June 2007

FEATURES

10 WELCO ME BACK, BOOM ERS By James Toews

There is a generation gap in the church today-the boomers are missing . Baby boomers should be leading the church into the future but this generation is hardly to be found in the church today. But now the time has come. According to the ancient pattern of generations, we have an obligation to give something to the next generation.

13 GOOD TIMES By Karol Hunt

Don't kid yourself- most boomers are over the hill. So what are we going to do about it? Do we think about aging in terms of growth and opportunity? How can we baby boomers make the most of the second half of our lives? Here are six ways to help slow the aging process and to enhance the transition into retirement.

16 THE WAY WE WERE By Paul

Barbagallo

The first wave of baby boomers is nearing retirement age and many are starting to receive inheritances from their parents. This means Americas largest and most compelling generation presents an unprecedented opportunity to churches and other nonprofit organizations that hope for financial support from boomers. What unique challenges does this diverse group offer?

18 KEEP ON ROCKIN ' By Susan Miller Balzer

Research suggests that baby boomers won't do retirement like their predecessors. Many will continue working or volunteering past the age of 65. They will also feel less prepared financially for retirement than their parents were. One stewardship educator says that living with purpose and viewing retirement as the next chapter in life can help Christians approach retirement with a healthy attitude.

> FiRST WORDS

!from t he editor)

DURING THE FIRST WEEKEND OF MAy, THE NATIONAL Weather SelVice in Dodge City, Kan , received reports of 25 separate tornadoes in southwest and south central Kansas. The tornadoes made national news when the worst of the bunch, estimated as an EFS on the Enhanced Fujita Scale due to the damage it caused, wiped out the city of Greensburg, population 1,500. The disaster prompted a visit by President George W. Bush, who spent three hours May 9 surveying the damage in Greensburg and bringing the "prayers and concerns of the people in this country" to the community

Kansas's claim to natural disaster fame didn't last even a week before national news coverage shifted to flooding in the Midwest and wildfires in Los Angeles, Central Florida and Georgia, where a fire had already burned for three weeks when the Kansas tornadoes hit Listening to news anchors describe the misery people were experiencing from one end of the country to the other, I was thankful that my family had not been forced to evacuate our home that week and grateful that, in addition to being in one piece, our home was also dry and free of ash dust and smoke.

The news reports also reminded me that the nation's attention span is short, constantly moving on to the next big event, while those affected by a natural disaster spend countless and weary weeks, months and sometimes years recovering and rebuilding. Just because newspaper, radio and television are "done" with a story doesn't mean the ending has been written. When it comes to natural disaster follow-up, we need to improve our long-term memory

With this truth in mind, our news section this month focuses on Central California and the ongoing efforts of Mennonite Brethren congregations and inter-Mennonite agencies to aid the hundreds of households impacted by the January citrus freeze. Many of us don't think much about the freeze anymore, except maybe when we buy a gallon of orange juice and grumble about the price. The freeze may be old news for us but for residents and businesses in the 21 counties declared disaster areas, the story continues to unfold. Thanks to assistant editor Myra Holmes who coordinated the Leader's coverage of the January freeze. Her special report reveals that this crisis is not over and highlights the way in which a natural disaster has produced spiritual fruit.-CF

> QUOT ABLE

"To keep track of the baby boom, the Commerce Department established a 'census clock' in the lobby of its Washington, D.C., headquarters. Multicolored flashing lights on the clock signaled a birth every 7 liz seconds, a death every 20 seconds, the arrival of a new immigrant every I liz minutes, and the departure of an emigrant every 20 minutes The result was an increase in population of one person every II seconds ." - Steve Gillon in his book Boomer Nation: The Largest and Richest Generation Ever, and How It Changed America

> UP & COMING

• July 5-8-Central District Conference Convention, Rapid City, SD

• Aug 2-3-Southem District Conference Pastors ' Gathering, Hays, Kan.

• Aug. 3-5-Southem District Conference Convention, Hays, Kan.

• Nov. 2-3-Pacific District Conference Convention, Shafter, Calif

June 2007

VoLume 70 Nu mber 6

Conn ie Faber EDITOR

Myra Holm es ASS ISTANT EDITOR

Ela ine Ewert GRA PHIC DE SIGNER

MANDATE The Christian Leader (iSSN 0009 - 51491 is publi shed mon th ly by the U S Conference of Menn onite Bre th ren Churches. The Christian Leader seeks to inform Menn on it e Brethren me mbers and churches of the event s, activit i es, deci sio ns and issu es of t he ir denom in ation , and to in st ruct. ins pire and init iate dialogue so me mb ers will asp ire to be fai t hful dis ciples of Christ as unde rstoo d in t he evangelicaVA na baptist t heolog ical tradition.

EDITORIAL PO LI CY The views expressed in thi s pu bli cation do not necessarily rep r esent the po sition of the Christian Leader t he U.S. Co nf eren ce Leadersh ip Board or the Me nnoni t e Brethren Church Sc ri ptu re references a r e from New Interna ti ona l Ve rsi on unless otherwi se noted The ed itors invite free l an ce article submission s. A SASE must accompa ny articles.

READER PARTICIPATIO N The edi t or s i nvite readers to share their thoughts an d opinio ns on t opic s re l evan t to th e Mennon ite Bret hren Churc h us ing l ette r s to th e ed i tor and Fo rum ess ays Letters to the editor should be brief - 300 words or l ess- and on one subject Lette rs must be si gn ed and include the wri t er's city and stat e. Lett ers will be ed ited for clarity appropri at eness and length Lette rs will be publi sh ed as sp ace allows unless marked " Not for publica t ion ." Forum is open to members or attendees of Men nonit e Brethren chu r che s Es says should not exceed 800 words. and shou l d include the writer's name addre ss , home church and occupation

COMMUNICATION All corre spondence including change of address. should be addressed to the Christian Leade r. Box 220 Hillsboro KS 67063. Phone : 620 - 947 - 5543 Fax : 620 - 947 - 3266 E- mail : christianleaderfilusmb org

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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MEMBERSHIP The Christian Leader is a member of th e Evang el ic al Pre ss Association and Meet inghou se. an associ ation of Mennonite and Bret hren in Chri st ed itors

PO ST MASTER Se nd address ch anges to the Christian Leader Box 220 Hi ll sboro KS 67063 Period ical s po sta ge pai d at Hillsboro, Kansas

CONNIE FABER

> CONFERENCE CALL

Hello, Central District family

District celebrates church planting, anticipates summer convention

It's my privilege to introduce you to the Central District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches that includes the states of Montana, Nonh Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska. The Central District is made up of 25 churches located in rural America, small towns, the inner city and urban areas. We are a diverse group of congregations that includes one Hispanic. three Russian. one Ethiopian and one Native American congregation .

Though the expanse of our district is nearly 1.000 miles, we are united in the joint effon of "Pannering Together to Advance Christ's Kingdom." One of the

schedule and will be unique in many ways.

The convention is being designed with the family in mind. Childcare and youth activities will be provided. The business sessions will be shonened, with more time given to worship and praise. The Iglesia Agua Viva worship band from our Hispanic church in Omaha, Neb .• will be leading worship. and i268 from Tabor College will also be providing music and drama. Nationally known Christian comedian Kenn Kington will entenain us and also serve as speaker for one of our worship times.

_.: One of the challenge,) we face a district i" the declining population in our rural

primary ways we are accomplishing this is through our church planting efforts to which we have given a great deal of attention in the past 25 to 35 years. During this time seven churches have come into existence and two other church planting projects were attempted.

Our most recent church plant, Christ Community Church. is located in western Sioux Falls. SD, where Rod Anderson serves as senior pastor. This is a joint effort between the Central District and Mission USA and is our second church located in this growing city of over 140,000.

One of the challenges we face as a district is the declining population in our rural areas. As a result of this irreversible trend, several of our once large, strong and com mined rural congregations have closed their doors over the years. While this has reinforced our commitment to church planting, our overriding motivation to plant new churches is to see lost people come to know Christ. Our vision, dream, desire and prayer is that. Lord willing. we will be able to continue to plant new churches every few years.

To help facilitate this goal our district Board of Trustees has established an endowment fund with the MB Foundation The objective is to reach $1,000.000 or more and designate the interest accumulated each year to be used for church planting. We are getting close!

As a district we are looking forward to our annual convention that will be held July 5-8 in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. This district convention is taking a break from the usual fall

The convention includes free time in the afternoons so that everyone will have the opponunity to enjoy the many attractions that are available in the Black Hills. Or delegates may simply use the time to rest and relax. The theme of the convention is "Celebrate Your Freedom" based on Galatians 5:1. MBMS International general director Randy Friesen will serve as our keynote speaker. We want to thank Bible Fellowship Church of Rapid City who will be hosting the convention, and who is working diligently to make the 2007 convention one of the best.

We encourage Central District churches and guests to make plans now to bring their families and to experience the rich blessings that we are already anticipating. The biennial Central District Pastors' Retreat will follow the convention.

It has been a joy. blessing and privilege for me to have served as the Central District Conference minister for the past six years . I have a very deep concern for our pastors and their families. and I pray that they may experience the Lord's blessing and joy as they serve him and their congregations. Ministry has become much more difficult in recent years. There seems to be much less respect for the office of a pastor and the expectations are so much higher than in past years. Our congregants can be very helpful to their pastors as they seek to understand their humanness, their limitations and their schedule.

Church members would benefit greatly if they would commit to praying for their pastor and family daily. I Thessalonians 5:12-13 reminds us, "Now we ask you. brothers. to respect those who work hard among you. who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other." Working and ministering together in unity and love. we the church will be the salt and light that Jesus asks us to be and as a result we will change the world one person at a time

Roger Engbrecht is the Central District Conference minister. He and his wife. Lucille. live in Sioux Falls. SD.

The child left behind

Christian education is an important responsibility

Two sisters stared into the blue sky one summer day in 1966 and discussed heaven. They had been taught that Jesus, who died and rose from the grave and who forgave their sins, was in heaven. They imagined him somewhere beyond those skies, and they began to dream about seeing him some day The eight-year-old bragged that she would see Jesus before her younger sister. No, the six-year-old said, she would be the first to see Jesus. The eight-year-old tried to explain

we share God's love with others and walk together in our Christian life . I am convinced that my own faith would be very different if my parents, who demonstrated their love for Christ every day, had not made church attendance a priority for our family We did not stop going to church as a family after the accident. Rather, my parents showed me their faith by remaining faithful and teaching me to always trust in the Lord, whatever life may bring.

\\'hat ..He we doin g in our churches to ensure that th e future of our peop1e wiJ1 he one of delight, whether her e o n earth or in the presence of our Lord?

I learned that dreadful day that life is short. In a blink of an eye the future can change forever. What are we doing in our churches to ensure that the future of our pe0ple will be one of delight, whether here on that since she was older she would see him first, but the younger one would not believe her.

Later that evening, the two sisters got on one bike and headed to the firecracker stand. After purchasing their fireworks, the girls headed home. They found themselves going down a sandy alley and pedaling was very hard. They laughed and greeted a neighbor working in his backyard.

As they reached the end of the alley, they discovered that they could not stop. Their bicycle headed into the street and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The six-year-old found herself on the curb in front of a red brick home crying for her sister. Her older sister lay dead on the street, having hit the windshield of the car

The eight-year-old was my sister Carol, and I was the one sitting on the curb, calling out her name. When I realized that Carol had arrived in heaven first, I must admit I was a little upset with her. Our conversation earlier that afternoon was no accident. I believe the Lord was preparing me for a life without Carol and a hope that I would see her again someday.

Another life was changed that day: that of the teenage boy who did not see us and hit us. Although my parents visited him and let him know that they did not blame him, he held on to the guilt of this accident and had nighttnares for many years to come. He did not, and as far as I know still doesn't, have the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding. This is even more tragic than the death of a little girl who knew Christ.

I truly believe that we learn more, love more and grow more when

The editors invite readers to share their thoughts and opinions on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church using Forum essays. Forum is open to members and attendees of Mennonite Brethren congregations Essays should not exceed 800 words and should include the writer's name, home church and occupation

earth or in the presence of our Lord? How are we teaching children to seek God's face? How are we teaching adults to hold on to their faith in the midst of trials? How are we teaching teenagers to trust in the Lord even in times of turmoil and strife?

If you are a parent that does not take your children to Sunday school and church, I urge you to reconsider the impact it may have on your child's life. If you are an adult that does not see the need to attend church, I urge you to reconsider this decision. Scripture urges us in Hebrews 10:25, ''Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Our congregations should not take lightly the education of both young and old. There is and always will be a need to teach the gospel. In Sunday school and small groups we have the opportunity to be fed in order to grow in Christ.

