was honored with a two-day consultation on missiology June 21-22 entitled "Doing Theology in a Globalizing World."
In recognizing Hiebert's contributions, host institution Trinity Evangelical Divinity School of Deerfield, m., said Hiebert's "life, teaching and writing have impacted thousands of lives." Hiebert is currently Distinguished Professor of Mission and Anthropology at Trinity.
Hiebert, a third generation MB missionary to India, served there from 1959 to 1965 with his wife Frances Flaming Hiebert who died in 1999. He completed a doctorate in anthropology at the University of Minnesota and taught anthropology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is a graduate of Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan., and MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif. He taught missiology and anthropology at Fuller theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif , for 13 years before joining the faculty at Trinity as head of the intercultural program. He now teaches at Trinity one semester a year and overseas for the rest of the year In the last year he has taught in India, Singapore, Australia and Brazil.
Conference registration was more than 150 with several attendees and presenters coming from abroad. International guests Andrew Walls of Scotland, Ian Grant of Australia and VlOOth Ramachandra of Sri Lanka gave papers. North American presenters came primarily from the three institutions that grant doctoral degrees in missiology: Fuller Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Asbury Theological Seminary. Hiebert's concepts of bounded set and centered set and "the excluded middle" were frequently mentioned at the consultation.
At a banquet in honor of Hiebert, tributes from his colleagues at Fuller Seminary were effusive. Hiebert was described as a
modest person with remarkable brilliance, an original thinker, and as a "bridgeman." Greetings were read from MB representatives from India and Paraguay, and from Harold Ens and Victor Adrian, current and former directors of MBMSI, and from Hans Kasdorf of Fresno.
Ted Ward, former administrator at Trinity, evoked applause from the banquet audience when he described Hiebert as a man of gradous integrity, brilliant in his capacity for reasoning, of careful authorship and a man of humble spirit reflecting the Lord Jesus Christ.
Five Mennonite missiologists echoed those sentiments. WLlbur Shenk of Fuller Seminary, one of the respondents to a plenary presentation, noted that in Hiebert there is no separation between who he is and what he teaches, no disjunction between his intellectual and his personal life. Walter Sawatzky, also of AMBS, added, '''{Hiebert's) is not a studied humility. His role in the evangelical settings of Fuller and Trinity has fostered a collegiality of common Christian global witness."
According to Arthur McPhee, professor at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, no one has had a greater influence on more missiologists than Hiebert. One estimate is that Hiebert has been the advisor of more than 60 doctoral dissertations and an equal number ofD.Miss theses. Lawrence Yoder, professor of missiology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Va., spoke of Hiebert's encouragement to him as a student. "He owns and radiates his identity as an Anabaptist."
James Krabill of Mennonite Mission Network, said, "He [Hiebert] was not defensive about anthropology but used it as a tool and helped me ask the right questions."
Hiebert is the author of numerous articles and books that have become standard texts in mission and anthropology. His books, published by Baker, include Anthropological Insights for Missionaries (1985); Incarnational Ministry: Planting Churches in Band, Tribal, Peasant and Urban Societies co-authored with his daughter Eloise Hiebert Meneses (1995); and Understanding Folk Religion (1999) co-authored with Daniel Shaw and Tite Tienou. Trinity Press published Missiological Implications of Epistemological Shifts: Affirming Truth in the ModernlPostmodern World (1999).
Hiebert's two daughters, Eloise Hiebert Meneses and Barbara Hiebert spoke at the consultation. Son John and his wife Jane, son-in-law Michael Meneses and four of five grandchildren were also present.
Tentative plans are for the papers and the responses to be published as a Festschrift in Hiebert's honor. -By Elmer A. Martens
SDC celebrates record giving affirms delegates' decision to adopt full budget
At the half..way point of its current fiscal year, the Southern District Conference reports a 14 percent increase in giving over the previous year and a 33 percent increase over three years ago. Church contributions totaled $98,947 at the end ofJune. That is good news given that delegates to the 2003 SDC convention rejected a proposed reduced budget in favor of a budget that maintained district ministries. ''We want to celebrate and affinn our churches for their support," says Ted Goertzen, SDC Stewardship Commission chair.
