July 1996

Repetition in worship singing: bane or blessing?

PAGE 7

Holy hoaxes and Christian integrity PAGE 11

NEWS FOCUS:

MB Biblical Seminary takes on the challenge ofchanging times.

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INSIDE JULY

FIRST WORDS

1996

...from the editor

H

ow MANY TIMES have we been told by leaders and missions folks that the future of the church is in the urban centers of our nation? The accompanying, though largely unspoken, message is that small-town congregations, especially those with memberships under 100, are all but irrelevant.

Bunk. At least partly so. If Mennonite Brethren are to reach the masses, we must embrace our urban centers. But small-town, small churches have a valuable ministry too.

Ron Klassen and John Koessler say small churches actually have strengths. Their case begins on page 4.

Weary of the "worship war" raging in too many of our congregations over the singing of hymns or choruses?

Beginning on page 7, Steven R. Toews offers insights that both sides should consider about the function of "repetition" in worship. Maybe we have common ground after all.

Jesus said that a mark of the end times would be rumors of war. He didn't say there'd be rumors-false ones-among Christians about almost everything else too, but there are. "Holy Hoaxes," which begins on page 11, aims to dispel some of the most ridiculous and persistent ones. For the sake of Christian integrity, let's do our part to put some of this nonsense to rest.

With the insights of our regular columnists, we believe this issue makes for some pretty good summertime reading. Now, that's one rumor you can freely pass along.-DR

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COMING • JULY 22-26-Basic Institute in Conflict Management and

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Mediation, sponsored by the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies; held at Fresno Pacific College.

• JULY 26-29-U.S. Conference biennial convention; Colorado Springs, Colo.

• SEPTEMBER 26-28-General Conference consultation and Council of Boards; site to be announced.

• NOVEMBER 8-9-Pacific District annual convention; hosted by Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif.

• JULY 10-12, 1997-General Conference convention, Waterloo,Ont.

QUOTABLE ((Faith is not an amalgram ofall the bits and pieces of (religion' that are deposited in the delta of the soul.....

Christian faith is choice and service-choosing Christ as Savior and serving him as Lord. "-EUGENE H PETERSON, IN PRAYING WITH JESUS

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Page 11

INSIDE JULY

1996

VOLUME 59, NUMBER 7

FEATURES 4 Small can be beautiful, too Large urban or suburban congregations may be the goal for many church-growth strategies, but small-town small churches have strengths,too. BY RON KLASSEN AND JOHN KOESSLER

7 Repetition in worship singing: bane or blessing?

What is it about repetition that stirs up such passions in the ongoing debate about worship style? Hymn lovers and chorus singers can both learn something. BY STEVEN R. TOEWS

11 Holy hoaxes Some stories involving Christian faith and those opposed to it keep circulating-even though the stories are totally false. It's time Christians major in fact, not fiction. BY EP NEWS SERVICE

DEPARTMENTS What Readers Say

. . . . . . . . . . . ..

Ph'lip Side

. by Philip Wiebe 16

15

• Undoing non-Christian

Inquiring Minds. . ..

• •

.

by Marvin Hein 17

Local vs. global ministry Jesus's messianic 'secret'

On the Journey

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by Rose Buschman 18

• Decisions of consequence

BodyLife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

19

• Changing times challenge MBBS 19 • Lithuanian college to link with FPC 20 • North American hispanics organize 21 • MDS helps African-American church rebuild 22 • Participants chosen for Zairian choir tour 24

Miscellanea

28

Editorial

32

• Listening to the Spirit?

ART CREDITS: Cover and pages 4 and 6, Trinity/Sunrise photos; page 7, CLEO Photography; pages 8 and 70, Leader file photos,' pages 77 and 72 by Orley Friesen,' page 22, Mennonite Disaster Service.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Connie Faber

EDITOR Don Ratzlaff

BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Noelle Dickinson (acting chair), Jeanie Klaassen, Herb Schroeder, Kathy Heinrichs Wiest MANDATE: THE CHRISTIAN LEADER (ISSN 00095149), organ of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, is published monthly by the U.S. Conference Board of Communications, 315 S. Lincoln, Hillsboro, KS 67063. The Christian Leader seeks to inform Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activities, decisions, and issues of their denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialog so that they will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelicaljAnabaptist theological tradition.

EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions of our writers and advertisers are their own and do not necessa ri Iy rep resent the position of The Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church. The editors invite free-lance article submissions, but ask that each submission be accompanied with a SASE. The editors reserve the right to edit, condense or refuse all copy submitted for publication; anonymous contributions will not be published.

READER PARTICIPATION: The editors encourage readers to interact with our articles through letters to the editor and essays to Forum, our op-ed column.

Letters for What Readers Say must include the author's name and address. Forum is open to members or attenders of Mennonite Brethren churches.

Essays to Forum can address any issue of relevance and interest to the faith and life of the Mennonite Brethren Church. The essay should be no longer than 800 words and should include the home church, occupation and a clear photo of the writer.

COMMUNICATION: All correspondence should be addressed to The Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Phone: (316) 947-5543. Fax: (316) 9473266.

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

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POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to The Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Second-class postage paid at Hillsboro, Kansas.

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CHURCH LIFE

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by RON KLASSEN and JOHN KOESSLER

rna can e eauti u , too Small, rural churches sometimesfeel inferior to their large, suburban counterparts. But there are some things small churches can do better.

AVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY PICTURES OF

little country churches often grace Christfilas cards, but filegachurch facilities never do? Or "Why it's such a high cOfilplifilent for SOfileone visiting a big suburban church to say, "This feels like a sfilall church"? Yes, there is sOfilething special about the sfilall-to"Wn church.

Why then do so many small-town churches feel inferior to larger churches in cities and suburbs? That's easy to answer. It's because big churches can do so much more. After all, what small church can put together a mass choir? How many small churches can hire a youth pastor, a children's director, a director of senior adult ministries, or a full-time minister of music?

Both of us, as pastors of small-town churches, have at times tried to imitate larger suburban churches. The result? Our churches didn't feel like big churches, and in the process of imitating someone else, we lost some of what makes the small-town church so special. We discovered there are some things big churches can do best and some things small churches can do best. For any church to be all it can be, it has to make the most of its strengths.

Big tractor, little tractor Most farmers have at least two tractors, one large, one small. The big tractor is better for some jobs, the lit__

~_.....l

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tIe tractor for others. Trying to mow a ditch with a big tractor is an exercise in frustration, but a small tractor does the job handily. Plowing a large field with a small tractor would take forever, but a large tractor can make short work of it. The smart farmer uses each tractor for the jobs it does best.

Just as it is foolish to use a small tractor to do the job of a big tractor, it is counterproductive for small churches to imitate large-church programs.

The small church that tries to become a scaleddown version of a big church will become a pale imitation of a big church.

The small church is at its best when it makes the most of those qualities that make the small church special-intimacy and involvement.

The fIrst I: Intimacy While the large church scrambles to find ways to encourage warmth and personal relationships, the small church, if it is healthy, naturally has a family atmosphere. Large churches work to create small-group ministries; in the small church, many small-group dynamics occur spontaneously. In the large church, many faces are unfamiliar; in the small church, everyone knows everyone else. In a large church, an usher passes a note to the pastor who then announces, "A brown Ford, license TM3527, has its lights on." The pastor of a small church looks out the window and says, "Jim, you left your lights on."

Anyone who has belonged to a healthy small church has many memories of warmth and intimacy. One of our favorites is of the holiday we (Ron and Roxy) awoke to find ourselves snowed in with no electricity or phones. Church friends had invited us to spend the day at their home, but with the road buried under knee-deep snow, we resigned ourselves to spending a lonely day at home.

We were feeling depressed and disappointed when, about noon, we heard a knock at our back door. There stood the 21-year-old son of our friends. He and his dad had spent the last four hours on two tractors, clearing the way from their ranch to the main road so they could get to our house. This warm friendliness is a big part of what large churches are hoping to recreate when they try to cultivate a small-church atmosphere.

The second I: Involvement As an organization gets larger, the level of participation usually goes down. Eighty percent or more of the members of a small church often have designated ministry responsibilities, while most larger churches feel fortunate if 30 to 40 percent of their members accept specific assignments.

Before Scott and Lyn began worshiping at Valley Chapel where I (John) was pastor, theyattended a larger congregation of about 300. Though they had grown up in that church, neither had been very involved in its ministries. When I asked why, they said they hadn't felt needed.

They both quickly got involved in Valley Chapel. Lyn worked with several of our children's ministries and later volunteered to type the church bulletin. Scott became a leader in our midweek children's program and used his mechanical skills to keep the church's lawn mower in shape.

To some extent, intimacy and involvement happen spontaneously in the small church, but a church can also intentionally build on these qualities.

Using your two I's We have often heard pastors of small churches complain about what their churches cannot do in their worship services because of their size. But the small church makes a mistake if it tries to copy a large-church worship style. Rather, the small

The small church that tries to become a scaled-down version ofa big church will become apale imitation ofa big church. church needs to shape its worship to capitalize on what the small church does best.

In no other area is the small church tempted to feel inferior to the large church than in the area of music. We look at the megachurches' big choirs, keyboard artists, and great talent, and think, "If only we had just a little bit of that in our church."

True worship, though, is not a performance. A friend of ours who has served as the minister of music in several large churches points out that some large churches fall into a trap of approaching their music with a performance mentality that hinders worship. Good worship is not a fancy sound system or talented soloists or professional instrumentalists. The best worship takes place simply when all the people participate in ascribing worth to God. How can a small church encourage everyone to participate in worship?

• Special vocal music. The big church only JULY

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CHURCH LIFE

To some exten~ intimacy and involvement happen spontaneously in the small church, but a church can also intentionally build on these qualities. lets people on the platform if they can sing well.

The small church that follows that policy will seldom have special music. Plus, this flies in the face of maximizing involvement. In his book Real Worship, Warren Wiersbe describes the attitude called for in the small church: "If the players and singers are doing their best, and seeking to do better, then God accepts their 'sacrifices of praise' and so should we.... Whenever I am listening to a belowaverage presentation, I imagine my Lord receiving it and presenting it to the Father; and that changes my attitude completely."

• Special music by children. The small church should invite children to play instruments or sing, even though their music is less than per6-THE

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fect. Everyone forgives children when they make mistakes. Plus, parents will think, "If our family was in a large church, they would not let my daughter playa piano solo."

• Special music by families. Both of us have heard family music presentations that, though full of imperfections, connected powerfully with the audience. To the small church's credit, the congregation is more interested in giving people opportunities to participate than it is in judging those who participate.

• Congregational singing. The small church cannot have a mass choir, but neither can the large church sing around the piano. The informality of the small church can make congregational singing something truly special. Instead of always announcing a hymn then asking everyone to stand to sing it, sing several songs or choruses in a row. Choose the most singable songs, whatever your congregation sings best. Slides or an overhead projector get people to look up to sing rather than burying their heads in hymn books.

• Leading worship. Consider forming a worship team to share in leading worship. Encourage broad participation in all parts of the worship service such as Scripture reading, praying and taking the offering. Young people especially should be encouraged to take part. This is excellent training for future ministry.

• Sharing time. Small churches can easily include testimonies and sharing times in their services. In our impersonal world, people feel a deep need to have a place to share their experiences, yet such sharing is almost impossible in a largechurch worship service. In the small church, personal sharing in the service can lead to powerful ministry.

What's special about the small-town church is its two I's-intimacy and involvement. In a world where most people feel like faces in the crowd, many are longing for intimacy more than polished performance, for involvement more than spectator status, for small rather than big. By focusing on what it does best, the small church can be there for people who are hungering for a personal touch in an impersonal age.

•

Ron Klassen,jormer pastor oj the Corn (MB) Church, is now general director oj the Rural Home Missionary Association in Morton, Ill. John Koessler teaches pastoral studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Their article is adapted with permissionjrom No Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small-Town Church (Baker 1996).

WORS·HIP

IN WORSHIP SINGI G

OR

by STEVEN R. TOEWS

EPETITION IN WORSHIP SINGING IS a battleground in nU1l1erous churches. S01l1e believers see repetition as 1l10notony. Others find hY1l1ns ~ith a different ~ord for every note totally distracting. SOOle

believers enter the sanctuary priOled for ~or­ ship, acc01l1plishing just that ~ith the first song. Others desire 15 1l1inutes of si1l1ple phrases just to get focused on the Lord. In their 1l1inds Olany ~orship services are over before they ever get started. What is it about repetition that stirs up such passion?

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Repetition is in the eye of the beholder.

Repetition is usually associated with new choruses, but consider some of the familiar songs we've song for years. "When Morning Gilds the Skies" repeats "may Jesus Christ be praised" eight times. "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is found 10 times in that beloved hymn. "Joy to the World" exhorts us to "repeat the sounding joy." Every Easter we sing "Alleluia" 16 times in joyful acknowledgement of the resurrection.

