June 2001

THE

PUBLICATION

OF

THE

U.S.

CONFERENCE

OF

MENNONITE

BRETHREN

CHURCHES

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INSIDE JUNE

FIRST WORDS

2001

•.. from the editor

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RECENTLY SKIMMED THROUGH the first few chapters of The First Measured Century, a book by the American Enterprise Institute that compiles statistics and information about the 20th century. The researchers report that life expectancy of Americans has dramatically increased in the last 100 years-by 26 years for males and 29 years for females. Today, the average life expectancy is 80 for males and 83 for females, compared to 48 for males and 51 for females in 1900. In addition, the number of people working after age 65 has steadily declined since 1900. Two of every three men over 65 were working or looking for work in 1900. By 1998, only one of six were doing so.

We live longer and our work lives are shorter. Those two things, among myriad other things, are causing people to rethink how we grow older. This issue of the Leader attempts to explore that a bit more.

Our first article looks at retirement in a different light.

Rose Buschman challenges us to approach retirement as an opportunity to rededicate our lives in service to God. In our second article, Katie Funk Wiebe explores how trends in aging offer new opportunities for the young and old, both personally and in the church.

David Reimer challenges us to examine ourselves and our attitudes toward inheritance through the parable of the prodigal son in our third article. He also looks at how we can apply a bit of Solomon's wisdom to our own resources and estates.

As I read these articles, I found new ways of thinking about how we grow older. I hope you do, too. God bless.

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COMING • AUGUST 3-5-Southecn District Conference Convention, Branson, Mo. • SEPTEMBER 28-30-North Carolina District Convention, Laytown MB Church, LenOir, NC • OCTOBER 25-27-Spiritual Warfare Study Conference, Calgary, Alta.

• OCTOBER 26-28-Central District Conference Convention, Lincoln Hills Bible Church, Sioux Falls, SD • NOVEMBER 9-10--Pacific District Conference Convention, Reedley MB Church, Reedley, Calif.

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JUNE

2001 CHRISTIAN

LEAnER VOLUME 64, NUMBER 6

FEATURES - Aging 4 Is this all there is?

Think you know what retirement is? Think again .

BY ROSE BUSCHMAN

7 Reinvent your life at any age As life expectancy increases, so do our choices about how we live.

BY KATIE FUNK WIEBE

12 Learning from a wayward son The parable of the prodigal son has much to teach us about how we treat our elders. BY DAVID REIMER

14 Learning from a king What does Solomon teach about handling our money and possessions? BY DAVID REIMER

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

The sporting goods

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

Gambling and "recreational giving"

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

Stories from the South Pacific

Bodylif e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 • • • •

Taking aim at targeting outreach 22 Moving Sunday to Saturday night 26 Spending a week reaching out 28 MBMSI announces staff changes 29

In Brief .. . .. . . . ......... . ....... . .. ... ... . ... 31 Church News & Notes .... . .... . . .. . . . .. . . .. . .. . . 33 Editorial . . .. . . . . ... . .......... .. . .. ... .. .. .. 36 •

Grace under pressure

ART CREDITS: Cover, Cleo Photography; Pages 4-11, DigitalStock; Pages 12- 14, PhotoDisc; Pages 23-25, DigitalStock; Page 31, PhotoDisc.

Printing by Valley Offset Printing, Valley Center, Kansas.

EDITOR Carmen Andres

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Connie Faber

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

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

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

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

WESTERN OFFICE: Carmen Andres, Editor 7531 Delta Wind Dr. Sacramento, California 95831 Fax: (253) 369-9423 E-mail: chleader@jps.net MIDWEST OFFICE: Connie Faber, Associate Editor Box V, 315 S. Lincoln Hillsboro, Kansas 67063 Phone: (620) 947-5543 Fax: (620) 947-3266 E-mail: chleader@southwind.net Subscription rates are $16 for one year, $30 for two years, and $42 for three years ($20, $38 and $54 in Canada); $1.50 per copy. All subscription requests and address changes should be sent to the Circulation Secretary at the Midwest Office. All advertising inquiries should be made to the Western Office.

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

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BY ROSE BUSCHMAN

___"d14. Looking at retirement

•

lS

was Sidney.

retired from, but I do know what he retired to. ~,, ~_ school board, county commission and city com-

mission meetings in our city. Sidney did his homework. When he asked a question, people scrambled to find the answer. Everyone in any kind of leadership role in our city respected him.

I found out just how seriously people took him when I was asked to make a presentation to the school board on behalf of the school superintendent a number of years ago. Several hours before the meeting, I was summoned to tl).e superintendent's office and grilled with questions "Sidney might ask." After 30 minutes, the superintendent pronounced me ready for my presentation.

Sidney made his retirement count. He had a plan and made a big difference in our community.

••• I officially retired from teaching a year ago, and Sydney's example is one I find both attractive and inspiring. I don't think he ever had to worry about being bored, useless or forgotten "on the shelf" His life was certainly counter to most images of retirement I was used to seeing.

So, just what is retirement?

For most of us, life comes in three phases. Phase one involves growing up, getting an education and finding out what the world is all about. In phase two, we shift into the adult world where we decide whether to marry, what vocation to follow and how to raise our children. Most of us are very busy with these activities for many years. Then we come to phase three of life-retirement.

According to the dictionary, retirement means to withdraw from business or public life and live on one's income, savings or pension.

The federal government sees retirement as the "act of leaving paid employment."

A recent commercial on 1V showed retired sports figures sleeping in a rocking chair, playing shufiIeboard, knitting, yawning or just fiddling around. The message is clear. Retirement is a time to be unproductive, to waste and fritter away the days in a rocking chair watching television, shufiIing aimlessly around and being bored to tears.

When it comes to financially planning for retirement, I've seen a lot of emphasis placed 4.THE

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on putting away the money we will need so that we can do what we want-be it travel, see the world, play golf, go fishing, visit the grandkids, whatever our heart desires. The important thing is to have enough money to do whatever we like.

Financial planners constantly tell us to prepare for retirement so we can live in comfortable idleness. Happiness, they say, is to go on all the cruises we want, golf or fish to our heart's content, eat out at least once a day and do as we please every day without any money worries.

Is that really all there is?

Several years ago, I met Peter. He was coming out of retirement because, as he said, "You can only fish for so long before you get bored." He took an early retirement from a teaching position, but he hadn't made any serious plans for what he was going to do with his new found time and freedom. The image of retirement as blissful leisure didn't pan out for him.

Planning for the next phase While there is nothing wrong with fishing, traveling or visiting our grandchildren, there is much more we should do. Jimmy Townsend, a Southern mountain philosopher says it well: "We worry too much about something to live on and too little about something to live for."

Life expectancy has increased over the years.

Today, we don't just retirefrom something-we retire to something. Planning for retirement is just as important as planning for an education or profession was in our earlier years. What we will do, where we will go and how we will make retirement "count" deserves our attention.

In preparing for retirement, we need to make a paradigm shift how we think about it. Katie Funk Wiebe, in Border Crossing, suggests that retirement today is a "gift of a new period of life that people didn't have 50 years ago-a gift of unmapped territo· ry that we are privileged to chart." Jimmy Carter, in the Virtues ofAging, suggests that "regardless of our culture, age or even personal handicaps, we can still strive for something exceptional." He asks, "Why not expand our sights instead of restricting our lives and accepting the lowest denominator of a dormant exis· tence?" Levi Miller, in the Christianity Today article "What Your Retirement Planner Doesn't Tell You" (March 6, 2000), suggests that "our retirement is a gift to be used up in the ministry of God." We have the time since we no longer have the pressures of "mak· ing it in our profeSSion," raising our children and going to work five or more days a week.

In the New Testament, Paul admonishes us "to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God ." (Rom. 12:1) He also tells us that "we are God's workman·

ship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works."

(Eph . 2:10) Does this apply only to our "working for pay" lives? Or does it extend into retirement?

The answer is a resounding yes. Our retirement offers us a new opportunity to give our life and resources to God to be used in "good works."

Our

Retiring to God How we give our retirement life to God will be different for each one of us.

• Community service. For some of us, it will be volunteering in our communities-reading to a child in school, helping another one with her homework, sitting with families in the intensive care waiting room or visiting other elders in the local nursing home. It may mean playing games with a friend or a shut-in who needs cheering up. I recently received a bulletin from our local Retired Senior Volunteer Program which listed dozens of different service opportunities available.

• Church service. Our churches can always use an extra set of hands in the library, the kitchen or the yard. Listening to children say their verses in Awana, teaching Sunday school, helping with vacation Bible schools, visiting newcomers and oldtimers, helping someone with minor house repairs, taking a loaf of fresh baked bread to someone who needs cheering up-the list is endless.

• Building relationships. I talked to a 90-plus year old man in a nursing home who told me about a retired college professor who came to his wing once a week. The professor gathered a group of men together for a time of sharing, and they talked about what was going on in their lives. They learned from him and each other about how to deal with the difficulties they faced. My friend said these sessions were extremely valuable for him.

• Praying for others. The greatest gift we can give others is to pray for them. Our children and grandchildren need our prayers. So do our friends, our neighbors and a lost world. Retirement frees up our time. This is one way to use it wisely.

• Getting involved in missions. For some of us, retirement gives us the opportunity to volunteer for short-term or extended-stay mission asSignments. Oth· ers of us can stay in touch with missionaries by letter, e-mail or phone. I recently received a thank you note from a missionary in Papua New Guinea for bringing some mail back to the U.S. for her. As she closed the letter she wrote, "Please don't forget about us."

For me, the transition from full-time teaching to retirement has been relatively smooth. It is a year ago now that I cleaned out my desk and my class· room closets and headed for home. At first, I was worried that I would have a hard time adjusting to

opportunity

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retirement offers us

anew to give our

life and resources

to God to be used in "good works."

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I made a conscious decision to make my retir e m ent meaningful and a service to others and God.

not going to work each morning, but that has not been the case. I enjoy having breakfast with my husband every morning and not just on weekends. I love the freedom I have to choose each day's activities. As a concession to traditional retirement I take naps in the afternoon and occasionally I wear a hat.

Several years ago two friends and I spent some time reading and discussing Wiebe's book, Border Crossings. I decided to "grow older gracefully." Then as I was about ready to retire I came across Miller's treatise that "retirement is a gift we give back to God." I made a conscious decision to make my retirement meaningful and a service to others and God. This led me to volunteer my time for Habitat for Humanity and a local Christian school and to take on additional responsibilities at my church. I'm also part of a group of women who sew baby blankets for a Christian pregnancy center and make larger blankets and school kit bags for Mennonite Central Committee, a Christian world relief and development agency. In March I went to Papua New Guinea on a mission trip with Wycliffe Associates. Recently our two granddaughters came to visit for 10 days while their parents enjoyed a much needed vacation. I've also taken up gardenhtg with a new passion. I also have days I call "being days," when I think and reflect on anything (or nothing), putter around the house, nap, listen to music, read and pray. I need these quiet days, too.

This is extravagant living. The fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables that I harvest in abundance are wonderful. The granddaughters have already asked if they can come again. I said "yes." If the opportunity presents itself I hope to go on more mission trips in the future. I never dreamed that retirement would be so much fun and so rewarding. And it's definitely not boring!

Rose Buschman recently retired from teachingbut she still continues as a regular columnist of the Leader. She is a member of Garden Valley Church in Garden City, Kan.

~ Border Closslng: ,. A Spiritual Journey

by Katie Funk WIebe (Herald Press, 1995)

~ Rrstfrults Living: ,. Giving God Our Best

by Levi Miller (Herald Press, 1991)

~ Bridging the Generations

~ Life After 50:

,. A Positive Look at Aging in the Faith Community edited by Katie Funk Everything to Gain: Making the (Faith Be Life Press, 1993) Most of the Rest of Your Life

by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter (Unlv. of Arkansas Press, 1995)

,.. by Katie Funk Wiebe (Herald Press, 2001)

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A first-fruit offering In his Christianity Today article, Miller suggests that, "There is no end to what you can do when you decide that your life is a first-fruit offering of God for a world that needs to know him." On my recent mission trip to Papua New Guinea, I met a woman who exemplifies that.

Elsie retired from a teaching career as a special education teacher. Together with her husband she came to Papua New Guinea to help in the Wydiffe missionary school in Ukarumpa. After several years her husband developed congestive heart failure and died. She returned to Papua New Guinea alone and is still there. Her children supported her-as long as she promised to come home for Christmas each year.

Elsie is in her 70s and lives in a small two-room apartment there. Her arthritis hampers her ability to get around as she would like, but she doesn't let that stop her. She was there every morning helping us with our vacation Bible school program and invited several of us to her kitchen for a meal. Elsie told me, "I'm planning to stay here as long as I can." She is content, living simply, helping wherever she can and serving the Lord.

Elsie in her retirement is an example of "a gift to be used up in the ministry of God"-an example we would do well to live up to whether we are living in a city in California, a farm in central Kansas or an island like Papua New Guinea.•

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~ The VIrtues of AgIng ,. by Jimmy Carter (Ballantine Books, 1998)

~ "What your Retirement ,. Planner doesn't tell you," by levi Miller (Christianity Today, March 6, 2000)

BY KATIE

FUNK WIEBE

Changing the way generations relate

had very clear stages modeled .~.'.... . ~ ..

He knew from experience that .... _..."T- pleasure in them." went to the fields every mOrning belcallse~yCIU[:.ajJL",:,_",~ortun.att!ly, my father lived to had caught up with you, you sat on the bench in be 91, but, unfortunately, he lived front of your whitewashed house and visited with rigidly in step with the life stage your neighbors passing on the street. theory. He didn't know that you For as long as I can remember, his store in the could reinvent your life at any little Russian immigrant village in Canada where stage. He and my mother brought us we lived had a couple of benches in front for the children up with the same lockstep life stage view. old men of the village to sit and visit. That was the After childhood and schooling, came job prepaway things were done. That was the role of elders ration, followed by marriage, parenthood, middle in the villages in the Ukraine, The practice had age and old age. You lived according to what was been brought over with these Russians and age appropriate and in sequential order. Getting Ukrainians to the new country. Life was a one-way married before you had a means of livelihood was street, down which you moved from one life stage frowned upon. Few thought of going to school to the next, ending in death . This linear view of after age 30 or 40. life was held by many similar cultures.

A linear life plan was important when the averChoices were for life age length of life was short. At the turn of the cenThe big question for children when I was tury people were considered old at 50 or 60. Life young was, "What do you want to be when you expectancy was less than 50. When you were fingrow up?" No one ever asked, "What do you want ished with one stage, you eased to the next. to be like when you are old?" Early in life you Shakespeare describes these life stages as seven chose or were directed to a career-sometimes in number, beginning with the "mewling and pukalready in high school-and stuck with it even ing infant" followed by the "whining schoolboy." though later on, you hated your choice. Often cirThe final stage is second childhood when the percumstances did not make it easy to switch careers, son ends "sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans even jobs. During the Depression years you everything." A dismal view of life. worked at whatever was available-even digging Another deSCription of this end stage can be ditches-to keep bread on the table.

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My father chose to be a storekeeper, a vocation that began with a period of apprenticeship in the Ukraine in Russia, followed by the opportunity to manage a small store for a company in Canada. Marriage, family and civic and church responsibilities were fitted in at the appropriate times. At age 70, he retired and waited for death, not in a morbid sense but with the satisfied knowledge that his life journey was nearly over. His main contribution to life had been made. He never considered that death might be several decades away and that these decades also had to be lived meaningfully.

