August/September 2010

PRACTICALLY ANABAPTIST

by Paul Bartel

Reflecting on Celebration 2010

FEATURES [Celebration 2010]

8 VIVA VANCOUVER!

When Mennonite Brethren from the U.S. and Canada gathered in the metro Vancouver area this summer. their celebration highlighted both local and global facets of the 150-year-old Mennonite Brethren Church.

11 EXPLORING WHO WE ARE

A consultation designed to explore the history. theology and practice of the Mennonite Brethren Church attracted a diverse crowd that was much larger than anticipated. Interacting with a variety of workshop speakers and with plenary speakers from around the globe was a highlight for many who attended Renewing Identity and Mission.

13 UNDERSCORING GOD 'S WORK

The Celebration 2010 binational evening programs and daylong reporting session confirm that the salvation of lost people ignites the passion of North American Mennonite Brethren.

16 ICOMB'S WALL IS ALL ABOUT RADICAL RELATIONSHIPS

Victor Wall, who is completing five years as the International Community of Mennonite Brethren executive secretary. talks about the global MB family and challenges North Americans to embrace their global "siblings."

17 DELEGATES EXPERIENCE VANCOUVER

MB church planters in Vancouver introduced the urban mission field to American and Canadian delegates via a one-day bus tour of this international city.

18 CELEBRATIN G AROUND THE GLOBE

Read how other national conferences are celebrating the I50th anniversary of the MB Church.

27 LOCAL CHURCHES CELEBRATE

Guest speakers, cake and balloons typify local events celebrating the sesquicentennial.

28 CELEBRATIN G LIFE TRANSFORMATIONS

Convention business was minimal and transformational stories were at a maximum when U.S. Conference delegates met for their biennial conference.

29 POTLUCK OF REPORTS WHETS APPETITES

Delegates feast on a smorgasbord of reports. struggling to taste-much less digest-them all

> FiRST WORDS

(from the editor!

CELEBRATION THE NORTH AMERICAN sesquicentennial celebration of the Mennonite Brethren Church and the focus of this issue, was really four events billed as one. Early on in the planning process organizers decided to hold each event at a separate location, with guests housed somewhat centrally at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey.

This decision was not necessarily a popular one. Some said the multiple locations resulted in a lack of unity and cohesion. Others said the time spent traveling from place to place could have been better spent. Sometimes people were frustrated that traffic congestion caused them to arrive late at an event. But those of us who took advantage of the Celebration 2010 courtesy shuttles could not find fault with the service offered by the volunteers who chauffeured us.

Marilyn Hiebett, BC Conference director of administration, was given the unenviable task of coordinating shuttle transportation, including to and from Vancouver International Airport. She worked with her executive assistant, Theresa Chisholm, to recruit 17 different drivers, including one mom with a six-month old baby at home, and nine church buses or vans. All told these drivers and vehicles made 74 trips and transported a total of 1,297 passengers-imagine the phone calls and e-mails involved in making out that schedule!

Over the first three days, Marilyn and Linda Funk, Bakerview MB Church administrator, spent 30 hours at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) meeting Celebration 2010 participants and directing them to shuttle pickup points. 'We made friends with YVR staff over those days and they helped us watch for 'our people,"' says Marilyn. 'The YVR staff were trying to figure out what 'our people' would look like and were expecting a specific dress code, which of course they couldn't find." I was one of "our people" and very much appreciated the assistance of YVR staff that helped me find Marilyn.

So in case we didn't say it often enough while you were hosting us, a big thank you to Marilyn, Theresa, Linda, the drivers who gave their time and the churches that offered their buses and vans. Your generosity-and gracious smiles as you pointed us in the right direction-enhanced our Vancouver experience.

Aug I Sept 2010

Volume 73

Number 4

C onnie Faber EDITOR

Myra Holmes ASSISTANT EDITOR

Shelley Plett GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The Christian Leader [lSSN 0009 - 51491 is published bi - monthly by the U S Conferen ce of Mennonite Brethren Churches

MANDATE The Christian Leader seeks to inform Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activi ties , decisions and issues of their denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialogue so members will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelicaV Anabaptist theological tradition

EDITORIAL POLICY The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Christian Leader, the U S Conference Leadership Board or the Mennonite Brethren Church Scripture references are from New International Version unless otherwise noted The editors invite freelance article submissions A SASE must accompany articles

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> CONFERENCE CALL

Bible bookends

Reflecting on summer celebration events

The biblical anchor for our global Mennonite Brethren

150th anniversary celebration was Acts 17:24-28a: 'The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'"

We celebrated that God assigns every nation of people their times and places, and that it is his heart that all mankind will seek and find him, From every comer of the world, we welcomed one another to the birthday party, and the host nation of Canada welcomed us all.

At the closing rally, David Wiebe, executive director of the Canadian MB Conference, invited all the international guests to the front of the auditorium. That moment became a visual symbol of the long-term impact of a people on a mission. Those global guests were the spiritual progeny of the foreign missionary work of our forbearers.

It was my privilege to bookend the Celebration 2010 launching text with Revelation 5, where John celebrates the worthiness of the Lamb "to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." Worthy is the Lamb indeed!

My musings

The relatively strong registration for Renewing Identity and Mission (RIM) was noteworthy. So it seems we have a considerable interest in talking about our history and our theology. While that sounds like a good thing. it was also my casual observation that most of the RIM participants were of the more chronologically gifted sort. Further, while it may have been at least in part a function of geography, the Canadians were significantly better represented than were we Americans. Nonetheless, it was helpful to review the development of our evangelical-Anabaptist moorings, especially in our

biblicism and ecclesiology It was also encouraging to hear expressed an ongoing committnent to be people on a mission, committed to inviting lost people into a trust-follow relationship with Jesus

The not-so-strong registration for Celebration 2010 and Conection 2010 was disappointing. While it seems that some reasons may connect to distance and cost, history says that those factors have not normally been insurmountable barriers. Perhaps the current economic strain did playa larger role. It is already now my prayer that our next national convention (Conection 2012) scheduled for July 25-28 in Omaha, Neb., will right the ship on USMB attendance. That event will once again include a pastors' and spouses' event immediately preceding the convention.

Conection ZOIO

Our theme, "Life Transformation," was an appropriate and effective platform for stories of people being changed from lost to found and experiencing the presence and strength of the spirit of Jesus and their local church families in the challenges of their lives. Those stories emerged from all the districts of our national conference of churches and from the reports of our national and binational ministries and missions. Presidents Jules Glanzer (Tabor College) and Merrill Ewert (Fresno Pacific University) both shared vignettes about lives being transformed in the context of their campus communities .

It was encouraging to hear about ramped-up impact and effectiveness from pastors who are leading renewal at their local churches. The reports of church planting pastors about their missionary zeal and life change in their communities were stirring. May God grant us an ever-growing movement of church multiplication and renewal.

One more thing. Kudos to our USMB staff for faithful and effective service and leadership. Our team works on lean resources and regularly reaches beyond the call of duty. I commend Donna, Connie, Myra, Lori and Don to you for support and prayers.

-11 Post your comment on this column at usmb.orglchristian-leader

[ new 5 fro m the men non t e brethren world]

USC finishes fiscal year in the black

Church giving strong in spite of poor economy

Efforts by u.s. Conference (USC) ministries to run lean this past year paid off. as did endeavors to encourage congregations and individuals to continue their financial support of USMB ministries in spite of the sluggish economy.

End-of-the year financial reports released June 17 show that USC expenses. budgeted at $707.150. totaled $698.605. Giving from churches had been budgeted at $414.800. the lowest church-giving budget since 2003. Church giving totaled $404.840 while fund-raising efforts netted $203.954. almost $4.000 more than anticipated. Bottom line: With the addition of its additional income sources. the conference ended the year in the black

Last spring the USC Leadership Board. faced with an ongoing decline in church giving. asked USC staff to prune 2009- 10 expenses to match what it thought were realistic projections for church contributions and staff fundraising. While the 2008-09 budget of $902.973 reflected a comminnent to ministry growth. the 2009-10 budget would balance faith and pragmatism and that meant cutting back to the tune of $200.000.

The 2009-10 budget included a 48 percent reduction to the Christian Leader publishing lines. a 60 percent cut to the Mission USA program budget. a 15 percent reduction in administrative expenses and a modest budget for the national Board of Faith and Life. Financial support for a variety of national, binational and international Mennonite Brethren ministries remained steady. as did funding to support the denomination's participation in the National Association of Evangelicals and inter-Mennonite agencies . Delegates to the 2010 USC July convention approved a budget for the 2010-II fiscal year in the amount of $714.136. only a one percent increase from the previous year. The 2010-11 income budget projects church receipts totaling $419.596. fundraising to generate another $200.000 and $94.500 to come from other sources. Delegates were told that 49 percent of the budget ($348.090) would be invested in administration and leadership. 28 percent ($200.000) in Mission USA's work in church planting and renewal. 20 percent ($147 716) in communications and 3 percent ($17.400) to support the ministry of the national Board of Faith and Life.-Connie Faber

MBF adds capital campaign services

MB Foundation (MBF) is partnering with fund-raising experts Dickerson and Associates to offer capital campaign services. As the U.S. Mennonite Brethren stewardship agency. MBF has been the primary lender for MB organizations for decades. Now MBF is also poised to assist churches in raising capital.

'1\s churches pursue building projects. we are often involved in consulting with the church leadership on a variety of related matters. Our partnership with Dickerson and Associates uniquely positions us to provide a complete financial package as we help churches with biblical financial stewardship solutions." says Jon Wiebe. MBF president and CEO.

Founded in 1985. Dickerson and Associates has assisted Christian schools. colleges. camps. organizations and churches in meeting their fund -raising goals . With corporate offices in Colorado and full-time consultants living in several other states.

Dickerson and Associates has the tools and resources to serve the nationwide Mennonite Brethren community.

Each Dickerson and Associates campaign is based on biblical stewardship principles and is approached with a "teach. partner. guide" philosophy. Clark Dickerson. founder and president of Dickerson and Associates. says. '1\5 a former school teacher I know the importance of teaching and coaching So while Dickerson and Associates consultants will teach clients the 'ins and outs' of a stewardship program. we also come alongside like a good coach to partner with our clients to make sure the teaching is implemented properly."

To learn more. contact MB Foundation at 800-551-1547 or visit www mbfoundation.com/capitalcampaignservices The Web site for Dickerson and Associates is www dickersonandassociates.com. -MBF

Conference explores Siberian story

Building on a tradition of international scholarly exchange on Mennonite history, a June 2-4 conference in Omsk, Russia, showcased new scholarship on the history and culture of Mennonites in Siberia. The conference was co-sponsored by EM. Dostoevsky Omsk State Universiry, the University of Winnipeg and Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren university with a main campus in Fresno, Calif.

As in previous conferences in Chortitza, Ukraine, in 1999 and in Molotchna, Ukraine, in 2004, conference organizers aimed to bring together scholars from diverse linguistic, methodological and cultural backgrounds. Organizers say this type of international event allows for the cross ferrili2ation of ideas about the Mennonite story in Siberia.

Participants from Russia, Canada, the United States, Germany and Kazakhstan presented papers which illustrated various aspects of Mennonite religious, familial, social and political experiences in Imperial Russia, the Soviet Union and current-day Russia. Presentations on Mennonite settlement in Siberia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries challenged the dominant image of Siberia as a place of exile and suffering. These papers demonstrated that the first Mennonite settlers, such as Peter J. Wiens, arrived in Siberia with great hopes for themselves, their families and their communities. These papers also showed the commonalities between Mennonite settler life in Siberia and in other parts of the world.

Conference participants had the opportunity to view many of the themes presented firsthand, as the cultural program of the conference included a visit to a number of Mennonite communities west of Omsk. N .M. Dikman gave an emotional account of the persecution he experienced for his religious beliefs. Such accounts confirmed for participants that the persecution of religious communities lasted into the 1980s, with many leaders being arrested numerous times throughout their lives. In spite of this persecution, Mennonite religious and cultural life survives in Siberia.-Aileen Friesen

MCC plans for change

Mennonite is changing how it does its work but not the work Itself. That show Arli Klassen, MCC executive director, describes M CC's process of streamlining and shifting areas of responsibility among its member organizations. Klassen shared the current models for those changes-which she says are set in gelatin-at the June I1-12 meeting of MCC's binational delegate body. MCC is an Anabaptist peace, relief and service agency.

Since January a joint board team, with representatives from the MCC U.S., Canada and binational boards, has been providing overall leadership to design and transition teams that are proposing changes for the New Wineskins process. They are basing their ideas on MCC's New Wine consultations, which involved more than 2,000 people from 50 countries and finished in June 2009.

One ofthe teams' ideas is to shift much ofthe binational organization's work to MCC U.S. and MCC Canada. MCC would create a council to coordinate strategic planning and decide which proportion of funds different continents and programs would receive. It would receive authority from its member agencies. The joint board team is proposing that MCC Canada and MCC U.S. operate the international program together. The teams are receiving feedback and will seek full approval in 20Il from all of the boards for proposed changes. MCC expects most major changes to happen in 2012.-Celeste Kennel-Shank

NEW MCC U.S. STAFF

J. Ron Byler has been named transitional executive director of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) u.s. He succeeds Rolando Santiago, who completed his six-year term in August. Byler, of Goshen, Ind., will guide MCC U.S. through New Wineskins, an MCC-wide restructuring process, and will oversee all MCC programs in the United States.-MCC

FORUM SCHEDULED

A theological forum on the atoning sacrifice of Christ sponsored jointly by MB Biblical Seminary and the Southern District Faith and Life Commission will be held Sept. 10-11 at Memorial Road MB Church in Edmond, Okla. The forum is open to pastors, leaders and interested members of MB churches in the Midwest. To register and for additional information, including recommended hotels, contact the SOC office at 316722-8680 or www.sdcmb.org.

WORKER KILLED

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) worker Glen D. Lapp, 40, of Lancaster, Pa., was among 10 medical aid workers killed Aug. 8 in a shooting incident in northeastern Afghanistan. The team of four Afghans, six Americans, one Briton and one German worked with MCC partner organization International Assistance Mission, a Christian charity providing eye care and medical help in Afghanistan. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the assault, described as one of the most brutal attacks on aid workers since war began in 2001.-MCC

" tva y 5U{COv Y'E'R!

Landmark event commemorates 150-year-old MB movement

2010 Winter Olympics, the stylized image of an inukshuk was omnipresent The inukshuk , used by Inuit peoples of the eric for communication and survival, is a stone landmark in a form of a person. Often, it was a marker along travel routes . In other instances, the inukshuk indicated that one had arrived at an important destination - a place where food could be found or a place where the spirits dwell . As the Vancouver 2010 emblem, the inukshuk symbolized friendship , cooperation and the welcoming of the world

While the icon itself was absent, the sentiment for which the inukshuk stands was present as Mennonite Brethren from the U S and Canada gathered in the metro Vancouver area July 12- 18 for the North American celebration of the MB Church's 150th anniversary. The week' s program included four distinct events

• The Renewing Identity and Mission consultation (RIM), organized by the Historical Commission and the Center for MB Studies, took place July 12 - 14 at MBBS -ACTS on the Trinity Western University campus in Langley, BC

• Celebration 2010 took place July 14-16 (Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday evening) at Chandos Pattison Auditorium in Surrey

• While Coneerion 2010, the US Conference (USC) convention, took place July 15-16 (Thursday evening and Friday during the day) at Gracepoint Community Church, Surrey, BC, Gathering 2010, the Canadian Conference of MB Churches (CMBC) convention, took place at North Langley Community Church.

Saturday, July 17, conference participants spent the day visiting church plants in

The RIM consultation, held on the Trinity Western University Campus in Langley, drew more participants than expected, maxing out the dining hall and filling workshop rooms to capacity

the city of Vancouver. concluding with a worship service at the Vancouver Convention Center. overlooking Stanley Park and the now dormant Olympic cauldron

Marking the path

If attendance is any indication North American Mennonite Brethren are keenly interested in knowing where they've been in order to understand who they are and where they ought to go . Billed as a time of reflection and conversation on the identity and mission of Mennonite Brethren so that "we can live and serve Jesus faithfully within our changing times." the RIM consultation attracted 304 people (66 Americans. u6 C anadians 12 international guests) This was a pleasant surprise. given that organizers had expected only 200 attendees.

As might be expected. Mennonite Brethren continue to wrestle with the question. ''Who are we? " It appears however. that clear markers have been established Perhaps it's because a younger and more multicultural generation of leaders have joined the conversation or because time has provided a broader perspective But Mennonite Brethren seem more prepared to affirm that they are a unique mix of evangelicalism and Anabaptisrn and are ready and willing to build upon that dual identity.

As the consultation came to a close. a number of clear directions for the future emerged RIM participants left with a deeper appreciation of MB and a much stronger sense of family. There was strong desire to be people who continue to pray and study Scripture together. There was a strong call to pursue a more holistic mission that integrates heart and mind. witness and service. church planting and peacemaking.