Finally, provided anybody still sings parts, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" repeats "till we meet" 56 times! Repetition is much older than the overhead projector.

What is repetition? A word, a phrase, a sentence, a verse, a song? It depends on your perspective. The days of a common perspective are past.

Everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord is expected to sing praises to him and to do so corporately. Differing expectations in that setting create tension. Some people react by complaining about repetition rather than talking about what it means to commune with God. Others deify repetition rather than plum the depths of "0 Sacred Head, Now Wounded." Some gravitate to the extremes: "the church with no repetition" vs. "the church with no hymns." Others struggle at the middle, competing in the Sunday morning tug-of-war. Ephesians 4:3 says, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Surely this applies to appreciating the worship preferences of others.

Have our attitudes toward repetition-its lack or its excess-become the equivalent offood for the stomach? Have the pangs ofsuch a temporal and relatively petty concern overpowered the savoring of things we know too little about?

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When Jesus passed through Samaria he talked to the woman at the well Oohn 4). This surprised both the woman and the disciples.

Jesus opened himself to receive refreshment from what was commonly thought of as an "unclean vessel." The result? "Many Samaritans became believers."

Shouldn't this encounter inspire repeaters and nonrepeaters to worship together? Or have we staked out our territory with such prejudice that entering the sanctuary has become the equivalent of "passing through Samaria"? Has the hymn become our "mountain" and the chorus our ''Jerusalem''? What has happened to worship "in spirit and in truth?"

When the disciples returned from buying food they urged Jesus to "eat something." Jesus replied, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." They were thinking of food for the stomach rather than the nourishment that comes from doing God's will. Have our attitudes toward repetition-its lack or its excess-become the equivalent of food for the stomach? Have the pangs of such a temporal and relatively petty concern overpowered the savoring of things we know too little about?

Repetition is found often in Scripture.

The Israelites marched around Jericho once a day for six days, seven times on the seventh day.

Samuel was called three times. Naaman wanted to "do some great thing" to be cleansed of leprosy, but Elisha said "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times." Psalm 136 repeats "His love endures forever" 26 times. Jeremiah 25:4 says, "And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid attention."

InJohn 13:31-32Jesus borders on redundancy in speaking of his glory. In his agony Jesus asked three times, "Could you not keep watch?" Jesus confronted Peter three times with the question, "Do you truly love me?" Paul says in Philippians, "It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you." How could we forget, "Rejoice and again I say rejoice!"? Finally,

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around the throne the angels and creatures are envisioned to be shouting day and night without stopping, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

God could have demolished the walls with one word. He could have called Samuel the first time. He could have made the first prophet irresistibly believable. He could have dispensed with the questions to Peter because he knew his heart anyway. But he didn't. Why? I believe it is because we must learn to listen. What pitifully slow learners we are.

It is on the fifth time around on the seventh day that the heart softens. When in the darkness and silence you hear your name the third time, that's when your ears begin to hear. It is the sixth time under the murky water that tests the perseverance of humility.

Repetition is a necessity because the flesh is weak.

Of course God hears the first time. The question is: What does God want to hear? I believe it is the ascribing of worth to God from hearts that are broken and contrite. In worship, God is our audience and we are the performers. A key ingredient in worship is a spirit of brokenness. Brokenness comes only in travail because the weakness of the flesh is revealed in its very strength. It is hard, stubborn and self-centered.

Like Namaan we want to "do a great thing," as in sing a resounding hymn, and get on with it.

Singing a chorus several times is humbling, which is precisely the point. God wants to know if we are listening-and we don't listen well the first time. Our minds are cluttered, our hearts are hard, and our priorities are jumbled. We are "so

Steps toward settling our 'worship wars'

W .

HAT CAN WE DO to bridge

music appreciation and a biblical under-

Luther or Wesley learn that is meant for

the differences that divide

standing of worship.

you this day? If God could transfer you

us about worship music?

1. Rethink what worship really is. Describe a worship service to a friend

4. Listen to the voice of God in

from the kingdom of darkness to the

the chorus. Slowdown, humble your-

kingdom of light, could God not also

self, surrender your pride, confess sin,

place a hymn in your heart?

without using any of these words: Tradi-

commune with God. What is God say-

tional, contemporary, hymns, choruses,

ing? Is it your name, do you hear it?

6. Pray for those who plan and lead worship. It is difficult to unite peo-

overhead transparencies, hymnbooks,

Could it be that God will say to you, "I

ple when expectations differ. Pray that

organ, guitar, worship team, song lead-

am about to do something"? Is God

they will be filled with the Spirit of God,

er, repetition, mikes, experience.

asking if you are awake, alert? Do you

with skilJ, ability, and knowledge of

see the things that grieve the heart of

artistic craftsmanship. Pray that they will

2. Teach our children well. Promote singing in the home and in chif-

God? Is God asking if you love him? Is

design a worship service to the glory of

dren's choirs. Bring the beauty and

God leading you to say /lHoly, Holy,

God. A service where repetition neither

power of hymns to life for children.

Holy" not because it's in the hymn but

lacks nor overpowers. A service where

Teach the fundamentals of music itself.

because it's in your heart?

tears can flow from the depth of bro-

After the sixth grade it's an uphill battle.

5. Listen to the voice of God in the hymn. Read the hymns to become

vice where the mature saint and the

familiar with the words. Rejoice in the

infant believer can so worship that the

3. Accept those who have not been taught to sing. If you've been

kenness and the height of praise. A ser-

trained to sing in four-part harmony,

poetry of the past. Advance, humble

sinner off the street wilt say, "What

you're outnumbered by those who

yourself, surrender your pride. Appreci-

must I do to be saved!" -SRT

haven't-so get used to it. Coercion

ate the fact that God spoke mightily to

won't work. Look for ways to teach

saints of centuries past. What truth did JULY

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It fflay be that what has given rise to many new choruses is that the old hyfflns were no longer breaking through like they once did. New songs have always been part of revival. well-adjusted to our culture that we fit into it without even thinking" (Rom. 12:2, The Message). Fixing our attention on God is no small task.

Many of us have grown up singing four-part hymns with effortless joy. The musical complexity is so familiar we can contemplate the inner life and sing at the same time. It is in most cases true worship. However, just as Israel could be far from God even with the tabernacle in its camp, so can we who have the great hymns. It may be that what has given rise to many new choruses is that the old hymns were no longer breaking through like they once did. New songs have always been part of revival.

Repetition is a hindrance because the flesh is weak.

Repetition has its downside. While it may help bring us to a state of brokenness, it doesn't always lift us into joyous praise. Occasionally it results in mindless praise. Sometimes brokenness can be a pharisaical euphemism for laziness. I have participated in corporate worship that purposely emphasized repetition, choruses and simplicity. On occasion I sensed a lack of any unbounded, exuberant, poetic expression of joy.

While we sang to the Lord I wasn't necessarily reassured that I stood on the "foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ]esus himself as the chief cornerstone." In the quest for "meaningful" worship we sometimes reject, to our detriment, the great hymns with powerful words, musical excellence and a pull toward the transcendent.

In today's secular culture most people are not taught to sing. What they do learn is heavily influenced by popular culture. Unfortunately, many people are content to let music settle to 10 • THE

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the lowest common denominator. It is a delicate issue as to when the exhortation to stretch and grow in worship music becomes a new form of condemnation for those who come from a musically barren past.

We must have divine guidance to walk this tightrope of reality in the '90s.

Repetition: Let's use it for the glory of God. Many politicians conveniently jumped on the word "militia" in response to the Oklahoma City bombing. Underlying causes remain buried while sound-bite cliches dominate the debate. Likewise, many worshipers jump on the word "repetition." It is a convenient peg on which to hang our discomfort. On the one hand, we are discomforted by a rapidly changing world, new converts, new songs, boomers, busters, and trends that bypass denominational channels. On the other hand, our discomfort is with the slow pace of change in the church, saints who know that worship didn't start in 1970, old songs and denominational responsibility. Furthermore, there may be discomfort with the fact that the changeless God finds his praise among all tribes, all languages, all peoples, all nations. Like it or not, diversity is seeping into every community. It is embodied in the pew where you sit.

God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Eph. 3:18-21). He supplies the power to "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. " We are to reach for this "together with all the saints.... throughout all generations." God offers to us a filling "to the measure of all the fullness of God. " No chorus, no hymn, no worship style will encompass all of that!

If we are serious about evangelism, then repetition in worship is a topic that won't go away anytime soon. Let us throw off the labels. Whatever side of this issue we are on there is the tendency to think we have the whole loaf. But let us remember that if unbelief accompanies the loaf then the Lord will find praise among those who are content with crumbs. May our attitude in worship be such that the Lord need not go elsewhere to find faith.

•

Steven R. Toews is pastor of the Hesston (Kan) MB Church.

RUMORS

Some falsehoods and legends circulating within the Christian community refuse to die-and our credibility suffers as a result

HESE ARE TRYING TIMES FOR

the church-if you believe everything you read. According to fliers circulating through the Christian c01TI1TIunity in recent years, the church is under attack as never before: • Famed atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair is petitioning the federal government to ban all religious broadcasting.

• The head of Procter & Gamble is appearing on talk shows to admit his company's ties with the Church of Satan.

• An Illinois company is making a movie about "the sex life of Christ. " These stories are shocking, outrageous-and completely false. They are examples of hoaxes which continue to circulate in the church, even though there is no credible evidence to support them. Despite efforts by responsible church leaders to expose these stories for the lies that they are, the rumors have taken on a life of their own and refuse to die.

That FCC petition The best-known example of this kind of hoax is the nonexistent Madalyn Murray 0' Hair petition to ban all religious broadcasting.

You've probably been exposed to this hoax through its most common form: a photocopied petition, warning

"Madalyn Murray O'Hair, an atheist whose efforts successfully eliminated the use of Bible reading and prayer from all public schools 15 years ago, has been granted a federal hearing in Washington, D.C.... The petition, R.H. 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the gospel on the air waves of America."

The often photocopied form says that one million signed petitions are needed, and "That this should defeat Mrs. O'Hair and show that there are many Christians alive and well and concerned in our country."

Readers are urged to sign and mail an attached form to the FCC, and to make 10 copies of the flier to give to friends and relatives.

The hoax has generated enough response that the FCC has "religious petition" as one of the options you can select with your Touch-Tone phone when calling the agency's consumer switchboard. That triggers a recorded message declaring that the "rumors are absolutely false." The agency has received more than 30 million pieces of mail on the subject, and has worked to advise the public that the rumor is not true.

FCC spokesperson Maureen Peratino says that despite repeated efforts to kill the rumor, it remains alive and well. "It holds steady," she says. "We receive a J U L Y

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couple million pieces of mail each year. We don't see any let up in the phone calls either.

Our consumer assistance office handles anywhere from 200 to 300 phone calls a month on this."

Not only isn't there a petition to ban religious broadcasting, but no such petition would have a chance of succeeding, says Peratino. "Under the First Amendment, the commission does not involve itself in the programming content of radio and television stations....

There's nothing under the First Amendment or in the Communications Act that would allow the commission to ban any particular type of programming."

A kernel of truth

HWe receive a couple million pieces of mail each year. We don't see any letup in the phone calls either. Our consumer assistance office handles anywhere from 200 to 300 phone calls a month on this. -MAUREEN PERATINO, FCC SPOKESPERSON

Like many rumors, the FCC hoax has a tiny kernel of H truth. Once upon a time, there really was an FCC petition #2493. Presented to the FCC in December 1974, the petition

by California men Jeremy Lansman and Lorenzo Milam, asked the FCC to temporarily freeze the awarding of TV and FM channels to religious and government institutions while it studied whether existing noncommercial stations were fulfilling their obligations to broadcast truly educational programming.

Their petition was denied nine months later.

Richard Wiley, now a Washington, D.C., attorney whose clients include the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), was chairman of the FCC when the petition was submitted. "We dismissed it while I was chairman of the FCC. There's never been anything since then. There was never any truth to this, and I don't think the current commission would see religion as not being part of the public interest, which would be the issue. That's the way we saw it when I was there, and I wouldn't expect the current commission to see it differently."

The current FCC rumor may have roots that stretch back farther than the Lansman-Milam petition, according to Bob and Gretchen Passantino, cult research experts who direct the Californiabased Answers in Action. "The rumor has gone through an evolution," says Gretchen. "It started out much earlier as a [rumored] petition by Madalyn 12 • THE

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Murray O'Hair to ban any astronauts from taking the Bible on space flights, or from saying religious things on space flights. It's kind of metamorphosed into the FCC thing."

The mail is likely to continue, according to Jan Harold Brunvand, a professor of English at the University of Utah and one of America's leading folklorists.

