Recounting ISO years of Mennonite Brethren history is no easy task and former CL editor Don Ratzlaff is to be commended for his willingness to tackle the assignment. Ratzlaff centers his overview on a question: What would you do to experience a faithful and vibrant connection with the God of the universe? Answering this question, says Ratzlaff, was not only important to the Mennonite Brethren story in times past but also for our story today . Our willingness to wrestle with this question will determine our future as a people of God.
16 WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER ?
by Doug Heidebrecht
Today the global Mennonite Brethren church numbers 280,000 believers in IS countries. Given our diversity, what connects us to one another? One way to answer the question is to think about a core conviction we share- namely, that Christ Jesus is the center of our faith.
18 GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS HONOR MB SESQUICENTENNIAL
In 20IO Mennonite Brethren worldwide will be marking ISO years since their beginning Jan . 6, 1860. National celebrations will take place in India, Panama, Brazil, Japan, Paraguay and Germany. North American Mennonite Brethren will host a global event July 12-18, 20IO, called Celebration 20IO, and organizers invite you to plan to attend.
> FiRSTWORDS
(from the editor!
I'VE BECOME A FAN OF THOSE TALKING/SINGINGGREETING cards that both entertain and annoy. So if it were feasible to have a pre-recorded message play when readers opened this issue of the Christian Leader, you would hear Kool and the Gang singing 'There's a party going on right here, a dedication to last throughout the year ...Celebration!" It might be bothersome to read a magazine that breaks into sassy song every time you allow the front page to inadvertently fall open, but it would also remind you that in 2010 Mennonite Brethren around the world will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Mennonite Brethren Church
The 18 men who signed the document fortning this new church would probably find it hard to believe that their spiritual children today number 280,000 believers in 15 countries. National celebrations are planned in six countries; North Americans will meet together in Vancouver, BC. To kick off the anniversary year here in North America, editors of the Canadian and United States denominational magazines jointly commissioned feature articles by fortner CL editor Don Ratzlaff and theologian Doug Heidebrecht. The cover of this. issue, created by Canadian graphic designer Audrey Plew, is another joint piece that will also be used by the MB Herald and Chinese MB Herald, publications ofthe Canadian MB Conference, when they print their anniversary issues in January. Our hope is that this cooperative project will highlight the history and faith that we share as North American Mennonite Brethren and as a global spiritual family.
Thanks to the readership survey conducted this summer, we know for a fact that Church News & Notes is a reader favorite. So I'm guessing that CL readers who enjoy the Church News & Notes department will notice that we've shortened the format for obituaries. One challenge with a bimonthly fortnat is creating enough space for all the Church News & Notes entries we cull from the many church bulletins, newsletrers and updates we receive from local churches and that we'd like to share with readers. The solution to the space problem that we are pursuing for now is to abbreviate obituaries. I realize that some readers will disagree with this decision, and I hope that the upsides to this shift will outweigh the changes.
Statement of ownenIIip management and drtulation
Publication t ille: Christian Leader. Publication number : 0009-5419 Filing date:11/13/09 Issue frequency: bimoothly Number of issues pubUshe4 annually, 6 Annual subscription price: $10 Complete mai ling address of knOWtl office ofpub Uca tion: 107 N Mai n Box 155 Hillsboro KS 67063 Complete mailing address of headqU<lrters or general business offi ce of publishe r: sam e Full names and complete ma iling address of publisher, e4itor and managing e4itor: PU blisher: U.S. Conference of MB Churclles. 7348 W21st Suite 115 Wicllita KS 67205; Editor: Con nie Faber 101 N Main. Box 155. Hillsboro KS67063 Man aging e4itor: none, Owner: U,S Co nferen ce of MB Chutthes. 7348 W21st Suite 115 Wich ita KS 67205 KnOWtl bondholders mortgagees and other security holders ownin!} or holding l %or more of total amount of bonds mortgages or other securit ies: nolle, Tax status has not changed duting proceed ing 12 months Issue date for clttulat ion data : Oct/Nov 2009 Extent and nature of circulation: tne first num ber represents the avetage number of copies of each issue doring the proceed ing 12 months, the number In parentheses is the number of copies 01 a sing le issue IOct/Nov 2tKW1 pubUShed nearest the filing date. (al Total nu mber of copies: 10,21 2 (10 155) (b) Paid/requeste4 circulation : 11 pald{requested outside county mail su bscriptio ns: 9 235 19. 180) 21 Pa id in-county subscriptions: S83 15841 3) Sales through dealers and car riers stree t ven dors, counter s<!les and other non-USPS pa id distn'butioo: 0 (0) 4) Other classes malle4 through th eUSPS: 244 (2411 (cl Total paid and/or reque sted circulation : 10 062 110 0051Id) Free or nominal tate distribution : 11Free or no minal rate outSide cou nty copies 0 [0) 21 Free or nominal rate in-county copies (0) 0 3) free lIr nominal tate cop ies mailed at oth er classes through the UPPS 9 (6)41 free or nominal tate distr ibution ou tSide the mail 10 fOj (e) Tota l free or nominal tate distribution outside lhemail : 1916) III Total distribution : 10 0S1 [10 01111g) Copies not distributed: 1311144)lhl Total: 10.212 (10.1 551 {iJPettent pa id and/or requested ci rculation : 99 81%- (99 94%1.1 certify that all information furnished is tr\Ie and complete runderstand tllat anyone who furnishes fa lse or misleading information on this form or who omits mate rial or information req uested on the form may be subject to criminal sa nctions and/or civi l sanctions. Si9lle4: Connie Faber
December 2009/ January 2010
Volume 72
Number 8
Connie Faber EDITOR
Myra Holmes ASSISTANT EDITOR
Shelley Plett GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Audrey Plew COVER DESIGN
Th e Christian Leader IISSN 0009 - 51491 is publi shed bi - monthly by the U.S. Con feren ce of Mennonite Brethren Church es
MANDATE The Chr istian Leader seek s to inform Menn onite Bre th re n members and churches of the event s. activitie s deci sion s and issue s of th eir denomination and to in stru ct in spire and initi ate di alogue so member s will as pire to be faithful di sciples of Chr ist as und er stood in th e evangeli caV Anabapti st theotogi cal tradition
EDITORIAL POLI CYTh e views expresse d in thi s publi cation do not necessa rily represent th e po sitilln of the Christian Leade r, th e U,S Confe re nce Lead ership Board or the Menno ni te Breth ren Church , Scripture references are from New International Version unless oth erwi se noted The edi to rs invite freelance article submi ss ion s A SASE must accompany article s,
READER PARTICIPATION Th e editors invite readers to share their thoughts and opi nions on top ics relevant t o the Mennonite Brethren Church usi ng letters to th e editor and For um essays Lett ers to th e editor should be brief -3 00 wo rd s or less- and on one subject. Lette rs mu st be sig ned and inclUde the wr iter's city and sta te. Le it ers will be edited for clarity app ropriateness and length Letters will be publi shed as space allows, unless marked - Not for publication : Forum is op en to members or att end ees of Mennonite Brethren churches Essays should not exceed 800 word s. and should include the writer'S name address. home churc h and occupation
COMMUNICATION All corre sponden ce in cl uding change of address. should be addressed to th e Christian Leader Box 155 107 N Main Hillsboro KS 67063 -01 55. Ph one: 620-947 -5543 , E- mail : chri stianleader(1lu smb org
SUBSCRIPTION S $10 for six iss ues and $20 for twelve iss ues 1$15 $40 in Ca nada: all oth er countries $25 for six issue sl: $1.50 per co py
MEMBERSHIP The Chris tian Leader is a member of the Evang elica l Press Association and Meetinghou se. an asso ciation of Mennon ite and Bre th re n in Chri st editors.
PO STMASTER Send address changes to th e Christian Lea der Box 155 Hillsboro KS 6706 3. Peri odicals po stage paid at Hillsboro Kan sas
> CONFERENCE CALL
In trouble
Will Mennonite Brethren be missionary leaders?
It seems our nation and its people are in trouble. And whatever our political, sociological or economic philosophies, from the vantage point of either side of our streets, our neighbors are in the mess with us. It's hard to find a sociologist, philosopher, economist or even a theologian who is enthused about our future. What about us Mennonite Brethren? As it relates to our faith and our view of life, what responsibility does this assign to us?
In our devotional reading a few weeks ago, Carol and I bumped into a great quote : 'We must care for the church of God with sincere and thoughtful love; and now that empty religion and irreligion both threaten, let us observe the signs of the times and prepare for conflict."
If you're thinking that must be the mantra of some insightful 21st century Bible teacher, it wasn't . It is the exhortation of Charles Spurgeon and was likely written in the British Isles good old godly days of about 150 years ago. Think about that! Yes, he was concerned about another country and continent, but it seems to me that it had better be our concern now. "Empty religion" and "irreligion" are words that describe our people in multiple ways.
USA Today reported Sept. 22 that the American Religious Identification Survey reveals that 15 percent of our population (19 percent of men and 12 percent of women) do not identify themselves with any religion.
David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, reported on ':A Week in the Life of American Morality" in an article published in the May/June issue of REV!. The questions were intended to check in on the moral and ethical behaviors of average American adults. In a one week window, 28 percent had used profanity in public; 20 percent gambled; 19 percent viewed pornography; 12 percent gossiped; 12 percent got drunk; II percent lied; 9 percent had sex with someone who is not their spouse; and 8 percent retaliated for something someone said or did.
While this particular study does not break out stats about Christians, researchers often say that on matters of lifestyle behaviors with ethical overtones, there is little difference in the num-
Conference responds to Holm
bers. Barna elsewhere reports that surveyed evangelical adults confessed to profanity (16 percent) and pornography (12 percent).
The American Church Research Project reports that the number of people attending church on any given weekend in the United States in 1990 was about 52 million; 2009 attendance numbers are still 52 million. In the meantime, the population has increased by 52 million since 1990.
If this trend continues, more than 85 percent of us will not be attending church by the year 2020. This doesn't sound encouraging. But it is our mission field. Could it be that this is the ripe harvest Jesus talked about?
It is regrettably true that there are times when I end up doing the very thing that I do not want to do - sometimes in attitude, sometimes in action and sometimes in words. Does this happen to you too? It's a good thing grace is sufficient. It is also true that there are things more important than our sinful misbehaviors. What is in our hearts is the core concern. But, in the end, those of us who are followers of Jesus will by our lives verify our faith claims and our spoken committnent to be followers and imitators of Jesus. Missionaries by self-definition are already set apart by the Lord of the church. They live exemplary lives in, but not of, the world that embody the lordship of the Jesus they talk about.
One last and particularly burdensome concern: Barna.org reports that 71 percent of U S. adults say they "develop their own set of religious beliefs rather than accept the teachings of a particular church." Lest you think this kind of stuff doesn't apply to us, 61 percent of born again adults admit to the same thing. Because of the sea of strongly secularized individualism and pluralism we swim in, we Missionary Believers need to recognize that our first mission field is our personal neighbors in the good old not-so-godly USA.
I'm really serious about this! So let's set apart Christ as Lord and have at it.
-1J Comment on this column by going to usmb.orglchristianleader
The Leadership Board of the u.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches wishes to inform our national church family that a letter was sent to Jim Holm (former MB Biblical Seminary president) in response to his request for forgiveness in the June/July 2009 issue of the Christian Leader. This letter, signed by our USMB executive director, the Leadership Board chair and the chair of the Board of Faith and Life, expressed our appreciation for Jim's willingness to communicate his confession and apology. The letter also extended forgiveness on behalf of our entire national family and assured Jim of our prayers for restoration in his life
> REAOER FORUM by
Cory Seibel
Plagiarism in the pulpit
What do we do when pastors steal sermons?
It was a sad day in late 2004 as members of a North Carolina rnegachurch learned of their pastor's resignation A member of the church's board had discovered that this prominent leader. fonnerly a key figure within the Promise Keepers movement. had been preaching sermons stolen from other pastors. The pastor cited the emptiness that had accompanied a slow spiral into depression as his reason for using other preachers' material over a two-year period. The loss of credibility and trust this revelation created cost him his pastorate.
Plagiarism is a serious matter. Plagiarism is defined simply as taking ideas from someone else and presenting them as one's own. In essence. it is a form of stealing and is widely viewed as a serious ethical infraction. Schools. publishers and many professional fields have clear standards designed to prevent this sort of impropriety
If these ethical standards are taken so seriously in the arenas in which church members work. is it not reasonable to expect that the individuals occupying the pulpit will exercise at least as much care in upholding them? Furthermore. truly faithful pastoral sermons are born out of pastors' actively grappling with the Word of God. their own hearts and the lives of their congregations. It is not enough for them merely to import a sermon from outside this context.
This being said. while we may have good cause to question the practice. it is not plagiarism for a pastor to preach someone else's sermon if they clearly state what they are doing. For example. Rick Warren invites other pastors to preach sermons he has created. but asks that they be up-front with their congregations about borrowing his material. However. plagiarism occurs when a pastor preaches the entirety or significant portions of a message originally produced by someone else without crediting the original source.
Plagiarism also occurs when pastors borrow significant thematic elements. stories or direct quotes from other sources and attempt to pass them off as their own. In doing this. pastors essentially deceive their congregations by presenting a false image of who they are or the work they have done. It truly is important for pastors to take the few additional seconds necessary to mention who they have borrowed the idea from. This sort of thing should matter dearly in our understanding of what it means for Christian leaders to be "above reproach» (1 TlITI. 3:2).
So why might Christian leaders choose to plagiarize?
