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19 > District conferences hold conventions 20> Banquet honors 25-year PDCIFPU partnership
23 > Hiebert remembered as influential educator
24 > Kansas teens distribute supplies in New Orleans
25 > Hands-on ministry
26> Cleaning up after Rita
26> FPU thanks those who supported Hurricane students 27> A taste of the future
FEATURES
10 FINDING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS by Carlin Regier
Observing how the shepherds and wise men approached the Christ child so many years ago can guide my worship this Christmas season. The shepherds can teach me obedience, and from the magi I can learn humility.
12 TALE OF TWO CELEBRATIONS by Nancy Twigg
All she wanted was to create a wonderful Christmas season for her family and friends. But she was so caught up in her holiday plans that the spiritual significance of Christmas passed her by. What can we do to create a holiday season enriched by our faith?
16 THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST by Ace Collins
Given the commercialization of Christmas, we often idealize the way in which Christmas was celebrated in the past. What can we learn about our 21st century celebrations when we follow the ghosts of Christmas past? We might be surprised by what history reveals.
18 POMEGRANATES AT CHRISTMAS
A poem by Jean Janzen
> FiRST WORDS
[from the editor]
PREPARATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS ISSUE began a year ago when Nancy Twigg's book Celebrate Simply came across my desk. Her commitment to helping families create meaningful celebrations prompted our request that she adapt some of the material for this issue of the Leader. The development of these feature articles was guided by a conviction that centering our holiday celebrations on the simple truth that God loved us and sent his son (John 3=16) will bring us great joy. We pray they will enhance your preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth and his promise of life eternal.
November was convention month for two of the five regional conferences that comprise the U S. Conference. In fact the Central District Conference (25 congregations in Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) and the Pacific District Conference (120 congregations in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah and Washington) held their conventions on the same weekend but 1,700 miles apart. You can read our reports of these two events beginning on page 19.
At first glance a shared convention date may seem to be the only similarity of these two districtS. The CDC, dominated by small churches in small communities, met in rural South Dakota for four leisurely days of fellowship, inspiration and church business. Meanwhile the PDC. a predominately urban district that includes many of the largest and newest congregations in our denomination. met in California's Central Valley for a streamlined convention that covered parts of two days.
A closer look reveals a number of similarities, including that both districts celebrated the Mennonite Brethren colleges they own and highlighted their desire to plant new churches to further God's kingdom. Yes, our MB family is diverse but we also have much in common. Those of us who are privileged to regularly attend district events come away blessed by our fellowship together and with a new understanding of the ministry challenges and opportunities of a district other than our own.-CF
> QUOTABLE
There are some of us who think to ourselves: "If I had only been there? How quick I would have been to help the Baby. I would have washed his linen How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!" Yes, we would. We say that because we know how great Christ is, but if we had been there at the time. we would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem. Why don't we do it now. We have Christ in our neighbor.Martin Luther
> UP & COMING
• Jan. 22, 2006 World Fellowship Sunday sponsored by Mennonite World Conference
• Mar. 9-15
DECEMBER 2005
Volume 68
Number 12
Con nie Faber EDITOR
Myra Holmes ASSISTANT EDITOR
Elaine Ewert GRAPHIC
DESIGNER
MANDATE The Christian Leader (lSSN 0009-5149) is published monthly by the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. 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 dialogue so members will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelicaVAnabaptist theological tradition.
EDITORIAL POLICY The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Christian Leader, the U.S. Conference Leadership Board or the Mennonite Brethren Church. Scrip1ure references are from New International Version unless otherwise noted. The editors invite freelance article submissions. A SASE must accompany articles.
READER PARTICIPATION The editors invite readers to share their thoughts and opinions on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church using letters to the editor and Forum essays Letters to the editor should be brief-300 words or less-and on one subject. Letters must be signed and include the writer's city and state Letters will be edited for clarity. appropriateness and length. Letters will be published. as space allows, unless marked -Not for publication: Forum is open to members or attendees of Mennonite Brethren churches. Essays should not exceed 800 words, and should include the writer's name, address, home church and occupation.
COMMUNICATION All correspondence, including change of address, should be addressed to the Christian Leader. Box 220. Hillsboro, KS 67063. Phone : 620-947-5543. Fax : 620-947-3266. E-mail: christianleaderfclusmb.org.
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• July26-28
• July28-30 Mennonite World Conference General Council. Peace Council and Faith and Life Council business sessions with "mini-assembly," Pasadena. Calif
MEMBERSH IP The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors.
POSTMASTER Send address changes to the Christian Leader, Box 220, Hillsboro, KS 67063 Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, Kansas
U.S. Conference national pastors' conference. Boone. NC
U.S. Conference biennial convention. Boone, NC
Worth a thousand religious words
Every five years or so something happens to vault C. S. Lewis into the popular press And on each occasion it is noted. with surprise. that Lewis is "as popular now as ever." This time the impetus is a new series of Disney-distributed movies based upon the seven children's books about Narnia .
The first of these. The Lion. the Witch and the Wardrobe (LWW) - produced by Walden Media. filmed in New Zealand and directed by Andrew Adamson (codirector of Shrek and Shrek 2)will be released nationwide December 9.
The Narnia books are perennial top sellers and. as long ago as the 1970s, literary critics were speculating that they might be Lewis's most enduring legacy among a vast and diverse literary output Christians of varied backgrounds have rallied around his work. but in recent years none with more enthusiasm than evangelicals. They will be looking to see whether Lewis's "Christian message" from the books will be evident in these new films: theological themes such as sin and evil, salvation, atonement and grace. along with virtues such as courage, loyalty and obedience
In LWW the Christian connection will likely be obvious to most moviegoers. The good but dangerous lion, AsIan. who is killed and revives, stands for Christ, the Emperor- Beyond-the-Sea is God the Father, the White Witch represents the devil. and the Holy Spirit appears in the guise of Father Christmas, giving gifts which equip the children for their important roles in the mission.
Though the story is only partly allegorical (unlike Pilgrim's Progress, for example, not every element stands for something specific within Christian faith). the casual reader/viewer may be mislead in two aspects: the process by which Lewis wrote about Narnia and his goals for writing the books.
Lewis wrote about his writing process in the essay. "Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best What 's to Be Said": "Some people seem to think that I began (the Narnia stories) by asking myself how I could say something about Christianity to children; then fixed on the fairy tale as an instrument; then collected information about childpsychology and decided what age group I'd write for; then drew up a list of basic Christian truths and hammered out 'allegories' to embody them. This is all pure moonshine ."
Lewis described the process as follows:
• Each fantasy story started with a mental picture or pictures
• Eventually he got ideas about forming a story from the pictures
• An excitement, a "bubbling," would begin and the story would start to happen.
• The Christian element eventually "pushed itself in of its own accord."
• Lewis would reflect and deliberate about which literary genre seemed the best fit. For Narnia, it was the fairy tale .
• Bubbling pictures combined with literary form and devel-
oped into an experience like "a thing inside him pawing to get out."
• Finally, Lewis reflected on whether the developing story was good and edifying; whether it was worth conrinuing
This brings us to the second issue: the purpose of the books. In the case of LWW, and eventually the rest of the Narnia stories. Lewis saw potential to communicate religious truth and experience while bypassing much of the resistance which is sometimes aroused by traditional methods and imagery. resistance which he knew well from his own boyhood.
Lewis writes about this in the essay mentioned previously: "I thought I saw how stories of this kind could steal past a certain inhibition which had paralysed much of my own religion in childhood. Why did one find it so hard to feel as one was told one ought to feel about God or about the sufferings of Christ? But supposing that by casting all these things into an imaginary world. stripping them of their stained glass and Sunday school associations, one could make them for the first time appear in their real potency? Could one not thus steal past those watchful dragons? I thought one could "
Lewis never attempted to simply add religious elements to his stories lest those additions should become platitudes or even falsehoods. Instead, he sought to let the story tell its own moral which would arise from the spiritual roots inherent in his life as a believer. This subtlety is more evident in the sequels which followed LWW:
Lewis's convictions on the positive value of fantasy were rooted in his own journey to Christian faith. Particularly he testified that the stories of Christian writer George MacDonald "baptized" his imagination by confronting him with the objective reality of holiness and goodness. This preevangelistic impact prepared him for the more rational deliberations which were also important in his conversion and which are reflected in such works as Mere Christianity
Let us hope that the impact of Lewis's children's stories. both in book and movie form, might also "steal past watchful dragons" and "baptize" the imaginations of many on a journey to faith in the Christ who is "not safe." but good.
Douglas B. Miller, professor of biblical and religious studies at Tabor College. regularly teaches a course on the works of C. s. Lewis Miller is a member of Ebenfeld MB Church of Hillsboro. Kan
by Chuck Buller
Target your giving in 2006
Clarifying purpose leads to dual funding plan
The u.s. Conference Leadership board has become convinced that it is possible to summarize the numerous ministries of the u.s. Conference under two broad purposes.
First, we are about building community. We do this through the ministries of the Christian Leader, a national youth conference, a biennial pastors' conference and convention, new pastors' orientation, reestablishing a Board of Faith and Life, the ongoing ministry of the Historical and Peace Commissions, and providing consultation to many local church boards as they grapple with various issues.
Second, we are about church planting and renewal through the ministries of Mission USA. We are excited that in 2006 we will be directly involved in helping to initiate three new church plants in three districts and will be serving as a funding partner in some of what God continues to do in the Salt Lake City region. We always want to be about mission. Without mission and vision we would perish as God's people.
Clarifying our purpose has helped us also reevaluate how we will go about raising funds for these ministries. Due to the generosity of several donors, some planned gifts, and the largesse of the MB Foundation we were able to avoid having to ask for additional funds this past fall. We believe these revenue streams will also be effective revenue sources in the future. In addition our congregations provide approximately $450,000 annually to help facilitate these ministries that they have asked us to accomplish on their behalf. On top of this we also have additional needs to raise funds that approach nearly $150,000 annually.
Accordingly we have planned some changes for U.S. Conference fund-raising strategies and Team 365. For the past three years as we have worked hard at reorganization and new governance models, Team 365 has raised over $200,000 for general ministries of our conference. During this season of restructuring, we have lumped all fund-raising efforts under one canopy and asked people to give to this general cause. And we say 200,000 thank-yous to those of you who did!
Now it is time to announce something new. As of January I, 2006, Team 365 will take on a new title. It will be known simply as MB Friends of the Executive Director. The purpose will be simple. I will be developing a U.S. support team for the purpose of building community in our Mennonite Brethren family of faith.
I have heard repeatedly this year how much people value the MB family and how much they want it to succeed. In response I will be seeking to raise $75,000 this year for this purpose while also recruiting a national group of praying MB partners who undergird our various ministries.
I am using a personal title for this group due to the personal nature of this work. This will not be as much about mass mailings and bulletin inserts as it will be about my personal contacts with people who I believe want nothing more than for the MB family in the U.S. to have a long and God-honoring future.
In addition, we will be developing a new fundraising program specifically for church planting ventures. This ministry will fall under the leadership of Don Morris and Mission USA. We are excited that we will be engaging three new church plants in 2006 and will be able to raise funds specifically for this purpose once again.
Don will be letting you know about the new Mission USA Expansion Club and the open doors that wait in the very near future. You will now have two opportunities to give to the U.S. Conference. Some of you who believe passionately in the value of a faith family can give to ensure the continued health of our larger organization. Those who believe passionately in evangelism and church planting can choose that venue. Some will want to do both.
After three years of serving as your executive director and living through countless hours of board meetings, peanuts on airplanes, and quiet drives across Kansas prairies, I can honestly say that I have never had a greater sense of clarity about what God wants us to do as the MB family in the U.S.
We want to build community and we want to expand that community with the good news that Jesus is the one the Father has sent for our salvation and life. Will you join us?
Destruction, help follow Tropical Storm Stan
When Tropical Storm Stan swept across Central America Oct. 5, it caused flooding and mudslides in Guatemala, EI Salvador and Mexico. More than 1,000 deaths have been confirmed in Guatemala, as well as 72 in EI Salvador and 28 in Mexico. In some cases, entire villages were destroyed.
A river of mud and boulders swept over Panabaj, Guatemala, a village of about 3,500, when the storm dumped torrential rains on a nearby mountainside.
Resident Lidia Ruth Recinos de Letona and her husband Felipe Noe Letona Estrada saw the backyard flowing with mud and knew they were in a deadly situation. Many of Panabaj's houses filled rapidly with mud, but the Letonas' house was on slightly higher ground that allowed them to evacuate after the worst was over.
<i\ll the neighbors started to cry for help, crying, <Oh my children, oh my children, ", Letona says tearfully.
Many people in small villages had built their houses in areas of risk. The mudslides left them without belongings, without homes.
Mennonite World Conference reports that in the San Marcos region of Guatemala, the storm devastated 319 communities, leaving at least 284 dead and 133 missing. Some 5,449 homes were destroyed, 75,000 lost their belongings and more than 15,000 were given refuge.
But it was the irreparable loss of lives that left them heartbroken.