Brunvand, author of The Vanishing Hitchhiker and other collections of urban legends, says, "I don't think it's going to die out or ever be debunked successfully. No matter how hard we try to debunk it, there will be people who haven't seen it and will help spread the rumor the next time around. These things are photocopied and can lie around in somebody's drawer for years and then be brought out again and posted on a bulletin board. The fact that it has a coupon and a petition number and address makes it seem real."

The phantom itlm Another rumor driven by a photocopied sheet with shelf life involves an alleged film being made about the sex life of Christ. The photocopied flyer, which resurfaces from time to time, claims that an organization known as "Modern People News" is planning to produce a film about the "sexual life of Jesus Christ." The flyer claims that Christ will be portrayed as a homosexual, and the part of Mary Magdalene will be played by a notorious French prostitute. Concerned Christians are asked to "do everything possible to halt production of this film."

Halting the film should be easy, since there's no such film being made.

The roots of this rumor can be traced to November 1977, when Modern People, a weekly magazine then based in Franklin Park, Ill., published an article claiming that a group of European filmmakers planned to make a film depicting Christ as a bisexual.

In a later article, the magazine reported that the producers had given up on the film. But in 1980, a letter began to be circulated claiming that such a film was being made by a group called Modern People News. A year later, the office of the Illinois attorney general had received more than 40,000 let-

RUMORS

ters opposing the film-most of them photocopies of the anonymous letter.

Procter & Gamble The third of the "big three" rumors making the rounds in Christendom involves Procter & Gamble.

In this rumor, the president of the company is falsely alleged to have appeared on Phil Donahue's talk show and admitted that his company gives its profits to the Church of Satan, and that its familiar "moon and stars" logo is a satanic symbol. Variations have had the president of McDonald's appearing on "The Tonight Show" and Liz Claiborne appearing on "Oprah" to make similar admissions about their corporate ties to satanism.

In reality, the president of Procter & Gamble has never appeared on any talk show to discuss satanism. Donahue once tried to get him to appear to debunk the rumor, but the company determined that being able to say he had never been on was more effective. The company has successfully filed lawsuits over the years against a number of people who were intentionally spreading this rumor-some of whom were multilevel marketing businesspeople selling products which compete with Procter & Gamble brands.

Hoaxes, hoaxes everywhere The "big three" hoaxes account for most of the pointless mail and phone calls in the Christian community, but there are many other examples of "things we know that just aren't so" circulating: • NASA scientists are reported to have been puzzled while calculating the historical orbit of the planets because of a "missing day." In this legend their dilemma was resolved when a Christian member of the team showed them passages in the Bible where God stopped the sun. The stoppages, we're told, exactly equaled the unaccounted for "missing time" that had stumped the scientists. This rumor persists despite NASA's denials, and despite the scientific impossibility of a "missing day"-a finding that would presuppose a precisely known starting point for the universe.

• The Christian version of the "vanishing hitchhiker" story has a person, often a pastor, stopping to pick up a hitchhiker, who delivers a prophetic warning-often of Christ's imminent return-then vanishes. The "hitchhiker" is often assumed to be an angel or Jesus Christ. This story recently turned up in Australia and New Zealand.

• Amsterdam and Brussels are popular locations for a rumored super computer that the antiChrist will use to usher in his one-world government. The computer, said to be nicknamed "The

Beast" by its operators, will contain information about every person on earth. Some versions of the story have "666" as the code command that activates the computer's plan for world domination.

• Another legend with a "666" component has a retired pastor or missionary going to the social security office to get a check for a missed payment.

In this rumor, the director of the office provides a check with the number "666" in the lower left corner, then hurriedly takes it back, explaining that a mistake has been made, that those checks aren't to be distributed yet.

• Scientists in the Soviet Union are alleged to have drilled a hole straight to hell. In this story, scientists on an oil-drilling platform in the North Sea, drilling the deepest hole ever, stopped when they heard human screams of anguish and smelled sulfur, leading them to conclude that they had drilled right into hell. This supermarket tabloid story was once In reality, the reported as truth by the Trinity president of Broadcasting Network (TBN). A bogus English-language translation Procter & of a nonexistent Norwegian newsGamble has paper account of the incident was sent to TBN as a hoax by someone never appeared who wanted to see if the network on any talk would bother to check its sources; "TBN didn't check. show to discuss • The "satanist on the plane" satanism. story has surfaced over and over during the last decade. In this story, a Christian is flying home from a conference, and notices that his seatmate is refusing supper. The Christian asks if the person is sick, and is told that he or she is fasting. With a little more questioning, the person volunteers that he or she is a member of the church of Satan and is fasting and praying against three churches in the city that are giving them particular trouble. Which churches these are varies depending on who's telling the story. The person on the plane is always a "friend of a friend," but repeated journalistic efforts to identify the person have always failed.

Why do we believe?

In September 1989, Bob Passantino delivered a paper at the Evangelical Ministries to New Religions Conference in Rockford, Ill., that touched on the Christian community's susceptibility to fanciful stories like the FCC petition hoax. Passantino listed several reasons such hoaxes take root: • "It fits into our worldview. [The fact that] something is possible doesn't mean that it is true; and [the fact that] something exists doesn't mean JULY

1996

13

RUMORS

for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton every report we receive of it must be true.

College, agrees with Passantino's analysis. "With • "We accept what we're told. It's not that we evangelicals, they're told to you by someone that don't want to be critical, but we don't always have you trust-a member of your church or a neighbortime to check everything we're told. We forget that and they tell you a story that sounds plausible, and finding someone willing to tell us what to think you wouldn't think they're lying to you. They're about a certain situation is not the same as finding probably not; they're just passing on what they've the right person to tell us what can be verified. heard. The thing just gets passed on • "We base our knowledge on and on until it's accepted as fact." common sense. Often common "It's not just a Jeff Siemon, an area director for sense parallels the truth-that is, the apologetics and evangelism group what we commonly think makes stamp we're wastSearch Ministries, agrees that the sense.... It may even correspond to Christian worldview may predispose ing. Our credibility truth, but common sense is not a people to accept hoaxes. "When we trustworthy method to find truth." is on the line...." think of hoaxes that relate to conspir• "We place too much faith in 'experts.' We seem to think that -BOB PASSANTINO acies that are being concocted against Christianity-in the case of Madalyn truth gets truer if someone imporMurray O'Hair or Procter & Gambletant says it, even if that important this is in some sense consistent with the biblical person has no particular knowledge of that field. understanding that a great war rages at a spiritual Believing an expert without appropriate authority level. Certainly there are enemies of the faith. This and without corroborating evidence is not a trustdoes not mean that these hoaxes are real, but there worthy way to discern truth. will be resistance and enemies of Christianity."

• "We believe what makes us feel comfortBeyond that, notes Siemon, part of Christianity able." is based on believing the unbelievable. "We have Larry Eskridge, a staff member of the Institute bought into a miracle," he explains. "We have set aside the philosophy of naturalism, and therefore have opened ourselves up to the unexpected, and even the supernatural. But there are some Christians who see miracles everywhere and the supernatural behind every door. It can be a danger, and it can lead to a propensity to believe in these kinds of __ ULT RESEARCH EXPERT Bob Passantino offers several tips for hoaxes."

Bob Passantino says it's almost impossible to identifying false legends. "Use extra caution if the story fits any debunk an attractive rumor. "Sometimes it doesn't of the following characteristics, he warns. matter what you say. People will believe it anyway," he explains. "People want to believe that Madalyn • There's no eviden,ce to back it up. Sometimes no evidence Murray O'Hair does this stuff. It fits their modern exists because of the very nature of the story. That doesn't m,ean image of atheism. They see this petition, it has a such a story can't be true; it just means it's not a story that can be number on it, it looks authentic. Pastors of churches should be responsible when they get a petition considered trustworthy research. At most it's an iHustration or examlike this to call someone and see if anyone knows ple. about it."

Passantino says the consequences of Christian • It's so detailed or bizarre that we can't believe someone gullibility in the case of the FCC petition hoax go could make it up. beyond the time wasted fighting a nonexistent petition. "It's not just a stamp we're wasting," he says.

• It's strongest commendation is that it ought to be true.

"Our credibility is on the line.... People might think "Be careful that you are not persuaded to believe a particular story if Christians are stupid enough to fall for this falsesimply because you wish it to be true," Passantino concludes. "This hood, maybe early Christians were gullible enough to fall for the resurrection story. In my view, there can be a strong temptation, but don't give in to it. God won't excuse are consequences."

•

V

11

us for supporting made-up stories because they serve a useful pur-

This article was produced by EP News Service, based in Minneapolis, Minn.

pose." (EP)

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WHAT READERS SAY

c,f§: Pontius' Puddle A model supporter As team leader for our MB Missions/Services workers in Lithuania and Russia, we feel a small congregation in California has set a beautiful example of what it means to support an overseas worker.

Ten thousand miles and 10 time zones separate this family from their home church. But they are right there at all times. Those Monday morning faxes from the pastor are so encouraging. Recently about 10 letters arrivedall in the same type of envelope.

Could the addressed aerogram envelopes in the church lobby have something to do with folks writing?

The church looks at this family as being their missionary family. They prayed over them. They sent them.

They committed themselves to continued prayer. The prayer chain is activated as news comes from abroad.

Individuals and fellowship groups are excited about this family and its mission. Why would a woman send five parcels in one year filled with goodies? Why would a brother give a generous gift toward a building purchase? Why does the associate pastor write regularly? Why do fellowship groups keep asking, "What else do you need?" Why does one group give monthly so a local man can be employed in this developing church?

This home church is doing so much.

This missionary family is not alone in a strange city and new culture. Bob and Susan Gulack thank God for Pastor Fred Leonard and Mountain View Community Church in Clovis, Calif.

Workers in these countries feel isolated and alone. Let them know you are supportive.

I am a 61-year-old male member of the Reedley (Calif.) MB Church. My son and his wife are currently members of Mountain View Community Church in Clovis, Calif. We recently worshipped with them and witnessed the baptism of our daughter-in-law.

I was sharing that experience with

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a Mennonite Brethren brother my age and mentioned that my wife and I were thrilled with the spirit that prevailed in the worship service. I made the mistake of saying it was a great service but that the music was sure loud and different.

His response: "I don't like what they are doing. They want to be Mennonites but act like Assembly of God people. You can't have it both ways.

You are either a Mennonite or you go to an Assembly of God church if that is what you like so much."

Would someone please tell me what he meant by that statement?

I think I know what he meant. All

the conventions, five-year programs, special meetings and giving of special titles to people will not result in numerical growth until we as a conference, or at least its leaders, understand the meaning of that statement and deal with it.

I am proud of my Mennonite heritage. I know the difference between religion which is a performance and Christianity which centers on Christ. I understand the finality of the cross and that I have been made perfect in the sight of God. It is truth that truly sets me free-not a worship style.

Orlando Bathauer Reedley, Calif.

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JULY

1996

15

PH'LIP SIDE BY

PHILIP

WIEBE

Undoing non-Christian Most people don ~t like to be carved up into cold demographic slices, especially slices labeled un " and ((non."

U

the end of a Saturday thinking, as I often do, that I didn't get enough work company ran an ad campaign describdone around the house or 'ng its popular soft drink as "The Uncoyard or office? If my day off has been unproductive, it la." It was a clever pitch. "Uncola" defined 7probably means I've been Up's clear, light quality in opposition to the doing something healthfully unimportant like goofing darker, heavier taste of its cola competition. off with t~e kids or hacking "Un" words do that. When "un" a round of golf. gets hooked with a term, it undoes "Unassuming" has a refreshing air the meaning of the original. Take the of humility about it. We could use word "intentional." That's a go-getmore unassuming people in a world ter kind of term, one that cinches up where self-promotion and self-glorifibelt, pulls the hat brim low and cation are both popular and profmarches stridently toward its destiitable. "Unbiased" is always good to nation. Make it "unintentional," hear, though sometimes when we though, and suddenly the limbs are think that people should be more loose, the shoulders shrugged, the unbiased like us, it may be because mouth forming, "Who, me?" "Uninwe're holding the opposite bias tentional" can be nice to have on from those we think are biased. your side, being the kind of word that covers a multitude of jams. "Did nother undoing kind of prefix is I do that? Well, it was entirely unin"non." If you think of the word tentional. " "violent"-and far too many people I also like "unusual." Not only do these days-all the starch gets does it roll nicely off the tongue, it taken out when you drop a "non" in gives the forehead and lower vocal front. "Nonviolent" is a word we can chords a little exercise, as in the furnever hear too often. "Noncompetirowing of the brow and throaty protive" is another term that could nouncement: "Hmmm, very unusustand more exposure. The competial." "Unspectacular" is a term with tive spirit may be a bit oversold in a sparkle and wit, a kind of smirking society where everyone from Little pronouncement that something Leaguers to middle managers can be hasn't quite lived up to its advanced led to believe that winning is more billing. "Unavailable" has a pleasing important than cooperating. ring to it, especially for calendar"Nonplused" is a great word, challenged folks like me who always though in this case I'm not exactly have more to do than time to do it. sure what "non" is up to. Rather How lovely it would be to say with than its real meaning of being "conutter confidence, "Sorry, I'm unavailfounded" or "baffled," nonplused able," without always hearing it sounds more like an accounting come out, "Surely I'm available!" term: "When she forgot to add the A word I sometimes think has gotdeposit, her checkbook remained ten bad rap is "unproductive." Why nonplused. " does it bother me when I come to As a writer I like "nondescript." If

.N

NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THE 7-UP

A

16 • THE

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I were to type, "The neighborhood was nondescript," I would sound very authorial without having to go to the work of actually describing the neighborhood. "Nonaffiliated" is a word that has intrigued me lately.