It is possible that a pastor might simply be unaware of the inappropriateness of using material created by others in the ways described above. However. it is difficult to imagine a pastor completing seminary and still being unaware of this issue
Some pastors may be driven by feelings of inadequacy. feeling as though they lack the skills necessary to keep up with the demands of week-to-week sermon preparation The pressure to "perform» in a competitive religious marketplace can also feed these feelings of inadequacy. It is understandable that some pastors struggle to feel significant or sufficient in a media-saturated culture of celebrity in which a select few preachers are elevated to superstar status.
Finally. as the anecdote cited at the beginning of this article illustrates. some pastors resort to plagiarism because they feel overextended or burned out. The struggle to find sufficient time to prepare or an inward feeling of emptiness can lead pastors to go searching elsewhere for something that they feel they can't produce themselves
Pastors often find it difficult to be honest with their congregations about the fact that they are feeling overwhelmed or burned out. Thus. they end up searching for shortcuts in order to keep up. While some pastors do simply struggle with self-discipline. boundary setting. time management or laziness. in many cases the issues run deeper than this.
How should church members respond when they suspect or perhaps discover clear evidence that their pastor has engaged in plagiarism? Without at all wishing to lessen the gravity of this issue. I urge a grace-filled approach. It will be important for pastors to be confronted gently (Matt. 18:15-20; Gal. 6:1; 1 TlITI. 5:19-20) and provided an opportunity to wrestle with why they have chosen to engage in this behavior. The congregation does deserve better.
However. it is essential that church members also examine themselves. Have I actively sought to encourage and support my pastor? Have I contributed to lofty or unreasonable expectations being heaped upon my pastor? Am I doing my part in the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). or am I leaving it all to the pastor? Basically. could I be part of the problem? The pastor probably deserves better. too.
Some church members do not see what the big deal is. Who cares as long as it is a good sermon. right? Hopefully. even if one is not especially concerned about what plagiarism in the pulpit says about pastoral faithfulness. the fact that such behavior may be a strong signal about problems with the pastor's well-being should move us to care deeply.
Cory Seibel is assistant professor of pastoral ministries at MB Biblical Seminary and serves Bethany MB Church in Fresno. Calif. as part-time minister of worship.
'1l Post your comments at usmb orglchristian-1eader
Youth leaders gather for Summit
San Antonio site of next National MB Youth Convention
Mennonite Brethren youth leaders from across the United States are meeting Dec 4-6 in San Antonio, Texas, for the second MB Youth Leaders Summit The goals of the event are physical layout of San Antonio 2011," organizers say.
twofold: First, to provide an opportunity for youth leaders from the five districts to meet and network. ' We believe strongly that the future of the national conference, at least in part, lies in the hands of the youth pastors and leaders ," say organizers.
Second, the Summit will provide an opportunity for youth leaders to familiarize themselves with the site of the next National MB Youth Conference, scheduled for April 16-19, 2011, at the same location "Each leader will go home with a clear understanding of the philosophy and
MCC appeals for aid
Mennonite Central Committee has committed $250,000 and is appealing for donations to assist people in South Asia whose homes and lives were devastated by recent earthquakes and flooding. In addition, MCC is contributing $480,000 from its account at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, raising MCC's total relief effort to $730,000. MCC is the relief, development and peace agency of North American Mennonites and is supported by many U.S. Mennonite Brethren
Typhoon Ketsana wreaked havoc in late September as heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding and mudslides across Southeast Asia, followed by two earthquakes that struck the island of Sumatra in Indonesia MCC is working with partners in Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to assess needs and provide short-tenn relief as needed.
Late September flooding in the Andhra Pradesh and Kamataka districts of southern India, the worst in decades, killed more than 250 people, left some 2.5 million homeless and destroyed crops and livestock. According to MBMS International, the global mission agency of North American
The Summit is open to anyone involved with youth ministry, whether paid or volunteer. The goal is to have one youth leader from every MB church in the U S. attend.
The National Youth Convention (NYC) is held every four years , giving students one ch ance to attend during their high school years. The last NYC, held in Anaheim, Calif., in 2007, made a strategic shift toward service; the San Antonio 2011 is expected to follow a similar fonnat The trio that organized Anaheim '07 are again planning the event: Rick Bartlett and Tim Neufeld of Fresno, Calif. , and Wendell Loewen of Hillsboro, Kan.-NYC
Mennonite Brethren, over 100 Indian MB churches were affected.
MCC is working through Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India to provide immediate distribution of rice, lentils and blankets to families affected by the flooding. MCSFI is a service and fellowship organization of the eight Mennonite, Mennonite Brethren and Brethren in Christ conferences in India. The MCSFI relief effort is in the heart of the Mennonite Brethren area and is being implemented by Mennonite Brethren churches .
"The destruction, particularly in Indonesia and India, is enonnous and for the most part has not been picked up by the media in Canada and the United States," says Ron Flaming, director of MCC 's International Programs Department. "MCC has an opportunity to support our sister Anabaptist churches and make a difference in these contexts as they offer assistance in the name of Christ."
For mo re infonnation or to donate through MC C . see www .mcc.org or call 888-563 -4676 To donate through MBMSI, see "Community Development" at www.mb msi.org - MCC
MBBS rededicates chapel
MB Biblical Seminary, the Mennonite Brethren graduate school for theological education, celebrated Sept II the rededication of the newly refurbished Warkentin Memorial Prayer Chapel. Rev. and Mrs . H .K. Warkentin originally built the chapel in 1966 in memory of their son Hennan Hanns Warkentin , a missionary to India who was killed in an accident in 1953. Time had begun to take its toll on the prayer chapel, leaving the structure worn and in need of re pair and upgrade for the 21st century The Warkentin family, along with supporters from the sem inary community and the valley, stepped in to make it possible for th e special ch apel to be around for the next generation Updates include a new roof, doors, windows, carpet and tile, landscaping, new cross and interior improvements .- MBBS
Enrollments increase
Both Tabor College, the Mennonite Brethren liberal arts college, and Fresno Pacific University, the MB-owned university on the West Coast, reported increases in enrollment as the fall semester began.
Tabor, headquartered in Hillsboro, Kan., set enrollment records for the second year in a row. Last year's enrollment was the largest in the school's 100-year history, with 612 students; the school starts this year with an unprecedented 640 students, a 4.5 percent increase over the previous year. The official registrar's tally shows enrollment records set by the college in five areas , including total overall enrollment (640); overall full-time equivalency enrollment (596); full-time students on the Hillsboro campus (504); full-time students in all programs (521) and graduate students (22).
Meanwhile, at FPU a coordinated, university-wide effort resulted in an II percent enrollment increase for the fall of 2009. Overall enrollment rose to 2,649, up from 2,377 in both fall 2008 and 2007. New student enrollment was 302 in fall of 2009, up from 260 in 2008. Degree-completion and graduate programs both marked growth, with over 12 percent growth in degree completion enrollment and an 8 percent increase in students seeking master's degrees.
Stephen Varvis, vice president for enrollment management, credits a team approach for the success. "People from all over campus-admissions, financial aid, the business officecame together to make this happen," he says.- TCIFPU
Changes ahead for MWC
Mennonite World Conference North American offices are about to change, and those changes will directly affect two Mennonite Brethren staff members. MWC is a global fellowship of Anabaptist-related churches.
MWC's office in Fresno, Calif., will close at the end of 2009. Pakisa Tshimika, who began working for MWC from Fresno in August 1999, will complete his service as associate general secretary at that time, moving from a permanent staff role to an occasional assignment as global church advocate. His immediate assignment is to lead planning for the Global Anabaptist Service Consultation to be convened by MWC in mid-2010. With the closing of the Fresno office, Dennis Becker will complete his work as executive assistant to Tshimika. Becker and Tshimika are both from College Community MB Church, Clovis, Calif.
The changes in North America begin action on Program Plan 2009-2012, approved by the General Council at its meeting in Paraguay in July. The plan calls for shifting more MWC administrative capacity to the global South . The goal over the next several years is to appoint representatives in each continent to strengthen relationships with and between member churches as well as with related organizations.
The office in Kitchener, Ont., will become MWC's North American headquarters, headed by Albert C . Lobe, MWC North America representative. In that role, he will give focused time and energy to building relationships with MWC members and participants across North America.
A new general secretary, preferably from the global South, will also be named. The search for a successor to Larry Miller, general secretary since 1990 with an office in Strasbourg, France, is underway. Miller will retire in May 2012. - Feme Burkhardt for MWC
BOOK PUBLISHED
Uncommon Providence, a book by Harold J. Dueck chronicling the life of his parents, J.J. and Anna Dick, has been published by Xulon Press. Dueck used tapes, interviews and a translated diary to research the story of their adventurous escape from Russia in the early 1930S and their Service as mission workers in India. The book is available at Amazon.com.
PhD AWARDED
Cory Seibel, assistant professor of pastoral ministries at MB Biblical Seminary, was awarded a doctorate in practical theology from the University of Pretoria in Pretoria. South Africa . A celebration and dessert reception to honor Seibel was held Sept. 14 on the Fresno. Calif.• MBBS campus.MBBS
STAFF CHANGES
Craig Jost. MBMS International's Midwest regional mobilizer. took on a new role with MBMSI this September as a missionary candidate Jost. his wife. Fabiana. and their children. Megan and Josiah. are interested in joining a France church planting team that will focus on resourcing church planting work in North Africa. For more information about the vacant position. visit www.mbmsi.orglcontact/employment/ MBMSI
ONLINE DEVOTIONAL
An online devotional written by MB Biblical Seminary faculty. students and staff is available at www.mbseminary.edu and at www.usmb.org. For a print version and a companion preaching resource. please contact the seminary.
eminiScing is something that happens naturaHy at a binhday or ann . iversary celebration. We delight in recalling times gone by- whether it's at a child's first birthday or her 16th, a first weding anniversary or the 50th - because we see the direct relationship between our Jives today and the events of the past. But what happens when so many years pass that we can no longer recall the
beginning we are celebrating? I think that's when history
becomes boring. The past is a yawner because the connections between OUT lives today and the earlier events that shaped us have faded with time.
So it's likely that some of us are not very interested in the Isoth anniversary of the binh of the Mennonite Brethren Church and its requisite history tutorial This stuff happened long ago and those folks who overlapped with the first generation of our fellowship are gone and with them our direct connection to that past. While you skip over this issue's focus on the Iso -year history of Mennonite Brethren, I invite you not to.
Instead, scan the ,anicles and browse the photographs looking for cQnnections between your faith and that of your spiritual You mlgbt be surprised at the family: similarities. - CF
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH
•A review of Mennonite Brethren history shows people determined to join with and serve God
What would you do to experience a faithful and vibrant connection with the God of th e universe? To appreciate th e journey of the Mennonite Brethren Church through the 150 years of its exi stence is to review it through that lens and then to marvel at God's faithfulness more than our own
Of course, the question isn't unique to Mennonite Brethren or exclusive to its relatively bri ef history as a movement of faith . It surfaces in the first stories of God's interaction with people Would you build an ark in an arid land? Would you pack up your family and belongings and move to a land you know nothing about? Would you use two stones and a slingshot to take on a warrior giant?
Those are not Mennonite Brethren stories per se, but they speak to the legacy that undergirds our story and frames our small contribution in the grand landscape of God's reign in human history It is because of God's faithfulness that men and women who came before us stepped out in faith to join God's service in the context of their times
The historical record pegs the birth of the Mennonite Brethren Church as Jan . 6, 1860, but to begin th ere would be to mi ss broader theme s that have formed our spiritual identity.
A better place to start would be with Martin Luther, the German monk who in the early 1500S ignited the Reformation that changed the course of Christendom Through his study of Scripture, Luther concluded he could not remain within a state church that had become powerful and fat, an institution that made faith a burden and salvation an accomplishment of good works for the average person
(Upper right) Although Menno Simons (1496 - 15611 is not the founder of the Anabaptist movement, as many suppose, he assumed leadership at a crucial time in the history of the movement that bears his name. His writings continue to inspire today; he is the most widely published of all Anabaptist leaders.
(Lower right) Jacob Becker (1826 - 19081, pictured with his second wife, Margaretha Wiens, was one of the 18 men who signed the charter Jan. 6,1860, establishing the Mennonite Brethren Church. Becker, who was chosen with Heinrich Hubert as elders of the new church, performed the first public baptism among the Brethren . He immigrated to Oklahoma in 1875 and died in Fairview 33 years later
In Ephesians 2, Luther discovered the fundamental truth that transformed him and the course of church history: " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves , it is the gift of God - not by works , so that no one can boast." At great peril to himself, Luther defied the traditional church The Reformation had begun, but much blood would be shed before freedom of belief was won for all.
About the same time, a group of Swiss believers, led by men like Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz, concluded that Luther had not taken his reform movement far enough . If salvation came by personal choice so must baptism and church membership . They could no longer accept infant baptism In the face of certain persecution, they baptized each other as believers and pledged themselves to live separated from the world These "anabaptists" ("rebaptizers" ), as they were called in derision, went from house to house to witness to their newfound faith conviction
The Anabaptist movement spread across Europe and engulfed the heart of a Holland priest named Menno Simons Menno had also grown disillusioned with the discrepancies between the teachings of the Bible and the practice of the church , and in 1536, Menno aligned himself with the Anabaptists He embraced the teachings on peacemaking and nonviolence he found in the words of Jesus and rejected the more fanatical elements of the movement that shed blood in the name of Christ.
