T CHRISTMAS, WE CELEBRATE the birth of]esus. His birth, death and resurrection changed historyand countless lives. This December issue of the Leader is taking a turn from its focus on traditional Christmas themes. Instead, we are looking at the past century of service and work of thousands of men and women who gave part or all of their lives to reach the people of the world for Jesus.
This issue of the Leader focuses on MBMS International, the international mission agency of Mennonite Brethren. The feature articles were jointly commissioned and prepared by the Leader and the MB Herald, a publication of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
We decided to do this for several reasons.
Mission, outreach and evangelism are core MB beliefs. From the beginning, we have believed that people are lost and need the salvation found only in Jesus. We also believe that it is our responsibility, as God's servants, to preach this good news to all nations.
This year, MBMSI celebrated its 100th anniversary. Largely due to the work of MBMSI, MBs have grown from a small immigrant group in the U.S. and Canada to a worldwide denomination with 250,000 members in 20 countries-making MBs the largest Mennonite denomination in the world.
MBMSI is in transition. This past summer, responsibility for MBMSI was transferred from the General (North American) Conference, which is disbanding, to the U.S. and Canadian conferences. It is expected that within a few years, other national MB conferences may also become full partners with MBMSI.
Our world is rapidly changing, and mission agencies like MBMSI face many challenges as they seek to reach this rapidly changing world with the gospel. We thought it would be helpful for North American MBs to consider some of these changes and challenges and to recommit themselves to reaching a lost world with the good news of Jesus Christ. Because of the extended coverage on missions in this issue, we weren't able to include some of our regular features, including our columns, editorial and letters to the editor. Look for them next month. God bless. -GA
MARCH 9-12, 2oo1-New pastor's orientation, MB Biblical Seminary, British Columbia
ART CREDITS: Cover: Linda Gerbrandt, Helen Franz, Peter H. Siemens, Ruth Wiens, Frieda Esau,
VOLUME 63, NUMBER 12
BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Kathy Heinrichs Wiest, chair; Peggy Goertzen, Phil Neufeld, Dalton Reimer.
The Christian Leader (ISSN 0009-5149) is published monthly by the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, 315 S. Lincoln, Hillsboro, KS 67063. The Christian Leader seeks to inform Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activities, decisions and issues of their denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialog so members will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelicaVAnabaptist theological tradition. However, the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church.
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EDITOR
Carmen Andres
CLARENCE BY
ea for t ose . 0 haven't
When
a small number of German-speaking Mennonite Brethren immigrants came to North America from Russia's Ukraine 125 years ago, they carried a passion for missions as firmly in their hearts as the clothes, pidures and books packed in their trunks.
FOR MISSIONS was born out of renewal, when this small group of people ennonite roots chose to make a dynamic faith 'tment to Christ, giving birth to the Mennonite Bntthl:'en denomination. Missions was one of their top Over the past century, that energetic com'ssion has yielded significant results.
M!J ion efforts haven't been without chalei'iges and struggles. Like other denominations, MBs used methods popular at the time that sometimes had problematic by-products-eompetitive denominationalism, the privileged lifestyle of missionaries in com· parison to the local population, the imposition of Western culture and a lack of discipleship training for new converts. In spite of these realities, through the work of the Holy Spirit, MB efforts have been very successful. Today, 250,000 MBs in 1500 congregations live in 20 countries of the world. About 65 to 75 percent are non-Caucasian; 36 percent live in Africa, 31 percent in Asia, 22 percent in North America, 6 percent in Europe and 5 percent in Latin America.
Turn of the century-the beginning
The first official MB missionary went to India in 1899, though individual MBs had been there already for 10 years. Missionaries from the Russian MB conference had served in India since 1889 under the Baptists. As early as 1879, however, MBs had talked and prayed about beginning "foreign mission" ventures. For several years, they had struggled with their rela-
tionship with the Baptists. Young, highly respected MB leaders were switching to that denomination. This, along with doctrinal differences and a lack of voice in mission endeavors, was disconcerting for the young denomination. In 1898, the newly formed General (North American) MB Conference decided that "we do not want to subordinate our mission endeavor to other mission organizations or societies." An MB missionary couple serving in India under Baptist auspices was present at these deliberations and supported the decision of MBs to function independently.
India
N.N. Hiebert, 25, and his wife, Susie, 19, left for India a year later under General Conference sponsorship to serve among the Telegus-people adjacent to those the MB couple were ministering to under the Baptists. Elizabeth Neufeld made the journey with them. The first of two Anna Sudermans joined them a little while later.
Within 18 months, however, the Hieberts were back in North America because of N.N. 's health. But MBs were encouraged. At the General Conference convention in 1901, delegates received a firsthand, vivid report on India from Hiebert. They were also enthused because other MBs had volunteered to go by then.
Hiebert become the leader of MB mission efforts, serving as an evangelist and advocate for missions, reporting regularly on developments and recruiting
additional missionaries. A kind of "fumily spirit" within the conference characterized the project. Everybody seemed to know the missionaries personally. They were informed about their comings and goings, their struggles and achievements, the developments and the hurdles faced. MBs gained vivid cross-cultural insights concerning other people whose existence, worldview and lifestyle were radically different from their own. Hiebert also carried major responsibilities for the MB cross-cultural ministry with Comanche Natives in the U.S., started in 1886.
Hiebert was a widely respected, trustworthy and knowledgeable leader of mission efforts for the first third of the 20th century. His 33-year leadership included oversight of 87 missionaries-37 in India, 19 in Congo and 40 in China.
China
The Congo and China mission ventures were begun by MBs who initially went to these countries independently. Financially, the Conference could
not support additional mission "fields," but MBs who sensed a call to be missionaries felt they could not wait. Most efforts were privately financed or sponsored by families, congregations or boards established specifically for this purpose.
Henry and Nellie Bartel were the first to go to China in 1901 under the China Mennonite Mission Society, a board representing four Mennonite bodies. They were the first Mennonites to serve in China, establishing a ministry in northern China. Mr. and Mrs. F.]. Wiens from Henderson, Neb., established a mission in south China in 1912 with private support from fumily and friends.
It wasn't until 1919 that the conference began supporting missions in China financially. Though constituents called for support for both the "Bartel Field" and "Wiens Field," the conference could not provide any funds until then because of "the great demands of the mission in India and Oklahoma."
By 1935, the two "fields" in China had 40 missionaries with about 5,000 members. This effort
Answering_th_e_c_al_l
It was 1937, my final year at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan. I was working toward a Bachelor of Theology degree. It was the culmination of years of praying, waiting, working and struggling to reach a goal-to fulfill a desire, which had begun in early childhood, to prepare for some service in the Lord's vineyard.
Where did the Lord want me? What service did he want me to do in the years ahead? I sent up many prayers for guidance during that last year of preparation-alone and with close friends.
Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Lohrenz, on furlough from India, were in Hillsboro that year, and I had good fellowship with them. But my Inclination was not at all to go to India. Rather, I thought, "1 1m getting too old to go into foreign service: It was really quite absurd! After all, I was in my mid-30s.
The Board of Foreign Missions was to meet in March 1938. Dr. H.W. Lohrenz, on the Tabor faCUlty at that time, was chair of that board. To get more Information on possibilities for
service, went to his office one day and poured out my heart. He listened quietly but made no comment. Finally, to get a response, I asked, "Where is there a need at this time?N Without hesitation. his response was, "Indial" It hit me like a dagger thrust into my innermost being. "Not India, N I said withIn myself. "I can't go to India."
Having read the book Mother India by Pearl Buck that year, I had a very uneasy feeling about that country. Besides, it was 50 far away.
India remained on my mind, however, and I struggled against the idea of going there. Turmoil filled my thoughts. I recalled the time When, at age 11, I had stood by a wall in our little country sohoolhouse and talked with my teacher. Suddenly, with point· er in hand, she had said, "Anna, if you want to be a missionary, that would be a good place to go." She had pointed to a map of Asia and to, of all places, India. The memory of this incident, brought back to my mind 25 years
_ BY ANNA SUDERMAN
later, was no accident.
One night, in desperation, I fell to my knees by the bed and said, "Lord, if you want me to go to India, I'll go." Peace came instantly. The battle was over. Fear of going was replaced by anticipation.
In March 1938, the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions met in Hillsboro. They considered my application for service to anywhere I was needed. When I approached Rev. Lohrenz several days later, his greeting was, "Anna, we have decided to send you to India." Unspeakable joy flooded my being. To be needed and wanted was enough. God, in his wisdom, had provided the answer. He would see me through. And he has done so .•
Reprinted, with permission, from True Life: First-hand Stories of Mission (MBMS/, 2000) and from Memoirs of Anna Suderman 1902-1980, edited by Laurene Peters (Center for MB Studies, 1983).
ended after the mid-1940s, when all missionaries were ordered to leave China due to the political situation. However, recent contact with the descendants of the first MBs in China has revealed that thousands of others subsequently became Christians.
Congo
In 1912, Aaron and Ernestine Janzen from Mountain Lake, Minn., went to the Belgian Congo. They were among the first missionaries to serve under an inter-Mennonite mission agency, the Congo Inland Mission (CIM). Funds to support this effort came largely from MB constituents.
After a brief furlough, they returned in 1920 to launch an independent mission in another location. In order to have finances to support the mission, Janzen purchased and operated a farm, emplOying Congolese as workers. By 1927, there was an MB church of 26 members. Official recognition of the Congo conference, however, was delayed until 1943 because of the Depression and World War II.
Today the Democratic Republic of Congo has the largest national MB Conference in the world, with 84,000 members. India has the second largest, with 72,000.
Into new lands
By 1936, North American MBs numbered 13,000 in 116 congregations. Between 1936 and 1963, this constituency opened 10 new mission "fields."
H.W. Lohrenz-Tabor College president and professor, church leader and assistant pastorbecame leader of North American mission efforts in 1936. Under his tenure, proposals were made to begin a mission in Colombia and other places in South America. Lohrenz's term ended with his unexpected death in 1945, and A.E. Janzen-also a Tabor College president and professor-succeeded him. Janzen was noted for his organizational abilities and was a respected churchman. During Janzen's tenure, new fields
opened in Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Japan, Mexico, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Germany, Austria and
Panama. Janzen also brought clarity to MB mission principles, policies, and procedures. The number of missionaries serving rose from 241 to 279 during his tenure.
Janzen also made a more concerted effort toward indigenization (giving more control to the national churches) and toward urban ministries.
From coloniallSRI to Independence
The end of World War II ushered in one of the more complicated and controversial eras of MB missions. It was a turning point in mission strategy and philosophy.
]. B. Toews--a Russian immigrant, teacher, administrator, pastor, author, historian, theologian and archivist, and the first "Canadian" to head the North American MB mission agency-is regarded as the most aggressive administrator of MB missions. During his20 year tenure, Toews insisted that long discussed changes in MB missions-particularly indigenization-become reality. He was a "take charge" person. His insistence on moving ahead with indigenization sometimes irritated both national church leaders (because they feared the loss of financial support) and missionaries (because of his insistence that their continued presence could be a major factor in delaying indigenization).
Away from colonialism, toward independence
Following the two world wars, colonialism was increasingly being resisted in developing nations. European-defined roles and practices benefiting the colonists who had centuries ago unjustly "conquered lands and won wars" were being discarded. Revolutions occurred in India, Africa, China and other parts of the world.
This also influenced the way mission ventures developed. The MB mission Handbook states, ''With the growing international rejection of all colonial imperialism, there has also arisen a principal rejection of the 'missionary-centered' gospel ministry." Missionary strategy had to change to support the development of self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating churches. Christians in various colonized nations wanted to decide priorities, govern their own affairs, shape outreach strategies and determine where financial support would go. Ultimately, it was recognized that both North American administrators and missionaries would need to withdraw from control and involvement. By the early 196Os, missionaries were expected to help nationals move toward indigenization. Working toward "making themselves unnecessary" to people and programs to which they had given themselves with such intensity was not easy.
This was the painful reality that Toews tackled. Some missionaries felt hurt by these shifts, blaming Toews for both the change and the process that led
MBMSI
toward that change. His administrative field visits generated ambivalence in national MB conferences as well. In addition, Toews was often perceived as relationaUy intimidating and unapproachable. In later years, Toews recognized repentantly that he had been insensitive at times during that era. Power struggles in national leadership also complicated things.
Many of the problems centered on the gradual withdrawal of funds, which was an integral part of independence for national church bodies. A related problem was the question of what the new relationship with these bodies would be. North Americans often referred to these "foreign" Christians as the "children" of North American missionary endeavors. How would North American MB constituents refer to them now-as "brothers"? How would these bodies relate to other MB national conferences? Where would decision-making lie? Those questions continue to be a part of today's agenda in missions.
New methods and philosophies
Toews also initiated new methods of missions. Like other contemporary mission agencies and missiologists, he insisted on looking at larger strategies and issues: incamational evangelism, globalization of missions, becoming "world Christians," contextualization of the gospel, holistic ministries, etc. Other MBs, such as George W. Peters, a long-time missions board member and chair of the mission department at Dallas Theological Seminary, and Jacob Loewen, anthropologist, linguist and MB missionary in Colombia and Panama 1947-57, also contributed to the discussion.
Toews also formalized mission policies and procedures. Prior to Toews, policies relating to MB mission ventures had been formulated piecemeal, often based on questions or recommendations surfacing at conventions. These were gradually rethought and modified after 1936, leading to clearer definition. Beginning in 1959, a handbook was published summarizing the principles and emerging policies. The 1963 Handbook-considerably modified-clarified the responsibilities of the conference, congregations, the board, administrators, missionaries and the evolving national conferences. 10 spirit, it was not much different from what had been believed and practiced, but it was a more useful, available reference.
Adjusting to a new world
After this somewhat stormy transition, MBs gradually adjusted to the new realities.
Merging missions and relief
Significant changes transpired under administration of H.R. Wiens (1964-1967), a pastor from California, and]acob H. Epp (1964-1968), a long-
1950PDltOA/c, MUsUIf, tWDtlnu, oIcJAJu,..-
time Bible school principal from Saskatchewan known for his gentle style.
At the time, two MB boards functioned in foreign settings: the Board of Missions and the Board of General Welfare and Public Relations. The latter provided assistance to MB refugees from Russia, specifically in Paraguay, Brazil, Germany and Austria. These refugees not only established congregations in their new settings but also formed conferences eager to be involved in missionary outreach. They requested assistance from North America in their mission endeavors.
After considerable discussion, the general welfare board merged with the missions board in 1966, forming the Board of Missions and Services (MBM/S). A significant part of the programs added to the mission board were short-term assignments overseas-an avenue of service that had not been part of MB missions.
Many constituents welcomed the addition of holistic ministries-health care, health education, vocational training, hunger relief and agricultural education. Some mission agencies tended to be "hit and run" operations-simply "redeeming souls"but MBs contended that the gospel related to soul, mind and body. The merger became an opportunity to think more deeply about what it meant to be truly "missionary."
During this time, "thrust evangelism" was also adopted-one-to-three year intensive evangelistic campaigns conducted in partnership between nationals and North American personnel. There was a new emphasis on educational programs for potential national leaders. There was also a broadening of strategies-radio, television, literature production, health care, education, etc.-in which short-term "missionaries" often provided the needed expertise.
Putting it together
In 1968, Vernon Wiebe-college president, basketball coach and pastor--began the process of institutionalizing the radical shifts initiated in the 1950s and 1960s. Though Wiebe was not formally educated in missions and had
no foreign missionary experience, he was appreciated for his "team management" style of leadership. Given the restlessness felt by missionaries, national leaders and constituents at that time, he was uniquely qualified to lead Mennonite Brethren in the next era of missions. He usually dealt with decision-making by working toward mutual understanding and consensus. "Voting" on an issue was seldom used during his administration, and he was adamant about having all parties listen sympathetically to each other before decisions were reached.
Expanding the fields
During Wiebe's tenure, the mission fields expanded. In Mghanistan, MBs participated in a medical ministry with a number of other international Christian agencies. A new ministry began in predominantly Roman Catholic Spain. A short-wave Russian radio ministry was widely beamed into the USSR.
Two persons served in Bangladesh following a Mennonite Central Committee relief ministry in that Muslirn-dominant country.
The Waunaan and Embera nomadic tribes living in the jungles of Colombia and Panama responded to the gospel carried by MBs. J.A. Loewen made first contact while he served in Colombia. MBs later contacted these people again in the Panamanian jungle. Loewen transcribed their languages and introduced literacy with selected passages from the Bible. As contacts increased, MBs provided medical and educational assistance.
Indonesia's Muria Synod of Mennonites (begun by immigrant Chinese) requested assistance from Mennonite Brethren in evangelizing fellow Indonesians. Between 1976 and 1987, two MB couples ministered there.
With the major withdrawal of missionaries (particularly from India and the Congo) because of indigenization, revolutions and civil unrest, MBs increasingly became involved in several short-term ventures-in Guana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nepal and new locations in Peru and Paraguay. They also strengthened their mission outreach in Germany, Austria, Ecuador (through radio broadcasts), Ethiopia, Japan and Mexico.
Becoming Global Christians
With the shifts of the 1950s and 1960s behind them, MBs were ready for a new step-working as partners with other MB national conferences around the world. Overseeing this effort was Victor Adriancollege president, experienced administrator and recognized theologian-who assumed leadership of MBMIS in 1983. Since 1992, this direction has continued under current chief executive Harold Ensthe first MBMSI leader with extensive missionary and mission administrative experience.
