January 2006

of tomorrow

Your world is awash in everything from diaper bags to baseball mitts to braces. So many responsibilities. and so much depending on the choices you make. We can help you plan for tomorrow as you manage your God-given resources today. Ask us about:

•

•

•

•

19 > A new wave in Thailand

> After the wave 24 > Minnesota church celebrates God's faithfulness 25 > New projects slated for Congo 26 > Fellowship steals the show at SD C gathering

> Shafter dedicates new building 28 > California gathering brings the world together

CALL

Chuck Buller A few minutes of your time, please

BEING A 21ST CENTURY RE-FORMATION CHURCH by Jim Westgate

Major influences have created a distance between churches and their communities. How can we re-form our churches to better serve the community?

THE RURAL CHURCH: LEADING THROUGH CHANGE by Ron Klassen

The rural church of the 21st century must embrace change. It must welcome newcomers and take a stand on moral issues. It must take an inventory of the congregation and the community to better serve both. 14 THE SUBURBAN CHURCH: REVOLUTIONARY REVERSALS by Jeff Gowling

The suburban church has been duped into thinking that comfort is God's ultimate desire for his people. Is that true? No, and our churches need to proclaim this truth

THE CITY CHURCH: REACHING THE WORLD by Al

Ewert

Cities are home to nearly half of the world's population What do you see when you look at the world's cities? Do you see promise or despair? What does God see?

17 THE SECOND - GENERATION CHURCH: SPANNING TWO CULTURES by Shalom English Ministry staff

Second-generation immigrants live between two cultures. How does the church minister to this unique group?

> FiRST WORDS

[f r om t h e editorJ

THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTII A TIIOUSAND WORDS. Maybe that's why art, along with story, play and drama, are used to help children express themselves following a traumatic event.

One of the things Mennonite Central Committee trauma worker C arolyn Heggen did a year ago when she visited the devastated islands of Ndaman and Nicob ar off the coast of India was to show teachers how to give students ways, such as art, to pro cess the horrors they had experienced when the Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami struck 12 countries along the Indian Ocean.

D rawings Heggen collected are posted on the M CC Web site

(www mcc.org) Of the seven posted, this one by 13year-old Amreen caught my eye. While most of the pictures depict a huge wave poised over the land , Amreen is the one artist who drew a menacing black and gray monster; all the other looming waves are blue.

Amreen 's black wave represents for me the overwhelming fear and grief that come with a disaster. Recovering from the tsunami is about more than supplying food or clearing debris. Families must heal from the trauma of their losses They must have hope for their future

This month's news section opens with stories of life along the Indian Ocean one year afrer the tsunami. You can read about MBMS International's work in Thailand and the story of one family touched by the ministry of Mennonite Central Committee It is good to know that our contributions to MBMSI and MCC have helped to minister in holistic ways - that we have helped to lessen the black wave of hopelessness

> aUOT ABLE

"Do you ever feel nervous going to calling hours of a funeral, knowing what it will be like to be with mourning people and wondering what you will say and should not say? Multiply that by the hundreds of thousands " - Jeanne and Dan Jantzi, Mennonite Central Committee workers who visited Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Jan. 6, 2005

> UP & COMING

• Feb. 23- 24 - U S Conferen ce Leadership Board meeting, Phoenix, Ariz

• Feb . 25 - U.S. Conferen ce Leadership Summit, Phoenix, Ariz.

• March 9 - 15 - Mennon ite World Conference Gene ral Council, Peace Counc il and Faith and Li fe Council business sess ion s with "mini -assembly, " Pa saden a, Calif .

• Ju ly 26 - 28 - U.S Conference national pastors ' conference, Boone, N C

• Ju ly 28 -30 - U S Conferen ce biennial convention , Boone , N C

JANUARY 2006

Volume 69

Number 1

Conni e Faber EDITOR

Myra Holm es ASSISTANT EDITOR

Elain e Ewett GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MANDATE Th e Chr istian Leader (I SS N 0009 -5 149) is p ubli s hed m on th ly by the U.S. Co n fer en ce of Mennonite Brethren Churches. The Chr istia n Leader seeks to inform Menn on it e Breth re n me mb er s and churches of th e eve nt s, ac ti vit ies. dec isi on s and issue s of th eir denomi nati on an d t o instruct , inspire and initiate di alogu e so mem ber s w ill as pir e t o be faithfu l di scipl es of Chri st as und er sto od in the evangel ica VAn abapti st th eolog ical t ra ditio n.

EDITORIAL POLI CY Th e vi ews expressed in t hi s publi cation do not nece ss arily re pr esen t t he po si tio n of the Chr istia n Leader, t he U.S. Con fe r e nce L ead ership Bo ard or th e Menn oni t e Brethre n Church Scr i pture re fe r ences are f ro m N ew Int ern at i onal Ver si on unless oth erwi se not ed Th e edito rs invit e free l an ce article subm i ss ions. A SASE mu st accompany a rti cles

READER PARTI CI PATIO N Th e edit or s in vite rea ders t o share their th ought s al) d opini on s on to pi cs re l eva nt to the Menn oni t e Bre th re n Chur ch usi ng l ett er s to th e editor and Forum essays. Letters t o th e edit or s hould be bri ef - 300 word s or l ess- an d on on e subj ec t. Letters m ust be si gned and includ e t he writ er's ci ty and state Le tt ers wi ll be edit ed for cla rity appropriat ene ss and l ength Le tt er s w ill be publ i shed as space allows. unl ess marked " Not f or publ ica ti on ." Foru m i s open t o m emb er s or att endees of Me nn o ni t e Bre th re n ch urc hes. Es say s shoul d no t ex cee d 800 words. and should includ e th e writ er 's na me address, home chu rc h and occupatio n

COMMUNI CATI ON All cor respon de nce, in cl ud i ng chang e of add res s. shoul d be addresse d t o t he Chris tian Leader, Bo x 220 Hillsboro , KS 67 06 3

Pho ne: 620- 947 -5 543 Fax : 620- 947- 3266 E- m ai l : chri sti a nlea dertau smb org

SUB SC RI PTI ON S $ 18 for one yea r $34 for two yea rs and $ 50 for t hree yea r s ($ 20, $ 38 $ 54 in Ca nada); $ 1 50 per copy

MEMB ERSHI P The Christian Leader is a memb er of t he Eva ng elica l Pr ess Ass ocia t io n and Mee tinghou se. an ass ocia ti on of Menn onit e and B rethren in Chr ist ed it ors.

POSTMA STE R Se nd add ress cha ng es t o th e Christian Leader, Box 220 Hillsboro , KS 67063

Per iod ical s post age pai d at Hill sboro, Kansa s.

CONNIE FABER J ,lilol

> Readers SAY

Our allegiance

We in America treasure our freedom and citizenship. We love our homeland We think it is worth defending as a platform to reach the world for Christ. We must be careful to remember Scripture that warns us that where our treasure is, our heart is also. Jesus said we are not to serve two masters and that our real citizenship is in heaven. Serving a country complicates serving God. My life was purchased by Christ for building his international and eternal kingdom. We are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

When God chose the perfect time and place for his son to enter human history with the message of salvation, it wasn't in a free or powerful country The early church was not nurtured by a democratic society Military might did not advance or safeguard the gospel. The church grew to overcome the power of Rome, the greatest world empire, through the testimony of love for its enemies in personal loss and martyrdom.

To the Christians of the first centuries the words of Christ were not the hard teachings of perfectionism. They were an invitation to join in the transforming power of the kingdom of God. The Sermon on the Mount ends with Jesus saying, "But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand" (Matt 7:26)

Let us throw off the shackles of a divided allegiance and the blinders of protectionism. Let's put our priority on our King, his greatest commandments and the great commission. Let us be considered good Americans only as a by-product of our being good Christians Let us put the Mennonite Brethren church back on the nartOwway

Clint Bergen Orland, Calif

Congo article on target

The plea by Dr. Pakisa Tshimika to remember Congo is definitely on target. In late October 2005, I returned from four weeks of teaching in Kinshasa and Kikwit. In my first visit to Congo, Dr. Tshimika's father and a pastor in Kajiji said in a farewell conversation, "Tell your people in North America not to forget us, their brothers and sisters."

Similar sentiments were expressed now in a lengthy visit with Damien Pelende, Kapay Nzey and Mambakila Kabemba, the brothers recently elected as the national leadership team. 'We are frustrated. How can you abandon the brother in suffering? " they asked. "Greet the churches! We are grateful. Please pray for us," they said.

Questions were raised about the cutback of subsidies from North America I had heard in Kikwit that Brother Kusangila, one of the senior teachers at the Institut Biblique, was receiving only $40 a monthtotally unacceptable even in a Congolese context. The school is declining in enrollment. There, as in Japan, North America and elsewhere, pastors and leaders come from the schools. Neglect of leadership training is clearly shortsighted.

Huge praise is due, under God, to the large cadre of missionaries that served in Congo: Tillie Wall, Arnold and Rose Prieb, Henry and Helen Doerksen, Ben and Anna Klassen, Bob and Wanda Kroeker, Katherine Willems, Martha Willems, Fred and Irma Epp, Ivan and Lydia Friesen, John and Sophie Esau, Jake and Helen Nickel, Dr. Paul and Catherine Bottom, Dr. Ernest and Leona Schmidt, Alfred and Viola Schmidt, Dr. Ed and Margaret Neufeld, John and Ruth Kliewer, Katie Penner, Louise Opel, Betty Funk and Dr. Ferdinand Pauls.

These and others not mentioned worked in one of the most challenging physical environments. As a result there are some four to five Bible schools, two "universities" with strong Mennonite Brethren input (along with others) and hospitals and clinics . Currently in Kinshasa alone there are more than 35 MB churches; the conference counts around 90,000 members. Inattentiveness to Congo on our part now, as I see it, is squandering the "missionary success "

Praise is due also for current Congolese MB missionaries: one to the pygmy people, another to Brazzaville and another headed for Zambia. Masolo Manunga, a Congolese missionary, is serving in Angola and Baudouin Nsulunka in Durban, South Africa .

But these strengths must be set over against the economic condition of the country. People there speak of a communication disconnect and an economic crisis. Our brothers and sisters must know that we stand with them in prayer, in financial support and through an exchange of visits. Our theology is one of brotherhood . Our rhetoric is about family and sharing. Congo is a test case whether our theology and rhetoric have substance

Elmer Martens Fresno, Calif

Chuck Buller

A few minutes of your time, please

USC survey to be mailed to every home this month

Don't you just hate it! You're sitting at home watching the evening news when the phone rings You know you should let it go to voice mail, but because you are responsible you pick up the phone. And then you hear the now infamous words: " I just need a few minutes of your time for a survey " Or "the police association is raising money for " Or "the alumni association from your college is rai sing funds for " Or "Discover Card is offering new low-rate balance transfers .... "

What is it about these dinnettime interruptions that seem so

If that happens, we will have feedback from over 1,000 people about the future and direction of the U.S. Conference Our consultant in tum will help us analyze the data, and we will attempt to faithfully report back what we heard As a bonus some of you will want to fill out the fortn online and send it off into cyberspace where we will catch it and add it to the hard copies that come in the mail. For this option, you will only need to go to our Web site at usmb.org and click on the survey icon .

We are prayerfully hoping that at least 10 percent of you will fill out the survey ...

annoying? I suspect it's the element of surprise Isn't the new callblocking feature supposed to catch this? And instead of hearing something important - like your son or daughter ditched 5th grade math class - you are asked for your opinion about things that don't matter to you too much anyway Somehow you feel tricked. Caught in a surprist: attack for which you were unprepared.

Well, consider this your "heads up " and a fair warning from the U.S . Conference Leadership Board.

We will be sending to your mailbox the first ever, comprehensive U S. Conference survey to get your attitudes, opinions and suggestions about the Mennonite Brethren church in the U.S. If you get the Christian Leader you will not be able to avoid this opportunity We are coming to you with a few questions we'd like you take a few minutes to answer . When might this occur? It will be very soon - probably in just a few days

The fact of the matter is obvious and essential. As the Leadership Board processes the rewriting of our bylaws, reorganizes our structure and plans our preferred future it would help us immeasurably to know what you, the owners, think about all of this

We know some people will lose the survey and some will ignore it. Others will never know the survey arrived while others will throw the survey away as an irrelevant document alongside of credit card offers .

And some will take the document and carefully respond to the questions , providing our Leadership Board with valuable infortnation from you, the owners of the U S. Conference We are in fact prayerfully hoping that at least 10 percent of you fill out the survey, place it in the self-addre ssed envelope and send it back with that friendly mail person who delivered it in the first place.

