A proposal for unprecedented emphasis on renewal and mission highlights a potentially 'historic' gathering July 23-26
FIRST WORDS from the editor
WHAT IN GOD'S NAME are Mennonite Brethren up to in this country? Here's your chance to find out, at least in regard to our work together as a national conference_ In this issue we bring you the reports of our national boards and ministries in preparation for our biennial get-together in July-
The location for this year's convention is familiar to veterans. The Colorado College campus in Colorado Springs has been the site for three of the past four conventions. But the agenda has the potential to be, in the word of conference leaders, "historic." At issue is the ministry direction of the U.S. Conference.
Even if you can't attend Colorado Springs '94, I encourage you to become informed about the issues that will be addressed there. Once informed, try your hand at our biennial bonus quiz on page 36. Then, of even more importance, begin to pray about the decisions that will be made in July.
From my vantage point, I believe Mennonite Brethren in the United States are at a Significant crossroads. As you read this issue, you will be amazed at what God has been doing in our midst these past two years; you will be challenged to dream what God might want to do through us in the years ahead.-DR
COMING
• JULY 23-26-Biennial convention ofthe u.s. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Southern District Conference regional rallies:
• ocrOBER 2- Western Oklahoma; host: Com MB Church
• OCTOBER 16-Central Kansas; host : Wichita First MB Church
• OCTOBER 23- Northwest Kansas and Missouri; host: Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan.
• DATE FORTHCOMING-Colorado; host : Garden Park Church, Denver
• DATE FORTHCOMING-Western Kansas and Oklahoma Panhandle; host: Ulysses (Kan.) MB Church
• OCTOBER 28-30-Central District Conference convention, Rapid City, S.D .
QUOT A BLE
• "Prayerless people cut themselves off from God's prevailing p ower, and the frequent result is the familiar feeling of being overwhelmed, overrun, beaten down, pushed around, d efeated. Surprising numbers of people are willing to settle f or li ves like that. Don't be o ne of them . Nobody has to li ve li ke th a t Pray er is the key to unlocking God's prevailing p ower in y ou r life -B ILL H YBELS IN Too Busy NOT TO PRAY
What sets Mission USA apart from past proposals is the unprecedented cooperation between the various institutions, conferences, boards and agencies of the U.S. Conference and MB Missions/ Services.
On the precipice
When U.S. Mennonite Brethren return to the Rocky Mountains this summer for their biennial convention, leaders are praying delegates see an elevated vision of the future
ISTORIC" IS TIlE WORD U.S. CONFERENCE LEADERS
are using to describe the potential for this summer's biennial convention. Certainly the word isn't used in reference to the convention site. For the fourth time since 1986, delegates and guests will gather to celebrate and do their work on the campus of Colorado College in Colorado Springs. And the timing of this year's gathering-July 23-26-has become the norm. Even the schedule-which includes worship, speakers, business and workshops-has a familiar ring to it too.
So what's historic? Namely, a proposal to be considered that could set the U.S. Conference on a new and dynamic course of renewal and expansion, according to those same leaders.
And what's so historic about that, you ask? Haven't Mennonite Brethren conventions through the years passed any number of proposals to renew and expand the denomination?
Yes-and no, says the Board of Church Ministries (BCM) , which is recommending the proposal. Yes, Mennonite Brethren have always had a heart for spiritual renewal and church growth, but never have delegates considered a strategy so bold and encom· passing.
The plan itself, called Mission USA, is the result of the research and development pro· cess known as Vision 2000, which was
hatched during a leadership consultation held in Wichita, Kan., in February 1993.
What sets Mission USA apart from past proposals is the unprecedented cooperation between the various institutions, conferences, boards and agencies of the U.S. Conference and MB Missions/Services. Leaders of these ministries have pledged to work together closely to coordinate and orient their programs so that renewal and church planting become the priority for U.S. Mennonite Brethren through the end of this decade and into the next (see page 6 for the specifics)
Five Mennonite Brethren leaders will address various components of the vision through keynote messages:
• Jim Holm, pastor of the Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, will speak on the topic "Focusing the vision "
• Roger Poppen, Bakersfield, Calif., pastor of Laurelglen Bible Church, the fastest-grow· ing Mennonite Brethren congregation in the United States, will address the topic, "Living in touch with God ."
We believe there is a growing need for all Mennonite Brethren to focus on a united vision and thrust.
Board of Church Ministries
Joshua 18 : 3 asks the question, "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you " ? We are grateful that Mennonite Brethren in the United States are showing a growing interest in moving more aggressively in taking possession of the land.
The theme of our convention, "Mission USA: Claiming this land for Christ," may seem presumptuous, but it does express our desire as a Board of Church Ministries (BCM) and as U.S. Mennonite Brethren. We believe there is a growing need for all Mennonite Brethren to focus on a united vision and thrust.
The new Mission USA proposal has been the major focus of the BCM during the last two years. Our board called for a meeting of leaders to discuss chronic funding needs, but it immediately became apparent that the real need for U.S. Mennonite Brethren was for spiritual renewal and more emphasis on evangelism and church planting
BCM endorsed this vision and appointed a five-member task force to spearhead this effort. Our February board meetings afftrrned the work of the task force and at that meeting we appointed a new steering committee to "flesh out" the strategy for implementing the new Mission USA vision The recommendation for implementation will be presented at this convention (see sidebar)
We have participated with the General Conference and the Canadian Conference in
Board of Church Ministries
Robert Dinuba, Calif., chair
Jim Holm, Reedley, Calif., v-chair
Dewayn Isaac, Doland, S.D , sec.
Dale Regier, Hillsboro, Kan., treas
Garvie Henderson, Neb.
Dennis Fast, Hillsboro
Peter Penner, Reedley
James IsbellJr., Lenior, N.c.
Rolando Mireles, Rio Grande City, Texas
The Mission USA Task Force, appointed by BCM, met in Fresno, Calif., Apr. 15-16. Those in attendance, with their affiliation in parenthesis, were: Garvie Schmidt (BCM); Steve Reimer (pacific District Home Missions); Orville Neufeld (U.S. BOE); Clarice Rempel (U.S. BOE); Rick Eshbaugh (Southern District CEEC); Jim Weems (Central District Home Missions); Chuck Buller (at large); Henry Schmidt (original task force member); Marlene Wall (at large); and Jim Holm (original task force member).
The task force recommends the following proposal for the adoption of Mission USA.
PREAMBLE: Mission USA is the name of the ministry focus of the U.S . Conference for the years from 1994 until 2000. Mission USA is built on the vision of the U.S. Conference adopted at the 1986 convention in Colorado Springs and is consistent with the General Conference vision adopted in 1987.
Mission USA has been further refmed by an ad hoc task force of Mennonite Brethren leaders from around the United States, including the presidents of our two colleges and seminary, the executives of MB Missions/Services, as well as district pas· tors, and district chairs and home missions board chairs. The vision of Mission USA has been published in the Christian Leader.
Mission USA envisions an important role for the U.S. Conference in the future of Mennonite Brethren ministries in the United States. The reasons for making Mission USA a national ministry focus are as follows:
1. The U.S. Conference may have access to expertise and resources that cannot be funded by the individual districts.
2. The U.S. Conference can help to focus a national vision, which adds to the local vision of the districts.
3. The U.S. Conference provides a natu· ral channel for networking between districts.
Even though there is a gradual movement toward the 60-40 agreement with the Canadian Conference, the U. S. Conference continues to have a very difficult struggle raising the required funds for the guaranteed seminary subsidy.
the new pastor's orientation held each year. These sessions have proven to be valuable, especially for those pastors who are not from Mennonite Brethren background or have not been trained in our schools. We have also sent representatives from our board to the General Conference study conferences.
We greatly appreciate the work of Lynford Becker as administrative secretary of the U.S. Conference. Although his full-time work is with MB Foundation, he has put in many hours as our administrative secretary. We also appreciate the excellent work of Loyal Funk, who represented our board and denomination throughout the United States as conference minister.
The U.S. Conference continues to strongly support the ministry of training at Tabor College, Fresno Pacific College, and MB Biblical Seminary. Even though there is a gradual movement toward the 60-40 agreement with the Canadian Conference, the U.S. Conference continues to have a very difficult struggle raising the required funds for the guaranteed seminary subsidy.
In 1992-93 we experienced a shortfall of $66,000. It was necessary to borrow this amount so that we could provide the guaranteed subsidy to the seminary. At this writing,
Our vision
Convinced of God's sacrificial and compassionate love for all people and the transforming power of the gospel in the face of our nation ' s moral and spiritual deterioration and the new realities of global missions , we profess our desire to accept the challenge to reach our nation with the gospel.
Therefore , acknowledging our dependence upon God ' s grace and the power of his Spirit to accomplish it, we seek spiritual renewal and commit ourselves to a renewed effort to evangelize the lost , disciple believers and incorporate them into our churches. To achieve specific growth goals, we will prioritize the resources of our congregations , conferences and agencies/institutions to call us to holy living , to recruit and train gifted leaders, to plant new churches, and to minister to human need.
We believe God will bless U S. Mennonite Brethren with significant growth in membership and churches - for the glory of God and the advancement of Christ's kingdom into the 21st century.-Board of Church Ministries
the shortfall for 1993-94 is projected to be about the same as 1992-93.
As recorded in the March 1994 Christian Leader, our board, in conjunction with the U.S. Board of Trustees, passed a motion that we would no longer guarantee a predetermined subsidy beginning with the 1996-97 fiscal year. After conSUlting with the Canadian Conference, the General Conference, and others, this recommendation may be modified before it is presented to the delegates at the U.S. convention.
We are grateful for over $300,000 that has been given by the MB Foundation in past years to cover the shortfall, but we realize that these grants may not be available each year. We also realize the need to share these grants with other important ministries.
We believe in the ministry of MBBS and we pledge ourselves to continue to do everything we can to help raise funds for our seminary. It is our hope that we as delegates to this convention will be able to find an answer to this continuing financial need . We appreciate Jim Holm's willingness to serve as vice chairman when Gary Janzen accepted a pastorate in Canada.