Dona Eudelia lost almost all her relatives in San Pedro San Marcos, Guatemala. They were buried by the mud. "You can replace everything little by little, but what we will no longer have is the life of our relatives," says Eudelia.
Samuel Martinez Leal, president of the Iglesia Evangelica Menonita de EI Salvador, reports that members of the Mennonite church in EI Salvador were not affected
directly by the storm although the country suffered great damage.
In the weeks after Stan hit, Mennonites in Guatemala City sent teams of church leaders and young adults to Santiago Atitlan, where displaced Panabaj resident Lidia, Felipe, their three children
Maria Del Carmen Hernandez Rivas stands beside the site of her former home, which was destroyed by a mudslide in La Linea, El Salvador.
and a baby grandson now are staying in a Baptist church with more than 300 other survivors. The teams brought food, clothing and bottled water; Mennonite Central Committee provided transportation and paid for some of the supplies.
MCC is sponsoring teams of Mennonite youth and young adults from Belize, Guatemala City and Guatemalan K'ekchi communities to do cleanup, reconstruction and social work in the vicinity of Santiago Atitlan and in other affected areas of Guatemala.
MCC is providing $150,000 for disaster recovery work in Guatemala, $50,000 for work in EI Salvador and $50,000 for work in southern Mexico. MCC is a relief, service and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches.
-MCC/MWC
Tabor offered challenge grant
Tabor College received a challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation in Tulsa, Okla., that would allow the coll ege to complete its campaign for new res idence halls . By raising $1.1 7 million by October 2006, th e Mabee Foundation will grant the college $750,000, th e largest gift in the college's history. The current building cam-
paign includes townhou ses that co uld accommodate 8 0 to 100 students and refurbishing the current men's residence halls.
<This is both an answer to prayer and th e result of hard work," wrote President Larry Nikkel in an e-mail announcing th e award. «It is our commitment to meet this challenge ."- TC
New majors debut at FPU
1:0 new majors-a bachelor of arts in communication and a master of arts in kinesiologyare making an impact in their first semester at Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren university located in Fresno, Calif.
The first kinesiology class netted 31 students, reinforcing the need for this program, says director James Ave, who is also the head athletic ttainer The program draws on the sttength of experienced faculty, including Dennis Janzen, athletic director and national champion women's volleyball coach, and William Cockerham, biology professor and experienced track and field coach Instruction is online and in class . Parts of the program are available at the Bakersfield Center with
plans to use video broadcast to expand to the Visalia Center
The communications major aims to marry theory and practice to prepare students for many kinds of life after graduation . ''You can move in a variety of directions," says Billie Jean Wiebe , program director Core classes provide an academic look at history, theory and language. Emphases are offered in communications studies, media and film, multimedia production and theater performance. Electives come ftom advertising, business, leadership, marriage and family, multimedia, writing and other areas. All majors put their skills into action in internships. Currently, 25 majors are enrolled in the communications program .-FPU
MCC responds to Asian earthquake
Mennonite Central Committee is committing $250, 000 as an initial response to the recent earthquake in south Asia through its partner, Church World Service. The funds will provide shelter and food for nearly 1,000 families in some of the worst hit areas of northern Pakistan. All of the supplies are being purchased in Pakistan.
Some 35,000 to 40, 000 people died in the temblor that reached 7.6 on the Richter scale and struck northern
Pakistan, southeast Afghanistan and the disputed Kashmir region of India and Pakistan in the early hours Oct 8. Another 2.5 million are in need of shelter, according to the United Nations
'This initial response will provide some much needed emergency supplies for families suffering from the earthquake," says Ron Flaming, MCC international program director. ' The need is absolutely enormous so we expect there will be more MCC can do in the near future."
The shelter supplies include family-size tents, ground sheets, plastic sheeting, iron poles and a hammer and blankets. The food supplies include wheat flour, rice, legumes, cooking oil and sugar.
MCC is currently accepting donations for the shelter and food supplies through the Asia Emergency Fund - MCC
N EW SCLiPS
FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY PLANS ANNOUNCED
Writers from India and Indonesia chose the theme "Bringing peace in difficult times" for th i s year's Mennonite World Conference World Fellowship Sunday Jan. 22, 2006 Each year a different continental region prepares the worship materials and invites the Anabaptist community around the world to pray for them. MWC encourages the global Anabaptist faith family to celebrate common roots on the fourth Sunday of January, the Sunday closest to the date of Anabaptist origins in Switzerland in 1525. Prepared material outlines an entire service, suggesting scriptures, hymns, prayers, stories, a sermon topic and themes for prayer for each continental region. Congregations may choose all or part of the material and adapt it for their particular situation , knowing that Anabaptists around the world are doing the same. Materials have been mailed and are available online at www.mwc-cmm.org.MWC
GALES BEGIN MDS ASSIGNMENT
David and Saundra Gale of Blaine, Wash. , began an assignment with Mennonite Disaster Service in Century, Fla., Oct. 13. David will serve as crew leader; Saundra will work as office manager. The town of Century, located in a heavily forested area near the Alabama border, was heavily damaged in September 2004 by Hurricane Ivan. The category 3 hurricane left very heavy tree damage with the majority of the homes in the community receiving damage. The Gales are members of Good News Fellowship, Ferndale, Wash.
t is good to quiet our hearts in the midst of the season's frantic atmosphere and to realize that when all is said and done our holiday activities have a single focus. We are celebrating the glorious truth that cCGod so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (John 3:16). And while our calendars are filled with family, church and community events and much time and money is spent preparing for these celebrations, the focus of Christmas is God's invitation to live by the truth and to come into the light (John 3:21). May the power of this invitation be evident in our celebrations and our lives.
How WILL I APPROACH CHRIS'IMAS THIS YEAR? THE WORLD has made its mark on Christmas, and we sometimes feel inundated with Santa C lau s, presents , eggnog, Christmas trees-the list continues. Often I find myself more ca u ght up in Christmas than I am in Christ
So th e q ues tio n begs to be an swered How should we approach the C hri st child as we cel eb rate C h ristmas thi s yea r? Perh aps an answer to that q uestio n ca n b e found by ob serving how oth ers app roac hed th e C hri st ch il d so man y yea rs ago in that stable in Bethlehe m
The story of Jesus ' birth, life and death abounds with intersections of the human and the divine. The shepherd' s story is told in Luke 2:8-20 A wonde rful tension exists between the mysterious and glorious angels that sing and proclaim the birth of Christ and the humility and lowliness of the shepherds who hear first
that the Son of God , the Savior, has been born for all people.
The shepherds are understandably terrified when they first encounter the angel. Luke tells us that the glory of the Lord shone all around the angel. In the Old Testament God's messengers usua lly brough t messages of destruction and death to unrepentant natio n s. The fear of G od was encouraged an d repentance resulted
But God's message is different this time. The angel tells the shepherds not to be afraid
because he brings a message of grace not judgment. God's glory is magnified as the sky fills with angels' praise. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).
The angels want the shepherds to go and see the child, and Luke says they hurried. The shepherds probably left their flocks- I can't imagine hurrying with a flock of sheep. They don't stop to find substitute shepherds, change their clothes, take a shower or have a meal. They had no concerns outside of seeing the child who would be their Savior.
The shepherds are so excited when they see the Christ child that they spread the word to everyone they see. Luke doesn't say they only sought out those who they knew would be excited about the birth of the Savior. The shepherds tell everyone. The news and sight of Jesus are too much to hold within themselves. They have been transformed because of an encounter with God.
The shepherds, among others, weren't looking for a baby in a manger. They were looking for a king. And they certainly did not expect that as common shepherds they would be the first to hear about Christ's birth. But they heard and responded immediately. Like the shepherds, can I put aside my preconceptions about God's work and immediately obey him? Do I allow him to transform me like the shepherds did that day at the manger?
The shepherds were not the only visitors told of Christ's birth. Matthew tells us of the visit by the magi, or wise men as we commonly call them. While the shepherds had been waiting for a savior and rushed to find him when they heard the news, the wise men were Gentiles who had only heard rumors of the King of the Jews.
The magi, influenced by paganism and astrology as well as the Jewish Scriptures, were not waiting for a Messiah. Instead of coming to Bethlehem from the fields just out of town like the shepherds, the wise men traveled for months and covered 900 miles. They likely did not see Jesus until just before his second birthday.
On the way to Bethlehem, the magi appear before King Herod and ask him to point them to the king of the Jews. Herod was disturbed and Matthew tells us that all of Jerusalem was disturbed with him. The Jews may have associated themselves so much with Herod and his political power that their own political and religious stature depended on him. Herod secretly plots to kill the child so he asks the magi to return and tell him where the child is.
The magi continue on to Bethlehem and Matthew says they are overjoyed when the star they have been following reappears over the place where the child is. The magi have found Jesus and bow down to worship him, presenting him with gifts. God warns them about Herod in a dream, and they return to their country by another route.
I am astounded to think about the dedication and sacrifice it took for these men, who weren't even Jews, to travel great distance, defy Herod and worship God's Son. Did they recognize the deep meaning of their worship of the Christ child?
I doubt it. I don't think the magi understood the gravity of what they were doing. They worshiped God not as the world's divine Savior but as a human king simply because they didn't know. They had a long way to travel, both geographically and spiritually. How much of goes unrealized in my heart and
life? And yet God still calls me to worship him, and he delights in my worship.
The magi's innocence and the unrealized meaning of their worship is ironic when compared to the Jew's knowledge of Christ as the coming Messiah. It is especially striking when you realize that the Jews, who knew the significance of Christ, supported Herod and his attempted murder. Herod had the Jew's support because their religious and political agendas and respect relied upon Herod.
The way the Jewish world ignored their Messiah to uphold religious and political agendas during Herod's reign seems at times to parallel our efforts to uphold our own Christmas traditions rather than experiencing God in the Christtnas season. If that is the case, we will miss the hand of God at work just as the Jews in Herod's Jerusalem did.
We often think that the shepherds and the magi couldn't be more different. But the truth is, they have a lot in common. Both were willing to hear God, to go out of their way to see what God was doing, and to humble themselves in worship.
God yearns for us to experience him this Christtnas season. Can we put aside the hustle and bustle of everything that gets in the way of an encounter with Christ to approach Christtnas differently this year? Can we come with an attitude of expectancy, but be ready to give up our expectations for how God has chosen to work?
Whether we come as humble shepherds or as rich and respected magi, we must come faithfully and honestly. Let us come with our joy and our anger, our successes and our frustrations. Simply offer God our knowledge and our innocence. The shepherds and magi came exactly as they were. And that is how we are to come. Worship can only be an outpouring of what God has already given us. We have nothing else.
Let us bow on the stable's dirt floor before the Christ child, prepared for an experience with the living God.
Carlin Regier, a 2004 graduate of MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif, is a worship pastor at Belleview Community Church in Littleton, Colo.
"Christmas J">
Practical ideas for keeping the focus of Christmas on the spiritually significant
ce e • rations
IT ALL STARTED SO INNOCENTLY. The heroine in our "Tale of a Holiday Gone Horribly Wrong" simply wanted to make the Yuletide holiday perfect for her family and friends.
Instead, Christmas magic quickly becam e Christmas mayhem. Her desire to have a wonderful Christmas soon became an obsession to orchestrate the perfect Christmas. Instead of a joyous occasion to anticipate, Christmas became a self-imposed deadline that had to be met regardless of the personal consequences Despite her best intentions, this poor woman's lofty aspirations siphoned the joy and spiritual significance right out of her family's holiday season.
too little time. Trying to stuff an incredibly long to-do list through a tiny window of time is a surefire recipe for trouble . Anothe r problem was that I had unrealistic expectations of what makes a celebration noteworthy. I thought I could create a magical, memorable holiday through my own hard work and determination to make it happen In trying to create an ideal celebration , I also placed an inordinate emphasis on gifts and food rather than spiritual reflection and quality time with family and friends. I now see that this did nothing but create holiday frenzy.
What happened in my family one Christmas happens frequently to families everywhere as they celebrate not just Christmas but all kinds of special occasions. Gifr giving gets too expensive; simple family dinners
Intellectually we Christians know the reason for the Christmas season. Ironically there is little evidence of spiritual significance in the way many of us celebrate.
By the weekend before Christmas, her family's Christmas tree stood undecorated because the woman was too busy making presents and planning lavish holiday meals to take time for what was a treasured family ritual. On the verge of total exhaustion, the frazzled woman resembled a human time bomb ready to blow at any moment. When her unsuspecting husband tried to ease the tension by giving her an affectionate hug, she exploded. "Don't touch me! Can 't you see how stressed I am.?"
The rest of that awful day was spent in stony silence. All she wanted to do was make a Christmas to remember . But after such an embarrassing outburst she feared that all the memories would be unpleasant. "If this Christmas was supposed to be perfect," she moaned, "why do I feel so rotten?"
Sound familiar? Have you ever been so caught up in the hype and hubbub that the spiritual significance of Christmas passed you by completely? If so, you're not alone. As much as I hate to admit it, the story just shared is my own .