People who live their lives by this rigid life stage plan hesitate to ask themselves, "Is it too late at 40 to begin medical school or adopt a child?" or "How about a new career when I am 65?" Such people are kept in place by their own assumptions about where they are in the life cycle and also by the government, which says retirement age is 65 to 67. The first half of life consists of climbing the ladder in their chosen profession. Academic learning and even character growth is taken care of in youth. With retirement you start climbing down the ladder, letting go of responsibilities, positions, dreams and goals, and new learnings.

Traditional life stages Linear thinking about adult development means predictable sequences of learning, marrying, working, raising a family, leading and succeeding. Anything that slows or sidetracks progress in personal life is not welcome. Everything is orderly and with p lanned change. The focus is on progress beginning with the potential of youth, which is expected to develop and unfold.

In linear thinking youth are portrayed romantical~ 1y, high on a pedestal. Who hasn't heard the phrase, "I'm willing to do anything if it's for o ur youth"? The idea seems to be they have supreme. value because the future of the church depends on them. They haven't ruined their lives as yet.

Elders are seen as having less value because they're moving downhill and have made their contribution to )

'(

The church's

future

oldefe~aults as much as its h

yout .

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life, a perception that causes some to have low selfesteem. It never feels good to know that you are part of the group that is on the way out. Being psychologically edged out keeps elders looking back on that successful career with little motivation to keep moving ahead.

Omitted in this kind of linear life stage thinking is the demographic fact that by 2030 there will be about 70 million older persons- more than twice their number in 1996. People over 65 represent almost 13 percent of the population in the year 2000 but are projected to represent 20 percent by 2030 (AARP 1997 statistics). Church membership can often count at least 10 to 15 percent more older adults than a sampling of the general population.

That means the church of 2030 may have 30 to 35 percent older adults. Some congregations will have even more, up to 40 and 50 percent. The church's future depends on its older adults as much as its youth. They are also the future of the church.

Why do numbers matter? I've sometimes said that it makes a difference whether you have one cat in the house or ten cats. Numbers make a difference.

The larger the number of elders, the more they can influence cultural values about aging. The larger their number the more important it is that they model Christian discipleship to the young in both close encounters and through their public image.

The linear lif e plan is not for everyone Ken Dychtwald and Joe Flower in Age Wave state that we are presently "witnessing the dissolution of the traditional linear life plan," a change that will vastly affect the way the generations relate because all ages may be engaged in the same activity at the same time. Going to school, for example, may be an activity in which young, middle-aged and old are engaged in.

Erik Erikson, whose seminal work in developmental psychology of adults has strongly influenced the life stage theory, describes the life course as a series of psychological tasks. Every individual has natural and cultural responsibilities that arise during a certain period of a person's life that must be faced and dealt with before going on to the next stage. He or she is socialized to act in ways appropriate to each successive role: teenager, student, parent, worker, civic and church contributor and retiree.

According to Erikson, each of these life stages has conflicting tendencies. For the older adult the polarities are generativity versus stagnation. Through conce rn for the welfare of the future generation, or generativity, elders find a sense of meaning in life. If this ge nerativity does not take place, they stagnate and life becomes empty.

Today certain transitions are less tied to a certain age or stage. Degree completion programs during

Boomers are adulthood many years removed from college, are becoming popular. Parenthood, once a role for young marrieds, now is put off for later to the 30s and even early 40s. Theorists today see life as a more flexible passage, a cyclical journey.

When life expectancy was limited to retirement age or less than a decade after retirement, the life stage theory worked well. It was important to get age-related tasks done, for there was no second chance. Death ended many dreams.

Now that many people live to age 80 and 90 and beyond (the age-group over 85 is the fastest growing demographic group), the life stage theory has weaknesses. Demographics have changed the face of aging. Today elders generally face a prolonged period of life in which they are relatively healthy and energetic but lack a recognized role in the economic and social life of society.

This is equally true in the church. Some older adults live an ambiguous life for possibly 20 or 30 years after retirement-as many years as they worked-asking "What is my role?" The church offers no significant roles, and is often overjoyed when the older members withdraw from leadership roles to the sidelines.

Other trends Dychtwald and Flower see a number of trends occurring in our world: the development of more adult-only housing; the rise of AARP, the national organization for older Americans; health care focused on older groups; the decline ofyouth-oriented organizations such as Boy Scouts of America; and an increase in the number of books on aging with intergenerational concerns (care of aging parents, grandparenting and so forth) .

Dychtwald and Flower also see the nuclear family as disappearing. Up to the middle of the 20th century the patriarchal family was dominant with two generations alive at one time. Elders were few in number.

Children were abundant. The median age was 17.

The nuclear family with two parents and one or two children at its core began about the 1960s.

Elders were increasing in number and children decreasing. The median age was 29.4.

Today the nuclear family is being replaced by the matrix family, or adult-centered family, with relationships primarily between adults. The median age in 1988 was 32. The adult-centered family is transgenerational with a number of generations in the same household bound together by friendship and choice as well as by blood and obligation. Today each grandparent has only half as many grandchildren as in 1950 and each child has twice as many grandparents as a generation ago.

tfidicted to C n~e the face

of agtng-eVeD- more.

A new mystique Elders may live 20 to 30 years with the ambiguity of unclear roles in church and society, not always sure what the discomfort is they feel about their stage in life. in 1963 feminist Betty Friedan wrote about 1be Feminine Mystique, an unnamed discomfort housewives were feeling with their role in life.

It seemed to be limited to cleaning and polishing what was already clean and polished. Housewives were encouraged to fill the void in their lives with shopping and ornamental display of their femininity. They felt perplexed about their role in life.

Susan Faludi in her recent controversial book Stiffed: 1be Betrayal of the Modern Man argues that men in our modem world are going through this same turmoil. Stripped of their connections to the wider world and also invited to fill the void in their lives with consumption and a "gym-bred display of .. . ultramasculinity," they are experiencing a masculine mystique. They wonder what they're here for. Not all readers agree with her premise.

Elders are encouraged by our culture to jump the traces that held them to the work world as soon as chronological age allows them to. They are urged by the example of their peers as well as advertising to fill their lives with travel experiences and retain a personal trainer to keep their bodies in shape. I am convinced that some are experiencing an "age-related mystique." Some elders recognize this is a culturallyinduced mystique and consequently search for more significant ways to fill their days, not that new experiences and exercise are unimportant. They challenge the culture that sends them into retirement and navelgazing. Boomers are predicted to change the face of the aging even more as they have changed everything else they have connected with in their journey.

I see the "Aging Mystique" as the unnamed discomfort of retirees who, after the initial thrill of selfchosen leisure has worn off, wonder what role God has for them. They feel frustrated when they look for significant roles in the church and society. They are told their main task is now to volunteer at something, at anything. They have the ability to make major decisions, but not the opportunity. Though they may have managed a work force of 100s in their place of business and were responsible for a budget of several million, dumbing down to putting labels on letters seems a little thin, despite preaching that the good Christian is humble enough to do any job.

Not all in this group are challenged to find a volunJUNE

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Young peop~e can " ·also oegln h marc lng to the beat Of a di.fterent ~mmer. .r

,,'#-

.,

teer task that fits their skills and gifts. Some were weary of responsibility and are ready for lesser roles.

The busy ethic

good times and bad, in growth and decline. Continuous leaming is essential for reeducation, renewal and redirection. Gone is the thinking that when you are retired, leaming ends. The cyclic view admits to both the good and bad in aging with gradual physical losses but an enriched inner life. The cyclic view sees every life period as meaningful and valuable. I heard a retired lawyer say recently that he wanted to die at the height of his spiritual strength, not when it was at low ebb. For him that meant to keep climbing.

Consequently, some retirees turn to what David

J. Ekerst calls "the busy ethic." It derives from the

Changing the way we think

work ethic, which identifies work with virtue. He asks, "What do people do with a work ethic when they no longer work?" They work at keeping viSibly busy, which legitimates the leisure of retirement.

I've heard countless retirees say, "I'm busier than when I was working." This busyness includes parttime jobs, volunteering, grandchildren, maintenance around the house, hobbies, pastimes, socializing, much of it good stuff. Conversation about retirement focuses on "What occupies your time?" not "What gives meaning to your life?"

Frederic M. Hudson in The Adult Years writes that much current literature on adult development is written with the assumption that order in a person's life should be predominant over change, yet older adults live in a period when change is predominant over order.

Adults today have multiple options at transition points in their lives and random opportunities to move in new directions. They don't need to be tied to the linear life stage plan. Personal responsibilities change. All adults are invited to participate in lifelong learning experiences. My daily newspaper lists an abundance of workshops and learning experiences in multitudinous areas. Throughout the life cycle today, "adults keep rearranging the same basic life issues (such as identity, achievement, intimacy, play and creativity, search for meaning, and contribution) around changing perspectives that our personal development, aging and social conditions evoke from us," states Hudson.

At the same time as elders are reinventing their lives, young people can also begin marching to the beat of a different drummer. They don't need to fall in line with becoming the "typical teenager." As I've already mentioned, teenagers were invented in the early 1950s as a distinct age-group with certain psychological and social characteristics. The concept of a "youth culture" was born following the Depression and World War II, writes Wendy Murray Zoba.

An extra abundance of young people came crashing on the scene with "free time, extra money and energy to burn. Football teams, cheerleaders, bobby socks and jukeboxes all came together to create a new 'youth culture. '" With them came the "youth rally," an attempt to bring an alternative to worldly entertainment into the church world. Youth work had an emphasis on entertainment, she writes. I recall at the zenith of Youth for Christ rallies while I was attending a Bible college in Winnipeg, Man., some of our church school leaders were hesitant to endorse this grand scheme of "Christian" entertainment to draw young people to Christ. But we young people went anyway. It was wonderful. We sang choruses and attended rallies.

Like the term "teenager," the terms "young adult" and "middle-age" are also fairly new constructs but ones which are extending their later boundaries. Young adults can be well into their 30s, and as long as they are young adults, the church knows not to expect much of them. Middle age which once began at 40 or 50 now extends to the 60s. And the media report that another new agegroup is growing rapidly: the tweens, youngsters between the ages of nine and 14, with already tremendous buying power and control over their lives, although this is debatable .

Zoba writes about the "hand-off philosophy" in youth ministry. The junior high youth group is "handed off" to the senior high group. The problem of assimilation comes after senior high . Who do you hand them off to then? George Barna, in his book Generation Next, notes that there is a marked

Cyclic life view Hudson further explains the cyclic view of life as going in circles with repetition of familiar patterns but with different meanings to those patterns at different times. At age 20 a young man may have accepted a job to eam money to go to school. At 50 he may accept a new job to fulfill a lifelong dream of working with environmental concerns. Life tasks are repeatable in different ways.

Learning a new skill is not limited to one period of life. Life develops through change. Life makes sense in

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drop-off rate in church attendance once young people graduate from high school. They tread water until after marriage and having children.

Looking at life through a lens that allows for more flexibility in life stages will not do away with teenagers treading water until they grow up but will allow them to take on more responsibilities at an earlier age. Zoba quotes one youth pastor as asking himself, "Why am I doing this?" The youth were coming to church to be entertained and then going home to be entertained by television, music and movies. It allowed them to become passive onlookers and reduced youth ministry to encouraging passivity and being just another consumer item.

Fewer models of youth ministry, according to Zoba, in her article "The Class of '00" in the February 3, 1997, issue of Christianity Today, focus on inner spiritual development. They give young people a chance to develop their soul. They allow them to grow up.

Do adults, especially elders, have a role in youth ministry? According to materials I checked, adults aren't always welcome in youth ministry for several reasons: they haven't the commitment of time and energy over the long haul, they can't handle the different styles of worship and they aren't willing to consider a more revolutionary view of the gospel.

New wineskins for youth ministry Zoba offers three new ''wineskins'' of youth ministry which do not surrender the gospel to consumerism. The first is "peer ministry," or kids ministering to kids. The emphasis is on discovery and implementation of spiritual gifts of the youth for church leadership. "Teens reaching other teens create an atmosphere of trust and affirmation that enables young people who might not otherwise hear a gospel message to hear and relate and find release," writes Zoba.

The second model "celebrates the established church, while finding innovative ways to integrate young people into its tradition. Mentoring and discipleship groups are a big part of this model. Youth are encouraged to participate in many aspects of services, such as readers of Scripture, as ushers or by sharing special music." Zoba quotes one youth leader as saying, "Sometimes when they read the Scripture they don't do a great job at reading, but their involvement says to them, 'This is your church, too.'"

The third model, which falls somewhere between the first two, has teen leaders of cell groups and an adult coach, or mentor, and regular teen-flavored worship services followed by joining the larger congregation for their worship service.

In all three types of ministries, teens are encouraged to live radically. They are assured they don't

have to be grown up to be used by God. "We need to know what God wants us to do and begin now," states one contemporary music artist.

In the church, reinventing the teen years might mean cutting out some pizza parties and lock-ins and asking those who are Christians to join the adults in developing strategies for church growth and taking on leadership in various areas. Young people should see learning as something they will be doing a good part of their whole lives. Zoba states that in the twenty-first century youth will emerge as the new heroes of the same revolution that turned the world around 2,000 years ago. And if the youth are being challenged to live radically for Christ, shouldn't this be the challenge also to elders?

Ken Dychtwald in his newest book Age Power writes that living in the 21st century dominated by older adults, age 65 will no longer be a marker for retirement. I am convinced that in this new millennium ''when I retire" will be an antiquated phrase. Retirement as we know it today will disappear as adults reinvent their lives, change careers, retrain for a new one, find new goals in Christian ministry and service. Adults will be challenged to be persons in motion, continually undergoing change. Adults will emerge as new heroes along with the youth to live radically for Christ.

Paul Tournier in The Seasons ofLife writes, "If living means choosing, and if in adulthood this is true to an even greater degree, then choosing becomes the supreme vocation of old age, when life has become privation and earthly treasures have lost their glitter."

Choosing will be the habit in all areas of life from deciding not to have bacon at breakfust to consciously freeing oneself of the thought patterns and theological understandings of earlier life stages to be ready for what God has in mind for elders and their relationship to the other generations. Longer life will eliminate age restrictions for certain activities.

So the word is to haul both young and old C , into the church. No sitting in comers waitin fot parties or for life to end. Mix the generation~ Because they have not been asked for their wisdom, .. help elders to recognize it and encourage them to share it. Help younger people to recognize t1\elt '<"", potential to accept more grown-up ~ · . nsiliiliti~ than they are aware of. Every beHev at any age'ilt gifted and needed in the househOl<\ f God. DisCl- I pleship is an invitation to all age-groups. • .

,

This article is printed with permlsst.Qn from Katie Funk Wiebe's latest book, Brid the Generations, published by Herald Press, .

15683. Wiebe is the author ofnu articles, and is professor emeritus at~'J; an MB college in Hillsboro, Kan.

Does the prodigal son live on in us today?

The younger one says to his father, "Father, give me my share of the estate." So the father divides his property between the two. Not long after that, the younger son packs his bags and sets off for a distant country-where he promptly squanders all his money in wild living.

Most of us know the rest of the story. A famine hits and the younger son, penniless and hungry, takes a job feeding pigs. He realizes how good he had it and decides to go back to his father and ask for a job, telling the father that he's not worthy to be a son. But the father brushes off his son's words, embraces him and puts together a feast to celebrate his return. The older son is hurt and upset and refuses to join the celeHe resents that his brother squanders his wealth and gets a feast he-who worked for and obeyed his father-never got so much as The father acknowledges his oldest son's work and loyalty and reassures him that everything he owns is his son's as well. But they must celebrate, the father concludes, "because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. " (Luke 15:32) Jesus uses parables to teach us something about the Kingdom of God. Many of us have learned that the parable of the prodigal son gives us a glimpse of our heavenly Father and his reaction to the rebellion of and the desired reunion with his children.