A more detailed report on the Renewing Identity and Mission consultation begins on page II

Friendship, cooperation and welcome

For the first time since zooz. when the General Conference was dissolved. Canadian and U.S. Mennonite Brethren met to both worship God and hear about their cooperative ventures . Organizers were disappointe<! that attendance was lower than expected but delegates and

We've got it covered

Through Facebook. a blog. online updates and the magazine you're holding. the Christian Leader and MB Herald worked hard to bring you the news of Celebration 2010. held July IZ17 in Vancouver. BC. The Celebration ZOIO news team included Connie Faber. CL editor; Myra Holmes. CL assistant editor; J Janzen. MBH interim editor; Karla Braun. MBH associate editor; Barrie McMaster. MBH BC regional correspondent; Kyle Thomas. Canadian MB Conference interactive designer ; and Audrey Plew. MBH graphic designer.

Extended coverage of Celebration 2010 events are posted online at www.usmb.orglchristian-Ieader.

guests enjoyed a rich time of singing and storytelling

The Wednesday evening session focused on MB identity. highlighting the fact that the renewal movement of 1860 has grown to become "a beautiful mosaic" - an international multicultural community of Christians In fact. John Sankara Rao of India and Nzuzi Mukawa of DR Congo acknowledged that American. Canadian and European MBs have welcomed the world into God's kingdom as a result of their cooperation in mission . Thursday's binational session included a brief

At the outset of Tuesday's plenary RIM session, Victor Wall. outgoing ICOMB general secretary. presents editor Abe Dueck with a "launch" copy of Celebrating 150 Years: The Mennonite Brethren Church Around the World

update from the H istorical Commission. followed by lengthy reports from MBMS International (MBMSI) and MB Biblical Seminary (MBBS) Delegates rejoiced in the many stories of people around the world experiencing friendship with Jesus as a result of MBMSI's work There was also a sense of loss as MBBS reported on the recent decision to ttansfer MBBS - Fresno to Fresno Pacific University. Delegates were saddened that a long -time cooperative effort was now at an end. By Friday evening delegates were in a celebratory mood once more Guests were reminded again that Mennonite Brethren are a community of people called to mission Testimonies and the plenary speaker called the MB Church to continue to pray and work at welcoming the world into a relationship with Jesus .

To read more about Celebration ZOIO and Experience Vancouver. see pages 13 - 17.

Refuel and reorient

Almost lost in the shuffle was the fact that Gathering ZOIO marked the C anadian Conference's looth anniversary. Thursday evening CCMBC delegates looked back on a century of changes in which Canadian Mennonite Brethren moved from an inward-looking. survival mentality to an outward-focused. mission mentality. Delegates celebrated the foresight of past leaders who exercised remarkably effective financial stewardship even as they built schools churches and mission agencies Delegates acknowledged that the blessings of the last century have not been without their challenges Becoming a diverse family as a result of geography. immigration. evangelistic efforts and God's blessing has meant that Canadian MBs have struggled to be a community and continue to wrestle with questions of unity and identity

Recent changes at MB Biblical Seminary were a topic of conversation at both national conference business sessions . Although their ques -

tions were unique to their respective conferences. Canadian and U.S. delegates shared a common concern for how the recent decision to transfer MB Biblical Seminary-Fresno to Fresno Pacific University will impact theological education and pastoral training .

A more detailed report on Conection ZOIO begins on page z8. A report on Gathering ZOIO is posted online at www.usmb.orglchristian-leader

A sacred place

In the end. though some would have liked more prayer. or more Bible study. or more singing. Canadian and U .S. Mennonite Brethren

Kids celebrate .. too

leh with a sense that they had encountered God. Having paused on the journey to celebrate the past and to take stock of the present. participants had a clear understanding that Mennonite Brethren remain far from perfect.

As they looked ahead. participants recognized that Mennonite Brethren aren't entirely sure how they will make their way forward Nevertheless. Americans and Canadians departed with the humble confidence that they were on sacred ground. knowing that the God they have followed for the last 150 years will lead them well into the next century and a half.-J Janzen

Fun, friendships mark age-appropriate parties."

While adults marked the 150th annivetsary of the Mennonite Brethren at Celebration ZOIO July 14-16. kids were celebrating in their own. age-appropriate ways.

During Thursday's binational reporting sessions. 19 children age IZ and under from the U.S • Canada and Thailand met at Chandos Pattison Auditorium to make "fruit of the Spirit" kabobs. then headed to the Vancouver Zoo for a walking education tour and train ride. They

ended the day with a birthday party for the MB Church. complete with cake. party hats and blowets.

During the Canadian and U.S. national gatherings Thursday evening and Friday. vacation Bible school-like activities were planned at both North Langley Community Church and at Gracepoint Community Church. respectively. The two groups-four children from the U.S. and 15 Canadians-joined Friday for an outing to The Great Escape. an indoor amusement park.

Meanwhile. 10 teens came to the opening Celebration service Wednesday packed for two days of fun and networking at Columbia Bible College. an MB-supported Bible school. At the end of the opening session. the teens were transported to the Bible college campus in Abbotsford .

The group. ages 14 to 18. spent Thursday in informational sessions on post-secondary options for education and mission with representatives from MBMS International. Fresno Pacific University. Ministry Quest. Canadian Mennonite University and Columbia Bible College. The day closed with a pizza-and-ice-cream celebration of the MB 150th anniversary. Friday's highlight was a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium.-Myra Holmes

Teens who came to Celebration 2010 spent time on the Columbia Bible College campus learning about education and mission opportunities. Organizer Candice Green says they formed close relationships in a short time. "It was such a blessing to see how God brought them together and knocked down any relational barriers that may have been there on that first day."

Consultation explores MB identity, theology and mission

Workshops, plenary sessions attract diverse crowd

••After 150 years, you 'd think we'd know who we are," one participant noted at the Renewi ng Identity and Mission (RIM) consultation held July 12- 14 as part of Celebration 2010 Pastors, historians and seminarians presented 30 papers in IS workshops, examining facets of MB history, theology and practice. International guests , speaking at two evening plenary sessions, provided a global flavor Their presentations were followed by small group discussions that in tum gave feedback to the large group .

The consultation drew 300 participants, more than expected. Workshop presenters and plenary speakers faced the challenge of addressing an audience that ran the gamut from professional church historians and theologians to interested church members with no prior knowledge of MB history and theology

Themes emerged and were repeated Diverse influences on the movement have always raised questions about what it means to be Mennonite Brethren . But they have also formed the denomination into an entrepreneurial community of believe rs with a strong commitment to evangelism, biblicism and a personally-experienced faith Assessment of how well Mennonite Brethren actually live out the values professed was largely absent at RIM .

Not abominations

Alfred Neufeld's plenary address Monday night set the tone . Throughout the consultation, Neufeld's phrase, "denominations are not abominations" was often repeated According to Neufeld, denominations are a picture of how with ' bumbleness and even gratitude for the historic perspectives and special gifts, every church is able to contribute to the wider body of Christ."

Neufeld. a theologian and leader in the Paraguay MB Conference and Mennonite World Conference, surveyed 16 commentators' assessment of the birth and development of the denomination Not to '1ead us to a proud hagiography, " he said, "but simply to the consciousness that God has entrusted to us some precious jewels, some considerable talents, so that we might multiply them and do things berter in the future "

Neufeld encouraged the MB church to recover its "apostolic and prophetic origins" in living out its mission today. He urged the MB church to be critical not only of the broader cultural context but also of its own cuttent practice

Vision for holistic mission

Tuesday evening four international presenters spoke of mission

John Shankar Rao of India and Nzuzi Mukawa of DR Congo spoke with gratitude about the first missionaries who risked safety and com -

Nzuzi Mukawa spoke passionately about the suffering experienced by Congolese people He was one of four international speakers to address the issue of mission at the second RIM plenary session

fort to spread the gospel in foreign lands, "so that today we might have Jesus, " said Mukawa. Today, Indian and Congolese Mennonite Brethren risk health and security to bring news of the gospel to their neighbors Shankar Rao urged the church to train young people as rigorously as Osama bin Laden trains terrorists. "not for destruction. but for the gospel. " ,

Cesar Garcia of Colombia spoke of suffering in his homelana as well as opportunity for further mission through "traditional" methodsthe Colombian church has sent missionaries to Peru Panama and Mexico - and migration, a method dating beyond 1860 to the New Testament church

The MB church in Germany comprised largely of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, has seen this phenomenon as well, said

Johann Matthies. European mission development team leader for MBMS International in Europe. These "Umsiedler" struggle to connect with a culture that sees the church as a bridge to nowhere.

Workshops

RIM workshop papers were academic and favored the more knowledgeable attendees. but the lively discussions that followed each presentation made room for all. Workshops were 90-minute sessions. with two presenters each allotted about 2S minutes after introductions; 30 minutes were given to questions from the floor.

The three sessions in each time slot were organized loosely around themes: MB identity. MB theology and MB mission. Some of the workshop pairings were only tangentially related to each other. so facilitators either dealt with the papers separatelyor moderated question and answer periods that ping-ponged from one topic to the other.

Only six of the 30 RIM workshop presenters were American. not including the Board of Faith and Life session that had equal Canadian and U.S. representation. so American perspectives were largely unrepresented at the binational event.

Identity: Debate continues

The majority of the 10 workshop papers presented in Track I explored questions of identity in the context of Mennonite Breth!en history. Presenters frequently spoke of the inherent difficulty in labeling MB identity and theology. "Despite the fact that the (MB) movement claimed to associate with Anabaptists. in many ways they intentionally borrowed from others." said Bruce Guenther. calling this amalgamation a "new way of doing Mennonite."

Baptists and Pietists were among those borrowed influences frequently cited. The influence of evangelicalism. specifically the current trend among U.S. and Canadian Mennonite Brethren to describe themselves as both evangelical and Anabaptist. was also explored.

Theology: Community henneneutics

Track 2. sessions highlighted the importance of community hermeneutic-the buzzword of the week-and the theme of conflict also ran through the workshops. "The Bible is always right. but is our interpretation correct?" asked Tim Geddert. 'We must engage with people-it makes our theology better."

The papers in this track showed how working together at theology plays out in a variety of scenarios: understanding our Confession of Faith, navigating a contentious issue, understanding the role of family systems in conflict within churches, living as peacemakers and as disciples of Christ and doing theology with other Mennonites. A question and answer session with members of the U.S. and Canadian Boards of Faith and Life highlighted several topics, including whether the boards should playa prophetic role.

Mission: "In the DNA"

RIM participants heard from the platform and the floor that a heart for missions and a desire to reach unsaved people "is in the DNA of Mennonite Brethren." Track 3 provided an overview of 2010 mission realities. The opportunities and challenges of the digital world. opportunities to partner in holistic church planting. the essential role Western workers still play in global missions. ministry among young adults. developing confessional unity among the 19 national MB conferences. the value of innovation combined with a return to the basics when planting churches and becoming a multicultural church were cited as some of the new issues in mission work.

Workshops also highlighted realities that remain the same today as in the past: Some people are so spiritually hungry that they risk family expulsion. peril and arrest to follow Jesus. Believers who live an authentic life can engage those who seem spiritually indifferent.

Former MB mission fields are sending their own missionaries abroad. Postsecondary students need to see faith communities modeling the life of Jesus and inviting them in.

Reviewing what was heard As befits a consultation. participants had the last word at RIM. During the final session Wednesday morning. participants sat around tables discussing the consultation and then presenting their findings to the larger group.

Confession of Faith boundaries, how to do mission and how to value and engage the voices of young people in the church were among topics identified for further conversation.

Participants felt that while they had only scratched the surface. there was plenty to affirm and excitement for what they had learned over the three days.

There were some cautions. too. One speaker warned against spiritual arrogance and exclusivity and another highlighted the value of spending time face-to-face. Several asked: Where was the time spent praying together?

"The local church is like a nuclear family." said Tor Norris of Country Bible Church, Orland, Calif. 'We have to grow with each new spouse.

Each new culture enriches us, makes us more complete." said Norris. 'We're going to be losing our current identity as we give it away. In return, well take on more and more the identity of Jesus Christ." - Karla Braun, with reports from Barrie McMaster and Connie Faber; read extended coverage online at www.usmb.orglchristian-leader

Alfred Neufeld gave the opening RIM plenary address.

While Vancouver is known as the world-class city that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, North American Mennonite Brethren will remember this city as the backdrop for another once-in-a-lifetime event: Celebration 2010, a weeklong occasion July 12-18 celebrating the Isoth anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren Church.

Organizers anticipated that the historic nature of Celebration 2010 would draw large numbers, similar to the joint gathering held eight years ago on the occasion of the dissolution of the binational General Conference. While the 2002 three-day event, held in neighboring Abbotsford, BC, drew over 1,500 attendees, including 195 U.S. and 440 Canadian Conference delegates, the 2010 event atttacted an estimated 900 people, including 173 U.S. and 369 Canadian Conference delegates.

Wmning the lost

Poll the soo-plus delegates who did attend Celebration 2010 about their historic experience and they will talk about winning. They aren't referring to Olympic wins-or losses-on the slopes and at the ice rinks. Celebration 2010 confirms that hearing of lost people finding Jesus, whether shared in the form of personal life ttansformation stories, reports of new local and global outreach efforts or mission field narratives, is what ignites the passion of North American Mennonite Brethren.

Other themes emerged throughout the week. Mennonite Brethren are global. We are unique yet embrace working with other denominations as part of Christ's larger church. We see amazing fruit from the missionary efforts of early Mennonite Brethren. We "stand on the shoulders of giants" and do so with many feet.

The two Celebration 2010 evening programs were organized around the themes of identity (Wednesday) and mission (Friday). Sandwiched between was the one -day Binational Reporting Session that included a brown-bag picnic lunch on the lawn outside Chandos Pattison Auditorium on Surrey's Pacific Academy campus.

Giving thanks

Americans and Canadians kicked off the opening evening's celebration awash in the chorus, "God of Wonders," and surrounded by waving flags from countries where the Mennonite Brethren Church exists today.

In their welcome, David Wiebe, Canadian Conference executive director, and Ed Boschman, U.S. Conference executive director, noted with thanks that out of 18 households, God has created a global family of 400,000 Mennonite Brethren who worship in more than 20 languages. "Once our existence as a movement took off," Wiebe said, "it seems God was using the movement to bring honor and glory to him."

Praise and gratitude also characterized the vignettes that followed. Against the backdrop of video projected images, three readers traced the history of MB identity from its origins among DutchGerman-Russian people . Stories from leaders of church plants and established congregations in Lenoir, North Carolina; Montreal, Quebec; Draper, Utah; and Altona , Man , offered a vivid picture of Mennonite Brethren today.

Randy Friesen and other MBMSI staff took delegates around the world of MB mission work in 80 minutes.

The evening's featured speakers affirmed that the future hope is already a present reality. John Shankar Rao, director of evangelism and church planting for the India MB Conference, was the first MB convert from a Hindu background. He thanked Russian, Canadian and U.S. Mennonite Brethren for their work in India, where the MB church numbers more than 100,000.

Nzuzi Mukawa, a professor at the School of Missiology in Kinshasa, DR Congo, spoke on behalf of the 100,000 Mennonite Brethren in his country when he said, 'Thank you for giving us Jesus. He is our hope! He is our future!"

Called to suffer

Both Shakar Rao and Mukawa said that suffering is part of the MB identity. They noted that Jesus suffered on the cross, 16th century Anabaptists were martyred for their faithfulness, the first Mennonite Brethren were arrested and beaten for their convictions and that today Mennonite Brethren in India and Africa die because of persecution and poverty.

The message was clear. As history indicates, Mennonite Brethren followers of Jesus will need to be a people who suffer. Fortunately, as history also indicates, suffering has never hindered God's work.

"Let's fight the good fight and keep the faith even in pain and suffering," Mukawa said, 'That's our calling. That's our identity."

Reports build on themes

Thursday, delegates heard reports from various mInlstnes Historical Commission chair Peter Klassen and executive secretary Abe Dueck spoke of the role history plays in building unity. Victor Wall, executive secretary for the International Community of Mennonite Brethren, described the MB Church as a global international church that blesses and empowers one another. Danisa Ndow, Mennonite World Conference president and a Zimbabwean, brought greetings and invited the delegates "to confront the issues we face in this life, the forces that hinder us from seeing God as he is."

<i\. story of mission"

MBMS International geheral director Randy Friesen told delegates, "The story of the MB family is a story of mission. Some have said Wycliffe lit a match, Luther lit a torch and Anabaptists lit a bonfire."

Using an interactive world map, Friesen and other MBMSI workers took delegates "around the world in 80 minutes" in a report that highlighted the history, current workers and projects and the future vision in seven locations. 'We are being stretched as a family to engage in global mission," Friesen said. The report is posted online at www.mbmsi.org/celebration2010.

<i\. perfect storm"

Jack Falk, chair of the MB Biblical Seminary board, described "a perfect storm of circumstances" that made changes necessary at the 55year-old MB Biblical Seminary, the denomination's school for theo-

David Manuel, front row center, is surrounded by family and friends following the conferral of his honorary doctorate from MBBS.

logical graduate education with campuses in Fresno, Calif , in Langley, BC, with ACTS Seminary and in Winnipeg, Man., on the Canadian Mennonite University campus.

