January 2001

THE

PUBLICATION

OF THE

U.S.

CONFERENCE

OF

MENNONITE

BRETHREN

CHURCHES

CHRISTIAN

JANUARY 2001

Taking aim: What we do

FAITH ON THE FIELD-

Interview with Todd Franz Free safety for the Cleveland Browns ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: • Giving gang members a second chance • A room with a worldview PAGE 28 • New church planters ready to go PAGE 31

MBMSI'S WITNESS INSIDE

INSIDE JANUARY

FIRST WORDS

2001

••. from the editor

V

IOLENCE IN SCHOOLS has been thrust into the spotlight in the last several years. Littleton, Conyers and Springfield-once unfamiliar towns to many of us-are now famous because of violent acts by students in their schools.

What can we do to keep violence like that from happening in the schools in our community? As Christians, how are we to respond?

As Mennonite Brethren, we potentially have a lot to offer our communities. MBs identify with a larger group of Anabaptist churches which have historically valued and sought ways to create peace in their communities. In this issue of the Leader, we wanted to explore what we can doboth individually and corporately-to prevent violence in our schools.

In our first article, Ron and Roxanne Claassen-an experienced mediator and an elementary school teacherlook at what the Bible says and show us how they have successfully applied biblical principles of peacemaking to the school classroom.

In our second article, 13 Mennonite Brethren pastors, teachers and principals share from their own experience what we can teach our children in order to help them prevent and respond to violence in their schools.

Corporately, as local church bodies, we can also make a stand against the violence in our communities and schools.

Our third article looks at what four MB churches are doing to reach out to their communities.

For those of you who use sports ministries to reach the people in your community, you may be interested in reading about one Mennonite Brethren who recently joined the ranks of the National Football League. In a People Profile, Todd Franz, a rookie free safety for the Cleveland Browns, talks about what his faith means to him in the world of professional football.

For more about what our local churches are doing both here and abroad, read through the BodyLife section. Our columns and letters to the editor have returned in this issue as well.

God bless. -CA

_JANUARY 28, 200l-World Fellowship Sunday (see "More News" on page 32 for more information)

_ FEBRUARY 18, 2001-U.S. Conference Peace Sunday _ MARCH 9-12, 2001-New pastor's orientation, MB Biblical Seminary, British Columbia

C HRI S TI A N

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INSIDE JANUARY 2001 CHRISTIAN

LEADER VOLUME 64, NUMBER 1

FEATURES - School violence

4 Joseph goes to school A professional mediator and an elementary school teacher tell us how God's vision for forgiveness and reconciliation can help us respond to violence in schools. BY RON AND ROXANNE CLAASSEN

7 What should we teach our children?

What 13 Mennon ite Breth ren say we can do to help our children respond to and prevent violence in our schools.

11 Working to make a difference What four Mennonite Brethren churches are doing to make a difference in t heir communities-and their advice to you.

BY CARMEN ANDRES

12 What do your youth group kids have in common with the Columbine killers?

Researchers recently revealed a startling find-almost a quarter million teenagers are hazed when they join a youth group.

DEPARTMENTS What Readers Say . . . . . . . . . . .. .... .. . ... . . . .. 16 Ph'lip Side . . . . ..... . . . . .. .. . . ... . by Philip Wiebe 18 •

Election Reflections

Inquiring Minds ..... .. . . .. . . ..... . by Marvin Hein 19 •

Now boarding for worship

On the Journey . .. . .. .. . . . ... .. . by Rose Buschman 20 •

Where does violence start?

People Profile: Todd Franz . . . . ... ... . . . .. . ... . .. 22 BodyLife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 • Ministry offers job training and Jesus 26 • A room with a worldview 28 •

Anabaptists grow worldwide 29

In Brief . .. . . ... .. . ... ... . .. . . . .. .. . ... . . . .... 31 • • • •

Harrisons to plant first Mission Phoenix church 31 FPU unveils new scholarship 31 Tabor endows first faculty chair 32 Lending a helping hand 32

Church News & Notes . ... . .. . . . . . . . .. .... . .. . . .. 33 Editorial .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . ................ 36 •

Columbine 's legacy

A RT CRED ITS: Cover, Photodisc; Pages 3, 5, 6 and 30 Photodisc; Page 11 an d back cover, Digitalstock .

Pri ntin g by Va ll ey Offset Pr inting, Valley Center, Kansas.

EDITOR Carmen Andres

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Connie Faber

BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Kathy Heinrichs Wiest, chair; Peggy Goertzen, Harold Loewen, Phil Neufeld, Dalton Reimer.

The Christian Leader (lSSN 0009-5149) is published monthly by the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, 315 S. Lincoln, Hillsboro, KS 67063. The Christian Leader seeks to inform Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activities, decisions and issues of their denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialog so members will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelical/Anabaptist theological tradition . However, the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church.

The ed itors invite free-lance article submissions, essays to Forum and letters to the editor. Forum is open to members or attendees of Mennonite Brethren churches. The essays can address any issue of relevance and interest to the faith and life of the Mennonite Brethren Church and should be no longer than 800 words and include the home church and occupation of the writer. A SASE must accompany articles and forum essays.

The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors.

WESTERN OFFICE: Carmen Andres, Editor 7531 Delta Wind Dr. Sacramento, California 95831 Phone: (916) 424-5710 Fax: (253) 369-9423 E-mail: chleader@jps.net MIDWEST OFFICE: Connie Faber, Associate Editor Box V, 315 S. Lincoln Hillsboro, Kansas 67063 Phone: (316) 947-5543 Fax: (316) 947-3266 E-mail: chleader@southwind.net Subscription rates are $16 for one year, $30 for two years, and $42 for three years ($20, $38 and $54 in Canada); $1 .50 per copy. All subscription requests and address changes should be sent to the Circulation Secretary at the Midwest Office. All advertising inquiries should be made to the Western Office.

Postmaster: Send address changes to the Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsbo ro, KS 67063 . Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, Kansas.

JANUARY

2 00 1

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Joseph goesto

BY RON AND ROXANNE CLAASSEN A professional mediator and an elementary school teacher tell us how God's vision for forgiveness and reconciliation can help us respond to violence in our schools VAL/X mINK of television scenes depicting the aftennath of school shootn we think of school violence. But what about a shouting match in the classpush and shove fight in the hall? A fistfight in the cafeteria? A hat taken and n back? e, too, are examples of school violence. Situations like these are familiar to us. We hear about them from our children at home or at church. Most of us know children who have seen, if not been a part of, these kinds of situations.

As Christians, how should we respond to violence in our children's schools?

Disrespect and respect Violence is essentially an extreme fonn of disrespect-an unwillingness to do those things that demonstrate high regard for another, ranging from an intentional slight snub to a violent act like murder.

Respect-doing those things that demonstrate valuing another-is an essential component of shalom, the kind of peace that results from right relations between people and with God. Shalom is God's vision for the world, present throughout Scripture. We see this vision in Micah 4:3-4: "They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks ... . Every man will sit under his own fig tree and no one will make them afraid." When we commit to use our resources-our metal, hands, feet and tongues-to build up rather than tear down, we will experience the absence of fear, a hallmark of shalom and certainly a desired state for school classrooms. Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matt. 5:9), reminding us that God does not just want us to love peace but to be peacemakers. God is not suggesting that we will ever arrive at a place where there is no conflict, but that we should respect and value each other when conflict does arise.

As Christian students, parents and teachers, do we value God's vision for the world? Do we believe it will make a difference in our children's lives at school?

We would like to share with you some of our experiences in order to shed more light on how God's vision for forgiveness and reconciliation can help us respond to violence in our schools.

IAN

LEADER

SCllOOt

Ron: Looking at the Bible As Christians, we look to the Bible for insight and guidance. How does the Bible influence us as we work at the issues of respect and violence in schools?

• Human life has great value. From the beginning of the Bible we find that all human life is precious and has infinite worth, not because of what we do but because we are created in the image of God. Roxanne and 1 find it makes a difference if we start our day thinking that the people we will meet-young or old, violent or nonviolent-have infinite worth just because they are created in the image of God. Last fall 1 made a presentation to university professors at the Western and Pacific Association of Criminology Educators on Restorative Justice. During the discussion period, one participant said that he agreed with most of the presentation but had to take exception with one thing 1 said-the idea that we should value all people. As he continued, his countenance became mean looking. "I think there are sociopaths and psychopaths who do not deserve the air they use up when they breathe," he said.

After several others in the group responded to him, he asked for my thoughts. I told him that we often value people for what they do in our society, but I see value coming from a different source. I shared that my mother had recently suffered a stroke and couldn't do many things that she did before. 1 believe that has not diminished her value. 1 also pointed out that 1 believed it was a spiritual question being discussed. As a Christian, 1 said, 1 believe all people are of infinite worth just because they are created in the image of God. After the session, the man approached me. His countenance was now gentle. "I do value all people," he told me. "I also am a Christian. 1 had separated my work from my faith. Thanks for the reminder."

• God prefers us to forgive and reconcile.

Once we decide to value all people, our challenge is to put that into action.

Dalton Reimer, codirector of the Center for Peacemaking at Fresno Pacific University, points out something interesting about the stories in Genesis.

The first post-Eden story in Genesis is about Cain and Abel and Cain's use of violence to respond to what he experienced as an injustice. The last story in Genesis is about how Joseph and his brothers experienced forgiveness and reconciliation in response to injustices against Joseph by his brothers. This forgiveness and reconciliation did not come easily or quickly. It was a very long process that included recognizing the injustices, restoring equity as much as possible and making changes to insure a future that did not repeat similar injustices. It was a respectful and responsible forgiveness process, much more

VIOLENCE

than a simple pronouncement.

Cain's response is an example of disrespect which leads to increased fear whereas Joseph's response leads toward shalom. Although God disapproved of Cain's response, God clearly valued Cain and preserved his life. God prefers the response of Joseph and his brothers which reduced fear and moved in the direction of shalom.

Matthew 18, which guides us through the process of forgiveness, tells us how important forgiveness is for God. "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and 1 forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but 70 times seven'" (Matt. 18:21-22). Jesus is using the same phrase that Lamech, one of Cain's descendants, used in Genesis 4 to brag about getting revenge. Jesus uses it here to emphasize that God wants us to put all of our energy into creating opportunities for forgiveness rather than attempting to get revenge.

The Bible is clear that we all have the capacity for both violence and forgiveness. Becoming peacemakers--the choice to respond with forgiveness and reconciliation-must become part of our life when we decide to believe in and follow Jesus.

Becoming peacemakersthe choice to respond with forgiveness and reconciliation -must become part of our life when we decide to believe in and follow Jesus.

Roxanne: Putting it into action All teachers experience some level of disrespectwhich is on a continuum toward violence-each day. The response of the Christian teacher in the face of disrespect speaks louder and teaches more than any other lesson about how a student can respond to an insult or injustice. Ifteachers model retaliation and revenge, that is what students will learn. The same principles apply to parents, youth leaders and anyone else who works or interacts with children and youth.

When faced with a conflict or disrespect, the challenge is to not react. Instead remember that this person is infinitely valuable to God, you are a representative of God to them and you are a follower of Jesus' way. Then respond.

A respectful response encourages confession (recognizes the violation), atonement (making things as right as possible), repentance (making agreements to change the future) and accountability (follow up to see ifwe are keeping our agreements) . This kind of response teaches students to become peacemakers.

As a teacher, I usually experience love and respect from my students, but I also encounter some level of disrespect each day. 1 know that my response makes a difference. I am the leader in the classroom, and my values and responses substantially influence those of my students. I work hard to respond to disrespect in ways that help transform my classroom back into a respecting community, JA NU ARY

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SCHOOL V]OLENCE

lOOKS· Assertive D1$dpline for "Parents ~eEtCanter

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J~ames),_obson ~~i.iIW The Quality

School William Glasser

Reducing School Violence Johnson & Johnson

Teaching Students to be Peacemakers Johnson & Johnson

Control Theory in the Classroom William Glasser

"'These books are used in a course taught byRon Claassen. In class, the books are compared and contrasted to biblical concepts.

"All of the books have some good and someproblems, " says Claassen.

relying on several biblical principles.

• Remembering worth. I remind myself on the way to school each morning that each of my students has infinite worth. When I follow Jesus, I choose Joseph's path of aiming for reconciliation rather than Cain's path of eliminating the opponent.

Deciding this in advance makes a big difference in . how I respond in the face of disrespect. .. Restore in gentleness. In Galatians, Paul says, ~en a man is overtaken in some kind of trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness" (6:1) .

While my classroom is not a church and my eighth graders are not yet grown men and women, :Paul's words instruct me on what J should do when epnfronted with disrespect. Rather than disrespect them in return, I am to find a way to restore my students in a spirit of gentleness.

This is not always easy to do. Finding a way to restore in a spirit of gentleness doesn't just happen because we want it to. It can only happen when we put Jesus' teaching of agape love into action.

What is agape love? Look at 1 Cor. 13:4-8: "Love is patient and kind, it is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude, love does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice in wrong but rejoices in right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

It is pretty easy to love when the love is being returned, but it is a huge challenge when faced with disrespect. Jesus says we should love (agape) our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt.

5:44). And 1 John 4 makes it clear that those who know God will practice agape. Loving the "enemy"in this case the disrespectful student-is not just a matter of choosing but of knOwing God. • Learning consequences. It is very important for students to learn that what they do and how they respond to conflict has consequences.

Matt. 7:12 plays an important part in my classroom: "So, whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." With each new class, I begin the year by having my students write to each other what they know about respect. Each student writes about what it means for them to respect their classmates and the teacher, for the teacher to respect them and for all of them to respect the books, desks and facilities.

Even though students see a lot of violent responses to conflict ranging from angry hurtful words to physical pain, I find that they know an incredible amount about respect--often thanks to parents and teachers in earlier grades.

After deciding how they will respect each other, the class makes an agreement that everyone signs.

The agreement is posted in the classroom as class CHRISTIAN

LEADER

"rules." Eve!iYone tri~'\ observe the agreement.

When disre$i>ect su~, we remember our commitments together. We .I,loJ1t each other accountable. abled me to work with a stuThis ~w ther to resolve some disredent, TOmnlY~ spectful behal . ~ (Smmy was calling girls "sluts," using cuss wo ~nstantly talking and not turning in assignments. · n I invited Tommy to meet with me and hi!tAiher to ~uss the problems, he immediately t~ invi~h seriously and agreed a meeting would be htt1pful.

Dutih'a'the meeting, Tommy was cooperative.

When it ~ hi~'turn to share how he experienced the probl~ hebecame very emotional. He started to talk abo~'t all the things he was doing at home.

He seemed overwhelmed by heavy responsibility he was taking to help his dad (who is unable to read) to enter payroll amounts into the computer for their business. He also expressed pride in being able to help. Tommy's dad had no idea he was feeling so overwhelmed. They agreed to work to reduce his responsibilities at home to a more reasonable load.

