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19 > Buller resigns as USC executive director
20 > CDC celebrates working better together 22 > Texas youth on FIRE
23 > Jost sees potential, challenge in Midwest
26 > Senior adults meet in OK City
26 > Young adult conference coming in February 27
MCC relief sales: Fun and giving across North America 28
MCC organizes observers for Congos runoff election
FEATURES
10 SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS by Brad Vogel
The first Christmas was characterized by a great deal of quietness and even silence. So why do we sing with exuberant joy the carols celebrating his birth? Because the message of Gods great love for us must be told.
13 OUR SWEET ROSE OF SHARON by Kenneth Gibble
This contemplative Christmas hymn reminds us that God, because of his passionate love for us, sent his son, as prophesied in Isaiah, to give us life eternal.
14 THE FIRST CHRISTMAS SONG by Jan Johnson
Mary responds to the miraculous events in her life by recalling the ideas, words and phrases of Old Testament literature How does a peasant girl become so familiar with Scripture? How can this connection with Scripture come to characterize our lives?
16 JOY TO THE WORLD! By Ed Peters
The popular song Joy to the World! was inspired by Psalm 98 in which the psalmist offers mounting praise for who God is and what he has done. We are called to join with all of creation in celebration of our God who saves, rules and judges. He is the foundation of all Christmas joy.
18 POEM by Jean Janzen
> FiRST WORDS
(from the editor)
What are you doing this month that is helping your family keep Christ Jesus as the focus of your Christmas celebrations? Please write and tell us about it. You can send a brief description via e-mail to editor®usmb.org or mail it to P.O. Box 220, Hillsboro, KS 67063.
This request is prompted by a phone call from a reader looking for suggestions as to how she can enhance her family's celebration of Christ's birth; Could we please include some ideas in the Leader? Unfortunately when she called, the feature section of this issue was already done. But her question got me thinking: Why not publish an article next December in which readers share their ideas for keeping our Christmas celebrations focused on Christ. And what betrer time to ask readers to contribute suggestions than when we are right in the middle of our Christmas celebrations.
So please share with us one thing that you and your family are doing this year that is helping you focus your Christmas celebrations on Christ. We are looking for suggestions from people in a variety of life stages and who celebrate in a variety of family settings. And while it's tempting to reflect on past traditions, we are looking for suggestions based on your current activities.
What kinds of suggestions are we looking for? Here's one example: My friend's house was on a citywide holiday home tour, and she wanted to make sure that everyone that walked through her home knew of her family's faith in Jesus Christ. So she displayed a birthday cake for Jesus and provided, free for the taking, a description of what each element of the cake represents. The three-layer cake is round to represent the earth and the layers represent the Trinity The cake is chocolate to remind us of the world's sins and has white , frosting to represent our cleansed hearts. A single candie symbolizes that Jesus is the one true light of the world. The candle is red to represent Christ's shed blood and stands in the outline of a star that represents the light that guided the wise men. The cake is trimmed with a wreath of green frosting to represent new life in Christ. This "wordless" cake reminds those of us who know the Savior that he should be the focus of our celebrations and provides us with an opportunity to share with those who don't know him as the true reason for the season. -CF
> QUOT ABLE
"He (Mike Rich) found a way to put you in the shoes of a I4-year-old girl for whom any of these things are big deals-having to tell your parents you're pregnant, going on a dangerous Ioo-mile journey. Those are much more dramatic scenes than you think about when you 're reading Scripture or hearing it in Sunday school.. This script and film make you realize that the level of faith Mary and Joseph had in God was extraordinary." -Christian filmmaker Wyck Godfrey, in an interview with Christianity Today, about his new movie The Nativity Story released this month
> UP & COMING
• Jan. 18- 19, 2007- U S Conference Leadership Board meeting, Phoenix, Ariz
• Jan. 19-20, 2007 - Board of Fa ith and Life Summit, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Jan. 21, 2007 - World Fellowsh ip Sunday sponsored by Mennonite World Conference
• March 31-April3, 2007 - National MB Youth Convention , Anaheim ,
Conn ie Faber EDITOR
Myra Holm es ASSISTANT EDITOR
Elai ne Ewert GRAPHIC DE SIGNER
MAN DATE Th e Chris tian Leader (/SSN 0009 - 51491is pu blished m onthly by the U S Confere nce of Mennonite Brethren Churche s. The Christia n Leader seeks to inform Mennonit e Breth r en members and churches of t he event s. ac t ivitie s, deci sion s an d i ss ues of their denomination and t o instruct inspire and initiate dialogue so membe rs will as pire to be faithful disciple s of Chri st as understood in t he evangeli cal/Anabapti st theological tra dition
EDITORIAL POLICY The views expresse d in this pu blication do not necessarily re present the po sition of t he Christian Leader the U S Co nference Leadership Board or the Mennon i t e Brethren Church Scripture referen ces are from New International Version unless otherwi se noted. The editors invite freelan ce article submission s. A SASE must accompany article s.
READER PARTICIPATION The editors invite readers to share their thought s and opinions on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church using letters to the editor and Forum essays Letters to the edito r should be brief- 300 word s or less - and on one subject. Letters mu st be signed and include the writer'S city and s tate Letters will be edited lor 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 churche s Essays should not exceed 800 words and should include the write r' s name address home church and occ upation
COMMUNICATION All correspondence i ncluding change of address. should be addre sse d to the Christian Leader. Box 220 Hill sboro KS 67063
SUBSCRIPTIONS $18 lor one year $34 for two years and $50 for three years 1$20 $38 $54 in Canadal ; $1.50 per copy
MEMBERSHIP The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Pre ss Ass ociation and Meetinghou se an association of Mennoni te and Brethren in Chri st editors
POSTMASTER Send addre ss changes to the Chris tian Leader Box 220 Hillsboro KS 67063 Periodicals po stage pa i d at Hillsboro Kan sas.
CONNIE FABER
> READERS SAY
Drawing attention to God
My worship style preference is traditional choir so what I am about to say will likely offend some participants in contemporary-style selVices led by worship teams. I know that contemporary selVices have become the norm for our younger generation and I am all for that if it brings them to church and helps them develop into mature Christians.
In the past several years I have visited and attended worship selVices led by worship teams at several different churches and denominations. Besides having to stand for a long time (even though most leaders tell you to sit if you want) the singing starts off quite enthusiastic and genuine, but it soon progresses into another level which appears not quite genuine. The team members close their eyes while singing, some cry if asked to say something, others raise their arms and hands , etc . I may be totally off base, but in some cases I would venture that this is not the normal character or behavior of the participants.
As constructive criticism, I would suggest that worship team members not draw attention to themselves but focus on bringing the congregation into a worship mood. This should not be a performance but a chance to lead the congregation in worshipping God. If you cannot do this without a lot of personal gestures, etc., maybe being a worship team member is not your calling.
Except for the large TV churches and southern U.S. congregations, I realize that during my lifetime traditional choir selVices are likely coming to an end, and I will continue going to church even if they do. Maybe a solution for people who think like I do is to simply stay seated, close our eyes and enjoy the sound of music! If some of the choruses could be replaced by some of our old hymns that would also be a heavenly experience. My final thought: keep going to church.
Bob Falk, Fresno,
Calif
A deeper question
I have been following with great interest the recent debate over whether or not Mennonite Brethren are Arminians. The debate between Calvinists and Arminians is generally seen as one between the sovereignty of God and the freedom of human choice. In that case the sovereignty of God must prevail. But I believe the question has been wrongly framed
The question is not between the power of God and human freedom. The mystery goes much deeper, into the very nature of God himself. God is all powerful, creator and ruler of all creation. God is also perfect love, in the relationship within the Trinity and in God's relationship to his creation. God created us in his image to love him and become his bride. But love cannot force a spontaneous response. That love led him to create us, to forgive us when we went after gods, and to die for our salvation and purification . If God forces us to love him, this is no love.
My Calvinist friends stress the sovereignty of God and rightly so. But too often they do not stress equally the love of God, the need to build the church on the basis of love, the love that leads us to minister to a lost and broken world, the compassion that seeks restorative, not punitive, justice, and the love of enemies because they are us-humans created in the image of God and made for love. Too often they stress righteousness as keeping the law not the freedom we have because we have a new perfect nature within us that seeks to make us Christ-like in our lives The law can only warn against the worst of sins. Keeping it can never make us perfect. As Mennonite Brethren we need to keep in mind God's sovereignty, but we must not lose our stress on our God who is a God of love, mercy and salvation.
Paul G. Hiebert, Deerfield, Ill.
Editor's note: m have not been consistent in the spelling of 'i\rminian. " We have spelled this word incorrectly in past issues and have used the word 'i\rmenian," referring to the people of Armenia, when we should have used the word 'i\rminian, " referring to a theological perspective named for 17th century theologian Jacob Arminius
c..tfJ... Pontius' Puddle
> CONFERENCE CALL by
Giving thanks
Saying thank- you when you leave
I'm not sure where I heard it first, but I continue to remember this definition for Christian leadership: "Describe reality, define strategies, say thank-you when you leave." I have resigned my position as executive director of the u.s. Conference and I hope that this
Chuck Buller
of our pastors today come from other traditions and seminaries; a term like "peacemaker" is just as easily adopted by military officers who serve and protect our country as it is a theological term that grew out of our reformation theology known as Anabaptism. Unless you have ever worked in this reality, it is hard to describe the experience. Yet it definition summarizes my leadership the four years I have been granted the privilege of leading the Mennonite Brethren denomination.
I will own the fact that my description of the MB reality was my interpreta-
1 ho p e th ..1t in th e fa ce of this diversity I have heen su c-
cess ful in holding
peopl
e together during thb
time of r"lpid cha nge an d o rgani:ation;'11 restrucwring.
tion of it. From a human standpoint reality is always subject to our perceptions and experience even as we attempt to anchor it with the Scriptures and an unchanging God. How different is the MB family of churches today than it was during my formative years in Reedley, Calif. In those days MB congregations were largely the product of Dutch/Russian immigrants who had found their way from the plains of the Ukraine to the farmlands of Kansas, Oklahoma and California.
In the 1960s when · as a boy I went to my firsr General Conference, such meetings were largely a function of relationships and family. People reconnecting since the previous convention and doing church and mission together in a way that had many "bounded sets" of ethnicity, biblical interpretation, educational institutions and a term that I remember as the "brotherhood." If you are unfamiliar with the word "brotherhood," let me just say it would take too long to describe. You know it when you experience it It was the glue that held us together.
Some 40 years later we are a denomination that is diverse (over 50 percent of our churches worship in a language other than English) and "unbounded." Many
is an exciting challenge for district ministers, executive directors, Leadership Board members and district Boards of Faith and Life
We are told that postrnodem America is all about these theological and organizational conundrums and that we should embrace it all! I hope that in the face of this diversity I have been successful in holding people together during this time of rapid change and organizational restructuring. I hope that I have given more than I have taken. I hope that I have served more than manipulated. I hope that God has been glorified in this time of transition.
These past four years have been four of the most fulfilling in my 27 years of ministry. As I take a step away from vocational ministry for the first time in my life I do so with few regrets. I have been privileged to preach, lead capital campaigns and rebuild church and denominational "mousetraps." It has been most fulfilling and purposeful.
Thank-you for the chance to lead and grow. Thank-you for the trust which enabled me daily to develop the gifts of the Holy Spirit granted me for the journey. These gifts are always enabled by the communities in which they are expressed. By God's design there are very few successful lone rangers in ministry I give special thanks to the volunteers who have served with me. In four years I have worked with three board chairmen who all became friends: Rolando Mireles, Steve Prieb and Joe Johns. I was privileged to build relationships with institutionalleaders such as Randy Friesen, Jim Holm and Jon Wiebe. Our relatively small family of faith has many capable people at the helm.
If I have a parting hope for the Mennonite Brethren it would be that we understand that we are too small to build too many silos. The people in the pews really don't understand why they are bombarded by fundraisers from every conceivable direction that work out of a well-intentioned partnership but often at the end of the day feel competitive. I suspect this to be the next executive director's most significant challenge and his or her most significant reality. I wish my successor well in the task and hope to join you in 2008 when we meet for our next convention in Hillsboro, Kan.