With the strange morality we've been seeing in decisions from both our Democratic president and Republican Congress, the idea of being nonaffiliated has been sounding better and better.

One "non" word I'm not really fond of, though, is "non-Christian."

No wonder so many people would rather visit a dentist's office than a church, if we're already considering them nonpersons before we've even shaken hands and said, "Pleased to meet you." A term that fairly shouts "We're Christians and you're not" doesn't really seem to be in the spirit of Peter's encouragement to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Pet. 3:15).

In the realm of "un," I'm not crazy about the popular term "unchurched." I realize that it's meant, like non-Christian, to help us think about those we want to reach with God's good news of love and reconciliation. But if I wasn't a person of faith, "unchurched" would sound like a bit of an insult to me.

Or a badge of honor. With churched Christians not always presenting the best model of godly behavior these days, it's no mystery why so many people would prefer to remain blissfully unchurched.

So what would I suggest as alternate terms for the ubiquitous unchurched and non-Christian? On that I remain, well, noncommittal.

But I do think most people don't like to be carved up into cold demographic slices, especially slices labeled "un" and "non."

If we churched Christians want to make a positive impression on people, maybe the best place to start would be to ask them their names.

INQUIRING MINDS BY

Q

Can the current interest in local-church ministry be emphasized so much that the mission of the larger church is neglected or ignored? Isn Jt that a short-sighted, limited vision?

(KANSAS)

A

Some suspicious souls, knowing that I am employed halftime by the General Conference, will conclude that I have written my own question. Though I have pondered this issue many times, be assured this question is genuine.

In part to address this issue, the executive committee of the General Conference has called a special strategy session for September. Many leaders are convinced that things must change if the General Conference is to remain viable. Some rather vocal voices are saying the day of "conference" is past.

The basis for that view, in my opinion, is the emphasis on localchurch ministry. Increasingly, people want to invest their time and money in activities they can observe firsthand. We are no longer content to place our tithes in a unified budget that supports programs that are too remote to view except secondhand through a missionary or worker. We want more voice about what is done with our resources. We have become extremely pro-local instead of pro-global.

What is strange is that in other arenas we are persuaded to be global-minded. Today's investors will tell you the future is in "emerging markets" or international stocks. In the field of communication we are forced to think globally because of technologies like the Internet, e-mail and fax. We can't watch the evening news telecast without thinking far beyond our own country, let alone our own little community.

But in church work, our hearts and minds turn increasingly toward

MARVIN

HEIN

the local congregation. Less and less money comes to the schools and mission office that serve a regional and global agenda. When we think of conference, we envision waste and corruption-simply because the work is more remote. So, increasingly we zero in on what we can see and handle and change-and from which we can retreat if it doesn't go our way.

Hear me carefully! Some of the new emphasis is badly needed. But believers need to realize we are part of a worldwide community of Christians. The local congregation may need to take priority in God's purposes, but groups of churches (conferences) should exist to facilitate and further the concerns and mission of congregations who cannot do everything as separate entities.

We need to be forced into fellowship and dialogue with others with whom we may not always agree. We cannot afford to think our point of view is the only one. History reveals how important this is, and how heresy most often emerges when believers cease to listen to others.

No congregation, no matter how large, is without need of some supervision and pastoral care beyond what the congregation itself supplies. Conferences provide such functions.

To be sure, conference administrators must cease to see the congregations as the source of their everincreasing demands for money. Conferences must major in serving local churches, not being served. Conferences must change, and we will. If those changes divorce us from the wider relationships of fellowship and service, the Lord's church will be the loser.

Q

In Luke 9:21, and in several other places in Scripture, why did]esus instruct those around him that witnessed the mir-

Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue? Send it to (inquiring Minds, c/o Marvin Hein, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, CA 93727. n

acle not to tell anyone about it?

This seems contrary to his, and our, whole purpose in life. (CALIFORNIA)

A

The traditional answer to this question is that Jesus did not want to die prematurely. The news of his miraculous works would cause some people to follow him and others to hate him. While his miracles did spark the attention of potential disciples, his teaching could also be hindered by undue focus on the supernatural. The miracles tended to give people false notions about Jesus's messiahship.

Frankly, I'm inclined to think Jesus put a damper on publicity because he knew something about evangelism we haven't learned very well. He knew that solid, long-term spiritual results generally are not enhanced by quick responses to spell-binding events. Miracles create awareness, and there are strategic moments when that is legitimate.

But over the long haul, the spectacular is too often a mocker.

We are inherently hero-worshipers. So we figuratively fall at the feet of pro athletes who astound the world with feats of prowess, only later to find that they disappoint us when they commit gross moral failure. We place the recently bornagain singer or politician on such a pedestal that, if and when he or she falls, our faith is tested. We push the novice, sometimes naive new convert onto the public stage, when it would be far better to allow that person to mature to some extent.

Luke 5:14 records another instance where Jesus, after a healing, says, "Don't tell anyone." What Jesus suggested to this grateful follower was that, instead of getting on a podium and preaching to the world, he should follow the normal procedures for people healed: "Keep the law, go to the priest and offer sacrifices." It was not a command never to witness to Christ, but rather to do so in a context where people could see the evidence of a devout life.

JULY

1996

17

ON THE)OURNEY BY

ROSE

BUSCHMAN

Decisions of consequence The new rules prevented Grandpa from taking his wealth with him, so the family left most of it behind.

T

required both a father's and a mother's name, which he tional guide includes the Genesis didn't have. And besides, no self-respecting man account of God's call to Abram and the would allow his daughter genealogy ofJesus in the first chapter of to marry a man who didn't Matthew. The guide I am using teaches a forknow who his father was.

Now, Moustafa was a mat of meditative reading of the Bible, which is determined young man and designed to allow the reader to visit a Bible site finally did get married. He knew the right people and and become a part of it. used his connections to So as I read the Genesis account, I somehow get around the marriage visit Abram's tent. I meet Sarai, and license information. The young envision servant men and women woman he married was a divorcee working around the campsite. I see which meant that no one else would sheep graZing nearby and camels forwant her, so the father consented to aging on clumps of dates. There is at the marriage with Moustafa. least one goat-hair tent, maybe more.

My mind wanders back to the My reading continues with the nomadic campsites. I spent a night Matthew genealogy. Most of the once in a goat-hair tent while on a names are men. However, no man two-day trek into the Sahara desert, "begets," "begots," "is the father of' but I can't imagine doing that for or "has" a child alone. So I see more my entire life. Tenting is fun when campsites filled with tents, wives, you do it for vacation and the weathservants and animals. While the men er is nice. At other times, it is somemay at times be elsewhere, for the thing to be endured. Life for these women these campsites are their nomads was no picnic. whole life. Here they conceive, give birth, nurture their families and die. I remember waking up one morning can't imagine their lives being easy. in a New Mexico sand storm. It While the Matthew genealogy was virtually impossible to keep does include a few women's names, sand out of the food while fixing the crucial information is who the breakfast. Or the time we camped in father is. To many westerners this Kansas during a vicious thundermay not be so important, but in the storm. Our eight-month-old son and I Middle East it was, and still is, vital. spent the night in the car while my My mind wanders to a young man husband braved the storm in the I met while living in North Africa tent. No fun. who had been abandoned by his In spite of their tough lives, the unwed mother at birth and was people listed in the genealogy raised in an orphanage. He didn't became the carriers of the promise know who his father was and this and blessings which began with presented a serious problem for him, Abraham and were fulfilled with the especially when he wanted to get birth ofJesus. married. The marriage license The devotional guide asks me to HE ASSIGNED READING IN MY DEVO-

I

18 • THE

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reflect on decisions made by someone in my past that affected my life, just as Abram's decisions affected his descendants. Immediately my Grandpa Voth comes to mind. I was 14 years old when he died. I remember him as an old man, ill at times, retired, living in a comfortable, but plain house and on a fixed income.

He was a quiet man who lived his Christian faith without much fanfare.

I didn't know until long after he was gone that one time he had been a rich farmer in southern Russia. My mother remembered hired servants, maids, an orchard with all kinds of fruit, and a yard with lots of flowers.

From her perspective, they had it all.

Then came the revolution. Mother remembered cowering in the basement of her house with the rest of the family while cannon balls flew overhead. Soon representatives of the winning "Reds" returned with glowing promises of a better future.

However, Grandpa Voth wasn't convinced. In fall 1924 he decided to move his family to Canada because he believed religious freedom would be lost. Later events proved he was right.

The new rules prevented Grandpa from taking his wealth with him, so the family left most of it behind.

Each person wore a gold watch pushed up past the elbow and severallayers of new clothes. No suitcases allowed. They could pay only for their transportation to the Russian border with Latvia. Grandpa had to borrow money for the remainder of the trip to Canada and to buy land when he got there. The gold watches were eventually sold and the money used to buy a wagon and some horses for a new farm in Manitoba.

Grandpa Voth never became rich again. It didn't matter. He and his family were free to worship God and that was most important to him.

I wonder. How will my decisions affect my descendants? Will future generations see them as constructive, destructive or of no major significance?

BODyLIFE MENNONITE

BRETHREN

NEWS

Changing times challenge MBBS

BY CONNIE FABER

• Decentralization and church-based approaches to training carry pros and cons

A:

semester than at anytime in MBBS history. Many of those were audit students who take classes that do not apply to a degree.

British Columbia was chosen for the first MBBS center because of the high concentration of Mennonite Brethren in the province-85 churches. Last fall the MBBS British Columbia Centre opened in Abbotsford with Ron Geddert as program director. The seminary is considering additional educational sites in Winnipeg, Man., Los Angeles and Kansas.

ONE TIME it was a given: graduate theological education mong Mennonite Brethren in North America took place at the denominational seminary in Fresno, Calif. It's not a given anymore. With changing times, MB Biblical Seminary aims to modify its programs to accommodate a shifting environment.

"We're in for some interesting Inherent dangers times," says Henry Schmidt, MBBS This shift comes with some inherpresident. ent dangers. "With everything going Two years ago, MBBS began the local and regional, the tendency will move to a decentralized, church- be that each one of these sites bebased model of seminary education. comes an independent entity," "Instead of uprooting students," Schmidt says. "Then you end up with Schmidt explains, "the profs go to what we said we didn't want. We population centers.

It's good for lay people and church leadIllnstitutions can become islands.... In ers. It leaves people in the church and some ways welre our own worst brings education into enemy because we don It talk enough their lives in a more structured and super- and plan together. II_HENRY SCHMIDT vised way."

Statistics show that rather than moving to Fresno, more want one free-standing seminary jointMennonite Brethren are choosing to ly sponsored by the United States and study at seminaries closer to home.

Canada with four or five delivery This is particularly true in Canada. points. That's different than having Schmidt and the MBBS board hope five seminaries." that decentralized programs, better A decentralized model is also more "calling out" of leaders by local expensive. Overhead expenses have churches, and more financial aid will not been significant at the B.C. Centre reverse the school's declining enroll- but there are additional administrative ment. costs.

Currently, MBBS has 141 students These increases, combined with enrolled for credit. Because many stu- the growing number of direct funddents are part-time, the full-time raising appeals by other denominaequivalency (FTE) stands at only 89. tional agencies and institutions, conThe seminary's peak enrollment mea- cern seminary leaders. MBBS and the sured by FTE came in 1980. That year U.S. Conference recently hired Don 141 students were enrolled and the Wohlgemuth to expand the semiFTE stood at 124. nary's donor base in the States. Harry Recruitment and enrollment are Olfert is working at the same goal in major concerns at MBBS even though Canada. more students (259) were on campus Uncertainty about the shape and during the just-completed spring role of the General Conference of MB

Churches also affects the seminary, according to Schmidt. The General Conference executive committee has called for a strategic meeting in late September to evaluate the ministry of the conference currently comprised of churches in the United States and Canada.

A new training proposal The seminary is affected by activities of other denominational agencies.