Forming new partnerships
By the early 1980s, Christianity had shifted from the North to the South and East, globally speaking. This called for a worldwide meeting to strategize outreach. The 1988 MB World Mission Conference was a significant event with far-reaching consequences. Held in Curitlba, Brazil, it attracted 805 delegates representing 160,000 members from 15 countries. Previous, informal caucuses of international MBs at General Conference conventions and Mennonite World Conference assemblies triggered the event.
At the Mennonite World Conference in 1990 in Canada, the international MB delegates discussed organizing an international committee, and the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) was born. Delegates to ICOMB come as brothers, members of equal MB national conferences.
In the past decade, international missionary teams began to form, with MBs from different parts of the world. The rationale for this had to do with the more profound witness such a team could make to people abroad, who often perceived North American missionaries to be preaching "American Christianity."
Newfields
MBMIS gradually added staff members in order to coordinate and administer the mission program. North American supporters have also requested more reports of the expanding worldwide effort.
Under Adrian's administration, MB ministries in Portugal, Pakistan and Angola were initiated. The establishment of Angola's MB churches resulted from the witness of Congolese MBs to Angolan refugees who had fled to Congo. After the war, when these Angolan refugees were able to return to their country, they shared their newfound Christian faith with their fellow countrymen. Since then, they have established 25 congregations with a total membership of about 4,600. North Americans were not involved in this development.
Since 1992, the mission agency has begun a new work in Thailand and has joined with inter-Mennonite agencies in reaching out to Russia, Lithuania,
Burkina Faso, Botswana, Mexico and Guatemala.
In the 1990s, the name of the MB mission agency changed to MBMS International. The main office (which had been in Hillsboro, Kan. and was later in Winnipeg, Man.) was moved to Fresno, Calif., in 1991, with branch offices in Winnipeg, Abbotsford, B.C., and Wichita, Kan.
Cross-cultural ministries
There had been some cross-cultural ministries in North America temporarily under MB mission board involvement-to Comanches in Oklahoma, AfricanAmericans in North Carolina and Mexicans in Texas.
It was the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren who initiated the North Carolina ministry. Like MBs, the KMBs formed in Russia, in 1869, and came to North America in the 1870s. In 1960, the KMBs and MBs merged. The KMBs had missionaries serving in 12 countries and shared a similar emphasis on mission.
More recently, MBMSI has assisted MB church extension and evangelism boards in planting churches among immigrant groups in the U.S. and Canada. North American MB congregations now worship in over 20 languages--Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, German, French, Amharic (Ethiopian), Arabic, Korean, Chinese Cantonese, Chinese Mandarin,
The man and the eleRhant
BY NETTIE BERG
Alexander Tuta, a preacher from Congo, shared this parable in a church in Coaldale, Alta.:
Early one morning, Mayombe, an African hunter, went hunting. "Truly, I will fin<;l a big animal this day, " he assured his wife, who handed him his breakfast-a pot of leftovers from last night's supper. "'Then our-stomachs will have joy than with this cold mush!"
After quickly<lowaing the food, Mayombe grabbed his gun and took to the path. No sooner had he the forest than the rain came down hard. Soon Mayombe's thin shirt was wet, and he asked himself, "What wflll do? If my skin gets wet too, sickness will get hold of me. I must find shelter. I remember there's a little hut near the river."
Mayombe ran and crawled Into that hut. He took off his shirt and hung It on a wooden peg to dIY. As he sat there thinking again of the big animal he would carry back to his village, he heard a thumping and a crashing outside. PeerIng through the cracks between the bamboo poles, he saw a big eye staring straight at him. It was an elephant eyel Mayombe drew back In fear, but the elephant said sweetly, "00 not be afraid, Mayombe. I am your friend. My skin Is wet just like yours. I am very
cold. Will you not let me put my trunk into your hut? Just my trunk, please. " Mayombe looked around the tiny hut. Space was limited, but maybe there was enough room for the trunk. He felt sorry for his friend outside. "'Yes, you may put your trunk in here," he said. So the elephant put In his trunk. He sighed with pleasure.
After a while, the elephant said, "'Mayombe, surely you will not refuse If I put in one ear as well. It is cold, too. Just one ear. " Mayombe thought a While, then gave In.
Soon the elephant complained about his other ear. It, too, was cold. "See, Mayombe, my ears lie flat against my head; they take up no extra room at all." So Mayombe consented to that also. Of course, the head had to come in with the ears.
"'My foot is wet and cold. May I put It inside?" asked the elephant next. Mayombe could do nothing but give in. But when the second foot came in too, without asking, he began to wonder if this elephant was really his friend. His heart beat with fear as he was being pushed farther and farther Into the comer.
The elephant now seemed happy and closed his eyes In sleep. But not for long. "Mayombe," he said, "do you not
see that my hind legs are out In the rain? I must bring them in here too. " Without waiting for permission, the elephant heaved both his hind legs into the hut. Mayombe surely would have been crushed to death had he not scurried out of the hut just in time.
Woefully Mayombe moaned to himself while sitting out In the rain, "If only I had known that he was not really my friend, but my enemyl Now he has stolen my hut. Even my shirt is in there under his big feet!"
"My brothers and sisters," Mr. Tuta concluded, "that elephant is a picture of Satan. He asks you for just a little place in your life. Soon he asks for more. Then heno longer asks; he just takes. He steals all the goodness and joy from your Iife-everythlngl God's Book says, 'Stand up against the devil, and he will run away from you.' He is your great enemy." •
Nettie Berg served with MBMSI in Congo 1952-70. She served as a nurse, ran a bookstore and then began a Bible correspondence school for adults. After returning to Canada, she began a similar program for Canadian children. This article is adapted, with permission, from Jackoo's secret letter (1980).
1998-
OUbUDY
rcMDtUtrlfAiA,
Khmu, Japanese, Farsi, Telegu, Hmong, Indonesian, Lao, Portuguese, Punjabi, Vietnamese and American Sign Language. Approximately 50 languages are in use by MBs worldwide.
A century ago, when immigrant MBs arrived in North America, they carried with them a commitment to "be missionary," similar to that which their Russian colleagues had expressed. North American
Hayjhum's faith
People tell you not to have any expectations when you travel over· seas, but I find such advice is often impractical. When I went to Jordan for seven months with Youth Mission International's TREK program, I expected to Involve myself in various ministries while leaming firsthand what missionary work among Muslims is all about. It was, after all, a missions trip.
After numerous months there, my expectations were still far from being fulfilled. My experiences learning about ministry were limited to unwise (and often rather loud) arguments with Muslim friends, which proved almost alWays unfruitful. My actual involvement in any kind of organized church ministry had narrowed down to teaching conversational English to an Iraqi refugee named Haythum-a Christian refugee, at that. I didn't feel useful, and I sure didn't feel that I was learning.
It was Haythum who inspired me to stop pouting, though I doubt he ever knew It. Refugees In Jordan have basically no status. They cannot get jobs; they cannot marry; they barely receive enough money to live on. It Is no wonder that most of them spend their vast amount of free time applying to different countries for residency.
Haythum had applied to immigrate to Canada. Though he had a relatively good command of the English language, he was so hopeful about moving there that he wanted to practice
MBs have now passed that vision on to other countries where MB congregations were established. Now MB mission ministries are shared globally .•
Clarence Hiebert is professor emeritus of Bible at Tabor College, an MB college in Hillsboro, Kan. He is a member of Hillsboro MB Church in Hillsboro, Kan.
his English skills even more. So I taught him as best I could, and we began a friendship.
Then came the day when he arrived at my apartment with tears in his eyes and the news that his application to Canada had been rejected. We didn't practice much English that night, but rather prayed and wept over the loss of his dreams. My own uselessness in Jordan suddenly didn't look so awful, compared with Haythum's situation.
The next week, Haythum returned for more lessons, cheerful as always. MI will apply to the USA," he said, and I encouraged him to do so. Inside, I wondered whether he wasn't just setting himself up for another letdown.
For some reason, the application process sped up considerably this time. Sooner than expected, Haythum was notified that in one more week he would have his answer about liVing in the U.S. I saw him on the street that week, and I asked him if he was nervous about the upcoming decision. His response startled me. "Plan for a party next week, Jeremy," he said with a big smile such as only Arabs can give. "We will celebrate together. Whether the Lord lets me go or whether he makes me stay here, we will celebrate his goodness together. Yes, we will have a party. "
It was one of my first encounters with faith ofthat kind. Sometimes I wonder if the faith to heal the sick and cast out demons doesn't pale a little
BY JEREMY BALZER
next to the faith that is required to believe God is good when your dreams and hopes are on the line. There is something powerful in hearing some· one confess that, though God should take away even those things which are most precious to him, he will celebrate the Lord's goodness nonetheless. I was awed by Haythum's example, and I think I was more nervous than he was for the outcome of his immigration application.
I went ahead and planned our small party. I baked a cake (a small step of faith of my own, considering it was the first one I'd ever tried) and prayed. When he arrived at my door, I could see the answer in his eyes. He gave me a big Iraqi hug, flashed an even bigger Iraqi smile and said, MYes!" He had been accepted. The Lord had honored his faith.
I went to Jordan looking to have the faith to do great things, such as converting hundreds of Muslims. Instead, I saw through Haythum that the ability to trust God despite circumstances Is the true test of what we believe about him. HopefUlly, I will continue to learn, like Haythum, to throw parties in the face of unfulfilled expectations .•
Jeremy Balzer is now a communication and media assistant with MBMS International based in Fresno, Calif. This article is reprinted, with permission, from True Life: First·hand Stories of Mission (MBMSI, 2000).
'tothtjrs, my wife Is very sick. I hold In my hand a prescription which will help her, but buy medicine. Will you help me?"
et that passionate plea. It was spoken by an Asian Mennonite Brethren evangeyself as secretary of MBMS International and to two senior MBMSI staff members during some of our Asian mission areas in January 1999. That same day, another Asian evan......gellst earnestly appealed for funds so that at least one of his children could go to school and become literate. There were other urgent requests.
SUPPORTING MISSIONS OVERSEAS
Later, in discussing the matter, we three faced the fundamental question: How much support should our Mennonite Brethren mission board give to our ministry partners in Third World countries? For example, at present our 75 or so bicycle evangelists in India get about $50 a month plus the bicycle. We could double that amount. But what would happen if these MB evangelists earned much more than most other church members, especially in the poorer regions? Would large numbers of young men want to become evangelists for the wrong reasons? Moreover, might it become difficult for these evangelists to relate to the truly poor folk? On the other hand, if we don't pay enough, many of these financially
BY
strapped preachers might transfer to other foreign agencies which pay more.
In serving as facilitators for the delivery of the gospel overseas, this problem is but one of many which the MBMSI board and staff face. In dealing with this matter, MBMSI has taken the position, as have many other mission agencies, that indigenous workers should be paid according to local norms. Because this policy perpetuates the great poverty many of these people and their families experience, it has come in for some criticism. Having personally talked to some of these workers and having heard their stories of desperate financial straits, my heart goes out to them. My heart says that they should be paid more; my mind acknowledges that this might create other problems.
North Americans or nationals?
A related issue concerns the growing number of overseas nationals who serve as frontline staff. Right now, in India, Congo and elsewhere, MBMSI employs hundreds. On January 9, 1999, the three of us met with the 75 Indian evangelists. It became evident that the MBMSI board's decision, years ago, to employ such servants of God was a wise one. This has been a very successful initiative. These dedicated, hardworking men do not have to contend with language training, culture shock, expensive furloughs or sending their children to a distant boarding school. Perhaps most importantly, with the funds one North American family would reqUire, we can employ at least 20 of these local ambassadors for Christ.
Unfortunately, there is also a downside when we shift reliance to overseas nationals. These scores of soul-winners never report to our North American "sending" churches. This fact weakens our churches' connection to missions. It also means that the very few North American missionaries still serving overseas--only two or three in India---carry a heavy load when they return to North America. Many of our congregations, for years on end, don't see a missionary to India.
In the main, MBMSI has chosen to base its decisions on what will produce the most effective ministry. It supports many more national workers than North American missionaries (see sidebar). But that approach has made it more difficult to raise support in North America.
Priorities
The MBMSI board and staff also have to make difficult decisions in allocating limited resources between countries overseas. For instance, is it appropriate to spend $50,000 per year to place a North American couple in a very difficult Muslim country to learn the language and start a new work? Even though the government of that country officially prohibits Christian proselytizing and even though some other mission agencies have given up and left that land, the fact remains that these people desperately need the gospel. On the other hand, those $50,000 could be sent to India, Congo or some other country
where, in partnership with sister MB Conferences, we could greatly expand the Christian witness. This money could help to construct much needed church buildings, sponsor young people for biblical studies and maybe even hire another 75 bicycle evangelists. It should come as no surprise that MBMSI board members have not always been in agreement concerning such matters. Nevertheless, MBMSI has chosen to shift some resources away from Latin America (leaving established MB Conferences there to carry on most of the work of evangelizing their own people) to the "1040 window." This "window," from 10 degrees latitude north to 40 degrees latitude south, contains most of the world's unreached (and hardest to reach) peoples, including most of the world's Muslims. Specifically, MBMSI intends to increase its spending in Asia to about 30 percent of its program budget and reduce its spending in Latin America to a similar amount.
Partnership
Another challenge is how best to partner with overseas MB conferences. Several of these are considerably larger than the U.S. and Canadian MB conferences. Understandably, they no longer want to be treated as subordinates accountable to MBMSI. They want to be treated as equal conferences, as partners. But can they be equals if they still depend, perhaps even heavily, on North American financial help? This problem becomes much more difficult if there are serious divisions in the receiving conference or if there is a suggestion of any misuse of funds.
Here or there?
A further major challenge involves shifting significant sums to MBMSI endeavors in North America, often in partnership with local MB agencies. For example, for about a decade, MBMSI has helped finance pioneer efforts to witness to ethnic minorities, especially immigrant groups in our larger cities; this support is expected to increase to about five percent of the MBMSI program budget by the year 2005. Should such ventures increase, or should MBMSI focus only on foreign lands? There are good arguments on both sides. The situation sometimes becomes additionally complicated when church members conclude that district and provincial MB conferences are solely responsible for these church plants and cut back on MBMSI support in order to give towards these more local and more visible ventures.
THE SUPPORTING CONSTITUENCY
Some of the major challenges which MBMSI has faced in recent years deal not with the recipients of our mission endeavors but with the supporting constituency, MB congregations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Prayer. Evidence strongly indicates that many of our faithful prayer warriors are seniors. They have a long history of giving unconditional support to MB missions, of assuming a deep sense of ownership and of praying much. Will the next generation rise to the challenge and pray just as much? What can the MBMSI board and staff do to make that happen?
• Declining denominational loyalty. It is no secret that, in general, we now have considerably less loyalty to our denomination than in times past. Of course, various other denominations are experiencing the same loosening of ties. One crucial consequence is that MBMSI is increasingly seen as only one of several mission agencies competing for visibility, personnel, prayer and finances. It is only one of many options. Support is no longer automatic. MBMSI now has to work very hard to be accepted and supported by its own constituency.
Presently more MB missionaries serve under other agencies than under MBMSI. It is therefore not surprising that some congregations have shifted considerable attention as well as funding to other agencies. It would be marvelous if this funding were given in addition to meeting the suggested MBMSI donation, but in most situations that does not happen. (fo meet its budget, MBMSI needs to receive donations of about $100 or Canadian $125 per memberMBMSI does not receive any share of the "norms" which MB churches are asked to give to their district/provincial or U.S./Canadian Conferences.) In recent years, MBMSI has also taken steps to assist MB missionaries serving under other agencies.
Another denominational issue is how to report effectively to our MB members in North America. I clearly remember when reports by Mennonite Brethren missionaries had top priority in the church calendar. Missionaries showedtheir informative and exciting "lantern slides" not only on Sunday evening but on virtually any other evening, even in harvest time, and, if they were available for Sunday morning, missionaries would invariably replace our unpaid preachers in the pulpit. Times have changed. Access to congregations has become a big challenge. Few churches still have services on Sunday evening, and it is almost impossible to have a well-attended missions service during the week, although where retirees are numerous, such ventures may still succeed. In fact, in many churches, especially the larger ones, it is extremely difficult to get any time at all for MBMSI senior staff or missionaries to speak to the congregation. Fortunately, some churches still have major missions conferences with extensive MBMSI participation.
• Local church involvement. Some of our congregations, especially some large ones, wish to send
out their own missionaries and to have more control over where their money goes. Such desires are understandable because as congregational involvement increases, mission awareness rises, the sense of ownership is strengthened and financial support increases. Such arrangements, however, can also complicate the administration of the overall missions program. MBMSI has worked diligently with many congregations to partner in mutually advantageous ways. In many cases, missionaries have been assigned to congregations. In some instances, churches have directed their funds to their own MBMSI missionaries. Some have actually assumed most of the responsibility for MBMSI work in a certain country.
• Recruitment. In certain years, it has been difficult to find adequate numbers of qualified applicants for career missions postings. In response, MBMSI has developed various opportunities for short-term service. There are programs for retirees, for young people, for people who can fund their own way and for people with special ability in supportive roles. MBMSI has served us very well in this respect.
MBMSI Team
Long-tenn missionaries (on renewable 3-year terms) supported through the core MBMSI budget: 57
Missionaries on 1-to-2-year terms supported through the core budget: 5
Mission Associates (not funded through the core budget)
• Missionaries sent through other agencies (e.g., Wydiffe Bible Translators): 44
• Missionaries who are part of the MBMSI core team but are sent (and possibly supported) by partner national MB conferences (such as Itiromi Takeda sent by the Japan MB Conference to work in Thailand): 10
• Tentmakers or missionaries who raise support independently but who are sent out by MBMS International: 6
TOTAL: 60
Shortotenn missionaries who raise their own support (with Youth Mission International, Church Partnership Evangelism-and Global Volunteer construdlon teams): 10.