MMA partners with banks
Investment targets New Orleans homes and businesses
Mennonite Mutual Aid, an Anabaptist stewardship organization, has recently invested another $200,000 to help people recover from last year's hurricanes in the southern U.S. As part of its most recent efforts, MMA has invested $100,000 with both Dryades Savings Banks and Liberty Bank.
Dryades Savings Bank, serving New Orleans and Jefferson parishes, is one of the nation's most successful African American businesses according to Black Enterprise Magazine. Liberty Bank is helping lead the redevelopment efforts in the devastated area of New Orleans East and is one of the largest African American owned financial services companies in the country. By making deposits in historically black owned banks, MMA hopes to help ensure that all parts of the New Orleans community have access to capital for rebuilding homes and businesses.
These investments are part of MMRs Community
Development Investments program that helped in rebuilding efforts throughout the past year. By supplying loans to respected community development organizations in the affected region, MMA is helping those who have lost so much rebuild their lives and businesses.
MMA has also been working alongside the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility to help lead more institutions toward hurricane-related investments. ICCR is a coalition of 275 religious institutions that works to integrate just and sustainable values into corporations' decisions. In early May, Mark Regier, MMA stewardship services investing manager, and other ICCR members met with religious and other community leaders who were playing key roles in attempting to rehabilitate various communities impacted by the hurricanes. Their focus was to understand how, as faith-based institutional investors, they might aid in assisting and encouraging the reconstruction efforts of leaders in the area.
In addition to these recent efforts, MMA worked with churches nationwide to raise just over $1 milliQn as part of the hurricane relief effort last fall. For every $3 given by a congregation, MMA gave $1 in matching funds-up to $100,000, a goal that was reached quickly. Over 242 churches gave more than $900,000 in connection with this effort. -MMA
Volunteers assist Colorado church
with Team U-SERV, a ministry of the Southern District Conference, helped Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Aurora, Colo., with needed building improvements and repairs . The four-year-old church building had not been completely finished during the original construction process, and some damage had occured Among other projects, the volunteers painted, built new cabinets, bought and installed kitchen cabinets, repaired sheet rock water damage and repaired and installed doors Pastor Endashaw Kelkele expressed his thanks to the team when he said, "You folks have been a great example . You do what I preach ."
Fourteen volunteers, each giving as much time as they had, along with Team U-SERV leaders Wtlmer and Hildegard Thiessen of Hillsboro, !(an., worked at the church Oct 1-8 In August, Wilmer Thiessen together with Team U -SERV board member Arly Funk met with the congregation's four pastors to discuss the project Workers included Marty Barnhart, Arly and Martha Funk, Allen and Arlene Kliewer and Harlan Seibel, all of
Lakewood, Colo.; Les and Vi Fast, Jim Friesen and Rich and Elizabeth Kauffman, all of Littleton, Colo.; LeRoy Goentzel, Denver, Colo ; Emery Suderman, Cordell, Okla.; and Gene Suderman, Newton, Kan About a dozen people from the congregation also participated.
Thiessen says the group enjoyed becoming acquainted with and working with their hosts and that the Ethiopian congregation showed the volunteers generous hospitality. ' The local congregation was very appreciative to the people in the team, and they pitched in where they could," says Thiessen in his report. "Even though the Team U-SERV stated policy is that we provide our own lodging and food, the church people provided food abundantly for the workers They not only brought full meals during the work time, but also filled the church refrigerator with food so the workers could help themselves at anytime."-Team U-SERV
Europe volume in history series released
resting Faith and Tradition, the history of European Mennonite churches, has been released as part of the Global Mennonite History Series. A project of Mennonite World Conference, this second volume in the series tells the story of Mennonite churches coming into being across Europe, endeavoring to remain faithful through nearly five centuries.
Much has been written about the beginnings of these fellowships But until now, far less has been available about the years that followed. Frequent wars during the past 480 years strained these Mennonite churches immeasurably, especially when their governments battled each other. This volume recounts those torturous and formative experiences.
Seldom have the distinguishing features of the Dutch, the French, the Germans, the Swiss, the Russian and, more recently, the U.K., the Italian, and the Spanish Mennonite churches been examined. These churches' cul-
tural and historical differences are significantly unique, and they are a key part of the history told in these chapters by European Mennonite historians and church leaders. The "Umsiedler", with their sheer numbers and religious vigor, are a current force included in this ongoing story.
Today many of these Anabaptistdescended Mennonite churches throughout Europe are declining in membership, but they are not without reinvigorated faith and hope. Writers from within these various fellowships have contributed the chapters to this frankly told, highly engaging story.
Hanspeter Jecker of Switzerland, and Aile G. Hoekema of The Netherlands, served as co-editors of this volume. John A. Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder are the series editors. Testing Faith and Tradition : Global Mennonite History Series, Europe is available in the U.S. from Good Books (www.GoodBooks.com. or by calling 800-762-7171).-MWC
Colleges release enrollment figures
Fienrollment figures at Tabor College and Fresno Pacific University, the college and university supported by U.S. Mennonite Brethren, present a somewhat mixed picture. At Tabor, a four-year liberal arts college headquartered in Hillsboro, Kan., with a second location in Wichita, Kan., fall enrollment numbers remain strong overall at 60J students, down only three students from last year's count of 606. Reports from the Hillsboro campus show a slight increase from last year's figure of 480 to thi s year's 488. The Wichita campus experienced a slight decrease in undergraduate programs from II9 students to III Fall enrollment at FPU, which
offers undergraduate and graduate programs from a main campus in Fresno and centers in North Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield, Calif., stands at 2,2II as of the 16-day census, down from last year's 2,261 students. The number of degree completion students-working adults with some college completing their bachelor's degree - is up, with 494 compared to last year's 406. Enrollment for traditional undergraduate students and graduate students dropped, with 998 traditional undergraduates and 719 graduate students, compared to last year's 1,047 and 808, respectively For both schools, last year's numbers represented record-settinggrowth . - TC, FPU
PUBLICATION CLOSES
The Mennonitische Rundschau, a German periodical of the Canadian Conference, will release its final edition January 2007. Declining readership and consultations with pastors, lay leaders and conference executive staff led to the decision to end the Rundschaus ministry on a strong note, celebrating 130 years of publication in January -Canadian Conference
LEADERSHIP CHANGES
Two inter-Mennonite agencies recently announced changes in senior executive leadership. Larry D. Miller has been named as Mennonite Mutual Aid's new president and CEO. Miller will begin leading the 60-year-old stewardship organization in January 2007, taking over from interim president Steve L. Garboden. MMA is an Anabaptist insurance and financial service agency. Robb Davis, Mennonite Central Committee executive director, resigned Oct. 24 as director of the international relief, development and peace agency. Citing differences in leadership style, Davis requested his resignation be effective immediately. Lowell Detweiler has been named MCC's acting executive director, a short - term position while the committee seeks an interim executive director: Detweiler was a longtime MCC worker and former director of Mennonite Disaster Service .MMA,MCC
MQ RECEIVES GRANT
MB Biblical Seminary's Ministry Quest program received another grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. that will allow the program to continue calling out, developing and training young leaders for churches and their communities through at least 2011. Ministry Quest was initiated in 2002 through two grants from the Lilly Endowment Inc. In its first four years, the program has walked 148 participants from the U.S. and Canada through a one-year program that includes two retreats, ministry opportunities in their home congregations, and mentoring by mature Christians from their communities. The new matching grant of $600,000 requires the seminary to raise an equivalent amount towards Ministry Quest and related initiatives.-MBBS
hen the angel appears to shepherds living in the fields near Bethlehem, the angel describes the birth of Christ the Lord as cCgood news of great joy" (Luke 2:10). The first two chapters of Luke are filled with stories of people who respond with joyful song to the news of Jesus' coming. Just as Mary, Zachariah and Simeon respond with praise to the birth of Christ, Christians through the centuries have used poetry, music and the visual arts to express faith, joy and wonder at the truth we celebrate at Christmas. That truth is this: cCThe Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). May this collection of essays awaken in us a fresh appreciation for the words and melodies of the familiar songs of Christmas. May we find new joy in singing the good news: CCToday a Savior has been born to you!"
(Luke2:n)
CHRIST
Christmas carols are man's exuberant respon se to God's great gift of love
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, 10, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, HFear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is bam this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, cCGlory to God in the highest, and on earth . .. " (Luke 2: 8-14 KJV).
Wait a minute. Saying? Weren't they singing? What about, we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains"? And "Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation"? And certainly "Hark! the herald angels sing"? The sounds of Chrisrmas are singing and bells, carols and carillons; aren't these the expected and scripturally-modeled celebrations of our Savior's birth?
A second reading of the Chrisrmas story recorded by Luke reveals-apart from the proclamation of the solo angel and then his heavenly host backup ensemble-a great deal of quietness and even silence. Tending to flocks at night is not a noisy affair and being "sore afraid" most likely includes speechlessness.
One can imagine the shepherds in quiet awe as they hastily make their way to where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are housed. Apart from the typical sounds of a newborn, chances are Mary and Joseph are quiet, if indeed Away in a Manger is correct and the child is sleeping. And Luke records that following the shepherd's visit Mary ponders these things "in her heart"; again a quiet reflection
Spreading the news
If spoken proclamations, awe and quiet reflection are the immediate sounds of Chrisrmas what then are the roots of our celebrative ebullience? Undoubtedly they are the personal, human responses to this gift from God Luke records that "the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them" (Luke 2: 20). Three verses earlier we read that the shepherds "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."
Simeon and Anna, both present when the child Jesus was brought to the temple in order to fulfill the requirements of the Law, recognized the Son of God, gave glory to God and spoke of the mission of the child Notice the content of the responses: first, glory to God; second, telling abroad. And so as we celebrate Chrisnnas we do so in awe of the mystery of the incarnation, in praise to God for this truly "awefull " gift, and we proclaim to the world the mission of the child of God. After all, such are the elements of the angels' message : the Savior is a child, bom of a virgin, wrapped in swaddling clothes; glory to God; and peace on earth.
For us the sounds of Chrisrmas involve singing because the story must be told - the message must be proclaimed. The texts of Chrisrmas carols range from prophecy and expectation to praise to prayer to mini -sermons to a retelling of the nativity story. The larter type is represented by traditional favorites such as Angels We Have Heard on High, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, Go, Tell it on the Mountain and How Great Our Joy! which retell the angelic message to the shepherds. The peaceful scene around the manger is depicted in delic ate
fashion by Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber in the German cradle song Silent Night. And the visit of the magi is recorded in the Epiphany hymns As with Gladness Men of Old and We Three Kings.
The nativity-in its fullest telling-is represented in Angels from the &alms of Glory, What Child Is This? and The First Noel. The presence of the wise men at Jesus' birthplace in these texts is intentional in regard to message-we are to honor and give to Christ, and we learn of the prophetic nature of the gifts. However, decorative
the cause of the incarnation that must be proclaimed. Joy to the World! proclaims Jesus as Savior and King; Of the Father's Love Begotten reminds us that Jesus is eternal, the agent of creation, Lord of all, beginning and end; Good Christian Friends, &joice calls everyone to salvation.
Telling the story
But perhaps no carol is more complete in terms of storytelling, awe and mystery, proclamation and praise and prayer and preaching than Phillips Brooks' 0 Little Town of Bethlehem. Brooks, an
As we celebrate Christmas w e do so in awe of the mystery of the incarnation , in praise to God for this truly "awe - full" gift, and we proclaim to the world the mission of the child of God.
nativity sets and children's musicals notwithstanding, the visit of the Magi was up to two years removed from Jesus' birth (Mart. 2:1-16) . Nonetheless, staging the wise men with the shepherds around Jesus' manger, while not historically accurate, is certainly not worth quibbling about.
Foretelling the news
Carols of prophecy are found most abundantly in the Advent section of hymnals. Blessed be the God of Israel; 0 Come, 0 Come, Emmanuel; and Come, Thou Long- Expected Jesus are most sung, while One Day in aU Time, married to the beautiful tune Normandy, is worthy of more exposure. Its prophetic message focuses not on the first coming of Christ but prays for his presence today and yearns for his second coming.