Obviously, surveys, polls and data provide only partial infortnation that people use and interpret for various purposes. Most of us have become cynical about the president's poll numbers , the "exit polls" on election night, or the latest focus group numbers announced by the political parties We ask you to look past these natural barriers and consider what a gift your information can provide to our faith family . It is even possible that an opinion you express or idea you share would cause us to rethink an issue or refine a proposal. You can always hope for the best!

The more people who take the time to fill out the survey, the more accurate and comprehensive the results will actually be So thanks ahead of time for your help It will be much appreciated and carefully handled

..".,ded an MB h yOU a.",,·' I BoW long ave . church? Jed an MB ott atten Did yoU knoW Y 2 · h?ch"rc . I ds an IV' ... he ea ast or knoW Do es your P 3-? b) church. tly Baptist, f a) mOS B stands or 4· M 'te Brethren Menno»!

Seminary offers long-distance degree

Men and women in vocational ministry or those who wish to move into vocational ministry ohen find that a seminary education is a necessary step in their professional development But for many Mennonite Brethren, moving to one of MB Biblical Seminary's campuses in Fresno, Calif , Langley, BC, or Winnipeg , Man , is a challenge

This fall, MBBS began offering a master's degree in Christian studies in a configuration that does not require that the student relocate. The program, called ACTSess, is offered through the seminary's Langley campus where MBBS is a member of ACTS, a consortium of six denominational seminaries

ACTSess allows the student to complete a master of arts program in a three - to five -year time frame with as few as six one-week study visits to the Langley campus . Learning options include online, correspondence and transfer courses accented by in-class, bundled modular courses Students take two courses per semester and can

start in fall, spring or summer "Some people who would like to pursue a seminary education are in jobs or family situations where moving from home just is not feasible, " says Doug Berg, MBBS's associate dean at ACTS. "The ACTSess study stream allows them to get the equipping they need for ministry without placing

an undue burden on them or their families."

The Christian studies degree consists of a core curriculum including Bible, theology, church history and leadership. Students can specialize in church ministries, Bible, theology, pastoral care, cross -cultural ministries or apologetics. The duration of the program may be affected by the specialization that is chosen . - MBBS

Missionary remembered for service in Peru

MBMS International worker Paul C . Friesen, a missionary to Peru since 1960, died Dec . 6, 2005, as the result of a car accident in the u .S. "His true passion was God's Word and the people he came in contact with ," writes Friesen's family in his obituary "Paul lived out Psalm 119:172, 'May my tongue sing of your word '"

Friesen's ministry focus in Peru was with the Ashaninca Indians . Friesen learned their language fluently and created hymnals , developed children 's Sunday school curriculum and translated the Old Testament books of Genesis through Joshua, Psalms and Proverbs Thes e books were published this year under the title of Intacantarori lrineane Tasorensi

As part of his ministry Friesen frequently traveled to Indian communities to meet with the believers, especially church leaders

He ohen took his family with him , which instilled in them a heart for missions and a love for th e Ashaninca people . 'The fruits of this labor brought th e gospel to thousands of people," writes his family

Friesen was born Oct. 5, 1930, in Buhler, Kan ., to Henry and Martha (Voth) Friesen On Aug 19, 1952, he married Maurine Walter, who survives . He is also survived by one daughter, Susette and husband Ron Jewell of Melbourne, Fla .; four sons, Mark and wife Urby of Pucallpa, Peru, John and wife Robin of Waxahachie, Texas, Paul and wife Amanda of North Newton, Kan ., and Bruce and wife Natalie, of Fe rndale, Wa sh.; II grandchildren and one great-grandson .

MBBS makes faculty announcements

MB Biblical Seminary has recently made several staff announcements. Lynn Jost has accepted an invitation to serve as the academic dean and associate professor of Old Testament at the Fresno, Calif., campus . Jost will begin his new responsibilities July I.

For the past 13 years Jost has been associate professor of biblical and religious studies at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan Jost chaired the committee that revised the Nonh American MB Confession of Faith and was involved in developing the international MB confession. He pastored Hesston (MB) church for eight years

As academic dean Jost will oversee academic programs for the MBBS system, which includes campuses in Fresno, Calif., Langley, BC and Minnipeg, Man . Sean W. Cooney began serving October 24 as recruitment director. Cooney is responsible for developing and implementing the strategic plan for recruitment for the seminary's

three campuses.

MBBS faculty member Raymond Bystrom was promoted to professor in November. Bystrom has served as a MBBS faculty member since 1991, teaching primarily in the field of pastoral ministries and directing the supervised ministry experience program.

In other news, more than 250 people from across Nonh American gathered Oct. 29 in Fresno for a celebration dinner and program commemorating the seminary's 50th anniversary. Many guests particularly enjoyed a question and answer time with five of the seminary's past presidents who offered insights and anecdotes of their years of service in that capacity.MBBS

Peace workers kidnapped

Two long -term members of Christian Peacemaker Teams' Iraq contingent along with two members of a visiting CPT delegation were taken in Baghdad Nov 26 An Iraqi insurgent group, Swords of Righteousness Brigade, is holding the four men - two Canadians, an American and a Briton. The group announced that unless U.S. and Iraqi governments freed all prisoners in its detention centers by Dec 10 the men, charged with being spies, would be killed . The deadline passed and no word has been received concerning the men .

CPT was initiated in 1984 by Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers and has gained broad ecumenical participation . CPT's ministry of biblically-based and spiritually-centered peacemaking emphasizes public witness, nonviolent direct action and protection of human rights . CPT has had a presence in Iraq since October 2002, and has been active in documenting cases of civilian detainees. Mennonite World Conference, the Canadian Prime Minister and various Muslim groups have appealed for the release of the C PT members - MWR

TIY8 Shafo, of Denver, Colo., is serving a two-year term with Mennonite Central Committee as a community worker Shafo is a member of Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Denver. MCC is a humanitarian organization of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in the U.S. and Canada. -MCC

D. Merrill Ewert has been appointed to a second term as president of Fresno Pacific University. The board voted unanimously to appoint Ewert to a five-year term during its regular session Nov. 4-5. At FPU, presidents are initially approved for three - year terms and can be reappointed for five-year terms Presidents are evaluated annually by the board, with major performance reviews at the end of each term For his next five years, Ewert outlined an agenda that included maintaining the Christian character of FPU, building f inancial stability, strengthening scholarship and promoting a culture of inclusiveness and collaborative leadership.-FPU

Chuck Buller, U S Conference executive director, will lead a session at the Mennonite Mutual Aid Stewardship Leaders Conference March 3 in Lancaster, Penn The conference offers hands-on toots for Anabaptist pastors and church leaders to implement holistic stewardship in their congregations. Buller's session will address capital campaign strategies. MMA is a stewardship solutions organization for Anabaptist denominations, including the Mennonite Brethren. Conference information is posted at www.mma-online.org.-MMA

The next resource in Kindred Production's Description of a Growing Disciple series is A Lifelong Apprenticeship written by cam Stuart, a Mennonite Brethren pastor from Abbotsford, BC. The book is intended to be used in a group setting and each session introduces one of six qualities of a growing disciple.-KP

eChurch

Being a 21St Century re-formatiol

How do we minister to the neighborhoods that surround our churches?

ON THE MB BIBLICAL SEMINARY CAMPUS WE RECENTLY

held a chapel service featuring three churches These churches represent three very diverse ministries and populations but have one thing in common : they are seeking to be ambassadors of reconciliation to their neighborhoods

North Fresno MB Church is a white , middle and upper middle -class commuter church that recently began reaching out to the apartment complexes of its neighborhood, which are diverse in class and ethnicity Mt Olive Missionary Baptist C hurch re cently purchased property and intends to reach an Anglo, Hispanic and African American community Butler MB Church is a multicultural ( Latino, Anglo, African American , Khmu and Lao). multi -congregational (four congregation s but with one board and one combined budget) and multilingual (Spanish , English and Khmu/Lao) church that decided 13 years ago not to become a commuter church but to stay in its neighborhood and reach a diverse population. housed in huge apartment and condominium complexes

These churches are intentionally moving against the flow of our mobile society. which fosters a commuter and consumer mentality. to establish a relationship with men and women in the immediate community around their church. The very fact that churches have to intentionally choose to become community churches indicates some major influences have captured the church and created a distance from their communities.

It is nothing today for people to spend 15 minutes to an hour driving to their home church Along the way they pass 10 or 12 other churches, some of which are from their own denomination This kind of behavior indicates the tremendous changes that have happened to the church across our country and how it has shifted from being neighborhood oriented to commuterlconsumer oriented .

The church that has been in a community for 20 to 30 years begins to face the migration of its constituency and slowly becomes a commuter church. Instead of trying to rea ch the newcomers who are often different in class and ethnicity, it concentrates on keeping the commuters by putring more energy into the quality of its preaching. worship and programming. This subtle shift in focus is one that moves a church away from kingdom ministry to consumer ministry.

The more a church becomes a commuter church the less atrention it pays to its immediate community. This withdrawal results in a major spiritual, physical and missional disconnect from the community. The church becomes more and more distant from the realities of its neighborhood or local community. and the community or neighborhood perceives the church as uncaring and remote Those in the neighborhood often become cynical about the church and its ability to show Christ's love in a tangible way As a community declines and crim e increases. the church becomes a target of graffiti and vandalism. which is a sign of disrespect for its presence

Examine your history

One of the first steps in helping a church move from a commuter orientation to a community orientation is to examine the history of the church We cannot begin to look at the future until we understand our past.

It is important that church leadership take time to examine why their church wa s started What were the goals and objectives of the original group?

Often one will find the zeal of the original group was to reach the community wh ere the church was born But over the years it slipped, because of migration of members, into becoming a commuter church . It is helpful to identify when the shifts occurred. as well as the pre cipitating factors that caused the shift away from the neighborhood

A second step in this process is to examine the diversity or lack of diversity in a church. A challenging exercise for church es that desi re to become community churches is to play the "implication game ." It goes like this : "If the next 2 0 people to join our church were families with small preschool children. how would our church have to change? If the next zo people to join our church were low income whites or middle class Latinos or handicapped or African Americans , etc . what would have to change?"

This implication exercise will create an atmosphere of positive brainstorming and potential thinking rather than fear of change It will lead to proactive thinking rather than reactive behavior later on. which could sabotage the process .

Explore the community

The church that has become commuterbased has often lost touch with its community. Transition is a constant in all communities The demographics of a community are constantly in a state of flux Pastoral leaders should visit the principals of grade schools in their area since the grade school has the latest demographic material. The second thing leaders should check is census -tracts around the church C ommunities change quickly so it is important to know who is leaving and who is coming Think about this process as though you were a mi ssionary and you were going to a foreign field . You would want to know everything you can about the people. customs. structures of society, etc If a church does a good job of exploration it will be able to com e alongside the community and complement the indigenous ministries and leaders instead of competing with them A copy of the "Community Asse ssment Tool" can be obtained at jwestgate @mbsemin ary edu

JIM WESTGATE

:hurch

C hurch re -fonnation

To rea ch into your community, pastoralleadets will have to lead a process of " re -formation " to change the culture of the church This is not just about creating some new outreach program It is creating a new corporate culture or a "new think " for the church

Alan Roxburgh has captured this process of "re-formation" in his book Crossing the Bridge He describes how the church moves through five phases in the process of transformation or reframing the church into a missional community In my own experience as a church consultant with over 35 churches, I have seen these same phases at work

The first phase of Roxburgh 's process is stability in which most people desire to maintain the structures that reflect how people perceive things ought to work. In this phase people will tolerate evolutionary change, which occurs in very small increments over a long period of time, and developmental change, which "occurs as improvements are made on the existing systems and practices ."

The key word in this phase is continuity. Anyone challenging the status quo is marginalized quickly. To stimulate change, leadets will have to introdu ce into this mix a new language that captures clear biblical values. Leadets will have to discern between "outer language and inner language." Outer language is the more formal explanatory and objective language used to des cribe, discern and dissect issues and problems. Inner language is the intuitive and feeling language shared from the heart and is seasoned with a great deal of emotion

The inner language will be critical for transformation because it speaks to the center of a petson's life and ignites hopes and dreams The leader will have to

focus on reframing theological constructs in fresh and exciting ways so that they become part of the grapevine conversation

In this process of creating change, leaders will have to engage and embrace traditionalists as well as change agents

The second phase of re-formation is discontinuity in which " internal and external stresses begin to push against the system's habits and practices." It is assumed in this phase that old ways of doing things will be able to guide the church through this time of instability. There is usually an entrenchment of tried and true traditions and values, and micromanagement of details becomes the favorite pasttime.