Tommy said he could stop doing the things he had been doing at school if he decided to stop (an interesting and simple insight). Tommy and I set up a schedule for getting back assignments turned in and discussed which classmates he needed to apologize to for his actions. Tommy apologized and kept his agreement-he stopped name-calling, cussing and got himself caught up.

The way of Joseph As a mediator and a teacher, we developed a curriculum to teach students how to respond to disrespect and violations with a forgiveness process rather than retaliation or revenge-the way of]oseph and his brothers rather than the way of Cain and Abel.

Each time Roxanne's classroom experiences contlict or encounters misbehavior, they have the opportunity to learn to respond in ways that the Bible teaches. Responding to conflicts and misbehavior in these ways prevents the kind of buildup of resentment that leads to violence.

As individuals, we also utilize these skills and strategies to practice fOrgiveness in our marriage relationship as well as with others we encounter in our daily lives. The way of Joseph and his brothers-responding to conflict and injustice in ways that encourage justice, forgiveness and reconciliation-is God's preference for all of us in all of our relationships.•

Ron is codirector of tbe Center for Peacemaking and Conflict studies at Fresno (Calif) Pacific University, an MB school. Roxanne is a teacher at Raisin City (Calif) School.. Together, they co-authored Making Things Right, a training book with 32 activities teaching conflict resolution and mediation skills.

SCHOOL VJOLENCE

What should

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What 13 Mennonite Brethren pastors, teachers and principals say we can teach our children that will help them respond to and prevent violence in their schools

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Whenever conflict arises-and this can be quite ()ften-children need the skills to resolve it peace· expressed through 6UllYtilg~ ~;nam~~fig~~lly. As Christians, we should teach our children which led to hitting and fighting in some instances. the skills of peacemaking at an early age so they can It is sometimes hard for elementary children to follow Christ's examples for how we should live our understand that life is not fuir and hardly ever equal. I lives. Teaching should begin in the home and be feel that often anger escalates if a child feels he has continued in the church, incorporated into Sun· not been heard or understood. The busyness of fami· day schools and children's church programs. lies allows little time to listen at home. In addition, Children also learn by example. When adults many children come from dysfunctional homes where can't resolve conflicts peacefully, children learn that fighting is the way. As Christian they have not seen appropriate boundaries and man· ners. It becomes the role of the teacher to sort out adults, we need to be good examples to our and listen to the conflicts that are brought to school children. Imagine the impact of children who as well as those that develop at school. When that grow up in Christian homes and in the doesn't happen, frustration leads to anger and anger church acting as examples in the schools. to some sort of verbal or physical abuse.

We need to live by "What would Jesus do?"

I believe the only way that we can "teach" nonvi· as well as wear it on our t·shirts. We must olence is to model proper responses. This may be behave as he would in conflict situations.

We also need to focus on those who as simple as the tone of voice used when disciplin· ing the child. Probably one of the worst questions teach our children. Many administrators to ask a child after he has been involved in a conflict would welcome a peaceful atmosphere is "why?" The better question to raise would be in their schools, where conflicts "what are you going to do about it?" That leaves the don't break out into a fightdoor open for healthy solutions. A child needs to which could lead to more feel accepted by someone. If he knows that there is serious violence, We someone who is willing to understand his side, con· could approach our flicts are more easily solved. administrators and A teacher needs to be a friend. We encourage chilo either offer to or sug· dren to tell an adult if they feel harm will be done to gest giving workshops them or to others, but peer pressure to remain silent for the staff in teach· or not to tattle can be very strong.-Dalke taught for ing the skills of peace· 31 years-29 of those years as a media specialistmaking so that they, in in the public school system in Topeka, Kan. She is a tum, could use these skills in member of the Topeka MB Church. their classrooms. If we did this, we could begin to make a differ· Wilma Ewert. retired teacher f!nd principal ence ii ' GU .f r schools, our communities If we are to stop the violence in'ifh-e schools, Wi a~~r '. \fl. - Ewert spent 30 years must begin with the children and those ~o til a tea er, elementary school principal the children.

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SCHOOL VIOLE\CE

WHO HAS CONFLICT RESOLUTION RESOURCES FORVOUR CHURCH OR SCHOOL Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies (800) 909-8677

www.fresno. edu/dept/pacs pacs@fresno.edu Mennonite Church Peace and Justice Committee (330) 683-6844

www.mennolink. ~rg/peace

mcpjc@sssnet.com

(Calif) Unified School District. She is a member of Greenhaven Neighborhood Church in Sacramento and on the board of the Ark Way Learning Center, a non-profit after school program (see page 11).

Tim Kuhns, headmaster There are two basic causes of school violence.

First, we are not teaching our kids to look out for the needs of others. Instead we are teaching them to look out for themselves and what's theirs. When a student feels wronged, it is easy for him to justify violent actions because society seems to teach that getting even is the correct response.

The second cause of violence is what I call the "Proverbs 3:6 factor," which I believe reve~the root cause of violence in our schools: ~s in Lord with all your heart and l~n0t:0n fa understanding; in all your ways ~~~~&Lh· and he will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6).

We are teaching students to lean on their own understanding. We have gotten away from teaching absolute truth, replacing it with relativism. Whatever seems right at the moment is the acceptable thing to do. But the Lord has given absolute laws that we must follow. If we do not follow them we will suffer the consequences. One of these consequences has manifested itself in school violence.

We must teach students to acknowledge God in all that they do. Any time we allow our children to be taught in a religiously neutral environment we , are tellin~them that we do not need to do that. We must teach our children to acknowledge God in evety area~f life-especially in their main source of knowledtJe, their school curriculum.

In summary, the first thing that we can do to eliminate~he violent actions of school children is to teach them to care for the needs of others and to stop iOcusingon themselves. The second thing that we can do i~to teach them that there is "absolute truth," and the author of that trUth>Should be acknowledgW in evel'}" subject area Of Ilfe,~cluding ~e ' . ~tion. - Kuhns is the beadmdster of Ok >te, ~L#Jd servedJ.o..years as t!3e-) uperintendent M-(Okla.) Biblekademy.

H~ttends Enid MB . is a numWer of I?,Jne Acres MB Churcb it! We~ord. ' .

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David Loyola (pastor), Rene ytette Pena and Rolando and Lucila Mireles (teathers) Christians -can do much when it comes to teaching our chil(lren about violence.

As Qhristians we can teach them to value the fam· ily. Our children's values are based on what they see at home. The.biblic~ues and positiVe relationships modeled bY parents can go a long way in helping shape an antiviolent Child Children need to see CHRISTIAN

the value of the family as established by God so that they can imitate it.

Secondly, Christian parents can teach their children to respect and value a person as an individual.

Today the value of a life in its fullest has been lost.

The physical, moral and spiritual values for the total person have diminished. We see this when family members make fun of each other or in older and younger brother and sister feuds (as minimal as they may be). We need to teach our children to value life, both inside and outside our families. Children need to understand that each individual is made in the image of God. Violence destroys the life that they should value.

Thirdly, we can our childrerNlbout violence t trol .

OUtlt'iam:\1ype pf e sOurees, ~ch In,~et" video games, computer games and e friends they spend time with. Christians can use these ~es to'finCt teachable moments where childreit can knoW how to respond to and prevent violence.. .. "" Finally, our family is part of a nenwr~m.

This network has several parts-the society wewlive in, our family, ia,ws and different types of information that come from our schools and churches--and choices need to be made on how much, if any, information from these parts come into and affect our family. These doors of information are presented to our children everyday. Too much can be very harmful, yet too little can also be harmful. Christian parents need to be wise to balance the information from these networks, seeking the Lord's guidance in knowing what doors need to be closed or opened for our family. -David Loyola pastors La Grulla (Tex.) MB Church, where the Penas and Mireleses, who teach in local schools, are members and deacons.

Jim Means, educator and administrator The vast majority of students attend school each day, complete assignments, interact with staff and students in appropriate ways and return home better for the experience. Unfortunately, the availability of weapons and drugs and the frequency of violence in our communities puts these students at risk. So, what can I ~ Christian parent t(;) prepjlre my student fi .e.d1 dmath quiZ---and :{

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Important IS c sense of what is right and wrong. We must teach our children from a young age the importance of taking personal responsibility for personal choices.

These choices include who we spend time with and brellking ties when a friend's behavior goes against OUr values and beliefs.

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

• ~eep in touch. We mUSt find time to talk with ' oUr children and liste n, listenud listen some more .

It is important to know our children's friends . A great way to do this is to invite them to spend time in our homes. Not only do we meet the friends, but they get to see firsthand the environment and expectations that shape the values that should define the friendship .

• Problem solve. The most terrifying violence is the kind that strikes without notice. Violence can and does occur in the most public places, shopping centers, churches, neighborhoods and schools. It is critical that we work with our children on ways to handle these situations. What should I do if I hear about a fight? How do I handle someone who is talking about me? Who should I tell if I see an outsider at school? Communication becomes an important answer in all these questions. Students must be comfortable in keeping school staff aware of problems before they happen. If your child is not comfortable with telling a teacher, ask them to share the information with you and you can pass it along. The real tragedy in any violent situation happens when a situation that could have been avoided is not because of inaction. -Means has worked as an educator and administrator with the Wichita (Kan.) Public Schools for 19 years. He is a member ofFirst MB Church of Wichita, where he teaches the fourth grade Sunday school class.

others. Sometimes our children contribute to or are the cause of conflict. In addition, children should avoid teasing others, "put-downs" and other forms of inconsideration. If our children contribute to problems, we need to help them admit it and formulate a meaningful apology.

Excessive competition is also fertile soil for contlict. Our children's self-esteem should not come from being able to rise above others but from knowing that they have a Heavenly Father and parents or guardians who love them to the point that they would die for them.

Also, while children should avoid becoming "tattletales," when a situation appears dangerous or overwhelming, they must walk away and seek assistance.

Encourage them to go with a friend and consult with an appropriate adult such as a teacher on duty, building principal or counselor. -Penner served in the public school system for 37 years as a 5th grade teacher and elementary school principal He is a member of Valleyview Bible Church in Cimarron, Kan.

CURRICULUM IrTEACHING RESOURCES Creating Peace, Building Community Judith Bachay, Peace Works

A Violence Prevention Curriculum Kathy Beland, Second Step

Making Things Right Claassen and Claassen, Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies Mediation for Kids Schmidt, Friedman & Marvel, Peace Works

Janice Porter, children's ministries Theories abound about the nature and origin of violent behavior. Whether it is encouraged by watching too much fighting on TV or experiencing violent behavior in the family, responding with violence is also a symptom of a broken or neglected heart. As a parent and children's ministry advocate, I believe that modeling and communication are key in helpWilly Penner, retired teacher and principal ing our children understand themselves and their relationships with others.

Parents and guardians are their children's first Treating our children with kindness and modeland most influential teachers. During the formative ing kindness towards others helps to build the founyears before children enter school, the home must dation children will need when violence becomes a assume the primary responsibility in teaching and temptation. In medicine, everyday preventative meamodeling how to live peacefully with others as well sures are the key to good health. This is true with as to resolve conflict appropriately. relational behavior habits, too. As parents and teachAfter our children enter school, we must pay close attention to who our children spend time ers, we need to teach lessons of responsibility and with, what TV and movies they watch, what video making good choices at early ages that will guide games they play, the type of music they listen to and our children in their later years. what sites they surf on the Internet. We must help We also need to allow children to talk about their them see the dangers of getting closely involved contlicts. How we communicate with each other is directly related to how we resolve conflicts with with harmful friends and the importance of chooseach other. One of my most frustrating childhood ing good friends as well as the importance and responsibility of being a good friend. experiences was a situl¢oR ~en I felt like I was not As our children experience conflict with others, heard. When we listen to our <;\tildren a.{ld students, we need to listen to them, be their sounding board they reveal v~uabte clues abou' previous hurts that and help them to understand the causes of conflict can Quild up a nd ~uSC!l ange(" ~d cO~(ts. and take appropriate action. We need to help them There are good resources av;litlible for parents diffuse anger and see how Bible characters dealt and educators to help us sharpen our knowledge with contlict. The life story of Joseph in the Old Tesand skills in peacemaking. When disputes arisewhether in the home, school or the Sunday school tament is an excellent example of what it means to cl~~room~hildren need to be guided to find their go the "secQnd mUe," Praying with and ~Quraging out children to trus~'-Go<t to help t hem is vital. '. own peaceful s~tutions . A valuable resource for me 'Don't assume t ha;t conflict i$ always producedby was ;uten~ng the "~asiC Institute In Contlict Man-

Fighting Fair for Families Lewis & Smith, Peace Works

JAN U ARY

2001.9

Creative Conflid Resolution William Kriedler Violence Prevention William Kreidler, Sunburst Communications

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

What can you do?

Pray for our society, pray for our children, pray for guidance and make the time

to get involved.

-Bob Sully,

high school teacher

10 • THE

a

agement and Mediation," seminar available from Fresno Pacific University's Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, where tools in conflict resolution and biblical examples of peacemaking were taught. Our local elementary school counselor uses a variety of resources to guide children in the area of relationships and conflict resolution, including puppets, role-play, books and games. Two of his favorite games are "Pick and Tell Card Games" and "The Story Telling Game," both by Richard Gardner, M.D. Two books relating to this subject are How Are You Peeling? by Saxton Freyman and My Many Colored Day by Dr. Seuss. -Porter has workedfor 27 years in children's ministries in various capacities.

She recently moved to Hillsboro, /(an., after spending over six years as pastor to children and families at the North Fresno (Calif) MB church.

John Quiring, school psychologist Violence is a cultural phenomena with a very complex set of causes and potential solutions-at times so complex as to defy answers. But even if we cannot (lome up with the complete "answer," we mUst give our childre n sOme practicill guidance in how to effectively respond to the roots of violence in their schools. . ' The answer is found in the Bible and exercising a Christian character. As we lead our children into a relationship with Christ we need to actively nurture them in the virtues of being a Christ-follower. We need to help them "put on love and a heart of compassion." Any Sunday school teacher or school teacher can tell you about the power of a single child who exercises love and compassion in the classroom or their social group. The child who expresses compassion, respect, problem solving and responsibility rather than hatred, complaining, revenge and blame can make the difference. That child can defuse potentially volatile situations, make people feel included rather than excluded and help set a climate where violence is less likely to occur.

Research on bullying is helpful in understanding how important a small act of character can be in stopping the development of negative attitudes in a group. Research shows that if a negative comment is not challenged-even mildly-it is likely that another negative comment will follow. If a second negative comment is unchallenged, the likelihood of anyone standing up for a different opinion diminishes exponentially. Soon the negative is the accepted group norm .

As Christian parents and teachers we can teach our children how to actively exercise the traits of Christian character. We can encourage personal compassion through our example and words of C H R 1ST I A N

LEA D E R

respect and co mpassion. We can also encou rage -our children to participate in school efforts to create peace-mediation groups, public service groups and other community-building activities. Our schools and society will be salted with the active truth of love's power. -Quiring is a school psychologist with the Lincoln (Neb.) Public Schools. He is a member of Henderson (Neb.) MB Church.