Evangelists end ell nters from other countries who are partially supported by MBMS International to work within their own country: 4SO
t MBMSI in North America
• In canada: In the 2000·2001 budget year, MIMI'" contributing $41,460 to support seven churches of Ethiopian, Slavic, Kosovar, Slavic and Khmer background.
• In the U.S., MIMSI is currently contributing $31,800 to support Slavic, Ethiopian and Korean churches. MIMSI also supports a program for international students in California.
• Training. In an era when denominational loyalty is weakening and church members increasingly move readily across denominational lines, MBMSI has sought to maintain a theologically sound program which encompasses denominational distinctives. It has instituted excellent short-term training programs. MBMSI has also partnered with MB Biblical Seminary in making joint faculty/missions staff appointments and in developing excellent missionary training programs. Perhaps MBMSI also needs to partner with our Bible colleges in similar joint endeavors .
• Fading interest. Finally, we need to acknowledge that for more than a few Mennonite Brethren today, overall interest in foreign missions and mission reports has waned. Maybe they have less interest because television has taught them more about foreign lands and cultures than missionary slides and videos ever could. But more knowledge has not necessarily led to more interest. Perhaps this is another consequence of some church members seeing themselves mainly as "consumers" rather than as "supporters" of church programs.
To counteract this trend, MBMSI has produced many excellent publications, displays, videos, films and brochures. MBMSI has employed advanced technology to reach an audience which, at times, seems less receptive. That can be discouraging.
Perhaps the greatest consequence of this weakening of interest in our denominational mission or even in missions generally is some congregations' sluggish financial support. It is sometimes said that our members are "maxed" out and that there simply isn't more money available. Of course, there are some members and some congregations with very limited resources but, by and large, I don't buy that argument-as is obvious from the number of MB visiting car dealers, real estate agents, cruise ship offices and investment counselors. I suggest that never before has our constituency as a whole been as well off financially as at present. Inadequate financial support constitutes a major challenge for MBMSI.
ADMINISTRATION
• Internationalization. At present, MBMSI is working diligently to incorporate representatives from some major MB conferences in other lands into the administration of the entire MBMSI program. For some national conferences, this will be difficult because they cannot make significant financial contributions. Already three of the four MBMSI "regional directors" (executive staff who direct the MBMSI program) are "nationals" from that particular region (Europe, Africa and Latin America, but not yet Asia) MBMSI is also considering how to add Board members from national conferences other than Canada and the US.
• Restructuring. Simultaneously, MB leaders are developing structures and procedures to deal with the demise of the General (North American) Conference and the shifting of accountability to the U.S. and Canadian MB conferences.
• Strategy. An associated question is who should develop MB missions strategy. Should local congregations? Should assembled conference delegates? Should conference leaders? Should the MBMSI board? Over the years, the MBMSI board has generally taken the initiative in planning, and assembled conference delegates have responded. That has, in the main, been a successful formula and should be retained.
• Partnership agencies. MBMSI has also developed ties to other MB agencies such as Church Partnership Evangelism (which sends mainly North American volunteers to do door-to-door evangelism paired with believers in other countries), Youth Mission International (which sends youth and young adult teams on short-term mission assignments), Kingdom Ventures International (which helps to set up Christian camps in the former Soviet Union) and Family Life NetworkIMB Communications (an international radio ministry operated by the Manitoba MB conference). In fact, Youth Mission International has become a division of MBMSI, Church Partnership Evangelism is in the process of doing so, and mutually advantageous relationships have been negotiated with the other two.
The last few decades have been successful decades for MBMSI. We have good reason to look for even greater effectiveness in the years to come. If we are faithful, God will surely continue to bless our mission endeavors .•
John H. Redekop teaches at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., is a member of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B. C. and is a former member of the MBMSI board.
What seven MBs have to say about what the future holds for missions-and how we are going to face it.
II be the greatest challenges. and opportunities for IDlsslons In In the cOIning years?
H LD ENS: Challenges to missions come both from outside and from within the church itself. Here in the West, the growth of religious pluralism in our soci· ety has led some Christians to consider if there may be alternate paths to God, apart from Jesus. 11lis could become a danger to our motivation for global mission.
On the other hand, the arrival of immigrants in North America from many religious backgrounds presents us with a great opportunity for global mission on our doorstep as well as across the sea.
The greatest opportunity for mission comes as we once again truly experience God in our lives as individuals, congregations, and as a worldwide church. As we live in relationship to Christ, his Spirit will move us to mission.
PAUL HIEBERT: The urbanization of the world changes the face of mission. In 1800, less than two percent of the people lived in cities over 100,000. Today more than 50 percent do. Most cities have little Christian influence. We have been very effective in reaching tribal societies, but we are still trying to develop urban methods for church planting.
In reaction to globalization is the rise of fundamentalism of all sorts. Many Muslim countries are trying to become Islamic states. In India the ruling
BJP party is committed to making India a Hindu nation and establish Hindutva [Hindudom] in the way many Christians tried to make Europe and America "Christian countries." There are also ethnic fundamentalisms in many parts of the world, and many of these tie ethnicity to religion. In Thailand, to be Thai is to be Buddhist. To become Christian is to become a foreigner in your own land.
With regard to opportunities, the center of grow· ing Christianity is now outside the West. This has significant implications:
• The young churches are growing and beginning to send missionaries. Some estimates say that they now send out as many or more missionaries (excluding short-term) than the West. The number of full time missionaries (including vocational ministries such as doctors and teachers) in the West has been dropping slowly in the past few years. The West is growing "mission weary." Part of this is due to its encounter with immigrants and pluralism at home and the challenge to do missions in the West. Part of this is due to a loss of nerve because of the constant attack that missions is "colonial" and arrogant, and we don't want to be colonialists and imperialists. Part of this loss is due to a growing self· centeredness. We want to take care of ourselves first.
• The existence of young churches means we must take into account these churches when we do mission. The "in" word now is partnership,
Harold Ens
General Director of MBMS International, the mission agency of North American MB Churches. He served as a missionary in Colombia, Congo and Panama.
Paul Hiebert Associate dean of academic doctoral programs, chairman of the department of missions and evangelism, professor of mission and evangelism, and professor of mission and anthropology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Hiebert served six years with MBMSI in India, and has been a visiting professor at MB Biblical Seminary. He is also the author of numerous articles and books in both anthropology and missions.
though that is also under critique. The central theme must not be partnership, but partnership in order to do mission. Partnership for its own sake will undermine mission vision.
NZASH LUMEYA: In the near future, Christ's mission around our world will be threatened both spiritually and socially.
The spiritual challenge will revolve around Christ's identity and his historical salvation. Persecution of Christians and cultural hostility against the Christian way of life will increase earlier in urban more than in rural areas.
The cultural or social missions challenge is in three main areas:
• Ethnicity. A Coca-Cola global Internet village of the third millennium could be the most divisive space ever seen. Ethnocentric mental borders will make it difficult for those who are ethnically different to live together. This exclusive way of life could force the weaker social ethnic groups into movements such as those that occurred in the former Soviet Union, Balkan states (ex-Yugoslavia), Somalia and Rwanda. Massive refugee movements around our globe will be one of the biggest concerns in mission and evangelism at home and abroad.
• Economical gap. The gap will be very wide between rich and poor, both globally and nationally. Wars around "economical ponds" such as those that took place in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Kisangani (Congo) may become a big trend in the future.
• Power struggle. Unhealthy, selfish and corrupted leadership will challenge missions at home and abroad in the coming years.
ANDY OWEN: I believe the 10/40 window presents the major opportunity and challenge for missions in the coming years. The strongholds of other major world religions combined with the adverse political situations for missionaries and national Christians make that area and its unreached people groups the last great frontier for world missions. Another opportunity is the great interest in short-term missions among people of all ages. Our challenge will be to utilize and harness that enthusiasm in a way that benefits both the local church and the efforts of resident missionaries.
DAVID SINCLAIR-PETERS: In traveling throughout North America these last five months, one of the biggest challenges Team 2000 faced was enlisting a new generation to give money and make sacrifices in their lifestyle to long-term missions. Along with this is the theological problem that many young people do not believe that people without Jesus are going to hell. We loved being in churches with a strong vision to reach their community. They were dynamic and
relevant, yet many had no overseas missionaries. We believe making disciples needs to include teaching on God's heart for the gospel to be proclaimed to the unreached people of this world. Buddhism alone has 3000 unreached people groups that still have not heard the name of Jesus.
The fact that many Christians are not going into missions and that people are not giving to missions is, at its core, a deeply spiritual issue. We need to cry out to God in prayer for a renewal of our passion for Jesus and a love for unsaved people.
MARLENE WALL: A challenge for missions is to effectively move beyond evangelism and into discipleship--to move beyond counting converts to seeing transformed lives . A danger for the North American church is to continue believing that the gospel goes out from North America to the ends of the earth. We are not the cen· ter from which all truth emanates. Our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are sharing the gospel in very effective ways.
We also have an opportunity to build relationships with those who come from other countries to study in North America, so that they can carry the gospel back to their own people when they return.
• We have and will continue to focus the atte of our constituency on the uniqueness of Christ and on the need to share the Good News with every people group. We will help our churches to understand their new neighbors from other religions and give them tools to help them share Good News with them. We will also continue to encourage the sending of cross-cultural pioneer missionaries to people groups overseas who have no effective multiplying church movement among them.
HIEBERT: We are in a transition from an old paradigm, where we sent groups of missionaries to clearly defined mission fields and planted churches, built schools and hospitals and started church ministries such as publications. Today that model will not work. We need a new clearly focused vision that will guide us in focusing our activities.
MBMSI also faces the challenge of short-term missions. This can be a blessing and a recruitment and motivation tool, if done well with pre-visit training and post-visit debriefing. But short-term missions are not missions. We know from long experience that the greatest benefit is to those who go, not what they leave on the field. We must recognize this, and not equate short-term visits with the long hard task of planting churches where there are no churches. It
was this clear focus in the past that led to our churches in India, Africa and China.
LUMEYA: As a mission structure, MBMSI needs a triangular dialogue with our local churches and the formal and informal training structures in North America and abroad. The core of our belief in Christ, Prince of Peace, needs to be clear and practiced beyond Sunday mornings. We will need to listen to our youth as we talk about the future of missions. Also, renewal is needed in order to accomplish the task ahead. This is where each of us needs to pray and be creative in our contribution to the building of God's kingdom.
ANDY OWEN: MBMSI needs to continue to seek to find ways to creatively find access to those places where the need and opportunity are great. I appreciate the efforts to "internationalize" the mission board, because the cultural gap between a Japanese Christian and a Thai person, for example, usually would be less than that of our team, who all come from a North American worldview.
In terms of integrating short-term teams, this could involve seeing local churches in North America having more ownership and involvement in terms of strategy, resources and outreach efforts. One of the advantages we see in going as a team is that we will have more time and energy among six of us to incorporate short-termers in our ministry in Thailand.
SINCLAIR-PETERS: MBMSI has blessed us as a team by partnering with other mission organizations and indigenous churches. We see the strategic importance of working with missionaries from other denominations who want to see us succeed in Thailand. We affirm this shift in mission and believe that there is much more work still to be done. We cannot reach the world without the whole body of Christ.
MBMSI will need to continue to reach young people and mentor them in missions. Youth Mission International is now beginning to see people move from short-term missions into long-term missions. Each of us on Team 2000 has been on YMI and ignited for missions by YMI mentoring. Many of our young supporters along the way have been YMI alumni. They will carry God's heart for mission into the next generation.
WALL: MBMSI must commit to long-term evangelism and discipleship efforts. Short-term ministries can play an important role in the initial evangelism focus. These efforts should be followed by Christian community building and discipleship work.
MBMSI must also continue to build partnerships with churches and agencies around the world who share a common vision. MBMSI is, in fact, currently partnering with several MB churches in other coun-
tries in sending out workers. Examples of this include the Hageles from Germany who are working with MBMSI in Lithuania and Hiromi Takeda from Japan who is working with MBMSI in Thailand.
"".,...;lIIII.re any
particular strengths
we evangelical Anabaptists that will W .... meet these challenges?
Our historical commitment to evangelism and a clear call to conversion, along with our commitment to peace and reconciliation are great strengths for being able to share the gospel with people from other religions. Our growing sense of being a "global family of faith" as expressed in the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren also gives us a strong basis for involving not just the North American church but the whole church in God's mission. This is a time for us as Mennonite Brethren worldwide to be at the forefront of missionary outreach to unreached peoples.
HIEBERT: Anabaptist theology lays the best foundations for doing missions. It has a meta-theology that allows local groups to do theology that is rooted in Scripture, in the church as a hermeneutical community and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This allows us to encourage young churches to do their own theology in their particular cultural contexts and not simply memorize the theology we bring, which was formulated in the West. It allows us to contextualize the gospel while making certain that what we have is the gospel.
Our theology is also holistic. We do not make the division between spirit and body, between evangelism and social concern. We may not always do it well, but we are concerned about a whole gospel.
Our theology also calls for the church to spring out of local churches and so is "bottom up." Many churches are "top down," and unity is based on institutionalized bureaucracies. We are a family of churches. This enables the church to be flexible, moving and adjusting to the many different sociocultural settings in the world and the changing times in which we live.
LUMEYA: Our theology of peacemaking and the Anabaptist approach to evangelism as being both spiritual and social (not soul-winning only) are our strengths. Our stress on a Christ-centered personal faith and commitment to the community of believers that live peacefully, practice mutual sharing and servant leadership in the name of Christ is and will be needed in our violent global village.
ANDY OWEN: I believe the Anabaptist story can be particularly empowering to those who face persecution and opposition from the "religious authorities" of their particular situation, be it Islam, Bud-
Joint position with MB Biblical Seminary, teaching in missions and Old Testament, and MBMSI, as a staff missiologist which includes training missionaries, consulting on missiology issues and preaching and promoting mission in North America and overseas. Lumeya is the recent director of the School of Missiology, a school in Kinshasa, Congo, which he founded in 1990.
Nzash Lumeya
Team 2000-God still calls
Six people and f/HIir famllies"'ve IICWpted God's GIl" to be a part of TN'" " new M,IIIS' church planting ventu..... They are making a 1o-.yeaf commitment to share the htHM'4hey have IoundJn Chrlst"'to an unreadted people group in thailand.
AIlIdy 0weII: I took a youth group to a youth function at which tJJere was an eYangellstlc speaker He talked about the need for us to jive our lives fully to Chrlst-not necessarily to be a missionary, but to be totally committed to Him and open to wh.ever He wanted us to do. I remember sensing tfte HoIy'Spirit SpeakIng to me, "Andy, are yOU willing to trust me for everything In-your life?" It was a"God moment. "started weep' Ing. I was able to let ail the walls come
carmen and Andy Owen Members of Team 2000. carmen has been a shortterm mission leader and youth sponsor.
Andy has been a short-term mission leader, youth pastor and worship leader, with experience in pastoral care and community outreach.
down and say, "God, whatever. I want to be your serVant because I know that you have loved me so much:'
c.n.. 0weII: The summer after -eighth , my best fdend from Panama flew up to Kansas, 8fId together'we went to a camp. One of the speakers challenged us to missions. I had grown up as a missionary kkI and knew what that was about-:l had been there and done thatbut by the end of his talk I felt the Holy SpIrIt me to stand. I did and committed my life to fulMlme ministry.
SIadaI : I was sent by my parents, who were non-Chrlstlans, to a camp when I was 11 old; they didn't know It was a Bible camp. There I heafd aboUt Jesus and was overwhelmed by the love of God. I went home from
dhism, or, as the early Anabaptists faced, a religious distortion of Christianity which scarcely resembles the biblical model upon which it was founded. As we prepare to go to a country just as Buddhist as the early 16th century was Catholic, I hope to live out my faith with the same kind of courage and passion for Jesus as that of our Anabaptist founders.
or should be MBMSl's priorities future?
• More than ever, we must be committed to partnership. This applies first to our relationship with local sending and supporting churches here in North America. Our recently completed Constituency Ministries Evaluation (see article on page 28) showed us that this relationship was not as strong as it should be. In fact, it pointed to a significant "disconnect" between MBMSI and our supporting churches.
The commitment to partnership also relates deeply to how we work with the rest of the global church. We are currently looking at how we work with partner churches in Africa and balancing that with how we work together with other Anabaptist agencies from North America. We want to have integrity as we together seek God's Kingdom, not our own.
HIEBERT: MBMSI should take the time to develop a clearly focused mission vision and strategy for the 21st century. We need a clear focused vision or we will end up doing many things, but not doing the central task of mission.
CARMEN OWEN: I think that MBMSI should continue to focus on unreached people groups, building ethnic leadership among them. It's also important to continue investing in ongoing leadership development among emerging churches. Sending out teams to begin a new work has been very
camp with a Joy and a hope that I had never experienced before-l was not alone, God was with me, and he was -,ng to get me through.
At times, It's been scary to think we are going to thailand, a place of 60 mil. lion people, 95 percent Buddhist, .5 percent Christian, with millions of girls sold Into sex slavery. Yet when I look with the eye of faith, I see what God Is doing In missions today and the amount of Intercession that Is going on.