We are grateful for the work of the Peace Education Commission. The first Peace Sunday was observed by many of our churches in January.
The Christian Leader continues to be the vital communication tool for U.S. Mennonite Brethren. We enthusiastically affirm the staff.
We praise God for the U.S. Conference and we thank you for the opportunity of serving the Lord and you.-Bob Vogt
SUMMARY OF BCM RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. We recommend that the Mission USA proposal be the ministry focus of the U.S. Conference from 1994 through 2000.
2. We recommend that the U.S. Conference no longer guarantee a predetermined subsidy beginning with the 1996-97 fiscal year. *
3 We recommend that the Slavic congregation in Parma, Ohio, be recognized as an emerging Mennonite Brethren congregation affiliated with the U. S Conference
·This recommendation may be modified by convention time
• Report of the conference minister
The work of being conference minister dovetails with my work as director for the Board of Evangelism It has been my joy to meet with leadership groups in all five districts, and also to interact with evangelical leaders of like-minded denominations. The baptisms in our districts give evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in many of our churches. All of our districts and churches sense some holy disquiet that we reach too few. We need to pray for Spirit power and holiness among us.
When churches and believers are satisfied, they tend to plateau and lose their sense of urgency. So we have among us a certain uneasiness that we are not sufficiently aware of the spiritual needs of our society. But it has been most heartening to see signs of revival and evangelism. For this we give glory to God.
Beyond our immediate districts and local churches, we need a new sense of covenant community. "No man lives to himself... no man dies to himself." The American mentality of self-suffiCiency is at odds with the gospel. Attachment to a local church is a spiritual necessity. The irregular attendance patterns in many of our congregations is not indicative of covenant community. We need a strong commitment both to attendance and service for each believer if we are to be at our optimum. Each of us needs to ask, "Am I salt and light in my community?"
Beyond the local church, we need a new sense of covenant community as a fellowship of churches. The overemphasis on local autonomy is often an excuse to avoid accountability. As leaders and as constituents, we need accountability in the local church and in the covenant of our conference Confession of Faith.
Because our tendency is to focus on our own needs, many have little vision for our larger fellowship of churches and districts. Although our local churches are our Jerusalem, we also have a Judea, a Samaria and a world beyond our local community. Caring is, of course, a costly experience. Narrowing our interest to our own local church and forgetting the larger fellowship is opting
for less burden and caring. But is it not too narrow for a true believer? Our churches must do some things together that we cannot do separately.
I plead to all five districts and each local church to be of one mind as a conference and to exercise care for our nation and its people groups. Mennonite Brethren have accomplished, by the Holy Spirit, many wonderful things. But our small size does not reflect a global burden and vision. We do not need to remain small if we but dedicate ourselves to obey and trust God to give us the unchurched as his inheritance.
I plead for renewal. Our "Annual Week of Prayer" involved a growing number of churches in January. What other special things do we need to do together to focus on spiritual renewal?
The Mission USA projections of this year deserve our full attention. They indeed focus on renewal and evangelism. It is time for us to take some risks to be in the pathway of blessing
Other Anabaptist bodies feel similar challenges, and where pOSSible, we also seek to network with them . In May, our district ministers and the Brethren in Christ bishops met in Chicago. We focused on renewal, pastoral recruitment and reviews, and on how to do church as we enter a new century These BIC leaders face most of the same challenges and problems we experience. There is strength in such networking.
Our fellowship with the National Association of Evangelicals has many merits . Commonality among evangelicals creates opportunities to influence a nation for Christ in a way none can do alone. I encourage churches and pastors to be members of the NAE, both locally and nationally.
Our attitudes need to be sharpened toward people groups coming by multiple thousands to America. Many of these newcomers feel alone and isolated here With our own immigrant history, we should be those who stand by them to nurture, encourage and assist when possible.
We have always been a people who have claimed that we believe in the return of Christ. How vibrant is that belief today? Frequently I hear people say how seldom their thoughts are turned to the day when the final assessment will come Perhaps we need to recoin the word "maranatha!"- Loyal Funk
I plead to all five districts and each local church to be of one mind as a conference and to exercise care for our nation and its people groups.
Loyal Funk
• Report of the Youth Mission Int'l director
This has been a year of change and development for the mission discipling ministry at Youth Mission International. This cooperative effort of the U S and Canadian boards of evangeli s m, as well as MB Missions/ Services , continues to produce good fruit in the many church-planting and mission assignments that involve the teams of young adults . In addition, the impact of the summer mission experiences on the young leaders who participate is significant.
This summer, about 65 young adults on seven teams will serve in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Peru and Lithuania. The two U.S teams will be involved in supporting community evangelism and church-planting efforts in Bismarck, N.D.; Sioux Falls, S D.; Denver, Colo ; Topeka, Kan ; Lee's
Summit , Mo . ; Omaha, Neb. ; Sacramento , Calif.; and Fresno, Calif. Twenty-one young adults from the United States , including 10 Tabor College students and five from Fresno Pacific College , are involved in this summer 's outreach.
For the first time, YMI is also offering oneyear team assignments to support churchplanting and community -development efforts. Thi s leadership training track is designed for alumni of the summer outreach with proven ministry skills who are looking for a "hands on " internship in a team setting ASSignments in 1994- 95 include Lithuania , Clovis , Calif. , and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
We ' re excited about the ongoing leadership development and creative evangelism opportunities available to YMI as we work together with the local churches , colleges and national churches in other parts of the world.
Thank you for your prayer support as we continue to mobilize and diSCiple a generation of end-time harvesters.-Randy Friesen
For the first time, YMI is also offering oneyear team assignments to support churchplanting and communitydevelopment efforts.
Pray for boklnC$S. creativity ilnd groc:c as they work alon,!,"Sitic m.:IO)' chlll\:hcs 10 ,----------=1 more effectively reach lhdr I,,:onunwutics. C"lliforlllo' Summcr' ·ouu Ministry \\;th iuner lily youth in
Maritiul('s SUlIllucr Tcmu and church planting in Clovis and s..1C'r.tnX!nto. Pray for prott."l1.ion 3111.1 fa\'OlIr as they work in nc:iChbourhoods full of anI-ocr antI fc.,r, Also proy filr boklncs:s U$ they raise the \;$.,bility of new ('hurch!..,:> in Ihe arca, Pium. I'ern ' ClcwiJ' () 1M. )',,'ar T,,'mu I\ sd\.'\.'lt,,',liIlO(:I ·1 YMI $lIlIIlIlI'C :lhulll1i will hI.' new View tOllllmmity ("hun-h inClIl\;s CA Pray for unity. I.' m,th;ty ilnd se ll sitivilY 10 God 's Spirit as they pioneer Ilew minillil.'$ to )'outh aud YOUIl!: adults, Ministry in CiUllpbellton N,B" Lower S v.:kville, l).lrlmoulil :lIlt! Iialifux N.s, in cOII,lOlunily ev.mJ.:dislII and \.'hun:h planting, and younJ.: bcliewr.i across the Maritimes would be l.'III."OUr.lJ;CtI. ()UC \'(,OIr'n,'.un 1\ sck\,'t
8 North American you will bc joining 8 Lthuanmns (or cv:ulgclism amOlij,"Sl univcn;ily students and Pr y (or tcmu unity .:md boldness lO witness and sensi tiVIty.
This past year the Japan Mennonite Brethren Conference voted to subsidize two Japanese church planters to begin Japanese-speaking congregations in the United States.
components, our aim is to reach major people groups within and beyond our current geographical boundaries.
Under God's providence we have seen numerous cross-cultural ministries emerge during the past two years. Fourteen new churches have emerged as newly planted or adopted congregations under Mission USA since the '92 convention : East Indian (1); Hispanic (1); Japanese (2); Slavic (10).
What follows is an update and projection of all cross-cultural church plants and adoptions under the auspices of Mission USA
• East Indian. Both of the East Indian church plants in Santa Clara, Calif. (Wilson Koppula, pastor) and in Queens, N.Y. (Sundar Raj Schellenberg, pastor) are moving ahead with dedicated focus.
The Santa Clara group has expanded mostly by evangelism and is reaching Sihks and Punjabis. Working with other religious groups often means growth is slower, but as people come to Christ they are discipled.
The New York church is made up largely of Mennonite Brethren who have emigrated from India.
• Hispanic. Hispanic churches ' function in the LAMB, Pacific and Central Districts. Two churches in Oregon (Hillsboro and Portland) are healthy, growing congregations under the pastoral leadership of Juan Bonilla and Ramon Arguello. Both churches have a consistent attendance of 80 people plus additional growth during summer. Both are in rented facilities and expect to be off subsidy by the end of this year.
The Central District has a new Hispanic church (Agua Viva) in Omaha, Neb., led by Walter and Amalia Preza, They now have more than 30 regular worshipers and a second nucleus in Schuyler, Neb. This church receives support from the CDC and MBM/S as we network with this project.
Gualberto Reyes is pastor of the Iglesia Hermanos Mennonitas in Laredo, Texas. Though the origin of this church was with Mission USA in partnership with MBM/S, it is now under the supervision of the LAMB Conference, Rolando Mireles, moderator, and Ricardo Pena, BOE member.
Projections:
(a) Oregon: The Portland and Hillsboro churches are projecting a third Hispanic plant in their area. They have asked the conference for help and are nurturing a core group through Bible studies.
(b) LAMB: Harlingen, Brownsville and Corpus Christi are potential church-plant targets in the next several years.
. Japanese. This past year the Japan Mennonite Brethren Conference voted to subsidize two Japanese church planters to begin Japanese-speaking congregations in the United States. They have asked our BOE to monitor the two church plants.
Hajimu Fujii, a 1994 graduate of MBBS, is the missionary planter in Fresno. Veteran Japanese pastor and leader Takao Nakamura, of Osaka, will move to San Diego to begin a church-planting ministry in that major arena.