Recent efforts to develop state educational standards to ensure that all children have an adequate education are often referred to as, "No child left behind." I propose that we adopt the same philosophy for our churches. As the Holy Spirit affords us the opportunity and ability, let's make sure that no child of God is left behind, and that we teach each person of the love and forgiveness of Christ our Lord.

Sheila Koop has been extensively involved in the Sunday school and midweek children's programs at Ulysses (Kan.) MB Church where she is a member and served on the Southern District Conference Christian Education Commission. She is employed as a teacher at the Ulysses High School in the area of special education.

ICOMB hosts global gathering on higher education

Educators gather in Fresno this month

Representatives of Mennonite Brethren higher education institutions from around the globe will gather for a first-ever consultation June 4-10 on the campuses of MB Biblical Seminary and Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, Calif.

The consultation, "Shaping Mennonite Higher Education for the 21st Century," is sponsored by the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren and hosted by the seminary and the university. It brings together more than 40 representatives from Mennonite Brethren and related institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Notth America.

Plenary sessions each day will address four issues: Christian worldview, an Anabaptist view of education, ministry and service in the church and service in the community and the world. Speakers are

being drawn from India, Latin America and North America.

In addition to the plenary sessions, daily worship times and workshops will be led by international Mennonite Brethren educational leaders and will focus on the biblical foundations of Mennonite education, as well as specific themes such as vision, governance, faculty development, curriculum and libraries and technology.

Each continent represented will have opportunity to speak about the unique opportunities and challenges for Mennonite Brethren education in their area of influence, and there will be times for networking, thinking together and planning for greater cooperation between institutions. Many of these educationalleaders have accepted invitations to speak from the pulpit in local churches during services on Sunday, June 10 following the consultation. The plenary sessions are open to the public. Further information is available from Dalton Reimer, the consultation coordinator at dreimer®fresno.edu.-MBBS

MB Loan Fund offers new products, services

MB Loan Fund has inttoduced several new products and services, available May I The new products include: One-Year Term Certificates at 5 00 percent variable, Two-Year Term Certificates at 5.15 percent variable, Four-Year Term Certificates at 5 35 percent variable and Five-Year Term Certificates at 5.45 percent variable.

"Our motivation is to provide additional investtnent opportunities to better meet the evolving needs of our current and future investors," says Jon Wiebe, president and CEO of MB Loan Fund. The Loan Fund will continue to provide Demand and Three-Year Certificates as well as Advantage Certificates to Mennonite Brethren pastors and ministries Certificates continue to be the primary source of capital for the church loan program.

MB Loan Fund is also offering two new services: direct deposit and an IRA program For the first time,

investors will be able to electronically transfer additional investtnent funds into their Certificate account on an automatic, monthly basis. 'This service will add convenience and discipline to our customers' investtnent practices," says Wiebe

MB Loan Fund is offering Certificates as an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) investtnent option in partnership with GoldStar Trust Company 'We believe this is an incredible new opportunity for retirement funds to be used as spiritual capital, loaned out to Mennonite Brethren ministries to provide facilities for worship, learning, and service," says Wiebe

These changes represent the most comprehensive changes to the Certificate program at MB Loan Fund in its history, says Wiebe. The first individual investment Certificate account was opened in 1954 Since then it has operated under the names Builder's Fund, Trust Fund, Mission Fund, Ministry Investtnent Fund, and now, For over 50 years, these funds have been used to extend loans to churches and ministries of the Mennonite Brethren, helping them grow through renovation, purchase and construction of facilities More information is available at www.mbfoundation .com . - MBLF

MDS on scene of Kansas tornadoes

Tornadoes, the largest rated an EF5, tore through southwestern Kansas May 45, wiping out over 90 percent of homes in Greensburg and killing a total of 12 people. Within hours, four teams from Mennonite Disaster Service's Kansas Unit were in the area doing cleanup, and additional MDS early response teams arrived May 6 "I knew MDS would show up," says Jeff Blackburn, pastor of Greensburg Mennonite Church, "but I didn't think it would be this fast." The Greensburg Mennonite Church building is completely gone. Blackburn, pictured right, says that three-quaners of his 80 or so congregants live in Greensburg, a town of over 1,500, and at least three dozen of them are without homes.

The killer tornado, which received the highest rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale

by the National Weather Service, was I.7 miles wide and on the ground nonstop for 22 miles and 30 minutes. Maximum wind speed was estimated at 205 mph.

"It's something I haven't seen before. It looks like a giant rake came through and raked the town away," says Kevin King, MDS executive director pictured center with Paul Untuh of MDS left. King was emotional when he said there didn't seem to be any walls remaining in the town ' We kept hearing some of the same conversations over and over from the shell-shocked residents, 'Do you have a house?' 'No, me neither,' and that would be followed with embraces."

MDS work crews were first allowed into Greensburg May 10 so earlier that week volunteers worked in other communities affected by the weekend storms.-MDS

Leader receives EPA award

The Christian Leader received a founh place award in the 2006 Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals contest The award recognizes the anicle "Welcome to the complex life" written by Pierre Gilben and published in the July 2006 issue . Higher Goals awards honored the best work done by EPA publications during the 2006 calendar year The MB Herald, the

English-language publication of the Canadian MB Conference, received a second place award in the interview anicle category and third place in the poetty division. EPA is an association of more than 375 publications, organizations and individual members. The awards were announced at the annual EPA convention held May 2-4 in Colorado Springs, Colo

FPU SUPPORTS V-TECH VICTIMS

Students at Fresno Pacific University reached out to those who suffered loss in the shootings at Virginia Tech University through cards. Large cards were placed in the Steinert Campus Center lobby and lounge beginning April 25 for students, faculty and staff to sign. The homemade cards included photographs of those killed, information about the victims gathered from news media and other sources and messages to their loved ones. Organizers planned to collect the signed cards and send them to the university. The students' empathy extended to the shooter's family; the 35th card was written in Korean, their native language. "We are taught to look beyond ourselves and to help others," says Dawn Adams, the junior business administration major from Fresno who organized the effort with several other students. "The greatest reason for this project is feeling helpless and feeling a need to do something, to do anything to reach out to the families of these victims." -FPU

HEIN WRITES AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Marvin Hein, long-time Mennonite Brethren preacher and pastor and current Leader columnist, has selfpublished his autobiography, My Lines Have Fallen in Pleasant Places. Hein served 24 years as pastor of Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church and 11 years at North Fresno MB Church, Fresno, Calif. He also held many denominational positions, including 11 years as executive secretary of the now-disbanded General Conference. For more information on the book, contact Hein at 559-298 - 3940 or marvinheintasbcglobal.net.

his calendar year more people will turn 50 than in any year before or after. That's because in 1957, 4.3 million babies were born in the U.S., making it the numeric peak of the 1946 to 1964 baby boom years. Given the influence of baby boomers on American society and its institutions, including the church, it seems appropriate to review what makes this generation unique, to mark their .ons past, presand future and to from their mistakes. So if you are , between the ages of 43 and 61, this issue of the Leader is for you.

"There was a man who had two sons ... the prodigal son took his inheritance, went to a far country and squandered it .... "

THE CHURCH HAS A GENERATION

GAP-THE

boomers are missing. This statement is virtually a truism in western culture. A quick Internet search of "boomer" and "church" reveals that the problem stretches across the entire spectrum of churches, from large to small, liberal to conservative, denominational to independent. Somewhere along the way the biggest population bulge in history is profoundly absent.

But as serious as this is, the gap is revealing its true magnitude just as the full weight of the transition of church leadership is entering its completion. The generation that should be leading the church into the future is hardly to be found.

Angry young men

Among Mennonite Brethren a moment of foreshadowing came at the 1995 General Conference convention in Fresno, Calif. The convention billed as the time to pass the baton became famous for its angry young men declaring that they didn't want it. Trends don't always have defining moments but that was one.

To understand the story of the boomers and the church a little history review is in order. The boomers were born in the 1950s-but who remembers being born? It was the 60S and its aftermath that set its mark on us. Vietnam, the Beatles and Woodstock are the markers of our coming of age. Some of us experienced them directly, all of us vicariously.

They were heady times. It was supposed to have been the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. We had a new way of doing things. A new way for a new world.

Most of us actually grew up in very sheltered worlds. With mothers who stayed home and broke their hearts trying to take care of us, and fathers who really believed that they did know best. And they doted on us. After all, they had lived through world wars, depressions and revolutions. They were determined, as had generations of parents before them, to give their children a better world. They worked, saved and invested to give us that world

But we were drawn by a vision of a different way-a far country. We knew a better way, and we did everything we could to separate ourselves from their dull world We

would not be trapped in mindless jobs. We would not oppress the poor. We would not let our ideals die. We would make love, not war.

Dropouts

We took our inheritance, and we left. The stabiliry and prosperity of our parents allowed us to finance our dream world.

The fantasy didn't last very long. It didn't actually work. And so we followed the byword of our time and dropped out. And what did we drop out of? Not society. Not consumerism. Not materialism. No, we just dropped out of taking responsibility for anything more than ourselves.

Once it became clear that the Age of Aquarius was not dawning, we shifted from idealism to cynicism, from romanticism to sarcasm, from social conscience to conspicuous consumption, and somehow we hung onto the illusion that we were doing things better.

In the church, the pattern followed in a barely sanitized form. Here it was the Jesus People who made their mark. They merged free love with God's love, rock and roll with worship music and substituted "spiritual" ecstasy for drugs and alcohol (most of the time) and brought their message to Christian colleges, youth groups and churches.

We were the better way-the old wineskins would not contain us. It was our Emerging Church. We had new and exciting styles of worship, community and structure . We were the future .

Cashing in the birthright ,

But it didn't take long for the cracks to show here, either. The emerging Christian communes, communities and home churches did not find life any more ideal than the communes, communities, home churches and churches of the past. Baptisms on the beach may have looked impressive but their legacy mirrored Woodstock-a lot of hype and noise, but at the end you are left with a muddy, litterstrewn field that someone else has to clean up.

At the end of the day-and it was a very short day- the boomers dropped out of the church as well. The generation that was going to be the future cashed in its birthright and left, and we became the Prodigal Generation-the Generation Gap.

So what's next? How does the church respond to the boomers-to the biggest, wealthiest generation of all time? It is a vexing problem, and it doesn't lend itself to simple answers. In fact, there are at least two very different answers.

First, ifthis isn't your generation, if you are the other son - move

on Look past the boomers Forget about us. So far we have been promise without payoff, clo uds without rain, planting without harvest. We are self-indulgent, narcissistic and egotistical.

For their whole lives people have been trying to meet our needs. It hasn't drawn us in. Move on and reach out to the next generation. It is a short answer but it is not glib. Enormous resources are being spent trying to win the affections of the boomers, and the payback has been sparse.

It's my generation

But there is another answer. We are, after all, "talkin' bout my generation," to borrow a phrase from songwriter Pete Townsend of The Who You can't tum your back on yourself. We may be the prodigal generation but the parable of the prodigal is a story of redemption . The hope that exists for us boomers follows the pattern of the story.

The parable turns on a simple phrase: "and he came to his senses." It is time for us boomers to come to our senses and to frankly admit that we have spent our time living among the pigs For most boomers this is surprisingly hard. It shouldn't be, and inside ourselves we know it

At a purely social level we are the generation that will, for the first time, leave its children poorer than their parents And the financial component of this poverty is its most trivial piece Our children will inherit a more polluted, morally bankrupt and communally fractured world than our parents gave us.

Spiritually, our children and grandchildren are growing up without foundations-because we haven't given them any. Not only have we not built churches for our children, we haven't taken them to church.

Welcome back

This is the first step. But there is another one. Like the prodigal, we must begin walking back down the road we traveled and return to where we began. The inheritance our parents passed on to us was not a perfect legacy. It must be rebuilt and revised and rethought. But to do that we first have to take hold of it.

As a generation, we did not leave the house of our parents because we had a better plan-we didn't. We were caught up in the delusions of our age. The fruit of those delusions is all around us. But now the time has come. According to the ancient pattern of generations, we have an obligation to give something to the next generation. Because we are so prodigious, it is tempting to add that we are needed for our idealism, our creativity, our enormous wealth. Surely those are the things that change the world for generations to come. But such an appeal only feeds the egotistical monster within us. No, we are not needed for our idealism, our creativity or our wealth. We are needed in the church because it is simply the duty of one generation to pick up the torch from their parents and determine to pass something precious on to their children.

It's up to us to make our story end well. The prodigal came home late-but not too late.