DavId S r-Peters: I remember clearly going out to the cemetery near our place and shouting out, "God, I thought you said you were good. I thought that you loved me." I was wrestling with God. I felt the Spirit say to me, "I am good, and I do love you, and I promised I would take care of your
attractive to us in the younger generation who have considered a calling into career missions. The team concept is not a new priority for MBMSI, but the formation and training of a team prior to departure is an important new focus which we pray will produce a long-term impact.
WALL: MBMSI's priorities for the future include building stronger relationships with the local churches. We live in a society where denominational loyalty is not a given. People do not give to a line item in a budget simply because the words "Mennonite Brethren" are a part of the name. People support those with whom they have a relationship. MBMSI must work at strengthening that relationship-the relationship between local church and adopted missionary and the relationship between local church and administrative staff.
.. ways do you see MBMSI changw will It be administered? How funded? What new methods of will be used?
ENS: Now that we have seen the results of our Constituency Relations Evaluation (see article on page 28), our board has begun to rethink how we relate with our sending and supporting churches. We want to help to cultivate a mission mindset in our churches, and an important way to do that is by better serving our churches. This will mean a reconceptualization of our relationship-not only approaching churches with requests to support "our" program but also providing more services that help them to carry out God's call to mission.
In regard to how we are administered and funded, we are dependent on the involvement of individuals and congregations in this ministry. We must both stimulate and facilitate the vision of our constituency.
Get a glimpse inside the lives of Christians and their neighbors around the world through True Life: First-hand stories of mission. Featuring stories, poems and over 130 photos from a century of Mennonite Brethren mission.
Here's a glimpse of what's in store in True Life. Order it today, and support missionaries and mission partners through MBMS International.
Village life is a time that's been forgotten - simple, uncomplicated, untouched by the outside world. In the morning the roosters crow, ducks quack, oxen mll wooden carts down the path to the rice fields. People ·hat greetings as they pass by each other, babies ride on nothers' backs, children run here and there in their make oelieve worlds of bamboo stick horses and carved wooden lephants. No one hurries.
Every evening around five o'clock, the ladies gather 1 the path, carrying large cooking pOts. They walk around athering leaves, spices, and fruit from the greenery of the llage. Soon their pots are full and they head home. While lothers cook dinner, children playa game of marbles or a 'rm of stickball in the village streets. Children laugh and >gs bark. At these times, the simplicity of it all overtakes y thoughts. How often have I prayed for things that really m't matter?
- Just a short excerpt from Susi Peters' 1999 story Two Sides of Village Life, from Thailand.
The scorching rays of that merciless sun beat down on perspiration dripping from head and body, the driver changed that tire in the heat of the tropical noonday in the car, or in the shade of a small tree. But even the shade tropical heat, since the wind blew as from a hot furnace. Once the tire was on, we started out again. With on another "bang" from the wheel caused a shriek of voices and the driver. It was no wonder that such a thing happened the out tires had carried the owner over many rugged miles duriJ service. What could be done?
Some of the passengers started walking in the scorch time for the noon day meal. It was not long, however, until - some on foot, some by ox-cart, and some in the car, after d second time.
- Read the rest of missionary Emma Lepp, by OJ
Dark, angry clouds were looming on the horizon as I stepped into the maternity ward. A and I were transporting a patient, on a hand-held stretcher, to the operating room in tl administrative building. All day, this patient had been in labor with her fifth child, bu unable to deliver normally because of the baby's position. Unfortunately, the only doctor able to caesarian section was away on a public health trip. He would be able to do the caesarian section returned, but the weather was worsening by the minute. I was about to witness the worst tropic could imagine.
The student nurse and I settled the ailing woman on her side on the operating room tab the window, the student and I watched as the land around our building quickly flooded with torrential downpour. Suddenly, a lightening bolt struck the generator that was enclosed in a knew we would be without power that night for the needed caesarian section.
We were left in darkness.
- Curious? Read the rest of Wendy (Bole God in the Storm when you order your c
tired travelers. With I the male passengers The rest of us waited not protect us from the mile and a half to go, ther "Sorry, sorry" from )nd time. The old worn 'ears of missionary
heat. It was far past rrived at our destination re had been repaired the
) story, written in 1948 by ing your copy of True Life.
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J etober 2000 II/ hat all people may eweJ!ence Christ's love i\9d-utilize their a livelihood, or families and enlj( -their communities d--JI J b /1) ij II/
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-
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I I 1
Asso i.li s (MEDA),... elieve the "," way to helD ople 7"-J.
e.tape poverty (s'to help them find work. '/ '/ij '/
We by loans, and assistance t 0/ bbsinesses run For them, earning enoug!yto provide for thy;r families and,(iv.·ng in poverty Joan of a few dreddollars to buy a new ma'chine, purchase or put a roof on a market (tall. But getting loan isn't easy Banks _Ion't lend to who are POOJ.•../they have littl -r no only optionJs-a loan shark, wi often leads 19tJven greater lmp/ verishment. / '4 1./) '{ ) 0
That's w!:'ere MEDA cOl1)es in. Every year, we create or about 10,000 Jobs around the J,-'orld, including iD North P,(, rica, where r training to low income realize of own busioo es. That's wtlY;jNe say: Our is Working! Z / /.; -'i /.; 10 "purchase" a product from the ME.DA Store, mark the project name and number on your check. In returo, you will re- / a certifica how man you have I To a prodclc credit at 1--800-665-7026 the MEDA weft site at www.metfa.org All the MIDA Store are tax -'i' C+-J"One of the greatest success sto.!!.,es in helping th orld's poor is g.!. roloans. Milli ns of people :r-J Y [')Jave receiveCl ,! loans of or $500 so ttry,y can start smQll'businesses andYJus pro- / /''/ '«tide a better livlttg for their fami/Ms. MEDA has been a leader in n '</ c.KJ' Ron Si er, author, Rich hlistians in an A9J!. f Hunger and a vocate for poor D 6ple. d ., J"- J 1 '{ 1 " "''j J J ! S"'d your contributions to: MED Smit-'St., WinnipegrMB R3C 1 K2 () (U.S.): 1821 Oregon P' e, Suite 201, Lancaster, PA 17601 -I J.
Founded in /j53, MEDA is an as 7ciation of f,Qf)O North American tt}lristians who s:" 19 connect their ;alt/JjJnd work in a :eldfj world by providing hom>, opportunity and economic well-being to low income peofJ,/le in the developing world and North America. For more I -, 1 I I informati J d:j
<ij u -'i
H LPING CHILDREfllJ HELPING -I wt1,b Romania's collapsed plight childfen in that count{y came to.:!1orld attention. Te situation was a11eviated / / througn American-a7 0ption. But a econ- . omy has resulted in poor once agairY'giving away GI hildren to MEDA i h:i!lping by parents witfijoans to start"'019/oW businesses. Since 1997 over 500 loans have been made JQ..-344 businesses,-doviding emplo ent for over +-1.. 2,700 pebyle-jobs families ar.eSJple to look /-'i"'J, after their hildren. MEDA fLfuds required: $37:'000; $37 one project. M..I 'your check,1-.i Romania, MS 1 I ' v // ij '/ '/
The 'purchase' of shares from the MEDA Stele does not constitute.4legal offering; v t!}er, it is a symbolIC for purchasers td rticipate in MEDA'Sfe!Jbr!S to help in ovi. ;,come countries m!f)ope, opportunity antf)conomic a /./ business-oriented approach to development.
OPEN, SESAME
In the 1980s, MEDA helped small cocoa bean producers in Haiti organize into cooperatives to improve crop yields, obtain better prices and find markets. Today the co-ops still operate and ship produce to top u.s. candy makers. Now MEDA would like to do the same thing in Nicaragua by helping small farmers who produce sesame seeds. The five-year project will help them create better seeds, explore organic production, add processing activities and find new markets. At the same time, MEDA will affirm and support women, who playa pivotal role in the production of this crop. MEDA funds required: $ 18,000; $ 18 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Sesame, MS # 2.
HELPING WOMEN GROW AND START BUSINESSES
After Rehema Mwampondele's husband was killed during a robbery, the 27-year-old Tanzanian mother of two decided to take over his auto parts business. His family told her to sell the business, saying it wasn't appropriate work for a woman. But she had helped her husband in the shop, and he had shared with her the things he learned from training classes at MEDA's Mbeya Credit Facility. Rehema used a loan from MEDA to increase her profit by 50 percent. "It's unusual for a woman to run a business like this," she says,"but I felt I could do it." In the developing world, many women are responsible for providing for their families. However, they also face many obstacles to achieving financial self-sufficiency. MEDA wants to explore ways to help more women like Rehema through research and development programs. MEDA funds required: $60,000;$60 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Women, MS #3.
HELPING LOW INCOME ENTREPRENEURS IN NORTH AMERICA
Janatt Vance likes to listen to people. The resident of Lancaster, Pa. also likes to cut and style hair. So it seemed natural enough to her to start a business which combines the two. But one thing she lacked was business training. Vance turned to MEDA's ASSETS program; today she has her own salon on a busy downtown street. "1 love to do hair styling," she says. "1 prayed about it, and felt God leading me to do hair styling. Through it, I can
minister at the same time." She says ASSETS gave her confidence and "helped me with important things like bookkeeping, cash flow, legal issues-all the things I need to know to start and run a business." MEDA wants to help more low income entrepreneurs in North America to realize their dreams through its ASSETS programs. It costs $2,000 for one person to take the 25-session training course; $80"buys" support for one session for a low-income entrepreneur. Mark your check ASSETS, MS #4.
BOOSTING PRODUaMTY IN TANZANIA
When a large poverty alleviation program in Tanzania issued a call for metal pushcarts, Edward Shoo wanted to make a bid for the job. But where would he get the money to stock up on the components he needed? With help from a MEDA loan, he won the bid and made 20 metal carts. Edward says MEDA plays an important role in his success: "It's difficult for someone at my level to get credit at banks," he says. "They have lots of conditions that I find hard to meet:' MEDA wants to help more people like Edward in Tanzania. To do this, MEDA needs to increase its loan capital and train local people to be managers. MEDA funds required: $ 125,000; $ 125 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Tanzania, MS IS.
BREAKING THE CHAINS OF CHARITY
MEDA's goal is to help people escape the prison of poverty. But we also want to help them break the chains of charity. Most aid to people in low income countries today is in the form of grants and other free aid. Charity has its place, such as during disasters like floods, earthquakes, drought and storms. But too much charity can also cause problems, making recipients dependent on aid from North America and undermining local businesses. By lending small amounts of money to poor entrepreneurs, and by providing marketing assistance so they can sell their products, MEDA enables people who are poor to preserve their dignity and self-worth. They aren't getting handouts-they are working to improve their lives. Through research and development, MEDA wants to find more ways to help more people break the chains of charity. MEDA funds required: $60,000; $60 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Chains, MS #6.
FEEDING AND EDUCATING CHILDREN IN MOZAMBIQUE
When pastor Antonio Nhancule of the Spirit of Charity Church in Maputo, Mozambique looked out over his fast-growing congregation, he saw that one of the greatest needs was for economic development. He approached MEDA with a request for loans to help members improve their small businesses. As a result,30 people have received loans; pastor Antonio reports there is visible economic improvement among his members as a result of the program. "They are better able to feed their children and send them to school," he says. MEDA wants to help more poor people like the Spirit of Charity Church members improve their lives. MEDA funds required: $80,000; $80 "buys" one share of the program. Mark your check Maputo, MS #7.
REACHING OUT IN MEXICO
Small businesspersons in Mexico City have access to loans through local credit unions, but there is a need for good business training programs to help businesses succeed. Mennonites in Mexico City see this as a way to serve people in their community; they have asked MEDA to help them offer training based on MEDA's successful North American ASSETS model. The pilot phase will begin in 2001. MEDA funds required: $15,000; $1 5 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Mexico, MS #8.
ALTERNAnYES TO GROWING DRUGS
In the mid-1990s, the U.s. government helped farmers in Peru grow new crops such as palm hearts, which are used in salads as a garnish, as an alternative to growing drugs. Many small farmers took advantage of the program. The problem is they can't get the crop to market, due to poor roads which damage the produce and cause frequent delays. As a result, over 60 percent of their crop is spoiled before arriving at the processor. Frustrated with such poor returns, some farmers are once again tempted by drug money. To prevent this, MEDA wants to help them establish a processing center close to their farms. The farmers themselves will invest $25,000 in the project. MEDA funds required: $40,000; $40 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Palm Hearts, MS #9.
GONE FISHING
According to the old adage,"Give people fish and they eat for a day; teach them to fish and they eat for a lifetime." To that MEDA would add:"Give them a loan and they will set up a seafood restaurant." MEDA is helping fishers in Nicaragua set up a cooperative, explore
marketing opportunities and offering business training so they can sell their own catch and obtain a fairer price. MEDA funds required: $18,000; $18 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Fish, MS #10.
HELPING PEOPLE ACHlm THEIR DREAMS
In 1995, MEDA founded its ASSETS program to help low income entrepreneurs in North America realize their dreams of economic self-sufficiency by starting their own businesses. To date 695 people have received training, 528 have successfully finished the course, 128 businesses have been started, 167 businesses have been strengthened and 248 full and part time jobs have been created. MEDA wants to help more people achieve their dreams of economic self-sufficiency by starting new ASSETS programs in Canada and the U.s. Each program requires $17,600 in start-up funds; $176 "buys" one share of the start-up costs. Mark your check Start-up, MS #11.
HELPING ALLMATE ABUSE OF CHILD LABORERS
It's a fact of life in the developing world: children work. But no child should be abused or misused byemployers. Preliminary research shows that children who work for their parents in small family-run businesses have better working conditions and educational opportunities. MEDA wants to work with other groups and the Canadian government to see if there are ways North Americans can help child workers by supporting small family-run businesses. The results of the research will be shared with other aid groups. MEDA funds required: $10,000; $10 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Child Labor, MS #12.
ECOTOURISM
One of the fastest-growing tourism activities is ecotourism-visiting a country to learn more about its people and culture in an environmentally-friendly way. MEDA would like to help small entrepreneurs in Nicaragua who want to set up businesses which provide opportunities for North Americans and others to visit their country. MEDA funds required: $18,000; $18 "buys" one share of the project. Mark your check Ecotourism, MS #13.
HAITI VILLAGE BANKS
In the early 1980s, MEDA established a small bank in Port au Prince, Haiti called SHEC. Today it is one of that country's leading credit unions, with 5,000 members. MEDA wants to help more Haitian communities establish small banks, and provide business training to borrowers. MEDA funds required: $32,000; $32 "buys" one share of the program. Mark your check Banks, MS #14.
Put your savings to work to end poverty!
After WinnipeggerStuart Clark's father died, he received an inheritance in the form of investments in stocks. When he examined the funds, he discovered investments in companies he felt uncomfortable with-companies which had engaged in massive layoffs or objectionable environmental practices. He decided to invest the money in the Sarona Global Investment Fund, a socially responsible alternative investment fund which specifically benefits people in low income countries."lliked it right away because it was more than just a place where I could avoid investing in things I disagreed with," he says. "It's a fund which allows my money to do something positive and useful."
The Sarona Global Investment Fund enables you to use your savings to make the world a better place. Other socially responsible funds help you avoid putting your money in places that you object to, like alcohol or tobacco manufacturers. But Sarona, which is part of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), isn't just about keeping your savings away from things you don't agree with-it's a way to purposefully support ventures which seek to end poverty.
HOW IT WORKS
Sarona helps people in low income countries by:
1. Providing capital to institutions which lend to the poor. These are small micro-credit institutions which make loans to small businesses owned by poor people-businesses that are usually ignored by the commercial banking sector. Small loans like these often mean the difference between earning enough money to provide for their families and living in poverty.
2. Investing in companies which benefit poor people. These are companies in the agricultural and handicraft sectors that bring products made or grown by poor people to market. Some companies help small-scale producers join together to compete in local or international markets. Others have a goal of providing social and economic benefits to their employees and the surrounding community.
Sarona seeks out ventures that are both'financially profitable as well as socially beneficial. Each investment is carefully screened to ensure its profitability and confirm it will have a positive economic impact in the local community. The goal is for both parties to this financial arrangement to benefit-people in low income countries and North American investors.
The fund is managed by MEDA Investments, Inc., a whollyowned subsidiary of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). In addition to individuals, larger investors in Sarona include Mennonite Mutual Aid and Calvert Foundation.
HOW CAN YOU PUT YOUR SAVINGS TO WORK THROUGH SARONA?
There are two ways to become involved:
1. Invest in a promissory note/certificate. Promissory notes from MEDA Canada (for Canadians) or certificates from Sarona (for u.s. residents) provide you with a fixed amount of interest for a fixed amount of time. Minimum purchase: $1,000.
2. Donation. Another way to make money available to help people through Sarona is by making a tax receiptable donation to MEDA, designating it to the Sarona Fund. It will be used to provide permanent capital to assist poor people.
For more information about investing in Sarona, contact:
A New Heart Literally
hen Jim Westgate reads the promise of Ezekiel 36:26 - ''I will give you a new heart ... " he now takes it both figuratively and literally, as the recipient of a heart transplant.
'We certainly have seen tremendous answers to prayer, but we also had a deep sense that God was with us, no matter what the outcome would be.'
Westgate, Associate Professor of Practical Studies at MB Biblical Seminary, returned to his office on a part-time basis in mid-October after undergoing a heart transplant at Stanford University July 27. He plans to return to teaching in the spring semester beginning in February.
Jim Westgate
''The most important thing N aney and I have learned through this is the sense of God's presence," Westgate said. ''We certainly have seen tremendous answers to prayer, but we also had a deep sense that God was with us no matter what the outcome would be."