In addition to 'a nonresistant response to persecution, Menno taught the Bible as the sole authority in marters of life, salvation by God' s grace, the responsibility of all believers to spread the gospel, believer's baptism , a life of discipleship through obedience to God' s Word and a community of faith characterized by Christ-like love For Menno Simons, it came to this : " For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (I Cor . 3:11). Those who agreed with his convictions came to be called "Mennonites" - by those who admired them as well as those who sought to destroy them
In response to persecution, Mennonites fled to countries such as Prussia and later the Ukraine to live out their convictions without interference They endured physical hardships in the early years, but formed churches, schools and self-governing villages . They prospered and grew in number. By 1860, the number of Mennonites in Russia had grown to 30,000.
But with prosperity came a season of spiritual malaise Here and there, though, individuals longed for spiritual vitality In 1845, a Lutheran pastor named Eduard Wuest came to Russia A fiery preacher, Wuest emphasized that salvation came through the free grace of God, and that each person needed a consciousness of sin, Christ-like love for each other and especially a more vital religious experience. Wuest brought the spark that ignited revival among Mennonite villages The renewed believers called each other "sister" and " brother" to reflect their close spiritual connection But Wuest died before the movement coalesced
In the Russian village of Gnadenfeld, "brothers" and "sisters" met separately from the established church for Bible study and prayer in defiance of village practice. Tension between the traditional church and the emerging group grew to the point where, on Jan. 6, 1860, 18 families signed a document of secession The Mennonite Brethren Church was born with about 50 members and a burning heart for God
(Upper Right) Mennonite Brethren mission work dates back to 1890, when Abraham and Maria Friesen left their home in Russia to work as independent missionaries in India When the Friesens took their first furlough in 1897, the church numbered 700 baptized believers, including the group standing with Friesen in this photo.
(Middle Right) Mennonite Brethren immigrated from Europe and Canada to Paraguay, where they evangelized their Spanish and Indian neighbors. This photo of a Chulupie Indian baptism was taken in Paraguay's Chaco, circa 1960.
(Lower right) The 2007 Congo MB Mission Conference highlights the global nature of today's Mennonite Brethren Chun:h as representatives of International Community of Mennonite Brethren member conferences wash one another's feet.
That's how the Mennonite Brethren Church came into being To understand what this relatively small denomination has accomplished over 150 years is to recognize an ongoing desire for a faithful and vibrant connection with God. The common thread through the generations is that Mennonite Brethren have looked for the caD of God through the Word of God. In the earliest years, members regularly carried a Bible and became known as "people of the Book." They studied God's Word and sought to live by its instruction
On that score, not much has changed in a century and a half "By their deeds you shall know them " the Word says
"Go and make disciples of aU nations ••• ••
At the core, Mennonite Brethren have been convinced of salvation by God's grace. and that they are included in Christ's Great Commission to spread that good news to others When Mennonite Brethren began migrating to North America in the 1870S, lured by the promise of religious freedom and economic opportunity. they brought with them their passion to see conversion from sin to faithfulness in Christ. No single cause has consistently lit Mennonite Brethren fires more than evangelism . Early on. local congregations manifested that passion in the form of evangelistic and renewal meetings where the need to be saved was made clear
Even while in Russia, Mennonite Brethren felt the burden to reach their neighbors That fervor soon turned global. As early as 1884, Mennonite Brethren immigrants in America helped finance the first volunteers for "foreign missions," with India as the first destination Today, God has grown the Mennonite Brethren Church in India to nearly 94.000 members - far exceeding the number who worship in the traditional sending churches in Canada (36.830) and the United States (2.6,000) combined. In this 150th year, the largest national church. with more than 100,000 members ministers in the Democratic Republic of Congo Around the world, some 1,700 Mennonite Brethren congregations worship and serve in 17 countries with a total membership estimated at 2.80.000.
In recent decades, various national Mennonite Brethren conferences have moved beyond the historical sender-recipient relationship to become partners in outreach through MBMS International and vision -setting tbrough the International Community of Mennonite Brethren In fact. some overseas conferences have sent missionaries to North America to reach ethnic groups living here God's salvation
(Upper Left) Until 2002. North American Mennonite Brethren met together regularly to oversee their work in global mission, education, publishing and theological reflection. This photo, taken in 1930 at the General Conference convention held in Hepburn, Sask , shows the large tent that for years helped local churches accommodate the large gatherings
(Upper Left, second photo) The first Mennonite Brethren immigrants settled in rural areas and remained there for several generations. The San Jose (Calif.) MB Church was one of the earlier Mennonite Brethren congregations in a major urban area Here members pose in front of the American Legion Hall, where they met from 1940 to 1942.
(Upper left, third photo) In 1994 when U.S Mennonite Brethren formed Mission USA, a new church planting strategy that leaders hoped would birth a new and dynamic course of renewal and expansion, they continued a commitment to evangelism that has characterized the MB Church In this photo taken at the 1996 U S Conference convention, Ed Boschman, kneeling at the front of the stage, prays for empowerment and unity on behalf of Mission USA and its partners in ministry.
(Left bottom) The value of discipleship has prompted North American Mennonite Brethren to hold national youth conferences, regional summer camps and locally-based educational activities. In this 1987 photo, dozens of youth attending the national youth convention in Glorieta, NM, swarm the stage to touch the convention banner in a symbol of soUdarity with the missionary call of Christ.
movement has come fuD circle, for his glory.
W ithin North America, evangelism and church planting have been consistent themes through the decades, with mixed results . The ethnic identity Mennonite Brethren immigrants brought with them from Russia plus an early suspicion of the "worldy" urban scene have been barriers to numerical growth through the years Even so, because of domestic workers who responded to God's leading, Mennonite Brethren congregations in North America today worship in nearly 20 languages.
The emphasis of Wuest and others on a personal conversion event, a pietistic faith and the priority of the Great Commission helped launch the Mennonite Brethren journey in 1860 and has influenced its direction < ever since Flushed into l2eing from two currents of faith expression, Mennonite Brethren in NOnRAmerica have at times felt more at home wading in the evangelical mainstream than within the Anabaptist flow from < '" which they emerged. •
In its best expression, Mennonite Brethren have brought a biblical blending to both streams - a social dimension to evangelicalism and an evangelistic emphasis to the broader Anabaptist-Mennonite family. It also could be said, though, that as "Evangelical Anabaptists," Mennonite Brethren have sometimes felt like I fish out of water in settings where they are immersed fuDy in one stream or the other.
Perhaps by default. Mennonite Brethren in North Am erica have been influenced most by mainstream , in regard to developing models for evangepsm and church planting - which is to say, "do whatever i1 talCes to bring people in," including deemphasizing the "Mennonite" identity in a culture that is hopelessly confused about it. " !
At its best. that model reflects the commitment of Aposde Paul himself to "become all things to aD men so that by all possible means I might save some." At its worst, it strips from Jesus' gospel many of the culturally unpopular teachings that Mennonite Brethren and other Anabaptists have embraced as part of the biblical caD to obedience ';
As the denomination marks its 150th anniversary, Mennonite Brethren in North America continue to i., seek<1od's guidance for finding a faithful way t6 work together to carry out the Great Commission in a context"where the "togetherness" of a denominational bond is itself called into question - certainly by the unbelieving culture, but even by a younger generation of believers who were nurtured within its churches
Pardy in response to that trend, Mennonite Brethren over the past 20 years have pared their organizap onal structures, both denominationally and locally, and followed the lead of successful evangelical models to 'Centralize decision-making authority In doing so, leaders have redefined, for better or worse, the traditional understanding of "the priesthood of all believers" within the faith community.
Even as the early Mennonite Brethren in North America struggled with the culture-driven transition
(Upper tight top' Their interest in higher education caused Mennonite Brethren to estabUsh Co1lege, Hillsboro, Kan , in 1909. U S. Mennonite Brethren currently own Tabor College and Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, Calif. The schools have a history of cooperation that for a time included playing one another in,basketbalL
(Upper right. second photo. For a time, the Christian Leader, bom in 1937 as an English - language youth publication, was the official periodical for all North American Mennonite Brethren. CL editor Orlando Harms, pictured here In 1"', was the last editor to oversee a binational MB publication•
(Upper third photo) Since 1975, MB Biblical Seminary, established in 1955 by U.S. Mennonite Brethren, has been a school qf theological training owned jointly by U.s. and Canadian Mennonite Brethren. ,;
(Upper right, bottom. Men+,onite Brethren support the work of Mennonite Central Committee, an inter-Mennonite relief agency they were instrumental in founding in 1920. For example, in 1995 these volunteers from Dinuba (Callf l MB Church baked pies for the West Coast ReUe' Sale, held annuallY on the Fresno UniverSity campus in early spring to benefit MtC
from the German language to English. Mennonite Brethren today who want to make a difference for God in their context continue to wrestle with culture-driven transitions in worship styles rapidly emerging technology and changing expectations within congregations What is faithfulness? What is accommodation? The variables are different today. but that central question is still the hot button for Mennonite Brethren mission and methods .
«Teach them to obey everything
Because of their commitment to the authority of God's Word. Mennonite Brethren have not seen conversion as an end unto itself. but as the doorway to a life of discipleship. ' What would Jesus do?" was the formative question for Mennonite Brethren long before it became culturally popular in North America
The spiritual revival in 1860 that ignited the Mennonite Brethren movement began with the study of Scripture. as did the Reformation and the emergence of the Anabaptists before that time Solid biblic3l teaching in the home church and school has always been important to Mennonite Brethren Through the decades that conviction has expressed itself in the formation of family
nights. Sunday school. midweek programs, vacation Bible school. camping programs, youth retreats, church-sponsored high schools. study conferences. Bible schools. Bible conferences several colleges and a seminary
In the earlier years, Mennonite Brethren established schools to equip the younger generation to stand against "worldliness. » to preserve a Christian worldview and to prepare them to serve the church and its mission Today the post-secondary institutions supponed by North American Mennonite Brethren continue to be a primary training resource for the denomination's young people But in the quest for both economic survival and greater spiritual impact. they have positioned themselves to offer a Mennonite Brethren perspective to shape and equip young people from a broad range of Christian traditions. as well as to challenge those who have not yet crossed the line of faith
In an effort to enhance and resource discipleship and a greater sense of community within the denomination Mennonite Brethren became a publishing people Through the development and distribution of magazines. newsletters, curriculum and books. Mennonite Brethren educators. editors and writers shared Insights and challenged their readers within the network of congregations and well beyond it. 1n this electronic age the tradition of resourcing continues. but the mode has expanded as technological advances have created new opportunities to connect with people via video and the Internet
«Do not confonn any longer to the pattern of this world
Mennonite Brethren have believed from the start that conversion. rooted in God's grace and forgiveness. should be expressed in a changed life that moves the believer away from sin and worldliness and toward a life of holiness and service. But'how does a community of believers live that out in daily practice?
In their best form. Mennonite Brethren have done it by studying God's Word together. then agreeing which behaviors best express the life of holiness and which do not By exercising loving. mutual accountability belieVers find support to walk the narrow path of faithfulness side by side
Through the years, Mennonite Brethren have not always lived up to the best form . In many instances. loving accountability slipped into judgmCi)ntallegalism. and attempts to exercise accountability shattered already-fragile spiritual connections within the church family as well as beyond it In more leCeDt years. Mennonite Brethren have ttied to emulate Jesus' model of lOving the sinner within an ongoing relationship of prayer patience and communicating personal value.
What it means to "be in this world but not of it" will always be a challenge for Christ followers In a North Atnerican culture that deifies individualism, materialism and nationali$tlc'Pride, Mennonite Brethren congregations face a difficult challenge tQ develop and express a meaningful sense of Christian community and interdependence- within the local congregation as well as the broader denominational family.
(Upper left) Responding to the physical and spiritual needs of people both in the U.s. and around the world has been a long-standing hallmark of Mennonite Brethren. MBMS International sent a series of skilled North An\erican volunteers to Thailand to help rebuild communities devastatCMI by the December 2004 tsunami Operation Rebuilding Lives also fecused on ,the spiritual needs of Thai people, and today there Is a growing Mennonite Brethren conterenc:e of churches in this country
(Bottom left) It didn't take long for North American Mennonite Brethren to minister beyond their own ethnic bonier's. this 1947 phot0l.includes the ministers, deacons and missionaries of the North carolina churches that ant the result of mission work initiated in 1886 by Krimmer Mennonite.rethren among the African American community In Elk Park, NC.
"Blessed are the peacemakers
Through the decades Mennonite Brethren sometimes have been ambivalent about how to express their Anabaptist heritage in areas such as meeting physical needs in the world and embodying the teachings of Jesus on the role of the state, loving enemies and turning the other cheek.
On the matter of addressing physical needs , Mennonite Brethren have helped create and support coundess projects of compassion - for each other, for neighbors in the community and for complete strangers in their region and around the world . They have joined with other Mennonite denominations as avid supporters of, and participants in organizations such as Mennonite Disaster Service at home and Mennonite Central Committee around the world to offer aid and hope "in the name of Christ "
Along the way, Mennonite Brethren also have created their own programs and agencies as oudets for voluntary service, often with the aim of aidmg evangelism and church planting. In part because of greater affluence in this past quarter century Mennonite Brethren
Christ's call to radical love and even encouragement to pursue alternative service in times of war. But Jesus' call to be peacemakers has been broadened intentionally, and rightfully so, to include all relationships and contexts : 'We seek to be agents of reconciliation, to practice love of enemies, and to express Christ's love by alleviating suffering, reducing strife and promoting justice."
So, what would you do to experience a faithful and vibrant connection with the God of the universe? The question is more than a lens for understanding our past; it is the question that will determine our future as a people of God
Through these ISO years, God has called out individuals from among us to be strong and visionary leaders , people who embodied the Old Testament courage of Noah, Abraham and David, and the fortitude of conviction modeled by Luther, Grebel, Simons and Wuest. Their leadership has helped forge the Mennonite Brethren vision and legacy
D Brethren have never questioned Jesus' directive to he peacemakers, hut ho\v to express that aim, particularly in the context of war and service to the state, has enjoyed less unanimity.
inteb in mission endeavors has expanded as never before to include personal participation of local members Short-term mission projects, , both regional and international in scope, are commonplace these days lfor most youth groups. In the past IS years, teams of adults, often of retirement age, have followed that model as well.