MBBS is among seminaries that have been forced to grapple with declining student populations and increased online learning, said Falk. In the United States, the MBBS Fresno campus has been transferred to Fresno Pacific University. In Canada, a MBBS task force has been working to strengthen the partnership with the ACTS consortium and to provide additional resources to the program at CMU. Delegates learned that Lynn Jost continues as president while other educational , structures are being developed in both countries and will serve longterm as functional head of the Fresno program.

The MBBS presentation concluded with a ceremony awarding an honorary doctorate to David Manuel, a pastor currently serving South Abbotsford MB Church, in recognition of his decades of work in groundbreaking indo-Canadian ministry.

"We just speak about Jesus"

Friday evening, the plenary speaker was a media evangelist known as the "Billy Graham of North Africa." The MBMSI worker, whose name is not being printed to protect his ministry, talked about a powerful response to the gospel in one of the ripest fields in the world.

'This time is the harvesttime in North Africa and the Middle East," the speaker said. 'We need to use the time because one day we

will lose it. The door is open for you and me to share the gospel with Muslims everywhere in the world."

He said, ''As Mennonite Brethren, we have a unique message, a peaceful message. We don't speak about Islam; we don't speak about Mohammed; we just speak about Jesus. I talk about the light I don't have time to talk about the darkness."

He spoke of the response to this message-thousands coming to Jesus every day, despite persecution, and an underground church growing so quickly that one house church leader complained about running out of room.

The speaker concluded with a challenge "Say yes to God," he implored. '1\nything God has done anytime, he can do it now Anything God has done anywhere, he can do it here. Anything he has done with anybody, he can do with you."

"Still work to be done"

Underscoring the mission-minded message, a variety of stories told of Mennonite Brethren who are saying yes to God and to the mission field in Kansas City, Mo., Sacramento, Calif., Moose Jaw, Sask., and Vancouver, BC. "My mission in Kansas City and our mission in our everyday lives is not over," said Paul Bartel. 'There's still work to be done."

Communion, together with singing and a prayer time for those who don't yet know Christ, was a fitting close for the evening. Worship leader Johnny Markin and team sent attendees back to their mission fields with a high-energy reminder of the source of salvation. Strains of ''What can wash away my siJ;l? Nothing but the blood of

Jesus," and "He is mighty to save, our God is mighty to save," reverberated through the auditorium.

A simple prayer served as both summary and sending for a people still on mission: "So, Lord, take lis as you find us. We surrender. Amen." -Connie Faber with reports from Myra Holmes, J Janzen and Barrie McMaster

BC Conference minister Steve Berg an d MBBS faculty member Va l erie Rempel were the emcees at aU Celebration 2010 events.

Young leaders share experience

To encourage attendance among young adults, the U S and Canadian national conferences waived the Celebration ZOIO registration fee for a limited number of participants and offered 0eportunities outside regular conference activities

Ten Canadians and two Americans - Joanna Chappa from La 'lexas, and MicheUe Ferguson from Fresno, Calif.,-attendtld the "young leaders track" facilitated by Canadian conference development staff person Cam Priebe

The goals of the yOung leaders track, says Priebe, were to create QppOnunity for meaningful involvement for these delegates, to provide netWork opportunities and workshops for self-assessment and to C9nnect young leaders with the work and workers of the cooference. A higblight was "watching them dive in to the fun opponunity of networking and just in general, being curious about what they could learn from others," said Priebe

For U S participants, the registration costs for the RIM eonsultation as wen as the binational gatherings and national conven -

tion were covered The Canadian Conference covered the registradon lee and offered traVel bursaries; thl} Canadian Board of Faith and,Ue RIM registration To qualify. a post-high sclool aduJtunderl1ge :18 had to be a member at an MB thutchoreittOlled in an MB-academic institution and be recommended by an MB pastorlleader Or professor.

Al the campus in Langley, Be, Priebe hOSJe<i two extnlc;urrieuJar se5$ioos for the young leaded outSide,of regular conventjon activities Wednesday and Friday, providing a some leadership building exercises, networking opponunities.an4 a forUm to'<iebrief the experience.

"It's events like Celebration and opportunities such as the young leaders portion tbat encourages me that I will not be alone tomorrow- there are passionate young people seeking after our Lord and his mission," said Chappa - Karla Braun and Connie Faber

Wall is all about radical relationships

Learning t o relate as siblings requires new skills

For five years Victor Wall has traveled the globe representing the International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) to the 18 national conferences that comprise the worldwide Mennonite Brethren Church. Wall, 55, was ICOMB's first executive secretary, serving part-time. Wall has resigned his position with ICOMB in order to serve as president of the Bible College (IBA), a Mennonite Brethren educational institution in Paraguay, his home country, and on the faculty of Evangelical University of Paraguay.

As one of his final ICOMB duties, Wall attended Celebration 2,010, the North American celebration of the 150th anniversary of the MB Church. Connie Faber, Christian Leader editor, interviewed Wall during Celebration 2,010 on behalf of the CL and the MB Herald. It quickly became apparent in their conversation that Wall is a people person. Asked about highlights of the past five years, Wall's comments centered on people. Invited to reflect on challenges, his reply focused on relationships. Asked what he will miss, Wall says it's people. Here are excerpts of their conversation.

What are the highlights of the past five years?

VW: Beside the official meetings we have had in different countries, visiting churches and sharing with pastors would be number one. I will miss the inspiration that comes from talking to people and leaders from other conferences. We are family, and it is a different experience to

Caption: David Wiebe (teft) , Canadian Conference ICOMB representative, offers a prayer of blessing for Victor Wall, outgoing ICOMB executive secretary. Wiebe will be serving as the interim ICOMB executive secretary.

hear someone from another context (India and Africa) tell our Anabaptist story, as we did this week.

We have made very clear steps forward in the area of education, resulting in the first consultation on higher education planned for next summer We finalized the global scholarship fund which will be administered by MBMS International. This is how ICOMB becomes reality: following through on good ideas.

On a personal level, getting to know brothers and sisters around the world has been a good experience. I think I could find a Mennonite Christian on any continent who would love me and take me to his house. In this time of individualism, this is very important and moving forme.

What challenges do you see ahead for ICOMB?

VW: One thing for everyone-not just ICOMB-is to work hard to have healthy churches and healthy leaders. All cultures have dangers and offer opportunities and we must be watchful and prepared.

How ICOMB becomes flesh, what we make out of the name, is a challenge. It requires that we grow our relationships deep: that we be accountable to each other as national conferences about our faithfulness to Jesus and that we find more ways to learn from each other.

Relationships grow when we recognize gifrs Some conferences have more gifrs in some areas than others. Instead of seeing this in a negative way, we are invited to see this as the glorious mysteries of Christ in us. Our coming together is more complete when we find ways to recognize our gifts.

To become a missional people on an international level is a challenge. How do we do mission from everywhere to everywhere? How do we do this together? MBMS International is giving very valuable leadership, yet we need to create new models.

The challenge is in how we relate to each other. It is more than partnering together. Partnership is a pragmatic relationship. Partnership is not enough. Community is what we be together. We need to have relationships that help us to understand the relationship of the trinity of God. This is very radical.

Do you have a word for North American Mennonite Brethren?

VW: For North American MBs, ICOMB becomes meaningful in a special way. To a large extent, ICOMB is the harvest of a strong missionary endeavor. And now you have decided to relate to the other MB Conferences as "siblings" and no longer as "parents" and so you are learning to relate in new ways .

I thank God that North American MBs continue to have many resources, many opportunities and much influence. Also, having provided sttong leadership on a healthy spiritual and theological basis, Mennonite Brethren around the world continue to look for guidance to

MBs in the north. Please do not forget this-when you make decisions, when you go new ways, when you discern about ethics, when you relate to culture and national politics, you do not "travel" alone. Larger and also smaller MB conferences, your "siblings," are traveling with you and you with them. In changing times, the strengthening of our historic theological identity combined with eagerness for spiritual renewal is our common inherited responsibility.

I thank God for your strong missionary zeal. which is becoming paradigmatic within our Anabaptist circles. Praise God for thisl At the

same time, I am trying hard to understand what has happened in the relationship between church/conference and school. This without any doubt represents a tough challenge.

Another task, not easy for sure, is to work on the relationship to the spiritual past. In a time and in a culture where people are looking for experiences that empower their daily lives, a strong and lengthy spiritual heritage has much to offer. But it is challenging to communicate this heritage to a new generation. Might ICOMB be of any encouragement?

Delegates experience Vancouver

Seeing the city as a major urban mission field

Vancouver is an international city of youth and vigor, wealth and culture. Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities to live inand arguably one of the most beautiful. It is also one of the least churched major cities in North America.

With these facts, Canadian and American delegates to Celebration 2010 were introduced to a major urban mission field. Church Planting BC (formerly the BC Conference Board of Church Extension) welcomed everyone to "Experience Vancouver."

The day lived up to its title. More than 200 delegates boarded five charter buses, each one hosted by one of the 10 Vancouver church planting couples. The delegates traveled Vancouver streets, seeing the posh retail areas, the homeless on the Downtown Eastside and the ministries that assist them and the ordinary-looking, million-dollar homes.

They visited church plant neighborhoods, saw the 'bubs" (shared office/meeting facilities provided by the BC Conference for church planters), and met church planters who told the story of bringing the gospel to the city. They told what it cost, personally and in dollars.

One church planter told how he would walk through the trendy Yaletown condo area and be told to leave. Another reported that a church planter can't knock on the doors of high-rise homes, so you try to get to know people in parks and community centers.

Delegates also heard that some church plants are already sponsoring missionaries. They were told it is a blessed frustration to minister to an immigrating population; to baptize 50 new believers only to watch almost all of them move away as they settle in their new land. They heard another planter repeatedly say that it's all by God's grace that the church he serves has grown to three services in two locations in just five yearswith 70 percent of the 700 atrending between the ages of 20 and 30.

While each bus took a slightly different route and visited different church plant neighborhoods and locations, all five buses converged in Kitsilano's Vanier Park, across the False Creek mouth from the high rises of Vancouver's West End, for a time of prayer They were invited to pray individually or in small groups for Vancouver, for the unreached and for the church planters.

Following a stroll along the water's edge to Granville Island, the groups visited one of the hubs before proceeding to the dockside Public Market and lunch. The day concluded with a rally in one of the meeting rooms at the new Vancouver Convention Center on the south shore of Vancouver Harbor.

One delegate said the tour helped her appreciate the challenges of church planting in a city. Another said, "It sounds like a lot when you hear they (Church Planting BC) have a budget of a million dollars, until you think about the information we got today on the cost of renting homes and meeting space. The cost of doing business blew my mindl"

At the end of the day, one delegate said, "I get it. Now I see what this is about. 111 pray." -Barrie McMaster

As "Experience Vancouver" participants walked from Vanier Park to Granville Island, they were invited to pray for the city and the Mennonite Brethren church planters who are ministering in this urban setting.

Celebrating our birthday around the globe

The international Mennonite Brethren community, now a body of 280,000 believers, presently worships in 18 countries. This year, national conferences around the world are celebrating the I50th anniversary of the MB Church.

India

The MB church in India celebrated the 150th anniversary Jan. 17 on the hospital grounds at Jadcherla, Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 2,000 gathered for a day-long program, which included a presentation on Anabaptist history; the launch of Knowing and Living Your Faith, a study guide to the ICOMB confession of faith, just printed in Telugu; the Lord's Supper, a ground-breaking for a monument to mark the occasion and a meal.

Panama

Panamanian Mennonite Brethren celebrated 150 years of Mennonite Brethren worldwide and 50 years of the Panama MB Church at the United Evangelical Church (MB) convention Feb. 26-28 in Chepo. Most of the 643 guests came from the 13 Wounaan/Embera congregations and were joined by former missionaries and International Community of Mennonite Brethren and MBMS International representatives. Peter Loewen of Canada gave an overview of church history up to the birth of the Mennonite Brethren, former missioqary John Goertz shared the Panama conference's history and Alina Itucama described the church today and its vision for the future.

Japan

This year, the Japan Mennonite Brethren conference marked 60 years since the first MB missionaries came to Japan. Some 800 guests attended the April 29 anniversary service held at Nakanoshima Chuou Kokaido, where evangelistic meetings had been held to follow up the MB mission board's gospel radio program. Stephen S. Friesen, who planted Meguminooka MB Church and Komaki Hope Chapel, was the main speaker. Turi Mori, a well-known Japanese gospel singer, was guest musician.

Germany

A series of events May 13-24 comprised this global celebration. An ICOMB symposium exploring the history and theology of the MB Church held in Oerlinghausen May 13-14 drew about 200 participants. Participants toured Mennonite heritage sites in Germany, Switzerland and Ukraine. A Pentecost Missions Conference attended by European Mennonite Brethren and international guests was held May 22-24 in Lemgo- Brake and Detmold.

PortugaL

The Portugal church, one of the youngest Mennonite Brethren conferences, gathered at a 200-year-old farm June 5 to celebrate both the development of a 2005 church plant into an established congregation and the international MB church's 150th

anniversary. The celebration included baptisms, promotion of the ICOMB Confession of Faith study guide and a report on the 150th anniversary celebrations in Germany.

North America

Canadian and U.S. churches celebrated together July 12-18 in Langley and Surrey, BC, with a consultation on Renewing Identity and Mission, evening worship services, binational and international ministry reports and a closing rally

BraziL

The Brazilian MB conference will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the MB church Nov. 12-15.

u.s. representatives Carol and Ed Boschman, center, were among the many Mennonite Brethren, including a Japanese delegation, that traveled to Germany for the global celebration of the 150th anniversary of the MB Church.

It all adds up to one

Korean pastor encourages MBs to work together to reach Japanese

If the U.S. Mennonite Brethren mission statement had a spokesperson, he might speak with a Korean accent.

Meet Travis Koh, pastor of Oneness in Christ Church, a Korean-language house church in the Los Angeles, Calif., area that was welcomed into the Pacific District Conference last fall. For Koh, the USMB mission statement-one family, one Lord, one mission-pretty much sums up what he and his congregation are all about.

"I absolutely love this phrase!" he says "I think I am beginning to understand what this phrase truly means."

It takes just a few minutes of conversation with Koh to figure out that he's focused on one Lord: "Jesus Christ is priority in my life," he says plainly. He describes himself as "an American who was born in Korea and educated in Japan. But more importantly, I am God's servant."

That wasn't always true. Koh was raised as a Buddhist, trained as a lawyer and worked with a major financial company but "became lost in this world," he says. When he hit a low point in 2003 and even contemplated suicide, a friend suggested he attend a retreat. While there, Christ revealed himself in a dramatic vision.

"My life is totally changed," Koh says.

He began to pray for hours daily and attended church for a thousand days straight, making Christ the priority even over work. Eventually, he attended seminary and served on staff at a large Korean Presbyterian church About a year ago a small group of about 15-20 from that church started -a house church with Koh as their pastor. They chose the name Oneness in Christ to reflect their belief that Christians must be united. "Oneness is a very important word," Koh says

Koh became acquainted with the Mennonite Brethren through Loyal Funk, former leader of U.S. MB work with immigrant congregations, and through PDC ministers Gary Wall and Jose Elizondo. As he studied this new-to-him group of believers, Koh was impressed with the Mennonite Brethren's long history, organization, integrity and priority on Jesus, which, of course, squares with his personal priority. "There is no other way-only Jesus," he says. ''That is everything "

Then, to his surprise and delight, he learned that the MB mission statement is all about "oneness"-just like his congregation. 'We have to be one under Jesus Christ's umbrella," he says. 'We have to know each other; we have to work together."

Partly because of this emphasis on being one, Koh says he is very pleased to now be part of the Mennonite Brethren family. "It has been a blessing to discover the Mennonite Brethren," he says.

Two Mennonite Brethren pastors, Korean pastor Travis Koh (right) and Japanese pastor Takao Nakamura, and their congregations are working together to share the gospel in Japan.

Koh would like to see Mennonite Brethren work together on "one mission" to better reach the Japanese people. He and the Oneness in Christ congregation take very seriously Christ's command to go and make disciples as found in Matthew 28:18-20. Specifically, the congregation believes they have been called to reach the Japanese people.

Although Japan has a large economy and much wealth, the spiritual need is great. While official statistics place 2 to 3 percent of the population in a broad Christian category, many say the actual percentage of active Christians is much smaller- Koh says only about 0.1 percent. Idol worship is prevalent, and many Japanese think of Jesus as just one of their 800 gods. 'i\.Ithough there are many Christian organizations and leaders working in Japan. the realiry is that the gospel is failing to reach and expand in many parts of the nation," Koh says.

Oneness in Christ feels called to do something about this. 'We have decided to commit ourselves to spreading the gospel in Japan," says Koh.

To that end, Oneness in Christ is partnering with Bonita Japanese Bible Church. a Japanese -language MB congregation in the San Diego area. led by Takao Nakamura. a fonner leader in the Japanese MB Church. Koh travels to San Diego to work with and be mentored by Nakamura at least twice a week.

"The two churches have united in our vision and have been cooperating in our work to fulfill our mission," Koh says. 'We believe that the Lord will guide us and enable us to bear fruit according to his will when the time comes."

Koh sees a particular need for a new generation ofleaders in the church in Japan. He dreams of bringing young Japanese church leaders to the U.S . for training. using Bonita as a kind of "home base," then sending them back to serve in Japan.