James Toews is pastor of Neighborhood Church in Nanaimo, BC, and is a regular columnist for the MB Herald, the English language publication of the Canadian MB Conference

Good times

Don't kid yourself- we boomers are over the hill. What are we going to do about it?

GRAYING HAIR, READING GLASSES, APPEARING wrinkles and escalating girth around the midsection are the emerging characteristics of the baby boomer generation. I call it physical maturity. It is impacting the 77 million Americans who were born post-World War II between 1946 and 1964, those currently between the ages of 43 and 61.

Estimates project that in 2030 there will be 57.8 million boomers between ages 66 and 84. Advances in medicine, science and technology enable us to live longer and healthier lives than any previous generation. As the baby boomer generation continues to mature, we will be better able to live quality and significant lives well into our golden years.

The aging process

Aging is a complex and natural process. Growing older is inevitable, is simply a fact of life and is an individual experience. We each show signs of growing older at different rates. So a person's chronological and physiological ages are not necessarily equal. An individual may be a "young 60" or appear years older than his or her real number of earthly years.

The two influences that have the greatest impact on aging are genetics and lifestyle choices. Genetics are bestowed to us, but we are responsible for our daily choices in lifestyle. Although God has numbered our earthly days, we can greatly influence the quality of those days. The good news is that research has determined that a healthy lifestyle is more influential than genetic factors in helping us avoid the physical and mental deterioration often associated with aging.

Exercising stewardship in daily life is a simple concept but much more difficult practice. We often fail to make the connection between today's positive or negative behaviors and the impact of these choices later in life. Daily grabbing two cookies rather than a banana or watching a half-hour sitcom instead of walking 30 minutes over 20 or 30 years has a huge impact on the quality of life when we reach our advanced years. We tend to act on our immediate feelings rather than the longterm result.

Even with positive lifestyle choices, physiological changes seem to creep up on us. One day we wake up at 40, 50 or 60 and notice that we are different. Physiologically we are not the same as we were at age 25, our perceived prime. Among these changes are altered vision, hearing loss, decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, decreased bone density, less efficient heart. decreased metabolic rate. higher blood pressure. joint wear and clogged arteries

Some natural signs of maturity are noticeable-the need to purchase reading glasses or bifocals, creeping weight, seemingly visible fat deposits, replacing jogging with walking, elevating the volume level on the sion-but others are invisible until a crisis hits. Chest pain reveals the clogged arteries. Constant thirst and continual fatigue reveal the inability of the body to produce sufficient insulin resulting in type 2 diabetes.

Unfortunately, the risk of disease and disorders increases with age. Heart disease. stroke, cancer. diabetes and arthritis are the most common chronic health conditions affecting quality of life for the elderly. However, a positive lifestyle along with early detection and treatment can assist in preventing, postponing or

reducing some of the debilitating effects of these physical limitations. With lifelong, positive lifestyle choices. poor health does not need to be an inevitable consequence of aging.

The transition stage

How do we view aging? Is it a sign of fading youth and physical prowess? Or is it a time of seizing new challenges and opportunities? It is vital that we view aging as a process of growth and contribution rather than one of decline. Incorporate all of your life experiences to date to focus on building a confident future.

During middle age we begin to shift our thinking from our personal and material achievements to living a life of significance. We tend to redefine success as having and being enough. We accept who we are becoming. We desire to share our financial resources with those in need rather than continuing to accumulate symbols of wealth.

Perhaps a life transition, a crisis or a major loss forces us to take a hard look at our lives and the path we are on. The children leaving for college. a downsizing at work. a cancer diagnosis. an unexpected divorce. becoming a grandparent, retirement or the death of a parent or spouse all help put life in perspective for us.

We begin to focus more on making a positive impact on the people we influence and on leaving a contribution that will outlive us. The popular 21st century term is 'leaving a legacy."

The antiaging six pack

How can we baby boomers age gracefully and make the most of the second half of our lives? I offer six ideas to help slow the aging process and to enhance the quality of transition and golden years.

Accept and embrace aging. Welcome the concept that growing older is part of life. Being in denial and going to great lengths to look 20 years younger really is not helpful. Instead, be real and give yourself permission to accept the changes that come with maturity. You may have lost a step physically, but you have deeper emotional, intellectual and spiritual depth to help others and to face future life challenges. Adopt a positive lifestyle Take positive steps to slow the aging process. Because aging is a complex process, your best chance for a long and healthy life is to focus on lifestyle strategies. Regular moderate exercise and proper nutrition help minimize the physiological effects of growing older. Even if your activity level has been minimal and your diet is suspect, it is never too late to begin adopting healthy behaviors. Engage in

moderate, regular exercise and consume essential nutrients in appropriate proportions.

Brisk walking has major physical and psychological benefits. Aim for 30 minutes a day, either in one session or in ten-minute stints. Include resistance training to build muscle and to maintain strength. Play golf. Take a hike with your children Chase the grandchildren. Work in the garden. Just be active-something is better than nothing. Regular activity can help the body and keep old-age symptoms at bay.

A healthy diet can also help you live longer and better. Eat a variety

you better maintain your memory. To sharpen your mind, learn something new every day, read stimulating books, write your life lessons, complete word and number puzzles, keep up with world events or join in forward-looking conversation.

Lead a meaningful life. Discover what is most important and what brings meaning to your life. Then give yourself opportunities to live those values. Draw on all of your experiences and give your gifts in service to others.

On e day we wake up at 40, 50 or 60 and notice that we are different. Physiologically we ar e not the same as we were at age 25, our perceived prime .

of foods including whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits and lean meat. It is important to understand that your metabolic rate (the rate at which you bum calories) decreases 10 percent for each decade after age 25. In order to maintain an ideal weight, you must decrease calorie intake as you age. Feeling satisfied with reducing the amount of food you eat is often difficult because your eating habits were established in early adulthood. It is possible to eat your favorite foods but in smaller portions. Again moderation is the key.

Foster social connections. Stay socially connected and foster healthy relationships. Supportive friends and family are good medicine. When you have affinning relationships, you stay healthier, live longer and enjoy life more. Build strong communities with friends based on mutual interests and activities. To reduce focus on yourself and your circumstances, seek out opportunities to cultivate friendships with individuals of all generations. Strengthen your family ties-attend family reunions not just the funerals.

Cultivate intellectual curiosity. Because the mind thrives on acquiring new infonnation, treat your brain like any other muscle and regularly exercise it. Engaging in mind-challenging activities can help

Puddle

Volunteer. Reach out and try to help someone every day. Knowing what really matters and putting your time and energy in those activities is a great help for living fully. Remember that material toys do not yield true happiness. Practice spiritual disciplines. Successful aging includes vibrant faith in God. Developing spiritual maturity is a lifelong process requiring a daily walk with God. Talk regularly with our heavenly Father. Read, meditate on and memorize Scripture. Be active in worship. Share your spiritual wisdom in fonnal and infonnal settings. Aging is a natural process. Accept it. Embrace it. It's up to us to make choices today that will impact the quality of our future days.

Karol Hunt is professor of health and physical education and head mens and womens cross country coach at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan. She is a member of Parkview MB Church, Hillsboro. Her goal is to be reaching the summits of Colorado and Wyoming mountains at age 85 and beyond.

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When it comes to opening their wallets, boomers offer unique challenges

BABY BOOMERS REPRESENT THE LARGEST single sustained growth of the population in American history. They grew up in postwar suburbia, sheltered snugly in the first paradigmatic, single-family homes They were raised to fear the Reds and adore Ed Sullivan . They were the first children to get hooked on television Born between 1946 and 1964, the 77 million baby boomers in the U.S. compose a drastically different generarional demographic than that of their parents In 2003 the national nonprofit coalition Independent Sector and AARP released the study, "Experience at Work: Volunteering and Giving Among Americans 50 and Over," that reveals that the boomer population is more likely to have graduated from college and volunteered in their youth-strong indicators of high civic involvement.

Over the next 10 years, the over-50 population in the U.S. is expected to increase by 18 3 million people- including 13 9 million between the ages of 50 and 64, the report says. And because these individuals will still be working, they're expected to become the most generous givers and have more time for volunteer activities as they approach retirement.

Many fundraisers and researchers also point to the vast wealth transfer that has started to occur: Boomers are due to receive a collective inheritance of at least $7.2 trillion, according to the Social Welfare Research Institute at Boston College.

Now, with the first wave of baby boomers nearing retirement age, and many starting to receive inheritances from their parents, America's largest and most compelling generation presents an unprecedented fund-raising opportunity-and a challenge-to nonprofits.

How boomer donors differ

Boomers are far more likely to be college educated than their parents, as financial-assistance programs were more prevalent around the time they were coming of age. The boomer demographic also has more discretionary income, according to statistics. And boomers have forestalled certain life events, such as having babies in their 30S instead of in their 20S.

But unlike the World War II generation-dubbed the "greatest generation" by NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw-boomers desire more personal involvement in a nonprofit organi2ation, typically in a highly active volunteer role.

"Boomers are much more results oriented," says Timothy Seiler, director of the fund-raising school at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, citing research conducted on boomers. "They want to see clear, measurable, tangible results of their gifts and the work of the nonprofit organi2ation."

Most boomers would not be comfortable with simply writing a check and sending it off to the local cancer society without seeing how their gift benefits the community.

Boomers have less brand loyalty, Seiler says. They shop around and test organi2ations much like they would shop around for a new bank. "(Nonprofit organi2ations) have to prove themselves and prove themselves repeatedly," Seiler affirms. "Baby boomers might think twice about giving repeatedly to an institution. They will consider whether or not their own needs have been met through previous gifts."

Not only do boomers expect a high level of accountability from nonprofits, they also tend to favor small, local organi2ations over large, national ones-since they could readily see the impact of their gifts-as well as different types of charities. Where their parents give frequently to religious and faith-based charities, boomers direct their philanthropic attention to "greener" matters.

"Perhaps the most compelling thing we found in researching baby boomers is that they do not give as much to religious causes as the previous generation did," Seiler says 'We think that's important because the major-

ity of philanthropy in the United States today goes to religion, and giving to religion tends to have a positive effect on giving to other causes as well."

The issues that attract boomers' attention and charity dollars tend to be connected to progressive causes: the environment, disease prevention, stem cell research, civil rights, abortion, education reform and child welfare, among others.

More likely to volunteer

Not only are boomers giving to starkly different organizations than their parents gave to, but their volunteering tends to be more active, local and family oriented.

"Boomers are big into volunteering, especially when it involves their children in some way," says Jeff Love, director of strategic issues research at AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people 50 and over. "They are the soccer coach, the PTA chairman, the Cub Scout den mother."

AARP has conducted extensive polling and tracking of baby boomers to determine the real differences between their generation and their parents' generation.

"We've been thinking about (baby boomers) for 10 years nowever since we discovered that they were getting older-and that our membership will be largely composed of (baby boomers) as they move into the older cohort," Love says . "The main thing we found in studying this group is that they want things on their terms."

For example, most of AARP's baby boomer members prefer not to have a list generated for them of assisted-living facilities to research for their

parents (one of the organization's services) . They prefer instead for AARP to suggest places to visit so they can unearth the information for themselves.

"(Boomers) want an organization to facilitate them being able to do things and not the organization simply doing things for them," Love says. "We serve as a resource and adjust our programs to give them what they want and need."

A diverse generation

From its post-World War II beginnings, the baby boomer generation has had a substantial impact on society. Boomers are more racially and ethnically diverse than older generations, with households almost evenly divided between those with children and those without.

Remember, the generation itself spans 19 years, so the life stages of older and younger boomers differ Today, 40-year-olds are considered baby boomers. They did not experience Vietnam on any level, nor were they a part of the counterculture revolution in the 1960s.

One thing's for sure: self-reliance, independence and indulgence are all generational traits that will lead to a unique retirement and hopefully-for nonprofits, anyway-a philanthropic one.

This article first appeared in the May 2004 edition of FundRaising Success magazine (www.fundraisingsuccessmag.com). Reprinted with permission

Keep on rockin'

Baby boomers won't do retirement like their predecessors

LEON HOOVER HAS NOTIIING AGAINST spending a leisurely afternoon in a rocking chair, but he does want to debunk one myth-that the so-called «retirement years" should be dedicated to sitting around.

As this group reaches 65, many are expected to continue working for pay and/or as volunteers. While baby boomers typically have more material means and better health than any generation before, an MMA study found they feel less prepared financially for retirement than their parents were.

Baby boomers worry about the wild card of unknown health problems, rising health costs, and the possibility of becoming a burden on their children if they outlive their savings.