Mennonite Btethren have never questioned Jesus' directive to be peacemakers, but how to express that aim, particularly in the context of war and service to the state, has enjoyed less unanimity The traditional Mennonite poSition toward state and government was and apolitical : ho military service, no participation in the police force, no running for government office and even no voting in elections.
Todays expression, for better or worse, is 'more diversified It's not uncommon to find Mennonite Brethren participating in almost all avenues of state· and government 'flle new reality partly reflects the denomination's priority to evangelism - not wanting to crejlte what cOuld be barriers for people considering the cab to faith. In part, it Iiflects a desire to participate in the state because it is seen as part qE COO's arrangement for society to order. SOme, it the. difficulty to discern a cant difference, Wlthin the North Amencan context at least. betWeen the call of God's kingdom and +e expectation of patriotic citizenship
After 150 years and in the midst -of diversified practice, the }4ennonire of Faith continues to offer guidance on the Christian's relationsliit to the state. his or her commitment to
{
But the names of these leaders are noticeably absent in this account. That is by design and by conviction. For one thing, it would be impossible to list them all in this space But more than that, to name only leaders would be to overlook the contribution of all who have responded to the pervasive and inclusive call of God .
To seek a faithful and vibrant connection with God should be the inherent desire of every one of us . To give ourselves wholeheartedly to God's service, in whatever form it takes, is both our privilege and our reward .
So in this 150th anniversary year, we celebrate our leaders, past and present. But we marvel at the army of unnamed, untrained and frequently unnoticed sisters and brothers who quietly accepted God's nudge to love to pray, to serve to teach to befriend, to write, to sing, to give sacrificially, to encourage, to persevere in suffering. Together, they have modeled the incomprehensible possibility that the God of the universe might use each of us, and any of us, despite our weaknesses and shortcomings to accomplish God's purposes for the sake of God's glory
Don Ratzlaff is a journalist living in Hillsboro, Kan , where he is a member of Hillsboro MB Church He was editor of the Christian Leader for 13 years
This article was pmzmissioned by the Christian Leader and MB Herald for use by these two publiaJtions and the Chinese MB Herald as part of the North American celebration of the 150th anniversary ofth e Mennonite Brethren Church
What BINDS us together?
Our core convictions are centered on Jesus
The Mennonite Brethren movement began ISO years ago in southern Russia with 18 families. Today we are an incredibly diverse group of 18 conferences in IS countries representing some 280.000 people. with church planting work being done by MBMS International workers in at least another dozen countries.
This begs the question. what does it mean to be Mennonite Brethren? What holds us together in the midst of our diversity? While this question could be answered in many ways. I wish to explore how our shared theological convictions contribute to forming our identity as Mennonite Brethren. Is there a center. a set of core theological convictions that reflects who we are today and that can also provide us with a vision for how we are to live as God's people?
Convictions are not whims or opinions that can easily change but rather reflect our deep-seated commitments. Convictions are expressed in what we actually say and do; that is. our words and actions reveal our true convictions. Community convictions are the shared persuasions and beliefs that guide our thought and shape our life together.
Our Confession of Faith describes. in 18 articles approved in 1999 after a lengthy discernment process. what we believe together. The Confession. however. may not quickly come to mind when we respond to someone in the church foyer or at work asking. who are the Mennonite Brethren? Is there a way of clearly stating the core convictions we share?
The very center
Following the early Anabaptists. we state in our Confession of Faith that "Christ stands at the very center of the Christian faith ." To say that Jesus is central to Mennonite Brethren convictions is not to diminish the significance of the Trinity nor is it to ignore the work of the Spirit. Rather it is to say that at the heart of our relationship with God is our identity as Christ followers.
Mennonite Brethren emphasize five aspects of Jesus' life and mission. (Figure A. right)
• Jesus is the unique Savior of the world.
• God is revealed in the person of Christ.
• Jesus is head of the church.
• Jesus is our model for faithful discipleship.
• Jesus is Lord over all.
These facets of Jesus' identity and work underlie our central beliefs and provide the motivation for shaping our lives and mission in the world.
Six core convictions emerge from our understanding of Jesus (quotes that follow are from Confession of Faith: Commentary and Pastoral Application).
I. We believe that we can only find new life in Jesus Christ. "God prepared the way of salvation until finally God reconciled the world to himself by the atoning blood of Jesus. As people put their trust in Christ. they are saved by grace through faith God forgives them. delivers them from sin's bondage. makes them new creatures in Christ. empowers them by the Holy Spirit. and seals them for eternal life."
2. We believe in the Bible. 'We believe that the entire Bible was inspired by God through the Holy Spirit." Through the Scriptures. "God is revealed in the person of Christ; Jesus shows us what God is like through his life and ministry."
'We accept the Bible as the infallible Word of God and the authoritative guide for faith and practice;" so we submit our understanding to the judgment of the biblical text.
3. We believe the church is the people called by God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the head of the church. those who have responded in faith to God. The church is depicted as the body of Christ. which is "nourished and renewed as God's people gather regularly to glorify God."
'Through the Holy Spirit God gives gifts to each member for the wellbeing of the whole body." Baptism symbolizes both our conversion experience when we were cleansed by the Holy Spirit and also our incorporation into the body of Christ. the church.
4. We believe that Jesus calls us to follow him as disciples. "Discipleship begins with a personal commitment of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior."
"By calling his followers to take up the cross. Christ invites them to reject the godless values of the world and offer themselves to God in a life of service.... To be a disciple means to be true to Jesus in everyday life."
5. We believe in the mission of the church. which emerges out of faithfulness as disciples. "Christ commands the church to make disciples of all nations by calling people to repent. and by baptizing and teaching them to obey Jesus The good news of God's salvation in Jesus Christ is for all peo-
A
Fig
pie." As his disciples. we are to love our neighbor both "by telling the good news and by doing acts oflove and compassion." We proclaim Christ's lordship through both our words and our actions.
6. We believe in the ministry of reconciliation. 'We believe that God in Christ reconciles people to himself and to one another. making peace through the cross." Disciples of Jesus are "to be agents of reconciliation in all relationships. to practice love of enemies as taught by Christ. to be peacemakers in all situations." The lordship of Jesus requires his disciples to "treat others with compassion and gentleness and reject violence as a response to injustice."
A packaged set
Together. these beliefs form a conviction set. It comes as a package. We cannot let go of one conviction without significantly altering who we are . While we need to be cautious about putting too much weight on a simple diagram (Figure B. right). this illustration does encourage us to view our convictions as an integrated picture. In fact. I suggest that as we begin to recognize the interconnectedness between these different convictions. they emerge as a practical guide for our ongoing life and mission.
For example. we cannot simply call people to new life in Christ without also emphasizing his call to follow him as disciples. New life in Christ is only the starting point of a journey. Discipleship must take place within the context of the local church; the New Testament portrays no disconnected. loner Christians. As we seek to follow Christ. the Bible is our authoritative guide for discerning what that looks like in our everyday experience.
Furthermore. our involvement in mission is not optional. but reflects a necessary expression of what it means to follow Jesus. The ministry of reconciliation. both in relation to God and with each other. is inherent in the gospel itself and must be seen as an integral part of our mission in the world.
The relationship between the church and Scripture is also highlighted by this simple portrayal of our core convictions. As Mennonite Brethren. we read the Bible through the lens of Jesus. As God's fullest revelation, Jesus becomes the interpretive key to the rest of Scripture. We also read the Bible together as the church. We acknowledge not only that our individual perspectives are limited by
B
our experiences, but that God's Spirit works in a unique way among us when we meet around the Word.
What we say in answer to the question "who are the Mennonite Brethren?" points to a shared set of convictions centered around Jesus that underlies our rich diversity. Our identity emerges in the dynamic interaction of our core theological convictions. Yet what we assert we believe must be lived out in our words, actions and attitudes, for it is only then that the vision that guides us can truly become descriptive of who we are.
Doug Heidebrecht is director of the Centre for MB Studies and lives in Winnipeg, Man. This article will also be published into the MB Herald anniversary issue.
Delegates to the 1999 North American Mennonite Brethren convention affirmed a new confession of faith that still guides our denomination.
Fig.
Global celebrations honor MB sesquicentennial
North American events slated for Vancouver
In 2010 Mennonite Brethren worldwide will be marking a century and a half since their beginnings January 6, 1860 when 18 men living in a small village in what is now Ukraine signed a document declaring their intention to secede from the Mennonite Church National celebrations will take place in India, Panama, Brazil, Japan and Paraguay, as well as in Germany, which will host International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) meetings and celebrations
North America will host Celebration 2010: The 150th Anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren July 12-18, 2010 in British Columbia, the world stage for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. During this weeklong celebration, Mennonite Brethren will explore where they have been, where they are going and what they have learned along the way.
Opening this international event will be Renewing Identity & Mission: A Mennonite Brethren Consultation (RIM). The RIM consultation begins Monday evening and runs through Wednesday afternoon and will feature Mennonite Brethren from around the world
A Celebration Service Wednesday evening, July 14, marks the beginning of the four-day North American anniversary event. Thursday will be devoted to ministry updates from MB Biblical Seminary, MBMS International, Historical Commission and the International Community of Mennonite Brethren A second Celebration Service is scheduled for Friday evening Celebration services and binational and international business sessions will take place at Chandos Pattison Auditorium, located on the campus of Pacific Academy in Surrey
The 2010 U.S Conference National Convention, the biennial gathering of Mennonite Brethren living in the United States, is incorporated into Celebration 2010, as is Gathering 2010, the Canadian Conference convention. Gracepoint Community Church will host the U .S. Conference National Convention and
North Langley Community Church will host Gathering 2010. Delegates to the two national conventions will gather Thursday evening and Friday morning and afternoon at their respective locations
Saturday Celebration 2010 participants are invited to " Experience Vancouver," an urban immersion experience. The North American anniversary party will close with a Saturday afternoon rally following Experience Vancouver.
All Celebration 2010 participants will be staying at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel, a comfortable and economical hotel and located close to all Celebration 2010 venues.
Additional information about Celebration 2010, including registration materials, will be published in the Feb/March issue of the Christian Leader . Information is also available online at www.celebration2010.org - Celebration 2010 news release/CL staff
This summer is not the first time the U.S. and Canadian Conferences have held their national conventio ns concurrently to allow for a larger celebration. In 2002, more than 1,500 Mennonite Brethren, most of them No rt h American with guests from m ost of the 17 national MB conferences around the world, gathered in Abbotsford, BC, to mark the end of the binational General Conference.
CHRISTI AN LEADER
Your Mennonite Brethren Who . What . Where . When . Why . How
Reluctant leader
Lynn Jost leads the seminary to a new future
At an installation service Nov. 2, Lynn Jost was publicly affinned for a role he never really asked for-that of president of MB Biblical Seminary (MBBS), the North American school for Mennonite Brethren graduate -level theological education. It's a role he's been filling since September 2008, first as acting president, then as the seminary board's choice for president beginning in June 2009 "I was just the next person standing there, and they grabbed me and put me into the spot," Jost says
Of course, there's more to it than that. Jost was serving as academic dean when President Jim Holm confessed to an affair and subsequently resigned, so Jost was the logical choice to take the helm. But Jost also is well qualified. Through years of ministry and teaching in the Mennonite Brethren church he has developed a love for the denomination and a wide net of connections.
Jost holds degrees from Tabor College, the MB liberal arts college in Hillsboro, Kan., and MBBS, as well as a doctorate from Vanderbilt
Fr ankly n "Lynn " Jost ad dresses the audience Nov 2 during the ceremony in which he was inaugurated as the eighth president of MB Bib lical Seminary
University in Nashville, Tenn. He has worked as a short-term missionary in Madrid, Spain, as a pastor in Hesston, Kan., and Kingsburg. Calif., and as a professor at Tabor College and MBBS. He has served the larger MB family in a variety of leadership and board positions, especially those charged with theological tasks.
Nonetheless, Jost says he faces a very steep learning curve adjusting to the new assignment. He seems himself primarily as a pastor and teacher rather than an administrator. "Running an organization has been a major adjustment, but one to which I found myself increasingly open."
Jost steps into the presidency at a critical moment in the seminary's history, charged with the daunting task of reshaping the seminary for the future. He describes the task as both overwhelming and necessary. Just prior to his inauguration, CL editors Connie Faber and Myra Holmes talked with Jost about the job before him and the future of the seminary. Following are edited excerpts from that conversation.
CL: Do you come to this role eagerly or reluctantly?
LJ: Very reluctandy. I'm overwhelmed by the task. Denominations in general and the Mennonite Brethren church specifically are facing a lot of fragmentation, regionalization, localization and distrust of institutions. Those complicating factors have contributed to probably a 20-year decline in MB pastoral prospects moving to Fresno-or any of our campuses.
While serving as acting president the past year, I became very anxious and started worrying a lot. I know the Bible says not to worry, but I was just not able to be obedient to that. I was in a deep, dark hole for a while. That's just a reflection of how personally I was carrying this and how poorly suited my nature is to this.
CL: Are you feeling better now?
LJ: Yes. I thank God for all kinds of ways of bringing healing. Lots of people have assured me of their prayers; I don't discount that for a moment. And I think one of the ways God answered prayer is to give me a doctor who could figure out what kind of medication to give me. And I'm really grateful for that. I've also learned about managing the task and feel more confident with the kind of personnel resources that are available to me.