If it seems odd that a Korean church in America would have a passion for reaching the Japanese. remember that their focus is not on any cultural differences, but simply on one Lord. "Of course we are Korean; they are Japanese, but the most important thing is that we are sons of Jesus Christ. That's why we think about just the important thing and forget about the past things; we just think about what we have to do under Jesus." Koh says.

He hopes that the larger MB church will catch the vision for ministry in Japan and work as

When Travis Koh became a Christian he prioritized his new faith over all else, even work, praying for hours daily and attending church for a thousand consecutive days,

one to reach Japanese for Jesus. ''As members of the MB family. we need to continue to pray and seek each others' support." he says. He suggests that communication between the U.S .• Canada and Japan will be vital for further ministry in Japan. He asks the larger MB family to pray for him. for Oneness in Christ and for their vision.

"I believe that we need to shine upon the nation of Japan with the living light of our Lord and seek the people in Japan that are lost and trapped in this materialistic world." Koh says. "We all must work toward this assignment through God."

It's a big need and a big assignment, granted But it's possible when one family works together through one Lord. "We are weak. but my Father is very strong." Koh says. "My Father has guided me until now. That's why I have inner conviction that from now on he will guide me and guide the members of the MB church and he1! use us to do his work." -Myra Holmes

Helping churches take the next step

Pritchard new MBMSI regional mobilizer

My heart is to see the church engaged in mission," says Jon Pritchard, who has been serving since January as the MBMS International regional mobilizer for the Midwest United States. 'This is much broader than churches offering mission opportunities. It is disci piing people to reach out to their immediate community and beyond."

Pritchard's commitment to discipleship and evangelism is evident in his own life. He met his wife, Juana, while working with a Mexico City church plant under the auspices of the Coalition of Anabaptist Mennonite Mission, of which MBMSI was a member. "Juana was among the young leaders commissioned to help with this interMennonite work," he says .

The couple. along with their children, Katie and Jeff. have been church planting missionaries in Mexico City and surrounding areas for

12 out of the last 18 years, most of those years as MBMSI missionaries. From 2004-07, Pritchard, a 1987 graduate of Tabor College and 1992 MB Biblical Seminary graduate, served as pastor of Family Ministries at Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church. The family currently lives in Hillsboro, where they attend Hillsboro MB Church.

Moving to the position of regional mobilizer "feels like a really good fit for me," says Pritchard.

Pritchard describes the work of regional mobilizers as helping Mennonite Brethren churches "think about taking their next step in discipleship." Specifically, he works with Mennonite Brethren churches east of the Rocky Mountains to mobilize personnel for short and long-term mission, for prayer and for financial support.

"I hope to share my joy and enthusiasm with churches," says Pritchard "The Lord has given me neat experiences and good connections with pastors and connections as a graduate of the seminary and Tabor."

This fall, Pritchard plans to continue making personal contacts with pastors of the 77 congregations in his assigned territory-no easy task given that the churches stretch from South Texas to Montana and from Colorado to North Carolina. He has already made arrangements to attend various Central District Conference events and to visit some of the churches in the CDC.

Pritchard has already put to work his experiences as a missionary who hosted short-term mission teams. One of Pritchard's assignments is to coordinate SOAR S. Texas, the MBMSI short-term summer program that partners with Latin American MB Churches in South Texas to reach out to their communities with the love of Jesus Christ.

Planning for SOAR S. Texas was initiated this year by Luke Heidle. MBMSI TREK program coordinator. When Pritchard joined MBMSI, he also joined Heidle in planning for SOAR S. Texas. along with Mark Thompson, an MBMSI short-term mission coordinator. One aspect of short-term partnerships between MBMSI and local congregations that Pritchard enjoys is working with host sites. helping them disciple their young guests and teaching them about local culture.

As Pritchard looks ahead, his dreams include increasing opportunities for families to serve in short-term programs. ''I'd like to see SOAR engage more families. offering discipleship in mission for whole families."

Pritchard's commitment to holistic church planting among the unreached energizes his vision for the future. "I am excited about the doors opening up for MBMSI among the least-reached, and it's great to see our leaders be willing to walk through those doors," he says. "I dream that we will pray out long-term missionaries to go to the leastreached. Historically churches in the Midwest have been rich in mission. I dream of great prayer initiatives for world mission that will build positive momentum in local churches "- Connie Faber

Odd couple

so, Texas congregations form sister-church relationship

As odd couples go, mismatched roommates Felix and Oscar have nothing on Mission (Texas) MB Church and Grace Bible Church, Gettysburg, SD. The two congregations are not only miles apart geographically but also very different culturally. •

Most obviously, Grace Bible is an English-language congregation, while Mission MB is predominantly Spanish. Gettysburg is a small rural community, with mostly white, church-going people and cold, snowy winters. Mission is a town located near the Mexico border in far South Texas, with mostly Hispanic, Catholic people, lots of hot days and no snow.

Yet God is drawing these two congregations together for a "sister-church relationship" that is energizing both.

Moises Tagle, Jr., a leader in the Mission church, says, "Reaching out to other congregations to be of mutual support and encouragement creates a very special relationship that brings blessings from God to both congregations."

The latest outworking of this relationship took place July 2-11, when a group of high school youth from Grace Bible headed to South Texas to work with Mission MB's vacation Bible school. Two vacation Bible schools, actually-one in the

eight children raise their hands to accept Christ.

mornings in a poor section of the neighborhood with mostly unchurched children and one in the evenings at the church. At least eight children came to Christ, and the Mission church is following up with those families.

As teens do, youth from the two churches quickly bridged cultural gaps and built firm relationships while working together. Now the Texas youth are hoping to travel to South Dakota, not only to see snow, but also to visit their new friends.

As the two congregations work together and build friendships, differences fade in light of their common faith. 'We're all one," says John Langer, a youth leader from Grace Bible. 'We all have gifts. It just so happens that we're 1,500 miles away from each other."

This unique relationship was sparked last summer when the Grace Bible youth group signed up to serve short-term with MBMS International's SOAR program in South Texas. Their assignment landed them in Mission working alongside the Mission MB Church.

They distributed tracts, helped with vacation Bible school and surveyed the community. They saw children and families respond to Christ . and begin attending the church. Lange r says, 'We watched God work in ways no one from our church or theirs had seen quite like that."

By the end of the trip, both groups knew something special had begun. 'We were supposed to get together," says Rodolfo "Fito" Pefia, an elder at Mission MB Church. 'We hit each other like we knew each other for a long time."

Since then, both churches have committed to learning from and helping each other in a long-term relationship. Tagle says, ''This partnership has expanded my view of what God's people can accomplish together. Working together we can support, encourage and energize the efforts of the local congregation."

Each member of this odd couple brings unique gifts to the relationship. Those from Texas talk about Grace Bible's extraordinary willingness to serve, as well as the experience-and resources they offer. Those from South Dakota are inspired by Mission's passion for reaching the lost and discipling new believers. Langer says, 'We need them and they need us."

Mission MB's outreach efforts, including those aided by Grace Bible, have resulted in a good problem: 'We're running out of room," Pefia says. The congregation has already doubled in size in the last year, to about 120, with hopes to reach 300 by 2015. Mission MB is dreaming of building a new facility to accommodate current and future growth, and Grace Bible is jumping in with offers of finances, expertise, help with blueprints-even manual labor, with about 20 men already committed to going to Texas to build. It's just another example of their growing relationship.

Those involved foresee this unique partnership lasting a long, long time. "God has a purpose for our coming together," Pefia says, adding that it's all for one goal: "so we can work together to bring more souls to the Lord." -Myra Holmes

Mission (Texas) MB Church and Grace Bible Church, Gettysburg, SD, sponsored two vacation Bible schools in the Mission community and saw at least

faith stillstands"

BaLko church rebuiLds following tornado

Asmall tornado-some say it was only a straight-line wind-tore Balko, Okla., in the dark early morning hours Sunday, June 13. Daylight revealed damage to trees, roofs and outbuildings throughout town. Hardest hit was the church building owned by Crossroads Bible Fellowship, a Mennonite Brethren .congregation of about 70.

The roof and west wall were destroyed. Debris and water created havoc throughout what was left of the church building. Thankfully, no one was injured.

Amid the rubble lay the church's large cross. One of the first things church members did was lift that cross back to a prominent standing position and surround it with the Christian and u.S. flags. The display became symbolic ofthe congregation's focus as they rebuild: "It was some sort of a step to start the rebuilding process and say, 'Look, our faith still stands,'" says pastpr James Epp.

The building's basic structure is intact and sound, so the congregation will rebuild. Initial estimates put the cost of rebuilding at around $225,000, although Epp suspects it will be more.

Along the way theyll do some refurbishing of the 1970s-era interior. 'We've been wanting to change the carpet color," Epp jokes. 'This is just a drastic way to go about it." They also hope to improve the building's energy efficiency.

The congregation had recently approved the purchase of a new, pre-fab activity building, which is on the property and ready for "phase one" construction to make it useable. That building was left untouched by the tornado.

They have re-roofed the sanctuary and installed a temporary wall so the building is secure. For the time being, the congregation will continue to meet in the fellowship

hall ofthe damaged church building, while making construction of the activity building a priority. "Completing the activity building will allow us time to pray and discern and then rebuild the sanctuary," says Epp.

More important than the condition of the building, the congregation's faith remains intact. Even the morning of the storm, their cross display, a sign that read, "I will praise you in the storm," and an impromptu worship service attracted attention of passersby and prompted many conversations. Epp talks about fruitful conversations he had with storm chasers and television crews, for example

"It's provided an opportunity to talk about God's grace and goodness and how he was watching over us as a congregation," Epp says.

Epp says Crossroads Bible Fellowship was in the midst of a spiritual growth spurt before the storm, with new passion for the lost and new willingness to step out of comfort zones in order to spread the gospel. He hopes that this "faith-stretcher" will be another catalyst for growth . He notes that the church is not a building but a people.

"God's going to keep growing that aspect of it, even if the walls have fallen in," says Epp.

The Balko church was also hit by a 'tornado 27 years ago to the day, June 13, 1983. While Epp doesn't attach any particular significance to that coincidence, he is encouraging the congregation to view this "discipline" as an opportunity for self-examination and repentance. God disciplines those he loves," Epp says, "so if this was God's discipline we are rejoicing in his love for us."

One challenge the congregation will face as they rebuild is to stay focused and unified. Human tendency is to bicker about things like carpet color, but Epp says God has placed Crossroads Bible Fellowship strategically in Balko to reach their community for Christ, and it's important that they not lose that vision. He asks the larger MB family to pray "that we would stay focused on who we are and what we've been called to be as a church."

One additional area of specific need Epp anticipates as they rebuild, especially as the congregation designs a more current sanctuary, is expertise in architecture, design and layout. To help in these areas, contact Epp at jajepp@ptsi.net-MyraHolmes

Saving grace

Nebraska church invests in troubled teens

What to do when a troubled kid-one with umpteen strikes against her and emotional baggage to sparemoves into the community? Take her out for pizza.

At least, that's what happens in Henderson, Neb., where three local churches-Henderson MB Church, Bethesda Mennonite Church and Faith Evangelical Bible Church-partner with Grace Children's Home to welcome and love such kids. Over seven decades it's become so much a part of the church life that folks at Henderson MB may not even realize what a big impact their involvement makes.

Grace is a Christian residential facility for youth from "disrupted families." Children and teens that have been removed from their homes by the state are placed here for support until they can be reunited with their families or live independently. The home is unapologetically Christian, seeking to provide not

only emotional and physical support, but also spiritual guidance to help them "grow into all that God intends them to be," according to Amelia Patrie, wife of executive director Chuck Patrie and part of the Henderson MB congregation.

That spirirual support comes in part through Christian staff who naturally include the youth in prayer, daily devotions and church attendance. It also comes through the town's three churches who actively partner with Grace to love the youth. That's been the case since Grace began in 1936. ''The churches have always seen that relationships with the kids from Grace Children's Home are important," Patrie says.

Grace is licensed for 23 youth who live in three "cottages," two for girls and one for boys. Coincidentally, Henderson is home to three evangelical churches, each of which partners with one cottage. Henderson MB connects with Bader Cottage, which houses about eight girls and three staff

Residents of Grace Children's Home are encouraged to be involved in a local church. Two years ago, two residents helped with the midweek children's program at Henderson MB Church.

The church's support for Grace often takes the form of board membership and finances. When a need arises, funds appear. For example, when the church youth group attends special events, such as an annual Dare to Share youth convention. the church often helps pay the way so that Grace girls can attend. Patrie suggests that donations are often generous: If even something as big as a car was needed, Patrie says. "I think a car would appear."

But the most important way that Henderson MB partners with Grace is by building relationships with the girls.

As soon as a girl arrives at Bader Cottage, the church posts her photo and some introductory information on a bulletin board so that church members can easily identify her, begin to get to know her and, most importantly, pray for her. She11 attend church services, and the youth group will include her in weekly meetings and other activities. Sometimes support takes a fo rmal form, like assigned prayer partners, but often it's informal, like taking her out for pizza. Or including her in family dinners, hot dog roasts and go-cart and horseback rides.

Both Patrie and J Edward Epp, pastor of Henderson MB, say the church incorporates the girls into everyday church life as much as possible. Epp says, "They become part of the life of the church and (the girls ) become part of our family."

Building relationships with girls who come from troubled circumstances can be challenging. That's perhaps especially true in the youth group, where most of the youth have been raised in church and sometimes struggle to relate to girls who might never have seen a Bible.

"It's hard sometimes," Epp admits. But he says that the youth are generally accepting of the girls and good at including them. He gives the example of a girl who this year was part of the junior high youth group, which he and his wife help with: "She was very much part of the group."

Epp notes that the strength of the relationship between the girls and the church often depends on how involved the girls are willing to be. For example, one girl recently helped a Grace staff member in the children's midweek program. which helped church folks get to know her.

Girls sometimes stay at Grace less than a year, which hardly seems long enough for the church to make a difference. That doesn't seem to deter either the church or Grace from encouraging these relationships. Patrie says that. while the results of the church's efforts aren't always obvious, it does matter. The average girl who comes to Grace has been in seven different placements before coming to Henderson, Patrie says. so just being included in a stable community is new and important. Sometimes, just observing healthy, functioning families makes a difference.

Patrie says of the Henderson MB congregation, "I don't think they're really aware how much their lives impact the lives of the girls."

Epp says that connecting with Grace makes a positive difference for the church, too. He notes that, especially for older, more established churches like Henderson MB, it's sometimes difficult to see the needs around them and be willing to meet those needs. When Henderson MB builds relationships with these girls, it's a reminder of a world that needs Christ. "It helps us take our eyes off ourselves, " he says.

So, what to do when a girl with a troubled past moves into the community? Take her out for pizza. Welcome her as family.

"It's what we're supposed to do," Epp says simply, as if it were obvious.

For more on Grace Children's Home, visit www.gracechildrenshome.com .-Myra Holmes

KATIE FUNK WIEBE

Local churches celebrate sesquicentennial

Guest speakers, cake and balloons typify events

The Christian Leader was curious to know how U.S. Mennonite Brethren congregations celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren Church. And so we e-mailed pastors. asking about any events organized in recognition of this historic event. This is what we learned.

The Mennonite Brethren Church was officially organized Jan. 6. 1860. so Dinuba (Calif.) MB Church planned their celebration for Jan. 3. 2010. Henry H. Dick. who was one of three men to organize the looth anniversary celebration in Reedley. Calif.• and is currently Dinuba's visitation pastor. was the speaker.

Dick traced the story of the MB Church from the Reformation to Menno Simons to the decision of 18 families in 1860 to separate from Russia's Mennonite Church. Dick, who was born in the Ukraine. also told stories of the early MB Church that he heard from his parents. Robyn Brands, whose great-grandfather was one of the 18 founders, told a children's story and children gathered around a cake and sang. "Happy Birthday. Mennonite Brethren."

Dick shared the same message Feb. 14 at Shafter (Calif.) MB Church. Pastor Pat Coyle reports that Dick's presentation was recorded on a DVD to be used in future membership classes.

Community Bible Church. Mountain Lake. Minn .• also celebrated Feb. 14. Church member Alvin Dick instigated the celebratory worship service and wrote a summary history of the Mennonite Brethren Church. weaving the story of the 120-year-old Mountain Lake church and the early years of Carson MB Church, the Delft, Minn .• church that planted CBC. into the denomination's story. Elaine Kroeker then adapted Dick's information for six readers arid 7Z photos were added to create a 25-minute PowerPoint presentation. The worship service that resulted involved at least 10 people who led in prayer, spoke and provided music.

College Community Church. Fresno. Calif organized an adult education series Jan. 10 through Feb. 14 on Mennonite Brethren and Anabaptist history and identity. Michelle Ferguson, chair of the Adult Education Commission. says the goal of the series was to "review our history and renew conversations about how that affects our future." Abe Friesen spoke in three sessions about Swiss Anabaptism and the Reformation. Menno Simons and Dutch Anabaptism and the birth of the MB Church. Peter Klassen talked about Polish and Prussian Mennonites. The series concluded with two panel discussions. one on Mennonite Brethren as Anabaptists and evangelicals and another on the future of the MB Church. "Mennonite" treats were served during the final presentation Feb. 14.