Similar in nature is It Came Upon the Midnight Clear that begins with the angels' song and then looks forward to the coming again of the Prince of Peace. Also the English hymn Once in Royal David's City takes us from seeing Jesus as a baby in the manger to seeing him as Lord in heaven. And the 16th-century German carol Lo, How a Rose Eer Blooming records Christ's birth as fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
Carols of praise to the Christ Child include 0 Come, aU ye Faithful; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Joy to the World! and Of the Father's Love Begotten, a translation of a text that is likely the oldest text in our hymnals (4th century) sung to a 13th century plainsong tune. Texts of prayer are found, of course, in the carols of Advent, and also in Child of Heaven, A Nativity Prayer, and Away in a Manger, most likely the first Christmas song any of us sang. I recommend singing it to the English tune Cradle Song in addition to the traditional American tune, which is occasionally and erroneously attributed to Martin Luther.
A mini-sermon is found in most carol texts for it is
Episcopalian priest, wrote the hymn in 1865 for the children of his Sunday school. Inspiration for the text came from a Christmas Eve visit to the field outside of Bethlehem where the annunciation to the shepherds is said to have taken place. The tune with which it is most associated was composed by Brooks' organist, Lewis Redner. Redner reported that the setting was conceived during a profound slumber on Christmas Day in 1868.
Within this carol an aura of mystery lies in the unpretentiousness of Bethlehem, the quietness of a star-filled night, the juxtaposition of the darkness of night and the light of the world housed within the city, the Savior born in simplicity to a mortal woman, and the presence of angels about the city. God's gift is proclaimed and peace pronounced upon the earth by these angels. And then mystery melds with theology and an invitation is given: God's gift is given in silence and meekness and is received in the same spirit of meekness. The carol closes with a prayer for the holy child of Bethlehem to descend and to fulfill the angels' song: God is with us-Emmanuel!
Peace and proclamation, jubilation and contemplation These are the sounds of Christmas, contained within the text of Scripture and reflected in the congregational songs we sing each Advent season. In reality, the sounds of this season are the same as those we should experience in corporate worship throughout the year. Awe at the mystery of the person of God, how he works in this world, just how far beyond us he really is. Contemplation that he would love us so much that he would send himself in the form of his Son to redeem us to himself. Jubilation that he did! And proclamation that the world may know the wonders of his love
Joy to the world-the Lord has come! How silently the gift is given. Heavenly hosts sing alleluia. 0 come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. Amen.
Brad Vogel is associate professor of choral music at Tabor College and directs the Tabor College Concert Choir He and his family are members of Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church
Our sweet Rose of Sharon
Hymn expresses passionate love for Christ
Lo, how a Rose eer blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse's lineage coming, as men of old have sung . It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind To show God's love aright, she bore to men a Savior, When half spent was the night.
Technically speaking Lo, How a Rose Eer Blooming is not a Christmas "carol." Today we use the word carol to mean any song sung at Christmastime. But several hundred years
In the 1609 version of the song Christ is symbolized as a rose, a rose ever blooming. The poet says that this rose springs from a tender stem of Jesse's lineage, as "men of old have sung." The allusion here is to places in the Old Testament where the promised Messiah is described as a descendant of David David's father is Jesse. When the hymn declares that the rose is "of Jesse's lineage," it is making a direct reference to the verse in Isaiah noted above.
To this prophecy of the Messiah, the hymn writer adds another image, one that comes from Song of Solomon. In
The text of this hymn is unusual for a Ch r istmas song. The baby born to Mary is never mentioned by name. In fact, th er e's no mention of a child.
ago in England a carol was a song sung to accompany a round dance; it wasn't necessarily a religious piece nor was it sung only at Christmastime Over the years, however, we've come to associate caroling with the season of the Nativity.
We should probably call La, How a Rose Eer Blooming a Christmas song or even a hymn . The mood of the music isn't especially festive or joyous . It is set in a minor key and has the plaintive sound of music sung centuries ago in European cathedrals . That's not just a coincidence because the music dates back to the Middle Ages It's an old German tune; one source says that it was a folk melody from the Rhineland Michael Praetorius, who lived from 1571 to 1621, set it to music
Ideally the song should be sung softly and slowly. The music evokes a reflective, contemplative mood. I usually picture Lo, How a Rose sung in a darkened church with candles burning
The text of this hymn is unusual for a Christmas song. The baby born to Mary is never mentioned by name. In fact, there's no mention of a child Mary is mentioned, but the text says only that "to show God's love aright she bore to men a Savior." Originally published in 1582 or 1588 in Gebetbuchlein des Frater Conradus, it was a 19-stanza C atholic hymn whose focus was Mary, who is called a "rose "
A Protestant version of the hymn appeared in 1609 in Germany under the title Es ist ein Reis Entsprungen with "rose" now referring not to Mary but to Jesus . The German word for twig or sprig is reis At some point reis probably became confused with ros, the German word for rose. Since the song continues to speak of Chri st as a flower the confusion may have existed in the original song, reflecting a misquote of Isaiah II :1: ' J\nd there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots "
the first chapter a woman singing a love song. is
She is so happy about the love between herself and her beloved that she describes herself with these words: "I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys."(Song of Sol. 2:1).
Early Christian interpretation of those words asserts that the intense, passionate love expressed in these words by the woman for her lover is the same kind of love Christ has for his church. It became popular in the Middle Ages to think of Christ as the rose of Sharon, a rose always in bloom with a sweet fragrance.
A verse that appears in some Protestant hymnals says:
This flower, whose fragrance tender With sweetness /iUs the air, Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness everywhere.
True man , yet very God, From sin and death he saves us And lightens every load.
Praise God for the creative gifts of poets and composers, as they help us to contemplate God's precious gift of the Christ child, the rose of Sharon, the light who comes to dispel our darkness and to lighten every load.
Kenneth Gibble is a freelance writer living in Greencastle, Penn.
The First Christmas Song
Mary is so familiar with Scripture that it molds her response to God's request
IMAGINE BEING GIVEN A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNlTY to be involved in a venture that will change the world. How will you respond? Will you hesitate as Moses did at the burning bush? Will you agree but then run away as Jonah did? Or might you ask doubtful questions as Gideon did? When Gabriel visits Mary, announcing to her the parenting mission of all time, Mary asks a few questions and surrenders herself. A little later when her older cousin Elizabeth greets her as blessed among women, Mary bursts fotth in a seemingly spontaneous, passionate prayersong. What sort of teenager is Mary that she had more to say than 'Wow" or 'l\.wesome!"?
Her response, recorded in Luke 1:46-55, is so magnificent that some folks have doubted that an illiterate peasant girl could have composed this song. Yet others have caught on that her song, called the Magnificat, is composed from Hannah's words celebrating Samuel's birth as well as from several psalms (I Sam. 2:1-10; Pss. 38:6; 71:19; m:9; 1°3:17; 98:1; 107:9; 98:3; 132:11 ).
In his commentary on Luke for The New International Commentary Series , Norval Geldenhuys observes that many "have asked whether Mary had her Old Testament open before her when she uttered the song. They forget that all pious Israelites from their childhood days knew by heart songs from the Old Testament and ofren sang them in the home circle and at celebrations. Mary was steeped in the poetical literature of her nation, and accordingly her hymn also bears the unmistakable signs of it."
This development of this first Christtnas song is a good example of how by bringing Scripture into our everyday rhythms - even lawn mowing or dish washing -
songs can fonn our thoughts and inner self. In Mary's case the language and pattern of Scripture was so embedded in her that it shaped her response to the miraculous event that would change her life and mine forever. Mary overflowed with ideas, words and phrases from these passages that were knit in her soul. Both Hannah and Mary:
• speak with a strong sense of personal involvement as evidenced by personal pronouns: my soul, my spirit, the
God, not a religion) rather than a checklist of good things to do, these practices are engaging and even fun, not laborious . They become our way of «hanging out" with God.
Studying the passage helps us understand the background and circumstances of the passage so that we can establish meaning and connection with characters and concepts through which God speaks. Concentrating on words and phrases this way can bring understanding
Meditating on the passage, we take the words and ideas of the
In Mary's case the language and pattern of Scripture was so embedded in her that it shaped her response to the miraculous event that would change her life and mine forever. Mary overflowed with ideas, words and phrases from these passages that were knit in her soul.
Mighty One has done great things for me (Mary); my heart; my mouth; I delight in your deliverance (Hannah).
• focus on God's greatness : Holy is your name (Mary); there is no one holy like the Lord (Hannah)
• look beyond the singer's concerns to how God intervenes in the world for the hopeless: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty (Mary); He raises the poor from the dust and lifrs the needy from the ash heap (Hannah).
Mary not only got the words right, but she also understood the heart of God about her circumstances Others no doubt viewed Mary's circumstances-unmarried but pregnant-as problematic. Mary did not. Instead her song was freighted with words of trust: «From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me."
Mary's song also shows that she did not mechanically memorize Hannah's song and the psalm fragments. The flowing composition indicates that Mary knew the passages by heart. Because the Spirit-drenched words had molded her thought patterns and conversation with God, she belted out these words off the cuff without performing them, trying to be spiritual or trying to impress anyone. She had spent years letting God's ideas through Hannah's words cultivate her heart so that the words and ideas were now hers. Treasuring and pondering ancient words trained her well to ponder later the words and actions of Jesus (Luke 2:19, 51).
How does our heart learn to respond with the heart of God as instinctively as Mary did? By entering into passages of Scripture and letting them become part of us Absorbing God's thoughts involves a variety of spiritual disciplines. When our spirituality is a relational process (and evangelical Christians claim that Christianity is a relationship with
passage down into the depths of ourselves into our will and feelings. We hold the words on our tongues as we would savor a piece of candy. We picture ourselves in the person's circumstances or ask why the words mean what they do to the speaker. Mary must have ofren put herself in Hannah's place
Praying the passage helps us respond to this transcendent God who speaks to us We personalize the words of Scripture until they express our deepest self.
Memorizing the passage can make it easier to meditate on it because it will always be handy. Many people struggle to memorize Scripture or have tried memorizing and become turned off because it seemed like such work. So start by not memorizing at all. Instead study and meditate on the passage for at least a month Begin with passages (I Cor. 13:4-8 or Ps. 23) instead of isolated and unrelated verses. Cut it up as if it were that piece of candy and examine it. Perhaps outline the passage or find the words that connect with each other. Pick out the words that jump out at you and rest in them .
As we study and meditate, we let the words and ideas move us deeply by pondering them We find we have phrases and verses memorized before even trying
In this way the words, phrases and ideas become part of our very soul. In their book Yearning Minds and Burning Hearts, Glandion Carney and William Long write, «Its very contours become the contours of our thoughts, words and hopes . This is beyond the stage where Scripture is used to extract comforting verses or even 'principles of living: [God, in the fonn of] Scripture becomes our most engaging conversation partner." At this rate, we're likely to spontaneously respond with words that bless and motivate.
Jan Johnson is th e author of When the Soul Listens, Enjoying the Presence of God and the Spiritual Disciplines Bible Studies (www janjohnson org). Johnson, who is also a speaker and spiritual director, lives in Simi Valley, Calif.
A look at the psalm that inspired the song
My FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG IS Joy to the World, a carol that dates back to 1719. But the inspiration for it goes back to Psalm 98. The Psalm speaks of a joy not dependent on circumstances but rooted in who God is and what he has done. It is a joy that ultimately finds its fulfillment in the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are three stanzas to this psalm of praise, each building on the other. We see how time is used. In the first stanza (v. 1-3) God is praised for
what he has done in the past. In the second stanza (v. 4-6) God is praised for who he is in the present. The third stanza (vv. 7-9) praises God for what he will do in the future.
Further, we hear an increasing volume of praise. At first Israel is invited to join the song of joy. Then all people are invited : "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth." Finally all creation-the sea, rivers and mountains-join in.
Three characteristics of God are highlighted. Together these themes grow with mounting excitement and joy.
Remember God our Savior
"Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him" (Ps. 98:1).
The psalm begins with the congregation invited to praise God for the past salvation that he has given to Israel. Look at what the Lord has done, the psalmist says. God has rolled up his sleeves, his holy arm has worked salvation.
The psalmist doesn:t list a particular event, most likely because God's saving work is ongoing. Old Testament worshippers might recall the Exodus from Egypt when God delivered Israel from Pharaoh's power. There were wars won under Joshua's leadership, deliverance from the Philistines under David and God's bringing back the remnant of Israel safely from Babylonian exile. The song likely touched generations differently, but
it was a call for people to remember what God has done and to rejoice.