Those embracing the discontinuity are seen as traitors and pressure often forces them to leave . Spiritual leaders will have to be reconcilers and engage polarized parties in constructive dialogue Recapturing and rehearsing the original vision and mission, which required risk taking and sacrifices in birth and early growth, will help the church to refocus atten-

tion away from micro-management to re-visioning

The third phase is disembedding which is a sense of chaos where the systems and structures are no longer able to manage the pressures and changes taking place. "Power struggles emerge and conflict and blaming are common." says Roxburgh The church at this point usually moves into a survival mode. Much debating. negotiating. and confrontation are the norm.

I find this phase close to the grief syndrome in which people are trying to cope with loss Some rationalize. some are angry. others negotiate or try to buy time. Still others withdraw into depression . but some begin to adjust to new concepts as a potentially good thing.

The fourth phase is the in-between world transition that is the most difficult phase of the process. It is learning to live without any sense of markers and to become comfortable with chaos. The great tendency is to look for some outside source to fix it or bring order to the chaos.

However. the outside sources are built on the old paradigm of control and equilibrium. Roxburgh says the "in-between phase is the tension between two options: to recapture what has been lost or risk the discovery of a new future. "

This is a protracted period of time because a new language and new systems have to be introduced and established. In a world where efficiency is one of the highest values. there is great pressure to look for a quick fix instead of the slow process of internal and external transformation. Spiritual leaders must keep kingdom focused if this transition is going to occur.

The fifth stage. re-formation. is when the system has emerged from transition and constructed a new identity around the old story and the transforming power of the cross. "A new language. a new set of roles and a new set of rules have emerged to reveal structures. and ways of living out the old story. that will bear little resemblance to the earlier period of stability. " writes Roxburgh.

The commuter church that intends to become a community church must be willing to invest major effort in doing the hard work of research and preparation if it is going to experience "re -formation." My experience has been that many commuter churches want to relate to their community but they do not want to do the hard work of research and preparation before they begin to reach out. Consequently. they experience failure in some of their early efforts and settle back into the pattern of a consumer church.

Anabaptists. who value community more than many other denominations. should have a much higher commitment to not only experience community but to be a transformational and missional agent to the community in which their church is located.

Jim Westgate is associate professor of practical studies at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno. Calif He adapted this article from his chapter in Out of the Strange Silence: The Challenge of Being Christian in the 21st Century. published by Kindred Productions on the 50th anniversary of the seminary.

The rural church: Leading through change

To TALK ABOUT THE RURAL church can be as simplistic as sociologists' sweeping descriptions of GenXers. Just as GenXers in Connecticut faintly resemble GenXers in Montana, so rural contexts differ. Some are homes to extractive industries like farming, ranching, mining, forestry or fishing. Some are tourist destinations, factory towns, bedroom communities or retirement havens. Some have long-standing population bases while others attract newcomers. Some are declining, others growing. Some are affluent, others not. With so much variety, it is perhaps better to think "rurals" (plural).

While each rural place is unique, a word that describes nearly all is "changing." Visit a farm expo and you will conclude that even agbased communities are undergoing massive change . Where rapid change is happening, it is doubly important that some things not change. Constants include careful preaching of the Word, God-directed worship, loving relationships, fervent corporate prayer, influential leadership and purposeful outreach.

Yet living our faith as God desires means we are constantly changing. Becoming a Christian involves repentance - a change of mind. But repentance (change) shouldn't be checked at the door; it should be ongoing. We are to always be growing in our faith. Growth means change.

A healthy rural church, then, is experiencing constant change. It has an expectation of progress. It isn't lulled into thinking: "We're in a small town; not much new happens here." It is wary of satisfaction with the status quo, of maintenance or survival modes instead of a progress (change) mode .

A new year is a good time to take inventory. Church leaders in particular would do well to ask : Is there a particular area that needs attention - perhaps tweaking a ministry or launching a new ministry? Do church documents (constitution , bylaws. policy manuals) need updating? Might we take another look at vision? Are facil-

ity improvements needed? These are areas in which the rural church can be proactive about progress.

While some changes can be initiated there are others happening in rural communities not of our makingnor wanting, perhaps. This means our role is to not only lead change but to lead through change - respond appropriately to changes beyond our control.

For instance newcomers are moving to many rural areas, perhaps not by invitation. Their ways are different, though not necessarily wrong-from foods, to recreation, to preferences in the church. We need to be discerning. If we are not wanting to change, is it because we are defending the faith? How might we properly become "all things to all people" so newcomers will be impacted for Christ (I Cor. 9:22)? Do we have flexible wineskins that will accommodate new wine (Matt. 9 :17)?

Two types of newcomers are particularly noteworthy. Recently a new kind of rural poor has emerged. Behind this trend is the departure of many farmers and ranchers, leaving empty houses which landlords snatch up at bargain prices and rent to low-income people, some who speak languages other than English and many from dysfunctional families. They are leaving the cities to find lower costs. safer neighborhoods and an untapped source of generosity. Some come to church expecting to be supported clients rather than contributors Add it all up and there are many resemblances to what is found in inner cities.

At the other end of the spectrum is a new kind of rural rich Entertainment stars are acquiring much land Wealthy city people are purchasing hobby acreagessome job commuters, some retirees Large agribusinesses and outside investors are buying millions of acres and moving in well-paid managers. Some are locals on the receiving end of new-found sources of wealth, such as Wal- Mart headquartering in Arkansas or new tourist attractions putting outsiders' money into residents' pockets.

The new rural poor and rich offer challenges for churches. These are some of the most unreached in North America . Many rich are fiercely private due to wariness of "friends" who seem to accompany their wealth. Some are not receptive to Christianity because acquiring and enjoying wealth are higher priorities. Matthew 19:23 tells us it is more difficult for the rich to enter heaven The new rich may be reluctant to mix with

"common country folk, " including the new poor. The new rural poor can be hard to minister to because of their dysfunction and transience.

It is important that we see newcomers as people whom Jesus wants to love through us. For years rural people have led the way to foreign mission fields, now the mission field is moving to us . Reaching newcomers may require us to become students of cultures and ministry strategies.

Another new challenge is declining morality The family, once a mainstay of rural communities, is experiencing the same kind of disintegration as in urban areas . Many types of crime are now more likely to happen in rural America Forms of alcohol and drug abuse are more prevalent among rural young people than their city counterparts, most notably methamphetamine, produced in the country with anhydrous ammonia fertilizer and identified by the White House as the fastestgrowing drug threat in America. The rural church may need to retool to meet moral challenges like these

Why change? Numerical church growth may be the outcome, but that should not be our primary goal. In fact, some places are so isolated there is limited potential for growth. The primary goals for change should be effectiveness and fruitfulness At stake are eternal destinies, spiritual growth, and community and church health.

Ron Klassen is executive director of Rural Home Missionary Association of Morton , Ill., and a former pastor of Corn (Okla.) MB Church.

The suburban church:

Are we caLLed to be comfortable?

"THIS IS GOING TO FLIP MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

That was a response I heard more than once to a recent sermon series in which we examined the revolutionary life and ministry of Jesus in th e Gospels. And it was an appropriate response . The call to really follow Jesus and live out the life and ministry that he wants us to, especially as a church in a suburban setting, is a radical and yes, a revolutionary one.

I think we've been duped We've been tricked into thinking that Christianity is the cherry on top of the American dream . That pursuing our comfortable and secure suburban American family life is not only acceptable as a Christian, but it is God's ultimate desire for us. And so we propel gifted communicator Joel Osteen's book, Your Best Life Now to *1 on the New York Times Bestsellers list because he confirms our selfish suspicions that yes, God does want us to be successful and prosperous and have every advantage in life.

In Matthew 16 we find Peter on an emotional rollercoaster In verse 16 he experiences perhaps his most triumphant moment when he makes his powerful. God-inspired proclamation, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." But his jubilation is short-lived as

it takes just seven verses for him to hear from Jesus , "Get behind me, Satan!" Wow, Peter That's a long way to fall in just seven verses. What happened?

Jesus is explaining to his disciples that he must suffer and be killed. That does not sit well with Peter. Peter takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke him. Note to reader: Taking Jesus aside and rebuking him is a bad idea "

Peter tells Jesus, ''This shall never happen to you! May I suggest that in essence Peter is saying, "What ? : ou suffer and die? Are you kidding me? No way! You re not going to have to suffer and die We 're going to win this thing We have God on our side Nobody's going to lay a finger on you - not on

B Y J E F F GOWLING

my watch We are the ones calling the shots here "

This sounds an awful lot like Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness in John 4 :8. 'i\gain, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor . :A1l this I will give you: he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me .'" You don't have to suffer and die . Nobody's going to lay a finger on you - not on my watch

What Satan was saying, both in person and through Peter was, "Jesus, God doesn't want you to suffer. He wants you to succeed and be prosperous. He wants you to be happy and fulfilled and respected among your peers. He wants you to have the American dream with God as the cherry on top. Jesus, he wants you to have "Your Best Life Now".

Jesus was not fooled Listen to Jesus' response to Peter's ill -timed rebuke: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matt. 16:24). "Deny" means to completely disown or utterly separate oneself from something So to deny yourself is a call to disown yourself or disassociate yourself from yourself. It's in essence self-denial. And "take up your cross" means to begin a death march for Christ's sake - death to our selfish and self-centered ways Why would Jesus call us to such a life? Does he not want us to have any fun? Of course not . Jesus explains to the disciples in Matthew 16:25 that, "" whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

A trend that needs an immediate revolutionary reversal is that the suburban church has become comfortable The pursuit of the American dream causes so many distractions from the revolutionary life Jesus calls us to that we don't even realize we're distracted. But by God's grace we will begin to understand that Jesus didn't come to make our lives comfortable. He came to make them full of purpose and worth. He didn't come to affirm our deepest longings He smashes them and then gives us a new longing and desire for him, his kingdom and his kingdom principles .

The first step is realizing that really following Jesus and living the revolutionary life and ministry he calls us to would flip our world upside down The next and all -important step is to honestly say to God, "Flip it, Lord, flip it Flip my world upside down for your glory!"

Jeff Gowling is lead pastor at The Bridge in Bakersfield, Calif

T he city church: Reaching the world

THE GREAT COMMISSION IS NOW AN urban commission. In 1940, London and New York were the only cities numbering 5 million. Today, 433 such cities dot the globe with over 280 of them in developing countries . Nearly half of the world's population lives in the city

We also have a world of urban slums. Soon one out of three of the world's population will live in some of the most deplorable conditions. Brazil has 10 million street children in its cities. In Manilla there are 1,000 squalid slums, many where residents live on rubbish dumps . Mexico City has 9 million young people, many living in great poverty. Quite simply put-if we want to reach the world for Christ we need to be thinking of the city and its areas of poverty

u.S cities have become global population magnets at a time when the world is becoming increasingly closed to western influence . There are 106 languages spoken in the Los Angeles school system. In Houston four-fifths of the school system is comprised of ethnic minorities, many from other countries. We cannot win the world to Christ unless we are willing to go to the cities of the world. The good news is that God has brought the world to our doorsteps

This poses a great challenge. How do we best respond to the traditional urban poor? How do we respond to those from other countries living in our cities given we face the same cultural barriers that missionaries have always faced?

First, the church needs to awaken to urban mission. We need to see our cities as places of opportunity rather than of problems to be avoided . We need to see that God has always worked among the poor to raise some of the finest leaders for his church.

There is unusual opportunity for world evangelism if we are willing to focus energy and resource for these communities. We need a church plant movement among the urban poor that will touch every community with the gospel. Leaders need to be raised up and trained to pas -

tor churches that may some day send leaders back to their homeland.

I recently met a Guatemalan named Julio in a prison where we parmer with Prison Fellowship to provide seminary training. Julio received his GED and now is taking seminary-level classes He has become skilled in computer programming He has taken ESL classes Julio will be deported to Guatemala once he is released from prison on his drug charges. Back in Guatemala he will be in the top 5 percent of the population due to this training He talks about the dream to leave his country and come to the u S He says his people need to find the Christ dream and not the American dream He says Guatemalans need to stay in their country and reach those in their communities for Christ.

The urban church of today needs to become strategic in its focus Some churches may be able to make the cultural shift and invite the poor and those from other countries into their church without imposing a cultural change on their part. Others may plant cross-cultural churches among the poor in their city

Today there are increasing numbers of churches that are catching the vision of ministry within the city. I know of one downtown congregation that has decided not only to minister to the poor but to become an urban congregation. You can go to this church on a Sunday morning and see a most unusual thing take place . Well over a hundred people gather. A medical clinic is operating and free haircuts are offered Breakfast is served There are services in a variety of languages People are coming to Christ and are being baptized. The neighborhood is being touched .