SDC treasurer Jerry Hinerman, who anticipates church giving could top out this fiscal year at $200,000 , attributes the
increase to "people realizing the price tag" involved in maintaining SOC ministries and to a better understanding of ministries funded by SDC dollars Goertzen credits delegates with doing a good job of taking the SDC story to their home churches. The Friday evening 2003 convention program highlighted various SDC home missions projects and discussions on Saturday emphasized the role of the district minister and the importance of maintaining a quality youth program.
Hinerman reports that 12 of the 39 SDC churches are meeting the SDC giving goal. The SDC requests that congregations contribute three percent of their receipts. He notes these congregations represent
established as well as new congregations. Hinerman says in the first six months of the current fiscal year, 19 churches have increased their giving over a year ago and seven have maintained their giving level Goertzen is pleased with the way in which churches have embraced the idea of giving a percentage of their receipts "I did not expect churches to come on board as quickly as they did," he says . While SDC leaders are pleased with the increased giving and feel that projected contributions will cover expenses this year, they note that in order to fund SDC programs and visions for future ministry increased giving will need to continue. The budget for current SDC ministries is right at $250,000.
Inter-Mennonite church planting project concludes
A 10 YEAR INTER-Mennonite effort to plant churches in Mexico City came to an end this summer when the final team members on the project-MBMS International missionaries Gordon and Dora Isaak and Jon and Juana Pritchard-returned to their North American homes.
The Isaaks report that six churches have been formed during the past decade and many people have been saved and discipled by MBMSI team members and other church
leaders. In two churches where the Pritchards and Isaaks have recently served the leaders are actively engaged in starting new churches as well as sending out national missionaries.
In 1992, MBMS International , the mission agency of North American Mennonite Brethren churches , joined the Committee for United Mission by Anabaptists to establish churches in Mexico City. This was a 10 year commitment on the part of MBMS International to help send team members to
work on this project.
The project officially came to a close in 2002 , but the two MBMSI couples remained in the country to finalize projects that were in the making at that time. The Isaaks returned to British Columbia in June and the Pritchards returned to Kansas in July. none Kasdorf served alongside these two couples for a brief time and is currendy making the transition to work with another MB church planting team in Guadalajara for the remainder
of her short-term assignment. Isaaks report that while packing and preparing to leave Mexico in June , many of those with whom they had worked came to help them pack and to say farewell. Sarai, a Mexican friend and convert, said to them, "Thank you so much for bringing me to the feet of Jesus. "
MBMSI hopes that the influence of the CUMA Project will continue along with the vision for mission among Mexican Anabaptists .-MBMSI
o NEWS
MCC providing aid to
Sudanese refugees
As the humanitarian crisis In the Darfur region of westem Sudan continues to make headlines, Mennonite Central Committee Is shipping milk powder and relief supplies to neighboring Chad, where tens of thousands of Darfur residents have sought refuge. Part of the shipment will also go to southern Chad for refugees from the Central African Republic, whose situation Is less publicized but no less dire. The total value of the response, Including shipping costs, Is estimated at $130,000. An assessment team Is also traveling to Sudan this month to determine how MCC can be Involved In responding to ongoing needs In Darfur and other areas of this huge, complex country. MCC aid will be distributed to some 200 families (about 1,000 people) from Darfur now living In Chad. The response Includes eight metric tons of milk powder and relief supplies Including 200 relief kits, 290 school kits, 100 newbom kits, 80 health kits, clothing, blankets, sheets and towels. MCC's partner In this effort Is CAEDESCE, the relief arm of the Chadian Protestant churches.MCC
Poetry collection published
A new collection of poetry by Mennonite Brethren poet Jean Janzen entitled Plano In the Vineyard has been published by Good Books of Intercourse, Penn. The book Includes 42 poems placed In four sections. Janzen, of Fresno, Calif., Is a winner of The Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. She has taught poetry writing at Fresno Pacific University and Eastem Mennonite University In Virginia. Her other published collections of poetry are Words for the Silence, Three Mennonite Poets, The Upside-down Tree, Snake In the Parsonage and Tasting the Dust.-GS
MCC responds to flooding Haiti, Dominican Republic • In
Mennonite Central Committee is responding to devastating flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic based on recommendations by an assessment team that visited the affected areas June 8-17. The two countries share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
MCC is making $57,000 available for the response, which will include the following four components:
• Funding a nine- to 12-month project to meet relief needs and/or recovery of housing and animals in Haiti through the Christian Centre for Integrated Development, an MCC partner organization based in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.