My intentions were noble, but my follow through was off kilter and out of whack. As I look back on this event in the Twigg family history, I see several reasons for this self-inflicted disaster One of the first and foremost reasons for the fiasco was that I tried to do too much in
quickly become ten-course meals. H usbands and wives bicker over where to spend the special day : with his parents, her parents or at home where they both would rather be anyway. Quality family time gets lost in the shuffle and everyone ends up disappointed.
This situation is particularly sad when it happens at the time when we Christians celebrate what should be one of the most joyful of all occasions - the birth of our Lord and Savior.
Intellectually, we Christians know the reason for the Christmas season. Ironically there is little evidence of spiritual significance in the way many of us celebrate at home. Often Santa Claus plays a bigger role in the festivities than Jesus. Sadly the good news of Christ's birth is given only a cursory nod before moving on to what has become the real reason for Christmas-receiving a windfall of goodies from that jolly fellow in the red sui t.
For many years I knew something wasn't right about the way our family celebrated Christmas. It wasn't until recently that I realized what was wrong. After much thought I found that a major source of my discontentment with Christmas was the lack of spiritual meaning that our celebrations contained.
When Michael and I were married, we brought into our marriage similar backgrounds of Christmas celebrations . Ne ither of us grew up celebrating Christmas as a spiritual holida y, so we didn 't know how to begin doing so as we started our own family traditions After several disappointing
Christmas
Christmas seasons, we began exploring ways to make Christ the center of our celebrations. As we made changes in the way we celebrated, we were pleased with how much more satisfying the holidays became.
One of the best ways we've found to help keep Christ at the center of our Christmas holidays is to extend our family's celebration to include Advent and Epiphany. The Advent season includes the four weeks prior to Christmas Day; it is a time to prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of Christ's birth . Epiphany occurs 12 days after Christmas and commemorates the arrival of the Wise Men to worship the Christ child.
When you think about it, how can something as monumental as
the birth of Jesus truly receive the recognition it deserves in only one day? Celebrating Advent is a wonderful way to counteract the rampant commercialism that pertneates the month of December. Each Advent activity offers an opportunity to redirect the focus of the season to spiritual matters and make Christmas more than just a one-day gift and food orgy. Celebrating the days of Advent offers a way to spread out the festivities and build excitement.
Likewise, something so exceptional shouldn't end abruptly December 25 at 11:59 p.m. Extending the holidays to include Epiphany reminds us that the joy of Christ's birth
Creating Advent traditions
ADVENT, WHICH MEANS "COMING," IS A TIME OF WAITING AND anticipation. It is a time for readying yourself through repentance and the study of biblical promises regarding the Savior.
The advent wreath is probably the most familiar Advent tradition. The wreath is usually a circle of greenery containing four or five candles The exact colors of the candles and the order in which they are lighted varies, but typically three of the candles are purple to represent both the royalty of Christ as King and also our penitence for our sins These are the Hope, Love and Peace candles. The fourth candle is the Joy candle. It is pink and reminds us of the joy of Jesus' coming. If five candles are used, the fifth one is the Christ candle and it is white to represent his purity
On each of the four Sundays during Advent, a new candle in the wreath is lit along with any candles that were lit on the previous Sundays The fifth candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. With each passing Sunday, the volume of light produced increases. The bright light of all candles aglow on the last day represents the fulfillment of Jesus coming to be the light of the world.
Lighting the Advent candles each week can be the springboard for times
of family devotions. Children can be involved by allowing one sibling to light candles while another reads Scriptures about the coming Messiah. You can sing a Christmas hymn and say a short prayer together. For maximum
effectiveness, keep this tim e short so you don't lo se family members' attention.
Chrismons are Chri stian symbol s used to decorate a Christmas tree. The word Chrismon is a contraction of Christ monograms. These ornaments help convey the story of Christ through symbols. Chris mons are usually used in churches, but can also be used in the home as a wonderful teaching tool to help family members learn more about Jesus ' life and ministry.
Chrismons are typically gold and white . Gold represents the majesty of Jesus as King and white represents his purity and perfection. If any lights are used, they are also white. The Chris mons remind us of events in the life of Jesus and also biblical promises regarding the Savior. Some are Old Testament symbols; other are symbols from the early days of Christianity. Common symbols include a crown of thoms , an Ichthus (Christian fish) , a cross , the Star of David, a manger, a lamb and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega.
The Jesse Tree is very similar to the Chrismon tree except the symbols represent biblical characters in the lineage of Jesus and events that demonstrate God's love toward man The Jesse Tree gets its name from the prophecy in Isaiah II : I : "A shoot will come up ftom the stump of Jesse : ftom his roots a branch will bearftuit " Common symbols include Noah's ark, David's harp, Jacob's ladder and stone tablets like the ones that bore the Ten Commandments.
The Jesse Tree provides an opportunity to educate children about the Old Testament and the many years of waiting for the Messiah to come. Just as God's people had to wait patiently for the fulfillment of his promises, family members must also wait for Christmas Day to come. These symbols also serve as reminders of God's faithfulness throughout history
Web sites that are good resources for advent activities are Alternatives for Simple Living at www.simpleliving org and ChristianCrafters.com - NT
is something we should carry with us all year long. Often both children and adults experience a letdown after the presents are opened because it seems there is nothing left to celebrate. Because Epiphany occurs a few weeks after Christmas, this observance gives family members something else to look forward to.
In starting to implement these new traditions into our family celebration, we began by substituting a Chrismon tree for our traditional Christmas tree. The next year we continued this new tradition and added an Advent wreath and Advent calendar These traditions help us keep our spiritual focus during the busy season and they have been useful, as we have taught our preschooler what Christmas is all about. She
doesn't understand it all yet, but she loves helping to light the Advent candles each Sunday and putting the Chrismons on the tree. It is a joy to see her get excited about spiritual aspects of Christmas rather than just the presents.
I am living proof that the Christmas celebration can easily get out of hand. But I can also testify that it doesn't have to stay that way. Christ can be the King of Christmas in our homes if we truly allow him to be.
Nancy Twigg adapted this article from her book Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions (www celebratesimply.com).
Celebrating Epiphany
EpIPHANY COMMEMORATES TIlE arri val of the w ise men to pay homage to the new King. The word E piphany means manifestation s; this holiday remin ds us th at God showed him self to us in th e fotm of his son Jes us. Beca use the magi were not Jewish thi s is occasion also commemorates God's love and salvation for all people.
The period between C hristmas and Epiphany has been called the original 12 days of Christmas. In some cultures, C hristians do not exchange gifts on Christmas beca use it is celebrated strictly as a spiritual holiday Instead they wait until E piphany and give gifts then to imitate th e gifts that the wise men gave to the C hrist child
Epiph any is celebrated on Janu ary 6 and conclu des the season honoring God's gift of love to mankind . If yo u wo uld like to extend yo ur family's C hri stmas celebrati on to include Epiph any, here are so me ideas for doing so.
• Save one C hristmas present for eac h famil y member to open on Epiphany. To remin d you r family that these gifts represent the gifts that th e mag i gave Jesus, choose one famil y memb er to dress up as one of th e wise men to distribute the gifts
• Start th e tradition of givin g spiritu al gifts on Epiph any. Make cards of slip s of paper with on e C hri sti an virtu e such as love, patience, faithfuln ess or kind ness written on each. Without b eing able to see what is on th e ca rds, each family member dra ws a spiritual gift to nurture and wo rk on during th e coming year
• Host an Epiph any party Make a special cake with a surprise baked inside such as a dri ed bean or nut or a small trinket that can with stand baking and does not prese nt a choking haza rd The surpri se represents the treasures th e magi brought to Jes us and the pe rso n who finds the surprise is the king of th e party. As part of yo ur celebration play a gam e in which a small b aby doll is hidde n somewhere in
th e hou se. All gu ests but one are wise men; one perso n is Kin g H erod The obj ect of th e game is for one of the wise men to find th e baby before H erod does. At th e end of the party, ask everyon e to go home by a different route just as the wise men did to elude H erod .
• During th e eve ning of Epiphany, spend time togeth er outside gazing at the stars. Ask the children to point out stars th ey think look like th e star the wise men followed . Talk ab out the excitement and joy the wi se men mu st have felt when th e star th ey we re following stopped ove r Jes us' house.
• If your famil y uses an Adve nt wreath with a C hrist candle, light this ca ndle during th e evening meal on each of th e 12 days from C hri stm as to Epiphany Let the li ght remin d yo u th at Jes us is the light of th e world and with out him we would be in darkn ess. - N T
Jfhe [f}!JiJ@SB aSB of Christmas past
Tracing the history of American Christmas celebrations
, THERE IS NO DOUBT TIlAT TODAY CHRISTMAS IS our most frenetic , stressful season. It is only natural that Christialls lament that the real reason for the season seems to have bien largely forgotten in the midst of cookie baking, decorating and office parties. It seems that the most awesome event in human history, the coming of God to earth as a babe in :} manger, has been forever obscured by Sa nta, shopping and merry;making.
Before we brood and protest too much, we might actual•Ly feel enc09raged about the season we celebrate today when we <;ons1der what Christmas was really like in the days of old. before the bjrth of Christ, almost every culture set the sHortest days of the year as a celebration of the "rebirth" <1 the suo. The Greeks partied in late December teturn of the sun,
Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of peace and plenty. Saturnali a was th e party to end all parties, running annually from the 17th to 24th of December.
While not actua lly wors hipping Saturn, a majority of Roman C hristi ans still participated in every facet of the weeklong revelry. C hurch lea ders we re often ho rrified as their members fell prey to old habits and customs. To th e leaders it seemed like sin was the central th eme of the festival. Th ey kn ew something had to be done, but what?
As th e number of C hri stian s increased and the followers of Jesus ado pted th eir own custom s, it would have been natural for them to mark the birth of C hrist. In fact, th e early church did not celebrate the birth of C hrist until I2S, when Teles phorus, the second bishop of Rome, decla red that church se rvices should be held to memorialize "the Nativity of our Lo rd and Savior " Still no day was set aside as the official birth date of C hri st Within a few years, more than a dozen different days had bee n assig ned by var ious congregations as the birth date of Christ.
In 320 Pope Juliu s I had grown tired of seeing the birth of Christ celebrated on sco res of differe nt days . Though he had no particular reaso n for choos ing it, th e pope specified December 25 as the official date of the birth of Jes us Christ F ive years later, Constantine the Great introdu ced C hristmas as an im movabl e feast on December 25. This decision was no doubt a res ult of church leaders' lobbying the Roman emperor for a Christian holiday that would cancel out the pagan midwinter celebrations. With the power of the government behind this date, they ass um ed that Saturn and all the partying that went with the marking of this pagan god 's day could be forgotten forever.
Their ass umption was quickly proven erroneous. Change did not come quickly With the b irth of C hrist going head to head against the pagan celebration s, many chose to celebrate the pagan holiday and repent after th e parties were finished. Things became so bad that the way C h ristmas was celebrated even became one of the planks that helped overthrow the English monarc h in 1649.
O liver Cromwell was a politician who came fro m an obscure background, rose up in the ranks of Pa rli ament and led a rebellion that overthrew King C harles I. A member of the Puritan sect, the most conservative Protestant movement of the era, Cromwell set about trying to re store order and create a democracy. During hi s IS years of rule, the British Empire wo uld change dra matically in a host of ways. Yet for the common people, the most profound proclamation that came from Cromwell's reign might have bee n hi s banning of all Christmas festivities.
Cro mwell, like many others who headed the Catholi c and Protestan t movements of the time, believed Christmas should b e a sober day of reflection . Unless it fell on
a Sunday, it should be treated no differently than any other day of the week. People should go about their daily activities and quietly consider what Christ meant in their lives. For his entire rule, Cromwell managed to put a cap on the traditional riotous English Christmas behavior After he died and was replaced by his son, the commoners demanded the restoration of the old-fashioned celebrations. When his son refused, the door was opened for rebellion. With the promise of making Christmas as it had been, Charles II was welcomed to the throne Charles, and those that followed him, restored the debauchery of Christmas past. Many in the royal family even encouraged the social chaos and misbehavior by contributing liquor and food for the celebrations. Large bands of men would go to upperclass homes demanding food, drink and money If the homeowners did not comply, their houses were often looted.
Church leaders of all denominations were aghast at the return of the pagan Christmas celebrations. Except for the Church of England and the Catholic Church, churches simply closed their doors and ignored Christmas altogether. Over the next two centuries the hope for a Christfilled Christmas might have been lost altogether (in the English -speaking world) if it had not been for many Catholic and Anglican churches stubbornly holding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. After failing to stop the sinful nature of Christmas celebrations in England, the Puritans attempted to simply outlaw Christmas in the New World. Beginning with the landing of Englishmen at Plymouth Rock in 1620, the holiday was banned throughout New England. Churches did not meet on this day and businesses were ordered to stay open. Anyone caught celebrating Christmas in any way was subject to arrest and fines. These laws remained in effect for more than ISO years, through the Revolutionary War
In spite of early success, boatloads of immigrants soon overpowered the wishes of the Puritans. The anti-Christmas laws may have remained on the books, but they were soon ignored. In most American cities, the "Lords of Disorder" took over the streets on December 25. The drunken parties and gang riots grew so bad that in 1828 the New York City Council met in special session to discuss the issue and a special police force was formed just to deal with the unlawful conduct of citizens on Christmas Day.