The challenge of our urban neighborhoods is enormous. That of the world's cities is staggering. Yet it is for these that Jesus came It is within these communities that the Lord could raise up leaders of great faith and vision.

Could the church of today take the challenge and burden of the urban poor and believe God for a great movement? One individual can touch a few lives. An entire congregation can have significant influence . A group of churches that decide to combine their resources and gifting for the sake of the gospel can have dramatic influence on world evangelism

Al Ewert is on staff with World Impact as the Wi chita (Kan .) ci ty direct or. World Impact is a Christian missions organization dedicated to ministry in U.S inner cities WI is working in 10 cities and has partnered with the Southern District Conferen ce to plant two inner city chu rches in Wich ita

The second-generation church: Spanning two cultures

SECOND-GENERATION IMMIGRANTS FACE UNIQUE

issues. That is why we began a ministry focusing on secondgeneration Korean-American and other second-generation immigrants. Our vision is to have a church devoted to reaching out to the second -generation immigrants in Los Angeles.

Second -generation immigrants cannot really get along with their first generation counterparts and they cannot assimilate fully, due to cultural differences , with third or fourth generation Americans.

Second-generation immigrants face a struggle of identity between clashing cultures. Korean-Americans, for example, are raised in an environment that is heavily influenced by the Korean culture. They eat Korean food, their parents speak Korean and they are taught Korean etiquette

Korean-Americans are also deeply immersed in American culture and the social values that are taught at school. Because their friends are multicultural they often resort to a common language, which is English. They are heavily influenced by American pop culture - the MTV generation - which leads to personality traits that are different from first-generation immigrants such as their parents.

So while Korean-Americans are raised in an environment that is heavily influenced by the Korean culture, at school and outside of the home Korean-Americans are heavily influenced by the American culture. Therefore second-generation immigrants like to associate with one another.

Our ministry focuses on reaching out to these secondgeneration immigrants, including those who are not Christians . We provide a place where non-Christians can find a true Comforter for the struggles they face. We provide Christians with a place where they can come and worship God.

One thing that we've noticed among many young adult and college people who are Christians is that they tend to leave their home church after college and then attend a church in college that is devoted to college ministry. However as soon as they leave college or graduate, they tend to distance themselves from church and not get involved with a home church of any sort.

Our vision for the next 10 years is to first establish ourselves as a second-generation church that is self- sustaining rather then being dependent on our mother church that is composed of first-generation immigrants . We also want to be a church that implements the basics evident in the early churches in the book of Acts

New Testament churches would gather in groups often and have true discipleship -making Our vision is to create disciple-makers that will help others to grow in their faith. Going back to the heart of discipleship is what we believe will help our

ministry grow and stay strong. One example of discipleship that we are using is where one individual evangelizes a nonbeliever on campus or at work. When that nonbeliever accepts Christ and shows interest, a trained cell group leader will then study the Bible with that individual and help that individual mature and grow in the Word of God After that individual has matured enough in their faith and in their knowledge of the Word of God, that individual would then become a leader devoted to being a disciple-maker

Because our community is heavily populated with second -generation immigrants, another ministry vision is to reach out to our community so that our community will become involved in our church events These second -generation immigrants share the same struggles as those of Korean-Americans . Although they are of a different ethnicity, we can still face the same issues. We find that food is a great way for us to share with one another about many things Every month we host a praise night of sorts and every year we hold an evangelistic friends night Members of the congregation are encouraged to bring their non - Christian friends to these events

We do not know what the next 10 years will hold for us However we believe that if we have a strong Spirit-led vision , through much prayer and with great disciple -makers and lay ministers, our ministry has no option but to grow into a ministry that will reach out and share the love of God to all those around it.

This article was written by the Shalom English Ministry leadership team, Joshua and Eun Ji Kim, Dennis Wilwn , Patrick Woo and Jenny Ghon SEM is supported by Mission USA.

M ission of the Church

A liturgical reading of the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith, Article 7

You are the light of the world! Let your light shine, so that all people might see it and praise your Father in heaven .

God, we love you and live for you . Help us to love our neighbors as ourselves, sharing the good news with boldness, showing the good news with deeds of limitless love We are not ashamed of this good news: it is your power for salvation, to everyone who believes.

All authority in heaven and on earth is given to our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, go and summon all nations to follow him , baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that he commanded .

Let the nations praise You, 0 God, let aU the nations praise You!

Spirit of God, fill us with power to be Your witnesses .

We offer ourselves to the Lord of the Harvest. As ambassadors for Christ, purify us and use us to proclaim his salvation We commit ourselves to spread the good news of peace with God to those who are near and to those afar off Strengthen us to work with joy as we look forward to the Day of Harvest, when the redeemed will gather in God's presence to celebrate forever the boundless riches of Jesus Christ our Lord

A liturgical version of the 1999 MB Confession of Faith is available from Kindred Productions The liturgi ca l readings are intended as antiphonal readings, with the two parts noted in bold and light print.

A new wave in Thailand

MBMSI finds spiritual openness in wake of tsunami

Shortly after a deadly tsunami killed nearly 300,000 people in Asia and turned millions of lives upside down Dec 26, 2004 , MBMS International began the Operation Rebuilding Lives relief effort in Thailand A year later, MBMSI workers find themselves riding a new wave in Thailand - one of hope and spiritual openness

"The tsunami brought incredible physical devastation ," says Randy Friesen , general director of MBMSI, "but it also exposed the hopelessness of people that predated that tsunami, and it opened a door for us to respond and communicate the gospel in a holistic way."

Although the formal ORL effort to build homes has ended, the effort to rebuild hope continues, and MBMSI looks forward to planting a church in the tsunami -devastated area

When the tsunami hit Asia, some 10,000 people perished in Thailand; 80 percent of those deaths were in the Phangnga province just north of Phuket

For members of MBMSI's Team 2000 church planting effort in

North American MBMS I voluntee r s saw evidence of the tsumami's devastation, such as these vehicles on Hoh khao Island

Chonburi, Thailand, it was too close to ignore Although Chonburi was not in the area hit by the tsunami , team members began to pray about how they might help Team leader Ricky Sanchez started with a small thing : giving blood. That led to a meeting with the governor and what Sanchez calls the "Ierter of gold, " granting permissions and access to help in the hardest-hit area near Phuket.

By the evening of Dec 29, Sanchez, fellow Team 2000 member Andy Owen, members of a short-term TREK team and a Thai translator were on a flight to Phuket. They spent four days helping to meet immediate needs : sorting clothes, recovering dead bodies and putting corpses into body bags

It wa sn't long before MBMSI began looking beyond immediate physical needs to long -term needs A prayer and scouting trip Jan 6-7 resulted in the formation of Operation Rebuilding Lives The initi al goal was to build 10 homes on a sm all fishing island north of Phuket, Koh Koh Kao, and impact the community spiritually. During a second phase, church -based teams built more homes in the area. Teams included med ical personnel and pastors or counselors as well as volunteers with construction experience .

The two phas es of the formal response effort ran from Jan . 16,

2005 to Aug. 13. 2005. Nine teams. some 205 people. worked to build a total of 25 homes.

As the name implies. ORL was about more than meeting physical needs; it was about meeting spiritual needs as well. "Our work is not done in rebuilding a home." Friesen says. "Our call is to rebuild lives."

Months after the tsunami. many were so traumatized that they wore inner tubes even while inland. Rumors of earthquakes and waves sent panicked survivors running for high ground Sanchez says offering spiritual hope is critical to bringing wholeness after such trauma Many organizations attend to physical needs such as housing he says. but the people are still committing suicide 'The true answer is the Lord. and the Lord can come and change a heart." he says .

So while ORL volunteers worked to build homes. they also listened and shared the gospel. Team 2000 member Karen Sanchez reported soon after the ORL effort began that Christian Thai volunteers were "running 100 mph sharing the gospel with everyone they meet." (See repotts in the February and March 2005 Leader issues )

Ricky Sanchez tells the story of a Thai woman who. like so many. lost everything: her two children. her father and her home . Her husband lost his livelihood. When ORL team members began building her house. she was overwhelmed with her loss and suicidal. Four months later she accepted Christ. and slowly hope took root. Months later. she smiled again. Still later she confided that a future with children no longer seemed out of the question. She credits the ORL team with her newfound hope . Sanchez says that such changed lives make it worth the effort: "It just reaffirms that there's a God who changes lives and loves people and will continue to bring hope "

From the beginning MBMSI hoped that the ORL efforts would lead to a church plant in the area. Statistically. the Phangnga province would not be considered fertile soil for church planting. Before the tsunami. only three evangelical churches-fewer than 100 Christians - had been identified in this population of 230.000. Thailand as a whole is somewhere less than 2 percent Christian - a number Sanchez says is generous Evangelical missionaries have worked in the country for decades with little visible result.

But a year after the tsunami. 25 new churches have been established in the Phangnga province. Many are culturally-appropriate house churches; a few are building facilities. Sanchez counts 31 new believers directly impacted by ORL MBMSI's vision for a church plant is taking shape.

Among the first buildings constructed by ORL volunteers were a home for a Thai pastor and a community center. The Thai pastor. Preecha. had been working closely with Team 2000 in Chonburi. He is originally from the Phuket area and had a desire to see a church planted there. He accompanied the ORL volunteers and used his gifrs as an evangelist and counselor to begin to bring emotional and spiritual healing

The community center offers a meeting place where survivors can begin to rebuild a sense of community. Through the center Preecha offers whatever help he can with physical and emotional needs. trying to rebuild hope. He also works to meet spiritual needs. "sitting down with people in every context possible and introducing them to Christ." as Friesen says.

Several small cell groups have started. where new believers and seekers gather to study the Bible and worship. Sanchez speculates that the community center may one day become a gathering place for several of these cell groups. forming the basis for a church But for now MBMSI representatives and Thai believers are content to call it a community center.

Friesen says. 'We intentionally have supported a community center rather than a church. because we see the needs going beyond Sunday morning worship."

MBMSI has agreed to return to the island to partner with Preecha and Thai believers to provide a long-term presence in the area. The long-term team is taking shape. led by Rob and Judy Griffioen from Abbotsford. BC . Greg and Becky Ouellette. also from Abbotsford. have committed to the

Left: Lak beach in south Thailand's Phangnag Province.

Top: Judy Bantz (right) of Buhler, Kan., and Shana Ayers of Fresno, Calif , together with Thai Christina Aun (back to camera) and her son comfort a tusumai widow.

team, and several others have applied. MBMSI expects to build and send the team using a model similar to that used for Team 2000 and the 2005 Delhi Project in New Delhi, India .

MBMSI hopes to have this team, being called The Southern Church (TSq, in place on the island in 2007. The Southern Church team reportedly dreams of planting seven churches within 10 years. Although the Koh Koh Kao island is small - about 1,500 people-it is near more populated areas. Already TSC team members dream of future church plants in the nearby city.

When asked to speculate where this new wave might take them, Sanchez points to a larger spiritual movement in Thailand. ''To this point, it's blown me away how fast God has moved," he says.

In Chonburi, where MBMSI's Team 2000 has established The Life Center, Sanchez says the work has "exploded" from three faithful believers to four baptism services. 'NI of a sudden we can't disciple them fast enough," he says. A Thai couple is cooperating with Team 2000 in a church plant near Chonburi, called The Promise Church .

Friesen, too, says the wave of openness extends beyond the area hit by the tsunami. " It seems that Thailand as a whole is receptive to the gospel, not just in the tsunami area ," he says . ' There's a broader movement of God's spirit moving in that nation ." Friesen hopes to see other teams form for church planting in Thailand.

" It's a moment of opportunity for Thailand, " Friesen says . ' We want to be part of that " - by Myra Holmes

ORL

Phases:

by the numbers

Phase 1: Jan 16- Mar. 25, 2005

Phase 2: July 1- Aug 13

Duration of ORL phases 1 and 2: 111 days

Number of days Ricky Sanchez was in Southern Thailand with ORL: 97 days

Homes:

Homes fully funded by MBMSI: 17

Other homes coordinated by MBMSI, funded by other agencies: 8

Total number of homes built under MBMSI : 25

Average time to build a home: 6 weeks

Average size : approx 23 ft by 26 ft

Teams : ORL teams : 9

ORL participants from North America: 123

ORL participants from Team 2000: 11

Participants from The Life Center: 15

Other Thai participants: 11

Other North American or European volunteers: 45

Total ORL participants: 205

Dollars and cents

Daily wage for Thai foreman: $8.00

Average daily cost per participant in Thailand: $25

Average cost per house: $2,500 - $3,000

Population:

Population of the Phangnga province: 230,000

Evangelical churches in the province before the tsunami: 3

New evangelical churches established in the province: 25

New believers directly impacted byORL : 31

First cell group meets on Koh Koh Kao IsLand: April 15, 2005

After the wave

Family survives tsunami, works to reconstruct life

After catching a few fish out at sea . Thalib and his 22-year-old son Sofyan decided to tum their boat toward home earlier han planned and head for their village along the northeastern coast of Su matra. an island of Indonesia . Aboard their small craft. they hadn 't felt th e mass ive underwater earthquake that had just rocked land areas surrounding its Indi an O cean epicenter. It was Dec 26. 20 04 They were unaware of the tsunami wave that was gathering strength

As they neared the coast a swell suddenly flipped their boat. Thalib lost consciousness When he awoke he found himself caught in a tree . which was now surrounded by water . From this vantage point he could see his destroyed village . N ot a single structure remained . A tree closer to shore had protected Sofyan Father and son eventually made their wa y to shore fearing for the safety of the rest of the family .