"This whole purpose-filled next chapter is really a passion of mine," says Hoover, who lives with his wife in Lititz, Pa «My attitude about retirement is informed by my faith and the values of my parents." He critiques the"marketing of leisure" approach and says that scare tactics that say retirees need $1 to $2 million in their savings accounts to retire just promote "fear, anxiety, and giving up on doing anything meaningful to plan for the next chapter ahead "

Hoover says Christians can approach retirement from a position of "having enough." People who may think a purpose-filled retirement is not within their means can learn that it is possible to respond to God's generosity.

He gives examples of creative ways that retirees can afford to be generous with their time and talents, such as that of a couple who rent their home while they volunteer at a summer camp.

"People who remain engaged in giving back to the church and society tend to feel more fulfilled, joyful and healthier," Hoover says. He learned he has an aptitude for doing hands-on work when he helped with Hurricane Katrina cleanup last year.

In his classes, he gives participants tools to help identify their gifts and passions. Using their "next chapter" passion profile, participants begin to develop their next chapter plans, which may include options to do something they may not have done before. Another myth Hoover debunks is that everyone should work full-time until retirement age, then stop work abruptly. He shows ways to transition from full-time employment to retirement.

This planning is not just for people very near retirement age. 'The earlier one starts (to plan) the better it works out," Hoover says.

Susan Miller &lzer is a writer for Mennonite Mutual Aid. This article is reprinted by permission.

What is your next stage?

Mennonite Mutual Aid has published Your Enouf}t, a booklet that invites people approaching the traditional years to con· sider a series of questions to begin detennining what is lor Question sqcb as:

• Hyou had no constraints on your service. what would you want to do?

• Think of the skiDs and abilities youVe developed while working How can you use those as you continue working. even if in another context?

• Consider your dally living expenses. Will tbey mcrease or decrease? Stay the same?

• What would you like your financial legacy to be?

The booklet examines Inore than just the financial side of retirement years: it co",rs U5e'of time, iuming a bobby into a second career, service, and health issues. To order this new free guide, call (Boo) 348·7468 or visit

MMA belps people manage resources in ways that honor Godthrough its professional expertise in .instmmce and financial rvices

Rooted .in the Anabaptist faith tradition. MMA offers practical stewardsh,ip education and tools congregations and organi%ations. David: Faber of Kan , cu,rrently -.epresents Mennonite Brethren on the MMA board of directors.

Mennonite Brethren

After the storm

Meeting physical, spiritual needs following the California citrus freeze

Freezing weather conditions are par for the course many places come January but not in California's San Joaquin Valley. Extremely low temperatures chilled California Jan. 1I-17, destroying up to 80 percent of citrus crops in some areas and seriously damaging crops such as avocados, strawberries and cut flowers. Twenty-one counties were declared disaster areas and statewide estimates put agricultural losses at more than $1.3 billion.

Citrus growers and workers alike are left without income until the industry recovers, which could take several more months. Many of those working in picking and packing had been living near poverty level before the freeze, so the crisis threw them into desperate need. An April 20 report from the California governor's office estimates that 264,000 people have been served at food banks in the hardest-hit counties.

'The freeze is over, but there is no work, or very little compared to the work before," says Julia, an agricultural worker interviewed by Mennonite Disaster Service. "Now my husband and I together pack just three boxes of oranges

a day, mostly for juice, when we were packing 10 (before the freeze). We only get between $8 and $12 a box."

The MDS report confirms that, yes, that means she and her husband make only $36 in a day. Julia says she and her husband purchased a home about a year ago, and they have a hefty mortgage to consider. She says that her family, up to now, has had enough food due to distributions by MDS , and that the food distributed from the churches is often the only option for many.

Julia does not deny the struggle, but says, 'Tm trusting God, trusting God."

Like Julia, those involved with freeze relief efforts recognize the hardship, but in the same breath say that God is working in the midst of the crisis. In this special follow-up on the California freeze, the Leader highlights three examples of "fruit" to come from the crisis: one Mennonite Brethren congregation's awakening as they reach out to their community, Pacific District Conference minister Jose Elizondo's work with MDS to meet physical needs of the primarilyHispanic workers, and MCC's efforts to establish and build relationships among congregations affected by the freeze.-Myra Holmes

Fresh fruit from freeze

Helping with problems "bigger than the freeze"

Thanks to the January freeze. it's harvesttime at Iglesia El Buen Pastor, a Mennonite Brethren congregation in Orange Cove, Calif. Pastoral couple Pablo and Maricela Chavez describe a spiritual awakening in the congregation and a hunger for Christ in the community that can only be described as a revival.

Although Orange Cove is not in the hardest-hit area, the vast majority of families in this community depend upon the citrus industry, picking or packing fruit for their livelihood. The citrus industry provides nearly year-round work. So when the freeze damaged an estimated 80 percent of citrus crops, many in the community were left without work, not just temporarily, but for months to come

Some will find work in spring harvesting other fruits, but many could be out of work until the citrus industry recovers-perhaps until October or November. The majority of these workers affected are Spanish speakers, and Pablo estimates that 70 percent are undocumented workers, not eligible for any kind of governmental aid.

All this means that many were suddenly left hungry and in need of help for rent, food and utilities. In light of the situation, Maricela laughs incredulously that she can sincerely say, 'We are thankful for the freeze."

Most of the attendees at Iglesia El Buen Pastor, including Maricela and her family, had come to the church during past freezes in 1991 and 1998, so they had experience with exactly this kind of crisis. Even though about a third of the current

They need God in their hearts and the ir lives because many of their marriages and their families are facing problems bigger than the freeze."

Maricela says that a group of church members had been praying specifically that God would bring new people to the church. 'We were not praying for the freeze," she is quick to say, "but maybe that's how God

\Vhile food need " are m..1jor conc e rn s of those who co me , "the thing th ey need is God. Th ey need Cod in t heir he ..lrts ::md their lives hcc a u"C' many of their marria ges and their are IJdng probl e ms bi gger than the free : e."

attendees were affected personally by the freeze, they had seen firsthand how God brought good out of past freezes and had confidence that God would do so again. 'We were not worried about it," Maricela says.

Iglesia EI Buen Pastor responded quickly to help those hurt by the freeze. becoming a food distribution center for Mennonite Disaster Service (see story p. 22). As they loved their community in this tangible and practical way, the church pews began to fill. Before the freeze, attendance hovered around 40; now it stands at around 100 regulars. One Sunday in early April saw 130 in attendance.

At first, folks came for the grocery bags. "It was easy to invite people to church," Pablo says. Both Sunday and Wednesday services increased in attendance as people were drawn by their hunger.

But even after food was no longer distributed at Wednesday services, people conrinued to come, drawn by their spiritual hunger Pablo says that while food and financial needs are major concerns of those who come. "the deepest thing they need is God.

answered our prayers."

As the pews fill, the congregation works hard to meet the spiritual needs of those who come. 'We are really, really busy right now," Pablo says. They've

made changes in the service to meet needs of newcomers, including a new worship team Personal testimonies are a part of every service Volunteers work with teens and children.

"Every Sunday, we have some people accept Jesus," Pablo says. New discipleship classes encourage growth in those new believers.

Full pews and evidence of changed lives have inspired what Maricela calls "an awakening" among members as well. "We're excited and we're working even more willingly because we're seeing the result of our work," she says.

A member of Iglesia El Buen Pastor (Church of the Good Shepherd) repackages beans for distribution to those impacted by the citr us f r eeze.

Testimonies from new believers indicate that Christ is transforming their lives, marriages and families. Maricela talks about how her own family was transformed after they came to Iglesia El Buen Pastor following a freeze in 1991 -about new peace and new possibilities that opened to them . So she can understand both the need for Christ and the transformation he brings "When families say that their lives are changing, we believe it, because we've been there."

Pablo and Maricela hope that the freeze will be the start of larger transformation for their church and community as well. 'We believe what the word says," says Pablo. "When Jesus comes into our life, he changes everything. He promises to bless us."

Pablo anticipates that in five years, many who have come to the church as a result of this freeze will be in leadership in the church and that families and marriages will be changed for the berter. The congregation is praying for 1,000 members, a figure that Pablo says is not unreasonable in a community of 10,000.

'We know that that's a lot, but we are going to work step-by-step," Pablo says. Now that the first goal of 100 in artendance has been reached, they are carefully preparing and laying the foundation for the next 100.

Iglesia El Buen Pastor is also praying that one of the results of the freeze will be a transformed community. Statistically, Orange Cove is "number one in negative things," as Maricela says, with poverty, gangs and violence.

"I firmly believe that our community is going to be really, really different," Pablo says. "Gangs, violence and fights will no longer be here. We are praying for that and we believe that it's going to be a reality." Maricela, who works with the youth in the church, longs especially for a hopeful perspective and new possibilities for younger generations.

Pablo and Maricela thank the larger MB family for many expressions of support, and invite prayer for Iglesia El Buen Pastor and other churches as they respond to the freeze-for provision for physical needs and for more work to be available soon, but especially for wisdom as they try to meet the spiritual needs uncovered by the crisis. 'The most important thing for us as a church is wisdom and the blessing of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit every time we meet so people can see and feel God," Pablo says.

Even while oranges rot on the ground around them, Iglesia El Buen Pastor looks forward to more spiritual fruit to come. "Even though it is difficult, out of this is going to come something really, really good," Pablo says. "I think the central message is that everything that happens in our lives God has the power to change into something good I think that's the message of the freeze." - Myra Holmes

Honduras Jun 1-18

Kenya Jun 6-27 $3

Bags of blessing-and tortillas

poe minister works with MOS to distribute food

It's been months since freezing weather devastated the citrus crop in Califomia's San Joaquin Valley, and it could be many more months before work fully picks up again. While the media attention died away just days after the freeze, Mennonite Disaster Service has been and continues to assist families impacted by this natural disaster. MDS, an inter-Mennonite agency that responds to disasters in Canada and the U.S., responded to similar freezes in 1991 and 1998.

MDS has cooperated with five Mennonite Brethren churches in and around Fresno, Calif , to set up food distribution centers. The centers at Iglesia El Buen Pastor in Orange Cove. Templo De Oracion in Traver, Grace Community Church in Sanger, West Park Community Church in West Park. and Reedley MB Church have assisted some 350 families. At least one congregation also includes in its grocery bags, a flier in Spanish that gives people information on whom to contact for help in other areas.

'There are four main items in the Mexican diet: tortillas. potatoes, beans and rice; anything else could be considered a luxury," says Jose Elizondo. assistant district minister for the Pacific District Conference. who is working with MDS coordinating the food distribution efforts with the help of a $15,000 MDS grant.

Elizondo says some groups or organizations provided food aid only once a month, "but hunger pains come every four or five hours. What's the sense of feeding people once a month? So we're just going to continue on."

The majority of this year's citrus was ruined by the frost, and the workers who handpick the oranges or work in packing houses are still mostly out of work. Many, some say 60 percent, of these workers have not and likely will not receive federal or state aid, so that is where organizations such as MDS can step in and provide basic help.

Almost every day of the week Elizondo is either picking up food or delivering it to one of the five churches that serve as distribution centers. Elizondo is able to purchase food at bargain rates from the Fresno Food Bank. a local tortilla facto-

ry and discount stores. His white pickup towing an open trailer that can fit two full palettes is a common sight. A load can consist of 50 sacks of dry beans at 50 pounds each, equal to 2,500 pounds, or 300 15-pound bags of potatoes. Canned goods are also frequent purchases, and Elizondo is able to buy most things for pennies on the dollar. The food is then repackaged into manageable sizes before final distribution.

Elizondo says that if there were more people to coordinate distribution, there could be more centers, and more food could be given out to those who need it. But he is thankful for the volunteers, including many retirees. who are giving of their time.

Elizondo commends the group of women at Iglesia El Buen Pastor in Orange Cove who help with repackaging food and distribution, they themselves impacted by the freeze. ' They are always willing to help. to pitch in and are highly involved in the church. I call them the faithful ones."

Tim Leppke, of Reedley MB Church, helps coordinate that church's food distribution efforts and speaks of his desire to work more with and in the local Hispanic community After some youth ministry trips to Mexico. he challenged the youth: "Now that you've gone there... what about here? What are we going to do right here?" And he found himself convicted.

Jerry Linscheid, who works with resource development for West Coast MCC, says that he hears rumors of a lot of money in the pipeline from the government for freeze victims. 'Tm not quite sure I've seen it make it down to the folks yet." he says. Even if financial aid arrives. it is estimated that 60 percent of affected workers fall outside of the system and will not qualify for aid.