While in England and America Christmas had become little more than an excuse to party, in Germany the holiday had evolved into a time when family and friends gathered to share food and fellowship and to acknowledge and celebrate the birth of the Savior. In homes throughout Germany, Christmas was the second most holy day of the year, eclipsed only by Easter. This day was especially important to children The music, simple decorations, homemade treats and evergreen trees that could be found in many homes made Christmas the most anticipated time of the year
When Queen Victoria married Germany's Prin ce Albert in 1840, the English Christmas was transformed as well. Albert brought with him the reverent and family-oriented German traditions of the season, which turned Christmas celebrations at Windsor Castle into a family affair
Soon British families adopted the new traditions.
In America on Christmas Eve 1822, a minister and educator, Clement Clarke Moore , shared a poem he 'd written with his children. "A Visit from St. Nicholas," now known as 'The Night Before Christmas, " would soon do more than entertain Moore's small New York family Printed the next year in New York Sentinel, the poem about the jolly old elf would dramatically change the way Americans looked at the season. For the first time, children were seen as an important part of Christmas. The door was now open for the holiday to be reshaped into one that children of all ages could view as their own.
Then in 1843, when Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was published, another step was made in stressing the meaning and importance of Christmas At the heart of Dickens' story was charity, hope, love and family. This book was written at a time when the Industrial Age had created a culture in which money and hard labor seemed to rule every facet of society
Holidays had been all but eliminated. Men worked 12 hours a day, six days a week. Children were ofren put to work in factories at the age of eight or nine No one had time to stop for even a moment to examine the wonder of life, much less reflect on the birth of a Savior. With Scrooge representing the common thinking of almost all industrialists of the time in England and the U S , A Christmas Carol made people take a second look at their values.
Over the next 20 to 30 years, Christmas evolved from a holiday characterized by drinking and riots into a day of family, giving and worship Thanks to Moore's St. Nick, Santa Claus was everywhere - in stores, on street comers and in advertising displays. Buying presents and decorating trees became important.
In America, states began to declare Christmas an official holiday Afrer 18 centuries of all but ignoring the day, churches began to open their doors for believers to worship, sing songs about Christ's birth and celebrate not just the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter, but his incarnation as well.
Perhaps, ironically, with the introduction of Santa and Scrooge, and with the commercialization of Christmas, those living in America and England finally got a chance to experience the true meaning of Christmas. Though many today may grow tired of the commercialization of Christmas, in reality it has opened the door for the family, especially children, to be at the heart of the celebration . So today, much more than in the past, we can truly sing, "It's the most wonderful time of the year. "
Taken from Stories Behind the Great Traditions of C hristmas by Ace Collim Copyright 2005 by Andrew Collim. Used by permission o/The Zondervan Corporation .
Christmas
PomegranatesatChristmas
B Y J E A N JAN ZEN
Jeweled seeds packed tightly into rosy skin, the swollen globes ready to split. Sweetness hangs ripe between heaven and earth, the Story spilling out once again, and we suck the juice, . splatter the scarlet stain.
Distric t co nfe ren ces hold con ve ntions
CDC announces new church plant in SO Annual convention highlights missions
This was the best convention the Central District Conference has experienced," said Dick Nickel, summarizing the zoos regional gathering for guests atrending the closing Sunday morning worship service.
Given delegates' enthusiastic remarks during breaks and meals, Nickel was speaking for many when he praised the zoos Central District Conference convention hosted Nov. 3- 6 by Salem MB Church of rural Freeman, SD.
Topping the list of factors contributing to a successful convention were the worship sessions featuring "iz68," a seven-member Tabor College music and drama team, and the convention speaker and MBMS International general director Randy Friesen. The band led in times of worship blending hymns, contemporary songs, prayer and scripture. Friesen incorporated a variety of scriptures, his own
Central District delegates commit themselves to taking advantage of open doors in their lives by walking through literal doors following Randy Friesen's Saturday morn i ng sermon.
Reasons to rejoice poe celebrates partnership w ith FPU, church planting
The Paci fi c D istrict Conference fo und reason s to re joice as d ele gates gathered for th e district's annual confe ren ce Nov. 4 -5 o n th e ca mpu s of Fres no Pacifi c Unive rsity, Fres no, Calif.
Afte r celebrating church planting and th e distri ct's p artne rship w ith FPU on Friday, district mini st er G ary W all ope ned th e sess io n s Saturd ay by saying, " It's good for me to b e at convention ." Wall said he could rejo ice, not b ecau se of a lack of co nflict or be cau se all di strict churches are healthy, but because a view o f th e wh ole landsc ape revealed good news. "Th ere's a lot to celeb rate," W all said O ne reason to rejo ice was th e district's z5 years of cooperati ve ministry w ith FPU A banqu et an d program Friday eveni n g celebrat ed t hi s anniversary (see sidebar). During t he FPU co rDi strict Min ister Gary Wall w it h the pasto r of Laurelglen's deaf church, Jeff Jackson , who " spoke " to t he delegation about his chu rc h in sign lang ua ge with a t r anslator (not pi ctured)
experiences and miraculous stories of Christians he has met around the world as well as individuals who have served with MBMSI in a series of three messages.
Friesen's Saturday message was particularly well received and incorporated two working doors, held in place by makeshift frames, that had been standing prominently to the left and right of the stage since Thursday evening. The first gate represents entrance to the kingdom of God, said Friesen, using his own conversion story to illustrate the importance of giving one's will - not just one's sins-to Jesus.
Friesen then turned his attention to a set of gates that is not as "wonderful" as the gate of salvation: the gates of hell. Referring to Psalm 24:7 and Micah 2:13, Friesen spoke of God's desire to save all
porate meeting Saturday morning, delegates were asked to consider what it means to partner in the FPU mission.
Larry Martens, FPU board chair, presented a motion from the board of directors called "Broadening the Base and Strengthening the Ties," which would change the articles of incorporation to allow the corporation's membership, i.e. the PDC, to vote for 60 percent of the membership of the 30member board of directors rather than the current two-thirds. Remaining board members are appointed by the board itself and are not necessarily members of an MB church.
The proposal was in part the result of intentional efforts since the 1980s to "broaden the base" of FPU, expanding the mission to include more non- MB students and supporters The board set forth that it was now time to give that broader constituency a voice in decision-making as well as provide a broader base of influence and expertise during a time of cultural and political challenges.
The board reiterated its commitment to strengthen existing ties with local congregations and ensure the university remains solidly Christian. The board's written proposal describes several avenues for building a stronger partnership with the PDC, including a scholarship program for MB students and recruitment efforts within PDC churches.
What Martens later described as a "vigorous discussion" followed. Delegates discussed the process for evaluating the faith and reputation of appointed board members, which includes requiring adherence to an MB confession of faith. Delegates also expressed concern over the perceived threat of eroding FPU's church base.
After discussion, the proposal passed with a ballot vote of 70 percent. Martens says the decision should not be viewed as a weakening of the partnership between FPU and the PDC but as an attempt to strengthen the overall mission of the university.
The PDC also found rea son to rejoice in church plant-
Banquet honors 25-year PDC/FPU partnership
The 2sth anniversary of the partnership between the Pacific District Conference and Fresno Pacific University was the focus of the Friday evening PDe convention banquet. Nearly 300 people attended the sold-out banquet at FPU's Special Events Center.
Following the meal, FPU board chair Larry Martens introduced President D. Merrill Ewert, announcing that he had recently been reaffirmed and appointed to a new five-year term as president. Ewert shared historical and current highlights of
the school and a performance by the FPU concert choir was interspersed with video student testimonies.
Keynote speaker Edmund Janzen, former FPU president and professor, observed that like any relationship, partnership '1ooks so easy until you try it." Citing Philippians 1:3-6, Janzen noted that celebration events are opportunities to share in joy, storytelling and giving thanks. Janzen linked the success of the university to the partnership that began with the PDC in 1979.
PDC District Minister Gary Wall
responded saying, 'We are proud of this place and honored to be partners." Since from its inception FPU has had a strong tie to the church, it was fitting that the offering was taken for extending the church through home missions. The total received was $IS,6so.
Janzen's conclusion summarized the evening. "Our future - of both the churches and FPU - is in God's hands. As long as we keep Christ in the center, he will not be finished with us; nor will our partnership in the gospel that centers on Christ." - by Shelly Spencer for the Leader
Delegates surround Rod and Donna Anderson in a prayer commissioning them as lead pastoral couple of a new church plant in Sioux Falls. SO.
people, the authority he gives followers to pray for the salvation of the lost and God's guidance as one who proceeds his followers .
The second door represented opportunities to follow God's call, said Friesen, and he illustrated this door with the story of an 18-yearold refugee girl who felt called by God to confront the president of Sudan Friesen encouraged the audience to ask God for the ability to "see the open doors and to walk through them " To give witness to this commitment, Friesen invited delegates to leave their seats and walk through one of the doors. The vast majority of the congregation did so.
Friesen's challenge was timely given that delegates would vote on a new budget that afternoon and in effect determine whether to pursue planting a new church in Sioux Falls .
The Church Planting and Renewal Committee has targeted the growing southwest pan of Sioux Falls, South Dakota's largest city, for a new church plant, and Rod and Donna Anderson will be the lead church planting couple, announced CPR Committee chair Darren Rempel in his Friday afternoon repon The Andersons , who planted the Papillion church , will begin their new assignment in June 2006 by embarking on a three -month tour of CDC churches promoting the new project.
Financial implications of the project prompted considerable discussion Mission USA, the U. S Conference church growth and renewal ministry, will be pannering with the CDC on the project, said Rempel. MUSA will be contributing $30,000 for each of two years and the district will cover the remainder beginning with the 2006-07 fiscal year. Rempel requested that delegates amend the proposed 2005 -06 budget to include $9,750 for Anderson's summer work.
In a previous repon delegates had heard from CDC treasurer Richard Walter that sale of church propeny in Chicago added just over $608,000 to the district's Lengthening the Legacy Endowment, established in 2002 for the purpose of creating a $1 million endowment to fund church plant and renewal projects. Walter reponed that earnings for the past two years had been returned to the endowment.
Following the treasurer's repon, delegates spoke for and against the endowment program and requested information about previous financial decisions.
"Why have $1 million in the bank?" asked Rick Wolgamott of Bethesda Church in Huron, SD. ''Why not use it to plant a church?"
"(The endowment) lets us use the interest to compensate for steady (church) giving but growing costs ," said Walter. "If we can be patient, we will have a pile of money."
In response to a question about the current practice of returning interest earnings to the principle, CDC chair Will Fadenrecht said that since the conference is "the final owner" it can determine at what point the interest will be used to fund church plant and renewal projects .
Rempel also announced that the Carson MB Church of Delft, Minn , has designated the proceeds of the sale of its church parsonage to the Sioux Falls venture The parsonage was sold because the church will close at the end of November Carson is the oldest church in the CDC and was recognized by Fadenrecht as a "warrior for the conference" that called out many missionaries and pastors
ing. Earlier this year differences arose among conference and Board of Home Missions leadership resulting in the loss of a district staff member and a number of resignations from the Board of Home Missions
As he introduced repons from church planters, district chair Bud Klassen said those resignations have since resulted in "constructive dialogue." Klassen expressed appreciation for past members of the Board of Home Missions and reaffirmed church planting as a district priority. 'The conference remains committed to planting churches throughout the PDC, " he said.
In keeping with that commitment, significant convention time was devoted to celebraring new church planting projects.
• In Bakersfield, Calif., Laurelglen Bible Church has responded to the needs of the deaf community with a deaf church, led by Jeff Jackson. Jackson, communicating in American Sign Language through an interpreter, told how the congregation worships with drum rhythms and has begun an outreach to deaf inmates at the state prison. In response to Jackson's repon, delegates applauded in ASL.
• In Utah, Michael and Rachel Trostrud are working within South Mountain Community Church, Draper, with an eye toward establishing a satellite church in Harriman. Although about 40 adults have committed to the launch of this new church, Trostrud said that securing a meeting place in this area dominated by Latter Day Saints is an obstacle.
• By contrast, Tracy Estes reponed that in Phoenix, Ariz., 'We have the propeny but no people." Estes is spearheading a new work, called The Bridge on Glendale, in the building vacated by Spirit in the Desen Community Church. 'They have closed their doors, but God is doing something new there, " Estes said.
• Jose Elizondo, associate district minister, said the district
The delegates gathered around various church planters for an impromptu prayer time, including Sam Sarkissian of Fresno, Calif.
CDC
Delegates approved the increase to the CPR Committee budget Friday and approved the amended budget totaling $196,750, a decrease of $18,250 over the previous year, "by a good margin" during the final business session.
Following the Saturday vote, delegates gathered around the Andersons for a dedicatory prayer. Prayers of blessing were also given throughout the weekend for four new CDC pastors, district minister Roger Engbrecht and his wife Lucille, the CDC Thailand ministry team and the Carson congregation.