• Recruiting a service worker to be seconded to the Lutheran World Federation for one year. This person will work with LWF's Haitian partners' flood relief efforts.
• Hosting an environmental study tour to Haiti within the next six months
focused on disaster prevention. Participants will be drawn from various Caribbean islands.
• Funding efforts by the Dominican Republic Mennonite Emergency Committee to respond to needs in the area of Jimanl, Dominican Republic.
Additional funds will be available to help the Dominican Republic Mennonite Emergency Committee advocate for land for 45 families displaced by a previous disaster In the event that Work and Learn teams are needed for reconstruction efforts, a top priority will be encouraging interaction between Dominicans and Haitians. Therefore these teams would be drawn from churches on the island.
At least 2,000 people died in the floods, which began with heavy rainfall May 23. Hundreds more are still missing. Severe deforestation in Haiti contributed to mudslides that buried homes, animals and people.-MCC
MCC ships first AIDS care kits
Mennonite Central Committee's newest relief kit-AIDS Care Kits-are on their way to various locations in Africa, having been shipped in June from the agency ' s Material Resources Center in Ephrata , Penn. The first shipment includes some 520 kits , including towels and medicines One hundred kits will go to Tanzania, 300 to Uganda and 120 to Ethiopia. A shipment of more than 500 kits will leave from Canada this summer as well
"We were really pleased," says Sarah Adams , MCC 's HIV/AIDS coordinator "Women's groups responded. Families did kits. Youth groups and Sunday school classes did kits. It just turned out to be a neat way for groups to talk about AIDS and work together on a project. "
The kits began after Adams and overseas MCC workers repeatedly heard stories of dedicated volunteers who went to the
homes of AIDS patients to help fill the gaps in overwhelmed health care systems. Volunteers , many with few resources themselves, would talk and pray with patients, providing needed spiritual and emotional support.
But many had no supplies to bandage patients ' sores , soothe irritated skin or relieve pain. By the time patients are ill enough to need care , Adams says , they are often so poor they cannot afford basic hygiene supplies . Kits include soap, sheets and pillowcases, washcloths and towels , rubber gloves , petroleum jelly and medicated body powder, as well as $100 . In addition to providing funds for locally purchased supplies or needs , MCC includes medical items such as pain relievers , oral rehydration salts , antibiotic ointments and multivitamins . For information on compiling a kit , see www.mcc orglaids/kits.-MCC
CHURCH
Ba p tis m/Membershi p
Okeene, Okl a.-Virginia Leal and Ruben Lea l were baptized and welcomed to membership June 6
Santa Clara, Calif. (EI Camino Bible)Brad Kidder, OJ. Morse, Christopher Unruh and Ryan Morse were baptized June 6. The baptism was held in a church member's swimming pool.
Rapid City, S.D.,(Bible Fellowship Church)-TyRoy Witte and Prescott Witte were baptized and received as members June 13. Also welcomed to membership were Becky Osborn, Greg Logue, Sally Heberlein and June Janzen. Fresno, Calif. (North Fresno)-Nanita Johnes, Eduardto Ramierz and Susan Knight were baptized and received as members June 13. Ed and Karen Dobbs, Dan and Karen Ray, Hans and Frieda Kasdorf were welcomed as members
Harvey, N.D.-Jason and Lydia Gessele, Zach and Adam Prince, Janet VanDolah, Brenda Reimche, Jess Reimche and Sam Ongstad were baptized in the river and welcomed to membership June 20.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Rosedale Bible)Barbara Germanetti, Bob Germanetti, Charlene Misono and Fred Misono were baptized June 20. Danny and Charlene Brinson were welcomed to membership.