Bob Sully, teacher I believe it is important to realize that it is not education that is broken, but SOciety. Schools are microcosims of society. Whatever happens in society comes to school. Just like vulgar language and disrespect, violence is a learned trait.

What can we do as Christians? First, pray. Second, get involved with your child's school. Let the administration know that violence is unacceptable.

Keep in mind that schools can only work within the limits of the education code, a significant problem itself. Making change will take time and effort, but change can only happen when people get involved.

At some point we are going to have to hold people accountable-and I'm not thinking about teachers. Parents first, and then students. As long as we keep making excuses for people and projecting blame nothing will improve.

How can we help kids survive in the day-to-day school environment? Teach your children Christian values. Insist that your school offer courses in conflict resolution and have a functional discipline system. Get involved and join the PTA. Remember, you may be viewed as part of the religious right and your values might be much different than the average PTA parent. Talk to your kids about actions they could take when confronted by violence. Have a plan in place and practice responses to threats and violence. Your children's selection of friends is also very important. Who they associate with will directly determine their level of exposure to violence .

After 24 years in the military I chose to teach school. I have taught for eight years in two inner city schools in Sacramento, Calif. I spend approximately 65 hours per week with my students including evenings, weekends and the summer months. I am very strict with students, but they like it because they are looking for boundaries and limits. Boundaries and limits p rOvide structure and safety. Most students are good kids, but it only takes one to cause significant problems.

What can you do? Pray for our SOciety, pray for our children, pray for guidance and make the time to get involved. - Bob Sully teaches at G. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento. He is a member at Greenhaven Neighborhood Church in Sacramento. •

SCHOOL

VIOLE;\iCE

BY CARMEN ANDRE S

or to make a erence What four Mennonite Brethren churches are doing to make a difference in their community-and their words of advice to you.

Ark Way Learning Center rament•• Calif.

Ark Way cooperates with a local grade school to provide children in third through sixth grade a safe environment to complete their homework and improve their math and reading skills. The program runs individualized and group academic-oriented activities on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, with activities using conflict resolution curriculum once a month.

Students are selected by their teachers, who refer to the principal children whom they feel are at risk of falling behind or failing due to the circumstances at home or motivation and behavior issues. Potential students are also identified by financial status, as most of the families of the children in the learning center cannot afford tutoring.

Volunteers from the church serve as teachers and provide snacks and materials for the students.

Background: Ark Way developed out of an effort by Greenhaven Neighborhood Church leadership to identify what members of the church saw as the needs of the Greenhaven community, a generally middle-class suburb of Sacramento.

Leadership personally interviewed members to discern what they wanted to do in Greenhaven to demonstrate their love for the community, says pastor Derk Madden. "Through those interviews it came out that children and the elderly were two population groups our congregation realized have significant needs which our church could possibly meet," he says.

Ark Way began October 1999 with 15 students and six teachers. Within several weeks, the population

grew to 20 kids. This year, the student population is 23, with seven teachers.

Ark Way became a nonprofit organization at the end oflast year. The motivation to go nonprofit was mostly due to fund raising availability, according to Madden.

Purpose: "The idea for the learning center itself came as the result of learning that there was a current need in our community for something like 20,000 latchkey kids," says Madden.

"The times when kids are getting into trouble the most are between 3:00 and 7:00 p .m., when there is no supervision because parents are working. We were interested in reaching out and filling a need to provide a secure and comfortable place for those kids during that time."

Education and safety are not the only concerns.

"The ultimate goal is to bring these kids to Christ," says Madden. "We hope to sow some seeds spiritually through the reading materials and even more through the personal relationships with the kids."

Ark Way also gives the church a close tie to the community. "For me, the learning center has been part of a permanent bridge to the community. Families have come to church through the relationships and trust built through the learning center," says Madden.

Ark Way purposefully seeks to keep a low student-to-teacher ratio in order to give students as much individualized attention as possible. "We want to encourage the kids," says Madden, "and relationships are one of the most effective ways to do that."

Community response: The school, teachers, local PTA and the parents have received Ark Way JAN U ARY

2001

•

11

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES -ADULTS

"tremendously well," says Madden.

The students have also responded well. "There has been more than a handful-at least five or six stuKINDRED PRESS 1-800-545·7322 dents-that have gone from D's to A's simply because lcindredOmbconf.OIT1 they were given a positive, nurturing, accountable www.mbconf.org atmosphere where they have been positively reinIlcindred.htm forced, where they have made a decision to flourish both socially and academically," Madden says.

With the arms Support from church members has also been of the Father good. "Next to our vacation Bible school, this is one A group study ministry where more people from the church have in restoring been involved. It's a ministry that spans the generarelationships tions," says Madden, adding that church youth profor adults vide childcare support for the teachers.

Power of the Lamb A book defining the MB peace position

Advice: Finding out who and what your congregation has a passion for is imperative before starting any ministry, according to Madden.

"The learning center needs a huge commitment from the congregation on a constant basis, contributing a significant amount of time and resources each week to make it happen," Madden explains.

"This was something our people wanted to do, so we did it. Rather than leadership saying we wanted

According to a hand-wringing new research repOrt, the kids In your youth group IIkely'experlenced the same kind of bullying and hazing that launched Dylan Klebold ..nd Ef'Ic Harris on a murderous rampage.

In a startling swl.,. at America's youth groupS, setearchers studying hazing amOltJ'Ngh school students claim that almost a quarter-mlllion (237,000) teenagers are hazed when they Join a church grou.,. "We found that every hi", $ChooI student who joins any grOllP-:from gangs to church groups", from the football team to the banc1---18 .. risk of being hazed," says Nadine Jfoov.,,, principal Investigator on the study team at Alfred Unlverslt1 1n N,aw York.

Researchers deftftebaZlng as "any humiliating or dangerous activity expected of you to Join a group, regardless of your wlll.ngness to participate." Hazers typically force their victims to eat disgusting things, abuse alcohol or dtugsor perform humiliating acts as a rite of Initiation.

12 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

to do this and then trying to recruit people, we listened to our congregation."

For more information, call (916) 422-8253 or email djmgnc@jps.net.

Butler House is located and runs several ministries in the Ranchwoods, a complex of several hundred single-owned condominiums housing lower and middle income families.

The ministry currently offers two main programs for youth and children. During the summer, a basketball camp draws about 150 girls and boys, ages five through 18. During the school year, children ages five through 12 meet once a week for WRAP Club, a writing, reading and play club.

For adults, Butler House currently has two programs: a Spanish-speaking Bible study for women and English classes.

Additional programs are being planned, including a volleyball camp in late spring for kids 10 years old and above.

What do your

youth group kids have in common with the

Columbine killers?

The top four culprits cited by the report Include sports teams, gangs, musical groups arid church groupe.

Norman Pollard, director of Alfred University's counseling center, says, "this Is something we have to be concerned about. When we look at recent Incidents of violence In high schools, such as Columbine, Paducah and Sprlngfteld, we see the dire consequences of teens feeling excluded, rejected and humiliated."

LEA D E R

Who's behind all this socially acceptable bullying? Not the thickbrained, hulking, fringe kids of cartoon fame-lt's the popular kids according to a report by the American Psychological Association.

"These are the kids that other students look up to," says University of illinois professor and coauthor of the study Dorothy Espelage, "the ones everybody wants to hang out with."

That's essentially what makes hazing acceptable-If the peer authority ftgures fuel It, the rank-andftle kids let It happen. "Sadly, we live In a culture that celebrates sarcasm, revels In ridicule, entertains through embarras8ment and humors through humiliation," says Daniel Frank, a school prlne.peI, and Thomas Cottle, a BostQn University education.

professor.

Reprinted with permission from the November/December ~ooo ISsue 01 Group magazine.

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

Background: Butler House is a ministry of Butler MB Church in Fresno and officially came into existence a year ago, says Ron Penner, who coordinates the program with his wife, Fran.

It rose out of several ministries in the Ranchwoods started by Ricky Sanchez, the church's former outreach minister who recently left for Thailand under MBMS International, the North American MB mission agency.

"Ricky thought we might be able to do a better job if we actually owned a condo," says Penner, adding that Butler House is strategically located near the basketball court and recreational facilities. "Most people who make use of those facilities go right by that apartment."

Prior to Butler House's official beginnings, the basketball camp had been operating for four summers, and Fresno Pacific University students were running kid's club ministries in the complex.

Purpose: "There was a deep and sincere desire on the part of the church to reach into that community," says Penner of the Ranchwoods.

A few church attenders lived in that community and were concerned about the problems of violence and burglary, according to Penner. "There was a real desire to do something ... to provide a positive influence on the community and help the Ranchwoods be a less violent place."

Since the program began, more Butler attenders have decided to move into the complex. "There has been a distinct effort to get people to move into the community," says Penner. "Quite a number of families are now living in the complex. It is a great way to actually act on our commitment to Christ and put our faith into action."

Community response: The programs, especially for the youth and children, have been well received by the community, says Penner. "Butler Church has a very good reputation in the community . . . because of our service and outreach there."

Penner adds that property values in the Ranchwoods are going up as the violence has decreased substantially due to the work of Butler House and other efforts in that community.

Advice: Penner strongly encourages churches to consider ministries like the Butler House.

"If we are going to win our cities for Christ, we have to move into communities with noted violence," Penner says. "The results are there. There is no doubt in my mind that things like this will change our cities."

For more information about Butler House, call (559) 252-3741 or e-mail butlermb@fresno.edu.

RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES -YOUTH

Neighbor Ministries Neb. Good Neighbor Ministries runs a variety of ministries--from providing transportation to mentoring young boys--in an urban, inner city area surrounding Faith Bible Church.

The largest ministry is "Wheels of Service," which provides transportation at low cost to people who don't have a car on weekdays. The drivers stay with clients as needed to help with groceries or wait with them at the doctor's office. Other community services include a food and clothes pantry, financial assistance and providing repair and work services for homes.

Good Neighbor also runs several smaller ministries to children and youth . Paul and Timothy is a mentoring program hooking up boys from primarily single parent homes with adult male volunteers. The Good News Club, in cooperation with Child Evangelism Fellowship, is geared towards three to 12 yearolds and meets once a week.

During the summer, Good Neighbor coordinates youth group service projects, giving Christian youth from rural areas hands-on experience in the inner city. Projects range from one-an-one evangelism and ministry to food distribution and work projects in homes of people from the community.

Background: Good Neighbor Ministries was started by members of Faith Bible Church four years ago.

"We live in an urban environment where there are a lot of hurting, needy people," says Stephen Stout, director of the ministry and a member at Faith Bible. "As a church, we realized we were inadequate in meeting those needs. If we had a separate organization that focused on meeting those needs, we felt that would be beneficial."

The ministry went nonprofit a year after it began, mainly to make fund raising easier, says Stout.

Purpose: Good Neighbor Ministries has a specific vision: "We purpose to mobilize, disciple, nurture and equip Christians with a heart for the city so that we may effectively present and represent Jesus Christ for the multiethnic unchurched living in the Columbus Park neighborhood."

"We have a slogan," Stout says, boiling the vision down to a few words: "Reaching Christians with a heart for the city, reaching people in the heart of the city."

Stout says they work to accomplish this through the variety of programs they offer as well as by fostering spontaneous events and actions. Church volunteers are involved in the work projects, menta ring program and summer programs and also buy gifts and meet needs in the community as they come u p, says Sto ut.

J A NUARY

KINDRED PRESS

1-800-545-7322 kindred@mbconf.OIJI www.mbcon#.org Ikindred.htm

Crosswalkers Interactive study in restoring relationships for youth Does God Fight?

Generation Why material for senior high

Fight Right: A Christ Approach to Conflid Generation Why material for senior high Understanding Gangs Fast Lane curriculum for junior high Challenging Racism Fast Lane curriculum for junior high Living without violence Fast Lane curriculum for junior high

2001·

13

SCHOOL VIOLENCE Enid (Okla.) MB Church on Family

Faith Projects (Fresno, Calif.)

Summer Service Program (national)

"One of the things that we as a church have done . . . is to respond proactively by strengthening the {amily unit," says pastor Garvie S¢h iot.

S is doing this in several ways. day school curriculum focuses on to~cs related to family once a ye~, care groups are deSigned encourage and support J)Elrent!> ahd the church covers some obst$ associated with events like Promise Keepers, Women of Faith and Family Life conferences.

"In strengthening the family unit , one helps address the issues of violence," says Schmidt. '

An "apartment-based " ministry, Faith Projects runs a learning center, girls club and a kids club for children in kindergarten through sixth grade who live in the Chestnut apartment complex , located in a low income area of southeast Fresno.

Faith Projects also works with county services in areas of community development and improvement.

Offices are located at Fresno Pacific University, an MB university in Fresno where the program gets many of its volunteers.

For more information, contact John Navaro at jenavarr@fresno.edu or (559) 453-2000.

The Summer Service Program, sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee, enables young adults of diverse ethnic backgrounds to work with a church or service agency in their home communities for 10 weeks and gain leadership experience. The program also allows congregations to be creative when thinking about how to meet the needs of their churches and their communities.

MCC is a Christian world relief and development agency sponsored

by Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Churches. For more information, call MCC U.S. at (717) 859-3889 or email mailbox@mcc.org.

t.9

Community response: Community response has been good, says Stout. "A lot of people know we exist," he says, adding that the parents have been very appreciative of the children's programs.

Stout shares that the spiritual aspect of the ministries has been challenging. "Not a lot have accepted Christ," he says, "though there have been some."

Advice: In spite of the challenges, Stout enthusiastically encourages churches to consider ministries like Good Neighbor.

"A good thing to do is some sort of survey of the community to see what they want and need," Stout adds. "Base your programs on that instead of guessing."

For more information, call Faith Bible at (402) 345-2953 or contact Good Neighbor Ministries at (402) 344-4738 or faithbib@juno.com. ~UltPthouse

, 'OilClawn. Kan. Lighthouse hosts a variety of clubs and activities for approximately 75 kids, kindergarten through high school, in the Oaklawn community, a low income area on the south side of Wichita.

Monday through Friday evenings and afternoons, kids-divided by age groups-meet once a week for activities ranging from recreation to education.

Lighthouse also sponsors several summer programs, including camps and a vacation Bible school.

Volunteers from youth groups at First MB Church and United at the Cross in Wichita and Emmaus Mennonite Church in Whitewater and students from Tabor College (a four-year liberal arts MB college) in Hillsboro help out with the weekly and summer programs.

Background: In January 2000, MBs in the Southern District and World Impact decided to join together to plant a church in Oaklawn.

"We are really doing a number of things at once," says Daren Busenitz, church planter team leader. The team of six people is working to devel-

14 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA D E R

op four cell groups in the community before they begin meeting publicly. The ministries to the children are a core part of their vision, which they plan to continue after the church opens, according to Busenitz.

Purpose: "Our purpose is two-fold," Busenitz says. "One is to help the kids who struggle to deal properly with the problems of life, especially those who come from broken homes . The second is to reach out to the parents. A good way to get to know the parents is through their kids."