Kingsburg (Calif.) MB Church designated April 25 as their celebration Sunday. Guest speaker Henry H. Dick repeated the presentation he had given earlier at other Mennonite Brethren churches. The

did not deter the children of the Ebenfeld

congregation observed communion and welcomed new members. and a Happy Anniversary cake was served during coffee time . .

First MB Church. Wichita. Kan .• highlighted the 150th anniversary during the Sunday school hour May 16. Peggy Goertzen. director of the Center for MB Studies at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan .• spoke to two adult class sessions.

Goertzen gave the same presentation Aug. 22 to a joint adult Sunday school session at her home congregation, Ebenfeld MB Church, where her husband. Gaylord. who is the pastor. preached six sermons on the core values of the Mennonite Brethren Church during the summer. At the church's July 4 picnic. the children released balloons with notes attached explaining that the balloon was launched to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren Church and asking the finder to e-mail the church with that balloon's final destination.

Several MB agencies also observed the anniversary of the denomination's founding. The MB Foundation staff enjoyed anniversary cakes Jan. 6 at their offices in Hillsboro. Kan .• and Fresno. Calif.

MB Biblical Seminary faculty members David Bruce Rose and Cory Seibel and 20 of their students celebrated the anniversary Jan. 5 during their Cross Cultural Encounter course in Southern California. That evening the professors invited the group to reflect on the connection between the founding of the MB movement and the celebration of Epiphany. which happened to fall on the same day. The professors emphasized that both the evangelistic renewal that accompanied the birth of the Mennonite Brethren and the arrival of the Magi to Bethlehem are reminders that the gospel is for everyone. The group concluded the evening by eating "Icing's cake." a traditional part of the Epiphany celebration in many countrles -Connie Faber

Church from launching balloons July 4 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the

Rain

MB

MBChurch.

Celebrating life transformations

USC delegates hear stories of changed lives

Ask the contingent of 173 Americans who attended the U.S. Conference (USC) biennial convention if it was worth their time and money to travel outside the United States for this event and they will likely answer yes.

Yes, because the convention, held in Vancouver, BC. was in conjunction with the North American celebration July 12-18 of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Mennonite Brethren Church, and attending a historic event is always noteworthy.

Yes, because gathering with Mennonite Brethren from the U.S -and around the globehas all the makings of a spiritual family reunio n.

Yes, because hearing stories of transforme d lives invigorates one's faith.

Reflections written by Celebration 2010 participants during and after the events posted online at www.usmb.org/christian-Ieaderconfirm these answers.

Conection 2010, the new moniker for USC conventions, was one of three events that made up the weeklong Celebration 2010 (pages 8-10). Elsewhere in this issue you can read about the consultation on Mennonite Brethren identity and mission (pages 11-12) and the binational celebrations events (pages 13-17). The third component was individual national conference gatherings during which delegates heard reports and conducted conference business.

U.S. delegates gathered at Gracepoint Community Church in Surrey, Thursday evening and Friday during the day while the Canadian delegates met at North Langley Community Church to celebrate their conference's 100th anniversary. The Gracepoint congregation and pastor Bill Hogg graciously hosted the U.S delegates, catering two meals and providing a worship team led by Nathan Braunberger.

Following the opening dinner Thursday evening, delegates and guests prayed in twos or threes, guided by various Scripture verses highlighting unity read by Ed Boschman, USC executive director.

Boschman introduced the theme for the evening, "Life Transformation," by noting the visual display behind him. Sheets of

black paper hung vertically from display panels sttetched across the stage in Gracepoint's multipurpose sanctuary. Boschman explained that the paper covered a colorful banner. As stories of transformation would be shared during the evening, storytellers would rip off one of the black sheets, revealing the colorful backdrop and illustrating changed lives.

When the service was over, there would likely still be black sheets left, Boschman said, and that was the intention. "God's work is not finished in the world and we are part of helping to transform lives," said Boschman. 'There is still work to be done, changing darkness to light."

Eight individuals, representing church plants and established Mennonite Brethren congregations, shared stories of people in their church's sphere of influence who have seen their lives changed. Most of the stories were about men and women who found salvationAbraham in Sacramento, Calif., Miss Luetta in Grulla, Texas, Alex in Sioux Falls. SD, and Troy from Greater Salt Lake City, Utah.

Two stories concerned Christians-including one pastor-who found their faith deepened as the Holy Spirit worked in their lives and the lives of others.

Paul Robie, pastor of South Mountain Community Church (SMCC) in Draper, Utah, concluded the series of transformation stories with a presentation outlining the challenges of ministry in Utah, a unique "under-churched" location where 80 percent of the population belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (more commonly called Mormon).

The evening finished much as it started-with prayer and singing. This time delegates and guests circled the church leaders who had shared a story during the evening as well as the four district ministers: Terry Hunt, NC District; Tim Sullivan, Southern District; Roger Engbrecht, Central District; and Gary Wall, Pacific District.

"Surround these folks," USC moderator Steve Schroeder encouraged the audience. "Lay hands on them and pray for them. Thank God for what he's doing." -Connie Faber

Transformation stories are told in greater detail in the Conection 2010 online report (www.usmb.orgIchristian-leader).

To visually illustrate the Conection 2010 theme, speakers who shared life-transformation stories ripped off pieces of black paper covering a colorful banner displayed on the stage.

potluck of reports whets appetites

u.s. delegates approve budget, leaders, chang e bylaws

Historically Mennonite Brethren are known as People of the Book, but we are also "People of the Potluck." Where Mennonite Brethren gather, food abounds . So it is perhaps appropriate that the business portion of Conection 2010 felt a bit like a potluck. Delegates, sitting around tables, were presented with a smorgasbord of reports from U.S. Conference ministries and partners and struggled to taste-much less digest-them all.

The largest segment of the day was given to Mission USA, the conference's church planting and renewal arm, for reports from church planters across the country. Each talked passionately about their vision for reaching their particular community and told about lives transformed by Christ. The feast of stories was just enough to whet appetites. 'We're doing this together," said MUSA director Don Morris. "I invite you to invest with us."

With t\V0 years of work under its belt, the relatively new national Board of Faith and Life (BFL) was also given a longer reporting time. BFL chair Larry Nikkel noted how easily institutions can slide into compromise In order to prevent that kind of drift among U.S. Mennonite Brethren, he said, BFL is "taking stock of how we're walking the talk ."

Nikkel led attendees in a survey that considered how well U.S. Mennonite Brethren practice each article of the MB Confession of Faith. The survey was conducted using "response card" technology that allowed those present to see results instantly. BFL will use the survey results to focus their future efforts.

MBMS International and MB Biblical Seminary were each given opportunity to follow up on reports given during Thursday's binational reporting session. Although their questions were unique to their respective conferences, Canadian and U.S. delegates shared a common concern for how the recent decision to transfer MB Biblical Seminary-Fresno to Fresno Pacific University will impact theological education and pastoral training.

U.S. delegates were not given the opportunity to address this transition on the convention floor. Instead, those who wished to discuss the changes did so during lunch. Seminary president Lynn Jost summarized the noon discussion saying, 'We received a strong word to not give up on working together," referring to partnerships, specifically with Tabor College, to extend theological education beyond Fresno, Calif A report of the lunch discussion is posted online at usmb.orglchristian-Ieader.

Delegates also sampled reports from the National Youth Convention, Tabor College, Fresno Pacific University and MB Foundation. The Christian Leader staff traced the 126-year history of North American MB communications, an effort intended from the

beginning to connect a far-flung family and inspire the mission.

As is often the case at a great potluck, Conection 2010 offered lots of good stuff in a short amount of time. While a tight schedule was necessary to conform to the allotted time slot, some attendees expressed informal frustration at the pacing of the reports. Church planters, for example, were given only six minutes to share their vision and tell a story of transformation-barely a taste . Speakers were sometimes not-so-gently reminded that their time was at an end.

That pacing continued when it was time to get down to business; delegates dispatched decisions quickly and with minimal discussion. They passed a budget representing a less than 1 percent increase over the past year; affirmed new representatives to the Leadership Board and other partner ministries; and approved a change in U.S. Conference bylaws to allow district ministers to sit on the BFL by virtue of their position.

Newly-appointed Leadership Board members are: Sue Kliewer, Auberry, Calif.; Clyde Ferguson, Hudson, NC; Vyacheslav "Slavic" Gladysh, Fresno, Calif.; Aaron Hernandez, Grulla, Texas; Marv Schellenberg, Wichita, Kan.; and Jodi Thomas, Rapid City, SO. Continuing board members are: Steve Schroeder, Hillsboro, Kan .; David Hardt, Bakersfield, Calif.; and Matt Kolbert, Clovis, Calif.

As Conection 2010 wrapped up, executive director Ed Boschman gave a taste of what's next, including:

• A review and revamping of the "norms" system for conference giving-a system that Boschman says has been "on wobbly legs for sometime "

• Better connections with the third of U.S. Mennonite Brethren who are Slavic, which may include part-time staff.

• A continuing emphasis on leadership development. Boschman encouraged congregations and pastors to "pray out the next generation of leaders."

• A new effort to communicate electronically, including a search for a part-time social media coordinator.-Myra Holmes

USC delegates pray for conference ministries during the closing session.

Reflecting on Celebration 2010

Facing head-on the quest for unity

It takes little to convince a pastor in Missouri to go to a conference in British Columbia in the middle of July. (Currently, I'm trying to avoid the lIz-degree heat index.) Being highly committed to our denomination as a family and as a theological tradition, I was excited to celebrate our I50th anniversary. So it only heightened myexcitement to go to a world-class city like Vancouver to celebrate.

"Life Transformation" was the theme of the U.S. portion of the conference, but the theme pervaded all portions of the conference. It was exciting to hear stories of life transformation among our North American churches and around the world. To hear that God is working through our brothers and sisters in churches across the world is incredibly exciting. It also serves as a reminder that God is constantly in the business of transforming people's lives and will continue to change people's lives-but has invited us to join faithfully in the mission .

Yet a theme that resonated with me had to do with unity as a denomination If our mission is to be one family on one mission with one Lord, then what is it that actually unifies us? Is it the fact that we are one organization? Or that we meet together every two years to remind ourselves we are one? Is there something more that brings us together?

It seems that the question of oneness (or unity) is the overwhelming question presently facing our 'denomination. As a denomination with an Anabaptist tradition valuing the autonomy of the local church , American MB churches have theological views, worship practices and sttuctures of all varieties Moreover, in attempts to become more palatable and understandable to the culture, many MB churches have taken the "MB" out of their names . Some have even purged themselves of any "Mennonite Brethren" language or associations, choosing other evangelical institutions, missions organizations and associations over our own denomination's.

As a denominational family, we find ourselves at a crossroads organizationally and theologically. It was encouraging to see at this conference several examples of our leadership's attempt to face this reality head-on. The Renewing Identity and Mission consultation at the start of the week focused on looking at

key theological, cultural and practical issues that face the MB church in North America and how we Mennonite Brethren respond to them.

During the U.S. Conference convention, we spent part of an afternoon reviewing our Confession of Faith, voting on our faithfulness to living it out and on whether or not we should review certain articles-all with ultra-fun, real-time voting machines. The decision to bring all the district ministers onto the Board of Faith and Life also shows our commitment to find some theological unity among our churches

Personally, I was excited to see during Experience Vancouver that the powerful church planting efforts within the British Columbia Conference have been wildly successful while continuing to maintain a strong MB denominational identity At one stop, we heard church planters talk about their strong connections to MBMS International and Mennonite Disaster Service, as well as their excitement to be the first MB chaplains at a local university.

There is something vitally important about having unity as a denomination and about having a strong denominational identity that goes beyond our last names Our leadership has clearly identified this, accentuated in our mission statement. But with a lack of unity in theology, worship practices and church structures and with ftactured commitments to our organizations and institutions among our local churches, we certainly have a long way to go

It seems the next step as a denomination is to clearly identify what it is that does unify us . To do this we need to address the many elephants in the denominational room , among others whether peacemaking is a fundamental theological value and whether we really trust and support our seminary.

Just as God, throughout history, remains at work among a frail and fragile people, our family continues to grow even while we experience these growing pains. This is the beauty of the gospel and of God's grace As we continue to seek to be one family with one Lord on one mission, may we seek to do so with clear communication and healthy conflict as we work out our identity and mission together.

-1J Post your comment on this column at usmb.orglchristianleader

BAPTIS M/MEMBERSHIP

Blaine, Wash. (Birch Bay)-Dean and Kara Tryon were received as members June 20.

Fresno, Calif. (Butler)-Behn Bounma, Rom Roeun, Phayvanh Oydoungphan and Kitsana Bounma were received as members June 6.

Garden City, Kan. (Garden Valley)-Abe Hamm and HeLena Froese were baptized June 6 Fresno, Calif. (North)-WiLLie Vogt was received as a member June 6

Wichita, Kan. (First)-BiLL and Liane FeLton, Larry and ELaine NikkeL, Jeff and Jodie Rogers and Curt and Myra Stutzman were received as members June 27 Ryuichiro "BLake" Mori was baptized May 23 Balko, Okla. (Crossroads Bible)- ELese Creason, AbigaiL Epp, Annie MiLls, Cody Frantz, Owen Creason, Dakota Jackson, Sophie Mills, Janice Casper and Amy Casper were baptized May 23 .

Hillsboro, Kan. (Ebenfeld)-DaLe Nuss, Megan Hein. Aaron MiLLer. Drake Sterk and Hunter Thurston were baptized and received as members May 23 . Becky Nuss, Stacy and ApriL NeufeLd, and Nick Hein were received as members. Brandon and Jana Voth and Chris and Kathryn GLanzer were received as members May 16.

Bakersfield, Calif. (The Bridge)- MichaeL and Heather Boggess, Enrique and Vera Gauna, Scott and Angie Stumbo, Dave and LyneLL Roberts and Rodney and NataLie DiMaggio were received as members May 23 Willie Rolin, MichaeL Boggess, Heather Boggess, SheLby McMahan, Samantha BLundeLL, PameLa Crockatt, Nick Sinden, Lynn Crockatt, Jeffrey McMahan, Ellen Hurst, Duane CaLkins, DaLton Boy!, CLark Hurst, Austin Prendez, AshLey FrugugLietti, Anthony Fruguglietti, DeAnna Richwood, Troy Brookins, Kathy Pistoresi, Ken Pistoresi and ALivia Daniels were baptized May 16. AiLeen LeCain, Dustin Judd, ALexis CoLebrook, Ramon Carreon, Enrique Gauna, Roxanne DeLarosa, Johnna Horvath, Matthew Perry, Zayne FidLer, Kristen Woods, Eric Olinger, Jackson Olinger, TyLer Packard, Mark Pedroza, Mario MoraLes, Jeff Meacham, Bryan CoLebrook, Jayson Bryan, Smantha Hubbard, Thomas Sprain, Aaron DanieLs, Kenny Jones, Tiffany Jones and Anthony Lopez were baptized May 2

Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglen)- Tim Hancock, Gabrielle Jordan, KeLsey Mahan and Paige McCallister were baptized May 16. Cody Briggs, Timothy Thomas and Melissa Kahn were baptized May 2.

Kingsburg, Calif -Julie Wright and Margaret Vasquez were received as members May 9

MB NEWS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ]

CELEBRATIONS

Fresno, CaUf.lThe Grove)- The church ceLebrated its fourth anniversary and the birth of the Church at Pentecost in a combination ceLebration they caLLed "Pentecostiversary." The ceLebration included a tritip BBO, bounce houses and guest speaker G L. Johnson, a weLL-known Fresno pastor.

FELLOWSHIP

Mountain Lake, Minn. (Community Bible)-An aLLchurch campout is pLanned for Aug. 20-22

Sioux Falls, SD (Lincoln Hills)-A church campout was heLd JuLy 16-18.

Clovis, CaLif. (College Community)-Young famiLies heLd a swim party June 26.

Collinsville, Okla. (Discovery Bible)-A "Father's Day Festivus" June 20 included an eating contest, pig wrestLing, cow chip throwing contest and sports competitions

Garden City, Kin. (Garden VaUey)-The June 20 worship service and annuaL picnic was heLd at the LocaL zoo.

Wichita, Kin. (First)-Seniors toured the gardens of severaL members June 19

Hesston, Kin.-Fathers and kids enjoyed a "water day" June 19 that included water games and a water fight at the church

Rapid City, SD (Bible Fellowship)-An aLL-church kickball tournament was heLd June 19, with teams divided by age: 12-19, 20-40 and over 40

Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglen)-An aLL-church picnic June 6 welcomed new pastor Tod Eenigenburg and famiLy.

Inman, Kin. (Zoar)- A Late season "Spring FLing " May 23 included a hamburger fry and guest speakers Craig and Fabiana Jost, workers with MBMS International. A women's event ApriL 27 featured French cuisine

Fresno, Calif. (Butler)-Men went fishing May 22

Clovis, caUf. (Eagles Harbor)-The church heLd its first golf tournament May 21.