The Japan MB Conference is fully subsidizing the costs of these two plants. But they want to be a partner with Mission USA for prayer support, supervision and accountability. Will you pray for these exciting Japanese church planting ventures and partnerships?
• Chinese. The Grace Chinese Bible Church in Upland, Calif., (Luke Liu, pastor) continues its pattern of stability and is reaching people. They have been off subsidy for several years and our aid to this church is one of proctorship. Currently the group meets in the Brethren in Christ church, but they are working on plans to fmd their own facility .
• Slavic peoples. Two years ago we reported early beginnings with Slavic people groups (Russian, Ukrainian, Rumanian, and others). At that time, we had several contacts with churches in the Seattle area. What has developed in the past several years among these peoples on the West Coast is a modem-day miracle.
Since the Slavic peoples are located within the geographic area of the Pacific District Conference, we have worked with the Home Mission Board to connect these churches to the PDC. However, in all Slavic churches Mission USA has continued to monitor and network with each local church to ensure their indigeneous flavor ethnically, culturally and linguistically.
Currently two congregations in Seattle have affiliated with Mennonite Brethren: First Ukranian Pentecostal MB Church (Stepan Gorkavchuk, pastor) and the Slavic MiSSionary MB Church (Yury Chernyetsky, pastor). Both are strong congregations with 500 and 300 adults, respectively, plus several hundred children in each church.
The Pacific District Conference has a lease/purchase agreement for a facility to
It is time for a clearer strategy in the United States that pools our resources, focuses specific help for revitalizing plateaued churches and starting new cong rega tions, and takes seriously our mission in an increasingly pagan, pluralistic and secular context.
nationally. Loyal Funk, our director, meets regularly with district home mission boards and has consistently attended all district conferences. He has assisted district home mission boards with demographic data and analytical studies for new anglo and cross-cultural plants.
Loyal also is the major resource person for cross-cultural ministries and for bringing these churches into district affiliation. He has helped to facilitate conversations with Fresno Pacific College and Columbia Bible College (Clearbrook, B C.) about leadership training possibilities for the different ethnic groups.
Additional networking also happens through the director's participation in International Bible Society conferences, National Association of Evangelicals meetings, and other interdenominational home mission workshops.
Mission USA calls for major change
The Board of Evangelism and the director have sought to take the conference vision statement seriously. The statement calls for an annual growth rate of 3.3 percent, and a minimum of five new churches and 900 members per annum . This is happening largely in cross-cultural church planting and adoption of churches that are aggressively and intentionally evangelizing.
What is also evident is that the highest agenda for Mennonite Brethren in this decade and into Century 21 must be renewal, revitalization, revisioning and recommitment. It is time for a clearer strategy in the United States that pools our resources, focuses specific help for revitalizing plateaued churches and starting new congregations, and takes seriously our mission in an increasingly pagan, pluralistic and secular context.
This is why the Board of Evangelism fully supports the direction of the Mission USA proposal. A new day and the new opportunities call for a change in structures, strategies and delivery systems. Our board has been involved Significantly in the drafting of the Mission USA proposal and that is why this report does not include major projections from the current Board of Evangelism.
We invite and urge pastors, conference leaders and churches to say "Yes" to Mission USA and to recommit ourselves to our primary missionary task as a church.-Henry Schmidt and Loyal Funk
Board of Communications
passion for kingdom ministry motivates us for service. The rimary task of the board has been to oversee the work of our conference publication, the Christian Leader.
In that regard:
We seek to inform our readers. The continuing challenge of the board and our publication is to integrate a biblical faith with the issues we face from day to day. During the past two years, our readers have been informed through articles and features on relevant topics such as:
• Health care reform. ("Can we cure our health care ills?," by Howard Brenneman, June 15,1993; and "A prognosis for change," by Steve Bowers, Dec. 14, 1993.)
• Christians and politics. (Special pre-election issue, Oct. 20, 1992; "Clinton-Gore: The faith factor," Feb. 23, 1993.)
• The recovery movement and its impact on the Mennonite Brethren Church (Special issue, Nov. 3, 1992).
We seek to inspire our readers. God works in many ways among and through Mennonite Brethren, as well as the broader Christian community. During the past two years, our readers have been challenged to consider God's activity and call with such inspirational topics as:
• Male identity. (Special issue, "Rethinking manhood," Sept. 7, 1993).
• Facing adversity. ("God will use this somewhere," Clarence and Martha Peters' account of their son's battle with AIDS, Nov 16,1993).
• Loving newcomers in the church. (Spe-
Board of Communications
David Reimer, Reedley, Calif., chair
Jeanie Klaassen, Edmond, Okla., sec.
Dalton Reimer, Fresno, Calif.
Malinda Nikkel, Hillsboro, Kan.
Harold Franz, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Don Ratzlaff, Hillsboro, editor
Deborah Penner, Hillsboro, ass't editor
It is easy to assume that the job of our staff is simply to produce a magazine for Mennonite Brethren in the United States. In truth, though, we must see our job as communicating with a constituency.
• Report of the Christian Leader editor
It's been said that the great railroad companies of our American past slipped into decline because they failed to grasp a key truth about their enterprise. They assumed they were in the railroad business instead of the transportation business. Rather than adapt to new developments in transportation, like the invention of the airplane, they doggedly clung to their rails-and headed down the track toward oblivion.
That lesson from our industrial history weighs heavily upon me in my role as editor of the Christian Leader. It is easy to assume that the job of our staff is simply to produce a magazine for Mennonite Brethren in the United States. In truth, though, we must see our job as communicating with a constituency. Our ultimate assignment is to understand current trends in communication and then develop the most effective tool we can, based on those trends.
Some people would already equate print communication with railroad transportation: an outdated way to carry the freight. They would say that in this age of visual images and new technology, we should be exploring the development of a video magazine, or perhaps an on-line electronic version of the Leader a la Prodigy and CompuServ.
Those are not unreasonable expectationsfor the future.
But I am still convinced
that there is a place-even a need-for print communication in our setting. So the immediate challenge for our board and staff is to gather information about today's reader and use it to produce the most effective publication possible, given the resources at our disposal.
This concern for more effective communication contributed to our decision to move from a biweekly format (22 issues a year) to a monthly one in recent months. True, tight budgetary times, plus an anticipated shift in funding priorities to accommodate Mission USA, was perhaps the dominant factor in our decision. But as we contemplated the change, we also considered the needs of our readers and our ability and energy as a staff to meet them.
In short, we hope that mOving to a monthly format will enable us to be more effective communicators with you, our readers. Why do we believe that?
First, we recognize the incredible flow of information that comes into our homes via the mail and electronics. We are all inundated with material to read and programs to view. We editors realize that receiving the Leader every other week may simply be too much of a good thing. In the spirit of Christian simplicity, we hope to gain more (readership) with less (issues).
Second, we also hope that what we will produce for you will be of better quality and more relevance because we as staff have more time and energy to develop and refine it. This is particularly important as we seek to do our part to spotlight the work of Mission USA.
During the annual meeting of the Board of Communications last February, we outlined several goals we've set for ourselves with our new format. Perhaps you'd be interested in reading them:
• To be more thematic in the feature section of the magaZine_ In the past our feature sections were a mix of theme issues and what we call editorial potpourri (interesting but unrelated articles). With our new format, we aim to be more thematic and to cover each issue more thoroughly
• To recruit and develop more Mennonite Brethren writers. This has always been our goal, but time constraints in the past have made the process difficult. With more time to plan and recruit, we expect to bear good fruit from within our own field of
established and potential writers.
• To do more staff-initiated reporting. We know of several article ideas that we feel are worthy of research and development. We hope now to have time to pursue them.
• To publish more "people" articles. We already have our People (profiles) and Pilgrimage (nrst-person growth testimonies) departments. In the spirit of Mission USA, we would like to develop a department or forum for conversion stories too. Also, our "Under the hood" series, which has profiled our MB Biblical Seminary teaching faculty, is another example of the kind of stories we'd like to tell about Mennonite Brethren who make a difference in the church and the world.
• To develop new departments and features as warranted - and as space permits. We are negotiating with a writer to begin a new column this summer which will offer practical advice for personal issues. We also continue to dream of other departments or columns in such areas of Bible study, devotional life, youth, children, mass media, etc.
• To support Mission USA through features and reporting. In addition to themes on church growth (like our February 1994 issue on assimilating new people), indepth reporting on specillc projects (like the Slavic work), and a possible department featuring conversion stories, we are conSidering launching a series of articles called "Churches on the growing edge," which would profile congregations that seem to be meeting the needs of their community. Other articles could highlight specillc ministry ideas within our congregations which seem to be particularly effective or innovative.
Of course, with every change comes risk. Frankly, we don't know how the change in frequency will actually affect readership. We don't know if it will free up enough time and energy to enable us to accomplish all our goals. Ultimately, we don't know if the change will strengthen or weaken the "glue" component that the Leader has provided the U.S. Conference.
• But we feel the potential for growth and greater effectiveness outweighs the risks . We move forward believing that God will direct us as you support us in prayer, with feedback, and with your nnances. Thank you for the privilege of being the editor of your mag· azine during these challenging times. - Don Ratzlaff
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees has a two-fold role. One role is to represent the U.S . Conference in all business and legal matters, prepare and monitor the annual budget, administer the conference treasury, and manage a variety of programs and services on behalf of the conference and its member churches
A second role, delegated by the General Conference to the national conferences in 19B7 and confirmed by the transfer of all assets to the national conferences in 1990, is to manage the endowment funds, annuity funds, ministry investment (deposit) funds, gift deposit accounts, loan programs and stewardship services which help our people make outright gifts of properties, securities and deferred gifts via bequests, annuities, charitable remainder trusts, life estates, etc. (The second role will be detailed further in the MB Foundation report, page lB.)