Busenitz says the programs, teachers and curriculum help kids steer away from violence. "A lot of it is helping kids understand their anger, how to deal with that, what the Bible says about that," he says. The curriculum uses a variety of approaches, including Bible-centered stories and examples and focusing on certain issues the kids are dealing with and finding Bible passages to back it up.

Community response: "So far, we are finding that there are families who are interested in making Oaklawn a better place," says Busenitz, adding that many parents are feeling defeated by the state of their community. "Usually parents are happy that we are helping their kids find a better way to live."

Advice: Busenitz cautions against trying to do everything yourself.

"One thing that really drives us is to get the people who live here to take leadership in what they are doing and the future of the church and their community." That way, says Busenitz, when the church plant team leaves, the ministry and church doesn't leave with them.

For more information, contact Daren Busenitz at (316) 554-7843 or e-mail freakshowdb@hotmail. com . • Carmen Andres is the editor of the Christian Leader. She is a member of Greenhaven Neighborhood Church in Sacramento, Calif.

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Fund Reaeonai1le Annual Return

On Demand Certificates currently pay 4.75 % Three Year Term Certificates currently pay 5.50 % Suggested minimum balance of $250 Immeaeurai1le Eternal Return These funds provide capital needed to make loans to our churches, colleges, and conference agencies.

In this way, you are able to partner with them in accomplis hing their ministry. 'your abundanoe be/ng a eupply for their want" II Cor. 6:14a

Why not diversify your savings by investing in the work of the Mennonite Brethren Foundation'?

Why not consider a fund which benefits you and the cause of Christ'?

For more information about the Ministry Investment Fund ca ll 1-800-551-1547

WHAT READERS SAY

Issues with religions I felt uneasy reading James Pankratz's article, "The Good News in a World of Religions" (October 2000). He writes rosily of "humanity's search for God," and contends, "Throughout history and in all cultures people have searched for the Divine." I felt uneasy because Paul, to the contrary, wrote, "No one seeks for God. All have turned aside, toge ther they have gone wrong." Is this a distinction of nuance? Or is Pankratz developing a false view of man? If so, it's a common mistake, part of man's arrogance.

I also disagree with his use of Ps. 14:2. Claiming that it bolsters his thesis, Pankratz writes, "anyone who is wise will search for God." Ps. 14:2-4 really says something quite contrary: "The Lord looks down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there is any that act wisely, that seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is no one that does good, no, not one" (ps. 14:2-3) .

God's assessment of mankind is not gratitude for their wise searching. Rather God's wrath is revealed against them.

Why? Because, even though God's eternal power and deity are clearly see n, "by their wickedness, they suppress the truth" (Rom. 1:18). Far from commending the religions of man, God repeatedly holds their wicked foolishness in derision . "All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit .. .. He who fashions a god or casts an image is profitable for nothing" (Is. 44:9,10).

So when Pankratz concludes, "While we were searching for God, God was reaching out to us inJesus," I was loaded and cocked to take issue. For the wonder-

The Christian leader welcomes brief letters on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church. All letters must be signed and will be edited for clarity and length.

Send letters to Christian leader, 7531 Delta Wind Dr., Sacramento, CA 95831 (e-mail: chleader@jps.net).

16 •

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ful message of the Bible is not that Jesus met us halfway, not quarter way, not 10 percent. Jesus is fur more wonderful than that!

He met us while we were utterly dead in sin. "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

How fur can a corpse go toward reviving himself? We were dead. Necrosis had set in. We could do nothing but grow worse.

It was God alone who chose and called us. Paul warns of any other conceit. "And you, who were dead in trespasses ... God made alive together with him" (Col. 2:13). In my opinion when Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born anew to see the Kingdom of God," he referred not to sanctification, but to that Godgiven quickening of the spirit by which the sinner sees Christ.

I do not wish to sound ungracious regarding those well meaning devotees of world religions. I myself was called out of a foolish liberalism. And I served as a Christian teacher in a Shinto and Buddhist land. I saw meritorious deportment in those who practiced these faiths. And if I loved these people, how much more does God love them? But it wasn't these religious who accepted Jesus. It was those devoted to work, style and status who realized their impasse (even a former hit man for the Yakusa mob). God was able to draw these unreligious while the religious were lost. In his Mars Hill speech, Paul did not commend the Athenians for their abundant religiOSity, but for recognizing their own ignorance of an "unknown god."

Yes, we do find themes similar to Christianity in world religions. These Similarities, however, serve to distract and puff up rather than to conduct an adherent part way-just fur enough to where a listless God will reach out and meet him. It was not by seeking God that we found him. God called us who had broke n and contrite hearts.

Peter Stearns Lodi, Calif.

LEA D E R

Catholic: mission is not ours I am always amazed when I read articles espousing dialogue (read unity) with Catholics ("Bridging gap with Catholics," October 2000). They always begin first by raising and then dismiSSing emotional issues as though they are irrelevant to the agenda at hand-generally the Christian mission to the world.

I agree today's Catholics have no need nor should they apologize for the actions of some zealots living many years ago and that many individuals on both sides create havoc today by raising the past, spreading false rumors and reading into Scripture their preconceived notions of Antichrist and endtime events. At the same time, however, this all begs the question of why Protestant, Reformed and Anabaptist believers split with the Catholic church in the first place. Has that issue been dealt with?

If it has not, our mission is not the same, and to speak of uniting for our Christian witness to the world is sheer folly. Would our Lord have praised Paul if he had left the Judaizers alone to undermine grace by adding works to the true faith just so he could save those rank pagans in the Gentile world? What would he be saving them to-one system of salvation by works to a more noble system of salvation by works (aJewishiChristian hybrid church)? If not, why would our Lord care if an individual is deceived within the Islamic system, Hindu system or Catholic system of working his way to heaven? Do we sacrifice our fellow human beings to the Catholic God who cannot save the Muslim-and after we have saved him what sort of church are we saving him to? Should he confess to God or to a priest? Should he believe Christ finished his salvation on the cross or that he must continually partake of that sacrifice at the mass to merit his salvation? Does God pour out his grace upon that individual or is it dispensed by the church through the sacraments?

These questions could go on and on, but the point is that our mission is to show people the way to salvation-by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone! If we abandon this to achieve unity with the Catholics we have no mission.

For Lutherans and Anglicans to follow this route is bad enough, but at least they share the common belief with the Catholics in a Christian Kingdom established by the church on earth. But Evangelicals, Baptists and Anabaptists?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I always thought we believed our mission is to call individuals out of the world and into Christ's Kingdom. Yes, at times this means we will be at odds with the world and its governments and, yes, we may even face persecution from so-called Christian nations. But how much better to hear our Lord's precious words, "Well done good and faithful servant" rather than living in a false peace and ease while millions of our fellow human beings perish. Remember our Lord was crucified for his love for mankind. Do we expect our love to be answered with handshakes?

Rod Taylor Hays, Alta.

view of our Mennonite church, then our leaders have been able to blind us to the truth of Scripture and lead us down a path toward religious tolerance with all people. If this group of seven has read and believe what the Vatican teaches as truth, then they truly have been blinded to the truth of the Bible and should no longer be in leadership positions within our Mennonite conferences.

I close with two quotes, one from Vatican II, Flannery's Edition, Vol. 1 and one from the Bible. The Catholics teach and believe "Christ's death earned 'satisfactions and merits' which have been deposited into 'Treasury' to which have been added the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary [and] the prayers and good works of all the saints beyond what they needed for their own salvation." The Bible teaches and I believe "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9) .

Harder and Loewen, there is only one way to salvation-you decide.

Objection to Catholic: dialogue In response to "Bridging the gap with Catholics, " October 2000.

What is going on within our MB conference? It seems as if Helmut Harder, Howard Loewen and their group want to lead our conference into an age of religious correctness. I object to the idea that Mennonites and Catholics are both being called Christians. Are they also going to say that Mormons, Jehovah's Witness and Muslims are Christians because they believe in God? The Roman Catholics pray to Mary, pray for the dead and bow to the Pope.

My Bible says that a personal relationship with Jesus is the one and only way to the Father. The direction in which this group wants to take us is an offense to the missionaries we have sent to Spain, Portugal and other Roman Catholic countries. We have sent them to convert Roman Catholics to Christianity, and now they are being told to have dialogue with them and find common ground. If Roman Catholics are Christians, why don't we call home all the missionaries we have sent out to convert the Roman Catholic people?

I take offense when Loewen says, "I believe we seven people represent with integrity a good cross section of the Mennonite church." Loewen does not represent the views of my family. If this is the

Gary Eirich Dinuba, Calif.

Questions dialogue with Catholics In response to "Bridging the gap with Catholics, " October 2000.

The caption, "Mennonites and Brethren in Christ seek to mend relationships with Roman Catholics," forces me to conclude that "we" initiated this communication with the Roman Catholics. Is that correct? What relationship are we supposed to have? Are we supposed to .be seeking some mystical harmony with Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, etc., also? The list could go on. I am sure we could find something in all of our beliefs that could be considered / "remarkably similar."

The statement, "We agreed that the scriptures are foundation for the faith and life of the church," is extremely misleading. Yes, the Roman Catholic Church believes that-as long as they are the only ones who interpret those scriptures. There is no encouragement from the Roman Catholic Church to their followers to read the Scriptures,

yet alone apply its instruction to their lives. Salvation by faith is mocked in their periodicals. Articles found in Catholic periodicals conSistently berate and attack Protestants in their foolish and determined faith in a God who would "save" them simply by believing in him. Christ's death on the cross was not our redemption, but only an act to show us how much he would suffer for us. Jesus Christ's death and resurrection have no meaning for the Roman Catholic in regards to salvation. They are taught that keeping the sacraments are their way to God. That is what purgatory is for-so they can pay for their sins. We are going to have to throwaway Heb. 10: 18. We Will need to have Eph. 2:8-9 reinterpreted for us by the international dialogue. I always thought it meant that we were saved by grace through faith.

Your observation from the "Christian" community that "a horse is a horse" should have been delivered to Menno Simons. It's a shame he had to die simply because he misunderstood Catholics.

After all, we are all fellow Christians. I have a son-in-law, a brother and a prayer partner who are ex-Catholic. They all testify to finding salvation in Jesus Christ outside the Roman Catholic Church and have left the Roman Catholic Church.

I have to find this dialogue an insult to our heritage and the very core belief of who we are and Sincerely question its validity.

Ken Penner

Ingalls, Kansas

~ Are~ou~

Gooel issue!

light . . (

"

Just a word of encouragement and appreciation for the November 2000 issue of the Christian Leader. A good issue! But special thanks to Rose Buschman, Eddy Hall and Cliff Dick. Thanks!

BobBuxman Reedley, Calif.

Where were the women?

I appreciated the comments by Cliff Dick in the November 2000 "What Readers Say," regarding "Finding leadership." continued on page 34 JA NU ARY

2001

•

17

PH'UP SIDE BY

PHILIP

WIEBE

Election reflections So while this recent election was certainly intriguing, I don't think it was as

monumental as some made it out to be.

I

write this a few days after the conclusion of

certainly intriguing, I don't think it was as monumental our most recent presidential election - which as some made it out to be. means, of course, that I'm writing in midStill, the strange and December rather than early November, as would unpredictable proceedings got me going on various normally be the case. politically related tangents.

• One thing I did realize, having I suppose it's amazing that I'm recently started a new career with the writing after the election at all, since it publishing office of our Oregon State looked for awhile like the thing could Archives, is how much more directly drag on for months. Many people I our state elections affect many of us know were completely caught up in than the national elections.

Not to the proceedings, and when they'd downplay the importance of national agitatedly ask me "Where do you politics, but it was some of our state stand?" I'd always try to come up with measures and candidates that caused insightful answers such as "On my me real concern. Everything turned legs" or "Right about here." out all right (at least from my Well, I'm kidding, but I do have to perspective) but certain events could admit that the fiasco never for a have happened that would have moment made me mad or worried or caused major upheaval for some. It defensive. Maybe amused from time to was an eye-opener to be in that time. But unlike many others, I was position and see how state politics never convinced it mattered that much really do impact the masses. which of the two hopefuls became • One of the observations made president. Sure there were differences every hour or so during the election in policy and perspective that came was that the closeness of the race with being a Republican or Democratic showed we live in a "divided country." candidate, but in this case I didn't Do we really? I doubt it. Most people think either one would make a major want the same thing - meaningful (or even minor) difference in the work, connections with others, decent direction of the country once they got education opportunities, chances to into office. help those who are less fortunate.

That's simply because the majority Where we differ is in how to best things are going pretty well right now, provide for such opportunities and and no one wants a president who's endeavors. That's something we going to mess around with that. married couples deal with all the time.

BeSides, I've always been ambivalent Spouses differ, sometimes Significantly, about modem "party lines" in politics. on how to raise children and manage While I like the Republican position on money and run a household . But we'd some things, in other areas their policy hardly call ourselves "divided." makes me cringe. While I'm alarmed at In a similar way, it would be nice if some of the philosophical trends of we could lay down arms in the Democrats, in other areas I very much "conservative versus liberal" battle and agree with what they stand for. gracefully acknowledge that as So while this recent election was

18 • THE

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countrymen and women we may disagree with each other at times, but we are still countrymen and women.

On that subject I once I heard an official wonder why Democrats are often condemned by conservatives as anti-family, "as if we want to see families break down and by golly would like to have a lot more of it."

Conservatives might equally wonder how they got a reputation for stinginess and lack of compassion, when in fact religious conservatives and churches account for a huge portion of charitable giving in our country. It shows how easily we can demonize those on the opposite side of the fence without ever getting a good look at what they're really about.

• It was predictable but still interesting that the longer things remained undecided in the election, the more vocal and belligerent a lot of people became. It occurred to me, as the protests and shouting matches were broadcast, that the whole thing probably should have caused just the opposite. People on both sides should have felt a profound humility that half the country felt differently about things then they did. But I suppose it's human nature these days to watch 1V in color and see the world in black and white.

• Someone raised the question during the recount conflicts, "What would Jesus think about all this?" The answer that came to my mind was, "Not much." I don't mean that he would think badly of it, I mean he probably just wouldn't think about it much . He never really seemed that interested in politiCS. When people tried to press political agendas on him, he usually shrugged them off or said confounding things like "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's," and "the kingdom of God is within you."

No wonder Jesus could focus all his energy on serving God and others. No recount fiasco regarding who would sit at the right hand of God.

INQUIRING MINDS BY

MARVIN

HEIN

Now boarding for worship Ibis is the first offour columns focusing on worship styles in response to the September column asking for reader comments about contemporary and traditional worship.

T

full life of toil and struggles they reveled in the words, "Jesus, blessed Rock of Ages, worship" experience. There were two I will hide myself in Thee."

Another hymn, speaking of very different groups of people being sheltered underneath aboard, each with a distinct idea of worship style.