Ama zingly everyon e in their family survived Many others were less fortunate. The massive wave killed some 225.000 people in 12 countries rimming the Indian Ocean from Indonesia and India in Asia to Somalia in East Africa

Mennonite Central Committee supporters responded to the tragedy by donating $14 million The Canadian government

matched some contributions. providing another $5.5 million for MCC's tsunami programs . Working through 33 partner agencies in Asia and Africa. MCC continues to use these funds to bring healing

Throughout the tsunami -affected areas there are situations where hope remains elusive - and many stories of hope restored

For months following the quake and tsunami, Thalib's family shared a platoon -sized tent with 35 other households - 97 individuals . Men slept on one side and the women on the other, lined up like proverbial sardines. Now his family is just one of two families left in the tent, and while they can stretch out. the tent is worn and leaky Others have moved into new homes. are staying with relatives or living in temporary barracks built by the Indonesian government .

While eager for a home of their own Thalib and Putri. his wife. are too grateful just to be alive to be frustrated with their current living situation. For them and other tsunami survivors, reconstructing their lives is akin to assembling a jigsaw puzzle; key pieces are housing. in come and health . Each family's and each person's puzzle fits together in its own unique way.

For some. the pieces are falling in place with relative ease. Thalib and Putri. for instance, have found new short-term income sources and their health is resilient. The missing pi ece for them is housing. And that piece includes the fact th at they are landless, as the sea has reclaimed their land.

For others. however. the puzzle pieces are not nestling so easily For many, emotional healing remains the most elusive piece Thalib's and Putri's emotional stability resonates in their ready laughter and their relaxed communication with one another. despite their brushes with death

When the quake hit. Putri was gathering firewood outside the family's home. Soon afterward. three waves of increasing intensity swept through. She could have escaped after the first but wanted to wait for her 12 -yearold son . Yusuf, who was on the beach. Putri instructed her 15-year-old daughter to run Then. a second wave dragged Putri into the ocean The third scooped her up and deposited her in a tree

Her son. Iskandar, 21. was fishing with a friend that morning. The surf tossed both young men from the boat; they managed to cling to trees. As for Yusuf, the se cond breaker had tugged him into the sea but he had managed to get up and run from the final most powerful. wave.

That all six survived . among countless villagers who lost loved ones. tempers the family 's material loss -

Since

Left: Thalib and Putri, his wife, live on Sumatra, an island of Indonesia hit by the 2004 tsunami .

Right:

the tsunami it takes courage to return to the sea Two fishermen steer a boat along the coast of India

es - fishing boat, shrimp pond, land, home and belongings Thalib is also thankful that he and his son, Sofyan, have work building boats in a project run by MC C partner agency Yakkum Emergency Unit They and their co -workers have already constructed half of the 200 boats ordered by two government agencies. The couple's son, Iskandar, has found work in a palm oil factory and the youngest two are back in school.

Getting back into a house will be more difficult Darsono, assistant director of YEU 's Lhokseumawe unit, reassures Thalib and Putri that YEU's priority is to help those who no longer have land on which to build houses . YE U will petition both village and district officials for the use or purchase of governmental lands .

Over the buzzing of saws from the boatyard next door, Thalib and Putri speak philosoph ic ally about the tsunami. "Sometimes these natural phenomena occur. It is God's will," they say If asked to counsel victims of a similar disaster, they would tell them , "Don't allow yourselves to be trapped by the traumatic experience; think to the future, not to the past. "

That ability is undoubtedly helping this family bounce back. And such an ability to envision an ordered future when knee -deep in mud and rubble has likely aided the broader recuperation of Indonesia 's Aceh province The province was the closest land mass to the epicenter, and thus the region's hardest hit.

Nearly a year after the tsunami, the mountains of mucky debris have been cleaned up. Gone are many of the tent camps for Aceh 's half -million displaced people Barracks, though temporary, have become bustling communities in their own right , and new villages of wooden cottages are emerging .

Visitors on Aceh's roads note many vehicles with th e acronyms of relief agencies splayed across their sides Aid agencies - from the United Nations to governmental and civilian organizations from many countries to small Indonesian groups, such as YEU - won't leave until th e province is back to normal. Tsunami victims voice gratitude for this global outpouring of compassion and help.

Quick attention to sanitation prevented an anticipated contagion of waterborne illness, which the World Health Organization had warned might kill more people than the tsunami itself. The international response also brought about the unintended but welcome effect of opening Aceh province, which was off-limits to outsiders due to a conflict between a separatist group and the Indonesian government The two parties signed an agreement ending the conflict on Aug IS.

While houses, boats - even peace treaties - are being hammered out across tsunami -tom Asia, some still struggle to go on Parents who lost children, in particular, wrestle to bring meaning to their lives, even when other pi eces of their

recovery are falling into place Newfound fear of the sea is a barrier to recovery for many tsunami survivors throughout Asia

Even Putri , who displays little post-disaster trauma , is not ready to return to the seas ide Although husband Thalib encourages her to resume her work- crabbing and collecting eggs of the kerapu, a highly valued fi sh- she can 't yet trust the ocean

Thalib 's long, strong relationship with th e sea, however, endured the tsunami, despite the magn itude of the terror it sowed . While he enjoys making boats, he itches to be back on the water in a boat of his own . "For me th e sea is so generous . I just sit in the boat and the fi sh come to me ," he says. "I've been at sea since I was a child; it' s where I belong "by Emily Will with photographs by Dan Marshka This article is reprinted by permission from a Comm on Place, MeG's free bimonthly maga zine

Minnesota church celebrates God's faithfulness

Carson MB church closes doors after 130 years

sion to close or continue. In October 2004 the congregation voted to close and set Nov. 27 as the date of the last service. Klassen and his wife, Anita, have accepted a call as pastoral couple at Elim Mennonite Church in Niverville, Man

During over a year of preparation, church leaders worked to make the closure a time of celebration . Although many were understandably saddened by the loss , Engbrecht says, 'They also realized they could celebrate the richness of the past, knowing that they gave their all to the furtherance of the kingdom. "

A number of events before the closing celebrated the church's history and legacy as a sending church

Two Sundays before the closing, Engbrecht told the congregation, "God will not forget the work done through Carson." That evening the church had a Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner and gift exchange

Members of Carson MB Church, Delft, Minn , took a final look, exchanged hugs and shed a few tears Then the lights were turned out Nov 27 and the doors locked, signaling the end of this congregation's 130 -year history that was characterized by a vision for mission and a call to service.

Central District Minister Roger Engbrecht calls the church "a trophy for our district." "Carson has served as a great example of commitment to conference ministries and the mission of the church," he says.

Although attendance normally averaged 35, nearly 200 atrended the final service. The two and one-half hour service included music by current and former members, sharing, a video presentation and reflections by former pastors

Many expressed appreciation for the congregation's influence in their lives. Mervin Dick, now a Mennonite pastor, emphasized the church 's commitment to sending when he said, 'There was a 'culture of call' at Carson . It wasn't a question of if but who God would call."

Founded in 1875 in rural Minnesota, the congregation faced challenges common to rural communities everywhere. Small family farms , once the backbone of the rural economy and of the C arson church, were replaced by more economically viable larger holdings. Young people moved to urban areas to find employment. The local population shrank and attendance dropped

Already struggling with declining attendance and an aging congregation, the expiration of Canadian pastor John Klassen's visa Nov. 30, 2005, brought the congregation face to face with the deci -

Carson pastoral couple John and Anita Klassen stand by the altar the congregation made Nov. 20 as a reminder of the ways in which the church has impacted the world

Since the church would be closed before Christmas, the congregation replaced the annual Christmas program with a Drama Fest Nov. 19, based upon a collection of short dramas perfotmed throughout the past years .

During the Nov . 20 service, members of the congregation placed rocks on the stage, creating an altar in remembrance of God's faithfulness to Carson. The rocks acknowledged the many missionaries, pastors, teachers and other full -time ministry workers this small church had called and sent forth More rocks celebrated those who came to Christ and were baptized in the church. The rocks were later delivered to each home as a reminder of God's faithfulness

A week before the closing, Carson's sister church, the Mountain Lake (Minn .) Community Bible Church, hosted a koinonia faspa for the two congregations as an opportunity to reminisce about shared history The two churches shared an especially close relationship and have worked together to send members into service For example, Engbrecht says that in the 1940S these two small congregations called and sent 40 people into full-time ministry. Carson's legacy as a sending church will continue through the distribution of irs assets. Some of Carson 's liquidated assets have been given to Tabor College, MB Biblical Seminary and MBMS International to be used as endowments The church's assets will also help to support the Central District in planting a new church in Sioux Falls, SD Some of the church 's resources will help plant a church in the Molotschna Colony part of the Ukraine , an area from which Ca rson 's charter members came . Carson member Elaine Kroeker says that, although the closing was diffi cult, 'The celebratory atmosphere at our final service gave our present congregation strength to conclude this part of our lives and to fa ce the future with a renewed commitment to remain faithful to Jesus C hrist." - from reports by Elaine Ewert Kro eker and Roger Engbrecht

New development projects target Congo

CIDA grant focuses on social, economic needs

MBMS International recently received a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency for development projects in Democratic Republic of Congo The MBMSI - CIDA project primarily targets the former Mennonite Brethren mission field in the Bandundu province.

Households in the area depend primarily on agriculture production. processing and marketing; activities virtually at a standstill in the country. Poor health services further reduces productive capacity. Since women are the primary producers for household consumption. they are the ones most in need of assistance.

MBs have been actively involved in the Congo since the 1920'S. investing in training. education and social ministries. This has resulted in a rapidly growing, strong evangelistic church of some 92.000 members with a good leadership core. reports the agency. However. while the church grew strong. the country slid into economic chaos. Although conditions are beginning to improve. the Congolese population continues to suffer under severe economic and social conditions.

The total amount of the initial project is for $266.600 with $172.000 coming from CIDA. Based on the success of this 18month project and because of its commitment to continued long-term ministry. MBMSI plans to apply to CIDA for an extension of at least another three years. However. matching funds of $94.600 are required to make this project a success.

The project has three components that will respond to both the social and economic needs. The project will support the Center

for Peace-building. Leadership. and Good Governance in its efforts to promote better approaches to conflict resolution and to develop leadership. both in the church and in the community

The project will provide essential medicines to local health centers in the form of a medicine credit line It will encourage improved management capacity and allow the centers to establish a revolving fund to assure a regular supply of essential medicines at a lower cost.

The project will also enable existing savings and loan associations to provide credit in manageable amounts. increasing their lending capacity as their management capacity develops. Loans using funding that is community-controlled and accountable will be made to existing microenterprises Training (capacity building) will be a central feature of this component.

MBMSI believes these components will increase the communities' confidence in the church and its members. "provoking a desire to enter into the abundant life " Care will be taken to ensure that women participate fully in all activities. says an MBMSI report on the project The project will be monitored through regular reporting and field visits by the MBMSI-CIDA project coordination committee

The Mennonite Mission Health Association is partnering with MBMSI to help raise the $65.000 medicine portion of the matching grant MMHA President Ferd Pauls was formerly an MBMSI medical missionary in Congo.

In addition to the MBMSI -CIDA project. a large renovation project has begun through MBMSI for education facility renewal at the Christian University of Kinshasa The Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford. BC. is conttibuting both funds and volunteers for this project

Additional information on these projects is available from Ernie Dyck. CIDA consultant and MBMSI - CIDA project coordinating committee member at 204669-6773 ehdyckl@mts .net and Murray Nickel. MBMSI Congo projects coordinator at 604-855-9512 mfnickel@mbmsLorg. - MBMSI news release

The new CIDA project in Congo focuses on the Bandundu province and will assist women like these from Kikwit.