At its annual Friday evening banquet the CPR Committee announced that Bible Fellowship Church of Minot was awarded a $1,200 church renewal grant and that three other congregations had received smaller grants. The grants were funded by a special 2004 convention offering and were awarded as part of an effort to positively affect church health. The banquet featured Don Morris, Mission USA director, who spoke about the importance of one's faith being a life-changing experience.
In other business, delegates heard that construction of the new Lakota Bible Church building on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is complete; that Omaha's Millard Bible Church has experienced a successful rebuilding year thanks in part to CDC funding; that Rolling Hills Church has experienced significant growth-attendance has doubled to nearly 300-thanks in part to an extension of the CDC's financial support; about upcoming district and national youth events; and from district minister Roger Engbrecht that after installing six new pastors this past year all pulpits are currently filled.
For many the convention opened with a highlight: Thursday evening's MBMSI Celebration Missions Night. Carlin Weinhauer, MBMSI mobilization and media team leader, was the master of ceremonies and i2681ed a full house in congregational singing. Friesen told stories of MBMSI ministry around the world, calling the audience to renew its commitment to and participation in global missions.
The evening focused on the agency's work in Thailand following the 2004 tsunami. A video reviewed Operation Rebuilding Lives, the MBMSI project using North American volunteers to rebuild homes and provide medical care as well as a Christian wimess on Kho Khao Island. Three volunteers from CDC congregations told how the experience impacted them. The audience also learned that a team from primarily CDC congregations would be leaving for Thailand that next week to help with a second phase of rebuilding and ministry
Saturday's schedule was dominated by special events, beginning with a memorial service, followed by a communion service and then conference workshops, also offered Friday afternoon. Workshop leaders were Randy Friesen, Don Morris and Tabor College staff members Jason Mohn and Lawrence Ressler.
The guest speaker at the women's luncheon was Kimberley Thune, wife of Senator John Thune of South Dakota and daughter of retired CDC pastoral couple Jim and Esther Weems. Victor Branitski, pastor of Grace Slavic Evangelical Church in Maple Grove, Minn., that joined the CDC in 2004, spoke at the men's luncheon.
Tabor College provided the evening program. It included remarks from Lawrence Ressler, newly appointed vice president of academics and student development, music from i268 and a video presentation.Connie Faber
is strong in planting Hi spanic churches- six churches in the last two -a nd-a- half years. H e al so named several locations for future chu rc h plantin g projects.
• Sa m Sarkiss ian leads a "prenatal" church plant, Th e Grove Co mmunity C hurch, in southeast Fres no, Calif. Th e project is a daughter church of Mountain View Community C hurch, Fres no, Calif and hopes to laun ch in Febru ary 2006 with a co re group from Mountain View and Butler M B C hurch, Fres no.
• Th e two-yea r-old Shadow Mountain C hurch of West Jordan , Utah , has grown to an attendance of 280 and expects to becom e a full y free-standing PD C church before th e next conve ntion A video presentati on included testimonies from new members who have pledged alleg iance to Chri st after years in th e LD S church. Pastor Cory Anderson sa id, ' We are dee ply grateful to thi s denomination for bein g behind us 100 perce nt . We could not do this alone."
Follow ing th ese hi ghli ghts , delegates vee red from th e convention schedule to ga ther aro un d eac h church planter present and pray for th em
PDC delegates also found reason to re joice in leadership developmen t efforts
Ric k Ba rtl ett , chair of th e Boa rd of Lead ership Developm ent, reported that 38 college-aged interns have served in 18 PDC churches in th e two sum mers since th e board was form ed in 2003 Two intern s told of th eir experiences.
Elizabeth Ti eszen from th e Hi spanic Council reported on Hispa ni c lea ders hip developm ent within th e PDC. Us ing a Latin Am erica n corres pondence curric ul um ca lled FLET and regular meetin gs with T iesze n or regional coo rdin ators, approxi mately 50 Hi spanic students are bein g equipped for service within th e churches.
In oth er PDC bu sin ess, delegates unanim ously approved a budget of $299,000 for th e 2005-2006 yea r, a modest in crease of 3.4 percent over the 2004 -2005 budget of $289,100.
Delegates hea rd reports from th e variou s boards and ministri es of th e PD C and un animou sly approved a slate of nominees for open board and offi ce r po sitions, including seve n nomin ees for th e nin e- memb er Board of Ho me M iss ions.
Th e PD C is th e largest M B conference in the U.S., co mpose d of 120 congregations in Arizona, California, Oregon, Uta h and Washington , with th e majority being ethnic congregations. Sin ce the 2003 convention, two PD C congregation s have closed th eir doors: Spirit in th e Desert Community C hurch, Phoenix, Ariz., and Dallas MB C hurch, D all as, Ore. One congregation, C hri stian C hurch Light of th e World, North Highl ands, Calif., has withdrawn from th e conference.
At th e 2005 co nven tion six co ngregation s were welcomed into th e P DC upon reco mm endation by th e Executive Boa rd : T he Brid ge Bible C hurch , Bakersfi eld, C alif., C alvario Co mmuni ty C hurch, Dinuba , Calif., Diamond Korean C hurch, Fullerton, Calif., God's Emba ssy Church, Sacramento, C alif., Sum as Slavic C hu rc h, Maple Fall s, Wash., and Slavic Bible C hurch, Va ncouver, Was h.-Myra Holmes
Hiebert remembered as influential educator
Love for God and others characterized Clarence Hiebert
Clarence R. Hiebert, 78, an educator, historian, pastor and musician whose contributions to the Mennonite Brethren church reach beyond North America, died of cancer Nov. 14.
"Clarence was one of God's great blessings to people here and around the world," Nadine Friesen said at Hiebert's funeral service Nov. 17
The recollections by Hiebert's four children and colleagues centered on four areas of Hiebert's life: global education. music, service to others and the importance of following Christ.
"Dad was led by God," said daughter Sue Scheer. 'We kids never questioned that."
Friesen said, 'You go to Clarence to ponder what it means to follow Jesus ."
Permeating Hiebert's life was his love of music and people. Hiebert devoted much time to writing lyrics, translating hymns and songs and singing. He helped to organize Worship Together. the most recent MB hymnal, published in 1995. Hiebert recognized. said Lynn Jost in his message, that "what we sing shapes what we believe."
Speaking of his father's commitment to others. son Tim said. "Dad taught us to care and to show we cared."
In an interview with Mennonite Weekly Review. Katie Funk Wiebe remembers Hiebert for " his intense interest in the lives of other people and in supporting them. helping to give them direction, and simply in loving them."
Peggy Goertzen. director of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College. says. "He saw such potential in people He always encouraged. He always planted wonderful seeds and then pushed them to grow."
Hiebert gave much of his time and energy to Tabor College in
Hillsboro, Kan., teaching courses in religious studies and history as well as cross-cultural studies from 1962 to 1989 and was named professor emeritus upon his retirement. In 1994 he was interim president for one year.
Hiebert's love for teaching was honored in 2000 when Tabor College named him Professor of the Century and established the annual Clarence Hiebert Excellence in Teaching Award
"Clarence's world was pretty big," said TC President Larry Nikkel, and Hiebert shared this international perspective with his family and students. Hiebert served in Switzerland, Paraguay. Afghanistan and Lithuania and was recognized as an authority on Russia and the former Soviet Union.
Hiebert led more than 50 student interterm trips. "He was always ttying to broaden the outlook of students to the bigger world," says Wiebe, who taught English at Tabor from 1966-90.
Hiebert wrote on Mennonite Brethren history, pacifism, and other aspects of Anabaptist identity. Two books of note are The Holdeman People, published in 1972 and illustrating the life of the followers of John Holdeman, and Brothers in Deed to Brothers in Need, published in 1974 and documenting the move to America by Russian, Germanspeaking Mennonites in the I870S.
Hiebert was born July 12, 1927, at Winnipeg, Man., to C.N. and Tina Harms Hiebert. He graduated from Tabor in 1949 and earned a master's degree from Phillips University at Enid, Okla., and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University at Cleveland. Before joining the Tabor faculty, he was a psychiatric aide and pastor, serving the Enid (Okla.) MB Church and Hillsboro MB Church as well as in numerous interim roles
On Sept. I, 1950, he married Feme Kornelson, who survives . They were members of Hillsboro (Kan.) Mennonite Brethren Church.
He is also survived by two sons, Tim of Cheney, Kan., and Bob and wife Carrie of Charlotre, NC; two daughters, Beth and husband Sheldon Klassen of Moundridge, Kan , and Sue and husband Mark Scheer of Hamilton, Ohio; a brother, Erwin of Boston; two sisters. Martha Richert of Bakersfield, Calif., and Naomi Dyck of Fresno, Calif., 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.-Connie Faber with the Mennonite Weekly Review
Ta bo r College faculty me m ber Clarence Hiebert, pi ctured (k neeling, far ri ght) du r ing a 1984 interterm t rip, led more t han 50 st udent trips.
Kansas teens distribute supplies in New Orleans
Parkview church sponsors mission trip
The Parkview MB Church youth group of Hillsboro, Kan., hosted a community mission trip Oct. S-9 to Baton Rouge, La., to aid hurricane victims. In the Hillsboro and Marion, Kan., communities sent eight truckloads of supplies to Baton Rouge in an effort launched by Golden Heritage Foods (see story in the October Leader). As part of a "stage z effort," a team of 34 youth and nine adults from both communities went to Baton Rouge to help with the relief efforts
Following a Is-hour trip on a sleeper bus, the group was hosted on-site by Comite Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. This Baptist church had distributed the supplies sent by Marion County. The congregation's "southern hospitality was evident," says Parkview youth pastor John Regier. "They thanked us, helped us, treated us as honored guests and fed us gumbo and jambalaya."
The Kansas volunteers spent the first afternoon clearing branches and limbs from around the church grounds. In addition to the church, the campus includes a school, ball field, daycare, walking trail and playground.
"They had put the needs of others above their own, so work around the campus of this church was left undone," says Regier
The volunteers spent the weekend distributing supplies at two locations in New Orleans. The city's Calvary Baptist Church had an immediate need for volunteers The students unloaded supply trucks and sorted and distributed food, water, ice, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and baby items.
"God timed it right," says Regier. "A team from Tennessee had left the day before, and we were able to get the church through the next couple of days."
A highlight for several volunteers was giving a drivethrough "baby shower" for a woman expecting a baby that week.
A second group went to Mardi Gras World, the site where parade floats are made and currently a relief distribution center. Administrators of this site, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Guard soldiers, were accepting help from Calvary Baptist Church.
'The items were stored and organized in large tents," says Regier. "A drive-through system was established for people to pick up items. Volunteers filled orders and delivered them to people waiting in line." The church volunteers were able to include Bibles in with the supplies as they were available, says Regier.
Some Kansas volunteers spent part of one day helping to clear debris at a neighborhood plant nursery.
The Kansas volunteers heard from Comite Baptist Church pastor Dale Phillips about his experiences during Hurricane Katrina as well as stories of people weeping when they received food, shower towels or even toilet paper. Each evening Regier
Kansas students sort through donations at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans
led the group in a time of worship, devotions and reflection.
The Kansas volunteers left the region with a new appreciation for giving and receiving, says Regier. The students received looks of gratitude from people who received common items and also witnessed people hoarding what they could get. "The kids responded by serving each the same," says Regier who emphasized to the teens that serving stems from a willingness to serve God.
The Marion County teens also learned from one another. "Hillsboro and Marion are usually rivals," says Regier. "Just as the two communities worked together to send the supplies we also worked together on this trip." While Parkview sent the majority of the volunteers, three Marion churches sent teens on the trip: Marion Christian Church, Marion Presbyterian Church and Valley United Methodist Church.-from a report by John Regier
Hands-on ministry
OkLahoma church sends trio to restore Gulf Coast home
kMark Randol of Pine Acres Church in Weatherford, Okla., watched news of Hurricane trina's destruction along the Gulf Coast, he felt a strong calling to help "I know I'm supposed to be doing something," he recalls telling his wife, Connie.
When he learned four days later that the home of the son of a fellow church member had been hard hit by Katrina, he knew exactly what to do.
He called his best friend, Kenny Meget, and asked, ':Are you up for a road trip?"
A couple of weeks later, the Randols and Meget were in Pascagoula, Miss , putting up sheetroc:k in the home of Curtis and Christine Miller.
Mark Randol says it was a simple decision: "When God's telling you to do something, go do it."
The trio from Pine Acres Church invested a week Oct. 7-15 in physical labor and emotional support for the Millers. The Millers' home was located five blocks from the shoreline, and Katrina's 2o-foot storm surge flooded their home to a depth of 55 inches. Although the home looked sound from the outside, the interior was ruined. Walls, cabinets, sinks, appliances and flooring all had to go.
Mark and Kenny worked to replace sheetrock in the entire interior. Connie's role was that of cook and comforter Since the Millers were left with no stove, Connie cooked meals outdoors using a grill, slow cooker or electric skillet. The Randols, who are ranchers, brought beef, so the menus were hearty: smothered steak, hamburgers and ribeye.
Just as important was her emotional support as the Millers dealt with the overwhelming stress of losing their home and the frustration of applying for help from government agencies. Connie says, "I was there for Christine more than anything."