Recently, representatives from four Mennonite Brethren agencies met to consider a proposal for a missions and discipleship center in British Columbia. Harold Ens, general director of MB Missions/Services, coordinated the consultation. MBBS was represented by Schmidt and MBBS board chairman Ron Toews; Ewald Unruh and Peter Nikkel represented the Canadian Conference Board of Evangelism; Chuck Buller and Fred Leonard represented Mission USA. Walter Unger, president of Columbia Bible College, and several area pastors also participated.

The proposal, developed by MBM/S missionary Ray Harms-Wiebe and Steve Klassen, constituency ministries secretary for MBM/S in Canada, recommends that a center located in the greater Vancouver area offer participants a one-year program of evangelistic, cross-cultural and spiritual training in preparation for ministry. Alumni of short-term outreach ministries like Youth Mission International and potential MBM/S missionaries would be among the target group.

MBBS supports the concept, according to Schmidt, and feels good about the people who are leading it.

But questions were raised at the semiannual MBBS board meeting in April about how the new center would relate to existing institutions also offering internships, such as Columbia Bible College, Winkler Bible Institute and MBBS. The seminary was invited to conJULY

1996

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BODyLIFE

IN BRIEF • Hispanic churches in the Pacific District Conference gathered May 25-26 in Reedley, Calif., for their sixth annual praise festiva1. The assembly drew 780 participants from churches as far away as Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash, says Sam Resendez, chair of the POC Hispanic Council. This was the first year a delegation from Mennonite Brethren churches in Mexico attended the two-day event. About 10 pastors and leaders from Mexico participated.

• "Straight paths for a twisting world" wHl be the theme of the 1997 convention of the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches to be held July 10-12 at Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church. In preparation for the convention, the executive committee is calling a strategic evaJuationmeeting Sept.

24-26, 1996. According to conference moderator Ed Boschman the meeting will focus on issues facing the General Conference in the 21 st century.

tribute $10,000 in seed money to the new training venture. Because MBBS has put a high priority on hiring an academic dean and a new faculty member in missions, the board declined to participate in this way.

"Internally, the academic dean shapes the direction of a seminary through theological reflection and critical thinking, strategic planning, faculty development, curriculum development and delivery systems," Schmidt says. "Externally, the academic dean shapes the image of an institution in terms of its academic credibility, theological direction and trust in the constituency."

Hiring a faculty member in the area of missions is also a high priOrity. "We feel this is crucial to the future of pastoral and mission training here on campus," Schmidt says. "Since we have nine international students coming here next year, we must work harder at that. And we are."

l

(GCMB C)

• Ed Boschman has been affirmed by the General Conference executive committee as conference moderator and will continue until the 1997 convention. He recently resigned his pastoral appointment at WiUow Park Church in Kelowna, B.C., to accept the position as executive director of Mission USA. The offices of moderator and vicemoderator are held alternately by Canadian and U.S. representatives.

(GCMBC) • An African American church in Alabama burned by arsonists in January is being rebuilt this summer with the help of Mennonite Disaster Service.

MDS has been asked by community leaders in Greene County, Ala., to rebuild Mount Zoar Baptist, one of th ree churches nea r the town of Boligee destroyed by arsonists this past winter, says MDS coordinator Lowell Detweiler. The project witl be a major location for about 16 church youth teams who have volunteered to work with MDS this summer. Over 20 African American churches were burned in the South in the last year and many people fear the arsons are racially motivated. (MOS)

20 • THE

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Less duplication and competition It isn't only new ventures that challenge the role of MBBS. Schmidt advocates reducing duplication and competition among existing Mennonite Brethren Bible institutes, colleges and universities and increasing coordination and collaboration.

"Institutions can become islands," Schmidt says. "We have to talk to each other. In some ways we're our own worst enemy because we don't talk enough and plan together."

New programs in youth ministry at U.S. Mennonite Brethren colleges have prompted a meeting between the presidents, academic deans and board representatives from Tabor College, Fresno Pacific College and MBBS to discuss sequencing, duplication and other issues related to the undergraduate and graduate theological programs offered by the institutions.

Schmidt is optimistic about the ability of the MBBS board and administration to successfully tackle issues critical to the seminary's future, including denominational cohesiveness, staff appointments, recruitment and enrollment, financial stability and coordination of theological education.

During this past year, the MBBS board has been expanded and divided into four committees. Schmidt believes this has made it possible for LEA D E R

the board to better handle substantive issues. Most of the time at this spring's meetings was spent in committees; the larger board came together primarily to continue discussions or ratify committee action. Committee boards include student life, property and finance, academics and donor development and public relations.

"This is a very strong board, a good board," Schmidt says. "They are exceptional people. I don't think there has ever been a board more representative of the constituency." Connie Faber

Lithuania college to be adopted in FPC's 'university' system II Fledgling Christian liberal arts school wards off government attempt to close its doors

C

HRISTIAN COLLEGE of Lithuania (LCC), a Christian liberal arts college supported by Mennonite Brethren from North America, has staved off a government attempt to have it closed and is in the process of being adopted by Fresno Pacific College as an international undergraduate college under FPC's new university structure.

Although LCC is licensed to offer courses, it has not been able to obtain Lithuanian government permission to grant recognized bachelor's degrees.

Attempts by a parliamentary committee earlier this year to classify LCC and seven other schools as illegal, failed.

LCC leaders say the college was caught in the crossfire of efforts to close Polish and Russian institutions in the country.

According to Richard Kriegbaum, FPC president, the biggest hurdle will be the novel arrangements required to satisfy both Lithuanian regulations and the standards of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which provides FPC's accreditation.

LCC was established as an Englishlanguage Christian undergraduate college in 1992 by a small team of evangelicals led by Art DeFehr, a Canadian Mennonite Brethren industrialist and philanthropist. LCC graduated its first

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group of four-year students in May. Enrollment in the bachelor's program now stands at about 160, with an additional 800 students studying English part-time. Jim Mininger, former academic dean at Hesston (Kan.) College, is president of LCC. It is the only school of its kind in Lithuania.

The decision to move ahead with efforts to adopt LCC was made at the June meeting of the FPC Board of Trustees following significant discussion. In related action, the board also decided to begin implementing a university structure and name change to be completed by fall of 1997. The new name will be Fresno Pacific University. (FPC, LCC)

Hispanic Anabaptists create a North American association II First inter-Mennonite gathering celebrates unity, addresses common concerns

M

ENNONITE Brethren Hispanic leaders were among the 110 delegates to attend the "First Encounter of Ibero-American Anabaptists in North America" in Miami May 2-4. In addition to hearing addresses on the topics of renewal and unity, the delegates enthusiastically approved the creation of an association of Hispanic Anabaptists of North America.

The association will have an executive committee of two representatives from each of six participating denominations. Sam Resendez, chair of the Pacific District Hispanic Council, and Pablo Castillo, pastor of Templo La Paz in Orosi, Calif., will represent Mennonite Brethren on the executive committee.

The association will address common concerns, from such practical matters as Sunday school curriculum to more loftier questions of "prophetic discernment of mission outreach" and potentially thorny theological issues, such as the role of men and women in church and home. Support and assistance in nurturing this new initiative will come from Mennonite Central Committee U.S., whose staff helped plan the Miami consultation.

The two days of meetings, though

crammed with agenda, were upbeat and lively; participants energetically engaged in discussion, openly sharing opinions even on potentially divisive issues.

The conference represented a "deliberate effort by MCC to address institutional racism," says Resendez, who is also a member of the MCC U.S. executive committee. Resendez describes the gathering as well attended, well received and well planned.

Resendez is pleased with the accomplishments of this first gathering. He sees the formation of a central bank for exchanging ideas, literature and pastoral and leadership needs to be an important feature of the new association.

Another purpose of the association will be to encourage hispanics to continue writing on Anabaptist theology and history. Resendez believes the 26 Mennonite Brethren hispanic churches in the PDC will benefit from being tied more closely to each other and other Anabaptist groups through the association.

Women's roles in church and in the home emerged as an important issue at the meeting. Planners had to squeeze additional discussion time into an already tight agenda to deal with the issue. According to Resendez, both men and women "together embraced the topic." Following a talk by Juanita Nunez, who is active in a Mennonite church in Apopka, Fla., the conference participants broke into discussion groups, then reported back to the full assembly. A diversity of beliefs unfolded. Some of the 35 women to participate are hoping to organize a conference for hispanic women in 1997 at a centrallocation.

Delegates represented six groupsBrethren in Christ, General Conference, Mennonite Brethren, Mennonite Church, Mennonite Convention of Puerto Rico and the Amor Viviente churches. Their national origins stretched from Mexico to Argentina, from Puerto Rico to Colombia. Delegates represented some 5,000 to 6,000 hispanic Anabaptists in more than 100 North American congregations.The eight Mennonite Brethren representatives also serve on the 10person PDC Hispanic Council.-Emiry

IN BRIEF • James Pankratz has resigned as president of Concord College in Winnipeg, Man., effective at the end of the 1996-97 college year. Mennonite colleges in Canada are developing a federation of schools and Pankratz believes an agreement will be reached regarding the mission, scope and character of the new configuration during this next year. He feels this would be an opportune time to bring new presidential leadership to Concord, formerly known as Mennonite Brethren Bible College. (CC) • Fresno Pacific College's homepage is up and running at http://www.fresno.edu, says David Bonnar, director of information services. Visitors to the website can access information on academic divisions, a calendar of college events, faculty e-mail addresses, a photographic campus tour, library information, the Peace and Conflict Studies Center and the Center for MB Studies.

Because one of the primary goals of the homepage is to reach prospective students, Bonnar is working on developing an on-line financial aid and application package. (FPC) • During its June meetings, the Fresno Pacific College Board of Trustees decided to begin implementing a university structure and name change to be completed by fall 1997. The new name will be Fresno Pacific University. The board also approved building a new residence hall with occupancy projected for fall 1997. The establishment of a satellite degree center in Bakersfield which will open fall 1996 was also approved. (FPC) • The British Columbia MB Conference adopted an ambitious goal at its recent provincial convention. Delegates approved a recommendation from the Board of Church Extension to add eight new churches each year between 1996 and 2000. The eight would include three English-speaking churches planted directly by the board; two daughter churches planted by existing congregations, two culture and language-specific churches and one existing independent evangelical church added by adoption. (MB Herald)

Will and Connie Faber

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IN BRIEF • Mennonite Central Committee worker Carl Stauffer, a mediation trainer with the South African organization Wigespruit Fellowship Centre, will testify before South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commis~ sian began hearing stories of murder, police torture and other abuses that occurred during apartheid and will recommend reparations to victims and propose measures to prevent future violations. Stauffer has been asked to speak on victim/offender reconciliation programs. (MCC) • More than 200 women and a handful of men attended the third Anabaptist Women Doing Theology conference held in May at Canadian Bible College in Winnipeg, Man. The group gathered to worship and discuss issues of faith, exploring the emerging theological voices of women. It was the first conference of its kind to include drama, music and dance responses to the papers which were presented. An exhibition of art by Anabaptist women was also included for the first time.

The conference was sponsored by Canadian Mennonite Bible College, Concord College and Mennonite Central Committee. ((MBC)

Alabama burning: MDS aids church 'resurrection' project _ Response to church burning draws national media attention

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UST PAST Tuscaloosa, on my way to Boligee, the radio news reports another black church has burned down. That makes 30 in one year. Mt. Zoar and two other Baptist churches near this small, rural town fell to flames, one in December 1995 and two in January this year.

Following initial inquiries by nearby Mennonites, Mennonite Disaster Service CMDS) agreed to coordinate the rebuilding effort at Mt. Zoar Baptist, the congregation with the least financial resources of those burned in the area.

I arrive on the work site in the midst of a torrential downpour. Water gathers in the red clay packed around the newly laid block foundation. I am reminded that this earth, already sticking to my shoes, has never been easy to till. Sharecroppers knew that 30 years ago. The Choctaw and other

native peoples knew it years before that. This land holds history like the clay holds water. It can sit for a long time without going anywhere.

MDS has set up a small village here.

Seven trailers, including two mobile homes, will house the long-term team of nine and the 20-30 member youth groups who will assist the rebuilding project this summer. Although their presence probably more than triples the population in the immediate area, three decades ago that would not have been the case.

After voting rights were fully realized nearly three decades ago, white landowners forcibly removed the black sharecroppers. The only thing the sharecroppers did not have to move was the church buildings they owned. The sites, though now physically removed from the congregations, remain deeply significant to

• Mennonite Economic Development Associates has 'come "full circle" in Paraguay. Paraguay was where MEDA began its first work in 1953, helping dislocated Mennonites to start dairy herds, a tannery and a shoe factory.