Fellowship steals the show at SDC gathering

Midwest senior adults gather in Branson

The opportunity to attend Christmas shows in Branson, Mo., a popular tourist destination, may have been a drawing card for many who attended the first Southern District Conference gathering for senior adults. But more than one attendee says it was the fellowship with old and new friends that stole the show

"The best part was not Branson and the shows but the fellowship and worship in our group," writes one attendee in his evaluation "I would rate this one of the best things (my wife and I) have done in a number of years. "

Another writes, ''The Christmas shows in Branson were okay but I came for the fellowship and inspiration."

Nearly ISO people attended the senior adult gathering held at Branson's Settle Inn Resort and Conference Center. The majority of the group wa s retirees, and both single adults and couples attended . Five states and 25 congregations, mostly SDC churches, were represented

Event organizers Roland and Lois Reimer of Wichita, Kan., scheduled several fellowship times throughout the weekend, including a Friday night mixer and late night dessert on Saturday But according to some attendees even more time could have been set aside for infotmal visiting

For those who took advantage of motor coach transportation, the fellowship on the buses extended the good times In her e-mail reflecting on the weekend, Gloria Janzen of Enid, Okla , writes, " It all started on the bus where we were able to meet and re -meet folks we hadn't seen in years I think we Enid folks were the rowdy ones at the back of the bus, but we decided that if we were going, we were going to have a good time, and that we did."

The keynote speaker for the event was Larty Martens, a retired Mennonite Brethren pastor and former MB Biblical Seminary faculty member and president. He highlighted three issues of concern to older adults and ways in which one can learn from Scripture in these areas : dealing with one's past, feeling significant in the senior stage of life, and handling hurt, injustice and conflict.

Three workshops, each offered twice, focused on areas of special interest to senior adults One attendee writes in an evaluation, "So many of us retirees look for meaning

in our lives and workshops that encourage and provide insights are always great "

Jim Elliott, vice president for advancement at Tabor College, together with his father James Elliott of Souderton, Penn , talked about the multiple parental roles played by many senior adults. Jon Wiebe, president and CEO of MB Foundation, offered biblical and practical insights on retirement and later-life planning. Writer , speaker and educator Katie Funk Wiebe talked about developing healthy attitudes on aging

Singing - not just from Branson stages but by attendees - was an important part of the weekend Friday night featured a sing -along time led by a former Koerner Heights MB Church men's quartet The quartet of Jim Bartel of Hesston, Kan , Larty Martens of Fresno, Calif , Jim Regier of Hillsboro, Kan , and Phil Plett of Clearwater, Kan , along with accompanist Mary Regier also led in singing during the three group sessions.

Other activities included morning devotions, the opportunity to browse among displays, five meals, door prizes and two family-oriented Christmas shows

Judging from thei r response , if those who attended the 2005 SDC senior adult gathering have anything to say about it, this will become a regular event.

' We made many new friends , were inspired by Larty's messages, obtained some good information at the workshops , heard some great music, sang like we hadn't sung for many years, worshipped God in a meaningful way and, in general, had a great time," writes Jackie Siemens in her email. "We hope that this can be an annual event " - Connie Faber

Top: The first SDC senior adult gathering drew 150 participants.

Above: Fellowship was a highlight of the weekend in Branson

Shafter dedicates new building

Addition expands ministry. not just space

Shafter (Calif.) MB Church dedicated a new building as pan of their annual Missions HalVest Sunday, Nov. 20. It was fitting to dedicate the building on a day focused on missions, because the building is pan of the church's mission "We're not building this for ourselves," says Pastor Pat Coyle. "We're building it to continue to see God 's kingdom expanded."

Of course, he adds, 'We're excited about using it for ourselves, too ."

The new two -story building includes a gymnasium, a new kitchen and dining area and a large youth room The church basement, which fonnerly housed the kitchen and dining area, will be renovated into classroom space.

The new space will give current ministries room to expand and grow. " It will provide us with a new tool to use with our ongoing ministry, " Coyle says. Youth, women's ministry and AWANA will have space for anticipated growth The church's growing senior ministry will enjoy the building's improved accessibility. The new building will provide better space for events and church gatherings.

In addition, Shafter hopes to use the building to begin new community outteach For example the gymnasium could be used for sports outteach, such as pickup basketball, open gym nighrs or sports clinics for children or youth.

Coyle says the church has a mindset of " blessing the city." Rather than seeing the

community as an adversary or obstacle, the congregation looks for ways to bless the community and build bridges for the gospel. That mindset doesn't necessarily have measurable results, Coyle says, but can make a big difference in a small community such as Shafter, which has a population of about 13,000

The process of building was "a patience-producing experience," admirs Coyle . The project took twice as long as expected; some details and inspections were not complete at the dedication

In spite of those frustrating delays Coyle says the experience was positive, especially the stewardship experience. He explains that the original budget for the building was between $750,000 and $950,000, but increased building costs meant a total cost of about $1.2 million. Not to be deterred, the congregation raised $1.1 million by the time the building was dedicated . In addition, the congregation has continued to meet or exceed the regular church budget. 'The whole stewardship experience has been a very, very encouraging experience," Coyle says.

The church expects to be able to fully use the new building in January ' We're anxious to use it and are excited to see what God's going to do in and through it," Coyle says.- Myra Holmes

Campus Visit Days

February 19-20

• Attend Classes

• Academic Fair with. Professors

• Pizza Party

• Concert by Student-Led Ministry Team, 1268

• Campus Tour

California gathering brings the world together

MWC mini-assembly scheduled for March

US Mennonite Brethren - particularly those living in Central California-have the opportunity to a Mennonite World global assembly a small scale when an esttmated 200 leaders representtng churches from 55 counmes gather March 7-15 in Pasadena, Calif.

MWC, of which the u.s . Conference is a member, is a global community of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another for fellowship, worship, service and wimess. MWC's decision-making body is the General Council, comptised of representatives of MWC churches and conferences. The General Council meets for one week in conjunction with global assemblies held every six or seven years and at the midpoint between assemblies. The Pasadena gathering marks the midpoint between the 2003 assembly in Zimbabwe and the next assembly planned for 2009 in Paraguay. . General Council meetings also include meetings of the MWC Peace Council and Faith and Life Council as well as various interest groups and organizations. Amigos, the MWC youth committee, will also meet during the week.

U.S. Conference Executive Director Chuck Buller and Lynn Jost of the USC Leadership Board will represent the U.S MBs at the Pasadena General Council meeting Tyler Prieb of Topeka, Kan., is the u.s. MB youth . .

North American congregations have been inVited to host and/or financIally sponsor an Anabaptist leader from Asia, Africa or Latin America coming for the gathering from churches that cannot pay full travel costs. Representatives of these Global Church Congregations (GCC) are invited to join the annual council meetings. They will meet

MENNONITE

HEALTH ASSEMBLY

Anabaptist doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers and board/staff leaders of Anabaptist-related health and human service ministries are gathering for: ·

• new ideas that integrate faith and work

• personal, professional & spiritual renewal

• networking

JOIN US. Sign up early to participate in the Golf Outing on March 2 from 1:00 to 6 :00 p m

Anabaptist leaders from around the world and also experience the diversity in local congregations from the three host conferences: Brethren in Christ, Mennonite Church USA and the u.s. Conference of MB Churches. Two representatives from each of the host conferences are helping to plan the events.

GCC representatives and guests are invited to attend General Council, Faith and Life Council and Peace Council meetings scheduled for March 9-15. All council meetings will be held at the William Carey International University. The U S. Center for World Mission, numerous Christian ministries and nine churches share the campus. Many MWC participants will be lodged at the university.

MWC President Nancy Heisey of the u.s. and Vice President Danisa Ndlow of Zimbabwe will host a dinner for the representatives March 10 Sunday evening, March 12, GCC representatives are invited to meet with North American denominational executives and MWC leaders to discuss how Mennonites and BIC congregations in North America can increase their global connections.

Several special events are planned for the 2006 mini-assembly. Ronald J. Sider, author, professor and lecturer from Pennsylvania, will be the featured speaker for a consultation March 7-8 on service within and outside the global Anabaptist-related churches. The consultation is co-sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee and precedes the council meetings.

The 100th anniversary of the Pentecostal movement in 2006 provides the impetus for a symposium on "Global Anabaptism and Global Pentecostalism: Creating Understandings " Fuller Theological Seminary and MWC will jointly host the March 13 evening event at the seminary Worship will be a big part of the miniassembly. Each day will begin with worship led by local musicians. Preaching will be shared among local leaders and MWC General Council members.

Local churches will host MWC guests at their morning worship services March 12 and there will be a late afternoon worship service on the WCIU campus for all Mennonite and BIC churches in the area .from MWC news releases and Web site

by Rose Buschman

Living Psalm 23

How can I follow the Shepherd in 2006?

During the time my husband and I lived in North Africa I had occasion to watch a shepherd at work with his sheep. We lived on the edge of town and so from my kitchen window I could look out over the countryside On numerous occasions an elderly shepherd. clad in a brown. homespun ankle -length djalaba would walk his flock of about two dozen sheep from one grazing area to another. I watched how the sheep would move when he moved. stop and graze when he sat down and sometime even lie down and doze when he did.

That is. all except three of the older lambs. I called them his teenagers. They would run ahead or sideways in a different direction from the rest of the flock trying to see how far the shepherd's boundaries would stretch When he got tired of their antics, he would yell at them and sometimes even throw a rock or clod of dirt . The three wayward ones would then quickly return to the flock.

Sheep are ofren depicted as dumb animals needing a shepherd to guide and take care of them. Maybe some are, but those three seemed pretty smart to me. At least they knew how to keep the shepherd on his toes.

Psalm 23 depicts the Lord as "my shepherd." This means I am one of his sheep. As I was thinking about this the other day the thought occurred to me: Since many people consider sheep dumb and since the Lord is my shepherd, does this mean that I am a dumb sheep?

" Probably from God ' s perspective you are pretty dumb, " was my husband's response to the question. Put that way, I am. This means I need a shepherd to guide me through life . This means I need to know his voice, hear his instructions to me and follow him

Furthermore I need to remember that my shepherd wants what is best for me

Unfortunately I take for granted so much of what he has already given me In his book, Safe in the Shepherd's Arms, Max Lucado writes,

"He splashed orange in the sunrise and cast the sky in blue ... .

Did he have to make the squirrel's tail furry?

Was he obliged to make the birds sing?

And the funny way that chickens scurry

Or the majesty of thunder when it rings?

Why give a flower fragran ce?

Why give food its taste? "

Lucado goes on to say, "So the next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, 'Do you like it? I did it just for you '"

As I contemplate another new year with its challenges and unknowns I want to make a greater effort to be thankful for what God has given me, thankful for the things I so ofren take for granted.

Thankful for a sense of smell that lets me appreciate the aroma of a freshly brewed pot of coffee on a cold, frosty morning or a loaf of pumpkin cranberry bread as it comes out of the oven. Thankful for the satisfaction that comes from eating a bowl of hot Alaskan salmon chowder for lunch or a crisp Gala apple for a snack. I want to be thankful for my ability to experience taste while remembering a friend who has lost hers as a result of an accident.

There is so much enjoyment in seeing the red and green colors of the poinsettia that sits on my living room table or in watching the goldfinches that come to our bird feeder near our dining room windows .

I appreciate the warmth of my home while at the same time praying for the earthquake survivors in Pakistan whose lives are in jeopardy because they do not have access to such comfort.

I want to enjoy God's creation and the gifrs he has given me in a more intimate way. In the words of the hymn writer my desire is to "come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses." I want to listen to God's voice and dwell on all the reminders he has given me that "he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own ."

For me the year 2006 is to be the year when I renew my sense of awe that the Lord is my shepherd who loves me, cares for me and has given me so much to be thankful for. Every day I want to remember that "this is the day that the Lord has made we (I) will rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps n8 :24)

Feeling guilty

Thinking about altar calls, salvation and guilt

QWhatis your assessment of the «altar caDs" and revival services held in our churches 50 years ago and earlier? (Kansas)

AThe question comes from someone who has very negative memories about revival. meetings in hildhood. He was not reared In a Mennomte Brethren church but in a closely related conference

He writes: «Ministers coming in from other areas would extend the altar call, sing another verse of 'Ju st As I Am' and push and pull for people to come forward and accept C hrist I went forward at least rwice, I beli eve , and someone prayed with me to receive Christ and the next morning it seemed to me nothing had changed " He says this same experience occurred again the next year

Younger readers may not understand the frustration and guilt of this 70 -year -old -believer but anyone following the career of Billy Graham probably knows something about such an experience . I personally was a «victim" of this revivalistic practice in my youth and had an experience similar to the inquirer It took a good many years before I forgave my spiritual forebears for what I deemed , rightly or wrongly, a rather complicated path to salvation.