Pine Acres supported and helped in a variety of ways. Tony Cannon, pastor of worship, says the trustees encouraged financial support for the three, matching every dollar given. They then applied for a matching grant from Mennonite Mutual Aid so that each donation was multiplied fourfold. Individuals also supplied specific needs, such as water, gas money, lodging for the drive to Mississippi and air mattresses
Mark Randol initiated a mission trip to Pascagoula, Miss., to sheetrock the home of Curtis and Christine Miller.
Others prayed. Both Mark and Kenny have chronic back trouble. 'We prayed that God would keep them well through their work," Cannon says. 'Without a hitch, he did." Both men report no back trouble.
Others prayed for good weather and good working conditions. Not only were the Millers able to get air conditioning running before the trio's arrival, but the weather was surprisingly pleasant. Furthermore, Curtis Miller was able to prepare the home by gutting the interior and bleaching for mold, which made for relatively good working conditions.
Mark says he is grateful for the church's support. Cannon says, 'We praise God for the way he used our church and three people who were willing to take from their busy schedules to go be a servant."
None of the three knew the Millers well before they responded to this need, but close quarters created a bond. The three stayed in the Millers' gutted home, simply because no lodging was available within a 6o-mile radius. They slept on air mattresses on the floor and used a makeshifr shower.
Kenny says one big reason for investing in the physical needs of others is to build relationships and open spiritual conversations He says the goal of Christians should be to bring others to Jesus. "Part of that is using our feet and hands," he says. "It's that simple."
At Pine Acres, using hands and feet to help meet physical needs is part of ministry. An informal group of men, including Mark and Kenny, is readily available to help with whatever needs moving, unclogging, building or fixing. People in the church and community have learned to "just call up," Kenny says, so that the group sometimes has work lined up weeks in advance
That's just fine with Kenny, because he believes the work is part of something bigger. 'We see sheetrock; God sees souls," he says. - Myra Holmes
Cleaning up after Rita
SEVEN TABOR COLLEGE STUDENTS SPENT OCT. 203-209 SERVING alongside Mennonite Disaster Service in Newton, Texas, helping with Hurricane Rita clean-up efforts. The group' s activities were coordinated by MDS, who also met all equipment and housing needs. Tabor College is the Mennonite Brethren liberal arts college located in Hillsboro, Kan.
For Michael Friesen of Wichita, Kan , the week proved to be more than just cleaning up the destruction the hurricane left in its wake.
"I was looking for a way to serve those affected by the hurricanes more than just through donations; I wanted to get my hands dirty, " says Friesen. "When Tabor decided to sponsor this trip, it was hard to pass up "
The group's main focus for the week was trimming and disposing of fallen tree limbs for the residents of Newton who were unable to tackle the task themselves.
"There were tons of large trees knocked down on houses and in yards of people who were unable to clean up, either because of physical disability or lack of adequate equipment," says Friesen. 'We had to chop the trees up with chainsaws and move them over to the side of the road so that the city crews could dispose of them."
The group worked ftom sunup until sundown. Friesen's role during the week was to
help with operating the All-Terrain Vehicle, which assisted in transporting the branches.
While Friesen enjoyed this role, he enjoyed the hard work of serving the people of Newton more.
"In the short time that we did spend with them (the people of Newton), my hope was that our work did the talking and that we 'did not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth,'" says Friesen, quoting I John 3:r8.
"I learned on the trip that the future will come when it may, but I can concentrate on serving people each day, whether that means moving big trees from one place to another, serving food in a homeless shelter or working hard at my job."
The Tabor College senior encourages any and all who have the opportunity to help serve in the hurricane clean-up efforts to do so.
"Our group of seven college students spent all week working hard and cleaned up only a very small portion of a very small town in a huge region devastated by the hurricanes," he says. "There is an absolutely astonishing amount of work to be done still, and it will take a monumental effort to finish it."
Other Tabor College students who participated in the service trip were Sarah Baffa, Olathe, Kan.; Julia Beam, Hillsboro, Kan.; Kassie Bradley, Olathe; Krystal Kuntz, Abilene, Kan.; Thomas VanWart, Hillsboro; and LynAnne Wiest, Kingsburg, Calif.-TC news release
FPU t hanks tho se who suppo rte d Hurri cane students
A REC EPTION TO THANK THO SE WHO HELP ED 120 STUDENTS DISPLACED BY Hurrican e Katrina study at Fresno Pa ci fi c Univers ity too k place Oct. r3 on th e campu s in Fres no , C alif. AI Galvez, director of gove rnm ental and community affai rs for PG& E, presented the uni vers ity with a chec k for $ 2,500 toward s the students' spring se mester expenses. Oth ers who helped include Gottsc halks departm ent stores, United Wa y of Fres no County an d several FPU fa culty, staff and stud ents. Several of the students were prese nt and parti cipated in the short program .
FPU wa ived tuition and hou sing costs for stu de nts enrolled in colleges affected by Hurrican e Ka trina and rai sed funds to help with oth er needs Pioneer Catering, th e uni versity's food service provider, donated meal plan s, and Fo unders Bookstores, a di vision of College Bookstores of Am eric a, provided sc hool books at cost. F PU is th e Mennonite Brethren uni versity owned and op erated by th e Paci fi c Di strict Con ference.- FPU news re lease
A taste of the future
Youth leaders prepare for Anaheim 07
MORE THAN 50 youm PASTORS and youth workers from the five districts of the u.s. Conference met in Anaheim, Calif., for the first-ever Youth Leaders Summit Oct. I4-I6. The event was organized and facilitated by co-chairs of the national MB youth convention: Tim Neufeld, professor of contemporary Christian ministries at Fresno Pacific University; Rick Bartlett, dean of students at MB Biblical Seminary; and Wendell Loewen, assistant professor of biblical and religious studies at Tabor College.
While the summit had four goals, of particular significance for attendees was that it served as a preview of the upcoming national youth convention, Anaheim 07. The summit was held at the Anaheim Hilton, the site of Anaheim 07.
Summit organizers wanted youth leaders to leave the Hilton with knowledge of both the physical logistics and agenda prospects of the 2007 convention, enabling them to better inform parents and youth. Feedback suggests they succeeded.
"I had no idea what (Anaheim 07) would be like," says Jill Langer, a youth worker at Grace Bible Church in Gettysburg, SD. "I came away feeling a lot better .1 think it will be good for kids."
Youth leaders ' were given a tour of the hotel and surrounding areas including Downtown Disney, an outdoor pedestrian mall with specialty shops, restaurants and entertainment. An informal session Friday evening provided youth workers with a chance to ask questions about the shift in locale.
Since I975 the national MB youth convention has been held in the Rocky Mountains . primarily at YMCA of the Rockies near Estes Park. Colo. In this mountainous surrounding, students typically experienced a headlining speaker, daily seminars and evening entertainment together as a large group.
March 3I to April 3, 2007, the national
youth convention will move to Southern California. Along with this change in venue will come some programmatic modifications that offer youth new possibilities and options.
According to co-chair Rick Bartlett, one notable variation is that students will be invited to choose from several available ministry tracks. Ministry tracks are specialized service focuses such as worship, sound and lighting, and evangelism.
Once students choose a track, they will receive detailed instruction and training over the course of the convention in that particular area. As opportunities are present, students will also have the chance to apply the skills they are developing.
This move to a more "hands-on" approach to ministry is in response to the needs of students. "Students are much more interested in being participants than consumers," says Bartlett.
In the evening students will be presented with organized options for activities and entertainment. Several venues will be set up on the hotel site. Some possibilities under consideration include worship, a comedy show, a concert and a coffee house. Off campus entertainment may also be an alternative.
Because of numerous questions related to the safety of youth in an urban setting, the executive team interviewed local police. The team was told that the areas surrounding the hotel and Disneyland make up a very well protected setting for the convention, organizers told summit attendees.
While a key component of the weekend was preparing youth workers for Anaheim 07, the gathering targeted other issues as well. First, says co-chair Tim Neufeld, "we wanted to gather youth leaders for networking and fellowship." Organized sharing and small group prayer provided chances for connections and contacts to begin.
For Kelly Thomas, pastor of student
Step back in time at Palm Village, to the warmth of the neighborhoods of yesterday you remember so well.
Throughout Palm Village's lovely campus, our staff takes great pride in meeting the needs of our residents, whether they be social, medical or spiritual.
Our Chaplain, Bob Kroeker, is one of those staff members who cares deeply about your well being.
Palll! f////ape t'II8,lJlain
ministries at Neighborhood Church in Visalia, Calif., and a member of the Anaheim 07 executive team, this time was key. 'The thing I experienced that was most meaningful was getting together with youth leaders and pastors from all over the U.S. and continuing to build relationships with them," says Thomas.
Bartlett says one highlight of the summit was when a youth pastor and a youth worker from different parts of the countty spent time praying together and celebrating that they had discovered each other. Many leaders who connected plan on keeping in touch.
Another goal was to provide ministry resources through group participation in a series of seminar sessions. The first Saturday seminar, led by Tim Neufeld, took an in-depth look at what characterizes MB youth workers. 'We spent a significant amount of time sharing about the diversity of each of our groups. We found that we were Anglo, Hispanic, rural, urban, middle class, poor, large, small, etc.," Neufeld says.
Wendell Loewen facilitated the second session that focused on the current cultural climate and its influence and effects on MB youth groups. In the final session, Bartlett encouraged youth leaders to be forward-looking with regard to future leaders in the MB church. Bartlett "challenged us to identify and call out those in our youth groups that we believe are gifted for ministty," says Neufeld .
Promoting diversity was another purpose of the summit. Thirty-seven MB churches and all five districts were represented. Of equal importance, say organizers, was that as the youth workers from these churches and districts came together to fellowship and resource, they brought with them an array of cultural, economic and social backgrounds .
"We were meeting together to plan and even though we come from many regions, places and backgrounds, there was a lot of unity," says Horacio Renteria, team pastor from El Faro Community Church of Reedley.
For the final event of the summit, many youth leaders attended a worship selVice with homeless people at Central City Community Church in inner city Los Angeles.
According to organizers, the summit decidedly accomplished the purposes it was created for. ''All. goals exceeded what we expected," says Neufeld. 'The summit was well received " So well received in fact, that the co-chairs have been asked to host future youth leader summits and to follow a similar format. - Jennifer Brandt, newswriter
MENNONITE
HEALTH
ASSEMBLY
"Stewards of Health at Work"
Sunset Beach, North Carolina
March 2-5, 2006
Anabaptist doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers and board/staff leaders of Anabaptist-related health and human service ministries are gathering for:
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• personal, professional & spiritual renewal
• networking
JOIN US . Sign up early to participate in the Golf Outing on March 2 from 1:00 to 6 :00 p m
Between 1947 and 1949, the Israeli military destroyed 500 Palestinian villages and expelled between 700,000 and 900,000 Palestinians from their homes and land. Listen to the stories of those who continue to live in exile Learn how Palestinians and Israelis, both children of the Nakba, continue to struggle with this heritage, and how some are working for a shared future of justice, equity
In Canada call (888) 622-6337
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Order online at www.mcc.org/catalog
by Rose Buschman
Memories of Christmas past
Christmas is about sharing love with others
At our house as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey has been cooked and eaten it's time to put up the Christmas decorations. I try to keep it festive but simple. Out come the Christmas tapes and CDs. I love Christmas music and could listen to it all year long.
Along with the preparations come the memories of Christmases past Most of them are good. Sometimes I sit down with a cup of hot cider or tea and reminisce
I remember a Christmas in Nova Scotia. My husband and I were on a Christian service assignment teaching in a rural school near the Atlantic Ocean. We had very little money so we improvised .
ing event was the Christmas Eve church service we attended. Weeks later, still dealing with the after effects of that unhappy day, I promised myself that it would never happen again.
The following Christmas we asked other student couples who were also alone to bring their favorite food and to join us for Christmas dinner. We ate, played games and visited, and a great time was had by all.
A few years ago we invited several Chinese student families for Christmas weekend. One family had been in this country for five years and had never before been invited to an American home. The women were particularly interested in how to set a
Day found us bv with no family or \\ ' hai a hleak day.
The woods behind our house provided a fresh Christmas tree and I collected pine cones off the forest floor. We purchased one string of lights and strung popcorn on thread to make garlands for the tree. The Christian service team came over for Christmas dinner, which I cooked on a wood stove It is a very special memory.
My mind goes back to the Christmas when I brought a special friend home to meet my family in Ontario. We were both attending graduate school at the time in the Midwest. On Christmas Eve we promised our love to each other. The next morning when we announced our engagement to my family, my Is-year-old brother, with a great sigh of relief, had one comment, "Finally!" I still chuckle about that one!
For years we lived too far from our families to share in their Christmas celebrations. My worst Christmas memory occurred the first year we lived in Gainesville, F1a We had just moved there so my husband could begin his doctoral program at the university. The struggle to find work, settle into student housing and look after a yearold baby was almost too much for me.
Money was extremely tight so there was no thought of going home for the holidays. Christmas Day found us by ourselves, with no family or friends. What a bleak day I cried as loneliness overwhelmed me.