Now, 26 local Mennonite businesspeople have officially formed MEDA Paraguay with Rudolf Loewen as president. The group aims to provide mutual support on both a spiritualmoral level and on a business level, and to develop business-oriented economic development projects for lowincome Paraguayans. (MEDA)

• John E. Toews, former MB Biblical Seminary professor, was installed April 21 as the fifth president of Conrad Grebel College, Waterloo,Ont. Conrad Grebel is a teaching program at the University of Waterloo, as well as a residence for 113 women and men. Students are registered in all six faculties of the university. (MB Hera/d) Fire-scorched outer walls and rubble are all that remain of the Mt. Zoar Baptist church building.

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them in both a cultural and religious sense. Whoever chose to burn Mt. Zoar-whether in drunken spite or calculated hate-also knew the history.

Those responsible apparently forgot, however, that the real church can't be destroyed by flames.

Upon entering the main MDS mobile home unit, I hear a meeting well under way. Arthur Coleman, Mt. Zoar's pastor, and MDS personnel discuss details of funding, construction and coordination. Control of the project finances and design remains securely in the hands of Coleman and deacon Bobby Davis.

"That was a very deliberate decision on our part," notes Tom Smucker, MDS program coordinator.

"There's no question that we're coming here as a powerful white organization. Giving up some of the control we might otherwise keep helps even out the power imbalance a bit."

A

fter a supper with the long-term team, I ask what makes this project different. Is it the remoteness?

The man-made nature of the disaster?

Perhaps the local mix of politics made more volatile by the burnings and considerable national attention paid to the area?

"No, it's the media," says advance team member Art Smucker. "I've never known an MDS project to have had so many different media personnel present so often."

Other members of the team nod their heads in affirmation and launch into stories of their encounters with both local and national members of the media. They have already been visited by the local paper and news stations as well as a reporter from the Chicago Tribune and a TV crew from a national network.

During team training the next day, we spend considerable time talking about how to respond to the media-what to say, how to say it, who will do the talking. So far both the coverage itself and the local response have been positive.

"They keep asking us why we're doing this," chuckles construction foreman Virgil

Kauffman. "They can't quite figure us out."

Despite the warm reception by both the white and black community in Boligee-attested to repeatedly by all team members-there remains the possibility, however slight, of further violence. Team members discuss how best to respond should something unexpected happen. Some nervous laughter ripples through the group.

The discussion quickly turns serious.

I detect no glory-seeking heroes in the MDS group. They know the true risk-takers and heroes in this story are the members of Mt. Zoar and the 29 other churches already destroyed.

MDS staffers will eventually go home.

The members of Mt. Zoar are here to stay.

Jane Kuepfer, who, along with her husband, J.D., will coordinate the youth activities here this summer, compares the project to a resurrection of sorts.

"It's the church rebuilding the church," she says.

Sparkling on the farm land around this Mt. Zoar resurrection work are catfish ponds too numerous to count.

Members of the congregation plan to prepare a meal for MDS volunteers with the bounty from these ponds each Wednesday night. A time of sharing stories will hopefully follow.

As I leave the work site, I cannot help but wonder what will result from these catfish meals. Certainly racism will not end. The church building will not be completed any sooner. It's possible that stereotypes held by youth group members may be challenged, but not necessarily. Brief exposure does not always result in more open minds.

Our church and society have too few opportunities for authentic mutual exchange across racial lines. These meals offer the pOSSibility of change.

As I leave, gobs of red clay stick to my shoes. The words of one of the local white Mennonites participating in the team's training also stick.

"I've been here 30 years. This is something new. We've never even thought about our white privileges while doing other service projects in this community. I think it's about time."-Jody Miller Shearer, racism awareness educator for Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

IN BRIEF • This month Mennonite Economic Development Associates is beginning a program in Mozambique, often called the world's poorest country. The microenterprise pilot project is located in the capital city of Maputo. Plans are to assist 240 clients in the first year, says Allan Sauder, director of operations for Africa and Asia. The eventual goals are to bolster the region's economic prospects by creating a self-sustaining financial institution which provides access to savings, credit and training services for micro-entrepreneurs. (MEDA)

• Spasibo bolshoye-thanks very much-is the message students at the Donetsk (Ukraine) Christian University enthusiastically send to the Mennonite Central Committee constituency for a recent shipment of canned meat, milk and supplies, says MCC worker Mary Raber who teaches at the university.

"The gift from MCC was a magnificent boost for our weary winter morale; when it arrived we were pretty much down to buckwheat or potatoes and cabbage every day," writes Raber in a May 10 letter. "It means a lot to have bits of meat in our borscht and pjroshki, a deep-fried pastry." This shipment was one of five MCC has sent from the United States and Canada to the former Soviet Union in the last three years; their value totaled $329,000.

Two additional large shipments are planned for this year. (MCC)

MENNONITE PRESS, INC. Cd// or Kf/te for /l1formdt/ol1 011 Pr/l1t/ltg BOO/8 dl1d qel1ed/og/e8 PO. BOX 867 NEWfON, KANSAS 671 14 316 / 283-4680 J U L Y

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Participants chosen for Zairian 'singing annbassadors'tour II Esengo will tour North American churches in 1997

E

mer she will meet the other Esengo members and will begin her full-time ministry with them in fall.

Organizers hope to raise in advance the $60,000 needed for the tour and anticipate funds coming from three primary sources: fund raising by youth, personal donations from MBM/S board and staff, and special gifts from individuals. The funding plan enables offerings taken during the concerts to go "directly to world missions," says Gary Hardaway, MBM/S secretary for communications and public relations. (MBMjS)

LEVEN MEN and women have been selected to participate in Esengo Zaire, a group of singing ambassadors from the Zaire MB Conference. The seven men and four women were selected for their musicianship and personal and Christian maturity.

Esengo will launch its musical mission with concerts at the Mennonite World Conference in Calcutta in January 1997, followed by performances in Mennonite Brethren churches in India. After ministering to the Mennonite Brethren churches in Japan, Esengo will crisscross the United States and Canada for four months.

The tour will conclude in Europe in June 1997.

The North American portion of the tour will coincide with the General Conference "Year of Global Mission."

MB Missions/Services is encouraging every North American Mennonite Brethren church to plan a two- or three-day major global mission emphasis in conjunction with Esengo's nearest appearance. Tour organizers hope to spark new interest in global mission among 20 to 40 year olds.

Plans for a world tour by a Mennonite Brethren Zairian musical team have involved recruiting not only musicians but also a special envoy to accompany and shepherd the group.

Jeanine Janzen, a French-speaking MB Biblical Seminary student, has agreed to travel with Esengo Zaire as cultural translator and facilitator.

Janzen will prepare and coach the team for its encounters with a culture far different than the village culture from which most of the singers come.

She will educate, explain, mediate and represent the team. Janzen's responsibilities with Esengo Zaire have been coordinated by Youth Mission International, the conference's youth mission agency.

Janzen participated in YMI orientation events in June and leaves for Zaire July 8 to serve there with the YMI summer team. During the sum-

FRESNO, Calif. (Bethany)-Leanne McDannald, Kimberly Farris and Cosmo Tedeschi were baptized and received into membership May 12. Butch and Linda Stewart and Bernie and Sherry Ogden were welcomed as new members....Paul

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.CHURCH NOTES •

Baptism/Membership

MANHATTAN, Kan.-Mary Ottman, Rick Schroeder and Robert and Melissa Atchison were received into membership March 17.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Heritage Bible)Christina Byrum, Joe Byrum, Vicki Byrum, Carlos Chavez, Audrey Hurd, Nancy Jacob, Ben Kropf, Chris Kropf, Debbie Mansfield, Stephanie Molitor, Tim Molitor, Nicole Padilla, Dennis Padilla, Crystal Porter, Karen Price, Crystal Sanchez, Nicole Sanchez, Janet Spingola, Kari Weinmann, Lisa Weinmann, Mark Weinmann, Mark Welch and Jacqueline Williams were baptized May 19. Karen Price, Janet Spingola and Bonnie Zoldak were welcomed into membership.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-Ralph Harris, Tom Porter, and Jenifer and David Wilbur were baptized and accepted into membership May 5. Aaron and Yvette Assem, John and Dawn Champion, David Chapman, Shirley Cron, Brenda Harris, David Norris, John and Mary Penrose, Kathy Porter, and Carl and Beckie Roberts were welcomed into membership.

SALEM, Ore. (Kingwood Bible)-Claudi Allen, Christina Allen, Zachary Allen, Christina Andersen, Amy Light, Sean Light, Ashley Redinger and Earl Sherwood were baptized May 12 ....Alma Heppner, Millie Holmstrom, Brent and Julie Hudson, Earl Sherwood and Pat and Elsie Trude were received into membership May 19.

GRANT, Neb. (New Life)-Ben Polson, Tiffany Harms and Jacob Harms were baptized and welcomed into church membership May 12.

and Colleen Gaede, Kimberly Zamora and Doug Round were accepted as new members May 19.

WEATHERFORD, Okla. (Pine Acres)Angela Fast, Dusty Hayes and Gregory Hayes were baptized May 19. Greg and Janet Hayes, Chad Roberts, Wade Roberts, Cindy Kelley, Geneva Penner and Kenton Stubbs were accepted into membership.

HESSTON, Kan.- Brett Buhrman, Joshua Hofer, Bradley Jantz, Daniel Jantz, Marcus King, Rosa Lind, Ryan Lind, Jeremy Neufeld and Rachel Prieb were baptized and accepted into membership May 19.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Bible Fellowship)Brandy Belken, Natalie Diaz, Angela Hoyt, Karl and Rebekah Newman and Darrell and Kim Olson were baptized May 26 ....Fred, Deb and Kari Wyss and Erin Stocks were accepted into membership May 12.

FRESNO, Calif. (Butler)-William Winchester, Manuel Zavaka, Mal Hing Heungpassuth, Joe Keodara, Toom Poisena, Ta Heungpaseuth and Khamsouk Keodara were baptized and welcomed into membership June 2. Carol Winchester, Curt and Mindy Shirey, Manuel Heredia and Matthew Eames were also accepted into membership.

OLATHE, Kan. (Community Bible)-Brett Mowry, Lindsey Way, Angie Yoder and John and Jan Schick were baptized June 2.

•

Celebrations

FRESNO, Calif. (North)-Jim Holm, pastor of the Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, was the speaker for the dedication of the educational wing June 2. That afternoon and evening the junior and senior high students presented a musical, "The Builder," which focused on the vision of the new building and on the Builder (Jesus Christ) himself.

REEDLEY, Calif.-Flowers were placed in the sanctuary April 21 in honor ofJack and Mary Neufeld's 60th wedding anniversary.... Flowers were placed April 28 in honor of the 60th anniversary of Pete and Irma Toews....A bouquet of flowers May 5 honored Ben and Anna Marie Nachtigall's 60th anniversary.

ENID, Okla.-Stella and Clayton Voth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception May 11.

BUHLER, Kan.-Flowers were placed in the sanctuary May 19 in honor of the 50th wedding anniversary of Franklin and Kathryn Pankratz .... Milo and Leatrice Schroeder celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception May 26.

FAIRVIEW, Okla.-Flowers were placed in the sanctuary May 30 in honor of the

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50th wedding anniversary of Leonard and Leona Vogt.

HESSTON, Kan.-Andy and Lillian Harms celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house June 2.

HENDERSON, Neb.-Lawrence and Verna Buller celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house June 8.

BLAINE, Wash. (Birch Bay)-The family of Elva and Clarence Schmidt hosted a reception June 15 in honor their 60th wedding anniversary.

BETHANY, Okla. (Western Oaks)-The congregation celebrated the 50th wedding anniversary of Walt and Mary Unruh June 23 with a program and reception.

HILLSBORO, Kan. (Parkview)-The children of Harry and Millie Friesen hosted a reception June 30 in honor of their parentS' 50th wedding anniversary.

•

Fellowship

ADAMS, Okla.-David and Martha Fast, retiring missionaries of the congregation for the past 30 years, were honored with a noon meal May 26.

FRESNO, Calif. (Butler)-A worship service and picnic June 2 on the Fresno Pacific College campus involved all four ethnic congregations that comprise the church.

The day included baptisms, testimonies, update from missionary Rod Zook, a barbecue and afternoon recreation.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-An afternoon golf tournament June 16 was followed by a Father's Day banquet. Proceeds from the events supported the congregation's Romania ministry program....A new congregational ministry will promote the health of the congregation through educational sessions, health screenings and support groups.

GETIYSBURG, S.D. (Grace Bible)-An allchurch campout was held June 29-30 at West Whitlock Bay.

•

Ministry

WICHITA, Kan.-Roland and Lois Reimer, Southern District minister couple, traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, May 28 through June 6 to speak at a MB Missions/Services missionary retreat.

DENVER, Colo. (Garden Park)-Members of the congregation who are sixth grade and older were invited to participate in an all-church missions trip to Navajoland June 29-July 4.