Reedley, Calif.-Michael Garcia, Megan Goossen, Michael Goossen, Dustin Laemmlen, Jordan Laemmlen, Nathan Laemmlen, Bryan Walters, Hannah Walters and Jim Walters were baptized and welcomed into membership June 20 David and Kym Beckenhauer, Sarah Grunau, Sheryl Nickel, Henry Rodriquez and Ralph and Pauline Rosedale were also received as members. Jim and Shirley Holm were welcomed as members June 27.
Bakersfield. Calif. (Laurelglen)-Tony and Carole Castro, Ira and Charlotte Cleveland, Ron and Carolyn Christolear, Joyce Driver, Jennifer Ellis, Leeann Foster, Julie Gosling, Harold and Pamela Harris, Deborah McCan, Jim and Marlene McClellan, Alan and Roberta Miller, Evelyn Riediger, Carlos Rojas and Jeff and Becky Stambook were welcomed as new members the weekend of June 19 and 20. Leonard
Denney, Courtney Owen and Carlos Rojas were baptized the weekend of June 26 and 27.
Clovis, Calif. (College Community)Waldo and Rachel Hiebert were welcomed to membership June 27.
Collinsville, Okla. (Westport)-Anna Hixson, Mark and Alecia Cramer, Russell Reimer, Michael and Dena Sanchez, Emily Hudgeons and Megan Bosch were welcomed as members in July.
Fe llowshi p
Clovis, Calif. (College Community)The Orange Cove Iglesia EI Buen MB church joined the Clovis congregation July 11 to share music and serve an authentic Mexican meal in a fellowship time following the worship service, Collinsville, Okla. (Westport)-A Teddy Bear Picnic was held for women of all ages July 10. Crafts, games and a devotion were part of the event to which people brought their favorite picnic food.
Ministry
Buhler, Kan.-Sunday evening activities were discontinued during July to give more time to "build bridges" with nonchurched friends, family, neighbors and co-workers Members were encouraged to plan block parties or invite people to their homes for refreshments or games.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Heritage Bible)During an afternoon Acts of Kindness event June 27 participants distributed light bulbs to homes as a means of outreach and to invite children to VBS in July.
Nurture
Enid, Okla.- Anyone interested in learning how to minister to the terminally ill or their family members was invited to participate in a caregivers seminar June 6 sponsored by the deacon ministry team. Resource persons were hospice chaplains Byron Neufeld and Sherry Shaw.
Fernda l e, Wash. (Good News Fellowship)-The congregation assisted Pastor Skip Suess in completing his ministry degree program by participating in a ministry research project this summer. The
NEWS FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
congregation was invited to attend two workshops and complete questionnaires. Workshops included an interactive teaching session dealing with God's mission for the church and the part each person can have in the mission.
Shafter, Calif.-Thirty children received Christ as Savior during the congregation's VBS week.
Worship
Wichita, Kan. (First)- This month Sunday school teachers are being given the month off and special attention is being given during the worship service to applying the morning's message to children as well as adults. Paul's journeys is the theme for the month. Members are encouraged to invite people to church who may prefer to begin with a one-hour commitment rather than an entire morning.
Workers
Orosi, Calif. (LaPaz)-Paul Castillo is working with children through tutoring and recreational activities as part of the Mennonite Central Committee US summer service program. The program enables people of diverse ethnic backgrounds to work with a church or service agency in their home communities for 10 weeks.
Dinuba, Calif.-Jim and Annett Aiken, the new senior pastoral couple, were installed August 1. The installation service followed a fellowship dinner. The service was one of six summer Sunday evening outreach events Other events include "Tales from the Black Forest" with MBMSI missionary Heidi Ekk, an evening at the ball park, a gospel music concert, a movie night and block party and a car show.