'This is just awful," I told my husband The only redeem-
table correctly. They had fun helping prepare a traditional holiday dinner. In the evening, after we watched a movie, one of the men asked us to explain what Christmas meant to us. We shared the story of Jesus' bitth with them and why that is so important to us. 111 never forget that Christmas.
One year when Christmas came on Sunday we arranged for a church-wide dinner at the church after the morning service. 'We11 provide the turkeys, you bring your favorite dish and come join us," the invitation read. Over 60 people joined us.
This past Christmas we went on a mission trip to Mexico, so our children and grandchildren came over for a Christmas at Thanksgiving celebration. They liked it a lot and told us we could do it again.
As we were getting ready for our trip, my husband said to me, "You've been so busy with everything else, you haven't told me what you want for Christmas."
"A mission trip to Mexico," I replied, "nothing else."
Several days later he presented me with a Christmas "For My Wife" card. The verses describe the years we have spent together, speak of the love we have shared, and renew his love for me in the future. That was, and is, the best gift he could give me.
Christmas is about Jesus' birth and how he gave himself that we might have the gift of eternal life It is about relationships with family and friends and reaching out to others who are alone and need someone to care. It is not about how fancy the decorations are or how many presents there are under the tree and how expensive they are. It is about sharing our love with others.
Who do we listen to?
The voice of authority in the M B church
QDoes
the Mennonite Brethren church need a Pope? (California)
ItAre you serious? That was my first response to the inquirer's question. But after hearing the inquirer alk about the question over several months, I think I know what he means. Do we need a voice in the church that everyone respects and obeys? Does the church need someone who speaks with authority? Do we need a spiritual guru akin to E. F. Hutton for "when E. F. Hutton speaks, everyone listens"?
MBs once had leaders who were regarded almost like popes. I'm old enough to recall that we once had "elders": men selected from across the North American MB constituency who represented ultimate authority. In 1947 when my home congregation held a day of fasting and prayer and elected three ministers and two deacons, Rev. H. H. F1aming, the last living "elder" was called from out-of-state to conduct the election.
We have changed a lot over the past 60 years. I recall when a conference decision was considered mandatory. The conference decided; the churches obeyed. Several decades ago, because local churches resisted, we ceased making such declarations binding and called them "guidelines " Today we scarcely impose even such study guides.
Boards of faith and life, also called boards of reference and counsel, were once considered the official arbiters in church problems. Then they came to be viewed as "referees" who addressed a situation only when asked. Today, in some cases at least, their presence and counsel is resisted and/or refused.
Why? One reason is what I call localism. While we have always espoused local church autonomy (governance), we have also stressed church interdependence. That counters the view of many Christians across the world that denominations are passe. Today many churches and pastors in effect say: ''The denomination can decide what it likes; we'll do what we want."
Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy or other spiritual issue? E-mail Marvin at marvinheinlasbcglobal.net or send your question to "Inquiring Minds," c/o Marvin Hein, 3036 East Magill Avenue, Fresno, CA 93710.
It seems strange that while some pastors place themselves in positions resembling CEOs in the style of a business-model administrative structure, such leaders usually want no part of larger interchurch brotherhood oversight. I'm well aware that conference structures at times are weak and clumsy, but I view the present movement as inconsistent with the New Testament and Mennonite Anabaptist emphasis on community and interdependence.
A friend of mine may well be cortect when he says, "I think it quite possible that before I die ... I will see only a loose federation of some small regional associations of churches with some sense of genealogical and theological lineage with what you and I knew as the Mennonite Brethren church of North America." I resonate with those words, obviously from a pro-conference bias.
Perhaps even a stronger impetus against having anyone resembling a MB "pope" is our acculturation to the society around us. David Frum says that "the buming issue of the 70S, even the very best, was not family values or moral standards so much as individualism." That spirit of "rugged individualism," as another friend puts it, "has gone to seed. We no longer seem to value interdependence; pastors and church leaders apparently don't wish to be accountable to others for what they do." That, of course, is not true of all leaders.
I'm not very optimistic that things will improve on this score, not so long as the church continues to be acculturated to society. We have moved into an era described by more erudite people than I as "postrnodernism." What is that? Robin Edwards and Richard Edwards are quoted in Colossians Remixed saying, "postrnodernity describes a world where people have to make their way without fixed referents and traditional anchoring points It is a world of rapid change of bewildering instability, where knowledge is constantly changing and meaning 'floats.'"
This means there are no absolutes. Institutions more often than not are evil instruments of power. Everyone decides for himlherself what is right. The postrnodernist asks : "What will this do for me?" I cite Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat, authors of Colossinans Revisited: ''The moral world, like the material world, is supremely represented as a shopping mall: It is now open to us to troll between the shelves and pick out, or opt for .. .whatever takes our fancy "
There may be need for a MB pope, but don't bet on it happening. For that to happen the church will need to become much more a "critique of" rather than an "adapter to" culture than it has been in the past.
BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP
Minot, ND (Bible Fellowship)-Kim Buchholz. Heather Deckert. Jessica Vix. Jennifer Thomas. Marty Beck. Joel Deckert. Jeremy Thomas and Wes Thomas were baptized and received as members Oct. 2 Bakersfield, Calif. (Rosedale Bible)-Odi Lozano. Jill Mason. Michael Ware. Maria Gutierrez. Ron Reimers. Craig Nikkel. Janna Nikkel and Kelly Nikkel were baptized and welcomed as members September 18.
Wichita, Kan. (Lighthouse Community)-Sam and Angie Valdez and Zettie (Rosie) Carter were baptized Sept. 18 and received as members Sept. 25. Nedra Carter was welcomed into membership Sept. 25
CELEBRATIONS
Adams, Okla.-The congregation will host its 100th anniversary celebration Jan. B. 2006 beginning at 9:30 a.m and followed by lunch. Former members and friends are invited to attend and to bring with them photos and their memories to share
Edmond, Okla. (Memorial Road)- The church will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the church charter during the month of January 2006. Each Sunday of the month will focus on a different theme of the church history. with a challenge for the future on the fifth Sunday. Friends and former members are invited to attend.
West Jordan, Utah (Shadow Mountainl-A Vision Dessert was held Nov. 6 to celebrate the church's second anniversary and to consider the church's future.
FELLOWSHIP
Wichita, Kin. (Firstl- The choir sang a song commissioned in appreciation for former interim pastor Larry Martens during worship Nov. 13.
Buhler, Kan.- The first men 's shotgun shoot was held Oct. 29 Church members rode horses or a hay wagon for an all-church trail ride Oct. 16 that concluded with a wiener roast.
Olathe, Kan. (Community Biblel-Young Adult Ministries is a new group designed to help married and
single young adults form relationships with God. family and community. The group will meet monthly for activities such as a progressive Thanksgiving meal or a movie and coffee.
Littleton, Colo. (Belleview Communityl- The congregation invited families from their child care center to a hayride and barbeque at a local park Oct. 9. Children from the preschool provided special music during worship.
Sioux Falls, SO (Lincoln Hills)-Attendees gathered after worship Sept. 11 for pizza and NFL football on the big screen.
Shafter, Calif.-Women met at church for a fall luncheon at a mystery location Oct. 12. Those over 50 were asked to wear red hats; those under 50 wore pink
MINISTRY
Rapid City, SD (Bible Fellowship)-A team from Bible Fellowship. Corn (Okla.l MB Church and Harvey (ND) MB Church traveled to Chang-Rai. Thailand Nov. 13-30 to help with a MBMSI construction project.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl-The men's ministry organized a workday Nov. 12 to refurbish a trailer for use by those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita The LBC Deaf Church invited LBC members to a breakfast Nov. 5 with a local football team. the Bakersfield College Renegades. to raise funds for Love International's Romania Christmas Mission Team.
Shafter, Calif.-Women's Ministry sponsored the collection of nonperishable food items for a grocery shower for MB Biblical Seminary students.
Fairview, Okla.-Children from the congregation's AWANA program and adults packed over 150 shoeboxes Nov. 9 for Operation Christmas Child. Blaine, Wash. (Birch Bayl- The church. together with Good News Fellowship of Ferndale. Wash and Community Bible Fellowship of Bellingham. Wash
Yo ut h rally brings kids to Christ
Area Youth M inistries of the Huron , SD , area churches, held its annual " Pumpkin Bash" Oct 30 at the Souled O ut Ce nter in Huron Directo rs Adam and Barb Harrington report that 260 students attended and 64 made fi rs t-time commitments or recommitm ents to C hrist The celebration included live music from The Switch, a band from Pittsburgh, Penn ., giveaways and food from the center's Solid Roc k Cafe . Speaker Mark C hase, from Dawson McAlli ster Live mini stries, told th e attentive crowd, 'Tm here to scare hell ri ght out of you ." A team of adults and student lea ders coun seled those who res ponded to C hase's chall enge H arrington says, "God was definitely in the building ."
hosted their annual Ten Thousand Villages sale Nov. 4-5. with profits of $38.150 Birch Bay hosted their 14th Community Fall Fiesta Carnival with games. candy. food and prizes Oct. 31
Reedley, Calif.- The church hosted a family outreach event Oct. 31 in cooperation with several local churches. Rapid City, SD (Bible Fellowshipl-Members gathered items such gum. candy. pens. stamps and microwave popcorn for care packages to send to college students.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Heritage)-A Christmas tree in October reminded members to give Christmas gift donations to missionaries supported by the church. Preparing for gifts in October allows time for the gifts to arrive by Christmas
Olathe, Kan. (Ethiopian Christian Fellowship)- The church held its first-ever vacation Bible school this summer. with up to 63 children in attendance Two children prayed to accept Jesus. A group from Parkview MB Church. Hillsboro. Kan helped prepare. decorate and teach. and Community Bible Church of Olathe provided themed decorations
PROCLAMATIO N
Dinuba, Calif.-November was missions month with a different speaker or emphasis each Sunday. A harvest Thanksgiving meal was served Nov. 20 The congregation worked with other area churches to provide a community Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 23 to those who might not have had one otherwise.
Henderson, Neb.-Lynn Jost from Tabor College. Hillsboro. Kan .• was the guest speaker for Harvest Missions Sunday Nov. 13.
Reedley, Calif.- The church held its annual Thanksgiving mission festival Nov. 13. Otto and Marjorie Ekk. MBMSI missionaries to Portugal. spoke in the morning services. In the evening the congregation enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal and the musical"Rescue in the Night" performed by the 4th-8th grade choir.
Fairview, Okla.-Nov. 6 was Harvest Mission Sunday with guests Samir Youssef and Emmanuel Ali from Family Life Network The church hosted a community Thanksgiving service Nov 20.
Huron, SD (Bethesdal- The church's mission conferen ce Oct. 28-30 included guest missionaries David and Gale Williams. Middle East and North Africa; Doug and Carlo Person. East Africa; David and Sally Lott. Botswana.
Freeman, SD (Salem)- The church held its annual harvest missions festival Oct. 9 with guest speaker John Klassen from Carson MB Church Delft. Minn
Mountain Lake, Minn. (Community Biblel - The Church Harvest Fest was held Oct. 30 .
WORKERS
Fresno, Calif. (Northl-James Bergen has been affirmed as lead pastor and wil l begin his duties March 1.
Indiahoma, Okla. (Post Oakl-Leonard Presley is serving as interim pastor Collinsville, Okla. (Discovery Biblel- The church has called Gator and wife Laura Thompson as youth pastor couple.
Ulysses, Kan. - Ulysses MB Church has voted to accept Templo Betan ia as part of their congregation. Angel and Concepcion Martinez are the pastoral couple.