"MDS and MCC," Linscheid says. "are not bound by these issues," and can therefore be of assistance to many of these workers "As churches are involved in food distribution. if their ears and eyes are open, they can discern other needs that MCC and MDS may be able to provide help with. We want to empower the churches to get the food to those who need it."

Linscheid says. 'The reality is that it took time for the impact of the freeze to take effect. It's certainly off the news . When is the greatest impact of the freeze happening? Maybe it's about now." -by Scott Sundberg, MDS news service

Jose Elizondo holds some of the thousands of tortillas he has purchased with an MDS grant for distribution to those impacted by the citrus freeze

Productive partnerships

ReLationships offer hoListic reLief

Partnership is the word that best describes the work of Mennonite Central Committee following the January citrus freeze. Sheri Plett Wiedenhoefer, West Coast MCC director and a member of Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, says MCC partnered with government and community agencies and helped churches partner with each other to meet local needs.

"MCC's work is working together with our churches," says Wiedenhoefer. 'We're not an agency that can provide rent and utilities and financial support, but it was great to see our churches respond."

When the freeze hit, MCC worked closely with other agencies to work toward a holistic relief effort. Wiedenhoefer says that since MCC had representatives and churches in the heart of the affected area, they were able to provide valuable information to other agencies regarding the needs and how best to respond. ' Those relationships are what make the difference," Wiedenhoefer says.

MCC's strength in building relationships also was evident as they helped churches connect with other churches. Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren churches on the West Coast are an ethnically diverse group, with about two-thirds holding worship services in languages other than English. Wiedenhoefer estimates that 40 percent of Mennonite and MB church artendees in the region are foreign-born.

Since many of the hardest-hit congregations are primarily Hispanic, the freeze provided an opportunity for congregations of different ethnicities to partner together to respond. MCC helped set up or support several such partnerships. 'These are our brothers and sisters in Christ," Wiedenhoefer says

Wiedenhoefer points to the church -tochurch partnership between College Community Church, Clovis, Calif , and Iglesia El Buen Pastor, Orange Cove, as an

example of the kind of partnership that strengthens both congregations and demonstrates the love of Christ to watching eyes in the community.

The relationship between Clovis and Orange Cove had been growing for several years. They had shared meals, worship and a women's retreat.

The freeze hit just before a second bilingual women's retreat. Mary Anne Isaak, Clovis pastoral staff member, says that when the women from Orange Cove began to share about the impact of the freeze at the retreat, they spoke primarily about how God had worked through past freezes and how they hoped the church could reach out during this freeze. "It became a time of encouragement for us and our congregation," Isaak says.

With encouragement from MCC, Clovis has walked alongside the Orange Cove congregation through this crisis. At times, that has meant financial support, such as a special offering taken to cover retreat expenses for the Orange Cove women. But it has also taken the form of prayer, a listening ear, hugs and words of concern and encouragement that Pablo Chavez, pastor of Iglesia EI Buen Pastor, says has been meaningful to the Orange Cove congregation.

"It is something really complete with them, because it is not only the economic part, it is a relationship," Chavez says.

MCC also helped facilitate relationships between El Faro Community Church in Reedley, Calif., and a Mennonite church in San Francisco, and between Reedley MB and a family. Wiedenhoefer says that MCC hopes to continue to build on relationships both with other agencies and between churches so that if and when another disaster strikes, "well be ready." She says, "It's that relationship-building that will really help us understand and be ready."Myra Holmes

Ministry Quest Imagine the Possibilitiesl

Do you know someone who:

• is growing in their faith

• has leadership potential

• is interested in ministry as a vocation

• is 16-18 years old

Ministry Ouest combines leadership retreats with extenSive local mentOring to help StUdents egplpre ministry as a vocation ancidevelop as Christian leaders

StudentS mbst be nominated by their pastOr to participate Talk with your pastOI: or youth pastor about nominating someone fo r Ministry Quest.

Quest

Hillsboro MB welcomes cemmuftity to JuLy dedication events

lone

Three years ago Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church was exploring, under the leadership of senior pastor Bruce Porter, what new ministry opportunities existed beyond the walls of their downtown facility. Then that facility was destroyed by fire March 7, 2004. Overnight the idea that a church is people and not a building was a "concept that was now literally true," says moderator Don Ratzlaff. And it didn't take long for the phrase "Church Without Walls" to become the motto for the now homeless congregation of 450 worshippers.

This month the Hillsboro congregation moves into their new $5.2 million ministry site on an II-acre campus on the east edge of the city and begins a busy summer of firsts, starting with the first worship service in the sanctuary June 10. HMBC's first church dinner is June 24 as part of a mission emphasis Sunday, an annual event usually held in early spring but postponed this year until the building was completed. Craig Jost, MBMS International Midwest regional mobilizer who grew up in HMBC, is the missions speaker. Vacation Bible school in July and three August weddings complete the summer calendar.

When asked about the events that brought HMBC to this point of celebration, the words that one most often hears are "journey" and "gratitude."

The congregation's journey involved more than negotiating the many decisions thrust upon them by the unexpected loss of their large church building. It also involved rethinking "who we were as a people," says Ratzlaff, who compares some aspects of his congregation's experience to the biblical stories of the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness.

The journey also included the death of 47 church members and transitions among all three full-time pastoral staff members. "Losing pastoral staff made us ask a lot of questions," says Ratzlaff. 'The last three years have been terrifically stretching and humbling." The congregation is currently without a senior pastor and will hire a family pastor after securing the lead pastor. Youth pastor Paul Raugust joined the pastoral staff this past fall.

While HMBC leaders are thankful to again have a church building, they don't want to lose sight of the lessons learned while homeless. 'We want to be a congregation that loves people and is real and sincere," says interim Christian education coordinator Bev Vogel. 'We don't want walls to be a barrier. We want to reach out and show love and hospitality to others."

As the congregation considered how best to dedicate their facility, expressing gratitude for the gracious way in which the Hillsboro community responded to the fire and HMBC's subsequent need for temporary housing was very important The July I dedication service and open house begins a month of special events planned by the Celebration Team to bring the community into the new 40,000 square-foot facility.

"Part of expressing our gratitude is opening up the building to the community," says Rita Bartel, a member of the Celebration Team

After the fire as church leaders searched for places to locate

chu rch offices and to hold Sunday and Wednesday night activities, "No questions were asked," says Vogel. "Everyone said, 'Oh yes, whatever we can do to help.'" Vogel and others agree that this gracious spirit continued even though, as building committee vice-chair Brad Bartel says, 'Three years is a long time."

Tabor College offered temporary office and conference room spaces, the school district offered the use of the gymnasium and classrooms on Sunday and another Hillsboro congregation allowed HMBC to use their entire facility for midweek Bible classes and a monthly fellowship meal. Vacation Bible school was held on the county fairgrounds and local churches offered their facilities for weddings and funerals.

'There is a profound sense of gratitude," says Ratzlaff that prompts HMBC to want to be equally hospitable now that they again have a church building. "We can't repay the community in a better way than to make the facility available," says Brad Bartel.

While details of the morning dedication service were still being finalized in May, the purpose behind it and the various celebratory events is to glorify God for "what he has done and honor him by what he will do through us," says Rita Bartel, quoting from the Celebration Team's purpose statement.

One unique feature of the afternoon open house is that various parts of the building will be in use, says Rita Bartel. Visitors to the library will listen to stories, piano music will be featured in the sanctuary and a Powe r Point presentation showing the fire and building process will run continually in the fellowship hall.

Other special July events include a July 10 coffee and special open house for residents of the community's nursing homes, Bluegrass Praise Night July 21 and a hog roast for firefighters and emergency Medical Service volunteers to thank them for their efforts fighting the fire that destroyed the HBMC building and most of its contents.

'We want to keep our eyes open to opportunities we have now that weren't possible before," says Brad Bartel, citing the seniors' coffee as one example of an event made possible by a single-level facility. While their previous three-story facility had limitations,

thinking "outside the box" when it came to building a new facility was a struggle at times, says Bartel.

To help facilitate new thinking, the Ministry Concepts Committee was formed as part of the building project and was charged with considering future ministry opportunities. One opportunity that emerged from that committee's work was the idea of providing day care services for children, a ministry that Bartel says would not have been possible in the old structure. The new facility has intentionally been built to State of Kansas day care code and the congregation has formed a day care task force.

While an emergency building project is never easy, HMBC leaders credit the congregation with being gracious and supportive of the recommendations they received throughout the process. One-third of HMBC's current artendees, about 130 people, served on various subcommittees that provided input in the design of various aspects of the new building that features native Kansas limestone, a simple prairie style and multifunctional spaces.

Worship and fellowship are two congregational priorities that led to a ministry center that has both a sanctuary and fellowship hall, two "dedicated" spaces of roughly the same size. The Gathering Space, a 4,000 square-foot foyer area between the sanctuary and fellowship hall, is an important feature of the new facility, say Ratzlaff and Brad Bartel. The foyer in the previous facility was

crowded and forced people to leave, says Bartel. The Gathering Space, with its portable welcome center and conversation areas, "will hopefully promote lingering and interaction," he says.

The sanctuary, with a maximum seating capacity of 548, has a sloped floor with pews, permanent stage with moveable choir platforms, a baptistry and multiple projectors and screens. A pipe organ will be installed this fall. The fellowship hall has a banquet seating capacity of 400, a moveable stage and a projector and screen.

A commercial kitchen, Hearth Room, four dedicated adult classrooms and junior and senior high rooms with a shared kitchen and storage comprise one wing of the facility. The children's wing has nine classrooms, an assembly area, resource room, two nursery rooms and a mother's room, sewing room, library and staff offices.

Since little was salvaged after the fire, funding was needed for the building and furnishings. 'We're having to think of so many things," says Vogel. The congregation raised over $1 million in a "very successful" capital campaign that concludes in 2008, says Ratzlaff. Proceeds were received from an insurance policy and additional funding was secured through MB Loan Fund

Yes, Hillsboro MB has its walls back and something more. For three years HMBC was without a home and "flexibility has been the key," says Vogel. The congregation has learned to work together in new ways and in new places. HMBC leaders sense a fresh energy and passion in the congregation 'We want to forge ahead," says Vogel, "to keep covering new territory." - Connie Faber

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One last hymn-sing

New Hope sells property, considers future

New Hope (Minn.) Church of the Mennonite Brethren will close one chapter of its history this month with the sale of its property on Boone Avenue North. Despite nearly a century of ministry in the Minneapolis area, including 43 years at this location, the congregation had declined in membership until maintaining the property became a burden. The congregation has not disbanded and will make decisions about their next chapter in coming months.

Past members of New Hope are invited to a farewell reunion, which pastor Steve Brooks describes as "one last good hymn-sing and pie social," scheduled for June 16. The program will include a choir of former members and a walk through the church's history led by former pastor Phil Glanzer. Final seIVices at this location will be June 24.

Although some sadness surrounds the sale of the church property, Brooks says, 'We do not want it to feel like a wake We really want to celebrate what we've been able to do to impact this neighborhood and the world."

One of the key ways New Hope has impacted its community for the last 40 years has been through New Hope Pre-Kindergarten, the "primary identity of the church in the community," Brooks says. Long time director and lead teacher Alice Suderman was integral to the ministry since the 70S.

The church also has a history of impacting the world through missions, with an impressive list of missionaries sent or supported by the congregation. Even at their current small size, the congregation continues to support both long and short-term missionaries.

New Hope began in 1910 as South Side Mission in Minneapolis, a Mennonite Brethren citymission effort of the Central District Conference with significant support from the Mountain Lake (Minn.) MB Church and Carson MB Church, Delft, Minn. Even in those early chapters, the congregation had a notable outreach to children, at one time transporting some 200 neighborhood children to the church for Sunday school and youth programs. Later, the congregation was instrumental in the formation of Treehouse, an independent outreach to troubled teens and families

The church was chartered as Minneapolis MB Church in 1955 and changed its name to N ew Hope Church in the early 60S.

New Hope built the current facilities in 1964 and has strived to maintain and use the facilities well. They recently shared the facility with not only the pre- K but also a Russian music school, a church plant and another small congregation. Roger Engbrecht, district minister for the CDC, says, ''The building has been very, very well utilized."

Once a congregation of 100 or more, artendance at New Hope had dropped to around 15, and the burden of maintaining the property had fallen to a select few who lived in the area. A year ago the congregation began addressing the difficult choices it faced, including closing the pre- K anellor re-birthing the church.

Consultation with Don Morris, director of Mission USA, and representatives of the CDC helped clarify that "the situation here at New Hope did not lend itself to a conference supported revitalization effort," says Brooks. The congregation decided in November to close the pre- K and voted unanimously in December to sell the property but remain a congregation.