As we read this psalm we recognize God's saving work reached its climax when he sent his Son to rescue a lost world. The apostle Paul writes, 'We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. But when the right rime came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children" (Gal. 4:3-5 NLT) .
This is God's ultimate act of deliverance and salvation, the foundation for all celebration at Christmastime. God came down in person to be our Savior, the one who would rescue us, giving us meaning, purpose and eternal life.
Remembering God's saving work on our behalf leads to joy today. We might not experience a postcard Christmas with everything in its place, but the season's joy doesn't depend on gifts under the tree, Christmas turkey or a family to celebrate with These are nice, but if we depend on them our joy will be fragile .
Sometimes pastors struggle with Christmas: "How am I going to find an angle on Christmas that people haven't already heard before?" Perhaps we shouldn't feel guilty to repeat what has been done before. After all, annual celebrations like Christmas are to cause us to look back again. We are to remember not only a sentimental story of a baby born in a stable and placed in a manger but the saving work of our God.
Look back and rejoice in God our Savior. In no other time has God so rolled up his sleeve and revealed his deliverance more dramatically then when he became flesh, lived among us, took our sins' punishment by giving his life and conquering death's power through the resurrection. Remember the salvation God won on our behalf. This is the heart of Christmas joy, a foundation that circumstances cannot shake.
Celebrate God our king
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music" (v. 4).
Verses four through six invite us to praise and make music, even shout for joy because our God rules as king.
And, again, the Lord's coming to earth at Christmas has brought the reality of God's rule to a new dimension When magi from the east brought gifts to the child it wasn't charity for one born in poverty. Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were reserved for royalty. They recognized Jesus as king and worshiped him
Even Herod, the puppet king of Judea, acknowledged that this child was king In his paranoia he ordered male infants in Bethlehem two years and under to be killed. Imagine this rich, powerful king who commanded atmies threatened by an infant born in a stable. However the big king died and today is remembered as the little king . The little king grew up and became Jesus, King of Kings, who rules the hearts of believers who submit their lives to him.
Await the coming judge
Finally the psalm looks to God who will come to judge the earth. Its praise gets louder. Not only do Israel and the people of the earth praise God, creation joins the song. I love the imagery: "Let the seas resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let men sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth" (vv. 7-9a)
When you walk outside and hear the wind, see the sparkle of fresh snow and shimmering of the stars, do you consider it a chorus of praise to its Maker? It is.
Praise by creation is also found in the New Testament. In Romans 8 the apostle Paul says, "For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay" (see 8:18-25).
When the judge of the earth comes the curse's power is finally removed. Not only will creation be freed, but you and I as well. This is our glorious hope. Life has its heartaches-broken relationships , sickness and other hardships. On Christmas Day we recall this child who will return as the judge. In righteousness he will restore his people. There will be no more curses. Let all creation sing for joy!
This year as you sing "Joy to the World! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King," do it with enthusiasm Christians, of all people, have received a joy that no circumstances can shatter. Christ is our savior, king and coming judge. And everyone is invited to join in
Ed Peters is senior pastor at Evangelical Fellowship Church in Steinbach, Man . This article first appeared in The Messenger, the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.
Jean Tanzen is a poet who in Oiif. Her most recent Cdl1ection ofpaetry is Piano in the Vineyald"
Buller resigns as executive director
20 years as a Mennonite Brethren pastor in the U.S. and Canada. He was the first chair of the Mission USA Board and was on the MB Biblical Seminary board for five years, including three as chair. For two years immediately prior to his work with the U.S . Conference, Buller was the Mennonite Mutual Aid Capital Ministry director.
One of Buller's primary tasks as executive director was to walk the Conference through a change in structure towards a governance model of leadership and management. "Chuck took on this challenge, working tirelessly to ensure the completion of the bylaws that were ratified by the convention in July 2006," says the Leadership Board in its announcement.
"In addition to his work on the conference governance structure, Chuck has moved the Conference from a deficit operating cash position to a point today where we have four to five months of operating cash on hand," says the announcement signed by Leadership Board chair Joe Johns. ''The U.S. Conference is in a very different place today because of the role Chuck has played in moving us forward, and we are thankful for his strong and effective leadership."
Leadership Board moving forward with plans
Charles Buller has resigned his position as executive director of the U.S. Conference, effective January 31, 2007. The U.S. Conference Leadership Board made the announcement Nov. 1 in a letter to churches and denominational ministries. In a follow-up letter, the board outlined its plans for carrying out upcoming events in the absence of an executive director.
When Buller stepped into the role four years ago he was the first full -time executive director in the history of the u.s. Conference. Buller had previously setved for
During his tenure, Buller provided leadership for U.S. Conference conventions that highlighted two unique locations in which Mennonite Brethren congregations minister: the 2004 convention in Salt Lake City and the 2006 convention in Boone, NC. Under Buller's leadership, the U.S. Conference initiated a biennial national Mennonite Brethren pastors' conference and hosted a new pastors' orientation weekend and two Leadership Summits attended by lead staff members and board chairs of all U.S Mennonite Brethren ministries, district conference representatives and Leadership Board members.
Chuck Buller, U.S. Conference executive director seen here addressing convention delegates in 2004, has resigned his position.
Regarding Buller's future plans, the announcement says, "Chuck's desire is to use this (next) season of life to prioritize the nurture of his personal and family health and to discover the Lord's leading." The Leadership Board has chosen to "bless Chuck" by releasing him from all duties and responsibilities effective Nov. 1 and has cancelled his previously scheduled appointments and commitments.
The Leadership Board has begun its search for the next U.S. Conference executive director and in a second letter to churches outlined the ways in which it is moving forward with several projects
Henry Schmidt of Fresno, Calif , is assisting with a variety of administrative duties, including fund-raising. Schmidt was a member of the first U.S. Conference Leadership Board and is the former president of MB Biblical Seminary. Schmidt is working with Valerie Rempel of the current Leadership Board in planning the Faith and Life Summit scheduled for Jan 1920 in Phoenix, Ariz. Larry Nikkel, president of Tabor College, will serve as the summit facilitator The Faith and Life Summit is the first step in the process of forming a new national board of faith and life District ministers and representatives as well as a member of each district conference Board of Faith and Life have been invited to the summit.
The Leadership Board is in the preliminary planning stages for the 2008 U.S. Conference convention that will be hosted by Tabor College and Mennonite Brethren churches in central Kansas. Board chair Joe Johns and Mission USA director Don Morris met with representatives of the college and local pastors last month to begin planning for the convention
The U.S. Conference office in Fresno, Calif., will be open Tuesday through Thursday while the office in Wichita, Kan., is staffed five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m E-mail communication should be directed to offices@usmb org. - Connie Faber
body LIFE
CDC celebrates working better together
Delegates hear update on Sioux Falls church plant
Reaching people for Christ was the official as well as unofficial theme of the 2 006 Central District Conference annual convention held Oct. 26-29 in Henderson , Neb. For the second year, the CDC convention began with an emphasis on foreign missions when MBMS International hosted a Celebration Mission Night. Foreign missions took center stage again Friday afternoon when Jim and Marilou Nightingale were commissioned as MBMS International missionaries to Brazil. Earlier in the year Jim , who has ties to Community Bible Church in Mountain Lake, Minn .. was ordained by the CDC . " Building God's kingdom better together" was the convention theme and planting new churches and nurturing
existing congregations was at the heart of convention Evangelizing the U.S. was the focus of three messages preached by Don Morris, director of Mission USA, and was highlighted at the church planting banquet Friday evening. The district's interest in supporting cross-cultural outreach was evident Saturday afternoon when delegates welcomed the Io-member worship team from Iglesia Agua Viva of Omaha, Neb., the district's only Spanishlanguage congregation.
While reports were plentiful and prompted some discussion and decisions were few-electing new committee members and passing a budget-the budget decision highlighted the importance of church growth and renewal. Delegates approved the recommended budget of $218,500, which represents about a 10 percent increase. Just over half of those funds or $II9,000 is going to the Church Planting and Renewal Committee. The committee has allocated almost 60 percent of those funds for church planting with most of the remainder going toward church renewal projects.
The Church Planting and Renewal Committee is working in partnership with Mission USA. the national conference church planting and renewal ministry, to plant a church in Sioux Falls, SD. Church planter Rod Anderson and his wife Donna visited 19 Central District Conference congregations during the summer in what Anderson called ''Tour de Central District," recruiting both prayer and financial support
The Christ Community Church core group is holding two "practice" services this fall. Anderson anticipates that next month the core group will begin meeting regularly with Easter as the target '1aunch Sunday."
Above: Don Morris was the convention keynote speaker. Right: District minister Roger Engbrecht offers a prayer of blessing on pastors new to the Central District.
Anderson, in a passionate and emotional challenge, encouraged delegates not to be discouraged at the challenges that come with being a small district involved in church planting. "We tend to look at our district and say, 'We can't take the hill: We can if we give ourselves totally to Christ," he said. "We can do awesome things for Christ together."
Much of the Church Planting and Renewal Committee report highlighted that commitment to building God's kingdom together The district continues to financially support nine-year-old Shadow Lake Community Church of Papillion, Neb. Delegates heard from pastor Brian Classen and associate pastor Dan Hauge.
Classen described the new partnership between Shadow Lake and Pleasantview Berean Church of neighboring Omaha as an opportunity to "think outside the box " The two congregations have merged, and since Oct. I the Pleasantview congregation has been meeting with the Shadow Lake congregation at its Papillion location. " Independently we were fine," Hauge, who was the pastor of the Berean church, told the delegates, "but together we can do more for the kingdom." The congregation plans to maintain dual conference affiliation .
Delegates heard from two congregations that the district will assist this next year with pastoral salary subsidies. Millard Bible C hurch in Omaha, Neb. , is receiving a subsidy while the congregation gets back on its
feet financially following a difficult pastoral transition several years ago. Stuart Pederson has recently been called to serve as senior pastor and he reported that new families are regularly visiting the church and several have expressed an interest in membership
At the Friday evening home mission banquet Tony Randall, pastor of Lincoln Hills Church in Sioux Falls, told of his desire that worship be used as a tool of evangelism The district subsidy will help in hiring a part-time staff person in music and worship. Randall hopes the new staff member can provide a "qualitative difference" and help "make Sunday morning as excellent for the Lord as we possibly can."
The Church Planting and Renewal Committee is charged with seeing that the district "takes seriously the making of disciples," said banquet master of ceremonies David Prince of Harvey, ND, in his opening remarks. That commitment applies to established congregations as well as church plants, he said. Two years ago the committee offered a limited number of scholarships to congregations to send the pastor and at least one lay leader to a training conference of their choosing Bible Fellowship Church of Minot, ND, received a scholarship and pastor Duane Deckert talked about the Purpose Driven Church conference he attended along with a member of his congregation.
In addition to the Church Planting and Renewal Committee, delegates heard
reports from district mInIster Roger Engbrecht, the Executive Committee and Board, District Ministries Council, Nominating Committee, Faith and Life Committee, Trustee Committee and Youth Committee. Treasurer Rick Walter reported that church giving to the district had increased this past year, with 13 of 25 churches increasing their contributions The delegates also received verbal reports from the U.S. Conference, MB Biblical Seminary, MBMS International and Tabor College. Engbrecht led the Saturday morning memorial service honoring those in the district who had died in the past year followed by a communion service Other convention activities included workshop sessions Friday ahernoon and Saturday morning and a Saturday evening program provided by Tabor College and featuring the student ministry team i268 and faculty members Sheila Schmidt, associate professor of piano and pedagogy, and Shin- Hee Chin, assistant professor of art and design.
Elda Martens of Fairview, Okla. , spoke at the Saturday noon women's luncheon about opportunities and values of developing good relationships and illustrated her talk with stories and quilts. The men's tailgate lunch in the church basement included a BBQ buffet served on tables fashioned from pick-up tailgates and a program about men's ministries at Shadow Lake C hurch and special music by the Henderson Men's Quartet. - Connie Faber
Texas youth on FIRE Summer program
supports local church outreach
Afire of sorts is spreading through the youth of the Latin American MB Conference. Youth ages 15-18 in the LAMB Conference participated in an outreach program dubbed FIRE (Focused on Reaching Everyone) July 9-15,2006. This is the second year of the program, designed both to help local churches reach out to new people and to give youth an opportunity to serve in their communities.