The board met in full session three times in 1993 and has already met twice in 1994. In addition, board members have been involved in many days of consultations regarding loans and investments.
Programs and activities
The Church Workers/pastors Retirement Plan is administered for us by Mennonite Retirement Trust. Churches are encouraged to enroll their pastors and contribute a minimum of 6 percent of the pastor's salary with the pastor participating at a minimum of 3 percent. The earnings in 1993 were 6 5 percent while the annual compounded return
Board of Trustees
Don Martens, Fairview, Okla , chair
john Regier, Dinuba, Calif v-chair
jim Enns, Fresno, Calif, sec.
Reginald Boothe, Wichita, Kan . ass't sec. Deanjost, Aurora, Neb.
LynfordJ Becker, Hillsboro, Kan., adm. sec. Dale Regier, Hillsboro, treas
Donna Sullivan, Hillsboro, finance sec.
One role (of the Board of Trustees) is to represent the u.s. Conference in all business and legal matters, prepare and monitor the annual budget, administer the conference treasury, and manage a variety of programs and services on behalf of the conference and its member churches.
for the last five years stands at 9.47 percent.
The Pastors Group Life Insurance Plan has proven cost-effective. The coverage is for $40,000 up to age 65 and $20,000 between ages 65-70. For several years, a major portion of the premium was refunded annually. The claim experience within the group the past two years (two Mennonite Brethren pastoral families benefitted) has resulted in all reserves being used, and therefore no refunds. The net cost is still low.
The supplemental Retirement Assistance Program provides a modest assistance to those pastors/spouses, who because of age, did not have ample opportunity to participate in the Church Workers Retirement Plan. Seven persons currently receive assistance.
Maintaining our Internal Revenue Service Group Exemption for the conference and member churches as 501(c)3 tax exempt organizations is an ongoing activity.
A church/clergy tax and legal infortnation update is prepared by our office personnel and mailed to the churches annually. We are concerned that our churches handle salary/wage reporting, benefits management and expense reimbursements in accordance with IRS regulations.
We are concerned that the gift income from our churches for the guaranteed subsidy for the MB Biblical Seminary continues to be considerably less than the guaranteed subsidy amount. At fiscal year end May 31, 1993 we were $85,000 short. Individual gifts of nearly $20,000 were received toward the shortfall; about $65,700 was borrowed to fulfill our commitment to the seminary.
At this writing it appears we could have a similar shortfall for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1994 We think it is imperative that the churches, if they believe in the mission of the seminary, increase their support level for the seminary. The conference in session will be asked to respond to this concern.
Budget
The board is recommending for approval a U.S. Conference budget of $288,700. This is a decrease from the previous year.
Norms
The per member giving goals for U.S. Conference ministries are as follows: Members Amount
Churches with: 1-49
50-99
100-199
200 & over
M.B. Biblical Seminary
General Conference
Personnel
$1 0
$18
$25
$30
$22/member
$lO/member
We appreciate the services of Dale Regier as treasurer, Donna Sullivan as bookkeeper/ secretary, and Lynford Becker as administrative secretary.
Financial reports
We will distribute detailed financial reports at the convention.
•
Report of the MB Foundation
The Mennonite Brethren Foundation serves as the agent for the U.S. and General conferences of Mennonite Brethren churches in the management of assets, stewardship and financial services, gift plan options, and charitable estate planning services, including acting as trustee for charitable remainder trusts that will ultimately benefit our conferences, institutions, agencies, and/or churches.
Board of directors: Don Martens, chair, john Regier, v-chair; jim Enns, sec.; Reginald Boothe, ass't sec.; Dean jost, Marvin jost, Albert Reimer, Marvin Reimer.
Field representatives: Ivan Wohlgemuth, Eugene Karber
Accountant and secretary: Shawna Vogt
Secretary/receptionist: Arlene Schale
Lynford Becker
Dale Regier
Donna Sullivan
Assets managed
The total assets managed by MBF have grown from $16,887,599 on Dec. 31, 1990 to $25,192,860 at the end of the first quarter of 1994. The funds include:
Ministry Investment Funds
$12,312,893
Endowment Funds 7,941,551
Annuity Funds 3,336,052
Charitable Trusts/Gifts Payable 983,588
Earnings payable, reserves, prop. 618,776
Total- March 31, 1994
$25,192,860
It is important to note that the success of the foundation's work is not necessarily determined by asset growth. The balance in the Ministry Investment Funds can vary greatly as individuals and agencies need their funds for other purposes.
The total annuity funds can be reduced significantly upon the death of a donor(s) and the distribution of the remainder to the charitable beneficiaries. Gift funds received are forwarded to the designated recipient at a time designated by the donor.
.Investment of assets
The investment priority is to make loan funds available to our churches, institutions, and agencies for major building programs and capital improvements, and limited operational funding to stabilize cash flow due to variances in seasonal income.
Funds not on loan are invested primarily in government treasuries. A limited percentage of funds has been invested in government and corporate bonds, with overall positive results.
Primary services
MB Foundation is a service agency whose primary mission is to encourage and assist caring Christians in the faithful stewardship of their God-entrusted resources to benefit themselves, their families, and the ministry of the church. Services provided to Mennonite Brethren agencies, institutions, churches, and individuals include:
1. Planned-giving options to families and individuals that will fulfill the donor's charitable intent and benefit the cause of Christ.
2. Stewardship education resources and services and gift-planning assistance within the context of biblical stewardship principles and concerns.
3. Management of endowment funds and
deposit accounts_ These include conferenceowned endowments (MB Missions/Services, MB Biblical Seminary, family memorial endowments) and funds managed on behalf of conference institutions, agencies, and churches. Our endowment earnings averaged 6_97 percent in 1993-
4. Loans for church-related buildings (churches, retirement centers, schools), institutional capital improvements, and special needs (conference operations) according to policies as approved by the conference. The purpose of the loan program is to serve capital funding needs and provide an equitable investment return for the endowment fund benefactors. Our loan portfolio as of March 31, 1993 totaled $14,975,883.
5. Charitable estate planning services as legally permissible. Our estate planning services have been well received. In the past two years several charitable trusts have been funded and estate plans formulated which will provide signillcant benefit to the cause of Christ.
In most, if not all, of the remainder trusts, the MB Foundation has ' been named as trustee or co-trustee. The foundation has also been named as co-trustee or co-executor of other estate plans.
We have no projections in our financial reports as to the ultimate benefit to charitable causes from these deferred gift plans. We know the amount will be very significant, even in the millions, yet we choose to refrain from publishing specific amounts when the ultimate benefit is subject to so many variances.
Grants
The services of MB Foundation are funded by management fees and net earnings from our loan portfolio. Our intent is to operate in a modestly positive financial condition.
We have historically operated at below projected expenses and have ended the fiscal year with an operating balance. We have also benefitted periodically from undesignated income.
While our preference would be to distribute these funds as grants to our endowment fund benefiCiaries, we have found it necessary to respond to repeated shortfalls in church contributions for various conference ministries.
Prior to 1982 funds were distributed to the General Conference, MB Missions/Ser-
MB Foundation is a service agency whose primary mission is to encourage and assist caring Christians in the faithful stewardship of their Godentrusted resources to benefit themselves, their families, and the ministry of the church.
We continue to be impressed with the generosity of our constituents.
vices and MB Biblical Seminary. Since 1983 funds have been distributed as grants as follows:
• MBBS subsidy shortfall (via U.S. Conference) $323,617;
• General Conference (income deficits), $139,929;
• MBM/S Endowment, $62,123;
• MBBS Endowment, $45,512;
• U.S. Conference: Mission USA, $79,217; Evangelism Partners, $20,000; Vision 2000 (matching grant), $10,000; Convention travel assistance (crosscultural church planters), $2,500;
• "Conference Ministries" leaflets, every· home mailings, etc., $15,501;
• Church Assistance Programs (pe r donor recommendation), $15,739;
Grants of 1993 earnings have not as yet been made.
A word of thanks•..
We are deeply grateful to the many (more than 600) partners in the ministry investment funds, and the many gift annuity and endowment fund donors. We are humbled by the confidence placed in us by those asking us to serve as co-trustees of gift plans and/or who allow us to assist them in their gift planning . We continue to be impressed with the generosity of our constituents. We are committed to serving our constituency prudently and effectively.
-LynfordJ Becker
hy come to Colorado Springs ' 94? According to planners, the purpose of this event is to :
• Celebrate the awesome privilege of being God 's people, because of God 's grace.
• Clarify the vision we believe God is giving us for this time.
• Call ourselves and one another to a deeper, intentional commitment to prayer, renewal and mission .
• Challenge ourselves to accept with joy the tremendous opportunity to be bearers of the good news.
• Come together to learn, fe llowship, relax, enjoy the beauty of the Pike 's Peak region, and, in doing so, honor our Lord.
Th is northern Lao field should be yielding rice. But more than 20 years ago U.S. bombers seeded the area with cluster bombs. Farmers know a swing of their hoe could detonate these still live bomblets. So this field lies fallow, part of the Vietnam War's bitter legacy.
To help Lao people farm without fear, MCC and a British de-mining agency are training teams of Lao to clear bombs. MeC needs $600,000 U.S./$836,237 Cdn. for this project. To help clear this land, mail a contribution marked "71 3 - 6008 " to your nearest MCC office.
$10 U .S./$14 Cdn. pays a Lao de-miner's salary for a day
$35 U.S./$48 Cdn . provides a pair of protective goggles
$6,600 U S./$9, 199 Cdn. buys a wide-sweep electronic locator
. J Mennonite Central Committee and MCC U S.
21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500 Akron, PA 17501 -0500 (717) 859-1151 (717) 859-3889
Mennonite Central Committee Canada 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5 K9 (204) 261 -6381
A WORD OF COMMENDATION
I would like to commend the Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church on their openness and graciousness in hosting the "Hope for the Journey" conference on family violence and sexual abuse this past April (reported in May).