But parables often speak to us on more than one level. While the main point of this parable is to help us understand more about God's love and the Kingdom, the Parable of the Prodigal Son reveals valuable insights on how we see and approach relationships with elders in our own families.

Mistakes of the wayward son The parable of the prodigal son resonates with many of us. We all come from a family. We can relate to a story about intergenerational families. We know about restless and rebellious children. While we may not encounter it to the degree that it was present in the prodigal son, we know it nevertheless.

Because we are familiar with family, the prodigal son's errors are easy to identify .

• The prodigal son wants his father's inheritance. "Father, give me the share of property that falls to me" (Luke 15: 12). In the prodigal's culture, inherLEADER

iting goods is not uncommon. But, in this case, there's a problem-his father isn't dead.

As today, the father needs his financial resources to provide for the expenses of his daily life. Only in the event that he does not consume his estate in living the last years of his life wiU his sons see a portion of his assets. Deuteronomy 21:16 instructs that a double portion of inheritance is wiUed to the first born, but the first born is to use these assets as reimbursement for the care of his aging parents if and when they are no longer able to care for themselves.

The prodigal son's error is wanting his share of his father's estate prior to his father's death. His interest in a relationship with his father is nil, and he fails to acknowledge that his father's money is his father's money-not his.

• He leaves his family both in location and in spirit_ The father-son relationship is suspended as the prodigal son leaves without telling his father where he is going and giving no plans of return.

People need family. In the context of the prodigal son, the wayward son had an older brother that took a lead role in caring for the father as he aged.

Therefore, the prodigal son did not feel obligated to help with his father. He could have taken a supportive role with his father, but he left his brother with the task of providing solely for his aging father. Even though the oldest son had a double inheritance to help care for his aging father, he isn't the only one who is responsible. It does not excuse the younger son from assisting in meeting the present or future needs of his father.

Scripture is fuU of examples of the need for children and their parents to remain in relationship with each other. In the Old Testament, the 12 tribes of Israel all received land and continued to live in community with the family. The 12 sons had a sometimes stormy but continuous relationship with their father. The psalmist notes that it is good to have a "quiver fuU" of sons in order to address enemies that may threaten the family. (ps. 127:4-5) In the New Testament, Paul includes all family members when he warns "if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

(1 Tim. 5:8) It is not only the oldest son who has a role with parents. The prodigal son's second mistake is breaking off his relationship with his family and assuming his older brother will take care of his father'S needs .

• He spends his father's money. Luke describes the expenditures as "squandering his property on loose living." (Luke 15:13) The relationships found in loose living centered on vices and proved conditional. Simply put, the relationships

flourished only as long as the prodigal son was able to provide financial resources. The prodigal son not only misspent money-he misspent money that really belonged to his father.

The wayward son in us Today, conflict continues in families- be they our family or families of those close to us. Not surprisingly, we also see the three errors of the prodigal son in intergenerational families today.

• I want it-and I want it now. A friend of mine wiU probably receive an inheritance upon the death of a parent. He and his wife will be able to send their three children to private colleges without incurring debt and help them with things like down payments for their first homes.

Many of us can easily visualize receiving an inheritance, too. We see very good uses for extra money.

Elimination of debt not only removes a "cloud" from over our head, it also frees us to reduce the working hours of a spouse, take educational as well as fun vacations with our children and send our kids through college without the burden of school loans.

As we own this visualization, we can easily begin to believe that we are entitled to our inheritance. It is no longer something we receive if-and-only-if our parents do not consume all their resources in their lives. We believe we are entitled to it. Impatience easily follows our feelings of entitlement. When this happens, we are making the prodigal son's error: irrespective of our parents' needs, we want their money-and we want it before they die.

• Let me live my own life. The younger son can make a case that his older brother has a larger role in caring for his father. After all, the oldest son probably received double the prodigal son's inheritance.

We often fall into the same way of thinking.

People fill their lives with many tasks. Because of busyness, it becomes easy to believe that it's okay to delegate all caregiving of our elders to someone else or an institution. We buy into the illusion that a sibling, deacon or nursing home alone can meet aU needs of an aging parent.

This thinking is wrong. To assure health and contentment as we age, many people need to be involved. As the aging process continues, family may need to help care for a yard or transport someone to an event or appointment. When relationships with multiple family members are maintained, we have a better chance of meeting our needs and experiencing contentment. When family members do not offer assistance--even to parents that live in retirement centers that offer many services- there is a void.

• Spending ill-gotten funds. The spending choices of the prodigal son are easy to see and obviJ U N E

People fill their lives with many tasks.

Because of busyness, it becomes easy to believe that it's okay to delegate all caregiving of our

elders to someone else or an institution.

This thinking is wrong.

2001.

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Leir~i~g. f~~~ a "

When it comes down to it, most of us have a bit

of the wayward son within us.

ously wrong. But is his error in spending ill-gotten funds on loose living, or is his error in spending illgotten funds-period?

In our culture, spending our parents' money for loose living would be broadly criticized. But what about adult children taking their parents' money prior to their parents' death and spending it in "good ways"? Buying a new car or boat, paying off a bill or funding a young family member's educational expenses are examples of spending that aren't equated with "loose living." While these investments are not inherently evil, they are wrong if they drain parents' ability to provide for their living.

Governmental sources can fund the care of elders if they outlive their financial resources. The temptation for children is to speed up the date the government starts to pay for a parent's care. If children have visualized receiving an inheritance and rationalized it, they simply move the assets from the parent's name to their name and apply for government funding. Since governments have limited funds and are aware of the temptation to transfer or "divest" assets, they search records for the preceding 36 months.

Children that wait to apply for 37 months after a parent has divested can then obtain governmental support for their parent. While the letter of the law is then not violated, the spirit is. The result is the same-the parent does not have his or her own resources with which to live.

Sadly, seniors living on governmental support have fewer options than those with funds. Facilities that care for elders have a difficult time providing quality care and service for elders who are on governmental assistance. In nearly all cases government assistance does not match true costs of providing care. Consequently many facilities known for providing quality care will not admit a senior that relies on governmental assistance. The senior on public assistance then has few options for obtaining quality health care and living services.

Peop le would not dream of taking money from their children when the money may be needed to L EADER

help them meet their basic needs. Such sensitivity is needed when contemplating taking possession of assets belo nging to aging parents. Taking a parent's money, regardless of the reason, is the same as the third error made by the prodigal son.

Heavenly father and earthly fathers Parents are sometimes drawn to the example of the selfless father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Parents frequently think of "doing without" so that their child can have something. Many of us have a parent that would lovingly give us what they needed themselves and we did not deserve.

While the selfless father of the parable is in part a picture of our heavenly Father, it is not a complete picture. Our heavenly Father will not enter a stage in life in which he may be in need of assistance. We must not take advantage of a parent's generosity or giving spirit-even if it be for reasons such as a grandchild's education-especially if it takes away funds that they need .

Learning from the prodigal When it comes down to it, most of us have a bit of the wayward son within us. So, as children we need to remember that the money and resources that our elders possess are theirs to steward, not ours to inherit or spend. Also, all of us need to remember that maintaining family ties and sharing in responsibilities are important to our well-being. And as parents, we must be good stewards and wise when it comes to managing our estate. Last, we must remember that although this story is so easy to relate to in earthly terms, it is not a story about an earthly father but our heavenly Father-a Father that longs for a relationship with us, hopes for our return when we wander and is eager to share his riches . •

Da vid Reimer is the chair of the u.s. Conference of MB Churches and executive d irector of Palm Village Retirement Community in Reedley, Calif He is a member of the Reedley MB Church.

• In 1904 yve received our first planned gift of record. In the year 2000 we received nearly $3,300, , 0 in planned gifts, wh ich will yield abundant resources for kingdom causes.

• 1954 marked the year our first investment account was established. This Ministry Investment Fund now has assets of over $1 5.6 million.

• In 1957 we issued our fi rst CharitabFe Gift Annuity.

TodaYr we manage over $3 m ill io n in this gift plan.

• During the 1980's it was determi¥d that restructuring was n~~sary to gain maximltl!' effectiveness. As a result, oWrstewardship functioriwas shifted to the u.s. Conf,rence and we were subsequently incorporated Decembef 28r 1990.

• W e first b~ame trustee of a charitab1e trust in 1992; cu rrently, we manage 18 with a.f§tr market value of approximcttely $4.5 million .

t oln, P.O. Box V ro, KS 67063 tel: 800·551 · 1547 fax : 620·947-3266 e-mai l: mbfound@southwind.net

As we mark the 10th anniversary of Mennonite Breth ren Fou ndation, we'd like to thank you for your partnership with us. Since our beginning 92 years ago when the General Conference Board of Trustees was estab l ished (1908), we have been about serving the needs of our financial community of faith .

Today we celebrate the completion of 10 years incorporated as Mennonite Brethren Foundation.

Thank you again for your trust and for your business. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.

Jon c. Wiebe, President & CEO - Donald L. Martens, Chairman

WHAT READEHS SAY

Reflecting on leadership I write in response to "Where have our leaders gone-and how do we get them back?" (February 2000) . I realize this letter is late but after a conversation that I had with a pastor, I decided to write.

I read the opinions of Ed Boschman, Harold Ens and Henry Schmidt with great interest since I share the concern for leadership. The future of the Mennonite .

Brethren lies in the hands of the leaders who will respond to God's call and be courageous enough to follow his guidance. Besides all of the reasons given in the article about why there is a lack of leadership, I want to add another reason-that is, MBs have not learned to care for leaders that God has already sent our way.

I know a number of pastors, including myself, that currently are not in the pastoral role of a local congregation who feel thrown aside by the MB conference.

The people I am talking about are people MBs have ordained in response to the recognition of God's calion their lives.

For a variety of reasons-maybe family, burnout, etc.-these pastor have decided to take a break and do something else for awhile. But as soon as they step out of the pastoral position, the conferenceincluding other pastors who were their friends-forget about these people.

If you do not believe me, ask some of these people. Look at the conference directories and see how many names appear of people who have been ordained and are not in the pastoral position. I focus on the pastoral position because it seems that MBs believe that what makes a pastor is not a call by God but rather a position in the church which is considered a "pastoral position." I realize many people would object to this

description but the reality is still the Movies, Catholicism and fund-raising same-this is what we live.

Just a short note to say how much I I do not believe that the MBs can enjoy the Christian Leader. I had never afford to ignore the leaders seen it until I started attending the Com God has sent our way on the MB Church in Com, Okla., several years one hand and on the other ago. I have been passing my copies on to talk about calling out new my brother (a preacher) and copying out leaders or complaining that child-rearing sections for my sister and churches are not doing their daughter in Phoenix who both have fivejob in calling out leaders. We year-olds. have to learn to care for the A couple of comments regarding ones God has provided. When some past issues: God places a call on a person, • I, too, am a movie fan ("Christians . _-_. . ." regardless of what they are and movies--can we live together?" July doing at the 2000), but I am really dismoment, that call will always turbed by the homosexuality be present. Does the conferin almost every film. I just ence expect these leaders ever saw The Mexican. It was way to return to pastoral ministry? too violent, and homosexualDoes the conference follow ity was a big part of the up and keep tabs on these movie. No one seemed to leaders? Does the conference address that in the movie include these leaders and see Cb~-.1fIes- reviews. Space Cowboys was '-~uYe tOll"th<rl funny, and Save the Last them as a resource to its ministries?

-=:...- =";:; Dance was very romantic Sometime ago I met with a L..-_ _ _ _ _ _- - ' and addressed racism. No conference leader and we began to talk violence or homosexual sex in either about ministry (I have been out of the one. I also saw Left Behind, which was pastoral position for seven years now), very good but anti-climactic after the and I shared with him that at times I felt whole book series. that the conference did not care about • Somehow I missed the original article me because no one has ever asked me in on the Catholic dialogue ("Bridging the these seven years whether I would ever gap with Catholics," October 2000). Now I consider coming back to pastoral minam reading the comments in the January istry. He said it was because he knew 2001 issue (What Readers Say). I totally what I would say. "You are better off agree with Mr. Eirich and Mr. Penner. I where you are now and have a better also read the Catholic dialogue article in income," he said. I told him that I had the next issue ("Catholic dialogue continnever been in pastoral ministry because ues," February 2001). Any church that of the payor my well-being. I have always preaches the truth about salvation is and been in pastoral ministry because of will be a threat to the Catholic church. I God's calion my life-that is also true spent a lot of time in the Catholic church right now in what I am doing. Whether I as a child with friends and attending wedam in a pastoral position or not, God has dings that my family was invited to called me to be a pastor to people, and I through my father's work. Most are not am living this call. saved by our definition of salvation. The This letter is a plea to the conference only way to bridge the gap would be to to care for the leaders that God has progive up our beliefs. The Catholic church is vided and not let them go. Call them, about power, control and money. Do we include them, use them. God wants to want one world religion? I don't think so. continue using their lives among MBs-if The Catholic church is losing members MBs want them. and running scared.

• I saw the plea for money in this Juan Wall month's issue (March 2001) and wonSelma, California dered how much it costs to publish each Leader issue. Why couldn't we pay for our

---_ --_. __---_ ._-"_ -,,,_. ,-

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

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

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own subscriptions? I just paid $30 for u.s.

News and World Report because I wanted to be more up on world news. I, for one, am burnt out on donations. Everyone needs money. If one gives a donation to anything, then there is an unending request for more money. I would rather pay for one subSCription and one additional one for a new believer than be hounded for a donation.

Thanks again for a great job. I have learned a lot by reading your publication.

Rosalie A Smith Corn, Okla.

Catholics and making a difference I continue to appreciate your reports of the Mennonite/Catholic meetings ("Catholic dialogue continues," February 2001). It seems appropriate and authentic for Mennonites, whose distinctive is peacemaking, to strive for understanding, dialog, and reconciliation with their previous "enemies." I see the dialoguing Mennonites as taking the high road in truly attempting to hear from the Catholics and to offer a sense of forgiveness--and uniquely, at the same time, gain a broader perspective of how the other religions and denominations viewed the historical religiOUS split. Dialoguing with people doesn't mean that what they did was not wrong or tragic, nor does it mean we're agreeing with them or accepting their theology, but what Howard Loewen and Helmut Harder are manifesting goes along with a previous issue of the Leader when the emphasis of one of the articles was that in doing evangelism, we need to first hear the other person and hislher theology. Mennonites tout their peacemaking attributes through their service to humankind and by not bearing arms, but they are reluctant to exemplify this tenet by making peace with their past and healing their memories.

In regards to the letters in What Readers Say in the January 2001 issue, there appear to be black-and-white assumptions about all Catholics. I see variation within the Catholic Church, just as there is within the Mennonite or Presbyterian

or Methodist churches. I have Catholic acquaintances who have a solid understanding of Jesus, forgiveness and grace, yet their participation in the Catholic church could be equated with the Mennonite's cultural connection to the church. Also, regarding Catholics and their theology of works versus grace, I'd urge Mennonites to think twice before making accusations. It may not be a written doctrine, but I see Mennonites, Baptists and Bible churches working pretty hard at their salvation and gaining and/or maintaining God's favor through feverish participation in Bible studies, teaching, serving, reading their Bibles through in a year, MOPS, Weigh Downs, etc. Don't get me wrong. These are good things and can be the result of sincere spirituality, but they can also be disguised measuring sticks of goodness and attempts to earn God's favor.