CL: What excites you about this role?
LJ: Serving the church. Knowing that the church continues to need pastors who are prepared to think theologically. Seeing many excellent students continue to come to Fresno and to our Canadian sites to study as well as some who are finding ways to do what we offer from a distance. Seeing the strong faculty we have who are doing a fine job of preparing women and men for Christian service. That is really exciting.
CL: There are also challenges facing MBBS today. Can you teD us about those?
LJ: Our full-time equivalency (FTE) is down. The FTE is steady on
the Langley, BC, campus. We're still quite small in Winnipeg. Man. In Fresno, Calif., we've experienced a decline from lIS FTE to 6S FTE in about six years and it's been very painful to try to adjust quickly. It's just not viable to run an institution like that. We just don't have enough income to provide for current levels of staffing.
In Fresno, at least, our system as currendy structured is not sustainable. It's not good use of the church's resources to have fewer than 10 students per faculty member. And doing what we've been doing is going to give us the results we've been seeing.
CL: How are you and the board addressing these challenges?
LJ: Maybe it's part of my baby-boomer mentality, but my first priority coming into this job was to face facts. I came in with a sense of a mandate to look actively for partners. So we immediately began conversations with Tabor College and Fresno Pacific University. And we started talking with Fuller Theological Seminary. We asked all of them what kind of partnerships they could imagine.
About 41 percent of schools accredited by the Association of Theological Schools are in some kind of financial crisis, and ATS believes that the ones who survive will be ones that are affiliated either with a university or with the large national seminaries.
CL: How are these discussions progressing?
LJ: MBBS was quite hopeful that negotiations with Fuller Seminary would result in a new partnership that would enable better distance education. We had begun to share this possibility with our stakeholders. Many were concerned about a loss of Mennonite Brethren ownership and identity, but negotiations with Fuller's president, board and provost were very promising. Only at the eleventh hour did we become aware that Fuller's faculty resisted this change-and Fuller withdrew their contract offer.
Our yearlong negotiations with Fuller have had the unexpected effect of rekindling ownership by our constituents and made us as a seminary community more open to change. It has been a delight to discover how many loyal supporters we have across the continent. Our students are excited-and scared-about how new partnerships will invigorate the seminary. Although we have concluded that the current way of doing things is not sustainable, the board and I are charged-up about our future. I am encouraged by the good will that MBBS enjoys with the presidents of FPU and TC, Merrill Ewert and Jules Glanzer. I expect to see some kind of partnership with those MB schools.
CL: Where do talks regarding partnerships with Tabor and Fresno Pacific stand?
LJ: After Fuller's withdrawal, we were pleased that both Tabor and Fresno Pacific are very willing to again consider how best to work in concert with MBBS It is too soon to say if and how we will work together. Proximity is an advantage in conversations with Fresno Pacific . FPU has a very strong reputation-or brand-among Fresno evangelicals. We may be able to share some services. Tabor has con-
tinued interest in preparing minisrers for the church. We will explore how we might work with the college and with the university in extending MB graduate theological education across the continent.
CL: How have you been gathering feedback from constituents in this process?
LJ: We've done quite a bit of testing. We've talked with our students and with district groups and regional pastoral groups. We've been in conversation for almost a year now with the national boards and leaders. In early September we gathered 17 MB leaders, mostly from the U.S., and tested with them various scenarios.
The former MBBS presidents have also been a valuable resource for testing new ideas. A consultant from the seminaty board association tells us that partnerships and mergers are becoming more and more common and has given us some creative new program ideas.
I think it's critical for people to understand that MBBS is making changes, but MBBS will not go away. It will continue with its mission and is looking for renewed resources to do that. We will streamline our program while we discern together new curriculum, programs, delivery options and degrees.
CL: What does MB Biblical Seminary have going for it in this stormy time?
LJ: We've got really great students. We've recognized the problem and we've done some things to become more efficient; I think that's good. And we've got the loyal support of our churches. We received over $1 million last year from individuals and churches in the most terrible year possible-that's a lot of support. We've got satisfied students. People that graduate are fans of this place. That's all very good stuff.
CL: How do you hope that constituents will support you and the seminary in the next months?
LJ: If we could have the same kind of loyal support that we've had for the first 50 years of the seminary's life for the next period, that's all I ask. The church has been very supportive. The seminary has been valued. It's been evidenced by prayers and financial gifts. We're going to need them. Support includes prayer and financial gifts, as I just said. Perhaps most important is encouraging men and women with pastoral potential to consider God's call. One of the best ways to test the call of God is by attending MB Biblical Seminary. We want to serve the church by helping prepare pastors and by helping reinforce the evangelical Anabaptist theological identity of the Mennonite Brethren church.
NC churches hold annual convention
Boschman, Wiebe guest speakers
This year the North Carolina Disrrict Conference (NCDC) marked its 109th year as a district conference with a convention celebrating their history and the future. "Look where he's brought us from" was the theme of the Sept. 18-19 event hosted by Laytown MB Church of Lenoir, NC.
Rev. Fred Howell opened the weekend with a welcome on behalf of this congregation that served and welcomed the participants. Following a welcome by NCDC moderator Terry Hunt, the participants enjoyed a video of NCDC history dating back to the orphanage that was started in the late 1800s. District youth director Chris Eidse gave the annual youth report and highlights video, highlighting the role young people play in the future of the church.
Each of the six district churches followed with their annual updates. Delegates approved the 200912010 budget. Following lunch, participants could attend one of two seminars on practical church matters. U S. Conference executive director Ed Boschman led a session called 'f\. process for finding new life in a church."
"Ed had a wealth of information, and with all the discussion we barely got past his first page of notes," writes Chris Eidse in a convention report. 'iransitioning churches to a new vision was obviously a topic that people could get passionate about."
Jon Wiebe, chief executive officer of MB Foundation, led a ses-
sion on "Modeling Faithful Stewardship," in which he tied healthy churches to healthy financial management. "Of particular help was a suggested breakdown for the distribution of church finances," says Eidse. "Jon's recommendation was 10 to 25 percent for the church building costs, 40 to 60 percent for staffing and 15 to 50 percent for helping needy people in the congregation and around the world. This was a great measurement tool to use in our church finances."
For dinner that evening, the pastors and their wives met with Boschman and Wiebe for a time of fellowship.
The Laytown Choir opened the Sunday morning worship time with music that "rocked the house." The North Carolina MB Mass Choir was up next, followed by congregational singing led by Rev . Morris Hatton in his vibrant piano style. Boschman preached on the convention theme, 'The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes," from Ps. 118:2.3. Boschman illustrated that Jesus is the capstone by lifting a huge chunk of granite over the congregation.
The service concluded with the annual assigning of pastors. New in the pastoral role this year are Mike Mathes and Fred Howell, serving as assistant moderators, and Keith Harper Jr. who will serve as assistant youth director. The service closed with a prayer of celebration thanking God for where he has brought the NCDC from and where he is going to bring them in the year ahead -from a report by Chris Eidse
Leadership Board holds fall meeting
Board takes action on variety of matters
When the u.s. Conference Leadership Board met Oct. 23-25 in Denver, Colo., reports and updates from the four u.s. Conference (USC) senior staff members dominated the agenda . The Leadership Board took action on several matters, some regarding USC ministries and others related to broader organizations in which U S Mennonite Brethren are involved.
• Christian Leader (C L) editor Connie Faber presented possible new fonnats for the cover of the magazine, and the Leadership Board affirmed the current design, with some modifications.
• The Leadership Board discussed optional sites for the 2012 National Convention and selected Omaha, Neb.
• While meeting in executive session, the Leadership Board determined that for the foreseeable future the CL will continue to be published bimonthly and discussed increasing the number of pages in the magazine. They decided to review staff salaries and benefits at their April board meeting.
• The board affirmed Ed Boschman, USC executive director, for continued leadership following a review.
• The Leadership Board recognized Donna Sullivan for 20 years of service to the USC; Sullivan is currently the USC administrative assistant and bookkeeper. The board presented her with a certificate of appreciation and gave Sullivan an additional week of vacation this year and a travel voucher for a destination of her choice.
• The Leadership Board reviewed progress Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has made on their restructuring process The board affirmed the direction recommended by the MCC Inquiry Task Force, the 34-member group that met with constituents to gather infonnation and that developed the recommendations currently being circulated to MCC boards, supporting denominations and Mennonite World Conference for conversation and feedback.
The Leadership Board discussed the Immigration Resolution that the National Association of Evangelicals is asking its members to endorse. Board members expressed their appreciation to the NAE for clarifying its position on this volatile issue and '1argely affinns" the NAE position, while also recognizing the inherent tensions that exist in immigration discussions.
Boschman opened the board's first business session with a "state of the conference" report. His overview included video clips, a review of Mennonite Brethren core convictions and a reminder of the role played by leaders, including board members.
"People are being transfonned," said Boschman, of the ministry endeavors of local Mennonite Brethren congregations, "but there is also a general sense that this is a tough time, there is frustration and discouragement (stemming from) the economy We need to keep telling the story (of transfonned lives), and as long as there are leaders committed to doing this among us as a family, God is obliged to bless us."
During his -Saturday morning report, Boschman reviewed progress on securing a Slavic conference staff member and the work of the national Board of Faith and Life. He reported on a recent survey of U.S. Mennonite Brethren pastors. Boschman noted that in spite of the economic downturn and shortfall in church contributions, the USC 2008-09 fiscal year finished strong and requested feedback on adjusting the current "nonn" structure. Boschman reported on recent International Community of Mennonite Brethren and Mennonite World Conference meetings he attended in Paraguay. He solicited ideas for U.S. Conference National Convention sessions that will take place July 12-18 as part of Celebration 2010, the North American celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren Church to be held in Vancouver, Be.
Mission USA director Don Morris provided a PowerPoint overview of the churches with which the national church planting and renewal ministry is involved. Morris spoke of his goal to plant clusters of new churches. He acquainted Leadership Board members with a new online pre-assessment tool.
Sullivan and David Hardt, Leadership Board treasurer, reviewed various financial and administrative reports. While church giving continues to lag behind the budgeted amount by about $40,000, Hardt said the overall USC financial picture is '1ooking OK."
In her report, Faber also summarized findings of the 2009 CL Readership Survey. The board discussed the results, including opportunities for enhancing electronic communication.- Connie Faber
CHRISTIAN LEA DER
Donna Sullivan, center, was recognized at the October Leadership Board meeting for 20 years of service to the U S. Conference. Sullivan is standing with Ed Boschman, left, US Conference executive director and Board chair Steve Schroeder, right
I'm a blessed man"
....
Roger Poppen reflects on 20 years at Laurelglen
Roger Poppen has pastored one of the larger Mennonite Brethren congregations, Laurelglen Bible Church (LBC) in Bakersfield, Calif., for 20 years, yet he doesn't see himself as the kind of charismatic leader often associated with large churches. ' 'I'm not a rah-rah, visionary type of leader," he says. ''I'm more of a steady shepherd, taking seriously the command to 'feed my sheep.'"
He and his wife, Naomi, recently retired after 40 years of steady shepherding, including those last 20 at Laurelglen. According to Pacific District Conference (PDC) minister Gary Wall, that's the longest lead pastoral run in the PDC at one church. LBC honored the Poppens with a farewell celebration Sept. 20, attended by 1,600 people.
When asked about highlights over two decades at LBC, Poppen has quite a list, statting with over 8so baptisms. LBC has been involved in church plants in Utah and in Bakersfield, both of which are flourishing, as well as a church plant to the deaf community within the LBC congregation.
_ Wall points out that during Poppen's tenure, LBC has more than doubled in membership, constructed a new worship center, weathered significant challenges and developed new ways to reach out to their community.
But Poppen says the biggest highlight for him has been "teaching the Word of God in a way that ministers to the hearts of people."
Indeed, he has a well-earned reputation as a Bible teacher Wall says, "Roger is an amazing student of the Word. The people of LBC have received some of the most exceptional Bible teaching these past 20 years."
Poppen's approach is book-by-book expository teaching, which he says is more likely to produce biblically-balanced and healthy followers of Jesus than, say, a topical approach. "Someone has said that the advantage of expository teaching is that you have
to address cettain topics whether you want to or not," he says, "and the disadvantage of expository teaching is that you have to address certain topics whether you want to or not "
Poppen uses a method for study and sermon preparation that he learned in seminary, which discerns the timeless principles in a particular passage, then seeks to apply those principles to today's world. "I am consistently amazed at how relevant the Bible is even for today when you use that approach," he says.
Of course, two decades have brought challenges as well as highlights. As he talks about specific conflicts and about general challenges, Poppen comes back again and again to the importance of staying true to God's Word. 'The only thing that God has promised to use is his Word," he says. "So we preach it, we live it, we model it as best we can as leaders and trust God for the results."
Poppen says he sometimes wishes he were more of a visionary leader, but he recognizes that's not his gifting And he seems OK with that. "I have no regrets," he says. ''I've been faithful to how God created me, and I'm not sure that I would do it all that differently."
Well, maybe he'd do one thing differently: "I would get my wife's input on more stuff." Poppen points to Naomi's wit and wisdom as qualities he particularly appreciates. One way she has shown her support is by simply being present, sitting in the front row through multiple services each weekend for so many years.
Poppen says that it's been rewarding to see LBC grow, mature and become increasingly involved in outreach over his long tenure. ''I've been a blessed man," he says, "and I'm not done yet "
He and Naomi plan to take some time to rest, refuel and possibly relocate. Then he will pursue teaching and interim pastoral opportunities, staying true to his gifting as a teacher of the Word. He11 still be that steady shepherd, taking seriously the command to feed the sheep. - Myra Holmes
Roger and Naomi Poppen were honored Sept. 20 by Laurelglen Bible Church for their 20 years of pastoral ministry to the Bakersfield, CaUf., church.