FRESNO, Calif. (Butler)-Pastor Phone Keo Keovilay of the Khmu congregation has been added to the Evangelicals for

Social Action Board of Directors....Hope Now for Youth, a Fresno-based ministry to reach at-risk youth, has set up an office at the church.

ADAMS, Okla.-The congregation went house to house June 9 inviting community children to attend the one day VBS Day Camp, June 11.

•

TOGETHERNESS

Proclamation

HENDERSON, Neb.-David Brandt, Tabor College president, was the guest speaker May 12....MB Missions/Services missionaries Juan and Olga Martinez and their family participated in the morning and evening services May 19.

TULSA, Okla. (parkside)-Rick Eshbaugh, pastor of the Topeka (Kan.) MB Church, was the guest speaker May 19.

BETHANY, Okla. (Western Oaks)George Warrington of Bible Fellowship preached the message May 26. Bible Fellowship sponsors release time classes for children and state fair evangelism.

Eddie and Roselyn Goertzen residents in Independent Living

FRESNO, Calif. (Fig Garden)-Rick Bartlett, currently with Youth for Christ in Great Britain, spoke June 9.

•

Workers

HENDERSON, Neb.-Pastor Garvie Schmidt has resigned to accept the pastorate of the Enid (Okla.) MB Church. He and his wife, Diane, and their children, Nathan and Heidi, will be moving to Oklahoma later this summer.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Bible Fellowship)Glenn and Marissa Krispense, 1996 graduates of Tabor College, will begin their ministry as the congregation's pastoral couple for youth Aug. 15.

S

pending the tinle to

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For more infonnation, call DAVID REIMER

EXECUTIVE DIRECIDR Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies Fresno Pacific College

(209) 638-6933

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CONFERENCE FRESNO, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 25-26, 1996

Come participate in defining the roles of legislation and the church in restorative justice. (~l'l,l. 1I00-nOn-\T()lll)

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ULYSSES, Kan.-Dave and Elvira Plett will conclude their ministry as interim pastoral couple in July.

WEATHERFORD, Okla. (Pine Acres)The congregation voted to make the youth pastor a full-time position. Staff member Hal J. Penner has accepted the position.

VISALIA, Calif. (Neighborhood)-Bob Heidebrecht began as full-time youth pastor and Chris Walsh began as full-time family ministry pastor July 1.

TOPEKA, Kan.-Drew Roberts, a summer intern from Tabor College, began his ministry May 29.

FRESNO, Calif. (Butler)-Jeremy Vogt is the summer youth intern while pastor Barbie Larson is in Switzerland.

.DEATHS BERG, WILLIE H., Inola, Okla., a member of Parkside MB Church in Tulsa, Okla., was born Nov. 3, 1912, to Henry and Elizabeth Beier Berg at Gotebo, Okla., and died June 3, 1996, at the age of 83. On May 31, 1936, he was married to Mary Reimer, who survives. He is also survived by four sons, Billy and wife Janice of Inola, Bobby and wife Norma of Medford, Okla., Ronald

and wife Gloria of Inola, and Richard and wife Joann of Tulsa; one daughter, Lawanna Berg of Inola; brothers John and Art of Fresno, Calif.; four sisters, Martha David of Tulsa, Esther Nickel of Inola, Ruth Friesen and Emma Kohfeld, both of Reedley, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren.

FAST, BEN, Freeman, S.D., a member of Silver Lake MB Church, Freeman, was born near Marion S.D., on Nov. 24, 1897, to Abraham and Susan Dirks Fast and died Jan. 29, 1996, at the age of 98. On Aug. 20, 1922, he was married to Martha Thomas who predeceased him in 1992. He is survived by one sister, Marie Kunkel of Freeman; and several nephews and nieces.

PATZKOWSKY, RUBEN T., Ardmore, Okla., a member of Fairview (Okla.) MB Church, was born Oct. 21, 1904 to August F. and Mary Krause Patzkowsky in Indian Territory and died April 30, 1996, at the age of 92. On March 8, 1927, he was married to Esther Schneider, who predeceased him. He is survived by two sons, Robert Patzkowsky and wife Charlette of Ardmore and Paul Patzkowsky of Oklahoma City, Okla; and six grandchildren.

SCHROEDER, EVA, Buhler, Kan., was born April 20, 1894, to Jacob B. and Elizabeth Unruh Becker near Marion, S.D., and

CHURCH PARTNERSHIP EVANGELISM (CPE)

Invitation: TO: Born-again Christians; FROM: Evangelical churches King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., is seeking volunteers for its Church Partnership Evangelism outreach to....

died May 10, 1996, at the age of 102. On Sept. 2, 1913, she was married to John Schroeder who predeceased her in 1961.

She is survived by two sons, Edward and wife Clarice of Omaha, Neb., and Loyd and wife Esther of Golden, Mo.; four daughters, Emma Dyck of Burnaby, B.C., Wanda Teichroew of Frazer, Mont., Olivia and husband David Carlson of Hibbing, Minn., and Lillian and husband Harold Epp of Buhler; three sisters, Helen Thomas of Marion, S.D., Alvina Nickel of Goshen, Ind., and Martha Becker of Freeman, S.D.; two brothers, Aaron Becker of Reedley, Calif., and Jacob Becker of Marion; 26 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren and 10 great great-grandchildren.

WALTER, AMOS I., Freeman, S.D., was born Nov. 3, 1914, to Isaac I. Walter Sr. and Elizabeth Wollman Walter near Bridgewater, S.D., and died May 6, 1996, at the age of 82. He is survived by one brother, Isaac I. and wife Martha Walter; one sisterin-law, Elizabether Walter; one nephew, Obed and wife Martha Hofer; and three nieces, Lorraine and husband Ronald Dibbert, Armelle and husband Duane Heer and Terry and husband Donald Cooper.

WOLLMAN, MIKE G., Freeman, S.D., a member of Salem M.B. Church, Bridgewater, S.D., was born Feb. 6, 1903, to Andrew M. and Rachel Gross Wollman near Menno, S.D., and died May 2, 1996, at the age of 93. On Nov. 27, 1924, he was married to Ida Walter who survives. He is also survived by two daughters, Celia Wollman and Marilyn Duerksen, both of Freeman; brothers-in-law, Eli Hofer, Jake E. Hofer, Wilmer Heuther and Erwin Walter; sisters-in-law Anna Tschetter and Bertha Heuther; and two grandchildren.•

Cost Iperson*

1. FIJI ISLANDS .

2. PERU, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura or Talara ..

3. UKRAINE .

4. ZAIRE, AFRICA, Kikwit .

5. INDIA, Hyderabad & Jongoan .

6. PHILIPPINES .

7. NICARAGUA .

July 14 - Aug. 2/96 July 22 - Aug. 15/96 Sept. 9-29 / 96 Oct. 13-31 / 96 Nov. 10-28 / 96 Jan. 13-30 / 97 Feb. 10-27 / 97

NOTE: Dates may be subject to change.

$1,200 $1,000 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,000 $1,000 *Canadian dollars

• Team up with national Christians and witness for Christ door to door.

• Some knowledge of the country's language is helpful.

• Similar campaigns have resulted in 200 to 400 conversions. Come and be part of an enriching spiritual experience, discover what GOD can do through you.

For more information, contact: Evelyn Unruh, 604-852-5744 or CPE 604-864-3941 Peter Loewen, 604-853-3173 or FAX 604-853-6482 Maybe you are interested in one, two or more campaigns. Please let us know if you find this to be valuable work for the Lord. I would ask you to bring this information to your friends and churches. We will need many volunteers in 1996.

Peter Loewen Promoter

Peter Huebert Missions Committee President

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URGENT U-SERV WORK OPPORTUNITY! Workers needed to help build a new 60' x 130' addition to the facility at the Lincoln Hills Bible Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. Workers can bring RVs and park on the church yard; a few can stay in homes of members.

Skilled carpenters, finish workers, sheetrockers, carpet layers, bricklayers and general laborers are needed.

Work a few days or a couple of weeks. Several U-SERV volunteers have already helped frame the building. The church needs volunteers to keep costs low and could use help now and for the next month or more.

For more information, contact Pastor Roger Engbrecht, (605) 334-8111 or (605) 334-4880, or Gavin Banik, (605) 339-3040.

?

II

MMA Praxis Mutual Funds give you the freedom to pursue your investment goals without compromising your values.

MMA Praxis avoids investments in enterprises that manufacture military weapons or are directly associated with the gambling industry and the production of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.

For mutual fund investments that correspond with your ethical values, you need to find out more about MMAPraxis.

Contact an MMA counselor or call

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•• r- r

M M A

MISCELLANEA CLIPS

WITNESS

Global March draws millions The 1996 Global March for Jesus held May 25 drew millions of Christians from around the world to celebrate Jesus on the streets of more than 2,000 cities in 170 nations. In the United States, an estimated one million people marched in 625 cities. The largest single-city turnout was in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where two million people marched.

The idea of praising Jesus on city streets has grown tremendously since the first March for Jesus nine years ago in London.

At the first Global March for Jesus two years ago, 10 million believers took to the streets of 1,500 cities of

AND

178 nations. In the United States that year, 550 cities held marches. Global marches are planned until the year 2000. (EP) POLITICS

Rush to judgment?

President Bill Clinton and Tony Campolo, wellknown evangelical speaker and writer, were sharing a memory of resurrection victory when TV cameras caught them briefly laughing following the memorial service for Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, Campo10 says.

In a written statement, Campolo criticized politically conservative evangelicals who distorted the facts in order to "demonize" Clinton. The video clip

COMMENTS

received national exposure when broadcast by conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, who aired it "as evidence of the President's insincerity. " Campolo said he and Clinton laughed briefly while sharing a story of how an old gospel song about the coming resurrection had changed the mood of a funeral "from despair to celebration."

Campolo was saddened by the many Christians who rushed to judgment without knowing the facts. "I have come to expect that sort of thing from Rush, but what I did not expect was a barrage of letters from Christians across the country," Campolo wrote.

"Without asking me what the TV footage was all

I

about, they accepted Limbaugh's interpretation and delighted in what they were convinced it all meant.

"Many of us in the name of Christ have declared war on President Clinton and in the process have been sucked into [using biases and distortions to discredit political foes]. And after his most recent veto of a bill designed to limit late abortions, there are many who claim that they have good reason for demoniZing him.

But as Evangelicals carry their moral crusade into the political arena, they should do well to heed the warning of Fredrick Nietzsche, who once said, 'Beware when you fight a dragon, lest you become a dragon. '" (EP) ACTIVISM

MB Circles... by Lorlie Barkman

FASTER PASTOR FASTER!

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The worship leader tries to keep up with the times.

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Show of force The Christian Coalition plans to distribute about 45 million conservative voter guides in the 10 days before the November presidential election, according to Ralph Reed, executive director.

Speaking to reporters at a May 29 luncheon, Reed said the Christian Coalition now has 1.7 million registered members, one million of whom have contributed money to the organization.

The loyalty of those members is what makes the Christian Coalition more of a force to be reckoned with than labor unions, Reed suggested.

"One thing we have that frankly unions do not have is a grass-roots organization out there that will actually do what we ask them to do politically," he said. "They

MIS(:ELLANEA

will distribute 45 million voter guides in the 10 days prior to the election and all it will cost us is the cost of printing the paper." (EP) PANIC

Beastly baptisms Parents in Colombia's capital city of Bogota rushed to baptize their children after it was rumored that the Antichrist would be arriving soon. More than 7,000 children were reportedly baptized in less than six hours, at the urging of parents who believed their children would be marked with "666" if their souls were not saved before June 6, which was the sixth day of the sixth month of a year ending with a six. (EP) REVIEW

Reconsidering a church-state fink Texas Gov. George W. Bush has formed a task force to explore faith-based community service pro-

grams, including those run by religious organizations.

The task force is charged with examining how such private-sector initiatives can help the state meet its obligations to serve needy Texans.

The task force is an advisory body with no policymaking power, but it will make recommendations to the governor and to the legislature. A spokesperson for Bush said the Governor's aim was to remove burdensome and unnecessary regulations that hamper privatesector solutions to social problems. (EP) LANGUAGE

An exorcise in exclusivity?

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is being put to rest by the Church of Scotland as part of a purge designed to eliminate "obtuse or outdated theology" and "exclusivity or obscure language." The familiar Christmas carol was

Faithful ferret foils fellowship

A

MERICAN novelty musician Ray Stevens once

. recorded a song about a squirrel getting loose in

a church service. Life has imitated art in England, where

a ferret recently ran up a vicar's cassock as hekneJt in

prayer. Stephen Gfey of St. Mi·chael's Church in the northern England town of Bamford, said he knew something was wrong when a wo,man in the congregati·on screamed and jumped up on a pew.

"It went three times around my cassock," he told the

Daily Telegraph. "1 was trained to carry on regardless,

but I must admit the prayers speeded up a bit toward the end."