'We got the idea from the SOAR programs that some of our students have participated in," says organizer Mirta Cantu. The LAMB Conference, a cluster of nine small churches in extreme south Texas, hosted Youth Mission International's short-term ministry program for high school students for a number of yeats in the late 1990S and early 2000S Early SOAR teams used facilities at La Grulla MB Church, Grulla, Texas, as a training base, then headed into Reynosa, Mexico for ministry. Later, LAMB churches provided logistic support for a Mexicobased program
«SOAR did a great job in our area and was very effective in injecting our kids
with the passion to take on projects like FIRE," says Rolando Mireles, Jr., a local church leader and former MBMS International missionary.
When SOAR shifted its focus to other locations, the LAMB churches took up the torch, developing their own youth outreach program in south Texas. FIRE closely follows the SOAR pattern of training, ministry and debriefing, but the teams are smaller, leadership and resources are local and participants don't minister in Mexico.
The seven- day FIRE 2006 program included preparation, vacation Bible school and a closing carnival. The 32 participants stayed in the La Grulla facility. La Grulla members provided meals.
Preparation was led by Joel Moses Medina, a youth pastor from First Baptist Church, Welsaco, Texas, and i268, a worship band from Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan. Participant Amy Villarreal says the
preparation, especially the band, «inspired us to put our hearts right with God and worship him no matter what happens."
The youth then worked with two vacation Bible schools, at Tiemplo Nueva Vida, an MB church in Palmview, Texas, and at Donna (Texas) MB Church. Cantu reports that an average of 18 children from the church and community attended the Palmview VBS, while Donna's VBS averaged 20 children. She says that five children at Palmview and seven at Donna made a decision to follow Jesus during VBS. The respective pastors will follow up with the families.
The two VBS programs were «the most important thing
FIRE participants were involved in vacation Bible school activities such as face painting (above) and storytelling (right) at two Texas congregations.
we did," according to FIRE particIpant Ashley Solis. "It was just so great to see and hear that kids got saved with our help. It feels good to do that," she says.
Another participant, Leroy Martinez, says that even a simple thing like helping with snacks at VBS was significant. "You could tell the kids were learning and having fun at the same time," he says. 'They would talk about what they learned and they would even take turns praying "
The week ended with a carnival at each VBS location - at Palmview in the morning and at Donna in the evening. Youth took responsibility for games such as ring toss, football toss, balloon toss, obstacle course, sponge throw and face painting. '1\t all the games, the youth were to talk to the kids about Jesus and how they could get to know him berter," Cantu says.
Youth who participated report that FIRE was fun and built valuable relationships. Martinez says, ''What I liked about FIRE was having fellowship with my friends and with the new people I met from other youth groups."
They also say FIRE encouraged spiritual growth. Villarreal calls FIRE "a week of fellowship with God." She says, 'There we learn and experience what we can do to honor God fully. Our lights tum on to serve and talk with friends about Jesus."
Rolando Mireles, Jr., says the LAMB Conference benefits from the program as well. "Like any smaller district, much of our life comes from our hope in the future," he says. 'The youth are the future, and they need to continually press the envelope when it comes to creatively ministering and forming new, more relevant models for people to come to know Jesus through the work of our local churches." -Myra Holmes
Jost sees potential .. challenge in Midwest
Newest MBMSI mobilizer putting his passion to work in new position
Craig Jost uses military language when describing his new position as Midwest regional mobilizer for MBMS International: Mobilizer, he says, is a term often used in military applications to describe someone who makes sure resources are put to good use on the front lines of battle. That's not far from what he seeks to do on behalf of missions.
"It is militaristic in terms of the kingdom," Jost says. 'The thing is to get people excited about living their lives missionally and asking: Where can I do the most damage to the kingdom of darkness and the most good for the kingdom of God?"
Jost began his new assignment Sept. I, providing a presence for the Mennonite Brethren global missions agency east of the Rocky Mountains, especially in the Central and Southern districts. He joins a team of regional mobilizers throughout North America: three in Canada and Ron Penner on the U.S. West Coast.
The title of "mobilizer" is an intentional distinction from MBMSI's former regional directors. The revamped job description indicates a more proactive, hands -on role. A
significant part of the hands-on approach will be involvement in short-term missions. Carlin Weinhauer, MBMSI's team leader for mobilization and media, says, " In addition to connecting with churches raising up new missionaries, new funds and new prayer support, there is more expectation for the regional mobilizer to develop and participate in short-term mission events in the region and international short-term mission trips from churches, providing hands-on mission experience for those who go on these trips."
Jost says the mission agency wants to more closely integrate short- and long-term missions, recognizing that short-term experiences lead to a greater understanding of and support for missions and to long-term mission commitments.
Jost dreams of short-term church teams that support long-term missionaries, of youth-oriented efforts similar to short-term SOAR programs in other parts of North America and of multigenerational teams that break down generational barriers. 'That's what excites me-getting people excited, getting them involved in missions - because
that.s where I got my vision for missions," he says. "It was the actual, practical part that got me fired up."
It was as a student at Kansas State University that Jost says, "God got ahold of me." After participating in short-term projects as a student, he pursued missions experience as a Good News Intem for MBMSI in Brazil, where he met and married his wife, Fabiana. Then came seminary education at MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif., during which he served as a Mission USA church planting intern, and another short stint in Brazil.
Most recently the Josts, including children Josiah and Megan, served as long-term MBMSI missionaries in Portugal. While in Portugal they were part of team that planted a church in Massama, now under national leadership and "going gangbusters," according to Jost. They also hosted several short-term teams, giving him the understanding of how short- and long-term missionaries can work together.
Weinhauer says that Jost's experience in both short- and long-term MBMSI missions "is an important dimension Craig brings to his new role."
In addition Jost brings passion to his position-"a passion for seeing a new generation go out, to see people mobilized into missions abroad and at home," as he describes it.
It doesn't take long in conversation with Jost before that passion shows as he describes opportunities in mission around the world: in North Thailand, in India and in North Africa, for example. ''The doors are really open," he says. "It's funny how in many ways God has positioned us, through our history of mission as Mennonite Brethren and the mission agency, so that things are really open to us. It might look different than it has in the past in terms of missionaries going out, how they're trained, but it's amazing the opportunities that are there."
Against that backdrop of "unbelievable" opportunity, the challenge- and the potential - that Jost sees in the Midwest is great. He points out that while areas in the Pacific District and in Canada have raised up impressive numbers of MBMSI missionaries, very few have come out of the Midwest in recent years. "We're actually at an all-time kind of low here in the Midwest," he admits
body LIFE =
He dreams of sending out several more long-term missionary teams from the Midwest in the next few years, of short-term teams to support those missionaries and of mission-centered prayer concerts in local churches. He points out that the relatively new relational funding model means that funding is rarely the limitation for sending new missionaries; the limit is creativity. "The biggest obstacle to missions is our creativity, our smallness of mind," he says.
As a regional mobilizer, Jost works to help individuals and churches begin to think creatively about missions. Much of his day-to-day work is face-to-face with people: Meeting with pastors and churches to ask, What can we do with what God has given us? Connecting with individuals who are interested in missions service. Training and leading short-term teams. Building partnerships with institutions and agencies, such as Tabor College, the MB college supported by the Central and Southern districts. Speaking at churches and various MB gatherings. Answering questions. And simply being present to keep lines of communi-
Congo Jun 23-Ju19 $3 ,500
Jun 29-Ju114
cation open. "A lot of times, churches don't even realize that these resources are out there, that there's this story playing out that they're a part of," he says.
One of the personal challenges Jost faces in his new position is gerting reacclimated to life in the Midwest. Although he grew up in Hillsboro, Kan., Jost says, ''I've been away from the Midwest for a long time." While the Josts now make their home in Wichita, Kan., and artend First MB Church in Wichita, a big part of their heart still lies with the church in Portugal.
But whether in Portugal or Wichita, "missions is still a huge part of who we are and what God has called us to do," Jost says. Someday, in God's timing, that passion may lead them again to the front lines of missions . But for now, Jost looks forward to his role as mobilizer.
'We're excited about it. We're excited about the open possibilities. And you know what? As I meet with people and youth and churches, they're excited about it, too."Myra Holmes
2007 DMI MISSion Trips
Reconnecting
USA
We welcome and appreciate your generous support of Mission USA.
Please send your donation to:
Mission USA U.S. Conference PO Box 220 Hillsboro, KS 67063
Note "Mission USI\' on the memo line
To see more come to know HIM.
In the middle of the Los Angeles metro area, where lifestyles are fast-paced and most people don't have much time for God, Joshua and Eunji Kim are providing vibrant spiritual leadership to dozens of young Koreans. Shalom English Ministry, an emerging MB church plant, seeks to reach out to young second generation Koreans who have embraced the Southern California culture, a culture much different than what their first gene ration Korean parents are used to. Because of that cultural disconnection, most young Koreans leave the church, never to return.
But Shalom English Ministry provides a place where Koreans and young adults from other nationalities find a genuine place to belong and connect, to learn biblical truths and to live out their lives as dedicated followers of Jesus. Subsidized substantially by Mission USA and the Pacific District MB Conference, this ministry is steadily growing. Currently 70 to 80 young people attend on a regular basis, some traveling from other cities where they attend college just to take part in Sunday services.
This dynamic young congregation is earnestly praying for guidance for the future, as they must move out of their current location by January l. "We are not afraid but rather expectantly waiting to see what new home God has in plan for us;' says co-director Joshua Kim . However, facility rental in California is extremely costly. Please join them in prayer for God's providence as they venture into the year 20071
Mission USA is asking for your assistance in helping this church plant to continue. This ministry is all about getting people to Jesus. Whether or not you live in the PDC, please help support this project by giving to Mission USA. It's an investment in eternity!
Senior adults meet in OK City
The Southern District Conference 55 Plus
Gathering Oct. 27-29 was a packed event in more ways than one Oklahoma City's Crowne Plaza Hotel meeting room was literally packed out thanks to a strong turnout. A total of 170 senior adults from seven states enjoyed a schedule crammed with opportunities for learning and fellowship. 'The Lord's blessing was abundant as we shared life stories, invigorating teaching, inspiring singing and lots of table talk and laughter," writes Roland Reimer. event coordinator, in a follow-up letter to participants.
Sessions included group singing, music by the Personal Touch Quartet of Topeka, Kan., and talks by Marvin Hein, a retired Mennonite Brethren pastor who lives in Fresno, Calif. Jonah Kliewer, retired Tabor College music professor. and a conference choir directed by Jim Bartel of Hesston provided special music. Workshops offered on a variety of topics were repeated twice. Bruce Anthony, retired Tabor College professor, spoke at the Saturday noon lunch about life since he was diagnosed in early 2005 with tertninal brain cancer. Anthony's testimony and songs by his wife Lorraine "touched us deeply," says Reimer
The senior adult conference also included a video tribute to Clarence Hiebert, Tabor College professor emeritus who died in 2005, a late night guided tour of Oklahoma City by motor coach, and a Personal Touch Quartet concert The group took an offering and raised $1,850 for children's ministries at church plants in Edmond, Okla • and Denver, Colo. - from SDC report
Young adult conference coming in February
Westgate to be resource speaker
Organizers of The Rising, a conference targered at people in their 20S and 30S, hope the event will create vision, leadership and passion for the church and following Christ among young adults who as teens were active in Mennonite Brethren youth activities The Rising, endorsed by the Southern District Conference, will take place Feb. 2-4 in Hutchinson, Kan.
The conference fortnat will be discussion rather than presentation oriented. MB Biblical Seminary professor Jim Westgate will be the primary resource person and Wendell Loewen, Southern District Conference youth minister, will serve as thS dialogue facilitator. Because organizers hope to encourage infortnal conversations and networking among participants, Grand Prairie Hotel in Hutchinson, Kan., with its large lounge area, was chosen as the conference location.
Westgate will speak about the church as an agent of transfortnation in its community, a topic with which organizers say they and their peers are wrestling "People in this age group are ready to go do something," says The Rising planning team member Vaughn Jost of Hillsboro, Kan. 'We want to put feet to our faith."