I was taught that several things needed to be done for me to be saved First, I needed to ask everyone against whom I might have sinned to forgive me Then I needed to pray until I «found peace." I prayed in nearly every buffalo wallow in our pasture when I went to fetch the cows. I waited for the clouds to open and tell me I was a believer.

------

Victory came very calmly in September 1940 when an older cousin explained that we are born again when we take God at his word God says we are to confess, repent and believe When we obey, he redeems us That settled the question for me . Were my spiritual fathers and mothers wrong? Not really. It was right to make sure that I had confessed my sins. It was right to expect something supernatural to hap -

Have a question about a Bible passage, do ctrin e, conferen ce policy or other spiritual issue? Send your question to "Inquiring Minds ," clo Marvin Hein , 3036 Eas t Magill Avenue, Fresno , CA 93 710 or e- mail Marvin at marvinh ei n@sbcglobal net.

pen - just not in the clouds It was right to pray It was right to answer an invitation to receive Christ.

What was probably not right was to expect salvation to come from following a formula that had been the practice in the Ukraine in the 1880s. My ancestors' conversions to C hrist came as grown adults. For the most part conversion meant a decided change of lifestyle, a change that as a teenager I couldn't duplicate since I could not think of seriou s acrs of rebellion in my life

Do we not often expect those who follow us to duplicate the ways we have experienced salvation? Our forebears simply brought to us what they had experienced and expected us to conform to those practices. They did precisely they thought was right and bibli cal. What they didn't do in many cases was to show us what it really meant when the Bible says , "for by grace you are saved " There was more emphasis pla ced on a procedure than on grace , more importan ce on a form of works than on the trust Christ asks of us .

I hold nothing against those who led me spiritually. I only wonder how often I may have left those who trusted me for spiritual guidance equally frustrated

I do have a concern for our day. Because some of us suffered unnecessary guilt too long, do we talk enough about guilt in our modem church culture? Do we minimize the guilt factor in conversion? We have to know we are lost before we can be saved Someone shared with me not long ago that he had listened to the testimonies of baptismal candidates and in more than one instan ce he had not seen any evidence of a consciousness of sin.

I do not want to return to the 1940s I do want to hear that the good news is for those who acknowledge their sin nature as well as their sinful behavior, confess those, ask forgiveness and trust Christ to redeem them and make th em new creatures

I am happy to say that I have seen such works of grace in our congregation . I have seen people whose lives have been radically changed I only pray that we will not preach the Gospel in ways that le ad people to believe that trusting Jesus and following him in life is easy, safe and comfortabl e.

BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP

Henderson, Neb.- Karla Buller, Dianne Buller, Caleb Epp, Michelle Goertzen, Autumn Qu iri ng , Jess ica Quiring and Mike and Bridget Yoder were bapt ized and rece ived as members Dec 4 Paul Bul le r an d Nathan Goertzen were rece ived as membe rs Nov 4

Blaine, Wash. (Birch Bayl - Ang ie Stevenso n and Ivan Odushkin were rece ived as members De c 4 Shafter, Calif. - Wylodyne Counts , Michelle Ferguson , Erma Funk and Joe and linda Moesta we re received as members Dec 4

Kingsburg, Calif. - Nate Aye r s was accepted into membership Nov 27

Ferndale, Wash. (Good News Fellowshipl - Vicky Alvarado and Annette Kraft we re bapt ized and rece ived as members Nov 20

Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl - Alan Keeney was baptized the weekend of Nov 19 - 20 Noah Clement, Gary Fahy, Kather ine Fahy, Kimm Gillam, Jennife r Hatfield , Michael Halpern , Matt Purdy, Brent Rogers , Dawn Rogers, Doug Rye , Deanna Rye and Ernestine Shakoor were re ceived as members Nov 20

Enid, Okla .- Monty and Dana Melv in, James and Keri Hutchison and Bob and Evelyn Henderson were received as members Dec. 4 Dillon and Austin Jones were baptized and received as members Nov 16 Kirk and Tisha Burnside were received as members Nov 16 Weatherford, Okla (Pine Acresl - Jessic a Penner and James Breeding we re bapt ized and received as members Nov 13. Kendl Breed ing , Tommy and Heather Duncan, Loyd Felder, Buddy and Wendy Peterson and Amy Whitson were received as members Nov. 13 Reedley, Calif. - Chris Bennett , Rebekah Mart in, Mary Mirafuentes and Justin Weems were baptized and received as members Nov. 13 Lorene Doste r, Sa rah Edwards , Elme r and Barbara Friesen, Lester and Norene Marc h, Bruce Nickel, Kevin and Ann Riddle and Kylie Riddle were rece ived as membe rs Nov 13 Fresno, Calif. (Bethanyl - Jeremy Hofer was baptized Nov 6 Ric hard and Meredith Brandon, Ken and Ke r ry Brown, Joyc e Ghilotti , Luis and Danette Salinas and Dina Tews were received as members Nov 6 Hillsboro, Kan .- Corissa Bartel, Elise Heyen , Mit chell Koop , Krista Reimer , Lan ce Bartel, Emma Heyen, Carter Pankratz , Bethany Regier , Dan iel Jo st, Hayley Pankratz and Greta Wiebe were baptized and re ceived as members Oct. 30 Edward and Lula Penner were received as members

Hillsboro, Kan (Parkviewl - David Winter and Jonath an Stepanek we re baptized Oct. 23 and received as members Jenny Epp , Rut h Friese n, Dea n Magnu son and Esther Wiebe were also accepted as me mbers Freeman, SO (SalemI - Richard and Pri scil la Wa l ter were accepted as members Oct. 23 Garden City, Kan (Garden Valleyl - Da niel Hame l was bap ti zed and rece ived as a member Oct 16 Robert and

Loni McDowe ll were received as membe rs Tulsa , Okla (The Heartl - Three adults were baptized Oct. 16

FELLOWSHIP

Weatherford, Okla (Pine Acresl - Women we re invited to a Christmas tour of homes Dec 8 featu rin g members ' homes wit h seasona l decorations and ho l iday foods

Yale, SO (Bethell - In li eu of Christmas gift exchanges be tween Su nday sch ool or midweek teache rs and stu dents, chu rch membe r s were encouraged to brin g unwrapped gifts for needy ch ildren in the community and place them under a tree in the foye r.

Inman, Kan. (Zoarl - Women of the church celebrated Christmas with a tour of homes, refreshments and caroling at a local sen ior care facility Nov 29. San Jose, Calif. (Lincoln Glenl - The church held a special Th anksg iving Day service Nov 27

Edmond, Okla. (Memorial Roadl - Members were asked to bring a symbol of something they are thankful for to a " Fruit and Nut Banquet" Nov 20. An offering was taken for the benevolent fund Cordell, Okla (Biblel - The church hosted an annual community Thanksgiving service Nov 20 in cooperation with 10 churches from the Co rdell Min isterial Alliance

Wichita, Kan. (First) - Members were encouraged to brin g "Lego " or " Duplo " building blocks for a familyoriented evening of building and snacks Nov 18

Buhler, Kan. - The church held a HarvestfThanksgiving Festival Nov 13, including a combined worship service and a Thanksgiving meal.

Fresno, Calif. (North Fresnol - A nu rsery shower and lu ncheon Nov 13 he l ped provide for the needs of the church nursery

Huron, SO (Bethesdal - The church held a Veteran's Day Program and Patriot ism Potluck Nov 13 The local high school ba nd prov ided music, and many guests attended. Fresno, Calif. (Bethanyl - The chu rch held a Children 's Family Night Nov 18 Harvest Mission Festival and potluck was held Nov 13 The community was involved in a Fall Fam ily Fest ival Oct 31.

MINISTRY

Wichita, Kan (Firstl - Members were encouraged to invite guests to a Chr istmas program presented by the adult and children 's choirs and orchestra "Wondrous Gift" had three show ings Dec 9- 11

Wichita, Kan. (Lighthouse Communityl- The church gave away as many free turkeys as possible to the community at a Turkey Toss following the service Dec 18. Other MB churches in the area donated turkeys for the event.

Reedley, Calif. - A team of 28 people from the church traveled to Swaziland in January to plant gardens for families suffering from AIDS and poverty-related maladies The church 's choir, orchestra , youth, children 's choir , drama team and multimedia team cooperated to present 14 December performances of "A Portrait of Christmas ." Church members were encouraged to invite family , friends, neighbors and coworkers as an outreach opportunity

Yale, SO (Bethell - About 172 people attended a Sunday school rally Nov 13 , including many from the community who expressed interest in the church. The evening event featured "Art in Motion, " a family of 12 who pres -

Youth begin outreach in neighboring community

Youth at Enid (Okla .) MB Church are reaching out to youth in the nearby community of Kremlin through a second weekly youth gathering . The Kremlin group began because youth from that area had a desire to reach their friends but wanted something closer to home Enid MB volunteer youth leaders John and Emily Buller lead the group in their home on Wednesday evenings A typical meeting is similar to the regular Sunday evening youth meetings at Enid MB, but in a relaxed home setting Youth usually eat together and play games , then move into a Bible lesson and prayer According to the church newsletter, up to 17 young people have attended the Wednesday evening meetings "One of the best things about this group is that they feel comfonable together and are inviting others to come also," says th e newslette r 'They are also free to have some accountability among themselves "

ent a biblical message th rough gymnastics, unicycles, juggling and dan ce

Denver, Colo. (Garden Parkl - The church helped 27 people fill out paperwork necessary for employment through a job assistance program in late 2005 The program was funded through a grant in cooperation with a nondenominational inner -city ministry and a state-run employment and training center. Contacts were often made through the food bank housed in church facilities Volunteers prayed with each contact. Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl- The church has adopted a Gulf Coast pastor and church family from the hurricane - devastated area of Louisiana Members are encouraged to designate donations to help meet the needs of this church family during the one-year partnership

PROCLAMATION

Olathe, Kan.(Community Biblel - "Preparing for the Quest of a Lifetime " was the theme for the church 's Thanksgiving meal and missions celebration Nov. 20

San Jose, Calif. (Lincoln Glenl - Nov 20 was a mission emphasis day During the morning service church members brought offerings of tin cups with money collected for Mennonite Central Committee, school kits for MCC, bar soap for MCC and bags of groceries for the needy The day culminated with Thanksgiving dinner

Gettysburg, SD (Grace Biblel - Henry Schmidt, former MB Biblical Seminary president, was the Harvest Missions Festival speaker Nov 13

Minot, ND (Bible Fellowshipl-Don Morris, Mission USA director, was the guest·speaker for the Harvest Missions Festival Nov. 13 The celebration al so included a noon meal and an afternoon session

Kingsburg, Calif. - Ron Penner from MBMS International was the guest speaker for Harvest Missions Sunday Nov 13

Garden City, Kan (Garden Valleyl - Harvest Mission Festival was celebrated Oct. 23 with featu red missionaries from the Middle East.

Enid, Okla. - Oct. 16 was Mission Encounter Sunday Ron Penner, representing MBMS International, was the guest speaker for a combined worship service ,

Considering career ministry?

followed by various guests for Bible study time and a banquet meal. Evening home groups focused on the persecuted church

WORKERS

Olathe, Kan. (Community Biblel - Ellen Funk has begun work part -time as children 's director Kingsburg, Calif. - John Hawkins was installed as the new youth minister Nov. 27.

YOUTH

Corn, Okla. - Youth offered to help church members put up Christmas lights Nov 30

Cordell, Okla. (Biblel - The youth offered a "Christmas post office " service Nov 27 -Jan 1 Cards for church members could be dropped off at the church offi ce with a donation , and the youth delivered the cards

Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl - Youth participated in their sixth annual 20 -Day Prayer Challenge in October, during which they met daily for prayer, including weekends The challenge ended with a 24hour fast and a final gathering to break the fast.

DEATH S

NIKKEL, HERBERT WALTER, Reedley, Calif , a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Aug 28, 1917, in Hydro, Okla., to Jacob and Lizzie Siemens Nikkel and died Nov 24, 2005, at the age of 88 On Mar 16, 1939, he married Marjorie Knaak, who survives He is also survived by one son, Kenneth and wife Beverly ; three daughters, Sharon and husband Larry Gaede, Ca rol and husband Gary Thompson , and Marilyn and husband Richard Adams; two sisters, Ruby and husband Leo Warkentin and Irene and husband Henry Suderman; one sister - in-law, Barbara Flaming, seven grandchildren and eight great -grand children.