In the beginning months of the year 2000, Westgate's heart condition began to deteriorate rapidly. His left ventricle was operating at 50% capacity in January, but by March it was down to 30% and by June, 15%. Even with the help of medications and a pacemaker, his heart was barely pumping enough blood to keep him alive. Episodes of severe arrhythmia were becoming more frequent and life threatening.
The Westgates went to Stanford June 28 with "bushels of hope" to await a new heart. But they soon faced the most severe test of the entire ordeal.
"The hope of a new heart was quickly replaced with the gloomy diagnosis of kidney cancer, a prescribed treatment of major surgery, experimental internal heart pmup and a long wait of at least three years before a new heart would even
be considered," Nancy wrote in an August prayerletter.
''The doctors were brutally factual -a 20% chance of survival.
Miraculously, however, the tumor that the doctorswere "99% sure" would be malignant turned out to be benign. A 32-year-old donor heart was soon found and the transplant was performed successfully July 27.
Jim noted that he and Naney read from the "One Year Book of Psalms" together during their long stay at Stanford.
''The night before the heart transplant our Psalm was 91: 11-16: 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."
After the operation, the Westgates read the next day's entry, Psalm 92: 1-8: "You thrill me, Lord, will all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. 0 Lord, what miracles you do!"
Sobering statistics on patients awaiting heart transplants helped convince the Westgates of the miraculous nature of their story. In 1999, 51 patients started the year on the waiting list for a heart, 46 were added during the year, 36 received transplants, 13 died, 6 were removed from the list for other reasons, and 42 were still waiting at the end of the year.
The care of the seminary community helped Westgate discern how he would like to invest his future.
"God has given me my threescore," he said, "Now ifhe gives me my ten, I'd like to invest it in the lives of young people through teaching."
president's DESK
What Can We Learn From Willow Creek?
Henry J. Schmidt churches around the leaders and important to understand a major influence on I m
I iIIowCreek O:"nmunity Chur<h in South Barrington, Ill. is the 600lb. gorilla at the table of American evangelicalism. It can be praised or panned, but not ignored.
I attended Willow Creek's semi-annual Church Leadership Conference in October. The church invited seminary and Christian College presidents, deans and faculty to the conference to talk about the relationship ofleadership training to theological education. I went to Willow for two reasons: firsthand why first, to learn, and second, because it is important to understand firsthand why this church is a major this church is influence on leaders and churches around the globe.
'It is globe'
If you are unfamiliar with Willow Creek and its senior pastor, Bill Hybels, this is the church which pioneered the use of "seeker sensitive" services on Sunday mornings to present the Gospel to the lost. The church, now 25 years old, draws 17,000 people each weekend, about 9,000 to midweek "believers' services," and describes itself as a church not "with" small groups, but "of' small groups - 2,600 of them.
Willow Creek has been criticized for "dumbing down" Christianity; or reducing the clainls of the Gospel by using drama, music and video presentations to make the Gospel seem entertaining and attractive to seekers. Some accuse Willow and its imitators of gathering huge numbers at the expense of making disciples.
But are these accusations true? What can we learn from Willow Creek Community Church?
1. See It For Yourself
Whether you are a fan or a critic of Willow Creek, I encourage you to go there and see it for yourself. Perhaps reserve judgment until you have visited the church and read some of the books by Bill Hybels, John Ortberg, Gilbert Bilezikian or Lee Strobel. I attended a Thursday night believers' service and was impressed by the richness of the music, the depth and quality of the drama and the surprising depth of the sermon. Ortberg preached that evening on the Trinity.
2. Evangelistic Zeal.
Everything at Willow seemed to be driven by a
passion forlost souls and a desire to make disciples. The mission is "turning irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Christ," and seeker sensitive services on Sunday morning represent just one part of Willow's strategy. Clearly there is no desire to water down the Gospel or lighten anyone's commitment.
Members have given up the Sunday morning time to seekers and chosen to gather as believers midweek. They do everything with excellencefrom the sermon to the music to the maintenance of buildings and grounds to the creation of a marvelous atrium and other places for people to gather and linger and build community. It takes a huge staff and thousands of volunteers, but they do not compromise. There is no hint of a "hey, we're all family" attitude which can lead to casualness or even sloppiness. Why? Because Willow zeroes in on seekers, and to distract them with miscues or lack of preparation would be seen as failing a God-given mandate.
Willow members seem to be crystal clear about exactly how they are becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. Their pastors hammer home the point that it should be normal for Christians to have numerous relationships with seekers, to know how to present the Gospel to them, to grow steadily in Christlike character, knowledge, service, stewardship and mission.
3. Core Values and Principles Over Methods
Hybels and others do not ask anyone to copy their methods, but they ask everyone, and quite pointedly, to understand the principles and core values behind the methods. For example, all churches should embrace the core value that lost people matter to God and matter to the church. But whether the strategies and plans that are launched by embracing that principle can, and should, differ. When we embrace biblical principles are embraced, our strategies and methods can easily change when necessary. But if we make our methods sacrosanct, it can become impossible to change them when the need arises, and the church appears anachronistic.
Willow's leaders seem to be saying, "We have Please see President's Desk, p. 4
AROUND MBBS
Enrollment trends continue
r;, verall MBBS enrolhnent
continued to increase this fall, led by a significant increase at MBBSBC at ACTS Seminaries in Langley, British Columbia.
Fall enrolhnent in Fresno is 133 credit students compared to 126 in Fall of 1999. The full-time equivalent (number of units taken by all students divided by 12, considered a full-time load) fell from 77.42 to 71.13. At MBBS- BC the nwnber of credit students increased from 17 to 34, and FIE increased from 12.5 in fall of 1999 to 29.08 this fall. Overall, 219 students are taking courses in Fresno and B.C., with a total FIE of just over 100.
News from B.C., Manitoba
1;"";;1 he doubling of enrolhnent at ... MBBS-BC is particularly encouraging, reports Peter Enns, Associate Dean, because many of the students are full time and have ministry in the church as a career goal.
Mennonite Brethren students make up the largest denominational group in the ACTS consortium of Trinity Western University.
The MBBS board is currently seeking another professor to join Bruce Guenther on the BC faculty.
In Manitoba, Pierre Gilbert contin-
ues to represent MBBS as he works half time for the seminary and half time for Canadian Mennonite University. He has been helping to lead negotiations among Mennonite Brethren and other denominations toward establishing Anabaptist/ Evangelical graduate theological education in the region.
Continuity in Leadership
W7'I t both the Canadian and U.S. t.:.J national ME conferences last summer, MBBS BoardChairman Ron Toews announced the unanimous reappointment of Henry J. Schmidt to • a third term as MBBS President, beginning June 1,2001. Schmidt, who is also Professor of World Mission, became president in 1993 and next summer will complete his second four-year term.
New Baker book published
arkBaker, LUJ Assistant Professor of Mission and Theology at MBBS' California campus, recently published, with Joel B. Green, Recovering the Scandal ofthe Mark Baker Cross with Intervarsity Press.
In Touch
WINTER, 2000
In Touch is a publication ofthe Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Henry J. Schmidt, president. California: 4824 E. Butler Ave., Fresno, CA 93727-5097 559-251-8628 OR 1-80Q-251-MBBS mbseminary@aol.com
British Columbia: MBBS-BC at ACTS (Peter Enns) 7600 Glover Rd., langley, BC V2Y 1Y1 1-888-687·ACTS· petere@twu.ca
Manitoba: Contact Pierre Gilbert at Canadian Mennonite University: (204) 888-8761 • pierreg@cmu.ca
•
The ranks of the alumni are growing every year, and this academic year will add Jim Holm even more. We are looking forward to one of the largest graduating classes (more than 30) in recent memory.
We're very grateful to have a part in training these outstanding students and sending them out for various kinds of ministry. I was talking today with Kevin Reimer, our new professors in the counseling department. He commented on the very high quality of the counseling students who will graduate next spring.
''It is almost a shame to see them go," Kevin said, "because we have enjoyed the quality of work which they have done." The same could be said about graduates in our other areas: Bible, theology, practical studies and so on.
With the graduation of a large number of students, naturally, comes the responsibility of replacing them. And even more students will be needed than are graduating, because more students today are parttime. The result is that we need more students in order to keep offering the same number of academic units.
Our Admissions Counselors are working hard in contacting prospective students. So are our faculty, administrators and board members. But we would love to enlist your help as alumni. Could you send us the name of a student who we could contact? Please give this matter some thought and prayer.
One more matter. If you have not yet signed up to be on our weekly email information list called The Weekly Word, • please send your email address to me at jimholm@fresno.edu. On a weekly basis, I send out a brief newsletter that will keep you in touch with what is happening in the seminary and the broader Mennonite Brethren world. We'd be glad to add you to the list.
Jim Holm is Director of Constituency Relations and Dean of Students at MBBS. reetings to the Alwnni ofMB Seminary.
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6-9 pm Thurs.
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6-9 pm Tues.
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Developing a Quality Youth Ministry
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President's Desk
(continued from p. 2)
chosen seeker sensitive services as part of our evangelistic strategy. If you are not comfortable with that method, or do not have the resources to do it well, that's fine. But what are you doing to reflect God's heart toward seeking the lost?"
After witnessing the passion of these pastors, I became convinced that Willow Creek has the right to ask that question.
4. Leadership Development
Willow Creek pastors place a very high priority on leadership development. Why? It's a remarkably simple concept - they had to! At one point the church suffered such a shortage of leaders that newcomers who wanted to join a small group had to wait 18 months! Today, however, the "calling out" and training ofleaders is an everyday occurrence, and the church does a remarkable job of using apprenticeships and other mentoring models to raise up thousands ofleaders.
Important Questions
1. Making Leaders, or Disciples?
Still, there are important questions to ask. Willow emphasizes the importance of visionary leadership, and to be sure, every church needs vision. But as Kevin Miller, editor-at-Iarge for Leadership magazine, aptly pointed out, we might be obsessing on leadership training when we should be emphasizing the more-biblical discipleship training. ''Jesus' model is not to make leaders; it's to make disciples," says Dann Spader of Sonlife Ministries. ''Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to make leaders. It says to make disciples, and then to choose leaders."
2. Is CVisual Communication' Limited?
Second, it is almost impossible to experience Willow Creek without remarking, ''These pastors are great communicators!"
And certainly they are, but we must grapple with the question of what kind of communication this is, and whether we have any other options.
Willow Creek, and I would say most churches, most educators and politicians, utilize visual or TV communication. In a huge auditorium of 4,500 seats, we essentially watched the service on giant TV screens. Almost every presentation is incredibly visual, which means it will be inherently emotional, not cognitive. There seems to be little place for hard, weighty, heavy, doctrinal concepts in such an environment, so the potential exists that we could lose touch with essential doctrinal and historical truth.
But of course TV is so ubiquitous that we may be forced to deal with that style of visual communication or be perceived as quaint, hopelessly irrelevant relics.
Personally, I found myself renewed in my zeal for evangelism and disciple making by the Willow Creek conference. It renewed in me the vision that MBBS must continue to train leaders in close cooperation with churches, so that our education never becomes merely a matter of the head, but also of the heart and hands. I found that Willow has a firm grasp on a number of vital biblical principles, and I hope our MB churches can do the same, without trying to duplicate all of their methods.
children. I have taken your daughter to heaven to be with me." That was thing that I had to really stnIfgIe with, that my daughter whom I loved and wanted to hold, was now with Jesus, and that Is where we are all going to be one day. It changed my priorities, I was In a lot of ways pursuing what a lot of us want-a .comfortabIeJIfe,..a haPPrfamily experlence-and yet all of a sudden my world was tumed upside down.
Karen Hu....rt·Sanche.: When I was 15, our youth group from British Columbia travelled to seattle to see a Keith Green memorial concert. He had recently passed away In a plane crash. At the end, they gave an altar call lookIng for young people willing to stand and give their lives to career missions overseas. My heart started beating, and this sense come over me: "ThIs Is what I have called you to do."
_chu: We went to Thailand In ttovember 1999 to do a prayer scoutIng- trip, to confirm that this was the calling that God had on their lives. We were spending time with the missionarIes, seeing their lives. These people had so much life; they were full of joy. I Jemember asking a missionary as we - were.drlvmg down a dirt road In the middle of the Jungle, "00 you ever miss North AinerIcan life, the stuff back home yo" had to I.-veT' WIthout any hesitation, be looked me In the eye and said he wouldn't change It If he could. I remember the peaca that he had, and I said, "God that's the kind of peace I want. No matter where you call me, that's what I want."
The people we saw In thailand are Q.reated In God's Image, people with real faces, real1Meds and real wants. These people have never had a chance to hear the gospel message, not even one time. I thought, ''That's not fair. We hear It all
Our methods of mission will continue to seek a balance. We will send long-term missionaries who form the core of pioneer church planting efforts. We will also send out short-term teams and continue to support evangelists who plant churches in their own countries. We are committed to an even stronger effort to train leaders to help build a strong worldwide church. And we are recommitting ourselves to integrate social ministries in our efforts as we seek to minister to the whole person even as Christ did.
CARMEN OWEN: In my experience, giving and praying for overseas missions among my generation generally comes in direct proportion to the depth of relationship between the "home team" and the "away team." Fortunately, we are in an era of increasing opportunities for strengthening relationships through the accessibility of e-mail and the reduced costs of international travel. Through intentional relationship-building efforts, more people can become an integral part of the work overseas.
WALL: With the strength of our heritage in missions, we look forward, knowing that our culture demands new things of us. The gospel message is the same. The methods may vary-and a certain flex· ibility in carrying out our mandate is appropriate.
As we look to the future, I believe that an increased focus on relationships and a decreased focus on management will characterize a changing MBMSI.
Financially, MBMSI continues to support our long-term missionaries. These missionaries are not required to raise their own support. I believe that this is one of the strengths of MBMSI. However, it requires the financial commitment of the local churches, which likewise requires a strengthening of relationships with MBMSI.
Although I would advocate for flexibility in method-
the time In North America, and yet these people may never hear It."
After much prayer and seeking God, we have committed ourselves and our families to ministering the next 10 years In Thailand. We are excited about the call God has on our lives and look forward to the JoUrney that lies ahead.
Team 2000 will leave for Thailand in January 200/. This article is exoerpted, with permission. from the MBMSI video Called to Thailand.
ology, I believe that partnership and teams should characterize future mission methodology with MBMSI. Partnershipsmight be with local churches in support of particular missionaries, with national churches in adopting an unreached people group, with other mission agencies in sending out workers or with several of our 16 sister conferences around the world in establishing new missionary teams. The sending of teams is an emerging method. Team 2000, leaving soon for Thailand, is one example of such a team that is developed prior to arriving in a new country.
, you think mission needs around d should be balanced against the ........ng mission need In North America?
Er evaluation showed us that while churches may increasingly focus their ministry on their community, at least 80 percent agree that there is still a vital need to send missionaries to other countries as well. Christ's call in Matt. 28: 18-20 is very clear: we are to go to all nations. The worldwide reach of this command is not weakened by the needs we see in our own society. We don't have the luxury of choosing whether to witness locally or globally. We must do both.
HIEBERT: I fear deeply that we are losing our vision for missions where the Gospel has been least heard. North America is now a mission field. We must take this seriously, but given our American narcissism, we are now forgetting that the people in other parts of the world have far less opportunity to hear the gospel than those in North America. In 1980, there was one Christian leader for every 1,300 Americans. In the two-thirds world there was one Christian leader for 614,000 people! Most cannot hear the gospel even if they want to.
God is a missionary God, and the church must be
David SinclairPeters
Member of Team 2000. Sinclair Peters is a former associate pastor of youth at the Cariboo MB Church in Williams Lake, B.C. He also has been a Youth Mission International team leader.
T 20D0-Andy and Glrmen Owen, o.vId MId Loul. Sindal,.".ters, and Karen Huebert sanchez and Ricky sanche.
Marlene Wall
Secretary of the MBMSI board and member of the board of Lithuania Christian College. Born in Uruguay to missionary parents, Wall has served in shortterm teaching and mission assignments in Lithuania, China and Colombia. She is the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other languages) coordinator for the Wichita (Kan.) Public Schools.
first a missionary church. Mission is the only thing we can do while we are on earth, better than when we are in heaven. There worship and fellowship will be perfect, but mission in tenns of reaching the lost will have come to an end. We exist on earth to be in mission.
LUMEYA: We can balance this by a recognition of the spiritual need. Mennonite Brethren from North America and abroad need to be open to perceive their territory as pagan. The theology of a sinless nation may be self-destructive. We need missionaries to go all over the world and to come from all over our worldwide Mennonite Brethren family. In Congo, a sibling is a sibling. She or he belongs to the extended family and is interconnected with the rest afthe scattered family. Mexico, Canada and U.S. Mennonite Brethren need cross-cultural Mennonite Brethren siblings from around the world to help where needed spiritually.
WALL: A lost soul in Bangladesh is not more or less valuable than my unchurched neighbor. All people must hear the Good News and believe. This balance between local and global mission exists on several levels.
• Exposure to the gospel. I can see four churches out of my kitchen window, and yet there are large people groups around the world without even a hint of the written Word of God.
• Not a continuum. We cannot alford to wait until everyone in our neighborhood is a born-again Christian before we take the gospel to the 10/40 window. likewise, we cannot go to Bangladesh and ignore our neighbor. Local and global missions are not on a continuum. They must both be addressed now.
• Financial priorities. How far do our financial gifts go in this country? What are our giving priorities? How could these same dollars be used to reach people in other countries? And do we give so that we don't have to do or go?