In addition to thinking about the role of the local church in discipleship and outreach, Jost says many young adults are processing how best to incorporate their faith into decisions regarding marriage, work and raising children. 'The gospel and culture often collide and we have to decide how we are going to live out the gospel in our culture," he says . 'That is what this age group is hungry to do "
Jost and his wife Taryn together
with Chris and Kathryn Glanzer, Bruce and Kim Jost and Bryce and Sara Wichert, all of Hillsboro, Kan., comprise The Rising planning team. All four couples are in the conference's target age group and work with teens in church youth group settings and/or at Tabor College, the Mennonite Brethren college located in Hillsboro.
Their experience with teens is one of the reasons the group is organizing a conference targeted at young adults. The couples noticed that for many teens the transition from the high school youth group setting to "adult church" was not always smooth. While Southern District chUrches have strong local youth groups and an active disttict program for teens, many churches are not retaining these youth when they become young adults. And some young adults are frustrated by current church methods.
Organizers hope an event like The Rising can provide some continuity for those in this age group who have been involved with youth group activities as teens and who now are moving into church life as adults. The planning team also hopes hearing from Westgate and talking with their peers will inspire participants to "go home to their local church with a vision and willingness to take leadership." says Jost.
Registration infortnation has been sent to all Southern District Conference churches. Additional infortnation is available online at www.therisingmb.com The registration fee covers on-site expenses only. All other conference-related expenses have been covered by private donations, many of them from older adults who share a vision for ministry to this age group. says Jost. - Connie Faber
MCC relief sales: Fun and giving across North America
kthe Central Fraser Valley MCC Relief Sale, Auction and Festival in bbotsford, B.C., a loaf of bread brought in donations of $217,855. A bowl of rice, representing the need for food, drew $5,000. Throughout Canada and the U.S., Mennonite Central Committee relief sales bring together food, fun and items from quilts to puzzles in all raising more than $5 million each year for MCC's worldwide relief, development and peace work.
There were 32 relief sales in the United States and 14 in Canada this year, with thousands of volunteers coming together to make auctions, food booths, entertainment and other activities possible. 'We estimate more than 20,000 volunteers are involved," says Dave Worth, director of MCC's Resource Generation Network.
Relief sales are truly community
events. Harriet Berg, MCC's relief sale coordinator, says at least 30 percent of the crowd at relief sales are non-Mennonites. There are two ingredients that don't change. "Expect to find friendly faces and wonderful food," Berg says.
But aside from that, each sale reflects the traditions and backgrounds of members of local churches and communities. So in Atlanta, Ga., the peach cobblers soon sold out. In British Columbia, offerings ranged from 25,750 perogies to a local aboriginal group's donation of salmon barbecue. At the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale in Goshen, Ind., a Korean food booth was hosted by a Korean family whose daughter is attending Goshen College They timed their visit to the U.S. to be able to attend the relief sale.
Donations go beyond congregations who traditionally support the sale. At the
The residents of Palm Villag e have contributed to family and com munity throughout their lives.
Now It Is an honor for Palm Village to care for them. Find
Atlanta sale. a woman attending an adjacent RV show became caught up in the giving spirit and donated hand-knitted dishcloths. She said she prays while knitting and wished to pass the item on to others. At the Brandon. Man .• sale. a 12-year-old-girl created her first quilt for the auction with her grandmother's help The girl. whose grandmother and grandfather have been creating comforters for MCC for many years. was so excited to be able to conttibute that she is planning another quilt for next year.
"Just the excitement of the volunteers is really great to see." says Berg. "Everybody's trying to do the best job they can and raise the most money for MCC."
Quilts are a staple of the sales and raise significant funds. This year. Berg says. vintage quilts have caught on well. and organizers hope for more for next year's sales. 'We're looking for vintage quilts or older quilts in good condition." she says.
Another hallmark of relief sales is sorting coins for Penny Power. an effort to collect spare change for MCC's work. "Youll be hearing the jingle of coins. They might be in wheelbarrows. They might be in hog troughs. They might be spread out on tables." Berg says. At some sales. a figure dressed as Abe Lincoln (who is on the U.S. penny) strolls through the crowd, carrying a bucket to collect change.
Berg praises volunteers' creativity. More than 350 boxes of puzzles sold at the Brandon. Man .• relief sale. Other offerings ranged from fresh produce to used Tupperware. At the Black Swamp Benefit Bazaar in Wauseon. Ohio. mud volleyball brought in $1.000. Twenty-nine teams played on a field created by spreading hay bales. pouring dirt from a dump truck and opening a fire hydrant.
Upcoming MCC sales include the Feb. 10 Rio Grande Valley Mennonite Relief Sale in Edinburg. Texas; the Nebraska MCC Relief Sale in Aurora. Neb .• March 30-31; the West Coast Mennonite Relief Sale and Auction April 13-14 in Fresno. Calif.; and the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale in Hutchinson April 13-14. The Upper Midwest Relief Sale will be held in Minot. ND. in April. Information about 2007 relief sales can be found at mcc.org/reliefsales.Marla Pierson Lester for M ee news service.
MCC organizes observers for Congo's runoff election
Voter turnout good in spite of rain, power outage
Mennonite Central Committee organized 17 volunteers to observe the voting process in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the country held a presidential runoff Oct. 29 to complete its first national elections in more than 40 years.
Ten Congolese Mennonites and seven international volunteers worked together to observe voting centers in Kinshasa. the capital city, on election day. Suzanne Lind. an MCC country representative in Congo. helped lead the group and reported that the voting process appeared to go smoothly in Kinshasa despite a rainstorm in the morning and a power outage in the evening.
"People were worried that perhaps not very many people would come out and vote because the rains stopped everything." Lind says. "But by 8 (a.m.) and then 10, the centers were opening and people did come out. probably not as many as the first round. but many. many people went to the polls."
Political violence was reported in at least one Congolese town, but most of the country was calm on election day, including Kinshasa. Lind says.
MCC helped to organize the election observers at the request of Congolese Mennonites and Congo's national council
of Protestant churches. During an earlier round of voting. held July 30. MCC organized 22 international observers who worked alongside Congolese observers.
The people of Congo. formerly known as Zaire. have suffered greatly over the past four decades. The long. corrupt dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko impoverished the country. and two wars from 1996 to 2002 caused millions of deaths. Lind says that many groups. including Congolese churches. have worked to educate the population about the need for a peaceful, democratic political process.
"People are learning that you don't have to fight when you lose an election." Lind says. "That's not how elections work. That's the way it used to work when a dictator came in."
The two candidates in the runoff election were Joseph Kabila. the interim president. and Jean- Pierre Bemba. a vice president. The provisional results were scheduled to be announced by Nov. 19. Lind says that some Congolese fear that disappointed partisans will riot after the results are announced.
However, Lind says that some of her Congolese Mennonite friends are more optimistic. believing that tensions are not as high as they have been in the past. 'They say if there's anything bad that happens ... it won't last long. and it will not tum into a major pillage." she says. - Tim Shenk for Mee news service.
Canadian Kara Klassen, pictured with Congolese Mennonite election observer Jeremie Ngoya, was one of 22 international election observers in the July 30 election. MCC also organized observers for the runoff election held In late October.
Ready for Christmas?
Consider shopping from a ministry gift catalog this year
Ai:a
e you ready for Christmas? This is one of the most frequent questions heard this time of year. Usually it means: Have you ught all your presents yet? Do you have all your baking and grocery shopping done?
Sometimes I wonder if we haven't 'lost it" when it comes to the Christmas shopping &enzy which is so much a part of our culture. Advertisers tell us they know exactly what we should buy for that hard-to-please person or what we should feed our guests for that special holiday meal. And they want us to have all the lat-
est decorations and, of course, spruce up our homes with new fumiture and accessories to impress our guests. The idea is to spend, spend, spend. Lots of time. Lots of energy. Lots of money.
I'm ready for a change. I want to slow down and
$5 each You can send as many as you wish, and theyll even send an appropriate card to the designated honoree(s).
MBMS International also has a giving program. Why not provide a rural pastor in India with a new bicycle? Or make a donation to a special ministry program that your gift recipient would appreciate.
Samaritan's Purse lets you buy clothing, medical equipment, building materials and livestock for poor fami-
1 want to s10w down celebrate Christmas without all the shop-till - you-<..Irop ..1Ctivity. It's time to focu s on what's re ;'l11y important
celebrate Christmas without all the shop-till-you-drop activity. It's time to focus on what's really important.
This year my husband and I will not be exchanging gilis. Instead we had fun the other evening looking through some catalogs and choosing a charity where we could instead send our money I'm giving a family in Bolivia the gift of 25 chickens so they can have much-needed protein for their children and also raise some extra cash by selling eggs. My husband chose to provide another Bolivian farm family with some seeds and other equipment so they can improve production of food for themselves and to sell for cash.
This year, instead of giving our grandchildren toys they don't need, we are giving them a ministry trip to Mexico. We plan to participate with local missionaries there in several Christmas outreach programs to poor children.
Many mission organizations send out Christmas giving catalogs. We have received at least a dozen of these in the last few weeks. Well, why not shop &om one of these catalogs? Instead of buying one more sweater for grandpa, find an item or a charity he is interested in and send the money there in honor of him. It's a lot less nerve-wrecking and time-consuming than battling the crowds in department stores. The added bonus is you are investing in heaven as you give the gift.
Mennonite Central Committee has a list that includes giving to support a tree planting project in Haiti, Cambodia and other locations. Or maybe you want to buy bags of cement ($9 each) to build sand dams in drought-stricken areas of Kenya. (Each dam requires 300 bags )
The Gideons will help you send Bibles in honor of someone for
lies, or help orphans with medical or educational needs. The children in our Sunday school are currently bringing their offering to buy baby chicks, blankets, milk and gospel storybooks for needy children . Find a local ministry in your community that you can support. Be sure to contact them to see what they need. I carry a list of items requested by our local food ministry in my purse. When I see something they need that is on sale, I buy it. This way I can make the Lord's money go further. Instead of a gift exchange, why not let all members of the extended family bring some item needed for a special project.
I am reminded of an allegorical story I read a number of years ago about a group of people having a birthday celebration for an infant. The sleeping child was put to rest on the big bed in the master bedroom. As the guests arrived a servant placed their coats onto the bed unaware of the infant's presence. Finally, the pile of coats was so huge that the infant smothered under it. No one even missed the baby until they went to get their coats and found the lifeless body! Sometimes I wonder if that is what is happening to our Christmas preparations when they become such a big mountain that they smother the true joy of celebrating Jesus' birth. I wonder if we have done what Paul warned against, "Don't become so welladjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking" (Rom. 12:2, The Message)
Instead of focusing on ourselves why don't we find ways, together with our children and grandchildren, to focus on others who need help. Let's keep the infant alive instead of smothering it
In the kitchen with Martha
Why did Jesus scold Martha for staying in the kitchen?
QI've been bothered by the MarylMartha syndrome. I find myself in the kitchen like Martha, while are worshiping in the sanctuary. Should I feel guilty? (Colorado)
AThis church cook is referring. of course. to the story where Jesus comes to the home of Mary and Martha (Luke IO:38ff) and Martha "was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made" and complains to Jesus that Mary was not helping. Mary was sirting at Jesus' feet listening to his wise words. Jesus' answer was: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better."
When I examine the Scriptures I
conclude that Martha was the more culinary minded of the two sisters and Mary perhaps the more esthetically inclined. In John 12 we have another
act of worship as much as singing a hymn, listening to Jesus or pouring perfume on Jesus' head. Just as physically caring for a needy person by supplying clothing. medicine or shelter is an act of worship, so cooking in the kitchen, according to Paul's definition, can be an act of worship-"your spiritual act of worship."
But why then did Jesus mildly scold Martha for staying in the kitchen while Mary stayed with Jesus? Is sitting in worship always preferable, in Jesus' sight, to working in the kitchen? I don't think so. This was a special occasion, a critical moment in the life of Jesus. He would soon die. He would not be able to visit with these sisters very much
[] In view of his impend ing Jesus was that some thin gs are more imp o rtant no \\! th a n fo od.
incident where Jesus comes into the home of Lazarus. Mary and Martha. "Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" (w. 2-3).