San Jose church supports global artisans
For over 20 years. Lincoln Glen MB Church. San Jose. Calif.• has hosted the International Gift Faire. a fair trade sale featuring unique handicrafts. jewelry. gifts and household items from Ten Thousand Villages. Ten Thousand Villages (TIV). with over 60 years of experience and an annual trade volume in excess of $23 million. has become the oldest and largest fair trade organization in the United States. It is a nonprofit job creation and marketing program of Mennonite Central Committee. the peace. relief and service agency of Notth American Mennonites.
Marcella Claassen and Evelyn Heinrichs organized the first sale at Lincoln Glen in 1988. taking in $400 in sales. Now the sale annually grosses $70.000 to $90.000. and it has become the largest two-day sale of TIV handicrafts in the U S. This year's San Jose sale was especially critical to the artisans' welfare. since the decreased economy in the U.S. and Canada has resulted in fewer orders for their handicrafts.
This year's Faire. held Oct. 9-10. brought in at least 1.400 customers. including the shopper pictured left. and $74.300 in sales. While that sales figure is down from last year's $75.000. it beats the 7 percent drop TIV is experiencing nationwide. Profits from the Faire will support the work of 50.000 to 60.000 TIV artisans actoss Asia. Africa. Larin America and the Middle East. With the income they earn. artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed are able to provide basic necessities for their families.
A group of 100 volunteers. chaired by Frances Schroeder. organize Lincoln Glen's annual sale. Frances's husband. Del. supervises unpacking of pallets. security and cleanup. Volunteers unpack merchandise and set up tables prior to the sale. serve as floor help and cashiers during the sale and clean up after the sale.
Enthusiasm for the sale has grown. says Schroeder. "Every year more people become aware of Ten Thousand Villages' message and mission," she says. "When people understand the mission of providing jobs and a market for very poor artisans around the world. they want to participate." -Myra Holmes
Roots deepen at The Grove
The Grove. a Mennonite Brethren church plant in southeast Fresno, Calif.• marked family growth in September when 6Jadults signed the church covenant. Some 44 families and 170 people are impacted by these commitments
The congregation. which began in 200s under the leadership of Sam Sarkissian. includes some 190 people but had never compiled anything akin to a membership list. When foiks began introducing The Grove to friends as "my church." it became clear that "the time was right and the need was there," as staff member Melissa Bergen says
During the five Sundays of August. the first service was dedicated to a membership class called "Roots." which explored topics such as basic Christian beliefs and values. Mennonite Brethren church history and The
Grove's vision and mission . Bergen says response surpassed expectations; they prepared 20 copies of materials for the first class. but over 100 showed up
At the end of the five -week class. those who attended received a covenant to consider Those who wished to affiliate with The Grove could indicate that during the Sept 20 "Kick off service" by bringing the signed covenant to the front. Since baptism was a prerequisite to signing the covenant. three adults requested baptism A total of six were baptized Sept 20: Steve Portela. Cameron Ross Steven Rudledge, Bruce Scofield. Michael Lee and Tabitha Ross
Church leaders intentionally use "covenant" language rather than "membership" language to distinguish the t;ommitment from membership in, say, a health club. Membership. Sarkissian points out. can easily be viewed as a one-time action. whereas a covenant commitment indicates an ongoing, active involvement. It should affect all of life. he says.
Furthermore. Bergen says. membership language can be a barrier to those who are unchurched. making them feel like outsiders As a church plant, she says. The Grove desires to break down barriers not create them
The good challenge now. Bergen says. will be to continue to encourage growth in those who made this covenant commitment 'We get to walk together." she says.-Myra Holmes
service held Sept. 20
Tabitha Ross, being baptized by Kathy Moser, was one of six people baptized as part of a covenant commitment
at The Grove, a church plant in Fresno, caUf.
US M B Co nvent io n - Gra c epo int C omm un ity C hu rc h, Surrey, BC
Gath e rin g 2 0 10 - No rth La ng ley Community Church , Langley, BC
Renewi ng Identity & M ission: a Mennonite Brethren Consultation - Langley, BC
Celebratio n 2010 and Bi-national Sessions - Chandos Pattison Auditorium, Surrey, BC
CANADIAN CONFERENCE - of Menno",!. Brethren Churches
Christmas card prayers
Don't underestimate the power of prayer
It was 5:00 a.m as I reached for the stack of mail that my assistant had placed on my desk the previous afternoon. Exhausted by a pressure-filled day, I had left the pile untouched and gone home insread. After a short and almost-sleepless night, I had now returned to my office at Fresno Pacific University.
My assistant always opens and sorts my mail, laying the most important letters on top. The first was a card from a woman in Reedley, Calif., whose name I didn't recognize. In a handwritten note, Nancy Kusch said that she would be praying for me January 21 She indicated that although she had no idea what I would be facing, she would be praying for me. Nancy explained that she hadn't selected the date; it was a "God-appointed day." She wanted me to know that whatever came up, she would be praying for me throughout "my day."
A printed note inside the card gave additional details Nancy takes all the Christmas cards she receives each year and numbers them. Every morning, she takes the next card in the sequence and prays throughout the day for the person who sent it.
Although we had never met, her family supports Fresno Pacific, so I had sent them a Christmas card, and that's how I made her prayer list. Nancy underscored the fact that she doesn't select the day she will pray for a particular person. She asks God to do that because he understands what she couldn't possibly know-the specific needs of each person on her list.
After double-checking the date on which Nancy said she would be praying for me, I glanced at the calendar and realized that I had opened her letter on "my day." Tears started running down my face because I understood why God had selected it. I thought that Nancy should know too, so I wrote a note explaining that my mother had died several hours earlier, a few minutes before the start of "my day."
Throughout that day as I made travel arrangements, connected with my scattered siblings, took care of urgent business on my desk and delivered the banquet speech for a gathering of educational leaders in the community, I felt an enormous sense of peace-working efficiently and effectively-remembering that someone was praying for me in Reedley.
Several days later, our family gathered in Minnesota to celebrate my mother's full and rich life. At 88, her death was a blessed release from pain, so we did what families do at moments like these: we laughed, cried, told stories and cleaned up her house before returning to our respective homes across the continent.
Back in my office in Fresno, I found another card from Nancy. She thanked me for sharing my story, told me that she had been
praying for my family, and then asked: "Have you looked at your 'Ewert book?"' This was a family history some relatives had assembled and distributed. She had - and discovered that her grandmother was my grandfather's twin sister. I checked my copy of the book; she was right. God had sent a cousin I didn't know existed to pray for me on the most difficult day of the year!
Obviously every Christian ministry could use additional money, but we need something else even more - prayer. We underestimate the power of prayer and God's ability to encourage others through us. When we invite God to use us, the Holy Spirit will prompt us to reach out to those who need our comforting touch. It can make a difference to us as well as to them. Who knows, you might even meet a cous in you didn't know!
D. MerriU Ewert is the president of Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren school located in Fremo , Calif
A National Vision:
We stive to plant several new churohes- at least one in each of our five districts - as soon as possible. Our church plants help people find Jesus - and then grow in Him. Please partner with ussupport church planting through _ --" Mission USA.
Soundtrack to faith
Life without music to stir th e soul is unthinkable
We've all those moments where music h>ls stirred oqr souls in ways we can't explain . It happens at concerts, in worship gatherings or listening to mus ic op road trips
Music is something that pervades our lives and shapes Itow we think, feel and live. When I consider the ineptness of my (:worite movie without the soundtrack, I realize how much music shapes.
Yet, music finds a way to divide us as well.
One of my favorite musicians, Derek Webb, recently released a new album with his Christian record label. It was released a couple of months late because of conflicts between the artist and the label over "controversial" and coarse lyrics. Apparently, the label
lar" when it comes to music. Centuries ago, all music was viewed as an expression of GQd's wenderful creation. Today, we teach (although sometimes very subtly) that the only music that appropriately reflects our world and God is music written for worship gatherings or under a Christian record label. This distinction is concerning, especially when an artist, like Webb, is censored because his music does not fit into the political or theological box the Christian music industry has created.
What does this mean for us?
We can rethink our understanding of what is sacred and what isn't Record labels and genres should not determine whether music
D Record bhels and genres should not determin e whether musi c is sacred. \Vhat is more beneficial is to determine the 4ual ity of its lyr ics and music .
and Webb have differing views on what is appropriate "Christi:}n" music.
A pastor at a large Kansas City church addressed the congregation in response to unrest about "secular" music being pl;tyed in church. To introduce sermons, the worship band had recently played songs by bands such as Uz and Bon Jovi.
It is not surprising that people becQme outraged, defen sive and passionate about musi c. With our churches going through transition in worship music styles and genres, we can relate. Music touches such a deep part of us - one we can hardly explain or understand
Which is why we get so emotional: Music isn't shallo\\'. Music is a primary way we experience the world and learn aboyt life, people and God Music speaks to our souls in ways little else can C ertainly. each of us experiences different forms and styles of music in different ways. But few of us can say that mlJ sic does nOf impact our lives. Music is so integral to our lives as people of God that our Confession of Faith - in Article 1, about God. no lessaddresses music : "Congregational worship is almost unthinkable apart from music "
The effect of music on oqr hearts. minds and souls extends beyond worship gatherings. There are dozens of record labels. radio stations and studios dedicated to producing Christian music Yet. often-times I find my thinking about life. God. theology and humanity challenged more through music that falls outside the Christian label than that inside it.
Somewhere along the way. we have created a distinction between "sacred" and "secu-
is sacred What is more beneficial is to determine the quality of its lyrics and music. I often hear complaints of poor or shallow theology in modem worship music. I must confess that I often hear more accurate theology from so-called secular musicians than many considered "Christian."
Many so-called secular artists could rightly be called "modem day prophets," a term writer Beth Maynard uses in reference to Uz's Bono. She defines such a prophet as a person who points us to God. declares that we cannot fit God into our plans-rather we must fit into prepares the way for the proclamation of Jesus much like John the Baptist did in the New Testament.
To do this is to see all of art-the work of humans and God's creation - as windows to the soul. ours and the creator's. Music is one opening to the soul. It simultaneously shapes and reflects the state of our heart .
We can also expand our horizons. guilt-free. Instead of feeling guilty for not having Casting Crowns on my iPod playlist, I need to be okay with allowing Uz, Mae, Lakes, Sarah Mclachlan or The Frames to speak to my soul. I'm learning that as I broaden the breadth and depth of ml,lsic in my life. I also broaden my understanding and love for God and God's people.
This month . may we experience music for its depth and breadth rather than its label. May we listen to all music, including instrumental. with an ear for what it teaches us about God and humanity. When we do this with discernment. we just might be surprised by which "type" of music speaks to our hearts and souls.
JeJ Co mment on this column by going to usmb.orglchristian - leader
Journey
by Rose Buschman
That was then
A lot h as changed in mission work since 1945
The year was 1945· World War 2 had just ended months before. Clara was busy packing and getting ready for a journey to the Belgian Congo She and her husband were to be missionaries there. For months there were medical and dental appointments, purchases made and clothes sewn . Supplies for several years were crated for shipment. Deputation visits were made to many churches including a long trip from Kansas to California.
Finally Clara, her husband, Frank, and two preschool boys left central Kansas Dec. 5, 1945, by train for New York City where they were to board a ship for the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
During the early post-war era, sailing schedules were not well established. The family waited until Dec 31 before they finally boarded. Two weeks later they landed in Port Said, Egypt. The next day they traveled by bus to Cairo.
In those earlier years the missionaries focused on medicine and education along with their preaching and teaching efforts. My husband, who lived in this environment, watched as they "grew their own churches." On a recent trip to the Congo I was told that the first generation pastors and other leaders in the Mennonite Brethren Congolese churches were primarily those men who, as teenagers, had worked in the missionary homes as house boys.
Through those early missionary efforts, many Congolese became Christians and churches were planted. The churches grew until now the membership in the MB Conference of DR Congo is 10 times that of the total membership in the Canadian and U.S. Conferences combined. Wow!
Foreign missionaries, with financial support from North America, accomplished this early mission work. Today things are
o A diary she kep t of th is time in her li fe offe rs in si ghts into the difficulties Clam L.l ce d during months of prepara tion and the fo ur- ..lnd -a -half month journey with three - and four-year old boys.
At that time there were no regularly scheduled airline flights into Africa from Cairo. It took six weeks of waiting. disappointment and praying before they were able to get a charter flight south to Lagos, Nigeria . Two weeks later they got another flight to Leopoldville, capital of the Belgian Congo. Two weeks after that they boarded a riverboat for a 13-day sail up the Congo River to Kikwit The final day of travel took them by car over bumpy roads to the small village of Kafumba, which was to be their home
Clara was my mother-in-law and the four-year-old son on that journey became my husband two decades later. A diary she kept of this time in her life offers insights into the difficulties Clara faced during months of preparation and the four-and-a-half month journey with three- and four-year old boys. That was then.
Last September I made my first trip to the same country, now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We had prearranged airline reservations all the way. Our travel agent even booked a hotel room in Paris for an overnight stay while we waited for our flight to the capital, Kinshasa. Total travel time: three days. My trip was so much shorter and easier than Clara's. This is now.
In her diary, Clara bemoans the lack of communication with people back home. Letters were few and far between. Phone communication was not readily available. Today, communicationboth in the country and internationally- via phone and e-mail is almost instantaneous. Cell phones are cheap and are everywhere.
different The Congolese MB church is self-supporting and has a network of Christian schools in a number of cities. There are several good medical centers. Congolese nationals staff all of these ministries.