Hillsboro, Kin.-Men and chiLdren were invited to coffee and donuts during the Sunday schooL hour May 16, followed by a short program by a ventriLoquist. Enid, Okla -Motorcycle enthusiasts joined with other bikers from Kansas for a 75-miLe ride May 16 that raised funds for Mennonite CentraL Committee. Kingsburg, Calif.-SeLect Wednesday evenings this summer were dubbed "famiLy fun nights, " and featured activities such as a bike ride.

Fresno, Calif. (Bethany)-Women sponsored a oneday "SouL Siesta" at CarmeL Beach May 15

Fresno, Calif. (North)- The church joined with area churches for a "men 's onLy" event May 8 Women were encouraged to wear hats to a spring event May 6, where Karen Bowser spoke on "My Life in Hats " Bakersfield, Calif. (Rosedale) - Women heLd a spring tea May 1. A mime group, Faith in Act ion, provided entertainment.

Dinuba, Calif.- The women 's spring tea ApriL 25 featured a professionaL organizer speaking on "Organized by choice-Not just your drawers "

MINISTRY

Wichita, Kan. (First, Lighthouse) - Lighthouse provided a free BBO JuLy 4 as an outreach to their community ; voLunteers from First heLped serve the meal. West Valley, Utah (New Hope)- Josh and MeLissa GonzaLes will be pLanting a new church supported by Mission USA, the Pacific District Conference and South Mountain Community Church, Draper, Utah Omaha, Neb. (Manantial de Agua Viva)-SeveraL peopLe have come to Christ and new families have affiliated with this new church pLant, begun in February out of IgLesia Agua Viva, Omaha Jose Guerra is the church pLant pastor In addition, Francisco Llanas is Leading a new Hispanic work in nearby CounciL BLuffs, la.

Enid, Okla.-VoLunteers donated fans for residents of a LocaL independent Living center.

Kinsas City, Mo. lWatershed)- The church pLant is partnering with a LocaL eLementary schooL where 90 percent of the students Live beLow the poverty line. Recently Watershed heLd a book drive for the chiLdren.

Lenoir, NC (Bushtown)-A group representing aLL North Carolina District churches went to Canada June 17-30 to visit the hometown of youth pastor Chris Eidse and to serve in the inner city in Winnipeg , Man

Henderson, Neb.-Church voLunteers gave makeovers and heLped with Hot WheeLs car races for kids June 15 at RoyaL FamiLy Kids' Camp, a ministry to abused chiLdren.

Fresno, Calif. (North)- Ten voLunteers , ages 16 to over 60, Left June 14 for PortugaL to work with Otto and Marjorie Ekk, MBMS InternationaL missionaries WhiLe in the Lisbon area , team members painted, cleaned, taught EngLish classes and shared their personaL test imonies

Inman, Kan.(Zoar)-Youth went to Indiahoma , OkLa , Aug 1-7 to heLp with vacation BibLe schooL and con-

nect with the community Church women recently made and donated two comforters to the local rescue mission and seven to Haiti

Newton, Kan (Koerner Heightsl-The church partnered with another local church to send a short-term summer team of children 's workers to Europe

Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl- Teams or individuals served this summer in Mexico. East Asia. Haiti, India, Tennessee, Ethiopia and Romania . For a spring community service day, called "Love Bakersfield," 400 church volunteers gave 70 haircuts, served 1,000 hotdogs, serviced 53 cars, repaired 12 homes and 70 bicycles and more

Fresno, Calif (The Grovel-Church volunteers gave out water bottles at three major intersections in their neighborhood June 12. The bottles had stickers that read, "Jesus loves you and so do we."

Littleton, Colo (Belteviewl-A short-term team to the Dominican Republic June 12- 19 ran a vacation Bible school in an orphanage and worked on a construction project.

Sioux Falls, SD (Christ Communityl-A June 6 outreach event included a pancake feed and outdoor service in the church parking lot.

Cimarron, Ka n lValleyviewl-A team served in an orphanage in Bolivia June 2-12.

Enid, Okla.-A team of 10 served in Guadalajara, Mexico, May 29-June 6, and one individual served in Chile Volunteers helped staff an end -of-the -year carnival April 23 for a local elementary school.

Fresno, Calif (Butlerl-Attendees wrote prayers on helium ba lloons and the n released them to hel p a new Celebrate Recovery mi nistry "get off the ground:'

Ferndale, Wash. (Goo d Newsl-May 16 was "Go Sunday," with opportunities to serve in the morning and a potluck in the evening

Dinuba, Calif.- People served the community April 24, Love in Action Day, by assisting with yardwork and housework and assembling food boxes for a local ministry

Lustre, Mont.- The church provides physical, financial and spiritual support for a nearby Christian high school that draws students from around the world Several students have become Christians in recent months.

Pon:upine, SD (Lakota GospetJ-A ministry team from Denver visited the church recently and provided the community with many needed supplies Pastor Howard Whiteface was privileged to share God 's Word with more than 250 people

Bakersfield, Calif. (Rosedale Biblel-Young people served short-term in India, Brazil and New Guinea this summer. One young woman is serving long-term in Guatemala

Clovis, Calif (Eagle's Harborl-A group gathers weekly at the flag pole of the elementary school at which they meet to pray for the community.

TEACHING/NURTURE

Newton, Kan. (Koerner Heightsl-Sermons and adult Sunday school classes focused on "An Adventure in Generous Living" in July, based on the book In a Pit with a Lion On a Snowy Day

Henderson, Neb.-"Between Friends," a class for women explored friendship through the making of quilts, took place June 19 and 26

Capitola, Calif. (Shorelifel-Seminars on topics requested by the congregation, along with a free dinner, were held Wednesday evenings in June. Topics included parenting, finances and spiritual disciplines. Hays, Kan. (N orth Oak)-A group of parents is meeting twice a month to share parenting experience, wisdom and challenges

Wichita, Kan. (Firstl-A small group has been formed specifically for those looking for work

Fresno, Calif. (Butler)-A summer study on Anabaptist history and theology included attendees of all Butler congregat ions

Fresno, Calif. (Mountain Viewl-A time of prayer May 23 focused on global repentance

Shafter, Calif -Attendees could register to vote after the service May 16.

Garden City, Kan. (Garden Valleyl-No food or drink is allowed every Tuesday morning when women meet for prayer as the time is intended to be a "fast " for the purpose of focused prayer.

WORKERS

Papillion, Neb. (Shadow Lakel-Brian Classen has resigned as pastor.

Inman, Kan. (Zoar)-Ashley Balzer is the new part-time director of children's ministry.

Fresno, Calif, (North Fresnol-Tim Neufeld has resigned as music and worship leader.

Bakersfield, Calif (Heritage Biblel -Ma ria Loewen served as a summer youth intern Huron, SD (Bethesda)-Roy and Pam Burket are the new pastoral couple.

Dinuba, Calif.-Lilly Bese served as a summer intern in children 's and youth ministries.

Buhler, Kan.-Chuck Taylor has resigned as youth pastor, effective July 31.

Fresno, Calif, (Butlerl-Phone Keo Keovilay has resigned as pastor of the Asian Grace congregation to pursue full-time work with MBMS International.

Blaine, Wash (Bin:h Bayl- Tim Thiessen was installed as lead pastor June 13.

Tu lsa, Okla, (The Heartl-Mission pastor Kenyon Gerbrandt has resigned, effective June 1, to serve as media director with Literacy and Evangelism International in Tulsa

Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl-Brent Jenkins served as a summer youth intern, Yale, SD (BethetJ-Josh Fleek served as a summer intern

Fresno, Calif. (Mountain Viewl-David White, Titus Morikawa, Weston Smart, Dalton Jones, Marissa Hernandez, Brial'lne Greene, Rob Tanner, Edd and Ingrid Russell and Jon Giesel served as interns in youth, sports , men's ministry, media, worship, missions, young adults and children's ministries

Clovis, Calif. (College Communityl-Rianna Isaak served as a summer intern .

Fresno, Calif. (The Grovel-Pastor Sam Sarkissian was on sabbatical this summer

Jordan, Utah (Shadow Mountainl-Nic Laughter served as a youth ministry summer intern

Hays, Kan. (North Oakl-Associate pastor John Wiker was on sabbatical this summer

Omaha, Neb (Iglesia Agua YIViII-Daniel Rodriquez was installed as pastor March 14

Pacific District Conference-D istrict Minister Gary Wall was on sabbatical May 3-July 31.

Eugene, Ore. (North Park)-Rick Eshbaugh is serving as interim pasto r.

WORSHIP

Gettysburg, SD (Grace Biblel-A recent morning service featured a speaker from Hawaii, a luau lunch with Hawaiian style gifts and activities.

Fresno, Calif. (Mountain View)- Worshippers brought good used shoes to be donated to needy people around the world for Soles4Souls Barefoot Sunday, Aug. 8.

Cimarron, Kan. (Valleyvlewl-Professional trumpet soloist and speaker Scott Brookins was the guest musician and speaker July 11,

Draper, Utah (South Mountainl- The Draper and Daybreak campuses joined for an outdoor worship service July 4, followed by a picnic

Topeka, Kan. (Cornerstonel-An evening "Singspiration" June 27 focused on worship through favorite songs

Minot, ND (Bib le Fellowshipl-Don Morris, Mission USA director, preached May 16

Gettysburg, SD (Grace Biblel-Maynard and Dorothy Seaman spoke April 25 about mission in the United Arab Emirates

YOU TH

Wi chita, Ka n. (Firstl- The church hosted a summer theater camp with Christian Youth Theater July 19-23. A team of about 30 young people served at an orphanage in Mexico July 24-31

Shafter, Calif.-The church hosted a wrestling camp for ch ildren in first through sixth grade July 19-23.

Freeman, SD (SalemI-One person was designated as a prayer warrior each evening during vacation Bible school July 18-22

Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl-Almost 40 youth and sponsors served July 11-17 in San Antonio, Texas. The church library hosts a storytime for children up to age four once a month

Cimarron, Kan. lValleyviewl-A vacation Bible school-type curriculum was used in Sunday school classes June 27-Aug. 9.

Enid, Okla.-A team of high school students served with " Mission Arlington " in Arlington, Texas, June 24-27.

Wichita, KIn. (Firstl-A high school girls' event June 13, called "Bella noche," focused on purity

Dinuba, CaUf.-June 6 was "Children 's Day, " with graduates recognized in a combined service, promotion day for Sunday school and an all-church picnic after the service.

Lenoir, NC (Bushtownl-Youth raised funds for their June mission trip by collecting recycling from homes weekly January through May.

DEATHS

BACON, LORRAINE SMITH , 82, Enid. Okla , member of Enid MB Church, died May 2, 2010. Spouses: Herman Smith, deceased; Ray Bacon, deceased. Parents : Albert and Lindy Smith Children: Cindy Buller, Rita SI. John ; six grandchildren.

BARTEL, RUTH A , 80, Hillsboro, Kan., member of Hillsboro MB Church, died June 8, 2010. Parents: Albert F. and Anna (Penner) Bartel.

BROWN, BENNETT, 56, Bethany, Okla , of Memorial Road MB Church, Edmond, Okla , died July 24, 2010. Spouse: Gwen Lohrenz Parents: Ben, deceased, and Elizabeth Brown Children: Sheldon, Brady, Wesley and Rebecca FUNK, LUELLA, 97, Shafter, Calif., member of Shafter MB Church , died May 17, 2010. Spouse : Harvey Funk, deceased. Parents : Gerhard B and Helena Toews Children : Bob, Howard; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren

GOERTZEN, WILLIAM, 94, Shafter, Calif., member of Shafter MB Church, died July 25, 2010. Spouse: Martha Goertzen, deceased Parents: Jacob and Anna (Shierlingl Goertzen. Children :

Chris Pine, Bill , Mike; nine grandchildren ; nine great -g ra ndch ildren

GRAU MANN, RUBY FUNK, 93, Hillsboro, Kan , of Hillsboro MB Church, died June 17, 2010

Spouse: Robert Graumann, deceased. Parents: Herman J. and Sarah B (Eitzenl Funk. Children : Pat Neufeldt, Judith Flick ; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

ISAAK, DANIEL, 77, Sonoma, Calif. , founding member of College Community MB Church, Clovis, Calif., died March 7, 2010. Spouse: Paulena. Parents : Peter and Helena Isaak Children: Danelle Goerzen, Annette Price, Paul, Jonathan; 10 grandchildren

LOHRE NZ, MENNO, 92, Hillsboro, Kan. , member of Hillsboro MB Church, died July 24, 2010. Spouse: Clara Wipf, deceased Parents: Gerhard W and Mary Penner Lohrenz.

OLLENBURGER, LARRY, 73, Fresno, Calif , member of North Fresno MB Church, died April 28, 2010. Spouse : Addie Buller. Parents: Clarence and Polly Ollenburger Children: Cra ig, Scott; three grandchildren

PENNER, PETER, 89, Peck, Kan., formerly of Fi rst MB Church, Wichita, Kan., died June 8, 2010. Spouse : Elvira Legiehn. Parents : Johann and Susanna Penner. Children: Steven, Bertrum; four grandchildren

RIFFEL, Mary, 96, Reedley Calif , member of Reedley MB Church, died April 5, 2010. Spouses: Albert Riffel, deceased; Arnold Riffel, deceased Children: Les Riffel, Loretta Buller, Marvella Bartholomew, Darlene Button; 10 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-greatgrandson.

SCHROEDER, DAVID JASPER, 96, Buhler, Kan., member of Buhler MB Church, died May 5, 2010. Spouses: Hilda Schmidt, deceased; Emma Loewen, deceased Parents : David H. and Mary (Neufeldtl Schroeder. Children: Duane, Katherine Marshall; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.

WEISBRODT, JANE , 98, Fresno, Calif , member of North Fresno MB Church, died July 5, 2010. Spouse: AI Weisbrodt, deceased Children: Neal.

C l ear i ngHOUSE ··

Pastor: North Park Community Church , a small congregation in Eugene, Ore., is seeking a pastor with the qualifications found in 1 Tim. 3:2-7 and 1 Peter 5:1-4 Besides bringing engaging and solid biblical teaching, our new pastor will need to have strong relational skills with a heart for our congregation and a desire to reach out to our community. It is our hope to find a leader who will, by teaching and example, help us grow in our faith and equip us to share that faith If these tra its describe you, we invite you to send a letter of inquiry and your resume to Wayne Watkins, Chair, Pastor Search Team, 2964 Dry Creek Road, Eugene, OR 97404-3813 (wkwatkinsrahotmail.comlno later than October 1,2010

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Get hooked

What we can learn from Celebration 2010

In so many significant ways Celebration 2010 was a success and commendation is due the conference staff that organized the various components and the volunteers that helped it run so smoothly.

The facilities and food at the various sites were excellent. There were few administrative oversights. The complimentary shuttle service was a blessing. Emcees Valerie Rempel and Steve Berg did a great job and provided continuity throughout the week. Renewing Identity and Mission sessions were well done.

Binational evening celebration services-North American testimonies, enthusiastic congregational singing and challenging international guest speakers-were inspiring. The reports from various MB ministries, including the multimedia components, were outstanding. Displays by denominational and inter-Mennonite agencies added a nice touch; the resources offered by Kindred Productions were appreciated. Experience Vancouver provided valuable insights into urban church planting. Children and teens that attended were well cared for.

Given the good experience offered by this historic anniversary celebration, it is sad and disappointing that more of us weren't there. I can offer a string of likely reasons for low numbers but the bottom line is that we are not engaged as churches and as individuals in the broader Mennonite Brethren church. We don't see the value in attending denominational gatherings. If we did, we'd find the money and time to be present.

A generation ago people attended denominational events out of a sense of duty and discovered something of great value in the process-and it kept them coming back. I think the inherent value of denominational events remains the same. The importance of face-to-face fellowship is huge. It confirms that we are part of something bigger than ourselves and local efforts to make a difference in the world for Christ and his kingdom.

Give yourself the opportunity to get hooked on denominational events. Some district conferences are having conventions this year. Plan to attend the next district convention and Conection 2012, to be held in Omaha, Neb. Talk with leaders in your congregation about designating church funds to cover some or all event costs.

While we must take responsibility for attending-or not attending-events like Celebration 2010, conference leaders are responsible for offering events worth our atten-

dance. We learned some things at Celebration 2010 that can help guide planning for future occasions.

Organizers expected Renewing Identity and Mission (RIM) to attract fewer people than it did and the Celebration 2010 binational sessions to draw more. This suggests that we North American MBs are more interested in talking about our beliefs, history and identity in a environment that assumes our active participation than we are in listening to reports and conducting business in a setting where delegates have limited opportunities to engage in debate and conversation. I encourage U.S. Conference leaders, including the Board of Faith and Life, to offer occasions for us to interact with one another in meaningful ways about what we believe and how we live.

There were moments during RIM workshops when a presenter or attendee spoke about a time in the past 150 years when Mennonite Brethren made mistakes-when we made poor theological decisions, when our beliefs played out badly in the life of the church, when we didn't deal with conflict well, when we were prideful and arrogant. I found these moments refreshing. When our corporate gatherings embrace the hard things, our times together have greater depth. We should balance times of celebration with acknowledgements of painful times when we fell short of the calling of true believers.