God's wings, became espeThe younger filed into the fore part of the 747, and cially meaningful when the plane took a few dips and the more "mature" moved to the rear. dives and passengers were instructed to get back into their seat On take-off many of the older pasbelts. sengers gripped their armrests, unacA half-hour biblical sennon, delivcustomed to the pull of inertia and the ered from behind a "sacred desk," was loud sounds of the engines. The not all that strange to the younger. The younger calmly fastened their seat belts choir, neatly robed and accompanied by and felt no fear, only exhilaration. Both the organist, warmed the hearts of the were on their way to worship. The worshippers. "0" class passengers felt strange noise of the wheels (string and they had been in the presence of God. brass instruments, perhaps) retracting How did "Y' class customers into the fuselage caused some elders to respond to the rearguard worship? The fear they were losing their footing. The hymns their elders enjoyed were 200 younger hardly noticed and reveled in years old and seemed too slow and oldthe thrill of soaring higher and higher. fashioned, with not enough beat or Upon reaching cruiSing altitude, the rhythm. There was too little music as a pilot announced that separate worship whole and too little congregational parprograms had been arranged for "0" ticipation. More instrumentation would class (older) and ''Y' class (younger) provide "zip" and spirit. The preaching passengers. To avoid confuSion, it had was acceptable, but not always relevant been detennined that each class would to life. "0" class worship was okay for worship at separate times. Opportunity was given for people to change groups old folks, but not for this generation.

This worship style and the staid suitor to participate in both groups, but attired audience would never entice the few did either. unchurched steeped in the "beat" and The "0" class service was neatlyoutentertainment culture to attend church. lined in a bulletin and directed by a At the front of the plane, the worconservatively uniformed flight attenship menu served by the crew-multidant (suit and tie). The airlines providple in number, clad infonnally and ed hymnals. The group relished the joy accompanied by string and brass instruand inspiration of singing joyfully but calmly and in harmony. Coming from a ments--derived many of its lyrics from ourists boarded Intercontine tal

Flight #606, sold as a ''virtual heavenly

Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue?

E-mail Marvin at mheinl@fresno.edu or send your question to "Inquiring Minds, " c/o Marvin Hein, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, CA 93727.

the biblical Psalms that spoke of God's holiness. Wanting to experience the presence of God, the ''Y' class sang songs designed to produce "feeling" with choruses like "God is an awesome God" or "God loves me, and I love God." The songs were many and each often sung two or three times. The worshipers were jubilant, moving, clapping, sometimes cheering and not too concerned about the hour of the day.

The half-hour sennon-usually focusing on applying biblical principles to life-was delivered via a portable mike instead of a pulpit, which the "Y" class passengers felt separated the pastor from the people.

And what were the thoughts of "0" class passengers as their children worshiped? Some were glad the offspring went to church--even if it weren't one they personally would have enjoyed. A few even joined in the songs that sometimes raced along as fast as the jet engines just outside the windows. But most "0" classers eventually became silent, disinterested spectators. They found the choruses both theolOgically impoverished and written with a "beat" difficult to follow. They were distracted by the closed eyes of some of the younger worshipers, which caused some of them to look pained. Some "0" classers thought their offspring were just too emotional and at times disrespectful of God with their shouting and jigging down the aisles. This wasn't worship as they had always pictured it.

The paragraphs above are simply offered as a picture of how many (young and old) see the others at worship. In future issues, more detailed attention will be given to the thirty-plus responses to the writer's September request. In the meantime perhaps one "boomer's" comment is apropos: "If the church is about being a community of God's people, alienating either the elderly or the young by omitting one or the other worship style is antithetic to our purpose."

J A NU AR Y

2001·

19

ON THE JOURNEY BY

ROSE

BUSCHMAN

Where does violence start?

For too many children, violence and abuse really begin in their homes.

him know each day that I cared about him-a kind minds these days. As a teacher in the pub- word, a smile, a hug or whatlie schools for many years, I have my own ever was appropriate at the time. I prayed a lot for this stories of violent encounters with stuboy and his family.

Eventually the children dents. However, I'm not going to deal with those were removed from the home here, since I believe there is an even deeper problem and placed in foster care.

However, the damage was existing today. For too many children, violence and done. Last I heard, Jon was abuse really begin in their homes. incarcerated in the criminal It's hard to know where to begin to section of the state mental hospital. His tell you what I personally have experibrother had run away from his foster enced. I'll start with two brothers that I home and was wanted by police for met while teaching at the elementary theft and other infractions of the law. school level. It soon became apparent And then there was Brandon, one of to some of us teachers that these two Jon's classmates. I'll never forget the boys had serious problems. Jon* in my morning he showed up in my classclassroom began to exhibit very strange room, bloodshot eyes, unkempt hair, behaviors. One day he acted so bizarre dirty clothes and very hyper-totally that I called for an emergency visit by out of control. After talking with him I the school psychologist. He came an walked him to the office to see the prinhour later, observed this student and cipal, who immediately called police. agreed with my concerns.

This lO-year old child had spent the Later that night another school offinight in a home where his mother and cial and I made a home visit since the her friends were smoking pot. He was mother refused to return my phone "high." Eventually, his mother agreed to calls even though her supervisor at spend time in a drug rehabilitation prowork insisted she had gotten the mesgram (or lose custody of her children), sages to call me. We learned a lot on and Brandon went to live with an uncle that visit. Mother knew her son had a while she was gone . problem but didn't want to deal with it.

Working in that elementary classThe stepfather was a big, burly man room was an eye-opener for me. At one who often beat the boys at the slightest point the principal and the two of us provocation. There was another child in teachers who taught the same grade the home, a preschool boy. Mother level made an assessment of each of the insisted he could not be left alone with 58 students in our two classes. We his older brothers. "They'll kill him if found that over half had serious probwe do," she insisted to me. She meant lems at home: verbal, physical or psyit. Even though the school official perchological abuse, single parent families sonally paid for an evaluation by a local living in poverty, drug use, suspected mental health care provider, the mother sexual abuse . You name it-we had evirefused to follow the prescribed treatdence of it! ment for her son.

My high school experience has been My principal and I decided that the no better. I remember the day 15-yearbest I could do for this child was to let old Brenda came to school with bruises chool violence is on a lot of people's

20 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA D E R

all over her body. She was a special education student who was seven months pregnant. The school immediately called the police. Brenda had been beaten by her father because he was afraid she would tell others that he was also the father of her child.

About that same time I received a phone call one evening from one of my sophomore students. She was crying and very much afraid. I could hear banging and yelling in the background.

She told me that she had locked herself in her bedroom where she had a phone and could call for help. Her father was demanding that she open the door.

"What does he want?" I asked.

"He says that the Bible says he is the boss in the family and that I have to listen to him and do whatever he wants.

He wants to have sex," she gasped.

"Where is your mother?" I wanted to know.

"At night school," she replied.

When I volunteered to keep her on the phone and send my husband to the neighbors to call police, she screeched, "No, you can't do that." After I got her calmed down I told her to tell her father that she had me on the line, that what he was asking of her was against the law, and that I would call the police if he tried to harm her in any way. After she told him that, the banging and yelling stopped. So I stayed on the line with her for over an hour that night until her mother came home .

This is just the tip of the iceberg, incidents that I personally know about.

Our schools reflect our homes. A decline in violence in our schools needs to be linked to an improvement in the home life of our students.

*1be names have been changed and details kept vague in order to protect the victims involved.

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PEOPLE PROFILE FAITH

AND

LIFE

Walking onto a field of dreams When God starting opening doors, Todd Franz found himself living his dreamplaying football in the NFL

T

BY SARA COOK

im and Susie Franz never used to care when Pastor Don Morris of Pine Acres Church in Weatherford, Okla., preached a little over time . But things have changed.

22.THE

CHRISTIAN

"We can't wait to get home from Sunday church," says Susie, while laughing. "Now I want Pastor Don to finish at twelve ."

Why the change of heart? Because National Football League games are

LEADER

played Sunday afternoons and their 24year-old son, Todd, is living his dream of playing professional football. He is currently a rookie free safety with the Cleveland Browns.

While Tim and his two sons enjoyed playing football together-they even nicknamed their barn the Franz Dome-Todd Franz dreamed of playing profeSSional baseball. But during college he had a gradual change of heart and today he makes his living on the gridiron rather than a diamond.

"I'd always prayed from the very beginning that if God didn't want me to play, then he'd shut those doors so I could get on with my life," says Franz, a member of Pine Acres Church, "and he just keeps opening the doors."

Those doors began opening when Franz was offered a football rather than baseball scholarship to attend the University of Tulsa. Franz first tackled the sport of football during his freshman year at Weatherford High School. At WHS he played cornerback and wide receiver and in college he continued as cornerback.

With support from several coaches and despite a healing injury, Franz played in the Hula Bowl his senior year at Tulsa as well as the Blue-Gray AllStar Game in which top college football players from nonbowl teams play in Montgomery, Ala. According to Franz, it was the best thing he could have done, for the 2000 college graduate soon found himself drafted in the fifth round to the Detroit Lions.

"On draft day, there's not much you can do but just sit around and wait," he says. "We weren't really nervous. We knew God was in control so we didn't have to worry about it too much," says Franz.

"I just thought, 'If he wants me to play football in the NFL, then he's going to make that happen for me, and if he doesn't want me to, I think he'll shut that door.' He just kept opening doors."

So Franz declined a job offer as a staff auditor with an accounting firm in Tulsa and turned his attention to pursuing a career in the NFL. But God con· tinued to open doors that Franz wasn't expecting.

Despite a good training camp and preseason, Franz was cut from the Lions and picked up off of waivers by

PIOJ'II PI{OIILl

the New Orleans Saints. At this point, any team could have signed him within 24 hours of being cut, but it's also at this point that Franz's career could have been over.

It's this uncertainty that leads Franz and his wife to trust in God even more.

"It's so hard not knowing from day to day what's going to happen," says Franz's wife Tisha, who is also a member of Pine Acres. "We can just say we know God is in control and he knows what's best for us. That really gives us peace."

Tisha's parents Elaine and Jim Penner have also noticed their daughter and son-in-Iaw's attitude and beliefs.

"They want God to receive the most high glory from all of this because they know that their lives are in his hands and wherever he wants them to be is where they will be," says Elaine.

During the past several months, Todd and Tisha have had plenty of opportunities to put their lives into God's care. Franz remained on New Orleans' roster for only six weeks before he was cut, then re-Signed to the practice squad for five weeks. Franz

admits the shift was a disappointment.

"Once again, I had to ask God to make a way for me to be on the roster if that's what he wanted me to do," Franz says, "and for five weeks, it didn't happen. I was patient because 1 knew he was in control."

Then in mid-November, God unexpectedly opened another door when Franz was offered the opportunity to play for the Cleveland Browns on their active squad. But, Cleveland needed to know his decision within one hour.

New Orleans had told Franz that if another team wanted to sign him, they would place him on the roster again.

But when the Cleveland offer came, New Orleans didn't have any room and couldn't honor their promise. Franz accepted Cleveland's offer.

"I expected New Orleans to re-Sign me to their squad," says Franz, "so God answered my prayers [that 1 be assigned to active play], but not in the way I thought he would."

While Franz admits that life for him as an NFL player is somewhat glamorous, he's learned there's more to working as a professional athlete than

the hype of game days.

"We have to stay in top shape throughout the year, even in the off season," says Franz. "Mentally, there's so much to learn."

Franz's workweek is filled with meetings, lifting weights, walkthroughs, practice and traveling if the game that week is in another city. He has only one day off during the week, and he calls Tuesday "Tisha and Todd day." He appreciates a day spent relaxing with Tisha because of the demands of his job.

"During the season, you never have the chance to just sit down for a couple of weeks and not do much," Franz says.

Part of Franz's challenge has come from being on three teams in one season, a typical experience for a rookie. "[God's] just placed me in different spots right now," says Franz. "God's always come through one way or the other. Whether we thought it was good or bad, it always ended up being the right thing for me."

That kind of faith in God has sustained Todd through both the highs and lows of being a rookie in the NFL.

JAN U ARY

2001·

23

PI 0"1 I PI {() I II I

And it's that faith which has made his the responsibility of managing their family proud of him, too. moves and travel needs.

"As a couple, I really see [Todd and "It's hard to explain," says Tisha of Tisha] seeking God's will for their life the change in their lifestyle. "It is a difand I see that God is blessing them," ferent lifestyle and we are very fortusays Todd's mom Susie. "I've seen nate. But there are a lot of things that some hard times come to them, but I come with it that have made us grow just know that they look to God for the spiritually and as a couple. It's caused next step in their life. It's been a jourus to grow in ways that we wouldn't ney of learning to rest and trust in the , have otherwise."

Todd wholeheartedly agrees with Lord for them." his wife.

His family also credits Todd with "If there's been any change," he staying true to himself. "He's the same says, "it's because we have relied more person he was before he went into on God." professional sports," says his father Tisha's father Jim has noticed the Tim. Public opinion often portrays NFL change as well. ''When Todd did get the opportuniplayers in a negative light. Franz says some players-but not all-do get ty to go to [NFL] camps, he and Tisha made up their minds that Todd would caught up in a negative lifestyle for a do his very best and give the best effort variety of reasons. he could. If God wanted him to pro"I don't think [the NFL lifestyle] ceed with that, then that's what they changes as many people as the public thinks it does," says Franz. "I think the were going to do. I think more of him now than I ever have ." public changes their opinion of a perTodd says, "There's been a lot of son because they play sports."

While Todd and Tisha have commitdistractions. I think God was just testted themselves to staying the same as ing me to see if I was for real about people, they readily admit they have being the kind of person I said I wantchanged one thing: their faith . ed to be."

Living his dream hasn't always been ''Without our faith in God, we easy, but Franz speaks with enthusiasm would probably go crazy," confesses about the rewards of this past year. He Tisha.

Tisha, who resigned her job as an is also quick to pass praise to God, his family and friends . elementary school teacher when Todd Todd and Tisha have found spiritual signed on with the NFL, has taken on

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CHRISTIAN

LEADER

support within the NFL. While with the Saints, they participated with Champions for Christ, a ministry in which guest speakers travel from team to team. Approximately 15 to 20 people met in the home of the Saints' quarterback Jeff and Lewanna Blake every Thursday evening.

Since moving to Cleveland, the Franzes have not found a similar team Bible study. If Cleveland does not have such a ministry, Franz says he and Tisha will either start or become part of one during the off season.

Franz believes success has come his way thanks in part to the prayers of friends and family back home in Weatherford.

"The power of prayer is huge and my life is an example ofthat," says Franz. "To overcome some of the things I have had to is not only because of my faith but because of all of the prayers of my family and friends and people I don't really know."

For Franz, football and faith have been teammates. He sees a parallel between acquiring the knowledge he needs to be successful on the field and the faith he needs to be successful in life.

"You either take a step forward or you take a step back," says Franz. "I have to decide every day whether I want to take a step forward in my faith or a step back.

"My faith has just grown. There's no way I could have stayed the same in my faith. I couldn't be lukewarm about anything."

Franz trusts that God will continue to open doors in the future as he has in the past. Regardless of the direction his NFL career takes, Franz is content to have achieved his dream-playing professional football .