When Clara and Frank went to the Congo, the need for fulltime, long-tertn missionaries was crucial to bringing the gospel to the people. Now the work of evangelization is done much herter by Congolese Christians who know the language, understand the culture and are trained to do so.
The early missionaries used education as one of their tools. At the recent education consultation held in Kinshasa the participants agreed that Christian schools are again today a primary tool for evangelism Since church schools are seen as having higher educational standards than government schools, many parents, even the unchurched, send their children to them . Furthertnore, the goverment expects church schools to teach good moral values and allows them to teach their religious beliefs as well This is a wide-open mission field. Local educators are excited about the opportunities, but they say their schools must improve to have the greatest impact.
Over the years, missionaries and local Congolese educators had built up a good system of schools. Unfortunately, during a previous administration the Congo government nationalized the schools, taking control away from the
See JOURNEY, page 30
JOURNEY, con't
churches. They put in their own administrators who looted the schools of books and equipment so that today most schools are severely deficient in these areas.
This is where Congolese leaders have asked for help. They need funds to replenish teaching supplies and equipment, books for libraries and textbooks for children to use. They have requested help in providing updated teacher in-service training. At this point, computer technology is almost nonexistent in most schools. The lack of reliable electricity is a big problem .
Reaching children and their families for Christ is a high priority for the Mennonite Brethren churches in the Congo. Upgrading their schools is a key component in atrracting children. This will require money that the local churches do not have and offers us the opportunity for a genuine partnership in furthering the kingdom of God. We also need to find educators who are willing to go to the Congo and work with teachers to improve their instruction in the classroom.
CURRENT
At one time our denomination sent out full-time, long-term missionaries to evangelize and plant churches in Africa. That was then and it worked. Now, we need to step up to the plate to help the MB Conference of DR Congo with funds and short-term educators. This will help them in their quest to reach many more people for the Lord . This is now. Are we willing to do it? For more information , contact MBMS International at I-866-964-76z7 or www.mbmsi.org.
-1J Comment on this column by going to usmb orglchristian-leader
Available online at Amazon.com Price $14. 9 5 + shipping
OR FUTURE
CHARITABLE GIVING BIBLICAL ESTATE DESIGN
PLANNED GIVING SOLU TI ONS
CHARITABLE TRUSTS
CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES
ENDOWMENT MANAGEMENT
TOW N SEND F RE$ 1IiO.Q. 9 3727 P 559.458:1208 1' 559.•0132
BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP
Clovis, Calif. ICollege CommunityJ- Trent Voth was received as a member Nov. 8.
Littleton, Colo. IBelleviewl-Brian and Abby Blascovich and Frank Gunnink were baptized Nov. 8. James and Erica Concilio were received as members Oct. 4.
Inman, Kan. IZoarJ-Ruth Liske-Neufeld was received as a member Oct. 25.
Topeka, Kan. ICornerstoneJ-Carter and Kelly McClendon and Spencer and Diane Neill were received as members Oct. 25.
Huron, SO IBethesdaJ-Ben Loewen. Brandi Kenobbe and Jeremy and Lorena Blom were baptized and received as members Oct. 18. Vohn and DiAnna Decker were rece ived as members Oct. 11 Tony and Kathy Haarstad were baptized Sept. 13. Rapid City, SO IBible Fellowshipl- Tony Darger was baptized Oct. 11.
Bakersfield, Calif. ILaurelglenl-Kevin Lee Bryant was baptized the weekend of Sept. 26-27.
Weatherford, Okla. IPine Acresl-Rusty, Sheila and Spencer Huiatt, Monte and Debra Gray, Mike and Darla Giblet, Dewayne and Jennifer Hendriex, Katie Parks, Jennifer Parks, Frank and Sharon Parks, Randy and Shari Wanzer, Jyme Thomas, Dawn McLoud, Jerry and Jean Cantrell and Casey McLoud were welcomed as members Sept. 27 .
Denver, Colo. IGarden ParkJ- Tyler Strain was baptized Sept. 15.
St. George, Utah ISMCC The Springsl- Kamarie May, William Wesolowski and Ellen Harmon were baptized in September: Greta Hyland, Anne Jones, Marshall Simmons, Zack Milgrom and Lindsey Johnson were also baptized since the congregation became a campus of South Mountain Community Church.
Fairview, Okla.- Kara Schlotthauer and Macenzie Craighead were baptized and received as members Sept. 13. Kent, Cassi and Kyle Schlotthauer, Brian and Jennifer Hoffman and Bryan and Lavonne Kroeker were received as members
Bakersfield, Calif. IHeritageJ-Racquel Ellis was baptized Sept. 13.
Hays, Kan. INorth OakJ-Chad and Christina Maier and Mary Martin were baptized and rece ived as members Sept. 13 Darrell Blosser, Kenneth and Gloria Funk, Mike Martin and William Seltmann were received as members
Orland, CA ICountry Biblel - Kendra Gordon, Nico le
MB NEWS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
Gordon and Ashley Darrow were baptized Aug. 23 . Micah Dan ley, Seth Danley, Anneka Danley and Johnathan Bostrom were baptized Aug . 16.
Papillion, Neb. IShadow Lakel-Juli Barrett, Jim and Sarah Collison, Justin and Angie Doughtery, Jeff and Melanie Howard, Ray and Jenny Keller, Ron and Ruth Mau, Red and Janet McDonald, Bo and Stacy Moser, Barb Moussa , George Rubino, George and Jami Schuler, Jeremy and Amy Strong, Kevin and Lisa Williams and Josh Wininger were received as members in August.
FELLOWSHIP
Kingsburg, Calif.-A professional organizer spoke at a Nov 14 event on "Discover Holiday Joy: Jolly Organized You ." She gave tips for organizing the holiday budget, gift giving, meals, decorations and activities to avoid holiday stress .
Denver, Colo. IGarden ParkJ-Congregants are encouraged to greet one another this winter with "elbow or ankle taps · to prevent spreading illnesses. Wichita, Kan.IFirstl- The fall women's event Oct. 27 had a construction theme, linking to the construction project currently underway in the church facilities
Hays, Kan. INorth OakJ-A fall ''TUIT'' campaign encouraged attendees to get "around to· making a membership commitment this year
Fairview, Okla.-Oct. 1 was dubbed "Custodian Appreciation Day." The monthly newsletter included notes of thanks and appreciation from church leaders and attendees for the work of the custodians.
Inman, Kan. IZoarl- The congregation hosted its third community drive-in movie night Sept. 26 in the church's parking lot. The faith - based movie "Hometown Legends" was shown
Hesston, Kan.-Attendees were invited to share talents during "Glory Night" Sept. 20 An ice cream social followed ,
MINISTRY
Hillsboro, Kan. IParkviewJ-Nov. 8 was "Biker Sunday," with activities designed to appeal to motorcycle enthusiasts. Chuck Taylor, from Buhler (Kan.) MB Church and member of the "Iron Riders ," spoke during the morning service, followed by lunch and biker-themed games and music . The church hoped to draw motorcyclists who participated in a charity event the previous day
Blaine, Wash IBirch Bay Bible Communityl- The church collected shoes in November for t he needy around the wor ld through ·Soles 4 Souls "
Henderson, Neb.-Volunteers packed care packages for undergraduate co llege students in November: Gradua te students received gift cards ,
Bakersfield, Calif. IHeritage BibleJ-Nov 8 was "Barefoot Sunday." Attendees wore practical. new or gently used shoes to the service, then left the ir shoes at the church to be donated to low income people through a local ministry.
Bakersfield, Calif. ILaurelglenJ - Oct. 17- 18 was "Market of Hope: an opportunity to "shop" for items to help meet health, hunger or homelessness needs of the world's poor:
Glendale, Ariz. ICopper HilIsJ- The congregation cooperated with a local homeowners association to offer a movie in the park Oct. 17
Bakersfield, Calif. IThe Bridgel- The church is launching a new ministry for special-needs children "HIS Kids" will meet during the second and third services each Sunday
Dinuba, Calif. -Oct. 11 was "Faith in Action" Sunday, with congregants serving throughout the community. Projects included plant ing grass and flowers, picking up trash and assisting in projects at a local golf course Some volunteers stayed at church to assemble school kits for Mennonite Central Committee.
Rapid City, SO IBible Fellowshipl-A church-wide focus on outreach and evangelism Oct. 11-Nov. 22 included a seven -week sermon focus, adult Sunday school, small group study and outreach events.
Kingsburg, Calif.-Volunteers donated and assembled 160 school kits this fall, which will be distributed to children around the world through Mennonite Central Committee
Littleton, Colo. IBeileview CommunityJ-The church sold pumpkins on the church lawn in October as a way to connect with the community and raise funds for youth
Newton, Kan. IKoerner Heightsl - A Prayer Quilt Ministry offers hand -tied quilts to those in need of comfort and prayer. With each knot tied in the quilt, a prayer is said for the recipient, so the quilt becomes a tangible reminder of prayer support, Freeman, SO ISaleml-Volunteers filled care boxes for members of the military this fall.
Huron, SO IBethesdal-Volunteers donate and serve snacks for children attending a local Good News ClUb, a Bible club for elementary school children.
Kansas City, Mo.-The Mission USA church plant here has chosen a name : 'Watershed. · The core group hosted a charity BBQ Sept. 7 to collect canned goods for the local food bank and meet neighbors
WORKERS
Hillsboro, Kan. (Ebenfetdl-Brandon Voth is the new associate pastor.
Clovis, Calif. (College Communityl - Cesar and Sandra Garcia of CoLombia are the church's first - Pastor in Residence." a new venture designed to provide support and ministry for an internationaL pastor. The congregation hopes that reLationships formed wiLL resuLt in reciprocaL experiences in the home countries of their pastors in residence. Funding will be provided through abovebudget. designated giving
Hillsboro, Kan. (Parkviewl-Cord Werth has accepted the call as youth pastor. He and his wife, Tesha , were installed Nov. 1.
Gettysburg, SD (Grace Bible)-Dick and ELvira NickeL were installed as the pastoraL coupLe Aug. 9.
WORSHIP
Lenoir, NC (Bushtown)- TweLve peopLe committed their Lives to Christ during an October service.
Clovis, Calif. (College Communityl-A group from the church joined IgLesia EL Buen Pastor, a Spanish -Language congregation in Orange Cove, CaLif , for worship and a meaL Oct. 4 The two congregations are deveLoping a "sister -church" reLationship
DEATHS
BARTEL, PAULINE JUST, 96, Portland, Ore., charter member of Dinuba ICaLif.) MB Church, died JuLy 23, 2009 Spouse: William BarteL. deceased Parents: Henry and Eva IUnruh) Just. Survivors: TheLma Wiest; six grandchiLdren; 15 great-grandchiLdren; three greatgreat -grandchiLdren
BELTZ, JOHANNA, 93, HiLLsboro, Kan., member of Hillsboro MB Church. died Oct. 6, 2009 Spouse : Clifford A. BeLtz. deceased. Parents: John G. and Elizabeth IHiebert) Richert Survivors: Rita Johnson; three grandchiLdren ; two great-grandchiLdren.
ENS, EVELYN K., 83, Hillsboro, Kan , member of Parkview MB Church, Hillsboro, died Sept. 11, 2009 Spouse: G George Ens. Parents: CorneLius and ELizabeth ISchierLing) Thiessen. Survivors : Robert, James, Jeanette KnitteL; two grandchiLdren.
EPP, HENRY H., 94, Abbotsford, B.C., former U.S. MB pastor, died Sept. 9, 2009. Spouse: SeLma Harder, deceased. Survivors : Murray, Doug, Sharon Epp, Patricia Adrian; 10 grandchiLdren; three great -grandchiLdren.
FADENRECHT, ROSIE ELIZABETH, 97, SaLem, Ore., charter member of Kingwood BibLe Church, SaLem, died May 14, 2009 Spouse : John Fadenrecht, deceased. Parents: Abraham D. and Marie IFast) SchuLtz Survivors : MerLe, VirgiL, RonaLd, Bob; seven grandchiLdren and eight great-grandchiLdren
FAST, BERTHA, 94, ReedLey, CaLif., member of ReedLey MB Church , died Sept. 14,2009. Spouse : J WesLey Fast, deceased. Parents: CorneLius and Margaret IWedeLl Gossen Survivors: Howard, WiLbur, Dennis, Lois Vogen; eight grandchiLdren; 20 great-grandchiLdren.
FLAMING, JOHN H., 85, Corn, OkLa , of Corn MB Church, died Sept. 23, 2009 Spouse : Margaret Dick Parents: H.B R. and Maggie IReimeri Flaming Survivors : Robert, Roger, Judy Harms, Sharon Jenkins; seven grandchiLdren and two great -grandchiLdren
FRANZ, JOHN LEROY, 70, BuhLer, Kan , of BuhLer MB Church, died Oct. 17, 2009 Spouse: ELaine Karber. Parents: John A. and Mary IJanzen) Franz. Survivors: Scott, Sheri Lautt, John ; seven grandchiLdren
HARMS, HENRY D , 93, Dinuba, CaLif., member of Dinuba MB Church, died March 16, 2009. Spouse: Martha Peters, deceased Parents: John C and Katherine IDyck) Harms. Survivors: Jean BoLdwyn, Linda Bereman; five grandchiLdren; four great-grandchiLdren.
HOOCK, JOHN, 91, Corn, OkLa., member of Corn MB Church, died Oct. 20, 2009. Spouse: VeLma Johnson. Parents: Otto and Lizzie IWarkentin) Hoock Survivors: Peggy Brown, Theresa CLark ; six grandchiLdren; eight great-grandchiLdren.