One of the specific Celebration 2010 attendance goals was to grow the number of young adults, and so organizers waived registration fees for a limited number of young adults and provided times for them to interact with one another during their free time. While there are certainly benefits to connecting with peers, feedback suggests that young adults value interacting with the more experienced convention goers. As work begins on the 2012 USMB convention, let's avoid facilitating something that looks like an under-30 clique. Let's give the young and old opportunities to rub shoulders with one another and create ways for seasoned conference-goers to mentor newcomers.

Celebration 2010 was a wonderful celebration of the past ISO years and it can become a springboard for our future. When those of us who sit in the pews attend denominational events, we experience a firsthand connection to God's work in the world. When event planners ask delegates to work together as young and old and to do more than rubberstamp decisions, our corporate gatherings are infused with meaning.-CcmnieFaber

Table of Contents

MBMS International Spring 2010

The Treasure Of

Office Locations

WESTERN CANADA ( INTERNATIONAL OFFICE )

302 -32025 George Ferguson Way Abbotsford BC V2T 2K7 P: 604.859.6267 F: 604.859.6422 E: mbmsl @' mbmsi.org

WESTERN USA

4867 E. Townsend Avenue. Fresno, CA 93727 - 5006

P: 559.456.4600 F: 559.251_1432 E: fresno @mbmsi.org

CENTRAL CANADA

83 Henderson Highway Winnipeg, MB R2L 1L2

P: 204.415.0670 F: 204.667.1249 E: winnlpeg (n) mbmsi.org

MIDWEST USA

7348 W. 21 Street SUite 116 Wichita , KS 67205

P: 316.729.6465 F: 316.722.8632 E: wlchita ",) mbmsl.org

EASTERN CANADA

236 Victoria St. N OB , K,tchener -Wa te rloo, ON N2H 5C8

P: 519.886.4378 F: 519.886.6308 E: waterloo @mbmsi.org

Contact Information

CHURCH PLANTING TEAMS: Ray Harms -Wiebe [rayhw @mbmsi.org]

GIVING: Gayle Doerksen [gayled @mbmsi.org]

DAILY PRAYER GUIDE: Ann Zauner [annz @mbmsi.org]

MISSIONARY APPLICATIONS: AI Stobbe [als @mbmsi.org]

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Jamie Munday [jamielll @mbmsi.org]

SHORT TERM MISSION: Sam Dick [sallld @mbmsi.org]

MBMS International was recently hosting a discipleship training conference for some 80 Khmu leaders from Thailand and Laos. The participants were all bivocational farmer/pastors and most were first generation followers of Jesus. Almost all of the participants from Laos had experienced persecution and jail time for their faith and for their efforts to reach their communities with the gospel. Many live on several hundred dollars of income a year and grow much of their own food. This network of churches has grown from several hundred believers 15 years ago to over 35,000 believers today.

Also attending this conference were my friends Gord and Marcy Fleming. Gord leads our MB church planting work in BC, which currently has 20 active church planting efforts on the go. Several of our long term mission candidates are serving in church planting internships alongside these churches.

As one of the Khmu pastors shared a testimony of God's work in his village, our ministry leader in that region turned to me and said that the brother who was sharing had the gift of healing, and that these healings often resulted in families and even whole villages finding faith in Christ. When Gord heard this testimony of healing, he put his hand up and asked whether this Khmu brother would be willing to pray for his wife Marcy Marcy was diagnosed with Huntington's disease a number of years ago and is an amazing witness to God 's glory and presence in the midst of pain. There is no known cure for Huntington's.

The Khmu pasto rs were very eager to pray for Marcy and offer what they had, the prayer of faith. As they gathered around her and a crescendo of prayer grew like a fire soaring heavenward, I had to ask myself who was rich and who was poor.

During the days that we were together, I heard many stories of God's miraculous intervention in people's lives in response to prayer. Jesus said that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also:' (Mt 6:21) How much do we value prayer and the presence of the Lord?

To value prayer is to place a priority on talking and listening to God as we begin our day, go through our day, and as we close our day Jesus said, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you:' (Mt 6 :6) In what way will He reward us? Could His reward come in our receiving greater faith for the healing, freedom and the salvation of others? Could His reward come in greater clarity regarding where we are to i nvest our time and resources? Could His reward be deep peace and even joy in the midst of trouble? Perhaps the reward of seeking God is much more immediate than crowns in heaven.

As I spend time with leaders from growing church planting movements in Laos, Iran, N. Africa, Ethiopia and China, I hear a common theme They love to pray and have found resources in prayer that have changed their lives and now fuel thei r outreach and discipleship ministry.

We love to pray at MBMS International. Our staff pray together each Tuesday morning, our lead team spends each Wednesday lunch hour in prayer, and other staff enjoy prayer walking over their lunch hour. We value days of prayer, facilitated prayer retreats where we listen more carefully to God's word to and allow Him to counsel us. Out of worship and listening come new energy and joy for the work of mission that God has called us to.

Thousands of people are receiving our daily prayer guide (DPG), either on-line or in paper form, which unites us in systematically praying through all of our global workers and staff. Thank you for investing in this ministry through prayer!

As we focus on the value of prayer in this issue of Witness, our desire is that you would be encouraged and further equipped to invest in prayer for the nations. Our investment in prayer is building a treasure that will last. dZt r-,,----

Randy Friesen, General Director

Perspectives

On my most recent trip overseas, I had the privilege of meeting together with a group of pastors from a country that is opposed to the gospel. I was deeply impacted by their resilient faith, fervent prayer and great joy in spite of circumstances. The power of the Holy Spirit was evident as we contended together in prayer for their country, its leaders and for the churches that are being birthed in the midst of opposition. Inspired, I was once again compelled to believe that MBMSI's desire to see 'holistic church planting among the least reached' has everything to do with prayer.

In my role with MBMSI as a resource in the area of prayer and intercession, I am privileged to help strengthen, equip and model many aspects of prayer I believe prayer lends itself to the concept of holism and it is as we turn to Christ and experience His presence that life transformation occurs (2 Cor 3:18) Jesus' ministry was holistic and His prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 helps paint a picture of how prayer works He is not suggesting a rote recital of words, but rather is inviting us to embrace perspectives that, when understood and made alive by the Holy Spirit, create a foundational understanding for effective, transformational prayer.

The Lord's Prayer provides a tremendous framework for the understanding of prayer and the wholeness available to us as believers; this was something that was so evident in the lives of these pastors. Here are five simple perspectives that are helpful, and perhaps essential, as we desire to be steadfast and faithful in prayer.

ONE: Perspective of who God is.

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name ." Matt 6: 9

A healthy and effective prayer life begins with an understanding of who we are praying to. We are invited to approach God as our father, both intimate and revered -a personal God who is interested in us, committed to us, present and communicative; not angry, distant or absent.

Our damaged images and experiences of fatherhood often leave us with distorted understandings of what God is like. Prayer involves learning, in humility, to expose and admit our misconceptions and to allow the Holy Spirit to adjust our understanding so that we can line up with the truth of who He says He is.

TWO: Perspective of mission and purpose.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done ." Matt 6: 10

Our mission as followers of Christ is clearly, "Your kingdom come': We are to be about the advancement of His kingdom - not our own. Engaging in prayer as we make life choices is essential to facilitating the transformation from self-focused living to kingdom-focused living. It is a good practice in prayer to simply ask God if we are aligned with His mission Whose kingdom are we building? Prayer invites the adjustment of our own attitudes and behaviours to line up with His greater purposes.

These pastors'devotion to Christ and submission to His purposes compelled them to share the Gospel in spite of personal risk. Sometimes they walked for two or three days to unreached villages only to be met with opposition and thrown in prison.

THREE: Perspective on source and simplicity.

nGive us this day our daily bread" Matt 6:11

As we know and experience God's presence in prayer, we begin to see the world through His eyes and are drawn towards what He values rather than what our culture values. Jesus reminds us that He is our source and that He is adequate to meet our needs. We are invited by the Spirit in prayer to view worldly possessions in light of eternal purposes and again have the opportunity to allow Christ to transform our thinking and experience.

These pastors had nothing in terms of worldly possessions and lived truly dependent upon God for even their daily provision, yet they were rich in spirit and saw God's goodness even in their meagre circumstances

FOUR : Pe rs p ective on relationships.

nForgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors •••n Matt 6: 12

Effective prayer is directly linked to our heart attitudes towards one another. Forgiveness is essential in unlocking the presence of God in our own lives. If we hold something against our brothers or sisters, we actually limit the Holy Spirit's activity and our prayers are unheard. Relational integrity is not optional for the believer; unforgiveness is a key way in which the enemy often defeats us and limits the effectiveness of our prayers. Humility is required to forgive and to be forgiven and it is often in the place of prayer that we soften and gain hope for restored relationships

As we began our time of prayer with this group of pastors, I was struck by their readiness to repent of any bitterness they felt towards the prison guards that had beaten them or towards friends or family who had turned on them. They asked forgiveness of one another for their attitudes and they asked God to give them a fresh perspective on their situation. From that place of fresh perspective, they entered into a significant time of intercession for their country Doing the work of confession and repentance allowed for the Spirit of God to unite them in prayer.

FIVE: Perspective on circumstance.

nLead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil•••" Matt 6: 13

As believers, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome evil. Evil does exist and it does entice our sinful natures, but no evil is greater than the power of Christ within us. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). In prayer, we ask for His empowering presence to overcome what seems too great for us and we can experience freedom from the bondage of sin in our lives Prayer allows us to enter into Christ's authority, truth and light, and to apply His authority to our struggle. The power of the enemy needs to be held in balance with the truth of who God is and the reality that God is all powerful.

My experience with these pastors reaffirmed for me the beauty of what happens when we pray. God transforms our hearts and minds to reflect more of Him, and our circumstances are then seen in light of eternity In prayer, we approach a loving father and are liberated to find meaning in our lives within His purposes. We are set free from wrongful mind sets of self sufficiency, and are invited to complete dependency on Him . We can experience relational wholeness in the freedom to forgive and be forgiven. We can live as overcomers because the light of God within us can dispel any darkness This is our hope and it is what we have to offer the world.

I encourage you to engage in mission through devoting yourself to prayer.

The Prayer Resource Team engages in intercessory prayer with the purpose of equipping, encouraging, and strengthening MBMSI missionaries and their ministries. If you are interested in supporting the work of this team, contributions can be designated to project 9048.

er+ Powerful Combination

By Carol Letkeman

Mobilizing Prayer Through STM Cycles

Imagine moving to Central Asia with your young family, committed to 10 years of ministry What would need to transpire in your life to make this decision? For Dave and Mel, the journey began during an ACTION orientation prayer meeting. A group of people who love to pray listened to the voice of the Shepherd on behalf of the family and shared scriptures with them along with words of strength, encouragement and comfort A seed was sewn in their hearts and imaginations that helped dimin ish their fears and focus more on their life-calling and the kingdom of God. Following their summer ministry in Japan with ACTION, Dave and Mel began to pursue a life of international mission At the same time, they continued to grow in the disciplines of prayer and reflection. "It was during that meeting, surrounded by a team of intercessors, that we could see ourselves as part of a team that would serve God in international mission:' Today, they are serving on a long term church planting team in Central Asia where they will be establishing a Christian presence among Muslims. Dave and Mel's story reminds us that God still speaks to us today Lives are transformed when we pray.

How do we mobilize prayer through STM (short term mission) cycles? To mobilize something is to put it into action or motion Mobilizing prayer begins with identifying intercessors, those in our sphere of influence who are already in motion and praying on behalf of others. Then we invite these people of prayer to consider praying with and for our long term missionaries or short term mission participants on location. These intercessors establish a culture of prayer and model a life of prayer Spending time with intercessors is an educational experience for both our missionaries and our STM participants because prayer is better 'caught' than 'taught:

Kathy Stobbe recently joined our Learn and Serve trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil. "God has used this STM trip to help me learn to engage in the positive side of praying and speaking out truth. I'm beginning to understand that I have been focusing so much on 'spiritual warfare' and what Satan is busy doing that I have been missing out on what God is doing. I learned how to shift my focus and look for God in everything. I feel like I have put on a new pair of glasses and I like what I see! I'm more able to pray with others and to be more intentional in speaking truth into people in love. It has been so freeing!"

Prayer And STM Programming

Prayer permeates all of our STM programming. Everything from the ministry assignments to the teaching topics have been discerned in an

atmosphere of corporate prayer and reflection. Listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd is the foundation of everything that we do, and becomes a spiritual discipline of every team that participates in an MBMSI short term mission

We often ask the question, "God, will you show us where you are inviting us· to join you in your work?" This question is then followed by, "How would you like us to join you?" Our senses of observation are heightened by simply asking the questions and being expectant that God will reveal His will to our teams.

Each STM site has a room devoted to prayer where participants or volunteers can go and pray. These rooms are enhanced by maps of the ministry area, prayer journals, pictures of the people we serve, and a variety of prayer tools and activities with which to engage. During STMs, our prayer coordinators invite others to join in prayer by signing up for a specific time of the day to pray, with the goal of having people interceding around the clock for the program. Some are able to visit the prayer room on location while others are able to pray for the program from home. Through emails and texting, prayers continue to pour in and get posted on the walls of the prayer room as a record of God's leading and encouragement.

Orientation for our summer ACTION program includes an intercession meeting for every team. We invite a group of intercessors to spend a few concentrated hours with each team that will be traveling internationally This meeting often proves to be the most significant part of their training. The intercessors take time to reflect and prepare for these meetings. Then they share passages of scripture and words of encouragement for the team as a whole and for each individual These prayer times with the team are recorded and given to the team so that they can reflect on the scripture and encouragements throughout the

summer. Participants continually return from their m i ssion trip with stories of how those words of encouragement provided comfort, strength and hope during times of struggle and conflict Other stories emerge that highlight how God used the words to draw the team to take risks of obedience that b i rthed transformation in another's life.

Recently, we have embarked on trips where we invite a small group of intercessors to join us in spending time on location with our missionaries Our primary purpose is to pray. Taking time to be with our missionaries on location and experience their everyday, ordinary lives informs our prayers more than any prayer letter or video update could. Sharing life with their families and friends, walking the streets of their cities, tasting the food of the culture and worshipping in their churches, allows our prayers to come out of a close relationship and into first hand experience of their circumstances Quickly our hearts unite with theirs. We have opportunity to pray with their church members, for their cities, and with the missionaries When we return home, our prayers are no longer rote or generic. It is like we are praying for family members We intercede on their behalf, knowing their lives are part of God's big project of drawing all of creation back into relationship with himself through Jesus. Lives are transformed when we pray.

MBMSI has a number of opportunities for people who are interested in serving on short term mission in North America and around the world. To learn more about these programs, visit www.mbmsi.org/go.

Carol Letkeman serves as STM (Short Term Mission) Coordinator in Central Canada. She has i c_· ' ' ' a passion for prayer and has led intercession 't v _ trips to countries where MBMSI missionaries are 'fl ., .;. serving around the world. ' "

Of Prayer

Please use this prayer guide as we join toget l

Feel free to check the boxes provided as you pray though this list. plant in South Africa.

Angola, South Africa: Pray for the leaders of the Angolan MB Conference as they bring a message of justice and peace to the people of Angola. Pray also for Baudouin & Marie-Brigette Nsulunka as they provide leadership at an MB church

Burkina Faso: Pray for Phil & Carol Bergen and Blaine & Michelle Warner as they translate and publish scriptures, share the stories of the Bible, and plant a new church in Burkina Faso. Pray also for Krista Deboer as she raises support and looks forward to joining this team in the near future.

I_1\Ii.

DR Congo: Pray for the leaders of the Congolese MB Conference and pray that Christ's love will clearly be seen through

• _ __ MBMSI's work in evangelism, leadership training, and development projects.

'-1\11.

India: Pray for Barbara as she teaches at an international school and serves on the board of a home for needy children

• _ .. _ _ Pray also for Mark & Amy as they are involved in church planting among middle and upper-class families in Delhi.

IIDay 5.

India: Pray for the leaders of the Indian MB Conference and for all those at the MB Centenary Bible College. Pray for Syras & Natasha, Brad, and Stephanie as they raise support and prepare to serve as a church planting team in India.

Japan: Pray for Doris Goertz, Amberly Hulzebos, and Wendy Eros as they provide support to churches in Japan through English and Bible classes, evangelism and discipleship, and helping with various ministries and outreach programs.

IIDay 7.

Philippines: Pray for the leaders that are being trained and equipped in the Philippines and for the churches that are being planted among the rural poor.

Thailand: Pray for Ricky & Karen Sanchez, Andy & Carmen Owen, and Dave & Louise Sinclair-Peters as they serve in Thailand Pray for the three church plants that they are involved in: The Life Center, Angsila Friendship Center, and Bethel church, and pray also for the children at the Abundant Life Home. Pray for Bob &Chris Davis as they minister at the Bethel church, and for Sandra Fender as she is currently in language study.

I-jtl,_

Thailand: Pray for Greg & Becky Ouellette and Cynthia Friesen on the Operation

• _ __ 2nd Wave (02W) Team as they plant a church in Phuket. Pray also for Rob & Judy Griffioen in Chiang Mai, and for Kurt & Glenna Lundberg as Kurt works at a Christian Member Care center.