The property is under contract to Crystal Evangelical Free Church, a nearby mega-church that, coincidentally, plans to change its name to New Hope Church. The buyer plans to use the property for community outreach. The sale will be finalized this month. New Hope plans to use proceeds from the sale of the property to bless larger Menrionite Brethren ministries and future ministries that may arise in the Minneapolis area.

The congregation will continue meeting. although not weekly, as they make decisions about the next chapter for New Hope. Brooks, a bivocational pastor, will continue to be involved with the congregation; details of what that will look like are unclear. 'We're kind of feeling this along together," Brooks says, "and while we don't know the end we do know that he who began with us is still with us and will be with us afterward That's our hope that's always new."-Myra Holmes

Leadership Board continues work Board

reviews search, approves budget

The u.s. Conference Leadership Board met April 20-22 in Denver, Colo. Rick Stiffney, president and CEO of Mennonite Health Services Alliance, was recently retained as a consultant by the Leadership Board to assist the board in a number of its tasks. The Leadership Board spent the majority of its time with Stiffney discussing governance roles, responsibilities and policies; identity and branding, the search for an executive director and forming a national Board of Faith and Life.

The Leadership Board identified several individuals that board members feel have the gifts needed to serve as the conference's executive director and are in the process of contacting those individuals Because the search process is held in the strictest of confidence, the Leadership Board is releasing no additional information at this time. Until an executive director is appointed, Leadership Board chair Joe Johns will continue to cover those responsibilities.

The Board continued its work developing an identity statement to be used in the executive director search process and in printed and oral communication.

The Leadership Board appointed a Board of Faith and Life Task Force. The task force will address questions raised in the January BFL Summit and develop a proposal that addresses these questions. The proposal will be circulated among summit participants with the goal of appointing national BFL board members this summer. The Leadership Board appointed Valerie Rempel to be its representative on the task force.

The Leadership Board agreed to make revisions to the governance manual provided by Les Stahlke, a consultant who assisted the board in formulating U.S. Conference bylaws . '''The revisions will more closely align with the structure

that will best serve the U S. Conference," writes Johns in an e-mail summarizing the recent board meeting. Subsequently, the Leadership Board formed finance and governance committees.

The board also discussed a variety of business agenda items and adopted a budget for the new fiscal year. The Leadership Board approved a budget of $813,761 for the 2007- 08 fiscal year. The budget includes new line items supporting the national MB youth convention, the 2008 U.S. Conference convention and MB Biblical Seminary's Ministry Quest program. The Leadership Board approved increased support of Mennonite World Conference, Kindred Productions and a cost of living increase for USC staff It was announced that the 2008 pastors' conference and convention speaker will be Dan Southerland, a pastor currently living in Charlotte, NC, who founded Church Transitions, Inc., an organization that trains pastors and church leaders to effectively process change and major transitions. Tabor College and Central Kansas congregations will host the back-to-back events. The pastors' conference and convention will be held July 23-26 in Wichita and Hillsboro, Kan., respectively.

In other business, the Leadership Board discussed an upcoming meeting with the Canadian Conference leadership board; affirmed Larry Nikkel as the new U.S. Conference representative on the Mennonite Mutual Aid board of directors, replacing David Faber whose terms of service will expire; affirmed the national MB youth convention held earlier that month; and heard staff reports. The Leadership Board also discussed upcoming district conference events and global gatherings sponsored by the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren and Mennonite World Conference. - Connie Faber

- Henry Dlt:k

Henry and Erica Dick with Palm Village Director of Development Jim Dueck

An estimated 438 students received degrees this spring from the three U.S. Mennonite Brethren educational 'nstitutions: MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno Pacific University and Tabor College.

MB Biblical Seminary presented degrees to 48 students at its three campuses, including its first graduate from the Doctor of Ministry program and the first two graduates from the Winnipeg Center for Ministry Studies.

Two students from the Winnipeg Center received their Certificate in Christian Ministry April 22 in Winnipeg, Man., during a joint ceremony with Canadian Mennonite University. Henry Janzen, a research scientist with the Environmental Health Program of Agriculture Canada, gave the commencement address.

Fifteen students graduated from the Langley, BC campus during their April 21 ceremony at South Delta Baptist church in Delta, BC. Phil Zylla, principal of Associated Canadian Theological Schools, gave the commencement address and MBBS Master of Divinity graduate Melissa Lane gave the student testimony.

Daniel Beutler is the first MB Biblical Seminary graduate to receive the Doctorate of Ministry Degree. Beutler, born and raised in Switzerland, is pastor of congregational life at Linden MB Church in Alberta . MBBS is one of six seminaries that make up ACTS, located on the campus of Trinity Western University.

The Fresno, Calif., graduation ceremonies were held April 29 at Fresno First Baptist Church. Nine students received their Master of Divinity Degree, 21 the Master of Arts Degree and one was presented with a Diploma. John E. Toews, MBBS professor and academic dean emeritus, gave the commencement address. Student responses were given by Paul Bartel of Fairview, Okla ; Beth Conkle of Fresno, and Mathias Duck of Asuncion, Paraguay.

The Fresno campus' annual Community Service Award was presented to Gerre Brenneman, executive director of Evangel Home, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to serve women and children in crisis in the Fresno area.

Bachelor's degrees went to approximately 260 Fresno Pacific Univer sity undergraduate students and master 's degrees to about 70 students in morning and afternoon com-

Colleges, seminary hold graduation • ceremonies

MBBS graduations include two firsts

mencement ceremonies May 5 in the Special Events Center on the main campus in Fresno, Calif.

Herrna B. Williams, provost and academic vice president, gave the address. Williams joined FPU Aug. I, 2006. The Fulbright Scholar and Kellogg Foundation and Ford Foundation fellow earned her bachelor's and master's from Southern Illinois University, her Ph.D. from Iowa State University and completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard University.

Traditional undergraduates from 10 countries graduated with degrees in 43 majors and emphases. The top three majors were liberal studies, business administration and psychology. Master's degrees went to students in 12 areas of study and degree-completion students in five programs.

Pulkit Sawroop Bose received the Harold H. Haak Award for Academic Achievement, and Marin Canaday earned the award for highest grade-point average. David Youngs, mathematics education faculty, was given the Nickel Excellence in Teaching Award.

Graduates also enjoyed several receptions. The event for African American students was May 4. The graduate, traditional undergraduate and degree-completion receptions were held commencement day.

One hundred and thirty students graduated May 19 during Tabor College's 97th commencement ceremony held in the gymnasium. Ronald J. Sider, professor of theology, holistic ministry and public policy and director of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Palmer (formerly Eastern Baptist) Theological Seminary and president of Evangelicals for Social Action, addressed the graduating class. A widely known evangelical speaker and writer, Sider has spoken on six continents and published 29 books, 30 book chapters and more than 70 articles in scholarly journals and mag32ines. He has lectured at scores of colleges and universities around the world, including Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Oxford.

The morning ceremony was preceded by a symphonic band concert. Following the ceremony, graduates greeted their family and guests on the college green Tabor College is located in Hillsboro, Kan., with a second location, Tabor College Wichita, in west Wichita, Kan. - MBBS, FPU, TC news services

MBBS president Jim Holm presents Paul Bartel with his diploma.

My love story

Loving with head and heart

Iwill never forget that hot, muggy July evening. My boyfriend and I were walking across the pint-sized park in a central Kansas community We had both graduated from college the previous May and were now in summer school at two different universities in two different states . It

The

For the most part it has been for me what Anne Graham Lotz calls "head knowledge." I have known about it and believed it. However in the past few months I have experienced a paradigm shift in my understanding of the love of God. It has made what Lotz calls the 18-inch drop and gone from head to heart knowledge.

Brennan Manning in his book, The Ragamuffin Gospel , spends a lot of time talking about how much the God of the universe loves us and cares for us How God wants to have an intimate love relationship with his children. I must admit that after reading several chapters of that book my initial reaction was, "So, what's new?" I knew all this stuff. After a few days, I moved on to another book, I was the July 4th weekend, and we had both come back to visit friends and to reconnect with each other.

01 this new unJerstandin o thJt Cod lovc-; me. little mc. is almost oycrwhclming . I fccllike a sm ..lll. almost micro')copic mite 1h;.11 is invisible unlcs') you reallv look for it.

Walking slowly, we came to a park bench near a clump of trees and sat down For several minutes neither of us said anything, just sat there in the darkness watching the light patrerns shift across the grass as the street lights shone through the barely moving tree branches

We would soon say good night to each other and then in the morning return to our schools many miles apart. I sat there wondering if our relationship would move forward or if this was the moment of goodbye. As though answering my thoughts, my boyfriend put his arm around me and told me that he loved me. That moment was a sacred event in my life After the disappointments and pain of previous broken relationships, I finally knew that this was "it." And it was. We were married less than a year later. The love we shared with each other that night we still share with each other many years later, and it is still sacred to me.

This past winter I came to the realization that there is another love in my life that can be just as sacred and just as precious as the one my husband and I share-actually, even more so.

As a preschooler I learned to sing "Gott ist die Liebe, Er Iiebt auch rnich" in Sunday school in my German-speaking church in Canada. That's how I first learned that "God is love and that he loves even me." From that song I graduated to 'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so," and "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world."

As a child I was taught to repeat John 3:16 and to put my name into it: "For God so loved the world (Rosie), that he gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever (Rosie) believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (KJV) Throughout the years I have heard the biblical message of God's love over and over and have sung, ''The love of God is greater far, than tongue or pen can ever tell ."

Saw the Lord by Anne Graham Lotz.

This book is based on the life of Isaiah and his encounter with the Lord. As I read, I was moved by Lotz's description of this encounter and how it changed 1";;'\ (@) Isaiah's life dramatically As I @ \ C@) read, it dawned on me. I @ (i) <i)

needed the 18-drop from r.i'\

my head to my heart. I went back to the @

Manning book and re- @ read the "God loves YOll /'i})'

chapters. I immersf '=-

myself in reading lovi @

sections from the ...... ' r I New Testament. 77/1 '® "How great is th€ love the Father has lavl;, us , that we should be called children of God" (I John 3:1).

Slowly, over a period of weeks, the "drop" in me occurred. I felt God's arm come around me in a new way and heard him say, "I love you , Rose, and I want you to love me back." The sacredness of this new understanding that God loves me, little insign ificant me, is almost overwhelming. I feel like a small, almost microscopic spider mite that is invis ible unless you really look for it And yet, the God of the Universe loves me. Wow!

On a flight over the Rocky Mountains of Colorado I marveled at God's majestic creation I was humbled to realize that the God who created those 14,ooo-foot peaks and covered them with glistening snow loves me. When I walk to my garden and cut fresh asparagus for supper I am reminded that the God who makes the plants grow loves me . The orange, pink and purple sunsets that I see from my window are another message of his love for me

"0 Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life lowe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be "

> INQUIRING MiNDS

by Marvin Hein

A mansion with a great view or a simple house

Are there varying degrees of heavenly rewards?

QMy perception of heaven is that there will be different levels of reward. So will the deathbed converts live in the simple habitat-style mansions of gold in heaven while the evangelists and prophets (better gifted folks) get the hilltop. ocean-view and grand mansions? (Colorado)

AThe inquirer introduces his question by remembering singing as a toddler a Sunday school song that asked, 'Will there be any stars in your crown?" He assumes that inherent in the song's question is that believers will be rewarded in heaven for their good works. He also confesses he thinks there will be different levels of rewards. This almost seems to the inquirer like an incentive system to do good works, a pay-for-performance arrangement. He poses a related question: "Many late-in-life converts have done a lot of good works. When they come to faith in Christ, do all these past good works get added to their reward ledger in heaven?"

The last question may be the easiest to answer. Jesus more than once describes the unbelieving Pharisees as those who sought the congratulations of people for their good deeds. Jesus' answer to such good deeds was that the Pharisees had already received their rewards for those deeds. Surely there are unbelievers who do good deeds out of better motivation than the Pharisees, but I doubt that such deeds are part of the "stars in your crown."

In the Matthew 20 parable of the vineyard laborers, for some a very troubling passage of Scripture, all laborers received the same reward. It doesn't seem fair that the one who worked one hour should receive the same pay as another who worked all day. Some would conclude from this passage, I presume, that all rewards in heaven will be equal and no one will have a better view from his mansion than anyone else

Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy or other spiritual Send your question to "Inquiring Minds," c/o Marvin Rein , 3036 East Magill Avenue, Fremo, CA 93710 or e-mail Marvin at marvinhein@sbcglobal.net.