It speaks well of that congregation and its leaders that they were willing to address such devastating issues. Sexual and other forms of abuse affect many more people than we know, even in our own churches and communities. I know of no other breach of relationship that is as devastating to the victim, the perpetrator and other people who know them.
The conference not only addressed the reality of the abuse, but its healing and the Source of healing-Jesus Christ. The church has the potential of being the one institution that can speak to the deep spiritual needs of those involved.
As Carolyn Heggen, conference speaker, so eloquently encouraged, it is time the church began to respond to survivors, perpetrators and families in a way which will redeem these terrible tragic incidences in our lives. It is my hope that this conference was a beginning.
Gary Collins, chaplain Prairie View Hospital Newton, Kan.
ETERNITY WST?
As a nonresistant Mennonite who served in Civilian Public Service during World War 2, I agree with R.J. Thesman (April) that the death penalty is not the Christian answer to capital crime.
However, I have some unanswered questions. Is it not then appropriate that each murderer be certain his or her victims are born-again Christians? Often, there is no certainty the victim is Christian. A person who randomly or selectively kills non-Christians ends their opportunity to become Christians.
On the other hand, the criminal is incarcerated and now has every opportunity with counseling, visits by clergy, family, friends, and pen pals to accept Christ and then be on his way to everlasting fellowship with the
Pontius' Puddle
Lord-while his non-Christian victims will spend eternity in hell.
Should we make the criminal the publicized victim while the true victim is a forgotten entity?
Military participation in combat or bombing kills many non-Christians who will never have further opportunity to become a Christian. That is neither fair nor right, especially so while I'm a Christian participant on my way to heaven.
Irvin F. Wall Fresno, Calif.
Thanks for R.]. Thesman's powerful "Pilgrimage from the Death Penalty" (April). I continue to appreciate the simple, profound piety often expressed in the Leader. Thesman's article placed real, live people into what is often either an abstract, philOsophical debate, or an angry, emotional outburst.
You are to be for pub. lishing the article, and in doing so, continue to make practical the gospel of peace.
Jeff Wright Director of Ministry Development Council of Anabaptists Los Angeles, Calif.
ANOTHER SIDE OF SMUGGLING
In the April issue, you carried an article about smuggling Bibles into China. It concerns me that we are given only one side of the picture.
While it is true that smuggling Bibles is illegal, does that mean that we do not help our Chinese Christian brothers and sisters? In the May issue of Charisma magazine, Elisabeth Farrell writes that "a significant number of Bibles are being printed in China
by the government-sanctioned Amity Press in Nanjing, with the assistance of the United Bible Societies. But the enormous need will not be met by that source alone.
"There are at least 60 million Chris· tians in China, and missions experts estimate at least 3.5 million people are converted to Christ every year. Since Amity Press prints only about 1 million new Bibles per year, the supply is lagging behind current church growth. "
Farrell adds that the Bibles available through Amity Press are available only to members of the official churches recognized by the government, which means that the rural areas, especially house churches, are still dependent on foreigners to provide help from the outside.
Those who want to help Chinese Christians may choose to support Amity Press as indicated in the April issue of the Leader, or may obtain information from Open Doors with Brother Andrew, P.O. Box 2700, Santa Ana, CA 92799; Christian Life Missions, 177 E. Crystal Lake Ave., Lake Mary, FL 32746; or Chinese Church Support Ministries, 232 Carey Ave., Louisville, KY 40218.
Scott Rink Fresno, Calif.
GoD MAKES NO MISTAKES
I was sitting in my office reading the Bible for my quiet time while my 5-year-old daughter Charissa was enjoying sitting in my desk chair. She asked, "Dad, why can't women be pastors?"
I replied, "God designed it so that men would be the head of a house· hold-a home, and also the leaders of churches. If God had wanted you to
be a pastor, he would have seen to it that you were born a man. "
Charissa said, "God doesn't make mistakes, does he?"
I chuckled, "No, he doesn't."
She said, "If he made mistakes, he wouldn't be God."
Paul M. Zoschke, pastor Faith Bible Church Lawton, Okla.
COUNSEIlNG IS PASTORAL
We are writing in response to the MB Biblical Seminary In Touch supplement inserted in the May Leader.
An article in the insert states that we students are "opting" to pursue a counseling degree "rather than pastoral ministry." This would suggest that counseling is not part of pastoral ministry.
The article also suggests that our choice is made on the basis of "fewer bosses," "tangible progress," and that we will have "more time for our families. "
We would like to reassure the constituency that these items have not been a factor in our decision-making process. We have chosen to heed the call of God in our lives to integrate theology and psychology . We are committed to missions through the MBBS Counseling Center where the message of salvation brings forgiveness and hope to the Fresno community.
When we graduate, we carry this mission with us into the church and world. We hope that "tangible progress" would be evident in all areas of pastoral ministry, whether in preaching , counseling or teaching. We firmly believe that God has appointed us to "go and bear fruit, fruit that will last... " On. 15:16).
"Pressure in the Pulpit" (March) accurately describes the plight of those called of God to the pastorate. Even though I've never been a pastor, I have empathy for those called.
For years, I have prayed about the matter, coming to the conclusion that some pastors deserve what they get. But for others, I have come to tears because congregations erred in not properly dividing the workload.
Acts 6:1-6 describes the basic organization upon which all churches should build. For example, believers were called and given responsibility for the care of other believers in the same manner as pastors
In today's church, I observe that elders and deacons are elected by congregations for popularity reasons or because no other person will take the job.
This results in boards with no real "effect." Pastors trying to build the church find they are expected to carry the load alone. I know of a pastor who was nearly fired because a church bill was not paid on time . Where was the church treasurer?
Of course, I have also known pastors who were afraid to see laymen assume responsibility, which is an insecurity problem. This breeds ineffective congregations. It doesn't take a congregation long to catch on.
I offer this solution. Elders, deacons and other officers of a church must be called of God. It is not an honorary position. When called of God, they are God's tools and associates to the pastor in doing the Lord's work. I have known elders who spend as much time on the Lord's work as on their jobs. This is not right either. But I point it out to show the degree of dedication some elders have.
When churches call pastors and lay leaders, the respective areas of responsibility for all of them must be defined. Those who are not up to the mark of their calling should be replaced. The role I see for pastors is that of teacher and preacher.
The rest of the responsibilities must be allocated and pastors must be trained to accept this role. Perhaps the pastor problem is a seminary problem.
We are at war between God and Satan. All of us should be warriorspastors and laymen alike . Dick Prickle Visalia, Calif.
SING THE PRAISES OF FATHERS
Father! What a beautiful word. It is for me because of my Heavenly Father, who brought about my birth into the family of God. It is also beautiful because of a loving and good earthly father. Plus, God has given me the privilege of being a father of two beautiful children.
According to Scripture, fathers have special responsibility to see that God's truth, values and works get transmitted to the next generation. The first arena of responsibility is in the home, and then in the church.
Psalm 78 tells us that God "established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their children; that the generation to come might know, even their children, that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. "
Father's Day comes in June. As we plan for that day, we pastors are sometimes hard-pressed to fmd songs to fit the occasion. Several years ago, I wrote the verses below. They express the counsel of the psalmist and I submit them as an aid in reminding fathers of their God-given responsibility in the family and church. These words are sung to the tune of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness. "
You Who Are Fathers
Tell of God's faithfulness, You who are Fathers, Tell to your children
How God has led you; Share your life's story, Your battles, your victories; Show by your living
That Christ lives in you.
Tell of God's faithfulness
Throughout all the ages, Morning and evening
Exalt your great God!
Give him the glory
For all he's provided,
Tell of his faithfulness 'Til life shall end.
Ron pastor Silver Lake MB Church Freeman, S.D.
HE I N
QThousands of men have rallied behind a movement that stresses the impact of husbands in the home. Is there any movement among women that might resemble the Promise Keepers organization among men? (CAIJFORNIA)
AAside from the regular agenda of organizations like Dobson's Focus on the Family, I am not aware of a movement that would be a women's version of Promise Keepers. Some smaller movements, I'm confident, are stressing the importance of wife in the home, but I cannot cite chapter and verse.
I was fascinated recently by some infonnation taken from, of all places, the Mar. 21, 1994, issue of the ftnancial weekly Barron's. It was a story about an increasing trail of women marching from the corporate world to the kitchen. The account began with the testimony of an expectant mother who said she and her husband were earning in "the middle 50s," but had decided they could still pay their mortgage and have food on the table if only he worked.
She admitted the food was sometimes macaroni-and-cheese, but as a couple they had decided this was best for their family and so far they had no regrets. She also confessed that 10 years ago she would never have considered this step an option, but 10 years ago, when they were in college, no one ever told them that a career could be anything but completely satisfying.
Barron's reported that this trend was evident especially in women between 20 and 24. Women in their later 20s and 30s were following at a more hesitant pace. The magazine was bold enough to pronounce that "the traditional one-paycheck family is now the fastest-growing household unit ."
Some view this movement as cyclical but Barron's insisted that it is a decisive shift in values and habits. The reasons given are that while th e 1960s, 1970s and 1980s produced a generation of families with more
money than time, those days are gone. Lower interest rates make one-paycheck families able to qualify for house loans. Moreover, women's wages have remained so low that after paying for child care, not to mention other expenses, women find themselves working for free.
One fonner physical ther-
apist said: "I don't want to work so that my daughter can go to daycareor so I can support a baby-sitter " Barron's goes on to say that many of these women moving back to the kitchen and home express regret that their parents were not more available to them when they were young. They feel, along with men, that they were cheated and that they intend to spend more time with their children than their parents did. There is the sense that the economic gain and material possessions aren't worth the strain they place on family life.
I would add one caution: If this becomes a movement, Promise Keepers would do well to keep reminding husbands and fathers that their presence is as necessary in the home as ever. If mothers should move back to the home, this does not excuse husbands from spending more quality time with their children. Studies reveal that parental absence is a large problem in childhood problems. That applies equally to men and women.