• Personal experiences. We often begin to understand the need when we experience something for ourselves. If we have experienced an evening in a homeless shelter, a classroom filled with new immigrant students or an afternoon at a pregnancy crisis center, we begin to understand the need. In the same way, if we have spent time in other countries, in places where Christ is not preached, we begin to understand the need. All of these experiences shape our view and priority for mission.
AiitMiih.1II11 MBMSI need to do to balance to relate to both the younger <1IIIIir., •• '-r generations? Is the agency ,.itIIllig at any specific plans?
ENS: Our older generation has been a loyal supporter of our global mission efforts and we will continue to facilitate their mission vision. However, we
are also seeking a closer relationship with the younger generation with several newer initiatives. Our merger with YMI last year has given us a good connection through which to disciple a host of youth and young adults toward a life of mission. While the YMI program itself includes only very short-tenn service opportunities, we believe that longer-tenn workers will also come from it. The members of our Team 2000 going to Thailand in January are mostly alumni ofYMI programs.
ANDY OWEN: MBMSI needs to continue to foster the partnership with YMI to be the "feeder" organization for long-tenn efforts. It is no coincidence that all of the members of our team have been involved with YMI. I have great faith that the older generation will come alongside the younger generation with support and encouragement if they see young people walking in obedience to God's calling, and YMI is an organization which aims for just that. We have been very encouraged by the response of the older generation to us as we have travelled among churches-they are so thrilled to see us carrying the banner for them, and we know they will continue to faithfully pray and give towards global mission.
SINCLAIR-PETERS: I think a great example of MBMSI balancing the needs of the older and younger generations can be seen in the sending of us as a team to Thailand. For us, it communicates a message that MBMSI is committed to relating to the needs of a younger generation that values the collaboration and strength found in a team. After talking to many seniors on our journey, we have been incredibly affirmed by their excitement to send us. They are infonned intercessors and we go by the power of God poured out through their prayers.
WALL: MBMSI has begun to think strategically about ways to address the varied constituents which make up the local churches. Diversity of age is certainly one component of these multifaceted congregations within our MB conferences in North America. The mandate of mission is clear, but the style of presentation may vary.
With the merger ofYMI and MBMSI, much is being shared. I thank God for people committed to the discipleship of our youth. I thank God for the passion and voice of our young people who have answered the call to serve. I thank God, too, for those whose decades of commitment to Christ's call have given us the heritage of service and experience upon which to build. And I thank God for the brothers and sisters in Christ whom I will meet someday in heaven because of the faithfulness of those who shared the gospel-in my neighborhood and across the ocean.•
CONGRATULATIONS
to John & Lola Savoia for opening the
Ministry Investment Fund Account
Putting money where it counts
Central District delegates pass budget 19 percent higher than last year-most of it going towards an Omaha church plant
BY CONNIE FABER
Outdoorsmen who descended on the premier pheasant hunting grounds around the Huron, S.D., area in late October weren't the only ones hoping to flush out the prize. Central District Conference leaders came to the annual CDC convention Oct. 27·29, with their sights set on something other than birds-they were hoping to garner support for a significant budget increase.
Building in Papillion
Up for discussion was a recommended budget of $206,545 that would make it possible for Rolling Hills Church, a three· year-old CDC church plant located in the
greater Omaha, Neb., area, to begin construction on a multipurpose worship facility. The congregation has already purchased a prime piece of real estate in the growing suburb of Papillion.
Trustee chair Gaven Banik acknowledged that for a district that had in 1999-2000 seen revenue totals of $168,499, the proposed 2001 budget increase of $38,046 or 19 percent was extremely aggressive. He said that while guaranteeing the proposed $700,000 construction loan from MB Foundation represented a stretch for the almost 2,500 members of the CDC, the Rolling Hills facility will be "just a nice-sized church in Omaha."
"This is a project we've got to see through," said Banik. "You're probably feeling a certain uneasiness with what's going on but I hope we don't put a crimp on the ministry by being too tight-fisted."
By accepting this project, the CDC would not only be guaranteeing a loan but would also be narrowing the focus of its church planting dollars. During a budget discussion of the Rolling Hills project, one delegate inquired how the building project in Omaha would affect other church planting options.
"Given the current income, at this point we don't have any plans for additional church plants," said Banik. "It does have a significant impact. No aggressive church plant will be begun in the next several years. The trustees have told the church planting board this."
Church plant update
While the budget request from the church planting committee focused on subsidizing Rolling Hills, their report included other church planting and renewal efforts. Committee member Darren Rempel reported that Lincoln Hills Church in Sioux Falls, S.D., has been designated a Mission USA Target Church and pastor Roger Engbrecht said they will be hiring an additional staff member to work in small group ministry and assimilation. MUSA is the national Mennonite Brethren church planting and renewal ministry.
Rempel, as well as CDC minister Clint Grenz in his report, spoke of the district-wide church renewal efforts using the natural church development program endorsed by MUSA.
In the area of church planting, CPC chair Phil Glanzer recognized Tom and Amy Cartney for their leadership in a church planting effort in Apple Valley, Minn. that was discontinued in]anuary. Glanzer briefly reviewed the factors that could have made a difference in the project and also thanked the individuals and congregations who financially supported the project.
But church planting efforts in the Omaha area dominated the convention. Rolling Hills pastor Rod Anderson, armed with statistics and projections for the future, shared with delegates his vision for both ministry and a new church facility. Members of Rolling Hills joined Anderson for the Friday evening church planting banquet and program. The group led in worship, gave a skit
regarding evangelism and shared about their experiences at Rolling Hills.
Anderson outlined for banquet guests the congregation's vision to plant another congregation in three to five years using a core group of 80 to 100 from Rolling Hills. Paul Rowenhorst, associate pastor, was recently added to the pastoral staff as the next church planter.
The banquet also included a testimony from the pastoral couple of another Omaha congregation. Walter and Amalia Preza of Iglesia "Agua Viva" told how their congregation of 100 was able, with help from the CDC, to purchase a church building offered for sale by an evangelical congregation hoping to relocate. The building, located in the middle of Omaha's Hispanic community, has allowed the Hispanic congregation to begin holding Sunday school.
Budget increased
Saturday the majority of the business sessions focused on budget concerns.
For much of the time, trustee chair Banik outlined and addressed possible concerns with the Rolling Hills building project and answered questions from the floor.
But the Rolling Hills project wasn't the only budget item discussed by delegates. After some discussion, delegates voted to add funds for pastoral training in the area of church renewal.
Delegates also called for the new district minister to be paid more than a halftime salary, as was budgeted. Grenz, who has served as the CDC minister for 10 years, is retiring effective Dec. 31, 2000, and a replacement is being sought.
Saying that the district will get what it pays for, J. Epp, a delegate from Lustre, Mont., suggested the district consider putting more money towards the position.
''We need to think about where this conference is going to go," said Epp. "This district can't base [the budget] on the past. We need good leadership to get us going."
Other delegates echoed Epp's call for a full-time district minister but tempered it with concern over the growing budget. In the end, delegates voted to give the trustees the freedom to explore a higher salary for the district minister.
The budget discussion concluded when delegates gave an aflinnative vote to the recommended budget with increases in
Grenz ends ministry
For the past 10 years, Clinton E. Grenz, retiring Central District Conference minister and resource pastor, has been a fireman. While he's had to put out crisis fires In some situations, his pa&sion has been to Ignite fires of revival within the district he has served.
Grenz, who will conclude his ministry as CDC minister at the end of this month, was honored at a retirement and apprecl. tlon ceremony Oct. 27 led by CDC vlce-chalr Myron Vetter 8hd ctlurch planting chair Phil Glanzer at the Central District Conference In Huron, S.D.
A North Dakota native, Grenz was ordained as a minister June 13, 1961, at the First Baptist Church of Minot, N.D., a congregation affiliated with the North American Baptist Conference. He was a counselor and the executive director of the Professional Christian Resource Center in Bismarck, N.D., when he was asked to serve as Interim pastor at WashIngton Heights Church, a Mennonite Brethren congregation In Bismarck which has since closed. He pastored there for four years, from 1985 to 1990.
In the fall of 1989, the Central District budgeted for a part·tlme resource minister who would do
church and pastoral consulting and work with special church needs. Grenz was recommended for the position. The value of Grenz's ministry was recognized when the posItion was Increased to three-quarter time the
next year and to full time service In 1991.
"Clint Is a visionary leader," says Glanzer. "He sees and encourages churches In the direction they should go. He and his wife Carol have served the district Iy. One of Clint's strong points Is his wholeheart· ed support of the semInary, Tabor College, and our overseas programs. This Is especially admirable since they came to us from outside the denomination."
Grenz identities church planting and the concept of church renewal as highlights of his work as district minister. Most recently, Grenz was Instrumental In bringing to CDC congregations "The Everyday ment" seminars emph. sizing building relation-
ships with pr8-Chrlstlan people Inorder to lead them to the Lord.
"In most denomln. tlons, not just the Mennonite Brethren, rural churches have lost the vision for the harvest field because of the declining population, " says Grenz. "First gener. tlon ImmIgrants ed together Inacomm nlty of faith. The second and third generations, particularly :Ii those that left the farm i or went to 8 college, didn't have thesame loyalty to their denomln. tlons.
"Because of that, many rural churches have reached a plateau, or died," he says. "In rural communities like most of the Central District, pe0ple are grieving as they deal with the declining economics of farming and business. The church needs to build up grief support systems and help community members work through grief and loss."
He adds, "If churches In any rural community can Identify the felt needs within a 30 to SO mile radiUS, and meet those needs, they will grow."
Grenz says four Mennonite Brethren congregations in the Central District have made the decIsion to shut down In the continued page 24
Grenz con't
last 10 years. "Many of the others are In a survival mode. Churches that are alive and well have discovered the needs of the community and are doing something to meet those needs. They are friendly, relational, vibrant churches.
"We've been building on this Idea of church renewal while I've been district minister. Most of our churches are now thinking visionary, which Is something that has been a goal of mine," says Grenz.
Vetter, a member ofthe Getty. burg, S.D., congregation, hes served on the District Faith and ute Board with Grenz. Vetter says, "He's defl. nltelya visionary. I appreciate that In him, and we need that. We need to understand the differences between people and accept them as benefl. clal. He's been Industrious; he's traveled the district, searched for prospective pastors, and visited the seminary and the colleges."
The drive behind this Industrlou. ness Is Grenz's concern for leading the unsaved Into a relationship with the Lord. "We need to become more Intentional In reaching others for Christ. All Christian people are prayIng people for those who are physIcally sick, but how many times do we pray for those who are spiritually sick? If we want the church to have a future, we have to become Intercessory prayers for the lost, the lonely and the least."
Grenz says his personal ministry goal is now to "exercise the gifts and experience that God has graciously given over the past 38 years In a pastoral related ministry of the church In a part·tlme setting." His mission is to provide leadership In equipping men and women to fulfill the Great Commission and Great Commandment. His hope Is that the Mennonite Brethren congregations of the Central District continue to develop their vision for lost people, and that lay people become Involved In evangelism. "There Is a future fOr the rural church," he says, confident· Iy. -by Amelia Patrie, regional correspondent
leadership training and for the district min· ister. In the words of one delegate, the affir· mative vote gave "all our support and atten· tion to the work at Rolling Hills."
Demographics sobering
While the delegates were energized by reports from the Omaha congregations, there were reminders that many congregations in this predominantly rural district have limited growth possibilities.
The convention, hosted by Bethesda Church of Huron, which at 300 members is the district's largest congregation, brought together 185 people-90 of whom were delegates--from 23 out of the 25 congregations that make up the district. While the CDC stretches across the northern U.S., with congregations in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska, only half of the con· gregations are located in urban areas.
The 1999-2000 statistical report, pre· sented by Charles and Dolly Reimche, showed that nine out of 22 reporting congregations had a net decrease in membership and that the district as a whole continued to decline numerically.
"This district faces enormous challenges," said Henry Schmidt, MB Biblical Seminary president, in his remarks to the delegates. ''You can't control the demographics of this district."
Schmidt went on to commend the rural congregations for their joy in supporting their urban congregations. ''You have a vision for ministry where the masses are located," said Schmidt. "God's people are important whereever they are."
In an effort to reach the unsaved with the Good News and to grow their num· bers, the CDC has targeted urban areas, including Omaha, Neb., over the last decade for church planting and renewal projects.
Thanks to these efforts, today Mennonite Brethren are the fastest growing denomination in Omaha, said Leonard Reimer, pastor of Omaha's Millard Bible Church. The Omaha area is currently home to four congregations: Faith Bible, an inner-city congregation that gave birth to Millard Bible, who in turn has helped to plant Rolling Hills in neighbor· ing Papillion. The fourth congregation, Iglesia "Agua Viva" is targeted at the 60,000 Hispanics living in Omaha.
Other business
In addition to the church planting updates, the faith and life committee, district minister, youth committee and CDC treasurer Richard Walter also gave reports. Vice-chair Myron Vetter moderated the proceedings as chair Ron Seibel had recently undergone bypass heart surgery.
Retiring CDC minister couple Clint and Carol Grenz were recognized for their 10 years of service to the district. Grenz was given a standing ovation fol· lowing his report to the delegates and the home missions banquet concluded with Glanzer and Vetter recognizing the CDC minister couple. After reviewing the highlights of their ministry (see "Grenz ends ministry" on page 23), the Grenzes were presented with a plaque and a trav· el voucher.•
Or05 inspires delegates to prayer
Convention speaker John Oros, from Missions Without Borders, challenged Central District Conference delegates to spend more time in prayer and to recognize the value of suffering.
Many of Oros's illustrations came from his experiences growing up and then liVing and working in Romania as a young adult. He and his wife were active in Romania's underground church when the country was under Communist rule and they and their two daughters escaped the country and relocated to Canada.
Oros shared many stories of Romanian Christians who were imprisoned and persecuted in other ways because of their faith. Yet the stories also iIIus-
trated the power of God. "In j)etseoution, the Kingdom is manifested in ways It is not at other times," said Oros.
When it comes to Church grOWth, Oros repeatedly r-eminded delegates of the importance of prayer.
" Jesus Christ did not set forth methodologies," said Oros. "Put them to sleep for awhile. Do the on your knees for a while."
Oros challenged his audience to view the current religious situation in the U.S. as an opportunity for growth. "We live in an 'anything but Christiani· ty' culture," said Oros. "Now is a good time to be alive because the darker the dark, the brighter the Iight."-eF
A taste of heaven within reach
West
coast delegates gather to celebrate church planting and church work in a host of languages and cultures
BY CARMEN ANDRES
Looking out at the faces of Ethiopian, Hispanic, Slavic and English-speaking people gathered from across the Western U.S. in a newly built Slavic church in a small Oregon town, Loyal Funk smiled.
"This is just a small taste of heaven," said Funk, director of Integrated Ministries, a U.S. Conference ministry working with immigrant churches. He paused as his words were translated.
"If this doesn't make you happy, I don't know what will."
One church
This multi-cultural, multi-language atmosphere permeated the 88th annual
Pacific District Conference convention Nov. 10-11. "The Gospel for all people" (Col. 1:6) was an apt theme for delegates from MB churches in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Utah meeting at Kingwood Bible Church in Salem, Ore.
Multi-culturalism is a strong reality for the West Coast district. Of the 12 new congregations the PDC officially accepted, five were Slavic, one was Ethiopian, one was Korean, two were Spanishspeaking and three were English-speaking. When district secretary Dina Gonzalez conducted delegate roll call, she gave it both in Spanish and English, and it was unusual if a session went by with out at least one translator on stage.
Yet conference leaders stressed the unity of a diverse body of believers.
"How many churches are represented here tonight?" asked keynote speaker Fred Leonard, pastor of Mountain View Community Church in Clovis, Calif., at the Friday night multi-cultural celebration and worship service held at the Slavic Christian Church. "One church," he answered, "the church ofjesus Christ."
"God didn't make exceptions for any race," associate district minister Jose Elizondo reminded delegates the next day. "He included everybody."
Church leaders echoed this call.
Ethiopian pastor Berhanu Waldemarian-his words translated into Russiannoted a similarity between the Slavic and Ethiopian experiences in recent history. "It was not long ago that we were in the same situation," he said, referring to how Christianity had been under threat from communist rule in Ethiopia. "The gospel is for all people, and it is our responsibility to respond."
''We may not know each other personally," said pastor Vladimir Metlenko of Rancho Cordova (Calif.) Slavic Church, ''but we have a fellowship in Christ Jesus."
Struggling with new realities
District chair Gary Wall, pastor of Vinewood Community Church in Lodi, Calif., acknowledged that ethnic diversity presents a challenge for the district and its leadership in his keynote address.
He acknowledged that leaders will make mistakes as they attempt to unify a diverse district. Last year, delegates I strongly urged leadership to reconsider a recommendation to change bylaws which would have based convention vot· ing rights on church contributions to the PDC. Some delegates perceived the recommendation as paternalistic and designed to separate along economic lines. Wall reiterated that this was not the intent and apologized.
''We heard you," said Wall, noting that the proposal was withdrawn by unanimous vote of the district's executive board. "It was an attempt to bring unity, but we realize it was the wrong approach."
Wall urged leaders and delegates to continue to look for new ways to work together to bring the lost to Jesus in an atmosphere where people can admit they are wrong. He also challenged his audience to be open to God's changes in their lives and ministries.
''We don't have all the answers," he
Giving up all for the lost
"What are you\vllling to sacrifice to brlnglost pie to Jesus?" asked Fted Leonard, pasto't of Molintaln View Community Church In Clovis, calif. and keynote speaker of_ Pacific District Convention Nov. 1()'1.1.