The sharp-toothed rodent was finally ejected from

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Mennonites are named after him, but what do we really know about Menno Simons, the 16th century reformer? To mark the SOOth anniversary year of his birth, we decided to interview him. Posthumously. These are his actual words. Really. We'll carry excerpts in each issue during 1996.

~ Rejecting infant baptism and insisting

~ on believer's baptism was a key tenet for you and other Anabaptist reformers. Why?

(1Y Here we have the Lord's commandment concerning ~

baptism, namely, that the gospel must first be preached, and then those baptized who believe it, as Christ says: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Young children are without understanding and unteachable; therefore baptism cannot be administered to them without perverting the ordinance of the Lord, misusing his exalted name, and doing violence to his holy Word.

In the New Testament no ceremonies for infants are enjoined, for it treats both in doctrines and sacraments with those who have ears to hear and hearts to understand.

~ But many Christians argue the biblical validity of ~ infant baptism, don't they?

(1Y Probably it will be said that this was necessary in the

~ beginning of the gospel because at that time there were no believers whose children might be baptized, but now if parents are believers then the children are also to be baptized, just as when Abraham believed his children were circumcised.

Oh, no, this does not follow; for although Abraham believed God only one half of his seed was circumcised, namely, the male children and not the female, though he was the father of the female as well as of the male children.

That in the beginning the gospel was to be preached and that then faith came by hearing, and that baptism was to ensue upon faith, is undeniable, for Scriptures teach this.

This then is the Word and will of the Lord, that all who hear and believe the Word of God shall be baptized. Thereby they profess their faith and declare that they will henceforth live not according to their own will but according to the will of God. For the testimony of Jesus they are prepared to forsake their homes, possessions, lands, and lives and to suffer hunger, affliction, oppression, persecution, the cross and death for the same.

NEXT: True faith

the church, but not before it bit a parishioner's thumb.

SOURCE- The Complete Wrtttngs of Menno Simons

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MISCELLANEA

bounced for gender exclusivity. In preparing a new song book for the church, the hymnal committee compiled a list of 200 hymns and carols to be stricken. William Blake's famous "Jerusalem" is also on the way out, doomed by committee members who felt the hymn's reference to "dark Satanic mills" was outdated. (EP) AFFIRMATION

Card of appreciation During a career in politics you see a lot of business cards, but presidential candidate Bob Dole says Mother Teresa's are particularly memorable. Dole met the Nobel-prize winning

nun recently and was given one of her cards, which reads, "The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer, the fruit of PRAYER is Faith, the fruit of FAITH is Love, the fruit of LOVE is Service, the fruit of SERVICE is Peace."

Later, Dole told state party leaders that the 85-year-old nun has "a good sense of humor" and "not a bad business card." He added, "Mother Teresa's work is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of faith." (EP) AIDS

Causes for concern Intravenous drug use is responsible for most cases of AIDS among women and

$50 covers KVI's costs for program supplies, literature, first aid supplies and sports equipment for one youth between the ages of 11-17 to attend camp for 12 days. 100 camps expected in 1996.

Camps, individuals, families, Sunday Schools and Youth groups are invited to be sponsors.

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Tax deductible receipt will be sent.

•• ••

.~ ....

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'KIIA~,JAlAi 11~ 'J~,

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Make check payable to:

Lay Christian Association I KVI

P.o. Box 914 Travelers Rest SC 29690 30

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heterosexual men, according to federal health officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 85 percent of the 17,686 AIDS cases reported in 1995 among heterosexual men and 66 percent of the 10,777 cases among women could be traced to intravenous drug useeither by the person who developed AIDS or by a sex partner. Male homosexual activity continues to be the biggest cause in the growing AIDS epidemic, accounting for more than 60 percent of all cases.

(EP) RESEARCH

Shroud debate takes one more turn New research on the Shroud of Turin suggests that the cloth is centuries older than suggested by earlier studies. A team from the University of Texas Science Health Center in San Antonio says a thin film of microbes and fungi on the linen threads of the cloth affected earlier radiocarbon dating attempts. The study suggests that the cloth is older than believed, placing its origin closer to the time of Christ. The shroud shows an image of a man with nail wounds in his hands and feet, and is believed by some to be the burial cloth of Christ. (EP) CHARITY

Generosity jump in '95 Americans contributed nearly $144 billion to charities in 1995, up 10.78 percent from the previous year, according to a study by the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel. The group attributed the increase to increased personal income and more

effective fund-raising techniques. Individual giving increased by 11.9 percent, outpacing corporate donations which grew 7.4 percent. Religious organizations received about half of all charitable contributions in 1995, a 5.39 percent increase in total giving to religious organizations from the previous year. (EP) CELEBRITY

Religious devotion It was inevitable. A pop singer known as "The King" and frequently "sighted" after his death was bound to inspire a religion. After decades of informal worship, devotees of the late Elvis Presley have formed a new religion: The First Presbyterian Church of Elvis the Divine.

The tongue-in-cheek group holds weekly services in cyberspace, and boasts about 200 members.

These prophets of Presley are urged to face Las Vegas once a day, make a pilgrimage to Graceland, eat six meals a day (plus frequent snacks), and fight the forces of the evil anti-Elvis, Michael Jackson, who at one time was married to Presley's daughter.

The church was founded as a joke in 1988, but has taken off with popularization of the Internet's World Wide Web. It recently got a boost from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where religion professor Norman Girardot teaches a class titled "Jesus, Buddha, Confucius and Elvis."

The founders of the church sell T-shirts and plan to publish the "New and Improved Testament of Elvis," which predicts Elvis will descend from heaven in a pink Cadillac and throw high-fat snacks to his believers. (EP) •

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT A

GUIDE

FOR

GROUP

INTERACTION

SESSION 1: Strengths of the small church

SESSION 3: Miracles and the gospel

Based on "Small Can Be Beautiful, Too" (page 4)

Based on the second question in Inquiring Minds (page 17).

GET READY-Getting started

GET READY-Getting started

• What is the smallest church you have attended?

• Share one of your favorite miracle stories from the Gospels.

GET SET-Examining the issues

GET SET-Examining the issues

1. Do you agree with the authors' reasons for why small churches may feel inferior? Why, or why not?

2. Describe the unique qualities of a small church.

3. How difficult is it for large churches to have the same qualities and can these difficulties be overcome? Jf so, how?

1. Review the following passages: Matthew 8: 1-4, Matthew 16: 13-20, Luke 5: 12-26, Luke 9: 18-27. Is there anything significant about the times and settings in which Jesus gave these instructions?

2. What purpose did Jesus have in performing miracles? How did that purpose coincide with the truth of his teaching?

3. What is it about the miraculous/spectacular that attracts our attention?

4. What is Marvin Hein suggesting we have not done very well in our evangelism efforts? How can we improve?

GO-Applying ideas to the way we live 1. What does your congregation do to let people know they are needed?

2. What impact does size have on the effectiveness of your congregation-positively and negatively?

3. What are strengths of your church and how can you make the most of those strengths?

SESSION 2: Worship wars

Based on "Repetition in Worship Singing: Bane or Blessing 1" (page 7)

GO-Applying ideas to the way we live 1. When is focusing on today's miracles positive and when is it negative?

2. Are there ways in which we can discern whether a new believer, or someone who has had a spectacular experience, is ready to share in a public setting?

3. How has time enriched your understanding and appreciation of the miracles in your life?

GET READY-Getting started • Share an experience of meaningful worship you have had within the past six months.

SESSION 4: Living legacies

Based on On the Journey (page 18)

GET SET-Examining the issues

GET READY-Getting started

1. Do you agree with the author's first statement, "Repetition in worship is a battleground in numerous churches"?

2. Summarize the up and down sides of repetition.

3. Review the story of Jesus and the woman from John 4. What does it say about our various preferences in worship today?

4. Identify ways in which the influence of our culture enhances and hinders our worship "in spirit and in truth."

• Identify a nomadic experience or campsite in your life.

GO-Applying ideas to the way we live 1. What in your congregation worship format helps you to fix your attention on God? 2. Try to describe a worship service as the author says to in the first suggestion in the sidebar "Steps Toward Settling Our Worship Wars" (page 9).

3. Which of the suggestions in the sidebar are most appropriate for your congregation and you personally?

GET SET-Examining the issues 1. Reflect on the life stories of biblical characters such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph and Paul. How did decisions they made affect the lives of others?

2. Who are people in your past who have influenced your present life? What was it about that person that influenced you most?

3. Identify Scriptures that remind us that we should consider the ways in which our lives influence the lives of others?

GO-Applying ideas to the way we live 1. What is it that you would like your descendants to remember most about you?

2. What day-to-day actions and attitudes on your part would help ensure that you leave the kind of impact you would like to leave?

3. How can we as members of Christ's body work together to leave a legacy of faith?

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT is a project of the Christian Leader and the Southern District Christian Education Commission. Questions by Nadine Friesen.

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EDITORIAL

Listening to the Spirit?

C

HUCK BELL had been the founding pastor of the kinds of bold initiatives, both personal and corporate, Vineyard Fellowship of San Jose since 1989. One with the claim of divine leading. Some ventures, in day he informed the congregation that God had hindsight, appear to have been genuinely blessed. Others, though, were downright kooky, even harmful. called him to a radically different brand of ChristianityEastern Orthodoxy. Then he announced that God wantWhat complicates the issue is that God has a track ed them to join it, too. About half the members folrecord of telling people to do things which are indelowed Bell from rock music, public prophesying and pendent, assertive and seem inconsiderate of the status speaking in tongues to a new worship format of liturgiquo. Noah was told to build a barge on dry land. Abracal readings, lit candles and kissing paintings of the Virham was told to leave his vast estate for an unknown gin Mary. and far-off land. Mary was told by an angel she would The radical change makes Chuck Bell's story particbear the son of God. Peter was told through a vision to preach to Gentiles. ularly unique. But The Wall streetJournal featured it last month to illustrate a broader trend: pastors leading So, now you're telling me that God wants you to whole congregat~onsfrom one denomination to anothpull your church out of the denomination? Or change the worship style of your congregaer. And always ~t the Spirit's direction, tion? Or quit your lucrative job and volof course.

S interest in and The story caught our attention unteer with MCC? Or launch a national because Mennonite Brethren endured a sensitivity to the renewal and church-planting thrust? similar experience within its ranks sevWell, yo~ might be right. Right? activity of the Holy eral months ago. The leader of a The challenge of discerning the fledgling congregation in the Midwest Spirit's voice exists in every Christian Spirit increases in our became convinced that the Lord group. Charismatic denominations may frowned on denominational ties. When North American be more susceptible to the hair-brained he announced his resignation, the whim, but Mennonites, as a group, conference, the need to group decided to sever ties with the struggle at the other end: We so want a conference and follow their pastor faith that "makes sense" that we poohtalk together about it down an independent path. pooh new expressions that don't fit We could debate the ethics of our predetermined mold. So, while a grows more urgent. these "conversions" for some time, but few take every dream and impulse as a the bigger and more perplexing issue is this: How does spiritual revelation, others all but deny the possibility the Holy Spirit lead? I have heard from conference leadthat God might use extraordinary means to communiers about an increasing focus on the activity of the Holy cate with his people.

Spirit in our denomination, particularly among younger To my knowledge, Mennonite Brethren have no forpastors and leaders. This would seem, at first blush, to mal theology of the_Holy Spirit. Until 1981, we didn't be an encouraging indication of spiritual renewal and even have a conference resolution on the topic. As growth. But what these veteran leaders note is that interest in and sensitivity to the activity of the Holy often the "Spirit's leading" is expressed in words and Spirit increases in our Nort~ American conference, the actions that reflect an independent, assertive and someneed to talk together about it grows more urgent. But, times inconsiderate posture. As if to say, "Because the ironically, the very necessity of talking together-a tradiSpirit has told me to do this, it doesn't matter what you tion we call covenant community-is increasingly called think." into question or simply ignored as more pastors and Of course, t1)ere is another waytQ read those, same congregations listen with an independent ear and mind to "the Spirit's leading." signals. That is, the Spirit wants desperately to break through our rigid denominational traditions and lead us "With the weakened role of denominational herinto a new and more dynamic way of doing church. If itage" the minister gets elevated in terms of the kind of some veteran leaders feel threatened, it may be influence he can have," says Wade Clark Roof, profesbecause they are listening to the "safe" but outmoded sor of religion and society at the University of Califorvoice of the status quo rather than the fresh prompting nia, Santa Barbara, in the Wall StreetJournal article. of the Spirit.

For a church body whose birthright is the priesthood of So who is truly in tune with God? When do we all believers and a commitment to live in covenant comknow whether new ideas come from the Spirit or from munity, his words are particularly probing. our own imaginings? Lord knows we've blessed all That is, if anyone is listening anymore.-DR

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