QI have always felt that no one should know what I give. It has bothered me that church officials keep records of giving. Now the government is demanding that churches keep such records. How do I reconcile this with Jesus's command in Matthew 6 not to let the right hand see what the left hand does? (CALIFORNIA)
AJesus's words in Matthew 6 are fascinating. He spoke not only of giving but of praying and fasting as well. His counsel in all three instances was the same. The key to
Do you 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.
understanding his words is contained in three expressions: "that they may be honored by men (v. 2) .in order to be seen of men (v. 5) to be seen fast· ing by men (v. 16)."
Those three phrases pinpoint the sin of the Pharisees: "tooting their own horns." They gave and prayed and fasted, which were virtues in themselves, but their motive in doing these acts of piety was self-gloriftcation. They wanted to be seen by people They wanted immediate rewards for doing good things . Jesus's word to these looking-for-afftrmation pietists was: "You have forfeited all future rewards by wanting to be congratulatednow."
Nothing in this passage legislates against someone keeping record of our giving. It doesn't speak to others keeping record; it talks about our desire to be noticed for our giving. I do not hear the Bible prohibiting our talking about our giving anymore than it prohibits talking about praying or witnessing or reading the Bible. They are all fit subjects for conversation with our brothers and sisters, but never should we share them for purposes of making ourselves look good. We would probably proftt much if we could humbly share our experiences of giving and praying and fasting and Bible reading.
The passage in Matthew 6 cannot be understood correctly without noting carefully the very ftrst sentence in the chapter. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven" (Mt 6 : 1) It is the de sire to be noticed that is sinful. tf2
church's evangelistic fervor. "I am quite proud of the fact that...both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, to love our neighbor, are taken seriously by our denomination."
The priorities that Bystrom and his wife, Betty, set in their own life reflect that balance of evangelism and service. Wherever they live they make it a point to know their neighbors and, as opportunities arise, share their faith with them.
The Bystroms also relate to international students through the international student organization at California State University, Fresno. They see their efforts as "standing with people in a time of transition," one expression ofloving their neighbor.
"We have spent so much of our lives working with Christians," he noted, "we want to spend a good chunk of our spare time with the notyet-Christian (I'm optimistic, you see "
The Bystrom home is always open to seminary students as well, and they see him as one who cares about them personally as well as professionally. Reimer recalls a meaningful experience in which his family and three other seminary families were invited to the Bystrom home for a graduation celebration.
"He gave each couple a card in which he had written a little narrative telling our strengths and his hopes for our future ministry, » Reimer said "He makes a real investment in his students."
Like Lucy's five fingers in the comic strip, Bystrom sees the potential for the church to be a "powerful force" in the world as Christians translate their faith into everyday activity. After 10 years of hands-on helping churches live up to that potential, his gifts and calling also make him an influential model and mentor for men and women who want to do the same.
"You pour a bit of yourself into people and watch them grow and thrive. It's rewarding and it gives significance to what we do as teachers. I suspect that that's what it's really all about. » t!2.
Kathy Heinrichs Wiest, a free -lance writer from Kingsburg, Calif., is a member of the Kingsburg MB Church.
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MBMjS: A time for 'rightsizing'
• Giving is up, but total income is down; mission board trims programs
CHEERED BY THE news that gift income had risen 1 percent (as of Mar. 31) over the previous year, the MBM/S board, meeting in St. Catharines, Ont., Apr. 28-30, still had to face red ink and salary cuts to "rightsize" the 1994-95 budget. Despite the small increase in giving, the projected deficit for 199394 is about $250,000.
Harold Ens, MBM/S general director, attributed the shortfall to two factors: the decline of the Canadian dollar, representing about two-thirds of MBM/S income, which dropped in
value from 78 cents u.S . to 71 cents in the last 10 months; and fewer than average bequests from donor estates, which fluctuate considerably.
The proposed 1994-95 $4.627 million budget compares with just under 5 million in 1993-94. The average giving goal per church member was set at $100 per member per year. To achieve the decrease the board took the following actions:
• Cut salaries of administrators, missionaries and staff by 3 percent.
• Asked workers in their fmal term to serve as "retiree volunteers," with a potential savings of $15,000-20,000 per couple.
• Decided that new workers will serve on an expenses-only basis.
• Noted that 10-12 Latin American workers will not return to service.
Retiring after 30 years of change, growth in Brazil
• James and Lois Wiebe were the first Portuguese-speaking workers in Sao Pau l o
WHEN MB MISSIONS/SERVICES missionaries James and Lois Wiebe retired this past December, they could look back on a term of service that spanned three decades of change for the Mennonite Brethren Church in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Wiebes were the first Mennonite Brethren missionaries to work as Portuguese-speaking church planters. Prior to their arrival, the city had one Germanspeaking Mennonite Brethren congregation. Today, Sao Paulo has seven Mennonite Brethren churches, and a merger is in process between the Brazilian Portuguese-language Mennonite Brethren Convention and the German Association.
"We were there before the [Portuguese-speaking] Convention started in 1966," says Lois.
James adds, "We witnessed so much evangelism by the churches-some years with 25-30 percent growth. Other years were a real struggle, even a retreat."
The Wiebes started or developed most
• Canceled a Panama urban ministry project.
• Put church construction projects on hold.
• Reduced MBM/S participation in a new video center for at least one year.
• Board members and staff paid their own way to the meetings, a savings of about $7,000. Travel will be minimized in the next year.
Fred Epp, director of finance, reported on the slight giving increase following a February appeal letter.
"The board was defmitely encouraged by the response," said Ens.
One church wrote, "We want to confirm our commitment of giving not less than the norm, and we do this joyfully. In our proposed budget, we had designated $140 per member,
in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area. In 1963, after learning to read Portuguese-but before they understood the language very well-they began visiting house to house in the Campo Limpo neighborhood, reading John 3:1-17 to anyone who would listen. Sometimes people showed interest and asked questions, which the Wiebes sometimes were unable to understand at first. But they learned quickly, discipling the interested and planting a church.
From 1967-1977, they planted a middle-class church in Campo Belo. For the first seven years, the group met in the Wiebes' home, due to limited fmances. The church, now called Boas Novas (meaning "good news") has grown considerably in the past three or four years.
The Wiebes spent the next eight years establishing and nurturing the Villa Sao Jose church toward maturity. Thanks to donated land from a family the Wiebes discipled, the group built a meeting place that they used for the first five years. A new building, with a seating capacity of 250, was constructed on another property. Today , about 125 people attend Sunday evening services.
In their last aSSignment in Sao Paulo, the couple helped rebuild the Jardim Santo Eduardo Church, which had been nearly destroyed by a church split. Beginning with the eight remaining members, they served as pastoral couple to the struggling congregation. Five years later, the group has 40 members, led by Alsenso Hollas, the new
of the Mennonite Brethren congregations Lois and James Wiebe.
and Lord willing, we hope to send you all of it. "
Several churches wrote that they were hoping to support at the $100 per member giving level.
Some churches have opted to support specific ministries. For example, the Reedley (Calif.) MB Church has adopted the city of Sao Paulo; the Fairview MB Church of St. Catharines, Ont., has adopted a city or cities to be named in Lithuania
A city adoption commits $75 or more per member, plus prayer and regular interaction with missionaries there.
New appointees
Ten new candidates have accepted appointments as Christian Service workers or Good News interns-with expenses paid but no salary
New workers include:
• Phil and Carol Bergen of Shafter, Calif.-Bible translation, Burkina Faso.
• Gordon and Marta Boettcher of
Vancouver, B C -church planting, Piura, Peru.
• Jon and Mary Anne Isaak of Winnipeg-Bible teaching, St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Jerrold and Jean Paetkau of Matsqui, B.C.-teaching and counseling, Klaipeda, Lithuania.
Most of these new workers expect to leave for assignments in late July or early August
Gordon and Dora Isaak of Yarrow, B.C , assigned to church planting in Mexico City, are tentatively scheduled for summer departure, pending completion of training requirements.
Bob and Susan Gulack of Fresno, Calif., will begin service in Panevezys, Lithuania, starting in January 1995, where they will seek to "build up the group of believers into a reproducing church."
Tim and Carolyn Gartke of Regina, Sask., will attend MTI in 1995 Upon successful completion, they will join the Lithuania team
Brazilian pastor. At the last service the Wiebes attended before leaving , 75 were in attendance.
The Wiebes' last two years in Sao Paulo were difficult. James developed serious heart problems, requiring an initial angioplasty, followed by another, four months later. Many prayed for the couple during the crisis , and according to the Wiebes, "the Lord answered prayer. "
For James and Lois Wiebe, the individual stories behind each member of the church are what counts They cherish the relationships they had with the Brazilian people. People like Ezequias and wife Deusa, who donated land for the first meeting place for the Villa Sao Jose church; Elisea , a young man they taught for years , now a pastoral intern at the same church; Gabriel and Cecilia, who faithfully tithe their earnings from their business
In addition to seeing a number of Mennonite Brethren churches established in Sao Paulo, the Wiebes have also witnessed the growth of the Portuguese-speaking church in Brazil . As of 1993, the Convention churches claimed 1,250 members and 2,000 attenders. Newoutreach points have emerged in Curitiba and have drawn new worshipers The Xaxim MB Church in Curitiba baptized at least 40 people in 1993.
Leadership issues in the Convention and the growth of these Portuguese-speaking churches, planted by the German Association, has helped unite the two bodies into one national fellowship Meetings held in October and March effectively laid the foundation for such a merger.
The newly incorporated fellowship will assume greater responsibility for church growth, leadership development and sending missionaries to other parts of the world. Brazilian Ilse Buss currently serves on the
AJd to India suspended
MBMjS will no longer send subsidies through the India Governing Council after May 31 Funds will be held in trust until alternate channels are found for distribution.
The board requested prayer for reconciliation in the India MB Conference. When harmony is restored, MBMjS will renegotiate the agreements between the mission, the Governing Council and the India Property Association-the entities responsible for oversight and management of mission property in India.