"Jesus gave his 1118 for the love of a lost reminded deleg8tea. "GOd" entrusted you WIth come with 'all their ••••tu1i, and you have to de8I with It.ft
"It totally comPlicates your life," admits Leonard, adding that tt,..costs tlme, energy, rlghp, prIvI money and sometimes pel'HCution to reach the lost.
But the benefits outwe1gh the. costs, says Leonard. "I aet to be Involved In something blgget than me-en ftemallnvestment."
"Are they goIngto1Klng problems?
concluded. "But if we can join in that spirit, God will do amazing things."
More bylaw proposals
Two other sets of district bylaws were under scrutiny at this convention. This time recommendations were a result of changes at the national level.
The first set of bylaw recommendations came as a result of the dissolution of the North American General Conference of MB Churches. bylaws focusing on church membership and property ownership already in effect at the bi-national level were incorporated at the U.S. Conference level in July 2000. The newly incorporated national bylaws state that when a congregation dissolves or withdraws from the conference, its capital assets become property of the district conference. The second set of recommendations would incorporate into the bylaws a district resolution in effect since 1959 stating that any church receiving grants from the district conference has a "reversion clause" recorded in its deed. This would be the first time the resolution is stated in the bylaws.
Some delegates expressed concern over the implications of property rever-
sion if denominational theology shifts.
"What if the Confession of Faith changes and a church decides not to go along with it?" asked Roger Poppen, pastor of Laurelglen Bible Church in Bakersfield, Calif. "Will [the church] lose its property?"
Jim Enns, district treasurer, reminded delegates that the bylaws are nothing new. The district is recommending action next year on the first set to bring them into conformity with U.S. Conference bylaws. The second set will codify in district bylaws resolutions that are over 40 years old, according to Enos.
Bud Klassen, district vicechair, also pointed out that second set of bylaw changes will aUow churches to "buy themI selves out" of the reversion clause by paying back any district grants or subsidies.
Other delegates backed the proposals.
Dale Boese, district trustee board chair, reminded delegates that the conference has a "rock solid history" in regard to its theology. "If the conference goes," he said, "we as delegates will be the ones who let it go."
Ed Boschman, executive director of the Mission USA (U.S. Conference church planting and renewal ministry)
and former General Conference moderator, urged district leadership to keep both the wording and intent of the proposals, adding that the clause had a "prenuptial" feel. "We are a convenanting community based on a common understanding of our beliefs which underlies how we commit and do business with each other."
wau encouraged feedback and urged delegates to process the changes at the congregational level. He asked that any concerns be submitted in writing to the executive board by Jan. 30, 2000.
Budget cuts
PDC ministries are working with a nine percent reduction in their budgets this year.
The reductions are a result of several years of reduced income. While boards actuaUy came in under budget last year, lower income levels from church giving-7.5 percent or $20,000 less than expected-oB'set the savings.
District trustees covered last year's deficit by withdrawing additional funds from the Church Planting Fund earnings, a fund which provides monies for grants to new churches. The district withdrew $19,000 instead of the $15,000 originaUy budgeted as income from earnings. This reduced the fund's net income by $15,000.
"[This fund] will not keep up with both the diversion of funds to conference budget and the assistance of property funds for our churches," said Enos.
Pastor Steve Schroeder of Community Bible Fellowship in Bellingham, Wash., noted that district funding for home missions dropped from $124,400 to $114,400. "We are heading in the wrong direction," he said from the floor.
District leaders acknowledged the trend.
"We can only work with what we receive from churches," emphasized Enns, noting that the new budget still anticipated an increase in church giving even though churches did not meet anticipated levels last year.
"This was not a fun budget to put together," added wau, reporting that each board was asked to "share the pain" and reduce their budget by nine percent.
The 2000-2001 budget, with its reductions, was passed unanimously.
Home missions celebration
In spite of news of a reduced budget,
delegates enjoyed reports at the Home Missions Luncheon on Saturday.
The home missions board reported that in addition to the 12 new churches accepted into membership, the ministry was working with 16 emerging churches and several special projects including ministries to international students, Ethiopians, Koreans and Slavics.
Associate district minister Jose Elizondo reminded delegates of the importance of church planting. "Church planting and evangelism go hand in hand," he said.
Ed Boschman announced Mike and Ruth Harrison of Fresno, Calif., as the church planters for a new church to be planted in Phoenix in partnership between Mission USA and the PDC startingin January.
An offering taken during the event brought in approximately $14,000.
Other reports and business
District minister Henry Dick announced his retirement, effective December 2001. Dick has served in fulltime ministry for over 50 years. "It's been
great to have a ring-side seat to what God is doing," he said. Delegates gave him a rousing standing ovation.
Delegates heard reports from the various district ministries including the boards of faith and life, youth ministries, and christian education and the Hispanic Council. Delegates also voted to accept new board members and leadership.
Dr. Harold Haak, the newly appointed president of Fresno Pacific University, reported the MB university's budget is "in the black" (see story page 29). Haak also announced a new scholarship for incoming MB students next year, guaranteeing to cover 50 percent of tuition expenses if students meet requirements, in an effort to help maintain a strong MB presence on the campus. Delegates warmly accepted the announcement with applause.
Delegates also heard reports from the MB Biblical Seminary, the Center for MB Studies and Choice Books
The Women's Missionary Service also held their annual event on Saturday morning. Jeanine Yoder, of MBMS International, was the main speaker.•
Youth gather in central states
MB teens from across the central United States and two district conferences gathered separately over the same weekend, Nov. 9-12, to strengthen their relationships with Christ.
The Central District youth convention took place at Camp Okoboji near Mil· ford, Iowa. Blayne Greiner, who has been involved with youth ministry for 23 years including Youth Mission International, was guest speaker. He currently directs Youth Unlimited in Monroe, Wash.
"Blayne really challenged kids to walk with Christ, to be committed disciples," says Tony Randall, CDC youth committee chair.
According to Greiner, there are three types of youth: committed Christians, honest pagans and church kids. "I think that just really spoke to our kids," says Randall. "So many recognized that they were just church kids at this point."
There is one thing Randall would change about the youth convention. "I
wish I could take every one of my church members to youth conference sometime and say, 'Watch these kids. They know how to worship the Lord'."
Youth in the Southern District also came together to worship the Lord. Westport Church in Collinsville, Okla., hosted the youth convention. The theme was "Leaming to Fly," based on Isa. 40:30-31.
Guest speaker Andy Teston, currently pastoring in Calumet, Okla., shared his testimony of his escape to the military "as a way to elude God's call on his life," SDC youth minister Wendell Loewen says. "Through his straightforward messages, Andy challenged the teens to choose Christ, and called them to a renewed relationship with him."
Worship was led by the Southern District worship band. But according to Loewen, "The main focus of the weekend remained creatively drawing young people closer to Christ." -by Sara Cook, staff writer
Survey will prompt changes
MBMSI survey uncovers MB views of global mission ,.. and will prompt "substantial" changes
Results of a sweeping evaluation designed to look in depth at MBMS International's role as the mission agency of the Canadian and U.S. MB conferences will be taken seriously and will result in long-tenn, substantial changes, say MBMSI personnel. The first indication of what those changes may entail will come next month.
MBMSI board and staff members reviewed the survey results and had an initial opportunity to discuss the survey at the board's October meeting in Waterloo, Onto In the spring of 2000, MBMSI hired a private consultant finn to conduct a series of focus groups, personal interviews and mailed surveys. The results and the agency's initial responses will be outlined in the January edition of the agency's magazine, Witness, which is available as an insert in the MB Herald and Christian Leader, or by calling 1-888-866-6267.
The survey, sent to over 5,000 MBs in Canada and the U.S. this past summer, not only addressed the role of MBMSI but also revealed Mennonite Brethren views of mission in general. How do Mennonite Brethren feel about the need to share their faith across cultures? What are the best ways to do mission? Where do MBs give money to support global mission, and what is the role of the conference's mission agency?
Don Klaassen was one of the MBMSI staff members involved in creating the survey. "We knew our relationship with Mennonite Brethren was not as strong as it could be and we wanted to get a clearer sense of how to work together," says Klaassen. "In order to look at that relationship, we first had to detennine how Mennonite Brethren feel and think about mission work around the world."
Over the summer, the finn of Ken Macleod and Associates Inc. (KMA) conducted nine focus groups and 68 faceto-face interviews in British Columbia, Manitoba, California and Kansas. Surveys were mailed to 3,000 Canadian and
2,000 American MB church members and pastors. The response rate of 16 percent (including 40 percent of North American lead pastors) was high enough for the evaluators to consider the data reliable.
The first change of convictions identified by the evaluators was a growing trend of churches focussing on mission in their own home cities, towns or even neighborhoods.
"People do not believe that local mission is more important than global mission," the KMA report states. "However the view that is growing is that there are enough 'broken souls in our own backyards,' and that 'before we can reach out to the rest of the world, we have to reach people in our own communities
While churches may increasingly focus their ministry on their community, most of those surveyed (80 percent) agree that there is still a vital need for the church to send missionaries to other countries. Respondents pointed to two prime motivations for mission: 93 percent feel it is because Christ commanded his disciples to go and make disciples, and 87 percent say it is because people who do not accept Christ are eternally lost. Less than one-tenth (9 percent) of those who responded agree that we should help to meet physical and social needs but not try to change people's religion.
MB pastors gave some feedback about how to put these convictions into action. Two-thirds believe it is important to subsidize ministries of overseas
$.. Pontius' Puddle
partners and train leaders from overseas churches and about half feel strongly that it is important to send long-tenn career missionaries from North America to "unreached" people groups. Only 20 percent of pastors feel it is important to send short-tenn youth teams and/or other volunteers.
So how do people support global mission? The survey found that most of those who responded are giving to support mission efforts, but they do so in a variety of ways. Of those surveyed, 29 percent support ministries only by giving through their local church. Thirty percent gave personally to MBMSI, while 17 percent indicated they support other agencies with which they feel more connected.
Now that the agency has a clearer picture of how its constituency in North America regards both missions in general and their agency in particular, MBMSI can begin the task of addressing the strengths and weaknesses revealed in the survey.
Who responded?
The 5,000 written surveys were sent out proportional to the population of Mennonite Brethren in each country. Response by region was: California 15 percent, Kansas 9 percent, and the rest of the U.S. 14 percent; B.C. 24 percent, Alberta/Saskatchewan 13 percent, Manitoba 10 percent and the rest of Canada 5 percent.
Forty percent of respondents were female, 60 percent male. About half were under age 50. Of those who indicated their church background, 58 percent grew up in MB homes. About a I third (30 percent) grew up in Christian , non-MB homes, and 12 percent were raised in non-Christian homes. -from an MBMSI news service report I by Brad Thiessen
FORMER CSU PRESIDENT BEGINS TERM AT FPU
Haak installed as new MB university president
Harold Haak was installed Oct. 27 as Fresno Pacific University's ninth president in a ceremony attended by several hundred students, faculty and community members. FPU is an MB-run university located in Fresno, Calif.
Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson and James Pankratz, academic dean of MB Biblical Seminary, each brought greetings. The presidential medal was presented by Henry H. Dick, district minister of Pacific District Conference, and Peter Klassen, chair of the university board of trustees. Every-
one participated in a litany of dedication.
Haak began his duties in June after 38 years in public higher education, including 11 years as president of California State University, Fresno.
Pictured from left, H. I H. Dick, Pacific District Conference minister; Harold and Betty Haak; and Peter Klassen, chair of the Fresno Pacific University Board ofTrusteesj pray as Haak is installed.-FPU
FPU posts strong budget, adopts long-term goals
At October Fresno Pacific University Board of Trustee meetings, the administration requested no revision in the 2000-2001 budget. This was a welcome change from the previous year in which $1.1 million had to be cut in response to overly optimistic revenue projections. Thanks to a bond issue and a new budget process, the univerSity finished the 1999-2000 fiscal year with a $183,000 surplus and Larry Perryman, vice president for business affairs, said he expects rev-
enues will exceed estimates in 2000-2001. Much of the increase is expected to come from the school of professional studies, Perryman said. He says the goal is not to use extra funds for operating expenses but for one-time purchases.
The board also adopted a set of strategic goals, approved a 3 percent salary increase for faculty and staff effective January 1 and raised tuition for some graduate school programs. (FPU)
MORE NEWS
Soccer titles won
For the flrst time In Tabor College history, the men's and women's soccer programs both clinched the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships. The women's soccer program, In Its sixth season and third under KCAC Coach ofthe Year Don Brubacher, went undefeated In the conference and 14-2 overall. senior Christy Wehrman, Derby, Kan., was named defensive player of the year. The men's soccer team under KCAC Coach of the Year Nathan Wilkey, who Is In his flrst year at Tabor, also won the conference title. They went 9-1 In the conference and 14-3 overall. Casey Barton, Wichita, Kan., wasnamed offensive player of the year. (TC)
Aid to Palestine
With death and Injury tolls In Palestine and Israel mounting during the ongoing violence, Palestinian health organizations are facing a severe crisis. In the flrst month of unrest approximately 130 people were killed, mostly Palestinian, and thousands Injured. In response, MennonIte Central Committee made an emergency donation of $36,000 for the purchase of needed surgical equipment, medicines and medical disposables. This Is on top of $20,000 emergency medical relief assistance that has already been distributed through partner organizations In the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. (MCC)
HP book recognized
Evangelical Christian Publishers Association presented a Gold Book Award to Herald Press, SCottdale, Penn., at Its fall meeting In New York City, November 4, for outstanding sales of Meditations for the New Mother by Helen Good Brenneman. Rrst published In 1953, It ranked sixth on the Herald Press best-seller list In 1999, exceeding 525,000 copies. The award Is given to publishers of books that pass the half million mark In sales. (HP)
I.
CHURCH
Baptism/membership
YALE, S.D. (Bethel}-Troy Wipf, Noelle Berg, Kristina Kleinsasser and Susanna Hohm were baptized and received into membership Aug. 27.
UT11£TON, Colo. (BeDeview Aaes)-Jane Jordan and Sharon Masse were baptized and received into membership Oct. 15.
CLOVIS. Calif. (College Community)-Richard and Janita Rawls were received into membership Nov. 5.
ENID. Okla.-Ryan Bright, Mimi Neddermeyer, Jeff Meier, Steven Regier, Andy Brown and Forest Brown were baptized and received into membership Nov. 5. lee and Connie Sturdevant, Amy Brown and Marie Buller were also received into membership.
REEDlEY. Calif.-George and Virginia Kubo. Josh luzania and Scott Schuil were baptized and received into membership Nov. 5. Also received into membership were Mike and Robin Clark, Jake and Orpha Klassen, Christina Kliewer and Ken and Kathy Thiessen.
BAKERSAELD. Calif. (uurelglen)Nancy Morrissey and Kirk Yale, Jr., were baptized Oct. 15 and received into membership Oct. 29. Also receiving membership Oct. 29 were Dan and Pam Carr, Diana Delgado, Michelle Engle-Silva. Mark and Paula Erickson, Jenny Goldenberger, Tara Gooding, David and lisa Harding, Kathy Jackson, Mary Juarez, Don Kileen, David Morrissey, Scott and Patty Moses, Curt and Vena Pearsey, Jennifer Renner, Ralph Rogers, Joel and Cari White and Mike and Charissa Wilson.
SAlEM. Ore. (Kingwood Bible)Dennis, Nancy, Connor and Jill Day, Will and Steve Hook and Jacob lowen were baptized at the annual church campout. Received into membership were Travis and lisa Schmidt, Derek Hunt, Danika Allen, Mikayla Allen, Abby Sweet and Jacob lowen.
WICHITA, Kan.-Amy Brown, Alison Friend, Stacy Jansen, Danielle Friesen, Neil Rabbi, Josh Reeves. Grant Thiessen and Derrick Unruh were welcomed as new members Oct. 15. Received into membership
Oct. 29 were David and Doris Prater, Anna Hanna, Debra lee, Esther lemon, Ben lymer, Tricia and Stephen Hileman, OJ. and Karen Sims, and Kim and Dennis Tweter.
celebrations
SURPRISE, Ariz.-Desert Valley Bible Church, a church plant targeted at seniors and near-retirees, dedicated land Oct. 8 recently purchased under the auspices of the Pacific District Conference. The group currently meets in the Sonoran Plaza Ball Room.
Fellowship
GARDEN OTY. Kan.-Herb and Ruth Friesen were guests for the harvest missions festival held Dec. 23.
BAKERSRELD. Calif. (Heritage Bible}-MBMSI missionary Juan Martinez was guest speaker for the harvest banquet Nov. 18.
WICHITA, Kan.-The men's ministry group was asking "What's at steak for you?" for a good reason. The annual men's steak dinner was held Nov. 10 with special guest JJ. Jasper from American Family Radio, Tupelo, Miss.
CLOVIS. Calif. (College Community)-A Thanksgiving celebration dinner was held Nov. 19.
FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News)The annual church Thanksgiving potluck dinner, featuring turkey and all the trimmings, was held Nov. 12.
FAIRVIEW. Okla.-The Franz Family. also known as Savior Sent, performed during the morning service Nov. 26. The family began their ministry in Branson, Mo., and have now played in nearly half of the United States and Canada.
Ministry
HILLSBORO. Kan.-A new pulpit designed and made by Jonah C. Kliewer is now in place at Hillsboro MB Church. The variety of woods used to construct the pulpit was donated by various church members. Also, MBMSI missionaries Craig and Fabiana Jost were commissioned for service Oct. 29. The
Josts have served in Brazil and have moved to Portugal where they will help plant a new church in Massama, a suburb of lisbon.