Omaha, Nebr. (Millard Bible)-Rod Anderson is serving a two-year term as interim pastor. Tulsa, Okla. (The Heart)-Two new staff persons joined the church planting ministry this summer Kenyon Gerbrandt works with media and technology aspects of worship services and the Web site. Bridget Brock works with outreach events and connecting visitors with a place of service. Fresno, Calif. (North Fresno)-In
recognition of Larry Marten's last Sunday as senior pastor a combined service was held June 27 followed by a fellowship time. That evening the choir presented their year-end concert, dedicated to Marten and his wife Kathleen. During the pastoral interim period, Dale and Joyce Warkentin will serve as ministry team coordinators
Deaths
BECKER, EDWARD J., Freeman, S.D., member of the former Silver Lake MB Church, was born Sept. 10, 1907, to Jacob P. and Ernestine Pauls Becker in Marion, S.D., and died June 23, 2004, at the age of 96. On Sept 16, 1932, he married Alvina J. Deckert, who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Arden and wife Carolyn of Marion, S.D., Jeral and wife Wanda of St. Louis, Mo. and Norman and wife Karen of Portland, Ore ; three brothers, Henry, Art and Emil; one brother-in-law, Maynard Deckert, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
HINl, EDWARD B., Reedley, Calif., former pastor of MB churches in Arkansas, California and Washington and a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Dec. 24, 1907, to Emil and Lena Kause Hinz in Corn, Okla., and died June 6, 2004, at the age of 96. On Oct. 4, 1931, he was married to Helen Friesen, who survives. He is also survived by one daughter, Jody and husband Cliff Travis of Lodi, Calif.; one daughter-in-law, Nora Hendrix of Tucson, Ariz., three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
HOFER, MARY, Yale, S D., a member of Bethel Church, was born May 1, 1910, to Paul T. and Barbara Wurz Hofer in Beadle County, S.D., and died April 23, 2004, at the age of 93. In December 1929, she was married to Jacob Emil Hofer who, along with three sons, predeceased her She is survived by one son, Jerane and wife Pearl of Huron, S.D and 10 grandchildren.
KOOP, KATHI, Bakersfield, Calif , a member of Heritage Bible Church, was born Sept. 11, 1952, to Harry and Carol Wohlgemuth in Dinuba, Calif., and died June 17, 2004, at the age of 51. On June 14, 1975, she was married to Jerry Koop, who survives. She is also survived
by one daughter, Kariss Koop; one son, Jeremy Koop; three brothers, Brad, Bruce and wife Chris and Brian, and parents-in-law, Walter and Roysie Koop.
KRUGER, HENRY GERHARD, Dinuba, Calif., member of Dinuba MB Church, was born in November 1924, to Gerhard and Margareta Funk Kruger in Mariawohl, South Russia, and died July 20, 2003, at the age of 79. On Nov. 5, 1948, he married Susie Penner, who survives. He is also survived by one son, Harold and wife Lois of Dinuba; one daughter, Joyce and husband John Ghilotti of Fresno, Calif., and three grandchildren.
PENNER, DENNIS GENE, Dinuba, Calif., a member of Dinuba MB Church, was born Oct. 25, 1971, to Cornelius and Margaret Petker Penner and died Jan. 20, 2004, at the age of 32. On Sept. 18, 1993, he married Andrea Butler, who survives. He is also survived by four children, Ted, Kyle, Baylee and Jillian; his parents; three brothers, David, Daniel and Duane; one sister, Debbie, and one grandfather, John R. Petker
SMITH, HARRY I., Freeman, S.D., a member of the former Silver Lake MB Church of Freeman, was born Nov. 24, 1917, to Isaac H. and Maggie Adrian Smith in Dolton, S.D., and died June 20, 2004, at the age of 86. On Aug. 30, 1942,
he married Luella Ratzlaff, who predeceased him. On Oct 15, 1991, he married Leone Haar. He is survived by one son, Darrell and wife Sylvia of Overland Park, Kan.; one daughter, Darlene Rake of Horton, Kan.; one brother-in-law, Robert and wife Eunice Duerksen of Marion, S.D., and four grandchildren.