Land purchased decades ago has appreCiated. Questions have arisen about the use of some assets without consultatio n or accounting of the proceeds
Asia
The board renewed partnership with the Indonesian Mennonite mission board, PIPKA, for another seven years. In 1995, MBMjS will subsidize
MBM j S church-planting team in Portugal.
"We thought a merger would take at least five years or longer," says Lois Wiebe. James notes that contrasts between the two groups in education, wealth and leadership style could present problems, but common commitments to the Lord and his kingdom seem to have dominated the merger process so far .
The population of Sao Paulo has exploded during the past two decades , making it the second or third largest city in the world with about 20 million people In turn , the need for multiplying churches has also grown exponentially Though MBM j S continues with a church-planting team , it has begun reducing its personnel, transferring the evangelistic task to the national church.
Last August, several weeks before the Wiebes left Brazil, all seven Mennonite Brethren congregations in Sao Paulo gathered for a missions day. Together they celebrated the impact of the Youth Mission International team that had worked in the city in July and August.
"Never before had more than 200 attended any similar kind of joint meeting ," James says. "It was a cold afternoon [Brazil's winter runs from June-September] and the pre-World Cup Soccer games were in progress. Imagine how thrilled we were when 400 people showed up. Many walked , many came on busses, because few of the Christians have cars. "
Since their return to the United States , the Wiebes have settled in Fresno, Calif. , where two daughters live. James and Lois plan to spend their retirement writing about their experiences in Brazil, possibly including a personal memoir and an analysis of the urban church mission .-Craig Hallman and Gary Hardway for MBM/S
PIPKA on a declining scale, with the agreement to be reviewed in 1998.
Through PIPKA, 25 couples are working in 49 emerging congregations, with 210 baptized in the past year. New works will focus on the urban middle class and enabling new churches to become self-sustaining.
Under the new agreement, Indonesians are encouraged to send MBM/S missionaries for Chinese work in Venezuela, medical workers to Zaire and workers for Muslim areas.
Tim and Janine Bergdahl, resource workers in Karachi, Pakistan, were appointed to a second term. Gordon and Gwen Nickel, Pakistan team leaders, were reassigned as nonresident resources for the next two years. They will live in Saskatchewan and visit Pakistan regularly. Gordon will teach missions part-time.
New Africa regional secretary
Pakisa Tshimika of Zaire has been appointed part-time regional secretary for Africa. Tshimika, coordinator for health and development for the Zaire MB Church, travels extensively and will combine mission administration with his current duties.
MBM/S began internationalizing leadership in 1993, with the appointTshimika ment of Franz Rathmair of Austria as secretary for Europe. In the next two to three years, the board expects to name an Asian and a Latin American to head those areas as well.
Lawrence and Selma Warkentin have been reappointed. They have recently planted a fast-growing church in Dresden, in former East Germany. Glen and Beverley Miller, medical workers in Kajiji, Zaire, were appointed to a second three-year term to begin in October.
Apology to Spain workers
Following an evaluation report on Spain by consultant Erwin Rempel, the board acknowledged that "there has been hurt and misunderstanding" regarding last year's decision not to return workers to Madrid, Spain
"For this we are truly sorry and apologize," the board stated offiCially.
It also expressed desire for a "covenant to work together" in the future. Each affected missionary will be contacted personally by board members to communicate hope for better relationships.
The board accepted the resignation of Lynn and Mary Kauffman, who hope to pursue other avenues of ministry in Spain.
Board representatives and members of the secretariat will visit the Spanish Mennonite Brethren community no later than summer 1995. Dialogue will aim at discerning "the next steps of ministry involvements and administrative relationships between MBM/S and the Spanish MB Church. "
Hugo Zorrilla, a board member who will minister in Spain this spring, will translate the evaluation and the official statement of response.
Latin America workers cut
As national conferences grow stronger in Latin America, the need for missionaries has decreased. As a result, the teams there will be reduced.
• John and Celia Fehr of Campo Grande, Brazil, and Tim and Kami Froese of Panama City, have resigned effective May 31.
• Wald and Joy Pauls have completed a year of medical leave and are unable to return to Peru.
• Frank and Helen Peters of Curitiba, Brazil, are retiring.
• Galen and Linda Wiest have finished their phase of church planting at Community of Peace in Bogota. The church is strong and will call a Colombian pastor. The Wiests were offered a year's leave to evaluate the future.
• Jim and Gay Arthur of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were not reappointed, primarily due to fmances. A fmal decision will be made at fall board meetings.
• John and Karen Selph have completed their assignment in Uruguay. To date, no other suitable assignment has been found.
Church planting in Panama City was terminated due to the resignation of the Froeses, limited finances and lack of growth . The services of Jose and Sullapa Perez, the subsidized pastoral couple, were discontinued . The projected ministry of Christian Service appointee, Lowell Ens, is no longer feasible. Ens will lead a Youth Mission International team in Cali,
Colombia, this summer.
Latin America workers reappointed
• Ray and Judy Harms-Wiebe were appointed to a two-year term "pending reasonable financial participation in the funding of their position by the local (Sao Paulo) church they serve."
• Elizabeth Tieszen, subject to negotiation of suitable job description.
The board directed that the possibility of transferring development work among the Ashaninca people of Peru be explored. MBM/S is involved in several education, medical and social projects started 40 years ago by Krimmer Mennonite Brethren agencies. Mennonite Central Committee, for example, will be contacted in the next year regarding their interest in assuming a major role in these ministries.
Toward 2000 A.D.
Mission goals for the '90s prescribe that resources be shifted toward Asia and unreached peoples in general. A work among the Thailand-Laos border has been initiated. Efforts continue to expand outreach to Muslims. New workers going to Burkina Faso, lithuania and St. Petersburg, Russia, underscore the direction of the vision.
"As we carry out strategic evaluation in other areas," Harold Ens, general director said, "we expect to find some ministries mature enough to carry on without MBM/S workers."
The mission increasingly encourages partner conferences to send international workers into mission. In 1990, Brazil sent lise Kuss to Portugal. A few years ago, the Japan MB Conference sponsored a missionary to Pakistan. It has since commissioned two couples to the United States for church planting among Japanese
"The Japan MB Conference has indicated a desire to work with us in reaching other areas of Asia," Ens said. "They hope to send workers to Thailand in a few years." Workers from Paraguay and Indonesia have demonstrated interest and potential for MBM/S service.
"This kind of partnership expands our resource base for mission in Asia," said Ens . He summed up the board's attitude for the future as "cheerful, challenged, concerned [and] committed "-Gary Hardaway, MBM/S
SEMINARY
MBBS board adds staff, program
• Two staff appointed; 'distant learning center' targeted for British Columbia
MB BIBLICAL SEMINARY board
, members appointed new staff and took action toward a distance learning center in Canada at meetings held on the Fresno, Calif., campus Apr. 21-23.
Jim Westgate was appointed to a part,time faculty position in world mission. Westgate, who currently is of development at Link Care Center in Fresno, holds undergraduate degrees in Greek and Bible, a mastf!r's in theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree in urban ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary.
While on staff at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill., Westgate designed two graduate-level degree programs in urban ministry. He has served as a pastor and was director of urban and church ministries for the Evangelical Free Church of America.
John Neufeld was appointed director of recruitment. A MBBS master of divinity student, he will begin serving
three-fourths-time in August. Neufeld has served on a seminary recruitment team since Arnie Prieb resigned this past October.
Neufeld and wife, Rose, are from Winnipeg, Man., where they attended Fort Garry MB Church. They now attend College Community Church in Clovis, Calif., where he also serves as part-time youth pastor.
The board took a major step toward decentralizing seminary education, appointing an advisory commission for the MBBS British Columbia Learning Center.
The program, with a strong emphasis on church-based training, is offered in cooperation with several established learning institutions and area churches.
It will provide two years of classes in British Columbia, an internship experience and a year of residency on the Fresno, Calif., campus. The advisory commission met in May.
The seminary board also established an institutional development task force to deal with development issues and joint fund-raising with the Mennonite Brethren conference.
Task force members, to be appointed by the seminary administration, will include representatives from the seminary and other Mennonite Brethren institutions.
The task force will present recommendations at board meetings next fall.-Craig Hallman, MBBS Information Services
PUBLISHING
Katie Wiebe resigns as Rejoice! editor
• After five years, it's time for other writing projects
KATIE FUNK WIEBE, Wichita, Kan , has resigned as editor of Rejoicel, effective Dec. 31, 1994, in order to pursue writing projects. Wiebe, a member of the First MB Church, Wichita, has edited the interMennonite devotional magazine for the past five years.
In a statement to the board, Wiebe said she
has "appreciated this opportunity to edit Rejoicel and sees a great future for it, especially in a world that is searching for deeper spiritual support and direction."
She also mentioned that devotional literature ought to offer inspiration in the "language of the soul," a philosophy she brought to her work .
The search for a replacement has begun. Applications should be sent to Michael Dick, executive secretary, Board of Resource Ministries.
For more information, contact Dick at 302 -32025 Dahlstrom, Ave., Clearbrook, s.c., V2T 2K7; (604) 8536959.-from a BRM news release
COMPLETION
Doland church to close doors
• Rural demographics lead to decision to end active ministry
AFTER ALMOST 75 YEARS of ser:vice, the Ebenezer MB Church of Doland, S.D., will be closing its doors for good, effective Aug. 1.
According to Dewayn Isaac, who has been pastor of the church since July 1, 1989, the congregation fell victim to societal trends and rural demographics
"We were having no problems, really, except that more and more young families were moving away," he said.
Ebenezer began meeting in 1919 and was formally organized in 1920. It reached a peak attendance of around 140 people. Recent attendance averaged in the low 30s, according to Isaac, and several of those had indicated their intention to go elsewhere in the future.
A closing homecoming celebration is being planned for August, though the date has not been set.