SCHIMNOWSKI, ELLA, Bakersfield, Calif , was born April 12, 1919, in Mountain Lake, Minn , and died Sept. 20 , 2004, at the age of 85 She is survived by her husband, Mel; one son, Don and wife Carolyn; five daughters, Elaine and husband Bob Hardcastle, Joann and husband Greg Marling , Dorothy and husband Bob At chison, Mary and husband Richard Abel, and Darlene, five grand children and five great -

grandchildren STELTING, CARL, Hillsboro, Kan , a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Sept. 4, 1906, in Hillsboro to Karl and Mary Funk Stelt ing and died Nov 27, 2005, at the age of 99 On Jan 22, 1965, he was married to Erma Haefke, who survives He is also survived by one son, Gordon of Beatrice, Neb ; one daughter, Alice Claassen of Wichita; and three stepsons, Roger Haefke of Wichita, Kan , Charles Haefke of Gladstone, Neb., and Duane Haefke of Shellyville, Ky.

Correction: The December death notice for Jake Hodel stated that he is survived by his wife This is not correct; she died in 1999

1!U Clearing HOU5E su

i

looking for a lead pastor to be part of our four person pastoral team We are an active, healthy, 500 - member small town church that believes Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives Buhler MB is committed to being a sending church to the pastorate and missions and feels called to fulfill our Christ - centered purpose in the world Applicants should have an unde rstanding and belief in Anabaptist theology, preferably with five years experience in a lead or asso ci ate pastor pOSition in a multiple staff setting We are looking for a man with demonstrated gifts for leading , preaching, teaching, caring, communicating, developing strong staff, and vision for the future Resumes may be sent to the Search Committee at Buhler M B Church , 415 N. West Street, Buhler, KS 67522 or e-mailed to inforclbuhlermb.org (2/12)

resno , a I

Christian university in California 's Central Valley, seeks to fill a full-time position in psychology. FPU is known for its academic excellence and strong sense of community, and serves a diverse population of religious, ethnic and national traditions. See the FPU website at www.lresno edu/deptipersonnel for the Announcement of Va cancy and a downloadable application form.

Tabor College seeks fUll -time faculty starting August 2006, for positions in psychology, Bible, secondary teacher education, athletic training program director and sociology/social work Doctorates preferred Passion for mentoring and advising undergraduate majors Must affirm Tabor distinctives as an Anabaptist evangelical Christian college and articulate personal Christian comm itment. Complete position listings at http ://www.tabor.edu Send a letter of interest to Dr. Lawrence Ressler, VP of Academics, Tabor College , 400 S Jefferson , Hillsboro, KS 67063 (1121

out new

school curriculum , Gather 'Round : Hearing & Sharing God 's Good News, coming soon Gather 'Round includes materials for preschool through high school, as well as year -round multi- age resources and a cla ss for parents and caregivers All groups study the same Bible text at the same time Bible outlines, free sample sessions, and more at www gatherround org

New Year's news

Technology is changing the way we sin

It is still the Christmas season as I'm writing this. That means Ive listened to at least 89 versions of "Jingle Bells," but am not yet the bottom of the barrel for gift ideas. When I get to that POInt, I do have a couple of possibilities for last-minute presents. I could go with the combination espresso makerlcarpet shampooer or the slippers with

• Lego scam. I read about a man who concocted a scheme to buy expensive Lego sets for drastically reduced prices. Then he sold them at higher prices on the Web . I for one am shocked that anyone would resort to deception on the Internet well, maybe I said that already. Anyway, the man had devised a way to alter bar codes on Legos to purchase them cheaply. Over time he was able to resell something like $600,000 worth of merchandise.

It never would have crossed my mind that one could make big money stealing Legos. Yet humans are amazingly creative in their pursuit of dishonest gain Why not use all that energy to headlights for getting around in a dark house. Okay, I made up the first one, but the sec-

'- Some people seem morc ahou.t f!1l1"ic video ¥ames , movie.." tclc\'i-;ion and thc I ntc rnct thclr Jobs or famtllcs or

ond is a real gift idea I saw in a magazine.

Enough about Christmas . Since this column is for January, 111 take a break from the holidays to focus on fresh news in honor of the new year. Here are a few items that caught my attention, on subjects which will likely remain relevant during the next year.

• Internet dating. A newspaper article reported that some online dating services were being sued for allegedly "engaging in deceptive practices." I for one am shocked that anyone would resort to deception on the Internet. Anyway, these matchmaking Web sites were accused, among other things, of "creating fake profiles to entice subscribers."

What a surprise.

Regarding this topic, I once noticed something interesting on a news Web site I frequent. There was a matchmaker ad showing three lovely women identified as available residents of my hometown of Salem, Ore. (Note to my wife: When I said I saw something "interesting" I wasn't referring to the women. Really. Please keep reading .) What I found interesting (see, Honey) was that a few weeks later while out of state, I checked the news and saw the same three women pop up with hometowns listed as "San Francisco, Calif "

Hmm.

Since I know so little about online dating, I don't want to pass judgment. Maybe most matchmaking services are reputable and successful. Still, there 's something about the practice that bothers me The singles and couples pictured in ads are always attractive, cozy and happy. Such images feed a fantasy that you can find the perfect mate out there who will be fun and flawless . Who will never get on your nerves or take any effort to get along with . And if you believe that, let me interest you in some nice swampland I have for sale ... .

earn an honest living? But before I judge too harshly, I should remember that I too am a fallen being. The temptation exists in all humans to con others and practice dishonesty, even in the midst of our seemingly law-abiding lives and careers.

• Entertainment frenzy. I read an article about a student protest regarding what one participant described as a "dark force" that has invaded culture. What this woman was talking about, of course, was the horrible evil of not being able to load certain songs on her iPod music player. Yes, the end of the world is near

I'm being snarky, I know. Really, to some degree I can sympathize with this protest against the new copy-protected compact discs coming out that prevent the transfer of songs to iPods. It's annoying that the rich and powerful music industry keeps wringing more money out of consumers while providing less product and service. Still, we're only talking about entertainment here.

The obsession with entertainment has gotten out of hand. Some people seem more passionate about music downloads, video games , movies, television and iile ]:; .. metthan their jobs or families or educations. What kinds of pri orities are these?

Even many church people, who sh ow up intermittently and seem indifferent to spiritual things, wou ld n't of missing their favorite television show . And when churchgoers start arguing about contemporary versus traditional worship styles, they often sound more interested in hearing the kind of music they like than actually worshiping God

I'm not saying that for Christians, entertainment has no place . But these days it's in need of being put in its place, somewhere lower on the priority list.

l1lil1li

Living with tears

2005 to be remembered for emergencies

It is impossible for one to live without tears who considers things exactly as they are," wrote Gregory of Nyssa in De Beatitudine around 350 AD When we look at the global events of 2005 "exactly as they are" we have no choice but to weep with those around the world who have lost so much. 2005 will be remembered for the unprecedented string of humanitarian crises that left aid organizations in the U S. and around the world stretched thin.

In the early days of 2005 our eyes were focused on the devastated coast of I2 countries that ring the Indian Ocean An underwater earthquake Dec 26, 2004 killed nearly a quarter of a million people and left several million homeless. Southeast Asia came to the forefront again in October when an earthquake shook Pakistan, Afghanistan and India , killing about 73,000 people In late December aid organizations were warning that with coming winter temperatures and storms, adequate shelter and supplies were urgently needed for almost 3 million people.

The 2005 Atlantic storm season was the busiest on record : 13 hurricanes and 26 named storms. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma affected millions of people along large stretches of the U.S. Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Stan slammed into impoverished Central America, killing hundreds in Guatemala and El Salvador, displacing tens of thousands and leaving close to 300,000 people reliant on international food aid

While earthquakes and hurricanes dominated the news, there were less publicized weather catastrophes : major flooding in Mumbai, India; drought in Niger, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Malawi; and a typhoon that lashed Viemam

According to statistics presented in early December at a United Nations conference, weather-related natural disasters in 2005 - earthquakes not included - led to an estimated $200 billion loss. This is the largest financial loss ever as a result of weather-related natural disasters , up from the previous record of $145 billion in 2004

As I consider the thousands of people impacted during this year of extraordinary emergencies, I am thankful that Mennonites have established relief and mission agencies to be God's hands and feet in a hurting world. Because of these and other C hristian organizations the story of 2005 is also a story of God's people giving wimess to his love and grace The events of 2005 became part of our story as Mennonite Brethren congregations prayed, gave and in some cases went to minister to communities recovering from an earthquake or hurri cane .

According to U S Conference church giving records, financial contributions to MBMS International took a significant jump in

January 2005 when the agency announced its rebuilding and church planting plan for a Thai island following the tsunami.

Giving to Mennonite Central Committee, the international Mennonite and Brethren in Christ relief, development and peace agency, rose following the tsunami and the Gulf Coast storms. In fact, MCC received over $12 million for tsunami relief, their largest humanitarian effort since World War II . While the USC office does not track giving to Mennonite Disaster Service , the Mennonite and Brethren in C hrist domestic relief agency, MDS also has experienced record financial giving and volunteer offers following the 2005 fall hurricane season

When Christians look at things "exactly as they are, " we must also shed tears for the losses in 2005 that could have been avoided. We can't stop earthquakes and hurricanes, but reports from various aid organizations suggest that we can minimize the suffering they cause

'The lesson of this year of catastrophe, from the tsunami to the Pakistan earthquake, is that we can ensure that natural disasters do not have these unnatural, and terrible, consequences," says the international relief agency Christian Aid in its December report on disaster prevention.

The World Bank and the U.S Geological Survey estimate that $1 spent on disaster risk reduction can save $7 in relief and repair costs, to say nothing of the lives saved So what exactly does one do to reduce the unnatural consequences of a natural disaster? Christian Aid says that ri sk reduction methods don't have to be high -tech or expensive . MCC's work in El Salvador is a good example of this.

El Salvador was one country particularly hard-hit in 2005 It endured, in the same week, a volcanic eruption, flooding from a hurricane that caused 50,000 to move to shelters and an earthquake. Thanks to funds from M CC and the labor of a local Baptist church partner, the community of La Linea was better prepared than it once was to weather such a week.

The community had experienced mudslides following Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and an earthquake in 2001. The church had used MCC funds to build nine concrete walls to protect homes from destruction caused by mudslides Remarkably, these walls have all held up, and the church is planning to build 16 more The cost for material, covered by MCC, for each wall is $400. This is a small price to pay when one considers that this time no one died in La Linea and homes were saved

It is good to know that through MC C and other relief agencies we can give wimess to God's love and our concern for others by providing immediate aid and by preventing future loss May our efforts bring a measure of comfort and hope to the world .-Connie Faber

Global Anabaptist/Mennonite SheH of Literature

(a project of Mennonite World Conference)

Our 2005 Selection! ACulture of Peace

God's Vision for the Church

by Alan Kreider, Eleanor Kreider, and Paulus Widjaja

About this book

Why is peace such a divisive issue, even among Christians? Why is peace often considered an extra, rather than an essential, to faithful Christian living? The authors suggest how to develop "peacemaking reflexes"; how churches "can learn to handle conflict well"; and how to cultivate vulnerability and humility, two essential "attitudes of peacemakers."

"Excellent-a solidly biblical, highly readable, superb restatement of]esus' call to peacemaking. This book is a clear, winsome articulation of biblical nonviolence for the larger church." - Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action Paperback • $9.99 (U.S.), $13.95 (Canadian)

How you can be involved

Read this book youself. Hand it to young persons and inquiring friends. Study it with your small group or Sunday school class. lAnd make sure your library has at least one copy.,

How to get this book

Check with your local bookstore. Or-in the U.S., call the publisher, Good Books, at 8001762-7171, or shop at the secure website, www.GoodBks.com. In Canada, call the Pandora Book Shop at 5191745-1560.

Purpose of the Shelf

The Global Anabaptist/ Mennonite Shelf of Literature envisions a new book selection each year, encouraging the fellowships around the world to translate it into their own languages. The book or booklet of the year may have been published first in anyone of the languages spoken within the Anabaptist-related fellowships found in 65 countries around the world For more information , email Executive Secretary Larry Miller at LarryMiller@MWC-cmm.org.

Mennonite World Conference

2002

2003

Gifts in the Global Family of Faith, by Pakisa K. Tshimika & Tim Lind Paperback,

2005 Selection

reat Reasons

1. Your money will help new churches build.

2. Existing churches can expand, renovate and revitalize their facilities.

3. You earn a competitive rate of interest when you invest in one of the following certificates.

5. Your dollars and cents can be trans' formed into changed lives - one disciple, one church and one community at a time.

6. You join over 500 investors who are already committed to partnering with MB Loan Fund.

7. Our minimum investment is $100 on a Demand or Advantage Certificate and $1,000 on a Term Certificate.

8. Funds are URGENTLY needed to meet the loan demand of our churches!

4. All rates are variable and may provide good inflation protection. YES! I want to partner in the ministry of the local church.

Loan Fund