The long-departed theologian Augustus Hopkins Strong put it quite well, I think, when he wrote: '1\lthough there will be degrees of blessedness and honor, proportioned to the capacity and fidelity of each soul each will receive as great a measure of reward as it can contain (I Cor. 2:9) and in this final state, once entered upon, will be unchanging in kind and endless in duration."

Strong bases this view on passages such as Luke 19:17 where Jesus says to one: 'Well done: good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over 10 cities." Jesus then goes on to say that another, who has been faithful as well, will receive authority over five cities.

The same idea of varying rewards seems to be espoused by Paul in I Corinthians 3:12-15 when he speaks of each person's works being tested with fire. He says that a person will be rewarded if any personal works remain afrer the fiery tesring. But if the deeds are all burned, "he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire." It is quite obvious here that Paul is speaking to believers and that there will be different degrees of reward.

My conclusion then, along with others, is that rewards in heaven will be equal in the sense that each believer's cup will be full, but some will have greater capacity. Some cups will be larger than others. How is our capacity to hold rewards determined? I assume that this capacity at least in part will be the result of how faithfully we have used God's giftedness to us in this present life.

The believer's work and spirit in this earthly life will determine his capacity for reward. All rewards will be equal in that all will be redeemed by God-purely agracious act of God in response to faith in Jesus. But the rewards will differ. The nth-hour convert, who has done comparatively few good deeds, will not have opened the possibility for greater rewards due to being a latecomer to the kingdom.

We will all be perfect in heaven . Regardless of the degree of reward, we will all enjoy the presence of the Lord. We will all join, without thought of superiority or inferiority, in the worship of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How God will manage that is beyond my understanding. I only know that God desires us to do good works now.

His Word says we have been created for good works. 111 let him take care of the "mansion on the hilltop" question.

Correction: In the May column, the reference to C B. Baird should have been C. B. Caird.

BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP

Topeka, Kan. (Cornerstone Communityl-Megan Barkman, Kelsey Stanley and Stephanie Kennedy were baptized May 6.

Shafter, Calif.-Roger and Katherine Fr antz were received as members May 6

Hillsboro, Kan. (Ebenfeldl-Becky Faber, Allie Fau l and Lena Kleiner were baptized and received as members May 6.

Henderson, Neb.-Amber Block, Angela Goertzen, Casie Hawkins and Cortlan Regier were baptized and received as members April 29. Steve Ryan, Carla Ryan and Matthew Ryan were received as members.

Denver, Colo. (Garden Parkl - Chris Janssen was received as a member April 29

Kingsburg, Calif.-Kaitlyn Groft, Jeff Wiens and Jessica Wiens were baptized April 15 and received as members April 22 Michelle Barnett, Joey Curran, Genevieve Dunn, Jared Kopper, Tyler Kuhn, Jonat han Lehrman, Pearl Rivera and Katie Taylor were bapt ized AprilS Fairview, Okla.-Hannah Darr, Josiah Darr, Ethan Wichert and Dakota Eitzen were baptized and received as members Apri l 15 Linda Klinger was received as a member.

Wichita, Kan.(Lighthouse Communityl-Juan Moreno, Mc McAdams, Shirley Dreyer, Joetta Ewert, Leane Ewert and Luke Entz were baptized April S Samuel Mutfwang, Dan Harder, Shirley Dreyer, Crystal Graham, Mc McAdams and Juan Moreno were received as members April 22

Buhler, Kan.-Jennifer Adrian was baptized AprilS and received as a member April 15

ColUnsville, Okla. (Discovery Bible Fellowshipl- Mike and Margarete Frantz, Matt and Kelli Merlino, Mike and Peggy Milliken, Mike and Cindy O'Connor and Jeff and Katie Riggenbach were received as members April 1. Sanger, Calif. (Grace Communityl-Jeremy Bonnifield, Alex Hinojosa, Al Maldonado and Jose, Thomas and JR Maldonado were baptized and rece ived as members April 1 Sam and Debby Estes were also received as members.

MINISTRY

Com, Okla.-The church plans to participate in a June 30 community celebration called "A Place to Belong " The day will include events, concerts and a mea l, all intended to bless the community and highlight the Corn community.

Centennial, Colo. (Trailheadl-The congregation had an opportunity to volunteer at a camp for abused and neglected kids June 3-S

Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl-An abbreviated Evangelism Explosion course is being offered May 20July 3

Bakersfield, Calif (The Bridgel-A team traveled to Mexico May 25-27 to build homes fo r local res idents

Fresno, Calif. (The Grovel-Volunteers wearing Tshirts that read "The Grove at Work," picked up trash and swept streets in a designated area of town May 19.

Wich ita, Kan. (Firstl-Deacons opened a fund for victims of the Greensburg, Kan., tornado. The church encouraged people to volunteer to help with food distribution and tornado cleanup through the Salvation Army and Mennonite Disaster Service

Sioux Falls, SD (Uncoln Hillsl-Volunteers donated time and money May 1 to help serve a meal at The Banquet, a local ministry that serves evening meals to about 400 guests living on limited means.

Minot, ND (Bible Fellowshipl-Volunteers hosted a Good News Club, a Bible club for children , at a local school for six weeks beginning Apri l 17

Sanger, Calif. (Grace Communityl-The church is the center for a weekly food distribution for those in need in the community The food pantry, Sanger Community Christian Outreach, served 2,123 peop le during March and April.

San Jose, calif. (Uncoln Glenl- The congregation and other area churches sponsored Easter egg hunts for the commun ity in 31 area parks April 7 Some S,OOO eggs were filled and found by 500 children

PROCLAMAnO

N

Enid, Okla -The church hosted an evening seminar on understanding teens April 22 Wendell Loewen, associate professor of youth, church and culture at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan., was the guest speaker. Ferndale, Wash. (Good Newsl-Bob Buxman, area representative fo r Mennonite Central Committee, spoke April 22.

Freeman, SD (SalemI-Jerry and Judy Kroeker, directors at Swan Lake Christian Camp, and Renee Neufeld, camp program director, were guest speakers April 22 -Steve Prieb, representing MB Biblical Seminary, was the guest speaker for worship April 29.

Minot, ND (8ible Fellowshipl-Maynard and Dorothy Seaman reported on recent experiences in Tibet during the evening service April 15

TEACHING/NURTURE

Enid, Okla.-A memorial service was scheduled for Sunday, May 27 at the church cemetery. The program included music, a testimony, a devotional and time to reflect on the lives of loves ones.

Uttleton, Colo. (Belleviewl-May 6-13 was designated as a week of prayer: Members signed up for hourlong time slots to fill every hour of the week with prayer

Olathe, Kan. (Community Biblel - The church offered a baptism class for children in first through sixth grades begi nning April 22 The class was not intended as preparation for baptism but as a way to teach ch ildren about baptism.

WORKERS

Bakersfield, calif. (Laurelglenl-High school youth pastor Nathan Carlson has resigned effective this summer. He hopes to trans ition into a lead pastoral role.

Sanger, Calif. (Grace Communityl-Sam Estes was installed as pasto r April S

Sioux Falls, SD (Uncoln Hillsl-John Effinger has been called as worship pastor He and wife Liane plan to move to Sioux Falls by July 1.

WORSHIP

Hesston, Kan.-An evening of praise, during which people of all ages could honor God through music, readings, scripture memory, skits, etc , is scheduled for June 24.

Fresno, Calif. (North Fresnol-The church's annua l Church in the Park was May 20 A combined worship service was held in a local park, followed by a picnic meal.

Manhattan, Kan.-Worship May 20 included a time of anointing for healing, offered to all who seek God's healing for body, mind or soul.

Reedley, Calif.-Worship on Mother's Day included a mother/daughter choir.

YOUTH

Sanger, Calif. (Grace Communityl-Twenty children responded to a salvation invitation during a recent Wednesday evening youth program for kids in first grade through junior high called All Stars for Jesus. The midweek program concluded for the year May 16 with a celebration that included an awards ceremony, cake walk , watermelon-eating contest, pinata, " fear factor" cha llenges, Hot Wheels race track and food.

Huron, SD (Bethesdal-Youth at the Souled Out Center celebrated graduating high school seniors May 6 by signing a brick to signify their journey of faith during their years at Souled Out.

Harvey, ND-Youth thanked the church family for thei r support of the group's trip to the 2007 national youth convention and Ensenada mission trip with a spaghetti supper April 29. After the meal, youth shared about their trip

DEATHS

FAST, MARTHA, Fairview, Okla, a member of Fairview MB Church, was born Sept. 29, 1907, to John and Anna Bekker Flaming near Okeene , Okla., and died April 13, 2007, at the age of 99. On Sept. 15, 1929, she married Jake Fast, who predeceased her in 1996 She is survived by one son, Larry and wife Anne of Fairview; two daughters, June and husband Walter Bartel, and Joyce and husband Donald Martens, both of Fairview; seven grandch ildren , 11 great-grandchildren and three greatgreat-grandchildren .

GOENTZEL, MARGARET JOST. Fairview, Okla , a member of First MB Church, Wichita, Kan , was born Jan 24, 1913, to John R. and Helena Baerg Jost in Hooker, Okla ., and died Jan 27, 2007, at the age of 94 On April 2S,

1935, she married Leo John Goe nt ze l, who predeceased her in 1981. She is survived by two so ns, Leroy and wife Norma of Denve r, Co lo., and Chu ck and wife Sa ndy of Wichita , Kan.; two daughters Ja ne and hu sband Robert Eitzen of Fa irview, Allene and hu sband De lmer Schultz of Granger, ind.; one brother, Harold Jost of Hill sboro, Kan.; three sisters, Edna Janzen of Newha ll, Ca li f., Ellen Ewy of Reedley, Calif., and Melinda Sm ith of Lansdale , Penn., 12 grandchildren and 26 great-gra ndchildren

PENNER, MARION EUGENE, Corn, Ok la , a membe r of Corn MB Church, was bo rn March 9, 1925 , to Henry an d Carrie Wah l Pen ner and died May 5, 200 7, at the age of

EMPLOYMENT: CHURCH

Senior Pastor: Faith Bible Church IMennonite Brethren) in Omaha, Neb , is looking for a Senior Pastor The church is a small, urban congregation 1100 +) in an English-Latino ne ighborhood with an established AWANA program and a great outreach to the community We are seeking a pastor with a servant/leader's heart and a strong preaching/teaching ministry Applicants must have strong organization and positive relational skills Sem inary graduate preferred Pl ease send resume to: Pulp it Search Committee, Faith Bible Church, 1555 So 27th Street, Omaha, NE 68105 or e-mails to davidlesliebrownlilmsn com ll/l)

Bi-Vocational Urban Pastor: Lighthouse Community Church, located in a lowincome area in Wichita, Kan is looking for a pastor. The church , planted by World impact, is part of the Mennonite Brethren denomination and is four years old Weekly attenda nce is 40-50 We are looking for a pastor who is a man of the Word. Qualifications: a shepherd 's heart, commitment to train ing and equipping the church in ministry, a heart for cross-cultural urban ministry and outreach, an ability to be bivocationa l , willing to raise support or entering early retirement. If interested in applying or discussing this opening please contact either Matt Penner at 316-6510858 or Sonja at lccpastorsearchlilhotmail.com 13/3)

Youth Pastor: Shafter MB Church, a multigenerational congregation in California 's southern San Joaquin Valley, is acce pt ing resumes for the position of Youth Pastor For more information please contact the church at smbclilshaftermb org or ca ll 661-746-4969 Resumes ca n be sent to Shafter MB, P.O Box 1538, Shafter, CA 93263, attn Yout h Pastor Search Committee ll!?)

82. On June 9, 1946, he marri ed irene Kroe ker, who survives. He is also surv ived by one son, Roge r and wife Cindy of Weatherford, Okla ; one da ughter, Phylli s and husban d Don Meyer of Cli nton, Okla ; two bro thers Wayman and wife Adalou of Co rd ell, Ok la , and Harvey and wife Kaylin of Weat herford; one sister, Mara lea and hu sband Roy Kliewer of Corn, fi ve grandchildre n and fou r great-gra ndc hildren

SCHULTZ, BE RTHA R" Hillsboro, Kan , a member of Parkview MB Chu rch , Hill sboro, was bo rn Jan. l l, 1916, to Dav id J. and Eli za beth Reddig Enns in Chinook, Mo nt., and died Ap ril 29, 20 07, at the age of

Youth Pastor: Vinewood Commun ity Church in Lodi, Ca lif., is seeking a Youth Pastor to disciple high school and jun ior high school students and to direct a strong, committed youth worker team. As the lead person on the student ministries team, the Youth Pastor is responsible to provide leadership in guiding, training and assisting students from 7th grade through co llege to a life devoted to Christ and part icipation in his church This person should have a passion for discipling and shepherdi ng students, a solid biblical backg rou nd and strong leadership skills. Add itio nally, this person should have the ability to organ ize and work in teams, plan and organ ize events and connect with students College degree and youth min istry experience are preferred. For more information please email vinewoodlilvinewoodchurch com.