WIEST, JULIE CHRISTINE, Kingsburg, Calif , member of Kingsburg MB Church, was born Sept. 23, 1961, to Mel and Barbara Grandal in Kingsburg and died June 9, 2004, at the age of 42. On Aug. 29, 1992, she married Stan Wiest, who survives. She is also survived by one daughter, Andrea; one son, Justin, both of the home; her parents; parents-in-law, Delbert and Linda Wiest and their family; one sister, Barbie and husband Kevin Shakespeare, and one brother, Peter and wife Lisa, all of Kingsburg.
Corrections
The obituary for Elon Nickel published in the July issue was not complete. His complete obituary follows.
NICKEL. ELON, Dinuba, Calif., member of Dinuba MB Church, was born Dec. 13, 1917, to Gerhardt and Anna Nickel, and died April 8, 2004, at the age of 86. On April 7,
1939, he married Dorothy Wiens, who survives. He is also survived by three daughters, Janice and husband Wesley Schmidt of Fresno, Calif., Carol and husband Dwight Heier of Dinuba, Geri and husband John Warkentin of Reedley, Calif.; one son, Stan and wife Chris of Dana Point, Calif.; one sister Esther and husband Melvin Toews of San Jose, Calif.; two brothers, Marvin
and wife Dorothy of Reedley and Paul and wife Dorothy of Fresno; one sister-in-law, Evelyn and husband Ben Seibel of San Jose, Calif ; 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
The obituary for Henry E. Ediger in the July Leader incorrectly stated that Neal Ediger is from Hillsdale, Calif.; it should read Hillsdale, Okla.
ClEARINGHOUSE
Employment-Local Church
Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church of Hillsboro, Kan., is seeking a senior pastor. Parkview is a dynamic church with approximately 400 attendees. We have two services on Sunday, a strong Awana program and a growing small group ministry. We currently have a fulltime associate pastor, a part-time visitation pastor and a part-time youth pastor. Hillsboro is also home to Tabor College and Parkview ministers to and utilizes a strong group of college students during the school year. A complete job description and church/community profile is available on request. Please direct all resumes and inquiries to Senior Pastor Search Committee, Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church, 610 S. Main Street, Hillsboro, KS 67063,
620-947-2338 or e-mail inquiries to parkviewchurch@dtnspeed.net.
Employment-Local Church
Greenhaven Neighborhood Church in Sacramento, Calif., is currently seeking a senior pastor to lead and serve with our congregation of 100 adults plus many children. We are a 40-year-old Mennonite Brethren church with a renewed vision to "do what it takes" to transform lives through trusting in Jesus Christ. We seek a pastor who loves Jesus Christ and has a gift and desire to communicate God's word to the community. Compensation will be based on education and ministry experience. Information can be found at www.greenhaven.org or by calling the church office: (916)-422-8253
Kansas churches minister with World Impact
TWO KANSAS congregations have partnered with World Impact for the past three summers to provide a summer Bible camp for inner-city youth. For the last two years the youth group from North Oak Community Church of Hays , Kan ., hosted the camp and this year Hesston (Kan .) MB Church was involved World Impact is an innercity mission organization focused on planting churches and meeting people 's physical needs WI has been involved in five church plants in Wichita, Kan. , including two congregations affiliated with the Men-
nonite Brethren: United at the Cross in southwest Wichita and Lighthouse Community Church in the Oaklawn community. The church plants traditionally begin with kid 's clubs that in turn prOvides contact with families . In summer World Impact's Morning Star Ranch near Florence , Kan ., hosts a camp for youth from these church-plant neighborhoods. This summer 47 kids ages seven to 11 attended the June 22-25 camp
The Hesston congregation provided a team of 14 high schoolers and more than 20 adults to help the WI staff facilitate
Olympic contests , Bible lessons , chapels , crafts and meals. The Hesston volunteers also served as counselors Blake Buhrman, a Tabor College senior from HMBC , was the camp speaker.