I very much enjoyed the collage of what MB churches are specifically doing to make a difference in their community ("Working to make a difference," January 2001). Too often, we hear the bad, the evil, the hopelessness. Truly, this article prOvided illustrations of light bearers.

Naomi Gaede Penner Denver, Colo.

Concerns about MCC D.C. office I learned that MCC has a six-man office in Washington, D.C. and a one-man operation at the United Nations. The MCC Washington office web site (www.mcc.org) publishes what I assume to be "position papers."

The position papers are startling. Why should we be concerned? A number of church attenders I contacted did not know of the D.C. and U.N. office efforts. Many do not agree with the pOSitions taken. Fortunately, most fully support the MCC world wide relief effort-which I think is excellent. But check out the web site or contact the D.C. office at (202) 544-6564 or mccwash@mcc.org to get up to speed.

Here are titles and wording that tends

to explain the premise of the papers. This national and international effort appears to have nothing to do with the MCC relief effort.

• U.S. devoted to violence • West Coast MCC • Washington office actions • MCC U.S. calls on government to stop border violence • MCC how to deal with homosexuality in the church • MCC/Iansa coalition to stop gun violence • MCC supports affirmative action • Christianity and the environment • Universal health coverage - MCC Washington office supports (My note: M.M4 proposes medical savings

accounts) • MCC supports separation of church and state, historically • MCC seminar to address economic globalization • MCC supports Palestinians • MCC opposes economic sanctions on Iraq and opposed dropping of atomic bomb on Japan • Withhold tax dollars to those things MCC members oppose • MCC opposes SDI (missHe defense) would use money for domestic social programs • MCC supports gun control • MCC gathers to discuss race, public policy-Jesse Jackson, Jr. speaker • Doing away with topic of violence • MCC moral, practical, theological discussion • MCC talks about the federal election. Asks question : Will tax cuts continue social programs? (housing, health care and other social supports) • MCC suggests they want to listen to the many voices of our constituency (constituency not defined) • A paper on several issues: environmental issues, U.S. should pay 1.5 billion to UN, etc.

• Global warming The list goes on. I thought you might be interested in knOwing how we are being represented. Feel free to contact me at (559) 733-2465.

Tony Klein Visalia, Calif.

J U NE

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17

PH'L1P SIDE BY

PHILIP

WIEBE

The sporting goods Here are a few thoughts I've been having about athletic endeavors.

I

should not patronize greedy, immature professional sports franchises . At There are various sports I enjoy watching times I'm tempted to agree, but finally conclude that and playing. Tennis and golf are a couple sports isn't all bad. Even the of my favorites to play, and among those I like to Apostle Paul must have been watch is, well, not golf. Unless I'm going for a a sports fan, given the sparkling athletic allusions good nap. But I do stay awake through the occahe used. Run the race with sional basketball or football game. As a good perseverance, he memorably Anabaptist I know I'm not supposed to like footwrote, and fight the fight with discipline and purpose. ball, but I do-even though someone has wittily Even so, the models we observed that football's huddle-and-play style get from sports today are combines the two worst aspects of modem life: often negative. Here are a few thoughts I've been havviolence and committee meetings. ing about the wrongheadedThough our Pacific Northwest baseness of many athletic endeavors: ball team, the Mariners, is off to an • My wife and I had to sign a excellent start this season, I can't "behavior contract" for our son's socdredge up much interest in baseball. cer league. It said we were not allowed That's nothing against the sport, which to boo the opposing team, curse the I realize captivates many with its intrireferees, criticize the coaches or berate cate strategies and historical richness. our own players. On one hand I'm But baseball still seems like a lot of very happy that this league has parents standing around to me. In my mind sign such a document. On the other it's best described not by its history or hand I'm very sad that it's necessary. strategies but in an exchange between Sports fans who condemn athletes for a fan and baseball star a few years ago. being brats and whiners might want to The star was hanging around after a look in their own mirrors once in a while. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea game smoking a cigarette, when a fan reportedly voiced her disgust that an for patrons of sporting events to sign athlete would be doing something like behavior contracts, too-but then half that. "Lady, I'm not an athlete," the the fans might get kicked out of the star replied, "I'm a baseball player." arena every game.

But I'm speaking only of my own • Our area's pro basketball team, aversion to the game, of course-most the Portland Trail Blazers, recently baseball players today are superb athfired its coach. This was after a sucletes. Yet even though the athletes in cessful season, marred by a poor all sports seem to be better than ever, showing in the playoffs. Among all the one wonders if the spirit of sports reasons the team didn't go further, I wasn't better in days past, when there however, the coach was probably least wasn't so much money involved. Not to blame. Much more glaring was sevlong ago I read the admonition of an eral players' lack of professionalism author who wrote that Christians and management's lack of insight in wouldn't call myself an avid sports fan, but I suppose I'm not exactly a non-fan either.

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putting together a team of individual stars who didn't always play well together.

It strikes me how human it is to try and place blame on everything but the real problem. Blazer management fired a good coach to deflect their own responsibility; we come up with our own excuses and scapegoats for our own lack. Once when Jesus told Peter how he would suffer for being a true follower, Peter saw another disciple and asked, "What about him?" Essentially Jesus answered, "What's that to you? You follow me!" Think how much stronger our churches and our spirituallives would be if we stopped saying, "What about him, or her, or this or that?" If only we'd hear Jesus' call more clearly: "What's that to you? You follow me!"

• While I appreciate the amazing feats Tiger Woods is accomplishing on the golf course, something came to light at the recent Master's tournament that got me thinking. One of Woods' challengers almost caught up with him, but couldn't quite make the shots to tie the match. It was interesting the next day to read some criticisms of this golfer for smiling and talking to fans between holes, while Woods grimly and fiercely went about the task of winning the tournament.

It occurred to me that Tiger Woods never looks like he's enjoying himself much on the golf course. In fact, most professional athletes these days look like they're playing under some great burden rather than the ridiculous realization that they're paid millions to do stuff most of us do for fun (and for free) .

But who am I to criticize? I've been given this great gift of life and the greater gift of salvation, yet I too trudge grimly through the day, carrying the real and imagined burdens of the world, rather than facing each new contest with joy and anticipation.

INQUlHING MINDS BY

Q

Does the Mennonite Brethren Church have a theological p osition regarding gambling and casino entertainment attendance?

(Kansas)

A

While I am not aware that we Mennonite Brethren have passed any resolutions at a convention regarding the question of gambling, delegates at the July 1998 U.S. Conference national convention passed a resolution about lotteries. The resolution was based on a substantive work on this issue, while comparatively brief, by Harold Jantz and published as one in a series of very valuable pamphlets by the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Board of Faith and Life in 1992. Jantz's treatise deals basically only with "lotteries," but most of which is written would apply to other forms of gambling.

The one question not discussed in anything I have read is whether or not it would be acceptable for a Christian to take advantage of inexpensive meals or lodging in gambling institutions. Within 15 minutes of Fresno, for instance, you can go to Table Mountain Casino and eat a huge ham and eggs breakfast for less than two dollars. Or at other times the same casino offers scrumptious buffet meals for as little as two for six dollars. Or you can make Las Vegas a nightstop and rent a motel room for half the usual cost. Are you supporting the gambling industry (they must lose .money on such meal prices) if you only eat and don't gamble?

But back to the major question. The subject certainly deserves attention. The enticements to untold riches are everywhere around us. I have Christian friends who are involved and give little thought to the morality at stake. I trust I can adapt several ofJantz's questions and statements as suggestions for looking at the gambling question.

In my wishing to becoming rich, can I buy something that is based on many

MARVIN

HEIN

other people losing? That seems to fly in the face of Paul's words to look after each others' interest and not just our own (phil. 2:4). Can I put my financial resources into something whose strongest appeal is to self-interests and, worse yet, greed? The promotions would make you believe you are benefiting schools, Indian tribes, athletic teams or some other cultural activities.

But even those who promote the gambling interests admit they base their marketing strategy on people's greed.

Is gambling legitimate stewardship? Is it right to expend resources that have no promise of return and align one with socially questionable behavior? Jantz's final argument is that gamblers must face the reality that gambling in any form can become addictive. Copies of the Canadian BFL statement can be obtained from Kindred Press at (800) 545-7322, on the Web at www.mbconf.orglkindred.htm. or in the July 1998 issue of the Christian Leader.

Q A

Is there such a thing as "recreational giving?"

The question above was not submitted to me but came to mind while researching material for the previous question. The Pacific District Conference Board of Reference and Counsel addressed this issue at the 1990 district convention in Bakersfield, Calif. This paper, written for BORAC by Allen Guenther, was precipitated by the "raffling" of a Cadillac at Fresno (Calif.)

Pacific College, an MB university. Some questioned this method of fund-raising as being very similar to outright gambling.

Tickets had been sold to a dinner and the chief door prize was a new Cadillac. This method was called "incentive giving." The BORAC paper also made some interesting statements about the differences between charitable donations and "recreational giving."

While BORAC granted the fact that "recreational giving" might fall into the same category as buying tickets for a concert or taking the family to Disneyland, it cautioned against promoting giving in order to get material reward, thus fostering the greed motive.

The BORAC paper does give helpful suggestions about incentive giving.

Such giving includes raffling of quilts in church, church bingo games, desperate appeals (death threats even) if you do not contribute to a certain cause, selling trinkets inscribed with Bible verses, sale of candy bars to help the local school band project, etc. BORAC concedes that gambling cannot be avoided in our day.

Buying and selling stocks, bonds and futures are seen by many as gambling.

The paper agrees that gambling is a matter of degree.

Space does not permit further examination of this paper, but individuals and congregations might do well to follow the counsel of BORAC in 1990 "to take this home and teach this to our churches, including young people." A copy of this paper can be found in the 1990 PDC Yearbook or from the writer of this column.

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

E-mail Marvin at mhein1 @fresno. edu or send your questton to "Inquiring Minds, " c/o Marvin Heln, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, CA 93727.

JUNE

2001·

19

ON THE JOUI{NEY BY

ROSE

BUSCHMAN

Stories from the South Pacific A friendship out ofpersecution, a bow and four arrows, a sorcerer's blessing and a

witch's curse . ..

H

ere are some of the stories I heard while on a recent mission trip to the South Pacific.

•••

During World War II the Japanese army invaded Papua New Guinea (pNG) . They persecuted the Christians they found and forbade them to worship Jesus. In fact, they demanded that Christians renounce their faith and threatened anyone who refused to do so with death. The story was told of a Japanese officer who beheaded a Christian pastor who refused to recant his faith.

Some years later the son of this same Japanese officer became a Christian and dedicated his life to the Lord. He became a linguist and came to PNG to work in Bible translation. During this time he searched for and found the son of the pastor his father had beheaded. The two were reconciled and became friends.

•••

Her brother was the local witch doctor in a village in the highlands. She had seen theJesus Film and wanted to know more about Christ. So she started out on the long four-hour trek to the nearest town where there was a Christian church. Her brother was very angry.

He followed her, yelling and throwing rocks at her. Resolutely she continued in spite of his insults and actions. With the town in sight, he took out his bow and arrows and shot her. She landed in the local hospital with four broken off arrows in her thigh. A national pastor put her in touch with one of the missionaries, who came to the hospital, told her more about Jesus and led her to the Lord.

•••

Some missionaries were Sitting around the Wycliffe center guest house one afternoon talking about the artifacts they had received as gifts or purchased

20 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

from national artisans. One couple told the story of the marital problems that suddenly developed in their marriage after a good relationship of 20 years.

They were Bible translators and could not understand why this was happening to them nor could they figure out what the problem really was. Eventually, in counseling with another missionary couple, they remembered that they had purchased a set of carved, wooden ''war plates" at a market several months earlier. Could these be the problem?

That evening even though it was late at night, they took the plates out into the backyard and burned them.

"The wailing coming from that fire sounded absolutely hOrrible," I heard the missionary say. "It was scary just listening to it. We were relieved when finally only the ashes were left." They learned later from some national friends that those war plates carried a sorcerer's "blessing" which had been passed on to them. And yes, their marriage problems diminished after that and soon they were back to their previous good working relationship. ''We are very careful what we buy now," they said. "We want to be sure this never happens again." To them the world of sorcery and demons had become frighteningly real.

•••

Then they told the story about another Bible translator couple working in a neighboring tribe. These missionaries had a three-year-old son who, without any previous problems, suddenly started to cry, uncontrollably, every night at approximately the same time. He would cry for several hours in spite of everything the parents tried to do to alleviate his obvious pain. This went on for months. He was tested medically and psychologically, but no one could find anything wrong. Even LEA D E R

the many prayers for healing went unanswered.

One evening a national pastor asked to spend the night at their house since it was too late to get back to his home village. They agreed but warned him that their child would probably begin screaming again during the night.

They were right. The screaming began again. When the parents came to the child's room they found the pastor bending over the bed observing the child.

"The Lord has told me to look at this child with my spiritual eyes," he told them. "Your son is being attacked by something. Do you see how he is clawing at his throat with his hands?" The parents had seen this behavior before but did not know what it meant or why the child was doing this.

"Does your child have a new toy?" the pastor asked. At first the parents said no, but eventually they remembered that a villager had given him a small, carved wooden alligator to play with.

"Your child is being attacked by this alligator, " the pastor explained. "See how he is fighting and trying to pull something from his neck." With this explanation, the child's actions made a lot of sense.

"Take this toy outside and bum it," the pastor told them. So in the middle of the night, in the backyard, they made a fire and threw the toy into it. They also reported a terrible, wailing sound coming from the fire. As the fire burned all three prayed for the child's healing.

Soon he became still and fell asleep.

That was the last of the screaming nights .

Several days later the pastor returned and told them that a witch doctor in a nearby village had placed a spell on the toy so that the missionaries' work in Bible translation would be stopped.

•••

That night I read in my Bible, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph.6:12) .

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MENNONITE BRETHREN NEWS

Taking aim at targetingoutreach Mission USA helps MB congregations to target outreach and reach people for Christ in their communities

H

BY CONNIE FABER & CHRIS FUllER I

elping local congregations aim their outreach efforts to most effectively ''win some" to the Kingdom of God is the purpose of the Mission USA Target Church Program.

"The bottom line for our partnership with local congregations is to help these churches re-prioritize evangelism and outreach and to resource them to be more effective at that part of their ministry," says Ed Boschman, Mission USA ~ecutive director.

The Target Church Program was initiated in 1995. Four congregations are cur-

22 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

rently involved in the program: Belleview Community Church in Littleton, Colo.; Lincoln Hills Bible Church in Sioux Falls, S.D.; North Fresno (Calif.) MB Church and Greenhaven Neighborhood Church in Sacramento, Calif.

Target Church Program alumni congregations are Topeka (Kan.) MB Church, Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, Faith Bible Church of Omaha, Neb., Pine Acres Church of Weatherford, Okla., and Memorial Road MB Church of Edmond, Okla.

Boschman says the TCP has had a "largely positive impact" on the congregations who have partnered with the LEA D E R

national church growth and renewal ministry. The target congregations who participated prior to 2000 all experienced growth in weekly worship attendance.

But MUSA is aiming at more than filling pews. MUSA wants target church growth to result from the local congregation penetrating its pre-Christian community. "Have we seen real outreach evangelism growth?" asks Boschman, a veteran church planter himself. ''We've seen some. We'd love to see more."