WEATHERFORD. Okla. (Pine Aaes)-College students can pay only S1 for lunch on Tuesdays at the Solid Rock Cafe, an outreach ministry of the congregation.
BUHLER, Kan.-The first annual Buhler MB men's basketball league began Dec. 4 and will run through the end of February. As the men put their teams together, they are encouraged to include at least one person who does not regularly attend church anywhere.
SHAfTER, Calif.-A call was given for church members to extend their homes to guests for Neighbor Sunday Dec. 3. Neighbors were invited to worship and then for the meal at various homes.
COWNSVlllE, Okla. (Westport)As an effort to reach out to their neighbors in a nonthreatening way, women in the congregation were invited to host a come and go Christmas tea in their homes Dec. 2.
Proclamation
ENID. Okla.-A filming crew from Public Broadcasting System visited the congregation during Wednesday night activities for a program entitled "Faith of Our Neighbors" which aired Nov. 29. Also, Missions Encounter 2000 was held Nov. 17-19 to challenge participants to celebrate and become involved in what God is doing in the world. Guest speakers were Trever and Joan Godard, MBMSI missionaries to Bogota, Colombia.
HENDERSON, Neb.-Walter and Amalia Preza, pastoral couple of Iglesia Agua Viva in Omaha, Neb., were guests during the morning worship service Nov. 19 for harvest missions Sunday. A meal was served that evening followed by a farewell service for Pastor Joe and Verna Agee.
VISALIA, Calif.-Team 2000, a MBMSI team of young adults slated to minister in Thailand, and the Youth Mission International team participated in the missions festival
and meal Nov. 19.
MADERA, Calif.-A concert, given by the Fresno Pacific University concert choir under the direction of interim director Karen Janzen, an FPU alum, was held Nov. 5. Janzen also currently directs the Pacific Chamber Singers and Fresno Pacific Chorale.
SIOUX FALLS. S.D. (Uncoln Hills)Craig and Fabiana Jost, missionary appointees to Portugal were harvest mission festival guests Oct. 21-22. Saturday breakfast gatherings were organized and following refreshments Sunday school goers heard from the couple. Junior high students through adult classes met with Craig. Those in prekindergarten through fifth grade classes met with Fabiana. Following the worship service was a catered meal.
INMAN, Kan. (loar) -Adopted missionaries Craig and Fabiana Jost shared in the morning and evening services Oct. 8. The Josts left in early November for Portugal to assist in planting a new church. Africa InterMennonite Mission executive secretary Garry Prieb spoke Oct. 22. AIMM, a partnership of five Mennonite conferences in North America and Canada, held their fall administrative meetings at Zoar the previousweek.
MOUNTAIN LAKE, Minn.-Henry Schmidt, president of MB Biblical Seminary of Fresno, Calif., spoke of leadership needs. including calling out and training pastors for the future, Oct. 22 at the evening service.
Teaching/Nurture
DINUBA, Calif.-Ross Merrit and lynford Becker of the MB Foundation shared in the morning services and led an estate planning workshop Oct. 8.
SHAfTER, Calif.-Approximately 52 people attended the marriage seminar conducted by Jerry Dewayne and linda Nixon Oct. 22. The Nixons, who are from Shafter, have led marriage seminars for over four years.
Workers
NEWTON. Kan. (Koerner Heights)-frank and Coleen Huebert will join the pastoral staff beginning Jan. 2001. Frank will be director of student ministries.
TOPEKA, Kan.-Rick Eshbaugh resigned as pastor effective May 31, 2001.
COWNSVlLLf, Olda. (Westport)Phil Plett resigned as associate pastor.
HIWBORO. Kan. (Parkview)Cord Werth is serving as youth pastor on a half-time basis. He is also employed half-time by Tabor College's maintenance department. He and his wife Tesha have one son.
HAYS. Kan. (North Oak Community)-Pastor Ken Ediger will be teaching in Belaruse for two weeks as an outreach ministry under Campus Crusade for Christ. Elder Ken Massey will accompany him.
REEDLEY, Calif.-Ray O'Neil was officially installed Oct. 8 as minister of pastoral care.
DELFT. Minn.-John and Anita Klassen from Canada have accepted the call to serve as pastoral couple.
Youth
WICHITA. Kan.-The FMBC youth held a Serve-a-Thon fund raiser Oct. 28. Studentscollected pledges prior to the event, each with a goal of
$300 in pledges. This aided in providing funds for the spring mission trip to DOOR.
Deaths
CORNELSEN, VIRGINIA MARIE" of Fairview MB Church, Fairview, Okla., was born May 17. 1911, to Price and Sophia Graham lewis in Platte County, Mo., and died Oct. 11,2000, at the age of 89. On Dec. 24. 1932, she was married to George Cornelsen who predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, Roy of McDonough, Ga., and Earl and wife linda of Conroe, Tex.; one daughter, louvilla and husband Mike Carpenter of Edmond, Okla., two grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
REIMER. MARTHA LAU. Shafter, Calif., a member of Birch Bay Bible Community Church. Blaine. Wash., was born Aug. 3, 1908, to Michael and Bertha Kiehn lau at Bessie, Okla., and died Sept., 18,2000, at the age of 92. On April 22, 1928, she was married to Menno F. Reimer who predeceased her. She is survived by one son, Eldred and wife Kay of Bellingham, Wash.; four daughters, Elizabeth and husband Harold Fast of Bellingham, Doreen Bartel of Bakersfield, Calif., Clarice and husband Nick Rempel of Buhler, Kan., and Jean and husband AI Fleming of Bakersfield; one son-inlaw, Harry Fast of Ferndale, Wash.; one brother; one sister, 16 grandchil-
dren and 29 great grandchildren.
RICHERT. WIlLA MINNA. Visalia, Calif., of Butler Avenue MB Church, Fresno, Calif., was born March 25, 1925, to Gus and Agnes Reiswig at Gray, Okla., and died April 21, 2000, at the age of 75. On May 12, 1947, she was married to Orlando Richert who predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, Steven and wife Yvonne and David and wife Serina; one daughter, Sharon and husband Adrien; two brothers, leo and John; four sisters, Mary Jane Nickel, lucille Bornett, Eleanor Spite and Evelyn Hamm, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.
SCHAFER, MABEl., Harvey, N.D., a member of Harvey MB Church, was born Feb. 4, 1909, to Henry H. and Katherine Bechtold Delk at Harvey, and died Oct. 2, 2000, at the age of 91. On Sept. 24,1933, she was married to Herman W. Schafer who survives. She is also survived by one son, Duane and wife Barbara of livermore, Calif; three daughters, Marilyn and husband Peter Friesen of Winkler, Man., Geraldine and husband Abraham Friesen of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Sandra Heinrichs, Harvey; five sisters, Ella Harrison of Danvilla, Calif., Violet Huber of Portland, Ore., laVaughn Fleming of Arlington, Va., Gladys Putz and Dolly Reimche, both of Harvey; seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
UTTING. GRACE JOST. Hillsboro, Kan., a member of Hillsboro MB
"DisGjpline
cornerstone of successful investing."
John L. Liechty - President, MMA Praxis Mutual Funds
Church. was born Dec. 16, 1922, to George S. and Elizabeth Schroeder JOO at Hillsboro, Kan .• and died Oct. 23, 2000, at the age of 77. On Sept. 24,1949, she was married to William Walsman Utting who predeceased her. She is survived by her children, W. Stanley and wife Kathy Utting of Marion, Kan., Richard and Billie Jean Wiebe of Clovis, Calif., and Mary Utting of Wichita. Kan.; five brothers, Marvin and wife Rosella, larry, and Norton and wife Nellie, all of Hillsboro. Kan .• leroy and wife Janice of Henderson, Neb., and Dean and wife loretta of Aurora, Neb., and two grandchildren.
VOGT, JUmNE" Reedley, Calif., of Reedley MB Church, was born Dec. 2. 1902, to Isaak and Florentine leppke at Hillsboro, Kan., and died Oct. 12,2000, at the age of 97. On Dec. 26, 1923, she was married to Sam Vogt who predeceased her. She is survived by two daughters, Ellen Janzen and Mary Jane and husband Charles Edwards, nine grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
WIEBE" GARY DAVID. lee's Summit, Mo., pastor of Summit Church, lee's Summit, was born May 9. 1947. at Garden City. Kan., and died Oct. 18, 2000, at the age of 53. On Feb. 18, 1967, he was married to Maxelin Schroeder, who survives. He is also survived by two sons, three brothers. one sister and four grandchildren.•
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To learn about MMA Praxis Mutual Funds or to request a prospectus, contact an MMA counselor today or calli 800 9-PRAXIS. For more complete infol11llllion, including charges and expenses, see }UUf investment representaliYe to receive a prospeclUS or call 1 800 9-PRAXIS. Please read dIe
2000 Christian Leader Index
IOOYLIfE
A taste of heaven within reach (POC convention), 63:12:25
Giving up all for the lost. 63:12:26
Annual MeC meeting focuses on new global exchange program, 63:5:31
Becker reflects on vision, challenges as he leaves office, 63:6:22
8FL responsibilities assigned to national conferences, 63:1:26
8ridging gap with Catholics, 63:10:28 8ridging the gap (MCC), 63:7:25
8RM exec secretary resigns, 63:3:31
call1eclto N. Carolina, 63:11:24 camp program goes one-on-one with inner-clty kids, 63:8:28
canada appoints new exec director, 63:3:31
Carden resigns as Fresno Pacific's 7th president, 63:2:29
Celebrating 100 years, 63: 10:26
Climbing the mountain in Denver (U.S. Conf. convention), 63:9:20
Nothing to be ashamed of, by Connie Faber, 63:1 :36
Plotting life, by Carmen Andres, 63:4:36
Surviving Survivor, by Carmen Andres, 63:7:36
Through the eye of a needle, by carmen Andres, 63:2:36
Tu nombre levantare, by carmen Andres, 63:6:36
Tuning out-and tuning in, by Carmen Andres, 63:3:36
Turning a corner, by carmen Andres, 63:9:36
Why we share the good news, by Carmen Andres, 63:10:36
Worth the risk, by Carmen Andres, 63:8:36
FEATURES
A fish, a vine and a worm, by Mary Thiessen Nation, 63: 11 :11
A simple love story, by Don 8oddy, 63:8:12
A world of religions, by Tim Bergdahl, 63:10:6
Answering children's questions about God, by Sandi Hannigan, 63:9:11
Answering the call, by Anna Suderman, 63:12:5
BCM: Finding ways to be peacemakers, by Dalton Reimer, 63:6: 11
BCM: God 15 changing young people, by Stuart Pederson, 63:6: 1<1
8CM: Ministry to immigrants surpasses vision, by Loyal Funk. 63:6:12
8eyond a silent witness, by Jan Johnson, 63:8: 16
8OC: Down the yellow brick road, by carmen Andres, 63:6:17
8OC: Have you noticed?, by Kathy Heinrichs Wiest. 63:6: 17
80T: It's not just about money, by Ken Neufeld,63:6:19
Bringing the 8ible to life, by Rebecca Totilo, 63:4: 10
Christians at the movies, by carmen Andres, 63:7:4
Do this one thing, by P. Karuna Shri Joel, 63:5: 11
Do you hear the call7, 63:6:8 continued page 34
Clearinghouse
Have a position to fill? Looking for a new employment or ministry opportunity? Have a gathering or celebration to promote? Reach U.S. Mennonite Brethren through a Oearinghouse ad. The charge is 46 cents per word, with a $15 minimum. Withhold payment until an invoice is received. MB institutions advertising vacancies or position announcements are eligible for a no-cost ad. Contact the editor for more information.
EMPLOYMENT--<HURCH
Pastor
Western Oaks Church is seeking a pastor with a shepherd's heart who can lead in equipping people to do ministry. The successful candidate will help us become a purpose driven church with vision for outreach in the community. Direct inquiries to Virgil Kroeker, Western Oaks M.B. Church, 7201 NW 27th St., Bethany, OK 73008; phone (405) 787-4964; email: vkroeker@wans.net.
senior/Lead Pastor
Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church, an established multigenerational suburban congregation of approximately 400 located in Fresno, is seeking a senior/lead pastor. The church is located in a rapidly growing area of Central California. The candidate should be strong in teaching and leadership skills and have the heart of a shepherd. Previous experience is highly desirable in leading and working with an existing multistaff team. Direct all resumes or inquiries to: Pastoral Search Committee, Jay Wiebe-Chairman, 1902 Los Altos, Clovis, CA 93611; e-mail j-awiebe@prodigy.net. All inquiries will be held in confidence.
EMPLOYMENT-£DUCAnON
Provost
Fresno Pacific University seeks a Provost with appointment effective in the summer of 2001.
Gospel wars, by Doug Kaufman, 63:7:10
Hay1hum's faith, by Jeremy Balzer, 63:12:10
Hearts for those who haven't heard. by Clarence Hiebert, 63:12:4
How MBs put faith into action, by Carmen Andres, 63:1:4
If sinners were Jesus' friends, who were his enemies?, by Eddy Hall, 63:11:8
Jesus: the servant leader, by Vern Heidebrecht, 63:2:14
Jocabed-a mother's legacy, by Norman and Elaine Thiesen, 63:5:4
Join the lay ministry revolution, by Eddy Hall and Gary Morsch,
Just who are MBs and what do we believe?,63:6:6
Kids need to think too, by Mary Anne Isaak,63:7:14
Leading and following, by Larry Nikkel, 63:2:9
Let's keep the main thing the main thing, by David Reimer, 63:6:9
Making little idols, by Danette Baltzer Roland, 63:9:8
Making my religion. by Wendell Loewen, 63:9:4
MBF: Linking the financial community of faith, by Jon C. Wiebe, 63:6: 19
MBMSI strives to meet a new generation, by Naomi Gaede Penner, 63:3;7
The Provost is for coordinating and sustaining collaborative leadership in accomplishing the educational mission of the university as expressed in the Fresno Pacific Idea and in the mission statement of the university; provides intellectual and academic leadership of the educational program that includes instructional and academic support functions and the student life program, articulates the academic mission and vision of the institution and is an advocate for faculty within institutional governance; responsible for academic budget preparation and personnel functions and serves as member of the President's Cabinet, chair of the Academic Cabinet, and liaison to the Academic Commission of the Board of Trustees. Required qualifications include: earned doctorate and a record of successful administrative responsibility including head of a major academic unit.; demonstrated excellence as a teacher in a college or university setting and evidence of scholarly achievement; commitment to integration of Christian faith and learning; clear understanding of and commitment to the theological distinctives and mission of the University, including its foundation in the Anabaptist Believers' Church tradition; commitment to creating a campus climate supportive of educational equity, including recruiting and developing a more diverse faculty and staff; ability to work collaboratively in an environment of shared governance. Nominations and applications should be submitted to Sue Kliewer, Fresno Pacific Universi-
More than dots on a map, by Naomi Gaede Penner, 63:3:4
Mother of the Word-Emptiness, by Mary Jean Lou. 63:4:7
MUSA: Evangelism ministry in high gear, by Clluck Buller, 63:6:15
MUSA: Mission outposts in a postChristian land. by Ed Bosehman, 63:6:15
Peace visions for today. 63:1:10
Plotting the resurrection, by Kenneth L Gibble, 63:4:4
RebUilding a people, by Clint Grenz, 63:2:12
Remember the Sabbath, by John Rempel, 63:5:8
5ecretservants, by Rebecca Totilo, 63:3:11
Shalom, the road taken, by Dalton Reimer, 63:1:4
Smart investments, by Philip Wiebe, 63:6:4
Talking about religion, by Jan Johnson, 63:10:12
Take care of my sheep, by Loyal Funk, 63:6:14
Take it to the streets, by Ed Boschman, 63:8:4
The art of Son worship, by Naomi Gaede Penner, 63:1 1:4
The Good News in a world of religions. by James Pankratz. 63:10:4
The man and the elephant, by Nettie
ty, 1717 S. Chestnut, Fresno, CA 93702. (559) 453-2245; skliewer@fresno.edu. For a full position description and application visit www.fresno.eduldeptlpersonnellhrindex.html
EMPLOYMENT-MISCEUANEOUS
Africa Co-Director
MCC is looking for an Africa co-director with African knowledge, experience and vision to share administrative oversight for MCC work and witness in Africa, starting spring 2001. MCC has programs and about 200 staff in 19 African countries, with a 1999 total budget of $4.6 million US. Contact Charmayne Brubaker, 717-859-1151 or cdb@mcc.org if you are interested in this leadership position. Application review begins December 1, 2000.
service Program Coordinator
MCC is looking for a coordinator for its lancaster County Service Program, which includes 30 plus volunteers from Canada, Brazil, Germany, United States, Switzerland, and South Africa, who work at MCC headquarters in Akron, Pa. Applicant should have a commitment to voluntary service and experience in administration, counseling and voluntary service unit life. Contact Charmayne Brubaker, 717-859-1151 or cdb@mcc.org for more information about this full-time leadership position that opens June 1, 2001. Application review begins January 1, 2001.
Berg, 63:12:9
The road to God, by Jean·Victor and Annie Brosseau, 63:10:8
WOJD? How to live ilkII' Jesus, by Jim Holm, 63:8:7
What does the future hold for missions? 63:12:15
What they did not hear, by Paul D. Durksen, 63:4:8
What we face in missions today, by John Redekop. 63:12:11
What's with all the veggles?, by Connie Faber, 63:7:13
Where have our leaders gone-and how do we get them back?, 63:2:4
Which life do you lead?, by Wayne Warner. 63:8:1'$