DEATHS
ENS, ELVINA REGIER. Reedley. Calif , a member of Henderson [Neb.! MB Church, was born April 24, 1914, to Jacob H and Agnes Toews Huebert near Henderson, Neb., and died Oct. 20, 2005 , at the age of 91. On June 4, 1933, she married Aaron Regier,
Hans Kasdorf has li ved in the Mennonite Wor lds o f th e Soviet Union, Sou t h Ame ri ca, North America and Europ e Here are fascinating descrip ti o ns o f each part of this rich and d ive rse t apest ry. "More than autobiograph y, h ere is a generational marker. N - Elmer Martens. $18.95
Available at Pacific Bookshop, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno, CA 93702. Y/WW.fresnobookshop.com
country Representatives:
West Africa in Burkina Faso
Haiti
India
who predeceased her in 1973 On Oec. 18, 1973, she marr ied Abe Ens, who predeceased her She is survived by t hree daughters, Bernice Boyd, Sharon Kroeker of Fresno, Calif and Delores Glasgow of Calgary, Al ta; one daughte r -in-law, Carolyn Regier of Reedley; two brothers-in - law; one sister-in-law; nine grandchildren; 20 great-gra ndchildren; stepchildren Roger Ens and wife Dorothy, Don Ens and wife Pat, Connie Penner and husband Vic, and Phyllis Duerksen and husband Ken ; 19 step grandchild ren, and 18 step great-grandchildren
GLANZER, DARREN LEE. Hillsboro, Kan was stillborn Nov 18, 2005 He is survived by his parents, Chris and Kathryn Glanzer of Ebenfeld MB Church rural Hillsboro; his siblings, Anna and Paul, and extended family members
HODEL, JACOB F., Hillsboro, Kan ., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Aug 23, 1910, to Jacob C and Eva Hodel near Hillsboro and died Oct. 23, 2005 , at the age of 95 On June 30, 1934, he married Susan Kliewer, who survives He is also survived by two sons, Dwight and Richard, and one daughter, Nelda Reg ier
HOFER, ALMA, Freeman, SO, a membe r of Salem MB Church, Freeman, was born Jan 14, 1922, to Joe P. and Theresa Kleinsasser Gla nzer and died Sept. 25, 2005 at the age of 83 On Mar 2, 1947, she married Joe E. Hofer, who predeceased her in 2003 She is survived by three sons, Daniel and wife Jane of Austin, Texas, Orlando of Sioux Falls, SO, and Earl and wife Suzanne of Wichita, Kan.; three brothers, Paul Glanzer and wife Eva of Harrisonburg, Va., Moses Glanzer and Aaron Glanzer and wife Marcella, all of Freeman; three sisters, Mary Ruth Hofman of Freeman, Miriam and husband Donald Hamm of Bridgewater, SO, and Clara Martha and husband Cordell Graber of Freeman; four sistersin-law, Shirley Glanzer of Bridgewater, Lorraine Deckert of Dolton, SO, Ruth Gross of Huron, SO, Rosella Habersma of Sioux Falls; two brothers-inlaw, John Hofer of Bridgewater, and Vernel Gross of Huron; four grandchildren, and one great - grandchild.
Leadership Positions: -
Co-Director for Africa, Akron, PA
Human Resources Director, Akron, PA
Resource Generation Director, Akron, PA
West Coast MCC Director, Reedley, CA
Iraq, Jordan and Palestine based in Amman, Jordan
Direct inquiries to: Lowell Detweiler, MCC, Human Resources, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501
phone: 717-859-1151
email: Icd@mcc.org
WARKENTINE, ALBERT LEONARD, Kirk, Colo. , a member of the former Joes [Colo.! MB Church, was born July 10 , 1918, to Frank and Agnes Thiessen Warkentine in Fairview, Okla , and died October 3, 2005, at the age of 87 He married Matilda Fadenrecht, who survives He is also survived by two sons, Al and wife Dotty of Clovis, Calif. , and Lee and wife Polly of Boulder, Colo.; one daughter, Ruth and husband Gilbert Seibe l of Thornton, Colo.; two brothers, Ben of the Bronx, NY, and Edward of Shaver Lake, Calif., eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren
WEDEL. MASON RAY, Buh ler, Kan., a member of B'uhler MB Church and a freshman at Tabor College, Hillsbo ro, Kan., was born Jan 30 , 1987, to Dwight and Dixie Wedel in Hutchinson, Kan and died in his sleep Oct. 8, 2005, at the age of 18. He is survived by his parents; two brothers, Taylor and Parker; one sister, Elise, all of Buhler; one grandmother, Florene Wedel of Moundridge, Kan ; one grandfather, Richard Yoder of Hutchinson ; uncles and aunts, Tim and Beth Yoder of Pella , Iowa , Duane and LaDonna Wedel and Dennis Wede l, all of Moundridge and six cousins.
Ediger celebrates
1DOth birthday
Thi s fall th e family of Ab e S. Ediger of Sa lem, Ore , hel d a se ries of celebration s hono ri ng Edi ger's IOoth b irthday. E dige r was b o rn Oct . 25, 1905, in Buhl er, Ka n . I n 1934 h e marr ie d Frances G loeckler o f Shaft er, C alif., whom he met w hile arte ndin g Tab or C oll ege in Hillsb oro, Ka n E dige r live d most of h is ad ult life in California's Ce ntral Valley wh ere h e was a farm e r. In w ritin g about her fath er's life, Jeann ette Flamin g says Edige r felt "g rateful a nd pri vil eged to b e a fann er, to p artici p ate in the mira cle of th e gro wth cycle."
Ed iger enjoyed "sharin g th e fruit of hi s fa rmin g w ith h is b elove d Me nn o nite Brethren c hurc h and confe rence," w rites Flamin g. Tab o r College's E d ige r Hall is nam ed for Abe a nd Fran ces. Th e coupl e was invo lved in a church plant proj ect in Wasco, Calif ., and we re act ively involved in c hu rc h lead ers hip, educa ti on and mu sic.
Frances E di ge r di ed in 1973. In 1975, E di ge r marri ed Fri eda Hagen Wh e n Edige r retired, he and Frieda moved to Fres no, Ca lif ., and li ve d n e ar Fres no Pacific U nivers ity whe re th ey parti ci pated in m an y activities.
Sin ce re tirin g, they have also lived in Reedley, Calif., and Sa n Jose, Calif. Th ey currently live in Sa lem, Ore.
Searching for self-esteem
Thinking about others contributes to a healthy life
The cultural catchphrase "self-esteem" has been around a long time now It's a concept that has been much promoted and often lambasted. But just as I think the idea might be passe, self-esteem comes back into the picture again . Several times recently it has surfaced in my thoughts and conversations
First, I saw something on a Starbucks coffee cup. On my peppermint mocha I read words something like, "The key to loving others is to love oneself first." Second, I was involved in a discussion about the teaching of self-esteem in schools. Third, at a church gathering there were comments I thought were self-esteem related. The feeling was expressed that the way to do ministry in the church was to concentrate on our own needs before serving outsiders.
My knee-jerk reactions to these were, one, gimme a break; two, teaching self-esteem may not help kids who aren't getting support and guidance at home; and three, gimme a break.
Since then I've become more reflective about the whole thmg.
On the subject of loving oneself first, it's easy to be cynical. Aren't people self-absorbed enough? But there must be
ingfully to society and attending to the needs of the soul. A meaningful life does not appear magically with the development of self-esteem. Rather, self-worth grows through work and learning, relationships and accomplishments, difficulties and perseverance. And not just in theory or in the classroom, but in everyday life.
When the subject of self-esteem comes up at church, I get a little worried. People may read too much into Jesus' words: "Love your neighbor as yourself " They say, "See, we need to love ourselves in order to love others." But that changes Jesus' emphasis. His point here and in other teachings was that it's natural to love ourselves and not so natural to love others. So we should strive to love and care for others in the manner we already love and care for ourselves I don't think Jesus was telling us to love ourselves more so we'd be able to love others.
Here I should admit I'm a bit of a stoic. I think it was the author and naturalist Henry Thoreau who said that if he knew of someone coming to do him good, he would run the other way. I'm kind of like that. I don't want people trying to meet my needs, and I'm not so good at being served.
But sometimes that's because I don't want to admit weakness, and I don't like relying on anybody. That isn't good. Not
[; Too often my inner response to talk about loving oneself and looking to get one's needs met is that people need to get over themselves, quit whining and get out and serve. And sometimes that may be right on. But other times people really do have needs that prevent them from engaging in effective ministry, and those needs really do need to be met.
more to it. Despite the "me-first" attitude of our age, people seem more susceptible than ever to depression, insecurity and fear. Perhaps they aren't taking proper care of themselves after all.
The teaching of self-esteem in schools has been controversial. Many have decried the removal of God and the installation of self at center of public education. The criticism is understandable . Watchmg my kids go through the public school system, I've wimessed many goofy aspects of the self-esteem push At times it can seem rather nebulous and unrealistic. "You can become anything you want," students are told, and "respect yourself and others." But how? That's where it gets a little foggy.
Perhaps the problem isn 't that schools are too strong on self-esteem but not specific enough. Of course children should strive toward success and great achievements Of course they should respect themselves others. But too often for kids steeped in media and pop culture bemg great involves material riches and celebrity status
Yet it's well documented that true self-worth has little to do with fame and fortune. It's much more dependent on being a person of integrity, caring about others and being cared about, contributing mean -
only is it the road to burnout, but it can also make me insensitive to others.
Too often my inner response to talk about loving oneself and looking to get one's needs met is that people need to get over themselves, quit whining and get out and serve . And sometimes that may be right on. But other times people really do have needs that prevent them ftom engaging in effective ministry, and those needs really do need to be met Jesus knew that, which is why he focused his love and ministry on the "sheep without a shepherd" who were "harassed and helpless" (Matt. 9:3 6).
One more thing about self-esteem: Though I'm not much of a Christmas person (don't like all the hype and commercialism) it is a holiday rich with the message of human worth. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14). Nothing boosts our self-esteem as much as knowing God loves us .
Remembering Clarence Hiebert
The apostle Paul boldly and under the direction of the Holy Spirit called upon people to follow his example in matters of faith and life(I Cor. II:I). If we wanted to find someone whose life emulated the life of Christ to use as an example for others, for what would we be looking?
We would look for someone with a big worldview. Someone who had not only traveled as a tourist to far away places but who had lived there, come to know people there, and who had come to understand the joys and sorrows of people in distant places. Someone who, when he returned to his native America, appreciated it immensely, but remembered that people in the rest of the world had much to teach us
We would seek someone who, through identifying with people in those distant places, lived in a world with few walls. Someone who empathized with and cared for those who were disadvantaged by virtue of birth or circumstance.
We would look for someone whose view of the world was hopeful because he had wimessed the power of God at work in ways that one can only see when in the presence of people who have experienced the full array of human suffering and still speak powerfully about the faithfulness of a lovingGod
It would be a person who, through curiosity and the wonder of God's creation, has discovered the joy of learning and would continue to learn as long as God gives one breath.
It would be one who has searched for and has found God and who has reveled in the experience of worship. One who has looked deeply into his soul and found there words to express and notes to put with those words in such a way that expression can be made more fully to the God he loves.
It would be someone who understands that what one believes about the truth doesn't change the truth. This discovery grants full freedom to seek the truth with wholehearted devotion . Someone who has decided that it is more important to be respected than to be liked.
It would be someone who would not use knowledge to make others feel small, but rather to use it in such a way as to lead others to the truth. To challenge in gentle ways, to guide and to encourage.
It would be someone who was able to see within the lives of people the possibility of great things and would encourage people to consider what they hoped for in their hearts but to which they had not dared give expression.
This would be a person who would live in such a way that a modest lifestyle would enable generosity with those in need and for causes that res-
onated with personal values.
It would be a person who was guided by a moral compass developed from devotion to a man called Jesus. A person who was so taken with the life of this man that, again and again, he taught the teachings of this man from a document called the Sermon on the Mount. It is a teaching that changes the lives of those to whom it is taught.
Where should such a person be placed if found? It should be in a place of influence. Not necessarily a place of power, or prestige or authority; but a place where values, teaching, faith, passion, living could be a model for others.
Clarence Hiebert was such a person, although he wouldn't have made this claim himself. He would have seen it as arrogant and presumptuous. For 30 years he was placed at Tabor College where, by what he taught and by how he lived, he made a substantial contribution toward our mission of preparing people for a life of learning, work, and service for Christ and his kingdom . We are blessed - Larry Nikkel, president of Tabor College
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Clearing HOUSe ---
Lead Pastor: North Park Community Church, a small, established congregation, is seeking a pastor who will help us grow. Eugene, Ore., is in the beautiful Willamette Valley, one hour from the mountains and one hour from the coast. We are seeking a pastor who meets scriptural qualifications found, in part, in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and 1 Peter 5: 1-4. The pastor should be a person who continually seeks to put God first in his life through prayer and study of the Word. His primary responsibilities will include engaging and biblically-based preaching and teaching; shepherding, with the elders, those in the congregation; encouraging our church leaders; and leading us by example in outreach ministries Compensation package includes salary, housing allowance, health insurance and vacation. Send resume to: Mrs Maryn Glender, Chair, Pastor Search Committee, 3492 Wood Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97402, USA. or e-mail TMGL777rclyahoo.com
Lead Pastor: The Buhler MB Church in Buhler, Kan , is looking for a lead pastor to be part of our four-person pastoral team We are an active, healthy, 500-member small town church that believes Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives. Buhler MB is committed to being a sending church to the pastorate and missions and feels called to fulfill our Christ-centered ' purpose in the world Applicants should have an understanding and belief in Anabaptist theology, preferably with five years experience in a lead or associate pastor position in a multiple staff setting. We are looking for a man with demonstrated gifts for leading, preaching, teaching, caring, communicating, developing strong staff, and vision for the future. Resumes may be sent to the Search Committee at Buhler M B Church, 415 N West Street, Buhler, KS 67522 or e-mailed to inforclbuhlermb org (2/12)
Insurance Financial Services Sal es : Are you looking for a career that combines your profess ional skills and your Christian faith values? If so, Mennonite Mutual Aid wants to talk with you. We are a church-related organization whose primary mission is to help people manage their God-given gifts MMA is seeking sales professionals to help provide insurance and financial solutions to individuals and businesses, primarily associated with Mennonite and other Anabaptist-related denominations Openings in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Oregon and other states Excellent compensation and benefits packages. To learn mo r e, visit www.mma-online org/careers. Fax or e-mail resume to (574) 537-6635 or hrrclmma-online.org. (10/10)
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