A congregation begins the process of improving its outreach evangelism efforts by completing the Natural Church Development questionnaire. This survey evaluates eight essential elements of church health: visionary leadership, gift mobilizing, passionate spirituality, functional structures, celebrative worship, discipleship cell groups, relational evangelism and caring relationships.

Once the survey is completed and tallied, MUSA and the congregation consider ways to address the identified weak areas. "Obviously when we interact with churches we don't only talk about outreach evangelism, particularly in the context of the NCD evaluation," says Boschman. "H there are some other elements . . . that don't rate highly, we work specifically to help them address those lower health elements."

Mike Andrews, pastor of Belleview Community, appreciates MUSA's commitment to helping existing congregations become healthier. ''We all know that Mission USA's big thing is planting new churches and they have good reasons for that," says Andrews. "But I have been highly encouraged by their interest in and commitment to church renewal for existing churches."

Nevertheless outreach evangelism remains at the center of MUSA's work with target churches, says Boschman.

"Outreach evangelism is one piece of the larger responsibility of the church," says Boschman. "Because of the specific and chosen emphasis in our Mission USA ministries, we keep going back to that question: Is this going to help you increase your evangelism fervor and effectiveness?"

Since every U.S. Conference congregation serves a community that includes "lost people," MUSA looks at other factors when evaluating a potential target church. ''We look for an enthusiasm among the leaders (staff and leadership board)

BOI» r.II I

and a commibnent to do whatever it takes to increase the community penetration of their local church," he says.

Boschman says MUSA looks for a "sense in the church family that evangelism outreach is something they really want to do."

MUSA also considers the compatibility between the congregation and the target ministry community and evidence in the congregation's budget that the group is "serious about penetrating the community."

Once MUSA and the congregation have targeted the specific need the partnership will address, a strategy is developed. MUSA awards the congregation a grant of anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 to help with implementation.

These grants are most often invested in adding additional staff and assisting with resources. MUSAgrants aren't used for building projects or improvements or land purchase.

During the yearlong partnership, target churches submit quarterly reports to MUSA and complete a three-page questionnaire at the completion of the partnership.

Boschman meets regularly with the pastoral staff and church leadership, an arrangement that target churches appreciate. "I have been very pleased and encouraged with Ed and Mission USA's interest in both me personally and our church," says Andrews. "They have been great about keeping in touch with us, encouraging us and being available."

Ron Wuertz, elder at Lincoln Hills Bible Church, says Boschman's on-site visits and evaluations were helpful. "Ed gave us hints and pointers the first time he visited and when he came back he noted the changes we'd made," says Wuertz. "It was really positive feedback and affirmed us."

Boschman would like to see target churches that have completed the program become a resource for other congregations looking to do something similar. He also has a specific prayer for the future of the Target Church Program.

"If a church asked [to be a target church), with the view of preparing itself to be the parent of a daughter church, that would put a smile on my face," he says. Developing a church multiplication movement so that local congregations can give birth to new churches is MUSA's long-term goal, says Boschman.

-Connie Faber

congregation Garden Park Church and Littleton. Colo.

A new emphasis on established it's here that a ball diamond is located.

The softball league brings 20 to 30 outreach programs brings growth teams, primarily from other churches, to "In the last year and a half we have Belleview's campus. Belleview encourgone from being a church that was ages the other congregations to also use declining to a church that is experiencing the league as an outreach tool. Of the some pretty phenomenal growth," says three teams Belleview typically fields, Mike Andrews, senior pastor at Belleview only a handful of participants are from Community Church in littleton, Colo. the church. The others are recruited "Ultimately God is responsible for any from the community. good things that are happening here."

The congregation's efforts to connect Andrews also gives credit to Mission with people who don't know Christ have USA for their help. "Mission USA is a tool been successful, says Andrews. Regular God is using in the life of our church," Sunday morning worship attendance has he says. grown in the past 18 months from tOO to "When we applied to become a target about 170. Twelve percent of that 25 perchurch, it was primarily because we cent growth has come from new Chriswanted to be a healthier church," says tians who met the Lord through church Andrews. Andrews describes the Target programs or contact Church Program with individual church as a holistic members. approach that "The demographics emphasizes of our church now church health reflect the demographover church ics of the community, growth. He then which is a good thing," notes that, "a says Andrews. "Two or heatthy church three years ago we will also have an were a church of priimpact evangelistiBelleview encourages marily people who cally in the comwere retired or nearing munity." other congregations tq retirement. That has Mission USA use the softball league turned around and has assisted the Mission USA and the congregation in as an outreach tool.

Target Church Pr0hiring Jeff Werth, a recent Denver Seminary graduate gram has been a Jl3l1 of that."

Werth has also helped develop new who worked as an intern with the discipleship activities including classes church for the last three years, to work and Sunday afternoon seminars. About in outreach and discipleship.

90 peocelit of the congregation is rurDuring this first year, Werth is rently partidpating in a new small group focused on making the most of estabministry designed to mirror the purposes lished outreach programs: primarily at which the larger church body aims: Belleview Acres ChUdcare Center and a outreach, worship, fellowship, disciplevariety of recreational activities which he administers. ''Demographically, this ship and service. Andrews and W~ community is probably 80 percent developed a training to ass~ young families and they are people theil smalfsroup leaders iif'helping the who need day care,» says Andrews'". "We groUps achieve dlese purposes. ~Faber also recognized ~ these young famllies are very active and that recreation is .......,C8Uf. high on their list of priorilies."

Con~ on the fast track to The preschool, housed in the church's family center additi.Qn, was meetJ(Ig gOals "ibepeople of North Fresno MB have started about SCM!n years ago and serves been doing good thingS since it was 75 families. The gymntlSli:urt, also lotaled established 31 yea.t'$ ago," says church in the addition, maCle it possible for the moderator Renee Clauson. "Mission USA church to initiate a basketbal1league and helped us to refocus our goals and open gym rught. achieve some of them more quickly."

The congresation also owns an adja.In February of 2000, NFMBC comcent five-acre site with neighboring MB

proa6m

font-rat1te

JUNE

2001.

23

130m 1.111

pleted a long-range planning process.

At the time, the congregation had an average of 295 people attending two "blended" Sunday morning worship services, which offered both traditional and contemporary music.

Specific goals were set, including beginning a contemporary seeker sensitive service, developing an evangelism! outreach focus, and starting a young adult and young couples' ministry.

They also planned to train new leaders from within the congregation and assess and fill future staffing needs.

With the assistance of Mennonite Mutual Aid, NFMBC plans to continue their ongoing building project and hoped to complete the capital campaign phase in April 2001.

Since the long-range planning process was completed, NFMBC's theme has continued to be "God is doing a new thing."

Since February 2000, the congregation has hired a new full-time youth pastor and a half-time children's pastor from within their congregation, invigorating their desire to equip new leaders from within their ranks.

NFMBC developed an adult ministries position to better serve the needs of the 25-40 year olds. Church member and former lithuania missionary Bob GulO filled the new poSition.

"Bob is gifted in evangelism," says senior pastor Larry Martens.

Gulack has led the implementation of an Alpha Ministries Bible study program geared for the non-Christian friends of the 25-40 year olds. The adult ministries at NFMBC not only meet the goal of beginning a young adult and young couples' ministry but also are a major component of the church's evangelism and outreach focus.

Coupled with the adult ministry's evangelism, MUSA has come alongside NFMBC by investing $5,000 to support Tim Neufeld, also a congregation member, as a part-time contemporary worship service leader.

LastJune, the church implemented an 8:15 a.m. traditional worship service and an 11:00 a.m. contemporary worship service. The second service is designed to be more appealing to the 25-40 year old seekers that the church hopes to reach.

Much to Martens's delight, the new services began in September 2000, months ahead of schedule. ''We praise God for all that he has 24 · T H E

CHRIST I AN

done," says Martens. "Our congregation's willingness to take risks has helped us achieve our goals far faster than we ever anticipated. " Martens adds that, "refining our services is meeting the needs of our people."

NFMBC has grown to an average church attendance of 320 and has nearly reached the 400 person mark several Sundays this spring.

Groundbreaking for a new facility is planned for next fall at NFMBC. Their 200-seat sanctuary is fast becoming too small for this church on the move.

Martens says, "It is very evident here that God is doing a new thing."

-Chris Fuller

Sacramento. Calif.

Church targets facilities, small groups and outreach "God was doing the work of Mission USA even before we had a mission statement," says Pastor Derk Madden of Greenhaven Neighborhood Church in Sacramento, Calif.

"Since our leadership team met with Ed Boschman in October 2000, we have had 10 adult baptisms and 20 new members join the church."

Growth of this kind has brought with it new challenges for a congregation that a.".verages 155 in its Sunday morning wor-

ship service. Greenhaven currently holds one contemporary worship service in their I60-seat sanctuary.

"The first thing Ed said when he approached us about being a Mission USA target church was that the size of our facility was prohibiting us from growing," says Madden.

Greenhaven assembled an I8-member lay leadership team who, along with the pastor, have taken the lead in the Mission USA project. "The team met weekly or biweekly until we settled on a long term vision for our church and LEA D ER

then a mission statement," says Madden.

The vision for Greenhaven includes a new multip1,UpOSe facility to be built on vacant church-owned land next to the existing building.

"A benefit of building a new facility will be that we can use the old building furmorecmss~mspaceandamuch

needed youth hall.n says Madden.

Greenhaven currently offers only two Sunday school classes for adults, one of which meets in the pastor's office, because children occupy the remainder of the classrooms. During the children's church hour, even the kitchen doubles as a classroom.

The congregation's building committee is praying about undertaking a capital campaign and exploring options for community collaboration to build a multipurpose facility.

Coupled with a desire to build a new facility, the Greenhaven congregation has dedicated itself to increased evangelism in their community. ''We are being intentional about every event we plan now, n says Mark Mitchell, evangelism committee member.

"When we had an event like our pumpkin party in October, we were Just glad that the neighborhood families came," says MitchelL "Now we are making sure that we know their names and addresses so that we can ~tact them about our services, upcoming events and most importantly aboutJesus: ' Mitchell adds, "We don'c want to just plan fun things fot the community. ;\Ve are committed to treating eyents with content."

The church's evangelism committee is planning several small commuottf outreach events like an upcoming skiing trip. Mission USA is h~ing them plan large-scale events like;aconcett'With Christian bands.

Another goal has been to ~ a discipleship program to R~ church members for service and ministry. TO date, an adult SundayJlCboo.tseties that teaches fuundations oftl\e Cbristian 6Uth has been implemented.

"It is our hope that all church members will complete all fourdasses," says Madden.

Greenhaven's smallgroup~ is working hand in band with the evangelism committee to contact new as as long time attendees JO get them involved in a small group 8ible study.

wen

The church has eight small groups currently, including two that started meeting last month .

The first line of Greenhaven's new mission statement reads, "Doing what it takes to transform lives through trusting in Jesus Christ." This statement reflects the congregation's renewed commitment to acting confidently in faith. As a reminde r, they have mounted the statement on the front wall of the sanctuary.

Greenhaven elder Mick Fuller says, "Its bold letters call us to go beyond merely meeting for church or doing the familiar, comfortable things. It challenges us to believe that God will empower us and encourages us to trust that he will work through our actions to change people's lives." -Cbris Fuller

SIoux Falls, S.D. Witnessing and prayer revitalize congregation "Mission USA really showed us how to get people to think more from an evangeliStic point of view," says Chad Waldner, an elder at lincoln Hills Bible Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. The emphasis of the lincoln Hills partnership with Mission USA has been in the area of growth and evangelism.

I.HBC leaders say the congregation has enjoyed about a 10 percent growth over the past six to eight months. . During the last year, this congregation of 130 has been challenged to witness at their workplaces. Individuals who helped plant the.church 20 years ago have a history of witnessing and sharing their faith, says elder Ron Wuertz, and broadening the congregation's commitment to evangelism was a goal of the MUSA partnership. ''We knew that ifwe could give others in the congregation the tools [to evangelize], we could grow," says Wuertz.

The congregation hired a local North American Baptist Seminary student to assist in the training process. Wuertz credits the Christian education classes taught by Karl Graff with making a difference in the life of the congregation.

"People are living out their faith and the evangelism that was emphasized in classes," says Wuertz. "I knew there were mature Christians in our church who had just never shared their faith. People were ready."

The congregation has also worked to reach out to the lincoln Hills community, a housing development of 300 homes.

CARING

The church is surrounded by several housing developments that weren't there 10 years ago when the congregation purchased their land.

"We've canvassed the area and we know that not many people attend lincoln Hills," says Wuertz. To address that situation, the congregation hosted a carnival and their midweek children's program kick-off event was promoted in the community.

While these events attracted children to the church's programs, Wuertz says rollowing up those contacts with activities that were less threatening than Sunday mOrning worship services ror the parents was a challenge.

"We don't have all the internal resources needed [ror rollow-up]" says Wuertz. "But you have to try and start even if you worry that you can't do all the follow-up."

Being a MUSA target church has benefited the congregation in other ways as well. Wuertz says the congregation has grown in its leadership development and training.

The congregation has also grown in its prayer life over the last two~. .

Small prayer groups meet regularly and large group prayer services are held as

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"We needed an emphasJs on corporate and individual prayer life," says Wuertz. "We knewthete were~ warriors in our congregation but we needed to broaden that prayer experience. We hear people talking about prayer now and spiritual lives have been changed because of it. " While Wuertz and Waldner are thankful for the ways in which their congregation has grown as a target church, the elders say the congregation's focus has shifted somewhat this spring as they are in the process of searching for It new senior pastor. Roger Engbrecht, lincoln Hills pastor since 1988. bas recently assumed the responsibilities of Cenb:';d District Conference minister. His resignation and that of Katl Gra.ffhave caused the congregation's leadership to shift its attention.

But Wuertz is convinced the beneftfS of the congregation's associ.atiOn with MUSA will continue. "lhefoundation has been laid for our church to grow,it 5a)\$ Wuertz. "What we have le~ (as a _ sion USA target church) will not mn away."-Connte Faber

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B()I)) LII I

Moving Sunday to Saturday night I ~ Saturday service prompts two congregations to

,.. consider impact of culture on worship ore than one Mennonite Brethren congregation is facing the downside of growing attendance at Sunday morning worship services--overcrowded sanctuaries.

With an average attendance of 1200, LBC is one of the largest churches in the denomination while NOCC attendance averages 300 each weekend. Both congregations hold two Sunday morning services and have solved their still overcrowded sanctuaries in the same way -they hold Saturday evening services.

0 !!i0 Laurelglen began holdfng Satur- ~ iii day services in Jan§ uary of 1997. NOCC ~ leadership discussed 5 the matter for three or four years before beginning their Saturday night services in September of 2000. Both congregations have spread the news of Saturday night services by word-of-mouth.

Yielding to culture?

Mennonite Brethren traditionally hold weekly worship services on Sunday. "It is best to celebrate the Lord's Day on the first day of the week, Sunday, as has been the practice from the earliest days of the church," says the MB Confession of Faith Commentary and Pastoral Application. But, it adds, "Any day can honor the Lord."

The decision to hold worship services on a day other than Sunday was not made lightly, say leaders from both NOCC and LBC. Bob Hudson, LBC Saturday night worship leader says, "[Bakersfield] is a very conservative town-and a very traditional town-and Sunday mOrning is the day to worship," says Hudson.

"One of the questions that we tried

26 • THE

C H R 1ST I A N

to deal with," says Ken Ediger, NOCC senior pastor, "is 'Are we yielding in any way to a culture of convenience?'"