"Football is great," he says. "It's a dream. God's always answered my prayers and so I have no reason to doubt him at all. This is still what I think I'm supposed to do and I believe that with all my heart.

"Towards the end of my college career, I really thought God wanted me to do something big with my life," says Franz. "Not in the sense that the world thinks of as big, like [becoming] a superstar, but big in my mind. And that's playing NFL football." •

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Ministry offers job training and Jesus MB congregation teams with Fresno ministry to offer gang members hope

H

BY DARREN DUERKSEN OW does a Mennonite

Brethren church respond when crime and gangs come to its neighborhood?

That was the question facing Butler MB Church in southeast Fresno, Calif. , during the early 1990s.

"We knew that gang problems were an issue right around us, " says Rod Suess, pastor of Butler MB, "but we had no clue about how to reach into that."

At that same time, Hope Now for Youth, a new Fresno-based organization, approached Butler with a vision to

26 • THE

C H R 1S T I A N

help gang members with job training and placement. Butler quickly agreed to make space for a HNFY office and counselor, and has since reached out to many young men and women around southeast Fresno.

Eddie Ochoa is one such person.

"Both my parents were alcoholics," says Ochoa, who is now a member of Butler. "I sawall kinds of things happening around me at a young age and I thought it was normal."

Ochoa grew up in southeast Fresno, where he and many of his friends felt LEA D E R

the pressure to be involved in gangs, drugs and crime.

"My criminal record began when I was 10 years old," says Ochoa, "and it just started progressing after that. From GTAs (grand theft auto) to getting involved with a lot of criminal activity."

When he was 16, Ochoa had a gun , put to his head during a fight with a rival gang. Managing to escape, he realized that he needed a change. "It was a turning point in my life," he says. .

One night on the evening news he i saw an old gang friend who had received help and a new job from HNFY. "If he can do it, I can do it," thought Ochoa. He called HNFY and soon after began a job training program and a job placement.

At the same time, Ochoa began attending the HNFY Bible studies, where he heard about Jesus. He eventually committed his life to Christ, was , baptized and joined Butler, where he and his wife are currently part of a home group, meeting regularly with other couples for Bible study and prayer. . ' Today Ochoa has successfully held jobs in several Fresno companies and , currently works with HNFY as a vocational placement counselor. He attends Fresno City College and is hoping to transfer to a four-year college this year.

Hope Now for Youth was founded in 1993 to provide job preparation and training to young men and women recruited from gangs on the streets of Fresno, Sanger, Fowler and Selma. Over 5,000 young people have joined the gangs in these communities, and many churches, like Butler, have responded to the call to reach out to them.

Bethany MB Church is another such Fresno church. Several business owners and members of Bethany help to employ men and women referred by HNFY. In addition, several members of Bethany help sponsor free dinners for the people and families of HNFY. Held four times a year, these dinners provide a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere combined with a presentation of the gospel.

HNFY not only gives people jobs, but also relationships with people who care about them. "They need caring male role models," says]ohn Raymond, executive associate for job development of HNFY and a member of Bethany MB. "Hope Now takes guns, drugs and gang colors away from these young people,

BomL111

replacing them with jobs, relationships and an introduction to]esus."

The process begins when young men and women in need of help are recruited from the streets by HNFY counselors or sent to them by a friend, a probation/parole officer or a judge.

"Once they have contacted Hope Now we give them counsel on proper attitudes, dress, identification documents and transportation," says Raymond. "If they have an old warrant for their arrest, we help them to go to court to get resolution."

To test their willingness to work hard, individuals are asked to do one or more odd jobs in a home or business.

In addition they attend four training classes and a couple of Bible studies. If they complete this successfully, they are ready for an entry-level job.

Over 190 employers have agreed to provide jobs for HNFY people, and over 650 men and women have been placed in full- or part-time jobs since the program began.

In the process of providing jobs, counseloes are also able to share about]esus.

"Initially they come for a job," says Bob Pankratz, training director for HNFY and a member of Butler MB, "but the relationship then is established to where they trust us to help with other issues in their lives. Most of the guys don't come with a concept that they need God in their lives. In the process we say, 'what you really need is Jesus.'"

Like Ochoa, Sergio Perez came to HNFY asking for help to find a job.

Growing up with an abusive father, Perez became very angry with people.

In addition, his mom had multiple sclerosis and had little control over him. "I got into a rebellious stage," says Perez.

"I was stealing candies and doing everything I could."

Soon, however, his anger led him into bigger things.

"I moved to Fresno, and my friends wanted to go out and do things that I know now were wrong. We stole cars and mugged people." He also started helping to "slang," or sell drugs.

When his friends started getting arrested by the police and going to jail, Perez began to rethink the route he was on. It was then that one of his old gang friends gave him a card for HNFY. When Perez called HNFY, Ochoa became his counselor. Perez was given a preliminary job, but that wasn't the

end of the struggle.

"I was at the crossroads right there.

I had Eddie on one side with the jobs and then my friends over here with the drugs."

Perez continued to sell drugs for a , week, until he nearly got caught in a drug bust. It was then that he knew he needed to make a decision. "I thought to myself, 'I don't want to run all my life.'" , He gave up the drugs and started taking the jobs and training that HNFY offered.

Like Ochoa, Perez has successfully held several jobs and has recently been hired by HNFY as a vocational placement counselor. He and his wife have

attitude as though, 'Oh you're the kid from the street and we're the spiritual ones and you're not,'" says Pankratz. "It is a church where we feel safe bringing the men to. HNFY feels that Butler has a spiritual foundation that the organization is very comfortable with."

As a result of the ministry of HNFY and Butler Church, new and otherwise unlikely relationships have developed.

Suess, for example, began meeting with Ochoa one-on-one to mentor him and learn about what life was like for a kid growing up in southeast Fresno.

"I made the decision that if we as a church were going to be involved in

,

!

been baptized and are now members at Butler MB. Both Ochoa and Perez are very comfortable with Butler Church. "When I first came to this church, it was like no other church," says Perez. "I wanted to go back."

"People here treat you like family," says Ochoa.

Butler has grown and benefited from having the HNFY people, as well.

"Butler has become a community church," says Pankratz. "Our youth feel comfortable at this church because it has become that. There are other people like them here so they feel comfortable. They don't feel underdressed or , like they can't live up to the expectations of the church.

"They don't feel like people have an

this miniStry, I needed to be involved, too," says Suess. "Eddie's told me what it's like growing up here. I didn't know anything about gangs. I didn't know how they worked, but soon realized that here are all these kids that are so tough on the outside and on the inside they're all scared. They're all trying to figure out how to live. Eddie's become a friend, and I've learned a huge amount from him. " The church as a whole has learned a lot from their interaction with HNFY. "Our hearts have really been softened and our worldview has been greatly expanded," says Suess. "We are a different church because of those young men and women who have come. Our connection with Hope Now helps us see with different eyes." • JA N U ARY

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27

A room with a worldview ... How one church is making space for innovative ", mission-minded lessons for children

A

tiger rug. Jars filled with spices. A batik depicting a dark-skinned Jesus. lbis is not a typical Sunday school room.

"Welcome to the Adventure Room," beams Jenny Wall, a member of First MB Church in Wichita, Kan. The room greets visitors with world maps, pictures of exotic lands and broad horizontal stripes of bright blue, coral, green, yellow and black. It is a space solely devoted to teaching children from the age of three through sixth grade about missions . Each Sunday one class visits the Adventure Room and, in so dOing, visits a different culture, meets a missionary family or

I

brandt, church administrative coordinator, began focusing on incorporating missions into the congregation's children's ministries.

"We had a vision for developing a space in which kids could be immersed in missions and not simply bring change for an offering," Schrock says.

"But we knew this would take a ton of work and someone with a huge vision.

We began to pray for people who came to mind. In short order we all believed Jenny was that person."

Wall, however, was not convinced.

So the trio kept praying - for several years. Meanwhile, First MB hosted a Perspectives Class which Wall attend-

l

hears about God's plan of salvation.

"When I was a child I thought about missions as going somewhere nasty where you didn't want to go, and I thought 'I'd do anything but that,'" Wall says. "Here, we're trying to teach kids God's purposes in the world, and make that process an exciting one."

Establishing a new mission curriculum was not exactly a top shelf project for Wall, who in 1996 was busy as a full-time mother, piano teacher and an active church member. Little did she know, howeve r, that others in the church were praying for God to guide her into additional leadership roles.

Three fellow First MB friends were meeting to pray for a variety of church issues. Jo Schrock, children's ministries coordinator, Nancy Boothe, global ministries team leader, and Jana Hilde-

28 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

ed. "Perspectives is a course that focuses on God's purpose in the world," Wall says. "It provides an overview of Scripture, exposure to current missions agencies and biblical mandates for sharing God's love."

The course prompted Wall to consider her role in God's plan for the world. "A short time later I received a clear call, like a voice in my head. I knew I was meant to teach kids about God's purpose in the world," Wall says.

"We were thrilled!" Schrock says.

"This is what we'd prayed for."

Wall wondered how to proceed. As a former preschool teacher and substitute with an elementary education degree, she was familiar with the classroom, but not with building a new curriculum . But help came quickly. Hildebrandt and Schrock joined Wall to LEA D E R

I

I

l

form Kids Can, short for Kids Can Change the World, and began developing a missions program for kids. The women couldn't find any ready-made teaching resources. But while attending a conference, Schrock stumbled upon another answer to prayer: a book that described teaching missions to kids inside a Mission Room.

"We shared our ideas with church ministry teams and excitement took off. People painted the room and offered donations including importstyle furniture, a computer and a microwave. It was amazing." Schrock says.

This was June, 1999. By fall, each piece on the team's wish list had appeared.

The result is what First MB has dubbed The Adventure Room, with various learning stations designed to cater to children's fast-paced attention spans. A computer center allows kids to travel the world via World Explorer, a geographical software program. A prayer center features photos of missionary families. To help guide prayer time, a child can flip a game board dial and, depending where the arrow lands, pray for a specific missionary's request.

An artifact center displays money, clothing, children's textbooks and photos from foreign countries.

"Also, we offer kids a snack from the particular country we're studying. For instance we ate nan, a type of bread eaten in Pakistan, and we drank mango juice," Wall says.

The lesson plans didn't start with props, but began with Scripture. "Our first task is to understand and experience God's salvation; to know God and be willing to do God's work," Wall says. "This involves a progression in lessons from year to year."

The idea is a hit. "Everyone is very supportive," Schrock says. "The kids absolutely love it. The teachers love it.

And parents are curious, asking 'What is this room I'm hearing about?'"

Others outside the church are interested as well. Schrock, Hildebrandt and Wall presented their ideas at a regional Children's Missions Expo in Tulsa, Okla., last year. In January, they repeated the presentation at an event hosted by First MB for Wichita-area children's pastors.

According to Wall, the work is just

BOD) LIlT

beginning. "We want to offer more opportunities for elementary age children to be involved in ministry, " she says. "Service Quest is a new summer program for sixth graders. They go to World Impact (an urban Wichita ministry the Southern District Conference has partnered with in church planting) to help with day care, and the kids keep asking to go back."

It's also time for families to get into the spirit, Wall says. "We need to engage families in ministry, not just children. It's something we all need to be doing. " This sense of urgency connected with Wall after one of her first projects · with the kids. "We learned that some missionaries in India needed money to create a native language songbook," she says. "We raised and sent $600.

Later we learned the woman whose dream it was to have this songbook was killed in a motorcycle accident before the book was complete. But the money we sent insured the project could be finished . It's important to know that what we do in Sunday school here can have an impact greater than what we'll ever know."

Wall says this unknown result of the work is exactly what she expects. "It's God at work, and that's what excites me. You don't know what the results will be and what will happen in kids' lives. We don't know. But God knows."

-by Sheree Gehrig

Pontius' Puddle

Anabaptists growing worldwide ~ New Mennonite World Conference directory

,. released

T

the figures provided. he number of baptized memChurches and conferences are bers in 197 Mennonite, included in this directory if they are in Brethren in Christ and related the Anabaptist-Mennonite stream of churches in 63 countries now church history or if they are related to stands at 1,203,995, according to Menchurches which are so rooted. As a nonite World Conference. Last month result, there is some fluidity in the list.

MWC released its Mennonite and This year for the first time, for example, Brethren in Christ World Directory 2000.

I churches in the Ivory Coast and Togo The previous world estimates, pubare included not only because they lished in MWC's 1998 directory, showed identify themselves as Anabaptist or 1,060,143 baptized believers in 192 ; Mennonite but also in recognition of bodies in 61 countries. the primary nature of their relationship Churches in Mrica, Asia/Pacific, with churches already counted in the Caribbean/Central and South America worldwide family of faith. continue to lead the way with over Not all the churches included in the 702,000 members. Membership in the , directory are members of the Mennochurches in Europe and North America nite World Conference. MWC's current now stands at 501,000. membership includes 87 churches and Comparative continental figures for conferences in 48 countries with a 1998 and 2000 show Africa growing membership of912,451. from 322,708 to 405,979, AsialPacific Copies of the directory are available from 157,075 to 184,049, CentraVSouth from the MWC office in France (8, rue, America and the Caribbean from du Fosse des Treize. 67000 Strasbourg, 102,496 to 112,128, and North America France) or from its Canadian office (50 from 415,978 to 443,918. The European Kent Ave., Kitchener, ON, Canada N2G total declined from 61,886 to 57,921, 3R1) . The cost is $3.00 per copy, plus due in part to a revised estimate of the postage and handling. Basic informamembership of the independent Mention from the World Directory is posted nonite Brethren churches in Germany. on the MWC home page at www.mwcThe six countries with the most bapcmm.org. MWC is a worldwide fellowtized members are the same as in 1998: ship of Mennonite and U.S. (319,768), Congo (183,040), Canada (124,150), India (90,006), Indonesia Brethren in Christ . . . . . . . . . . . .b . churches.(87,802) and Ethiopia (73,219).

MWC Other countries with more than 20,000 members are Germany, Kenya, Paraguay, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Kenya is the only country to join this list I since1998.

Elisabeth Baecher, editor of the directory, says that statistics are usually provided by the national churches or conferences themselves. In some cases the figures are only rough estimates.

The methods of counting and reporting vary, according to Baecher.

MWC seeks to treat the information it receives as consistently as possible. Changes in totals can mean growth, decline, or simply greater accuracy. Wherever pOSSible, attempts are made to increase the reliability of

•

29

Meet Mike and Kim Miller, church planters in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma After serving 10 years as youth pastor at the Enid NIB Church, Mike and Kim Miller have taken on a new ministry challenge. They have recently moved into an apartment complex in the suburban area of Broken Arrow in southeast Tulsa, where they will be planting a new church. The Millers have three daughters, Megan, 7 and Madison, 3, and McKenzie, 2 months.

One of their first responsibilities is to meet the people in their area. They are doing this by taking prayer walks in the apartment complexes, attending neighborhood events, gathering at the swimming pool and through their daughters' school activities.

Miss/on USA Is partnering with the Southern District and the Westport MB Church in the Broken Arrow project.