Are we to conclude that Mary sitting at Jesus' feet and pouring out perfume was more spiritual than Martha in the kitchen? Can we conclude that the person giving the devotional at the small group meeting is more valuable to Jesus than the person preparing refreshments in the kitchen? I think not. I have to wonder if Mary really knew to cook. As happens so often in a household, it seems to me that each of the sisters had found her gift and exercised it.
In Romans 12:1 we read: 'Therefore I urge you, brothers (sisters, too, I'm sure), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship." Cooking involves using the body. Cooking, in my understanding. can be an
Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine. conference policy or other spiritual issue? Send your question to "Inquiring Minds. " c/o Marvin Hein. 3036 East Magill Avenue. Fresno. CA 93710 or email Marvin at marvinhein@sbcglobal.net.
longer. In the near future they would find it impossible to sit at his feet. In view of his impending death, Jesus was telling Martha that some things are more important now than food.
I doubt that Jesus intended to tell us that worship. as we usually understand it, is always more spiritual than tending to people's hunger. Perhaps Jesus was criticizing Martha's artitude as much as anything. In any case here was a moment that might never be repeated and in view of that. Martha would have done better to join Mary at the feet of Jesus and forget the dinner for the moment.
Not all incidents in the Bible are prescriptions for all occasions. The rich young man was told to sell all he had and give the money to the poor. Does that mean everyone who really follows Jesus should sell all his possessions? Of course not! That was a suggestion made to a particular person in whom Jesus saw a particular flaw. It seems to me that Jesus' prescription for Martha was similar In this specific moment it was more noble to sit at his feet than to be frying hamburgers.
In Matthew 27:55 we read: "Many women were there (at the cross), watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs." Some of those women are named and I'm certain Mary and Martha were among them. What needs had they supplied the Savior? Food. among other things. I'm positive. So relax. church cook. serving food can be worship too.
BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP
Reedley, Calif.-Alicia Ruelas, Will Szpor, Trent Wilker and Tabitha Willems were baptized and received as members Nov. 5. Janice Moore, Cliff and Melody Unruh and Michelle Willems were also received as members Nov. 5.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Rosedale)-Elizabeth Adee, Daisy Gutierrez, Javier Gutierrez and Amanda Mumford were baptized Oct. 22.
Hillsboro, Kan. (Parkview)-Vickie Collins, Charissa Slayden, Angela· Klaassen, Courtney Fast, Candace Weinbrenner, Christy Hein, Joshua Wiebe, Tena Loewen and Erin Winter were baptized recently.
Ferndale, Wash. (Good News)-Kelly and Gwen Dey were welcomed as members Oct. 15.
Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acres)-Spencer Ard and Joe Noble were baptized Oct. 8. Jim and Sharon Ard, Bill and Dian Binion, Matt and Anji Jett, Lisa Regier and Michael and Sarah Stevens were received as members Oct. 8 Rapid City, SO (Bible Fellowship)-Mark and Pam Heiberger, Adam Heiberger, Sarah Lichius and Courtney Earl were received as members Oct. 1 FELLOWSHIP
Lodi, Calif. (Vinewood)-Adults and teens participated in a family volleyball night Nov 10 -Men were invited to learn to flyfish Nov. 11 at a "Fish 'Til You Drop Stillwater Clinic "
Marshall, Ark. (Martin Box)-Church families participated in an outdoor cookout in lieu of regular Sunday evening services Oct. 15.
Buhler, Kan.-Members honored their pastors in October with a gift drive dubbed, "You rock my socks." Gifts started with the first letter of their last name and were gift wrapped in a shoebox. A pastor appreciation potluck breakfast was held Oct. 29 MINISTRY
Littleton, Colo. (Belleview)- The church cooperated with two other local churches to host a community-wide fall festival Oct. 31. The carnival-like event featured games, candy and a gospel presentation. Many other churches featured a similar fall event on or near Oct. 31, including Reedley (Calif.1 MB Church, Dinuba (Calif.1 MB Church, Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif , Buhler (Kan.) MB Church, Bible Fellowship Church, Rapid City, SO, Pine Acres MB Church, Weatherford, Okla , Bethany MB Church, Fresno, Calif , and Kingsburg (Calif.1 MB Church.
Dinuba, Calif.-The church hosted an interdenominational Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Oct. 28 to pray for local government and public service officials, educators, community youth and churches
Visalia, Calif. (Neighborhood)- The women recently
adopted two rooms at a local women's shelter, providing bedding, furniture, books and other materials to help the rooms feel more like home
Enid, Okla.-Polo shirts featuring the church logo are now available for purchase Organizers hope that these shirts will be conversation starters and a tool for outreach Funds raised went to outreach ministry.-Volunteers from the church drive a van to transport residents of three local retirement centers to weekly worship services.
Wichita, Kan.(First)-A Fall Block Party Oct. 28 featured a chili cook-off, games and activities for kids and adults
Rapid City, SD (Bible Fellowship)-Volunteers recently donated and shipped 27 care packages to college students.
Minot, ND (Bible Fellowship)-The church led a sixweek Good News Club at a local elementary school beginning Oct. 24.
Manhattan, Kan. (Manhattan Mennonite) - Each Sunday the church collects items for a local emergency shelter. Children bring the items to the front during a specified time in the morning service During the Sunday school hour Oct. 22, children and teachers toured the shelter to see where their donations go
San Jose, Calif. (Uncoln Glen)-Oct. 21 was designated as a service day. Participants assembled schools kits for teachers and students at a local elementary school and helped a preschool with maintenance.- The annual International Gift Faire, held at the church Oct. 13-14, was attended by 2,000 shoppers and staffed by 130 volunteers. The sale raised $80,000 for Ten Thousand Villages, a ministry of Mennonite Central Committee.
Hillsboro, Kan.-In September a group of volunteers laid sod at Park Homes, a senior care facility supported by local churches.
PROCLAMATION
Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglen)-Pastors Roger Poppen, Ed Boschman and Mike Sampley led a seminar Nov. 18 on Four Seasons of Fatherhood for fathers and grandfathers. The morning event included breakfast and input from seasoned fathers and grandfathers. Reedley, Calif.- The church hosted a concert Oct. 22 by well-known Christian musician Steve Green.
Hesston, Kan -Gracia Burnham, author of In the Presence of My Enemies, was the guest speaker Oct. 22 Fresno, Calif. (North Fresno)-Personal testimonies by several pastoral staff were featured during worship in October.
Dinuba, Calif.-Pastor and artist Jack Abbott presented the gospel as he created pottery during the evening service Oct. 15
Edmond church plant holds first service
Anew MB church is being born," writes Don Morris, director of Mission USA, in an e-mail announcing the launch of Providence Fellowship, the Mennonite Brethren church plant in Edmond, Okla . Providence held their first Sunday morning worship services Nov 12 Pastor Jason Gilbow and his wife, Beth, lead a core group of 80- 90 people that is "eager to birth a new church," according to Morris The new church met at 10:30 a m at the Silhouette's Event Center in Edmond, where they have secured a meeting place through July 2007·
'There has been a tremendous amount of work involved in preparing for this special day," Morris writes . The core group met Nov. 5 to refine Sunday morning responsibilities and hoped to have a number of visitors for their kickoff Sunday, including well -known names as well as community members in search of a church home
"But the main thing is that Jesus is showing up," Morris says 'This is all about him , and this work will seek to glorify the Lord in all that we do It is truly exciting to witness the birth of a new baby church "
Providence is one of several MUSA church plants underway, including others in Sioux Falls, SO, Centennial, Colo., Los Angeles, Calif., and Salt Lake City, Utah . Morris expresses appreciation for churches and individuals who support Providence "In particular, I wish to thank Memorial Road MB Church in Edmond for their encouragement and support," he says. '1 hope to see these two churches working together on ministry projects in the future ."- Myra Holmes
Freeman. SO (Salem) - Lupe Aguilar, pastor of Iglesia Menonite Rey de Gloria and Local Service Worker with Mennonite Central Committee, spoke Oct. 8 about his work with undocumented immigrants in the Brownsville, Texas, area.
Garden City, Kan. (Garden Valley)-Jon Wiebe of MB Foundation spoke Oct. 8 on "The top 10 ways to ruin your financial life."
WORKERS
Lawton, Okla. (Faith Bible)-Shane Brashears has resigned as youth pastor, effective Dec 31.
DEATHS
BALZ, LUCILE W., Bakersfield, Calif., of Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, was born Oct. 8, 1929, and died Aug. 28, 2006, at the age of 76. She is survived by her husband, Eugene; one son, David and wife Debby; two daughters, Mary and husband Michael Haas , and Ruth and husband Rick Weathers; one brother, Earl Love; one sister, Marion McNiel, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
BERG, ARTHUR H., Fresno, Calif., a member of Bethany MB Church, Fresno, was born March 7, 1917, to Henry H and Elizabeth Beier Berg near Gotebo, Okla., and died Oct. 4, 2006, at the age of 89. In 1950 he married Helen Quiring, who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Steven, and Randy and wife Marianne; one brother, John and wife Esther; one sister, Ruth and husband Jake Friesen, and two granddaughters.
CORN ELSEN, DENNIS, Bakersfield , Calif., of Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, was born July 6, 1949, to Herm and Sally Cornelsen in Bakersfield and died Sept. 30, 2006, at the age of 57. He is survived by one daughter, Erika; his mother; two sisters, Judy and husband Bob Wert, and Eileen and husband Don Vignaroli; two nephews, Jeff Wiebe and wife Tina, and Jason Wiebe and wife Jennifer, and special friend Kathleen Cooper
EWERT, KATIE, Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born March 9, 1916, to Dietrick and Sara Enns in Hooker, Okla., and died Oct. 3, 2006, at the age of 90. On Nov. 8, 1936, she married Frank Ewert, who predeceased her in March 2004 She is survived by one son, Bob and wife Florence of Visalia, Calif ; three brothers, Herman and wife Iris of Chico, Calif., Walton and wife Betty of Concord, Calif., and Vistor and wife Katherine of Reedley; three sisters, Mary Riffel of Reedley, Adina Waller of Salinas, Calif., and Rosella and husband Verling Isgrigg of Dinuba, Calif., two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
GERBRANDT, JOHN, San Jose, Calif , a member of Lineoln Glen MB Church, San Jose, was born Dec. 29, 1928, to John J. and Marie Wiens Gerbrandt in Reedley, Calif., and died Oct. 14, 2006, at the age of 77. On Nov. 25, 1948, he married Betty Nachtigall, who survives. He is also survived by one son, John W. and wife Diane of Ben Lomond, Calif.; one daughter, Carol and husband Al Garza of San Jose, two grandsons and five stepgrandchildren
LEPPKE, TENA, Corn, Okla , a member of Corn MB Church, was born March 1, 1919, to John C and Kathrina Braun and died Oct. 26, 2006, at the age of 87 On July 29, 1952, she married John Leppke, who survives. She is also survived by one son, Ronnie; two daughters , Florence and Rosella , and nine grandchildren.
OTTEN, HENRY, Bakersfield, Calif., a member of Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, was born Dec 2, 1916, in Weesp, The Netherlands, and died Nov. 3, 2006, at the age of 89. On Dec 7, 1949, he married Ann Van Leeuwen, who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Alex and wife Beth, and Henry; seven daughters, Connie and husband Ken Friesen, Caroleen and husband Mark DeVries, Alice and husband Ron Versluys, Sharon and husband Ted Pierce, Mary and husband Bruce VanderVeen, Annette and husband Dan Lockhart, and foster daughter Blythe Fuller; two brothers, Wim and Alex, both of Holland; one sister, Adrie, of Holland, 29 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
PETERS, WILLIAM (BILL), Bakersfield Calif., a member of Rosedale Bible Church , Bakersfield, was born July 10, 1950, and died Nov. 5, 2006, at the age of 56. He is survived by his wife Marvis; two sons, Michael and Timothy; one daughter, Emily; one sister, Darlene Smith, and one brother, Glenn Peters.
REGIER, MENNO LEVI, Bakersfield, Calif., of Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, was born Jan 10, 1916, to Peter P. and Maria Regier in Enid, Okla., and died Sept. 2, 2006, at the age of 90. In 1946, he married Rosie Nord, who survives He is also survived by one son, Jonathan and wife Susan ; two daughters, Rosalyn and husband Kevin Malamma, and Rebecca and husband Dan Wilkinson, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
UNRUH, ANNA HARMS, Reedley , Calif. , a member of Dinuba (Calif.1 MB Church, was born Aug. 31, 1912, to Cornelius and Anna Quiring Harms in
Reedley and died Oct. 10, 2006 at the age of 94 On July 3, 1932, she married Jacob Unruh, who predeceased her in 2003. She is survived by two daughters, Hulda, and Judy and husband Paul Hackmann; two sisters, Sarah Friesen of Kansas, and Sus ie Harms of Reedley, two grandsons and three great-grandchildren.