Ediger was apprehensive about beginning Saturday services if they were intended to give in to those who wanted to use Sunday as a play day. "We really saw it as an opportunity to meet people's worship needs," says Ediger.

"So we approached it positively and

said that there were people right now who would choose to worship on Saturday if there was one."

Ediger's apprehension was also felt across the miles. Poppen says people in his congregation were concerned that offering a Saturday night service would be yielding to a convenient-minded culture.

"Perhaps it is a yielding to the immature, self-centered mentality that doesn't want to 'ruin' a leisure-focused Sunday," says Poppen. "But I think of the apostle Paul, who 'became all things to all people so that he might win some.' Even though the motives of some Saturday night attenders might be less than spiritual, the Saturday night option does provide an opportunity for ministry to them and will hopefully be used of God to 'spur them on' to greater levels of maturity and service ."

Come as you are Although similar to the style typically LEA 0

E R

found on Sundays, North Oak and Laurelglen pastors say that a Saturday service is more informal and contemporary just by nature of being held on Saturday.

"There's a Sunday morning unwritten, unspoken expectation that it's a little more dressy and it just takes more energy to get ready and have the kids look nice," says Ken McDuff, associate pastor of family ministries at Laurelglen.

"On Saturday night, it's reai informal and come as you are."

Ediger says their Sunday service is a blended worship style so the transition to Saturday evening was fairly easy.

"As far as the Saturday service itself," says Bryant Tjeerdsma, a North Oak worship team leader, "we purposely tried to keep the same order and style of worship as the Sunday service."

Because both congregations implemented the Saturday night services because of space issues and not to specifically reach out to others who may not already attend church, the pastors chose to preach the same sermon on Saturday as they do on Sunday.

"If the purpose of Saturday night was evangelistically targeted to seekers, then the message would take a different form," says Poppen, "but we did not choose to target the seekers. Our choice was to provide an alternative service for believers who can't or would prefer the Saturday time slot."

Serving people's needs Those who attend worship on Saturday night are thankful theY have the option of attending worship Saturday night.

Paula Martin has regularly attended Saturday night services at NOCC since its inception. She appreciates North Oak's Saturday service because the attendance is smaller than Sunday moming and it is convenient for her and her young family.

Since her husband studied for a major test this past year, her family attended services Saturday night, giving her husband all day Sunday to study.

The style of music was what attracted Dave Haskins, his wife and 16-year-old

130m LIII

daughter to Laurelglen's Saturday service.

"We listen to Christian music during the week and have become quite familiar with the music played there," he says.

"Saturday night service is like a continuation of that week-long worship to our Lord. It really stresses a love for our Lord and service to others. " All of the church leaders say those who work in the medical field and other careers requiring odd hours are now able to attend on a regular basis, thanks to Saturday night services.

"We're not trying to shape culture by either having or not having a Saturday night service," Ediger says. "What we are here to do is serve the needs of people, and we want to help them choose their time of worship rightly."

Attendance numbers vary in both congregations, but North Oak averages around 50 people each Saturday-some of which travel 30 to 45 minutes from surrounding communities each weekand Laurelglen, approximately 200 compared to the usual 1,100 attendees Sunday morning.

"I wouldn't say that we are 'flying,'" admits Poppen, "but a steady core of attenders have found the Saturday night option to be a good one for them."

Although the numbers aren't as high, he says that the service is well liked and supported by a strong core who would likely be upset if it were cancelled.

"The Lord's Day" Leaders at North Oak and Laurelglen believe Saturday night services are here to stay thanks to our busy society and the increasing number of people who must work on Sundays. Saturday night services, says LBC's Hudson, are not "replacing Sunday morning services," they are "additional to Sunday."

And, while NOCC and LBC leaders are committed to continuing the tradition of Sunday as a day of worship they also want to see individuals in their congregations grow in their spiritual livesregardless of the day of the week.

"I teel that the church does need to take a stronger pOSition on keeping Sunday a holy day, one set aside to focus on our loving, caring Father," says NOCC's Tjeerdsrna. "However, the church also needs to meet the needs of those that are searching for a Savior or nurture those that desire a stronger relationship with him."

The growing number of Saturday night services across the nation perhaps

signify "the church's attempt to adjust to the culture's consumerist approach," says Poppen. "People want options from which to choose in many areas of lifeincluding church attendance. It may also signify a submission to the growing cultural options for children's activities (soccer, dance, gymnastiCS, etc.) and the desire of the family to set aside a full day

'just for themselves.'"

Despite the reasons, Poppen, a selfdescribed pastor-teacher, commits himself to feeding the flock whenever they choose to meet. "Ministry has to start with where people are at. If God can use me through a week night service to enhance the spiritual growth of others, I'll be there!" -Sara Cook

2001 Itinerary and Invitation CPE, under the sponsorship of MBMS International, invites born-again Christians to serve as volunteers for its evangelism outreach to: CAMPAIGN COUNTRY

CAMPAIGN CITY

CAMPAIGN DATES

DONATION REQUIRED OF EACH VOLUNTEER

PERU .. . . ... . . Chiciayo . .. . . . ....... . . July 6-23 .. . . .... . . .. ..... 1,200 PARAGUAy . . . . .. . . .. . . ....... .. . . ... July 10-29 . .. . .. ... .... . .. 1,500 NICARAGUA . . . Managua . ... . . .... .. . . . July 20-Aug. 5 . .. . . . . .... . . 1,100 PERU . . . .. . .. . Andayualb . ... . ..... . . .. Aug. 3-20 . .. .. . . .. .. . . . .. . 1,200 PHILIPPINES . . Lucena & San Pablo .. .... Aug. 14-Sep. 2....... . . . ... 1,300 ZIMBABWE ... Bulawayo . ... . ... . .. . .. Aug. 15-Sep. 2 . . . .. . .... .. . 1,800 ECUADOR . . . . . Quito . ... . . . .. . ... ... . . Aug. 17-Sep. 2 . . . .. .. .. .. . . 1,300 NICARAGUA . . . Puerto Sandi. . . ...... . . . Aug.17 -Sop. 2 . ... . . .. . . . .. 1,100 PERU . .... . .. . Iquitos . . . ... . . . .. .. . ... Sep. 7-24 .... . .. ... . . . . . . . 1,200 UKRAINE .. .. . . South (Crimea) ... . . .... . Sep. 12-0ct. 7 . .... .. .. . .. . 1,600 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Santo Domingo .. Sep. 12-30 . .. . .. . ... .. . . .. 1,000 HONDURAS .. .. . ..... . .. . .... . ...... . Sep. 21 -0ct. 7 . ......... . . . 1,100 PERU .. ... . .. . Uchiza . ...... .. ........ Sep. 28-0ct. 15 . ... . .. . . . .. 1,200 ANGOLA . .... . Luanda . . . .. . .. .... . . . . Oct. 10-29 .. . .. . ... . ... . .. 1,800 ECUADOR . ... . Loja .. . . . .... . .. .. . .... Oct. 19-Nov. 4 . ..... . ... . .. 1,300 NICARAGUA . .. Estali. .. . . . .. ... ... .. . . Oct. 19-Nov. 4 . . . .. .... . .. . 1,100 PERU . .. . . . . . . Lima South . ... . .... .... Nov. 2-19 . .. . . . .. ..... . . . . 1,200 INDIA . . .. .. . . . . ... . . ... .. .. . . . . . .. . . . Nov. 6-Dec. 2 . . .. . . . .. . . . . . 1,700 COSTA RICA .. .. . ... . .. . ... . .. . . .. .. . Nov. 16-Dec. 2 .. . ...... . . .. 1,000 EL SALVADOR ... .. .... . . .. . .. . . . ... . Dec. 7-23 ... ... .. . . .. . . . .. 1,200 NOTE: Dates may be subject to some changes, pending further confirmation of some campaigns.

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

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

• Between 800 and 2800 persons have prayed to accept Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord during a two-week CPE campaign . Come and be part of an enriching spiritual experience--discover what God can do through you.

For further information, contact: Church Partnership Evangelism office: telephone/fax: 604-864-3941 Peter Loewen (residence) fax: 604-853-6482 Church Partnership Evangelism is a "church-to-church" effort that involves all bornagain Christians in personal evangelism worldwide. Your application to participate will be forwarded to the CPE Executive Committee for processing.

PETER LOEWEN

HAROLD ENS

CPE Executive Director

MBMS International General Director

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Bom'LIFI .

Spending a week reaching out another season of the year and make it another hurdle, " says Zook. "Not just bringing a gift certificate or a gift to the church but something where we'd have to stretch ourselves a little bit and make another effort."

During the week of April 22-28, more than 100 FMBC people were

the grou ps involved in the holiday project, the Outreach Team o ffered the congregation's services to three connected to Mennonite Brethren church planting projects in Wichita.

Seven men traveled to World Impact's Morning Star Ranch in nearby Flo rence. Kan., to do repairs on several cabins. World Impact is a nationwide inner-city ministry that uses its ranch site to provide young men with extensive leadership training. WI has a long history of support among MBs. WI worked in cooperation with the Southern District Conference to plant United at the Cross Community

involved in a variety of outreach events.

Some of the opportunities promoted during the week were private in nature.

For example, individuals were invited to demonstrate random acts of senseless kindness (RASK) and to distribute the Jesus Video to neighbors and coworkers during the week.

Other activities targeted the groups who had provided FMBC with names of people in need during the holidays. Of

Church, a Wichita congregation that , joined the MB denomination in 1999.

FMBC volunteers spent part of Saturday assisting UCCC families in extensive landscaping projects and worked on the UCCC facility. A third group ministered in the Oaklawn community, an inner-city housing development targeted for a second joint WI/SDC churchplanting project. The volunteers provided a car wash to the Oaklawn commu-

~ Wichita church outreach team lead congregation in

,. a week of evangelistic activities

T

he congregation of First MB Church in Wichita, Kan., participated in a week of outreach activities in late April spearheaded by their Outreach Team, which is responsible for promoting foreign and home missions.

The fact that the evangelistic events were held between Easter and Pentecost was no accident, says Rod Zook, the pastoral staff member who coordinated the events.

"This year we:; marked these central seasons in the life of faith by preparing our hearts for bold ministry and compassionate caring so that we would be able to move out in the power and presence of the Risen Lord," says Zook.

Although the congregation has consistently reached out through its children and youth programs, the church had not held a large evangelistic event for a number of years. The congregation's enthusiastic response to the Outreach Team's Christmas project, during which members purchased gifts for individuals recommended to FMBC by a variety of Wichita ministries, prompted the team to consider a larger project.

"The Outreach Team wanted to extend that [Christmas] experience to

28 • THE

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nity and spent time in prayer with the Oaklawn missionaries.

Othe r events targeted the immediate FMBC neighborhood. Parents of children who participate in midweek Bible classes were invited to attend the annual year-end Kid 's Zone party Wednesday night. The evening included an evangelistic presentation by a husband-wife ventriloquist and illusion team and refreshments.

Saturday a children's bicycle safety clinic was held on the church parking lot. Children could navigate an obstacle course, listen to safety tips given by a police officer, have simple repairs made on their bikes and learn about first aid procedures for typical bike injuries. The 75 kids who participated enjoyed refreshments and were eligible for drawings. Zook says that at least two of the 11 community children who participated reported that their family has no church home and a number of families were unfamiliar to clinic organizers.

The outreach week concluded with a barbecue held on the church campus intended to be both a celebration of the week's work and another event to which FMBC members could invite friends . Grilled hamburgers and hotdogs were served and a local band provided live music.

When asked to evaluate the impact of the outreach events, Zook says influencing a community for Christ requires a long-term commitment. "[Evangelistic events] would need to happen consistently and over a pe riod of years to know what kinds of impact there might be in the community," he says.

FMBC's recent efforts have created a new excitement for future events. "The most positive thing about the bike clinic and barbecue was that it presented a real quality experience so that First MB people realized we can do this again," says Zook. He says people in the congregation are already talking about ways to improve outreach events "next time."

Other outreach opportunities have also presented themselves. For example, because of the sports complex located across from the church, a local Christian radio station has talked with Zook about the pOSSibility of the church hosting outside concerts featuring Christian bands.

"We're ge tting an idea of the kind of thing that can be done," says Zook.

- Connie Faber

MBMSI announces staff changes ~ Global mission agency's regional office staff

,.. members go full-time

L

cal congregations will have the U.S. Center for World Mission in greater access to MBMS InterPasadena, Calif. Mike was director of national resources thanks to a Frontier Media Productions department ecent decision by the MBMSI and Tina was coordinator of volunteers.

Before moving to Pasadena, Yutzy was board to redefine the role of regional representatives. youth minister at Buhler (Kan) MB Church.

A newly defined, full-time regional Yutzy replaces Russell Schmidt who representative position has been created for all regional offices except the one was also director of Asia mission proin Fresno, Calif., grams. Before where the mission working for the agency is headmission agency in North America, quartered. Mike Yutzy has been Schmidt and his appointed to the wife Elizabeth pioposition in Wichineered the MBMSI ta, Kan. , and Don work among the Klaassen will conKhmu people of tinue in AbbotsThailand for six ford, B.C. Appliyears. This spring, cants for the posiSchmidt declined tion in Winnipeg an invitation from are currently being MBMSI to return to processed.

Thailand as Asia "In an independirector and also dent survey we be involved in commissioned last front-line mission year, Mennonite work again.

Instead, the Brethren told us ~ that they wanted ~ Schmidts are purmission staff to be suing a call to the present in their pastorate in the region, to help midwest. churches develop their mission viSion," Over the past two years, regional says Harold Ens, MBMSI general direcI representatives had been appointed on tor. ''We have re-defined our staffing to , a temporary half-time basis in Winreflect that need. nipeg, Wichita and Fresno. Those positions all ended between April 30 and "The new regional representative position includes a great deal of deciJune 30. The three interim staff memsion making power, and a call to work bers - Harold Siebert in Winnipeg, Schmidt in Wichita, and Jeanine Yoder more closely with pastors and mission in Fresno - have all elected to pursue committees," says Ens. ''We want to other career opportunities, says Ens. provide tools for churches so they can accomplish the burden God has placed Jeanine Yoder joined MBMSI as on their hearts for global mission, whatinte rim half-time representative for the ever form that may take for each conPacific District Conference in summer gregation." of 2000. She also held quarter-time duties for Youth Mission International Congregations in the Central, Southand as a staff writer. Next month, Yoder ern and LAMB conferences will be served by Yutzy , who will begin work will begin working with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She will also be in late August. Yutzy and his wife Tina were appointed as MBMSI mission assoan adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University. - Brad Thiessen, MBMSI ciates in 1999 and spent the past year at I

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Would You Rather... watch a thousand ships being launched or launch one yourself?

Brad a nd Elfie Klassen

"gives us a great deal of enthusiasm as we

left an MB church in Waterloo, Ontario where

approach the job of ministering to all whom God has entrusted us with," says Robie.

he had been an associate for seven years before moving with their three

Mike and Kim

children to Arizona.

They planted and serve as lead pastor of

position as youth pastor at

Copper Hills Community Church in the Phoenix area. Klassen states "It is the cry of the human heart to believe, but also to

theEnidMB Church to take the lead in a new

belong. It is our desire that CHCC will be a community of people where both happen.

church plant in Broken Arrow, OK.

We believe in and teach the great news of the message of the Bible."

Jimmy and Linda Blinn and Chris

Miller left a

Sullivan moved to Phoenix from the Rod and Donna Anderson and their

four children left a pastorate in South Dakota to launch the Rolling Hills Church in Papillion, NE. The

Fresno area to encourage and help The River church plant. They will be lay support to church planters, Mike and Ruth Harrison and Scott and Amy Huska.