I_ I I'I

Thailand: Pray for the leaders who are church planting among the Khmu in 1j\ • _ northern Thailand, and for the Changed Life Centre that will be used to train workers and leaders. Pray for Phone Keo & Chansone, Edd & Ingrid Russell, Motohiro & Mariya Hamana and Junji & Hitomi Nukaga as they prepare to serve as a team in northern Thailand.

I-jtll II

Austria: Pray for Richard & Hazel Funk as they are involved in evangelism,

• _ ___ leadership development and discipleship in Austrian churches.

Itjtll fJ

Germany: Pray for the East Berlin church planting team; Andrew & Olga Pritzkau

• _ ___ and Ben & Melissa Froese. Pray that the church will grow as they reach out to people in this neighborhood.

Itj til II

France: Pray for Russ & Marj Speiser as they are involved in evangelism, leadership

• _ .. ___ development, media training, and church planting using media and the arts. Pray for a church planting team that is moving to France and plans to work with Muslim people in France and North Africa.

I_ It. Lithuania: Pray for Christoph & Antonia Hagele as they support the Lithuanian 1j \. MB Conference by teaching at the Evangelical Bible Institute and mentoring new leaders. Pray for the students at Lithuania Christian College and Evangelical Bible Institute, and pray also for the Good News Club that reaches out to children and youth from troubled homes.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:-18

I praying for our missionaries as they transform communities among the least reached.

-iii. 'I

Portugal: Pray for Otto & Marjorie Ekk as they oversee several church plants, social ministries projects, evangelism efforts, _. ___ leadership development, and mentoring.

-iii. II

Ukraine: Pray for John & Evelyn Wiens as they have just planted a church in Zaporozhye, Ukraine. Pray also for the leaders _. _ __ of other church plants in Ukraine.

-iii. fA

Brazil: Pray for Jason & Andrea Edwards and Tim & Denice Kuhns as they teach at PanAmerican Christian Academy in _. _ __ Sao Paulo. Pray also for Jim & Marilou Nightingale as they are involved in church, camp ministry, and mentoring leaders.

f JI Colombia: Pray for EI Progreso, a church that is ministering in the poorest neighborhood of Bogota, Colombia. Pray also -1;\'.;

_ _ for the MIJUCO program that disciples Colombians in spiritual formation and prepares them for cross cultural mission.

Mexico: Pray for the Matthew Team; Trever &Joan Godard, Sandra Plett, Jennifer Schmidt, and Stacy Kuhns. Pray for them as they are involved in church planting and evangelism with the RETO church and hosting short term ministry teams.

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Mexico: Pray for Alfredo & Sandra Beltran who are church planters at the RETO church in Guadalajara, Mexico, and for Robert & Anne Thiessen as they are involved with church planting among the Mixteco people group in South Mexico.

Panama, Venezuela: Pray for Einer & Girlesa Zuluaga as they work with the

• _. __ _ Embera and Wounan people groups in discipleship and leadership development in Panama. Pray also for pastor Semson Nip as he ministers to the large Chinese population in Venezuela

I ,t. Paraguay: Pray for Melvin & Gudrun Warkentin as they teach at the Indian Bible

• _. ___ Institute in Paraguay, providing a biblical foundation for lay church workers among tribal groups.

Peru: Pray for Jose & Esperanza Prada and Otto & Lidia Funk as they are involved in church planting and leadership training in Peru. Pray also for Liana Penner as she supervises the English program at a school and provides support in the Trujillo MB church.

1-11.

North Africa: Pray for Samir & Lewiza and Trevor & Rebekah as they work with the Ii \ 'i Oasis project to reach Muslims around the world through evangelistic television programs, discipleship material, and leadership training conferences.

I_ lill

Central Asia: Pray for a family that is serving in Central Asia and is involved in

· Ii\ ___ outreach and community development. Pray also for the three families on Team 58:12 that have just moved to the Turkic world to begin church planting.

I .S'{iI

Southeast Asia: Pray for the community development projects and the leadership Ii \" b and discipleship training that are taking place in Southeast Asia. Pray also for two couples as they share the love of Christ in a restricted access country in Asia.

Worldwide: Pray for resource missionaries John & Geri as they support our field

• _. ___ missionaries with video and other media resources. I

Worldwide: Pray for Victor & Marty Wiens as Victor serves as Mission Capacity

• _. ___ Building Coordinator by building relationships with MB Conferences around the world and assisting them in developing mission sending structures.

I j iiilil

North America: Pray for MBMSl's Member Care couples who provide support and

• _. ___ encouragement to our missionary John & Isabelle Balzer, Frank & Esther Martens, and Ron & Betty Russell.

I j ilit.1

North America: Pray for MBMSI staff and board members in Western Canada,

• _. ___ Central Canada, Eastern Canada, Western USA, and Midwest USA. Pray that the Lord will fill them with joy, vision for their work, and the ability to think clearly.

Visit www.mbmsi.orglsubscribe to receive the Daily Prayer Guide each month.

istenin God

By Steve Klassen

All over the world, people are listening to God. How the Creator is working and what He is speaking is changing people's lives; even a gentle whisper, an impression, a passing thought is ending up making a deep and lasting impact. People are learning to let God be in control. Trust is stirring. People are realizing that we are like grasshoppers (small) and God is the Creator (BIG) The Almighty made the world and He has a few things to say The Orchestrator is active. We may get tired and go to bed, but God never grows weary and His energy is boundless.

life today?" or "What has happened recently that seems like God at work around you?" In everyday life, God is present and active. A man in South India was so depressed he doused his entire body in gasoline and was ready to light the match when a voice in his mind said, "Turn on your TV:' As he turned it on, he listened to a man who spoke about life and peace and an alternative to suicide. He never lit that match. Today he is worshipping his Creator and thankful that God speaks.

People are listening to God through community. People are speaking to each other and the results are more than a human voice at work. An email, a text message, a phone call; God is speaking as people are in relationship with each other and speak and act in loving ways. One woman's personal story from deep darkness to incredible freedom lifts up another who is listening with a heavy heart. The same message (Psalm 121) coming from both Luxembourg and Canada on the same morning surprised and amazed the recipient of the two emails who was desperately in need of encouragement. God is personal.

Becoming silent before God is becoming popular all over the planet as people are hearing God through times of silence. Normal people are going on silent retreats and experiencing God. Recently in Mongolia, an Australian woman talked about a five-day silent retreat as the highlight of her year. Young adults are learning to be still and listen for God's voice on weekend retreats and their reflections are mind-boggling God is coming near people in intimate ways.

People are listening to God through the Scriptures. They are reading stories out loud from the Bible and listening for what God is saying to them personally; then they are comparing notes as they talk together about what they feel God is saying to them. Individuals are meditating on verses, memorizing stories and chapters, and whole books of the Bible. People are studying the Bible and finding it speaking into their lives. No book in the history of the world comes anywhere close to the Bible in annual sales. This year more than 100 million Bibles will be bought throughout the world. The Bible is being translated into various languages right now, and as it is, God is speaking to people.

Children, women, and men are listening to God speak through the circumstances of life. Little "coincidences" are taking place in every country in the world. God is speaking through creative, divinely orchestrated, seemingly insignificant situations. People are asking each other simple questions like, "What has brought you

People are listening to God through their hearts. It is quite amazing how God speaks through the very desires and hopes and dreams that people have within them. We are uniquely created and we have something to offer that is only going to come through us Just as Jesus asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want. ?" He is asking you and me the same question today. The answer might reveal what God is speaking through our hearts over years as God has been at work in there

People all over the world are listening to God. And it's a good thing too, because the Creator is amazing and His words and His encouraging activity will continue to change our lives now and for eternity. Are you listening?

Speaks

By Katie Born

The ACTION team didn't know whether they should continue on their journey or stay in the place that they had stopped to rest. They were on a 6-week trek through the countryside in Central Asia as they shared the gospel with nomadic families.

While they rested, the team prayed and asked God to show them if He wanted them to stay in this place. Their prayer was soon answered as the team was approached by a young man who quickly started up a conversation with them. As they began to talk about God, the young man told them, "People hear about Jesus in the city, but no one ever comes to the countryside to tell people about Jesus:'

"Do you want to hear about Jesus?"the team asked.

"Sure:' he replied, and invited them into his family's home. The team shared the good news with this young man and his parents and they chose to follow Jesus!

Over the next few days, the team had the opportunity to disciple this family. God laid it on ACTION participant Amanda's heart to read John 10, and the family's eyes lit up as they heard the words from this passage! Amanda described them, saying, "It was like they were in a desert and saw an oasis and they were drinking from the oasis!"

After reading this passage, the team wanted to teach this family about

Three memebers of the ACTION team With other members of the family

hearing God's voice through His word. But as they began to explain, the family interrupted and declared that they were already hearing Jesus speak to them!

"What is Jesus saying to you?"the team asked.

The family replied by telling them how Jesus is like a shepherd and by explaining why sheep need to have only one master. God spoke to them through this passage that was very relevant to their nomadic lifestyle and opened their hearts to understand His word.

The next day, the ACTION team saw how God was continuing to work in the lives of this family as the mother told them about the time she had spent reading God's word and the father announced that he had been talking to Jesus as he collected firewood all day!

Jesus is directly teaching this family and deepening their desire to read His Word and to enjoy fellowship with Him. Pray that this family's love for Jesus will grow as they learn more about Him and follow Him.

ACTION is a six week program that sends teams into cross-cultural settings around the world. Teams work alongside MBMSI missionaries that respond to God's call on their lives everyday - the call to proclaim the love, forgiveness and mercy of Jesus Christ to the least reached in our world. To learn more about ACTION, visit www.mbmsi.org/action.

ABOVE: The father of thiS nomadic family

BELOW:

sGod used the words from 2Peter1:8 to help me discern a new call on my life. He challenged me to use all my gifts to become effective and productive for Jesus. God opened a door, leading our family into a season of prayer and discernment. The result was ending a 20 year career in the business world, moving across the country, and accepting an invitation to join a mission agency - MBMSI.

Have you ever prayed, "Lord, what is the purpose of my life?" Have you ever wondered what God wants for you? Do you wonder why He gave you certain gifts? I never imagined that I would serve in full time ministry so when the opportunity came, I needed to know if it was truly from God. There were so many questions and unknowns. A call to mission meant risk taking and sacrifice, even serving in North America The words of Romans 8:28 gave me comfort, "And we know in all things God works for the good ofthose who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose:' But was I truly called?

As our family began to pray, God answered. He gave dreams to my children. He used words in scripture. When I asked God to help me clearly see an alignment between this call to service and my gifts, not only did He make this clear to me and others, He also grew my passion for ministry. And finally, He gave us all a sense of peace as we

Calling You?

By JP Hayashida

made our final decision. Prayer was the foundation of our decision making process.

Serving with MBMSI has been an incredible privilege where God is allowing my gifts to serve Him in building His kingdom. Each day I have the opportunity to experience my joy being made complete (In 15:11) as I can be effective and productive for our Lord Jesus Christ. Is God calling you to mission? Will you pray and listen, asking Him about the purpose of your life? My prayer is that you will discover your call and through faithful obedience, you will find your joy made complete.

Is God calling you to serve on a long term church planting team in anoth er part of the world? If you are interested in partnering with MBMSI to bring the message of God's love to the least r eached, contact your local Regional Mobilizer (1-888-866-6267)

ra er &

Evangelism

By Phil Harris

There was no way that Jesus' disciples were in a position to stand up and boldly proclaim the good news. Their leader had just been killed. They were hurt, confused and terrified - hardly candidates to turn the world upside down.

Yet, amazingly, they did. How? Simply, but profoundly, it was through the power of prayer. Along with the other believers, they encountered Jesus in a way that transformed their lives.

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them:' Acts 2:1-4

Soon after, Peter stood up, raised his voice and boldly declared that the One they had crucified was indeed the Lord and Messiah. God used that message to change the lives of 3,000 people that day and it continues to impact the world today.

What a difference prayer made in the lives of the apostles. Another illustration of this is given in Acts 4:31: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly:'

It wasn't methods, programs or buildings that shook the world. It was because a group dared to pray and wait on the Lord . This was why the apostle Paul sought out prayer support. In Colossians 4:3-4, he writes: "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should."

Recently, I was training a woup in evangelism. Before we went out into the community, time was taken to pray and wait on the Lord. We asked the Lord to guide us to those He was working in and to empower us to share the right words.

God led me to a park in Abbotsford called Mill Lake. After walking and praying for about three or four minutes, I saw a young man coming towards me. I sensed God prompting me to speak to this man. I stopped and looked at him and he stopped and looked at me

There was an awkward moment of silence, but then God was faithful to give me the right words to begin. The door was opened to share the good news message and miraculously this young man became a follower of Jesus Christ.

He later confided in me that at the time we met, he had been crying out to God for help. I was amazed! God was answering his prayer by leading me to him through prayer. Wow! Communing with God is everything. It opens the door to hear God's voice and frees the Spirit

to do His evangelizing work through us

Maybe you can relate to the apostles - petrified of the prospect of being an agent of God's amazing grace. Take time to pray and sit in the presence of the Lord and watch and see what He will do to transform your life to become a fisher of men.

Disciple Making International has seen thousands of people find a relationship with Christ through teams who share their faith stories alongside national believers If you haven't had the experience of leading someone to Christ - why wait? For more information, visit www.mbmsi.orgldmi.

Phil Harris is the Director of DMI. Phil oversees the recruitment, training, sending and debriefing of DMI participants. He also equips Regional Mobilizers, short term and long term missionary candidates, and church planting teams for evangelism

r Prayer . 1 n Thailand

By Katie Born

When church planters Dave & Louise Sinclair-Peters announced that the Bethel church was going to have 24 hours of continuous prayer, they weren't sure if anyone would even show up. But it turned into such an incredible day of prayer that they decided to do it again the following week! This time Dave & Louise invited their supporters and churches in North America to join the Bethel church in praying for 24 hours.

Their prayer was that God would move powerfully in the lives of the Thai and Burmese believers at the Bethel church. They also asked God to provide divine appointments and opportunities as Thai believers prepared to go on a mission trip to share the love of Christ with their families in Northeast Thailand.

God answered their prayers by working in and through the believers at the Bethel church. One new believer exclaimed, "I've never had a day like this before!" God put a passion for prayer in the hearts of many believers as they cried out to Him with joy and freedom. Through praying and interceding together, church members grew closer as a community of believers.

During this time, God used two church members to show their coworker the power of prayer. Chin and Phot had been sharing the gospel with a man on their construction site when the sky turned

black and the wind began to blow hard. The man said, "If your God is real, tell him to stop the rain!"Chin and Phot got down on their knees and cried out to God to stop the rain. After a few moments, the wind died down and the storm blew over. The man declared, "Wow! Who is this God of yours? I want to know him!"

God also encountered a Burmese seeker in a dream! She had studied the Bible with other believers a few times and had heard the message of salvation in Christ. That day, she described a dream that she had the night before where a strong, kind-looking man came to her with his arms stretched out. In her dream, she asked, "Who are you?,'The man revealed that He was Jesus Christ and told her that He wanted her to follow Him. She responded, "1 will follow you but will you help me? I have nothing to feed my family or clothe my children:' Jesus said to her, "My child, whatever you want, just ask Me!" The next morning, she told everyone that she had met Jesus! This seeker announced "1 have no more questions about whether God is real;' and asked, "When can I be baptized?"

Their prayers were also answered for the Thai believers' mission trip to their families in Northeast Thailand. God empowered them with boldness and courage to tell their families about what Jesus had done in their lives. As they presented the gospel, 17 people prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and they had the opportunity to pray for many other people.

God is continuing to work in the Bethel church as many people are choosing to follow Jesus and believers are taking the next step of baptism. These are just a few of the stories that show how God has transformed this community as the Bethel church in Thailand and churches in North America united together in prayer. Continue to join us in praying for God's kingdom to come in Thailand and around the world!

To learn mo re about how God is w orking in Thailand, visit www.mbmsi.orglthailand.

ANew Way To

Rayhan* was a Muslim who was devoted to following Allah, but he was not experiencing God's presence or love. As prescribed for all Muslims, he decided to pray five times a day in the mosque. Rayhan performed the same ritual prayer each time but he still didn't feel any closer to God

One day as he was praying, Rayhan heard a voice behind him say, "You are not praying the right way:'He turned around, but there was no one there. Over the following weeks, this same voice spoke these words to him every time he prayed at the mosque. Rayhan became frustrated with this counsel because in Islam there is only one prescribed way to pray

Rayhan visited his brother for guidance as to what to do with this voice he was hearing His brother sympathized with his frustrations in prayer and invited him to read a book from his library that a friend had given him. That book was the Bible.

As Rayhan read about the life and ministry of Jesus, he discovered the intimate relationship with God that he had been searching for. His prayer life was transformed as he experienced the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Today Rayhan is leading a movement of house churches in his country and is involved with MBMSI's Oasis ministry to Muslims in North Africa. Many are hearing the Gospel for the first time and responding to what they have always desired: God's invitation to fellowship Pray for the hearts of Muslims all over the world to open up to a God who loves them and longs for a relationship.

As we pray, God is listening and answering in amazing ways. To read more stories of prayer, visit www.mbmsi.org/prayerstories. You can also visit www.oasisspring.org for more stories from the Muslim world.

*Name has been changed