The He sston group began preparing for their chapel presentations in April and also took a prayer walk through the
Wichita neighborhoods that are home to the campers . The prayer walk, says youth pastor Brad Burkholder, "allowed us to see , pray and then bette r prepare for the job ahead ... . This summer ministry opportunity provided our youth and adults the chance to discove r and develop their spiritual gifts. " •
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Service
Investor participation through MB Loan Fund is needed to fund loans for churches and other M.B. organizations. Your partnership in the ministry of MB Loan Fund helps to seek the lost, make disciples, and train the leaders of tomorrow. Dollars and cents are transformed into changed lives(#W
A whisper of God's greatness
you sure that's big enough?" is a repeated question this month at our house as we are getting three growing kids outfitted for a new school year. My goal is to make sure that the new winter coats, shoes and jeans purchased now will still fit in December and that the kids really haven't outgrown those comfortable, favorite clothes from last school year that they insist still fit.
I am tempted to think that, unlike our clothing, we can never outgrow God. And to some degree that is true. Christian apologist C.S. Lewis suggests in his Chronicles of Narnia series that our understanding of God grows as our Christian faith matures. In this scene from Prince Caspian, the lion AsIan has finally allowed the child Lucy to find him.
"Welcome, child," (Asian) said.
"Asian, " said Lucy, "you're bigger. "
"That is because you are older, little one, " answered he. "Not because you are?'
"J am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger. " Lewis is among the writers that remind us that one of the mysteries of our faith is the God we serve. That one aspect of maturing as a follower of our King is realizing how little of God's character we fathom.
So we ask ourselves: Is my God bigger today than yesterday? To answer this question we need to pay attention to God because when we do, he gets bigger. But sometimes 1 forget that because he is infinite, God will always be bigger than I can imagine and than my experience reveals. The writer of the worship song Wonderful Maker suggests that "we have only heard the faintest whispers of how great you are."
How amazing-that the great and mighty deeds God has done through the ages and is doing today are just a faint whisper of his greatness. Writers through the ages have tried to capture the mightiness of God in their poetry and songs. "0 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" writes David in Psalm 8. In the early 1800s Robert Grant wrote, "0 worship the King, all-glorious above, a gratefully sing his power and his love ." A popular children's song says, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do." In the worship song Enough Jeremy Camp sings, "You are my supply, my breath of life and still more awesome than I know." We try to capture a sense of God's greatness and might and yet these efforts don't
THE C HRISTIAN LEADER
begin to describe God.
The Bible tells of one man who experienced a measure of God's greatness. In Exodus 33, the writer tells of Moses' encounter with God on Mount Sinai. Moses requests that God show his glory. God answers, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord in your presence. 1 will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom 1 will have compassion. But," he said, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live" (33 : 1920).
We sing and pray that God will show us his face, and yet his full presence would be more than we can bear. The Bible tells us God placed Moses in the cleft of the mountainside that day and covered Moses with his hand until he, God, had passed by. "Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen" (Ex. 33:23).
This is one of the great mysteries of our God. He is the Good Shepherd and a nurturing heavenly Father. He is also the mighty Jehovah, a fierce and jealous God. He is the Almighty God who came to earth in the form of a baby and yet seeing his full goodness-not to mention the more terrifying aspects of his character-would be deadly.
Serving a mysterious God isn't always very comfortable and so, like a child who refuses to relinqUish a favorite shirt that is far too small, we imagine our God to be smaller than he is. We are content with the God we learned about as children in Sunday school. Our God doesn't grow, and so neither does our faith. Rather than stand in awe of the infinte greatness of God, we try to harness him. We prefer to think of God in the same terms we did as children and our understanding of his greatness ends at an elementary level.
Our life as God's people should reflect the mystery of God's character. According to Gen. 34: 30 Moses' experience on Mount Sinai-this whisper of God's greatness-left his face radiant. So transformed, in fact, that when he returned the people were afraid to come near him. May we U.S Mennonite Brethren commit ourselves to being transformed by a growing understanding of the Almighty God . Let's take the risk of longing to see God's greatness so that when our friends and neighbors look at our faces they will know we've met God in all his glory. -CF