JOHNSON, CLARA, 87, Corn, OkLa , member of Corn MB Church, died Oct. 12, 2009. Spouse: Marvin R. Johnson, deceased. Parents: Jacob J and Lizzie Vogt. Survivors: Arlee, Jayme, Sharon Roddy; nine grandchiLdren; four great-grandchiLdren.
KARBER, RENA BERNICE, 92, Fairview, OkLa , member of Fairview MB Church, died Sept. 27, 2009. Spouse: CLarence Karber, deceased. Parents: Henry and Mary IPatzkowsky) Martens. Survivors: DeLayne, Mary Hopkins; five grandchiLdren; nine great-grandchiLdren
KROEKER, ELDORA MAE, 63, ReedLey, Calif., former member of ReedLey MB Church, died Sept. 21, 2009 Spouses : CharLes Downs, Dan CouLson, HaroLd Kroeker. Parents : ELdo and Margaret IPeters) KLassen Survivors: Henry KLassen, CharLene WiLson; four grandchiLdren
KROEKER, LLOYD M., 86, Fresno, CaLif., member of North Fresno MB Church, Fresno, died Oct. 16, 2009. Spouse: Dorothy NeufeLd. Survivors: William, Laura Becker, Patricia; six grandchiLdren; five great-grandchiLdren
NICKEL, DOROTHY M , 85, Dinuba, CaLif , member of Dinuba MB Church, died Feb. 2, 2008. Spouse: Marvin NickeL. deceased. Survivors: Joyce Montoya, Marcia Sawatzky, Jackie KeLLy; 11 grandchiLdren; eight greatgrandchiLdren.
NICKEL, MARVIN, 88, Dinuba, CaLif. , member of Dinuba MB Church, died Aug. 23, 2009. Spouse: Dorothy, deceased. Survivors: Joyce Montoya, Marcia Sawatzky, Jackie KeLLy; 11 grandchiLdren; eight great -grandchiLdren.
PENNER, ARTHUR E , 92, Fresno, CaLif., member of Bethany MB Church, Fresno, died Oct. 28, 2009. Spouses: HeLen Wiens, deceased; ELLa BuhLer. Parents: Edward and EmiLie Penner Survivors: Dotty Warkentine, Nancy Siemens, Bonnie Andrus, Jerry; 12 grandchiLdren; 12 great-grandchiLdren.
REGIER, EVELYN M., 89, HiLLsboro, Kan , member of Hillsboro MB Church, died Oct. 20, 2009 Spouse : WesLey Regier. Parents: Christian and Katherine IDeLk) Seibel. Survivors: KarLeen Vogt; five grandchiLdren; seven great-grandchiLdren.
REIMER, NIKOLAI uNICK, " 98, ReedLey, Calif , member of ReedLey MB Church , died Sept. 6, 2009 Spouse : Lydia Wiebe. Parents: Abraham C. and Margaretha IKroekeri Reimer Survivors: WiLbert, Dalton, Rosalie Carter, ELdene Farrar; eight grandchiLdren; 12 great-grandchiLdren.
RICHERT, MARGARET, 105, BuhLer, Kan , member of BuhLer MB Church, died Sept. 16, 2009 Spouse :
Abraham Richert, deceased. Parents: Abraham and Maria IDyck) Dirks. Survivors: Allan, PauL; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchiLdren.
TOEWS, BERTHA ANN, 77, Enid, OkLa., of Enid MB Church, died Sept. 17, 2009 Spouse: David ALfred " CaLvin" Toews, deceased Parents: Jacob J. and Anna IVoth) Thesman. Survivors: Jason, James; two grandchiLdren; one great-grandchiLd.
•• C LearingHOUSE ·"
Student Ministry Pastor: Enid MB Church is seeking a Student Ministry Pastor who wiLL work together with a team of Leaders to deveLop youth who are fully committed to Christ and abLe to engage in our present worLd in such a manner that Lives wiLL be transformed. This pastor wiLL primariLy focus on a ministry reLated to junior high and senior high school students and parents. Some attention wiLL be given to a college age ministry and assisting the church body as gifts and t ime aLLow Enid MB Church is a church of around 300 members and is Located in a community of 45,000 in north centraL Oklahoma. Resumes may be sent to the Student Ministry Pastor Search Team, Enid MB Church, 2500 N Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703 or by emaiL to Student Ministry Pastor Search team at enidmblilenidmb com
Senior Pastor: Bethesda Church of Huron, MB, Huron, SO, is seeking a senior pastor with primary responsibilities to include preaching the Word of God, performing aLL the scripturaL duties of his office and, aLong with the ELder Board, having generaL oversight of shepherding the congregation so that the body is buiLt up and equipped to do the work of Jesus Christ. His passion to know and glorify God shouLd be apparent through vital corporate and personaL worship, edification of the body, discipLeship, outreach and effective Leadership of staff and congregation. Must be committed to evangeLicaL Anabaptism as expressed in the MB Confession of Faith More information on Bethesda is avaiLabLe at www bchweb org Send inquiries to Search Committee, Bethesda Church, 1530 Frank Avenue SE, Huron, SO 57350.
Annual Mennonite Disaster Service All Unit
Gathering: We invite everyone to join us Friday, Feb 12, through Saturday, Feb. 13, in Saskatoon, Sask , to ceLebrate the work of MDS-worship, reporting, storyteLLing, music and food. This year's workshops will focus on MOS' 60th anniversary through stories and media. See www.mds.mennonite.net to register or call 1-866-261 - 1274 Daytime meetings: Warman BergthaLer Church; Friday evening banquet/program: Valley Christian Academy IOsLerl.ll/lI
BibLicaL answers tuned to primarily answer internationaL student's questions, exercises for seniors BLog deaLing with the victorious and fruitfuL Christian Life Visit henrysanswers.info 12/6)
Figuring out the Ph'lip Side
Columnist thinks back
It seems like I have been writing "Ph1ipside" for such a long time. By now, it seems like I could certainly inspire some bad stand-up comedy:
• I've been writing this column so long that when I started people were still using pencils and paper;
• I've been writing this column so long that some of my ideas are older than my kids;
• I've been writing this column so long I don't exactly remember how long I've been writing it.
Well, maybe I sort of remember. I think I've been doing Ph1ipside for about 20 years, give or take. I suppose I could find out for sure from my editor, or by digging around for the Christian
away from that. More people are less willing to be flexible. Either they're completely on one side of an issue or absolutely on the other side. There isn't much in between Civil discourse has deteriorated into uncivil shouting across the divide.
Or maybe things have always been like that, but they've just gotten louder.
Wh atever the case, I've usually tried to accomplish two things with Ph1ipside. The first is to get readers to think a little bit, because, you know, thi nking isn't su ch a terrible thing. Though you might not get that from looking around at our culture, where b rainlessness and rigid opinionating rule the media. But thinking is good. Everyone should try it on ce in awhile
o I've he e n writin g this column so long I'm not sure if I've
alreaJy written this same column hefore. Comin g lip with fresh ideas can he challenging.
. Leader issue containing my first column. But why would I waht to start doing actual research now?
Just kidding. Believe it or not, I do read up on issues and check facts while working on columns But don't tell anyone, I wouldn't want that to get around.
Here's another one: I've been writing this column so long I'm not sure if I've already written this same column before. Coming up with fresh ideas can be challenging I mentioned this to a friend and she said, "Why don't you just resubmit something you wrote in like 1994? Nobody would ever know the difference! "
Urn, thanks a lot. But hey, since I can't remember stuff I've submitted in the past either, no insult taken.
Many things have changed sin ce Ph1ipside started in the late 1980s. In those days pink shirts were in style for men And I (the horror!) actually wore one. What? You say pink shirts for guys are back in fashion? OK, but I'm definitely not going there again .
Also in those ancient times, politics were contentious with many arguments going back and forth between conservatives and liberals. This led to the election of a Republican president followed by a Democratic president followed by a Republ k an president followed by...oh wait, that's still going on today.
So maybe some things haven't changed. Or they've changed back and forth ad nauseam I suppose if I read through my past columns I'd find plenty of shifrs in the subject matter and cultural references. But the underlying approach has stayed the saine . In Ph1ipside I've tried to look at the flip side . Profound , eh?
All right, not really It seems obvious that we should approach today's issues and concerns with open minds and a willingness to consider different points of view. But I'm seeing a trend
The second thing I try to accomplish is to get me to think a little bit. Because I don't really like thinking either. It's a hassle . 'thinking can lead to annoying stuff like changing my mind about a political issue, realizing I've been prejudiced against a minority 'or poor person, owning up that I've hurt someone or understanding that 1've gotten toO caught up in our society's busyness and materialism. Once I start thinking that way, I know 111 have to do som ething about it.
I hate it when that happens
Teachers often say that when they teach, they learn as much as their students. I was going to echo that by saying wh en I write , I iearn as much as Iliy readers But that sounds pompous. I don't assume readers learn anything from my columns, but on e can always hope.
I learn plenty while writing them, though. Which probably sounds odd. Shouldn't I know my own mind before I write? I don 't know. Every time ffinish a Ph1ipside, there is still an element of surprise. Oh, so that's What I think about this subject . I wasn't quite sure before
Th el'l I can sit back with satisfaction Th r6ugh re fl ection and thought and th e sweating out of words, I have finally discovered my own mind. Now I can feel secure in this knowledge for th e rest of eternity
Or ul'lfii I start writing the next column , whichever colli eS first. '
-1J
Comment on this column by going to usmb orglchristian - Ieader
Situational awareness
How do denominations stay spiritually alert?
When two Northwest Airline pilots overshot their destination because their laptop computers distracted them, we were reminded that a loss of "situational awareness" is a setious thing. On the other hand, the US Airways pilot who in January 2009 successfully landed his jetliner in the Hudson River aher the plane struck a flock of birds was an example of someone who showed excellent awareness in a crisis situation.
Situational awareness refers to the ability to demonstrate complex decision-making skills and to process large amounts of information in a situation where poor decisions can have serious consequences. The birth ofthe Mennonite Brethren Church, an event we will be celebrating in 2010, offers examples of good and bad situational awareness.
The founders of our denomination didn't mince words when they informed the church elders that they had decided to form a new fellowship. They wrote of "the decadent condition of the Mennonite Brotherhood" and "openly godless living and wickedness (that) cries to God in heaven."
Was it really that bad? Had the situation deteriorated to the degree that disassociating from the Mennonite Church was the answer? Diaries and other sources suggest that the answer is yes. Mennonite leaders of the time describe illicit sexual relations, stealing, drunkenness and partying, fights and wife beatingamong church members The lack of discipleship and preventive church discipline added to the crisis.
These 18 Brethren and their families showed spiritual situational awareness: They realized that what was going on around them was having a negative effect on their spiritual health, and they took action, signing a Document of Secession Jan. 6, 1860.
The formation of this new fellowship set off a chain reaction of harassment and poor treatment at the hands of church and civic leaders. Controversies, misunderstandings and mistreatments poisoned the relationship between the Mennonite Brethren and the Mennonite Church, and when members of the two groups immigrated to North America the conflict came along. One hundred years later it was a new generation of leaders that offered the kind of leadership that could have avoided the deep schism. In 1960, the president of the General Conference Mennonite Church came to the Mennonite Brethren North American convention and apologized for the "feelings, words and deeds expressed by our fathers in an unbrotherly way and in a manner contrary to the spirit of Christ."
This difficult chapter in Mennonite Brethren history illustrates the importance of good leadership. For a variety of
reasons, the Mennonites in South Prussia lacked godly leadership and that void contributed to the lifeless spirituality that so frustrated the Brethren and led to a loo-year rih between two groups of Mennonites.
We Mennonite Brethren continue to need leaders who have a strong situational awareness. That is one reason why MB Biblical Seminary (MBBS) was founded-to develop leaders who have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, who look at faith and life from an evangelical Anabaptist perspective and who have been trained for pastoral ministry. Ironically, today, 54 years aher it was founded, the very seminary established to train such leaders finds itself in crisis, struggling to flourish in a time when theological education is changing and adapting.
Some would say that MBBS has responded too slowly to a 20-year decline in emollment and that its leaders have clung too tightly to a traditional educational delivery system. Maybe. But the current administration is acutely aware of the situation they face, and has been talking for the past year with Fuller Theological Seminary about a partnership. Fuller's decision to withdraw its offer to partner with MBBS in Fresno was disheartening. But the seminary vows to continue developing new models ofleadership training. In a Nov. 4 statement, the MBBS Board of Directors says it supports newly installed president Lynn Jost in effecting "major changes in the structure and delivery of theological education at MBBS over the next few years," with 2012 as the target date for implementing "innovative delivery, curriculum and church-based graduate program initiatives."
What can we do to help the seminary in this process? We can recognize that institutions are multifaceted by nature, and that change will take time. There will be multiple options to consider, and so we can pray and have confidence in the power of these prayers to guide and uphold our seminary leaders. We can offer continued financial support. We can call out people in our churches that have leadership potential and recommend MBBS to them. As the seminary continues to explore new partnerships, we can offer our feedback when asked.
Adapting MBBS to better meet the needs of prospective students and the churches that look to the seminary to provide its leaders will dominate the school's agenda for the near future. I affirm the MBBS board, administration and staff for demonstrating situational awareness and for taking on this difficult task. I also caution us to learn from the past and to remember that our denominational health demands that we have well trained leaders with the situational awareness to make wise decisions in a complex world -CF
they speaking the same language? MMA can show you how they can - even in these challenging times. Learn how to protect your family, prepare for tomorrow, and create a stewardship plan that shares your values - now and for the future.