The above are Just a few examples of God calling people to launch out and who have

Andersons "intend to encourage others to new heights in Christ. Jesus Christ and the

chosen to do so with Mission USA. The mission continues to grow and

salvation provided in Him are central to the establishment and building of this church."

opportunities increase. If you are:

Paul and Jini Robie said 'yes'

to church planting with the support of Laurelglen Bible Church in Bakersfield, CA

• a pastor or an associate and sense God calling you to church planting • a church who would like to be a partner in a new church plant • an individual, couple or family who would be willing to move to a target area and support a new work or partner in other ways with church planting ...Mission USA invites you to set sail!

where Paul was a staff member. The Robies and their children now live in

Contact: Mission USA 333 West Melinda

Draper, Utah where Paul serves as lead pastor of the South Mountain Community

Lane, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85027-2926 Phone 623-434-3301, Fax 623-434-3299, e-mail: ebmusa@qwest.net

Church. The response of the people here

IN BRIEf NEWS FROM THE MENNONITE BRETHREN WORLD

-_.....- ....

FINAL FIGURES WILL B E AVAILABLE LAT ER T HIS MONTH

FPU'S 56TH COMMENCEMENT

U.S. Conference may face financial shortfall

C

ongregational giving to the u.s. Conference during the 2000-2001 fiscal year was strong, reported national conference chair David Reimer near the end of last month. "We are very grateful 1:.,0 the churches for their support," said Reitnet, In spite of strong church giving, however, conference leaders faced the May 31 close of the fiscal year uncertain as to whether or not the revenue goal of $953,600 would be met. While church giving was strong, in early May it appeared that it would fall short of the $308,500 goal.

The 2000-2001 income budge t al$o included $571,600 in individual giving and special fund-raising. A year-end appeal was mailed to homes in May in an effort to raise additional funds for this line item.

The conference could be facing a

Calif. university graduates 416

deficit of $80,000 or more, reported Conference treasurer Dale Regier near the end of last month. Though the con. .renee has faced deficits of this size be~ it does not happen often, he

added:" "Boatds and ministries intend to not - overspena actual revenues," said Reimer. "If they find it necessary to Q nd this year, they will have to CO . 'r budgets next year to make ~~," of Church Ministries, the . '. nee leadership board, is to meet June 29-30. The Board ees will be studying the year-end 1lriancial statement and make recommenGhtions to BCM then, said Reimer.

• Regier will release a final report later this month and the August issue of the Leader will publish the year-end financial report. -Leader staff

Some 416 students were expected to receive degrees during the 56th commencement at Fresno Pacific University May 5 In the Special Events Center on campus.

Howard Loewen, FPU provost, gave the commencement address for both the college (traditional undergraduate) and Fresno Pacific Graduate School and Center for Degree Completion commencement ceremonies.

The college commencement was held In the morning for 175 graduates. In the afternoon, 241 graduates were recognized at the graduate and degree completion ceremony.

- FPU

- - - - - ------ .-.-- ---

HELP BROUGHT TO MOZAMBIQUE

MCC aids African flood victims

M

ore than 700 families, chased from their homes by flooding of the Pungue River in Mozambique, have found refuge at the same refugee camp that housed the m 10 years ago during the height of their country's civil war.

Mennonite Central Committee and its

Mozambique partner, the United Church of Christ, has prOvided the families with relief aid valued at $44,200.

In April, a team of 12 people from the United Church of Christ distributed 950 MCC blankets and quilts, 45 bales of used clothing, more than 400 school kits, and 95 sacks (110 pounds)

of cornmeal, This assistance is part of the $340,000 that MCC has committed for emergency aid in Mozambique. The balance of the aid will go to the Christian Council of Mozambique to provide tools, seeds and food for people in Zambezia province recovering from earlier floods. Nationwide, flooding has impacted more than 400,000 people this year.

MCC is a Christian world relief and development agency.

- MCC

PREACHING SEMINAR: Pastors from around Fresno and students from Fresno Pacific University and MB Biblical Seminary came together to enjoy "In the Presence of the Holy," a broadcast preachIng seminar hosted by Professional Growth SemInars, a ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. FPU and MBSS hosted the April 3 event at FPU. Speakers were Marguerite Shuster, Calvin Miller, Ron Smith and Morris Venden. -FPU JUNE

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li'-.J BRIFI

PUBLISHERS RELEASE BOOKS OF INTEREST TO MENNONITES

MORE New books on the shelf NEWS ~ Scholarships awarded -Mennonite Health Services has awarded three Elmer Ediger Memorial Scholarships to individuals studying to prepare for careers In the fields of mental health, counseling or developmental disabilities.

The scholarship program Is a joint effort of MHS and MCC Canada Mental Health and Disabilities Program. Recipients of $1,300 for the 2001-2002 academic year are Paul Heidebrecht, of Vancouver, B.C., and a member of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, who is pursuing a masters degree in social work at the University of British Columbia; John Thurman, of Alhambra, Calif. and Pasadena (Calif.) Mennonite Church, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological SemInary; and Heath Greene, also of Pasadena and Pasadena Mennonite, who Is pursuing a Ph.D. In clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary. -MHS

~ New on campus -Columbia Bible College, a Mennonite Brethren college located In British Columbia, dedicated Its new 22,000 square foot gymnasium facility, Columbia Place, April 27. The dedication was followed by the Spring Concert featuring musical selections depicting the life of Christ. Saturday evening the college held Its 2001 graduation services for 160 graduates. Retiring President Walter Unger gave the commencement address.

-CBC

~ More flood relief -Two months after floods swept through rural Pallon, Bolivia, children were back at school-with few supplies. While housing and employment needs were addressed, educational needs were not.

So MCC workers Frank and Christine Elias purchased school supplies from local vendors and enlisted the help of 26 local Mennonites to help bag the materials into 3,200 kits. - MCC

32 • THE

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Recently published books of interest to Mennonites include a new commentary, a resource book for women's ministry events, a biography and a book looking at trends in the broader Mennonite family.

Timothy J. Geddert, New Testament professor at MB Biblical Seminary, is the author of the latest addition to the Believers Church Bible Commentary Series. Geddert's book on the Gospel of Mark includes essays on themes useful for teaching, preaching and Bible study; bibliographies; charts; two maps and an index of ancient sources.

The book is available from Herald Press.

Women Together: Ideas for Groups offers hundreds of creative, vitalizing activities and strategies for Christian women's groups. The book offers ideas for

building a 1978). The group's membook, written flat Without Zeal bership,

by Elfrieda and David retreat planDick, also ning suggesincludes tions, motherdaughter banmuch about quet themes, his wife Anne conversation Wiebe and their six chilstarters, sugdren. gestions for book clubs, Good film clubs, and groups for Books has released the mothers of young chilnext in the annual series, dren and many others.

What Mennonites Are Thinking, 2000, edited by Essays on topics related to Merle Good and Phyllis women's groups and proPellman grams are also included. The Good. The book is pubcollection of lished by MenMennonite nonite thinking Women, a minincludes essays about istry of Mennonite Church identity, conU.S., formerly troversial the Mennonite opinion, ficChurch and tion and General Conpoetry, interference Mennational and nonite Church. cross-cultural features, film capsules Not Without Zeal: Lessons from Life: The and book reviews by Story ofHenry R. Anabaptist writers, poets, Baerg details the life thinkers and storytellers. and work of Henry "Here is a sampling of the Baerg, preacher, evanbest in Mennonite writing in one volume," says Mengelist, world tour leader, professor, and nonite Quarterly Review.

Winkler Bible Institute -Publisher's press releases president (1969t«/IO<f\Io~_LioW

USERY PROJECT AT CALIF. HISPANIC CAMP

New gate swings at camp VOlunteers with USERV, an acronym for Utilizing Skills and Energies of Ready Volunteers, recently completed a proJect at Ebenezar

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MB Christian Camp, a campground In Tehachapi, Calif., owned and operated by the hispanic congregations of the Pacific

District Conference.

Volunteers Don Loewen, Jim Dick and Ted Thiesen removed the Korean markings from the camp's

wrought Iron gate and reinstalled the gate which now reads "Ebenezar MB Christian Camp."

The facility Is the only campground current ly owned by MBs In the U.S. - USER V press release

C HURCH Baptism/membership BELLINGHAM. Wash. (Community Bible Fellowship)-Bob Wright was bapt ized M ay 13.

NEWTON. Kan. (Koerner Heights) -Trent on Voth was baptized and received into membership April 22. Also welcomed into membership were Jim and Diane Bartel, Frank III and Coleen Huebert, Sa ron Kassa and Shane and Angie Tonn.

DINUBA, Calif.-Leslie Bettencourt. Jonathan Enns, Collin Froese, Kevin Hayward and Greg Smith were baptized A pril 15. Joining the congregation by testimony were Tim and Lyubov Heinrichs and Bill and Lynda Jackson.

FERNDALE, Wash. (Good News Fellowship)-Erika Brown, Shari Karber, Carly Beanblossom and Greg Beanblossom were baptized and received into membership April 15. Doug, Lona, Brent and Dan Bascom became members as well.

NEW HOPE, Minn.-Anna Baer and Megan Jackson were received into membership April 15.

BAKERSFIELD. Calif. (Laurelglen)Erika Braun, Mary Dow, Heather FitzGerald, Jerry Hall, Yvonne Ortiz and Cliff Turk were baptized t he weekend of April 28 and 29.

ENID, Okla.-Zac Hake, Li ndsey Hamm, Matt Regier, Katie Siebert, Caleb Toews and Josh Toews were baptized and received into membership April 15. Also joining were Dorothy Epp, Pete and Jill Hake, Jimmy and Nikki Watson and Julie Webster.

HILLSBORO. Kan.-Brad Bartel, Susan Judd, Amy Klein, Danelda Klein, Craig and DeVona Roble and Tom Schuler were received into membersh ip April 15.

DRAPER. Utah-Shawn Glenn, Paula Glenn, Wade Rice, Heidi Rice, Becky Rice, Jennifer Larson, Mark Murahashi, Carol Murahashi, Kala Murahashi, Katie Shelton, McKell Miller, Brian Schow, Crystal Schow, Doug Hansen, Teresa Hansen, Allie Hansen, Katelynn Hansen, Lynn

Mathie, Stephanie Mathie, Joseph Hoy, Caley Plowman, Brenna Plowman, and Emily Plowman were recently baptized. Brad Carlson, G.D. Carlson, Steve Schnoor, Pat Schnoor, Hailey Schnoor, Shauna Shelby and Allie Murahashi were baptized May 20.

Fellowship BUHLER. Kan.- The theme of the mother-daughter luncheon April 29 was "Sentimental Footsteps" and included a display of special shoes.

ENID, Okla.-Christian comedian and musician Scott Davis of Jonesboro, Ga., gave an evening program Apri l 22. Davis incorporates music, a lighthearted yet realistic look at everyday life and relationships and a message from God's Word in his presentations.

PAPILLION. Neb. (Rolling Hills)All Nebraska MB women were invited to a retreat at Camp Joy April 2022 hosted by the women of Rolling Hills church.

MARSHALL. Ark. (Martin Box)-An Easter Sunday dinner was served immediately following the morning worship service. The following Saturday, Apri l 21, a workday and barbecue was planned .

MOUNTAIN LAKE. Minn.Women from area MB congregat ions were invited to hear Clare Erickson, doll hobbiest, share her life story and her f ait h April 17.

LlTILETON. Colo. (Belleview Community)-Children involved in the midweek Bible club program gave their program Sunday morning, April 1. After the service, a complimentary lunch was served. Pioneer Club leaders were present to meet the 199 people who attended and raised $1 ,707 for camp scholarships.

FERNDALE. Wash. (Good News Fellowship)-The " Fixers and Shiners" (shift workers and retirees) meet each Thursday morning for a short devotion followed by work around t he church .

NEWS FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

Ministry BEUINGHAM. Wash. (Community Bible Fellowship)-A children's drama club led by Leanne Walp presented a program May 20. The club has provided a link with some children who do not have a church home.

BROKEN ARROW. Okla.-Church planters Mike and Kim Miller hosted an Easter service in which almost 30 people participated. An egg hunt followed. Other April activities designed to build an awareness of and interest in the new church plant included the second core celebration April 28 and a baseball game outing April 29 to which core group members were invited to bring three friends.

WICHITA. Kan. (First MB)-The congregation along with Youth Mission International is sponsoring a short-term mission trip to Belize during the spring of 2002. YMI director Randy Friesen visited the congregation May 12 to discuss the trip.

NEW HOPE, Minn.-Wayne and Natalie Sawatsky shared with the congregation their call to serve in Azerbaijan in the south central region of Russia and the type of work in which they hope to be involved. Wayne, who was raised in the New Hope Church, and Natalie, from the Ukraine, will serve under the overseas agency of the Assemblies of God. BAKERSFIELD. Calif. (Laurelglen)Donna Kushner and Karen McDuff were resourcing and encouraging missionaries in Prague and Budapest in April. They also attended an International Conference on MK (Missionary Kids) Education.

CLOVIS. Calif. (College Community)-Mennonite World Conference staff and committee members met from March 29 to April 3 at the church facilities.

Workers

intentional interim pastor assignment at Eden Mennonite Church at Inola, Okla. They will conclude their ministry at Balko MB in June.

OLATHE. Kan. (Community BibJe)-Russ Friesen began serving his home church as associate pastor of worship and youth in the beginning of June.

WICHITA. Kan. (United at the Cr05s)-Fred and Jolene Stoesz completed their church planting/pastoral role at the end of May. Fred will continue to serve in a consulting role with the church planting and outreach ministry in the Oaklawn community of Wichita.

FRESNO. Calif.-After almost eight years in Guatamala, MBMSI missionaries Juan and Olga Martinez and their family returned to the States. During June, the family will visit churches in California and Nebraska. After the first of July, they will move to the Pasadena, Calif .• area where Juan plans to work at Fuller Theological Seminary as director of the Hispanic church studies department.

INMAN. Kan. (Zoar)-Steve Sulouff resigned as youth pastor effective May 21. He intends to attend seminary in the fall.

SIOUX FAllS. S.D. (Lincoln

Hills Bible)-Karl Graff resigned as director of evangelism and assimilation effective April 12 and will continue his studies at North American Baptist Seminary.

WICHITA. Kan. (First MB)-Steve Fast has accepted the call to serve as the director of discipleship. He began his duties April 16. A come and go welcome dessert was held to welcome Steve and his wife Janice.

NEWTON. Kan. (Koerner Heights)- Todd Brenneman has joined the pastoral staff for the summer as an intern. Todd is a pastoral ministry student at nearby Hesston (Kan.) College and he and his wife Chelsea have been attending KHMBC since February.