WICHERT, MATILDA "TILLIE" NIGHTENGALE, Fairview, Okla., a member of Fairview MB Church, was born Oct. 22, 1914, to John B and Agnes Bekker Ratzlaff near Homestead, Okla., and died Oct. 26 , 2006, at the age of 92. On Aug. 23, 1936, she married Emil Nightengale, who predeceased her Nov 16, 1976 On April 10, 1982, she married Frank Wichert, who predeceased her May 20, 2002. She is survived by two sons, Clarence Nightengale and wife Sandra of Mead, Okla., and Bob Nightengale and wife Kaye of Kingston, Okla ; one stepson Leonard Wichert and wife Janice of Fairview; four stepdaughters, Lillian and husband Eugene Janzen of Fairview and Luella and husband Neil DeFehr, Eunice Isaak and Frances and husband Ronald Penner, all of Fresno; two sisters, Adeline Koehn and Betty Manning; six grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, three great-greatgrandchildren, many step-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren
WIENS, ADELINE KLIEWER, Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Sept. 15, 1921, to Jake and Anna Kliewer in Reedley and died Oct. 6, 2006, at the age of 85 On Oct. 16, 1942, she married Frank Wiens, who survives. She is also survived by two daughters, Linda Middlebusher and Donna Conti; two sisters, Esther Quiring and Dar,lene Huebert, and six grandchildren.
The Leadership Board of the US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches invites nominations and applications for the position of
Executive Director.
The Board seeks a director who will provide inspiring and visionary leadership to the mission, external activities and fund-raising efforts of the conference. The ideal candidate will create acooperative atmosphere within the conference and with its institutions, exemplify and articulate the core values, vision and mission of the conference, and be an effective and vigorous spokesperson for the theological tradition of the US Conference. For full position description including qualifications and application process visit the conference web site at www.usmb.org.
Columbia Bible College announces a search for PRESIDENT
Columbia's Board of Directors is launchi ng its search for Columbia's next President. Columbia is an accredited 4-year evangelical Anabaptist Bib le College on Canada's west coast with about 500 students. The president's role exists in order to lead the Columbia team in the fulfillment of its mission, to prepare people for a life of discipleship, service, and ministry.
For a fuUlist of qualifications and a job description, please consult our web site: www.columbiabc.edu
Please forward resume by Dec ember 31, 2006 to : Brian Friesen, Board Chair
Life in the balance
When do we forget about balance and focus on one thing?
w years ago it was popular to talk about finding "balance" in life. It was said that people needed to consider how much time nd effort they were giving to various activities Were they seeking some sort of equilibrium, or was there a dominant thing causing lack of attention to other important areas?
I still hear those kinds of discussions from time to time, but I've also noticed a bit of a backlash against the whole idea of balance. Some would argue that it's the road to mediocrity. If you try and spread your attention among several things, youll excel at nothing. Ive even heard about motivational speakers who teach, "Forget balance. Find the one thing you're good at and focus on it to the exclusion of everything else. "
As a naturally moderate type, I find that hard to swallow. But it does make me wonder: Is the pursuit of balance overrated? I think it depends
great wasting of company time by many employees. They spend much of the workday day surfing the web or attending to personal matters rather than doing their jobs.
As in other areas of life, I've tended to believe that balance is always good in spiritual matters too. To some degree this is true. The apostle Paul described "spiritual fruit" as an assortment of balanced character traits: 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22, 23). Similarly, Peter urged believers to "add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, persever-
it's right to forget ba1an ce and concentr ate completely on th.n one thing
In some areas of life, I would say that balance is essential. Take one's diet. No matter how people try, there is no substitute for healthy eating from the basic food groups. You can try all the fad diets you want, but an old-fashioned balanced diet still wins for long-term health.
Balance is also critical when it comes to work and rest. Studies have proven that working nonstop actually leads to less production than balanced cycles of working smart and resting well. Working longer doesn't automatically result in better work.
Research has shown that children especially need balance in their education and activities. The cultural trends of too much pressure and not enough free time cause problems in kids' lives. Anxiety and overstimulation can hinder the growth of emotional stability.
While I believe balance is needed in these and other areas, at times Ive assumed seeking balance is good in all areas of life. But this isn't always the case. Sometimes it's right to forget balance and concentrate completely on that one thing.
In my marriage, for instance, I focus on one woman with complete devotion and faithfulness. There is no balance in the sense of seeking relational fulfillment elsewhere. Yet this happens often in marriages today, when a spouse's affections go outside the home to inappropriate places.
It may seem funny to say, but at work I really try to work. While I should attempt to strike a balance between work and rest, I don't rest at work That may sound obvious, but investigations have uncovered a
ance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love" (2 Pet. 1:5-7).
But in other ways spirituality is not about balance at all. Jesus said one should love God not with part of one's life, but with "all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). We are to "seek first" God's kingdom and righteousness, and everything else comes after that (Matt. 6:33). Our faith should not be one of many things we pursue, but the main thing. "Let us throw off everything that hinders," the author of Hebrews wrote about faith, "and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb. 12:1).
It occurs to me that during the holiday season, many of us attempt a kind of balancing act. There are events to attend, decorations to arrange, parties to host, gifts to wrap. While all these things are enjoyable, I rarely hear anyone say they wish there was more to do during the holidays. It can be exhausting And every year the many things tend to obscure the one thing. That one thing, of course, is Jesus. It reminds me of the Bible account of sisters Mary and Martha. At this time of year we're like Martha, running around at her dinner party obsessing over the details. All the while Mary does nothing but sit with Jesus, enjoying his presence. Over Martha's protests about her slacker sister, Jesus declares that "Mary has chosen what is better" (Luke 10:42). Here we nod our heads and say, "Yes, Mary had it right." Caught once again in the Christmas crush, I wonder if we really mean it.
There's no carol like a Christmas carol
History gives evidence of music's power
During December we hear Chrisnnas music in every store, on many street comers and in our offices and homes. While being constantly inundated with music could make it almost a routine experience, the lyrics and tunes of many Chrisnnas carols provide Christians with one more way to joyfully proclaim the good news that a Savior has been born.
A 1998 national survey of American adults conducted by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University explored the role of Christmas in American life. While only 59 percent of those surveyed said they planned to attend a Christmas worship service, 76 percent were able to name a favorite Christmas song. Silent Night, by the way, was the clear winner. This survey is another reminder that many Americans do not personally know the Child they sing of in Silent Night as the King of Peace that rules their over-scheduled, hurt-filled and chaotic lives.
Throughout history Christmas carols have been used by Christians to introduce Christ to those who didn't yet know him. Italian friars that lived with St. Francis of Assisi were the first to compose simple, uplifting Christmas songs based on the Gospels. Traveling singers helped to spread these carols, written to accompany the popular nativity plays written by St. Francis. These plays and songs became so popular that they spread throughout Europe. these songs became the propetty of the common people they took on a life and joy rarely found in church music of the period," writes Ace Collins in Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. European church leaders, however, were against the carols. Chrisnnas music belonged in the church, said church leaders. Even though the masses joyfully sang the new carols, the church continued to fight the movement and hung onto their traditional Christmas songs with their unmelodic tunes and Larin words.
Things began to change when in the early 16th century Martin Luther sang carols with children and encouraged congregations to sing these carols together, when George Frederic Handel composed the Messiah in 1741 and when in 1818 Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber wrote Silent Night, the most recorded song in history. Carols became a central part of Christmas in 1840 when Queen Victoria of England married Prince Albert of Gennany. Prince Albert loved to sing and
was a fan of Christmas carols. When news of the royal family's love of Chrisnnas music became public, families and church groups came to Windsor Castle to serenade the queen and her family. Soon these singers caroled through the streets of Victorian London.
Christmas caroling in the U.S. got off to a rocky start thanks to the Puritans who, when they came to the New World, attempted to outlaw Christmas altogether. But other immigrants ignored such laws and in time Christmas became a day for family, giving and worship. Thanks to the Methodists and then the Lutherans, Chrisnnas carols were included in worship services and street carolers were organized.
By the end of the Civil War, thousands of churches were using carolers to reach the unchurched, to minister to the sick and disabled and to "advertise" that they were happy and outgoing congregations. The popularity of caroling created a demand for new Chrisnnas music and in the 75 years after the Civil War, American composers contributed some of the best and most loved carols.
The stories of St. Francis and his friars and the Civil War era congregations challenge us to also "think outside the box" when it comes to outreach and service. Both stories also illustrate the value of working together in ministry, of taking advantage of the diverse gifts and interests we have in our families and congregations.
How can we spread the good news that God loves the world and has sent his Son to bring peace on earth in ways that will open the eyes of secular people? Nativity plays and carols related to the common people in a way that the established church did not. What avenues do we have to connect with the unchurchedif only we dared pursue them?
The goals of post-Civil War congregations in organizing caroling teams sound a lot like what we strive to accomplish today with holiday outreach activitiesconnecting in some way with people who don't go to church, caring for those in need and communicating the joy of our faith. Caroling seems like an easy way of accomplishing such big goals. What simple opportunities could we incorporate into our family and church . activities this month that will meet physical and spiritual needs of others? May we be courageous this Christmas in our personal and corporate outreach efforts. May we not overlook the obvious and simple acts of kindness.-CF
ea ring HOUSE ··.
MPL:OYMENT: CHUCH
Director of Youth Ministry: First MB Church in Wichita, Kan., a suburban congregation of 750 plus people, is seeking a full-time Youth Pastor We are seeking an individual who is committed to Jesus Christ and ministry to youth. The primary responsibility will be to lead a 100 plus student small-group - based senior high ministry. The Youth Pastor will also work with the junior high coordinator to oversee a 50 plus student junior high ministry. Please send your resume to : Youth Pastor Search Committee, Bill Henneberg, 8000 W. 21st Street, Wichita, KS 67205 11/31
Children's Pastor: First MB Church in Wichita, Kan , a suburban congregation of 750 plus people, is seeking a full-time Children's Pastor. If you are interested in directing a ministry to children from birth through 6th grade 1200 plus childrenl and have a vision for developing expanded family ministries, please submit a letter of introduction which presents your ministry passions and a resume to: Search Committee, Jim Means, 8000 W. 21st Street, Wichita, KS 67205 11/31
Family Life Pastor: The Fairview MB Church in Fairview, Okla., is seeking to begin a new ministry to families by hiring a Family Life Minister. This person should possess the following skills: ability to build traditional values and the family unit both in and outside the church; be an individual who enjoys interacting with young adults and middle aged families and who has a passion and compassion for families; be able to work in a team oriented setting and demonstrate self-initiative. For more information e-mail fairviewmb.com Resume can be sent to: Search Committee, Fairview MB Church, 1600 E State Road, Fairview, OK 73737.11/41
Youth Pastor: The Fairview MB Church in Fairview, Okla , is seeking a Youth Pastor This person should possess the following qualifications : a strong leader who is passionate about working with youth , an individual who works well in a team setting Ithis person will be a part of a three-person pastoral team and will also work with youth leaders in both high school and junior high!. a college graduate with youth ministry training or comparable experience. For more information, please e-mail fairviewmbfafairviewmb com. Resumes can be sent to : Search Committee at fairviewmbfafairviewmb.com or faxed to 580-227-4347 or mailed to Fairview MB Church, 1600 E. State Rd , Fairview, OK 73737. 11/41
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Are you aware of the benefits available when you make a gift at year end? Among them are:
• Potential tax savings from charitable deductions
• Increased income from non-productive or low-producing property
• Avoidance of capital gains tax on highly appreciated property
• Income tax deductions this year for gifts actually made in future years
• Personal satisfaction in knowing that you are involved in a worthwhile mission
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To assist you, we have prepared a special planning report, How to Maximize Your Year-End Giving.
Please complete the coupon below to receive your free copy, or to let us know how we can help you with your year-end giving. There is no cost or obligation.
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