Please join them in this outreachl

Pray for Mike, Kim and their family. They have formed their first small group and together they are seeking vision and purpose for their new church. Mike requests prayer for their core group, and for wisdom. God is opening doors and they desire to "listen to the Lord and to see the people He wants us to connect with."

Encourage and support the Millers and those involved in Broken Arrow. Mennonite Brethren had the opportunity to hear the vision for the new church plant at the u.s.

Conference in Denver this summer. Representatives from the MUSA Board led in prayers of dedication and support for the Millers. The project in Broken Arrow is an exciting culmination of years of planning and preparing for a new church plant in the Southern District.

Be challenged by the witness of this new church. Contact Ed Boschman at the Mission USA office to learn how you can participate in the planting of new churches, church renewal, and leadership training. Mission USA, 333 West Melinda Lane, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85027-2926. Phone: 623-434-3301, Fax: 623-434-3299.

MISSION USA BOARD: Brad Bames, Bakersfield, CA Ed Boschman, Phoenix, AZ Phil Glanzer, New Hope, MN Joe Johns, Weatherford, OK Loretta Jost, Aurora, NE Brad Klassen, Glendale, AZ Nancy Laverty, Jones, OK 30-THE

CHRISTIAN

LEADER

Fred Leonard, Clovis, CA Bill Loewen, Wichita, KS Stephen Reimer, Shafter, CA Randy Steinert, Bakersfield, CA Gary Wall, Lodi, CA

Ex Officio Members: Henry Dick, Fresno, CA Clinton Grenz, Bismark, N.D. Roland Reimer, Wichita, KS Clint Seibel, Hillsboro, KS JimWestgate, Fresno, CA

IN BRIEF

· . , B <,

,

•

'"

~,

NEWS FROM THE MENNONITE BRETHREN WORLD

~ E "F

,

>

...

~

FIRST O F FIVE NEW CHURCH PLANTS BEGINS THIS MONTH

Harrisons to plant first Mission Phoenix church

T

he first phase has begun of Mission Phoenix, a church planting project with the goal of planting five churches in the Phoenix, Ariz., metroplex in five years.

This month, church planters Mike and Ruth Harrison of Fresno, Calif., will travel to the northwest quadrant of Phoenix to follow in the footsteps of fellow church planters Brad and Elfie Klassen who planted Copper Hills Community Church in 1998.

"We're incredibly excited about the fact that Mike and Ruth have committed to coming to start this new church," says Ed Boschman, Mission USA executive director. MUSA is the national church planting and renewal ministry of the U.S. Conference of MB Churches.

"We feel very fortunate that God has provided Mike and Ruth," Boschman

FPUunveils new scholarship

new scholarship program at Fresno Pacific University reaches out to students from the Mennonite Brethren tradition.

Beginning in the fall of 2001, up to $7,450 per year in aid will be available to qualified students entering the traditional undergraduate col-

'

.

.

provide funding for the church planting effort.

The Phoenix area is currently home to CHCC, Spirit in the Desert Community Church and two other emerging , MB congregations, Pueblo Nuevo and Desert Valley Bible Church of Surprise.

-Sara Cook, staff writer

says. "They come with considerable experience."

The Harrisons have been involved with Clovis Community Church where Mike has served as associate pastor for the past seven years. CCC was planted eight years ago.

Copper Hills, the Pacific District Home Missions Board, MUSAand friends and supporters of the Harrisons will

MB STUDENTS TO B ENEFIT

A

,

lege. Participants must be members of a Mennonite Brethren congregation, or consider such a congregation their home church.

Freshmen must have a high school grade-point average of at least 3.1 and transfers must have

a GPA of at least 2.4.

FPU scholarships and federal financial aid (for U.S. students) may count toward the total, but loans will not be included. California residents with a Cal Grant receive a

-FPU

NEW FACILITY: For most weeks during the past two and half years, members of Martin Box MB Church, along with volunteers from other MB congregations, have volunteered their free time to construct an addition to their facility. The new facility, built with homegrown lumber and native rock (see May 2000 Leader story), was dedicated Dec. 10.

The dedication service followed a noon dinner served In the new fellowship hall. - CF JANUARY

2001

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IN 81ml

ANONYMOUS DONOR'S FUND RAIS ING CHALLENGE MET

MORE Tabor endows first faculty chair NEWS T

~ Asia in world focus -Anabaptist congregations around the world are invited to join together Jan. 28, in a day of thanksgiving and Intercession for the building up of the worldwide household. Materials for this year's annual World Fellowship Sunday were prepared by IndIviduals from Asian Anabaptist-related churches and have been distributed to congregations. "While Anabaptlst-related groups in Asia are very diverse in size, culture and history, 'costly discipleship' is a daily reality for many who live In situations of political and economic instability and, In some cases, hostility to the Christian faith," says Larry Miller, executive sec.... tary of Mennonite World Conference, a worldwide fellowship of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national churches. Congregations are Invited to pray for these brothers and sisters. -MWC

Agreement forged -Recent meetings between representatives of Fresno Pacific University and the Christian University of Kinshasa (UCKIN) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo established a new level of cooperation between the two schools. Professor Kidlnda, president of UCKIN, and Professor M'buyamba, head of the university medIcal school, visited FPU In late October.

The meetings ended with an agreement that the schools will work together to promote student and faculty exchanges, cooperative or joint programs and research projects, and consulting In areas such as Anabaptlsm, peace studies and conflict transformation and the Integration of faith and leaming. FPU will also coordinate the efforts between UCKIN and other agencies such as Bethel (Kan.) College, Eastem Mennonite University, Goshen (Ind.) College, Hesston (Kan.) College, MBMS Intematlonal and Africa Inter-Mennonite Missions. Currently, UCKIN has almost 600 students studying theology, economics and business administration. The university Includes a semInary and a medical school and Is set to graduate its first class in 2004. -FPU

32 • THE

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abor College has taken the first step toward endOwing a Bible faculty position as Tabor's first endowed chair.

In February 1999 the Tabor College Board of Directors accepted a challenge from an anony· mous donor to raise $200,000

by Dec. 31, 2000, in order to receive their gift of$100,000 towards the establishment of the endowed chair. Tabor College president Larry Nikkel announced to the faculty Dec. 15 that the college has received the $200,000 necessary to complete the challenge. Jon Wiebe, president of the MB Foundation, was on hand at the special faculty and staff meeting to present a check to Nikkel on behalf of the donor.

"Providing endowment funds for institu-

tions like Tabor is the best way of assuring that our ongoing mission will be achieved," said Nikkel. "Through the generosity of the donor who issued the challenge and the support of those who met the challenge, we have taken a signifi-

College take a minimum of 15 credit hours in the Department of Bible, Religion and Philosophy.

The 2000 graduating class has continued a seven-year trend of dramatically increased numbers of majors in the Biblical and ReligiOUS Stud-

cant step in supporting the budget for the Bible Department. We are grateful for these gifts."

Students who complete a degree at Tabor

ies department.

Tabor College is a Mennonite Brethren fouryear liberal arts college in Hillsboro, Kan. -Tabor College press release

NORTH AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS AID GERMAN CONGREGATION

Lending a helping hand

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heVOlunteerteam of Jake and Elenore unger and Ted and Marylene Thiesen spent two weeks In early October completing repair

LEA D E R

and construction projects at the Relchenhall Church In Germany. A tile porch roof was repaired, a bicycle shed constructed, display boards were cre-

ated, tables were built for the youth room, exterior doors and wood siding were given another coat of satin,

lighting needs were addressed and a rainwater

tank was Installed. The volunteers also cooked the meals for the Paul Warkentin family, freeing them to prepare for an upcoming evangelistic campaign.

- USER V

CHURCH NEWS

CHURCH Baptism/membership FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News)-Melissa Cornelsen, Reuben Hendricks, Rebecca Suess, Jamie Watson and Jeff Watson were baptized Dec. 3 and accepted into membership. Crystal Bancroft, who had been baptized earlier, was also welcomed as a new member.

FAIRVIEW, Okla.-Helen Epp was received into membership Oct. 15.

NEWTON, Kan . (Koerner Heights)- Donna Teeter was baptized and received into membership Nov. 19. Joe Kukula was baptized and received into membership Oct. 29. Also received into membership by testimony were Shonna Kukula and Less and Teresa McClendon. Kevin and Candace Fish, Jim and Tammee Yoder, lachary Williams, Chris Lawler, Monica Miller, Linda Overton, Floyd and Joann Nickel and Gordon and Esther Olson were received into membership by testimony Oct. 15.

Received into membership by letter of transfer were Leonard, Jannita, James, Joel and Maria Reiss and Lyn Lawler.

DENVER, Colo. (Garden Park)-Helen, Toulanda, Tulacha, Tunisia, Tequila and Milo Landers, Arielle Roland and Corey and Tamika Stokes were baptized and welcomed into membership Nov. 19.

WEATHERFORD, Okla. (Pine Acres)-Amber Campbell and Dillon Sawatzky were baptized Nov. 5.

CLOVIS, Calif. (College Community)-Richard and Janita Rawls were received into membership Nov. 5, as were Randy and Vivian Keller on Nov. 12 .

LODI, Calif. (Vinewood)-Ron Knecht, Edna Knecht, Chelsea Cardwell, Jim Schmidt, Megan Holley, Katie Lott, Stephanie McAlexander, Janell Scott, Tracey Siegfried, Laura Suess, Monique Volkert and Ben Wiesner were baptized April 16. Gloria Schmidt was welcomed as a church member upon her confession of fa ith . Jim Permann, Michelle Permann, Mike Woodruff, Julie Woodruff, Bob Kelly, Eric Herechski, Diana Hagan

and Kim Wolcott were baptized Nov. 12. Lorraine Cordell, Steve Hockett and Melissa Hockett were welcomed as members upon their confession of faith .

Celebrations BALKO, Okla.-Harvey and Betty Ratzlaff celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Nov. 26 with an open house.

CORN, Okla.-Marvin and Loree Schlichting celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 22 with an open house.

Fellowship TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Southern District Conference women are invited to attend the district women 's retreat March 2-4 at Heart 0' Hills Conference Center near Tahlequah. The retreat has been extended for an extra day to allow for even more time for worship, fellowship and relaxation. The Wichita, Kan ., team of Julie Penner l ook, MBMSI missionary, and Stacey L. Rhoades will be the resource speakers for the weekend . look and Rhoades have led and spoken at numerous retreats, seminars and training seminars both in the U.S. and Germany.

REEDLEY, Calif.-The men of the congregation are invited to attend a retreat Feb. 2-4 at Tenaya Lodge. Ken Poure of Hume Lake camp will be the speaker.

CLOVIS, Calif. (College Community)-A service for those who have experienced loss during the past year was held Dec. 23 . The service was held in recognition that for those who experience grief and loss during the year due to death, illness, separation , or changes in the household or occupation, the Christmas season can be a difficult time. Songs, prayers and a time of reflection were included in the service to offer comfort and an opportunity for worship .

ULYSSES, Kan.-An all -church progressive supper and Christmas caroling party was held Dec. 10.

The group made th ree dining stops between their caroling visits.

NEWS FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

YALE, S.D. (Bethel)-A Christmas concert for women of the commu nity was hosted by the women 's group. Priority Singers, a Southern Gospel family quartet from Aberdeen, S.D., provided the program .

BUHLER, Kan.-Women and children were invited to an evening of peppernut baking Nov. 28. The peppernuts were sold by the bag and orders were taken prior to the baking day.

Ministry HENDERSON, Neb.-A portion of the income generated by the Wednesday night meal Dec. 13 was given to Iglesia Agua Viva of Omaha, Neb., for help in furnishing the kitchen in their new facility.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)-The congregation hosted a holiday outreach event Dec. 9 and 10. The evening's events included singing Christmas carols, humorous skits performed by young people, musical ensembles and desserts served around festively decorated tables.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-Steve and Cami Mather and their family were commissioned for service in Romania with Children to Love. The commissioning took place during a luncheon Dec. 3. LBC has partnered with Children to Love to minister to abandoned children in Romania .

FRESNO, Calif. (North Fresno)-Pastor Fuji i Hajimu, whose North Fresno Japanese Chapel shares facilities with North Fresno, led an Etegami seminar Nov. 9.

Etagami is an evangelism tool in the form of a hand-painted postcard used in Japan.

FREEMAN, S.D. (Salem)-The congregation supported two ministries during the Christmas season .

Gift items and funds were collected to support the Alpha Center, a ministry to pregnant women and their babies located in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Christmas Eve offering was designated for MBMSI missionaries Craig and Fabiana Jost w ho are work ing in Portugal.

SHAFTER, Calif.-The high school group sponsored a food drive to benefit needy families in the community. They delivered the food the week before Christmas.

FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News)-The congregation organized a Christmas dinner theater Dec. 16-17 as an outreach min istry.

A meal, music and a production of "Bethlehem Inn" were included.

Proclamation BALKO, Okla.-Midwest MBMSI representative and former missionary to Thailand Russell Schmidt was the guest speaker for the morning and afternoon services during the harvest and missions festival Dec. 3.

REEDLEY, Calif.-Andy Owen, a member of the MBMS International Team 2000, was the speaker for Mission Sunday Nov. 26 . In addition to Owen and his wife Carmen, other missionary guests were Darren and Shahna Duerksen, Dorothy Kopper, Becky Neufeld and Jeanine Yoder.

DINUBA, Calif.-Worship services during the month of November focused on missions. Harold Ens, MBMSI general director, spoke Nov. 5 about worldwide mission with a focus on a new team being sent to Asia . Nov. 12 the focus was on home missions with Bruce Smith of the local Youth for Christ center. Tim Bergdahl, a former missionary to Pakistan who is now working with MBMSI, was the speaker Nov. 19.

MOUNTAIN LAKE, Minn.-Rod look was the guest speaker Nov. 5 for the harvest mission festival. Rod and his w ife Julia have ministered in discipleship and outreach at a MB congregation in Munich, Germany.

ADAMS, Okla.-John Savoia, retired MBMSI missionary to South America and Mexico, was the guest speaker for the harvest mission festival Nov. 19.

WEATHERFORD, Okla. (Pine Acres)-Samir and Lewiza Youssef of the International Arabic Ministries Project spoke during the week at various church events

JA NU ARY

200 1

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33

Cill I{( II N r\\ S

including the AWANA cou ncil t ime and men's prayer breakfast. Samir spoke for the harvest and mission festival Nov. 19.

Children'S ministry workers were invited to take advantage of four hours of free babysitting Dec. 8 in appreciation for their work.

BAKERSFIELD. Calif. {Laurelglen)-Timothy Ek, vice president of Evangelical Covena nt Church near Chicago, III., was the guest speaker Nov. 4-5. He also serves on the executive committee of World Relief and is the director of the rel ief and development arm of The Evangelical Covenant Church.

WICHITA. Kan.-The " Kids Learn Bible Bowl" was held Nov. 12 . Children met for an hour-long, friend ly competition answering questions about the Bible stories and memory verses they had studied the previous two months.