Isaac said he is open to invitations to consider other pastorates.
. CHURCH NOTES
• Baptism/Membership
WICHITA, Kan. (First)-Bob and Marsha Richardson, Sharolyn Deines, Betty Pankratz, Jerry and Sherry Griffith, Jeff Wells and Maxine Unruh were welcomed into membership May 15
TULSA, Okla. (park sid e)-Bob Schwartz and Darrell and Sheila Zehr were received into membership by transfer May 22.
DINUBA, Calif.-Don Pitman was bap· tized and received into membership on Easter; Joyce Baker, Dennis and Sandy Ducharme, Gary, Sue, Michele and Angie Katacinski, and Duane Penner were received by transfer and testimony
SHAFfER, Calif.-Rachel Loewen, Sarah Bergen, Brian Penner, David Franz, Richard Woody, Christopher Smith and Steve and Becky Skalisky were welcomed into membership Apr 17
FRESNO, Calif. (Bethany)-Jonathan Wills, Dustin Guenther and Ben Bogdanof were baptized and received into membership May 1. Leroy and Jean Ediger were received by transfer the same day.
• Celebrations
ImLSBORO, Kan.-Elmer and Frieda Wall celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 15 with a reception at the Historic Church on the Tabor College campus.
SHAFfER, Calif.-John C. Penner celebrat· ed his 100th birthday Apr. 28 with a recep· tion at Kern Crest Manor.
WICIDTA, Kan. (First)-Rolland and Mildred Klaassen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 1 with a reception hosted by their children.
REEDLEY, Calif.-Stan and Ann Martens celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by providing a flower arrangement for the sanctuary Apr. 24.
GARDEN CITY, Kan.-Earnest and Juanita Kells celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception Apr. 24.
CORN, Okla.-Elmer and Minnie Flaming celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary Apr. 25.
BUHLER, Kan.-Eva Schroeder celebrated her 100th birthday Apr. 20.
ULYSSES, Kan.-The church presented "An Hour Without Jesus," a drama written by member Jeanette Dunn, Apr. 1. About 240 people from the community attended the Good Friday performance.
BETHANY, Okla. (Western Oaks)-The men of the church prepared and served the annual Mother'S Day breakfast May 8.
BRIDGEWATER, S.D. (Salem)-Joe and Mary Ruth Hofman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 7.
• Proclamation
LITTLETON, Colo. (Belleview Acres)Elmer Martens, professor of Old Testament at MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif., was the guest speaker for a Bible conference at the church Apr. 17. Martens and his wife, Phyllis, were in the area from Apr. 4-May 17, working on a writing project at Denver Seminary.
DELFf, Minn. (Carson)-Herb Schroeder, pastor of the Mountain Lake (Minn.) MB Church, conducted a seminar series on four consecutive Sunday evenings in May
BETHANY, Okla. (Western Oaks)-Don Morris, pastor of Pine Acres MB Church of Weatherford, Okla., brought the morning message Apr 17 as part of a sister-church
pulpit exchange. Pastor Larry Ediger spoke at Pine Acres May 1.
• Ministry
ENID, Okla.-Ken and Marilyn Fast, missions workers returning to Brazil, were honored at a commissioning service May 29.
CLOVIS, Calif. (Mountain View Community)-This emerging church held its first public worship service at the Clovis High School cafeteria May I, with 300 in attendance. Fred and Esther Leonard, pastoral couple, are following up on contacts made.
ROSEVILLE, calif. (Roseville Oaks Community)-This emerging congregation, pastored by Brad and Terrie Schmidt, started weekly Sunday services at Heritage Oak school May 1. The group has doubled from a nucleus of 14 families in January. They anticipate starting public worship services this fall.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)-Belle Miller teaches basic violin at the church Sunday evenings at no charge. In the future, other instrumental instruction will be offered.
FRESNO, Calif. (Butler Avenue)-The church initiated a Spanish-speaking congregation Apr. 23. The evening kick-off event featured Latin music, Mexican food and family helps presented by local law enforcement officers. About 15 new families from the community attended. Spanish services started May I, led by Gordon Boettcher, MB Missions/Services candidate to Peru.
• Teaching/Nurture
IllLLSBORO, Kan. (parkview)-The congregation hosted a one-day evangelism seminar called "Love Your Neighbor to Life" May 7. The seminar was sponsored by the International Bible Society.
ENID, Okla.-John Warkentin, pastor of First MB Church, Wichita, Kan., and Pattie Harrison presented a training session on dealing with conflict in the church Apr. 10. They outlined a mediation strategy for resolving conflicts in the church family.
FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News Fellowship)-An outreach car club started Apr. 14. Led by Bob Karber, the group is for men and women, offering family-oriented fun and fellowship.
BETIIANY, Okla. (Western Oaks)-Seven members attended a Point Man conference with Steve Ferrar Apr. 15-16. That conference led the congregation to reestablish men's accountability groups.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)-The
church sponsored a special emphasis to reach unchurched friends May 22. The day began with a continental breakfast during the Sunday school hour, followed by a seeker-friendly worship service, including music, drama and preaching geared to share the gospel message. A taco lunch was served to participants at noon.
MARSHALL, Ark. (Martin Box)-Chris McGinnis and Debbie Warner of Miami, Fla., presented a series of evening meetings for young people Apr. 24-27. They communicated the gospel through chalk art, Bible lessons, music and puppetry. Three people made new commitments to Christ and two rededicated themselves. Attendance ran from 60-85 people each evening.
• Workers
BLAINE, Wash. (Birch Bay)-James Totzke has accepted the call as senior pastor. He and his wife, Toyann, will begin their ministry at the end of June. Totzke has pastored the Cornerstone Community Church of the Brethren in Reedley, Calif., for the past 8 years.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)-Virginia Schneider has been affirmed as pastor of family life ministries. Her duties include counseling two days per week and leading special training events.
COLLINSVILLE, Okla. (Westport)-Brad Schoeppy has resigned his position as minister of music, effective July 31.
HARVEY, N.D.-The church family honored pastor Walter Janzen and his wife, Edith, at a farewell potluck meal Apr. 24. The congregation presented the Janzens with a pictorial memory book and love offering.
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (pine Acres)-The church voted unanimously to call Hal J. Penner as part-time associate pastor of youth. Penner is a 1994 graduate of Tabor College.
.DEATHS
BARTEL, ALLEN, Shafter, Calif., a member of the Shafter MB Church, was born Sept. 19, 1917, to Zacharias (Z .C.) and Ida Bartel in Helena, Mont., and died Apr. 3, 1994, at the age of 76. On Nov. 26, 1941, he was married to Violet Janzen, who survives. He is also survived by four children: Karen, Larry, Mike and Sandy; three sisters, Vivian, Letha and Jean and their families; and four grandchildren.
BECKER, BERTIIA, Reedley, Calif., a member of the Reedley MB Church, was born Aug. 17, 1906, to Peter David and Elizebeth Buller Buhler in Munich, N.D., and died Apr. 12, 1994, at the age of 87. On May 16, 1927,
Our biennial bonus quiz
JAMES WRITES that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. At this point in the life of our national conference, perseverance isn't a bad trait to encourage. So, while the following questions won't exactly test your faith (except, perhaps, your faith in our editorial judgment), they should test your knowledge of the mission of our U.S. Conference as we prepare for our biennial convention next month.
If you carefully read the reports in our feature section, you should pass this test with flying colors. But, as usual, a word of warning: Familiarity with the ministries of the u.S. Conference may inspire you to rash acts of generosity and involvement. Proceed at your own risk.
1. What element of the convention'S agenda do conference leaders see as having "historic" potential?
A. The hosting committee will be serving low-fat yogurt during coffee break.
B. The Board of Church Ministries is recommending a proposal that would give unprecedented priority to renewal and evangelism.
C. The Board of Church Ministries is recommending that we- change the name of the denomination to "The Historic Mennonite Brethren Church."
2. What name has been given to this new proposal regarding renewal and evangelism?
A. Mission USA
B. Mission Impossible
C. Mission 2000
3. What was the name of the research-and-development phase that led to the above-named renewal and evangelism proposal?
A. 2000 Visions
B. 20/20 Vision
C. Vision 2000
4. Which of the following will not be one of the featured speakers at Colorado Springs '94?
A.JimHolm
B. Brent Warkentin
C. Henry Schmidt
D. Rush Limbaugh
E. Roger Poppen
F. Chuck Buller
5 . Operation U-SERV specializes in what kinds of volunteer projects?
A. Tennis lessons for the underprivileged
B. In-home surgical procedures
C. Church-related building and renovation
6. What is Youth Mission International offering volunteers for the first time this year?
A. One-year team assignments to support churchplanting and community-development efforts.
B. One-day team assignments to support beach volleyball outreach in Malibu.
C. One-way airline tickets for "open-ended" team projects in the Amazon rain forest.
7. How many new congregations have emerged as newly planted or adopted congregations under Mission USA since the '92 convention?
A.6
B.9
C.ll
D.14
8. What group is financially underwriting the work of two Mennonite Brethren church planters from Japan who are beginning new projects among Japanesespeaking people in Fresno and San Diego, Calif?
A. The U.S. MB Conference
B. The Japan MB Conference
C. The Canadian MB Conference
9. Which midwestern city is home to a new Slavic congregation that, because of its geographiC location, wants to affiliate with the Mennonite Brethren through the U.S. Conference rather than one of our five district conferences?
A. Ottumwa, Iowa
B. Springfield, Mo.
C. Parma, Ohio
10. Which of the follOWing is not an expressed goal the Leader editors have set for the new monthly format of the magazine?
A. To be more thematic in the feature section.
B. To publish more "people" articles.
C. To support Mission USA by doing on-site investigative reporting about potential new church-planting sites in Waikiki Beach, Lake Tahoe and other cross-cultural hotbeds.
11. How much money did the Board of Trustees have to borrow last year to cover the guaranteed church subsidy for MB Biblical Seminary?