BALKO. Okla.- Dewayn and Marilyn Isaac have accepted a one-year

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CHUI~UI NI \\...,

Deaths ENNS, ERNEST EDWARD HEDDIE, n Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church and former treasurer of the Pacific District Conference, was born Jan. 17, 1910, to John M. and Annie Dick Enns at Buhler, Kan., and died April 26, 2001 , at the age of 91 . On July 2, 1933, he was married to Clara Unruh, who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Jim and his wife Donna of Fresno, Calif., Larry and his wife Barbara of Liguna Niguel; two daughters, Carol and her husband Kenneth Reimer of Kingsburg, Calif., Diane and her husband Chuck Nichols of Oxnard; 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

EYTZEN, MARTHA, Mountain Lake, Minn., of Mountain Lake MB Church, was born Sept. 27, 1907, to Jacob J. and Maria Wiebe Eytzen at Carson Township, Cottonwood County, Minn., and died Aug. 27, 2000, at the age of 92. On Feb. 1, 1931, she was married to Jacob Claus Dick who predeceased her. On Aug. lB, 1979, she was married to Leonard P. Suderman who predeceased her. She is survived by three sons, Daniel Dick and Dorcas Pohl of Houston, Texas, Thomas Dick and wife Betty of Ft. Gibson, Okla., and Ashley Dick and wife Nancy of Fresno, Calif.; two daughters, Marcella and husband Eldon Claassen of Santa Clara, Calif., and Grace Pauls of New Haven, Conn.; four stepchildren, Jean Suderman of Windom, Minn., Leland Suderman and wife Marilyn of Dallas, Ore., Emery Suderman and wife Inez of Pharr, Texas, and Elsie and husband Art Rahn of Mountain Lake; two sisters, Helen Ratzloff and

Esther Klassen, both of Mountain Lake; ten grandchildren, 27 step-grandchildren and 35 step great grandchildren.

FRIESEN, ETHEL IRENE, Lincoln, Neb., a member of Parkview MB Church in Hillsboro, Kan., was born Aug. 4,1912, near Canton, Kan., to Daniel C. and Mollie Jantz Wedel and died May 3,2001, at the age of B9. On May 11, 193B, she was married to Orlando K. Friesen, who predeceased her in 1977. She is survived by her daughters, Twila and husband Harold Warner and Gaila Friesen, all of Lincoln, Neb.; three grandchildren, five great grandchildren, one step great granddaughter, and one step great great granddaughter.

GIESBRECHT, JACOB LOEWEN, Newton, Kan., a member of Koerner Heights MB Church, Newton, was born May 26, 1908, to Gerhard F. and Elizabeth T. Loewen Giesbrecht at Lanigan, Sask., and died April 27, 2001, at the age of 92. On Oct. 20, 1938, he was married to Helena Adeline Schmidt who predeceased him. He is survived by two daughters, Ariona Miller of Shawnee, Okla., and Sharon Carney of Edmond, Okla.; two brothers, Albert L. Giesbrecht and Ernest L. Giesbrecht, both of Steinbach, Man.; seven sisters, Anna Penner, Katherine Toews, Minna Goosen, M ary Mooney and Elizabeth Wiebe, all of Steinbach;, Charlotte Mooney of White Rock, B.C. and Josephine Barkman of Landmark, Man.; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

HIEBERT, VICTOR GEORGE, Newton, Kan., a member of Koerner Heights Church, Newton, was

A collection of stories and reflections gathered from ordinary Mennonite worshipers throughout North America, The scores of interviews show again and again that singing is a Mennonite sacrament.

The ideas and questions that grew out of producing Hymnal: A Worship Book resulted in a two-year listening-andresearch project in which Marlene Kropf and Kenneth Nafziger asked hundreds of people in the church, "What happens when you sing?" The answers to this question and others along with favorite hymns are presented here.

Paper, 192 pages, $14.99; in Canada $22.29

Herald Press

tj)0 34-THE

Singing: Treasures from Mennonite Worship features the Eastern Mennonite University Chamber Singers conducted by Kenneth Nafziger.

Cassette, $10.99; in Canada $16_29 CD, $15.99; in Canada $23.79

Orders: 1 800 759-4447 ww.mph.org

CHRISTIAN

LEADER

born Feb. 22, 1923, to David G. and Mary Litke Hiebert near Hillsboro, Kan., and died March 8, 2001, at the age of 78. On Sept. 27, 1946, he was married to Viola Jost, who survives. He is also survived by one son, Wayne and wife Cindy of Newton; two daughters, Jeanette and husband Dave Smith of Newhall, Calif., and Nadine Hiebert of Arlington, Texas; one sister, Sally Jost of Hillsboro, and four grandchildren.

PENNER. OLGA CLAASSEN, Wichita, Kan., of First MB Church, Wichita, was born Feb. 13, 1925, to Abraham J. and Anna Peters Claassen at EI Trebel, Durango, Mexico, and died April 10,2001, at the age of 76. On Aug. 10, 1947, she was married to Paul Penner, who survives. She is also survived by one son, Roger and wife Becky of Littleton, Colo.; two daughters, Diana and husband Barry Raugust of Wichita, and Sandy and husband Donald Friesen of Wichita; one brother, Abe Claassen of Wichita; one sister, Mary Ann Wiens of Meade, Kan ., and five grandchildren.

PETKER, MARGARET ELLEN CAMPBELl.., Reedley, Calif., a member of Reedley MB Church, was born Jan. 25,1914, to Samuel and Margaret Hutton Campbell at Ukiah, Calif., and died April 10, 2001, at the age of 87. On Nov. 27, 1936, she was married to John Petker, who survives. She is also survived by two daughters, Margaret and husband Corny Penner of Dinuba, Calif., and Jewel and husband Ken Matthies of Walnut Creek, Calif.; one brother, David Starr Jordan Campbell of Copperopolis, Calif., eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

REIMER. KATHERINA, Wichita, Kan., a member of First MB Church, Wichita, was born Dec. 16, 1912, to Henry R. and Sarah Friesen Classen at Meade, Kan., and died April 22, 2001, at the age of 88. On July 31, 1938, she was married to Jacob Reimer, who survives. She is also survived by four daughters, Dorothy Jordan and Irene Grant, both of Wichita, Betty Penner and Norma Sells, both of Overland Park, Kan .; three brothers, Frank of Meade, Sam of Newton, Kan., and Albert of Wichita; four sisters, Margaret Reimer of Hesston, Kan., Helen Friesen of Aurora, Colo., Bertha Zielke of M inneola, Kan., Elsie Goertzen of Hampton, Neb., eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

ROSFELD, DAN, Hillsboro, Kan ., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Dec. 17, 1912, to Peter and Marie Giesbrecht Rosfeld at Coy, Okla., and died Feb. 22, 2001, at the age of 88. On May 11, 1941, he was married to Stella Hanneman, who survives. He is also survived by two sons, Mel and wife Dee and Don and wife Mary, all of rural Peabody, Kan.; one daughter, Dolores and husband Lloyd of rural Newton, Kan.; one brother, Monty and wife Mona of Blanket, Texas, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

SIEMENS, MARGARET, Reedley, Calif., was born March 30, 1917, to Klaas and Agnatha Reimer at Meade, Kan ., and died April 17, 2001, at the age of 84. On March 29, 1936, she was married to Corney Siemens, who predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, Verne and wife Darlene of Fresno, Calif., and Paul and wife Barbara of Parker, Colo., four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren .•

Clear inghouse Have a position to fill? Looking for a new employment or ministry opportunity? Have a gathering or celebration to promote? Reach U.S. Mennonite Brethren through a Clearinghouse classified ad. The charge is 46 cents per word. with a $15 minimum. Withhold payment until an invoice is received. MB institutions advertising vacancies or position announcements may be eligible for a no-cost ad. Contact the editor for more information.

EMPLOYMENT-CHURCH

ON L2M 3J2; email jwwiebe@aol.com

Associate Pastor North Oak Community Church is seeking an Associate Pastor for a full-time position.

NOCC is a growing congregation with an average weekend worship attendance of 273, located in Hays, Kansas. Hays is a rural community of 20,000 situated in Northwest Kansas. For a complete position description and other information about NOCC, please visit our website at www.northoak.net.

Direct all inquires to Associate Pastor Search Committee, North Oak Community Church, 3000 Oak Street, Hays, KS 67601, (785) 6288887.

Pastor "Pursuing Christ with Passion and Reaching Others in Love" is the goal of Fig Garden Bible Church in Fresno, California. This is an opportunity for a visionary leader with a heart for outreach and gifts of preaching/teaching!communication to pastor a group of believers who are ready to move forward. Direct inquiries & resumes to Pastoral Search Team, Dale Warkentin, 4153 West Dayton Ave, Fresno CA 93722; (559) 275-3735; daleandjoycewarkentin@mail.com.

Pastor Grantham MB Church, St. Catherines, Ont., is seeking a pastor. The applicant should have a heart for discipleship and helping others develop their gifts for ministry and outreach. by effectively communicating God's word, show a desire to lead the church into a deeper relationship with Christ. Please send resume to: Rick Wiebe, c/o Grantham MB Church, 469 Grantham Ave., St. Catherines,

Senior Pastor Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church is looking for a senior pastor. We are a wellestablished, friendly multigenerational church with a weekly attendance of 300+ who worship in a "blended style" service.

We are seeking a visionary leader with strong preaching and pastoral skills and 10+ years of multiteam experience. We are blessed with a 75-year history and an excellent building in a visible part of an active city. At KMB we desire to strengthen the building up of the believers, to increase our outreach into the community and to continue to " ... glorify God by loving Him passionately and following Him faithfully." Direct all inquiries/resumes to Pastoral Search , Kitchener MB Church, 19 Ottawa St N. , Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2H 3K2 or email: kmbc@golden.net.

EMPLOYMENT-EDUCATION Leadership Studies MBBS, a partner in the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS), invites applications for a full-time faculty position in Leadership Studies. The position is available August 1, 2001. The successful candidate will coordinate the Leadership Studies seminars and courses at ACTS and teach leadership and ministry courses. Expertise in some of the following areas is required: team-building, conflict resolution, mentoring, spiritual direction, vision building and planning, leading through change, cross-cultural leadership, a "systems" understanding of organizations and behavior, personal and profession-

al ethics. Preference will be given to candidates who are committed to evangelicalAnabaptist theology as expressed in the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith; have pastoral experience and a completed doctoral degree in this teaching area; demonstrate a biblical understanding of leadership. Resumes and inquiries should be directed to: Dr. James Pancratz, Academic Dean, MBBS, Frosmark Center, 7600 Glover Road, Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1 (e-mail mbbsbc@twu.ca); or 4824 E. Butler, Fresno, Calif.

93727 (e-mail mbseminary@aol.com).

EMPLOYMENT-RETIRMENT COMMUNITY Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer: Garden Spot Village (GSV), a Mennonite-affiliated retirement community, seeks a visionary CEO with strong financial acumen and operational experience to lead its new and rapidly growing campus in Southeast Pennsylvania. Located at New Holland in historic Lancaster County, GSV provides independent living and assisted living services to over 500 residents. Construction is under way to add healthcare beds, dementia programming and a community center. Minimum candidate requirements are: Christian actively involved in local congregation, appreciation of Mennonite/Anabaptist heritage, Masters level education, 8 years of senior management experience, and strong inter-personal skills. Preferred candidates will have extensive retirement community experience. Send inquiries to: Kirk Stiffney, Mennonite Health Services, 234 S. Main St., Suite A. Goshen, IN 46526, fax: 219-534-3254 or e-ma i I: KirkStiffney@aol.com FOR SALE

HAVE YOU HEARD GOD'S CALL TO MINISTRY? At Mennonite Economic Development Associates, we believe everyone is called to be a minister. no matter where they work.

Learn more about your call to ministry by reading The Marketplace, MEDA's awardwinning magazine for Christians on the job.

HYMNS FROM THE HEART New Release-Hymns From the Heart by concert pianist Mary Pauls. Includes favorites such as "I'll Fly Away," "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and 13 more inspirational hymns. Send $17.00 for CD, or $12.00 for cassette to Partnership Ministries, 618 N. Lyndsay Way, Dinuba, CA 93618.

One year (six issues) $25; t wo years, $45.

To order, caUl -800-665-1026.

J U N E

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35

EDITORIAL

Grace under pressure

"I

can't believe she said that," I told a girlfriend on the telephone.

I was referring to the answers given by Tina Wesson, the winner of the "reality" TV show Survivor II: The Australian Outback, when she was asked in the final episode by host Jeff Provost what three things helped her become one of two final contestants.

Her answers-in order-were "strategy," "Colby" (the runner-up), and "heart and God." Under pressure, she had listed God third. That was important to me because Tina is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and regularly attends an interdenomin ational church. Though I've never heard her say it publicly, I assume by outward appearances that she is a Christian.

"I wouldn't have answered that way," I told my girlfriend.

"If someone asked me why I am where I am today or what means the most to me in my life, I would say my relationship with God." Well, my girlfriend and I continued our discussion about Survivor and moved on to other topics, but something nagged at me after I hung up the phone. I believed resolutely what I had said when I said it-that my relationship with God and my quest to be a follower ofJesus are more important than anything.

But a still, quiet voice was asking, "Do you really?"

Sigh.

I've learned to listen to that voice. And it wasn't a coincidence that I encountered it on the first day that I'd spent any decent amount of time in SCripture or prayer in over a week.

I started thinking a bit more skeptically. Just how would I respond to a question like that? If someone called me in the middle of cooking dinner, pouring a glass of apple juice for my daughter and thinking about what dessert I should bring to Bible study that night, would I really answer "God"? If someone asked me while my husband and I were talking about our household budget and planning for retirement, would I really say the most important thing to me was being a follower of Jesus? Under the pressure of daily life distractions, would Jesus be my first thought-or even my second or third?

I'm not so sure.

Over the last year, I've made a commitment to spend more time studying Scripture and longer periods in prayer. I choose to do this because this is what Jesus did. As Jim Holm said in a Christian Leader article almost a year ago, spiritual disciplines like prayer and studying the Word are "the keys to a life of developing the character of Jesus." In fact, I've even changed a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelet into WOJD (What Did Jesus Do) to remind me.

36 •

THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA D E R

Has it worked? Well, not in the way I expected it to. But then that's usually the way God works in my life.

I can testify first hand the transformation of my heart, thoughts and attitudes that comes from spending solid time with God. But still I will go days, sometimes more than a week, without Sitting down to study Scripture or spend more than 10 minutes a day in prayer. Sure, I'll pick up the Bible and read a chapter or spend a few minutes in prayer here and there. But all too often I look back and realize it's been several days since I've spent any decent amount of time with God. As my time with God slips away, so do my thoughts and actions. I'm amazed by how quickly I can slip from the presence of God into behaving in a careless or selfish way that is contrary to God's heart and will for my life.

But I'm also amazed at how abundant and spacious is God's grace.

Over the last year, I've definitely spent more solid time with God than in any time in my life. It's made a difference. I see his fingerprints more often. I've experienced his touch in ways I never thought possible. I see the world differently.

But I also find myself more aware of when I fall shortwhich seems to increase with the amount of time I spend with God. Criticizing Tina Wesson's answers was really a reflection on me. My harsh judgment was misplaced. When I took more time to think about her answers, I realized they really might not have reflected on her values after all. In fact, my girlfriend noted, how accurate would it have been if she had said God was the reason she won a TV game show? Either way, the real issue was my own tendency to push aside my relationship with God and my decision to be a follower of Jesus in the face of daily life choices and distractions. Tina Wesson didn't deserve my judgment, but I did.

I relearned a valuable lesson that day. No matter how far I've gone, I've got much more distance to cover. I will never wake up one day and say I have reached my goal. "We never arrive," as my pastor is fond of saying. That is the nature of being a follower of Jesus.

But God's grace is endless, boundless and limitless. He honors the time I devote to him. He reveals himself and changes my life in ways I never truly imagined he could or would. He does this in spite of the times I still forsake, deny and ignore him under the pressure of daily life. And he does this for any one who chooses to follow him. Amazing.

More than any other time, my life today is a journey to know him. More than any other time, I am aware of my blemishes, faults, selfishness and carelessness. More than any other time, I thank God for grace under pressure. -CA