CORN. Okla.-Steven Notley gave the sermon Oct. 22. He and his family currently reside in Jerusalem where he is assistant professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the Jerusalem University College. Samir Youssef spoke in both services Nov. 5 regard ing his work with the International Arabic Ministries Project under the sponsorship of MBMSI. Henry Schmidt, president of MB Biblical Seminary, preached Nov. 19.

Teaching/Nurture

Workers LITTLETON. Colo. {Belleview Acres}-Jeff Werth was installed as pastor of discipleship and outreach Oct. 8. A potluck dinner, at wh ich Larry and Jeanette Grunau were recognized for their faithful years as charter members, followed the service.

TOPEKA. Kan.-Senior Pastor Rick Eshbaugh has announced his resignation effective June 1, 200 1.

Eshbaugh, who has served the congregation for the past 12 years, has accepted a position with Church Resource Min istries working with their Church Refocusing Ministries.

ROMAN NOSE STATE PARK. Okla.-The Southern District Youth Commission hosted a prayer retreat Jan. 6-7 for high school students. Wendell Loewen, SDC youth minister, led the weekend prayer summit.

ENID. Okla.-The congregation has voted to change the part-time minister of music position to a fulltime associate pastor of worship and church fam ily care position.

. FRESNO. Calif. (Bethany)-

EDMOND. Okla. {Memorial

Road}-Jim Collinsworth submitted his resignation as associate pastor to take effect at the end of the year. He has not announced his future plans.

BUHLER. Kan.-An appreciation and celebration service was held Nov. 19 in recognition of the long tenure of pastoral couples Nick and Clarice Rempel (30 years) and Brent and Joan Warkentin (10 years).

Warkentin serves as senior pastor w ith Rempel, who served the congregation as senior pastor for many years, serving in pastoral ca re.

Deaths DIRKS. MURIEL E•• New Hope, Minn., a charter member of New Hope Church of the MB, died Nov. 2,2000, at the age of 67 . She is survived by her mother, Olga Schmor of Winnipeg, Man.; one son, Calvin and wife Katy; two daughters, Carla and husband Ron McCall and Sandra and husband Jim Hatz; one son-in-law, Michael and wife Cindy Scheller; 12 grandchildren and one great grandch ild.

EPP. HELEN BEATRICE. Fairview, Okla., a member of Fairview MB Church, was born June 8,1913, to Harry C. and Kathryn Janzen Neufeld near Fairview, and died Nov. 12,2000, at the age of 87 . On July 15, 1934,

WHAT READERS SAY C ONTINUED

I went away from the July U.S. Conference with much the same reaction; that is, supposedly leaders are scarce, yet the peoplegroup of women has not been recognized, much less encouraged or tapped into. Whereas the diversity of ethnic groups was represented in music, leadership, and communion, gender diversity was not.

Ironically, at the same time, women in leadership outside church doors is a growing phenome na. Futurist Faith Popcorn notes these and other statistics: • Businesses owned by women employ 18.5 million workers.

• Women own eight million businesses in the U.S. or one-third of all U.S. finns, a figure that has risen 78 percent since 1987.

• A woman opens a new business every 60 seconds.

34-THE

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• By the year 2005, 40 percent of all finns will be owned by women.

• Four out of five Japanese small businesses are owned by women. (Adapted from "What do wired women wantr by Sean Carton, March 29, 2000, on the ClickZ Network.)

For me, a concluding statement that women were not viable options in spite of the dearth of leaders, was when the communion tables were literally "man-ed." At the conference, the silence regarding women as leaders was deafening. We must recognize women as a valuable source of leadership. We must encourage them to use their gifts and abilities, creativity and energy inside church doors as they do outside church doors.

LEADER

Naomi Gaede Penner Denver, Colo.

she was married to Daniel Epp who predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, Dwayne of Orangeville, Calif ., and Chirold and wife Glenda of Houston, Tex.; three brothers, Marvin and Isaac of Fairview and Orville of Monument, Colo.; two sisters, Elereca Nachtigal of Fresno, Calif ., and Norma Jean Boehr of Fairview, six grandch ildren and six great grandchildren.

EWERT. JACOB D., Hillsboro, Kan ., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Oct. 1, 1919, to David H. and Agatha Baerg Ewert at Bingham Lake, Mi nn., and died Nov. 19, 2000, at the age of 8 1.

On Aug. 3, 195 1, he was married to Linda Heinrichs who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Tom of Portland, Ore., Paul and w ife Lee Ann of Hannibal, Mo., and Lyle and wife Julie of Denver, Colo.; fo ur da ughters, Norma and husband Dick Tippin and Sharon and husband Clyde Jost, all of Hillsboro, Ma rl ene Ewert and husband Cliff Dick and Carol and husband Gregg Owens, all of Wichita; three brothers, William, Abe and Adam; three sisters, Marga ret, An na and Lena, and 13 grandchildren .

GARSEE. KYLE, of Neighborhood Ch urch, Visalia, Calif, was born Aug . 28, 1946, to Willie and Gussie Garsee at Coalinga, Calif., and died Nov. 7, 2000, at the age of 54. On Oct. 13, 1996, he was ma rried to Ruth, who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Christine and husband Jeff Kroeker; a son, Ron Maxwell and wife Lisa; three sisters, Sharon Roberts, Coetta Reitsma and Faye Franks; and fou r grandch ildren.

NEUFELD. EVELYN EDNA WIENS, Reedley, Calif ., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born April 19, 192 1, to Abraham Aaron and Anna Klassen Wiens at Hillsboro, Kan., and died Nov. 6, 2000, at the age of 79 . On June 9, 1940, she was married to Albert C. Adams who survives . She is also survived by two sons, Albert Don and wife Patricia and Marlin and wife Nancy; one daughter, Jan Neufeld; two sisters, Rose Nikkel and Dolores Reimer; and one great grandchild.

RICHERT. SELMA KATHRINA, Visalia, Calif., of Neighborhood Church of Visalia, was born Aug .

29, 1915, to Frank H. and Sarah T. Nikkel in Corn, Okla., and died Dec. 1, 2000, at the age of 85 . In 1935, she was married to Edgar A. Richert, who predeceased her in 1992 . She is survived by her son, Gene of Visa lia and th ree grandch ildren. •

Have a position to fill? Looking for a new employment or ministry opportunity? Have a gathering or celebration to promote? Reach U.S. Mennonite Brethren through a Clearinghouse classified ad. The charge is 40 cents per word, with a $1S minimum. Withhold payment until an invoice is received. MB institutions advertising vacancies or position announcements may be eligible for a no-cost ad. Contact the editor for more information.

EMPLOYMENT-CHURCH

Pastor Western Oaks Church is seeking a pastor with a shepherd's heart who can lead in equipping people to do ministry. The successful candidate will help us become a purpose driven church with vision for outreach in the community.

Direct inquiries to Virgil Kroeker, Western Oaks M.B. Church, 7201 NW 27th St., Bethany, OK 73008; phone (405) 787-4964; e-mail: vkroeker@wans.net.

Pastor The Rosedale Bible Church at Bakersfield, Calif. seeks a senior pastor who can shepherd a congregation in transition to a purpose driven church. The church desires to balance the purposes of outreach, worship, friendship, discipleship and service. Direct inquiries and resumes to: Ted Thiesen, Search Committee Chair, 14601 Shaker Crest Place, Bakersfield, Calif. 933129281. He can be reached by telephone at (661) 589-8464 or e-mail atthiesen777@cs.com.

Full time or bi-vocation pastor United at the Cross Community Church (UCe) in Wichita, Kan., is seeking a full time or bi-vocational pastor. UCC is a multiethnic, urban church plant born 5 years ago out of a partnership between World Impact and the Southern District MB Conference. The church has 33 active members and an average attendance of 50-60. We are looking for a pastor who is called

by God and has a passionate love for Christ's church in all its diversity. We are looking for a pastor who is gifted in teaching and preaching

God's word, who is serious about a personal prayer life and prayer in the life of the church, and who longs to stir up God's people to be the light of Christ in a hurting community, Direct all resumes or inquiries to Marlene Ewert, 2404 W. Crawford, Wichita, Kan. 67217; (316) 9440968, cmewick@hotmail.com.

SeniorlLead Pastor Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church, an established multigenerational suburban congregation of approximately 400 located in Fresno, is seeking a seniorllead pastor. The church is located in a rapidly growing area of Central California. The candidate should be strong in teaching and leadership skills and have the heart of a shepherd. Previous experience is highly desirable in leading and working with an existing multi-staff team. Direct all resumes or inquiries to: Pastoral Search Committee, Jay Wiebe-Chairman, 1902 Los Altos, Clovis, Calif. 93611; e-mail j-awiebe@prodigy.net. All inquiries will be held in confidence.

EMPLOYMENT-EDUCATION

Faculty openings Columbia Bible College announces faculty openings. The desired areas of expertise for these teaching positions are Missions/Evangelism, Theology (Biblical/Historical) and Bible.

Qualifications include a minimum of a Masters Degree with a major in one of the above fields; theological education and knowledge of Anabaptist theology and history preferred; agreement with Columbia'S mission and confessional statements; a willingness to be a member of sponsoring conference church; experience in

Mennonite Health Assembly Albuquerque, New Mexico ~ March 22-25, 2001

-y'

Rhythms of life: connecting faith and culture Sponsored by Mennonite Health Services Mennonite MutualAid

Early Registration Deadline February 26. 2001

For more information call 1-800-611-4007

ministry; with teaching experience preferred.

CBC is an accredited Bible College in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada with a student body of over 500. It is an evangelical Anabaptist college co-sponsored by the Conference of Mennonites in BC and the Mennonite Brethren Churches of BC For a copy of the job description or other documents, please contact: Dr. Ron Penner, Columbia Bible College, 2940 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford BC V2T 2Z8; phone (604) 853-3567, ext. 316; fax (604) 8533063; e-mail ron .penner@columbiabc.edu; Website at www.columbiabc.edu. Please forward resume to the attention of Dr. Ron Penner

by February 15, 2001 although we will accept resumes until positions are filled. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, this advertisement is directed in the first instance to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Starting date is summer 2001.

Provost

Fresno Pacific University seeks a Provost with appointment effective in the summer of 2001.

The Provost is responsible for coordinating and sustaining collaborative leadership in accomplishing the educational mission of the university as expressed in the Fresno Pacific Idea and in the mission statement of the university; provides intellectual and academic leadership of the educational program that includes instructional and academic support functions and the student life program, articulates the academic mission and vision of the institution and is an advocate for faculty within institutional governance; responsible for academic budget preparation and personnel functions and serves as member of the President's Cabinet, chair of the Academic Cabinet, and liaison to the Academic Commission of the Board of Trustees. Required qualifications include: earned doctorate and a record of successful administrative responsibility including head of a major academic unit.; demonstrated excellence as a teacher in a college or university setting and evidence of scholarly achievement; commitment to integration of Christian faith and learning; clear understanding of and commitment to the theological distinctives and mission of the University, including its foundation in the Anabaptist Believers' Church tradition; commitment to creating a campus climate supportive of educational equity, including recruiting and developing a more diverse faculty and staff; ability to work collaboratively in an environment of shared governance. Nominations and applications should be submitted to Sue Kliewer, Fresno Pacific University, 1717 S. Chestnut, Fresno, CA 93702. (559) 453-2245; skliewer@fresno.edu. For a full position description and application visit www.fresno.edu/dept/personnellhrindex.html.

JANUARY

2001

.

35

EDITORIAL

Columbine's legacy

W

live in a world filled with the opposite of peace-filled with brokenness, discord, conflict, despair, doubt, darkness, fear and hatred.

We only need to turn on the news or read the newspaper to understand. Statistics show our families are broken, divorce is common and too many children live in poverty. And I don't need to tell you how violent our world isboth here in North America and overseas.

But of all the news stories and statistics I've heard in the past couple of years, one hit me particularly hard-the Columbine High School shootings. Even today, the television images haunt me. I'm not sure why. Maybe because the press suddenly made those statistics into real people, giving them names, faces and lives cut short by violent deaths. Maybe because it happened in a neighborhood like mine.

For whatever reason, it seized my heart. I felt helpless and hurt.

In Columbine's aftermath, I wanted to do something. I wanted to fight against that tide of violence, to fight the hatred, despair and darkness that swallowed Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris-that took the life of Cassie Bernal, a young Christian teenager, and her classmates.

But how do we fight against something like that? How can we really make a difference and stop violence? Scripture gives us the answer. "Blessed are the peacemakers," says Jesus, whom Isaiah called the Prince of Peace. "As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone," says Paul (Rom. 12:18). "Make every effort to live in peace with all men" (Heb. 12:14). "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness," James says. Scripture's answer to this dark tide is that w.e ,sow peace.

Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker. He made peace between us and God-and he told us how that peace was going to change our lives. During his ministry, he confronted a world that didn't want to hear about it. His life was one confrontation after another as he tried to prepare people for the reconciliation-the salvation-that he was bringing and the changes that it would demand in their lives.

And it does change our lives. It changes the way we act and react. It changes who we are. And, as we walk in Christ's footsteps and we do what he did, the world changes-as it changed with Jesus. Jesus calls us to change the world as he did. He calls us to have God's heart for the world.

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It was not easy for Jesus, bringing peace. Making peace, SOwing peace and bringing peace to the world will not be easy for us either. It is relentless, persistent work because we fight against a world and a Deceiver who relentlessly and persistently tries to pull people apart. This is the natural tendency of sin. It is the selfishness we all fight, to do as we want rather than what God wants. It constantly tugs at us, pulling us apart from God and each other.

The gospel is about pulling us back together-back together with God and, as a result, back to each other. Peacemaking-this bringing people back together, bringing hope where there is despair, love where there is hate, light where there is darkness-is an inseparable part of our walk with Christ.

So, I wanted to sow peace in the wake of Columbine, to fight the darkness that ended the lives of 13 teenagers in Littleton, Colo.

But how could I do that practically?

Part of God's answer came in the form of the Ark Way Learning Center, an after-school ministry of my local church (see page 11) .

The learning center is dedicated to sowing love, faith, hope, light and joy. The kids that come to my church every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon need that. Their lives are spotted with doubt, sadness and fear. They are in desperate need of peace.

Each of the volunteers at the learning center could tell you stories of one child or another that would bring tears. But each volunteer could tell you stories that would bring joy as well. We are sowing peace-hope where there was doubt, light where there was darkness, joy where there was sadness and fear. And God is changing lives, both the children's and our own.

But peacemaking goes beyond organized activities like the learning center. I've come to realize peacemaking is something we do or don't do every day. We do it because God calls us to be peacemakers. We do it because it is an inseparable part of our lives as we follow Christ. We are not peacemakers because of some theology or because it seems like a good idea. We are peacemakers because that is what Jesus was.

Columbine was a dark moment for America. For me, it was a moment of decision. What would happen if we all decided to treat each person as if we had God's heart? I think we could change the world. But it starts in our hearts and minds .

And we can't do it on our own. The power to be peacemakers comes from God, from his transforming grace. -CA