Resumes can be sent to Search Comm ittee at vinewoodlilvinewoodchurch com or faxed to 1209) 369 - 1900 or mailed to 1900 W. Vine Street, Lodi, CA 95242.11/1)

Lead Pastor: North Kildonan MB Church of Winnipeg, Man , is a congregation of over 500 members and is seeking applications from qualified candidates for the posit ion of Lead Pastor. The successful candidate is expected to have demonstrated Christian leadership capabilities coupled with a strong desire to sp iritually and educationally nurtu re and expand the existing church base. This individual will also be a gifted and relevant preacher capable of ministering to all generations within the congregation. The successful candidate will be requi red to lead and wo rk togethe r with other members of the pastora l team and the church leadership tea m interested candidates can submit the ir res ume along with a one page pe rsonal vis ion statement and contact information of at least three peer references to : Lead Pasto r Search Co mmitt ee Chairperson, c/o No r th Kildo nan

91. On Aug 18, 1940, she mar ried Harry L. Schultz, who predeceased her in 1985 She is survived by two daug hte r s, Marlene and husband Leonard Froese of Phoenix, Ar iz. , and Dee and husband Dennis Goertzen of Hende rson, Neb .; one sister, Anna Enns of Hillsboro, five gra ndchil dren and fo ur grea t -g randch il dren

WIRSCHE, DANIEL A" Harlin gen, Texas, forme r pastor of La Joya ITexas ) MB Church and miSSiona ry with MBMS interna tiona l , was born Dec. 4, 1909, to August and Kat rina Wirsche in Saskatchewan, Canada, and di ed Ap ril 21, 2007, at th e age of 97 He mar ried Elsi e Fiedler, who surv ives He is al so survived by fou r so ns, Allan,

USE

Mennon ite Brethre n Church, 1315 Gateway Road, Winn ipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2G 1G5. For more information visit www.nkmb org or email nksearchteamlilhotmai l. com 11/ 1)

EMPLOYMENT: AGENCY

Executive Director: Mennonite Centra l Committee is seek ing a person with strong leadership ski lls to bu ild understand ing and support for its mission among an increasingly dive rse constituency and growing worldwide program Letters of intent and resumes are now being accepted The application review beg ins Ju ne 5, 2007 and continues until a suitab le ca ndidate is found. The ant icipated start date is Jan 1, 2008 For a job description and information on the application process please contact Lowell Detwe iler via e-mail at lcdlilmcc.org; send a letter of inquiry to P.O Box 500, Akron, PA 17501; or call 717859-2806. in 2007 the MCC budget is $44 million USD, with more than 700 staff in more than 50 countries

Peace & Justice Director: Mennonite Cen tral Committee, an association of North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Church conferences, has an immediate opening for an experienced Director of Peace & Justice in the nationa l office The person in this pOS ition will collaborate with reg ional staff to co -create peace, justice and service programs The successful candidate will have a peace and justice bu ilding background, good communication skills, demonstrated experience in fina ncial and leadership management, ability to implement and be accountable for anti -racist and ant i-sexist organizatio nal practices and policies. A master's degree and famil iarity with Anabaptist groups is preferred but will cons ider equal experience A complete job description is avai lab le upon request. interested candida te sho uld send resume, cover lette r and sa lary requirements to Human

Resources-MCC, 21 S. 12th Street, Akron, PA 17501 or e-mail krjlilmcc.org

CURRICULUM

Gather 'Round: Hearing and Sharing God's Good News is the Bible-based curriculum that connects church and home. Gather 'Round emphasizes service and peacemaking, and nurtures children, youth, and adults in becoming followers of Jesus Find sample sessions, Bible outlines and mo re at www gatherround org. 13/3)

CALL FOR PAPERS

Paul and Politics

2008 Janzen Lectureship & Symposium celebrating the work of John E. Toews

March 28-29, 2008

Fresno Pacif ic Un iversity and MB Biblical Sem inary campuses, Fresno, Calif

The Janzen lectureship in Biblical Studies was created in 2003 to promote careful scholarship in biblical interpretation, as well as the witness of the Christian church. As the 2008 Janzen lecturer, John E. Toews, PhD, will present on his most recent scholarship on Paul and politics These presentat ions IThursday even ing and Friday morningl will be followed by a symposium Friday afternoon and evening celebrating Toews' 40-year contribution to the Mennonite Church, Mennonite highe r education and scholarship. Papers may critically engage Toews scholarship lissues, themes, approaches, etc ) or may reflect on his contribution to the church or to higher education as teacher or administrator. Send proposals of no more than 200 words and a one-page CV with full contact information and inst itutional affi l iation to Dr Laura Schmidt Roberts , l robertslilfresno.edu by Sept. 15, 2007. The day following the symposium, March 30, is open for excursions to Yosemite , San Franc isco or the Centra l Coast. 12/6)

Signs I'm getting old

Somehow 50 years doesn't seem as old as it used to

Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but recently I passed my 49th birthday. It doesn't seem that old to me, until I realize the half-century mark is coming fast. Yikes. Then again, I keep hearing that views on aging have changed. It's often said that 50 is the new 40,40 is the new 30, and so on. There may be some truth to that. I don't know if it's because people are living longer, staying more fit, trying new activities or all of the above. but somehow 50 and over doesn't seem as old as it used to.

Or maybe that's just my own perspective. The young

to see the original blockbuster, Star Wars, back in the late 1970s. Half the fun was hanging out at the theater with friends before the show. But I suppose it reveals my age that I have no desire anymore to fight the crowds on opening weekend. I like the Spider-Man movies , so 111 go see number three eventually. Preferably when some new blockbuster has come along to divert everyone's attention.

I got lots of cards on my birthday that made fun of my old guy status. I don't mind this and am pleased to return the favor whenever possible. But the whole thing is interesting whippersnappers. uh, I mean the young people out there might look my way and think. "Geezer." ,.

:\o\\' the mere event of getting up in the morning might me to ('""clJim. "\Vhy does my (name hody pan here) hurt?"

But since I'm feeling good and staying upright. I guess 111 have to assume I'm hanging in there on the young side. Still. there are probably other signs that say I might be getting old, such as

I keep getting pulled into conversations about aches and pains. When this happened among a gathering of our friends not long ago, I had to laugh. Of course, I didn't have any gimpy knees or sore shoulders at the time. If I did, my outlook might not have been so humorous. And it's true that Ive experienced my share of mysterious ailments the last couple of years When I was younger I'd actually have to tum an ankle or crash my bike to get injured. Now the mere event of getting up in the morning might cause me to exclaim, 'Why does my (name body part here) hurt?"

I have a hard time finding the right buttons on remote control units. My close-up vision is pretty good. meaning I don't have to make diners at the next table in restaurants hold up my menu so I can read it. But in the low evening light I can't make out the tiny print on the remotes like I used to. As they say, the eyes are the first to go. Or maybe it's the mind. Or it may be the, uh, well, sorry, forgot what I was going to say.

I can walk into a room and stand there in a fog, wondering why I entered in the first place. Oh wait, I've been doing that since I was a kid so I guess it doesn't count.

I'm not in a hurry to see Spider -Man 3. That's the big movie just coming out as I'm writing this. I've heard the young folks talking about how they absolutely have to go see it as soon as possible . That's understandable. I remember waiting in line

to ponder. The jokes on the cards tend to cover subjects such as crankiness, flatulence and senility. In a subtle (or maybe not so subtle) way I think it reflects our cultural aversion to aging and our view of it as a kind of affliction . Obviously getting older does introduce a variety of physical challenges over time. But generally, aging isn't so bad. And there are many advantages to it. There should be a line of greeting cards about that: "Happy Birthday to the guy who doesn't give a rip about what Paris Hilton is up to," or "Birthday greetings to the man who is perfectly happy with a cell phone that just goes'Riiiiing."

These days there is plenty of talk (and a lot of advettising) about the fight against aging. Some of this is reasonable. We do want to stay healthy and maintain a youthful outlook on life. But it can be taken too far The obsession with looking young, the refusal to grow up and act responsibly; these things and others cause a host of relational and cultural problems.

Speeding towards the big five-oh makes me ask: Am I aging well? Now I'm "--thinking in terms of mind and spirit When the biblical proverb writer called gray hair"a crown of splendor" (16:31), he wasn 't really talking about looks. I take it as a reference to life experience that produces maturity, wisdom, graciousness, perseverance, caring, optimism, joyfulness and many other favorable qualities. I don't always exhibit these as much as I should Fortunately there's still time

The buck stops here

Our strength i mpro ves when someone is in charge

Last month I was one of six sponsors who accompanied two middle school bands to a patade and festival. Our responsibility was to make sure that all band members were accounted for midway through our stay at the festival and again when it was time to leave.

The band director provided a page of instructions outlining his tested strategy for keeping track of kids. The only flaw in the plan was that no one was in charge of the sponsors. So no one realized I was missing that morning when my watch stopped and I was late instead of early. I can assure you that the sense of panic that washes over you when you watch a yellow school bus that you are supposed to be on drive off without you doesn't lessen with age. I found out later that the other sponsors all assumed that Mrs. Faber was on the other bus. Does it make a difference when no one is in charge? It did that morning.

executive director in 2002, the conference had a track record of finishing the fiscal year in the red. That changed with the appointment of Chuck Buller. During his tenure as executive director, church giving increased and stabilized, providing a level of financial security at the national level that our conference had not enjoyed for some time.

Church giving to the U.S. Conference continued to be strong during the first quaner of 2007, in spite of the absence of an executive director. But in April church giving took a nosedive when it totaled only $20,189, in comparison to the year before when churches contributed $67,959. Many factors no

When it comes right down to it, even the most committed board members don"t live and breathe the organization like the lead st aff member does.

Since January, when Chuck Buller completed four years of service as the executive director, no one has been "in charge" of the u.S. Conference. Does it ·make a difference when a position like this is vacant? No, and yes.

Conference leaders determined from the beginning that while the process of securing an executive director was underway the ministries of the national conference would move forward. Members of the Leadership Board, a volunteer board of nine members currently chaired by Joe Johns, took on some ofthe executive director's responsibilities and appointed others to fulfill cenain responsibilities. U.S. Conference staff members also took on additional projects.

But as we enter a new fiscal year without an executive director, we are beginning to notice what we are missing. Buller was the first full-time executive director in the history of the U.S. Conference and in just four shon years it became clear that our denomination is better off when we have someone "in charge." If you've ever served on a church committee that does not relate directly to a pastotal staff member you know that how much the committee gets done is directly related to how much time committee members are willing to donate to the cause.

If you've ever served on a church board, or any board for that matter, that does relate directly to a paid staff member you know how important that staff member is. When it comes right down to it, even the most committed board members don't live and breathe the organization like the lead staff member does. At the end of the day volunteer board and committee members have other responsibilities that require their time and attention. But a lead staff member knows "the buck stops here "

One way to measure the health of an organization is its financ es. U S Conference records show that prior to the appointtnent of an

doubt play into the April decrease. During the 2006-07 fiscal year,

which closed May 31, monthly church giving was as high as $56,465 and as low as $17,89°. So April's dip may just be pan of the ebb and flow of the giving cycle . But the decrease could also be an indicator that our head cheerleader is missing.

Finding the best person for any senior level leadership position is key. Mennonite Brethren have historically "called" men and women to serve the church, in contrast to announcing an open position and then appointing the best candidate from the applicant pool. I commend the Leadership Board for deciding to call someone to serve as the next executive director. During their April board meeting. the Leadership Board identified individuals who board members feel have the mix of gifts, interests and experience that qualifies them for considetation as the next u.S . Conference executive director. Now the discerning process begins, as individuals together with their families, friends and congregations consider this call to ministry

The odds are high that only a couple of you reading this have been contacted about the executive director's position. But that doesn't mean the rest of us don't have a role to play in the search for a new executive director. We have the opponunity this month to pray diligently for those who have been contacted. We can't pray for these people by name-that pan of the process is confidential-but we can pray for whomever God is also prodding, that he and his family will answer the call to serve the u S Conference in this imponantway.-CF

A missional mindset

MENNONITE BRETHREN ' FOUNDAIDN '